Our Times: March 2005

50 Years Ago In Signs

In March 23, 1945. SIGNS OF THE TIMES, a two-page feature entitled “Five centuries of prophecies fulfilled in one day” related 23 preductions of the crucifixion of Christ: “Such an array of prophecies extending over so long a period of time, being so completly fulfilled in one person, all within the limits of one day, appeals to every honest mind as one of the undeniable proofs that the Scriptures can be none other than the inspired Word of God…” it concluded.

Since its beginnings as the Bible Echo and Signs of the Times (as it was then known) 120 years ago, Signs has upheld both the Bible’s prophetic content and Christ Himself as relevant to today.

And just as Christ’s death occured as predicted, as Ed Dickerson points out in his article, “Using the right right hammer” (page 59), so did His resurrection, a real event that demans our attention – and a decision

Kiss Wrinkles Goodbye

According to experts, kissing is good for your health. Apparently one kiss burns about three calories, while the saliva produced reduces plaque. It also works to reduce wrinkles through exercising 29 facial
muscles.

Frock Shock For The Flock

Only half of Protestant church pastors in the US hold a biblical world view, suggests research by the Barna Research Group (BRG). Against a catalogue of six core beliefs polled—accuracy of the Bible; sinlessness of Jesus; literal Satan; omnipotent, omniscient God; salvation by grace; and personal responsibility to evangelise, 51 per cent were in accord with the Bible. But they’re still well ahead of their flocks, where, according to another BRG survey, just 7 per cent agree with all six.

Dog Phones 911

Faith, the service dog, phoned 911 when her owner fell out of a wheelchair and barked urgently into the receiver until a dispatcher sent help. Then the four-year-old Rottweiler unlocked the front door so the responding police officer could enter. When the police arrived they found the occupant on the kitchen floor, unconscious after striking her head in the fall and suffering a seizure.

German’s most beautiful word

The Goethe Institute has awarded the word Habseligkeiten (meaning “belongings”) as the most beautiful word in the German language. After receiving over 22,000 entries from 111 countries, Habseligkeiten was selected because it identified with “the joy or pity that comes from having certain objects.”

Witch Pardons Centuries Late

Accused witches (and their cats) executed during a wave of hysteria and religious ferment centuries ago were pardoned on Halloween, in a Scottish township. The public ceremony “pardoned” 81 people executed in the 16th and 17th centuries, and were granted with just weeks to spare, as ancient enabling feudal powers were about to be abolished.

Job Auction

The jobless in Germany are competing for work on the Internet. The job web site jobberlin.com operates along the same lines as an auction. However unlike other auction sites, where the highest bidder wins, jobs go to the bid asking for the lowest salary.

It’s a bird . . .

No, it’s a Swiss airline pilot, the first to fly horizontally, thanks to two jet engines strapped to stubby wings. The daredevil pilot flew through the Swiss Alps after being dropped from a plane and extending his wings and firing the kerosene-powered engines. During his four-minute flight, Yves Rossy—Jet Man—reached 175 km/h. Flight complete, he parachuted safely to the ground.