By the way, I understand that as we get older keeping track of time can be more a matter of approximation than precision. Reg Killingley
Big Sandy, Texas Sir Anthony, below, responds to Mr. Killingley's comments. Setting updates Thanks so much for the note from Reg Killingley in regard to the dates [see the preceding letter]. I was at AC from 1960 in Pasadena and, yes, I started teaching at the American School in London in 1974. However, I was not with AC all those years. I left the college in Pasadena in 1965 and did not work at AC in Bricket Wood until later, leaving finally in 1974 in the summer. I thank Reg for his good remembering. It is true that spiritually and doctrinally the break came earlier, following the reexamining of the "born/begotten"-again issue probably around 1970. By 1972 my wife, Barbara (formerly Arnold), and I had changed our minds quite drastically. But I did direct the choir of the Imperial School in the spring concert in 1974. I am grateful that Reg took the point about the importance of canon for any reasonable claim that there is such a thing as the original apostolic faith. Anthony Buzzard
Fayetteville, Ga. Never give up The Greater Phoenix Church of God, meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., was recently host of a special Sabbath with guest speaker David Antion, president of Guardian Ministries of Pasadena, Calif. Sixty-eight were in attendance. Dr. Antion gave the sermon, titled "Hope," which was the ninth annual sermon on these special services for him. Bob Simpson
Mesa, Ariz. Why not ordain men? I think this list, attributed to Dr. Ben Witherington, would be of interest to a lot of people. Here are the "Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not be Ordained Clergy": 10. A man's place is in the Army. 9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent. 8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be unnatural for them to do ministerial tasks. 7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation. 6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football and basketball games demonstrates this. 5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women worshipers. 4. Pastors need to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional male role. Throughout history women have been recognized as not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but more fervently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination. 3. Men are prone to violence. No really masculine man wants to settle disputes except by fighting about them. Thus they would be poor role models as well as dangerously unstable in positions of leadership. 2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a man. His lack of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated position that all men should take. 1. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof and perhaps even lead the song service on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the church. Tina Engelbart
Dallas, Texas Where's the love? During the Feast of Tabernacles 2012, Ralph Speers, a brother who has been in God's church for more than 40 years, suffered the loss of his home. Ralph's house caught fire and burned to the ground, destroying everything he owned and leaving him with nothing but the clothes on his back. Members of Ralph's local church group knew he needed more help than they could give him and a call was put out to three other Feast sites, in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, asking for help for Ralph. No one responded! Why? God plainly says (Matthew 25:35-40), "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me." Please read carefully verses 41-46 as well. In case you didn't hear the announcement and can help Ralph, write Ralph Speers, 1965 Chapman Hwy., Sevierville, Tenn. 37876, U.S.A. Thank you, and to God be the glory! Shirley Timmons
Sevierville, Tenn. Detailed COG information Detailed information on various Churches of God is openly available from Internet search engines Google and Yahoo. Thejournal.org provides relevant and thought-provoking COG perspectives in colorful news-media style. Future Saturday-Sabbath service and holy-day information for Penticton and South Okanagan congregations can be obtained from the Church of God International, cgicanada.org, and United Church of God Penticton and Peachland, ucg.ca. James Ludvigson
Penticton, B.C., Canada Safe Web site We appreciated The Journal's notice about the virus warnings from Norton AntiVirus. After many tries, Martin Martinez (our webmaster) has had Norton take off the warnings. We would appreciate it if you would let your readers know that our Web site (postponements.com) is safe and always was except for Norton. Norton's Web Safe has proven that there were no viruses on our site. Thanks for your concern and thanks in advance for letting your readers know we are safe. James Russell
Church of God in Truth
Kimberling City, Mo. How often will we die? Some Christians do not believe it when the Bible says everyone will die only once. They will quote correctly that the Bible states that everybody will die just one time. Then, unbelievably, they will go on to say that there is a second death. Is God confused? Revelation 20:6 says the "second death hath no power." This does not mean humans will die for a second time (Hebrews 9:27). The context tells us what the second death will be. In verse 14 we read that "death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." When Jesus in Revelation 21:6 says "It is done," there will no longer be any need for laws about murder, whoremongering, sorcery, idolatry, etc., and those commandments shall also be cast into the lake of fire, "which is the second death" (verse 8). The one and only important death is the one we accept, believe and experience when it says in Romans 6:4 that "we are buried with Him [Christ] by baptism into death" for payment of our sins (see also Colossians 2:12). Now everyone should agree with what God says in Hebrews 9: "It is appointed unto men once to die." We shall all die once. Paul and Micki Herrmann
Metairie, La. Never look back In regards to your article in the July 2012 Journal about Joseph Kovacs' book, Shocked by the Bible." I support the author's goals and intent. In 1985 I learned that Emperor Constantine had forced the church fathers to change from the Saturday Sabbath to Sunday worship because he was a sun worshiper, c. A.D. 325. When I coupled this with Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8 and Matthew 5:17-18, I went to the rectory and had an unfriendly discussion with the pastor that severed all contact with the Catholic Church. This led to our conversion to baptized seventh-day-Sabbath keepers, and we've never looked back. Raymond A. Rousseau
Ceresco, Neb. Thanks I enjoy The Journal. Keep up your good work! Leonard Sowders
Warren, Mich. Pay, pal The gospel does not contain pay, pay, pay tithing. It is not mentioned once in all of Paul's letters to the gentiles. The gospel doesn't include Malachi 3:10. Jesus Christ is taking a back seat to doctrine. He is preached once a year, at Passover. Lawrence G. MummeTucson, Ariz. Love letter from the Congo Dear friends and family, I'm writing you from the rainy city of Bunia. I can honestly say that I am at rest. I am full of joy, trusting the Lord as my Shepherd and walking the path that is before me. Lots of work, lots of expected Congo stresses, but I am at peace. This season of living and working in the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] is before me, and my response is nothing but gratitude. Last weekend I attended a Samaritan's Purse distribution of "nonfood items" (tarps, cooking items, etc.) to people recently displaced by rebel attacks in the region of Mambasa. They fled with nothing but the clothes on their back. It was my first, and I hope my last, distribution. Not only did we face trials with corrupt government officials trying to benefit from the assistance, the distribution itself was chaos. Even though I know there were over a thousand vulnerable families in need of this assistance, there were also hundreds of people who attended the distribution just to make problems. On Saturday, with 250 angry Congolese surrounding me, lying to me and telling me that they are displaced and they need a free kit too, I almost forgot the compassion and love I have for this country of Congo. Thankfully, I have not let a few spoil the love I have for this country. The longer I am here in the DRC, the more I am reminded of the call to prayer. I am called to pray for the churches and Christians in the DRC, that selfless, sacrificial pastors and leaders will be raised up to shepherd the next generation, that the gospel would take root and corruption would no longer reign, that discipleship would be a way of life for Christians. I am called to pray for the security of this country, that the cycle of violence would no longer rule in Congo, that child soldiers would be free to be children. I am called to pray for the work of Samaritan's Purse in the DRC, that we would be more than just another nongovernment organization doing relief work, that our values of "love, compassion and integrity" would shine above all in our work, that our heart to work with the church would bring transformation, that our staff would be an example to communities. I invite you to join me in prayer for this country. "If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Lisa Jutsum
Via the Internet Another milestone The Radio Church of God was incorporated Oct. 21, 1933, slightly longer than seven years after Herbert W. Armstrong first began to see the light spiritually. Oct. 21, 2012, is the 79th anniversary, or start of the 80th year, since the incorporation. Geoff Neilson
Cape Town, South Africa | 