Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
We hope and pray that you had a spiritually rewarding and uplifting week.
Change of Radio URL
We received a couple of report from Shirley Gestro (Hickey) in New Zealand related to the Bible News Prophecy online radio station she has overseen setting up:
Dear Dr. Thiel,
I changed the radio url (link to radio mobile on this website) to: http://www.biblenewsprophecy.net/
Reason for this change is to improve the management of it: It now streams 24/7 on auto dj uninterrupted without global shutdowns, unlimited listeners & unmetered bandwidth, comprehensive streaming radio statistics system and live real time listener analysis,
I do not to need to keep my computer on for it to stream, it runs better and faster for poorer connections. …
On the former radio page (biblenewsprophecy.caster.fm) there is a display up to inform people of the new radio url and also click on links to the page.
Kind regards
Shirley
Hi Dr. Thiel,Yes (for mobile apps), this is the url: http://mobile.caster.fm/66A647
Kind regardsShirley Gestro
To go to the new page (and see the new layout) click on the URL: http://www.biblenewsprophecy.net/
On a related note, Jay Chiang of China told me that he has recorded a couple of messages for the radio station. Thus, giving some variety in the speakers there.
Study the Bible Course- A test is coming!
Spent a little time finishing up matters related to a test for the Study the Bible Course. Because of lack of staff, I decided against having a test that students would submit to be graded. So, any of you worried about how you might do, relax as you get to grade yourself.
On related matters, I spent a lot of time working on the Study the Bible Course lesson that comes after the test. Putting together the Study the Bible Course takes more time than it would seem since it is based on a previous course. That being said, in time I believe it will be valuable to our prospective members as it has more and more useful information with each lesson we complete.
Spanish Language Booklets
The graphics company finalized our last booklet in the Spanish language, and I was able to upload it.
So, now all three of our booklets have been translated into the Spanish language:
- Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?
- Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido. Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese 一篇关于信仰的小文章
- Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.
We have a lot of information in the Spanish language and are reaching more people with of materials in it. But we still have a ways to go. We also are hopeful to get our booklets in other languages.
Speaking of booklets, I am working on two more that I expect will be out before too late in 2015.
Here are some additional news items translated into the Spanish language:
After Obama announces stronger military ties to Australia, Australia makes a trade deal with China
Después de que Obama anuncia lazos militares más fuertes con Australia, Australia hace un acuerdo de comercio con China
http://www.cdlidd.es/despues-de-que-obama-anunciara-lazos-militares-mas-fuertes-con-australia-australia-hizo-un-acuerdo-de-comercio-con-china/
1 in 10 US children claimed to have ADHD–what’s the cause?
1 de cada 10 niños en los EE.UU. se dice tener ADHD –¿Cuál es la causa?
http://www.cdlidd.es/1-de-cada-10-ninos-en-los-ee-uu-se-dice-tener-adhd-cual-es-la-causa/Book claims Jesus had children
Libro dice que Jesús tuvo hijos
http://www.cdlidd.es/libro-dice-que-jesus-tuvo-hijos/
Buffalo Mayor: Most snowfall in 40 years; USA hit with frigid weather
Alcalde de Buffalo: Mayor caída de nieve en 40 años; los EE.UU. golpeados con intenso clima frío
http://www.cdlidd.es/alcalde-de-buffalo-mayor-caida-de-nieve-en-40-anos-los-ee-uu-golpeados-con-intenso-clima-frio/
CBS: Why the Great Recession may be with us for years
CBS: ¿Por que la Gran Recesión puede estar con nosotros por años
http://www.cdlidd.es/cbs-por-que-la-gran-recesion-puede-estar-con-nosotros-por-anos/
Gregory Thaumaturgus greatly affected church history
Gregorio Taumaturgo afectó grandemente la historia de la iglesia
http://www.cdlidd.es/gregorio-taumaturgo-afecto-grandemente-la-historia-de-la-iglesia/
China tests ‘anti-USA’ ICBM; Russia’s nuclear warheads exceed USA’s
China prueba ICBM ‘anti-EE.UU.’; las cabezas de guerra nucleares de Rusia exceden las de los EE.UU.
http://www.cdlidd.es/china-prueba-icbm-anti-ee-uu-las-cabezas-de-guerra-nucleares-de-rusia-exceden-a-las-de-los-ee-uu/Cartwright’s Journal Out: Roy Hammer, Shirley Armstrong, Sacred names, BI, Salvation, and Prophecy
Salió Journal de Cartwright: Roy Hammer, Shirley Armstrong, nombres sagrados, BI, Salvación, y Profecía
http://www.cdlidd.es/salio-journal-de-cartwrigth-roy-hammer-shirley-armstrong-nombres-sagrados-bi-salvacion-y-profecia/What Jesus Taught in Mark’s Gospel Account
Lo que enseñó Jesús en el relato del Evanagelio de Marcos
http://www.cdlidd.es/lo-que-enseno-jesus-en-el-relato-del-evangelio-de-marcos/BP: The Coming Global Collapse
BP: El próximo colapso global
http://www.cdlidd.es/bp-el-proximo-colapso-global/Scott Walker or Jeb Bush to run against potential candidate Hillary Clinton?
¿Scott Walker o Jeb Bush para lanzarse contra potencial candidata Hillary Clinton?
http://www.cdlidd.es/scott-walker-o-jeb-bush-para-lanzarse-contra-potencial-candidata-hillary-clinton/
World News Events
The Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab has killed again in Kenya. 28 non-Muslims were killed by these Islamic terrorists (see al-Shabab kills 28 non-Muslims in Kenya).
While I was in Nairobi, Kenya last March/April, al-Shabaab committed a terrorist act there and several were killed. From a Church of God perspective, al-Shabaab creates difficulties in Kenya as it has heightened security and safety concerns in Kenya. While I am not aware that the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) had any members directly affected by this latest bombing, we do have hundreds of members in Kenya, as well as members in neighboring Tanzania. The problems caused by al-Shabaab were factors in interfering with the travel of CCOG members into Kenya for the Feast of Tabernacles last month. Because of that, most from Tanzania had to stay in that country and a last minute Feast site over there had to be arranged. We need God’s kingdom to come–pray for that (Matthew 6:10).
Election results in the United Kingdom (UK) showed an important gain for Nigel Farage’s United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP; see Farage’s anti-EU party gets a big win in UK and eyes more in May). Nigel Farage wants the UK out of the European Union (EU) and has made many disparaging and insulting comments about leaders in the European Union. While many in the UK are getting fed up with the EU, many in the EU are getting fed up with the UK. This ultimately will not turn out well for either of them, with the UK suffering the most first (Jeremiah 30:7).
The situation in the USA related to protests for the killing of Michael Brown of Fergusen Missouri has been in the news (see Ferguson protests spreading across USA). There is violence and blood in the land as the prophet Ezekiel warned (Ezekiel 7:23-24). For years, based on prophecies in the Bible, I have written that civil unrest would come to the USA. I expect more civil unrest in the USA in the future. I expect much worse civil unrest in the USA than is what has been happening this week.
Suggested Sabbath Service
Here is our suggested format for Sabbath services this week:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette, which for most who receive this emailed-letter will be a recorded one: Was USA debt and destruction predicted 2,600 years ago? A somewhat related written article is: Habakkuk wrote many warnings that the Anglo-descended peoples need to understand today. Other sermonettes are also available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- Sermon, which for most who receive this emailed-letter will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Proverbs: Wisdom, Knowledge, Righteousness, and Diligence. There is no directly-related written articles although here are two that are indirectly related: Living as a Christian: How and Why? and Building Character: Going on to Perfection. Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
Note: If you have a slow internet connection, you can watch these by starting the video, then below it (and towards the right) look for an outline of a gear–if you click on that, it will allow the YouTube video to be played with lower video quality, but at least it will not stop often–you can select a quality as low as 144p.
If your internet connection is still too slow (as my home one is) and/or you prefer audio messages to audio-visuals ones, go to the YouTube link for the message, click on SHOW MORE related to the description. You will then see something that says, “Download MP3.” Below that is a link to an MP3 file. Most computers (and even some cellular telephones) will allow MP3 files to be downloaded and played. This is an option we have made available (but we are also looking into ways to improve that as well)–and, of course, we have written article options that we list each week.
IN CASE YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A ‘LETTER TO THE BRETHREN‘ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE ContinuingCOG channel AND MANY SERMONETTE MESSAGES ON THE Bible News Prophecy channel.
Concluding Comments
The Book of Proverbs teaches:
3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. (Proverbs 11:3-6)
Brethren, all God’s “commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172). God’s people will be keeping those commandments until the end (Revelation 14:12), and that is one way to identify true Christians at the end.
Remain faithful.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God