Is cremation Christian?

BIG SANDY, Texas--A new article, "Cremation: Is it Christian?," by Ed Burson is available at www.TheSimpleAnswers.com, announced Cindy Burson.

Mrs. Burson also said her and her husband's ministry, the Church of God Simple Answers, is looking for old literature from the Radio/Worldwide Church of God published before 1986.

"We are putting together a reference library," she said.

Write the Bursons at studyyourbible@cs.com.

Modern-day Israel

FISH HOEK, South Africa--Geoff Neilson's new Web site summarizes Herbert W. Armstrong's teaching about the identity of modern-day Israel, announced Mr. Neilson.

"It is purposely done in such a way that anyone wanting to give this specific information to others has one clear place to get it," Mr. Neilson said. "In other words, it summarizes Mr. Armstrong's most widely read booklet, The U.S. and B.C. in Prophecy, with a few interesting complementary additions." See www.freewebs.com/usa-in-prophecy for Mr. Neilson's information.

COG death blamed on Katrina

GRETNA, La.--Elder Tom Kerry reports a death of a Church of God member caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Mary Lou Champagne of the New Orleans, La., area "passed away as result of the evacuation," Mr. Kerry said.

"She had been undergoing treatment for cancer and was making progress. Her brother informed me that the strain of the preparation for the hurricane, and the long drive to Dallas with all the delays, weakened her to the point that when they got her to the hospital there was nothing they could do for her."

Mr. Kerry said he was aware of the flooding of at least six church families' residences under "seven to 12 feet of water."

He said some evacuees have used the building in Gretna owned by the Church of God Worldwide Ministries as a shelter and that "others will be using the church as a refuge as they return to New Orleans and begin to get their lives in order."

Refuge up north

PORT AUSTIN, Mich.--Norm Edwards reports no takers so far for his invitation to hurricane evacuees who are Sabbatarian Christians to take refuge on the Port Austin Bible Campus (see The Journal dated July 31).

Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast Aug. 29 and Hurricane Rita Sept. 24.

Mr. Edwards offered "medium-term accommodations to church members" including "a place to stay and food to eat for a few months to a year or so."

He invites church members to let him know of any "fellow believers whom we might be able to help."

Mr. Edwards expressed concern "that some brethren were more interested in debating whether our facilities were acceptable than they were trying to help the victims."

If transportation to Michigan is a problem he would consider picking up evacuees and their belongings in his maxivan.

For more information contact Mr. Edwards at PABC, P.O. Box 474, Port Austin, Mich. 48467, U.S.A., or pabc@portaustin.net, or (989) 738-7700.

Mr. Neff's thesis

SYDNEY, Australia--Craig White and Friends of the Sabbath Australia announce the posting of a master's thesis by longtime Church of God member and former Worldwide Church of God evangelist Leroy Neff of Big Sandy, Texas. It is ready for download, among many other resources, at www.friendsofsabbath.org/~surfer/Bible/.

Mr. Neff's thesis discusses the temple and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness as "a pattern of things in heaven."

Just what do you mean Christian?