Vol. 5, No. 3

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May–June 2003

Prepare for the Times AheadDear Brethren and Friends,

Greetings from Charlotte! God is now opening up doors for us herein North Carolina beyond what we have ever experienced in this pre-sent Work. We are most thankful for this, and are looking forward tohaving a genuinely significant impact on the world as time moves along.

But, right now, prophetic events are moving along at a faster rate and ina more broad-based manner than ever before! Having been full-time inChrist’s ministry for more than 50 years, I hope I can bring some perspectiveto the situation. Back in the 1950s, we had a serious drought that lasted forseven years. But the nation was very strong then and, in fact, was evenincreasing in strength. By the 1960s, a widespread immorality was seemingto increase more than ever in the United States, as “Elvis the Pelvis” becamea sensation, and later the Beatles and other hollering, screaming, gyratingcharacters came along and generated a sense of hysteria among the youngpeople. Some of the youth used marijuana, or other drugs far worse! But thenation as a whole was strong, and the U.S. military was the strongest in theworld.

After the debacle of Vietnam and the “malaise” of the 70s, the nationstill was able to strengthen itself militarily under President RonaldReagan, and this momentum carried through until the first Gulf Warunder President George H.W. Bush. Then the Clinton years came along,when America’s military was essentially “gutted” and immorality acceler-ated its rise, encouraged by the horrible example set “at the top.”Nevertheless, in His mercy, God allowed no terrible foreign adventures toweaken us, or any strong foe to challenge us since the demise of theSoviet Empire, which had already taken place under the watch of the firstPresident Bush.

But now, the situation is definitely deteriorating all over the world asfar as America and Britain are concerned. As many news analysts and com-mentators have explained, the general disrespect and even hatred of theU.S.—among hundreds of millions of people in the Middle East, Asia andeven Western Europe—is increasing at a phenomenal rate. Our currentPresident has not yet had time to rebuild the military in order to face thevarious challenges that seem to be facing us. Our national debt is explod-ing, the balance of payments situation seems to be getting worse and

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Vol. 5, No. 3 May–June 2003

Living ChurchNewsivinL g ChurchNews

Living Church of God

Inside:Inside:We All Need FAITH!.............................3

Faithfulness or Treachery? A Look At the Covenant Relationship..............................5

Ready or Not!Are You PreparedFor Christ‘s Return?................8

Church Headquarters Moves to Charlotte, North Carolina!......................14

Local Church News..........................17

Commentary..........................20

Living Church News

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Editor in Chief . . . . . . . . Roderick C. MeredithEditorial Director . . . . . . . . . . Richard F. AmesExecutive Editor . . . . . . . . . . William BowmerRegional Editors . . . .Rod McNair (Philippines)

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Elizabeth MartinNews Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June OlsenBusiness Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Rodger Bardo

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worse for the United States, and the euro has gained a great dealagainst the dollar. Slowly but surely, Europeans, Asians and othersare beginning to withdraw their investments from the United Statesand place their monies in Europe and elsewhere. Even now, whileU.S. forces are massed in Iraq, the dictator in North Korea is threat-ening the world with an atomic bomb! Also, some of the 1.2 billionMuslims all over the world may be stirred to aid in various terroristattacks and other acts that would undermine the pride and prestigeof the United States and its faithful ally, Great Britain. Various “mys-tery” diseases such as SARS are beginning to show up around theworld, earthquakes are growing more powerful and more frequentand occasional shortages of food and other items may begin to occurin our stores.

I feel it is incumbent upon me as God’s servant to warn all of youbrethren to realize this—and to do your part to prepare for both thespiritual and physical emergencies that may soon be upon us! I havecommented on this before. But now I feel it is time for me to give youspecific warnings and instructions about this—and at least providesome general ideas and advice about how to prepare for these comingemergency situations.

We must always remember the “Big Picture” prophecy ofMatthew 24:6–11. In these verses, Christ describes the fact that therewill be a number of apparently “little wars” as well as the major con-flicts directly predicted in the Bible. He indicates in Luke 21:11 thatthere will be “fearful sights”—or, as a number of translations have it,“terrors”—which will come upon us, as well as truly “great” earth-quakes at the time of the end. Concurrently there will be famine anddisease epidemics.

If we are truly Bible-believing Christians, we need to prepare forthese situations—including the terrorist attacks which now seem tobe imminent. Mr. Herbert Armstrong used to remind us about the oldadage: “God helps those who help themselves!” He cited many exam-ples of this in his own experiences, and indicated that—althoughGod will often intervene supernaturally to deliver us—He does expectus to do our part to protect ourselves, and to use wisdom. Rememberthe example of Jesus’ stepfather, Joseph. The word of God tells usthat, after Jesus was born: “Then, being divinely warned in a dreamthat they should not return to Herod, they departed for their owncountry another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angelof the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, take theyoung Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until Ibring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him’”(Matthew 2:12–13). Later, God guided Joseph to return from Egypt.Then we read that, once again, God guided Joseph to take what mightbe called “evasive action” in order to protect the young child Jesuswhen, “being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into theregion of Galilee” (v. 22).

We should all remember the example of the original Joseph, back inthe land of Egypt, who was warned by God to set aside extra food for aprophesied famine (Genesis 41:25–57). Obviously, God could have said:

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he Apostle Paul made a veryinteresting observation inColossians 1:24: “I now rejoicein my sufferings for you, and

fill up in my flesh what is lacking in theafflictions of Christ, for the sake of Hisbody, which is the church.” Are there,indeed, a certain number of the “afflic-tions of Christ” which every trueChristian needs to face before enteringeternal life? Is a certain amount of try-ing, testing and even suffering usuallynecessary to teach us the profoundhumility, the steadfastness and the totalcommitment needed before becoming aglorified spirit being in the very family ofGod?

Paul does not directly answer thisquestion.

However, from one end of theBible to the other, God’s Word is fullof examples of His servants goingthrough profound trials. Do we find awonderful purpose for all these trials?In 1 Peter 1:4 we are told of “aninheritance incorruptible and unde-filed and that does not fade away.”Then Peter states: “In this you great-ly rejoice, though now for a littlewhile, if need be, you have beengrieved by various trials, that the gen-uineness of your faith, being muchmore precious than gold that perish-es, though it is tested by fire, may befound to praise, honor, and glory atthe revelation of Jesus Christ”(vv.6–7). These grievous trials force us tothink through what is really impor-tant. They force us to cry out to Godfor help and to more completely com-mit ourselves to serving Him no mat-ter what. They are the cruciblethrough which God is fashioning usto become His full Sons!

Recognizing the profound reasonfor these trials can help give us greaterpeace of mind and greater faith, andhelp us appreciate, as the Apostle Paulwrote, that: “All things work togetherfor good to those who love God, tothose who are the called according toHis purpose” (Romans 8:28). Downthrough the ages, God fearing men andwomen have had to look beyond theimmediate circumstances and “know”that God was there and that He wasalive and in charge, and that He woulddefinitely work out their specific trialfor “good” even if it required them togive up their physical lives! That is thebasis for the radiant faith of Shadrach,Meshach and Abed-Nego. KingNebuchadnezzar was absolutely furi-ous at their refusal to worship the goldimage he had set up. Here was thegreatest monarch on earth being put toshame by three young Jews. He wouldhave none of it! Nebuchadnezzar dis-dainfully challenged these young men:“And who is the God who will deliveryou from my hand?” (Daniel 3:15).They answered the king: “ONebuchadnezzar, we have no need toanswer you in this matter. If that is thecase, our God whom we serve is able todeliver us from the burning fiery fur-nace, and He will deliver us from yourhand, O king. But if not, let it beknown to you, O king, that we do notserve your gods, nor will we worshipthe gold image which you have set up”(vv. 16–18).

Yes, even if God chose not todeliver them, the God of Israel was“real” enough to these brave men thatthey committed their lives to Himregardless!

How about you and me? Are we prepared to give our lives

to Jesus Christ—no matter what? IsGod so absolutely “real” to us that we

could go through the terrifying shockof beatings, imprisonment or death?Could we go through a long, drawn-out trial as Joseph did? Remember,Joseph’s brothers sold him into slav-ery. For 13 long years he had to gothrough trial after trial—being soldinto slavery, threatened with death,put in prison, along with many othertrials—until he was finally exalted tobe the second person in charge of theentire Egyptian empire! Thirteenyears is a long time.

We understand that for approxi-mately ten years, King David had toflee from King Saul—hiding out incaves, in the wilderness and in allkinds of dangerous and uncomfortablesituations. Yet, David retained hisunwavering faith in Almighty God,and maintained his deep love andrespect for Saul’s office and for Saulhimself. Even when David had oppor-tunity to destroy Saul, and was so closeto him in a cave that he was able to cutoff the corner of his robe, notice theprofound humility and respect inDavid’s heart: “Now it happened after-ward that David’s heart troubled himbecause he had cut Saul’s robe. And hesaid to his men, ‘The LORD forbid thatI should do this thing to my master,the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out myhand against him, seeing he is theanointed of the LORD’” (1 Samuel24:5–6).

Later, when David and Abishaicame and found Saul sleeping, with hisspear stuck in the ground by his head,notice what happened: “Then Abishaisaid to David, ‘God has delivered yourenemy into your hand this day. Nowtherefore, please, let me strike him atonce with the spear, right to the earth;and I will not have to strike him a sec-ond time!’ And David said to Abishai,‘Do not destroy him; for who can

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EditorialBy Roderick C. Meredith

We All Need FAITH!

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Living Church News May–June 2003

stretch out his hand against the LORD’sanointed, and be guiltless?’ David saidfurthermore, ‘As the LORD lives, theLORD shall strike him, or his day shallcome to die, or he shall go out to battleand perish. The LORD forbid that Ishould stretch out my hand against theLORD’s anointed. But please, take nowthe spear and the jug of water that areby his head, and let us go’” (1 Samuel26:8–11).

In a similar way, all of us need tolook beyond man, and see the pur-pose of God in the situations that maydevelop in the years ahead. God willbe working with us, fashioning andmolding us, teaching us lessons for alleternity. We need to have a deep andlasting faith that this is so—and putour faith and trust in God!

Each of us should recognize thatthe long periods of trying and testing,throughout most of our Christianlives, are for the specific purpose ofrefining us, polishing us and makingeach of us an absolute “jewel” in God’ssight. Therefore, we must understandthis concept as we read Jesus’ instruc-tions to His disciples and to us: “If any-one desires to come after Me, let himdeny himself, and take up his cross,and follow Me. For whoever desires tosave his life will lose it, but whoeverloses his life for My sake will find it.For what is a man profited if he gainsthe whole world, and loses his ownsoul? Or what will a man give inexchange for his soul? For the Son ofMan will come in the glory of HisFather with His angels, and then Hewill reward each according to hisworks” (Matthew 16:24–27).

It is so easy for each of us to desireto “save” our lives. We may want to“live it up” and focus too much at timeson physical things for ourselves andour families—to devote so much timeand energy to material pursuits that wedo not live the life of sacrificial serviceto God and man that Jesus Christrequires of us. Who among us does notfall short of this standard? We need to

focus on Jesus’ promise that when Hereturns with the “glory” of His Father,He will definitely reward each of us in amagnificent way. The Apostle Paul wasinspired to expand on this: “The SpiritHimself bears witness with our spiritthat we are children of God, and if chil-dren, then heirs—heirs of God andjoint heirs with Christ, if indeed wesuffer with Him, that we may also beglorified together. For I consider thatthe sufferings of this present time are notworthy to be compared with the glorywhich shall be revealed in us” (Romans8:16–18).

The glorified body that God has inmind for us, and the awesome oppor-tunity to interact with Him and withJesus through all eternity, are beyondour full understanding as weakhuman beings. But we understand thatwe are called, literally, to fellowshipwith God and with Christ—as well aswith one another (1 John 1:3).

Therefore, by “feeding” on God’sWord (John 6:57)—by constantlyreading and reminding ourselves ofthe reality of God and how He hasalways delivered His servants—wecan, through His Spirit in us, build aprofound faith in God which will beabsolutely needed in the years justahead!

Many of us may remember thetouching and beautiful example of“Ebed-Melech” the Ethiopian, as setforth in Jeremiah 38. Jeremiah hadbeen thrown into a prison and letdown into a pit of mire. Hearing ofthis, Ebed-Melech, one of the king’seunuchs, told the king and obviouslyrequested the opportunity to helpJeremiah. The king gave him permis-sion. Verse 11 picks up the story: “SoEbed-Melech took the men with himand went into the house of the kingunder the treasury, and took fromthere old clothes and old rags, and letthem down by ropes into the dun-geon to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-Melechthe Ethiopian said to Jeremiah,‘Please put these old clothes and rags

under your armpits, under the ropes.’And Jeremiah did so. So they pulledJeremiah up with ropes and lifted himout of the dungeon. And Jeremiahremained in the court of the prison”(vv. 11–13).

Ebed-Melech obviously took hislife in his hands by opposing theprinces who had gained the king’sfavor in the first instance. But “therest of the story”—as revealed lateron—indicates that Ebed-Melech waslooking beyond these princes.Though an Ethiopian eunuch in theking’s household, he put his faith andtrust in the Eternal God of Israel. AndGod rewarded him for this! Manyweeks or months later, after theBabylonians had conquered Judah,God’s Word came to Jeremiah andtold him to contact Ebed-Melech:“Go and speak to Ebed-Melech theEthiopian, saying, ‘Thus says theLORD of hosts, the God of Israel:‘Behold, I will bring My words uponthis city for adversity and not forgood, and they shall be performed inthat day before you. But I will deliveryou in that day,’ says the LORD, ‘andyou shall not be given into the handof the men of whom you are afraid.For I will surely deliver you, and youshall not fall by the sword; but yourlife shall be as a prize to you, becauseyou have put your trust in Me,’ saysthe LORD’” (Jeremiah 39:16–18).

Dear brethren, as we are perse-cuted and perhaps even thrown inprison for preaching and obeying theTruth—both in our present societyand, later, as the modern Babyloniansconquer many of our lands—will welook with faith to the God of Israel todeliver as did Ebed-Melech? MayGod grant that each one of us slowlybut surely develops the understand-ing and the radiant faith displayed byevery one of the outstanding servantsof God. And may God deliver eachone of us and say to us: “Your lifeshall be as a prize to you because youhave put your trust in Me.” LCN

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he Day of Pentecost is intimately connected withthe covenant relationship between God and man.Historically, this day has been connected with theestablishment of the Old Covenant at Sinai, just

seven weeks after the Exodus from Egypt. Then, centurieslater, on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ final Passover,mankind was offered the better promises of the NewCovenant—including the indwelling of the Spirit of God,and the ultimate promise of eternal life in the Family of God.

As we look at ancient Israel’s covenant relationshipwith God, we find a story of both faithfulness and treach-ery. The faithfulness was primarily on God’s part, while thetreachery was entirely on the part of human beings. Theprophets indicted Israel several times for its treacherousbetrayal of its covenant relationship with the Almighty, andcompared the nation to a faithless wife. These lessons, andthe experiences of the Old Testament Church, are recordedin Scripture for our benefit today (1 Corinthians 10:11).

When the ancient Israelites arrived at Mount Sinaiafter weeks of travel, there was great excitement. Mosesascended the mountain to meet with the Creator, thendescended to tell the Israelites that God was inviting themto enter a special relationship with Him. God desired tomake them His own special treasure—a kingdom of priestsand a holy nation—if they would keep the terms of Hiscovenant (Exodus 19:5–6). Immediately, the peoplepromised: “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (v. 8).

Most of the rest of the Old Testament is the story ofIsrael’s failure to keep its promises. Why would God allowHis people to face an Assyrian invasion, and the subse-quent deportation of the northern kingdom? In the eighthcentury BC, the prophet Hosea explained that Israel hadcommitted harlotry, and was defiled (Hosea 5:3). Hoseawent on to assert: “They have dealt treacherously with theLORD, for they have begotten pagan children” (v. 7).Further, he stated: “But like men they transgressed thecovenant; there they dealt treacherously with Me” (6:7).

More than a century later, in the years prior toBabylonian captivity, the prophet Jeremiah delivered God’smessage to the southern kingdom of Judah. His indictmentechoed the same theme of treacherous betrayal of thecovenant: “The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiahthe king: ‘Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done?She has gone up on every high mountain and under everygreen tree, and there played the harlot. And I said, after shehad done all these things, “Return to Me.” But she did notreturn. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I saw

that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel hadcommitted adultery, I had put her away and given her acertificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah didnot fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came topass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the landand committed adultery with stones and trees. And yet forall this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Mewith her whole heart, but in pretense,’ says the LORD”(Jeremiah 3:6–10). Further developing the comparison,Jeremiah wrote: “‘Surely, as a wife treacherously departsfrom her husband, so have you dealt treacherously withMe, O house of Israel,’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 3:20).

This treacherous betrayal of the covenant relationshipled to the captivity and exile of first Israel and then Judah.However, after 70 years of Babylonian exile, a remnant led byZerubbabel and Joshua was finally allowed to return andrebuild Jerusalem. Yet, as the book of Ezra makes plain, eventhis remnant did not really remain faithful to the covenantfor very long. Several decades after the remnant had returnedto Jerusalem, Ezra the priest traveled there from Babylon. Afew years later, he was joined there by Nehemiah, the newlyappointed governor. The two sought to restore the nation toa proper covenant relationship with God.

Malachi’s Message

Malachi’s message anticipated the future coming of theMessiah as the “Messenger of the Covenant.” The book ofMalachi points to the failure of the Old Testament Churchat the end of that period of history, and thereby containsmany lessons for us. It also points toward the NewTestament, more than four centuries in the future. Becauseof God’s abiding faithfulness, even in the midst of Israel’streachery, a means of redemption would be provided for Hiserring people.

To understand the historical context of Malachi, wemust read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Encouragingly,the temple had been rebuilt after decades of lying in ruins,and a priesthood was once again functioning in Jerusalem.The people were no longer worshiping idols devoted to Baaland the “Queen of Heaven,” as they had done before theexile. Yet, sadly, the nation was impoverished. ManyIsraelites believed that they were faithful, that they deservedbetter, and that God had failed to provide for them as Heought—that He was not really faithful to His promises.

Of course, this perspective was utterly wrong. AsMalachi made plain, covenant faithfulness was demon-

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Faithfulness or Treachery?A Look at the Covenant Relationship

By John H. Ogwyn

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strated far more by actions than by the “religion” that peo-ple claimed to have. Showing that the people did not seewhat God saw, the book of Malachi contains seven “Whatdo you mean by that?” statements made by the people inresponse to God’s declarations. The prophet describedGod’s faithfulness and the people’s treachery, while thepeople sought to justify and excuse their behavior.

Malachi 1:2 opens with God’s profound declaration: “Ihave loved you.” Yet the people disputed God’s love for themand said, in effect: “How do we know that?” Not convincedthat God loved them, the people did not love God. Theyignored clear evidence of God’s love for His people—Hishaving elected, or chosen, their forefathers centuries earlier.God had chosen Jacob instead of Esau, even though Jacoband Esau were brothers. God chooses whom He will callfirst, and all who are called should be deeply mindful of, andthankful for, God’s love. If we do not value our calling, andthe special relationship with God that it entails, then we willtreat that calling cheaply and casually. Obedience that is notbased upon love for God will be grudging, temporary andcertainly not wholehearted. This is how the Old TestamentChurch continually treated its relationship with God.

Disrespecting God

Malachi 1:6–7 contains the next two “What do you meanby that?” statements. Everyone in Malachi’s audience wouldhave readily agreed with his point—that a father is to be hon-ored, and a master is to be shown great respect. Yet Malachideclared that God’s priests actually despised His name! Thepeople did not see things this way; after all, when the Jewsreturned from Babylon they were very careful with the use ofGod’s name. After the exile, in contrast with their earlier prac-tice, the Jews generally avoided even pronouncing the nameof YHVH, preferring various substitutions. Eventually, tradi-tion came to dictate that only the High Priest, on the Day ofAtonement, was allowed to pronounce the name YHVH. Thisis why no one today is absolutely sure of the correct pronun-ciation of this name of God. However, for all of their supposednewfound reverence, the religious leaders showed contemptfor the name of their Creator by their actions. As Malachi madeclear, actions speak louder than words.

Furthermore, the prophet charged the priesthood withdefiling God’s altar. Though they could not see how this wasso, the fact was that the priests were presenting, as offerings toGod, animals that were injured or sick! Animals that neededto be culled from the flock were burned on the altar, whilehealthy animals were kept for secular use. Malachi asked howthe Persian governor would react if such animals were broughtto him. Of course, he would have regarded it as an insult. Goddeclared through Malachi that it would have been better tohave shut the doors of the temple, and let the altar fires go out,

than to present such a disrespectful offering (v. 10). In con-trast, God inspired Malachi to anticipate the future time whenpeople from all nations would lift up God’s name with rever-ence. This prophecy looked forward to the New TestamentChurch, which would be made up of people from all nations.

The priests, as the book of Nehemiah makes plain, hadtreated lightly the covenant that God had established withtheir ancestors, and were not the example of obediencethat they should have been. They even showed favoritismin the way they applied God’s law (Malachi 2:9). This lackof faithful administration of the law was tantamount totreachery, or betrayal of their brethren.

Treachery in the Family

When God created mankind in His own image, He estab-lished the “God-plane” relationship of family as the funda-mental unit of society. A society can be no stronger than itsfamilies. We learn from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah thatpost-exilic Judah had serious family-related problems. Oneproblem was wrong marriages that should never have beenmade. Marriages with neighboring peoples had become socommon that the very identity of God’s people was threat-ened: “Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination hasbeen committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has pro-faned the LORD’s holy institution which He loves; He has mar-ried the daughter of a foreign god” (Malachi 2:11). Such mar-riages would inevitably lead God’s people away from pureworship, and into a hybrid religion that mixed elements ofpagan practice with God’s instructions.

Malachi then described another very serious problem: fam-ily breakup caused by divorce. God declared that He would notaccept people’s worship when the altar was figuratively coveredwith the tears of those whom the worshipers had wronged.This brings us to the fourth “What do you mean by that?” state-ment: “Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the LORD hasbeen witness between you and the wife of your youth, withwhom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companionand your wife by covenant” (Malachi 2:14). The prophet wenton to declare that God hates divorce (v. 16). Those who werewrongly contemplating divorce were told to halt such treachery.Marriage is a covenant relationship, and God proclaims Himselfa witness to the covenant. He expects faithfulness and hatestreachery. A stable society can only be built on families that arebound by faithfulness, not rent apart by betrayal.

The Coming Messenger

Malachi declared that the people had made God tiredby their words (v. 17). This led to the fifth “What do youmean by that?” statement. Seeing that the wicked seemed toprosper, some had become despondent, doubting that there

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was a God of justice. Certainly, some pagan nations wereprospering while the remnant of Judah was mired in pover-ty. Some in Judah were “getting ahead” through dishonestbusiness practices, and by taking advantage of the peopleleast able to defend themselves. But did this mean that Godwas “way off somewhere” or that He was indifferent? No!

God expected faith from His covenant people. Malachiexplained that they needed to take a more long-rangeview—that the God of Israel was going to send a future mes-senger who would prepare the way for the Lord Himself. Itwas none other than the Lord who would ultimately comeinto His temple as the Messenger of the Covenant. He wouldcome for judgment, and would deal with those who hadbeen treacherous in their covenant relationships. Thisprophecy was fulfilled in part by John the Baptist preparingthe way for Jesus Christ, who came as the Messenger of theNew Covenant. Christ began His public ministry by enter-ing into the temple just before the Passover, and casting outthe moneychangers. He went on to demonstrate His divineauthority by the miracles that He performed (John 3:1–2).The events of which Malachi spoke also looked even beyondChrist’s first coming, to the time when He will return inpower and glory. God’s covenant people must live by faithand look to the future.

Would You Rob God?

Malachi explained that God was absolutely faithful, incontrast to the treachery that Judah had shown, manytimes over, toward God and the covenant relationship. Goddid not change, and could therefore be trusted to keep Hispromises. Malachi called upon the nation to return to God,and thereby reap the benefits that He stood so ready togive. Malachi’s listeners wondered: “How could such areturn be accomplished?” The answer was simple, Malachithundered: Stop robbing your Creator!

Robbery is a very serious charge. Yet Malachi did notsimply accuse the people of robbery; he accused them ofactually robbing God! This led to their sixth “What do youmean by that?” statement. How could they possibly beaccused of stealing from the Creator? The answer of courselay in their failure to properly tithe and give offerings. Thepeople reasoned that they had financial problems, and couldnot afford to obey God. Surely, they thought, God wouldwant them to get on their feet financially before they begantithing or making sizable offerings to rebuild the temple.That, of course, was a completely backward approach.

One of the clearest principles throughout the Bible isthat no one ever really gets ahead by putting God last. Youcannot “get your affairs in shape” first, and then starttithing. We are dependent upon God’s blessing and helpeven to meet our needs at all. Malachi admonished the

people that if they would step out on faith, and put Godfirst by giving to Him what was His in the first place, thenGod would bless their efforts and provide their needs.

Our Attitude in Obedience

God is deeply interested in the attitude that underlies ouractions. Many of those living in fifth-century BC Judah wereonly grudgingly conforming to the commandments of God.Because their obedience did not come cheerfully and fromthe heart, they failed to reap many of the blessings that theycould have received. Instead of examining their attitudes andwhere they needed to change, they blamed God and felt sorryfor themselves. This led to the seventh and final “What doyou mean by that?” statement that Malachi recorded: “‘Yourwords have been harsh against Me,’ says the LORD, ‘yet yousay, what have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It isvain to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordi-nance and that we have walked as mourners before the LORD

of hosts?’” (Malachi 3:13–14).Malachi then contrasted this negative attitude with the

attitude of those who truly revered God—who frequentlymeditated on the things of God and talked about them toother true believers, seeking to encourage them (vv.16–17). He observed that God takes note of our conversa-tion, and that when the future time of judgment comes, Hewill remember those who truly love Him and will “makethem My jewels” (v. 17).

Malachi closed with an admonition to remember theTorah, which God gave through Moses and which containsthe terms of God’s holy covenant, which they had sotreacherously betrayed again and again. Malachi pointed tothe Messiah, and to the New Covenant, of which thatMessiah would be the Messenger. As a prelude to His com-ing, Malachi explained, one in the spirit and power ofElijah would come to prepare His way. The Old Testamentthus concludes by pointing to the New.

Have we learned the lesson of Israel’s failure to keep thecovenant? The Israelites left a legacy of treachery towardtheir Creator that contrasted sharply with His abiding faith-fulness and love toward them. Most fundamentally, theIsraelites failed in the covenant relationship because theydid not really love God with all their heart, mind and soul(Deuteronomy 6:5). They simply did not have the heart toobey (5:29). God has a solution to that problem. His solu-tion involves the redemption pictured by the Passover sea-son, and the new heart made possible by the outpouring ofHis Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Upon this new heart, softenedand changed, God will write His laws through the power ofHis Spirit (Hebrews 8:8–10) A heart that deeply loves Godwill be a faithful heart—one that hates treachery, and isdeeply loyal to Him and His covenant.

Living Church News May–June 2003

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o you remember playing achildhood game called“ H i d e a n d S e e k ” ?

Everyone would run tofind a hiding place, while one playerwould close his eyes and count to100, before opening his eyes andyelling: “Ready or not, here I come!”

Remarkable as it may seem,many today are playing a more seri-ous version of the same game, butfor much higher stakes! Could yoube one of them?

The central event in the plan ofGod is the return of Jesus Christ tothis earth. Many scriptures stress theurgency of preparing and being readyfor this climactic event. However,other scriptures indicate that themajority of human beings will notrecognize the signs of Christ’s immi-nent return. Many will not under-stand or heed the biblical warnings.Others may sense what is coming,but will choose to hide from reality,preferring not to think about thefuture. Only a few will recognize thesignificance of prophetic events, andwill be prepared and ready. Justwhere do you fall along this spec-trum of possibilities?

When Jesus’ disciples asked howwe would know His return was near,He listed a series of events to watchfor, but He also warned that “of thatday and hour no one knows… butMy Father only… watch therefore…be ready for the Son of Man is com-ing at an hour when you do notexpect Him” (Matthew 24:36–44).In essence, Jesus said that He would

return at the appropriate time deter-mined by God—whether we wereready or not! The parable of the tenvirgins indicates even those who arecalled will go to sleep and only aportion will wake up in time. Notice,too, that Jesus did not say He woulddelay His coming until everyone inthe Church was ready! Jesus openlystated His return would take manyby surprise—because they did notprepare and were not ready!

God has a plan, and He ispreparing for Christ’s return.Prophecies concerning John theBaptist indicate part of his missionwas “to make ready a people preparedfor the Lord” (Luke 1:17).Comparing this verse with Malachi3–4, it becomes obvious thatprophecies about John were dual—and that someone or some organiza-tion will also prepare a people for thesecond coming of Jesus Christ. Thisis one of the tasks in which God’strue Church will be involved at theend of the age. The Scriptures alsoreveal that when Christ returns tomarry His bride, “His wife [thechurch] has made herself ready”(Revelation 19:7). Those Churchmembers who have not been “fool-ish virgins” (cf. Matthew 25) willhave kept their lamps full of oil, andwill be spiritually ready to meetChrist at His return.

Today, as we see world eventsmoving towards a climax, we need toask some very sobering questions.Are you ready or not for the return ofJesus Christ? What do individual

members of the body of Christ needto do to prepare for the return ofJesus Christ? What should theChurch of God be doing to prepare apeople for Christ’s second coming?While many people have differentideas on this subject, the real ques-tion that needs to be asked is whatinstructions do we find in the Bibleabout preparing for the most impor-tant event in history?

Watch and Draw Close

Jesus repeatedly admonished Hisdisciples to stay alert, to prayerfullywatch for specific prophesied events,and to carry out our assignedwork—that includes being a watch-man (Mark 13:32–37). He warnedHis disciples about becoming lax inour mission and going to sleep onthe job (v. 36)! Jesus also said wewill not be prepared for His comingif we become distracted by temporarypleasures and concerns of our pre-sent world—“carousing, drunken-ness, and the cares of this life” (Luke21:34–35). We must each examinewhat our real focus is in life—is itdoing God’s work, or doing our ownthing? Is our time consumed watch-ing entertainment or watching forsignificant world events and trendsthat indicate Christ’s return is near.Prayerfully watching for events thatfulfill important Bible prophecies isnot merely to satisfy personal curios-ity of prophecy buffs nor is it a signof “prediction addiction.” Jesusrepeatedly advised His disciples to

Ready or Not?Ready or Not?By Douglas S. Winnail

DAre you prepared for Christ’s return?

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watch for specific developments onthe world scene so they could func-tion effectively as watchmen and notbe taken by surprise. The fulfillmentof prophecy should motivate us totake our calling and our missionseriously so we are ready whenChrist returns!

Another biblical admonition toconsider in the context of the end ofthe age is “seek the Lord while Hemay be found, call upon Him whileHe is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Theprophet Amos refers to a coming“famine… of the hearing of theword of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).Amos describes a time when thework of warning the world andpreaching the gospel will bestopped, and Israelite nations willbe subjected to a horrible tribulationat the hands of Gentile nations. Atthat time, people will “run to andfro, seeking the word of the LORD,but shall not find it” (Amos 8:12). Ifyou have been watching and learn-ing for years, and have avoided mak-ing a real commitment to God’s wayof life, you will eventually run out oftime! Hosea offers an additionalwarning to proud, pleasure-seekingIsraelites who enjoy their paganizedform of religion and justify theiractions by misguided human rea-soning (Hosea 5:1–12). He statesthat the time is coming when “theyshall go to seek the LORD, but theywill not find him; He has withdrawnHimself from them [because] theyhave dealt treacherously with theLORD” (v. 6). Isaiah warned that dueto our sins a time will come whenGod states, “I will hide my eyesfrom you; even though you makemany prayers, I will not hear”(Isaiah 1:15). Now is the time todraw near to God, to repent and tochange those aspects of our livesthat need to be brought into harmo-ny with God’s instructions. We donot have forever to do this—if wehope to be ready for Christ’s return.

Bearing Fruit

Jesus told His disciples thatGod is glorified when we “bearmuch fruit” (John 15:8). Heexplained that God wants us tolearn to live by His commandmentsand truly love one another (John15:9–17). The Godly love we mustdevelop includes not only keepingthe commandments (John 14:15),but also learning to forgive, toshow mercy and compassion andto be patient, honest and generouswith one another. However, theseare not the only fruits that we needto bear in our lives if we are to beready for Christ’s return. Paul saysthat if we clean up our own spiri-

tual life (eliminating wrongthoughts, lustful desires and fool-ish actions) we “will be vessels ofhonor, sanctified and useful for theMaster, prepared for every goodwork” (2 Timothy 2:19–23). Weneed to carefully study and provewhat the Bible actually says, so thatwe will be prepared to teach theTruth of God to others (vv. 16,24–25; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Wemust also be able to recognize falsedoctrinal teachings and avoidbecoming entangled in “foolishand ignorant disputes” that only“generate strife” (2 Timothy 2:23).God also wants us to “be ready togive an answer to everyone thatasks you, a reason for the hope thatis in you, with meekness and fear”(1 Peter 3:15). We may not con-vince others who have not been

called to understand in this age,but we should be able to answerwith conviction based on knowl-edge, experience and deep abidingfaith. God has used fruits like theseas a powerful witness downthrough the centuries.

Preparing the Way

God does not intervene in ourlives and call us out of this worldjust so we can “be saved.” Noticeagain the prophecies concerning themission of John the Baptist and onewho would come in the same spiritand manner just before Christ’sreturn. God told Malachi: “I sendMy messenger, and he will prepare

the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1).Isaiah states that this messengerwill be like “the voice of one cryingin the wilderness” saying, “preparethe way of the Lord; make straightin the desert a highway for ourGod” (Isaiah 40:3). Jesus explainedthat the messenger who would pre-pare the way for His coming would“restore all things” (Matthew17:11). The “restoration” of thelaws of God (see Malachi 4; Luke1:17) in the Church is merely aforetaste of the global restoration oftruth that will occur in theMillennium (Acts 3:19–21). Wehave been called to prepare now forthis awesome task. Will we beready? Is the Church that you havechosen to attend holding fast to thedoctrinal truths of Scripture—orhas it begun to compromise, water-

Living Church News May–June 2003

Now is the time to draw near to God, to repentand to change those aspects of our lives that need to be brought into harmony with God’s

instructions. We do not have forever to do this—if we hope to be ready for Christ’s return.

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down, ignore or try to explain awaythe laws of God?

Doing the Work

Jesus came “preaching thegospel of the kingdom of God”(Mark 1:14–15). He commissionedHis disciples to “go into all theworld and preach the gospel toevery creature” (Mark 16:15). Jesussaid one of the signs of the end ofthe age will be “this gospel of thekingdom will be preached in all theworld as a witness to all nations,and then the end will come”(Matthew 24:14). The Bible doesnot indicate that the preaching ofthe gospel would end with the

death of Mr. Armstrong. In fact, itstates just the opposite. Jesus said,“you will not have gone through thecities of Israel before the Son ofMan comes” (Matthew 10:23).Jesus also stated, “Blessed is thatservant whom his master, when hecomes, will find him so doing”(Matthew 24:46). The Work is notover, though some would like toassume so. If we give up on ourmission, and withdraw into a com-fortable social group, we will not bedoing the work that Christ commis-sioned His Church to do—and wewill not be prepared for His coming.We must also avoid being deceivedby a “different spirit” into believinga “different gospel” about a “differ-

ent Jesus” (see 2 Corinthians11:1–4: Galatians 1:6–9). The realJesus of Scripture did not come toabolish the laws of God, but toamplify those laws to include aneven more thorough spiritual appli-cation (Matthew 5:17–30); Isaiah42:21). If we accept the idea thatJesus kept the law so that we nolonger need to, we will not be readyto teach the laws of God to theworld when Jesus sets up His king-dom on this earth (Isaiah 2:2–4;30:20–21).

In addition to preaching thetrue gospel, Jesus told His disciplesto watch world events and to func-tion as a watchman to warnmankind—and especially Israelite

Living Church News May–June 2003

Jesus said that only those “who endure to theend shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Enduring tri-als, persecution and tribulation requires courage.Standing up for your beliefs when everyone else ischanging, compromising or berating you calls forstrength and conviction. We are born with a partic-ular set of qualities, but they can be developed andenhanced. Learning to act bravely—to take certainrisks, especially in the face of danger—does notmean that courageous people are without fears.General George Patton once said that “courage isfear holding on another moment.” Mark Twainwrote that “courage is the mastery of fear, not theabsence of it.” Courage is important to God, becauseit is a vital quality of leadership. Anyone who hopesto be ready for the return of Jesus Christ will need todevelop courage and conviction.

Moses advised Joshua and the Israelites to “bestrong and of good courage” (Deuteronomy 31:1–8).God repeated similar words to Joshua: “Be strongand very courageous, that you may observe to doaccording to all the law… do not turn from it to theright hand or to the left, that you may prosper wher-ever you go” (Joshua 1:1–9). Paul encouraged theearly Church to “watch, stand fast in the faith, be

strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). We can develop thiskind of strength and courage when we learn what isright, and when we determine to obey God(Deuteronomy 30:15–20). Solomon records that“the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1).Righteous people obey the commandments of God(Psalm 119:172). We can develop courage by trust-ing and believing God’s promises (see Psalm 27:1–3).David’s courage came from His trust in God (read 1Samuel 17:37, 45–57). God’s promises can give uscourage in times of trial (Romans 8:28; 1Corinthians 10:13). Jesus instructed His disciples toask for courage and strength in times of need(Matthew 7:7–11), which they received (Acts4:29–33). Courage and strength of conviction arefruits of God’s Spirit that will grow in our lives if wedo our part (2 Timothy 1:6–7). Conviction alsocomes from taking time to carefully prove what youbelieve from the Word of God, and not compromis-ing those beliefs (1 Thessalonians 5:21). People whodevelop courage do not quit! They persevere—theyendure to the end! Courage is one of the definingqualities of leadership that we must develop to beready for Christ’s return.

—Douglas S. Winnail

Developing Courage

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nations—about sobering events thatwill signal the end of the age andthe imminent return of the Messiah(Mark 13:34). The prophet Ezekieldescribes this mission more clearly.God told Ezekiel: “I have made youa watchman to the house of Israel;therefore hear a word from Mymouth, and give them a warningfrom Me” (Ezekiel 3:17). YetEzekiel was among the Jewish cap-tives in Babylon about 100 yearsafter Israel was carried into captivi-ty in Assyria. This was a prophecyof a future mission to warn theIsraelite peoples. When Jesus Christreturns, He will expect to find HisChurch actively engaged in thistask. If we are not fulfilling thismission, we will not be ready toreceive the reward that Christ willbring with Him (see Revelation11:18).

Prepare To Rule

The Bible reveals that Christiansare called to become “kings andpriests to our God; and we shallreign on this earth” (Revelation5:10; cf. Daniel 7:27). Those God iscalling now are to function as civiland religious leaders in the comingkingdom of God. They will teachthe laws of God and God’s way oflife to the world (Isaiah 2:2–4;30:20–21). However, this incredibleopportunity will only be given tothose who are prepared and makethemselves ready! Notice again theinstructions and examples that Godprovides about leadership. Mosesrecords that leaders must be hum-ble, morally upright, selfless andfaithful—and they should make apersonal copy of the book of the law,and study it daily, so that they willhave the mind of God and be able torule righteously (Deuteronomy17:14–20). Are you following theseinstructions? Are you learning torecognize how the laws of God

can be applied to solve today’s problems?

When Ezra returned toJerusalem from the Babylonian cap-tivity, to teach the laws of God tothe Jews, he did not come unpre-pared. Before leaving Babylon,“Ezra had prepared his heart to seekthe Law of the Lord, and to do it,and to teach statutes and ordi-nances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Thisobviously required time, study,determination and dedication onEzra’s part. When he arrived inJerusalem, “Ezra the priest brought

the Law before the congregation, ofmen and women and all who couldhear with understanding… then heread from it in the open square…and the ears of all the people wereattentive to the Book of the Law…so Ezra the scribe stood on a plat-form of wood which they had madefor the purpose… and the Levites,helped the people to understandthe Law… so they read distinctlyfrom the book, in the Law of God;and they gave the sense, and helpedthem to understand the reading”(Nehemiah 8:1–12). Ezra and theLevites did not simply read a fewverses as a formality and then closethe book. They read and explainedthe meaning and application of theScriptures—and as people began tounderstand they rejoiced! Are youpreparing to function in a similarcapacity? Some have wonderedwhy our Church services are struc-

tured as they are—as teaching ser-vices—rather than appealing moreto the emotions or having peopleengage in “open discussions” sothat everyone can express their per-sonal opinions about what a partic-ular passage means. The answer isfound in the verses we have justread. Are you preparing to functionas a teacher? Are you ready toexplain how to apply and live byevery word of God? Is the churchthat you have chosen to attendpreparing you to function in thismanner?

Jesus Christ’s return to establishthe kingdom of God on this earthwill be a dramatic turning point inthe course of human civilization. Itwill take most of the world by sur-prise. Many will be totally unpre-pared. Regrettably, some who knewwhat was about to happen will notbe ready—because they went tosleep, chose to ignore the warningsor became distracted by the pullsand cares of this world. Others whosincerely looked forward to Christ’sreturn will be surprised to findthemselves excluded, because theywere deceived and did not prepareproperly (see Matthew 7:21–23).The Bible outlines definite signs thatwill precede the return of JesusChrist. God also provides definiteinstructions to help us prepare forthis event. The question is: will weheed those instructions—will we beready, or not?

Living Church News May–June 2003

In addition to preaching the true gospel, Jesustold His disciples to watch world events and to

function as a watchman to warn mankind—andespecially Israelite nations—about sobering

events that will signal the end of the age and the imminent return of the Messiah

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“Don’t worry or take any evasive action, I will just deliveryou—no matter what happens!” However, the Bible—which reveals the mind of God—indicates that God wantedJoseph and His chosen people to go through the experienceof setting aside extra foodstuffs and learning to do their partin preparing for a future calamity. As the Apostle Jameswrote: “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20).

It is better for us to learn the lessons through thesesituations—and practice exercising caution, wisdomand perseverance—than to have God “deliver” us fromevery possible catastrophe. For God is training us to beHis full Sons in His Kingdom and family forever. Wemust learn to develop an understanding of His will, andthe wisdom to properly handle many different types ofsituations. Then we will be better fit and better preparedto be kings and priests ruling, under Christ, in tomor-row’s world.

Our heavenly Father tells us in Proverbs 22:3: “A pru-dent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simplepass on and are punished.” Obviously, God does not wantus to be cowards. But it is also obvious that a wise man orwoman should sometimes “hide himself”—take evasiveaction—or be secretly let down over the city wall and“flee,” as the Apostle Paul did in a dangerous situation(Acts 9:23–26)!

Also, God gives us in Scripture the example of help-ing one another in emergency situations. “Then one ofthem, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spiritthat there was going to be a great famine throughout allthe world, which also happened in the days of ClaudiusCaesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability,determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling inJudea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by thehands of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:28–30). In thecoming years, it may become necessary—and ourChristian duty—for us to help our brethren in otherparts of the world when severe troubles come uponthem. And, lest we here in the United States feel toosmug and self-sufficient, let us realize that, just as the“Headquarters” area of the Church had to have help inApostolic times, so too may we here in the United Statesneed help from other parts of the world in years to come!

Remember, all of us are “bought and paid for” bythe sacrifice of Jesus Christ! The inspired word of Godtells us: “For as the body is one and has many mem-bers, but all the members of that one body, being many,are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit wewere all baptized into one body—whether Jews orGreeks, whether slaves or free—and have all beenmade to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body isnot one member but many. If the foot should say,‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is ittherefore not of the body?” (1 Corinthians 12:12–15).And again: “But God composed the body, having givengreater honor to that part which lacks it, that thereshould be no schism in the body, but that the membersshould have the same care for one another. And if onemember suffers, all the members suffer with it; or ifone member is honored, all the members rejoice withit. Now you are the body of Christ, and members indi-vidually” (vv. 24–27).

At times like this, we all need to be genuinely hum-ble—and to listen to instruction from God’s Word, andfrom our human leaders in the nation and especially inthe Church of God. We read: “Whoever loves instructionloves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.…The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he whoheeds counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:1, 15). Besides lis-tening, we need to act on what we are told, as long as weknow it is within God’s will. Notice what God inspired inEcclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do itwith your might; for there is no work or device or knowl-edge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” So Ihope that all of you brethren, and your loved ones, willtake action on the things I have just pointed out, and thatyou will show God that you are willing to do your partzealously. Also, to help you think carefully about specificways to prepare your household physically for toughtimes ahead, I hope you will read and consider the spe-cific ideas and suggestions in the box accompanying thisarticle.

Of course, above and beyond all that we humanly cando, our ultimate faith is in God Himself! For His inspiredWord tells us: “The horse is prepared for the day of bat-tle, but deliverance is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31). In thisissue’s Editorial, on page 3, I will have more to say aboutthe importance of such faith.

Prepare for the Times Ahead(continued from page 2)

Living Church News May–June 2003

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Living Church News May–June 2003

One of the most importantsteps you can take in preparing foremergencies is to develop a house-hold disaster plan.

• Learn about the natural disas-ters that could occur in yourcommunity from your localemergency management officeor American Red Cross chap-ter. Learn how to prepare foreach potential emergency andhow to respond.

• Talk with your householdabout potential emergenciesand how to respond to each.Talk about what you wouldneed to do in an evacuation.

• Plan how your householdwould stay in contact if youwere separated. Identify twomeeting places: the first shouldbe near your home, perhaps anearby tree or a telephone polewhere you could meet if yourhome were on fire; the secondshould be away from yourneighborhood in case you can-not return home.

• Pick a friend or relative wholives out of the area for house-hold members to call to saythey are okay.

• Draw a floor plan of yourhome. Mark two escape routesfrom each room.

• Post emergency telephonenumbers by telephones. Teachchildren how and when to call911.

• Make sure every member ofyour household knows howand when to shut off water,gas and electricity at the mainswitches. Consult with yourlocal utilities if you have anyquestions.

• Take a first aid and CPR class.Local American Red Crosschapters can provide informa-tion. Official certification bythe American Red Cross pro-vides “good Samaritan” lawprotection for those givingfirst aid.

• Review property insurancepolicies before disasterstrikes—make sure policiesare current and be certain theymeet your needs (type of cov-erage, amount of coverage,and hazard covered—flood,earthquake)

• Be certain that all your healthinsurance policies are currentand meet the needs of yourhousehold.

• Consider ways to help neigh-bors who may need specialassistance, such as the elderlyor the disabled.

• Make arrangements for pets.Pets are not allowed in publicshelters, though “service ani-mals”—for those who dependon them—are allowed.

Disaster Supply Kits

Assembling the supplies youmight need following a disaster isan important part of your disasterplan. You should prepare emer-gency supplies for the followingsituations:

• A disaster supply kit withessential food, water, and sup-plies for at least three days—this kit should be kept in adesignated place and be readyto “grab and go” in case youhave to leave your homequickly because of a disaster,

such as a flash flood or majorchemical emergency. Makesure all household membersknow where the kit is kept.Consider having additional sup-plies for sheltering or homeconfinement for up to twoweeks.

• You should also have a disas-ter supply kit at work. Thisshould be in one container,ready to “grab and go” in caseyou have to evacuate thebuilding.

• A car kit of emergency sup-plies, including food andwater, to keep stored in yourcar at all times. This kitwould also include flares,jumper cables and seasonalsupplies.

The basic items that shouldbe in a disaster supply kit arewater, food, first-aid supplies,tools and emergency supplies,clothing and bedding, and spe-cialty items. You will need tochange the stored water andfood supplies every six months,so be sure to write the date youstore it on all containers. Youshould also re-think your needsevery year and update your kitas your household changes.Keep items in airtight plasticbags and put your entire disastersupply kit in one or two easy-tocarry containers such as anunused trashcan, camping back-pack or duffel bag.

—Excerpted from Are YouReady? A Guide to CitizenPreparedness, Federal EmergencyManagement Administration,pp. 4–10.

Creating a Disaster Plan

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Church Headquarters Moves to Charlotte, North Carolina!

Relocation Decisions

It was only last Julywhen Dr. & Mrs. Meredithfirst visited Charlotte, on atrip that took them to sever-al potential Headquarterslocations. Yet that visit wasjust one of many that hadtaken place over the last few

years, as the Work investigated Tulsa, OK; Austin, TX; St. Louis,MO; Atlanta, GA; Greenville, SC; several cities in California, andother locations that seemed to offer potential advantages in carry-ing out the Great Commission given by Jesus Christ.

Proclamation—To the City of Charlotte:

Be it resolved on this 10th day of April 2003, that…

The Living Church of God sincerely appreciates thekindness and love shown by everyone here throughout

the relocation of our operations, that…

We humbly ask our Father in Heaven for His love to bepoured out on the gracious City of Charlotte, in the

beautiful state of North Carolina, to continue this greatWork, preaching the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to

the entire world.

Be it known that the Church looks forward to a long andmutually favorable relationship with Charlotte as a good

neighbor, promoting a family atmosphere, that…

We are pleased with our new international headquarterslocation and that…

We prayerfully ask God’s blessing on our community, building, activities, members, employees and

ministry!

More than 130,000 pounds of Headquarters equipment andsupplies made the trip to Charlotte. Several employees chose todrive across country, but 25 vehicles had to be loaded on carcarriers for the trip eastward.

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Living Church News May–June 2003

Prior to that time, Dr. Meredith and the Council of Elders,seeking God’s guidance regarding any potential relocation,

had not seenany clear indi-cation whereGod wantedthe Work tomove, until theliving JesusChrist drewattention toCharlotte. Asone CouncilMember put it,the Workwould not

move unless God showed a “compelling reason” for themove.

California had come to pose a number of special chal-lenges for non-profit corporations seeking to conduct busi-ness in the state. Headquarters ministers, often calledupon to travel, also experienced unique challengesbecause of the Headquarters location at the extremesouthwestern corner of the United States.

Yet only when attention was turned to Charlotte,North Carolina, did everyone see doorsswinging open, quickly and unmistak-ably, leading the Council of Elders toconcur fully with Dr. Meredith’s assess-ment that God was leading the Work toCharlotte. Subsequent events showedevidence, again and again, of God’sblessing. The property selection, thefinancing and the welcome from thelocal business community all showedGod’s generous outpouring of blessingson the Work. One local businessmaneven commented that he felt “com-pelled” to do what he could to help theLiving Church of God, though he saidhe “didn’t know why.”

Community Interest

Local media and business publi-cations, along with the CharlotteChamber (of Commerce) gave the Church a warm wel-come and very positive news coverage. On February 13,reporter Doug Smith of the Charlotte Observer ran anarticle offering a brief profile of the Church and its relo-cation to Charlotte. ABC-TV affiliate WSOC-TV(Channel 9) sent a camera crew to the office on March 6,

and ran two very favorable news reports on the Church,which were also aired on WSOC’s sister station WAXN(Channel 64). SeveralHeadquarters employ-ees have encounterednew neighbors or busi-ness contacts whowere introduced to theChurch by these mediareports, and who havea favorable opinion ofthe Church as a result.T h e C h a r l o t t eChamber also releasedthe Church’s publicrelations statement,announcing the reloca-tion, to the local busi-ness press.

Making the Move

As anyone who has relocated a household knows, thiscan be a most difficult project, even locally. Multiply thatby more than 25 households, plus an entire office facili-

ty—and a move of nearly 2,500 miles,essentially coast to coast—and the scopeof the challenge becomes clear.

Mr. & Mrs. Don Davis were theHeadquarters “pioneers” who firstmoved to Charlotte, in November 2002.Mr. Davis coordinated the renovation ofthe new Headquarters building, andmany other move-related details such asfurniture installations, acquisition ofbuilding permits, installation of alarmsystems and coordination of buildinginspections.

Back in San Diego, employees began,after the Feast of Tabernacles, to “doubleup” their regular workload in preparationfor the month or so of “downtime” thatthe move would require. By mid-February,the pre-move preparations were in “highgear.” During the week of February 17,everyone was busy packing their office

supplies, preparing to vacate their offices on February 21.Beginning on February 24, tens of thousands of pounds

of Headquarters equipment was loaded on trucks bound forCharlotte. A week later, trucks arrived in Charlotte,unloading box after box, desk after desk, computer aftercomputer, into the warehouse at 2301 Crown Centre Drive.

Dr. Meredith, in his new office, chats withMessrs. Davis and Bardo.

Finance moves in! Messrs. Bardo andRuddlesden swing a desk into place.

16

Living Church News May–June 2003

Throughout the transition, from February 24 to March14, the Church Headquarters phone numbers (at least four lines, including the main office numbers for San Diego and Charlotte) were transferred to the house-hold of Mr. & Mrs. Gary Ehman in San Diego, California. Mrs. Ehman, who among other duties had answered

the phones atthe San DiegoHeadquar t e r sOffice, kept theChurch furnishedwith continuingphone serviceduring the transi-t ion from SanD i e g o t oC h a r l o t t e .Maintaining ther e g u l a r8:30AM–5:30PMP a c i f i c T i m e

office schedule (though in fact the phones rang at allhours), Mrs. Ehman answered approximately 330 calls.She took literature requests, put callers in touch with theappropriate Church employees or ministers, and madeconnections for those seeking ministerial visits or anoint-ed cloths.

Dedication Sabbath

On the Sabbath of March 29, the Charlotte congrega-tion hosted visitors from around the U.S., who had gath-ered at the nearby Mint Hill Masonic Hall for a special“Dedication Sabbath” service commemorating theChurch’s relocation to its newHeadquarters facility.

More than 260 brethren—fromas far away as Vermont, Florida,California and other locations north,west and south—heard Dr. Meredithgive a powerful sermon emphasizingthankfulness for God’s blessingsupon the Work, in the context ofend-time prophetic events. Hereminded us that we must radiateGod’s love to the people of the world, and thatHeadquarters had moved to Charlotte for that very reason.

Mr. Don Davis’ sermonette was also greatly appreciat-ed, as he described the recent history of the Work of God,which has brought us to where we are today, and usedJohn 4:34 as a key scripture exhorting us to “finish theWork.”

Mrs. Kathryn Ames performed a beautiful violinpiece—“Adoration,” by Felix Borowski—accompanied onpiano by Michelle Bryce.

After the service, a sumptuous—and huge—covered-dish meal was served, then nearly 100 brethren visited theHeadquarters building, where several employees ledtours.

Grand Opening

On April 10, the official “Grand Opening” reception washeld at 4 PM. More than 100 guests, many from local busi-nesses, came to Headquarters to meet their new neighborsand acquaint themselveswith the Church, its activi-ties and its purpose. At thereception, Mr. Richard F.Ames read the proclama-tion that began this article,expressing gratitude to thecity of Charlotte, its people,the entire Church and ulti-mately our Father inHeaven, for helping us to“move” through the entireprocess.

The International Headquarters of the LivingChurch of God has now successfully relocated to its newfacility in Charlotte, North Carolina. Employees are set-tling in to new routines, eager to see the true Gospel ofJesus Christ preached with ever-greater zeal, power andeffectiveness.

With the “official” move-in now completed, as wereflect on God’s great blessings, a hearty thanks is in order

to all for the tremendous outpouringof help, support and encouragementthat the Work has received through-out all phases of the relocation. Andmost significantly, Headquartersappreciates the loyal support ofthousands of brethren around theworld, through whose prayers, sup-port and encouragement, God madethe move to Charlotte possible.

God speed the day when JesusChrist will return to this earth. Until then, may God helpus all to do our part in finishing His Work, with ferventzeal and dedication, preparing the world and the Churchfor His return!

—Compiled from reports by Richard F. Ames, RodgerBardo, William Bowmer and Linda Ehman

Mr. & Mrs. James Alexander celebrated their50th wedding anniversary with Dr. Meredithand the brethren at the Dedication Sabbath.

Mr. Richard F. Ames reads theproclamation

17

Local ChurchNews

Tenth Anniversary

CelebrationOn the Sabbath of March 29, more than 100

brethren from the Living Church of God con-gregations in Indianapolis, Plymouth and TerreHaute, Indiana, and the congregation inColumbus, Ohio, gathered along with severalvisitors to celebrate the tenth anniversary of theIndianapolis congregation. After a service thatincluded split sermons from Mr. CharlesKnowlton and Mr. Lambert Greer, the eveningwas spent in fellowship with lots of food andfun.

On March 23, 1993, Mr. Knowlton and asmall group of brethren who had withdrawnfrom their former association first gatheredtogether as a congregation. Since then, thegroup has grown to 48, and is currently pas-tored by Mr. Greer and local elder Mr. GeorgeDellinger. The hall seats 100, so the brethrenthere look forward to whatever growth Godmay give the Church in the area.

—Alvina Dellinger

BirthsJamie and John Clementson of the Living Church of God congregation in Hammonton, New Jersey, announce thebirth of Pearl Anne Clementson on February 27, weighing 9 pounds, 2 ounces. Pearl’s big sister Hope Clementsonis delighted!

Tim and Katy Elertson, of the Living Church of God congregation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, announce the birthof their daughter Faith Annabelle Elertson, on March 30. she weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 18.5 incheslong.

Ruben and Jennifer Lujan Jr. are happy to announce the birth of their firstborn, Kiersten Aurora Lujan. Kierstenwas born on March 14. She weighed 7.2 pounds, and was 20.5 inches in length.

Samuel Kelly Ralph Scarborough was born to Patrick and Elizabeth Scarborough on March 5. Mother and babyare doing well.

Dr. Meredith’ssemi-annual

letter toTomorrow’s

Worldsubscribers will

be mailed in late May. In

that letter, he will offer the Living

Church of God’s newest booklet, God’s Church Through the Ages. Everymember household will receive this booklet, written by Mr. John H. Ogwyn,approximately a month after receiving thesemi-annual letter.

New Booklet!

18

In Loving MemorySarah Pearl Adams, of the Living Church of God con-gregation in Rolla, Missouri, died on January 30 at age93. She had suffered from deteriorating health for sev-eral years. Baptized in 1962, she loved to read theBible, and knew many verses by heart. Friendly andoutgoing, she always made it a point to seek out newvisitors to the congregation, to make them feel wel-come. She is survived by a son, a daughter (AileenWells) and a daughter-in-law (Johnita Wells), threegrandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Clifford B. Powell, of the Living Church of God con-gregation in Walterboro, South Carolina, died onMarch 9, at age 77, after a battle with cancer. He is sur-vived by his wife Nancy, who is also an LCG member,and by four children and stepchildren. He will befondly remembered and greatly missed.

Clarence Teskey, age 79, of Leoville, Saskatchewan,died suddenly on January 25. He had suffered a

stroke several years ago, which had paralyzed himon one side and kept him confined to a wheelchair.He is survived by Esther, his wife of 52 years, and bytwo sons, a daughter and 11 grandchildren. He wasnot ashamed of the Truth, and often mentioned howgrateful he was for the Living Church of God.Known as a very kind person, he will be missed byhis many friends and family. Mr. Eng Monson con-ducted his funeral service on January 29.

Maria Thoms, age 90, of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan,died peacefully on November 26, 2002. Baptized in1969, her life was a true example of service to hervery large family and to her late husband of 66 years.She had a deep respect for God, and was ever thank-ful for her calling. The Church was a great part of herlife, and she missed very few services over the years,in spite of suffering many heart attacks over the pastdecade. Mr. Eng Monson conducted her funeral ser-vice on November 29, 2002, in Prince Albert. She willtruly be missed.

Upcoming Tomorrow’s World TelecastsWGN: Sunday, 6:00 AM ETVISION (Canada): Sunday, 3:30 AM & 5:30 PM ET

Air Date Broadcast Title

June 1 What Is the Great Tribulation?June 8 Whatever Happened to Sin?June 15 James, the Brother of JesusJune 22 Overcoming Your Anxieties June 29 What’s Ahead for the Middle East?

For additional stations and times, check the Television and Radio Log on page 31 of yourTomorrow’s World magazine.

Living Church News May–June 2003

OrdinationMr. Clyde Skeete, who has been serving as a Living Church of God host in Barbados, was ordained as a deacon on March29 by Regional Pastor Jonathan McNair. Mr. Skeete will continue to serve the brethren in Christ Church, Barbados.

19

Living Church News May–June 2003

WeddingDouglas Young and Debra Woods weremarried in Los Angeles on Saturdaynight, April 5. Mr. Carl McNair officiat-ed at the ceremony. The couple willreside in San Diego.

Matching Gifts Many companies are able to match donations made by employ-

ees (and retirees) and their spouses. Please check with youremployer’s personnel office to determine whether your gift quali-fies. Your employer may significantly increase or even double yourgiving to the Living Church of God.

Living Church of God

2003 Feast Sites:

The Living Church of God will be keeping the Feast in several additional countries currently experiencing significant internal turmoil, where transfers will be discouraged.

*If you hope to attend the Hawaii site, please do not make your airline or hotel reservations yet. The FestivalOffice is working to arrange special discount airfares that may save several hundred dollars per traveler.Depending on how many brethren express interest in the Hawaii site when the site attendance survey is taken inlocal congregations in early June, attendance may be on an “admission-only” basis, since the hall can hold no morethan 550. Please be ready to fill out the Hawaii Festival Application that will be included in the upcoming FeastPlanner. Please do not make reservations until you have been told that you have been accepted at the Hawaii site.

United States Sites:Prescott, Arizona

Eureka Springs, ArkansasPanama City Beach, Florida

Kauai, Hawaii*Florence, Oregon

Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaMyrtle Beach, South Carolina

New Braunfels, TexasJackson Hole, Wyoming

International Sites:CANADA:

Cranbrook, British ColumbiaCornwall, Ontario

Summerside, Prince Edward Island

AFRICA:Port Alfred, South Africa

AUSTRALASIA:Albany, WA, Australia

Bateman’s Bay, QLD, AustraliaPort Vila, Vanuatu

Taupo, New Zealand

CARIBBEAN:Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Mayaro, Trinidad & TobagoBarbados (site not confirmed)Guyana (site not confirmed)

EUROPE:Evian, France

North Wales, United Kingdom

SPANISH-SPEAKING:Oaxtepec, Mexico

The above is an adaptation of one of the many commentaries, on key topics facing our world, available at thewww.lcg.org and www.tomorrowsworld.org Web sites.

Commentary

A recent movie based on Tom Clancy’s book TheSum of All Fears sketches a scene of the ultimate terror-ist nightmare—an attack at the Super Bowl with anuclear weapon. Such an attack would cause a horrificdeath toll, and hysteria far beyond what the UnitedStates has ever experienced.

The movie raked in millions of dollars, buthow likely would such an attack actually be?According to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld,“hundreds of thousands of Americans are poten-tially at risk of nuclear attack.” National SecurityAdvisor Condoleezza Rice further stated that suchan event would “make September 11 look likechild’s play.”

Stephen Younger, Director of the Defense ThreatReduction Agency, recently said: “Extensive searches inAfghanistan showed Al-Qaeda was interested in nucleartechnologies. Al-Qaeda leaders may have connections inother countries that already have the technological basefor building nuclear weapons. They have the money tomake such links.”

Although most experts consider it very unlikely thatAl-Qaeda would be able to accomplish a full-fledgednuclear explosion on U.S. soil, another threat is muchmore likely. As Newsmax.com reported: Al-Qaeda isbehind “pirate raids on ships carrying radioactive mate-rial through the straits (between Indonesia andMalaysia) in a bid to obtain ingredients for a dirtybomb.”

A “dirty bomb” does not produce a nuclear explo-sion and mushroom cloud. It would consist of conven-tional explosives combined with radioactive materials.When the conventional explosives were detonated, theirexplosive force would blast the radioactive material overa wide area. After the initial explosive force, the real dan-ger would be the residual radioactivity that could possi-bly remain in a city for years.

One long-term effect of radioactivity would be aneventual great increase in cancer within a city’s popula-tion. Some believe that it might take years for theradioactivity level to fall to a safe level. The Federationof American Scientists believes that “the risk of cancer insome contaminated areas would be so high that the gov-ernment would desert or demolish the area.”

A detonation of a dirty bomb in one of our cities,such as Washington D.C. or New York City, would like-ly cause tremendous panic—one of the very purposes ofterrorism. Some believe that one serious episode of dirtybomb terrorism would cause another nosedive in theeconomy, which is also one of the goals of terrorism.

How difficult would it be for terrorists to get theirhands on enough radioactive material for a dirty bomb?According to a recent article by Carrie Dahlberg in theSacramento Bee: “Despite fears that radioactive materialcould be shaped into a dirty bomb, hundreds of radioactiveproducts are for sale through catalogs, Web sites and sup-pliers to anyone with a license to own them.… Even nuclearindustry workers, who often dismiss fears of radiation asoverblown, quietly acknowledge that setting up a frontbusiness and buying a license may well be the ‘back door’ tobuilding a dirty bomb. Thousands of private users nation-wide are licensed to handle tools, medical equipment andmachines containing [radiation] ideal for dirty bombs.”

The time is coming when God will allow the U.S. tobe buffeted for its collective national sins—for its col-lective rejection of the Creator. This will happen to bringthe U.S. as a nation to the true God. Terrorism is onlyone aspect of the traumas that will inflict the U.S.Drought, famine, disease, economic failure, and militarychallenges will slowly break the “pride of our power.”

Thankfully, as God reveals in His Word, there is alsotremendous good news on the horizon as well—a timewhen all the evils of society, including terrorism, will bea thing of the past.

“The Sum of All Fears” By Jeffrey Fall

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE PAIDCHARLOTTE, NCPERMIT NO. 4081