Greetings,
I am sure you are all very busy preparing for the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The celebration of "Passover" is in two parts. First is commemoration of the death of Christ, which He instituted as a memorial the night He was betrayed (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We do not eat the lamb and bitter herbs etc. as instituted in Exodus (chapter 12). The blood of the sacrificial lamb on the doorposts and lintel of the house provided protection on that night in Egypt (Exodus 12:12-14) as God passed through the land. The children of Israel were commanded to eat the flesh of the sacrificial lamb roasted, without breaking its bones, etc, all pointing toward the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Our service is a memorial of the shedding of Jesus blood as a life giving sacrifice for us, as well as a remembrance of the historical event of deliverance from Egypt. Furthermore, the Feast we observe (which we call the "Night To Be Much Observed") pictures the historical event of Israel's departure (Exodus 12:42), and the beginning of our sojourn out of a spiritual Egypt upon conversion. The "Night To Be Much Observed" is a joyous celebration commencing the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Mr. and Mrs. Meredith are now in the Australasian area for Passover season. They appreciate your prayers for their safe travel. Long flights over the oceans do not easily accommodate unscheduled landings, and in air travel safe landings are the most critical element!
Mr. Richard Ames returned this week from Joplin, Missouri where he conducted the funeral of Patricia Biggar, who was sister of Mr. Meredith and Mrs. Ames. He spoke to the Joplin congregation last Sabbath.
The Meredith and the Ames families wish to thank you for your expressions of condolence. The loss of a loved one is never easy, but the assurance of the resurrections in their order gives us hope and comfort. God our Father and the Son, our Savior, are so much more merciful than the majority of humanity imagine. Their plan for humanity is beyond human comprehension.
From Finance—Mr. Jerry Ruddlesden
Please remember to use your pre-labed Green HDO envelopes for the First and Last Day of Unleavened Bread. The use of these envelopes saves many hours in processing time for our clerical staff and ensures that your offerings will be credited to the correct account. If you have not received any pre-labed Green HDO envelopes please let us know immediately.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Pre-Teen Camp In Missouri—Mr. Randy Gregory
The Church will sponsor a pre-teen camp at Cuivre River State Park in Missouri June 9-16. This location was used very successfully last year. All church youth, ages 8-12, are encouraged to attend. We are planning activities such as canoeing, archery, flag football, arts and crafts, Christian Living and much more. High school and adult staff are also needed. The cost for the camp will be $90 for campers and $30 for high school and adult staff. A $5 application fee that should be included with each application. For families with more than one child attending, the second child is $80 and the third child is $70. Applications may be obtained from the Church's youth web site at: www.youth-web.org. If you have questions or need an application form mailed to you, contact Randy Gregory at 847-249-1057 or by email at [email protected].
INTERNATIONAL
Ireland—Dr. Doug Winnail
"My trip to Holland and Belgium last weekend went very well—in spite of murky weather over the Irish Sea on Friday. Services were held in Utrecht in the center of Holland to make it easier for scattered brethren to attend. We had a number of guests and some very pleasant fellowship afterwards. Our hosts in Holland, Franz and Sabine Peeters, have translated a number booklets, articles and lessons of the Bible Correspondence into the Dutch language. We were able to discuss some advertising possibilities and other issues related to the work in Holland."
"On the return trip I visited in Belgium and spent Monday getting a feel for the city of Brussels where the headquarters of NATO is located. It is also one of three sites where the European Parliament meets (the other sites are Strasbourg and Luxembourg). The parliament buildings in Brussels are modern, massive, impressive structures of glass, steel, concrete and marble. The parliamentary sessions are conducted in 12 languages that the tour guide described as 'a modern tower of Babel.' Over the weekend I re-read Franz Joseph Straus' book, The Grand Design. It was sobering to see how much of what he projected in 1965 is actually happening today—while America, Britain and other Israelite nations are preoccupied with other things!"
COMMENTS
Jesus said, (Matthew 7: 15-20) "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
Actions and words—these two are inseparable. Profession and performance are the measure of a true Christian. Jesus said, (Matthew 12:36) "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment."
Why, I ask, will we be judged by "every word?"
It is apparent that words conjure pictures in the mind of the hearer. Constructive words, even humorous words, create images in the mind of the hearer.
Some time ago, I was visiting in a home and the lady had the television set on when a late night show came on. I had not viewed that show for years—and I was appalled at the extremely vulgar humor presented by a guest comedian. Mind you, I am not a prude, nor am I "Victorian," but I was sickened by the crassness of the guest "comedian."
Is such vulgarity a sin? The Apostle Paul spoke of some things done in secret by evil men, of which it is even a shame to speak (Ephesians 5:12).
Why is it a shame to speak of the lewd, licentiousness of evil men? Because words evoke mental pictures—words create images just as surely as pornographic photographs do.
As Jesus said, (Mark 7:21-23) "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
The eyes and the ears influence the things "within."
The Apostle Peter corroborates this doctrine; (2 Peter 2:18) "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error." Even speaking philosophical words of vanity that lead to pride and error will condemn the speaker and the hearer who follows such vanity.
As we commemorate our acceptance of Christ's sacrifice and our commitment to Him this Passover season, let us remember the consequences of spoken words—our own and those to whom we listen. Our words (both spoken and heard by us) are very important to us.
The Apostle Paul said, (Hebrews 4:12) "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Have a great Sabbath and a rich, meaningful Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Carl McNair