Quite recently, I got caught, really caught. I was sent, by e-mail, details of a virus that, if not eliminated, would cause havoc on my computer. It was suggested that I eliminate this virus and forward the message on to my address book. When I followed the instructions, the “offending” virus was there and I duly eliminated it. I also let scores of other people know about this potential problem. However, after all of this effort, a few people who understand computers far better than I, advised that it was a hoax! I then went through the same procedure again, this time advising all those whom I had written to originally, that it was a hoax. I had to re-install the feature that I had erroneously removed as it was necessary in some of the programs that I use. For that exercise I had to enlist help! By this time, others were writing to me because I was in their address book and the whole exercise kept going round and round for a few days. I must have spent at least half a day on this hoax which was a complete and utter waste of my time. I felt also guilty that I had wasted the time of so many others, albeit trying to be of service to them.

It got me to thinking about the lessons we can learn from such an exercise.

(1) First of all, I learnt that if I receive another such, no doubt well-meaning virus warning, I will check with those who understand these problems far better than I, and I will check with web-sites that contain up-to-date information on viruses.

(2) It didn’t take me more than an instant to realize that when destruction, chaos, lying and time-wasting are involved, we can usually look in one specific direction and we shouldn’t be surprised that the problems created all emanate from the same source. Of course, human beings are used, but the basic modus operandi simply doesn’t change from the originating being.

Passing on viruses and details about viruses can create chaos. Scripture tells us that originally, there was no chaos when the heavens and the earth were created. As we have understood for decades, through the influence of Satan, the earth became waste and empty. Satan brought to this earth chaos and confusion. We know that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Wherever chaos and confusion reigns, Satan is in the thick of it.

(3) Creating and intentionally passing on viruses is destructive. God is the Creator and Sustainer of positive and good things. Wherever Satan is involved, destruction follows. Satan knows that we have the potential to become members of the God Family. He will do everything he can to prevent us from attaining that wonderful position. If he can destroy us he will, but with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, we can out-maneuver the adversary. Satan caused Job many problems, but he was only allowed to go so far. We have to be on our toes to avoid his destructive attacks on us.

(4) A hoax is a lie. Who is the father of lies? John 8:44 gives us the answer from the lips of Jesus Christ. The ninth commandment tells us not to bear false witness (not to lie). A hoax is a deliberate attempt to deceive. That is not God’s way, but it originates and emanates from the evil one.

(5) Both a virus and a hoax are time wasters. If Satan can side-track us, he will. He will attempt to keep us so busy with those matters that we can become deluded into thinking that we have little or no time for the spiritually essential areas. When we have to deal with a virus or a hoax, it results in a negative and a complete waste of time. Oh, how Satan loves to waste our time.

If God was the center of everyone’s life, viruses and hoaxes would simply not exist. Everyone would have first and foremost the best interests of others in their minds, and they would never dream of doing anything to harm others. They would practice the golden rule of doing to others as they themselves would like to be dealt with (Luke 6:31). They would be esteeming others better than themselves (Philippians 2:3). They would be service orientated, serving others in a Godly way. That is exactly the opposite way to Satan’s approach. We should thank God daily that Satan can only do to us what God specifically allows, and that in the Kingdom of God, our adversary, with his destructive attributes, will have been crushed under our feet (Romans 16:20).
 

Some weeks ago I wrote to my local MP (Member of Parliament) and asked him if he could arrange a tour of Parliament in London and also obtain tickets for “Prime Minister’s Question Time.” I made this request because my daughter had arranged to have two young church people from America, friends of her eldest son, stay with her. I thought that they would be interested in touring such an historic site and I got a quick and positive response from the MP. So, last week, I took these two visitors together with my eldest grandson and grand-daughter on a trip to London to visit the usual sites. The highlight was the tour of Parliament where we were shown around the House of Commons and the House of Lords as well as the other rooms and lobbies. We saw where royalty, over the centuries, had been involved in State occasions.

The few acres that house the palace of Westminster has been estimated at a value of at least £1 billion and the buildings and all of its treasures are priceless. Paintings of royalty over many centuries, gold and silver everywhere, statues and busts of politicians as well as many other treasures make up a storehouse that has few equals anywhere. I had previously toured Westminster 20 years ago and it had quite an effect on me all those many years ago, and this latest visit again had the same effect.

We also saw “Prime Minister’s Question Time” where the verbal jousting between the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and other MP’s takes place. It is half an hour each Wednesday when the house is sitting and where sound bites proliferate and point scoring is the order of the day. Finger pointing, shouting, accusation and some humor abound – the politics of confrontation, not co-operation. Those not in government who belong to other political parties are called the opposition. It is an adversarial system of government.

The wealth of the place and the system of debate caused me to think through, again, the differences between the way of God and the way of man. Man can get very carried away with his own importance and wealth but God states that “the silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:8). We are allowed the use of the earth’s resources whilst we live out our physical lives but it is the great God who owns it all. The wealth that we saw in the palace of Westminster (as well as the priceless Crown Jewels in the Tower of London that we also had the opportunity to see) will pale into insignificance when the reality of Revelation 21 takes place. In verse 18, it states that “the city was pure gold like unto clear glass.” Both before and after this verse, other treasures are revealed that will make the current earthly treasures seem very ordinary indeed — yet, at this time we can only stand and wonder at the workmanship and beauty of man’s creative art with such precious metals. Maybe we got just a glimpse of the future wealth that God has in store for us in His Kingdom.

The verbal confrontations that took place was the direct opposite of how we, as true Christians, should behave now, and how members of the God Family will live forever in the Kingdom. There will be no more slanging matches, no more adversarial confrontations, no more insults — just love and outgoing concern for other members of the God Family in a spirit of total cooperation. How different will that be to the way that the politicians today conduct their business?

It was an inspiring visit to see the “mother of Parliaments” in action. It was also a sobering lesson that what God has in store for us in His Kingdom will be greater than we can ever contemplate at this time. We will be surrounded by unimaginable wealth and unimaginable peace and cooperation — for all eternity. Now that’s something to get really excited about!
 

The New Testament Church which was founded on the day of Pentecost and of which we are a part today, can teach us many things. We can see a number of characteristics that were predominant within the church at that particular time. We would do well to try and emulate those characteristics today.

In this editorial, I’d like to briefly discuss three main characteristics of the early Church. The first one is that of purpose and determination.

The early disciples had a deep sense of purpose. They were promised the Holy Spirit. In the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension, Jesus made many recorded appearances to the disciples to banish forever from their minds any doubt as to His continued existence as a living person. They were to receive power – the same Greek word is also translated as dynamite. In Acts 2:1, we read that they were all with one accord in one place. We see the Holy Spirit appearing like cloven tongues sitting on them. In verse 4, we are told that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. It would be hard at that time not to have a deep sense of purpose! In Acts 2, Peter gave the first New Testament sermon. In verse 40, we are told, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.'” Here he showed, with quite a sense of urgency, the determination and purpose motivating and driving him.

In chapter 4, Peter and John were brought before the council. The rulers who had crucified Jesus were alarmed at the spreading of the message and the growing popularity of this new religion as they saw it. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke boldly. This was the same Peter who, a few weeks before, in the same place, had been embarrassed at the remarks of a girl and had denied Christ. Now, in utter fearlessness, he defied Christ’s murderers. Being empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter and the other apostles were transformed and filled with courage to proclaim the gospel. They were “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15: 58). There is no question that the New Testament Church certainly had a deep sense of purpose. WE SHOULD HAVE THAT SAME SENSE OF PURPOSE TODAY. They had to endure opposition and persecution then. We have opposition today. Things have changed little over the last 2,000 years. They had a deep sense of purpose and nothing was going to distract them. They got on with the job irrespective of all other considerations.

The second characteristic of the early disciples is that of unconquerable courage. Remember that Stephen gave an answer to his accusers. In Acts 7:54 they were just a little upset! Stephen didn’t flinch. In Acts 6:15 it says that as he spoke, his face “shone as the face of an angel.” He didn’t fear death. He died without a trace of resentment, which must have put his killers to shame. We read in 2 Corinthians 11 about Paul, an apostle of Christ, who was beaten with rods, who received five times 39 stripes, who was stoned, who was shipwrecked and who suffered all manner of things for the name of Christ. You don’t go through those sufferings and trials without knowing your cause is right. Paul had to have unconquerable courage. Tradition has it that John was the only apostle that was not martyred. He apparently lived his life out fully, but all of the other apostles apparently suffered martyrdom. You don’t give up your life for a lie – you give up your life for that which you totally believe in and are fully convinced about.

We also find, as a third important characteristic of the early New Testament Church, that it was a caring Church. We see in Acts 2: 44-47 that they all worked together for the common good, sharing all that they had. At the outset, they had all things in common and a community spirit was born. Of course, it was all new and later, problems surfaced – they always do! One problem that immediately springs to mind is the problem with Ananias and Sapphira who received the ultimate form of discipline because of their treachery. However, such an incident cannot hide the fact that there was a togetherness in the New Testament Church at the inception of the true Christian faith – a togetherness that assists everyone when problems arise. There were, of course, other examples including the collection for the saints in 1 Corinthians 16 where produce was collected for those less well off.

These are just three characteristics of the New Testament Church that we can learn from. Times are getting more and more difficult, and it behoves us all to ensure that the examples that are there in the Bible are not wasted on us. The New Testament Church which was founded on the day of Pentecost and which we are a part of today, can teach us much. Let us take these lessons seriously!
 

I was born in the city of Derby. I have lived there most of my life. Derby is a city in the Midlands of England and in the county of Derbyshire. This county is one of the most beautiful counties in the United Kingdom with rolling hills, dales, pasture, rivers and historical stately homes that reflect the green and pleasant land of Great Britain. Derby is a city of about 250,000 inhabitants and famous as the home of Rolls Royce.

Derby is hardly a hotbed of political radicalism. However, it did very recently receive unwanted attention. With the war in Iraq, retaliation was expected in different parts of the world with places like London and New York being prime targets. Israel has also long been a target of suicide bombers. On Wednesday, April 30, carnage was the result of a suicide bomber at Mike’s Place, a beachfront bar, in Tel Aviv. Three people were killed and sixty people wounded. One bomber blew himself to pieces and the other, Omar Khan Sharif, according to press reports, managed to escape when his explosive device did not detonate.

How many know that this person, who immediately became the most wanted man in Israel, came from Derby? He had lived just a street or two away from where my parents and I lived many years ago, before I was married. I now live about 5 miles from that area. The locals, when interviewed for television, radio and the press, just couldn’t believe that such a quiet individual could be responsible for such an outrage.

We sometimes think that all these events occur in, and that all these type of criminals come from the big cities and the well known areas. Don’t you believe it! If suicide bombers can come from the Midlands of England, they can come from anywhere! We may think that as we live in a quiet backwater (if indeed we do), we are safe from the excesses of fanatics. However, if such people can be produced in our relatively small community in Derby, they can be produced anywhere!

How close is close? Too close for comfort! This recent suicide bombing is also a stark reminder that we approach the end of this age. As we do, there will be no hiding place — anywhere in the world — not even in little places that we consider backwaters.

Omar Khan Sharif, the failed suicide bomber from Derby, has brought to the attention of the local community that these sort of people can live in our midst, although we might not realize it. How many more fanatics will rear their ugly heads in our small communities in the future?

We have to understand that our safety and refuge do not depend on local or state policing, security guards, government edicts, or the military, but on our great Creator God. Psalm 46:1 tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” Let us never forget our real source of help, however close trouble may be. Our security, survival and protection depend on our faith in our great God and in His promises. Things will get worse and outrages such as the one in Tel Aviv will increase. Let us never forget where our protection truly lies — protection that will become ever more necessary as the weeks and months pass by.
 

Over the years we have shown that so many of the world’s celebrations are to be avoided. The world’s holy-days or holidays, days of celebration — religious or otherwise — keep coming round. Whereas God’s Holy Day calendar shows a Master Plan wonderfully thought out, the world’s days are just a jumble of days without any co-ordination or real meaning whatsoever.

One of those days rooted in paganism, Valentine’s Day, is just around the corner. Radio and television programs and advertisements will be full of it as will be newspapers, magazines and periodicals. Little, if any thought will be given to its background and whether it should be something to be involved with. The world ‘s society doesn’t think that way. God is not in the picture.

The world will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year on February 14th. Let’s notice the pagan origins of Valentine’s Day:

Centuries before Christ, the pagan Romans celebrated the evenings of February 14th and February 15th as an idolatrous and sensual festival in honor of Lupercus, the “hunter of wolves.” The Romans called the festival “Lupercalia.” In her book, “Customs and Holidays Around the World,” Lavinia Dobler states, on page 172, the following: “It was not until the reign of Pope Gelasius that the holiday became a ‘Christian custom.’ As far back as 496, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15th to St Valentine’s Day on February 14th.”

The Encyclopedia Britannica states on page 336 in its 15th edition, volume 10:

“St Valentine’s day as a lovers’ festival and the modern tradition of sending valentine cards have no relation to the saints but, rather, seem to be connected either with the Roman (sexual) fertility festival of the Lupercalia (February 15th) or with the mating season of birds.”

The Encyclopedia Americana states that “this pairing off was, of course, linked with sexual immorality.”

How did this pagan festival acquire the name of “St Valentine’s Day”? In addition, why is the little naked Cupid of the pagan Romans so often associated today with February 14th?

The Church published an article in “Tomorrow’s World,” in February 1970, explaining that Valentine was a common Roman name. Roman parents often gave the name to their children in honor of the famous man who was first called Valentine in antiquity. That famous man was Lupercus, the hunter. Who was Lupercus? Why should he also have borne the name “Valentine” among the heathen Romans? The Greeks called Lupercus by the name of “Pan.” The Semites called Pan “Baal” – mentioned so often in the Bible – and this name was merely another name for Nimrod, the “mighty hunter” (Genesis 10:9). The hunter Nimrod was the Lupercus – or wolf hunter – of the Romans. “St Valentine’s Day” was originally a day set aside by the pagans in his honor.

Alexander Hislop wrote something similar in the “Two Babylons.”

Here, then, is the real origin of the Roman Lupercalia. The early Catholic Church, seeking the allegiance of the Roman populace, attempted to “Christianize” this festival along with other popular pagan celebrations.

In the above-mentioned article in “Tomorrow’s World,” the Church also explained why the Romans chose February 15th and the evening of February 14th to honor Lupercus – the Nimrod of the Bible. (Remember that in ancient times, days began at sunset the evening before). Nimrod – Baal or sun god of the ancient pagans – was said to have been born at the winter solstice. In ancient times the solstice occurred on January 6th and his birthday therefore was celebrated on January 6th. Later, as the solstice changed, it was celebrated on December 25th and is now called Xmas. It was the custom of antiquity for the mother of a male child to present herself for purification on the 40th day after the day of birth. The 40th day after January 6th – Nimrod’s original birthdate – takes us to February 15th, the celebration of which began on February 14th – the
Lupercalia or St Valentine’s Day. On this day in February, Semiramis, the mother of Nimrod, was said to have been purified and to have appeared for the first time in public with her son as the original “mother and child.”

We have to remember that Satan is behind all of this society’s customs and practices, wanting to throw true believers off the Godly path. Satan is far cleverer and more subtle and crafty than any human being (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).

The world at large doesn’t realize that the devil is a real spirit being. He most certainly is, however, and his handiwork is all around for those who have eyes to see. Satan has blinded humanity and deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Is it any wonder then that when the days of this world come along that they are all inspired by the great deceiver? Jeremiah 10:2 tells us not learn the way of the heathen.

Valentine’s Day is one of those pagan days that has become part and parcel of the fabric of today’s society.
It is clear that Valentine’s Day – whichever way you look at it – has paganism written all over it. Paganism is not to be entertained by the people of God.
 

This is a time of the year that true Christians don’t greatly care for. Many have celebrated Xmas, supposedly in honor of the “birthday” of Christ, on December 25. Others, especially those in the Greek Orthodox churches, will keep Xmas on January 6. In addition, even for members of the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, Xmas celebrations are not over even yet. The Xmas tree and other Xmas decorations will still remain in many houses until after New Years. And then, January 6 will be kept by Catholics (and increasingly by Protestants) as the day when the “three holy kings” arrived in Bethlehem (who, according to the Bible, were neither three nor kings, nor did they arrive in January).

We have been bombarded with advertising about the Xmas period. Our children (or grandchildren) have been subject to the usual functions at school from which they have to be removed. We just cannot let them be involved in carol singing, advent calendars, drawing pictures of the gentleman in red with a white beard or of nativity scenes, and in all the other paganism associated with this time of the year. We have to set them the example and we, ourselves, should be above reproach in this area.

It can be easily proved that Christ was born in the autumn, but public acceptance of this festival seems to outweigh any ethical considerations. Tied up with this pagan festival season are a number of spin-offs There are at least four areas that come with the territory — four areas that we can be critical of the world, and the way they behave. The question is, are we, ourselves, guiltless in those areas? They are:

· Lying and deceit
· Hypocrisy
· Compromise, and
· The spirit of the time of the year

1. Lying and deceit.

There are many wrong things associated with the Xmas season but lying has to be at the heart of it. It’s a false celebration — a lie in itself — and it is compounded by more lying and deception in so many areas. Santa Claus is a mythical character but lied about to deceive innocent children. Deceptive advertising is a further example of lying. We know that Satan is the father of lies and deception. We do well to stay clear of all of it. But how do we do in this area of our Christian lives? Keeping the 9th commandment — not to lie — is far more important than having any association with this pagan season or the world’s ways, as we strive to live the way of life that will help us in our quest to make it into the Kingdom of God. Let us make sure that lying and deceit is not something that we ever practice — at this or any other time of the year.

2. Hypocrisy.

The churches and the clergy know full well that Jesus was not born on the 25th of December (or on January 6, for that matter). They know full well that these dates are totally associated with paganism; they know full well that they compromised in order to try and attract pagans to the faith. But, what does God’s Word have to say about it? He tells us not to learn the way of the heathen. God hates pagan customs and rites which today are practiced under a cloak of so-called Christianity.

In Matthew 23:13-29, Christ pulled no punches whatsoever. He told it as it was – and rightly so. Seven times in this chapter, the Scribes and the Pharisees were called hypocrites. In spite of their outward piety, however, the Pharisees imposed standards on others that they themselves did not keep — hence, the reasons why they received such condemnation from Christ regarding their hypocrisy and customs, which transformed God’s way of life into something tedious and burdensome.

Hypocrisy is, in no way, part of the Christian life. If these religious leaders were taken to task for it, how much more are we to avoid this – we who have God’s Holy Spirit? It is essential that at no time can we be accused of hypocrisy.

3. Compromise:

Too often over the years, church members have compromised because of family, business or other pressures. Of course it can be difficult if a member is:

· married to an unconverted spouse, or · is living at home with parents who do not share their religious convictions, or · is the only one in a large family that knows God’s truth, or · has family antagonism, or · has business interests that can make things difficult.

BUT…what is most important? Obedience to God and His way, without compromise – or giving in to keep the peace because of pressure?

It goes without saying that we have to use a great deal of wisdom in this area. Seeking the appropriate counsel or input from true ministers of God may be very necessary. We can all be put into a difficult position, but how do we react? We need to ask ourselves at all times, “What would Jesus Christ do in such a situation?” This is the first step to good decision making. But, conscientious follow through is vital. In Luke 14:25-33, Christ meant that we must place Him above all other relationships. These short stories are about considering the cost before doing various things and considering what it will cost to be a true Christian. The world compromises on so many issues at Xmas time where this spirit of compromise really does seem to escalate. With the truth we should never compromise. With Satan’s ways, we should never bow to any pressure from any quarter. We have been called to a way of life where compromise with the truth and the way we live should, and must, never be countenanced.

4. The spirit of the time of the year

It is a time of excess. Many children seem to get everything they want – which cannot be good for them. As they grow up in such an environment, they come to expect everything which is not the way it should be. Adults indulge themselves in many ways. It is an excuse for bawdy, riotous office parties where people can behave in a way that they would only do at this time of the year. There seems to be an excess of food, drink, riotous and wanton behavior. This all seems acceptable in this society. Well, it is Xmas, after all! But it isn’t just the two or three weeks where many countries seem to shut down. It is the long lead-in over several months.

We need to be focused at this time of the year — not on Xmas and what it means to the world — but on the right way to live. This time of the year is very worldly. Let us take the following verses in Romans 12:1-2 to heart:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world.”

We are not to be conformed to this world. Who, in God’s church, would want to be anyway?

Matthew 5:13-16 shows that we are to be a walking, talking commercial for God’s way of life.

By avoiding Xmas and its spin-offs, we can be just that!
 

How careful are we with our words? When we speak, do we do so to edify the hearer? Or do we, intentionally or inadvertently, tear down and criticize others?

Rather than being or coming across as accusatory or assumptive, we all must strive to be positive, uplifting, edifying and constructive, thereby showing the fruits of God’s Spirit.

This is not always easy, since we must overcome our own human nature and replace it with the nature of God. This is a life-long struggle. Human nature, being what it is, can invariably latch on to the negative; it always seems easier to pull down rather than build up. Proverbs 6:16-19 has something to say about those things that God hates:

“(16) These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
(17) A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
(18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
(19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”

We should edify, not destroy. We should follow the wise instruction in Romans 14:19:

“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”

Let us speak words of praise about the good in other people. Let us encourage others to do their best. Let us comfort other people when they are discouraged. Let us be a shining example of the way God wants us to be.

Let us always seek to build up and not to pull down; to edify, never to destroy. In short, let us use our tongue and the written word to be a force for good, and not let our arch enemy, the devil, trap us into doing otherwise.

We need to always remember Christ’s words in Matthew 12:36-37, before we speak:

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

In light of this, let’s meditate over and apply Paul’s admonition in Ephesians 4:29-32:

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom [better: whereby, Authorized Version] you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

The Feast of Tabernacles at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England is eagerly awaited again as members look forward to keeping the Feast there for the fourth consecutive year. A catered meal has been organized for the first day of the Feast and other activities have been planned.

On Sunday, there is planned a fish and chip lunch at one of the best fish restaurants in the area. The following evening is a fun night at the Devonshire Arms where Charles Dickens, the writer, visited many times on his trips to the area. On Thursday evening, a Feast dinner has been arranged together with a last night buffet after the Last Great Day.

Each day, activities in the area are recommended so that if members want to visit these attractions, they can do so together. One of the suggested activities is a tour of Chatsworth House which is the most visited stately homes in England. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who reside there, have recently had their fortune estimated at £1.3 billion, most of which is accounted for by treasures within the House itself.

Norbert Link will be the visiting minister from the USA and he and his wife, Johanna, will be assured of a very warm welcome.