Importance of Mercy: 

One of the fundamental qualities that Christians need to develop to become like God and reign with Jesus Christ is mercy. Showing mercy involves exercising patience, understanding, compassion, and forgiveness—even when we don’t feel like doing these things. The Scriptures reveal that God is full of mercy and compassion (Exodus 34:6-7), and He wants us to develop these same qualities (Micah 6:8; Hosea 6:6). Solomon states that showing mercy honors God (Proverbs 14:31). Jesus taught that the merciful will receive mercy (Matthew 5:7) and that God values mercy over sacrifice (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13). Jesus also taught that mercy is a vital key to good human relationships and those who receive mercy but do not show mercy to others will face serious consequences (Matthew 18:21-35). In human relations we may judge others guilty before the law, yet, the Apostle James states that “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). As we develop the mind of God, we will come to understand the importance of showing mercy to everyone we deal with—and we will be preparing to rule with Jesus Christ in His kingdom. 

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S, Winnail

A Seared Conscience

The Bible talks about a seared conscience. Paul wrote, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2, emphasis added throughout). He also wrote, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled” (Titus 1:15).

The Ultimate Solution
So what is the ultimate solution to the pain, suffering and injury humankind has inflicted upon one another for a millennia? 

How will the healing of the mind and seared consciences begin? 

The only true way to eradicate moral injury is through the restoration of all things, the restoration of the law of God!  

It’s the removal of sin and the installation of a new way of doing things. It’s a spiritual solution. It’s a return to holiness. 

We Must Be Cleansed Now
The blood of Jesus Christ our Savior is what cleanses our conscience, is what cleanses our sins, is what cleanses us from immorality and moral injury. It’s a spiritual solution. 

As people who fully understand the plan God has for the world, we must take our calling seriously and act upon it. We must have a clean conscience and remove sin and all types of moral impurity that can injure our minds.

Amex launches blockchain-based business payments using Ripple

16 November 2017

LONDON (Reuters) – American Express (AXP.N) has introduced instant blockchain-based payments using Ripple, a fintech start-up, for U.S. corporate customers sending funds to UK-based businesses that bank with Santander UK STN.SN, the companies said on Thursday. …

This marks one of the first major uses of blockchain, a shared database of transactions maintained by a network of computers on the internet that is best known as the system underpinning bitcoin.  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-blockchain-amex-ripple/amex-launches-blockchain-based-business-payments-using-ripple-idUSKBN1DG1SX

Blockchain technology is something that I have warned may be used by the Beast power. American Express’ interest in this technology shows that blockchain is getting more acceptance.

Three years ago, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg was appointed to the advisory board of Ripple. He also made comments this past Spring about blockchain technology:

The former head of Germany’s armed forces is now helping to bring blockchain tech to some of the world’s largest financial institutions.

An early advisor to distributed financial technology firm Ripple, not to mention a bonafide German baron, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg today plays a key role in enabling the heavily funded startup to make inroads in the banking sector. But as co-founder of consultancy Spitzberg Partners, he is setting his sights beyond finance.  

Over the course of his time at both the Ministry of Defense and Minister of Economics & Technology, zu Guttenberg built up an extensive network of global politicians, technologists and bankers. 

“Big Brother” will work for more and more financial controls. Interestingly, Herr Guttenberg has been on the forefront of this. If  American Express, the USA, or State of Delaware do something later against his preferences related to digital currencies, this could turn him further against the USA.

Whether or not the USA lasts long enough to do this, the Europeans will one day control nearly all buying and selling under their control.

The Bible is clear that the time is coming when the Beast power will have implemented some type of strong financial control–blockchain technology may very well be part of it. (Watch also Sweden going to ‘666’ cashlessness?) 

This may very well be someone like Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.

Here are 10 speculative predictions I have posted over the years related to Herr Guttenberg that have been at least partially fulfilled:

1. He has advocated more European military cooperation.

1. He became unpopular for a time (and still is among many).

1. He ended up, for a time, outside of political office.

1. He went out of the limelight for a while.

1. He went into exile (self-imposed).

1. His exile was to a humid location.

1. People laughed at him.

1. He has partially re-emerged in European politics.

1. He has called for Germany to consider being a leader in data protection.

1. He now has a beard.

1. His early involvement with Ripple and blockchain could be setting him up to help fulfill Revelation 13:15-18.

Several of those predictions were based upon my understanding of prophecies in the books of Daniel and Revelation, plus outside sources (see also Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North?). 

While these 10 speculative predictions do NOT prove that he is going to be the final King of the North European Beast power, he still bears watching.

I literally saw the future of the United Church of God at camp—you campers and young adult staff. As a camper now (from ages 12 to 19) you already are a very important part of God’s plan, since He calls youth as 1 Corinthians 7:14 describes: “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy” (New International Version).  Compass Check

I was a member of Worldwide Church of God for about 10 years under these false teachings. I want to describe the process of accepting these "truths" so you are aware of the danger.   

First, you become indoctrinated into the idea that the Seventh Day Sabbath, annual festivals, and clean/unclean meat laws apply to you as a seeker or believer. Unfortunately, due to the ambiguity of traditional Christianity on this subject, younger or less experienced Christians fall for this idea easily. Many within traditional Christianity itself teaches that the Ten Commandments as a whole apply to everyone. They think the day switched from Saturday to Sunday, but they still think that the Sabbath still applies to everyone due to their assertion that it is a moral absolute, rather than a sign of the Old Covenant. They also fail to teach that the Old Covenant applied to ancient Israel and not New Covenant Christians. There is much ambiguity on this topic, and this ambiguity has created an opportunity for Armstrongism to develop. 

Second, you become indoctrinated into the idea that the whole world, including Orthodox Christianity, is deceived by Satan, including orthodox Christianity. Because of your new-found knowledge, you and your group alone possess 'the truth'. Orthodox Christianity is viewed as a bunch of unconverted, bumbling idiots who know nothing. They are non-Sabbathkeepers who are still in their sins, and have nothing to teach you. Therefore, you reject any source that could correct your errant belief system. The fact that you know 'the truth' appeals to your sinful nature, as the essence of sin is pride. Most Armstrongites are totally absorbed into intellectual pride and superiority. This increases your enslavery to this false belief system.   

Third, you accept doctrines that are even more aberrant because you give great credibility to the source who convinced you of Sabbathkeeping. You are totally ensnared into many false beliefs that you would not have accepted if you had seen the whole picture at the beginning.

Other elements of Herbert Armstrong's teachings include the following: 

• British - American Israelitism - the claim that Western Europeans and Americans are physical descendants of the "lost ten tribes of Israel". This doctrine was used to strengthen the argument requiring Sabbathkeeping for most individuals who were a part of the church, since they were largely white people of Western European descent. It also created a situation where most of the prophecies in the Bible applied to white people of European descent. Prophecy was a big part of Worldwide Church of God theology.

• God Family Doctrine - the claim that God is a "family" into which converted human beings would be born into, with the full nature and powers of God. Christians were considered to be literal sons of God in this sense, to be born into the Kingdom at the resurrection as a full-fledged God being. Speculation was that they would have their own planet and be worshipped like a God by other human beings at some point. This doctrine denied the fact that Christians have eternal life now. The focus tended to be on the 'not yet' Scriptures of the 'already but not yet' status of believers.

• Apostolic Authority - Herbert Armstrong claimed to be God's apostle or sole authority on Earth. He restored true Christianity to mankind after a 1900 year void in spiritual knowledge, much like Joseph Smith claimed as the founder of the Mormon church. He also claimed to be a prophet by calling himself the Elijah to Come. He prophecied the return of Jesus Christ in 1975, which obviously failed to come true, clearly identifying himself as a false prophet. Unfortunately I did not know the details of this until I was already indoctrinated, and his prophecy was misrepresented to me as a speculation rather than a prophecy.

• View of the Bible - The Bible was written in a coded manner that required putting verses together from different places in the Bible to arrive at sound doctrine. The hermeneutic used to justify this was Isaiah 28:10. If he simply read down to verse 13, he would see that the result of this verse wasn't a good one. The classical error that Herbert Armstrong was engaging in was "collapsing the context"....connecting two unrelated verses in different contexts to create a doctrine.

• Rejection of Orthodox Christianity - Cults must create suspicion about traditional Christianity and Church History in order to make their erroneous assertions by nature. Herbert Armstrong was no different. Besides portraying other Christians as antinomians which are unconcerned with obedience, he characterized them as blind leaders of the blind.

• Trinity Doctrine - He rejected well-founded Christian doctrines such as the Trinity as being of pagan origin. The biblical basis for the Trinity doctrine is solid, and I would encourage anyone who doubts this to read Forgotten Trinity by James White.

• Conspiracy Theories involving Church History - In addition, in order to assert the Sabbathkeeping doctrine, suspicion was created by a distortion of the history of the migration from Saturday observance to Sunday observance. The Emperor Constantine is often blamed for this switch, along with the Roman Catholic church. The reality is that the switch occurred long before that, around 90 AD or earlier, when Christians were no longer welcome in the synagogue due to anti-Christian resistance from the Jews. Christians would often go to the synagogue to hear the Scriptures read on Saturday, and meet by themselves on Sunday to discuss these Scriptures from a Christian standpoint. It was a natural thing for them to begin meeting themselves on Sunday, as they were not parties to the Old Covenant anyways.

• Legalism - Besides adherence to the Saturday Sabbath, Armstrong taught that Christians needed to observe the festivals of Leviticus 23, clean and unclean meat laws, and a system of tithing which allocated about 23% of one's gross income to devotional purposes. This created a serious bind financially amongst the membership. The funny thing is that the pastors did not tithe, so they subjected others to burdens that they themselves did not bear. This reminds me of the Pharisees and Christ's statement in Matthew 23:4. In addition, the Church was inconsistent in its assertions. For example, they claimed that Colossians 2:16-7 was teaching Sabbathkeeping rather than refuting it, but there are problems with that view. One problem is that it's ignoring the context of the rest of the verses around it and the context of the book itself. The other problem is that they did not observe New Moons which were commanded by the same verse.

• Rejection of holidays with pagan origin - Christmas and Easter were rejected as pagan. I know this is an issue with many different Christians outside of Armstrongism, so I have some level of sympathy for anyone who holds this position. However, for me, Christmas simply means getting together with family for fellowship and there is nothing pagan about it. In addition, Easter simply means going to church, and inviting an unsaved friend to attend, as the message is about salvation generally on Easter. If God is going to throw me in hell for that, so be it. I don't hunt easter eggs or do anything with bunnies anyways. This reminds me of another thing about Armstrongism...when the Church had Pentecost calculated wrongly, and were observing it on the wrong day, the Church strongly insisted that God was merciful and would overlook such mistakes, but somehow their doctrinal intolerance did not extend to others outside of their circle..hmmmmm. Sounds like a double standard. Legalists want God to be merciful to them, but not to others.

• Virtual Universalism - Armstrongism teaches that not all are called now, but only a select few individuals, church members, who will be priests and kings in the Millenial reign of Jesus Christ. This is a very dangerous doctrinal position. It implies that today is not the day of salvation, and is a disincentive for evangelizing. In their view, these chosen individuals (again, appealing to human vanity of Armstrongites) are going to guide others into following God in a subsequent resurrection that occurs after the Millennium. A few will reject salvation and be destroyed in the lake of fire, but the majority of mankind will accept salvation during this 100-year period following the Millennium. They call this period of time 'the judgment'. The Bible refutes this idea by stating that the vast majority are on the path of destruction.

• Annihilationism Annihilationism is the doctrinal position that denies eternal torment for those who are lost, but specifies that punishment will be temporary. I am not going to get into this point too much. Suffice it to say that I think both positions, eternal torment and annihilationism, have some reasonable basis in the Scripture and I neither deny or affirm either one of them. Some Christians consider annihilationism to be a damnable heresy but I do not put it on this level. John Stott, a famous theologian who is well respected in evangelical circles, was an annihilationist.

• Soul Sleep - This is the position that the dead are not conscious until the resurrection, either to eternal life or eternal death. This is another doctrinal position that I hold no position on. Scriptures seem to indicate either position, and Martin Luther held the position of soul sleep from my understanding.

• Spirit Resurrection Herbert Armstrong held the position that Christ did not have a resurrection body but that he manifested a physical body at the resurrection. The bodily resurrection is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity. Scripture uses the phrase 'spiritual body' to describe the resurrection body..the Greek word is pneumatikos. Spiritual does not mean composed of spirit, though. It is a glorified physical body which has been changed to be incorruptible and to have different characteristics than the body we currently have. Armstrong denied the bodily resurrection of Christ. If his view was correct, the physical corpse of Christ should have been in the tomb, and we all know that's a primary evidence that he was resurrected. In fact, there is no need for a resurrection unless it involves the physical body. This is a position that he seems to have obtained from Jehovah's Witnesses theology.

 

Literature throughout the ages explores what the end of the world might be like. Blockbuster movies paint pictures of destruction from earthquakes, alien invasions, nuclear warfare and asteroid collisions. While there might be much to say about it, the end of the world is an unknown quantity to many people.  

In God’s Church, we are blessed with significant and uncommon understanding of what “the end of the world” will actually be like. The Bible even comments on the end of the age within its opening pages, a passage we will turn to shortly.  

Biblical prophecies about the end times do speak of dire and horrifying events in the future. In Leviticus 26:16, God vows He will bring “sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever” to the nation which does not obey Him (New International Version). As another example, God discusses a soon-coming beast power in Revelation 13. It will have vast control over the world’s economies and brutally murder those who oppose or refuse to worship it, especially the Church of God (verses 15-18).  

These and other end-time events are disturbing and troubling to many. What can you do to grow in courage and not be so afraid? How can you stop worrying about the end of the world? 

Perhaps the most important thing to remember regarding the end times and prophecy in general is that God is sovereign and in control of all things. God inspired the words of the Bible, and prophecies are only going to be fulfilled as part of His schedule and His plan. 

On the Bible’s opening pages, God says this about Satan and foretells an end to his worldwide deception: “I will put enmity between you [speaking to Satan] and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).  

That “Seed” is Jesus Christ. He is returning to stamp out Satan’s evil from the earth and establish truth and justice. The Messiah will put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering of the end times and usher in an age of joy and peace. “Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54). This present, evil age will be replaced by the glorious Kingdom of God (Galatians 1:3-5). We can be absolutely sure that this will happen because this is God’s plan, and He is in control.

You and I also have a role to play in this. God expects us to persevere in His truth to the end, no matter what. Note what God says about those who do so in Revelation 3:10: “I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world.” God, who is in control of everything, is certainly able to protect His Church in a time of crisis. He extends an offer of end-time protection to those who faithfully and wholeheartedly follow Him (Zephaniah 2:3). 

Pray to develop a trusting relationship with God (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is one way that you can get to know God and more deeply understand His Will for your life. Navigating life’s ups and downs can be difficult. Turn to Him on both the good days and the bad, talking to Him both when it’s easy and when it’s hard. 

“Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20). Another important action we can take is to not neglect but instead become familiar with the prophetic insight God provides. Prophecies of historical events demonstrate God’s control and influence over human affairs, which can really help build our faith. Likewise, we can look to the Bible’s end-time prophecies with comfort and confidence that they will proceed just as God has planned because He is in control. Furnishing a good understanding of prophecies about “the end of the world” can help stop you from worrying or being afraid of it. If you aren’t sure where to begin or what to look for, the United Church of God has many different resources to help guide your studies. God wants us to live by His every word, and prophecy is no exception (Matthew 4:4).  

The end of this age is coming; the Bible leaves no doubt about that. But God does not want us to worry about this treacherous time. He wants us to remember that in the good times and the bad, He is still in control. God is willing to protect and comfort His people, even in the despair of the end times. We must draw near to Him in spite of these trying circumstances, with prayer and with confidence in His Word, looking forward to the time when God will establish a new age of goodness, peace and joy on earth. In that day, the entire world will recognize God’s sovereignty and take comfort in the fact that He is in control. 

2 Peter 2:1-3The Message (MSG)Lying Religious Leaders2 1-2 But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong. 

2-3 They give the way of truth a bad name. They’re only out for themselves. They’ll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you. They won’t, of course, get by with it. They’ll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on.

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I am a member of the pcg, and I just want to say... GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT! Half of what you accusse us of is false. For your info we are not a cult. Gerald Flurry admits he has a small following, but you lie and say he claims to have a large one. PCG And Worldwide church of god are the same, we are just the next generation after hwa died. And that stupid article about Gerald Flurry telling us that we will be deported was false. We do not intend to become a large religion, we want to remain small.

You said in an older article of yours  

"Gerald Flurry has now decided that he can no longer breathe the same air on planes that the commoners breath. He also cannot stand being int the same security lines with the unwashed heathen masses. Its important now for God's only chosen apostle to travel the earth in style and comfort." 

We purchased the plane simply to save money and make our travels quicker, the plane is small, I have been in it, its not meant for luxury and comfort.

You also said Gerald Flurry Prefers To See PCG Members "ROT" From Sickness Than See A Doctor. This is also false, we are allowed to see doctors, but he prefers us not to put all of our faith in them. Its god who heals.

Once again you said this "It has been well documented over the years on how abusive the Philadelphia Church of God has become under the leadership of Gerald Flurry. Families have been ripped apart, marriages destroyed and countless suicides have occurred because of the vile polices that Gerald Flurry has forced upon the membership of the Philadelphia Church of God" 

Just to start off, these policies are NOT forced upon us, we are not a cult. There has only been one suicide to take place by a pcg member. For each individual who takes his/her own life, at least 20 attempt to do so. Suicide has a global mortality rate of 16 per 100,000 people. And we have only had 1. 

Famillies are not torn apart but made happier in our church.

Today is national holiday in the USA called Thanksgiving. And despite certain claims, its specific origins are not pagan. But, of course, no Christian needs to celebrate national holidays like it. And the Bible does condemn gluttony.

One thing that I have noticed on the day called Thanksgiving by those in the USA, is when I have been at many other places than the home I lived in, American football has been playing on television. 

For many, other than food and family, football is a major focus of the Thanksgiving holiday.

When I was posting a video on YouTube several weeks ago on giving thanks (watch Ingratitude and Giving Thanks), apparently because it mentioned ‘giving thanks, YouTube suggested that a ‘key word’ for the video should be ‘American football’ (which was not in the description).

While I have even heard some people thank God for football, it is not a sport that I believe that the God of love would condone.

The person that Jesus stated was greater than all others born of women (Matthew 11:11), John the Baptist taught:

14 Do violence to no man (Luke 3:14, KJV)

What do sports like American football and boxing do? They harm people. Even if played according to all of its rules, American tackle football is evil because it actually physically harms many its participants...

The truth about the harm the sport causes is something that professing Christians, and others, who think that they should watch American football should think about. 

We must remove every sin and every pagan blot on our garments to prepare for the marriage of the Lamb. 

The traditions of the Protestants including Puritans and Anglicans came mainly from Roman Catholicism, the Roman Catholic church is the ancient Babylonian Mysteries traditions were adopted from paganism. 

Sunday, Easter and even Thanksgiving are very ancient pagan holy days.

Actually the harvest feast was well known by these Indians and was a tradition practiced throughout the new world, as well as the old by the pagans. Thanksgiving is a universal pagan tradition descended and spread from Babel worldwide. Some of whom paid homage for the harvest by sacrificing young virgins.

Is it wrong to be thankful? NO, Definitely NOT!

It IS wrong to cloak pagan traditions in the guise of being thankful to the true God. That is what Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving are all about; cloaking rank paganism in an appearance of something good; of making evil seem desirable, godly and good: Of deceiving people into sinning by exalting the pagan pantheon under the illusion and false cloak of pleasing the true God! 

The big question is: To whom are you being thankful? To some pagan god and traditions; or to the Eternal Creator who has given us his own Holy Days to rejoice and be thankful on?

We tend to think of Thanksgiving Day starting in the New World. But actually a thanksgiving for the annual harvest is one of the oldest holidays known to mankind, though celebrated on slightly [due to differences in climate and harvest dates] different dates. In Chaldea, in ancient Egypt and in Greece, the harvest festival was celebrated with great rejoicing. The Hindus and the Chinese observe the gathered harvest with a holiday.” 

The first two Thanksgivings in the present day United States [Another was an Anglican service in Canada] were Roman Catholic. The Pilgrims can only claim a third one, a correction I suggest should be made in school history books.

The first Thanksgiving’s in the US were celebrated by Spanish explorers, not pilgrims. It is Florida that today proudly claims the first Thanksgiving, with a feast and celebration between the Spanish and Timucuan Indians on September 8, 1565, 56 years before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth in 1621. Therefore, St. Augustine – and not Jamestown – is the first permanent European settlement and oldest city in North America. Another correction for many history books.

Now what could some of the things you’re eating on Thanksgiving symbolized?(For all Our Kitchen Witches Out there!!!!)Turkey-– Native Americans–symbolized the Mother Earth and a shared Harvest.Apples–Celts–rebirth, healing and youthPumpkins--Native American– was symbolic of personalized power (in some cultures) and symbolized the sun.Wishing you a Merry Pagan Thanksgiving!

God’s Thanksgiving is the Fall Harvest Festival of the Feast of Tabernacles! 

Psalm 133:1 tells us, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” This is a fitting description of what we encountered in our travels among God’s people, and I trust you found the same to be true wherever you traveled over the Festival period. But this is not the world to which we’ve returned. At the time of this writing, Australia is spending more than $95 million (in U.S. dollars) on a non-binding referendum in an attempt to trivialize and pervert the marriage relationship between a man and a woman. We heard numerous reports from our members of intimidation to cast a “yes” opinion for same-sex marriage. Some businesses display “yes” posters and make it clear that they expect their employees to fall in line. Government buildings, which one would expect to be neutral, display the rainbow flag, making it obvious which side they support. To be sure, there are vocal critics on the “no” side, but “yes” has the support of the media, academia, many businesses, most celebrities, and even the national football team.

Truly, this generation has no respect for God or His instructions found in the Bible. “There is no fear of God before his eyes” (Psalm 36:1); and “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4). Even in the unlikely event that these misbegotten efforts fail, same-sex marriage will eventually prevail in Australia, just as it has in the other Israelite nations. It is only a matter of time. The god of this world and his invisible spirit influence will make sure of that! Is it any wonder that parts of Australia are in severe drought, and some farmers, seeing no hope for the future, have committed suicide?

And in California, Governor Jerry Brown recently signed into law a bill allowing people who consider themselves as transgender to identify as having a “non-binary” gender on state identification documents such as driver licenses. It might be a stretch to blame the fires that have destroyed 6,000 homes and killed nearly 50 people on a single piece of legislation, but it is evident God is withdrawing His blessings from the “Golden State” and from the Israelite nations as a whole for disregarding His ways.

Many members of the Church sense that time is closing in on us and that real persecution is just around the corner. We are losing our freedom of speech, which is so essential to the preaching of the true Gospel and proclaiming the Ezekiel warning. A cadre of people—small, percentage-wise, but very vocal—have taken over our governments, educational institutions and the media as a whole, and people who lack a godly moral foundation are going right along with it. So, while the Feast of Tabernacles was an oasis of peace, love and harmony, we must not be lulled into a lukewarm Laodicean attitude. We may be surprised. It may take longer than we expect before man’s Babylonish system comes crashing down, but collapse is on the way.

Then, the reality pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles will be here. At that time, all nations will be commanded to come up (i.e., send representatives) to Jerusalem to learn of God’s master plan. It is evident from Zechariah 14:16–19 that Jesus Christ will accept no excuses for failing to do so. This should be a lesson for all of us that we must take these holy convocations seriously and prepare each year to observe them. I hope all of you will be doing so. We have the better part of six months from the Feast of Tabernacles until Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread to ensure time off from work.

The First Day of Unleavened Bread 2018 falls on a weekly Sabbath, so most who work daylight hours have to take off only the last Day of Unleavened Bread, which falls on a Friday. You should have plenty of time to work out arrangements to have that day off. The Festivals that fall later in the year will require more time off, but most members have little trouble arranging that, if they plan early and work with their employers. It should go without saying that the better employee you are year round, the more inclined your employer will be to meet your needs. And the same may be said for students who must miss classes. We know that there are exceptions, but most employees and students will do just fine with a bit of hard work and planning.

Another way to prepare for the Festivals and Holy Days is by preparing according to God’s financial instructions. Deuteronomy 14:22–26 explains how each of us are to set aside a tithe for these special days. (See Mr. Dexter Wakefield’s article in this issue for more on this topic.) This is a well-ingrained habit for most members, but there are those who think they have a better way. Some wait until the Feast and use their last paycheck. Others go to the Feast on credit cards that they know will take months to pay off. Others try to save a Festival tithe, but end up “borrowing” from it for various emergencies. This should not be the case.

Brethren, we understand that many struggle financially, but as one minister put it, “How can you be blessed if you are under a curse?” For the scripture asks and explains: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’” And God’s answer? “In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation” (Malachi 3:8–9).

When God tells us to do something and we don’t do it, how can He then bless us? We have all learned from experience that it works out better when we obey God! Please examine yourself in this regard. Obey His commands and then claim His promises:“‘And try [KJV: prove] Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (v. 10).

One has to wonder: How many more Feasts will there be before the seventh trumpet sounds and Christ returns? May we all prepare to rehearse God’s great plan of salvation for mankind next year and for as many years as need be until we are changed into spirit-born sons and daughters of God! May we all be busy, diligently fulfilling our calling! Personal-After the Feast, The Work Continues!

Today, November 23, 2017, it includes his usual attack on football and Thanksgiving:
Today is the national holiday in the USA called Thanksgiving. And despite certain claims, its specific origins are not pagan. But, of course, no Christian needs to celebrate national holidays like it is they do not wish to (cf. Romans 14). And the Bible does condemn gluttony.

One thing that I have noticed on the day called Thanksgiving by those in the USA, is when I have been at many other places than the home I lived in, American football has been playing on television.

For many, other than food and family, football is a major focus of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Should Christians support violent sports like American football?

I do remember David Cassidy when he was in the Partridge Family on television. I saw him in a couple of plays decades later. My wife, Joyce, even met him several times. 

David Cassidy did not seem to be particularly religious. Perhaps he had some type of Christian faith, perhaps not (he had been Episcopalian). 

If he was not a true Christian, is he and the others like him doomed?

No. 

It is reasonable to conclude that David Cassidy (and most others who have already died) did not commit true blasphemy against the Spirit, so can be forgiven. 

Under-dressed women are becoming controversial in the city of Everett, Washington:

November 23, 2017
The city of Everett, about 30 miles north of Seattle, is home to numerous bikini barista espresso stands, where servers dressed in everything from tasteful two-piece swimsuits to pasties and G-strings serve up lattes and Americanos at a drive-thru window.

Everett lawmakers have been steamed about the coffee stands for years – arguing everything from obscenity to mob ties – officials are taking a page out of the headlines and citing a new argument: The skin-flaunting coffee servers could turn men into the next Harvey Weinstein.

Over in Europe, we have seen this pushed in another odd direction. Earlier this year, a Muslim woman was barred from using a swimming pool, because she wore a swimsuit known as a burqini. Women should be able to wear full body bathing suits when swimming, etc.

Now, getting back to the First Amendment of the Constitution of the USA, it states:

First amendment — Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

But is it always wise to say anything anywhere?

Is it wise to go before as many people as possible and speak insults to them?

While it may be “legal,” some may get so upset as to take violent action against the insulter. While that action by the insulted would be illegal, it certainly was not wise to go around intentionally trying to insult people.

Furthermore, it is not wise or proper to attempt to incite male lust as many businesses (especially those involved in entertainment) try to do.

Adultery is prohibited by the seventh commandment and lust by the tenth commandment.

Jesus and the Apostle Paul warned against attempting to provoke, stir up, or mentally succumb to sexual lust. Thus, they are also condemning pornography, including dressing inappropriately.

What was considered immoral dress in the mid-20th century is now more modest dress than what many young females now wear. Another trend, which is appearing in the USA, as well as Europe, is for women’s clothing to become more and more sheer. So sheer, that one can often look through the clothing to the skin (slips and other covering items are often missing). This is not a positive trend but is another that I wanted to mention and it is a type of pornography.

Many of the underclothed do not blush. They think they are clever, and like adulteresses, act like they did nothing wrong.

          20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:

She eats and wipes her mouth,

And says, “I have done no wickedness. (Proverbs 30:20)

But inciting lust is wicked!

What is considered to be acceptable dress for public display (mainly for females) continues to the trend to show more skin, more cleavage (and more and more women have decided to have “breast enhancement” apparently for display), and more of their figures. This is not good. And this is not just limited to television or the movies.

The idea that women need to be almost totally naked to work in restaurants, swim, etc. is wrong.

Promoting lust is wrong, promoting modesty is not.
Promoting lust is bad for humanity.

EDMOND—Philadelphia Church of God Pastor General Gerald Flurry made his first international trip on the Church’s corporate jet from October 10–19. He spent the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day in Warwickshire, England. Three days later, he flew to Tel Aviv, Israel, and met with Dr. Eilat Mazar in Jerusalem before returning home via England. 

On October 10, the sixth day of the Feast, Mr. Flurry left his home at 6 a.m. to drive to the private hangar in OKC. Due to a passport mix-up, he and his personal assistant, Grant Turgeon, had to return to the headquarters campus. During the 90-minute delay, Capt. James Gay adjusted the flight plan to make up the difference. Strong eastward winds allowed for a rare direct flight from Oklahoma City to Birmingham, England, and enabled Gay to eliminate a refueling stop in South Bend, Indiana. 

After an eight-hour flight, the Gulfstream G450 touched down in Birmingham around 11 p.m. local time. Mr. Flurry said that he felt energized following the trip, the result of near-zero turbulence at 43,000 feet and a cabin pressurization of just 6,000 feet (half that of a commercial flight). A cheerful group of about a dozen pcg members stayed up late to greet him at the private terminal. 

United Kingdom-Europe Regional Director Brad Macdonald and Edstone Foreign Language Translations staff member Emmanuel Michels drove Mr. Flurry and Turgeon to the pcg regional office at Edstone Hall in Warwickshire, arriving just before midnight, where they stayed at the apartment of the Stephen Flurry family. 

The next day, Mr. Flurry gave the sermon and then spent a couple hours speaking with most of the 300-plus members at the Feast site. 

“The brethren are always excited when Mr. Flurry visits, but I thought they were extra excited by this visit,” Mr. Macdonald said. “This was Mr. Flurry’s first visit to the region since the new revelation about his office. That understanding makes a conversation with Mr. Flurry extra special. Since the Feast, I’ve spoken with a few people who relayed how special it was for them to have a few minutes with Mr. Flurry, and how connected they felt to him. More than a few remarked on how warm and open and friendly Mr. Flurry was, and how in their conversations with him it felt as if they’d known one another for years and years.” Pastor General Visits England Feast Site, Meets With Dr. Eilat Mazar on First International Trip Aboard PCG Jet

On the flight to Tel Aviv aboard the Philadelphia Church of God’s corporate jet, Mr. Flurry emphasized to Mr. Macdonald the importance of having a much larger work in Jerusalem. His goal, he said, is to get the Church’s message to everyday Jews, who will be much more receptive than the elites. He also discussed writing a biography about Dr. Mazar to bring more attention to her many archaeological discoveries that prove the biblical history accurate. He also discussed building a small team (based at the pcg regional office in Edstone, England), similar to the one Steve Jobs supervised at the animation company Pixar, for the purpose of delivering a powerful warning message to modern Judah through the Internet, radio, publications and advertising.

At the meeting, Mr. Flurry quoted to Dr. Mazar something she had said in the past: “You need to have vision to do a dig in Jerusalem. You need to see the big picture of how things fit into the biblical picture. … Today’s archaeologists lack this vision, although many of the everyday people still hold it firmly in mind.”

Mr. Flurry then told Dr. Mazar that most of these “everyday people” still haven’t heard about her “sensational discoveries.” A biography mostly about her discoveries, coupled with an advertising campaign about those discoveries, would help change that, he said. Citing his past experience in the advertising field, he said, “I know from what experience I’ve had, that I could write some of the greatest archaeological ads you’ve ever seen.” Dr. Mazar enthusiastically approved his biography pitch.

I conducted a session that resulted in a lot of discussion, entitled: “First Contact Counseling.” The title suggests that our ministry may be given “leads” of people who take an interest in our proclamation message. The reality, however, is that we no longer have a line of people coming to us. We have to find them. We have to become “fishers of men.”

How can we reach out in the world where we live with the spiritual treasure and pearls of great price that we have acquired? We know that God calls people, but what role do we have in engaging them? We spoke of the “ladder of involvement” that all of us have climbed from first contact with the truth to committed membership through baptism. Is the ascent unimpeded from someone’s first exposure to God’s way all of the way up to engagement in the congregational environment? Do we provide the rungs needed to climb this ladder? Are the rungs solid, or are some broken? If the path is not clear, a person’s growth can stop.