Letters – Page 21 – Church of the Eternal God

Letter to the Brethren – February 13, 2006

February 13, 2006

Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

In about eight weeks, baptized members of the Church of God will be taking the Passover which is an annual celebration of the death of Christ. It is a somber reminder of the sacrifice that our Lord and Savior endured on our behalf. Although not a Holy Day in itself, this will be the beginning of the Holy Day season when the first day of Unleavened Bread starts at sunset some twenty four hours later. How blessed we are to have been given the precious knowledge of God’s Master Plan of salvation for all of mankind, as revealed through His Holy Days (Please read our free booklet, “God’s Commanded Holy Days.”).

As Passover is almost two months away, why am I raising the matter at this particular time? Here is the reason: We are to prepare diligently for each Holy Day season and we are particularly admonished regarding the Passover, to examine ourselves so that we may take it in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:28). When should this self-examination begin?

Members of the Church of God have long recognized that God’s calling is to a life of obedience to His will, and that we are to keep His Commandments. This responsibility must never be taken lightly. It is a full time, twenty four hours a day commitment in a Christian life that must continue for the rest of our lives. We cannot give up part way through our lives, and we must endure to the end (Matthew 24:13); otherwise, we will not make it into the Kingdom of God. In this context I am reminded of that phrase “Quitting lasts forever,” and it must never apply to our calling.

Letter to the Brethren – January 12, 2006

January 12, 2006

Download PDF

Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:

As I write this letter, I am mindful of the fact that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, the late human leader of the Worldwide Church of God, has been dead for over a full time cycle of 19 years. As most of you will remember, Mr. Armstrong died twenty years ago—in the morning hours of January 16, 1986. At that time, I was working in the Worldwide Church of God’s Legal Department. Even though we had hoped and prayed that Mr. Armstrong would not die then, we also knew that, barring a miracle from God, he could die at any time. I remember the deafening silence, when we came to the office and heard the news, and I also remember how Mr. Tkach later that morning addressed all of the Headquarters’ employees, assuring us that he would follow in Mr. Armstrong’s footsteps. Of course, we are all too aware of the fact how miserably Mr. Tkach failed in that endeavor.

Letter to the Brethren – December 12, 2005

December 12, 2005

Download PDF

Dear brethren and friends,

It is only a matter of a few weeks since we were keeping the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, as instructed by God. Throughout the world, faithful believers congregated to celebrate the Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23:2, 34-43). The master plan of God as revealed through His Holy Days is of the utmost importance to those few who have been called at this time. They help us to clearly see the meticulous planning of our great God. We must never underestimate the marvelous calling that those who have been placed into God’s Church at this time have been given. We should pray fervently, and continuously, that we never take for granted the wonderful truth, hidden from the world, but revealed to the called-out ones.

Letter to the Brethren – November 14, 2005

November 14, 2005

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

We have marked another milestone in our calling, having completed our observance of God’s commanded seasonal Holy Days for this year!

Year by year, the Church of God rehearses the dramatic events of Godís plan for the establishment of His Kingdom with mankind. The significance of what we do is little understood by the world in which we live. Neither do the societies of this age comprehend the nearness of these yet prophesied developments.

Paul addresses this contrast in his letter to the church of the Thessalonians: “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).

Letter to the Brethren – September 21, 2005

September 21, 2005

Download PDF

Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:

When you receive this letter, the Fall Holy Day season will have almost arrived. On Tuesday, October 4, we will be keeping the Feast of Trumpets, followed by the Day of Atonement on Thursday, October 13. Beginning with the evening of Monday, October 17, we will be joyfully celebrating for eight days the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. We look forward to this unique opportunity to spend this time with brethren of like minds and goals, while taking a “leave of absence” from the hustle and bustle of this hectic and dangerous world. As we are mentally, spiritually and even physically preparing for the annual Fall Festival season, we cannot help but realize the striking difference between the not-too-distant future of this world, as pictured by God’s Holy Days, and what the world is like today.

Letter to the Brethren – August 15, 2005

August 15, 2005

Download PDF

Dear Brethren in Christ,

We reviewed in a recent sermon the subject of commitment and the fact that while God expects the wholehearted commitment of each of us in living His Way, He is fully committed to be certain we have all the helps needed from Him to succeed in our calling according to His great purpose! We observed that such commitment requires dedication from those He has called!

We at headquarters were most pleased with the positive attitudes observed and the fervent responses of many of you in answer to the plea for financial support of the work God is doing through CEG as we continue through the tough months of summer. No doubt God observed these favorable attitudes of His loyal disciples as well. Thank you for your continued prayers and support for God’s end-time Work!

Letter to the Brethren – July 11, 2005

July 11, 2005

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

In the middle of the year 2005, this world is mired in seemingly hopeless turmoil! We have just witnessed another unspeakable terror atrocity, this time, in the city of London, England. Innocent people were literally blown apart, while others were maimed to become cripples for the rest of their lives! Add to that the incomprehensible suffering of humans all over the earth who find themselves living desperate lives in the most bleak of circumstances.

Not a happy picture, not at all.

But there is real hope for the future of this world, and we who have answered God’s calling and have remained faithful know that a new age of global peace will be established. World events when laid alongside Biblical prophecies show that this time is near, even at the door! We report these significant occurrences each week in the Church’s weekly Update. We publish comprehensive booklets and record in-depth sermons, both explaining and warning about the times in which we live. We are bringing the good news that God will soon send Jesus Christ back to this earth to end violence, suffering and war and to establish unending peace! Our website at www.eternalgod.org along with the video presentation at www.standingwatch.org can now be reached by anyone with computer access anywhere in the world! We know these things with certainty! But what more can we now do? What responsibility do we bear both individually and as a part of the Church of God, described in the Bible as the very body of Jesus Christ: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27)?

Letter to the Brethren – June 6, 2005

June 6, 2005

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

What a great opportunity we have received from God to be involved today in the most important task on earth ñ that of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God in all the world as a witness, and of personally overcoming and growing to become ready for the establishment of that Kingdom here on earth, when Jesus Christ returns in a few years from now.

NOTHING must be more important in our lives. Even though the task may sometimes seem overwhelming, we must always remember that we are involved in GODíS Work ñ and GOD will give us the strength and power to do what He expects of us.

God offers us the priceless GIFT of His Holy Spirit to successfully complete our mission ñ and to complete IN US what He has started (Philippians 1:6).

Letter to the Brethren May 16, 2005

May 16, 2005

Download PDF

Dear Members and Co-Workers:

Very heartfelt greetings from San Diego! I trust and pray that all of you are blessed in your physical and spiritual walk of life, and I ask God for His special intervention for those of you who are suffering because of persecution, trials and tribulation.

As I write this letter, I am reflecting on the work of the Church of the Eternal God (CEG) and its corporate affiliates in Canada and Great Britain, and the – at times – “long and winding road” we have been traveling together. By July, CEG will have been in existence for four years. Of course, the Global Church of God in England (Global) has been operating for 12 years, and the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada (CGCF), for 5 years. We have had our share of trials and persecution from the outside and even the inside ñ and we can expect that this will continue. How are we, as individual members, to act in the face of such problems?

Letter to the Brethren – April 11, 2005

April 11, 2005

Download PDF

Dear Brethren in Christ,

As we approach the upcoming Holy Day season, we are bombarded daily with catastrophic events which seem to be unending. We have observed one disaster after another, as it seems nature is on a rampage. There are continuous reports of events in the form of earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, as well as weather events ranging from tropical storms, tornadoes and hurricanes. And now we are observing serious threats from beneath the earth’s surface, with rumblings deep under the crust of the earth, threatening serious damage as volcanoes become more active. And on top of these events are serious problems in the form of drought and crop failure, massive starvation in parts of the world and disease epidemics.

Adding to these catastrophic events, the bombardments continue with conflict between individuals and nations. On the national and international levels we see terrorist threats, wars, and rumors of wars; nations unable to get along with one another. And added to these awesome problems are difficulties at home, beginning with anger in families and between friends. The streets are unsafe in many areas and we see added to that, road rage and even the lack of safety in our homes. We look to the time when all these calamities and wrong attitudes will cease!