Letter to our Friends - July 16, 2019

Dear Friends:

Greetings again from Owensboro, Kentucky.

We are seeing an ever-increasing degree of ‘natural’ disasters in the US and worldwide! Earthquakes and disasters were indeed something that Jesus WARNED about.

“ … ‘And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and TROUBLES. These are the beginnings of sorrows.’” – Mark 13:8; NKJV – unless otherwise noted.

We could very well be at the prophetic point as all the earthquakes and other terrible and devastating problems that have occurred this year alone could be considered “troubles. … the beginnings of sorrows.”

Now, not all earthquakes are a sign and a warning of God’s punishment, yet, geologists are warning that a major earthquake is overdue! And God, too, has been WARNING:

“And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19) Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20) Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” – Revelation 16:18-20.

Until that major earthquake comes which will be so ‘mighty and great as had not occurred since men were on the earth’ – the earthquakes, the tsunamis, the devastating hurricanes, the tornadoes, the ever-increasing radiation should serve as a wake-up call that this is the ‘beginning of sorrows.’ The time to repent is now:

“’ Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31) Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man [Jesus Christ] whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead’” – Acts 17:30-31.

As Minister Michael C. Garrett stated concerning the innumerable atrocities which are being committed worldwide – which can include the ever-increasing ‘sorrows’ or ‘birth pains’:

It makes you think about the country we live in and where we are and where we’re going. It made me think about a passage which I have read many times in my life – 2 Timothy 3 – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.

These last days are ‘perilous times’ and repentance nationally and on a personal level is needed now.

Owensboro Ordination

It is glorious news of the recent ordination of Guy LaMar as a minister in God’s Church! I am very happy to announce this as Mr. LaMar is extremely dedicated to Almighty God and Jesus Christ and is already doing a great job. He will continue to bring a wealth of experience and background to his office, and we are very pleased to have him “on board” here at Headquarters in Owensboro. Congratulations, Mr. LaMar!

Owensboro Trip – reminder

Minister Guy LaMar, myself, and others, will be in Owensboro, Kentucky on August 10th, 2019 for Sabbath services at the Logsdon Community Center – 2400 Friendship Dr. We would love to see you there, be sure to contact Minister Michael C. Garrett at garrett158@roadrunner.com for additional information.

After services, we will be discussing how the ministry might build congregations in different regions of the southern US.

Also, with combined feelings of thanksgiving, joy, and humility, I am happy to announce that Minister Garrett would like to ordain me into the great Work of Almighty God and Jesus Christ!

Statcounter

Here are some stats from our blog page - https://www.owensborocojc.com. Thank you, dear friends, in Cambodia for your continued support as well as all our friends worldwide. We understand that a great many friends around the world rarely get live Sabbath services. At this time, we offer our Suggested Sabbath Service.

World News Items

Iran has announced that is has breached another aspect of its nuclear deal (See: ‘Iran ignores Trump's warning, breaks another nuclear deal limit on uranium enrichment’). Iran’s leaders are interested in creating chaos in hopes that a mystical figure known as the Twelfth Imam will rise up and essentially make the world Muslim. Now, while that will not happen, Iran may very well create greater chaos. Including one day very possibly striking hard at Jerusalem per Isaiah 22:6-9. Is what’s happening now to prelude that!?

In the United States of America, the Trump Administration has suggested that it wants to make trade with India even more difficult. The European Union is working to improve its trade with India as well as many other nations (See: ‘Trump Hints At New Trade War With India’). Bible prophecy shows us that a final European ‘beast power’ will come to dominate trade for a short time (cf. Revelation 18) after the US has fallen (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Also, speaking of trade – 55 African nations agreed to a trade deal, that if implemented, would possibly improve the economies of nations in Africa (See: ‘Africa Launches Free Trade Pact’).

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 Truth Vs. Fiction.

● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.

● Sermon. The one suggested is The Ordination Of An Elder 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 Comments

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote the following:

How many of you can say – and think about this – “I now have with me, in the latter part of my life, friends which I had since my youth!”? How many can honestly say, “I have had this core group of friends, and we’ve never left one another!”? I’m sure some people can. And, wonderful for you. But for most of us, we change to a new job, we forget old friends.

Maybe we call them a few times, then with time, we forget who they are. And then we go and form a new group of friends. And so in the course of your life, you may have several groupings of what one-time were friends. And so it was with the Worldwide Church of God. People who said they were friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ. Because of all of the politics and the animosities and the jealousies, especially among the so-called church leaders, people forget that one-time these were my friends. And then, they seemingly don’t care at all. But the Word of God says in verse 10 of Romans 12, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, …” I wish that happened more.

Verse 16 – “Be of the same mind toward one another.” – He DIDN’T say – IF you’re part of the ABC church, you do that within yourself, and IF you’re part of the XYZ church, you do that within yourself, and if you’re in the MNOP church. No, IF you have entered into the baptismal pool and IF Jesus Christ declared you to be a future member of the Family of GOD, then EVERY ONE OF THESE IS YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR SISTER!

Friends, let us always strive to live as a real Christian.

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,