Download PDF

Dear Brethren:

Making the best of a bad situation, lemonade from lemons, live and learn—we’ve all heard these phrases from time to time and the intent is obvious. Another aphorism, that has made its way through the decades is the phrase: “Never waste a good crisis.” This was attributed to Winston Churchill during the WWII era, though the actual origin is not entirely clear. Regardless of attribution, the phrase referred to the near destruction of much of London and other cities during the intense Nazi air raids. When the cities were destroyed, the need to rebuild with modern processes, new international allegiances, and new standards was imperative.

Similarly, the Covid-19 pandemic offered new opportunities to launch technology platforms like Zoom, Google Meets, and other useful group meeting technologies. Other positive outcomes, despite the overall tragedy of the pandemic, included: a renewed focus on family activities, a deeper appreciation of the miracle of the life God gave us, and exploration of new hobbies, skills, and talents. Of course, the egregious overreach of government and the systematic clampdown of religious worship that took place across the globe cannot be ignored. 

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – May 14, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

In America, Christianity is becoming more openly spoken of. President Trump has recently acknowledged God on various occasions, and that is a change from recent Administrations in the U.S. Movies and television programs depicting the life of Jesus Christ and other biblical subjects are being produced in contrast to the overwhelmingly violent presentations from Hollywood and various entertainment outlets.

Even high school and college students have made news headlines for assembling “to witness about Jesus Christ”. Currently, about forty percent of adults in the U. S. regularly attend church—either in person or online.

However, while this stands in contrast to Christianity’s declining acceptance in recent decades, it does not mean that people are turning to God through life-changing, deeply felt repentance. 

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – April 23, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

For many decades, a monthly letter has been sent out, both in the now defunct Worldwide Church of God and for over 20 years in the Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates in Canada and the UK. These letters were also published on our English and German Websites. Today, as we see world events gathering pace at an alarming rate, anything I can write in this letter may well be eclipsed before this letter is even sent out and so I will resist any specific remarks on the current world scene that I could make.

Since Donald Trump’s electoral victory in the United States election on November 5, 2024 and more particularly since his inauguration into office on 20th January 2025, events are unfolding at an astonishing rate. In his inauguration speech he recalled the assassination attempt on his life during the campaign and said: “I felt then, and I believe even more so now, that my life was saved by God to make America great again.” 

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – March 13, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends, 

We live in this physical world with our physical activities and necessities. Things like working, eating, socializing, etc. Yes, these are necessary in order to survive, but what is most important to God, our Creator? When we read the commonly called “LORD’s Prayer”, Matthew 6:9-13, after praising God’s name, we read the following requests, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” And continuing this theme in Matthew 6:33, we read, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” All our other activities may well be necessary to live, but God wants us to desire His kingdom as our top priority.

How often do we make a comparison between today’s world and the world tomorrow under the rule of God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son? We could say it is like the difference between night and day, or as is mentioned in the Bible many times, the difference between darkness and light.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – February 12, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

My wife and I recently took our youngest son to a mine in a town called Julian close to San Diego. Julian is an old mining town from the late 1870s. We walked through the old mine through a mountainside. Everything in these tunnels was small and cramped. The whole cave system was lit up every 10 feet with electrical wires and lights. During the tour, when we had reached about halfway through the cave system (although there are 3 miles of tunnel under the mountain), the guide told us he wanted us to experience what it would be like to be a miner. No one was allowed to have matches in the caves, so they had to use a small candle inside a sardine can. When he lit the candle, he turned out the lights. The whole cave plunged into darkness and the tiny light from the candle seemed so small and yet it was what they had to work with! At this point, the guide snuffed out the candle and we were surrounded by the darkest dark imaginable. He said that if a miner’s candle went out, they had to find their way back to the entrance to re-light their candle. 

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – January 23, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

It is at times like this, when the world is engulfed in its holidays, that we, as Christians, do not
belong. For now, we are simply a curiosity for not celebrating Christmas, New Year, or other customs throughout the year.

But the time is coming—it has been prophesied—that true Christians will become the object of persecution, just as Jesus Christ, His apostles and disciples were in their generation (compare John 15:20).

Note what Jesus said would happen at the time of the end (our time):

“‘Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake’” (Matthew 24:9); also, “‘But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake’” (Luke 21:12).

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – December 22, 2024"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren, Friends and Family, 

The spirit of togetherness and love is something that we experience every year during the Feast of Tabernacles, which was shared and expressed once again this year. 

Even though, due to sickness and diverse frailties, our numbers in the USA were less than in previous years with around 30 in personal attendance, the great outpouring of brotherly kindness and great joy was present. Some participated by viewing our live services over the internet, and communicated with each other over the chat line. This year at the Feast in Tempe, Arizona, we did a fair number of things together, including a game night, a walk at a Desert Botanical Garden, glow-in-the-dark 3D mini golf, talks around the fire pit on the 11th floor, and a dinner with everyone. We enjoyed inspiring and heart-warming special music, including a quartet presentation in German (“Alles Leben strömt aus Dir”) and a choir presentation in English (“Heros and Dreamers”). The overarching messages at the Feast focused on our soon-coming future and what we can do daily to stay strong as we move forward. There was a focus on love for fellow brethren and the need to stay connected. Overall, it was a great Feast physically and spiritually.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – November 22, 2024"

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends:

When Jesus Christ was asked by three of His disciples about the future and the sign of His coming and the end of this present age, He responded by warning them not to be deceived.

At first, He was addressing His disciples who were alive at that time (Matthew 24:4: “Take heed that no one deceives YOU”), and indeed, by the time Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians, many had already begun to believe a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-8), and by the time he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians, many had begun to believe in another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4).

But Christ did not limit His warning to the disciples of the early New Testament Church of the first generation; He kept repeating the fact that throughout history, many would be deceived (Matthew 24:11), and that in the end time, the love of God would grow cold in many Church members (verse 12). And that even the very elect could be affected, if possible (verse 24).

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – September 30, 2024"

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends:

On August 2, I received an emotional phone call from my older brother that his wife had died at the hospital after she had broken her hip. It was not until a little over a week later that he called again and I was able to get the details as to what had actually happened. She was taking treatments for cancer at the hospital that day and after the treatments, while still in the hospital, she felt nauseated, fell and broke her hip. They took her to the ICU and were in the process of assessing exactly how to proceed when she died. My brother was in the hallway at the time, talking to his daughter.

After I had started writing this letter, news reached us that our beloved Margaret Adair had died of a sudden massive heart attack on August 23. She had been taken to the hospital by ambulance, and they tried, unsuccessfully, to resuscitate her twice. Norbert and Johanna Link were able to see her just before the ambulance took her, but while waiting outside the emergency room together with Margaret’s son, daughter-in-law and her two grandchildren, the doctor came out and told them the shocking and unexpected news. Margaret will be buried in Ireland next to her late husband, Evangelist Colin Adair. Brian Gale will be conducting the funeral service in Belfast. Later, we will be having a memorial service in California. More details will be forthcoming.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – September 9, 2024"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends, 

When I was just out of college and working my first full-time job, I secured an American Express card. It was not that I needed another way to spend money that I did not have. I had been advised by my parents of the importance of building my credit score. Basically, this is a record of how well one does with repaying small expenditures purchased on credit. I recall clearly the tag line that Amex used: Membership has its Privileges.

I was pleased that I had qualified for the familiar green and white plastic card. I saw it as a symbol that I had grown up and joined the ranks of the labor force. In the years since signing up with American Express, my wife and I had to pay a fee each year to renew. Even though it really no longer made sense to keep the card, the little Member since 1981 note on the card made me nostalgic for the days when that card was my only way aside from cash to charge a meal or make a larger purchase. 

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – August 9, 2024"