July/August 2010

<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><B>    |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> back to<B>  </B><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters to the Brethren"><B>Letters to the Brethren</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="januaryfebruary_2012.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="January/February 2012">January/February 2012</A></div> <div> <A HREF="novemberdecember_2011.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="November/December 2011">November/December 2011</A></div> <div> <A HREF="septemberoctober_2011.htm" TARGET="_top" 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<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> <B>Elders Letter</B></div> <div> James Russell, Elder</div> <div> Dear Scattered Brethren and Co-workers,</div> <bR> <div>      In the last “Prove All Things” Elder letter- ended with Matthew 6:10, “ Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  Why is Jesus Christ telling us to pray this to our Heavenly Father?  The request is for an end to the reign of sin and for the arrival of that moment when the will of God will be as universally accomplished upon this earth as it is throughout the other dominions of God’s creation.  But for now all we hear is “peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer 8:11).</div> <div>      Our Nation was in shock and stunned on September 11, 2001, when terrorist hijackers flew two planes into the World Trade Center towers, a third plane exploded into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed into a Pennsylvania field.  Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the terrorist responsible for killing thousands of  innocent people.  Since then, we have witnessed, Richard Reed a shoe bomber terrorist, Major Nidal Malik Hasan  kill at random 13 army personal, followed by the underwear bomber Umar Farouk Adbulmutallab, and recently in New York a terrorist plotted with foreign agents to help plant a car bomb in Times Square.  </div> <div>      We have been warned in Scripture how rapidly things will change in these last days if we disobey God’s living laws!  “Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. (V 45) Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded thee”(Deut 28:19-20, 45).</div> <div>      From the beginning “God Has Blessed America;” you may be one of the many who are asking <U>why</U> do these terrorists hate America.  The Bible answers that question!  Throughout history Satan has always developed a scheme alongside any spiritual development of God, to counter-attack, undermine, and try to destroy-God’s purpose.  The same is true of America.  Human wisdom did not develop America.  God: has blessed our nation far above most countries through-out history. Our nation confirms that God  has had a special place in His heart for America and His chosen  people. </div> <div>      The House of Israel, led by God, was to be like salt and a light in this land of milk and honey, that He chose for His government to be practiced.  Jesus Christ left us a good example to think about on this subject.  He said in Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing.” Salt is one of the most stable compounds, on earth, and therefore cannot lose its “saltiness” on its own. What causes salt to become non-effective is contamination. The danger for salt is not that it may undergo chemical change, but rather that it can become mixed or diluted with other materials or chemicals. When so mixed it becomes “good for nothing.”      </div> <div>      Our forefathers were <U>not</U> to let secular society sway them from forming a religious thinking Union. Our government was designed to be a government for all citizens. Early pilgrims, who were  Bible believers, helped form our Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, and every aspect of God’s type of government.  They were given wisdom and inspiration from God.  No individual had the wisdom and foresight that it took to create a government like His.</div> <div>      Knowing these things, there is something that we must remember. The enemy is never idle. The Word of God teaches us, as well as our experiences, that anything of God involves great spiritual battles.   Notice,  Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Satan’s tactics are ruthless and deadly.  We can never take him lightly. He always is on the attack! </div> <div>      The Bible teaches there are two primary methods that Satan uses to attack God’s chosen people.  One is persecution, which is easy to detect.  The other is deception, which is quite different from persecution.  We can see how severely Satan uses the method of persecution to attack God’s called out ones; he uses deception just as severely, but it is difficult to detect. </div> <div>              Both methods of attack are dangerous and destructive.  However deception is a greater threat to God’s called and America than persecution because deception corrupts the heart. The Bible warns that Satan's use of deception will increase and be very powerful against God’s called; in this period of time in which we now live. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils”(1 Tim 4:1).  The tempter Satan is always trying to destroy God’s called and America from within!  </div> <div>       I recently gave a sermon on “Failure to Teach,” using some verses out of the book of Hosea.  I want us to notice another verse from this book, we will read it from the (New International Version Bible), “But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten <U>the fruit of deception</U>. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors” (Hos 10:13). Satan's use of deception has always been one of  his major weapons against God's called people, just as he is now using deception to destroy America today! </div> <div>      Any  American willing to face reality must admit that spiritually we are in serious trouble. What was unthinkable a generation ago has now become not only commonplace but acceptable and even demanded in our society.  Two out of every three TV shows now include sexual content.  The casualties this has caused among our youth and public schools are beyond one's imagination.  Example-passing out condoms promotes sexual immorality.  Prayer made illegal in most schools.  Laws have been passed allowing the murder of human lives through abortion; homosexuality began to be taught as an acceptable lifestyle; respect for authority declined dramatically; robbery, murder, hate, greed, violence and other horrors crowd our news today.       </div> <div>      I recently read a prayer written by a high school student that said he loves the Lord; <I>“Now I sit me down in school, where praying is against the rule. For this great nation under God, finds mention of Him very odd. If Scripture now the class recites, it violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow, becomes a federal matter now.  Our hair can be purple or orange or green, that's no offense, it's the freedom scene.  The law is specific, the law is precise, prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. For praying in a public hall, might offend someone with no faith at all, in silence alone we must meditate, God's name is prohibited by the State. We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, and pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks. They've outlawed guns; but first the Bible, to quote the Good Book makes me liable. We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, and the unwed daddy, our Senior King. It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong, we're taught that such "judgments" do not belong. We can get our condoms and birth controls, study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.  But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, no Word of God must reach this crowd. It's scary here, I must confess, when chaos reigns, the schools a mess. So Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot, my soul to take.”</I></div> <div> To many have exchanged the commitment of their heart-that God looks at, for a spirit of tolerance toward the </div> <div> ways of this world!  Our Lord of Lords and King of Kings said in the book of Matthew; “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt 6:21). And latter He said “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies”(Matt 15:18-19).</div> <div>      As time passes we are finding - those who call themselves Christians are more tolerant and indifferent to many of the sins described in the Bible that are now commonplace in our culture. What was permissible by worldly standards in America society a short few years ago is now largely acceptable to Christians.  Finding a Christian  who has a fear of sinning is very rare these days.  That is why we are advised in Matt 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness!</div> <bR> <bR> <div>                               Church of God, in Truth</div> <div>                              P.O Box: 1120, Kimberling City. MO 65686</div> <bR> <div>                               Tel:  417-338-0033 </div> <div>                               Fax: 417-338-0031     </div> <div>                               E-Mail: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="mailto:cogit@flash.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:cogit@flash.net"><U>cogit@flash.net</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> James Russell, Elder                                                         Pete Fleming, Elder</div> <div> Tel: 417-338-0033                                                             Tel: 830-885-5502     </div> <div> E-Mail: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="mailto:cogit@flash.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:cogit@flash.net"><U>cogit@flash.net</U></A></FONT>                                                    E-Mail: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="mailto:pmf06@gvtc.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:pmf06@gvtc.com"><U>pmf06@gvtc.com</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Spanish                                                        Philippines                                                     </div> <div> Martin Martinez                                           Romeo Samudio                                            </div> <div> Tel: 787-786-5856                                       Tel: 090-8536-4415                                       </div> <div> E-Mail: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="mailto:marty@ucint.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:marty@ucint.com"><U>marty@ucint.com</U></A></FONT>                           E-Mail: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="mailto:romesamudio@yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:romesamudio@yahoo.com"><U>romesamudio@yahoo.com</U></A></FONT>               </div> <bR> <div>     Our Sabbath Telephone Conference number is toll free 1-888-206-2266.  Call or E-Mail for access code number.</div> <div>             Internet Conference is: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.postponement.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.postponement.com"><U>www.postponement.com</U></A></FONT>    Sabbath Conference time is 11:30 Pacific time zone.  </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>