September/October 2005

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><B>home</B></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters to the Brethren"><B>Up Level</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="novemberdecember_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2008">November/December 2008</A>   |   <A HREF="septemberoctober_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2008">September/October 2008</A>   |   <A HREF="julyaugust_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2008">July/August 2008</A>   |   <A HREF="mayjune_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2008">May/June 2008</A>   |   <A HREF="id430.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2008">March/April 2008</A>   |   <A HREF="id422.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2008">January/February 2008</A>   |   <A HREF="id417.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2007">November/December 2007</A>   |   <A HREF="id410.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2007">September/October 2007</A>   |   <A HREF="id409.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2007">July/August 2007</A>   |   <A HREF="id399.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2007">May/June 2007</A>   |   <A HREF="id391.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2007">March/April 2007</A>   |   <A HREF="id385.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2007">January/February 2007</A>   |   <A HREF="id377.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2006">November/December 2006</A>   |   <A HREF="id369.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2006">September/October 2006</A>   |   <A HREF="id368.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2006">July/August 2006</A>   |   <A HREF="id354.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2006">May/June 2006</A>   |   <A HREF="id346.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2006">March/April 2006</A>   |   <A HREF="id338.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2006">January/February 2006</A>   |   <A HREF="id332.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2005">November/December 2005</A>   |   September/October 2005   |   <A HREF="id326.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2005">July/August 2005</A>   |   <A HREF="id322.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2005">May/June 2005</A>   |   <A HREF="id309.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2005">March/April 2005</A>   |   <A HREF="id308.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thank You Letter">Thank You Letter</A>   |   <A HREF="id302.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2005">January/February 2005</A>   |   <A HREF="id295.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2004">November/December 2004</A>   |   <A HREF="id291.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2004">September/October 2004</A>   |   <A HREF="id287.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2004">July/August 2004</A>   |   <A HREF="id283.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2004">May/June 2004</A>   |   <A HREF="id275.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2004">March/April 2004</A>   |   <A HREF="id254.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2004">January/February 2004</A>   |   <A HREF="id253.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2003">November/December 2003</A>   |   <A HREF="id245.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2003">September/October 2003</A>   |   <A HREF="id242.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2003">July/August 2003</A>   |   <A HREF="id238.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2003">May/June 2003</A>   |   <A HREF="id231.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2003">March/April 2003</A>   |   <A HREF="id228.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2003">January/February 2003</A>   |   <A HREF="id221.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2002">November/December 2002</A>   |   <A HREF="id215.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2002">September/October 2002</A>   |   <A HREF="id211.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2002">July/August 2002</A>   |   <A HREF="id207.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2002">May/June 2002</A>   |   <A HREF="id203.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2002">March/April 2002</A>   |   <A HREF="id199.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2002">January/February 2002</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <A HREF="novemberdecember_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2008">November/December 2008</A></div> <div> <A HREF="septemberoctober_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2008">September/October 2008</A></div> <div> <A HREF="julyaugust_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2008">July/August 2008</A></div> <div> <A HREF="mayjune_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2008">May/June 2008</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id430.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2008">March/April 2008</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id422.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2008">January/February 2008</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id417.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2007">November/December 2007</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id410.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2007">September/October 2007</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id409.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2007">July/August 2007</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id399.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2007">May/June 2007</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id391.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2007">March/April 2007</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id385.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2007">January/February 2007</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id377.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2006">November/December 2006</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id369.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2006">September/October 2006</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id368.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2006">July/August 2006</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id354.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2006">May/June 2006</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id346.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2006">March/April 2006</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id338.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2006">January/February 2006</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id332.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2005">November/December 2005</A></div> <div> <B>September/October 2005</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id326.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2005">July/August 2005</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id322.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2005">May/June 2005</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id309.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2005">March/April 2005</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id308.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thank You Letter">Thank You Letter</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id302.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2005">January/February 2005</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id295.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2004">November/December 2004</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id291.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2004">September/October 2004</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id287.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2004">July/August 2004</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id283.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2004">May/June 2004</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id275.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2004">March/April 2004</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id254.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2004">January/February 2004</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id253.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2003">November/December 2003</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id245.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2003">September/October 2003</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id242.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2003">July/August 2003</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id238.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2003">May/June 2003</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id231.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2003">March/April 2003</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id228.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2003">January/February 2003</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id221.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2002">November/December 2002</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id215.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="September/October 2002">September/October 2002</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id211.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="July/August 2002">July/August 2002</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id207.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May/June 2002">May/June 2002</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id203.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="March/April 2002">March/April 2002</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id199.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2002">January/February 2002</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>September/October 2005</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> James Russell, Elder</div> <bR> <div> Dear Brethren,</div> <div> Thirty nine years ago when my wife and I were called into God's truth, it wasn't after very many Sabbaths we learned we were being called and groomed to serve under God in the millennium as “kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). Upon hearing that, my mind silently screamed, “who <B>me</B>? A King? A Priest? Credentials to teach God's word?” Perhaps you reacted like that when you first heard and read those words!<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> As a king you will administer the laws of God's Kingdom, but people must first be taught those laws. As a priest you will educate and motivate the people in God's laws and ways. During this millennium period we will assist Jesus Christ in teaching the people to truly have happiness in their lives. Then eventually, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9).<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> God's training program will be simple, yet very effective: 1). Learn the truth; 2). Live the truth; 3). Teach the truth. But before we can teach the truth, we must <B>learn</B> the truth! God's text book, the Bible, contains the <B>foundation</B> of all knowledge. All other knowledge should be evaluated on the basis of the Word of God.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> This “book of books,” Paul said, “Is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”(Heb 4:12).<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> In preparing to be a teacher in God's soon coming kingdom. Proverbs tells us to, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding” (Prov 23:23). To “buy the truth” is to spend <B>time</B> reading, studying and meditating on what God's Word is revealing to us! There are three major areas that we must glean to do this: Knowledge, understanding and wisdom. </div> <div> Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and information. This is accomplished by, “Growing in grace, and in the <B>knowledge</B> of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). This is why Solomon said, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov 1:7). If we fear God and look to him with awe and respect, then He will reveal to us all the true knowledge that we will need to teach in the millennium! But knowledge alone is not enough! We will need the <B>understanding</B> of that knowledge. Understanding is the meaning and sense of <B>how</B> knowledge relates to people, places and things. King David prayed, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments” (Ps 119:73). However, King David did something else to gain understanding. In verse 99, he says, “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts” (Ps 119:99-100). By <B>living</B> the truth we come to understand the truth. Some principles cannot be understood until we actually live and fear the Lord. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that <B>do</B> His commandments: His praise endures for ever” (Ps 111:10). Then we must seek <B>wisdom</B>! Wisdom is the ability to discern how, when, and where to <B>use</B> the understanding of knowledge. How do we gain wisdom? “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not [without finding fault]; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Ask God for guidance when striving to <B>wisely</B> apply knowledge!<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> Why is what I just said important? The autumn Holy Days that starts this year on Sept. 3, 2005 with the Feast of Trumpets picture the return of Jesus Christ to this earth to put down all opposition to God's government and to set up the Kingdom of God. <B>We</B> will at that time, assist Christ in ruling and teaching all nations of the world God's true ways “And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” (Rev 2:26). “And have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev 5:10).<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> Shortly after the Feast of Trumpets comes the Day of Atonement. This day pictures the removal of Satan from the earth. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Rev 20:1-3).<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> Beginning on Sept. 17<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >th</FONT>, at God's appointed time, the Feast of Tabernacles will begin the most joyful time for God's Church. The Feast of Tabernacles, pictures the 1000 year rule of Jesus Christ along with the resurrected saints on this earth. This is a time when God's government will be in full charge! </div> <div> The eighth and Last Great Day of God's plan, pictures the final judgment and the ultimate hope for the vast majority of people who have ever lived: salvation.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> As we look over the fall Holy Day plan, the question to <B>you</B> is, “Will <B>you</B> be joining with us this year to keep God's Feast, or will you be keeping the <B>postponed</B> fall feasts that will observe the Last Great Day one week before the month of November? We will be praying about your decision!!</div> <bR> <div> Church of God, In Truth</div> <div> P.O. Box 2109, Corona,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> Ca. 92878-2109 USA<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> Tel: 951-737-0559<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> Fax: 951-279-7302</div> <div> Contact: James Russell, Elder Or Pete Fleming, Elder </div> <div> Tel: 951-737-0559 Tel: 512-847-1131<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <div> E-mail:cogit@flash.net<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><U>mailto:cogit@flash.net</U></FONT> E-mail: pmf@asapchoice.com </div> <bR> <div> Our Sabbath Telephone Conference number is <B>toll free</B>: 1-888-330-9937. An automated speaker will ask for your access code. After the beeps, enter 346041 followed by the # sign. Hook-up time is 11:30 AM Pacific time zone. The Sabbath Internet Conference is found at: www.postponements.com; also at 11:30 AM Pacific time zone. Click on live sermons!</div> <div> Those wishing not to receive this magazine any longer, please let us know!</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>