Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from the Five Cities region California.
Over in Kenya, evangelist Evans Ochieng just visited the Rift Valley and provided some literature.
Here is a report I received today from CCOG Pastor Tiongik Sawek:
Hello and receive greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. I’m glad for the visit of Evangelist Ochieng to Rift valley. Evangelist came with the books we have been expecting- the title: SHOULD YOU KEEP GOD’S HOLY DAYS OR DEMONIC HOLIDAYS and the book; CONTINUING HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD.
Therefore I will begin distributing these books all over our locals here in Rift valley as I believe it will be helpful to everyone of our brethren.
We are happy and personally I’m glad with your work.
May God bless you.
Regards,
Pastor Sawek
We believe distributing more of our books will help strengthen the faith of those who are with us as well as help others embrace the original Christian faith–which we are to contend earnestly for (Jude 3).
Instrumental Music
In the days of the old Worldwide Church of God, most congregations had someone who could play a piano. Now, with so many scattered people, as well as a reduction in the number of people who can properly play a piano, having live instrumental accompaniment just does not happen as much.
But in modern times, there are ways to provide the ability to have this over the internet.
Bill Wedekind has been able to upload instrumental accompaniment to go with all but about two of the songs in our hymnal.
We have choral accompaniment with scores of hymns in our song book, but did not have any accompaniment for dozens of hymns. Now, we do. Here is a link: https://www.ccog.org/instrumental-accompaniment-to-bible-hymnal/
We expect to have the instrumental accompaniment for the remaining two in the relatively near future.
US Election BitChute Censorship
Because of the US Presidential election, BitChute, which is one of four platforms we use, was censored. BitChute was unexpectedly deplatformed (made unavailable on the internet–but not because of anything related to the CCOG). So it sent out the following on Tuesday:
On all three of our channels on BitChute (COGAnimations, COGTube, Prophecy) the videos existed, but were deplatformed. Essentially that meant when you clicked on them they would not play. Later, BitChute said they got partially backed up.
But for a day and a half or so, our videos would not play.
Anyway, inappropriate censorship is one reason that we are on multiple platforms (BitChute did NOT censor us, but someone essentially censored BitChute, which had the same effect as censoring us).
The prophet Amos wrote:
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12)
As I have been writing for years, internet censorship/deplatforming will be used to cause the famine of the word.
What happened with BitChute shows that it can happen quickly and without advance notice.
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: Euthanasia: Mercy killing or murder? 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: Ecclesiastes 9-12: Joyful Living, Youth, Aging, and the Commandments. 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.
World News Items
As of this morning, the results of the USA presidential election have not been finally tabulated. There seems to be false claims as well as credible evidence of some types of ballot fraud (the significance of which may be decided by one or more courts). No one should bear false witness (cf. Exodus 20:16).
We have seen a lot of disunity in the USA, which will not end well (Matthew 12:25). At the same time, while the major media has tended to ignore it, the Germans have a plan for moving forward Europe’s global leadership (see ‘US election: EU pins hopes on Joe Biden victory’ ‘US election: Germany wants ‘new deal’ after vote’ and The Disunited States of America: Is a global reset coming? and ‘EU plots course as US awaits election winner’)–ultimately, Germany’s plans will not end well for the USA (Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11).
As of yesterday, the USA officially is out of the Paris Accords. Europe is not pleased and Germany hopes to take more of the global lead on environmental matters (see USA formally exits Paris Climate Accords Agreement).
There was a major Islamic terrorist incident in Austria this week, which followed terrorist incidents in France last week (see Terrorist stabbings and Greek Orthodox priest shot in France: Will Islam remain in Europe?). The time will come when Europe will no longer tolerate Islam. This will not end well for many in certain Islamic countries either (cf. Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:4-9).
Events aligning with properly understood biblical prophecies are moving forward.
Concluding Comments
Jesus taught:
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Brethren, pray for God’s kingdom to come and HIS will to be done.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer