Letter to our Friends - June 18, 2019

Dear Friends:

Greetings again from Owensboro, Kentucky.

Pentecost weekend was great! Be sure to watch the Pentecost 2019 service here.

Owensboro Trip

Our visit to Owensboro, Kentucky this past Sabbath day was wonderful! It was indeed a joyous day!

L to R – Chastity and Sam LaMar, Alice Benton, Leonard Johnson, Michael C. Garrett, Trevor Koonce, Don Everly, Guy LaMar. (Many more was in attendance not pictured). Photo by Guy LaMar.

After service, we were able to discuss several additional ways to help improve this great Work of God and to grow.

Feast of Trumpets 2019

The next holy day will be the Feast of Trumpets – which begins after sunset on September 29th this year.

Prayer Request

We ask that you pray for our dear friend and brother, Bud Offutt, who is reported to have a blood infection and is currently in the hospital. Also, we ask that you pray for his wonderful and dutiful wife, Alice. We deeply missed them this past Sabbath. Let us keep them in our prayers always to Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

World News Items

Jorge Mario Bergoglio (aka Pope Francis) this Pentecost referred to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Unity,” yet the Bible does not do so (See: ‘The Holy Spirit Rejuvenates the Apostles’). God’s living Word – the Bible – does, however, refer to “the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” – 1 John 4:5-6. This interfaith-ecumenical “unity” in which the Vatican has been pushing IS NOT BIBLICAL in this age and contains many errors!

There were attacks on supertankers, some are suspecting Iran (See: ‘Tankers struck near Strait of Hormuz; the US blames Iran’). There were Iranian officials who are voicing their concerns along with threats because of the United States’ economic policies, including encouraging the world not to use the US dollar in international trade (See: ‘Stern words from Iran: US cannot ‘expect to stay safe’).

In Germany, their press is reporting that because the United States is using her dollar as an economic weapon, several nations have been accumulating gold as they work to bypass the US dollar for international trade (See: ‘Trump's policies add luster to gold at dollar's expense’). There is a price to be paid for US sanctions and the US will one day soon realize that the cost will be much greater than the American politicians have said.

The United States of America is experiencing ‘extreme weather’ with large parts of the nation flooded and other parts under severe temperatures (See: ‘Mississippi River Flooding: High Water Levels Stop Barge Traffic Above St Louis and Illinois, Arkansas Rivers’ also ‘Bay Area weather: Stretch of record-setting heat continues’). Also notice this: ‘Unprecedented U.S. Weather Chaos Continues: 120F In The West, More Record-Setting Flooding In The East’. God’s living Word – the Bible – shows us that weather is something that Almighty God often does control, and often something He uses as a WARNING to mankind. Sadly, in this modern age, most believe – as Sir James George Frazer believed and wrote in his Golden Bough – that ancient “man, progressing from a belief in magic as a means of controlling his environment” morphed into a “religious belief, which then propagated gods and spirits.” Very few HEED the WARNINGS from GOD’S divine Words!!

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this week’s suggested Sabbath service.

● 2-3 hymns (another free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is: Repent for Salvation.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is: His Mercy Endures Forever! by Michael C.
Garrett. (Many more sermons are available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/.
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, there are audio sermons on our Soundcloud Radio channel.

Concluding Comment

I recently heard a sermon by the second in charge of a church organization, who stated, and I quote, “I hate being around homosexuals.” I discerned immediately that that was a form of “hate speech” and it saddened me greatly.

Here is something Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote which has an application to this:

Luke 18:9 – “Also He [Jesus Christ] spoke this parable [sort-of a puzzle; you think you understand it, but unless your guided by God’s Spirit you really don’t] to some [to certain religious people; in fact they thought they were very religious people; in fact they were religious leaders of religious people] who trusted in themselves that they were righteous [they had just developed this idea, ‘Well, I know I’m right, because I know I’m right!’ ‘I know I’m right because I think I’m right!’ ‘I know I’m right because God just wouldn’t let me do anything else!’ ‘I know I’m right… well… just because I am!’ ‘they trust in themselves that they are righteous’], and [notice this “and”] despised others: …” – and I have to tell you, I know people who claim to be a part of the Body of Christ – the Church of God – who trust in themselves that they are righteous and yet, seemingly all that they do is despise others. One little guy that I think of has simply been described as “full of hate.” “…’Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee [that’s a religious guy, duly noted, robes and all, titles, everything – got the office, has the building, he is the “top dog,” or a “top dog”] and the other a tax collector [a publican; and you know what you think about the IRS!? And you know how they are always trying to grab into your pocket and grab more nickels and dimes, and it just seems to get worse and worse. Well, I doubt any of you would invite an IRS agent to your house for dinner, so you would probably ignore him or shun him. The people back then did the same, they didn’t think much of the publicans – the tax collectors. And many times they were Jewish people, and not only did the Jewish people think they were taking their money but also thought they were traitors. They were working for the Romans, they had a very bad reputation]. 11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with [or rather within] himself, [he wasn’t praying to God, he was just talking to himself, because God doesn’t hear him]’” – but he says, “’ God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this [lowly, flea bitten] tax collector.’” – and then this religious man proceeds to tell God how righteous he is – Verse 12 – “’ I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’” – and I’m sure if we were to hear the full version, he went on and on about all the things that he did. Verse 13 – “’And the tax collector, [ashamed of who he was; ashamed of what he had done, very repentant and sorrowful] standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast [a very common expression of repentance and sorrow back in those days],’” – and all he said to God was, “’ God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” – ‘forgive me, please forgive me!’ Well Jesus said in Verse 14 – “’I tell you, this man [this tax collector, who had this attitude of repentance and wanting to change and wanting to rely upon Jesus Christ] went down to his house justified [meaning: made right before the eyes of God; to be made holy] rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, …’” – for the religious people who try and tell you how righteous they are, my suggestion is, “get your shoes on and run as fast as you can the other direction!” Because an encounter with these people will end up staining you and poisoning you. “…’ and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” – something to think about. ‘Those that trust in themselves that they are righteous.’

          (Notes Regarding the Day of Atonement (Prophetically the Day of the LORD)).

Friends, let us not despise others. But rather let us preach with our Lord Jesus Christ’s command, to ‘love one another’ – Cf. John 13:34 - even those who have not been called yet!

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,