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

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Odk of tures and t0- Cllce. the 0 be ging 'tten rded ished ches, usic iymn and with nany of a s an saver nize , in. der- ials, ices ular 'ard 011' JII1' rist roy lfys Llll' to de gd 36- le ut now in Christ Jesusw qualities of a faith- ful walk of loving service. May God multi- ply these experiences to this end in each of our lives. -Edward Ker 1.l SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION As we need the natural illumination of the sun in order to survive physically, so much more the illumination of the Word to survive spiritually. The psalmist says, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path? We appreciate the illuminating rays of light that reach us here at Bible School. These are cleansing rays and the rays of growth and hope. Solomon says, The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. As we receive the light, we can be a light to others. Some- times by disobedience, we cause the light to be eclipsed, but if we .remove ourselves and our desires, Christ's light again per- vades the scene. When our feelings get too prominent, they shut off the light and we may begin to grope and stagger. As we commit our all to Christ, brighter and brighter he will shine, until we reach the perfect day. Here there will be no night, for the Lord God is the light. May all our efforts and study be pointed toward the illuminating factors of that Eternal City. -Gliver Hess DELIVERAN CE The children of Israel were in the land of Egypt for four hundred thirty years. The Egyptians had made slaves of them and placed them under brutal taskmasters. The Israelites cried to God by reason of their bondage and God heard their cry. God now began to prepare them for deliverance, and to influence the minds of the Egyptians and Pharaoh, their ruler, by sending plagues upon them. The Israel- ites were instructed to make special prep- arations for the last of these. On a given day, they were to take the blood of a per- fect lamb and strike it on the two side posts and upper door post of every house. Thefpurpose of this was that the firstborn son might be saved when God passed through the land that night. Under the new covenant, Jesus Christ, the perfect lamb, died as a sacrifice, that we through His blood may obtain deliver- ance from the bondage of sin. I thank God that we can be delivered from the power of sin through faith in Christ Jesus and his blood. This faith then inspires love for our Deliverer and a desire to be in His service. -Henry Martin AS coLD WATERS It is pleasant to observe many students engrossed in letters from home and friends during intermission periods. One is re- minded that, As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country? Proverbs 25:25. All people, either con- sciously or unconsciously, experience an estranged feeling when temporarily sep- arated from loved ones. A degree of this estrangement is also felt by the growing Christian, as 'he yearns for the return of Christ. We who know the Lord are responsible to represent the far country. Our lives will be a refreshment, as we apply the treasures of truth, that come from God's throne. A holy, calm, 'self-control will have a cooling effect upon heated tempers. f'A soft answer turneth away wrath. We cool tensions by a depicture of calmness and security. Instead of relying on wordly organizations for security, we rest on the promises of God. Then truly our fellow- men can say, The bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother? Philemon 7b. -Isaac Sensenig Always evaluate the criticism before you evaluate the critic. Liberty apart from God, is bondage. 11

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FEAR OF GOD Fear is an emotion that is activated when we face danger. In one way fear is very valuable, since it keeps us from sporting with danger and risk, while it can be very harmful, if it becomes our master. The Bible refers to various kinds of fear, the most significant of which is, the fear of God, termed as the 'fbeginning of wisdom. Before we have the fear of God, we first experience fear that comes from the consequences of sin. A After repentance we have a different kind of fear, producing reverence and respect for- God, and making us concerned about pleasing this object of our reverence. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christi, Romans 5:1b. Gnly after we have this peace, are we in a position to develop the fear of God that is essential to a useful and fruitful life. If we truly have the fear of Godf' we can, in a practical way, overcome other fears and serve Him with reverence and godly fear. - Jesse Neuenschwander , REFLEC TION The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:31 that, God saw every thing He had made, and behold it was very goodf' His creation was a reflection of His own greatness and power. . In the plan and creation of all things, man 'was formed and became the image and likeness of God, as God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Man, with a living soul, was able to fellowship with God and was a reflection of God Him- self. Man's disobedience marred this re- flection and relationship, and he was driven from the presence of God. God's love and mercy provided a Redeemer in the person of Jesus Christ, making it possible for man to be brought back into fellowship with Him, and to again be that reflection which was lost in his selfish, disobedient act. The blessings of fellowship and study of God's Word in Bible School, help us to keep our lives a brighter reflection of the victorious Christian life. -Walter Newswanger 10 The true church is made up of voluntary believers that are waging an aggressive warfare against sin, and upholding Gods standard of righteousness. ,l,,l11l-i-il- No storm can wreck the program of God. ,,i. 1.g-114:11 ' GUR SINGING HERITAGE The first hymn singing in Scriptures recorded in Matthew 26, when Jesus and his disciples were in the upper room to- gether, before his Gethsemane experience. In the Psalms we are told to sing unto the Lord, and to make a joyful noise. We be- lieve that in early church life, the singing of Psalms was customary. ' As earlyas 1527, songs were written and sung, many of which are recorded in the Ausbund Hymnal, first published in 1564. In early American Mennonite Churches, hymn books were few and had no music with the words. About the year 1900, hymn books with music were introduced and singing schools became popular. Today we have many hymn books with a wide variety of songs and hymns on many topics. I am thankful to be a part of a church group that believes singing is an essential part of worship. l -Aaron Weaver BUT GOD Reflecting on our past, we recognize in the circumstances surrounding our in- dividual experiences, that God was order- ing the events, the associations, the trials, and the blessings. Our inner man rejoices and responds in praise for this particular testimony of His love and mercy toward us. The Numidia Bible School is a mon- ument to divine intervention. God com- mended His love toward us through Christ Jesus while we were yet sinners. His mercy and grace, although epitomized at Calvary, are presently extended in the opportun- ities for spiritual growth as we submit to His will and appropriate His power. Consider the responses you have made to opportunities graciously extended through your Bible School experience. The 'but God', interventions of Bible School are designed to produce the but

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The true Christian is not living a life separated from the world, but a Izfe sep- arated unto God. I will bless the Lord at all timesf' Youill never find a miserable Christian in the center of God's will A good name is better than precious ointment? ' If you should meet a man without a smile, give him one. If you' cannot see through your troubles, look -over them. God only calls busy beople. Life is sure to bring us sunshine- Smiles, surprises, some success, Savior, We will give you glory When life is treating us the bestf' Life is sure tobring us shadows- Storms and struggles, sorrows too, Yet, in these, your loving purpose Is to strengthen us in you. Measure, Lord, our joys and teardrops- Just enough of each to make Radiant lives of helping others, , Doing all for Jesus' Sake. . - In lifeis varied situations ' Weill' say thanks, for all you send, Knowing someday in your prescence Sweet delights shall never end! 1,-.l-l-q.gs s p AN EDITOR'S EVENTIDE I MEDITATIONS Father, I am weary tonight. Weary of working with manuscripts. All day I have been - changing sentence construction correcting grammatical errors adding and subtracting punctuation boiling down making effective endings I have tried to make sure that the characters are true to life there is a central theme . wrong is adequately punished no doctrinal error creeps in the stories suit the age which they are intended It is with a sense of relief that I lay my 12 pen aside and take up Thy Word tonight. What matter if the style of this precious Book be considered archaic by some? I rejoice that the sentence construction needs no changing . the greatest of care has been exercised to keep out all grammatical errors the right amount of punctuation is there there are no superfluous words to be detected the endings are always effective In Thy Book thou dost show Thyself a master in I revealing characters as true to life centering around one grand theme suiting every age level showing the end of wrong doing setting forth truth without mixture I No editorls pen is needed. I thankfully lay it down as I take up Thy Word tonight. -selected ,i, 0 LORD .... HOW LONG- WILT THOU NQT HEAR? The prophet Habakkuk asked this question when he looked at the violence and sin in Israel. It seemed to him, as he viewed the situation, that God was doing nothing about the lamentable state of affairs. God's answer posed a yet more perplex- ing problem to Habakkuk. How could God use a nation to punish Israel that was even more wicked than they? V Habakkuk received a vision of God's sovereign control of nations and His ul- timate judgment upon sin. He no longer need to .ask where God was, but in his human weakness, seemed a bit fearful that God was doing too much. g - n We need that vision today, ,because sin is rampant. Judgment is perverted and the world seems to have lost 'all respect for sacred things. Some ask, Where is God? Why is he not answering the prayers ascending from hearts burdened with this sad condition? The encouraging challenge from Habakkuk is that God sees, is in con- trol, and is at work. by -Glenn Sensenig 4 . 4- .4 -3. 1 ,-ff -.U -af. L . s fi Has' 4. I x K