Information Related to "Letters From Our Readers Mar/Apr 2009"
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The word "change" had become a frustration to me because of the recent U.S. national election. So the article "Change Is Coming" was excellent, succinct, encouraging! I praise God for your work. I pray that many more will have their eyes opened to God's wonderful truth and His marvelous plan.
-L.D.B., Sullivan, Illinois
In the recent article "What Will the Next President Face?" you make the remarkable statements that "God removes rulers and raises up rulers. No world leader holds office without his consent." Does Robert Mugabe continue to subject the Zimbabwean people to torture, starvation and death with God's approval?
-J.S., Queensland, Australia
It is important to understand that there is a difference between what God allows and what He approves. While God allows travesties such as the current conditions in Zimbabwe , that is not to say that He approves of them. Such "leadership" is utterly repulsive to our Creator. In His Word He says, "Like a roaring lion and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people" (Proverbs 28:15). Both are destructive and can do great harm.
We need to understand that God has allowed human beings freedom of choice since the Garden of Eden. Rejecting God throughout the ages has brought horrible suffering on the human race. That is why the Bible refers to this age of human misrule as "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4), telling us that Satan is the true "god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4).
But it won't always be this way. God is working out a plan that will transform the world under the leadership of Jesus Christ. That is the good news from which this magazine gets its name. To understand more fully, request or download our free booklet
I want to congratulate you and your staff of writers for producing such a timely magazine. I especially appreciate your comment in a recent issue: "There comes a point in the lifetime of people and nations alike when there's no turning back. The die is cast; the momentum is too great to turn things around." Your publication defines for us the absurd world in which we live. It also helps people on the Christian pathway stay on the Christian pathway.
-J.S., Flagstaff, Arizona
I want to thank all of the people who are responsible for The Good News. I am 25 years old and we all realize the pressures of the world when we are younger. I grew up in the church and, like many, when I became a teenager I stopped going. The Good News was mailed to me by mistake. God works in mysterious ways, and I believe this magazine is a calling from the Creator of heaven and earth. I have ordered almost all of the booklets and have taken the Bible Study Course.
-D.W., Sarasota, Florida
I wish to thank you for the literature you have been sending so regularly. The magazines and booklets have been extremely helpful, instructional and inspirational. My prayer is that you will continue to reach out to people in this troubled world. I am enclosing a cheque to be used in your ministry.
-A.C.L.A., Nesperal, Portugal
First, thank you very much for helping me turn my life around. I do, however, feel somewhat guilty because not only have I been receiving The Good News on a regular basis, but in addition you have sent me all the additional publications I requested without asking for anything in return. When the funds become available I will not forget you.
-J.W., Nashville, Tennessee
Dear Good News family: I received and I am still reading them. I also received World News and Prophecy yesterday. Thank you so much for your wonderful way of explaining the Word. I especially like the history you add in all your booklets and articles. Enclosed is a gift.
-M.D., Lady Lake, Florida
Thank you for the very informative scriptural interpretation of the nativity. It is something everyone should know and understand. I do, however, feel that you overemphasize the literal. I think that the importance of Jesus' nativity is that we celebrate it both as a holiday of festive joy and a holy day of spiritual renewal. We must, as Christians, emphasize the spiritual over the commercial/material in the holy season. Jesus Himself taught us to live by the spirit rather than the letter of the law.
-D.H., Jalisco, Mexico
Indeed, Jesus does want us to live by the spirit--the intent--of God's law. Yet that does not mean ignoring the letter. And according to God's law, in both the letter and spirit, we are frankly not to celebrate Christmas at all. It and its customs originated as a pagan midwinter festival honoring false gods long before the birth of Christ, and God tells us not to use pagan worship methods to worship Him (Deuteronomy 12:29-32). Thus, "to emphasize the spiritual over the commercial/material" in this case means to reject Christmas altogether, as it is in no way the "holy season" it is purported to be. To learn more, request or download our free booklet
I just finished reading Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Observe? I was quite surprised that Jesus wasn't born on Christmas Day as I had been brought up to believe. To find out the truth about Easter was just as amazing. Thank you for revealing the truth to me.
-E.S., Internet
I have been a Christian for 28 years and over the last year have been reading your material, which I really enjoy. I am now rethinking my views on a lot of things and the Sabbath is one of them. I agree the Sabbath should be Saturday, but I have always fellowshipped and enjoyed it on a Sunday. I was watching a debate on a Christian TV channel regarding the Sabbath and was amazed at how many Christians like myself are rethinking this subject.
-J.M., Glasgow, Scotland
For a thorough biblical examination of this issue, readers may wish to request our free booklet .
Thank you for sending me the booklet as well as The Good News. As I was born in Jerusalem and lived there until age 37, the fate and future of that part of the world has always interested me. So when I read your booklet I became more worried that there is no hope for any kind of peace settlement. There was a time when in Palestine we used to live in peace and harmony with each other: Jews, Arabs and Christians. By reading about Bible prophecy, I started to wonder: Could all these be the early signs of Jesus' return?
-L.S., Internet
A new age of peace is surely coming, as the booklet itself explains.
As a person who went down the wrong path in life at age 13, I'm now 28, having made such a total mess of my life. I had no hope at all. I'm doing one full year in jail and by pure chance I found out about your church. I cried out for help, and you, who I didn't even know, have answered my call. The material that you have sent to me has been so awesome. It has given me hope for my future. Please tell me where you guys come from. How did your church get started? What is the history behind it? I'll never be able to tell you how grateful I am.
-K.R.I., Oroville, California
We are happy to learn of your progress and have mailed the booklet to answer your questions.
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