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Dear Members and Friends:

In July, the sun shone frequently in the UK, and we experienced the hottest month on record since records were kept in 1689. The World Soccer Cup seemed to grab most people’s attention, and there were a number of other major sporting events. In addition, many were looking forward to their annual holidays or had recently enjoyed some time away. With this backdrop, it can be easy to see why many people can be lulled into a false sense of security with a supposed “feel good” factor. While the news contains daily information on world events, the crisis in the Middle East, for example, can seem so far away. It’s over there and doesn’t affect us, can be the feeling. But we know that the Middle East is to be a focal point in end-time prophecy, and the killing continues as the tiny nation of Israel fights the Hezbollah terrorists who strategically and deliberately position themselves in public areas, so that innocent bystanders are caught up in the mayhem.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – August 15, 2006"

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

Just as God has said, all will reap what they have sown! This world has written its history in blood; in the painful suffering of both the guilty and the innocent; in the destruction of mighty civilizations; and, now, in a blind rush to its own eventual annihilation. God inspired the prophet, Isaiah, to write: “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths” (Isaiah 59:7).

We are in a time when we hear of wars and rumors of war—among the very conditions spoken of by Jesus Christ that would begin to signal and then usher in His return to this earth (Compare Matthew 24:6).

Our generation is seeing globalization emerge as a reality. Prophecies in Daniel speak of our day: “‘But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase’” (Daniel 12:4).

As never before, people can travel to places all around the world. In ways not even dreamed of just a few years ago, communication through cell phones and the computer Internet has exploded into our daily lives! An international space station along with hundreds of man-made devices, currently occupy orbits around the earth.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – July 19, 2006"

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

I recently watched a video production by the “Living Hope Ministries,” titled, “Called to Be Free.” The broadcast featured numerous present leaders of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), as they gave testimony about their adoption of doctrinal changes after the death of the Church’s late human leader, Herbert W. Armstrong, in 1986. I know personally many of those who speak out on that tape, and even though I am very well aware of the changes, which prompted and forced me, and many others, to leave WCG, I became first angry and then sad when listening to the taped “testimonials” and “confessions.” (To clarify, the Bible does allow for righteous indignation in certain circumstances, compare Ephesians 4:26; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Mark 3:5).

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – June 9, 2006"

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

We are called “the elect.” Take a moment and consider what that means. God has chosen to call us in this lifetime; He has made our salvation possible by sacrificing His Son, Jesus Christ, for our redemption; He has resurrected our Savior and given us His Holy Spirit, which is our promise and guarantee of eternal life!

In a world that is devoid of truth and which now faces the stark consequences of its own rebellious ways, we have this reassurance from God through Jesus: “‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened’” (Matthew 24:21-22).

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – May 10, 2006"

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Dear Brethren and Friends;

This past Thursday, March 30, was the first day of the first month of a new year according to Godís reckoning of time. This first month of the year is called Abib or Nisan. In just nine days we will be observing Passover, that being the 14th day of the month of Abib! Of course, the Passover service will begin Tuesday evening, shortly after sunset. Following the day of Passover, at sunset, begin the Days of Unleavened Bread. These are most important days for you and for me; but for most of the world, these days have little or no cognitive meaning! Most have no idea of the significance of these days; and many who seemed to have once understood have lost sight of the true importance God places in these days!

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – April 3, 2006"

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

In about eight weeks, baptized members of the Church of God will be taking the Passover which is an annual celebration of the death of Christ. It is a somber reminder of the sacrifice that our Lord and Savior endured on our behalf. Although not a Holy Day in itself, this will be the beginning of the Holy Day season when the first day of Unleavened Bread starts at sunset some twenty four hours later. How blessed we are to have been given the precious knowledge of God’s Master Plan of salvation for all of mankind, as revealed through His Holy Days (Please read our free booklet, “God’s Commanded Holy Days.”).

As Passover is almost two months away, why am I raising the matter at this particular time? Here is the reason: We are to prepare diligently for each Holy Day season and we are particularly admonished regarding the Passover, to examine ourselves so that we may take it in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:28). When should this self-examination begin?

Members of the Church of God have long recognized that God’s calling is to a life of obedience to His will, and that we are to keep His Commandments. This responsibility must never be taken lightly. It is a full time, twenty four hours a day commitment in a Christian life that must continue for the rest of our lives. We cannot give up part way through our lives, and we must endure to the end (Matthew 24:13); otherwise, we will not make it into the Kingdom of God. In this context I am reminded of that phrase “Quitting lasts forever,” and it must never apply to our calling.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – February 13, 2006"

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:

As I write this letter, I am mindful of the fact that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, the late human leader of the Worldwide Church of God, has been dead for over a full time cycle of 19 years. As most of you will remember, Mr. Armstrong died twenty years ago—in the morning hours of January 16, 1986. At that time, I was working in the Worldwide Church of God’s Legal Department. Even though we had hoped and prayed that Mr. Armstrong would not die then, we also knew that, barring a miracle from God, he could die at any time. I remember the deafening silence, when we came to the office and heard the news, and I also remember how Mr. Tkach later that morning addressed all of the Headquarters’ employees, assuring us that he would follow in Mr. Armstrong’s footsteps. Of course, we are all too aware of the fact how miserably Mr. Tkach failed in that endeavor.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – January 12, 2006"