Steinbach Bible Institute - Star Yearbook (Steinbach, Manitoba Canada)

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STEINBACH BIBLE ACADEMY YEAR BOOK 13 As we diligently follow On the paths of learning, May our hearts and wills be mellow For the Saviour’s moulding. With godly wisdom, Lord, endue us; Keep us from all dross, And lead us now along this way To serve Thee every day.

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12 STEINBACH BIBLE ACADEMY YEAR BOOK By Don P. Shidler Some of the most interesting plants I have found in the South American jungles are the palms. I would like to give you features of these plants, especially the chonta palm. 1. The chonta palm lives a separated life. Even though all about it is every type of small tree, bush, vines and jungle growth the chonta grows straight toward heaven and its foliage is seen high above all others of the jungle. It is truly a dif¬ ferent tree. This is a good example of Christian life. While God allows us to live on earth, our lives will be touched by every kind of sin and worldliness. The sting of Satan is on every hand; sometimes it is hard to see God’s pathway for us but, beloved Christ¬ ian, take a lesson from the chonta, look up, look “from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord.’’ May our lives grow heavenward, may the trials of our faith become more precious than gold and may we live above the petty things that would retard our spiritual growth (2 Cor. 6:17, 18). 2. The chonta is well grounded. Its roots are sent deep into the earth and wind around rocks to assure sturdiness and a constant supply of water. Water is nec¬ essary to life. As this tree grows up it sends roots approximately two inches in diameter and six feet above the ground to help prop it up. When I first saw it I actually thought someone had nailed props to a black post. How we Christians need to run the roots of our spiritual lives deep into the unsearchable riches of God. Literally wind¬ ing our lives around Christ, our rock, our cornerstone, precious because He is the foundation of all that is Holy (1 Peter 2: 6-7). Yes, we should run the roots deep to assure a constant stream of the water of Life flowing into our innermost being that we may stand and grow beautiful in His sight (Psa. 1:1-3). , 3. The Chonta is not only separated and grounded but it is useful. Space will not permit giving many of the interesting uses of this remarkable tree, and the count¬ less ways the jungle people use it. I can only list a few. a. A shelter. It is hard and does not rot easily. The natives use it much in build¬ ing. We as Christians should have a stock¬ ade of God’s love and mercy around us, letting our light so shine that those with¬ out Christ may see our good works and seek forgiveness of sin and accept Him as their personal Saviour. (Matt. 5:16). The chonta is also used for shelter for the wayfaring man. It is the only tree of the jungle whose leaf can always be found and will make waterproof protection from the terrific jungle rains. It is truly a shel¬ ter in the time of storm. Yes, the Christ¬ ian should always remember that our God is a great GOD. He is the shelter in the time of storm, and we should ever be on the alert for an opportunity to be shelter to the one without Christ, out in the world, soaked and smitten by the storm of sin. b. Pood. The jungle traveller is always assured of food given by this plant. Just below the top, when the leaves are re¬ moved, is a long strip that is delicious to eat. It makes excellent soup. The Christian also has food for the weary traveller lost in his trespasses and sins. It is the Word of God, manna sent from heaven. Men may eat and never hunger again. God help them to give them to eat (Isa. 55:1-3). c. Warmth. The Chonta has within its texture an oily substance that will burn when no dry wood can be found. After a long hard day’s trek in the jungle, what a delightful, warming influence it has. Christian friend, is your all on the altar ? Has the Spirit of God touched your lips with live coal? (Isa. 6:6). Do you want to do the WILL of God? Can you claim these things and let the seething millions of the heathen world go on without any knowledge of the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ? Let us be honest before God.

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STEINBACH BIBLE ACADEMY YEAR BOOK A n Third Year Class Report Time passes so quickly that it is hard to realize th at our third year of Bible School is almost gone. Oh, how blessed these years in school have been, sitting at the feet of Jesus and taking in the wonderful truths of Hi s blessed word. Someone might ask, “What has being in Bible School done for you?” I trust and pray that our lives will reveal that it has brought us to a deeper understanding and closer walk with the Lord. It has also helped me to see the need of doing personal work, children’s work and mission woik.. We are especially thankful for the missionaries that have visited the school and also for the mis¬ sionary conferences that we have had. As the missionaries related their experiences and told us of how the Lord had called them to do mission work we are again and again impressed that there is a cause for all this. Why would people be willing to go through the hardships and sacrifices that are involved in doing mission work? And why did Jesus give the command, “Go ye forth into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature?” (Mark 16:15). How can these questions be answered? The Bible answers them clearly. The heathen are lost, and without Christ they cannot be saved. Eph. 2:12 tells us that a person without Christ is one “having no hope and without God in the world.” Therefore the heathen being without Christ, have no hope. As we think upon these things the desire arises in our hearts to find exactly that place that God has for us. I tremble inwardly to think if one of us should fail to fulfil the purpose that God has for our lives. We know that God wants His children to know and do His will. But we have to yield and take God at His word. For it is His Word that reveals His divine will to us. In ourselves we are incapable of doing His will and this is not required of us. It is His power and His strength that enables us. “Unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Eph. 3:20. In closing I would like to thank those who backed us in prayer while we studied here in Bible School, and the teachers who have been good examples to us. Thy not only taught us by words but also by the deeds which we saw in their lives. Dora Friesen. JOHN HARMS Eph. 2:8. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” I am thankful for this verse which tells me that salvation is not by works, but by grace through faith. If it were by works, salvation would not be for me, “for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Rom. 7:18b Thank God for His wonderful work of grace wherewith He saved me for a purpose. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before or¬ dained that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10. This is my heart’s desire that I might serve Him faithfully in that place, which He has planned for