May 2020 Signs of the Times Newsletter!

[Stan]

May 2020 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues ofSigns and These Times. ***************************      What do we read in the fifteenth chapter of Luke? There is a shepherd bringing home his sheep into the fold. As they pass in, he stands and numbers them. I can see him counting one, two, three, up to ninety-nine. “But,” says he, “I ought to have a hundred; I must have made a mistake,” and he counts them over again.      “There are only ninety-nine here; I must have lost one.” He does not say, “I will let him find his own way back.” No! He takes the place of the seeker; he goes into the mountain, and hunts until he finds the lost one, and then he lays it on his shoulder and brings it home. Is it the sheep that finds the shepherd? No, it is the shepherd that finds and brings back the sheep. He rejoiced to find it. Undoubtedly, the sheep was very glad to get back to the fold, but it was the shepherd who rejoiced and who called his friends and said, “Rejoice with me.”—By D. L. Moody, Signs of the Times, November 10, 1936. Quote: “Consecration is not wrapping one’s self in a holy web in the sanctuary and then coming forth after prayer and twilight meditation and saying, ‘There, I am consecrated.’ Consecration is going out into the world, where God Almighty is, and using every power for His glory. It is taking all advantages as trust funds—as confidential debts owed to God. It is simply dedicating one’s life, in its whole flow, to God’s service.”—By Henry Ward Beecher, These Times, August 1971. *************************** Don't miss the June 2020 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or CLICK HERE to order online. ***************************      From a jeweler comes this statement: “An imitation diamond is never so brilliant as a genuine stone. If your eyes are not experienced enough to detect the difference, a simple test is to place the stone under water. The imitation stone is practically extinguished, while the genuine diamond sparkles even under water, and is distinctly visible. If you place a genuine stone beside an imitation under water, the contrast will be apparent to the least experienced eye.”      The religion of many people seems genuine so long as they do not have to undergo affliction and trials. But when they are submerged under the waters of suffering, their faith is no longer a beautiful and resplendent thing. But at such times those who love God and trust Him reveal themselves as true gems in the diadem of the kingdom.      Many of us are required to live for the time being in the shadows. Is our faith of the kind that enables us to see the glory of God in the cloud?—From Western Recorder, Signs of the Times, December 1, 1936. Quote: “A moment’s effort in controlling passion may often prevent days of sorrow.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, September 22, 1874. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—Daring to Live by Every Word by Melody Mason. In times when Christianity is acted out only on weekends, where spirituality has become a spectator sports. Daring to Live by Every Word brings us back to the basic religion of Christ: unapologetic, devoted and committed to a glorious ideal. Let these pages invite you to relish the beauty of God's Word and what it really means to love and worship the Living Word, the One who created, rescued, and redeemed us. Order ONLINE or from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955. ***************************       An unhappy woman once complained to Frederick the Great about her husband. "Your Majesty, my husband treats me badly."      "That is none of my business," said the wise king.      "But he speaks ill of you," continued the woman.      "That," the king replied, "is none of your business." And she went away a wiser, if not a happier woman.—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, January 25, 1938. Quote: “We may feel like censuring a friend who makes failures, but, if we knew the severe struggle he is making to prevent more and greater failures, we would be more sparing of criticism and more prodigal of praise.”—From Presbyterian Witness, Signs of the Times, March 5, 1929. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: These difficult times call for creative ways to share your faith. Sending a Signs subscription to a friend or neighbor is the perfect way to share Jesus. Order from your Adventist Book Center today. Call1-800-765-6955 or go online https://adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine-annual.html ***************************      Two painters were employed to fresco the walls of a cathedral. Both stood on a rude scaffolding, constructed for the purpose, some forty feet from the floor.      One of them was so intent upon his work that he became wholly absorbed, and, in admiration, stood off from the picture, gazing at it with intense delight.      Forgetting where he was, he moved back slowly surveying critically the work of his pencil, until he had neared the edge of the plank on which he stood. At this critical moment his companion turned suddenly, and, almost paralyzed with horror, beheld his imminent peril; another instant, and the enthusiast would be precipitated upon the pavement beneath. If he spoke to him, it was certain death ; if he held his peace, death was equally sure. Suddenly he regained his presence of mind, and seizing a wet brush, flung it against the wall, spattering the picture with unsightly blotches of coloring.      The painter flew forward, and turned upon his friend with fierce upbraidings; but, startled at his ghastly face, he listened to his recital of danger, looked shuddering over the dread space below, and with tears of gratitude blessed the hand that saved him.      Just so we sometimes get absorbed upon the pictures of the world, and, in contemplating them step backwards, unconscious of our peril, when the Almighty in mercy dashes out the beautiful images, and draws us at the time we are complaining of His dealings, into His out stretched arms of compassion and love.—Selected, Signs of the Times, August 13, 1874. Quote: “The best way to show that a stick is crooked is to lay a straight one beside it.”—By Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, April 30, 1929. *************************** Looking to listen to an awesome book? New on Audible: Darkness Will Not Overcome is now available as an audio book. CLICK HERE! ***************************      In his teachings Christ sought to guard against the peril of wealth's allurement, of materialism. Three travelers were ready to start on a long journey across the desert. Their servants brought them three water jars—one of brass, one of beautiful porcelain and one of ordinary earthenware.      The first man took the brass jar and put water into it, the second chose the porcelain one, and the last was content with the ordinary one made of earthenware.      The Way across the desert Was long and wearisome. The heat was intense. Every drop of water was of value. The brass vessel heated; and the water was made impure, and unfit for use. The costly porcelain jug was cracked, and the water was lost. But the plain earthenware bottle kept the water pure and sweet until the journey was ended.      This is only a story. But just as the lure of the beautiful water jars might have meant life or death, so it is the lure of money, and the costly things that it will buy, that so often proves fatal to a spiritual life here and an everlasting life beyond.—By Uthai V. Wilcox, The Watchman Magazine, May 1909. Quote: “The strange thing about Jesus is that you can never get away from Him.”—A Student, These Times, November 1971. *************************** COVID 19—Truth Matters! This special issue of Signs of the Times is available to read for FREE online. CLICK HERE to read online. And share it with a friend. ***************************      The year was A.D. 320. The Emperor Constantine had just issued an edict legalizing Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. For a time his co-ruler and rival Licinius, who controlled the Eastern half of the region, conceded to Constantine’s wishes, allowing Christians religious freedom. However, eventually the Emperor Licinius broke his alliance with the West and determined to stamp out Christianity in his part of the empire. As Licinius prepared his army for battle, he realized that he should remove all Christians from his army, lest there be mutiny among his ranks.      As the story goes, during this time there was a company of 100 soldiers, which included many Christians, camped by a lake outside the city of Sebaste (which is Sivas in now modern day Turkey). These brave soldiers had distinguished themselves in service to Emperor Licinius, but now their true allegiance was to be put to the test.      Late one cold winter evening, a messenger arrived at their camp. He had a message for the company’s captain. The captain took the message and read it by the flickering light of a nearby campfire. This is what the message said:      “It is commanded by the Emperor that when our messenger arrives, the bugle be sounded to call the men into line. Then shall an altar be built in the midst of the camp and each soldier as he passes by shall pour upon it a cupful of wine as an offering to the Emperor. And it is decreed that all who refuse so to honor the Emperor shall be killed.”      After the captain had finished reading the order, the messenger asked, “What shall I tell the Emperor?” The captain responded, “You can tell the Emperor that we will obey his command!”      However, even as the captain pledged obedience, he struggled with what he should do. While he was not a Christian himself, he admired his Christian men. He didn’t want to see them die. But what could he do? The Emperor’s orders must be obeyed!      So the captain gave a signal and the bugle was sounded. Once all his men were in line, an altar of crude stones was built in front of them, and the men were told of the Emperor’s command. Then each soldier was given a cup of wine.      One by one, the men began taking turns marching around the altar, and pouring their wine out in honor to the Emperor. However, as the fourth man approached the altar, he hesitated, then turned away and poured his wine on the ground. Immediately he was ordered to step aside.      Despite knowing that disobedience to the Emperor’s orders meant death, 40 out of those 100 soldiers bravely remembered the first of the Ten Commandments, “You shall have no other gods before me,” and decided to “obey God rather than men.” They knew that they could not even pretend to worship anyone but God.      As a result of their choice, the men were stripped of their clothes and sent out on to the cold icy lake to die. However, as the stillness of night began to settle over the camp, something surprising happened. Beautiful music began to come from the lake. The men were singing, bravely, boldly, in allegiance to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.      The captain, hoping that some would change their mind, prepared warm baths and fires near the edge of the lake. But the men did not come. As the night wore on the singing gradually grew fainter and fainter. At long last a lone form crept across the ice back to the lake’s edge. He collapsed near one of the warm baths. However seeing the failing faith of this one deserter, the guard who had been stationed to keep watch over the martyrs threw off his clothes, and declaring his faith in Jesus, ran out to join the remaining men on the ice.      The next morning, when the sun came up, the bodies of 40 Christian men lay frozen on the cold icy lake. They had faced the ultimate test, being forced to choose between obeying the authority of a worldly Emperor and staying true to God, and they had passed their test. They had kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, and as a result God had given them the victory.      Today, over 1,700 years later, we are still in the midst of a great spiritual controversy, and we are again facing the same test. The test is over whom we will worship and whom we will ultimately obey. While the world fights over political authority, parental rights and authority, and even ecclesiastical authority, the most serious battle of all is waged daily between “self” and the authority of God and His Word. The whole universe is watching this very personal battle! Who will bend? Will we bend to the Word in humble submission and obedience, or will we seek to bend God’s Word to suit our own sinful ways?—From the Introduction of Daring to Live By Every Word by Melody Mason. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.