Check for Accuracy!

When I was in my undergraduate program, I had the opportunity to make maps. This was a good thing since I loved maps. This was also the era of the fold-up map. People planning a road trip would rely on those maps from their neighborhood gas station or the Automobile Club of America (AAA).

For our schoolwork, we plotted the base of a historic lighthouse on the eastern end of Long Island in NY and surveyed a segment of a beach. We relished making the maps, but we learned that no matter how accurate our work was, we were always a bit off. Not so that we would have wound up in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but significant to the point that we had to settle for being close enough.

In reality, there was as much about art as science in the creation of maps. Back in the day, cartographers would converse with traders who would travel from port to port and town to town. The mapmakers would compare stories and adjust their maps. When possible, they would venture out as actual experience was vital.

Because this work was painstakingly tedious and personal, the cartographers would often insert an intentional mistake or what came to be called: a phantom settlement into a map to make it their own. This was a location or physical artifact that in fact did not exist. If someone copied the false information, the original mapmaker had the evidence to show.

The point of including this story is to make the far more important point that as true Christians we should never blindly rely on information simply because it is in print. However, we know that we can and must trust absolutely in the Word of God contained in our Bibles. We need to use our Bibles and become familiar with the Scriptures.

We know that the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, and there can be subtle differences in translations. Ultimately however, it comes down to this Scripture in Psalm 119:160: “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” This is a simple yet complete message that is reinforced for us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We must always make certain that any study tools and translation aids we are relying on are rendered accurately. While I was preparing my previous editorial in December 2024, Mr. Norbert Link and I realized that something was amiss with a particular NIV translation I was using. I had used a popular online Bible study tool—but as you may guess, the translation was inaccurate.

I’ve researched this since my experience and learned that this particular tool uses Artificial Intelligence to analyze biblical texts and provide translations, commentaries, and study resources. This does not inherently mean that Scripture will be altered with AI, but in my experience, it was. I think back on previous work using the tool, and recall apparently “minor” changes the tool frequently suggested. I never accepted the changes since I knew this would modify Scripture.

I suspect that online Bible study tools generally focus on readability. However, we must never alter Scripture to suit the software. It is clear that there is no better resource for true Christians than actually using our Bibles.

In Exodus 20:1-2, Moses wrote: “And God spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.’”

This Scripture and the next 25 verses provide the record of the conversation between Moses and our Creator, concerning what was now a mutual relationship between God and His people. God saved His people from the yoke of the Egyptians and was now communicating His expectations for His people: their adherence to the Ten Commandments.

The words that God chose for this message were perfect, and modifying them in any way would diminish this sacred and historic moment, as well as alter the Word of God.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are reminded to rely on God:  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” For further emphasis, consider this Scripture in Deuteronomy 4:2: “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” This is very clear guidance as to how we should be reading and using our Bibles to grow our understanding of Scripture. It is also instructive as to how we must consider tools such as AI in our Bible studies. As we delve deeper into Scripture, we can see that God makes this point time and again. Trust and rely on His word, neither add nor subtract from it. Let’s consider two more Scriptures to close out this editorial.

Proverbs 30:5-6 states: “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” Revelation 22:18-19 emphasizes: “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Technology can be wonderful and yet can also create challenging issues. I am not casting all AI software with a negative light, but just as we rely on a map to be accurate, as true Christians, we must make certain that the tools we rely on to help us draw closer to God and Jesus Christ are indeed godly and have integrity. We can do this by using the Bible as our roadmap.

A Sinless Human Life

In this Split Sermon we will consider various scriptures that help us in our study of the sinless human life of Jesus Christ. We understand that Jesus lived a fully human life, yet did so without sinning. This enabled Him to take on the sins of the world and offer salvation for true Christians who believe in Him and obey the commandments of the Father.

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Don’t Become a Hostage!

In 1973, a parolee and an accomplice in Stockholm, Sweden, took 7 employees of a local bank hostage for a period of six days. In the end, when the situation was resolved and the two were taken into custody, the hostages declined to assist prosecutors in pursuing charges and, in fact, they began raising funds for the criminal defense of the two.

Wikipedia recounts that Nils Bejerot, a Swedish criminologist and psychiatrist, described the hostages’ reactions as a result of being brainwashed by their captors. He called it “the Norrmalmstorg syndrome;” it later became known outside Sweden as Stockholm syndrome.

As I observed the reaction of many people here in the US to the recent presidential election, the factor that seemed to emerge was a measure of mass hysteria and panic from the liberal and progressives who seemed united in their belief that the freedoms they had heretofore had, to live as they wished, and so-called reproductive right—abortion—would be gone the next morning. The days of Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, and other news media luminaries of the past reporting the facts in as unbiased a way as humans are capable of has been replaced. Now we see corporate media, backed by unseen and ultra powerful people who seek to divide and destroy morality and civilization.

It seems to me that many have embraced a new religion that transcends politics and ideology and is more about controlling minds and behavior. The ancient Romans were adept at this. Initially hailed for their effective governance, this was not enough for them as they wanted absolute control over the people—both their own citizens, and those they conquered. Rather than winning the hearts and minds of the population, they chose threats, fear and pain.

As true Christians, we have to guard against becoming a hostage to the structures and prevailing thinking of this world. In Proverbs 4:23, we receive pure and simple guidance to aid us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (New International version throughout). Most of us have to work in business and other structures in the world in order to feed and house our families. However, we can opt out of the holiday parties and events that glorify Satan and his hold on this world. We can avoid being sucked in to the things that cause us to stumble.

When I worked in local government, I noticed how prevailing beliefs often were accepted as facts, much as we witnessed with the Covid crisis. An example was the public reaction to the arrival of West Nile Virus in the summer of 2004. The virus had made its way to the Rocky Mountain region through a specific mosquito vector or species.

There were thousands of residents who wanted mass pesticide fogging at night with trucks rolling down every street. A nearly equal cohort were equally vocal that pesticide fogging would be killing chemically sensitive residents. Of course, neither position was correct to the point of absolute certainty, yet people became hostage to either position and could not get past it. Each side became so enamored of their message that there was no room for facts. Conversely, we know that as true Christians, we are not part of the world’s structures—we must instead be focused and aligned with God. 2 Timothy 1:7 illustrates what God intends for His people in such times: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

God does not want us scared and influenced by society such that we accept and, at worst, identify with the immoral and corrupt elements that surround us. We often hear this characterized as accepting the lesser of evils. In Philippians 4:8, we see what Paul had to say about these matters: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

If we are seeking what is true, pure, noble, and healthy, it is unlikely that we would willfully join a group or take a job that would cause us to constantly be faced with difficult situations pitting God’s ways with the ways of this world. In Isaiah 26:7-10, the prophet Isaiah lays out how true Christians can seek alignment with God versus the world: “The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgements come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the LORD.”

God has been remarkably merciful with His people through the ages, and He wants us to grow to the point that we can identify how the evils of this world can draw us in and hold us hostage. Much like those bank employees in Sweden in the 1970’s, if we spend all of our time with our seemingly benevolent captors, we will undoubtedly begin to draw our inspiration and see our future through their corrupt vision. The words of Paul to the Church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 can help us as we make our way as true Christians in this world.

“By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am ‘timid’ when face to face with you, but ‘bold’ when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”

We have all of these Scriptures and more available to us to enable us to stand strong; always seeking alignment with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. In this way, we can avoid false doctrines that can hold us hostage to this world.

Turn the Cheek

Nearly everywhere we turn these days we see people claiming to be offended by colleagues, school mates, family, friends and even the brethren. Despite the ease of taking offense, true Christians understand the need to rely on God for the strength to turn the other cheek and avoid escalation. In this Sermonette we will consider various scriptures and examples of what true Christians must do in order to obey God and not the world.

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Identity

In our world today the crime of identity theft and worse has become a near constant threat to deal with. From credit card scams now being a daily component of email, and on-line purchases, to the theft of one’s identity, life can be an all-consuming race to protect our financial well-being and reputations. However, as a true Christian one never need worry about losing our singular identity in the eyes of our Creator—our Father in Heaven. In this Split-Sermon we will cover scriptures that show us how we can rely on God for the spiritual and physical protection of our unique being that He created.

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Empathy

Living in the world today poses unique challenges for each of us, and more so for a true Christian. In this Sermonette we will cover various scriptures that will help us understand that we must rely on God and His Son to guide us through the turbulence and to salvation. We also must have empathy for our Brethren and understand that we must support one another through our trials and have compassion, just as Jesus Christ has compassion for those who obey Him.

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Words

Words can be powerful; they express emotions and even evoke memories so deep that we are brought to tears. They convey our intentions with one another and really are a gift from God when used properly. Words also give us a mechanism to seek, understand and communicate with Him.

There is another side to our use of words. Of course, we can use words to wound and harm. The bullying that has sadly become more prevalent with the age of social media is an example of the misuse of words and language. We’ve also become accustomed to the use of words and phrases that hold little meaning. The example I want to focus on for this editorial is the phrase: “I’ll try.” We’ve all used this a time or two in our lives and likely meant well. I’ve read a perspective on this from a business strategist. His take on the phrase “I’ll try,” is that one is conveying an attempt to do something, yet, also hedging one’s bets, or leaving ourselves a convenient escape valve. The idea is that the person is signaling that perhaps they will not be successful or will fail if they try. As though constructing a safety net in advance will inoculate the person from criticism and failure.

In 2017, an American free climber, Alex Honnold, made history and redefined what athleticism means by climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without the use of ropes or equipment. In preparing for this, Mr. Honnold had completed many other challenging climbs. In reading his comments about the climbs, I noticed he never used the phrase, “I’ll try to do this.” He simply prepared to do it, and then went forward. Had he failed in his bid to ascend El Capitan, he still would have won in so many respects. He did not pave the way with the cushion of potential failure.

The word “try” is used 134 times in the Bible and in relation to humans, it may convey what a person will attempt to do, such as one trying to till the land. When it relates to God and His promise for those He calls and who obey, He is always clear. He does not attempt to do something; He commits to it. He implores His people to “try” Him or test Him and He promises to be constant.

In Numbers 14:22-23, we read: “Because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.” Other translations will use the words try me, rather than test, but the point is made; God requires no equivocation, and no cushion. He sets His hand to something, and He does it. He wants His followers to live with the same commitment in our relationship with Him, and in these verses, He is citing His displeasure with His people for their disobedience.

In Psalm 139:23, we see David imploring God to try him, to search him and know him: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties.” This is unnecessary as God knows all about each of us; He knows our shortcomings and our strengths. Still, David is correct in wanting God to know him and throughout this chapter, he is stating his intention of remaining close to God.

Perhaps a more accurate word choice for true Christians in our calling to follow God is that we endeavour (or endeavor) to follow Him. According to Vocabulary.com, The Middle English root of the word “endeavour means to put oneself in or do one’s utmost, so if you endeavour to do something, you do it with earnestness and significant effort.” The U.S. Space Agency—NASA, named one of its space shuttles built in 1987 “Endeavour.” NASA was honoring the HMS Endeavour, the first ship used by the British explorer Captain James Cook. Back in the days of sailing vessels such as the Endeavour, one did not try to make the journey—they truly endeavored to do so. It was life or death and rarely in between. Ironically, it may have been riskier to set sail around the cape of Africa than to sit atop over 3 million pounds of fuel to lift Endeavour into orbit 400 miles above the earth.

In our calling we also must endeavour to obey—that means putting our hearts and minds fully into our commitment. Romans 12:11 illustrates this well: “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Fervent in spirit means we are fully committed in our pursuit of God’s Kingdom. We must never justify our failure to obey with a cushion of weakness.

There is a good modern example of this inherent weakness in a photo of the actor Chris Pratt as he portrayed a lazy fellow in a popular sitcom. The photo includes his comment: “I’ll Try; Don’t Expect Much.” This is truly a statement on society. Don’t count on me to show up for work, to do what I say, and to stand up for God. Contrast this with God’s promise for us as he urges us to try Him and see the result. We see this in Malachi 3:10: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” For our faith, obedience and trust in God, He will bestow such blessings on His people such that it will overwhelm us. God never backs away from us, He does not need an excuse, and He is the foundation of our lives—now and forever.

In 1 Peter 1:15, we read the admonition for us to endeavour to be as constant in our faith as God is with us: “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”

Think about how we wish others to view us; not as one who shifts with the winds, but as a strong, reliable person. First, we must strive for this standard in our relationship with God—to be consistent in our obedience to Him.

Seeking Joy Through Faith

There is much evil in this world that we must be mindful of and observe prophetic events that God has identified through the pages of the bible. Still, it can become increasingly difficult to remain focused on living the lives God has blessed us with and being productive. In this Split Sermon we will consider God’s Word and His intentions for us to serve and glorify Him through our faith and a joyful spirit.

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Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock

compiled by Dave Harris

“The Middle East in Turmoil Again!” is the title of a recent StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The Middle East seems to be always in trouble, but this time, it’s different. Not only because of the many enemies surrounding and attacking Israel, including Iran and the many terrorist organizations under Iran’s leadership, but also because of NATO member Turkey’s abominable actions under President Erdogan. While he is threatening the invasion of Israel, NATO remains silent, and Germany is still considering him as a “valuable friend.” Bible prophecy has much to say about Germany’s and Turkey’s aggressive conduct towards Israel, which will lead to total disaster for all parties concerned.

“Why the Riots in the UK?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

The widespread riots in Southport, England, and throughout the country did not happen in a vacuum. They were predictable, but most politicians were willfully ignorant and did not want to face reality. It appears that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government are still not willing to address the true causes. What are the lessons other countries can learn from these events, especially the USA?

A new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link, covers the same topic. Title in German:  “Warum die Unruhen im Vereinigten Königreich?”

A new Member Letter (August 2024) has been written. Elder Frank Bruno writes about our unique opportunity to have membership in the Body of Christ—the Church of God.

“Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen,” is the title of our newest booklet, which has now been sent to the printer in preparation for distribution.

“Sind Sie überrascht von der Feuerprobe?” last Sabbath’s German sermonette by Robert Muhr, is now posted. Title in English: “Are You Surprised by the Trial by Fire?”

“Comfortable With the Uncomfortable,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

God’s laws are considered “uncomfortable” for everyone who doesn’t want to obey Him. But if we obey God and keep ALL His commandments and know what God promises to all those who believe and are diligent, then this is how we can be “comfortable.”

“Why Will God Soon Plague Mankind?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

A terrible time full of plagues is prophesied for this world. It is called the Day of the Lord in the Bible—a period of time that reveals God’s wrath towards humanity. But why are both the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, so angry that they will pour out terrible plagues on the people of the end times?  And how can that be when God is personified love? What is the ultimate purpose of the plagues of God on the Day of the Lord?

Never Let Go

As a child learning to take those first few steps, or as a parent helping our kids do that, we appreciate the clutch of those tiny fingers on ours as the young ones take their halting first steps. There is a certainty and security that we know the child relies on. They have faith that their parent will be there to protect them. It is visceral and without question. We know that a true Christian should have that same absolute confidence in his or her relationship with the Father. If we rely on Him, He is there to protect us, guide us, and lead us in growing in our faith. In this Sermonette, we will cover several Scriptures and examples that illustrate this bond that we who are called have with our Creator.

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