I couldn't keep myself from expressing my absolute joy and peace at the clarity, directness and biblically accurate message of God's grace in Mike Feazell's article "A Simple Matter of Trust" in the April WN.
How amazing: the Father said it, Jesus said it and the Holy Spirit says it through the words of this outstanding article. It is so simple, yet unfortunately so many in Christian leadership and laity either don't fully understand it or if they do, they don't know how to manifest it.
I began to understand it with Ralph Orr's sermons on the subject of the Holy Spirit, and continue to grow in understanding, appreciation and love for the Father, and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
This along with other life-shaking events have given me a perspective and deeper appreciation and understanding of God's grace and forgiveness, and his involvement.
Jay Goldby
Poway, California
I read your article on "A Simple Matter of Trust" and enjoyed the truth that you so thoroughly expounded.
I thought of how refreshingly different it is now pre-Easter in our church than years ago when we were exhorted to fast and pray to discover hidden sins before going to the Passover service.
I became so discouraged with those messages. As if I didn't already know about sin in my life. I couldn't do anything with what I knew, let alone with the sins that were hidden.
After a while I stopped asking God for more insight into my hidden sins and I stopped preaching those kind of messages to members.
I made plenty of other mistakes, but that was one God worked out of me. I've come to see that obsessing over my sins puts me at the center of my consciousness instead of Jesus. It's as effective a distraction as being self-righteous. Either way I can't believe in Jesus because I'm either impressed with my righteousness or with my unforgivable sinfulness.
Now, like the woman forgiven for her many sins I can cry tears of joy. Thank you for reminding us that the gospel lifts heavy burdens off our shoulders. We can remember Jesus' suffering and death without heaping up guilt. We can remember that he was raised from the dead and realize the meaning that has for us individually and collectively.
Ken Williams
Rochester, New York
I just came in for lunch and picked up the WN and began reading your article on "A Simple Matter of Trust."
WOW! The Lord has certainly gifted you in putting a seeming complicated issue into everyday terms. May this be a rich blessing to others too. May the Lord bless and keep you as we share his awesome message of love (grace).
Tom Kennebeck
Orr, Minnesota
It was through the article "A Simple Matter of Trust" that I came to accept Jesus as the Lord of my life.
I've been in the WCG for 25 years, and for years I've felt like the person you described, trying to be good enough to be acceptable to God. I felt like such a failure and so unforgiven.
Now that I'm a new creation in Christ, I can't praise and thank him enough for his amazing and wonderful gift to us. He has brought me out of the darkness and into his wonderful light by his grace.
Ellie Jones
Patterson, Louisiana
When the major doctrinal changes occurred a few years ago, I was thankful that God opened my eyes to see where I had been wrong. I read the New Testament from cover to cover and read every article in the WN.
Perhaps the best material to help me clearly understand why the Sabbath, Holy Days and other old covenant laws were no longer required was David Albert's book, Difficult Scriptures. It is logically written and easy to read.
I purchased some additional copies for our church library for those who are still grappling with the issues. You can purchase copies for $15.50 each (includes shipping) by sending a check to David Albert, 1938 Truman NE, Albuquerque New Mexico, 87110, or send e-mail to him at dalbert@swcp.com
Shane Bazer
Cary, North Carolina
Years ago, when I was a young Christian, after hearing The World Tomorrow, I sent for my subscription. I discovered, even in my early walk with God, that the magazine contained material not in harmony with the Word of God.
My young friends, as well as my pastor, confirmed this. I never read it again until recently. I knew it was not consistent with the "faith once delivered."
Having come to know Pastor Joseph Tkach and other leaders in the movement, I have come to understand the full turnaround of the church as well as the magazine. What a marvelous miracle.
Your brothers and sisters of National Religious Broadcasters laud your efforts and your outreach in his name. Our Lord Jesus must have smiled--yes, even applauded--when the Worldwide Church of God became vibrant and alive in him and took the courageous stand on issues as you did.
We're praying for you and love you very much.
Warmly in his name,
E. Brandt Gustavson
President
National Religious Broadcasters
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Bernie Schnippert and his staff for their part in the sale of the Big Sandy, Texas, campus and the ongoing sale of the WCG campus in Pasadena.
Big Sandy was dear to my heart, having been my college for four years, place of employment for seven more years, place of marriage and birth of three of our four children, area of sales work for five more years, and first place to serve in the ministry, three years. That totals 19 years as home. Two of our children now live in Texas because of these roots. Few were more attached than us.
I remember how hard we tried to sell the campus from 1977 until it reopened. We had no serious takers in those years. Then we reopened the campus in 1981, and added a number of campus buildings in 1990, thankfully with cash instead of 25-year loans like the first two and a half decades.
I am thankful or the sale of the campus as a unit, for the buyer, our Texas employees, the church and the surrounding community.
Not many companies willingly buy their own water and sewage treatment plants and separate water storage supply (Lake Loma) and subject themselves to federal, state and local government authorities.
If the campus had sold piecemeal at auction, we were certainly at risk of continuing to own and maintain the campus-proper along with the utilities.
We wish the sale of the Pasadena property could be done, and done now! But few of us have had to work with townships, zoning boards, variance committees, city managers and planning commissioners.
I have had but a small taste of it here in Washington, Pennsylvania. We are leasing a building, seven days a week, year round. It was used and zoned as a tavern for decades. We are seeking to have it recognized as a church. A win-win-win for all involved: the tavern owner, the church and the local community.
I naively thought, simply ask, "please approve us," and they say "yes," and it's done.
Well, not quite. We had to provide building plans to the state (in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania). We are seeking a variance because any public-use building with more than five cars in the lot must have a paved parking lot. We want a sign, but it can be only so big, placed here, not there, but maybe over there if you get a variance.
When I put myself in their shoes, I realize safety is indeed a driving factor in their rules and regulations, along with prudent monetary investments. Going through this for a single building has helped me realize a little, just a little, of what you are dealing with concerning 53 acres and scores of structures.
So again I say thank you to you and your staff! Keep up the good work.
Tom Smith
Washington, Pennsylvania
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