Numidia Mennonite Bible School - Reflector Yearbook (Numidia, PA)

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SOWING AND REAPING MATTHEW 13:3-9, I8-23 Matthew 7 :29 tells us that Jesus taught with authority and not as the scribes. In a time of uncertainties, we are glad that we still have the Bible as the Word of authority. The intellectuals of our day have suc- ceeded in confusing multitudes, by telling: them that circumstance changes the ape plication of God's Word, but nothing en- courages the child of God more than to know, that even though Heaven and earth shall pass away, God's Word shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35. With this promise and many more like it, we can rest assured that God's Word of authority will prevail. John 12:48. T A i This assurance gives encouragement to us, as we endeavor to sow the Word in the hearts of men and women, young people and whosoever will hear. The promise of God is still in affect, according to the prophet Isaiah, when he said: 'fforas the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing Whereto I sent it . Isaiah 55:10,11. In Matthew 13, in the p-arable of the Sower, we have four different types of soil conditions which, I believe, are likened to different heart conditions within the human race. Here at Bible School the Word is being sown every day. As born again saints we sow the Word. It is our business to see that the good news of the gospel be spread in such a way that it will fall into good ground. Surely, here at Bible School, hearts are mellowed by the Word of God, stony hearts are broken by the hammer of the Word Ueremiah 23 :29l, and stubborn, rebellious hearts melted by the burning ire of God's Word as it divides, cuts and searches hearts. Some seed falls by the way side into hearts void of understanding, and Satan robs the individual of the intended bless- ing. Some seed falls upon stony places into hard and rebellious hearts. For a while these rejoice in the 'b'1' life and sins forgiveg?Sl?1i1t1Eercaiiscf:a Iiew lack of real surrender and committ 0 a soon are oiended. ment' Some seed falls 13 - hearts that have resefxdlhieagiifngarhlgq ity, so that the world with its attractions or the desire for accom l' h ' out the Word The lt'p1S ment Choke . u im t d ' unfruitful life and a severgdersllatiofshaig with Christ. In flohn 15:2a, Christ sa s every branch 1n me that beareth X012 fruit he taketh away . But praise the Lord for the hearts of those who are as good ground, prepared and mellowed, so that the Word can take root and bring forth fruit, some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred fold. Here we have one who hears, understands, counts the cost, yields, meets the condi- tions and rejoices in an abundance of fruit. Praise His name! i -George Hofer STUDY! STUDY! STUDY! Ti-iAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.-. . Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. II Timothy 2:15. You will notice that these words are spoken in the form of a command, and all commandments contain the same degree of authority upon our personal life. I feel we must therefore, be open and ready for every opportunity to learn about all the things of God that we can. This scripture also presents the idea that this assignment of study takes some effort. The real reason for God giving us a command is to prepare us to rightly un- derstand the Scriptures, and apply them to our own lives in our day. Today the very foundations of the truth of God are being tried and attacked. How- ever, we can rest upon the promise that though Heaven and earth shall pass away, my Words shall never pass away. Matthew 24:25. My dear young people, we are charged to study that which has eternal foundation and values. -Titus Burkholder ..9... l mV,,l5 'W fl gi V' I l5. f .5 mfg! 5158. al hfqs' Magi' gl!-dl Q' la al UMTS we la-',1 wllwlllg 4 mimi' ' ' immlfl mM5 MFF' wrlivesiil lllllillillhu mgandfmllrhu iheremhnn lordulfd M .. ndinlldwlll llll ,gi--1 . l iraqi lcagimgg flfiiiifiii lll11nrehW.5 aa.l. ill for It 5 Q ?aQ5q iltlpew M . I Titan R51 mnlltmhsj. l3.l'l!bl lla, I

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aill is I must God'S S this Stands do not areg 1 Y OWH Derate that od Way of E19 woe ithout . Brunk ES 4:14 od. God physical ty. God lan the a living , We are at be at ticipate even a me, and 4 in in- d inno- of the state of wledge, re. We ' break lor the man. lt 931' the rat ve Ptbgeiit, g ln the . Wifme' ARE THE INVESTMENTS' BRINGING RETURNS? An investment presupposes returns. Each of us represents numerous very costly investments. From the beginning of our earthly existence, godly parents have repeatedly invested time, prayers and money in an effort to promote our phys- ical, mental and spiritual development. Likewise, the Church, because of her love and interest, freely and continuously invests through Bible Schools, prayers and local fellowship activities, that we might learn of things that endure unto life eternal. In addition to the investments made by the home and the Church, God has made an investment in us that is incomprehen- sibly great, by giving His Son, His Holy Spirit and His Word. The Apostle Paul declares that we are bought with such a high price that we are no longer our own. Furthermore, Jesus continues to invest in our behalf as He prepares the eternal home for us. In View of the multiple investments made in us, how can we bring profitable returns to our investors? First, we can give ourselves, our love, our all to the Lord. Then, by helping other souls to find Christ we can add more value to glory than this whole world is worth. Thus the home and the Church and God will be .pleased with their investments. -Aaron M. Shank SACRIFICIAL LOVE When we look into the acts of God, we see love expressed on its highest level. Hereby perceive we the love of God, be- cause he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the breth- ren. I John 3 :16. Oh such love! It is almost too wonderful to grasp. Because of such works of love, we yield ourselves to Him who died for us, and His commandments are not griev- ous . I John 513. This love shed abroad in our heart makes it possible to love our brother, and to the extent that we are able to lay down our life for Him. This may not mean martyrdom, but the willingness to spend and be spent in behalf of our brother's welfare, thus denying ourselves of any- thing that would cause our brother to stumble or fall. This true love in our heart makes it possible to deny ourselves, and to take up our cross. We love that which is right and serve Him in the building of His kingdom. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judg- ment: because as he is, so are we in this world. I John 4:17. -Paul R. Weaver MY CUP RUNNETH OVER Said a little girl, I am just a little girl, I have just a little cup, but I can overflow a ot . The cup running over in Psalms 23:5 is related to the Lord having prepared a table, and anointing the head with oil. This is symbolic of eating the bread of life, the Word of-God, and the subsequent work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. A careful comparison of the scriptures reveals that to be full of the Word and full of the Holy Spirit will issue into the same overflowing experience, Ephesians 5:18, cf. Colossians 3:16. This teaches that a knowledge of the Word embraced by faith, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, are an integral part of each other. Bible School offers a tremendous oppor- tunity for a concentrated study of the Word fThe Lord's prepared tableb. Em- bracing the Word through faith, links it to our hearts with its inherent quickening power, affecting every member of our body. Here we begin to overflow and touch the world for God. Faith must keep abreast with knowledge. Someone has said that a pint-sized knowledge with a pint-sized faith will work more miracles than a gallon-sized knowledge with a quart-sized faith . Faith enables our minds to grasp and comprehend the body of truth. John 7:17. This is an understanding that the wis- dom of the world cannot touch. With this relationship we live and move among the unsaved world. Our tongues speak the message of .hope to those who have never heard, and to those who are gospel-hard- ened by hearing it over and over without applying it to life. Our bodies become a living sacrifice in behalf of God's plan of redemption, to the praise of His glory . Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoint- est my head with oil: my cup runneth over. -Isaac K. Sensenig 8...

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'Ll I HJ. 2' ,, ,, 11- g I . ng. fsme-tw , . , . ... jp- 152,52 I 1. N bei-it Qnqhgwyl. I ,N Sholst ll 'Essen himilays me 'we ubihmof I -J-.Ts F -will ..'1 ,,f-mr rfmmhgf '. Ullhmeof 'fvxe Hofer YUWYY IJSAYS... fnpprovedunto vdrzhnottobe 'She Word of me Fords are mad, and all same degree nl life. he o n and leareze about Q can. This I that this Q Mott. ivinl U5 3 ightly U11- pply them 'the truth led. HOW- ,,,1,., that .gl away, e yattheW we 8!'8 L. we' ,fghalder GRATEFU LN ESS PSALMS 100:4 In this hour of tragedy, nationalism and apostasy, we, as Christians, should be grateful to God, that we've been redeemed by Jesus Christ, that His grace covers all sin, and is able to keep us now in this evil time. What are we doing to show our grate- fulness for the One, who suffered for us? It is so easy to forget. the cost of our redemption, in this careless, prayerless age. Yet we profess to love Him, who took our place, that we might live. How many appreciate a godly mother who is humble, modest, and faithful to her family? There are still those faithful parents, who, in spite of the drifting church, the apostasy of many ministers, and the wreckage of many homes, have kept the faith. They have steered us away from the sinking ship, which has been shattered by an iceburg of worldliness and liberalism. How can we ever forget the ship from which we were saved? How can we ever repay the debt we owe? Oh, dear youth, we ought to humbly lay our lives in obedience , at His feet, in thankfulness for Christian homes, teach- ers, and for a Christian school as Numidia, where we can learn more about the blessed Word of God. Let us worship and be thankful in word and in deed. -Lester Shirk WHO THEN IS WILLINGP I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable ser- vice. Romans 12:1. The child of God has much to be thank- ful for. God's provision for man is beyond comprehension. He sent His only Son to pay the price for our redemption. God's love for us is far greater than tongue or pen can tell. The most we can do could never repay Him for it. The call comes to each one of us to fully consecrate our lives to the Lord. Before the Lord can use us in His vineyard, we must give up our own will and yield, to His. Everything must be laid on the altar. Only then will we experience true peace and happiness. The Lord has a plan for each of our lives, but we must be in the way so he can lead us. God has left us here for a purpose. He still has work for us to do. Are we willing to give our whole life in servce to the Lord? Even though trials may come, The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us . Romans 8:18. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? I Chronicles 29:5. ' -Janet Meck HWR TTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION I CORINTHIANS 10:1-'I4 The admonition referred to in this passage is summarized in verse fourteen. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, 'flee from idolatry. According to verse thirteen, temptation is an experience common to all of us. But those who flee idolatry shall find the way to escape. On the other hand, verse twelve warns the person who thinks he is standing and therefore is not fleeing, that he will fall. This scripture tells us that the history of the children of Israel is written for our admonition. 'We are told that many of them were overthrown, and that twenty- three thousand fell in one day. This pas- sage records twice that some were de- stroyed. Five times the apostle emphasizes by the use of the word all , that while some fell and others did not, their experience was common. Therefore, there was no excuse for any to fall. The golden calf is not mentioned in this passage, but the people are called idola- ters, because they ate and drank and played. This indicates that they ignored and despised God. They made for them- selves a god, which opened the way for fleshly indulgences. The lesson is clear. We shall have vic- tory over temptation, only as we flee idolatry, by esteeming God's Word above our necessary food. -Henry Weaver ....10..