January/February 2009

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Elder</div> <bR> <div> Dear scattered brethren and co-workers,</div> <bR> <div> Greetings! This word "change" has been on many peoples mind and in their vocabulary lately, why? For one-we seem to not be able to escape reading of it in our news papers, magazines, or on signs. We see it spoken about on the television news, hearing it brought up in conversations in stores, from neighbors, friends and relatives.</div> <div> The word "change" can be used in a variety of ways. The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary gives us an assortment of definitions for this word. 1) replace with another, 2) to make a transformation radically, 3) give a different position, course, or direction, 4) change the subject, 5) to pass from one phase of the moon to another, 6) change human nature and 7) change of heart.</div> <div> I recently read a book written by Newt Gingrich, titled "Lessons Learned The Hard Way," Copyright was 1998. Wow, what a clear eye opening definition of change in our USA Government since it was printed! In chapter 12 "Goals For A Generation" he wrote, <I>"Despite the fact that there have been a few bumps along the way, we have reason to look back on the years since we took control of the House in 1994 with considerable satisfaction. The United States government, for instance, is now clearly moving to a balanced budget for the first time in nearly thirty years. Interest rates have fallen, which in turn has helped the economy grow (lower interest rates being almost as good as a tax cut). This growing economy, with 8 million new jobs, has produced the lowest rate of unemployment in twenty-seven years; the highest family income in history; and the highest farm income in history. The stock market has doubled in value, and the country is enjoying the lowest rate of violent crime in twenty-four years.</I></div> <div> Finally, tax cuts have been enacted for the first time in sixteen years-smaller ones than we and our fellow Americans would have liked, but not negligible, including a $500 per child tax credit, cuts in the capital gains and death taxes, and new tax breaks for college and vocational-technical students. We have also saved Medicare without raising taxes for at least a decade, which should give us time to figure out how to correct this important program for the baby boomers and their children.</div> <div> The scale of change we have enacted is illustrated by the story of fiscal 1997 (October 1, 1996, to September 30, 1997). In January 1996 the Congressional Budget Office projected a deficit for 1997 of $140 billion. In the end, the actual deficit was $23 billion. That is an improvement of $117 billion within a twenty-one- month period. We can, of course, never be absolutely certain that no unforeseen contingency will arise. Still, the improvement in the experts' calculation in 1997 should be enough to allay most doubts about the path of the deficit.</div> <div> If America remains at peace, we can have a generation of government surpluses. That will happen if the liberals are not permitted to sponge up the surplus dollars on devising programs to keep the government growing beyond its means."</div> <div> Today's historic new incoming government is going to"CHANGE"and with this change, destroy this <U>Great God Given Nation!</U> It is inevitable and it is real. Change happens. The issue affecting most people who are bothered by change, is not really the change itself-but how to deal with change. Some personalities embrace change while others are fearful of even the slightest change. Change, however is something we are encourage to do throughout our spiritual called life-while yet in the flesh.</div> <div> In Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians he said, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (change) And put on the <U>new man</U>, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Neither give place to the devil"(Eph 4:23-25, 27). "Being renewed in the spirit of our mind"is not superficial change of opinion or a new doctrinal concept; it affects the nature of the mind, its governing principles. Our thoughts influence our feeling and our behavior. When we change how we think, we can change our feelings and behaviors. But for some people even the idea of changing their thoughts is threatening. Their perception of change is distorted. They take security in the routine of predictable. They like things to be stationary or familiar. Their outlook is colored by their feelings more than by their thoughts. Actually, they do realize that things have changed, because they often long for something in the past.</div> <div> This is where genuine faith is so important. Faith is not always a golden key to health, wealth, and happiness. It is the best way to live. It pleases God. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him"(Heb. 11:6). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God"(Eph 2:8).</div> <div> Faith is the channel through which impossible things can happen. Jesus said if we have the faith of a mustard seed we can see a mountain move. We can see things differently through faith and we can overcome obstacles and difficulties through faith. In 2 Corinthians 5:7 we are told that we "walk by faith not by sight" It is easy to walk by faith when no faith is required. It is easy to walk by sight and call it faith. But it is only by really living with faith in Christ and His Word that we have the confidence and courage to effectively deal with "change."</div> <div> The media kept repeating the message after Sept.11, 2001: "The world as we know it has "changed." The world has always been changing. We have always been changing. We will continue to change, whether we accept it or not. The most comforting foundational truth we can help God's called with is to understand that God does not "change." He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So our faith in God is not just a resource for dealing with change but the source <U>for</U> dealing with change.</div> <div> Everyone who is living is faced with changes throughout his or her life. The fact of these changes is not as important as how we interpret the changes. If our God is the Sovereign Lord, then no change is outside His ultimate control. If God is in control, we do not need to be! This is most likely the real problem underlying the fear of change: control. People who dislike change are usually people who need to feel that they are in control of their lives. A psychiatrist once noted, "The only sane people are those who know they are not in control." That does not mean we are not responsible for our actions or not accountable to God. It simply means we are not in control. God is!</div> <div> Our circumstances and our lives are changing. But God does not change. By trusting in the perfect God who does not ever need to change, we can find security in the "challenging change"cycles of life!</div> <bR> <div> Church of God, In Truth</div> <div> P.O. Box 1120</div> <div> Kimberling City, MO 65686</div> <div> James Russell, Elder</div> <div> E-mail: cogit@flash.net</div> <div> Tel: 417-338-0033</div> <div> Fax: 417-338-0031</div> <bR> <div> Elder Pete Fleming, Elder</div> <div> Tel: 417-338-0033 Tel: 830-885-5502</div> <div>  E-mail: pmf@gvtc.com</div> <bR> <div> <B>NOTICE</B></div> <div> Our Sabbath Telephone Conference <U>CODE NUMBER </U>HAS BEEN CHANGED - for entering the conference! You will need to call the Church Of God, In Truth # 417-338-0033 for the NEW CODE NUMBER. The phone number to call in to the conference line remains the same.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>