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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers,

Here we are at the time of year when we make the last big push before the Fall Holy Days begin. The Feast of Trumpets is on Monday, September 30th. The Day of Atonement is on Wednesday, October 9th. The Feast of Tabernacles begins Monday, October 14th, lasting for 7 days, culminating with the Last Great Day on Monday, October 21st. All of these days begin, of course, with the previous evening, at sunset. With only a few short weeks away, now is the time when we make sure all of our arrangements are in order. We inform employers and teachers, finalize our travel plans, and prepare hundreds of other details so we can observe these Holy Days with the fullness of our hearts and minds. There is always a lot to do during this time of year.

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Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends,

In 1961, I was partaking of a track meet in Langley, British Columbia, as the second leg of a four-by-one-hundred-yard relay. The race started off well and by the time the first runner reached me, we were in second place. After the passing of the baton, I had to put all my effort into catching up to the first runner, and about halfway, I actually passed him. The pass-off to the third runner went smoothly and now being in first place, I thought we would come in first, and it looked like a sure victory. Unfortunately, the final pass-off went poorly, and we were overtaken and came in second.

Even though we finished the race in a disappointing second place, we did finish, which is the important thing.

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

With the plethora of man’s differing beliefs, there doesn’t seem to be an end to the growing polarization of ideologies. We see impassioned speeches, peaceful gatherings and civil unrest—all to further particular points of view. But mankind only grows further apart because the efforts to sustain beliefs are based upon false wisdom. Paul warned Timothy of such reasoning, “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith” (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

It is easy to become passionate about worldly viewpoints, such as politics and science, because we are surrounded by our unconverted friends, neighbors and even family that espouse those beliefs. Once we start bending our ears to that kind of knowledge, we are in jeopardy of straying from our faith. And once our reliance on the foundation of Christ begins to crumble, the roots of sin will dig deep and become entrenched. We cannot be friends with this world! “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

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Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends,

Even those who are not familiar with or interested in biblical prophecy begin to realize that this world, as we know it, won’t be able to survive much longer. Scientists moved their doomsday clock to 2 minutes to midnight, with midnight designating a global catastrophe and potentially the end of mankind. 

Among the many threats to human survival, nuclear war and a bioengineered pandemic are listed as leading candidates. The growing threat to wildlife and millions of species is mentioned as well. We also hear about the real possibility of huge earthquakes striking many parts of the world, accompanied by tremendous tsunamis.

The eruption of the Supervolcano in the Yellowstone National Park with horrible consequences for large parts of continental America is also considered to be a real possibility. Even a devastating collision of the earth with a huge asteroid must not be dismissed outright, as such events have taken place in the past. 

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

The subject of sustainability is being used a lot when talking about saving natural resources or referring to business practices. The word “sustainability” has the following connotations: “The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level, such as: ‘the sustainability of economic growth’”; or “the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance: ‘the pursuit of global environmental sustainability.’”

In essence, when something is sustainable, it means there is no fluctuation, but rather stability. In gardening, there is a concept such as sustainable gardening. This means, the food grown is not harming the earth, so no harmful pesticides are used or methods that will destroy anything in the long run. In a business sense, a business that maintains sustainable growth does more good than harm. Unfortunately in the United States and in many other countries around the world, we see absolute greed and corruption in order to obtain money and wealth. There doesn’t seem to be a care for sustainability in most areas. Some, however, have begun to realize now that things are starting to break down because of the practices that have been employed. But “too little, too late”, as the saying goes.

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

The past several weeks have been a very busy and productive time. The annual Church Conference (2019) was conducted during the first week of April. Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Michael Link, Eric Rank, Robb Harris and Kalon Mitchell were the ministers who were able to attend. Meetings were conducted in Escondido, California.

Following a review of the Minutes for the 2018 Conference, summaries for activities in the USA, Canada, the UK, continental Europe, Australia and Africa were presented.

Many details were discussed regarding the various Church websites. We especially focused on upcoming promotions for our literature and how to improve our responses to the public. The past year has seen growth in responses to booklets being offered during Norbert Link’s English-language StandingWatch programs. Europe, in the German language, continues to see steady interest for the sermonette, sermon and AufPostenStehen postings and the offered literature. In fact, we have found it necessary to reprint several booklets.

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Dear Members:

The time is approaching once again as we move towards an occasion and a decision that is the most important in our personal lives. Those of us who are baptized and became begotten Children of God—those of us who made at that time the lifelong commitment to be obedient to Him—will make the decision to take the Passover in a worthy manner. Yes, it is a choice, just as it was a choice we made to become baptized in the first place—just as God chose US to come out of this world, by revealing to us His perfect knowledge and His plan. That is why we are all here, because we have answered His calling (compare Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:28-30).

Has our life been easier since last year or has it been difficult at times? Have we encountered trials? Have we thought about giving up? For some of us, this may be our first Passover and for others, this could be our 10th or 20th or 30th and more. But the number of Passovers we have participated in doesn’t matter. What matters is what we do right now and how we prepare for the Passover evening of Thursday, April 18, 2019.

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

As I write this letter, the UK is consumed with Brexit, with a country, families and politicians split on where their loyalties should lie. There has been, and still is, antagonism at all levels of society where even the politicians of all parties are not united within their own group. This all follows the result of the referendum on 23rd June 2016 where the result to leave the European Union was 52% against 48% who wanted to remain.

Since that time, negotiations have been ongoing between the UK and the EU with a withdrawal scheduled to occur on 29th March 2019.  Many who have been following these events may now be tired of the wrangling, disputing, arguments, bickering, squabbling, in-fighting and general all round disagreeable altercations that have, and still are, taking place.

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Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends,

“Expect the unexpected” is a saying commonly used as preparation advice for unpredictable circumstances and situations. Traveling to new places or beginning a new commitment in life that disrupts our current patterns are examples of events for which we might apply such advice. By expecting the unexpected, we can theoretically prepare ourselves to adapt when we need to change direction at short notice.

However, in this age, applying the tenet of expecting the unexpected is exercised less and less. When life is going along according to normal routine without any plans for change or impending threat of disruption, are we in a position where we can adapt to the unexpected when we don’t expect it?