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January - February 2002 The Sabbath Sentinel

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I received the Jan-Feb & March-April Sabbath Sentinel for the first time in approximately 20 years.

It was very refreshing to read of the people who are Sabbath keepers.

The letters to the Editor particularly caught my attention.

Would it be possible to get a copy of the article concerning women? I gather from the responses that it was in the Sept./Oct. issue.

My husband and I have been Sabbath-keepers for over 30 years.

During that time we have come to a different understanding on many biblical issues. Some issues have taken years for us to totally understand and to take a position on them. As the Scripture indicates,one person plants the seed, another waters but Yahweh causes the growth.

Through the years I have also realized that I can love people who don't have the exact same understanding of Scripture as I do.

It seems like people who get angry because someone has a different opinion are taking it much too personally.

Sharon Stubles

Thank you for your comments and your contribution. You should have received the information you requested by now. One easy way to consult past issues of The Sabbath Sentinel is to go to our Web site at http://www.biblesabbath.org/. Many of our previous issues are there available for download, and you can browse for other material that might be of interest to you.

Ed.


Dear Friends,

I haven't written in quite a while, but after reading (and rereading some articles) in the July-August "Sentinel," I thought it necessary. (And by the way, the "Sentinel" just keeps on getting better !!) As a former member on the B.S.A. board of directors, and a lifetime member of B.S.A., I wanted to share a recent experience with you,...

Now the experience. We have not attended any Church Of God service for many years, nor have we been invited,... Well, I had developed a friendship with an accountant whom I had just met a year ago, who was an elder in the Christadelphian Church Of God. Recently, Phil, the elder, invited Merrily & me to their services on Sunday. I told him politely about my view of the Sabbath, and he said they had a booklet (naturally!!) explaining why no day was special to God etc., etc., blah, blah. We agreed to disagree and are still friends. Just last week, not having had any fellowship and worship with fellow believers publicly for many years, I relented, and called him for directions to his church for Sunday. Only his wife, Pam, was home, and after getting details about the type of service, found that they partake of the symbols at a Lord's table every week, but we could sit and watch but not participate. Only baptized members could! Suddenly I realized God was telling me: the Sabbath, son, is the identifying sign of his people, not membership in an organization. I knew this for years, but it took my embarrassing weakness and compromise with that beautiful truth, the seventh day cycle as Ken Westby would call it, the Sabbath, and another correction to put me in my place -- not welcome in a church service again, but always welcome on the blessed seventh day to celebrate an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. The Sabbath is a gift, and what one does with a gift is what they think of the giver of that gift. It's as simple as that. And for a moment, I almost forgot the value of that gift.

So, today we're enjoying another Virtual Church service by phone with Ken Westby of A.C.D. (and vice president of the B.S.A.). Ken has worked tirelessly for years, speaking the truth with love as the apostle would say in Ephesians 4:15. If it wasn't for Ken's Virtual Church, we would feel unwanted and lost. He gives us a feeling of belonging and being spiritual members in the body of the Messiah once again, and we can't thank him enough for his efforts as a minister of God (our minister).

Perhaps we should say thanks to all of you at B.S.A for giving to a couple in a far corner of Canada the good news of our Messiah, a day of celebration of rest in this hectic world and encouragement to love our neighbor and our families. As Dr. Bacchiocchi has said, it is a celebration of creation, redemption, and sanctification.

Until you almost throw it away, you don't appreciate one of the simple gifts--we don't keep the Sabbath; the Sabbath keeps us in relationship with God Almighty.

And you (we) have had the privilege to promote this truth. I've learned a valuable lesson this week. Perhaps you can learn from it too.

In Christian love and appreciation, your friends,

John & Merrily Bennet.

TSS

January - February 2002 The Sabbath Sentinel