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

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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

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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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IS THERE ANY WORD FROM THE LORD9 Jeremiah 37 17 Through the ages the message of the Lord has come through various men and means In these last days the Son and His message have become the medium of Divine Revelation This word from the Lord comes to us as a privilege that issues into responsibility In order to properly benefit we need to have a growing appreciation for its message When men or churches lose their fervent interest in the Word they eventually lose access to a proper understanding Even while they have the scriptures 1n their Mary Magdalene on the Resurrection morning talked with Jesus but supposed he was the gardener She supposed Jesus was still dead and that His body had been moved to another place Not until He called her name d1d she know Him To have scriptural assurance of salva t1on we must know Him and know where He IS not just suppose we know Him Thank God He IS our Redeemer and High Priest and Intercessor and by faith l1ves in our hearts May we faithfully wait for the Son to take us home All w1ll know Him when they hear Him call their name on the Judg ment day but for many It Wlll be too late Paul L Witmer C6 ' . 1 . O , . . . 9 . . 1 . 0 ' , . ' a . 9 , , , 1 . 1 hand they fail to see or hear any message to their own needs. Both those who expound truth and they who hear, face the responsibility to main- tain its message by consistent application to their lives. Our present response to truth bears upon our future access to it. If today the Word of the Lord is lightly esteemed, tomorrow it may be lost. The prophet Jeremiah declares, There isv a word from the Lord. Thus with the He- brew writer, see that ye refuse not Him that speakethf' Hebrews 12:25. -David G. Weaver SUPPGSITIONS As they were traveling home from the feast at Jerusalem, Jesus' parents supposed that he was in their company. Due to neg- lect, they traveled one day before they dis- covered he was missing. Returning to the city they found him in the temple. Today people neglect to read and study the Word of God. Many go to church but fail to worship in spirit and in truth. Multi- tudes of professing Christians are walking the broad way, taking along everything the flesh desires. Few allow the great Surgeon to operate on their hearts. They are satisfied to give him second place, rather than having him rule without a rival. In spite of this they suppose that Jesus is in their company. - l.1 HTHERE IS A LAD HERE The lad about whom we read in the Gospel account was at the right place at the right time. For the many lads who have been here at Bible School-and the ladies too-was not their being here likewise providential? Truly, it was. They were born at the right time and place to enter this God-made-possible experience. In the natural sense, the lads who were here did not need to bring a lunch. But each student brought something compar- able to the lunch of that lad. What they brought had been Hpackedn for them by others and has become uniquely their own. Will they selfishly keep it? Will they humbly give it over? And to whom will they give it? Bible School is a good place to settle these issues. Where that lad was, the Lord was also. Andrew became the link between the lad and the Lord. Many lads owe much to the Andrew-like work that has been done for them at home and at Bible School. Great is the need for men and youth of Andrew- like character. Let us cultivate the ability to see the Hlunchli that others are carrying. Wherever there is a lad, a lunch, and the Lord, the stage is set for a miracle. The lunch that is given to the Lord is miracu- lously multiplied! It yet remains to be seen what the Lord will do with the lunches,' that were brought to Bible School. -Merle Ruth 9