Letter to the Brethren: October 2, 2014

Posted on October 2, 2014 by CCOG

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

We had a fine Feast of Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement will be here soon.

There is so much to do to not only keep up with the daily and regular needs of the church, but also to plan and prepare for the Fall Holy Days. But we are proceeding ahead.

Mailings

We were able to finish sending out the latest edition of the English version of the Bible News Prophecy magazine as well as our newest booklet Where is the True Christian Church Today? to the rest of our English language subscribers a couple of days ago.

We were able to print the Spanish version of Bible News Prophecy magazine and send it out today, along with two of our booklets that have also been translated into the Spanish language to our Spanish language subscribers.

Day of Atonement: In English and Spanish!

The Day of Atonement is from sunset October 3rd until sunset October 4th this year.

Our Spanish language translator just translated the long English article The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance into Spanish: El Día de Ayuno –Su significado cristiano http://www.cdlidd.es/el-dia-de-ayuno-su-significado-cristiano/

He also translated another as well: El sacrificio del macho cabrío en la ceremonia de Ayuno en el AT representa a Jesús
http://www.cdlidd.es/el-sacrificio-del-macho-cabrio-en-la-ceremonia-de-ayuno-en-el-at-representaba-a-jesus/

It is fantastic to have this information now available in the Spanish language.

The Day of Atonement itself is kept like a Sabbath, as it is also a day of rest and a holy convocation. Christians should pray and attend services and/or watch messages for that day. An offering is normally also taken up.

The Bible says to afflict oneself then (Leviticus 23:27). Those who are physically able should fast from sunset to sunset. This means going without any food or drink.

Pregnant women, nursing women, infants, and people with various illnesses are considered to already have an affliction and either do not fast or do not completely fast (they might drink water and/or eat something, though less than normal).

Fasting Tips

Some people, especially those who consume caffeine regularly, find fasting difficult. Those who wean down off of caffeine sometimes find fasting easier than they would have otherwise.

Here are some Jewish tips to prepare for fasting:

Tips for Easier Fasting

Tips to prepare for the fast include: drinking at least two liters of water a day (10 cups) on the days before the fast, and eating whole grains and vegetables on the day before, while avoiding sugar,spicy, fried and salty foods that cause thirst.

Those who drink significant amounts of beverages containing caffeine daily (coffee, non-herb teas, colas) are advised to reduce the amount gradually, starting several days before the fast to prevent caffeine addiction symptoms which can include headaches and nausea.

The last meal before the fast, known as the seudah hamafseket, should not include unfamiliar, spicy, or fried foods, and should omit vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli.

After the fast, those who have abstained from drinking and eating are advised to rehydrate slowly, with a sweet drink, and begin eating with a snack, followed approximately one hour later by a light meal. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/148579

In my own case, I tend to drink more water the day before fasting and avoid saltier foods. Also, those who fast more regularly throughout the year tend to have less difficulties fasting than those that do not (people with hypoglycemia, etc. excepted).

Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites

The Continuing Church of God is planning on having several sites for the Feast of Tabernacles in 2014. Services begin after sunset on October 8, 2014.

The scheduled location for the USA Feast of Tabernacles’ site in 2014 is the Sheraton Suites Orlando Airport hotel, 7550 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, Florida 32822. For more information, contact Dr. Bob Thiel, email cogwriter@aol.com.

The site for the Feast of Tabernacles in New Zealand is to be in Tawa which is a suburb of Wellington. The location there is the Bucket Tree Lodge, 1 Boscobel Lane (PO Box 51009), Tawa, Wellington. For more information, contact John Hickey, email john.h@vodafone.net.nz; You can also telephone him on his mobile phone. His number is 021 519 441.

In Kenya, it is planned that Ndhiwa will be used as the primary Feast of Tabernacles’ site, and that there will be another site in Kisii as well as the capital city of Nairobi. Most from Kenya and Tanzania are expected to go to the site in Ndhiwa. For more information, contact Evans Ochieng, email evochieng74@gmail.com.

We expect to have a video group site in the Philippines (Silay City). For details, contact Oscar Mediavilla via email hansmeidavilla@rocketmail.com.

Information on all the expected sites is in the article Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2014.

For those of you who cannot attend a Feast of Tabernacles’ site, we put up a few new messages online that were made specifically for this 2014 Feast of Tabernacles: One for opening night (Feast of Tabernacles Opening Night Message), one on the Feast of Tabernacles (Feast of Tabernacles from Israel), and the Behind the Work message (Behind the Work: Go Therefore and Make Disciples). These, as well as messages given last year, are linked in the article Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2014.

If we do not have technical or other problems, it is our intent to put up other sermons and sermonettes that are given during the Feast of Tabernacles in Orlando, Florida this year. You can check the ContinuingCOG channel as that is the first place they should appear.

However, that will not in time for the Last Great Day (which ends at October 16 at sunset this year). So, we recommend that you watch the sermon given last year on that date (which only those in Santa Maria, California heard on the Last Great Day in 2013): Last Great Day.

Also, those interested in sermons related to that, as well as those who want more than one sermon that day, the following sermons also could be considered:

Automobile Ride Assistance

We have an older male supporter in the Nashville area who would like a ride with someone to the Feast of Tabernacles’ site in Orlando, Florida. He is willing to help pay expenses.

We have a woman who is going to the Feast of Tabernacles’ site in Orlando, Florida who cannot drive at night. She would like to know if someone who expects to be in Orlando can give her a ride to and from services the opening night.

If you can do either of these, please contact contact Dr. Bob Thiel, email cogwriter@aol.com.

Wichita, Kansas

We have a small group in Wichita, Kansas that has offered to host a video Feast site. If you are interested, contact R.H. Brown, email rhbrown@live.com.

Canada

Our registration packet of information was signed by two CCOG members in Canada and mailed to the Canadian governmental authorities. Please pray for the success of this registration as it will benefit current and future members in Canada as well as be able (if the Canadian governmental authorities approve what we proposed) provide assistance to the work in other parts of the world.

Radio

Ended up with a nearly last minute radio interview today. According to the radio host, we are reaching over one million people each time I am on (his estimate is actually over two million listeners).

Towards the beginning of the program, I was able to cover some prophecies related to famine, pestilences, and the ‘beginning of sorrows’ (Matthew 24:4-8). Towards the middle, I pointed out the biblical connection between lack of rain in California with the increased societal acceptance of the homosexual agenda. I also warned about the famine risk of genetically-modified organisms as a major portion of the USA food supply and pointed to prophecies in Ezekiel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Revelation. Towards the end of the program, I was able to explain how the USA and the international community are taking steps that are promoting the formation of the final King of the South of biblical prophecy (Daniel 11:40-43).

Radio is one of the many forms of media we in CCOG are using to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20.

Alternative Media Statistics Update from New Zealand

In New Zealand, we have been using alternative media to assist with Matthew 24:14 Here is a report I received on Monday related to September 2014:

Bible News Prophecy Updates Google+ Page:
This page displays COGwriter News Articles (part articles and links).

Total Views: 96,712. Followers: 27

For the month of September, according to the Google+ Insights Statistics, it is our highest viewed month at 47,825 views, averaging 11,956 views a week. You can only view this page if you sign into Google+.

https://plus.google.com/101842900290466764179/posts

CCOG Bible News Prophecy Literature Google+ Page:

This is a new page, it comprises of CCOG Magazines, Booklets and Study the Bible Course (info, covers and links).

Total Views: 4,124     Followers: 14

https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/112226299704135398116/112226299704135398116/posts

Bible News Prophecy Flipboard:

The info on this platform contains COGwriter/CCOG prophecy news updates and various other COGwriter articles.

Readers: 1,080     Page Views: 20,759    Magazines: 23

The most read, page viewed and re-flipped Flipboard magazine by people is News & Prophecy, it is currently at 9,995 page views. https://flipboard.com/profile/ProphecyNews

Bible News Prophecy Pinterest:

Boards: 12      Re-pins: 104    Followers: 31   Pins: 1,324 (Tailwind statistics). http://www.pinterest.com/prophecyn/

Our volunteers in New Zealand and elsewhere are helping us reach more and more.

World News Events

The USA announced a plan to actively seek illegal aliens to be part of its military. This is reminiscent of some of the actions of the ancient Roman Empire that had some of its trained soldiers from foreign lands turn against it (see also US Defense Department plans to intentionally recruit illegal aliens).

Speaking of the USA, more and more secular sources are realizing that its debt is a serious problem and that when interest rates rise enough it ‘will be game over’ for the USA.

Over in Hong Kong, there have been protests this past week (see Hong Kong protests continue: What will be the result?). Ultimately, Hong Kong will align closer with China, despite the current protests there.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke before the United Nations. Basically, he is trying to tell them that the Islamic State is no better than Hamas and that Iran remains the biggest terrorist threat to the world (see Netanyahu in UN: Blasts Islamic State, Hamas, and Iran, but what will happen in Israel?). The Israeli Prime Minister’s warnings were not widely accepted and things will end up worse for Israel than he believes.

Over in the United Kingdom there is concern that if those there get a chance to vote on the matter, that the UK will leave the European Union (see British vote to leave EU is feared by some, encouraged by others). The United Kingdom will not remain an ‘equal’ member there and ultimately will be taken over by a reorganized (Revelation 17:12-13) European power.

Suggested Day of Atonement Service

Here is our suggested format for the Day of Atonement for 2014:

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.
Offertory Sermonette, which for most who receive this emailed-letter will be a recorded one: Atonement Offertory.
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 was given in New Zealand and is: Day of Atonement: How Jesus fulfilled His part for the Atonement. Those in New Zealand would instead wish to watch: The Bible and the Day of Atonement.There is a related written article titled: The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance. 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.

Concluding Comments

Isaiah the prophet wrote:

5 Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the Lord?
6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness,To undo the heavy burdens,To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

“If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul,Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

13 “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight,The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, 14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord;And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:5-14)

Let us properly keep the Day of Atonement and consider that God’s ways truly are a delight.

But also, consider what it means to be called the Repairer of the Breach,The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. We have an important work to do, and can only do it properly if we love and serve our Creator as He asks.

Sincerely

Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God

Posted in Letters to the Brethren