Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

Many years ago, a minister in the Church of God, in a conversation after Sabbath services with a few brethren of which I was one, gave us some advice that has stayed with me for over half a century. It was just ten words and concerned the Way of Life that we had been called to, and, at the time, it sounded like great advice. He said: “You have to be sold on the Way of Life.” It has since been invaluable to me.

I can’t remember who was in that small informal gathering and whether they took such advice seriously. I still give that same advice to others wherever and whenever possible in order to ensure that they are encouraged and motivated to stay the course. Unfortunately, those of us who have been in the Church for many decades have seen such advice discarded or neglected with the result that many have left for differing reasons.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – March 18, 2026"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren,

The theme for this letter is one of reconciliation. The Merriam-Webster definition of the word: reconcile, is to restore a relationship that has faltered to one characterized by friendship and/or harmony. God wants His people to repent, and therefore reconcile and restore our relationship with Him. He also wants those He calls to live in harmony with the brethren, and to the extent that we can, live peaceably with our family, friends and colleagues, as long as doing so does not compromise our primary relationship with God.

The inspiration for this message derives from a popular song from the late 1980’s. The title and name of the band is not relevant. However, many of you may recognize the song. It begins: “Every generation blames the one before and all of their frustrations come beating on your door. I know that I’m a prisoner to all my father held so dear, I just wish I could have told him in the living years.” My message for all of us is also the theme of this song: restoration and reconciliation. We should use every opportunity to reconcile with one another, if the willingness is present and the purpose is consistent with God’s commandments. Above all others, we must reconcile our lives with God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – February 20, 2026"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren,

In the model prayer that Jesus Christ taught us, He draws focus to several aspects of our Christian life that are important for us to pray about. In reviewing the set of things that I normally pray about personally, I realize that even my longest prayers frequently omit many of the things that Jesus instructs us to include. Of course, we understand that the model prayer gives us a pattern to follow, not a rote chant to utter. Even so, it is good to review the outline that He gives us, so we can fill in the details with our personal concerns. Consider how comprehensive it is!

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – January 24, 2026"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends, 

As I write this letter, my heart is hurting somewhat. On Sunday, December 14, my aunt died. She had been suffering for some time with cancer, and it finally ran its course. This is not the first time I have faced death with family and friends. I know that many others have faced this occurrence in life as well.

This is a somber experience that occurs for all people eventually. I am grateful that she is no longer in pain and now, as the Bible states, she is awaiting the better resurrection. 

When these events take place, it is easy to become saddened. I have been thinking a lot about what I wish I had said to her or that I had sent more messages or called her more often, but these are useless thoughts now. We live short lives, relatively speaking, and God knows the times that He has given each of us. Moses thought about this in his life, and he was cognizant of the impact it had on himself and those around him. 

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

Download PDF

Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends,

This year some Church members had to stay home due to sickness and other health-related issues, or they were unable, due to long distances, to attend the Feast site which God had designated to be in Germany for members of the Church of the Eternal God.

Normally, Church members are instructed to attend the designated Feast site to spend the Feast together with other members.

We read in Deuteronomy 16:11:

“You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.”

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – December 1, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends,

As we are all very well aware, we are not living under God’s government today. In fact, today’s
governments are nothing like the government God will provide when Christ returns to earth. There are many problems today that worldly governments cannot or will not solve, with ongoing wars being a major one.

Over forty-five years ago, Mr. Herbert Armstrong wrote a series of full-page advertisements and had them published in the Wall Street Journal. They covered many subjects, but the one I would like to focus on was the one titled “A Voice Cries Out: What’s Wrong with Government!” He wrote about the necessity of government to prevent anarchy and preserve our freedoms and liberties that do not infringe on the freedoms and liberties of others.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – November 15, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren,

I was recently at a little restaurant with my wife while on vacation, where she and I took the
opportunity to connect. This kind of evening out is an activity that we regularly practice about twice a month, and which we made a point of continuing while we were away from home. We call it our “Big Ideas and Goals Date”, or “BIG Date” for short, during which we take time to discuss our ambitions individually, together as a married couple, and as a family. It is a simple event that helps us continue to grow together, stay accountable to one another, and keep each other on track. We normally come away from our BIG Date feeling a renewed sense of purpose and encouragement. This date while on vacation was no exception. We came away mutually uplifted, having discussed the most meaningful parts of our life, along with many other light-hearted topics. We could have been anywhere and had a similar result. Just being together is the only necessary ingredient.

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

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

When God the Father created the angels through Christ (John 1:3; Ephesians  3:9; Colossians 1:16), the thought had to have entered Their minds that since they were creating beings with free moral choices and no previous character of mind which is developed through time, there was a chance that some would rebel.

Even though that was a probability, They went forward in this aspect of Their plan. As it turned out, Satan and about one-third of the angels did rebel and await judgment in the future.

We know that pride became an issue for Satan. Ezekiel 28:15-16 says: “You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.”

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – July 16, 2025"

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

Does history repeat itself? We have certainly witnessed this as events that are currently happening are developments which have been predicted to happen many years ago. Back in 2017, I wrote a member letter in which I addressed the whole world’s concern about the nation of the USA, and specifically the one man who was in office. That man, who was President then, is the President now. Could we have imagined that things could get worse since then?

I stated that his approval ratings back in February of 2017, through a poll of 1500 Americans, had reached his all-time low, dropping to 38 percent of Americans approving of his job as President. Trump’s highest approval rating since taking office in 2016 was 46 percent, on his fourth and fifth day in office. Shortly after, 56 percent of Americans disapproved of the job Trump was doing.

Continue reading "Letter to the Brethren – June 24, 2025"