Dear Brethren and Friends, The Feast is almost upon us! My wife and I are looking forward to seeing at least a couple thousand of you brethren at Gatlinburg and Panama City. All of our brethren here are getting “Feast fever.”
As I recently reported to you, we had an outstanding Council of Elders conference recently with tremendous enthusiasm and unity. The men now on the Council have been “sifted” through worldly churches at first, then Worldwide, then Global and now have come to Living because of their absolute dedication to do the Work! That is very encouraging to me—and I’m sure to you also. Also, from all reports, the Living Church as a whole appears to be extremely unified because of these same factors.
We’re looking forward to the new autumn television season with optimism. Mr. Richard Ames and I made three new television programs just yesterday and we’re hoping to be able to add some new stations during the next several months. Please pray fervently that God will make this possible. And I pray that all of God’s people will try to give as generously as possible during the coming Holy Days so that God’s Work may go forward with increasing power.
During our Council of Elders meetings, I asked our ministry for their advice as to whether we should give all of you a WARNING about the coming “Y2K problem”—along with some fundamental suggestions as to how to prepare for this event. Brethren, I know that there have been many conflicting reports in the media about the year-2000 problem. But virtually all responsible authorities agree that there WILL be a number of difficulties in most areas of the world—lasting anywhere from a few days to a few months. So it is prudent for all of us to take some basic precautions and do some preparing for this event.
Mr. William Bowmer—our executive editor—is one of our “computer experts” here at our human headquarters. He has helped me put together the following information, which I hope you will find helpful. I would advise ALL of you to consider implementing some of these preparations as you see fit, as we really do not know the extent of the difficulties which will be posed by Y2K computer failures all around the world, which may affect such areas as banking, grocery shopping, transportation and electricity.
The Y2K problem has come about because, in the days of the earliest computers, memory was scarce and expensive. Programmers took shortcuts whenever possible to save space. Instead of using a four-digit code for year dates, a two-digit entry was used. Yet even with the advent of cheap, vast memory space for computer programs, the practice has not entirely gone away, as programmers out of laziness or thoughtlessness — or the expectation that nobody would still be using their program in the year 2000 — continued to use this shortcut.
The problem is not confined to what most of us would think of as computers. The two-digit year was used in the programming of what are called “embedded chips” — small computers that control processes in equipment ranging from cars, to elevators, to building ventilation systems, to municipal utility systems.
When January 1, 2000 comes, programs that were written with two-digit year codes will not distinguish between the years 2000 and 1900. If the program includes time-sensitive calculations or comparisons, results are unpredictable. No one knows what problems may occur, how widespread they may be, or how long they will last. The good news, for those living in the U.S., is that federal, state, and local governments; banks and other financial institutions; retail businesses, and every other group affected by this problem have been working to resolve it, and a great deal of progress has been made.
What kinds of disruptions could occur because of Y2K? The United States government has studied the situation: both the President’s Council on Y2K Conversion and a special Senate committee led by Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT), have focused their attention on defining the scope of the Y2K problem. The Senate hearings focused on the following eight areas:
Utilities and the national power grid International banking and finance Health care
Transportation Telecommunications Pension and mutual funds Emergency planning General business
The potential effect of the Y2K problem on any of these areas is unknown, and the situation continues to change as government and private industry take actions to reduce the problem. Experts who spoke at the Senate hearings expressed their belief that localized disruptions may occur. For example, in some areas, electrical power may be unavailable for some time. Manufacturing and production industries may be disrupted. Roads may be closed or in gridlock if traffic signals are disrupted. Electronic credit card transactions may not be processed. Telephone systems may not work.
How should we prepare? Should we simply close our eyes to the problem and refuse to face reality? Of course not! We should follow the counsel of Proverbs 22:3, “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.” We should certainly trust in God, but we should not rely on Him to shield us from the consequences of our own deliberate negligence (cf. Matthew 4:7). If we know how to prepare for a disaster, and we can do so while obeying God’s commandments, God expects us to do this to the best of our ability.
In many respects, planning for Y2K is no different from planning for any other potential disaster. If you live in an area affected by earthquakes, you will find that many of the steps recommended below are effective as earthquake preparedness. If you live in a region where hurricanes or tornadoes strike, your preparation for these disasters is substantially similar to what you will need to do in advance of Y2K.
The following is provided for informational purposes only. The Living Church of God does not warrant the accuracy nor does it in any way endorse these suggestions. It is advisable to consult with qualified experts as to implementation of any changes you may wish to make.
Check your appliances. Some of your appliances may contain embedded chips that control their operation. Many of these embedded chips do not use the year information stored in them, but if they do, and their programming does not recognize the year 2000, problems may occur. Equipment that could potentially be affected includes: home security systems, electronic locks, garage door openers, automatic sprinklers, programmable thermostats, appliances and consumer electronics. Many if not most items built in the last few years should be free of problems, but if you rely on any piece of equipment for your family’s health, safety or security you may find it prudent to contact the manufacturer to verify in advance that it will be problem-free. If an appliance is directly connected to your home’s electrical system, as are many smoke detectors, see if it has battery backup.
Decide how many weeks of supplies you will need. Most experts encourage people to keep two or three weeks of supplies in storage in case of ANY disaster, not just Y2K. Some organizations routinely urge their members to store enough supplies for six months or even a year. We should be mindful neither to fall into the ditch of paralysis or the ditch of paranoia at events yet to come. Remember that while we must be prepared for any natural disaster, the time will come when God’s people face an end-time disaster that no amount of stored food will avert. Plan, but don’t panic.
Stock extra food. When the electricity goes out, you can and should use up the food in your refrigerator first, as long as it has not spoiled, before you deplete your reserve of non-perishable foods. But you NEED to make sure that your emergency reserve consists of non-perishable foods that do NOT require refrigeration. Remember that you will need to eat a nutritionally balanced diet during the emergency, so store a variety of foods. If you have pets, remember that they, too, will need to eat — don’t leave them out of your preparations!
Keep a supply of water. A common recommendation is that you store in advance a gallon per person per day.
Consider your need for medications. If you take any prescription or non-prescription medications, have an ample supply on hand if possible, along with any medical supplies that you may require.
Stock extra household supplies. Make sure you have an ample stock of batteries for your radios, flashlights, and other appliances. Don’t forget such basics as toilet paper. Rather than dirtying dishes, pots and pans with no dishwasher available and limited water supplies, you may wish to store some paper plates or even aluminum foil.
Keep cash on hand. If the electricity goes out at your ATM, it won’t be able to dispense cash. If your local grocer or retailer is open in a blackout, you may not be able to use your credit cards. Plan to keep some cash and/or traveler’s checks in a safe place — and do NOT count on being able to make a convenient withdrawal in late December, as many others will then be making their own preparations at the last minute. Instead, withdraw a small extra amount every time you get cash, so that you are ready weeks in advance if possible.
Prepare your automobile. Make sure that your car’s gas tank is topped off before January 1. Especially if you work outside the home, think about carrying in your car a small set of emergency supplies to help you if you are stranded while away from home. If you wear dress shoes at the office, keep a pair of walking shoes in the car so that you can be comfortable if you need to leave your car behind and walk a long distance.
Plan your communications. If you plan to use your home phone, make sure that you have at least one instrument that does not require an electrically-powered base unit. If you own a cellular phone, take steps to ensure that it can be charged; an automobile adapter can allow you to keep your phone charged and usable even if the electricity is off in your neighborhood.
Stay warm. Make sure that you have enough blankets, clothes, etc., to stay comfortable even if your heating goes off.
Consider alternate cooking devices. If your oven and other devices that rely on your home’s electricity fail, you will need some way to cook the non-perishable food that you have stored. Remember to be careful in the storage and the use of the fuel for any such devices. Do NOT plan to use your cooking device as an alternate heating source — this could be VERY dangerous!
Generators should be used with care. If you plan to use a portable generator, many safety experts recommend that you NOT connect it to your home’s electrical system, suggesting instead that you connect it directly to the items you wish to power. Make certain that you do not endanger your home or your family by using a generator outside its manufacturer’s specifications (e.g. indoors or in a poorly-ventilated area).
Keep or obtain key records. Make sure that you have accurate statements from your bank or any other financial institutions with which you do business. Keep copies of bills you have paid, along with documentation that you have done so, in case your records are lost and you are asked to pay again. If you rely on your local pharmacy’s computer-based records for your prescriptions, you may want to ask your doctor to write you an additional prescription as a safeguard.
Stay informed. If possible, have a battery-powered radio or television available so that you can learn what to do as a potential crisis unfolds.
Really study your Bible, and pray. If we neglect this last point, the previous ones will not be sufficient. Much conflicting advice is circulating about Y2K. Ask for God’s protection and mercy not only for your family, but also for God’s people everywhere. Some unscrupulous people are even taking advantage of others’ fears in order to gain notoriety or profit. Unless we seek godly wisdom, we are likely to be misled, or even to be taken advantage of.0
If we keep ourselves spiritually and physically prepared, we have little to fear, and we will be able to say, with Samuel, “They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support” (2 Samuel 22:19). Remember! With the “millennium bug” behind you, your physical preparations will still be there to help you through future events including civil unrest or weather-related disasters, which WILL occur! And your spiritual preparation will help you to be ready for the REAL Millennium, soon to come. God speed that day!
