December 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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The Meaning of Christmas
Christmas means more than snow and sleigh bells or glittering gifts on
Christmas trees.
Christmas means forgetting self and remembering those who have no
Christmas. It means leaving our little heavens as Jesus left His big heaven to
visit those who need help and who need to hear a message of peace and hope and
cheer.
Christmas means the bright eyes of little children made glad by a
demonstration of unselfish love.
Christmas means revived hope in the hearts of fathers and mothers who
because of some tragedy had lost hope of giving their children a merry
Christmas until a modern Good Samaritan came along.
Christmas means that kindness is "Queen for a Day," and what a happier
world she makes! We cannot help wishing that she would rule the world every day
of the year. What transformations are wrought by kindness! It turns hovels of
hate into havens of happiness!
Christmas means that a hard, cruel, selfish world, weary of crime and
terrorism, looks for a brief time into the face of God. It looks into a manger
into the face of a little Babe. It sees a fleeting vision of what a little Babe
can do to make a better world. It hears for a moment the song of the angels,
singing: "Peace on earth, good will to men." It sees how hard, selfish hearts
can be broken and the fountains of love begin to flow in a gladsome stream. It
sees the miser's clutched hand relax for a day as a little flash of light from
heaven shines into his darkened soul. It sees businessmen forget the profit
they planned to get and begin to plan to give. And how many suddenly discover
that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give!
Christmas helps many people begin to live!
Christmas causes prodigal sons and daughters to pause in their wayward,
downward course and think of Mother and Father and home. Then little
remembrances are sent to revive hope in the hearts of lonely, hungry ones
waiting by the mailbox.
No, Christmas is not in the snow or the tinseled tree or even in the gifts
we send. It is the spirit of love, it is the Spirit of God walking abroad in
the land. It is the only time of the year when some hearts open to let Him in.
Oh, that we would make every day Christmas! Christmas means we have heard the
music of the bells of love. It means we have smelled the fragrance of the rose
of love. Christmas means that romance is still alive in our hearts. Christmas
means we can still feel the power of the love of God.-By Adlai A. Esteb, Signs
of the Times, December 1976.
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Don't miss the January 2010 issue of Signs of the Times: "Count Your
Blessings," "Resolutions You Can Keep," "How to Be a Happy Christian," "How to
Know the Bible's True," "Angel in a Red Dodge Pickup" and other important
articles. To order Signs, call: 1-800-765-6955 or online at
www.pacificpress.com/signs
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"No room." They are the most heart-rending words in the Bible. No room.
Would you have said that? Don't you say it, every day? Don't you say it to
Christ when He asks you for your heart: "Go away and let me sleep. I've got no
time for you, no room in my heart. . . . I don't know you"? We're all
innkeepers, with room for everybody and everything but Him. Not many of us
really let Him in.
I heard once about an old Scottish minister who used to go around knocking
on the doors of his town and asking whoever answered the knock, "Does Jesus
Christ live here?" People stared at him and told jokes about him. They thought
he was crazy. But was he?-By Roy Rogers, These Times, December 1961.
Quote: "Grace, by its matchless art, often turns our heaviest trials into
occasions for heavenly joy."-Selected, Signs of the Times, July 18, 1892.
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NEW from Pacific Press-Christmas in My Heart 18 by Joe L. Wheeler. Looking for
a Christmas gift for that person on your list who has everything? You can't go
wrong with Joe Wheeler's latest volume of Christmas stories. Focusing on the
spirit of family, fellowship and service during this special time of year,
these stories are great for group and personal reading alike.
Read the first chapter of this book online at
http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/olink.tpl?sku=0816323607 Order online or
from your local Adventist Book Center--1-800-765-6955.
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There is an ancient legend about a monk who went out from a monastery one
day to gather sticks. While occupied with his task he heard a bird singing. He
thought he had never before heard such a beautiful melody. He ceased gathering
sticks to listen. At last the bird stopped singing and flew away.
Brother Thomas took up his burden, returned to the monastery, and knocked
for admittance. The monk who answered the door asked who he was. "I am Brother
Thomas," he said.
"But we have no Brother Thomas," replied the man at the door.
"But," remonstrated Brother Thomas, "I left the monastery just a short
time ago to gather these sticks."
"I remember," said the other, "hearing about a Brother Thomas who left the
monastery to gather sticks and never came back. That was a hundred years ago.
It was supposed that he met with some tragedy."
The hour or so that Brother Thomas thought he had spent listening to the
bird's beautiful music was actually a hundred years. How well this illustrates
the joys of the eternal world! Amid the music of heaven and in the presence of
Jesus the saints will be superlatively happy through all eternity.-By Dallas
Youngs, Signs of the Times, June 1956.
Quote: "God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees, and
flowers, and clouds, and stars."-By Martin Luther, These Times, April 1971.
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Place this in your church bulletin or newsletter: Introduce a friend or
neighbor to Jesus by sending Signs of the Times to their home. They will notice
your thoughtfulness and appreciate your interest in their lives! Make the call
and put God to the test. Order from your Adventist Book Center. To order call:
1-800-765-6955 or online at: www.pacificpress.com/signs
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Some years ago a large Protestant denomination held a world convention in
the Middle West. Missionaries and church leaders had come from the far places
of earth to attend. A brilliant young modernist orator was chosen to present
the opening message. The topic chosen by him was "The Second Coming of Christ."
"I don't believe," he said, "in the literal, personal return of Christ. I
believe His coming will be seen in better politics, peace agreements among the
nations, church union, and the spirit of understanding among men. Don't you
think so, Dr. Brown?" he asked, turning to a venerable old minister of the
gospel.
Dr. Brown arose from his seat, advanced to the front of the rostrum, and
said in a voice quivering with emotion: " 'This same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into
heaven,' Acts 1:11;" and he sat down.
Yes, Christ's coming will be literal and personal. John says, in
Revelation 1:7, "every eye shall see Him."-By Floyd Chester Carrier, Signs of
the Times, September 5, 1939.
Quote: "In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of
God's mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is the key that shuts us up
under His protection and safeguard."-Anonymous, These Times, August 1965.
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Read articles from past issues of Signs at: www.signstimes.org
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"I know whom I have believed." 2 Timothy 1:12. It is all important to know
in whom we put our trust. It is the personal knowledge we need. Not so much a
knowledge of His person, but a knowledge of Him in our person, as illustrated
in the case of a very wicked man who, when taunted by some of his evil
associates with, "Well, if you are a Christian, who was the father and mother
of Jesus? When did He live? Where did He live? How old was He when He died? How
did He die?"
To all of which he replied, "I don't know."
"Well," they said, "you are a pretty poor Christian! You don't know the
father or mother of Jesus; or when He lived or where; or when He died, or how
He died. What DO you know?"
He quietly answered, "I know that He saved me."
What a wonderful thing it is to know that Jesus saves even me! This is the
knowledge that answers every question.-By Martin A. Hollister, Signs of the
Times, May 1, 1923.
Quote: "One can't grouch around all the week, and sing well on the Sabbath."-By
Charles G. Bellah, Signs of the Times, November 12, 1929.
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Looking for a way to share your faith this holiday season with a friend, visit
www.AdventistBookCenter.com for great gift ideas.
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What think you of Christ? Who say you that He is? This Christ challenges
the attention of the world by His many-sidedness. He meets the needs of all
classes and conditions of men. As deep answers unto deep, so does He respond to
the moving of each soul of mankind. If we were to call the roll of the world's
workers this morning and ask them, "What think ye of Christ?" their answers
would be something like this, and they would amaze us by their revelation of
His many-sidedness:
To the artist He is the One Altogether Lovely.
To the architect He is the Chief Corner Stone.
To the astronomer He is the Sun of Righteousness.
To the baker He is the Living Bread.
To the banker He is the Hidden Treasure.
To the biologist He is the Life.
To the builder He is the Sure Foundation.
To the carpenter He is the Door.
To the doctor He is the Great Physician.
To the educator He is the Great Teacher.
To the engineer He is the New and Living Way.
To the farmer He is the Sower and the Lord of the Harvest.
To the florist He is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.
To the geologist He is the Rock of Ages (and it is more important to know
the Rock of Ages than the age of rocks).
To the horticulturist He is the True Vine.
To the judge He is the Righteous Judge, the Judge of all men.
To the juror He is the Faithful and True Witness.
To the jeweler He is the Pearl of Great Price.
To the lawyer He is the Counselor, the Lawgiver, the Advocate.
To the newspaper man He is the Good Tidings of Great Joy.
To the oculist He is the Light of the Eyes.
To the philanthropist He is the Unspeakable Gift.
To the philosopher He is the Wisdom of God.
To the preacher He is the Word of God.
To the sculptor He is the Living Stone.
To the servant He is the Good Master.
To the statesman He is the Desire of all Nations.
To the student He is the Incarnate Truth.
To the theologian He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
To the toiler He is the Giver of Rest.
To the sinner He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
To the Christian He is the Son of the Living God, the Saviour, the
Redeemer, the Lord.-By Melvin E. Lederer, Signs of the Times, January 23, 1923.
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Compiled by Dale Galusha. Please pass this newsletter on to others. If this
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