In his Personal, Mr. Tkach writes about the great joy we have as Christians despite the troubles we endure.
The apostle Paul had many pains and persecutions, but hope and confidence dominated his outlook on life.
Because we have hope in Christ for future glory, we give up temporary pleasures because we see the eternal pleasures Christ offers us.
To those who cannot see the eternal, it seems foolish to give up temporary pleasures. But for us, there is no comparison. We can count it all for loss for the joy that is Christ.
Many Christians make sacrifices to serve Christ. Those sacrifices are evidence that they believe in future glory. Jesus showed that true reward comes through sacrifice. Page 1.
Members around the world celebrated the 1997 Festival of Tabernacles with a theme Celebrating the Kingdom of God.
U.S. members kept the Festival at 14 regional sites and at scores of local sites.
Mark McCulley, Festival Administration manager, said: "From what I have heard, this year's Festival was a highwater mark in worship for many in our fellowship.
"Many said they were more excited about the worship services--the music, the sermons and the atmosphere of loving fellowship--than ever before. Some had come only for the weekend but were so thrilled that they stayed the rest of the week." Page 3.
From 700 to 1,000 WCG men from throughout the United States were among possibly more than one million men who took part in the Promise Keepers Stand in the Gap Sacred Assembly in Washington, Oct. 4.
Christian men gathered to worship God, to confess sin, to commit to a change of heart and to inspire reawakening in the church.
Stand in the Gap is taken from Ezekiel 22:30: "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."
Through Stand in the Gap, Promise Keepers sought to help men to be faithful to 2 Chronicles 7:14: "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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Pages 8 and 9.
What a wonderful feeling, writes George Kackos, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, pastor. After years of spiritual separation from my parents, we were together last year in their church--the church of my youth. The church I never expected to be in on Christmas.
How did it happen? What brought us together on this joyous day?
We've been challenged to look at our beliefs, including our teaching on Christmas.
Although the date of Christ's birth is in question, his birth isn't. It was a joyous event-- one worth celebrating--and with our freedom in Christ, we can do it on Dec. 25.
We can tear down the walls of separation and build bridges of love. This is what we did by attending Christmas services. Page 10.
In Window on the World, Randal Dick shows the mission work in Bangladesh supported by the WCG that is bringing people to Jesus Christ.
Randal thanks WCG members who have sacrificed to contribute to this mission effort. Page 11.
Income in September nudged upward a bit from August, reversing the summer doldrums, with a modest increase to $118,191.
The upward movement continued into October to a more respectable $121, 315.
As the year has progressed we have tried to fine-tune our year-end projections. We had hoped to post a daily average mail income for the year of $122,000. Certain positive signals mean we can hope for an average of about $125,000 by year's end. Page 15.
Nov. 18, 1997, WN page two
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