December 2020 Signs of the Times Newsletter

[Stan]

December 2020 Signs of the Times Newsletter The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues of Signs and These Times. ***************************      I have read somewhere the story of a poor woman who looked longingly at the flowers in the king's garden, wishing to buy some for her sick daughter.      She was angrily repelled by the king's gardener, who rudely told her, "The king's flowers are not for sale!"      But the king, chancing to pass, picked a bouquet and gave it to the wistful woman, saying, "The king does not sell his flowers; he gives them away."      Our King does not sell eternal life; He gives it.—By J. L. Russell, Signs of the Times, December 22, 1942. Quote: “How much the world needs this year a Christmas that means a return to Bethlehem!”—By Llewellyn A. Wilcox, Signs of the Times, December 22, 1942. *************************** Don't miss the January 2021 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or ORDER ONLINE! ***************************      It was Christmas Eve 1914 during the horrors of World War I. British and German troops had dug miles of trenches in the French countryside from which they blasted each other with machine guns, mortars, and artillery.      Between the German and British trenches lay a barren no-man’s-land, a narrow strip of craters and shattered trees where anything that moved was shot. Whenever there was a lull in the firing, the shivering men on both sides could hear the noise of cooking going on in the enemy trenches.      Late on Christmas Eve, with freezing rain still falling and the temperature dropping, a British guard heard a new sound wafting across no man’s land. In the enemy trenches a man was singing, “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.” It was a tune the British sentry recognized as “Silent Night, Holy Night.” He began to hum along with the melody. Then a second British soldier crawled over and joined in. Soon others on both sides began to blend their rough voices across the war-torn battlefield.      The German offered a second carol, “O Tannenbaum,” and the British responded with “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.” On and on through the night the singing continued. As dawn broke, signs appeared on both sides, in two languages: “Merry Christmas.”      Then, incredibly, one by one, the soldiers laid down their guns and crawled beneath the barbed wire into no-man’s -land—scores of British and German troops meeting together. The soldiers opened their wallets and showed off pictures of their families and exchanged gifts of candy.      This experience, surely one of history’s most remarkable occurrences on any battlefield, has come to be known as the soldiers’ truce. Tragically, it was over all too soon. By mid-morning Christmas Day, furious officers ordered their men back to the trenches. Soon the deadly bullets were whizzing back and forth once more. Later that day, a command came down from British headquarters forbidding such contact: “We are here to fight, not to fraternize!”      Nevertheless, for a few hours, the master of those soldiers was neither the Kaiser nor an earthly king but heaven’s Prince of Peace—By George E. Vandeman, From Helpings for the Heart. (George Vandeman was a master story-teller. Now, more than 100 of his classic, inspirational stories are available in Helpings for the Heart. And it is on sale for just $2.97. Great for worships, sermon illustrations, personal devotional time—and much more.) Quote: “The Babe of Bethlehem is wrapped up as it were in the swathing bands of both Testaments. Christ is both the substance and the object, the author and the matter of the Scripture.”—Unknown, Signs of the Times, August 13, 1902. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—Jesus, Name Above All Names—2021 Devotional book by Ellen White. Ellen White uses more than 800 names and titles for Christ. This NEW daily devotional book selects 365 readings based on 365 different name of Christ. Read the first TEN devotionals FREE. CLICK HERE! Order ONLINE or from your local Adventist Book Center—1-800-765-6955. ***************************      One night in February, 1943, a United States submarine was resting quietly on the surface of the Pacific off Rabaul, New Britain, keeping watch for enemy ships, which they felt sure were nearby. On deck with a number of his men was the commander of the craft, Howard W. Gilmore, 40, a middle-sized man, quiet, resolute, unpretentious; a man who, as his classmates put it, "would never stand out in a crowd, but you'd like the minute you saw him."      They had not been on the surface long when the commander's keen eyes sighted a Japanese man-of-war nearby. The submarine was picked up by the searchlights of the Japanese vessel at about the same moment, and as quickly as they could maneuver it, the large gun-boat turned and tried to ram the sub-marine.      Just as quickly, Commander Gilmore swung the submarine around, dodged the attack, and counterattacked at a speed of seventeen knots an hour. His aim was good. They tore a large hole in the gunboat's hull. She slowly settled and began to sink. As she gently slipped down into the ocean, with the American submarine in the full glare of her strong searchlights, her heavy machine guns sent round after round of shells into the midst of the group of men on the top of the under-water craft. Some of the men were killed instantly, and the commander was seriously wounded. By a fast dive beneath the water, the sub-marine could be saved. But the commander should be gotten down through the hatch to safety. This would take time and would endanger the lives of all the crew.      Helpless to move from the bridge, which was fully exposed to the enemy's machine guns, Gilmore ordered the sub-marine to submerge. His comrades rushed to his aid, intending to carry him below. Every second meant much.      The navy record in telling of this action says, "In his final living moments he gave his last order to the officer of the deck: 'Take her down!'"      In the navy, orders must be obeyed. The man hurried below, the hatch clanged shut, and the submarine-vanished into the deep. Her wounded commander floated away in the darkness, never to be seen again.      "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13. Gilmore gave his life that others might live. He followed in the footsteps of our Master, who was willing to die that you and I might have eternal life.      This Christmas season gives us another wonderful opportunity to put into practice the teaching and example of our Master. He taught that rich blessings are in store for those who are willing to give. He practiced what He preached, and spent all His days and many nights in unselfish service, which brought little or no monetary returns. Then He died on Calvary for us.      There are millions in our old world at this holiday time, who are in need. Some of them may live nearby, some of them live in lands less favored than our own. The happiest people this Christmas season will be those who give the most.—By C. L. Paddock, Our Times, December 1948 Quote: “The longer you read the Bible, the more you will like it; it will grow sweeter and sweeter, and the more you get into the spirit of it, the more you will get into the spirit of Christ.”—By Romaine, The Youth’s Instructor, November 22, 1927. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Send a GIFT that helps your friends and neighbors find hope and meaning. Each month Signs of the Times® takes on a broken world and directs hearts to Jesus for relevant answers. The result is changed lives! Order from your Adventist Book Center. Call 1-800-765-6955 or go online at: https://adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine.html ***************************      The Bible was written a long time before punctuation was invented. Nearly sixteen centuries had elapsed since the writing of the New Testament before Manutius, a Venetian printer, originated the system of marks that, like the "jots" or "tittles" 'n the Hebrew language, constitute such an important factor in the transcribing of thought. To illustrate the aid that punctuation will sometimes render to an understanding of the sense of any composition, recall the famous nursery jingle:      "Every lady in the land      Has twenty nails on each hand      Five and twenty on hands and feet      This is true without deceit."      Now read the same, properly punctuated:      "Every lady in the land-      Has twenty nails; on each hand      Five, and twenty on hands and feet;      This is true without deceit."—By W. E. Gerald, The Watchman, January, 1930. Quote: "Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let everyone enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all."—By John Wesley, Our Times, July 1948. *************************** New from Signs of the Times—Peace on Earth—designed to share with friends, loved ones and neighbors at the holiday season. For a FREE sample copy, CLICK HERE and send your name and mailing address. ***************************      Faith is taking God at His word — just that, no more, no less.      A street mission worker in Chicago was accosted by a fourteen-year-old boy, after one of his meetings, who asked: "Mister, can the God you preach about help a fellow like me to stop smoking cigarettes!"      "Yes, He can, and He will, if you ask Him."      "All right, mister! Let's ask.”      They found a quiet spot in a near-by alley, and there knelt together in prayer. Rising from his knees, the boy lit a cigarette, puffed away a moment, and then looking the minister straight in the eye, said:" He didn't do it, mister! I can smoke just as well as ever!"      "Just a minute," the missionary spoke again; "how many does it take to make a bargain, son?"      "Two," responded the lad promptly."      And they must both be willing to make the bargain, mustn't they?"      "Yes, mister."      "All right, then," and the good man smiled his kindly smile," are you willing, lad, that God shall help you to stop smoking!"      The boy thought a moment, eyes downcast; then he looked up, and his lean, not-too-clean face beamed with purpose. "I am," he answered, and took the cigarette out of his mouth and threw it away.      Several weeks passed, and then the minister, who had passed on to another city, received a letter from Chicago. It was from the-lad-of-the-cigarette. "Deer fren," it read, "I stil keep a willin' an' God He stil keeps a powerin'."      That is faith — the kind of faith that can claim the promise, "If we ask anything according to His [God's] will, He heareth us."—By Lora E. Clement, The Youth’s Instructor, December 6, 1927. Quote: "It is better to be cautious and right than to be rash and wrong."—Unknown, The Youth’s Instructor, December 6, 1927. *************************** This holiday season, share a book with a friend. In writing about holiday gift giving, Ellen White wrote: “We should make our gifts such as will prove a real benefit to the receiver. I would recommend such books as will be an aid in understanding the Word of God, or that will increase our love for its precepts. Provide something to be read during these long winter evenings.”—Review and Herald, December 26, 1882. You will find a wonderful assortment for books at: www.AdventistBookCenter.com ***************************      The late Mark Twain and his family traveled much abroad, and during their wanderings they met many distinguished men and women. In Berlin, the emperor invited Mark Twain to dine. This invitation awed his little daughter, Jean, who said, "Why, papa, if it keeps up like this, pretty soon there won't be anybody for you to get acquainted with but God." The fact that millions of people are neglecting to get acquainted with God accounts for the restlessness, the troubled hearts, in the world today. This restlessness, which all worldly people, and many Christians as well, experience, is due to sin in the heart, separating them from God. There is a text in the Old Testament which reads: "Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace."—By Mrs. E. L. Pingenot, Signs of the Times, January 27, 1942. Quote: "After all, the lives that do the most for the world are the steady, quiet lives. They are like stars; they just stay in their appointed place and shine with the light God has given them. Meteors shoot brilliantly across the sky, and, we exclaim and wonder, but long after they have vanished the stars shine on to guide us."—Unknown, Signs of the Times, January 27, 1942. *************************** Share Pocket Signs wherever you go. CLICK HERE to see the large assortment available. There are Pocket Signs for every occasion. *************************** Peace on Earth! The weary Wise Men riding from afar Stopped not to rest; and ere the dawn was gray, Their journey ended as the Eastern Star Shone on the stable where the Christ Child lay. The simple Shepherds watching by their sheep On far Judean hills were startled by The angel song that filled the heavens deep: "Peace on the earth! Glory to God on high!"—By Grace Barker Wilson, These Times, December 1951. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.