United Church of God

Announcement Bulletin for August 3 2019

You are here

A Congregation of the United Church of God

Announcement Bulletin for August 3 2019

Downloads

Downloads

Announcement Bulletin for August 3 2019

×

SABBATH ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS 

United Church of God, an International Association

North Canton & Youngstown, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Wheeling, WV Congregations

SABBATH, AUGUST 3, 2019

Youngstown –1 p.m.                        Wheeling – 2:30 p.m.  

North Canton – 2 p.m.                     Pittsburgh – 10 a.m.

Greetings brethren,

Historical Drift

When a people knows their history, knows who their ancestors were and what they believed and did—both the good and the bad, then those people know where they came from, what they have stood for—and who they are. They will also know their own history in concert with their neighbors’ history and of that of all mankind.           

If their minds are clear—that is, if they have a collective wisdom drawn from the good experience as well as from the bad of their history—then they will tend to continue to move forward valuing that part of true knowledge that is their heritage.

Ignore the truth and history will ignore you

But if those people ignore or—worse—actively reject the knowledge and wisdom of who they are and where they came from,…in short, if they reject their history instead of learning from it, then they will subject themselves to historical drift. They won’t know who they are. They won’t value the wisdom accumulated by their elders. And they will drift along without clear vision of where they are going.

So it happened and it happens, “… they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment” (Isaiah 28:7).

Wonder why our world today faces such endemic problems? Many leaders in America and the other nations have no vision of why we are here! They have no clear understanding of the meaning of life—none! Through His servant Job, God pronounces judgment on the vast bulk of world leaders—especially today’s leaders who lack almost any semblance of true wisdom! 

“They are exalted for a little while, then they are gone. They are brought low; they are taken out of the way like all others; they dry out like the heads of grain” (Job 24:24). And notice how profoundly Isaiah’s inspired words resonate: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Chp. 29:18, KJV)!

Read and believe history—in your Bible

Merely a few world leaders have had any idea about this devastating proclivity of humanity guided only by its selfish, human nature. One such was the insightful, political historian Sir Winston Churchill who observed: “The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.”

Yet no people have been bequeathed the ability to see more clearly the eternal past leading to an infinite/eternal future than the true Church that Jesus Christ founded. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made through Him…In Him was life and the life was the light of men” (John 1:12). The Word, that is Jesus Christ, is the “light” of mankind—and will always be! God’s faithful know that foundational truth!

Of all people in all the world, the scattered members of the true Body of Christ can see—if they will carefully look—the profoundly devastating direction of human history and it’s soon-coming end. But they will also see the even more incredible, almost unbelievable solution to humanity’s greatest problems—the second coming of Jesus Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords (see Rev. 19:16) when He will set up the government of God on earth!

Historical drift stops here!

So few understand this knowledge and the true purpose of human life—to be resurrected into the spirit, Kingdom of God! But here’s even better news:  at a very specific point in God’s plan each and every person will know the true God of the Bible and His truth. Each will then have the opportunity to live his or her life by it. All will have clear knowledge of eternity past and into the future!

All will then—if they choose wisely—stand firm in the truth of God’s Word. They will never again experience the satanically spawned phenomena of historical drift! But you can that drift in your life today! Seek the true God of the Bible now! 

Keep the true faith—and spread it,
Randy Stiver, Pastor 

Pastor’s contact information:  PO Box 1474, Massillon, OH  44648.  Home phone: 330-809-0566, cell phone: 740-739-7248. Email addresses: randy_stiver@ucg.org  or rpstiver@gmail.com (both come to the same location). For emails regarding scheduling (church events, visits or counseling), please copy my wife Linda ldstiver@gmail.com. Announcements should be sent to my email and copied to our daughter Amanda at anstiver@gmail.com as she helps process them each week.

  1. Church Circuit Calendar 

August 3

Sabbath services

Youngstown – 1 p.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Wheeling – 10 a.m.; Pittsburgh – 2:30 p.m. 

August 10

Sabbath services

Youngstown – 11 a.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Wheeling – 10 a.m.; Pittsburgh – 2:30 p.m.

August 17

Sabbath services

Youngstown – 1 p.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Wheeling – 10 a.m.; Pittsburgh – 2:30 p.m. North Canton Sabbath Bible Study – 12 noon.

August 23

Bible Study webcast

7:30 p.m. EDT  –  Title to be announced  https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast

August 24

Sabbath services

Youngstown – 11 a.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh – 10 a.m.; Wheeling – 2:30 p.m. 

August 31

Sabbath services

Youngstown – 1 p.m.; North Canton – 2 p.m.; Pittsburgh – 2:30 p.m.; Wheeling – 10 a.m. 

 

LOCAL PRAYER REQUESTS: 

  • Rose Szymkowiak (NC) – Rose fell from a short ladder while painting and suffered a hairline sacral fracture. She called right after Bible Study to report that she is at home and able to move slowly and carefully for a few minutes each hour. There is still a fair amount of pain involved. She and Joe thank you for your prayers.
  • Dale Harmon (NC) is now at the Sunrise Care Center in the Youngstown area. He is still however still periodically experiencing considerable discomfort from his skin cancer condition, plus other issues. Please keep him in your prayers.
  • Dick & Janice Walters (NC) – Dick breathing problems and irregular heartbeat have improved to the point he is able to attend services and Janice is in better health too.
  • Bill Walcroft (Pitts) – After his health crisis, Bill is now able to again attend Sabbath services! He very much appreciates your prayers.
  • Ruth Wine (sister of Dick Walters in NC) – recovering from a major heart surgery, appreciates your prayers but no visitors at this time please.
  • Ian Healey (grandson of Louis & Carol Petit in NC) – awaiting a kidney donor.
  • Steve Richmond (Cambridge) – The liver and colon cancer continues. 
  • Todd Bickel  (NC) – Bursitis and high blood pressure.
  • Dave Ritter (NC) – upcoming prostate surgery.

2.    FRIDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY – SUMMER CHANGE (reminder)

We will have only one Bible Study webcast per month during August. The next Bible Study webcast is Friday eveningAugust 23 at 7:30 p.m. at https://www.ucg.org/congregations/north-canton-oh/webcast

3.    SPOKESMAN CLUB  - September 8 

We had an outstanding July club meeting in Steubenville. Table Topics got everyone on their feet and the speeches and evaluations went quite well. The next meeting will be Sunday morning, September 8. For those of you men who haven’t yet signed up for Spokesman Club, that could be your first meeting!  Please talk to Mr. Stiver, Freeman Kuhns, Keith Wilson or Jim Kocher to get involved in the premiere personal growth and leadership training program in God’s true Church from 1960 to 2019!

4.    LOCAL BIBLE READING PROGRAM

As it was launched in our most recent Bible Study webcast entitled, “Bible Biography – Isaiah the Prophet” on Friday evening, July 20th, here below is our local Bible Reading Program for the reading the book of Isaiah by the Feast of Tabernacles. Below that are the Chapter Summaries for chapters 1-6 and 7-13.  Each week hereafter we’ll post the summaries for the upcoming week’s reading assignments. If you have Bible Study questions, please send them to Mr. Stiver or to email to biblequestions@

ISAIAH Reading Project leading up to the Feast of Tabernacles            

Human author: Isaiah, the son of Amoz.  Written: approx. 740-698 B.C.           

DATES                                 WEEK               CHAPTERS

July 28-Aug. 3            --Week 1            --1-6

August 4-10               --Week 2            --7-13

August 11-17             --Week 3            --14-20

August 18-24             --Week 4            --21-27

August 25-31             --Week 5            --28-34

September 1-7          --Week 6            --35-41

September 8-14        --Week 7            --42-48

September 15-21      --Week 8            --49-55

September 22-28      --Week 9            --56-59

Sept. 29-Oct. 5          --Week 10          --60-63

October 6-12             --Week 11          --64-66

ISAIAH CHAPTER SUMMARIES  

(Each week we’ll publish a brief summary of the chapters to be read.)

ISAIAH 1 – The first verse is both title “The vision of Isaiah…” and historical setting of the kings of Judah he served over the course of his long tenure as a prophet of God (about 60 years). As with all His prophets, God speaks—sends His message to Israel, the true Church of God today, and all mankind through Isaiah. The whole nation(s) is spiritually sick (v.5…). God takes issue with both whether and how the people keep—or don’t keep His Sabbath, Holydays and law generally. He reasons with His people through His prophet (v.18). The last part uses Jerusalem as the symbol of Israel as God scolds Israel. In v. 24 begins a prophecy of “the world tomorrow”—the Millennial age.

ISAIAH 2 – Begins with a famous millennial prophecy of “beating swords into plowshares…” V. 5-9 calls for repentance of religious and material idolatry. V.10-22 prophecies of the Day of the Lord when Christ will intervene in world events through the Great Tribulation (of which the Day of the Lord is the last part) shortly before His second coming. 

ISAIAH 3 – Through His prophet God pronounces the sin and rebellion of all Israel (and all nations in principle (v. 1-9), but He comforts His faithful for their obedience (v. 10-11). Then Israel’s leaders (ancient & modern) and the women of Israel are taken to task for their sinful behavior (v. 12-26).

ISAIAH 4 – V.1 finishes the prophecy against female sinfulness. V. 2-6 is a millennial prophecy of faithful and obedient “daughters of Zion.”

ISAIAH 5 – V. 1-7 – is the prophecy of the disappointing and sinful vineyard of Israel. V. 8-15 – denouncements on gross materialism, drunkenness and sinful entertainment. V. 16 – brief millennial prophecy. V. 17-25 – God denounces cynicism, perversion, arrogance and injustice—which He will punish. V. 26-30 – thus God would and will raise up the great Assyrian power to punish Israel.

ISAIAH 6 – God gave Isaiah a vision of the heavenly throne when He called him to be a prophet. V. 6-13 – Isaiah’s prophetic marching orders. Note the reference to “a tenth” or remnant in v. 13.

ISAIAH 7 – God sent Isaiah and his son Shear-Jashub (means: “a remnant shall return”) to take a message to King Ahaz. V. 10-17 – the famous Immanuel Prophecy of Christ’s first coming (see Matt. 1:23). V. 18-25 – Prophecy of God “whistling” for the forces of Assyria to punish sinful Israel (and the modern nations of Israel in our time).

ISAIAH 8 – V. 1-4 – the birth of Isaiah’s second son Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (lit. Speed the spoil; Hasten the booty). His name is prophetic of the punishment on ancient—and modern—nations of Israel and Judah. V. 5-10 prophecy of Assyria (ancient and modern) destroying the Israelite nations. V. 11-15 – God’s people should not be taken in by the world’s conspiracies (v.12). Christ referred to the Stone of Stumbling… (v. 14; Luke 209:17). V. 16-20 – God’s people must use God’s Word and Law to evaluate all religious and quasi-religious teachings.  V. 21-22 – the world ignores God’s way and are “driven into darkness.”

ISAIAH 9 – V. 1-5 – Prophecy that ancient Galilee would be where the “great light” from which the Messiah (Christ) would spring. V. 6-7 – The great prophecy of the birth of the Son of God who would lead the “government” of God on earth over all the nations.  V. 8-21 – the punishment of God upon “Samaria” which had been the capital of the ten-tribed, House of Israel which was dominated by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

ISAIAH 10 – V. 1-4 – Woe (pain and destruction) to those who “decree unrighteous decrees” (create sinful laws and standards of behavior) which all the world does, but especially the modern nations descended from ancient Israel. V. 5-19 – Woe to Assyria (ancient and modern) for his heart of destruction (v. 7) and arrogance (v. 13-15).  V. 20-23 – the Great Lesson of History – Israel—or any nation—must learn to “depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.  V. 24-27 – Israel not to be ultimately afraid of Assyrian because God is their source of true freedom.  V. 28-34 – Prophecy of the southward march of the Assyrian army south into the lands of Israel (with geographic locations cited) where the Ten Tribes were conquered and deported between 734-722 B.C.


ISAIAH 11 – V. 1-5 – Prophecy of the “rod from the stem of Jesse” (King David’s father) which is about Jesus Christ’s divine rule over all the nations in the millennial, World Tomorrow.  V. 6-9 – the beautiful millennial prophecy of the little child leading formerly wild animals (which references the spiritual taming of the carnal, selfish, human nature.  The Second Exodus prophecy of the return of the modern remnant of the tribes of Israel to the Promised Land after the second coming of Christ.

ISAIAH 12 – V. 1-6 – Prophecy of the Christ’s rule over the nations in the millennial World Tomorrow. It is the lyrics of a hymn of praise.

ISAIAH 13 – “The burden [massa in Hebrew, meaning weighty thing against] Babylon…” The ancient empire of Assyria controlled the city of Babylon. One of the Assyrian princes ruled the southern end of the empire from Babylon—until the Babylonians themselves gained control. Babylon then became a term for the world’s nations and ways in Bible prophecy.  V. 6-9 – refers to the prophetic “day of the Lord” that is the last part of the Great Tribulation just before Christ’s second coming. It marks God’s direct intervention in the endtime wars of the nations. Even more than Assyria, Babylon is used in the Bible to describe man’s futile ways compared to God’s way of lovingkindness.  V. 11-16 – Punishment coming on all mankind.  V. 17-18 – Anciently God sent the Medes (allied with Persia) to destroy physical Babylon.  V. 19-22 – Ultimately, Babylon to be a sort of wildlife refuge—a far cry from the center of empire it once was!

end