Greetings:
I will be brief in this update. This week has been devoted to final preparation for the Western Regional ministerial conference. Most of our efforts have been on time and successful, I think, but we had one significant disappointment. Our Elder in Guyana (Mr. Fitzroy Greeman) was unable to obtain a visa for himself and his wife until yesterday. Unfortunately, the delay has prevented his coming to the Conference this year. All other travel arrangements have been successful to my knowledge.
MEDIA:
Mr. Wayne Pyle reported: "We have had back-to-back records for the past two telecasts! Last week's telecast, program # 83, titled 'The Harlot of Revelation,' ended up with 1,583 phone calls after the names and address were processed for the Masterfile, removing duplicate and unmailable records. This week, program # 84, 'Middle East in Prophecy,' which offered 'The Day of the Lord' audiotape, brought in 1,593 phone calls from Thursday through Sunday. We expect the final count to top 1,700 by the end of the week."
Program # 83 (The Harlot of Revelation) elicited a few negative responses in one area, but the overwhelming majority were positive.
Personal statement:
I am going to pass on a comment I received via Internet this week that I think is significant to us. I will not give the writer's name due to his personal circumstances. He wrote:
"I was attending the Society of California Archivist annual conference and one session was on religious archives. There was a panel and one of the participants was Monsignor Francis J. Weber, Archivist for the Los Angeles Archdiocese Archival Center—one of the largest Catholic archives in the U.S. So he's there in his collar, etc.
I went up after the session to talk with the archivist from Fuller Seminary who I know, and Msgr. Weber spotted my nametag with Worldwide Church of God on it. "Say, isn't that Herbert Armstrong's group?" he said rather loudly, looking right at me. It was one of those moments... People stopped talking and looked. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked...
My mind went on fast backward and then fast forward as I reviewed mentally all the programs, booklets, articles, artwork about the "Great Whore". O Boy!
I said, "Uh yes Sir" (Brilliant, I know.) "Herbert Armstrong was our founder... and well, I realize we haven't always said the nicest things about your Church over the years, we didn't believe there were other Christians, but we've changed and just know, we're sorry for being over the top at times."
He looked at me hard and then broke into a very large smile and he shook my hand and said. "Oh, that's OK. I listened to Mr. Armstrong for years. I didn't agree with his beliefs, but I respected that he took a position and stood up for it and that's hard to find these days."
We are commissioned to proclaim the prophecies of Christ. While reasonable people accept scriptural discussions that may place a church or group of churches in an uncomplimentary light, when we are Christ-like we do not attack any person or church. The scriptures speak for God! Most of us today would be shocked at the acerbic writings and sermon Protestant ministers and Catholic priests of one and two hundred years ago.
We must speak where the Bible (God) speaks without apology, and without passing judgment personally. We are challenged to hate sin, but love the sinner! A study of the epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude shows this very clearly.
Jude said of some that were complainers and dissident: (Jude 19 - 25) "These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Remember to pray for us, for God's guidance and His Spirit to prevail for our conference next week. Have a great Sabbath!
Carl E. McNair