United Church of God

Update from the President: September 12, 2019

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Update from the President

September 12, 2019

This week we focus our attention on the serious trials for our people in the Caribbean, both in the Bahamas and in Haiti. I would like to share the following reports from senior pastor Chuck Smith.

Hurricane Dorian

As you may have seen on the news, Hurricane Dorian has been one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record. The Washington Post reported last week that "Dorian will go down in infamy as being the most destructive storm to hit Grand Bahama Island or Great Abaco Island." The hurricane's onslaught was particularly acute because it stalled over this area, hardly moving as it continued to wreak havoc (the hurricane reportedly pummeled the Bahamas for more than two days).

Caribbean area senior pastor Chuck Smith and his assistant Jeff Lockhart have organized the first shipment of emergency relief that will be delivered by boat to the brethren in Freeport. With generous help from Home Depot, Ferguson Supply, Publix, and funds provided by Good Works, they are prepared to make this first shipment Monday (anticipated arrival by Wednesday). This will provide the brethren (10 members and their families) with much needed food, water and rebuilding supplies. This first shipment consists of bottled water, rice, crackers, peanut butter, canned goods and other food stuffs, two shallow water pumps to get some fresh water with the help of a generator, flashlights and a solar radio, heavy duty can openers, 25 interior and exterior doors to replace those on the members' houses that were blown off by the wind or damaged by the flood waters. Once the doors are in place, most of the members will be able to lock and secure their houses (crime and looting are now a real concern). The shipment also contains electric wire, plugs and switches to replace the saltwater-damaged ones in the houses (the hope is to get those changed out before the island's electric grid is up and running). The island is still without water or electricity, with no end in sight to the outages. The brethren had food and water stored before the hurricane, but their supplies are getting low. This first shipment should arrive just in time. UCG members Mark and Wendy Mackey have been looking after the brethren and their families through this whole ordeal and will continue their work; we are blessed to have such servants on the ground in Grand Bahamas.

We thank you for the generous donations of $12,865 of our $35,000 goal (as of today). To donate, please visit https://www.ucg.org/members/service-projects/hurricane-dorian-relief (please note on checks or online donations that funds are earmarked for Good Works - Bahamas). We will post updates as we receive them.

Update on Haiti

For the past several weeks, there has been a severe gas shortage in Haiti. The average person has NO access to gasoline, including our deacon, Joseph Jean. The gas tank on his vehicle is empty. He is unable to pick up members he usually transports to services and Bible studies each week, so they are unable to attend (about half the congregation). Chuck Smith needs to make a trip before the Feast to arrange things, but has had to postpone it twice. If this continues, he will not even be able to go over for the Feast, and they will only have a small, local Feast, without all the wonderful treats many have been collecting for them. The problem is greed and corruption--there is gas available, but gas stations close during the day and sell it by night to nefarious people who turn around and sell it at extravagant prices that are out of reach for the general population. Also, tanker trucks are being hijacked and the fuel stolen. Chuck Smith has talked to various Haitians who have lived in South Florida for many years but still stay in contact with relatives there. They say conditions are much worse now than even during the "Papa Doc" and "Baby Doc" days. Although dictators, they at least kept order.

In addition, the withdrawal of United Nations peace-keeping forces from Haiti coincides with the Fall Holy Days, and no one knows what the consequences will be to the already riot-prone, chaotic nation.

Your prayers for peace, and for alleviation of this gas shortage are much appreciated. Chuck Smith will have to make a decision regarding the Feast by October 1, so time is of the essence.

PatienceEmbrace the Uncomfortable

Real patience is a spiritual gift that we all want, and as the ironic humorous saying goes, we generally want it now. We have to exercise the spiritual gift of patience when we're out of our comfort zone. As disciples of Jesus Christ, patience is what we need when we're provoked and we naturally want to lash out. Patience is what we need in the middle of a seemingly never-ending financial or physical trial, right when our spiritual reserves of patience may seem in short supply.

Patience (Greek makrothumia) is the fourth spiritual attribute or "fruit" that Paul says actively reflects a Christian who has God's Holy Spirit living and working in him or her (Galatians 5:22-23).

The spiritual gift of patience gives us the remarkable means to embrace the uncomfortable, to settle in and temporarily accept whatever painful trial or disturbing situation we may find ourselves in.

To be successful in life, we often have to be patient, even when we don't want to or don't feel like it. The good news is that our heavenly Father is abundantly patient, and desires to share this spiritual element of strength with us in much greater measure than we produce ourselves.

How do we acquire and use spiritual patience? The Greek word transliterated makrothumia literally means to be "long-passioned." People who exhibit the spiritual fruit of makrothumia show restraint in a moment where others would burst out with anger. It has much to do with forbearance, which is directly related to mercy, compassion and self-control. This quality is also spiritually described as "longsuffering."

A great example of how a man of God lacked patience and self-control but ultimately received and learned how to use this spiritual gift is demonstrated in the life of Moses. We often think of Moses' time in the "wilderness" as the time when he was leading the Israelites through the desert for 40 long years. But consider the time of Moses' earlier wandering around for four long decades in the desert as "a foreigner in a foreign land" (Exodus 2:22, New Living Translation). Those were his personal "wilderness years."

Let's briefly review the story. Moses as a young man had it all. Back then he was living in luxury and comfort, a member of the Egyptian Pharaoh's royal household. One day he happened to witness a despicable act. An Egyptian was unfairly beating a Hebrew, whom Moses recognized as one of "his people." But, instead of thinking before acting, we read that after "looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand" (Exodus 2:12, NLT).

Moses was probably outraged, but it was still a rash act. It was murder. Things quickly got worse. Someone evidently saw the act, as word spread rapidly about this high-ranking member of Pharaoh's household and what he did.

The result? "Sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and then tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian" (verse 15).

Ancient Midian was on the northeast side of the Red Sea, about some 300 miles east. Once there and out of the reach of Egyptian authorities, Moses settled down and exchanged his luxurious life in the royal Egyptian household for a humble desert life among sheep and camels, a "foreigner in a foreign land."

During that period, he had plenty of time—40 years' worth!—to think about what a rash act of murder cost him. Instead of being waited on, he had a new life of hard physical labor.

Nevertheless, as an uncomfortable "foreigner in a foreign land," Moses was in the middle of a long learning period, a time when he learned longsuffering. He had no idea what God was preparing him for, and had no idea if God was even preparing him for anything! During those 40 years we have no record of any angel from God visiting Moses to reveal how he would soon be leading more than a million people. For four straight decades, Moses just got up every day, tended his flocks, raised his son, lived among his wife's people and laid down at the end of the day for a night's sleep.

But over many years, Moses learned how to receive and apply the spiritual gift of patience. Later, when Moses is unexpectedly thrust into a top human leadership position, we see remarkable instances of patience in action. The man of rash acts is generally gone. Time and time again, Moses prays for and entreats God Himself to be merciful. Moses patiently endures taunts and rebellion, even from his own family. The grumblings of more than a million people weigh heavily. But the spiritual fruit of patience enables Moses to win. Although an imperfect human, he remains patiently faithful to the end, even when he is barred from entering the Promised Land.

What about you and me? In my half century of being a pastor, I have seen injustice and wrongful acts that seem to go unpunished, sometimes for very long periods. I have also seen people suffer for the consequences of their own mistakes and sins. But when I have seen or experienced unjust situations, I take comfort in David's words: "Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes...Do not lose your temper--it only leads to harm" (Psalm 37:7-8, NLT). Why? "Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone" (verse 10). God will deliver people at the appropriate time!

These situations can be a way in which God provides learning opportunities for real spiritual growth--I have often seen the trial or period of uncomfortable situations end marvelously, often with God's favor opening new and unexpected doors--similar to what He did for Moses.

King David wrote: "The meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant peace" (Psalm 37:11, English Standard Version). Ever read those words somewhere else? They were magnified by Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 5:5: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

And of course, we know that Moses himself is described in the King James Version as being "very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3).

God will take care of us. We will be delivered. Like Moses, we may have to learn "longsuffering," but this process of learning patience will also bring the priceless qualities of humility, compassion and mercy, as we ourselves become meek and humble (Micah 6:8).

God has called you to a great purpose. Like David, when facing trials or challenging situations, we can be still. We can appropriately accept and relax into the situation where we are learning how to receive and apply divine patience. With God's help and encouragement, we can embrace the uncomfortable, allowing God to prepare us for His purpose in marvelous ways!