Warm greetings everyone,
Mr. Meredith has completed the semi-annual letter and it is being mailed out right now! And since it numbers into the multiple thousands that will probably take several days to do. This is a very important letter in a number of ways, including offering Mr. Meredith's updated Ten Commandments booklet. Historically, this has been one of our most powerful and popular pieces of literature. It always has a profound impact on the lives of many people. Please ask God to especially bless this semi-annual letter and bear rich fruit from it.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Northwest Region Update
Mr. Rod McNair reports: We are forming clubs in Sacramento and Reno. In Reno we have about 10 who signed up, and in Sacramento about 6. We are also seeing if there is interest for a club in Fresno. I haven't had clubs in Reno for the past couple of years (last year we did "Sermonette Seminar" and the year before "DELS lectures") so thought we would go back to it this year. And there are some new guys in their late teens who will be joining for the first time who are pretty excited about it.
A comment from Portland sent by Mr. Robert Corbett: "Mrs. Analiese Chavez is doing much better. She says three doctors have told her they are surprised she made it through her ordeal. She is in good spirits, has attended services for the last two weeks and is very thankful to God for the healing. Mrs. Chavez is 84 years old. She says she had really hoped to die during this because she has suffered enough in this life. However she is in good humor and a good example for the congregation and those who help her at the convalescent home. One of the people who works there learned that she keeps the sabbath. This man also is a sabbath keeper and was very interested in attending where Analiese does. She says he has asked for directions to services and time of services. I told her maybe God didn't want her to die yet because He still has work for her to do."
MEDIA
From Mr. Richard Ames informs us of New Tomorrow's World television programs being taped this week. The program topics are as follows:
| Presenter | Title & Offers | Airs | |
| #230 | JHO | The New Roman Empire The Beast of Revelation |
Jan 23 |
| #231 | RFA | Watch The Middle East The Middle East in Prophecy |
Jan 30 |
| #232 | RFA | A Nation of Adulterers God's Plan for Happy Marriage |
Feb 6 |
| #235 | JHO | The Power of Prayer Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer |
Jan 16 |
Mr. Roderick C. Meredith has been a little bit "under the weather" and has rescheduled his tapings for next week.
COMMENTS
King David, a man after God's own heart, spent a considerable amount of time looking up and beholding what astronomers often talk about. For instance, we are told by some scientists that the total number of stars in the known universe is 70 sextillion (7 followed by 22 zeroes). They say that is about 10 times as many stars as grains of sand on all the world's beaches and deserts! Psalms 8:3-4, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (visited him or pay attention to or care for). Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."
Astronomers from NASA have suggested that there are 125 billion galaxies in the universe based on observations from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Notice Isaiah 40:25-26, "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth."
When we think big, like David, it helps us keep things in perspective. It broadens our horizons and expands our vistas. Looking up often and meditating on the vast universe created by God should lift us out of the ruts and pitfalls of life and inspire us to focus more on what really counts—the big, eternal plan our Great God has in mind for all of His children.
Have a peaceful and encouraging Sabbath!
Charles E. Bryce