Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Another full week of working on matters related to Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20 around the world.
Last week I began more seriously looking at potential locations for the Feast of Tabernacles in 2015. It seems like we barely finished the last one, while we need to start to prepare for the next one.
For those who live in North America, I would be interested in hearing any ideas that you might have. We are debating between having one or two sites, depending on our needs. If you have a suggestion, you can email me: cogwriter@aol.com, but understand that there will be many factors that will determine our final choice(s).
Bible News Prophecy Radio
At my request, those in New Zealand changed the logo for the Bible News Prophecy online radio site to the following:
I asked that John Hickey’s name be added to the logo as he is reading some of the news items that I have written over this radio channel. His ability and willingness to do this should make the channel (available at http://www.biblenewsprophecy.net/) more relevant and hopefully (in time) develop a wide listening audience.
Secular Radio
At this instant, I am scheduled to be on the radio next Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 15:05 EDT/12:05 PDT. The program is called the ‘Nutri-Medical Report’ and prophetic and biblical matters are expected to be discussed. This is broadcast over the Genesis Communications Network, which reaches millions. The host said he is also an ABC affiliate and the show is broadcast on the DISH Network in Europe. He has stated that DISH network in Europe has something like 1100 radio channels and covers Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, including Russia. There are even listeners in Perth, Australia.
Being a radio guest allows us to reach a lot of people at virtually no cost. Radio complements our presence on the internet and often radio programs will link back to our articles and videos, as this particular one sometimes does. This allows us to reach people we otherwise would not be able to reach.
If certain events occur in 2015, I expect to do something that hopefully will result in me being a guest on other radio programs this year as well.
Growth and Famine in Africa
Kenya-based CCOG Pastor Evans Ochieng sent the following report today:
Greetings from Kenya.
It is a good day to let you know that the work in Kenya is making steps everyday. I received calls from the old congregation in Sindo who had thought that the COG had perished. Some of the families saw our magazines and the book THE LAST POPE. They were influenced by this book and decided that this is the church which has the truth. They called me to go and meet them. They left a long time when we were in COG IN TRUTH. I will go and meet them next week. One of them was on a journey and he will come back on Monday.
Another thing, when I was in Nyakach I noticed that they are really having a great famine. this is one of the dry places in Kenya and the life is very hard there. If we can help them to get at least some food to assist them that would be good.
As it turned out, we received more third tithe assistance and offerings than normal this month so I informed Pastor Ochieng that we would be able to provide some assistance related to the needs in Nyakach and elsewhere in Kenya.
The Last Pope is a book I wrote about two years ago. We previously sent free copies of it and some other books I wrote to Kenya. Literature sent to Africa often produces fruit.
Reminder Santa Fe, New Mexico: April 25, 2015
As mentioned last week, my wife Joyce and I plan to be in Santa Fe, New Mexico the Sabbath of April 25, 2015.
If you are interested in possibly meeting with us for a Sabbath service in Santa Fe, please email me when you can: cogwriter@aol.com so that we can give you particulars of where we would meet (that has not yet been determined, but probably will be at a hotel–which has not yet been booked). We look forward to meeting interested people who can attend.
If you might come, let us know as soon as possible as that will likely influence precisely where we will meet.
Internet
Looked over reports from Google and AWStats which show that we reached slightly over 1.5 million computers last month with our advertising campaign and our websites.
We in the Continuing Church of God have what seems to be one of the most cost-effective campaigns for reaching large numbers of people over the internet with the truth about Christianity. In time, presuming we have the financial resources, I hope to expand our campaigns so that the number will be in the multiple millions each month.
Bible News Prophecy YouTube Channel: Over 250000 Views!
A report this week from YouTube shows that we now have had over 250,000 views of our Bible News Prophecy ‘television’ channel. These videos are the ones that we normally use for sermonettes each week.
YouTube also reported that people in at least 213 countries/territories have viewed these videos. In Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said that His followers should get the gospel of the kingdom and what He taught to the world and we in the Continuing Church of God are doing that in many ways, including YouTube television.
World News Events
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg co-authored an article, that was published a few days ago, condemning anti-semitism (see Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg writes against anti-Semitism). While writing against anti-semitism is a good thing, a member of the Continuing Church of God wondered if we should possibly question Herr Guttenberg’s motives. I tend to think this article will pave the way to make Baron Guttenberg a more ‘credible broker’ in the eyes of the Jews, so that perhaps in the future, he may be become involved in their betrayal. But we in the CCOG need to exercise caution here. Although Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has a background that is prophetically-intriguing related to the future King of the North, it is not clear if he will become that person yet. If not, then perhaps his anti-semitism article can stand on its own. We will see. Baron Guttenberg remains one that some of us may wish to watch.
The Greeks elected someone opposed to the austerity program that their government agreed to years ago. This has made anti-austerity groups in places like Spain optimistic that they could get elected (see Spanish politician hopes to follow Greece: Are the PIGS rising up?). Currently, the new leader of Greece says that he will not default on the debt to the Europeans (mainly the Germans), but that he wants to renegotiate the terms of repayment. The Bible shows that there will be problems in Europe between the nations (Daniel 2:41-43) and that reorganizations will take place (Revelation 17:12-13).
An American financial writer wrote about what he thinks will happen in Europe and the USA. Although he got several points correct, because he does not seem to rely on biblical prophecy, he misunderstood some points (see M&M: What’s ahead for Europe and the US dollar? War in 2020?). That being said, various ones who have looked into the financial situation of the USA have rightly concluded that the USA has serious problems and that the time will come when the dollar will become worthless (though they tend to think it will have some worth).
UU President Barack Obama went to India and met with its Prime Minister . The two made a deal to assist India with its nuclear technology (see India’s Modi hugs Obama and gets nuclear investment deal). The King of Saudi Arabia died last week (see Some Shi’ite Muslims wonder if Saudi King’s death means the Imam Mahdi must now arise), and this cut short Barack Obama’s stay in India.
The situation between Ukraine and Russia remain tense as there have been more deaths from fighting in the eastern region of Ukraine. Both sides tend to blame the other (see Ukraine accuses Russia of being ‘aggressor state,’ after Putin declares Ukraine a ‘NATO legion’). The European Union wants Ukraine to be part of it and Russia wants Ukraine to be part of it, or at least its Eurasian Union. Russia already has Crimea and seems to be working at seeing if it can get all of Ukraine, or at least part of eastern Ukraine.
Pope Francis declared that the devil is divisive, implying that those that are opposed to his ecumenical agenda are doing the devil’s work (see Pope Francis misunderstands the devil’s unity). The time will come when we in the Continuing Church of God will likely be accused of that and more.
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 letter via email will be a recorded one: ‘Doomsday Clock’ Advances. A related written article is: ‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight: Does the Bible offer protection? 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 letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: You Can Make YOUR Marriage Work. A related written article is titled: Making Your Marriage Work. 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.
Some people have found that if their internet connections are not fast enough, that they can simply listen to the messages that are found at the new Bible News Prophecy online radio channel.
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 Apostle Paul was inspired to write:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)
Brethren, pray and rejoice in the Lord always, despite the trials we go through.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God