August 2009 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.
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A family's backyard apple tree was bearing its first fruit-one apple.
Mother told little Jack to be careful when playing ball with his friends in the
backyard; they were not to toss the ball in the direction of the apple tree.
She did not want the apple to be hit.
But the unfortunate happened. The ball hit the apple, and it fell to the
ground.
Jack went inside and found his mother's sewing basket. From it he took
thread with which he tied the stem of the green apple to the twig where it had
been growing. So again the apple was hanging on the tree.
Day after day Jack's mother continued to watch the apple from a distance,
anticipating the time when it would be ripe for picking and eating. But before
long she noticed that the apple did not look so fresh and healthy as it used to.
So she went to the tree and discovered that the apple was attached to its
twig only by a thread. The apple had no life-giving connection with the tree.
Many Christians are like that apple. They believe the truth, but have no
life-giving union with Jesus-the Living Vine-through a living, fruit-producing,
and saving faith.-By Arnold Wallenkampf, Signs of the Times, January 1991.
Quote: "Jesus of Nazareth is still alive. It is the message of the church that
He is alive and as near to us as ever He was to those disciples when He was
there among them on that evening before His passion,--yea, is nearer, for He is
with us by an inward and altogether vital presence."-By Charles Gore, Signs of
the Times, August 24, 1926.
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Don't miss the September 2009 issue of Signs of the Times: "After Death, Then
What?" " 7 Promises of God," "The Gift of Prophecy," "50 Years of Space
Travel," "A Beginners Guide to Serious Bible Study," "How to be a Better Man,"
"Forgiveness, Not Forgotten" and other great articles.
To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at
http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com
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An admirer of Japanese art one day showed a friend of his a metal mirror.
This friend picked it up and looked into it, expecting to see his own face, but
he did not see it. Then he remarked on the skilled workmanship, the engraved
back, and its artistic form.
"But," said the owner, "that mirror was not made to reflect one's face.
Just take it to the window, let the sun shine upon it, and watch the reflection
on the wall."
He did so, and there, clearly outlined upon the wall, was the face of
Buddha. Some skilled workman had so deftly hammered into that mirror the face
of his god that it could be detected only in the strongest sunlight, when
reflected upon the wall.
So we may say that the Creator is so hammered into the mirror of His
universe and the history of mankind, that if we hold it up to the sunlight of
His wisdom and love, we may see His face reflected. As the prophet Isaiah said:
"The whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3.
"O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who has set
Thy glory above the heavens." Psalm 8:1.-By H.M.S. Richards, These Times,
October 1960.
Quote: "Someone once described the Christian in the following way: as to birth,
he is a child of God; as to character, he is clothed in the righteousness of
God in Christ; as to occupation, he is busy about the Father's business; and as
to possessions, he is the heir of all things. Christian, ponder your blessings
in Christ. Rejoice and give Him all praise." Author Unknown, These Times,
January 1959.
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evidence by Dr. Dwight Nelson. Did a loving God create this earth or are we the
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toward evolution? Or can both theories be successfully blended into one? This
book will challenge readers to carefully examine the clues with clarity and
logic. The Divine Master Designer created our planet. And it is the same loving
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day.
Read the first chapter of this book online at
http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/olink.tpl?sku=0816323690 Order online or
from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.
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One of Ralph Waldo Emerson's farmer neighbors was looking over his library
one day, and Emerson offered to lend him a book by Plato. The man had never
heard of "that Plato fellow," but he took the book.
When he returned it, Emerson asked, "Did you enjoy the book?"
"I did that," the neighbor replied. "This Plato has a lot of my ideas."
Like Emerson's neighbor, most of us are not aware of how indebted we are
to those who've gone before-especially when it comes to Bible truth. You and I
today are standing on the shoulders of people who reached out when it was
dangerous to do so. Often we take for granted truths that cost blood, sweat,
and tears.-By Mark Finley, Signs of the Times, August 1995.
Quote: "In God's world, for those who are in earnest, there is no failure. No
work truly done, no word earnestly spoken, no sacrifice freely made, was ever
in vain."-By F. W. Robertson, Signs of the Times, January 12, 1926.
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Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Signs of the Times® gets
results. Reports show that Bible studies and baptisms are a direct result of
its powerful ministry! Reach out today and order Signs for that special friend
or neighbor. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call:
1-800-765-6955 or online at: http://www.AdventistBookCenter.com
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A boy was lost in the woods of Massachusetts. Long after dark he sat down,
his bare feet bruised by stones and cut by briers. Summoning courage, he
pressed on again and again. At last a terrible fear seized him. He realized
that he was lost, completely lost. And he had heard that there were wild
animals in those woods. In his fright he called out at the top of his voice:
"Lost! Lost! Lost!"
A dog barked. It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. Then a man
called: "Stay where you are and I will come to you." Soon he saw the gleam of a
lantern among the trees and then, a short distance away, a man who said,
"Follow me."
He followed the man with the light, who let him out of the woods to his
house on the hill. What a feeling it is to be saved!
Happy are those who, having realized that they are lost and without hope
in the night of sin, follow Him who said:
"I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12.-By The Voice of
Prophecy, Signs of the Times, April 24, 1945.
Quote: "There can be no real and abiding happiness without sacrifice. Our
greatest joys do not result from our efforts towards self-gratification, but
from a loving and spontaneous service to other lives. Joy comes not to him who
seeks it for himself, but to him who seeks it for others."-By T. W. Sylvester,
Signs of the Times, April 28, 1953.
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Read articles from back issues of Signs of the Times: http://www.SignsTimes.org
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Every once in a while a story comes along that is out of the ordinary. It
touches upon so basic a truth that we cannot erase it from our minds, and it
serves to reshape our thinking and mold our lives. Such is the case, I believe,
with the account of a youth, son of a very wealthy man, who was once thus
propositioned by his father:
"Son, I am planning to go abroad for a year or so, and there is something
very special I want you to do for me while I am gone. You remember that fine
piece of real estate I purchased out on the bay shore. I want it developed into
a complete and luxurious dwelling place. I've had my architects and builders
draw up the blueprints of the whole project-house, other buildings,
landscaping, plantings, furnishings, everything. I am putting those blueprints
into your hands, and I want you to supervise their carrying out in every
detail. When I return, I intend to inspect the whole estate with minute care;
and if you have been obedient in everything, I have a great surprise for you.
Be careful, son; be obedient."
The young man entered on his assignment with enthusiasm, and in due time
all was finished, awaiting his father's inspection. When the father returned,
true to his word, he looked with exactness at every detail, comparing it with
the blueprints. He made no comments until he reached the barn, when he asked,
"Where is the well that was called for here?"
"Oh, that well!" said the son, "I noticed there had been an obvious
mistake in the location of that well. Evidently the architect overlooked the
much better location up near the house. So I had the workmen dig the well up
there."
His father made no further comment, continuing his inspection. At last,
seated on the pleasant veranda, the son asked eagerly, "Now, father, do I
qualify?"
A look of intense sadness came over his father's face as he shook his
head. "No, son. You have not obeyed me in a single detail."
"But, father!" cried the son. "I did obey you. I made everything exactly
by the blueprints except the well. And I knew you would not want the well
there. I put it in a much better place, for I was sure that other place was a
mistake."
"No, son. It was not a mistake. It was a test. You have obeyed yourself in
every detail, not me. When what I planned suited you, you carried it out. When
it did not, you followed your own wishes, not mine. Thus you have revealed that
you were obeying your own will, not mine, all the time. Now this fine estate,
which I had intended to give you, is lot to you forever."
Let us be honest with ourselves-and God. How about our relation to His
law, the Ten Commandments? Do we "obey" Him as long as we are not
inconvenienced? Do we say, "Oh, yes; I am perfectly willing to obey God, but I
must understand what He wants and why, and it must satisfy my reason. . . .
Sure! Sure! I am obeying God. But He must not ask me to do that-anything but
that!"-By Kenneth Holland, These Times, April 1964.
Quote: "The church may be sick, yet not die. Die it cannot, for the blood of an
eternal King bought it, the power of an eternal Spirit preserves it, and the
mercy of an eternal God shall crown it."-By Thomas Adams, These Times, July
1964.
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Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others. If this
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