Finding Sin (Dennis Leap)

The most vital spiritual lesson of the Passover and spring holy days is the incredible destructiveness of sin. Human sin brought about the death of Jesus Christ. And human sin will cause our eternal death unless we repent and seek God’s righteousness (Romans 6:23). The great tragedy is that, all too often, serious sin can be hidden from our view. 

But there is a positive side to all this knowledge. It is found in the Days of Unleavened Bread. God gave us the spring holy days to teach us that we can find sin, and with His help, put it out of our lives. God uses the physical lesson of leaven to help us adults understand how sin works. We need to show our children how sin works by getting them involved in cleaning for the Days of Unleavened Bread. Finding leaven is a tailor-made activity for our young people. Each child, even toddlers, should have some job or activity related to finding leaven. In our family, we have always tried to assign each child a particular area of the house. When our children were toddlers, we directed them to hunt for leaven in their toy box. Yes, we made them pull each toy out. It was always great fun.  

We didn’t always necessarily find leaven. But our toddlers felt part of all the activity.
As you teach your child to look for leaven, look with them. Talk with your child about sin and how it is like crumbs—it is everywhere! Be sure to plan ahead so you can spend time with your children.

We learn so much from obeying the biblical command to deleaven our homes, cars, offices and personal spaces (Exodus 13:6-10). Physical deleavening certainly helps us in looking at our own lives spiritually—searching out every corner, nook and cranny in order to truly remove any spiritual dirt, filth or sin. 

This process harkens back to a wonderful example of restoration found in 2 Chronicles: “Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:1-3). 

The richly ornate and costly temple God had built by King Solomon in Jerusalem had fallen into disuse and disrepair. We witnessed the same tragedy in recent times: After Herbert W. Armstrong’s death, perversion of God’s truth began. The Church had become a church within a church—the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 3:9). God then used one man to begin restoring the truth and the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). 

Malachi’s Message was given to God’s Church. The opening sentence of the preface of that book reads, “This is a story about God’s Church gone off track, and what God did to correct the tragedy.”

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Just as the Levites anciently began the task of cleansing, repairing and restoring, so our current commission to “raise up the ruins” must begin with a cleansing of the spiritual temple. The Philadelphia Church of God started small, but it has grown large and raised up the ruins of Mr. Armstrong’s work. 

King Hezekiah wrote letters to those who had drifted from God. He asked them to turn again to God (2 Chronicles 30:6). But, like the Laodiceans today, not everyone was responsive (although ancient Israel did not have God’s Holy Spirit).

For those who responded, this was a great cleansing and it brought great joy. Read verses 13-27. Notice verse 21 in particular: “And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lordday by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord.” Of the word singing, Moffat says, “sang praise to the Eternal day by day with all their might.” This all is happening during the feast of Unleavened Bread. 

Look at verse 26 now: “So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.” When we get back to God’s ways, what is produced is “great joy.” Joy and rejoicing—the Israelites held the Feast with great delight. This must be our goal every day—to rejoice with great delight, especially during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 

When the king commanded the people to get back to tithing, they responded beautifully. “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:20-21). 

God truly will bless His Church as we seek to truly obey Him in every way and cleanse our personal temple—getting rid of any filth or uncleanness in every area. 

We must ensure that we truly are up to our task of cleansing ourselves and responding to God—His government, His law and His love. We must be dedicated to the spiritual commission before us—prophesying again (Revelation 10:11). The last hour is closing in—time is of the essence to finish this Work, but also for each of us to be ready to marry the Son of God!

For us to properly keep the Days of Unleavened Bread, it’s necessary that we come to properly understand and observe what the Bible calls the Night to Be Much Observed. 

God commands that the Church keep the Passover ceremony at night (1 Corinthians 11:23). Mr Armstrong taught the Church that the Passover is the most solemn night of the entire Holy Day season. It is the night that God’s truly converted people convene to remember Jesus Christ’s death. 

God also requires that His truly converted people keep another separate night immediately following the Passover. This second night is also of great importance to all of God’s people. Keeping the Passover alone is not enough! We must observe this second, different night, to properly keep the Days of Unleavened Bread!

The Night to be Much Observed is actually the beginning of the first Holy Day. We should dress in our sabbath best for this occasion. Men should wear coats and ties and ladies should wear nice dresses. Our children should dress in clothing that they would normally wear to Sabbath services. 

If your Night to be Much Observed gathering must take place at a restaurant, be sure it is in a private room, away from the public. Loud music, interruptions and people smoking will greatly detract from your evening.  

Mr. Armstrong always set us the example of using nice dishes, tablecloths, and nice tableware for special occasions. This is the night to do this. Candles and fresh cut flowers will also help make this occasion more special. A wonderful atmosphere goes a long way in making an occasion such as this a very memorable one. 

This is a night for fine foods. Our meals should be balanced and not contain a lot of rich foods. Too many rich foods can make people ill and sluggish. Remember that the next day there will be double services. We need to be sure we are alert for the spiritual food to come at services. 

Drinking on the Night to be Much Observed should be done with great care. Alcohol can either add or detract from our fellowship. God intended for man to develop alcoholic beverages for our benefit. “And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart” (Psalm 104:15). Using alcohol in moderation will help make us merry on this night. A host should never force alcohol on anyone. But in the same vein, a host should never allow someone to over drink.

God planned the sacrifice of His own Son so we could share eternal life with Him; He provided for us a great Passover. He also provided a second night for us to truly celebrate that Passover. Because of what God did for us, we owe it to Him to celebrate the Night to be Much Observed. So let us all do everything we can to make this year’s Night to be Much Observed the best celebration ever!

Jewish Seder Should not be Called Passover and Early Christians kept the 14th not 15th as Passover 

Tonight after sunset is the 15th of Nisan. Most Jews will claim to celebrate the Passover tonight, but Passover was actually last night 

Do people in the Church covet? Yes. Do people in the Church shade the truth? Yes. Do people in the Church steal? You know that some do, even if it is only small amounts. Judas, who was in the presence of Jesus Christ, still stole. So, it should not be surprising that people can call themselves Christian and still be involved in idolatry. 

Having said that, obviously the warnings are there and there so often not only because idolatry is possible but probable. Look around, and some blatantly worship a dead man. Some worship their organization or perhaps the man running it (often by introducing the idolatry as a flagrant elevation of the dead man and then shifting to themselves). Some people have fallen in love with their own pet doctrine and left the Church because their pet doctrine was more important than keeping the commandment to assemble together. Some have made an idol out of government. Some border on worshiping the host of heaven with their fanatical and distorted view of the calendar. Idolatry in the Church of God is not only possible, but it is!

Still think idolatry cannot exist in the Church? Christ Himself said it would be there at various times down through the ages. Remember that He admonishes each and every one of the Seven Churches of Revelation to listen to what He says to the “churches“, plural. The messages were targeted to each and yet meant for all.

Instead, most treat the messages as a way of picking out the one we like the best, applying it to ourselves and then hit everyone else over the head with the others. It is so backwards that it is a doctrine of Satan. Ironically, it in itself is a form of idolatry in the Church of God, taking notions like “us vs them”, “Laodicean vs Philadelphian”, church “eras” and such way out of proportion and making them more important that the actual messages Christ was delivering to all the churches down through all of time up until His return.

Many of us ministers have participated in healing the sick and in casting out demons. But these events are not experienced nearly as often as they should be!

Brethren, many scriptures indicate that God’s people—at the end of this age—will be greatly lacking in faith. We need to realize that this has affected all of us! And God Almighty generally does not heal nearly as often unless there is an “atmosphere of faith”! Please remember that even Jesus Christ Himself—when He came back to His own hometown and relatives, “could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mark 6:5). It was obviously not because He lacked faith, but “He marveled because of their unbelief” (v. 6)!

So, we must do everything in our power to restore this aspect of apostolic Christianity. We must begin, collectively, to cry out to God to restore the depth of understanding and the depth  of faith regarding healing and God’s divine intervention in other ways that the original apostles had. We must pray about this. We must fast about this. We must go on a “campaign,” dear brethren, so that God will begin to supernaturally heal more of our friends and loved ones in God’s Church at this time of the end! We know that terrible disease epidemics are coming. Because of this, it is even more imperative than ever that God’s people learn to have genuine faith that God can heal us if we turn to Him with all our hearts!

As an aside, let me remind you that the Church has always taught that God does not heal people in every case in this life—and that He does allow people to die at some point. God heals in His way and in His time. So, although we were very hurt to experience the deaths of Messrs. Dibar Apartian, David Burson, Glen Gilchrist, Fitzroy Greeman, Randy Gregory, Bob League, Carl McNair, John Ogwyn, Carl Ponder, Lynn Torrance, Keith Walden and others in recent years, we realize that these men had proven themselves as faithful servants of Jesus Christ. Some died well into their 60s or 70s, and several were older than I am today. In my case, brethren, I want all of you to know and understand that God does not “have” to heal me, although I certainly hope that He will. For God has already given me nearly 86 wonderful years of life, with a beautiful first wife and a beautiful second wife, six wonderful children, ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, trips around the world and many, many other blessings and opportunities. I have already lived about 15 years longer than King David of Israel did 3,000 years ago when God allowed him to die “old and full of days.” I will certainly deeply appreciate your prayers that God will grant me several more years to help finish the Work! This is my passion and my desire. But you must not be shocked, turned aside or in any way lose heart if God allows an 85-year-old man to die. Your faith must always be in God’s Word, and in what God says He will do. Unless there are special reasons, God does often heal us in this lifetime—and many of us have experienced that over and over again. But we do need to go all out in a genuine crusade—as a Church—to ask God for increased faith and zeal so that our Father in heaven will begin to grant us the gifts of the Holy Spirit and begin to pour out these gifts—including divine healing—much more than ever, as we cooperate with Christ in creating an “atmosphere of faith” within the Church of God.

In Jesus’ name, I ask all of you to join me in urgently crying out to our Father in heaven to restore this living faith into His Church! Please ask God to teach us every lesson, show us everything we need to change and move us, collectively, to draw closer to Him so that He will then be able to bless us, empower us and use us to finish the Work of God with the kind of zeal the original apostles had—and also be blessed with the “accompanying” signs!

Any time someone makes fun of our beliefs or of us, we are hurt inside. Romans 13:10 says love does no harm to its neighbor, so those who are striving to live as God asks them need to watch their words carefully so as to not hurt others.  

However, not everyone lives that way of life. Jesus Christ realized most humans would not follow God’s instruction and would indeed ridicule true followers of God. In fact, in Matthew 5:10-11, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”  

Later, in Matthew 10:22, Jesus said, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” He told us that since they treated Him badly, they would also treat us, His followers, badly. We also read in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  

This is one of the hard parts of being a disciple of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. This is where the “rubber meets the road”. Quite honestly, this is where many people give up, throw in the towel, and turn back to their old life! 

God promises us that if we’ll remain faithful to Him, He will bless us and eventually make those who mistreat us recognize how wrong they were. Notice Revelation 3:9: “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” 

Yes, I realize that to know what will happen in the future does not always comfort us in the present, but in Mark 8:38 Jesus tells us not to be ashamed of what we believe: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” When we really know what we believe and why we believe it, explaining our beliefs becomes easier. So we then have an incentive to study so we can clearly explain our beliefs. 

There are times when we must also be careful not to promote our beliefs to others who may not desire to hear what we have to say. It really is a delicate balance. If someone doesn’t really want to know what we believe and is only trying to stir up trouble for us, perhaps it would be better to simply avoid that person as much as possible 

The PCG can't even afford to light the balcony or chandeliers on Friday nights for BS! Mr. Turgeon made the announcement that they didn't realize how expensive it would be to run the Auditorium. Duh! Talk about "counting the cost". The only time you'll ever see the chandeliers lit up is for a concert or performance, us lowly tithe payers aren't worthy enough! If you don't believe me, then just drive by HQs on any given Friday night during BS, and you'll just see darkness. 

Hillary Clinton proudly promotes sexual immorality that the Bible condemns–her speaking fees and the Clinton Foundation suggest at least a minimal love of money. She also despises those who hold to biblical marriage and the rights of the unborn. She promotes class warfare and other forms of covetousness. She claims Christianity, but certainly does not practice biblical Christianity.

Donald Trump is an admitted adulterer who said he has never repented before God, and he approves of various behaviours that the Bible condemns–he is also a proud, boasting, lover of money.  He despises many. He promotes nationalistic covetousness. He claims Christianity, but certainly does not practice biblical Christianity.

If only they'd clean Gods House and the John Amos Field house as well physically as they want us to clean. Seems every Fall just before the Feast there's a Lice outbreak! It was so bad one year that the whole orchestra section was infected, but Turgeon assured us that Lice won't get us in the balcony.  

There's also the problem of the students having parasites. Most church volunteers won't eat their lunch at the FH because too many of us have gotten so violently sick. Cleanliness is not a concern to the Kruegers though. It's common knowledge that the church makes the students do parasite cleanses because it's such a problem. One young man wouldn't shake our hands one Sabbath because he had ringworm. 

• Presenting her a punny poster: (e.g. draw a music staff and start your message with, “I’ve been thinking of a clef-er way to ask you …”).
• Placing a note in a balloon with confetti and asking the recipient to pop it.
• Writing it in sidewalk chalk. (If the date is long-distance, take a photo and e-mail it.)
• Giving him a hammer and a note in a small block of ice that says, “Now that the ice is broken, will you be my turnabout date?”

• Step out of your comfort zone.
• Be mindful of your date’s schedule, and be willing to be flexible.
• Sometimes less is more.
• Keep the group smaller. This makes it more of a date and less of a party.
• Embrace whatever activity you are participating in.
• Don’t overthink it: It’s purpose is just to serve and get to know each other better.

• Do a video call from a café
• Make dinner with your date
• Host a themed dinner or potluck
• Picnic at the park or beach
• Host a progressive dinner
• Make your own Chopped challenge
• Host a barbecue
• Host a fondue night (savory and/or sweet)

• Learn a new sport together
• Go on a scavenger hunt at a park
• Fly a kite (try making your own)
• Go roller-blading
• Go fishing
• Try geocaching
• Make your own disc golf course
• Hit the go-kart track
• Cycle around the city
• Plan a treasure hunt
• Create an obstacle course
• Visit a botanical garden, zoo or aquarium
• Hike a trail
• Go canoeing
• Go horseback riding
• Go bowling
• Try an Amazing Race challenge

Use the music

• Have a music-themed video call
• Sing karaoke
• Attend a college or high school musical
• Have a lip-sync battle
• Go to an outdoor concert

• Play Catch Phrase
• Compete in Minute to Win It challenges
• Have a Lego-making contest
• Plan a Whose Line Is It Anyway challenge
• Play tabletop games with snacks
• Have a trivia night

• Draw or paint together
• Watch a local sports team
• Watch an outdoor movie
• Tour a museum or gallery
• Attend an outdoor festival
• Play mini golf

As we approach the Holy Days, Satan always seems to become more active in the world and in our personal lives.  

At this time of year Satan also seems intent on stirring up problems and strife among God’s people wherever he can, so we must be on guard and not lose our focus on what these Holy Days mean for us and for all mankind—that there is a path to salvation that will eventually lead all mankind out of this present evil world. 

In addition to offering the Co-Worker letter electronically for many years, we have recently added email versions of LCG Member Letters and the Tomorrow’s World magazine. One of our responsibilities, as an organization, is to be a good “digital citizen,” and this includes requirements such as honoring “spam complaint” requests—which we do.  One of the unanticipated surprises that we have discovered as a result of launching different digital subscriptions is that the vast majority of “spam complaints” that are submitted about us are from Church members. 

This was surprising, since we don’t send out unsolicited electronic mail, and we always operate on an “opt-in” basis. With that in mind, we would like to request that if you receive an email subscription from us, and no-longer wish to receive it, please utilize the unsubscribe method included at the bottom of any email, rather than simply marking the email as spam. This has two benefits. Firstly, it doesn’t negatively impact our reputation as an emailer. Secondly, when you report us as spam, your email address is black-listed by our system so that we can’t accidentally send you emails again in the future; with systems like MyLCG and festival registration, we need to be able to responsibly send you emails.

Charlotte BRiC Weekend (an opportunity for singles)—Memorial Day Weekend—Repeat Announcement 

Are you interested in insightful, spiritual discussions on Building Relationships in Christ? Do you desire to strengthen the relationships you already have with those around you? Do you also want to dance, relax, and enjoy a little fresh air? If you’re single and interested in the above, then be sure to attend this year’s BRiC Weekend, May 27–30. 

Our theme for this year’s BRiC Weekend is Building Relationships in Christ through a culture of servant leadership. You can register for the weekend, as well as find the details for the weekend, at charlottelcg.org/BRiC.

About Dutiful Church of God? 

Dutiful means -showing proper regard to a person with higher status. It also means devoted, obedient, compliant, dedicated, attentive, and motivated. 

The Dutiful Church of God is dutiful to show proper regard to the teachings expounded by the late Herbert W. Armstrong. We are devoted to his teachings. We are obedient in follow his ways. As called by God under the late Herbert W. Armstrong, we are dedicate to continue on and hold fast to his original teachings.

We are compliant to preach the truths to God’s flock splintered by grandiose leaders in the Church of God who believed they are greater than their teacher HWA.

We remember the teachings of the late HWA. We do not idolize and worship him. Instead we pay him high regard as a great teacher.

God starts small as in the time of the patriarchs in OT, in the time of Christ in NT, and in the time of HWA in the Philadelphian era of the Church of God. The Dutiful Church of God starts small. Do not despise the day of small beginnings. We will try to serve God’s flock who believe that we should not change but continue the original teachings of HWA.

We are small but motivated in standing fast, holding the traditions, contending earnestly for the faith, and no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about by trickery and cunning of men.

Listen To The Counsel Of Your Minister.

PROVERBS 19:20 “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.”

Even Christ obeyed the counsel of His Father.  God did not send Jesus to the Jews to be an arbiter of dispute.  When two Jews went to him to solve their argument, Christ said to them: “Who told you I am your judge?”  Be like Christ who listened to the instructions of his Father.

Here is a counsel from your minister.

Do not give advice to Minister but you must  listen to His advice. His counsel. And you will become wise in your spiritual life in the rest of your days. Wise in the ways of God. Wise how to get eternal life. Not wise in your own eyes and wise in the ways of the world.

Accept Admonition And Discipline From Your Minister.

Admonition is an authoritative counsel.  An example is counsel coming from your Minister.

Discipline is an act of training to obey rules. As soldiers of Christ we can not perfect our TRAINING without ADMONITION and DISCIPLINE.

PROV. 3: 11-12 “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”

I would love to see you all in the World Tomorrow. It would be a great reunion.

Here is a counsel, a good wisdom.

You must overcome your trials. You have problems with tithing, overcome it. You are often absent from services, overcome it. How many times are you absent in a year? Five times? Six times? Not good. You have problems with submission to authority, overcome it. You have problems with humility, overcome. Only overcomer will be in the WORLD TOMORROW.

Avoid Strife By Not Arguing With Your Minister.

One of the sources of strife in the CHURCH is insolence. Insolence- means rude and disrespectful.

Strife is conflict, friction, discord, disagreement, dissension, dispute, argument, quarreling, wrangling, bickering, controversy, bad feeling, falling-out, bad blood, hostility and animosity.