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

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EVIL DAYS,' In my teen-age years an aged man, known as a roadwalker, was hit by a car near our home. We walked up to him and found him lying crippled along the roadside. As we tried to help him, his first reaction was, Let me alone, will yalw He was like what some- one said about the truth taught in Ecclesiastes 12: 1. Old age seems to have a peculiar in- capacity for improvement, the old tree will sooner break than bend. Old age too has its own temptations. It is prone to fear every- thing, and to doubt everything, but not will- ing to learn anything. It has a weariness that cannot bear disturbance, though every- thing important is at stakef' It naturally seeks rest. Let me alonef' cries the old man. Let me die as I am. IfI am wrong, I will be wrong. I am too old to learn. It is to late to think of anything new. If the tree be crooked, it must remain crooked, and as it falls, so it must lie. Young people, when- ever you observe these evil days of old peo- ple, think of the words of Ecclesiastes 12:1. The aging years of an unsaved man's life soon narrows down to the evil daysn of declining interest in change for the better. Those evil days remind us of the need to use our vital youthful energy to go deeper with God. We must exercise ourselves in His service, and wait before Him daily that we may experience the promise of Isaiah 40:31, They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall Walk, and not faint. It is possible to grow older and in a spiritual sense be younger. Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Now is the time to start avoiding those evil daysn of Ecclesiastes 12: 1. -ISAAC K. SENSENIG NONESIMUSH : USEFULNESS vs USELESSNESS In Philemon VII we read that Onesimus was in time past unprofitable, but now IS profitable. This means that his former use- lessness had given way to a present useful- ness. The reason for this marked change in his life is implied in verse ten where One- simus had experienced a new beginning. Use- lessness is a result and by-product of sm. Therefore the only way to enter into useful- ness, is to accept God's plan for deliverence from sin. The usefulness of this Bible character was greatly extended because: 1. He had no selfish reservations, evi- denced by a willingness to return to his former master. 2. He was willing to take up Christian service right where he was, as seen in his ministering to the Apostle Paul's needs. 3. He identified with a scriptural group, as seen by Paul calling him a brother beloved? This implies his identifica- tion with the nucleus of believers at Rome. Our usefulness is also enhanced when we decide that: 1. No price is too high for total peace. 2. We will be willing to do that which is at hand to do. 3. We will blend our personal abilities for group interest in the scriptural body of the church. The challenge to be useful to the Lord in time is properly understood when we recognize that our present degree of useful- ness will eventually issue into itls eternal counterpart. -DONALD NOLT ASSURANCE For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. I Thessalonians 1:5. Assurance is a vital part of our Christian experience. First of all, to have assurance we must confess our sins, and allow God to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Any one who is living in sin and rebellion toward God cannot claim assurance. Another test of assurance is whether or not we keep his commandments. Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. To claim assurance, we must also love our brethren for God is love. We are glad to know that all the require- ments for being a child of God do not need to be achieved in our own strength, for then we would all fail. We thank God for the resurrection power made available for us today, that we can live victorious lives, and be assured of a joyous end in Christ Jesus. -AARON Z. WEAVER 6

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TORCHES FOR TRUTH The far-reaching influence of a faithful life is seldom seen in as clear.a light as .111 the case of the three Hebrew saints of Daniel 3. The fiery furnace episode was the means of spreading their influence over most of the then known world. The Scripture tells us that Nebuchadnezzar called the leaders of the provincesfrom h1S entire kingdom together to the dedication of an image erected by him. It was this group that witnessed the refusal of these. three Hebrew saints to bow to that heathen image. It was this group that witnessed the power of God in delivering them from the fire. Doubtless, the account of their loyalty and resulting deliverance was a subject of para- mount interest on their return to the various provinces. This was likely accented by the king's decree telling of the incident and de- manding worship before the God of Heaven. God used this incident to call the atten- tion of the world to Himself. He is doing the same today with individuals that are re- fusing to fit into the mold of a godless society. An undying loyalty and a willing- ness to be counted for God, even on issues seemingly small, is the key to unlocking a ministry of usefulness for God, the scope of which is staggering. Let us be faithful so our lives will be torches for truth, torches that have the potential of reaching even to the ends of the earth. -GLENN M. SENSENIG GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS In the midst of his lamentations, Jeremiah bursts out with the great truth. It was born out of a realization that were it not for the faithfulness of God, things would be a lot worse. He rejoiced that the mercies of God which are new every morning kept them from being consumed. God's faithfulness provides a tremendous anchor for the soul. The values reach into every area of life. It equips the Christian to face life realistically and victoriously. Knowing that God has never failed any of His promises enables us to exercise faith in Him. The challenge then is not to God's faith- fulness but rather to our faithfulness to Him. Jeremiah concludes that it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth, 5 Not that older folks shouldnit, but because there is no better time to begin. F aithfulness to a faithful God promises a rewarding life both now and forever. -DAVID BURKHOLDER BONDAGE TODAY Independence is a vital part of religious freedom today. The Jews of Jesus' day ex- pressed this when they responded to him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, ye shall be made free? Let us view this blind boast of these people as an expression of the carnal mind. The truth of the realms of light and darkness is obscured, if not altogether hidden from them. Jesus has just spoken to the believing Jews, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeedg And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. From our vantage point, we recognize that our Lord spoke of spiritual liberty. As the discourse continued, Jesus said, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeedf' As we find this freedom in Christ, we recognize the establishment of new ties to Christ. Jesus is now Lord of our lives. Notice I Corinthians 7:22. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's free man: Likewise also he that is called being free, is Christ's servant. Our adversary is not ignorant of this fact and would endeavor to bring us again under his bondage. God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Let us consider two prongs of our adversary's attack, false doctrine and false brethren. Satan delights in half truths and he uses false brethren to promote them. Paul cap- tures the satanic purpose of these men in Galatians 2 :4, writing that they might bring us into bondage. Paul says in verse five they gave no room for these brethren, not even for an hourg that the Truth of the gospel might continue. To this end we invoke God's blessing on the Numidia Bible School students that ye may be free indeed and that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. I Bondage indeed, but what a glorious rela- tionshipg liberty indeed, but what gracious confines. -EDWARD KER L,- .Uv ln hom? 50Oll5f its 02' thing. ins I0 '1 mm. I will bf is to 34:1 tree he C. . ' I I7- bllzlrv cite: you ple. Ltini L Qf Ili. ... YOUU iii . ..-.. tlJ'l'r'i' ' sLii...4.L I .. l. Ines :- USS OEET '- with GQC Hi' r 5 Nfl: WC 'f i . . A..-U , Qu' .,.. l0.:., T lfllfll' :ff Wifi 55 iii R33-,' il lim: Lf. . x lv Yfvigl-. I J-Y.. ' h Lg, . ra- ' AN ixj. .OWS l w 1' DL- uf 'iff Q . X .- s w i. . , - .jx - 5, n .. 5 , -.. in ' 't-1:

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STONES MADE READY When Solomon was building the magnifi- cent temple unto the Name of the Lord God, the inspired writer informs us that it 'twas built of stone made ready before it was brought thither. I Kings 6:7. Solomon had thousands of workers in the quarry split- ting, cutting and chipping the rock. These enormous stones of up to ten cubits C I Kings 7:l0J were conveyed to the building site and silently laid together without hammer or axe, revealing the incredible intelligence of the architect and the liawless accuracy of the workmanship. God, the Master Builder, is likewise pre- paring a spiritual house by the submission of human beings to His plan and purpose. We, as lively stones, are part of that spiritual house. I Peter 2:5. God is cutting, chipping and polishing us so that some day we will lit right into that eternal building. God uses the crushing hammer of His Word to chip the rough edges of pride, coveteousness, worldliness, hatred, lying, discouragement, carnality, etc. off of us. If we are not will- ing to yield to the loving blows of His ham- mer, He will cast us aside. Sometimes it may be hard to see God's plan for our life, but rest assured, He knows what He is doing and He will finish His temple! -JAMES BURKHOLDER BE STRONG In Joshua 1:8 the Lord commanded Josh- ua that the book of the law should not depart out of his mouth, but he should continue to meditate therein day and night and ob- serve to do according to all that is writ- ten therein. In Joshua 1:9 Joshua was instructed by the Lord to be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goestf' The same recipe that Joshua was to use is still good for us today. Let us notice some of the ingredients for being strong in the Lord. 1. The Word of God needed to have first place in his thought life. 2. He was to observe and do that which he was commanded. 7 3. He was to recognize the presence of God in their midst. What we need today is strong pillars of the faith who do not become discouraged or intimidated by the world, but who are ready to be counted and to give a witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ. I Corin- thians 16:13. Here at the Numidia Bible School the weak can be strengthened, and the strong can become stronger. As we allow the Word to have its proper place in our life, it will bring the results that God intends for it to bring. Ephesians 6:10, 11. Finally my breth- ern, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. -JoHN K. SENSENIG 'GI AM DEBTOR The above words express the deep-seated conviction of a man whose life was consumed on the altar of Christ-honoring service. God is looking for such people today. Students who come to Numidia Bible School with this conviction are an asset to the school. Hope- fully, those lacking this conviction upon ar- rival, acquire it during their stay. Many reason thus: 'Tm not a debtorg all my bills are paid. Even so, if you are a Christian, you are in debt for two reasons, and few owe more than the Christian Men- nonite. First, having been on the receiving end, you owe a debt of gratitude. Among your greatest benefactors are your parents. No generation stands on its own feetg it stands on the shoulders of the former generation. Most of us have come also under the in- liuence of friends, teachers and preachers from whom we have received things more valuable than gold. Think, too, of the many in former generations whose sacrifices have enriched us. Second, you belong also on the giving end, you owe a debt of service. Others need what you have received. Freely ye have received, freely givef' CMatthew 10:83. The Christian holds the key that can unlock the prison in which many are held captive. Peter said, 'tSuch as I have, give I thee. What will you say? -MERLE RUTH .'1L'. EZ' A -ef'- PIOUUL. J . cn--1' - tiliiiifi .- of 3 ,n -3, llffr' :li 1 nes fflilf. chafariff if best PfO'ffr',. when M 'e'r and U5Ufi'.'i.r, enCf- www Tne in the Vior-I C our Pfflfcz f Q .1 love G03 , He forging. lice. dffliv fit' as He 519195 Y tothe SUV' ' the cross lense. BCI' - lilehand help The WOfi.f seek a COTY'- seek an in:-fi not away. Yi -v-ff' Ii closer nan H 1ohnIlfl.I even so sexi IHI Clin and . stinet nhgg I to the Lori that nom his Creamer of Gnd the Hon- Q iIHS Qi fall of Cliill He Xktiufkf Whkh He didn- nn the xwherggors Wtifks XL T I Jtiim W Cam We J K' Ohh