During the first
session of orientation for the Summer Educational Program (SEP) in Orr, Minnesota, Jesus
Christ was invited into the assembly.
Mr. Tkach writes in this month's Personal that good feelings and moments of inspiration are indeed wonderful blessings, but without enduring faith that is built on knowing and understanding truth about God, those feelings alone cannot lead us into the changed life of unity and reconciliation with God that comes through knowing and believing in Jesus Christ. That is why doctrinal instruction is important, and why members need more than just, for example, a 10-minute sermon once a week. We are dealing with eternal truths and ultimate realities, as well as the less important, but seemingly more urgent matters, of day-to-day life. Pages 6 & 7.
In Part 6 of "Finding Peace in Christ," J. Michael Feazell looks at Christian worship.
No human activity has greater relevance than that of the worship of God. There is much to learn about how we can worship more effectively today by looking at how the people of God have worshiped in the past.
In the Old Testament we learn about God's holiness. We learn that God is faithful, that he loves his people with a steadfast love, that he makes promises and keeps his word. We learn that nothing can keep God from doing what he decides to do. And we learn that God's purpose is to save and redeem broken men and women, to heal the weak, to lift up the weary.
We learn that God cares about and is intimately involved in every detail of his created universe. We learn that even though sin is catastrophically destructive to human beings, God does not forget the work of his hand, and he acts to save and repair and set humans right so they can be restored to him. Pages 10 to 13.
During the first
session of orientation for the Summer Educational Program (SEP) in Orr, Minnesota, Jesus
Christ was invited into the assembly.
"If he is not here, then what we are doing is for naught," said director Jeb Egbert. And he came.
The first session began June 28. "Are you hungry?" Dr. Egbert asked the campers. "You've come to the place where the Bread of Life is served. You eat this, and you will never be hungry again. We serve Jesus Christ at SEP."
Inspiring messages and tremendous friendships helped to keep the community focused on SEP's mission--to promote Jesus Christ and his way of life. Pages 18 to 20.
The daily average mail income for July was $91,716, which brought the year-to-date daily average down to $94,625, writes controller Ronald Kelly.
We are in the planning stages for our 2000 budget. We are projecting donation income patterns, and department managers are adjusting expense budgets.
Although we struggle with budgets, our auditing firm, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, has once again given us an unqualified opinion on the 1998 audit. Pages 22 & 23.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999