PANIC IS VIRTUE in Washington, D.C.
by Mark Armstrong

The emergencies are piling up, it seems. From the economic alarmists to the environmental alarmists to the new administration in D.C., "There's not a moment to spare" we're told.

The $700 billion bank bailout of last September came as a jolting shock to the psyche of Americans. And it was done in the midst of full-fledged panic. The financial system would simply grind to a halt unless President Bush cooperated and pressed Congress to follow suit, and they did. It didn't matter that the capitalist system that has kept the United States prosperous and free was being compromised as the government assumed equity and control over private sector institutions, there wasn't a moment to spare. But the problems have not been solved, according to the experts. Credit markets are still tight and further action is indicated. Few, if any, seem to even know what became of the fabulous sum.

Now that the new administration is in power with its one-party grip over Congress, panic is virtue. Another $800 some odd billion must be requisitioned immed-iately if the U.S. is to have any hope of reversing the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, so goes the party line.

Whatever happened to that tried and true old adage that says haste makes waste? Or the red-letter biblical advice warning that failing to count the cost before committing to a major project lest one become the object of mockery?

Were this simply a case of partisan political jousting, we might well do our level best to ignore it. But, according to most analysts, we're talking here about the future economic viability of the greatest nation in the history of mankind. A nation blessed by the hand of God where we enjoy freedoms bought with the blood of countless Americans willing to fight and die for it.

In the case of the massive spending proposal pending before the U.S. Senate, astronomical sums are to be allocated for pet political causes. Of course, there's no time for the senators to actually read and digest the 647-page monstrosity, (let alone allow "we the people" an opportunity to react) so urgent is its passage. "There's not a moment to spare."

What about the Proverb that states, "Every prudent man acts with knowledge. But a fool lays open his folly" (13:16).

How might wise and prudent individuals react to $2.4 Billion for "carbon capture demonstration," or $400 million to "research" global warming, or $355 million to be spent on the prevention of STDs? One can only guess what that might entail. And of course, that's only a fraction of what's proposed. There's even the suggestion that billions are intended to fund an organization that is reportedly under investigation in numerous states for election fraud.

Regardless of the outcome of current political and economic debates, it appears a sure thing that the mad (government mandated) folly of recent years will carry a penalty for the United States, and for the civilized world, that we can scarcely comprehend. Because of the vaunted "global financial system," and the fact that derivatives of supposedly solid U.S. assets are bought and sold in every conceivable investment vehicle, foreign economies are also facing economic crisis. Massive demonstrations took place all over France this week, protesting Sarkozy's economic plans. Great Britain is said to be on the brink of national insolvency and printing currency backed by nothing.

Meanwhile, as Iran nears completion of its nuclear weapons program, there's plenty of time to "show respect and a new willingness to talk." We've seen several reports this week indicating that Iran is busy opening offices and "fronts" in unstable nations to our south. The following quote came from Newsmax.com just yesterday. "Iran is increasing its military and espionage presence rapidly throughout Latin America, according to U.S. and Israeli officials, turning the region into a major base for terrorism and subversion." And there is major concern over Iran's alliance with the virulently anti-American Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who is reportedly hosting the installation of numerous Islamic terrorist groups. The Newsmax article points out that Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and of course, Venezuela all voted against UN resolutions to impose sanctions against Iran's nuclear program.

Though Israel may disagree, the leadership in America seems to think we've got plenty of time to worry about a nuclear Iran at our leisure. But immediate action must be taken to "save the planet" from global warming! Famed proponent of the theory James Hansen warned that the new administration must act fast to save the earth from devastating climate change. "We can't afford to put off change any longer."

We're getting a steady diet of propaganda from leading politicians and the mainstream media. The monotonous theme is that man's government is the answer. Some of us believe that our rights and our freedoms are God's gift, as is clearly stated in the opening lines of our Constitution. Arrogant practitioners of politics and preachers of panic may now represent our greatest threat as they abandon the primary role our founders described (national security) and tinker with economic and social engineering on an urgent basis with consequences no one can quite fathom.

THE RISING DECLINE OF GLOBAL WARMING
Or
When Hell Freezes Over!
by Murray Allatt

In the United States of America great celebrations and partying for the inauguration of President Obama will eventually end. Then the business of governing will begin. Then, on a number of fronts, reality will set in.

All of those election promises to all of those interest groups pandered to and catered to in "policy position papers" will have to be dealt with. Either those promises will be pursued or, because of circumstances unforeseen when the promise was made, promises will be quietly, or not so quietly, reneged upon.

During the Australian Federal election in 2007, the Australian Labour Party under Kevin Rudd's leadership faithfully, and incessantly promised, that upon election to government they would immediately ratify Kyoto. In fact, Rudd's first act of substance as Prime Minister, within days of election in November 2007, was to attend the Bali UN climate conference and do just that, ratify Kyoto. For his trouble he won plaudits from all and sundry of the "end of the world" global warming fraternity. He positively glowed in the adulation of the massed thousands of climate change aficionados, who themselves had all flown in from around the world, as "carbon neutral" as they could be, for yet another junket.

Up till that time only John Howard, Australia's former Prime Minister, defeated in that election after 11 years in office, (by an opposition offering "change" and an electorate willing to "believe"), and George Bush, now former U.S. President, had held out against the rising hysteria of global warming alarmists who have "the audacity of hope" to believe that humans can control, or even have a significant influence over, this earth's climate. Now, with Bush gone, there is no one in government around the world, of any significance politically, who stands against the tide of global warming/climate change alarmism. And the now "opposition" parties, (or those in charge of them), in both countries, have gone to water on the issue, signing up in the hope of future electoral benefit.

It is probably too late for Obama to rush off and have Kyoto ratified. It is now after all, obsolete. That fact did not deter Rudd. However, it is plain that Obama will be heavily pursuing "climate change" policy. Hillary Clinton in her confirmation hearing started off with:

"You Mr. Chairman [Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.] were among the very first in a growing chorus from both parties to recognize that climate change is an unambiguous security threat," Clinton said. "At the extreme it threatens our very existence. But well before that point, it could well incite new wars of an old kind over basic resources ­ like food, water and arable land."

In other words, Clinton will be making climate change a foreign policy issue. It is not surprising then that Obama made "climate change" a major point of his inaugural speech.

As an aside, we have all noticed the change in terminology, haven't we? "Global warming" now rendered "Climate change." The "change" in terminology allows a bet each way, since climate can "change" up or down. And it has done so for millions of years. Either way, you can be sure humans are responsible.

Rudd, during his election campaign promised that upon election he would implement a reduction of greenhouse gases (measured against 2000 ­ it used to be 1990) by 2020 that would be significant. While he declined to put a figure on it prior to the election pending receipt of a report he would commission when elected, it was nonetheless very plain during that election that 20% to 25% by 2020 was the target. He also promised to implement a policy of 60% reduction by 2050.

Obama, in his election promises went for an 80% greenhouse gas reduction by 2050. His "New Energy For America" web page containing "election promises" does not mention an interim target. However, most western countries that have bought into this political deception (and they all now have) have gone for 20% to 25% as an interim target.

One leg of the Obama plan is an emissions trading scheme. In summary he promises:

"Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050."

The Obama-Biden cap-and-trade policy will require all pollution credits to be auctioned, and proceeds will go to investments in a clean energy future, habitat protections, and rebates and other transition relief for families.

Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change
Obama and Biden will re-engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem. They will also create a Global Energy Forum of the world's largest emitters to focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues."

Rudd also promised to make Australia a "leader," though he may have said "the leader," in climate change policy. Of course, all these promises were made before the global economic meltdown. Will Rudd and Obama still carry through? Are these core or non- core promises?

We in Australia were given a preview of our promised "Emissions Trading Scheme" in a government "White Paper" released in December 08. This was the paper that also told us that the government's grandiose election promise of an unconditional 25% interim reduction target had been reduced to 5% to 15%. The lower target will apply unless and until the rest of the world (including all the big emitters) sign up to and implement a global agreement. The summary to the "White Paper" says:

"The Government remains committed to meeting its long-term target of a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 levels by 2050.

It also commits to a medium-term national target to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by between five percent and 15 percent below 2000 levels by the end of 2020.

The top of this range (5 percent below 2000 levels) represents a minimum (unconditional) commitment to reduce emissions by 2020, irrespective of the action by other nations. The bottom of this range (15 percent below 2000 levels) represents a commitment to reduce emissions in the context of global agreement where all major economies commit to substantially restrain emissions and all developed countries take on comparable reductions to that of Australia."

It should be noted that Australia (allegedly) produces 1.4% of the world's emissions. Five percent of 1.4% is what? Right ­ it's not worth worrying about. Then why???

Now, we all understand I am sure, that China and India (two of the "major economies") are as likely to sign up to (and implement) comparable emissions reduction schemes to Australia's putative 15% as, well, hell freezing over.

It's just not going to happen. So effectively, the Rudd government has reneged on it's election promise of "unconditional 25%" and has now signed Australia up to an "unconditional 5%." That should be good news. Except it overlooks a small problem. The whole world, yes, even Australia, is now in a deep economic recession. Australian jobs are being shed by the tens, and soon, hundreds of thousands. (In the United States and elsewhere in Britain and Europe, by the millions.) The Rudd Government, having now given away more than half of the Howard/Costello legacy of a $23 billion dollar budget surplus, is now looking at going into deficit. Indeed, a report by Access Economics, an Australian economics "think tank," released just recently, predicted the Australian Government will be $100 billion in debt within two years. It's quite a turnaround. And they want to make that worse with carbon trading?

How in the current economic climate do you implement a policy of carbon emissions trading, even a paltry 5% scheme, without putting in jeopardy even more jobs? One thing is certain. More industry will relocate overseas taking jobs with them.

And it is fair to ask, what is the point, when it is said that the funds raised by auctioning carbon credits will all be devoted to subsidizing and reimbursing "the poor" for increases in the cost of living due to the increased costs of producers (for having to pay for carbon credits). It remains a mystery to most as to just how any of this will lead to reductions in carbon emissions, in Australia, in the United States ­ anywhere.

Finally, it has to be said that all of this is taking place in circumstances where increasing numbers of climate experts are outing themselves as skeptics and worse yet, deniers of the alleged human caused, carbon driven warming of the planet. At the recent Poznan, Poland, UN Climate conference fully 650 expert climate scientists challenged the human caused global warming theory. Result ­ dismissed. The wagon rolls on.

Part of that challenge was the now accepted truth that increased carbon follows temperature rise. Temperature rise does not follow increased carbon. Response from climate alarmists ­ ignored. The wagon rolls on.

Part of that challenge is that since 2000 the planet has not warmed, but actually cooled. As if to emphasize the point, the current northern hemisphere winter is the coldest for decades and record low temperatures have been recorded across the USA and Canada, across Europe, Dutch canals have frozen for ice skating for the first time 12 years maybe longer and result? Obama does not blink. He maybe winces in the cold but the wagon rolls on.

There are many other indicia reported that demonstrate that the earth's climate is not, except to an insignificant extent, affected by human activity. By way of example, it is plain that the Arctic Ice Cap and Arctic Ocean ice sheets, after this winter, are back. In Antarctica the volume of ice has increased at least 5%, despite the loss of large ice sheets in 2008.

Then there is an article in the English language Pravda dated January 11, 2009, that reported Russian scientists predicting that the so-called 12,000 year old Holocene period would soon give way to a 100,000 year long Ice Age. The article opined:

"The earth is now on the brink of entering another Ice Age, according to a large and compelling body of evidence from within the field of climate science. Many sources of data that provide our knowledge base of long-term climate change indicate that the warm, twelve thousand year-long Holocene period will rather soon be coming to an end, and then the earth will return to Ice Age conditions for the next 100,000 years.

"Ice cores, ocean sediment cores, the geologic record, and studies of ancient plant and animal populations all demonstrate a regular cyclic pattern of Ice Age glacial maximums which each last about 100,000 years, separated by intervening warm interglacials, each lasting about 12,000 years.

"The main flaw in the AGW theory is that its proponents focus on evidence from only the past one thousand years at most, while ignoring the evidence from the past million years evidence which is essential for a true understanding of climatology. The data from paleoclimatology provides us with an alternative and more credible explanation for the recent global temperature spike, based on the natural cycle of Ice Age maximums and interglacials."

After reviewing the evidence the article concluded:

"The AGW theory is based on data that is drawn from a ridiculously narrow span of time and it demonstrates a wanton disregard for the 'big picture' of long-term climate change. The data from paleoclimatology, including ice cores, sea sediments, geology, paleobotany and zoology, indicate that we are on the verge of entering another Ice Age, and the data also shows that severe and lasting climate change can occur within only a few years. While concern over the dubious threat of Anthropogenic Global Warming continues to distract the attention of people throughout the world, the very real threat of the approaching and inevitable Ice Age, which will render large parts of the Northern Hemisphere uninhabitable, is being foolishly ignored."

This article does not seem to be just another example of the media's flip flopping on the ice age/furnace earth media driven climate scares of the past century, as noted by Senator Inhofe's "A Skeptics Guide To Debunking Global Warming Alarmism" (available on the web).

But, guess what, the wagon will roll on.

There has always been overwhelming evidence that sunspot activity is closely related to a warmer planet and lack of sunspots to a colder planet. Scientists knew it in the past and the real climate scientists have known it throughout. The alarmists among the scientific community are about to find out the hard way. Embarrassingly so! Many of them will be battling to maintain their dignity, let alone their reputations, before this climate change thing plays out in the few years ahead.

Recently in an article in the The Australian newspaper (January 20, 2009) Geology Professor Bob Carter of James Cook University, Queensland, wrote, after reviewing the current state of knowledge on "global warming."

"Introduction of a carbon dioxide tax to prevent (imaginary) warming, euphemistically disguised as an emissions trading scheme, is a politician's, ticket clipper's and mafia chief's dream. All will welcome a new source of income based on an invisible, colourless, odourless, tasteless and often unmeasurable gas. No commodity changes hands during its trading, and should carbon dioxide emissions actually decrease because of the existence of a carbon dioxide market (which is highly unlikely), the odds are that it will have no measurable effect on climate anyway. Nonetheless, the glistening pot of gold that beckons to be mined from the innocent public is proving nigh irresistible, and it is going to need a strong taxpayer revolt to stop it in Australia. (Ed. Note: And everywhere else it is sure to be imposed)

"The present global financial crisis should be inducing politicians not to squander money on non-solutions to non-problems. Yet to support their plans for emissions taxation Western governments, including ours, are still propagating scientifically juvenile greenhouse propaganda underpinned only by circumstantial evidence and GCM computer gamesmanship.

"Perhaps a reassessment will finally occur when two-metre thick ice develops again on Father Thames at London Bridge, or when cooling causes massive crop failure in the world's granary belts."

What's the bet, the wagon will roll on. It has not been a scientific issue for many, many years. It is now, and has been, for years, an ideological, political scheme. Rudd, and Obama will not be deterred. It's a tax revenue cash cow. As Professor Carter notes however, and as Rudd's miserly 5% demonstrates, the current financial crisis will slow them down. Whether it slows them down long enough for the Thames to freeze over remains to be seen. Given that North America has frozen already this winter, along with Europe and still the wagon rolls on, even that might not be enough. Perhaps then, when hell freezes over!??

What Do You Do on Saturday?
by Jim Josephsen

Saturday is that one day of the week that can't come soon enough. Especially after a hard week of work and the seemingly endless demands each weekday brings, Saturday is the one day eagerly desired.

As Friday evening rolls around, a resurgence of energy awakens. At bars, dance clubs, as friends gather, getting together, hanging out and carousing; on into the early morning hours of Saturday, personal pursuits, letting loose, pleasures and activities take priority.

All the more, Saturday is the primary day for retail activities, for shopping, for leisure pursuits, for sports and entertainment activities, golfing, for picnics, birthday parties, and weddings. Saturday is the day for getting caught up with house cleaning, the landscape, washing the car, taking care of one's personal business; for all the things that are self-rewarding and physically focused.

Saturday has become the day people need just to get caught up with life's demands. After all, with the weekdays so arduous, don't they deserve a day to do their own thing, to take care of their own business, to do as they please?

Historically and irrefutably, Saturday is the seventh day of the week. From a Biblical perspective, the seventh day of the week, at the time of creation, was sanctified as the day of rest (Genesis 2:1-3), called the Sabbath day (Exodus 20:10).

The word Sabbath, originated from the Hebrew word shabbath which simply means intermission, cessation, rest. The Spanish word for Saturday is Sabado. Saturday is the Sabbath day. The concept of Sabbath is not foreign to the world. Historically, the seventh-day Sabbath has been observed within the religion of Judaism and observed by a very small percentage of Christians.

The 1st Century Church of God was a seventh-day, Sabbath-observing church, obedient and faithful to God. When the 1st Century Church of God observed the Sabbath (or as would be understood in our cultural context today ­ went to church) it was on a Saturday. Today, God's Church is still a seventh-day, Sabbath-observing, Saturday going church.

The seventh-day Sabbath was sanctified by God (Genesis 2:1-2 and Exodus 20:11); His seal of approval was placed on that day by resting on it.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of that same Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28), and He does not change (Hebrews 13:8). He stated that He did not do away with any of the laws of God ­ which includes the fourth Commandment (Matthew 5:17-18). Christ admonishes the keeping of even the very least of the commandments (Matthew 5:19-20). Finally Christ taught, if you will enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). The commandments are holy, just and good (Romans 7:12). When Jesus Christ returns to rule the earth, the Sabbath will be kept (Isaiah 66:23).

In the history of the Christian movement, with regard to the Sabbath day, one of the most sinister deceptions perpetrated on the Western world, came by the hands of the Roman Catholic Church. The history of the Catholic Church is teeming with examples of how it appropriated many pagan traditions, many Greek and Roman religious and philosophic-based concepts of life and God, merging and mingling them with scriptures into what is now commonly known as Catholic doctrine. The Catholic fathers were far from faithful to the Truth of God. They deliberately disregarded and often obscured the Word of God, changing it into what is now known as the Catholic view of the Bible.

Rejecting the seventh-day Sabbath is the most obvious and deliberate omission of Truth.. Even a cursory review of the Catholic Encyclopedia will reveal the fact that the Catholic Church substituted Sunday, the first day of the week, putting it in place of God's created, sanctified seventh-day Sabbath ordained by the commandment.

Today, the vast majority of Christians practice Sunday-worship, following the teachings of the Catholic Church. Very few Christians listen to or honor God by keeping His Sabbath Day, Saturday, holy!

Considering the seventh-day Sabbath, the prophet Isaiah declared: "If you keep the Sabbath holy, not having your own fun and business on that day, but enjoying the Sabbath and speaking of it with delight as the Lord's holy day and honoring the Lord in what you do, not following your own desires and pleasures, nor talking idly ­ the Lord will be your delight and I will see to it that you ride high and get your full share of blessings I promised to Jacob, your father. The Lord has spoken" (Isaiah 58:13-14 The Living Bible Paraphrased).

Through the prophet Isaiah, God defines behavior that is acceptable and unacceptable for Sabbath keeping. What is meant by your own fun or your own business on that day? How do you speak of the Sabbath with delight? How do you honor God with what you do on the Sabbath? What are your own desires; your own pleasures?

Are there pleasures and desires that would be considered God's; which would be acceptable to God? Perhaps the biggest challenge in obeying God by keeping His Sabbath is to understand what is meant by the phrase, talking idly on the Sabbath. It is bad enough to talk idly (cf. Matthew 12:36) any day of the week, but on the Sabbath, on Saturday?

All you need to do is look across this world today and you will clearly see people constantly rejecting God's Sabbath day, as they aimlessly pursue their own pleasures on Saturday.

History has provided a witness of peoples and nations who have tread upon God's Sabbath Day, and the results of such evil. One of the chief sins committed by the nation of Israel, which led to its demise, downfall and captivity, was the breaking of God's Sabbaths (Nehemiah 13:15-18).

These same results will come to any nation or peoples living today, who breaks God's Sabbath day, Saturday. All the troubles mankind is heaping upon itself in this turbulent world today is a result of breaking God's Commandments. To break the Sabbath is to dishonor God and doing so is a sin that is contributing to the misery this world now suffers.

It is clearly evident, disobeying God's Laws and Commandments, including the Sabbath day, results in broken societies, destroyed lives, poverty, empty human purpose, a Christian religion that is vain and useless, and eventually, death. God does not have to lift a finger. The consequences of sin are automatic and this world manifests those consequences.

Seeking your own pleasures on Saturday and not observing the Sabbath is a sin, which is a breaking of the law (I John 3:4). The results of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

To honor, observe and keep the Sabbath, Saturday, holy, shows obedience toward and respect for God, resulting in blessings in this physical life, protection and the promise of everlasting life.

Your life will be filled with more satisfaction than temporal physical pursuits will ever provide, when you keep the Sabbath, Saturday, holy. This is God's promise.

What do you do on Saturday? The answer is clear regarding what you need to do on Saturday. The Word of God informs you what you should be doing on God's Sabbath Day - Saturday. Perhaps now is the time to start obeying God!

75th Anniversary
There is a framed cover of the Plain Truth magazine standing on the credenza behind the desk in my Dad's former office, dated January 1959. It features two black and white photos, one of my Granddad, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, in the radio studio recording the World Tomorrow radio program with my Grandmother Loma sitting in. The other photo shows my Dad, Garner Ted Armstrong, in the same studio recording the program with my Mom, Shirley. The cover reads, "The WORLD TOMORROW'S 25TH Anniversary."

That anniversary was celebrated exactly 50 years ago, making this January the 75th anniversary of my Grandfather's first weekly radio program, broadcasting from a standpoint that is still having quite an impact. As you'll see in the excerpt below, the very first time Mr. HWA appeared before a radio microphone was a couple months earlier. I thought you might enjoy his description of that event as we acknowledge the passage of its 75th Anniversary.

You may also find it interesting that he chose God's promises to Abraham as the subject matter for his very first message broadcast. This excerpt is straight out of his own Autobiography.

The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong (Volume 1, beginning on page 529)

In September ­ very soon after rejecting a salary and being controlled and muzzled by MEN, the living Christ began opening doors for the MASS-proclaiming of His Gospel. It was then that someone brought to my attention the fact that the local radio station at Eugene, KORE, then the very smallest minimum-power of 100 watts, had a morning devotional program scheduled, but that they were having difficulty getting local ministers to conduct the program.

It was free time, carried by the station as a public service sustaining program of 15 minutes, 7:45 to 8:00 a.m.

Immediately I went to the radio station. A woman secretary told me she felt sure they would be glad to have me take the program for a week. I was to call back later for the exact date.

On my second call I was assigned the week of October 9th.

October 9th was surely a great big day in my life - the day of my very first experience before a microphone, ON THE AIR!

I took this opportunity very seriously. It was an opportunity to speak to several hundred people at once! I had never spoken to that many before.

I spent the preceding week preparing rather extensive notes and script. I might never again have such an opportunity, so I decided to strike directly at the very heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Since the Kingdom of God is based on the promises made to Abraham, I began, on Monday morning's program with the PROMISES made to Abraham.

Mike-Fright
I had heard a lot about everybody getting mike-fright the very first time on the air. I wondered if I would experience this. It was probably the most exciting adventure of my life.

On Monday morning, I arrived at the radio studio early. The announcer did not come into the studio until ten or fifteen seconds before 7:45.

Mike-fright? Why, I thought to myself, I'm calm and cool as a cucumber!

"Listen!" I said quietly but quickly to the announcer. "I've never been on the air before. If you have any instructions, you'd better give them to me in a hurry. We have only 10 seconds!"

He looked at me disdainfully, and a little bored.

"Just stand up there in front of the mike, and start talking as soon as I announce you," he replied.

About three seconds later he announced me. While he was giving this very brief announcement, on the air, I thought, "Well I don't have any mike-fright. I'm sure glad of that!"

Then, for the first time in my life, I said into the microphone:

"GREETINGS, friends!"

But suddenly something had happened! Before those two words were finished, something had hit me like a jolt! Something had started my heart pounding like a sledge-hammer! I felt myself gasping for breath! During those opening two words, MIKE-FRIGHT had seized me!

I struggled with all my might to control my hard breathing so it would not be audible for the air. It was agony, but I concentrated my mind with all the strength I had on two things ­ to carefully say the words of my typed script as naturally as I could, and to control my hard breathing so it did not sound.

After two or three minutes I was making good progress in gaining control. After some five minutes my breathing had returned to normal, and I was so absorbed in getting this vital message over to the largest audience of my life - even though that audience was invisible ­ that I forgot all about mike-fright.

The Surprising Response
The second morning there was no mike-fright. I was beginning to gain assurance, and able to speak a little more naturally.

It must have been about Thursday morning that the announcer told me the station owner, Mr. Frank Hill, wanted to see me in his office later in the morning.

He had received several letters and telephone calls from listeners, requesting copies of my talks. I had offered no literature of any kind. I had invited no mail response.

"This is rather surprising," said Mr. Hill. "We never had any response of any kind, before, from this morning devotional program. They told me you had not invited any. Yet it has been coming. I listened in on you this morning to see what was causing it. You have an excellent radio voice, and a way of delivering your message that arouses interest and holds an audience.

"Now, Mr. Armstrong," he continued, "I want to suggest that you work out a regular Sunday morning Church service, condensed into a half hour. I'd like to put that on as a regular sustaining program ­ free time ­ but I can't do that without offering equal time to every church in town. However I will sell you the time at less than bare cost operation, $2.50 per half hour."

And THAT suggestion from Mr. Frank Hill is what put the idea of the WORLD TOMORROW program in my mind!

Altogether 14 letters and telephone calls came in to the radio station requesting copies of the messages I had broadcast.

I thanked him, and told him I would see what I could do.

But, $2.50 every week! WOW! That was almost as much as my entire salary had been! And I had just previously renounced even that small salary!

Today, $2.50 per half-hour broadcast seems incredibly small. We have to pay far more than that per minute on stations today! But it seemed like an insurmountable barrier then.

Yet I knew this was God's WORK, not mine. I was only an instrument. God had promised to supply every need.

The Pope Plays Defense
The Catholic pontiff recently did a disservice to the notion of infallibility. In fact the first German pope set off a round of unprecedented public criticism from his native country when he saw fit to "rehabilitate" a British bishop who was previously excommunicated for his denial of the Holocaust. The bishop actually went so far as to say that no Jews were gassed to death at the hands of the Nazis. Holocaust denial is the equivalent of a felony in Germany, a crime that carries a guaranteed jail term. Emotions still run high on this subject, as illustrated by Rabbis severing ties with the Vatican and the highly unusual "rebuke" by the German Chancellor.

The defensive move came when the Vatican demanded that the Holocaust-denying bishop recant, after the pope was challenged by Angela Merckel. Williamson, the bishop in question, has declined to recant and reportedly refused a suggestion that he should tour Auschwitz, the former German death camp. We may not have heard the end of the controversy.

As for the call for the pope to "step down," no such thing has ever happened since the fourteen hundreds, and even then it was not a case of simple resignation.

Mexico to Collapse?
The U.S. Joint Forces Command has issued a warning that "the Mexican government, its politicians, police and judicial infrastructure are all under sustained assault and pressure by criminal gangs and drug cartels."

Stories of incredible violence and brutality continue to come from towns just south of the border. According to a recent Reuters article, drug cartels have killed some 530 policemen in just the past year, some "corrupt" officers who were working for rival gangs. Others were killed for "refusing to turn a blind eye to drug shipments."

With reports of incredibly brazen murders coming from places like Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo, there is real concern that the violence may spill across the border.

The U.S. is already straining under the burden of an illegal alien population estimated to be well over 10,000,000. Border states are particularly hard hit in terms of providing social services education and health care. Police in so-called "safe haven" cities are barred from even asking the immigration status of foreign nationals, regardless of circumstances.

How might a complete "collapse" of civil society in Mexico affect the United States? That's a question the Joint Forces Command and Dept. of Homeland Security are scrambling to answer, even as they downplay the impression that the danger is imminent saying their projections look forward eight years and beyond.

Pakistan also at Risk
The other country at risk of "Rapid and Sudden Collapse" in the assessment by the U.S. Joint Forces

Command is Pakistan. And that report is believed to have been written before the bloody assault on Mumbai, India. It is lost on no one that Pakistan is in possession of a formidable nuclear arsenal. In a nation with a predominantly Islamic population, vast ungoverned territories containing belligerent Jihadists and terrorist training camps, it's not hard to predict which way it might fall.

Fears have already escalated dramatically in the wake of the terrorist attack on Mumbai, India. Last year, Turkey's top military official (Mehmet Yasar Buyukanit) openly discussed the possibility that the Taliban may wind up in control of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

Letters

To Whom Concerned:

I wish to thank you for the tapes and articles you have sent me. I play them over and over, I just can't get enough.

Mr. Ted was so interesting and knowledgeable and I have learned so much of the Bible through his materials. I feel so full.

Please pray for my children. They are all over 40, but they still need faith and guidance. My sons have come back to their God. One is going regularly to church with his family. The other son is studying his Bible. My two girls are not yet back to God, but I'm praying for them. Thank you all again for everything.

May Jesus bless you and keep your work in high gear as this world needs it so.

Knightdale, NC

Dear HQ in Tyler,

Please send me the booklet, tape and the sermon on evolution GTA mentioned in a recent television program.

We had a truly wonderful Sabbath on the 20th, as our close friends from United had a social gathering in the same building here in Rocklin. We all recognize that our beginning started with the teaching of Herbert Armstrong.

As our final days and hours on earth appear near, the need to unite draws us closer. May God be our strength always. America's change doesn't look good.

Rocklin, CA

Dear Beloved Christians:

Thanks and praise God for all of you and the informative newsletter I receive monthly. Truly, it is almost next to impossible to find a church that teaches the real truth to help us understand the "Day of the Lord" and the events we must know so that we won't be deceived in these end days.

Is there any way I can get the book The United States and Britain in Prophecy written by Herbert W. Armstrong? I realize that it has been a long time ago, but I remember my father trying to teach us children about where this world was going.

Now, as I was reading your world newsletter, it becomes more and more apparent and obvious he was telling us the truth of Jesus' return and warning us of the coming of the antichrist. Unfortunately, he has passed on and now we need help to seek the truth and to understand. Any help on biblical prophecy you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Also, thank you for your offer for the DVD on Galatians 1 and 2. Please know that me and my small Bible study group keep you all in our prayers. We can see that knowing the real truth is a must.

Ports, VA

Dear Mr. Armstrong,

Keep up the good work. I always love reading the 21st Century WATCH and all of the booklets I've received over the last few years. As a student of history and the Bible I find the booklets very handy in explaining parts of the Bible and how they fit into world history.

P.S. in Australia

Dear Mr. Armstrong,

Thank you for your generous offer of free literature. It is very refreshing to hear "straight down the line" teaching which is not designed to placate but to tell the truth.

J.D. in Australia

Dear staff,

I just want to say keep up the good work and please pray for your anchor to hold in the time of storm. I am impressed by some of what I have read. Thank YOU!

S.N. in Jamaica

Dear HQ in Tyler,

My brother and I are the two biggest fans of Mr. Armstrong in the country, we talk about his teaching almost daily. Last Monday our father was diagnosed with colon cancer. I have been listening to the CD "Worse than Dying" everyday. It's really helping me through these times. I'd like to thank you for the comfort it has given me.

J.H. in Tennessee

Dear Mr. Armstrong,

Your father, Garner Ted Armstrong, was so articulate, so understanding, with wisdom and with love. There is no one to replace him. How do you go on without him? Just listened to one of his tapes. It has been a while since I last heard him.

H.Z. in Arizona

Dear Mr. Armstrong,

I record your television program weekly. My 20 year old son really likes the way Garner Ted speaks. I've tried to get him to watch other religious programs, but he prefers Garner Ted over any of them. Thank you very much for the program and hopefully you can keep it coming. It's hard for a 20 year old young man to keep his head above the water so to speak, in this world.

N.P. in Texas

Dear Mr. Armstrong

I have been with your father from the very beginning. I am 84 years young and found your program on TV about a year ago. I love it and have read many of your father's booklets. Thank you for coming back to us and GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR STAFF. I will support you when ever I can as I am on Social Security and things are rough as you know. I am trying to do a home business now and need your prayers to help me succeed so I can tithe and help you and many others. Thank you for your prayers and you will hear from me again with a gift. GOD BLESS!

R.Z. in Illinois

Greetings:

WOW! I have been reading the Bible for twenty-five years now, and not until this morning at 3:06 a.m. did I realize that HEAVEN WILL BE ON EARTH! How many times have I read these verses and they just sounded so different this morning. THANK YOU!

J.C. in the USA

Dear Mr. Armstrong,

Thank you for the programs and the newsletters even if they really upset my 68 years of beliefs. Blessings.

M.F. in Missouri

Greetings:

I need some questions answered. I am sure it is easy for you to get the information I am requesting. Let me first say I have been a student, listener, reader and associate since 1963. But now things are changing so fast in the churches until I sometimes feel uneasy and a little afraid of what I am sensing and hearing, half-truths, etc. Please send to me information concerning the beliefs, rules and anything about the Seventh Day Adventists. All will be greatly appreciated.

May God continue to bless you and yours.
Atlanta, GA

Television Log of GTAEA
· Sacramento, CA­RCC-TV cable, ch. 19, 10:30 p.m., Sun., Pacific

· Sacramento, CA­FOX, KTXL, 6:30 a.m., Sun., Pacific

· Tampa, FL­WTTA, 6:30 a.m., Sat., Eastern

· Paducah/Cape Girardeau, KYFox 23/KBSI, ch. 9, 7:00 a.m.,Sun., ch. 49, 8:30 a.m., Wed., Central

· Chicago, IL­WEDE, Indpedence, 6:30 a.m., Sat., Central

· Chicago, IL­WJYS, Indpedence, 6:00 a.m., Sat., Central

· Dallas/Ft. Worth/Denton, TX, KFWD ch. 52 or Dish Network 8409 or

Direct TV 901, 6:30 a.m.,,Wed., Central (every other week)

· Springfield, MO­KCW 15, Noon, Sun., Central; 5:30 a.m., Tues.

· Knoxville, TN­WTNZ Fox, 6:30 a.m., Sun., Eastern

· Nashville, TN­WNAB-TV, 6:30 a.m., Mon., Eastern

Cable Access:
· Rhode Island (statewide) Cox Comm., ch. 14, 9:00 a.m., Sat., Eastern

· Rhode Island, Northern­ Cox Comm., ch.18, Sun., 8:30 a.m., Eastern

· Inter-Mt.-Cable­WPRG TV-5, 10:30 a.m., Sun., Mountain

· Atlanta, GA, WGCL, 6:30 a.m., Sun., Eastern

· Charleston, WV, Charter cable, ch. 9, 6:30 a.m., Thurs., Eastern

· Ft. Wayne, IN­Cable Access, ch. 10, 2:00 p.m., Sun., Eastern

· Lexington, KY­Public Access, 9:00 a.m. Tues., Central

· Jackson, MO­Galaxy cable, ch. 5, 8:30 a.m., Wed., Eastern

· St. Louis, MO­KDNL, 6:30 a.m., Sat., Central

· Durham, NC­Public Access, ch. 8, 10:00 a.m. Wed., Eastern

· Cincinnati, OH­INSIGHT TV, 9:00 a.m., Sat. and 4:00 p.m., Sun., Eastern

· Bentlyville, PA­INFORMATION ch. 4, 7:00 a.m. Sun. and  9:00 a.m., Mon., Eastern

· St. Paul, MN­SPNN, 11:00 p.m. Sun., Central

· Austin, TX­Cable Access-Austin, 4:00 p.m., Mon., Central

· El Paso, TX­Time Warner Cable, ch. 15, 5:05 p.m., Mon., Mountain

· Norfolk, VA­WTVZ, 6:30 a.m., Mon., Eastern

· Tri-cities/Washington state­FOX, KFFX-TV &

KCYU-TV, 6:30 a.m., Sun., Western

· Olympia, WA­TCTV cable, ch. 22, 8:00 a.m., Wed. & Fri., Pacific

· Macon, GA­Public Broadcasting, 7:00 a.m., Fri. and 12:00 noon, Sun., Eastern

· South East Regional Australia, Prime TV, 6:00 a.m., Sun.

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