Church of God News www.giveshare.org/news January 2006 No. 27 Page 1 Church of God News Positive News of the Churches of God January/February 2006, No. 27 In This Issue… drove away. Pete had worked in construction all his life and he had been required to drive Famine of the Word..............................................2 vehicles with a trailer behind them, so it was a School Shooters....................................................4 fairly easy situation for him to correct. To the Feminism ..............................................................5 inexperienced driver, it can be a nightmare. A Feast of Tabernacles .............................................7 simple thank you was certainly sufficient for Christian Strategies...............................................8 such a little gesture of kindness. Establishing the Children .....................................9 What, happened next though was a total Roses are Red .....................................................12 surprise and an event Pete will never forget. News from India and Kenya...............................13 As he opened the door and wa1ked into the Costa Rica Feast of Tabernacles.........................13 restaurant, everyone in the restaurant stood up, clapped, and shouted “good job.” No words can ever explain how good Pete True Tales to Live By… felt. Another story is told about a metro A Simple Act of Kindness Denver physician. The physician was driving home about 5 PM when the car started to It was noon Monday and everyone was choke and sputter and die. Barely managing rushing to lunch. A man, Pete, pulled into a to coast into a gas station, the physician local fast food restaurant and parked, noticing thought she would be able to have a warm an old pickup truck with a trailer attached. spot to wait for the tow truck. It just wouldn’t The driver had pulled into the narrow parking even turn over. lot and mistakenly tried to exit via the one- Before she could make the call, she saw a way drive-through lane. Unfortunately, he woman walking out of the quickie mart was going the wrong way and cars were building. It looked like the woman had slip- stacked up waiting to get out. ped on some ice and fell into a gas pump. She Pete noticed that he was frantically trying got out to see if she was OK, but instead to get turned around and out of everyone’s found a haggard young woman who had been way. There were a lot of people watching, but overcome more by sobs than pain. no one offered to help. Walking over to the The woman dropped something as the driver’s window, Pete asked him if he needed physician helped her up. It was a nickel. The some help. The driver was an older gent1e- young woman had an ancient Suburban cram- man, completely exhausted. The truck did not med full of stuff with three kids in the back have power steering, and in his attempt to get and a gas pump reading $4.95. She didn’t turned around, he had jackknifed the trailer. want her kids to see her crying. She said her Pete could tell that he was scared and did not boyfriend had left her two months before and know how to get out. she couldn’t make ends meet so she had After stopping all the traffic and asking called her parents in desperation. They had everyone to be patient for a few minutes, he not spoken to each other for five years. They was guided back and forth by Pete until he said for her to come and live with them in finally got the truck and trailer turned around. California until she could get on her feet. He patted the older man on the shoulder and The physician took her card and swiped it told him, “God bless you and good luck.” through the card reader on the pump so she He told Pete that he had just been released could fill her car completely, walked next from the hospital, and he was so scared he door to McDonalds and got two bags of food, thought he was going to have another heart and some gift certificates. The kids ate raven- attack right on the spot. He said, “You’re a ously. As she was walking to her car the good man and I can never thank you enough.” young lady asked if she was like an angel or The thanks were truly from the heart, and he something. She said, “At this time of the year, Church of God News www.giveshare.org/news January 2006 No. 27 Page 2 angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses Church of God News regular people.” “For the edifying of the body of Christ,” She went to her car and it started right Ephesians 4:12. away. God had indeed used her to help this A Giving & Sharing Publication lady in distress. Number 27, January 2006 — by Skip Westphal Subscription: Free. Editorial… Published six times a year, on the Internet, at www.giveshare.org/news. Published on Famine of the Word paper, as often as funds allow. Publisher: Richard C. Nickels, 3316 There’s a great famine coming, and it will Alberta Drive, Gillette, WY 82718, 307-686- leave your mind empty unless you’ve stored 5191, [email protected]. what it needs ahead of time. Editor: Steve Kieler, 2193 Sheker Drive, For years, Christians have used expres- Fort Dodge, IA 50501-8707, 515-576-5743, sions like, “Signs of the Time,” and “We’re in [email protected]. the Last Days.” Even the apostles may have Suzanne Kieler (layout), Barbara Parada thought they were nearing the end of civil- (proof reader). ization as man knew it (II Timothy 3:1; 2 Article Contributors: Shelby Faith Peter 3:3). (UCG), Robert J. Thiel (LCG), Leslie A. Each generation truly believed the day of Turvey, Skip Westphal, and Doyle Carter; the Lord (Joel 2:1-11) would come in their Santa Fe Parton - Poetry. lifetime and, of course, each generation was Purpose: To discover what the Churches obviously closer to that time. In Century 21 of God are doing right. News and informa- we are much closer to the end than ever be- tion about, and of interest to, Church of God fore, and the signs are more indicative of it Sabbath-keepers. To inform, edify, stimu- than ever before. late, exhort (Hebrews 10:24-25), and unify Jesus revealed to His disciples some of (Ephesians 4:3). the events that will take place before His re- To subscribe: E-mail, [email protected], turn: wars, and rumors of wars (Matthew or write, Steven Kieler, 2193 Sheker Drive, 24:6); persecution of Christians (vs. 9); the Fort Dodge, IA 50501. rise of false prophets (vs. 11); once-loving You are also invited to subscribe to the people will become more inward (vs. 12); and free Giving & Sharing Newsletter, contain- so on. ing Bible Studies and articles of interest to The most important sign will be the Sabbath-keepers. preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Contributions are USA income tax de- God in the entire world for a witness to all ductible. Donors receive an annual financial nations, and then the end will come (vs. 14). statement, and are encouraged to ask ques- We’re certainly in the era which makes tions about our finances. this sign possible. Bibles are published in Submit articles to: [email protected] nearly every language; radio and television are being used to take the gospel message to the nations; and the Internet has a magnificent This doesn’t mean everyone accepts it. It capacity to spread the word. doesn’t mean everyone who hears it is being There are more than two thousand readers converted. Jesus said the Gospel of the King- on the Life Lines mailing list, and many — dom would be preached worldwide as a perhaps you’re one of them — relay some of witness. the columns to their mailing list. If a few of In court, it’s not the witness’ job to those relayed it further, and so on, we’d be convince the jury of guilt or innocence. That’s amazed at the number of people who would the attorney’s work. All the witness can do is receive the message. tell the facts as he saw them. And that’s the And Life Lines is not the only way God’s business of those of us who publish God’s message is being spread via the ’net. There word on the ’net. are many individuals and organizations that Now Jesus didn’t simply say the gospel are similarly using it. The gospel is being would be preached to the world. His next preached worldwide. words are, “…and then shall the end come.” Church of God News www.giveshare.org/news January 2006 No. 27 Page 3 Does this mean immediately? Not at all. Poem… Between the time when the world will My Temporary Home have received the witness, and the ultimate time of the end, there will be a time of terror This old body’s made of sinew and bone throughout the world (Amos 8:1-10), and But that’s okay — it’s just my temporary people will wonder what’s going on. The home! gods of the world won’t help them. The I’m just here for a little while it seems governments will be powerless. And, for the Then I’ll “retire” with a future King. first time, the nations will look to God for Christ has prepared me a Kingdom bright answers. But, God says He will send a famine Where He alone is the resurrection light! throughout the world: “…not a famine of This old body will take on a new life bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the As I leave behind all my sorrow and strife.