Dear Brethren and co-workers in Christ:
Another busy week for the Continuing Church of God (CCOG).
Because of Pentecost coming this double-Sabbath weekend, I made three videos (two short ones and one sermon) in the past seven days, all of which will be recommended for viewing this weekend.
On administrative matters, since our corporate identification number was recently received, I was able to submit a 13 page document to the State of California related to tax exemption. Please pray that this will receive favor in the sight of State officials (cf. 2 Timothy 2:1-2; Esther 4:15-17; 5:2; Proverbs 3:4; Acts 7:10; ).
Reaching the World
Worked on the next edition of the Bible News Prophecy magazine this week. We hope to have this in multiple languages and it may be the first time ever that a Church of God magazine was published in one of those languages.
In Kenya, we provided funding for Bibles in English as well as Kiswahili. In Ghana, many books that we sent there were received.
Several more articles were added to: la página en español de Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios. That is the Spanish language page of the Continuing Church of God.
The article titled About the Continuing Church of God was translated into Tagolog and we hope to make that available online soon at its own website. Until then it was uploaded at at temporary website. Here is a link to it: Tungkol sa Patuloy na Iglesya ng Diyos
The article How to Prevent Sin by Herbert W. Armstrong was translated into Mandarin Chinese and uploaded. Here is a link to it: 如何不犯罪. Also the article A Short Article on Faith was translated into Mandarin Chinese and uploaded. Here is a link to it: 一篇关于信仰的小文章
We also bought various URLs for other websites that we hope to have up, or otherwise use, in the future. Steps to get the home pages of websites in languages other than English were worked on this week. And in the English language, over 20 posts and/or new articles were added this past week at the www.cogwriter.com website.
To our volunteer editors, translators, and web assistants, the words of the Apostle Paul seem fitting:
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Brethren please regularly, “pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2).
World News Trends
Israel made the news for indicating that it would eliminate the regime of Syria’s President Assad is Syria attacked Israel (for some details, see Israel allegedly tells Russia it will bring down the Syrian Assad Regime if attacked). Although Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Russia leaders earlier this week (and perhaps because of it), Russia moved more of its naval forces near Syria and has sent what have been called ‘killer missiles’ to Syria (Russia sends ‘killer missiles’ to Syria and moves some of its naval fleet closer to Syria). The Bible prophecies the destruction of Syria’s capital Damascus in Isaiah 17:1 and events appear to setting the stage of this in the relatively near future.
In other trends, per his personal request, the pontificate of the new Pope Francis was consecrated to the ‘Lady of Fatima’ (Pope Francis’ pontificate consecrated to ‘Lady of Fatima’). Catholic prophecy tells of a time that its version of Mary will have power over demons and essentially lead to the formation of what we in the Continuing Church of God would consider to be the final Beast power. The influence of “the virgin, the Lady” (Isaiah 47) who is referred to as a harlot (Revelation 17 & 18) in the end times is prophesied and may well tie in with some of the increasing Marian influence under the new Pope Francis.
Suggested Sabbath Service for May 18, 2013
Here is my suggested format for Sabbath services for May 18, 2013:
- 2-3 hymns (we are using the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG, and in most areas, the Choral Accompaniment).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette. Here is a link to one: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated. There is also some information related to this in the article titled Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future.
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- Sermon which for most will be a recorded one available at the ContinuingCOG channel. Two that might be considered include The Gospel of the Kingdom and/or How to Overcome Sin. Other sermons there are also options.
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
Here is my suggested format for Pentecost services for May 19, 2013:
- 2-3 hymns (we are using the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG, and in most areas, the Choral Accompaniment).
- Opening prayer.
- Offertory Sermonette: Offertory: Firstfruits are to produce fruit and support Matthew 24:14;28:19-20.
- Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
- Sermon which for most will be a recorded one titled Sermon: Pentecost, Feast of Firstfruits (there is also an article you can read on Pentecost).
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
On this “double Sabbath” weekend, please use this time to, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God