Greetings everyone,
My wife and I returned this week from warm and friendly Montana, where we were able to spend two Sabbaths with brethren in Helena and Great Falls. I also spent considerable time and money with a dentist I have used there for the past 14 years. I told him that I had helped put his children through school—and now I am helping him prepare for his retirement. He thought that was a great idea—and grabbed his drill and set to work. Now he is $500.00 richer, and I am $500.00 poorer!
RELOCATION UPDATE – By Richard Ames, Treasurer
Dr. Meredith announced yesterday that the Crown Point property closing took place on Thursday afternoon with the recording of the deed at the county courthouse. Mr. Mark Newell, agent for the seller, congratulated Dr. Meredith by phone, and presented Mr. Don Davis the keys to the building. We thank God for His guidance and blessings along the way, and for the prayers and support of the brethren. We anticipate that the Work will be able, in 2003 and 2004, to reap valuable benefits once we are settled in Charlotte, NC.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
While I was on vacation I changed my e-mail settings (on my notebook computer) so that I could collect mail. Unfortunately, I have lost all incoming mail from October 28 through October 7—couldn't have been my computer ignorance, of course!
If any of you sent me important mail within that period, please resend? And, my apology for the inconvenience.
Concerning E-Mail Viruses
Several ministers have reported receiving viruses or odd messages from other ministers or HQ staff. In order to protect yourself from such problems, it is important to remember the following three points:
1) NEVER open an e-mail attachment unless you know the sender, and are expecting to receive the attachment. Most viruses come as attachments to e-mail messages, and most viruses will not affect you if you do not open e-mail attachments. Watch out especially for .EXE attachments, but this warning applies to all attachments, not just .EXE.
2) NEVER open an e-mail attachment unless your anti-virus software is up to date. Most anti-virus software requires regular monthly updates (some available for free, others for a few dollars a year) in order to protect you from the latest viruses. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAM, YOU SHOULD OBTAIN ONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
3) NEVER assume that an attachment is safe to open just because you THINK you know who sent it. Some viruses "raid" their victims' address books, and send virus-infected messages that were not really sent by the apparent sender. A message from "[email protected]" may have been sent by a virus, and not by J. Doe. Especially if the message contains gibberish or an unusual message along with the attachment, it was probably sent NOT by J. Doe, but by someone else who has J. Doe in his address book.
USA
TAHOE SINGLES WEEKEND—This is just a reminder that the deadline for application forms for the Tahoe Singles Weekend is November 15th. If you are a single in Living and would like to experience some great skiing, and greater fellowship, don't miss this opportunity! This activity runs from Friday evening, December 20 through Tuesday morning, December 24. The cost for the weekend, including room and board for all four days is $115 per person. If you have any questions or need application forms, you can contact Rod McNair at 530-822-0530, or email: [email protected].
International
Mr. Rod McNair—from the Philippine Weekly Update
"Warm Sabbath greetings (literally)! I recently got back from a hunting trip in Montana, where the temperature one night dipped to -26 Celsius! It was cold! We had a nice trip, and it was good to spend some time outdoors (but it's nice to be back in Sacramento where it's not so cold!)"
News from around the country:
Mr. Tex Benitez reports: "Mrs. Linda Francisco... has a lung problem and suffers difficulty in breathing. She was taken back [to the hospital] for further treatment. She is a member of the Mauswagon church." Please be praying for Mrs. Francisco at this time.
Mr. Gorgonio de Guia reports good attendance in Quezon City, with new attendees, and a newly baptized member. Congratulations, and welcome to the family!
Mr. Gideon Benitez mentioned in his reports that there has been some sickness in Iligan City. He has been visiting the sick, as well as visiting a new member from another fellowship, who has recently made the decision to come with us. In Mr. Benitez's words, "He was impressed with our literature and articles, which according to him, [demonstrated that] this Church is the same as what Mr. Armstrong founded. He was very happy to see the same people (in LCG) that he used to meet way back in the 1970s and early 80s." We certainly welcome our new members and are glad to see them again a part of the Work!
European Update — Douglas Winnail
"I have just returned from several short trips to England, Scotland and Wales where I was able to make a number of visits with brethren and conduct services and bible studies in Glasgow & Radlett (in North London). The congregation in Radlett continues to grow. Responses to our latest advertisement (Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return) are running over 2700. We are currently negotiating with several properties in North Wales regarding the Feast of Tabernacles for next year.
On one of the trips I was able to visit, photograph and gather information from several early monastic sites on the southwest coast of Scotland, Lindesfarne and Whitby, along the northeastern coast of England. These historic sites were important centers for the spread of early Celtic Christianity through the Britannic Isles and Europe. Weather conditions in England were somewhat challenging due to flooding from recent storms that have battered this part of the world."
European News Items:
The End of the West — The Atlantic Monthly, November 2002.
Professor Charles Kupchan of Georgetown University, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, predicts that the next major clash on the world scene will be between America and the growing power of a United Europe—yet Americans remain largely oblivious! He notes how America and Europe follow different social models, different political philosophies, have increasingly divergent views on foreign policy and how the euro is overtaking the dollar. He sees Europe rising to become America's principal competitor in a struggle for dominance similar to the historic rivalry between Rome and Constantinople. This article—in a respected American magazine—clearly reflects what the COG has been saying for over half a century!
Belgium—Prototype of the New Europe — The European Journal, September 2002.
Mr. Pitul Belien, a lawyer and journalist based in Belgium, describes how the modern nation of Belgium was created from French-speaking Walloons and Dutch-speaking Flemish in the 1830's as a political compromise when Francophone radicals in these provinces attempted to break away from the Netherlands and join France. He relates how a generous welfare state and economic expansion became the glue to hold together a nation that had no common nationality. Over the years this nation-building experiment has made Belgium the "laboratory of Europe" which some see as a "prototype" or model that can and should be expanded to Europe and eventually the world! This system would involve a corporate welfare state under authoritarian leadership. Mr. Belien describes Brussels (where the major EU offices are located) as a "monster in the making."
Secret History of the European Union — The Sunday Telegraph, November 3, 2002
British journalist Christopher Booker, and Dr. Richard North, a research director with the European Parliament, are combining efforts to reveal (in a forthcoming book) how the recently announced effort to formulate a European Constitution "was planned more than 50 years ago, as the concluding move in a secretive process intended to take decades."
The authors reveal how the early planners realized that a United States of Europe could not be built by democratic methods, but would have to be put into place gradually "without the peoples of Europe realizing what was afoot." As this article shows, "everything is unfolding according to plan."
COMMENTS
I must thank Mr. Apartian for preparing the Weekly Update in my absence. He does such a nice job I think I should assign him the duty permanently, don't you?
Here in the United States we have just concluded the "mid-term" election. It appears that the independents among the American people are very supportive of President Bush, and the "Democratic" party candidates could not focus them on their agenda.
An incredible $900,000,000.00 dollars were spent with the media during this election, according to one broadcaster. Nine hundred million dollars!
Paul Harvey, reporting on the annual "Liars Club" in Wisconsin, said that one of the rules of the club states only amateurs could enter. Therefore, he said, "NO POLITICIAN NEED APPLY"—as they are considered PROFESSIONALS!
Then, someone reminded me, politicians are just above the clergy when it comes to believability—so I guess we must not be too hard on the professionals!
We are all thankful that the snipers terrorizing the Washington D.C. area have been caught. Now the bleeding hearts are whining that they fear that they can't get a fair trial! It makes one wonder what some people have in the place of brains. I have noticed that they sure have large mouths….
Have a great Sabbath, and drive carefully. We are in the « turning season » when the weather is very unsettled.
Carl McNair