From: Greg
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 1:35 AM
G’day Paul, the 25th April in Australia and New Zealand is known as Anzac day and commemorates the Gallipoli landings in the first world war.I don’t expect you’re familiar with the occasion but it’s a very big deal here, especially since this year is the centenary.In years gone by I’ve been caught up in the emotion of the day but have begun to maybe see it differently. While the bravery and commitment of the men in the trenches is to be admired it seems to me the whole event was under the wrath of God.When God told Israel to go to war things went well but when they went of their own accord it went badly.The Gallipoli campaign was a disaster from the first day until the last and ten of thousands lost their lives.Would appreciate your thoughts.Kind regards,Greg.
From: Paul Cohen
To: Greg
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2015 7:54 AM
Subject: April 24, 2015 Letter
Hi Greg,
I’m not very familiar with the Gallipoli campaign. You’re also right in what you say about Israel, but also consider how they were different than the nations around them, being directly led by God as spoken of by David, His chosen king:
“And what one nation in the earth is like Your people, like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for You great things and terrible, for Your land, before Your people, whom You redeemed to You from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?” (2 Samuel 7:23 MKJV)
The nations of this world are in darkness, as the Scriptures say, and suffer many things accordingly. Yet if they do well with what God has given them, they will do well, and if they do wrong, then they suffer the consequences. Nations, like men, reap what they sow.
The American Civil War was a very blood affair, for example, and was by no means an assured victory for the North. In the beginning, the Union armies were going nowhere while losing many men in hard fought battles. During this time Abraham Lincoln said something along these lines (my paraphrase): “If we (the United States) must, as a nation, lose all the ill-gotten gains from the evils of slavery by prosecuting this war, then so be it. God is just.”
By faith we know that all things are under God’s sovereignty and we acknowledge that He is just. Furthermore, we seek Him earnestly, knowing He is merciful to those who fear Him. We saw this reflected in a Psalm we were reading the other night:
Psalms 80:1-19 MKJV
(1) To the Chief Musician. A Testimony Concerning the Lilies. A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You dwelling between the cherubs, shine forth.
(2) Stir up Your strength before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, and come, save us.
(3) Turn us again, O God, and cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!
(4) O LORD, the God of Hosts, how long will You be angry against the prayer of Your people?
(5) You feed them with the bread of tears; and give them tears to drink in great measure.
(6) You make us a strife for our neighbors; and our enemies laugh among themselves.
(7) Turn us again, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine; and we shall be saved.
(8) You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations and planted it.
(9) You cleared before it, and caused it to take deep root; and it filled the land.
(10) The hills were covered with its shadow, and its boughs were as the great cedars.
(11) It sent out its boughs to the sea, and its branches to the river.
(12) Why have You broken down its hedges, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?
(13) The boar out of the wood wastes it, and the wild beast of the field eats it.
(14) Return, we beg You, O God of Hosts; look down from Heaven, and behold, and visit this vine,
(15) and the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the Son that You make strong for Yourself.
(16) It is burned with fire, and cut down; they perish at the rebuke of Your holy face.
(17) Let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, on the Son of man whom You have made strong for Yourself.
(18) So we will not go back from You; make us live, and we will call on Your name.
(19) Turn us again, O LORD, the God of Hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved.
The men and nations of this world are partial, thinking highly of themselves, but those who fear God think highly of Him alone and glory in Him:
“Thus says the LORD, Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, don’t let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows Me, that I am the LORD Who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 HNV).
As believers and disciples (“disciplined ones”) of the Lord Jesus Christ, we become citizens of another country, a heavenly one, Jerusalem from above.
It’s been a while since we heard from you, Greg. Have you been reading the letters we send out? If so, are they helpful? Is there an effectual work by the Word of God to you through us? How are things going for you?
Around this time last year I mentioned our weekly Sabbath (Saturday) meetings to you, where people gather from around the world beginning at 12 Noon MST at a text chat room on our website. People are free to listen, participate, ask questions, come and go as needed or desirable. You didn’t comment at the time – did you miss the invitation? If you’re interested in attending now, write to Sara and she’ll help you with instructions. You’ll need Java (a free program), which you likely already have.
Paul
From: Greg
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2015 6:34 PM
Subject: G’day Paul,I’ve just been reading about the bushfires in Montana and I hope you and yours are ok.Regards, Greg.
From: Paul Cohen
To: Greg
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 1:59 PM
Subject: RE: G’day Paul,I’ve just been reading about the bushfires in Montana and I hope you and yours are ok.Regards, Greg.
Hi Greg!
I’m still here – sorry I didn’t write back to you sooner. Very busy here as usual – in fact, busier. The Lord is doing great things for His people, which means big things are afoot.
No problem with the fires where I live in Montana. Thanks for asking.
How are things with you?
Paul
From: Greg
To: Paul Cohen
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2015 6:22 AM
Subject: G’day Paul,thanks for the reply, it’s good that your busy.Things are good here, reading and learning and un- learning.Some news you may be interested in is that I haven’t had a cigarette in 10 months courtesy of a mild heart attack on the 1st October l…
From: Paul Cohen
To: Greg
Cc: Victor Hafichuk
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2015 7:52 AM
Subject: Your Heart Attack
Hi Greg,
There’s a saying in this part of the world, “As serious as a heart attack.” Do you know why you had a heart attack, which, even if minor, warns of potentially fatal issues that need to be resolved? Have you considered the physical and spiritual aspects of this matter?
It’s good that you aren’t smoking as a result, something for which you can be thankful, but is there anything else that needs your attention, deeper and more significant?
I went over our past correspondence and see that you haven’t answered some questions I sent you three months ago:
It’s been a while since we heard from you, Greg. Have you been reading the letters we send out? If so, are they helpful? Is there an effectual work by the Word of God to you through us? How are things going for you?
Around this time last year I mentioned our weekly Sabbath (Saturday) meetings to you, where people gather from around the world beginning at 12 Noon MST at a text chat room on our website. People are free to listen, participate, ask questions, come and go as needed or desirable. You didn’t comment at the time – did you miss the invitation?
Paul