“Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:2) I just returned from a wonderful trip to Brazil. Please read the report on page 3. Please notice the changes to the Upcoming Meeting Schedule on page 2. If you plan to attend these meetings, please call ahead of time to enable the hosts to know how to prepare. My family and I will be gone most of the month of May. If you need to talk with me, please contact Smyrna and ask for my secretary, Ruth. I hope to see you at one of our upcoming meetings. Keep looking up. The Lord is coming sooner than you may think!

The Ten Commandments Day

by Lynnford Beachy

Recently there has been a lot of debate concerning the Ten Commandments. Liberal lawmakers have been striving to remove the Ten Commandments from public view, taking them out of schools, court rooms, and other public places. This has caused conservative Christian leaders to push lawmakers to pass laws that will exalt the Ten Commandments. There is a movement seeking to enforce religious laws. Many Christian leaders are encouraging the world to honor the Ten Commandments on May 7, 2006. (See www.tencommandmentsday.com.) This is interesting because many Christian leaders boldly proclaim that the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross. The following statement echoes the sentiments of a surprisingly large segment of Christianity today: “The Ten Commandments have been done away with.” (See www.lawofliberty.com/ sabbathkeeping1.htm.)

Usually those who make this claim recognize God’s requirements upon us regarding murder, stealing, worshiping false gods, etc., but they have a special hatred for the fourth commandment dealing with the Sabbath. In their zeal to rid themselves and others of the requirement to keep this commandment, many have decided to get rid of them all by saying they were nailed to the cross. Then, to maintain some decency in the church, they claim that all the other nine commandments have been restated in the New Testament and, therefore, must be kept. If this were true, then they should be seeking to uphold nine commandments, not ten.

Interestingly, May 7 is a Sunday, the first day of the week. There is one commandment that is impossible to keep on this day, the fourth commandment, which says, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-11)

God’s commandment says “the seventh day is the sabbath,” yet most Christians believe that it is not necessary to literally obey this command. They say that even though Saturday is the seventh day of the week, Jesus Christ died, and was resurrected on Sunday, and therefore we should honor Sunday, the first day of the week, instead of Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Most Christians will freely admit that Saturday is the seventh day of the week, and the day which God referred to in the Ten Commandments, but they are unwilling to obey this command, primarily because the Sunday-keeping tradition is so strong and, to keep the seventh-day Sabbath holy, one must go against the majority, who honor Sunday.

We must recognize our responsibility to keep the Ten Commandments and show, by example, how they are to be kept, including the fourth commandment.

The sad reality that many students of Bible prophecy recognize in this sudden push to honor the Ten Commandments is that it will ultimately lead to legislation to uphold a day of rest on Sunday, in opposition to the Sabbath of the Bible. This has been prophesied in the Bible, and will surely come to pass. (Please see the April 2003 and March 2005 issues of Present Truth for more information. They are available upon request, or at www.presenttruth.info.)

According to the Bible, Sunday is one of the “six working days.” (Ezekiel 46:1) God said, “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work.” (Exodus 20:9) Honoring one day of the week above another is strictly religious in nature, directly relating to our worship of God. There can be no other reason for honoring a day of the week than that of worship. Since Sunday observance can only relate to worship, the government has no right to regulate what I may or may not do on Sunday if it is lawful any other day of the week. Yet, this is precisely what the government sought to do in the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (306-337 AD), when it was used to persecute God’s people, and it is what many religious leaders are seeking to do again.

The mark of the beast crisis will revolve around worship and the government legislation of worship. It is certain that the governments of this world will pass a universal law regarding worship. (Revelation 13:11-18) They will follow the example of Constantine and enforce religious observance of Sunday.

God makes it clear that if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven we must “do his commandments.” “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14)

God will have a group of people in the last days who will keep His commandments. Concerning the final generation upon earth John wrote, “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:17) “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12) God will have a group of people in the last days who will keep His law. Those who break the law are sinners, “for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)

What does the Bible say will happen, at the time of the second coming of Christ, to those who transgress God’s law? “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.” (Isaiah 13:9) That is a very solemn warning. It is no wonder the Lord says, “Prepare to meet thy God.” (Amos 4:12)

Let us exalt the Ten Commandments before the people of this nation. Yet, in the midst of our eagerness to share them with the world, let us not overlook the fourth commandment, which deals with the Sabbath. This Commandment is just as valid today as it ever has been.

Let us stand up in defense of God’s law. Let us demonstrate, by our actions, that we are willing to obey God’s commandments, including His command to keep holy the seventh day of every week, by ceasing from our worldly labors and devoting our attentions to Him in worship and praise on His holy day, even though our friends, families, and neighbors may turn against us because of our stand for the truth. The real issue concerning the Ten Commandments is not whether or not they will be displayed in public places, but whether or not we will acknowledge their validity by our words and actions.

Jesus says to you today, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32, 33) Stand up and be counted as one who is in favor of all of God’s Ten Commandments.

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Upcoming Meetings in Your Area

Here is the currently-planned 2006 itinerary for Lynnford Beachy:

May 6    Southern New Jersey, contact Dr. Joel Arcilla, 856-719-6739—updated since last month.

May 10-13    Southern Maine, contact Mervin and Rose Marie Shoemaker, 207-892-2338.

May 13    Wenatchee, Washington (Allen Stump will be speaking, not Lynnford), contact Eldon Noyes, 509-548-5379.

May 15-18    Upstate New York, contact Marvin Ford, 315-845-8519.

May 19, 20    Hamilton, Canada (near Toronto), contact Paul Falconbridge, 905-561-4071.

May 26-28    Northwestern Pennsylvania, contact Calvin and Paula Bickel, 814-676-8660.

June 3, 4    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, contact Pascual Flores, 347-232-4151 -or- 718-453-3550—updated since last month.

June 20-24    West Virginia Camp Meeting, contact us here at Smyrna.

July 7, 8    Asheville, North Carolina, contact Carl Felts, 828-667-8156.

July 9    Hickory, North Carolina, contact Dr. Herb Cole, 828-322-5316.

July 27-29    Southern Maine Camp Meeting, contact Mervin and Rose Marie Shoemaker, 207-892-2338.

July 31-Aug. 6    Germany Camp Meeting, contact us here at Smyrna.

August 7-16    Denmark, Romania, Hungary and Poland Visit, contact us here at Smyrna.

September 1-4    Eastern Pennsylvania Spanish/Portuguese Camp Meeting, contact Pascual Flores, 347-232-4151 -or- 718-453-3550.

Nov. or Dec.    Southern California Camp Meeting, contact us here at Smyrna.

Note: The camp meeting in Southern California is tentatively planned for this fall, but dates have not been finalized. More meetings are being planned for September-December. Between these meetings we will be available to visit people in their homes and to have additional meetings. Check upcoming issues of Present Truth (available on our website) to keep informed about these meetings and others in your area. Please contact us if you would like to host meetings in your area.

Brazil Trip Report

by Lynnford Beachy

On Tuesday afternoon, March 28, at 2:30 p.m., I left my lovely family to begin my trip to Brazil. I had a short flight from Charleston, West Virginia, to Washington, DC, where I flew for the next 9 1/2 hours to São Paulo, Brazil. It was a night flight, so I tried to get some rest, with little success. I arrived in São Paulo at about 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. I waited in the airport for the next ten hours for my next flight at 4:30 p.m., which would take me to Curitiba. I was able to rest a little in the airport, but spent most of my time awake, working on my computer or talking with people in the airport. Most people did not know many words in English, so I had the opportunity to practice some of my poor Spanish, which is similar to the local language, Portuguese. There was another man from Boston waiting in the airport all day, so we had some nice conversations and I was able to share a copy of the book entitled, God’s Love on Trial.

Before leaving for Curitiba I was able to sample some Brazilian food for the first time. I ate at a buffet restaurant in the airport. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. There were some salad greens that look very similar to spinach, but were smaller and tasted a little different. They were served with dried tomatoes and a light seasoning. It was very good. I especially liked the dried tomatoes. I accompanied this with some carrots, potatoes, rice, beans, and corn.

I was able to learn a few words in Portuguese while in the airport. I learned “thank you,” which is “obrigado.” Later, I learned something strange about this word, that when a woman is speaking she is supposed to say “obrigada,” but when a man is speaking he is supposed to say “obrigado.” This is different from Spanish, which is “gracias” no matter who says it.

On the airplane going to Curitiba, I was privileged to sit beside a man who was very willing to talk, even though he did not know very many words in English. We talked the whole way, for over an hour, we spoke in Spanish. I was happy that we were able to talk on many subjects, even though my Spanish is very limited, as well as his English. He seemed genuinely happy to receive the book, God’s Love on Trial.

Divine Providence

Originally, when we planned this trip, Pastor Bob Habenicht was going to accompany me on my journey and translate for me at all the meetings. (There are very few believers in Brazil who know English well enough to translate a sermon. At this time, I did not know of anyone who could do this besides Bob.) Sadly, Pastor Bob had some trouble with cataracts in his eyes, causing him to almost lose his vision. Without his ability to read, it would be difficult for him to translate for me at the meetings. He also had an opportunity to get some help in northern Brazil, where he had been for the past five months. After prayer and consideration, we decided it best for him to stay in northern Brazil to get help there, and I would try to find another translator, even though I only had one week until the meetings began. This task was not very likely to be accomplished because whoever would translate would have to be able, on very short notice, to leave their work and travel around the country with me. So, the Lord needed to find a like-believer who could translate, and who was free to travel on a moment’s notice.

About six months before going to Brazil, I was chatting on MSN Messenger with a brother in Brazil about my trip. He gave my contact information to several other people, and I kept receiving requests from people in Brazil for me to add them to my contact list. Soon I had about twelve contacts on my list, many of whom I did not know, and only one of whom knew English well enough for me to chat with him in English (the rest I would write to them in Spanish and they would write back in Portuguese). After learning about the need for another translator I wrote messages to some of these people whenever I found them online. (You cannot chat with anyone unless they are on the Internet at the same time as you are.) I wrote a short message to a young man on my list, about the need of a translator. He suggested that perhaps a man by the name of Jairo could translate, and possibly travel with me. I had never heard of this man before.

To Jairo’s surprise, I sent him an e-mail asking him about the possibility of him translating and traveling with me. He was a little hesitant, not knowing who I am nor what I was planning to present in Brazil, but after talking with him on the phone he was eager for the opportunity. He told me that he works for a ministry full time so he was able to travel with me anywhere in Brazil. I was very relieved by this, thanking the Lord for His great providence. Within one day of realizing the need to locate another translator, Jairo agreed to travel with me and translate for me. What seemed at first to be bad, the Lord worked out for good. Praise the Lord!

Arriving in Curitiba

In Curitiba I was greeted by Brother Jairo who took me to his home about an hour away. We had a nice drive, while he filled me in on some of the challenges to the work in Brazil. We arrived at his home just after dark and were greeted by his friendly wife, Paula, who made me feel right at home, as well as by some other brothers and sisters who had come to greet me. That evening we had a Bible study that lasted until about midnight. Even though I had been awake for nearly two days, with little sleep, the Lord gave me strength to answer questions and study into the night. We studied mostly in Spanish, as several of the people were from Argentina and spoke Spanish as their mother tongue. The Lord blessed me with the ability to understand most of what was said, and them with the ability to understand my poor Spanish. We had a very nice time together, and they appreciated what they had learned.

The following day we studied the Bible over breakfast and then went to town to finalize the arrangements for our Brazilian trip. Afterwards, Jairo showed me around his home, and the property they are using to conduct ministry work. They call this ministry “The Four Angels Ministry.” They have a large building where they house their literature and print many books and pamphlets in Portuguese and Spanish. They have two Risograph duplicating machines that they use for printing their literature. After they finish printing the inside of their books, they send them off to be bound with very nice covers. They have printed The Great Controversy, Steps to Christ, Lessons on Faith, The Glad Tidings, Individuality in Religion, The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, Christ and His Righteousness, Waggoner on Romans, and a few books of their own. They all look very nice. They use these in their door-to-door book evangelism projects as they train people around Brazil to be colporteurs.

Jairo showed me a large stack of tabloid papers they had paid a large printing shop to print for them. These papers are called “World’s Last Chance” and were designed to share the Sabbath truth with people. They had 1,000,000 of these papers printed, many of which are stacked in boxes from floor to ceiling in their warehouse. They have built a small office building, as well as a chapel for church services and a pool for baptisms. It was all arranged very nicely.

1,000,000 pamphlets

That evening several brothers and sisters came over for a Bible study and I had the privilege of meeting several more brethren from the area. They had many questions about how this message is being spread around the world. We had a nice time discussing how the work is spreading. Jairo just went to Mozambique in January and he said there are about two hundred non-trinitarian Sabbath keepers there. He also said there is a group in Egypt who believe the truth, whose leader visited them here in Brazil in November.

They requested that I share with them contacts of our brethren in Latin America, and some in Africa, so they could keep in touch with them and encourage them in the work. I shared several photographs from Africa and India and some of our literature evangelism projects. They really enjoyed seeing that they are not alone in this message. I found that the brethren are very interested in prophecy. They are also studying the Righteousness by Faith message of Jones and Waggoner.

The next day we went to town to make the final preparations for the rest of our trip. While we were in town I had the privilege of meeting Jairo’s three sisters and his father (I had met his mother two nights earlier). They had invited us to their home to eat lunch with them. They are very friendly people, and I appreciated this opportunity.

That evening we prepared for the Sabbath and then enjoyed some lovely singing together, as well as a devotional. After supper the brethren wanted to have another Bible study, so they asked me to present something. I shared a message on the everlasting gospel, which is the revelation of God’s character of love, demonstrating that this is the real issue in the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Satan presents to the world the idea that God is no good, that He is selfish and unkind, while Christ seeks to reveal the true character of His Father. The brethren really enjoyed the message and were eager to share some of their own experiences and ask questions. It was truly a blessed time.

Also, at this time I opened up the large box of literature that my secretary, Ruth, had prepared for this trip. It was a delight to see the exclamations of joy when they received this literature, especially the ones in Spanish. Adrian and his wife, from Argentina, had come to visit Jairo just a few days earlier, and would be staying until Sunday. They had come to study the issue of the Godhead with Jairo to get a better understanding of it. They had many questions about this subject, and were uncertain if it was the truth. Before coming they had prayed to the Lord that they would be able to return to Argentina with some Spanish literature that they could share with people in Argentina. The Four Angels Ministry did not have any Spanish literature on this subject, so he was very pleased that I had brought some with me. They were delighted to see how the Lord had answered their prayers.

There is an interesting note on this point. If I had not needed another translator I would not have met this couple, nor been able to supply them with the needed literature. Originally I had planned to begin the meetings in São Paulo, and arrive in Curitiba on Sunday evening. This couple left on Sunday, so our paths would not have crossed. This was another confirmation of the Lord’s providence on this trip. In addition, I discovered that they had been trying to visit earlier, but this was the only time that would accommodate their schedule. So the Lord’s hand was in it every step of the way. Praise the Lord!

Jairo (left) studying with Adrian

On Sabbath morning we began our service at 9 a.m. It began with a Sabbath school lesson, testimonies and singing, and then I shared a message on the death of Christ. It was followed by a wonderful lunch. While we were having church, Rogerio, a minister with Jairo’s group, had gone to preach at a Pentecostal church. Two days earlier the ministry had received an e-mail from this Pentecostal church stating that they had been keeping the Sabbath for several months and had recently received a pamphlet printed by The Four Angels Ministry. Rogerio returned with an encouraging testimony, and he also said that they wanted me to come to visit. Rogerio had shared with them about the purpose they had as a church to preach the three angel’s messages.

I learned something interesting about the Sabbath in Brazil which helps to share the Sabbath truth. The days of the week in the Portuguese language are not named like English or Spanish. They name most of them by number. They have domingo (Sunday), segunda-feira (second day), terça-feira (third day), etc., and then Sábado (Sabbath).

Sabbath night we had a study on the one God of the Bible and I opened it up for questions. After we found the Bible answers for these questions, many people said they learned a lot. After the meeting Adrian came to me with a list of questions that he had written, and we were able to open the Bible together to answer some of his questions. These things were new for him, so he had a lot of questions.

The Pentecostal church group

On Sunday we were invited over for a wonderful lunch with Alexandro and Maria. Then we went to visit the Pentecostal church who had heard Rogerio’s message the day before. I shared on the love of God in giving His Son to die for us. Near the end of the meeting, they objected saying that Jesus and the Father are the same person. While there was much opposition to the message, one lady said that a little girl, whom they thought was a prophet, told them three months earlier that they did not have all the truth and that a man would come from overseas to teach them the truth. This lady said that I might be that person, so they should listen to the message. From that point on they were open to listen and get their questions answered. Shortly thereafter, they said that Jesus did not die and that nobody really dies, so we opened the Bible to study the state of the dead. They accepted it with much appreciation. Then we left them with some literature in Spanish concerning the truth about God.

We arrived back at the ministry in time to say farewell to our Argentinian brethren and have a nice dinner at Rogerio’s house. We recounted the events of the day with joy; God blessed abundantly. Our Argentinian friends departed with a strong desire to raise up a church in Buenos Aires, and they asked me if I could visit them there sometime soon.

The next day we left for our next destination, Bahia. I will miss this home, but my hosts, Jairo and Paula, said they will come to the U.S. in June to the West Virginia camp meeting. They are also visiting three countries in Africa in May. Please pray for them.

Bahia

We traveled all day Monday, from Curitiba to São Paulo, to Salvador, to Juazario in the state of Bahia in the northeastern part of Brazil. We had a nice trip and were able to study the Bible together almost the whole way. It was very nice.

We arrived at 7:30 p.m. and were greeted by Paulo and Rosi. We were then escorted immediately to the meeting place where about sixty people were waiting for our first meeting. They had rented a large meeting hall for the meetings each night. After special music by several people (they have some very talented singers there), I shared a message on the love of God. There were several young people, all sitting on the front row, so I directed the message to them. The people seemed to really enjoy the message. I enjoyed getting to meet these dear brothers and sisters. They assured me that I could preach until midnight, but I stopped at about 9:30 p.m.

We left the meeting to go to Paulo and Rosi’s home, who would host us for the next few days. We were made to feel right at home. Paulo is a horticulturalist and a professor at a school nearby. His yard is filled with many different trees, and plants yielding many types of fruits. He is a leader in the church group. He has worked to spread the gospel for more than thirty-five years, but just recently learned the truth about God. He is still very active in spreading the truth.

I had a good night’s sleep under a mosquito net (unfortunately, the next morning I found several mosquitos trapped inside the net, so it did not work as well as it was supposed to). Our hosts had prepared a nice breakfast of different local fruits and cornmeal. Afterwards, we went to the radio station for a short interview, to be broadcast on the radio to advertise the meetings. In the interview, I mentioned the second coming of Christ and that the New Age Movement is expecting Christ to take over the throne of the pope. The advertisement was played twice the following day.

After the radio interview we visited several homes of believers and met several on the streets. Paulo knows a lot of people in this area because he has worked to spread the message here, and taught many in the schools. We also visited a man lying in bed with prostate cancer. It was sad to see him in this condition. He lives in a very poor part of the city, in third world conditions. We had prayer with him and did an anointing service. We also encouraged him to eat a more natural diet, to stop eating meat, and to drink a lot of water. He said that some people had been trying to conduct a witch doctor service for him, but we admonished him not to allow that to happen. Before we left he decided not to allow the witch doctor service, and to stop eating meat and eat a more natural diet. Please pray for this dear brother.

After visiting several more people, we returned to Paulo’s house to eat a nice meal, and then prepare for the evening meetings. We arrived at the meetings and were greeted by many people. There were a few more in attendance that evening, about seventy to seventy-five. I had been asked to share a study on the Godhead and answer questions, so my first message was on the Father and the Son. After a short break, I shared a study on the Holy Spirit. It went very well and many were blessed by the presentations. At the end of the presentations I opened the meeting for questions. Many people had questions. One person in particular was very insistent that I answer him that night, even though it did not pertain to the subject. After I answered several other questions, this man asked me about Matthew 12:32 where the Bible speaks about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. He insisted that this proved that God is a trinity.

I learned the following day that all the while he was listening to the message he was agitated, seeking for a verse that could prove the trinity. I had answered the two “strongest” verses (Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7), so he kept looking for something else. I asked him how many persons are mentioned in Matthew 12:32. He answered “Two, the Holy Spirit and Jesus.” Then he insisted that when the verse mentioned Jesus it included the Father, because the Father was in Jesus (John 14:10), but I pointed out that the Father is in Jesus by His Spirit (John 3:34), so that the Father is mentioned in this verse when it mentions the Holy Spirit, so there are only two Persons in this verse, the Father and Son. He sought for another verse to no avail. After noticing the group was not going to accept his ideas, he went to the front of the room and told everyone that he is a Catholic, that we have a mother in heaven, Mary, and that he would pray to her to bless us by bringing us all into the Catholic Church. After saying this, he walked out of the meeting.

That was the first time I had ever had that happen in one of my meetings. After he left we continued with the question and answer period, which lasted until about 11:30 p.m. The people were very eager to get their questions answered.

After a good night’s rest we spent the next day in Bible studies in Paulo’s home, with different people who had come over to study with us on various subjects. It was a pleasure to see these sincere brothers seeking for truth.

That evening, I shared a message on end time events and Christ’s soon coming, and then on the need to be born again. It went well and many hearts were touched. Afterwards I distributed some literature. Very few people could read any of the English books, but I had several Spanish booklets and tracts which many could understand. The brethren were very excited to receive them.

Church group in Bahia

After a good night’s rest and a nice breakfast, we met with several people to study with them on different subjects. We had visitors most of the day. One brother stopped by and was willing to study the subject of the trinity. He contended that Christ was only a Son by proclamation. We saw in the Bible the reality and importance of His Sonship, and he submitted to the Word of God. It was a blessing to see him accept the truth.

That night was the last meeting, and I shared a short message on the death of Christ and His nature as a man. Afterwards, I opened it up for questions. The brethren had written down several questions and were seeking answers. We spent about two hours answering questions. It went very well, and everyone seemed willing to submit to the Word of God. They asked about using the name Yahshua instead of Jesus, and I showed how the Greek Iesous was faithfully transliterated from the Hebrew Yahshua about three hundred years before Christ came to this earth, and that there is no solid proof whatsoever that it originated in paganism. They also asked about certain verses concerning the truth about God, and some on tithes and our ministry.

We closed the meeting with warm farewells and an admonishment to stand firm for the truth. I left them with some materials and encouraged them to seek brethren who can translate them into Portuguese. One young lady volunteered her services and those of her English teacher, who seeks articles to translate from English as part of their schooling. It was a real pleasure to meet these brethren and get to know them a little. It was difficult to say good bye.

The next morning our hosts prepared a nice breakfast and they all accompanied us to the airport to say farewell. Paulo, Rosi, and Agusto will always have a place in my heart. I hope to be able to see them again sometime soon.

Brasilia

We had a nice flight, studying the Bible the whole way except for a short break in the airport to use the Internet. Jairo has a card for his laptop that allows him to connect to the Internet using cell phone technology, so he can get a signal almost anywhere. Our laptops were connected by a network so we could both use the Internet at the same time. It was nice to keep in touch with my family in this way.

We were greeted at the airport in Brasilia by three smiling brothers, Adriano, Luis, and Edamar. They were very friendly and excited about the success they have had in distributing the pamphlet, “World’s Last Chance,” published by The Four Angels Ministry that Jairo works with. They were so excited about their experiences that they continually talked about it in excited tones during the half-hour drive to their home, and then at the home until the evening meeting. It was refreshing to see their enthusiasm for gospel work.

That evening we had a Sabbath worship service, and then I shared a message on the death of Christ with about fifteen people who had gathered for the meeting. The Lord blessed, and hearts were touched. After visiting with the brethren for about an hour we retired to a good night’s sleep. Brasilia is probably five to ten degrees cooler than Bahia at night, which was a nice relief. In Bahia it was so hot at night that it made sleeping difficult.

The next morning we had planned to separate. Jairo was to remain with Adriano and the brethren who meet in his home, and I was to speak at another church a few miles away. There is a sad story behind this. The leaders of the group I was to visit were so upset with Jairo that they would not allow him to come to translate. Jairo is very firm in standing for principle, and it seemed to cause some trouble with the brothers. This other group had arranged to have another translator for the meetings.

When I arrived at the church, I was greeted by a group of about twelve believers, which grew to about twenty as the day went on. My translator was a young lady, accompanied by her two sisters who also speak English. They are the daughters of one of the brethren in the church. This was the first time in my overseas travels that I had a woman translator. (My wife translated one of my meetings into American sign language in the US one time.) She did a very nice job. She sat in the front row facing me, with a microphone in her hand, rather than at the front facing the audience.

In the morning, I shared a study on the judgment, covering the judgment of the wicked and the righteous, and focusing on the investigative phases preceding the time when the sentence is executed. The group had been questioning some of these things. I shared the timing of the judgment scene in Daniel 7:9, 10 and Revelation chapters 4-6, showing that they occurred after the little horn (the papacy) came to power, nearing the close of its work, and before the second coming of Christ. They seemed to appreciate the message. At the end of the message I opened it up for questions, and answered a few. They all expressed their interest in the subject and, when asked if they wanted to take a break before the next message, they said, “No, we want to hear more.”

For the next message, I shared the prophecies of Daniel 8 and 9, showing the inseparable link between the 2,300 days of Daniel 8 and the 70 weeks of Daniel 9. I showed how Gabriel was commanded to make Daniel understand the 2,300 days, but he failed to do it in chapter 8 when Daniel fainted. At the close of chapter 8, Daniel said, “I was astonished at the vision [Hebrew: mar’eh—the 2,300-day prophecy], but none understood it.” In Chapter 9, Gabriel returned to Daniel and said, “I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.… therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision [mar’eh].” (Daniel 9:22, 23) He returned to finish the work he had begun in chapter 8. Then Gabriel unfolded the information to make him understand the 2300 days by saying, “Seventy weeks are determined [cut off] upon thy people…” (Daniel 9:24) The Hebrew word that was translated here “determined” means, “Properly, to cut off.” (Gesenius’ Hebrew Lexicon) The 70 weeks (490 days) were cut off at the beginning of the 2,300 days to help Daniel understand them. The 2,300 days, or prophetic years, extended from 457 BC to 1844 AD. This is when the judgment of Daniel 7:9, 10 began.

The brethren seemed to appreciate the message, and after answering a few questions we departed to Brother Saulo’s home for lunch. During lunch, the father of my translator, Gilberto, had several questions about my message that he wanted answered. He asked me to tell him when Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. He claimed that Christ went straight to the right hand of the Father and, therefore, that was the most holy place. I pointed out that in Daniel 7:9, 10, 13 and Revelation 4:2, 3 we are told about the Father’s throne moving from one place to another nearing the close of papal rule, and that Christ went with Him. Therefore, both the Father and the Son changed locations in 1844 to begin this work. I was thankful at that time for who my translator was. The man whom I was explaining this to is her father. I explained it to her, and then she explained it to her father. When he did not understand something she was persistent to make it clear. The Lord blessed, and he could see that truly the investigative phase of the judgment of the righteous began in 1844.

In the afternoon, I was asked to share a study on tithes, a subject that they have been questioning. Some of them were of the opinion that tithes should be given to the poor, widows, and orphans, and that it should not be continued in the New Testament. We saw clearly in the Bible that the first tithe was to be given to the priests and Levites, while an additional tithe was to be given to the poor, widows and orphans every three years. We also saw that this practice was to be continued in the New Testament to support the ministers of the gospel. “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:13, 14) They seemed to appreciate the message.

These brothers and sisters were friendly, and after the message we sadly said our good-byes and I went back to Brother Adriano’s home for the evening.

We spent the next day studying together. Some of the brethren of Adriano’s group requested that I share some of the same things with them that I had shared with Saulo’s group. In the evening several of us traveled in a van to visit another group, and had a study in their home. They have a small living room, so we filled it full, and had two studies that evening on the investigative judgment and the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. The brethren were very excited with the message and were very happy to receive a recorded copy of the sermon translated into Portuguese.

We went back to Adriano’s house to spend our last night together. As we left the next morning, Brother Adriano insisted that I take eight large avocados with me. They have an unlimited supply of free avocados when they are in season, as do many people in Brasilia. They grow abundantly throughout the city. We sadly said good bye, encouraging the brethren to remain steadfast in the message and faithful to God as they share with others.

Maranhão

Our next stop was Maranhão, one of the poorest states in Brazil, located in the north central part of Brazil. It was warmer in this part of the country, and I noticed as soon as we landed that almost every tree is a palm tree. We landed in São Luis and were greeted at the airport by two excited brothers, Juazalio and Orismar. They were so happy to receive us in their area. Juazalio was jumping up and down. It was nice to see such enthusiasm.

These brothers had rented a car so that we could travel about six hours to Za Doka to visit some faithful brethren there. We were told that we would have a rough road, but that it would get really bad for the last twenty miles. The road certainly was rough; it was much worse than Jamaica. We drove on the shoulder of the road most of the time because it was better than the road, but we still had to continuously dodge very large ruts. It was not a matter of dodging potholes, but of picking which big ruts were better than others. Jairo drove, and he was continuously swerving this way and that seeking to navigate the best course. It was raining, and nighttime, which added to the difficulty.

That night I spent my first night in a truly third world home. The brothers in Za Doca have a very small house, but they hosted Jairo and me, as well as one other brother who was visiting. There are no glass windows, just wooden doors, and the front and back doors are like barn doors, similar to the old-days log cabins. The roof is slatted wood with mud brick roofing that is very old. There is no internal finishing done. The house is about 14’ X 25’, with three small rooms. There is electricity, but all the outlets are hanging from the ceiling by their wires, which are strewn through the wooden slats. They have a fluorescent light roped to the ceiling with no housing, just two wires running to each end of the bulb, with tape holding the wires on. The walls are made of rough brick, with frequent holes going through to the outside. The floor is cement, but it has some large holes. There is no running water in the house, nor bathroom. They have a small outhouse. There is a small, uncovered brick area for a cold shower, with running water and a cement floor. If it is raining, which it is doing a lot at this time of year, you cannot take your clean clothes out to the shower.

There were probably a hundred mosquitoes in the little room I stayed in. The hosts claimed that if we left the light on they would not bite us, so we tried it, but it didn’t work. I heard mosquitoes in stereo fighting each other to get to me first. I tried wrapping in my sleeping bag, but it is rated at fifteen degrees, and it was probably eighty degrees, so it didn’t work very well. I thought that I would prefer the warmth to getting bit by mosquitoes, but it didn’t take long to realize that the warmth was worse. I was given a sheet for protection, so I tried that, but it was so hot I exposed my face so I could breathe. I woke up with about ten mosquito bites on my forehead, and a few on my legs. That wasn’t bad considering the amount of mosquitoes in the room.

The house in Za Doca with many mosquitoes

After struggling for a while with the idea of getting bitten by mosquitoes unmercifully, I finally relaxed and asked God to give me peace so I could sleep. The Lord blessed me with peace, and I relaxed to allow whatever would come. I am thankful that the Lord allowed me to get some rest. I was more eager than ever to get out of bed in the morning. The mosquitoes were not bad in the daytime. Needless to say, I made it an utmost priority to buy a mosquito net that day so I could get some rest the next night. That night the sound of mosquitos humming never sounded so good, because I knew they were outside of my net.

Our hosts, Luis and Maria, and their three-year-old son, were very nice. They do not have much, but they made us feel at home. All of the brethren at the local church live in the same neighborhood, and they are very poor. The church walls are made with wood slats filled with mud, and the roof is made of palm branches. As I was preaching in the church it started to rain very hard, and the roof started to leak on my Bible and the other books I was using. The Lord blessed so that the rain did not remain hard for long, and my Bible is still in good shape.

The church in Za Doca

The church elder, Luis, had traveled with Juazalio to Curitiba (a three-day bus ride), two months earlier to attend Jairo’s camp meeting. They heard the truth about God there for the first time and began sharing it with their brethren after returning home. We had meetings all day Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. I shared messages on the love of God, the Sonship of Christ, the one God of the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the death of Christ. I also allowed the Bible to answer many of their questions. I really grew to love these brothers and sisters. Everyone was very warm and friendly. They do not have much, but they seem content and joyful. They were excited to learn a song in English, taken from Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

They have lots of avocados, but they have never heard about eating them with salt. Often they mix them in a blender and add sugar to make a juice called vitamina. I made them some Guacamole with avocado, lemon, garlic, and salt. Everyone was sure it would be terrible to eat avocados with salt, but they all liked it. It was gone in no time. They were planning to make some more later.

It was hard to say good bye, but we had to leave on Thursday morning to make it back to São Luis in time for the next meeting.

São Luis

We arrived in São Luis just in time to start our first evening meeting. I had struggled with the primitive living conditions in Za Doca, and was certain that conditions would improve when I went to the big city of São Luis. I was mistaken. It was worse! They have a shower enclosure outside, similar to the one in Za Doca, but it is made of cardboard attached to wood stakes in the ground, with a dirt floor and no running water. A bucket of water is used instead of a shower. There was a small piece of ceramic to stand on. They did have an outdoor ceramic toilet, but no tank for flushing. They just dump a bucket of water into it for flushing, from the fifty-five-gallon drum where they collect rainwater.

Even though the brothers have so little, they seem to be content. About fifteen people came out for the first meeting. I couldn’t help but appreciate these kind brothers and sisters. I shared a message on the love of God. They really seemed to appreciate it. After the meeting, I was given a choice to sleep in a hammock, or on the couch. They have hooks embedded in the walls to hang hammocks for people when they have company. In Za Doca they also hung hammocks for people to sleep in. I chose the couch, and went to sleep securely confined in my new mosquito net.

The next morning several of the leading brethren came over for answers to their questions. We started studying at about 7:45 a.m. and continued until noon. They had many questions about God and Christ. The Lord blessed, and all the questions they brought up were clarified. Those brethren who were the most hesitant about the message turned out to be the most enthusiastic in the end.

After a nice lunch, we began our meeting at 3:00 p.m. About twenty people attended that meeting. I shared a message on the one God of the Bible and, at the end, when I asked for questions, there were only a few, and the brethren said the message was very clear.

I have tried for some time to share messages so clear and biblical that if anyone were to disagree with the message they would have to disagree with the Bible, but I especially sought to do this on this trip. I believe the Lord blessed in this effort. Many people commented on the clarity of the messages, and I thank the Lord for that. Without Him, I can do nothing.

Meeting in an SDA Church

The last night of our visit, we were invited to hold a meeting in a local Seventh-day Adventist Church. This church had been disfellowshipped from the conference about two months earlier for having a difference regarding tithes. Somehow the local church was able to keep the building (a rarity in these circumstances—usually the conference takes possession of it. Our hosts attend this church, and arranged that we could preach there on Thursday evening.

After a bus ride and a long walk, ten of us arrived at the church together. We were greeted by approximately ten people, and soon the church was almost filled with about forty-five people, most of whom we had never met before. I shared a message on the death of Christ, which everyone seemed to enjoy. After the message I opened the meeting for questions. Since the message was new to a lot of people, and there were many questions, Jairo asked them if they would like to hear another message, even though it was close to 9 p.m. Almost everyone raised their hands to indicate they wanted to hear more.

I shared another message, briefly covering the subjects of the Sonship of Christ, the one God of the Bible, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord really blessed in the presentation. Afterwards, I opened the meeting for questions. Several people asked questions and we found the answers in the Bible. Though some people were still skeptical of the message, most expressed their appreciation, and eagerly invited me to return.

After the meeting, Jairo told me that he thought this meeting was the best of our trip because there were several people who learned the truth about God for the first time, and yet they were willing to submit themselves to the word of God. I had to agree.

We left the church at about 10:30 p.m. and returned to Juazalio’s home for a short rest. We had to get up at 2:45 a.m. to take an early flight to our next destination. This was the end of my time with Jairo. He was now to go to another city, while I would continue the rest of my trip with other translators.

Looking back on this section of the trip, I am very grateful to the Lord for allowing me to be in Maranhão. As Jairo and I were planning this trip, we hesitated to make the trip to Maranhão because it was so far out of the way, and it added a lot of cost to the trip. I am very thankful that we made the trip. I thought of my struggles with the primitive living conditions, and that night with the mosquitoes. It was all more than worth these minor inconveniences. I am thankful for the entire experience, even the mosquitoes. I learned lessons I will never forget.

As my time with my translator, Jairo, was coming to a close, I thought of how wonderfully God worked everything out so that I could be with him. I admired his dedication to the Lord and his constant encouragement of others to strive to enter the straight and narrow path that leads to life. I will miss Jairo, but I hope to see him at the West Virginia camp meeting in June. I hope to see you there also.

São Paulo

I arrived in São Paulo alone and was met by Brother Mario. Even though Mario does not speak English, the Lord blessed and we were able to talk together during the entire trip to his home. By this time I had become accustomed to the Portuguese language enough to get by in conversations fairly well. It helped that Mario spoke slowly and clearly.

After getting cleaned up and eating a nice lunch, we hurried to our next meeting at 2:00 p.m. I was pleased to meet Ionelle, my new translator for the next two days. He is a very friendly man who spoke English fairly well. There were only about six people who attended, and they wanted to study the subject of the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. They have been having doubts about the traditional Seventh-day Adventist understanding of this prophecy. I shared how Gabriel was commanded to make Daniel understand the vision of the 2,300 days, but did not finish his explanation until Daniel 9:23-27, clarifying that it ended in 1844.

One of the principal objections they had to this interpretation was that they thought the length of a Jewish year is different from the length of a solar year, or Gregorian year. They thought that if a person would use the Jewish calendar to calculate the 2,300 years, it would be thirty-three years less than if he used the Gregorian (or solar) calendar. We saw clearly that this was based on a misunderstanding of how the Jews counted their years.

It is true that the Jews count their months by the moon, and that the length of twelve lunar months is less than the length of one solar year (the time it takes for the earth to make one revolution around the sun). However, if the Jews would continually count their years by using twelve lunar months, very soon their calendar would not match the time of the seasons. For example: in just eighteen years they would have lost three entire months in comparison to the seasons. That would mean that their first month, instead of being in the spring, would be in the middle of winter. This would present a big problem for the Jews because they were commanded to offer the firstfruits of their harvest during the first month of every year. They were not allowed to eat any food of their crops until they offered this offering. (Leviticus 23:14) This would be impossible to do in the middle of winter. This had to be done in a consistent manner in harmony with the time of the spring season. Therefore, it was absolutely imperative that the first month of the year began in the spring every year. To keep their years matched with the seasons, the Jews of old, as well as those living today, added a thirteenth month to their year every five or six years, as necessary, to keep their years in harmony with the seasons. This is a well-established fact.

Therefore, whether a person uses the Gregorian calendar or the Jewish calendar to count 2,300 years, he would come to the exact same year. Whether the Jews had thirteen months or twelve months in a particular year, it was still only one year. On average, the length of the Jewish year and the Gregorian year are exactly the same. If the Jews had not added a thirteenth month when necessary, the first month of their year would have traveled through all the seasons thirty-three times in a 2,300 year period. The fact is, it never traveled through the seasons even once, never in the past, and not today.

The little group of believers had a hard time understanding this because they had previously concluded that there is a thirty-three-year difference between the Jewish reckoning and the Gregorian reckoning of 2,300 years. But after illustrating these things on a marker board, it became clear to the people.

My presentation, and answering the questions, took four hours, and we were weary. We returned to Mario’s home for the evening. My translator, Ionelle, did not accompany me to Mario’s home, so this was my first evening in a home where nobody speaks English. It proved to be a blessing because I studied with my friend Milton for several hours that night, completely in Spanish/Portuguese. It was imperative for us to get our thoughts across, so we kept using different words until we could understand each other. In this way, we both learned new words. We were able to freely and completely communicate our thoughts, even though it took some extra time.

The next morning, we attended the church and were greeted by about fifty people. The church building is very nicely built. We had a nice Sabbath school meeting, and I found I could understand a lot more than I could the first Sabbath in Brazil. I shared a message on the death of Christ. During the message I found that my translator was having trouble understanding me, and sometimes I noticed that he did not translate my words correctly. I ended up speaking part of the sermon directly in Portuguese/Spanish because I wanted to make sure the people understood what I was talking about.

Church group in São Paulo

We had a lovely lunch. Afterward I shared some missionary experiences from around the world, and then shared a short message on the love of God in giving His Son. I felt sorry for my translator because he is a Trinitarian, and I was preaching against the trinity. He was very kind about it, but at some points he told the people he did not agree with me. I can certainly understand his dilemma. I saw the need, at times, to speak directly to the people again, so I used a fair amount of Spanish/Portuguese.

That evening we had a study in Mario’s home about the judgment of Daniel 7:9, 10 and Revelation 4:2, 3. They had been thinking that this scene took place after Christ’s second coming but, after some in-depth study, we could all see that it takes place before Christ’s second coming. Again, we were studying completely in Spanish/Portuguese, because my translator was not with us.

The next morning, some brethren from a nearby church group came over to take me to their home-church in Penha to share a message. There were about thirty people gathered in a large home to hear the message. I had a different translator at this meeting. A brother from a Baptist church agreed to translate for me at this meeting. The group had several questions as soon as I arrived, which prompted the topic for the study. They wanted to know what the Bible says about worship for the Son of God, and if it is proper to refer to Him as God. We saw clearly in the Bible that the Father commanded the angels to worship His Son, and that Jesus did not refuse worship whenever it was offered. One clear demonstration is found in Joshua 5:13-15 where Joshua worshiped the Son of God and, not only did Christ accept the worship, He requested that Joshua remove the shoes from off his feet.

We also found that the Father calls His Son God (Hebrews 1:8), as well as does John (John 1:1). Yet, we also saw the clear distinction between “the only true God” (John 17:3) of the Bible and Jesus Christ. Not only did God the Father call Jesus “God,” He also called Moses “god.” (Exodus 7:1; Psalm 45:6, 7) The word is the same in both cases, elohim, as well as in over 2,000 times where elohim is used for God, the Father. We saw how John 1:1 uses the word “God” to define the divine nature of Christ, and that it is certainly appropriate to use this word for Christ as long as we make it clear in what manner we are using it. If we would refer to Christ as the “one God” of the Bible, or worship Him as such, then we are not correct. We must recognize that He is the Son of God, who has the same type of divine nature as His Father.

During this meeting, I found that my translator was having even more of a difficulty understanding me than the one earlier, so I spoke probably ninety percent of the message in Spanish/Portuguese. The study was done in an open way with many questions, and I praised the Lord that I could understand most of what was said, but I was very thankful for my translator at those times when I could not understand.

The brethren were very glad to receive the message, stating that it cleared up many questions for them. They were also very excited to receive some literature for further study. My translator and I stayed as long as we could, but we had to rush to our next destination, an evening meeting about an hour away. Along the way we had a nice talk. My translator told me that this was his first encounter with people who believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God and not part of a trinity. He said he learned many things and that he appreciated the opportunity.

We arrived at a church in Poa, with about thirty people in attendance. After a nice song service, I shared a message on the death of Christ, which was received very well. They have a lovely group of people there. Everyone was glad to receive some literature.

After the meeting, I was rushed back to Mario’s house where I was to travel with Brother Milton to the bus station and take a bus trip for seven hours to Rio de Janeiro. I was impressed with the bus. It had two levels. The lower level was first-class and the upper, where we were seated, was nearly as nice as first-class in most airplanes. The seats folded back very far and were very plush and comfortable. There were also full leg supports that folded down for comfortable sleeping. The bus was about three feet taller than a Greyhound, to accommodate the extra level. It was a neat experience. We left at about 1:30 a.m. and arrived at about 9:00 a.m.

Rio de Janeiro

I was able to get some rest in the home of Brother Milton. In the evening Brother David came over to visit and we had a Bible study. David was my first contact in Brazil, so it was nice to meet him for the first time. We had a nice time together.

The following day David gave me a ride downtown to meet Milton for lunch, and to look around the city. It was very interesting. We visited a large library and a few cathedrals.

Rio group with the translator, Milton, who cannot speak English (in the center)

That evening we had a meeting in the small home-church building behind his home. There were only five people in attendance, but we had a nice meeting. I shared a message on the judgment, which they had several questions about. Milton offered to translate for me. He can understand my poor Spanish/ Portuguese well, and he repeated, where necessary, my words in Portuguese. This was interesting, because it was my first time having a translator who does not speak English. The Lord blessed and the meeting went well, with the message coming across clearly. At the end they said the message was very clear and they did not have any questions about this topic. They asked about the work around the world, and I shared a few photos and experiences.

The following day was my last day in Brazil. Milton’s son helped me to visit some different shops to get some souvenirs for my family. It was hard to say good bye to all my new-found friends, but I left on April 19.

Summary

It was a real privilege to go to Brazil and meet these dear brothers and sisters. I was happy to see the dedication they have for spreading the message of God’s love to the world. I saw many examples of the Lord’s hand at work in organizing the trip. Please pray for these brothers, and for the work in Brazil. Pray for their unity, as there are some differences and strife among some of the groups, and time is short. Jesus prayed for the unity of His church just before His death, and we should work for and pray for the same.

Please come to the West Virginia camp meeting June 20-24 to meet some of these Brazilian brethren and, if you cannot make that one, there is a Spanish/Portuguese camp meeting scheduled in eastern Pennsylvania, Sept. 1-4. Several brothers from South America and Spain will be attending these meetings. Contact us for more information. We hope to see you soon.

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Fundamental Principles of Health

by Curtis Kline

Sunlight

Hello once again from the Ministry of Healing and Restoration. We are all very excited about heading into the spring and summer months. It’s a beautiful time to get your garden planted, work the soil, and pray that the Lord will bless abundantly. We are so happy that with the increasing amount of pesticides and chemicals used in commercial agriculture, the Lord has blessed us with a piece of land and some knowledge to work the soil and have greater peace as to the food we eat. This is our prayer and encouragement for all His children.

 This month we will be speaking of sunshine. It seems to me sunlight gets a bad rap these days by many because of the ever-increasing amount of skin cancer. However, I find in my studies that all life forms must have sunlight. Without sunlight all life would cease to exist on the planet. While I find that it is very true that an over abundance of sunlight can be detrimental to the body, the greatest culprit between sunlight and skin cancer is not so much the sunlight, but that the body is unable to synthesize the sun’s rays properly due to improper diet and nutrition. For those not eating right and following the eight laws of health, we truly can find that the blessing of sunshine that the Lord has given us can indeed be turned into a curse. Some of the short and long term benefits of sunshine in proper amounts (not to the point of reddening of the skin) can be as follows:

• Lower blood pressure
• Increased cardiac output
• Lower resting heart rate
• Lower respiratory rate
• Lower blood cholesterol
• Greater capacity of blood to carry oxygen
• Increased resistance to infections
• Lower blood sugar
• Increased energy and endurance
• Increased muscular strength
• Increased stress tolerance
• Increased vitamin D production

We should take a lesson from plants, which turn toward the sun to take in all the light they can. When plants live in basements or other dark places, they become pale and sickly.

Sunlight is a purifier. It should be let into our homes to clean the air and kill germs. Mold has a difficult time growing in direct sunlight. Sunlight lifts the spirits and brings a calming affect in its path. Exercise is much more rewarding when it is done in the open air, with plenty of sunlight.

To receive the benefits of sunlight, one does not need to strip down to their underclothes and bathe in the sun. A small amount of the skin exposed to the sun is sufficient to receive its benefits. Too much sunlight can cause skin cancer and other problems.

In conclusion, sunlight truly is, in my opinion, one of the greatest gifts we have from God. When understood properly it should be a continuous reminder of our Creator’s love for us. God “maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.” (Matthew 5:45) Unfortunately, many have destroyed the object lesson and have resorted to worshiping the creation rather than the Creator. Sunday is a name given to a day which pagans used to worship the sun as god.

As always, any drastic lifestyle changes can have adverse affects on the body when done without prayer and knowledge. All changes should be made with prayer and knowledge. One source of information on this subject can be obtained by reading “Sunlight,” by Zane R. Kime, MD, MS. Until next month, I hope all enjoy another of God’s blessings.

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(The above article was provided by Curtis Kline, Director of Ministry of Healing and Restoration, Canvas, WV. For more in-depth information he can be contacted at (304) 872-4463 or curkli@yahoo.com. While we believe the principles in this article can be helpful, we are not responsible for any negative effects resulting from the use of remedies or recommendations herein. Use them at your own risk.    Editor)

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