Greetings everyone,
The Southern California congregations will combine in Orange County this Sabbath—the day after the 50th anniversary of Dr. Meredith's ordination as an evangelist—to honor Dr. Meredith and to mark the 10th anniversary of the revival of the Work of God. It has been a long journey—and I would suppose he could sincerely say, "If I had known it would be so long I would have taken better care of myself!"
Our congratulations for endurance—and may the next 50 years be less traumatic.
My wife and I will be at a combined Sacramento/Reno service this Sabbath. We are expecting about fifty guests from across the nation to join us for the Family Weekend at Tahoe. From Tahoe we plan to drive to Montana where we will join with the group meeting at Big Sky Ski Lodge near Bozeman, MT.
Indications are good for very deep snow at Tahoe this year. I have not heard how conditions are at Big Sky, MT. but I expect they are also very good. I am not a downhill skier, so I don't expect to be on the mountain, but it is very exhilarating for those who do ski.
Pray for zero accidents or injuries!
According to a news report, the Ambassador Auditorium may soon be demolished. The full story may be read on-line at:
www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206%257E22097%257E1057096,00.html
My understanding is that the Auditorium is considered too expensive to buy, and too expensive for Worldwide to maintain. Hence it is an impediment to their plans for housing development.
Some quotes from the Pasadena Star-News article by Staff Writer Gary Scott said:
"The Ambassador Auditorium will be demolished unless the community finds the will and a way to preserve it, Worldwide Church of God officials announced Monday.
"Our mission for the auditorium is over," said Bernard Schnippert, the church's director of finance and planning. "The church has subsidized the Ambassador's operations and maintenance for years, and can no longer do so. If it is to be a vital part of the Pasadena community, it will need the community's support."
An appraisal commissioned by the city found the auditorium was worth $22 million a price some on the council questioned. This does not take into account the ongoing costs to maintain the auditorium, Schnippert said.
When the Legacy Project was being considered earlier this year, the church listed maintenance costs at about $350,000 a year.
It is not listed as an historic place, said Susan Mossman, Pasadena Heritage's executive director, but has been listed as a "very significant modern building."
New Zealand Report—by Kinnear Penman
Update on conditions in Vanuatu.
"Our Deacon in Vanuatu, Mr. Jerry Sam, reports another attempt by the [local] Protestant church to expel our members from the village of Orap where several of them live. In mid-November a resolution was considered by the local leaders of the [local] Protestant church seeking such an expulsion. As of today, communication difficulties mean we don't know the outcome of the meeting.
A couple of years ago our members were ordered to leave. At that time a letter from Evangelist Dibar Apartian won a reversal of the order. M. Apartian was able to point out that our people do not proselytize and are good, peaceable citizens who obey the laws of God and man. At that time the village elders were very impressed that our Headquarters office in America cared enough about our scattered members to intervene on their behalf.
Our congregation in Orap is stable and under Mr. Sam's care is slowly growing. Our members would appreciate prayers for a favorable outcome in accordance with God's will."
Latin America Report—by Jorge Schaubeck:
You might be aware, through the TV Newscasts and Newspapers, about the difficult situation that is affecting the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Fuel supplies are becoming notoriously scarce and companies are shutting down one after the other. This is a growing effect and there is no way to know where it's going to stop. There have been a few deaths and several injured people in Caracas [capital of Venezuela]. The problem is spreading to the rest of the country and major cities, such as Maracaibo, the most important oil production center of the country, are on the verge of collapsing. Last night (Dec. 12) we talked with one of our prospective members in Barquisimeto and she told us that they've only been affected by the fuel shortage. Thanks to God they are doing well! Lets not stop praying for the brethren in Venezuela.
In meditating on the prospect of the wrecking ball demolishing the Ambassador Auditorium, I recalled the first time I heard Mr. Herbert Armstrong comment on the subject of demolition. It was when workers (I was among them) were wrecking an old frame house on campus. He noted that for some reason workers always seemed to have more zeal for wrecking than for building. The second time I heard him comment on the dichotomy between zeal for wrecking and zeal for building was when we hired a wrecking crane to demolish part of the concrete fence between Ambassador Hall and the Murphy House adjacent to it—in order to open up the grounds and integrate the lawns, and to build the living stream across the campus.
Mr. Armstrong's vision for a beautiful campus was fulfilled, and many thousands of young people received an educational experience unequalled anywhere in America.
Unfortunately, many have undervalued the Ambassador experience. Some despised it. A few have destroyed Ambassador by abandoning the philosophy of Mr. Herbert Armstrong—and the Work of God. The motto of Ambassador stated the philosophy: "Recapturing True Values." The Work of God from creation has been to educate mankind in "True Values."
When one looks at the world today, one finds that shoddiness dominates in every area of life—education, entertainment, construction—and most importantly, in character of men.
As shoddy construction leads to early demolition of a building, so shoddy character leads to chaos and conflict between men.
Isn't it time we learn the lessons Jesus Christ taught in the Sermon on the Mount? And as He faced crucifixion, when He said, (John 13:33-35) "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Those who can say with a sincere heart, without self-deceit, that they love all of God's children—without reservation—have "Recaptured True Values." They are builders—not demolishers.
Have a great Sabbath. Keep warm and safe!
Carl McNair