Notes and Quotes

Editor's note: The following includes news items that do not appear in the print version of this issue of The Journal.

Two COG old-timers die in January

Bill McDowell, a former Worldwide Church of God pastor and administrator, died at his home in Humble, Texas, Jan. 9.

A week later, on Jan. 16, Ernest Martin, a former WCG member and employee, died at his home in Portland, Ore.

For a tribute to both men, see Brian Knowles' column, beginning on page 3.

Come to the Feast in Australia

ROCHEDALE, Australia--The Rochedale Monthly Fellowship and Christian Educational Services (CES) Australia invites Christians from around the world to meet with their members for the Feast of Tabernacles at Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, in the Sunshine Coast region of southeast Queensland.

The fellowship is the licensee for the Texas-based Christian Educational Ministries' down-under counterpart, CES.

For information write FOT 2002, P.O. Box 548, Springwood, Queensland 4128, Australia.

One is enough

AUBURN, Wash.--Ken Westby, in preparation for his "one-God conference" (a series of seminars), scheduled for April 26-28, has a new Web site, www.godisone.org.

The conference, to discuss what Mr. Westby calls a "monotheistic" theology of the nature of God and Jesus, will feature as speakers Anthony Buzzard of Morrow, Ga.; Steven Collins of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Gary Fakhoury of Parksley, Va.; Duane Giles of Palestine, Texas; Paul Haney of Watertown, Conn.; Charles Hunting of Peachtree City, Ga.; William Robin Wansley of Laurel, Miss.; and Mr. Westby.

Most of the speakers would probably call themselves monotheists, but an exception might be Mr. Collins, who will defend the traditional "binitarian" doctrine of the Church of God derived from the old Worldwide Church of God.

Read more about the conference in last month's issue of The Journal. Contact Mr. Westby at P.O Box 4748, Federal Way, Wash. 98063, U.S.A., or .

Feast cruise

NAPERVILLE, Ill.--This is not a bad year to spend the Feast of Tabernacles in the Caribbean, thanks to the Church of God Downers Grove. The congregation invites you to join it on a Feast cruise open to all members of the Churches of God, said Laureen Blissard.

For more information, visit www.wherecog.org/cogdg, or call Just Travel (Pat Klug) at (630) 434-0081 and ask about the COG cruise package.

A $25 deposit will reserve your room. A listing of ship features and brochures are available on request.

Electronic baby

LABADIE, Mo.--"Our electronic baby was conceived in April of 2001," announced Nancy Vandemark. "After eight months of labor, she is online."

What's Mrs. Vandemark going on about? She and friend Scarlett Stough of Lonedell, Mo., publish an "E-zine," an electronic magazine, over the Internet.

The E-zine, Women in Christ, prints essays, Bible-study guides (for individuals and groups), suggestions for family and teaching activities, poetry and book reviews.

Writers are welcome to submit essays, poetry, book reviews or activity instructions to the E-zine.

Visit Mrs. Vandemark and Mrs. Stough and Women in Christ at www.womeninchrist.org.

Be a friend

ALBERT LEA, Minn.--To fellowship with people from a variety of Church of God backgrounds, check out a new club, announced Linda Schreiber.

"We have a message board, and we have a regular Sunday-evening chat time along with other fun features," she said. "This site is not another place for people to come and hash out our differences. It is a place for sharing and connecting and expressing godly love."

Check it out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buildingbridgesFOG.

Elders, stewards to meet

TULSA, Okla.--The Churches of God Outreach Ministries plans a conference for "elders and stewards" for March 8-10 in Tulsa. The host congregation will be the Tulsa Church of God.

The CGOM is an association of several dozen congregations that operate in the United States, United Kingdom and elsewhere.

A preliminary list of agenda topics includes a review of the CGOM's purpose and discussions of member-church-sponsored Feast of Tabernacles sites.

The location will be the building owned by the Tulsa Church of God at 14509 E. Marshall.

For more information contact Pastor Lawrence Gregory at l; P.O. Box 54621, Tulsa, Okla. 74011, U.S.A.; or (800) 611-8080.

Tribute to Mr. Armstrong

DALLAS, Texas--A book released on Jan. 16 marks the 16th anniversary of the death of Worldwide Church of God founder Herbert W. Armstrong. The author is Stephen W. Boston, a former WCG member.

Dr. Boston began his book project after he read of the WCG's efforts to prevent the Philadelphia Church of God, Edmond, Okla., from republishing Mr. Armstrong's book Mystery of the Ages.

"The Essential Teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong is available at Barnes and Noble bookstores or online at 7candles.net and Amazon.com.

COG doctrines are different

ARROYO GRANDE, Calif.--Bob Thiel, a member of the Living Church of God, reports that his COGwriter Web site (http://members.aol.com/cogwriter/home.htm) has articles about the doctrines of 14 Churches of God.

The articles focus on how most of the groups differ from the doctrines commonly held by the Worldwide Church of God at the time of WCG founder Herbert W. Armstrong's death, in 1986.

"Although we have areas of agreement," Dr. Thiel reports, "it is not true that we all believe and teach the same things. These articles help make that clear to those who are truly interested."

ABC buys old Ambassador books

MILFORD, Ohio--The Ambassador Bible Center, sponsored by the United Church of God, headquartered in this Cincinnati suburb, recently bought some books from the library of the old Ambassador University campus near Big Sandy, Texas.

About half the AU library collection had been put up for sale by the International ALERT Academy, which operates the former AU campus, which was bought by the owner of the Hobby Lobby chain of arts-and-crafts stores.

"We are grateful to have been able to purchase some 100 volumes, mostly on the history of the church down through the ages, which we have added to our ABC library," said Ralph Levy of the ABC. "We hope to continue to add to our collection on the history of God's church in the coming months and years."

Dr. Levy said UCG administrators Roy Holladay and Don Ward, both of Hawkins, Texas, helped arrange the purchase.

UCG launches Bible-reading program

MILFORD, Ohio--The United Church of God, headquartered here, launched its Internet-based Bible Reading Program Feb. 1. The program was adapted from a program operated by the Church of God a Christian Fellowship of Fort Worth, Texas, which ceased operations last July when many of its members merged into the membership of the UCG.

To read all about the program, which encourages a participant to peruse the Bible in three years, visit www.ucg.org/brp.

"Each month's issue of the program will provide a reading schedule and commentary on the passage or passages read," said Richard Pinelli of UCG ministerial services in a Jan. 14 letter to UCG elders.

The Holy City

AUBURN, Wash.--Christian Renewal Ministries International (CRMI) will sponsor a Feast of Tabernacles observance this year in Jerusalem, announced Rick Richardson of CRMI.

"This is a nondenominational site, open to everybody," he said.

Although most who will attend are Christians, speakers will include Orthodox Jewish rabbis, some from Israeli universities.

"You will find it educational, inspiring and an event that will change your life," Mr. Richardson said of the Feast, which will be limited to about 225 people.

News for you

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--United Christian Ministries publishes a free magazine, News for You. A copy is available from UCM at P.O. Box 361725, Hoover, Ala. 35236-1725, or by E-mail at .

Adopted or born?

TYLER, Texas--Christian Educational Ministries offers a free cassette tape of a recent sermon by CEM founder Ron Dart titled "Adopted or Born?"

Mr. Dart said the tape deals with "a common misconception about the Christian's relationship to God. Put simply, are we merely adopted sons of God or real sons in every sense of the word?"

To request a copy, write P.O Box 560, Whitehouse, Texas 75791, U.S.A., or .

An Alan Knight night

ROSEVILLE, Calif.--Everyone is invited to visit with Alan Knight of Antioch, Calif., author of the book "Primitive Christianity in Crisis," discuss his book the evening of Saturday, March 16.

Mr. Knight will appear at Granite Bay Library in Roseville.

"I encourage everyone to come hear about this thought-provoking and carefully researched book," said Jason Churchill of South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Mr. Churchill said Mr. Knight accepted a "personal invitation" to discuss his book, which Mr. Knight says "documents the collision of religions that produced the chaotic world of Christianity of the first century A.D."

Mr. Knight's appearance is not sponsored by a particular Church of God group.

"Anybody is welcome to attend," said Mr. Churchill. "We would like the atmosphere to be friendly and informal."

The plans include a potluck meal starting about 5:30 p.m. after the Sabbath. Mr. Churchill will then present a synopsis of Mr. Knight's book. Then everyone can participate in an open discussion with Mr. Knight.

Mr. Churchill said everyone is also invited to Sabbath services earlier the same day, at 2:30 p.m.

To find Granite Bay Library, take the Douglas Boulevard East exit off Interstate 80 in Roseville, then continue east past Hazel/Sierra College to 6475 Douglas Blvd. The library is on the left side next to a large church.

For more information contact Mr. Churchill at (530) 573-1617 or .

The Journal serialized Mr. Knight's book in five parts in 2000.

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