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Bible Companion Tidings Glad 1448 GladOF THE KINGDOMTidings OF GOD JourneyJourney ofof aa LifetimeLifetime –– pagepage 33 BibleBible CompanionCompanion –– pagepage 1010 “Be“Be StrongStrong andand ofof GoodGood Courage”Courage” –– pagepage 1414 GladTidings Contents OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD 121st YearA05 1448 Journey of a A monthly magazine published by the Lifetime..................3 Christadelphians (Brethren in Christ) and available throughout the world.Its objectives are – to encourage study of the Bible as God's inspired message to men; Signs of the Times ...5 to call attention to the Divine offer of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ; and to warn men and Poem: women that soon Christ will return to Earth as judge Listen to God .........7 and ruler of God’s world-wide Kingdom. Magazine orders to the address nearest you: Jesus Christ – The Promised Saviour..8 United Kingdom – Cilla Palmer (Mrs), “Highlands”, 78 Mildenhall Road, Fordham, Ely, Cambs, England CB7 5NR Tel: (01638) 723959 (24hrs &Fax) Bible [email protected] Companion ..........10 Australia – K.G.Quixley, 22 Narallah Grove, Box Hill North, Victoria, Australia, 3129 [email protected] Canada – Vivian Thorp (Mrs), 5377 Birdcage Walk, Burlington, Stephen Continues Ontario, Canada, L7L 3K5 his Defence ..........12 New Zealand – Christadelphian Witness, P.O. Box 15-457, New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand “Be Strong and of South Africa – A. J. Oosthuizen, P.O.Box 50357, Musgrave Road,Durban 4062, South Africa [email protected] Good Courage”....14 U.S.A. – Pat Hemingray (Mrs), 3079 Kilburn West, Rochester Hills, MI 48306, USA. A Practical Book ...19 Other Countries – Geoff Maycock, 8 Hale End, Bracknell, Berks., England, RG12 9YH [email protected] Acknowledgements Local information is also available from: Photographs: Fiji – Bible Mission, Box 1012, G.P.O., Suva, Indonesia Cover: High in the Solu Khumbu, – Bible Mission, PO Box 61, Solo, Java Nepal John Norcross Philippines – Mr Albert Cruz, PO Box 991, Manila, Pg 7: David Pearce Philippines 1099 Illustrations: Art Today pgs. 3-6,12-17,19; Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Pacific Islands, Singapore, CALS pg 18 Taiwan, Korea – Bible Mission, PO Box 42, Wallacia, NSW 2745, Australia India – T. Galbraith, G.P.O. Box 159, Hyderabad 500001, India Bible Versions Bangladesh – Christadelphian Bible Students, PO Box 9052, The version most used in this issue is Banani, Dhaka 1213 the New King James Version (NKJV). Other versions sometimes used are: Editor: Owen Tecwyn Morgan The New King James Version is 26 The Crescent, Hampton-in-Arden, Solihull, B92 OBP, copyrighted by Thomas Nelson. England, UK ([email protected]) The Revised Standard Version Publisher: The Glad Tidings Publishing Association (a registered charity) number 248352 is copyrighted 1946 and 1952 by the Division of Christian Bible Talks, Study Classes, Sunday Schools and Youth Clubs Education of the National Council are held regularly by Christadelphians worldwide. The address of Churches in the USA. of your nearest group can be obtained from either the The New International Version is Distribution Secretaries or from the local agents or copyrighted 1978 by New York information addresses given above. Bible Society JourneyJourney ofof aa LifetimeLifetime Have you ever had an to sort out things with airlines, hotels, unfulfilled ambition to do lodges, suppliers and with Sherpas. The Sherpas, in turn, had to make their own something extraordinary? arrangements and have had to acquire Perhaps you want to the skills that would be needed when the hang-glide off a volcano, going got tough. cycle across Africa or climb Everest? Mountain Guides Only a fool would venture into dangerous How do you think you would feel when conditions without a trusty guide or guides you were there actually doing it? Imagine and they would need to be reliable or the that you were, at this very climber’s life would be put moment, walking in the at risk. You would want to Solu Khumbu – in the go with someone who had foothills of Mount Everest been there before and who – with that magnificent knew the way; preferably mountain scenery as your with someone who had backdrop, just as on this climbed that path several month’s front cover. times before and in a vari- Walking Together ety of different weather You look up and see yaks conditions. heavily-laden with your It would be vital to know gear, and that of the party when it was safe to pro- you are travelling with, ceed and when you just crossing over a mountain had to turn back. And if you stream. Behind them are were unable, for whatever the Sherpas who are guid- reason, to continue you ing and supporting you. You are struggling would want to be sure there was adequate against altitude sickness, adjusting to the help and support to get you out of there new experience and trying to take it all in. safely. Nobody would want their journey of And all the time the mountain which has a lifetime to end in death. been your aim in life is drawing nearer and Yet that is what happens to many nearer. climbers and not only to the unprepared. If you pause to think about it for a High mountains are dangerous places and moment, this journey has only been made nobody can be sure about changing possible due to a whole range of different weather conditions, or treacherous condi- things. Nobody could set out without a lot tions underfoot. Accidents happen even to of forethought. You had to work some the strongest and seemingly best-pre- things out – which travel company to pared people. It’s part of the challenge, of choose, how you were going to pay for it, course, to push yourself to the limits of whether you were fit enough, and such- human endurance and to learn something like. The company arranging the trip had more about yourself in the process. 121st Year 3 Life’s Journey David … For my thoughts are not your That’s true of life as well and the way we thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” ought to live it. We should all want to get says the LORD. For as the heavens are somewhere, make progress in the right higher than the earth, so are my ways direction, and learn something important higher than your ways, and my thoughts about ourselves on the journey. than your thoughts. For as the rain comes But it doesn’t happen of itself, not down, and the snow from heaven … so unless we make it happen. There are peo- shall my word be that goes forth from my ple who seem to be satisfied with mere mouth” (Isaiah 55:1-11). existence and there are others who really Helps along the Way seem to have got somewhere in life. They There is someone who has gone before us “made something of themselves” we along this upward path and he is both sometimes say. Perhaps that means they tried and tested. The Lord advanced materially or aca- Jesus Christ has climbed demically, or just that they the steep and rugged way developed well in one way or that leads to God’s kingdom another. and sits now in heaven Progress Check helping and guiding fellow The journey of life is a chal- travellers. You will find no lenge given us by God. He surer guide in life whatever made us by giving us life and, the conditions might be or at the end, He takes that life- however arduous the jour- force away. We are all given ney might sometimes the chance to find out about seem. He is a burden-bear- Him and the Lord Jesus Christ, er and a guide of supreme for the Lord himself said that quality; he can take you life eternal depended upon safely to your journey’s end. our knowledge of them both and our There are many travel aids too that will understanding of God’s gracious purpose keep you safe and free from danger. Life’s (John 17:2). journey is an everyday affair – it is “the trip In a way the higher you climb in life of a lifetime!” Every day we need guidance along the path of understanding, the clos- and counsel to point us in the right direc- er you get to understanding the way of tion. This issue contains a “Bible Com- God and seeing how you can be a part of panion” set of reading tables which will it. It was the prophet Isaiah who once said help you read through the Bible every day. that God’s ways are high above us and, by Or you can send for a Bible Reading Plan- implication, he urged us to drink of moun- ner, which is advertised on the back cov- tain streams if we are to find true refresh- er, if you prefer something which will ment: introduce you to a journey of discovery in a slightly gentler fashion. In the company “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the of other like-minded people you too can waters; and you who have no money, then embark on the “way of holiness” that come, buy and eat … Incline your ear, leads to everlasting life in God’s perfect and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall world. live; and I will make an everlasting Editor covenant with you – the sure mercies of 4 Glad Tidings SignsSigns ofof thethe TimesTimes THE BIBLE teaches clearly that wicked shall be no more; indeed, you will God will set up an everlasting look diligently for his place, But it shall be kingdom which will destroy no more. But the meek shall inherit the and replace all others.
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