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CW BULLETIN
April 25, 1949
Box 111, Pasadena, Calif.
Dear Inner Family of Co-Workers:
Our business manager just a moment ago came into my
office and informed me God's work is running head-on into another
desperate crisis. Unless generous help comes immediately, the very
life of the work will be threatened with sudden death by next week.
This realization falls like a crushing weight on my
shoulders. I had hoped we could avert any such crisis all this
year. You remember that all last year was a harrowing trial of
financial difficulty, until we came to the final December crisis,
when our Co-Workers responded so nobly and generously and put the
work once again on its feet. I had been through such an ordeal
personally that I had to pray earnestly for God to spare me from
such further nerve-shattering pressure at least for some time and
give me a rest from it, or I should not have been able to carry on
at the helm of this great work. God had graciously given me a
third of a year's rest from such difficulties---and during this
time He has marvelously blessed this work and advanced it and
granted it a precious harvest of souls.
I believe the real reason for the dropping off in tithes
and offerings for the expenses of the work is the fact that I have
not yet been able to get out the March-April number of The PLAIN
TRUTH, or even to send you the Co-Workers' BULLETIN I have wanted
to send, showing the surprising things God has done for the
advancement of His work since the first of the year, with pictures
illustrating the fine announcement I have for you.
So may I briefly explain WHY you haven't received these?
You know the crushing strain I had undergone last year had simply
brought me, personally, and physically, to a point of enervation
where I was unable to throw off a cold and attack of flu, and I
simply had to stop and go away for a complete rest and a fast to
cleanse my system of accumulated toxins and poisons. But you know
I'm only human, and I make mistakes once in a while, the same as
you---and I am not above admitting it. After many years'
experience in fasting and diets, what I did may seem inexcusable,
---I didn't realize what I was doing until too late. Here's what
I did: instead of the usual orange juice fast as I have used
before, and supervised for many others, I spared myself some of the
hunger pangs this time by taking more orange juice. Instead of one
glass at a time, I took two. Instead of taking it three or four
times a day as I should, and always had before, I took another two
glasses every two hours and sometimes after only an hour and a
half. And Mrs. Armstrong, bless her heart, in trying to make it
easier for me, and spare me from hunger-pangs, kept squeezing more
and more orange juice, just so lovingly---and I kept taking it!
Well, after 24 days of that, and after breaking that so-called
fast, instead of feeling so wonderful, so clear-headed, and full of
energy and power as I always had after a fast before, I felt tired,
worn out, and as if in a mental fog---and I just simply have not
been able to get going and get my work done. I should have KNOWN
that one can over do anything, and even a good thing taken to
excess becomes injurious. What I did was to take more citrus juice
than the system can absorb, and neutralize and destroy a good
portion of the calcium in my body. Now I am having to build back
up by eating plenty of protein and calcium-containing foods. I'm
noticing daily improvement, and regaining strength rapidly---I'll
be all right in a little while---but without realizing it I did a
foolish thing, and the work has had to suffer, and I have been
unable to finish writing The PLAIN TRUTH, or prepare the BULLETIN
which will bring you a real surprise in the development of this
work. Co-Workers, let my experience teach you the importance of
MODERATION in ALL things.
Meanwhile, THE WORK IS IN GREAT NEED AND APPROACHING
GRAVE DANGER. I never send you such an appeal unless the need is
REAL and URGENT. I know you'll hold up my hands, and come
generously to the rescue. Once again, will some of you who are
able send in a thousand, or several thousand dollars? If you can
send a few hundred, send that---and all the rest of you who simply
cannot send larger amounts, please once again supply this desperate
need by literal DOWNPOUR of widow's mites---nearly all of you can
send at least two dollars each. I'm going to trust God to see that
you do---and as often as He makes possible.
GOD BLESS YOU,
Herbert W. Armstrong
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