Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
This week I attempted to do a ‘split-sermon’ with the sermonette a little longer than normal and the sermon slightly shorter than normal.
Basically, because this is part of a sermon series on the upcoming book (currently available online in draft from), Who Gave the World the Bible? The Canon: Why do we have the books we now do in the Bible? Is the Bible complete?
Going through the draft of a book like this helps me in the editing process as well as tends to give ideas for other items to be added to the book.
Speaking of literature, Amazon Kindle Direct is once again allowing shipments outside of the USA, so we were able to order books and magazines to be sent to New Zealand. We hope other nations will be opened up soon, as having to use the US Postal Service tends to cost more, makes us pay extra postage (postage to the Grover Beach office and then for the overseas shipment), takes longer, and causes other issues once a package leaves the USA.
Rift Valley Report
Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent in the following report and photos from the South Rift Valley in Kenya:
Hello, I great you in the name of Jesus christ. We are happy and especially today where we held a baptism for the members who joined us. The Chilani members were quite happy and truly praised God cause indeed he is the father who called his people. According to John 6:41 where God talks a lot about the same. I managed to take few photos of some of the members who were being baptized. May Gob bless you abundantly!Regards,Pastor Sawek
Jesus taught:
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)
Hopefully all of us are joyful as well.
Changing Clocks
Sunday, November 1, at two a.m., the USA and several other nations (Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, and Haiti) change their clocks to go back to Standard Time and off of Daylight Saving Time.
Because of the clock change, sunset will be over an hour earlier next Friday, November 6 in the USA, Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, and Haiti. Much of Europe went back to Standard Time last Sunday, so tomorrow would be the first Friday some would need to get off work earlier than before.
Those of us who observe the weekly Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday should remember this time change.
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: Masoretic Text of the Old Testament. 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: Lost Books of the Bible? 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
We are seeing so much widespread acceptance of the LGBTQ agenda, that about 30% of women under age 25 claim to be LGBT (see If 30% of women under 25 now claim to be LGBT, that should make it clear that they were not ‘born that way’). This will not end well (Romans 1:18-32).
On Monday, in the USA, Roman Catholic Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed to be a Supreme Court justice to the dismay of most Democratic politicians (see ‘Senate Approves Trump High Court Pick With Partisan Vote’). Also on Monday, there was another shooting incident resulting in the death of a black man by police (see ZH: Philadelphia Overrun By Rioting, Looting After Police Shoot Knife-Wielding Black Man)–and the violence and looting associated with that lasted more than on Monday.
We continue to see much division in the USA and expect more unrest after the election next week. Jesus taught that, “every city or house divided against itself will not stand”(Matthew 12:25)–and the end will come to the USA. Be not deceived–whoever wins the USA election WILL BE APOCALYPTIC (see also AP: Trump paints apocalyptic portrait of life in US under Biden; COGwriter: Yes, but …).
On more international matters, Sudan has agreed to recognize Israel, and this seemed to trigger statements from US President Donald Trump that greatly upset Ethiopia (see Sudan recognizing Israel, Iran not pleased, and now Ethiopia upset with Donald Trump). The Ethiopia matter aside, Donald Trump suggested that Saudi Arabia might soon also recognize Israel (see ‘Trump says Saudi Arabia next in line for Peace with Israel leading to Potential End-of-Days Temple Mt Showdown?’)–but the election results will likely impact that.
It is been speculated that Germany will repatriate more of its gold should Donald Trump get re-elected (see VOA: Here’s How Trump, Biden Differ on Key Issues; ZH: Will Germany Repatriate its Gold From New York If Trump Wins the Election?). Whether he does or not, the Bible shows that the coming European (at least partially German, cf. Isaiah 10:5-12) King of the North will acquire gold (Daniel 11:40-43) after the USA is gone (cf. Daniel 11:39). Repatriating more of it will happen in Germany eventually, no matter who wins next week’s election.
Pray for God’s kingdom to come and HIS will to be done related to the upcoming election (cf. Matthew 6:10).
Concluding Comments
Jesus taught:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Brethren, we have been doing so and intend to continue to do so.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer