Greetings everyone,
I hope that you all enjoyed a few days of rest and recreation during the year end season. Dorothy and I enjoyed spending some time at Lake Tahoe, California, with a group of singles from across the nation and Canada. They were blessed with great snowfalls—two feet of new snow on Thursday before their arrival, and "refreshing" snow showers almost daily while they were skiing. Big Sky, Montana, was not so blessed with great natural snowfalls, but the temperatures were low enough that the snow-guns could create adequate snow for limited skiing.
The brethren in Reno, Nevada, did a wonderful job hosting the Tahoe group. The ladies prepared a sumptuous buffet dinner for over one hundred members and guests. The local church also provided a hall for Sabbath service and music for dancing after the dinner.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Memo from Mr. Tom Turner, Legal Services:
Legal & Risk Services During Relocation—due to the physical relocation to Charlotte, NC, the Office of Legal Affairs and Risk Management will be closed beginning the afternoon of February 21, 2003 until the morning of March 17, 2003 (the official "Grand Opening"). Mail for this department that is received after February 21st may not be processed until after March 17th. However, we have arranged for certain limited services to be available during this time to address urgent/emergency contract processing and proof of insurance needs. Unfortunately, our other services (including requests for Conscientious Objector packets) will not be able to be filled, or forms processed, during the referenced 3 week period. From February 21, 2003 through March 17, 2003 all documents relating to urgent/emergency contracts and proof of insurance needs should be emailed to [email protected], or faxed to (619) 374-7292. This fax number should not be used until after the 21st of February.
Conscientious Objection and Military Service:
The potential for the US government to re-institute the military draft grows with each passing week. The Military Selective Service Act provides that no person shall be subject to combatant training and service in the armed forces who "by reason of religious training and belief is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form" (50 U.S.C. App. § 456(j)). There is no draft at present; however, if a war were declared today, the draft could begin immediately. By law, all males must register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Pursuant to the Biblical instruction given in Romans 13:1-2, if you have failed to register within the required 30 days, the Church would recommend that you now register as soon as possible if you are between the age of 18 and 26. The longer you delay, the greater the potential penalty if the draft were reactivated. Male "adherents" (members, prospective members) of Living Church of God in the United States, who are 18 to 26 years old, should request, read and consider the instructions contained in the Church's information packet on Conscientious Objection to Military Service. The packet includes an exemption request form, instructions for completing that form, recommendations for additional actions to take, and how to be recorded in the Church's official Register of Conscientious Objectors maintained at headquarters.
INTERNATIONAL
Philippines Report from Felipe C. Casing via Mr. Rod McNair:
"On December 14, 2002, we went to Polomolok to meet the brethren there for the Sabbath. It was a joyous time since I missed them for months already except at the festival... Sunday we left early to visit in Telafas, Columbio, and Sultan Kudarat. Mr. Johnny and Imelda Bolences went with us. Once again for the second time we scaled the mountain standing like a big wall separating Koronadal and Columbio. We encountered some engine trouble of our motorcycles owned and driven by Johnny Bolences. It was a high climb on gravel road, 30 degrees up, and the road is marked with erosion and scattered loosed stones.
Only motorcycles dare to commute to that place, very seldom do vans or jeepneys traverse the route. After two hours of negotiating the less than 20 kilometers distance we arrived at the home of Mr-s Antonio Mendoza. As usual we answered many questions, then I conducted a Bible study for 4 adult friends of Antonio."
COMMENTS
There is great value and need for weekly Sabbath fellowship with brethren of like mind. This is why the Scripture says (Hebrews 10:19-25) "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."
The injunction to faithfully hold fast, assembling ourselves and exhorting one another, is vital to enduring and holding faith that Satan does everything that he can to disrupt our assembly and fellowship.
He seeks to cull us out from the "flock" in order that he can destroy us individually and weaken the body as a whole.
One of Satan's most effective tools is the human tongue. We all have one, and we all use it. We may use it to exhort and encourage others, or we may use it to wound and to discourage others. Encouragement is like healing balm on a burning wound. A sharp critical tongue is like salt on an open sore.
Satan's second effective tool is to entice one to set himself or herself up as watchdog and critic of the group. Christ led the Church to place some as overseers of the body as it pleases Him—by means of ordination. But anyone who presumes to that office will suffer His rebuke. To those appointed as overseers of a part of the Body of Christ, there is a strong warning from the Apostle Paul to exercise humility in the service.
Acts 20:19-30 "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
I once heard a story that illustrates how a busybody can harm others by drawing an erroneous conclusion.
As the story went, "Sarah, the church gossip and self-appointed supervisor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several residents were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know that he was an alcoholic. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just walked away. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Sarah's house—AND he left it there all night."
The story illustrates how one can draw an erroneous conclusion based upon appearance—and how one who does so makes himself or herself very vulnerable!
As we begin a new year according to the Roman calendar in use by our society, I would hope that we all keep focused on SERVING one another in love and with compassion. We are all beneficiaries of the service of Christ and the Father.
In conclusion, I will pass on the following meaningful (anonymous) quip:
"PRIDE is concerned with WHO is right—Humility is concerned with WHAT is right."
Have a great Sabbath! Please keep safe.
Carl E. McNair