Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
Some asked about the fire in neighboring Pismo Beach. While we saw and smelled smoke, we otherwise were not really affected by it here in Grover Beach.
Final Phase of the Work
As usual, it has been a full week of working on many matters related to short-term and long-term aspects of the final phase of the work.
But this week, it seemed like a good time to share a few of the specifics we have been working on.
For one, I was contacted by someone trying to promote more researched Church of God materials (he is former Worldwide Church of God) and he said he would add a link to our Books and Booklet page. We also added a draft of a new book at that link.
Also, we have started working on a plan that may assist us in reaching people with some type of seventh day Church of God background, other than WCG. We also updated some articles and booklets related to conversations I had with leaders in other seventh day Church of God groups.
Additionally, as most of you are aware, we are also updating materials to better be able to explain doctrinal matters to Protestants. Plus, some progress is being made on materials to better reach Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics.
We are also working on uploading more up to date versions of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God booklet into non-English languages.
We are also working on a project to make it easier to find the vast amounts of information we have in the Spanish language at the cdlidd.es website.
As far as better reaching our very young, we have been working on getting more lessons out related to the Youth Bible Lessons. We expect to have another two dozen lessons available soon (levels 2 and 3).
And related to adults, we have been able to post more of the Study the Bible Course online and are looking at possibly being able to have a version of the first 16 or so lessons together in a single book.
One of the reasons the last three projects are not finished is because we have more literature projects than staffing to get them all done.
That brings the following scripture to mind:
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper … (Amos 9:13)
Since we are not the that time yet, the following scripture from Jesus also came to mind:
37 … “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
Yes, please pray for more laborers of the harvest.
Magazines
Some in international areas like South American, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa and elsewhere did not get the last Bible News Prophecy magazine because their governments stopped receiving mail from the USA. We plan to review some international rules to see if we will be able to mail the next edition to those lands.
COVID, Hunger, Kenya, and Haiti
COVID19 restrictions are reeking havoc in many parts of the world, including causing hunger problems in Africa. We had to send extra funds for that.
Beyond the coronavirus, Haiti has been in a state of unrest for over a year. And this is causing more hunger problems there as well. While we cannot permanently supply all funds needed for food of the brethren there or elsewhere, we are working at trying to best figure out how to help there. Herb Haddon and I are trying to work with Moise Nicholas to determine how to assist.
As the Apostle Paul wrote, “let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).
Of course, we are not just trying to assist with physical needs.
We have been working on a French Bible Hymnal for the Haitians, for example.
Also, notice an email I received from someone I do not know yesterday:
Hello, I am … From Kenya. I have been following you and i am so much touched with you people, and for that there all the reason God should bless you.
We will move together in this journey.In so previous days i was non-believer but currently i have changed.Thank you so much.
Yes, we are reaching people.
We are assisting the process of turning people to the true God.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
World News Items
There is a lot of division in the USA (e.g. see SWAT team resigns because local leaders take a knee, ‘Taking a Knee is a Masonic Ritual’). Last week an area called the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone was formed within the city limits of Seattle, and the mayor ordered police to leave, so the police building and about six city blocks have been occupied since (see CHAZ and a Nation Divided). The area has now been renamed to Capital Hill Occupied Protest (see CHAZ now CHOP: 40% of GOP Voters and 28% of Democrats Think Civil War Likely), but still does not have government police officers. CHAZ/CHOP is a symbol of the deep divide in the USA. The division in the USA will not end well (Matthew 12:25).
Speaking of division, we continue to see more division between the USA and Europe. The Germans are upset that the USA intends to reduce troop levels (see ‘Beijing’s new outbreak raises fears for rest of the world,’ ‘India death toll nears 12,000 after record jump,’ and ‘6 states report record-high jumps in coronavirus cases as reopening plans weighed’). And the Europeans and the Arabs are upset that the USA is not stopping Israel from annexing lands in Judea-Samaria (see ‘Jordan’s Abdullah Presses Washington to Oppose Israeli Annexation’ and BIN: For First Time Since 2nd Intifada: Abbas Makes Secret Preparations in Case Annexation Goes Through). Ultimately, the Bible shows a power in Europe will temporarily align with a power from the Middle East and North Africa (Psalm 83:3-8; Daniel 11:27)–this will not end well for the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39).
The Supreme Court of the USA decided that although the 1964 Civil Rights Act was not intended to support the LGBTQ agenda, that it should be interpreted to do so (see US Supreme Court rules in favor of LGBTQ agenda). The Bible warns against that (e.g. Romans 1:18-32). While the West keeps pushing LGBTQ issues, some in Eastern Europe see some dangers of it (see AP: Polish president calls LGBT ‘ideology’ worse than communism).
The novel coronavirus remains in the news and has impacted people around the world (e.g. see ‘Beijing’s new outbreak raises fears for rest of the world,’ ‘India death toll nears 12,000 after record jump,’ and ‘6 states report record-high jumps in coronavirus cases as reopening plans weighed’). Some of the steps governments have taken related to it bring to mind the type of totalitarian controls that ‘666’ will support (cf. Revelation 13:16-18).
Suggested Sabbath Service
Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Is Jesus’ Second Coming Soon? Other sermonettes are available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- Sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: The Godhead and the Trinity. Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
Note: If you have a slow internet connection, you can watch these by starting the video, then below it (and towards the right) look for an outline of a gear–if you click on that, it will allow the YouTube video to be played with lower video quality, but at least it will not stop often–you can select a quality as low as 144p. If your internet connection is still too slow (as my home one is) and/or you prefer audio messages to audio-visuals ones, go to the YouTube link for the message, click on SHOW MORE related to the description. You will then see something that says, “Download MP3.” Below that is a link to an MP3 file. Most computers (and even some cellular telephones) will allow MP3 files to be downloaded and played. This is an option we have made available (but we are also looking into ways to improve that as well)–and, of course, we have written article options. Some people have found that if their internet connections are not fast enough, that they can simply listen to the messages that are found at the Bible News Prophecy online radio channel.
IN CASE YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A ‘LETTER TO THE BRETHREN’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE ContinuingCOG channel AND MANY SERMONETTE MESSAGES ON THE Bible News Prophecy channel. There are also some messages at the CCOGAfrica channel.
Concluding Comments
Jesus said:
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Brethren, while we do have difficulties in this world, if we have proper trust in Jesus, we can “can do all things through Christ who strengthens” us (Philippians 4:13) as “he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
Continue to endure and have faith in Jesus.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer