Greetings Everyone,
Last week I neglected to mention the obvious—my experimentation with a format change for The World Ahead. I appreciate your feedback on the format, as some of you had difficulty reading it. Your constructive suggestions are appreciated.
INTERNATIONAL
PHILIPPINES—Rod McNair left Wednesday to visit the church and office in the Philippines. I suppose you are all aware of the on going conflict in the Philippine Islands between the ruling government and various political and ethnic factions.
The United States is sending 650 military personnel to advise and train the Philippine military and police forces. This action is clearly aimed at eliminating the Abu Sayef faction—which is closely allied to the Al Quaeda Islamic organization of Osama bin Laden. The Abu Sayef faction has demonstrated a close affinity to the methods employed by the Al Quaeda/Taliban rulers in Afghanistan—eliminating those who are not in compliance with the regime.
While our members are not involved in the politics of the area, our people may be affected by the ongoing conflict. There is also a threat to citizens of the US throughout the entire Philippines, as the warring factions have spread their tentacles into fertile ground in other islands.
Please pray for our brethren throughout the Philippines, and for the ministry serving them.
KENYA—Douglas Winnail is currently in Nairobi visiting our resident Elder Ernest Owino. He filed the following report on last week's activities:
Greetings from Nairobi. My flight from London arrived safely last Friday morning. I conducted a Tomorrow's World lecture and spoke on the Sabbath in Nairobi. Mr. Owino gave a sermonette. We had a Bible study on Sunday in Mombasa. Several guests were present in both locations. We looked at several potential Feast sites in Mombasa. We have visited with a number of members and prospective members. We have also had several very productive interviews with health professionals in Kenya. Tomorrow (Friday) we leave for western Kenya to conduct another Tomorrow's World lecture with a question and answer period following and a Sabbath service. The prospects for growth in the Work here look very encouraging.
COMMENTS AND CONCLUSION
The general conference of Living Church of God ministry from around the world will begin two weeks from next Monday. Mr. Meredith has asked the members of the Council of Elders to arrive in time for a Council of Elders meeting two weeks from today (Friday). Please pray for safe travel for the ministry around the world who will be traveling by plane and automobile.
Travel has always involved risk. The early apostles traveled during a relatively stable period of the Roman Empire, yet the apostle Paul wrote of his trials in traveling and in doing the Work of God under his hand.
(2 Corinthians 11: 22-27) Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
(Vv28-31) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Today we accord great respect to the apostle Paul—for his labor and his sacrifices in the Work of God. The clear implication of Paul's letter to the church at Corinth is that not all respected him, perhaps doubting his apostleship since he was not one of the twelve who were with Christ during His ministry. In his defense Paul wrote:
(2 Corinthians 10:7-11) Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trusts to himself that he is Christ's let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's. For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such a one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
(V. 12) For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
(Vv. 13-16) But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
(V. 17) But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Dr. Meredith and the Living Church of God are dedicated to Christ's commission to "preach the gospel in the regions beyond you," and not to boast in another man's work. We thank God for the fruit He is harvesting through our hands.
The following rationalizations struck me as amusing and insightful:
A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. So he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: I have circled the block ten times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES. When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note: I've circled this block for ten years. If I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation!
Have a great Sabbath—Carl McNair