Newsletter   I   MARCH 2005

THE ONLY SALVATION We have all read about expeditions to the Antarctic. Let us suppose that a plane comes down in these waters, south of New Zealand. The pilots assume that there may be no plane or ship to come to their rescue and there is no land within a thousand miles of them. Three men are cast into the water. One is able to swim only a few hundred feet; the second can manage to stay afloat an hour or two; the third is the world champion long-distance swimmer. Is it sensible for the champion to show the first man his best swimming strokes? Will the champion say, “Take me as an example?” These men do not need an example, they need a savior. One will drown in twenty minutes, a second will drown in two hours, and the third will drown in fifteen hours. Thus, it is with men; they do not need an example, they need a Savior. The criminal is like the man who can swim only a few strokes; the average man is like the man who can swim for a while; the very, very good man is like the man who can swim for fifteen hours. But all three are doomed to die under the circumstances I have set forth. So it is with men before the judgment of God. The very best that a man can do in deeds of kindness and charity does not change the unalterable fact that his character and his works are cursed by God. The only thing that will satisfy a holy God is that man shall take sides with Him, accept the shedding of His blood for the remission of sins, cross the chasm through Christ and stand with God in all His estimates, judgments and verdict.                                                                                            -- Let Me Illustrate

John 12:47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Luke 24:46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

LETTER FROM THE ISF ASSISTANTS Dear International Friend, Greetings to you from International Student Fellowship! We hope you are doing well and we want you to know that we think of you not only when we send out our Newsletter each month but throughout the year. Two months have already gone by in the year 2005. We do not know what the rest of the year will have in store for each one of us but we know that God is here to help us in every situation of life. . Before we know it spring will be here. During the month of March we will celebrate Easter. This year Easter is on March 27. For many Christians all over the world, the time before Easter is one of contemplation and self sacrifice. Although the Resurrection of Jesus is an event that causes great hope for every human being it came at a great price. The crucifixion and death of Jesus paid the penalty for sin. No one ever showed such great love and mercy for mankind. We want to give you a special invitation to our March “Easter” Gathering. This gathering will be on Friday, March 18th at 7:30 PM in the beautiful Ballroom of the William Pitt Union . The William Pitt Union is located in Oakland on the corner of Bigelow and Fifth Avenue. To get to the Ballroom, use the entrance on Fifth Avenue and then follow the signs. At this gathering we will once again have Joyce Gahagen present a chalk drawing portraying some aspect of the wonderful Easter story. You won't want to miss this! Also there will be special music, wonderful fellowship, and children's activities in the Kurtzman room. We hope you plan to attend and invite someone to come along with you. It's all free! We look forward to seeing you on Friday, March 18th !                                                                                                   --Terry & Pam Tiberio, ISF Assistants MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much Seek to be consoled, as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.                                                    -- Attributed to Francis of Assisi

FEBRUARY ISF GATHERING (February 11, 2005)