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

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ON BEING FREE Freedom IS a basic need of mankind God has graciously provlded us with free doms formula Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free John 8 32 THE APPROVAL OF GOD As fra1l needy creatures of the dust IS It possible to meet the approval of an omni potent all knowing God9 The resounding answer to this quest1on lS YES w1th the prov1s1ons He has given It 1S 1ndeed humb . . . , ' , ' a a a , cc . . 1 a , . H3 . 1 . 0 I 0 - I c 1 ' ' 3 9 7 The preceding verse If ye continue in my word? reveals two elements which are essential to knowing truth. The one is a knowledge of Christls Word. As we feed upon the Word, we find the realities of time and eternity put into a proper per- spective. This then provides us with an appropriate frame of reference from which to direct life's activities. The other element is an obedience to the Word. Intellectual knowledge of God's Word unaccompanied by experiential know- ledge limits our ability to know truth. This in turn excludes us from being made free. Finally, how does knowing the truth make us free? The answer- is found in Christ's equating Himself with Truth. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed? John 8:36. -Lester H. Weaver HCONSIDER THE WONDROUS WORKS OF GOD These are the words of Elihu in Job 37:14. Job could not understand why a righteous and holy God would allow him to suffer intense physical, mental, and spiritual pressures. Perhaps a worse prob- lem was when his friends falsely accused him of robbing the poor. Job longed for a fair trial: Oh that one would hear me! . . . that the Almighty would answer me! Elihu admonishes Job to consider God's works in nature, His omnipotence, and His great redemptive work at Calvary. In light of all this, we must say as Elihu, Teach us what we shall say unto him, for we can- not order our speech by reason of dark- ness? Job 37:19. There may be times when we suffer dis- couragement or pain. There are times when we will be falsely accused as Job was. We will be scoffed at, or misunderstood: but we do well to realize that God?s works are wonderous. The Psalmist says in Psalm 4, Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still? - Oliver Hess ling to sense how far we 1n our own strength come short of God?s approval. In II Tim- othy 2:15 we arel instructed to study to show ourselves approved unto God. With the Bible as our textbook, we find that it is possible to continually be under the approval and blessing of God. The ques- tion each must face is whether this is our true condition. With this as our greatest goal in life, we should avail ourselves of opportunities to deepen our understanding of what God requires of us. The study of the Word in personal and family devotions as well as the Sunday School and mid-week prayer meeting is a help in gaining this approval. The exposure to God's Word at Bible School is an asset to knowing and experi- encing this approval. May each of us be assured of God's approval now, that we may have it in eternity. -David N. Wadel TRANQUILITY Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee? Isaiah 26:3. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them? Psalm 199:165. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God? Matthew 5:8. The statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes? Psalm 19:8. The light of the body is the eye: if there- fore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light? Matthew 6:22. There- fore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, Iwill liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock? Matthew 7:24. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee? Psalm 84:4. How calm and peaceful to live in the sphere of Christian tranquillity! -Walter R. Newswanger 7

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NOW OR LATER Your life is made up of choices, But some things you must do either way- 4'Now, you can do them by free willg Later, you will be forced to obey. After death the Lord controls you. He determines which way you will take. The way which you now are choosing, Determines the choice He will make. Salvation is now offered to you. You can respond to Christls gentle call, Or refuse to listen to Him, 'Till He thunders from His judgment hall. You decide while you are living If you will kneel before Jesus now. You can stand in proud defiance, But, every knee to the Lord will bow. You can break yourself on Jesus, Or you can yield to your own lust. The life which has not been broken, Will by Christ, then, be ground into dust. You can lose your life for Jesus. Or you can save it and say, lt's mineln The loss refused in the present Will be loss through eternity's time. '6Take the path of least resistance, You can avoid all the suffering today. Then the future will have tormentsg Suffering, from which you can't get away. Dear Friend, it is 'fnow or later? It will be just a matter of time 'Till those which once were rebellious Will yield to His eternal design. -Harry M. Erb BLUSHING To blush is a sudden spreading of color in a person's face because of excitement due to shame, guilt, confusion, or surprise and sudden joy. It is a physical reaction to an emotional dictum that usually expresses one's feeling without audible words. The prophet Jeremiah 16:15, 81123 la- mented the fact that impenitent Israel had reached a place where they were no longer ashamed of their sins. Their hearts were hardened to where they could mix religion and their sins without any noticeable em- barrassment. They could deal falsely and not bat an eye. This is pride at its worst. 6 Occasionally one finds among young peo- ple those who try to develop and groom their self-confidence to the point where they can hardly be embarrassed. Things that would normally cause one to blush are simply turned into a joke. God is not pleased with that kind of brazenness, and He will not overlook it. There are many circumstances that one faces that should cause us to blush if we are in any way partakers. The shameless nudity, vulgar talk, sensual joking, defam- ing parents, resisting authority, etc., are things that should cause us to blush if we are even amused by them. It is our prayer that each student will cultivate a sensitive conscience so that we can properly react to mistakes, and allow the blushing beauty of true character to shine forth. -Jesse Neuenschwander 1 l11-1:11-1- ENTER THE STRAIT GATE Toward the end of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he tells us of the danger of want- ing to walk on the broad road. He says the wide gate and the broad way lead to eternal punishment, yet many choose to go thereon. Jesus says the way that leads to eternal life is the strait gate and the narrow way. The word strait has real meaning to us, giving the idea of a strict, rigid experience. The Bible shows that this uncompromising way is the only life that is really satisfying, safe, and sure. Jesus, inviting us into this experience with him, says I am the door', into this strict, well-disciplined life. In this world we get into some tight places, but our Shep- herd says, I'll take you through safely if you keep your heart and eyes set on me. In this tight place we will by Godfs grace strip off all the things that hinder us, con- tinuing to faithfully serve Him. The final result of faithfulness will be that the glori- ous gate of Heaven will swing open for us. -Sidney Gingrich

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MUSIC APPRECIATION The development of oneis musical taste and appreciation is largely a matter of environment and discipline. Occasionally, one's musical interests must be improved in order to meet the standard which the Bible and the church are promoting. Proper musical interests are closely re- lated to our concept of God and worship. 6'God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24. The real value of sing- ing is realized as we are led into a genuine worship experience. This experience is pri- marily a heart response, rather than a lip expression. The fleshly desire is to develop singing interests that satisfy the carnal appetite. This can be done by selecting music that has a strong emotional emphasis. This places singing on a mere human level, thereby hindering the spiritual appeal of God. We should be developing appreciation for music that strengthens our spiritual life: thereby bringing honor and glory to God. -Eby Burkholder THE HULTRA SOUND', REPORT This is an ultra sound cardiogramf' Dr. Coats explained. This machine will pick up sounds in your heart which cannot be heard. The sounds will then be recorded by printing them on a screen, helping us to discover the inside facts of the heart? Quite an invention, isn't it? It will help the professional man to study the inner condi- tion of the heart without the intra-vascular X-ray approach, which is quite cumber- some. From the beginning of time God has re- vealed the inner facts of our spiritual hearts. He observes conditions that man could never detect, and places it in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. But man is not ex- citably impressed about this display. The reason for it is that man is generally much more interested in physical discoveries re- lated to the present, than in the spiritual and eternal. The secret therefore to be able to discern God's report of man's heart, is 8 the desire to know. This desire grows out of a fear of God. All other barriers are re- moved, but this one stands irrespective of class, creed or color, professional or non- professional, rich or poor. We conclude therefore that because of truth learned at N.B.S., tif in the fear of Godl we can know our hearts as God sees them. It therefore calls us to added precau- tions as we face life in view of eternity. For the Word of God is . . . a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ' Hebrews 4:12. -Isaac K. Sensenig YOUTH IN THE YOKE It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth? The Bible refers to two different yokes: a burdensome yoke, and a blessed yoke. Satan's yoke is very burdensome and im- possible for man to remove. The victim desiring freedom is helpless because the yoke has no provision for him to remove it. Thus, welcome are the words declaring that God's method of removal is to break the yoke from off the neck of the surren- dered carrier. Christ then invites them to harness up with Him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest .... For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30. Why is it good to take on this new yoke in our youth? Three obvious reasons are: 1. The young ox is more easily trained than the old ox. 2. It spares youth from wasting his best years, giving him opportunity to channel his energies for eternal good. 3. Bearing the blessed yoke during youth provides present rest and satisfaction. Dear youth, never make the decision the people of Judah made, .in breaking off the yoke of wood and replacing it with a yoke of iron, which speaks of painful mastery. How beautiful to see youth working in Christis yoke which is easy and light. -Carl Sensenig