August 2021 Signs of the Times Newsletter!

[Stan]

August 2021 Signs of the Times Email Newsletter The Signs of the Times newsletter is a collection of stories and quotes from past issues of Signs and These Times. ***************************      A private in the United States Army was converted, and quietly manifested his conversion by his changed life. It became his custom to pray beside his bed before retiring. The soldiers in his barrack gave him a hard time, first by sneers, insults, and abuse. When he remained calm in the face of their words, they resorted to acts. One soldier told of hitting the praying man with his wet, muddy boots, first on one side of the head and then on the other. The next morning he found his boots polished and sitting beside his bed. That was the Christian soldier’s answer to his tormentor. It resulted in the conversion of the persecutor.—By Dallas Youngs, Signs of the Times, September, 1959. Quote: “When war is declared, truth is the first casualty."—Unknown, The Watchman Magazine, March 1930. *************************** Don't miss the September 2021 issue of Signs of the Times: To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or ONLINE! ***************************      Dan Crawford, the explorer missionary, tells how, when his Africans were on a march and night came on, they would lie down by the trail and sleep. Before dropping off to rest, they would pass from group to group the watchword, "Lutenda." The word means "morning star." There was an agreement among them to be up and ready to move when the morning star appeared.      To Dan Crawford this was a parable. To all believers Christ is the Bright and Morning Star. (Revelation 22:16.) To those who lie down in their last sleep, with hearts and minds fixed on Christ, comes blessed hope. Their watchword is, "The Star—the Morning Star." And when the Morning Star appears, they will awake to resurrection life and glory and the day which has no night.—By H. M. S. Richards, These Times, May 1951. Quote: "Nothing circulates so rapidly as a secret.” —Unknown, The Youth’s Instructor, December 6, 1927. *************************** NEW from Pacific Press—Playing the Devil's Game by Cathlynn Dore Law and Becki Rogers. Playing the Devil’s Game invites readers to peek into the fearsome world of the occult and to witness the power of the Living God as He crushes the enemy on behalf of His children when they cry for help. CLICK HERE to read the first chapter online. Available as an eBook. CLICK HERE! Order ONLINE or call your local Adventist Book Center—1-800-765-6955.   ***************************      There is a river so narrow that little birds can fly across it with one sweep of their small wings, little children can talk across it a whisper, and armies can camp on both sides, so close that by reaching out they could touch one another. This tiny river is the river of misunderstanding. It separates more people than anything else in the world. It is “the middle wall of partition,” which has for so long separated the sons of men from each other.      But this little river of misunderstanding, flowing down the mountains and hills of life, becomes gradually a larger river of division. It finally becomes a mighty torrent of antagonism, of suspicion, of injustice, of outright bitter hatred and malice,―a sea of division.      Is not that the source of much of our world’s trouble? We do not and we will not understand one another. One of the difficulties is the difference in language, and then there is the difference in religion and race. These all make for misunderstanding. But we shall never be all of one language, one race, or one religion, and therefore we must be reconciled through the heart. That is what Jesus Christ can do.      Oh that the embittered and suspicious and sundered folks of earth might feel the magnetic touch of the reconciling Christ and be brought closer together. That little river can be bridged quickly by the meekness, by the humility, by the patience and trust that are in Jesus. Just let Him loose in the wide world with His wondrous love, and all the strife of our clashing interests will be dissolved in the solution of His love, and men will be brought closer together in the heart, where alone destines are born!—Vincent G. Burns, Signs of the Times, October 29, 1929 Quote: “It is strange that in our praying we seldom ask for a change of character but always a change in circumstances.”—Unknown, These Times, November 1965. *************************** Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Want to connect with your neighbor? Maybe a loved one far away? Each monthly issue of Signs of the Times offers a compelling presentation of the full gospel message. The result is changed lives! Send a subscription today. Call: 1-800-765-6955 or go online at: https://adventistbookcenter.com/signs-of-the-times-magazine.html ***************************      When the French king, Louis XIV, asked the name of a certain building that he saw from his palace windows, one of his courtiers replied, "Sire, that is the church of St. Denis, where your royal ancestors lie buried." The king immediately gave orders for another palace to be planned, with an entirely different outlook. He did not wish to live daily in sight of an object that reminded him of his nature, his frailty, and of his destiny.—By Charles Lee Paddock, The Watchman Magazine, October 1928. Quote: “I do not know that I shall live to see a single convert, but I would not leave my present field of labor to be made king of the greatest empire on the globe.”—By Adoniram Judson, The Youth’s Instructor, November 23, 1909. *************************** If you are looking for Bible study guides, and tools for sharing your faith, visit www.ToolsForEvangelism.com You’ll find everything you need! ***************************      When you read about these faithful martyrs, there is one thing that strikes you about them: They were almost all quite ordinary people, lay people.      Sometimes the great martyrs of the church are a bit intimidating to the ordinary believer. They seem like such great giants of the faith. They seem to occupy a separate, heroic place that few of us can ever attain.      But we are about to meet some believers who never made the history books, people whose names almost no one recognizes, citizens of Amsterdam who led quite ordinary, if pious, lives.      These are people who show us what unshakable faith is made of.      Take a boatman named Pieter Beckjen, for example. He made his living by ferrying people and goods on the River Amstel. Sometimes he would sail down the canals of Amsterdam with fellow believers - so they could worship in secret.      When Pieter and his wife had their first child, the couple tried to keep the infant hidden so they wouldn’t be forced to have it christened in the state church. But neighbors eventually betrayed them to the magistrates.      Pieter was tried, convicted for “crimes against the divine and secular majesty... which disturb the peace,” and condemned “to be executed with fire... and his entire property confiscated.”      They put this earnest ferryman on the rack, in one last fiendish effort to bend his faith. But it proved unshakable. Pieter was burned in January of 1569.      A close friend of his, Willem Janss, heard about the planned execution and hurried to the site from a nearby town, wanting to offer some encouragement. When he arrived at Amsterdam’s gate, the bar had already been let down. Willem had to bribe the gatekeeper to let him in.      He rushed to the site of the execution and arrived just as Pieter was being led out to the stake. Willem called out loudly—and fearlessly - “Contend valiantly, dear brother.”      The authorities immediately seized him and threw him in prison. And for these four words of encouragement, Willem was tortured unmercifully on two occasions. But he would not give up the faith that he shared with his brother Pieter. And Willem was burned alive two weeks later at the same place.      One Christian imprisoned for his faith, Dirk Willems, managed to make an escape from the city jail. He was hotly pursued, however, by the bailiff and his deputies. Dirk came to a river. It was early winter, and the water was lightly frozen. He stepped gingerly on the ice and hurried to the far bank.      When his pursuers arrived at the edge of the ice, the bailiff ordered one of his soldiers to go after Dirk. But this man broke through the ice and began thrashing about.      Dirk heard his cries and looked back. No one was doing anything to help. It was apparent the man might drown. Dirk knew that this meant he would be able to get away. But he turned around, made his way gingerly back to his pursuer, and pulled him out of the freezing water. Dirk also helped him back to dry land.      Amazingly enough, the bailiff, unmoved by this selfless display of courage, promptly ordered the dripping deputy to arrest the heretic.      Dirk Willems was returned to prison, tried, and burned at the stake.      A young sailor named Gerrit Corneliss was working on a barge when the authorities apprehended him. Taken to the city hall, he was interrogated and told to give up his New Testament beliefs.      Gerrit would not. And he would give them no information that might lead to the arrest of his fellow believers. So they used their awful means of persuasion. He was blindfolded, drawn up by his hands, and left suspended for long periods. He was beaten with rods. He was laid on the rack several times. He was tormented with burning candles.      These were the ghastly means of religious persuasion used in those times. The torturers threatened to keep it up until he gave in. But Gerrit remained silent. It was reported that he thanked God for keeping his lips shut.      When they took him out to be burned, they had to carry him in a chair because he could no longer walk. Arriving at the stake, this sailor finally opened his lips. But it was only to pray fervently. “Father and Lord, be gracious to me... Thou knowest my simple love towards Thee; accept me, and forgive them that inflict this suffering upon me.      Garret gave up his life in March of 1569.      Dirk, Gerrit, and Clement—these are the lesser-known martyrs, the almost nameless martyrs, people who were apparently undistinguished in the world, people who just wanted to earn a living in peace and care for their families. A boatman named Dirk. A sailor named Gerrit. A sailmaker named Clement. Like most of the citizens of Amsterdam, they made their living from the sea, the rivers, the canals.—By Mark Finley, From: Unshakeable Faith. Order copies of this sharing book from your Adventist Book Center. 1-800-765-6955 or ONLINE. ***************************     Thomas Edison outlined three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile:      First: Hard work.      Second: Stick-to-itiveness.     Third: Common sense.—By J. O. Iversen, These Times, July 1962. Quote: “There is a wonderful power in silence. Words spoken in reply to one who is angry sometimes serve only to exasperate, but anger met with silence, in a tender, forbearing spirit, quickly dies away.”—Unknown, These Times, February 1960. *************************** Share your faith by giving out a tract. See the largest assortment of Seventh-day Adventist tracts available. CLICK HERE! *************************** The Bible      This Book contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.      Its doctrines are holy, its principles are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immitigable.      Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.      It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.      Here Paradise is restored, heaven opened.      Christ is the grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.      It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.      Read it slowly, prayerfully, and frequently.      It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.      It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever.      It involves the highest opportunity, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents.—Anonymous, Signs of the Times. *************************** Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others.