Greetings from Charlotte,
Tomorrow's World Presentations were conducted in four cities last weekend. Messrs. Richard Ames and James Sweat held one in the Raleigh, North Carolina area with 26 guests attending, along with 35 members. Mr. Daniel Friz and I conducted Presentations in Monroe and Shreveport, Louisiana with 13 and 37 guests, respectively; and there were 38 guests in Auckland, New Zealand, to hear Messrs. Rob Tyler and Paul Kearns. All told, 114 guests and 141 members attended these presentations. Presentations are scheduled this weekend for Charleston, West Virginia and Vestal, New York in the United States; Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada; and Auckland, New Zealand. We held a meeting this past week to discuss themes for Presentations beginning after the Feast and how we can make them more effective. We also had a meeting recently regarding TWNow, our live webcast on YouTube and Facebook that comes on each Thursday at 3:00 p.m., Charlotte time. We decided on the tagline: "News, Prophecy, and You. Big Questions. Real Answers!" This was important to give us focus and parameters as we go forward.—Gerald Weston
Feast of Tabernacles
Activity Registration and Payment Now Open!—Repeat Announcement
Activity Registration is now open for most Feast sites. Members and guests attending the Feast of Tabernacles are invited to register for activities to be held during the Feast of Tabernacles 2017. Payments for activities are also enabled for most sites. (Please note that activity registration is not yet open for a few Feast sites, because details are still being finalized—if you have any questions, contact your Festival coordinator.) Activity registration and payment for most Feast sites will be made via your MyLCG account, through the Festival website. To access it, go to www.lcg.org, and click on the "Feast of Tabernacles" link. If you have any questions, please contact your Festival coordinator.
Feast of Tabernacles Sermons—Repeat Announcement
Attention Pastors: Please send to the Church Administration Department ([email protected]) the names of those in your congregation(s) who will be unable to attend the Feast and wish to receive a set of the Feast of Tabernacles sermons on CD. (Sermons are available in English, French or Spanish.) The deadline to submit these requests is September 1 for recipients in the U.S. Pending international requests should be submitted immediately. Note: Feast sermons will also be uploaded (one per day) during the Feast at www.lcg.org, for those who have Internet access. The French sermons will be uploaded to www.eglisedieuvivant.org.
Living Youth Program
Teen Camp in Chevetogne, Belgium
The bilingual (English and French) European Summer camp at Chevetogne (4-13 August) in Belgium is progressing well. It is small but international, with the USA, Martinique, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the diverse ethnic mix of the UK all represented. Daily forums and "reflections" have provided a strong biblical backbone for each day, as well as Bible Studies and sermons on the Sabbaths. Good weather overall has allowed us to fulfill a diverse schedule of activities that has included water-skiing, canoeing, arts and crafts (quilling), cricket, soccer, netball, volleyball, first aid instruction, "speedminton," dance, speech, and nature awareness. Thus far the camp has been safe, illness-free, and gone smoothly, for which we are most thankful. We are very appreciative for all our excellent and dedicated staff, and all the prayerful and financial support we have received from our members. And of course we are VERY thankful for God's blessings on another successful camp.—John Meakin, Camp Director
Living University
Classes Start Wednesday, August 16!
In just a few days, the Fall 2017 semester of Living University will begin. Those interested in taking an LU class this semester should register for classes and order textbooks immediately in order to be prepared for the start of classes on August 16! Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for their selected course(s). Please note that Living University has lowered its tuition cost by nearly 30 percent for the 2017-2018 academic year. Those age 65 and above are reminded that they are eligible to audit one class per semester and the tuition fee will be waived. They are responsible only for the $45 technology fee and the cost of textbooks. High school students interested in dual-enrollment in an LU course are eligible for our Early College program, which significantly discounts tuition fees. International students from developing nations may also be eligible for a significant tuition reduction. To apply to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com website. For additional information, please contact Assistant Registrar Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294. For a full list of classes, visit the "Fall 2017 Class Schedule" (Spring in the Southern hemisphere) on the Living University website.
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Skills That Promote Teamwork: Members of effective organizations (teams, families, churches, businesses, and governments) develop the necessary skills to function together to accomplish goals. These skills can be learned. As Christians, we must develop these same skills—and many are clearly biblical. Effective team players avoid saying or doing things that offend others (Matthew 18:7; 1 Corinthians 10:32). They are forgiving and able to overlook slights and insults because they have learned not to be easily offended (Psalm 119:165; Proverbs 10:12; 17:9; 1 Corinthians 13:5). Team players do not sit in judgment of others—accusing, criticizing and digging up evil things about others—instead, they make sure their own lives are in order (Matthew 7:1-5; James 4:11). Team players are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) who promote harmony and work smoothly with others (James 3:17-18). Team players deal with people gently, respectfully and patiently, and are willing to listen (James 1:19). Team players do not promote themselves at the expense of others (Matthew 20:20-24)—they ask, "How can I help?" instead of, "What is in it for me?" Effective team players appreciate that a team is made up of individuals with different talents and abilities who make unique contributions to the team (1 Corinthians 12:12). Their main priority is to work together smoothly to achieve a goal while showing love to one another (Ephesians 4:16). In short, good team players have learned to be good Christians who love their neighbors. Let's strive to develop these skills.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—August 10, 2017
The United States Is Fading: News polls indicate that the status of the United States is declining and becoming increasingly irrelevant on the world stage (Washington Post, July 27, 2017). A recent interview with a Nigerian man demonstrated the sad disappointment of many regarding the U.S.: "Your country has gone crazy [he said]… I'm from Africa. I know crazy, but I didn't ever think I would see this in America." In a recent Pew survey, more Americans expressed trust in several foreign leaders (including Angela Merkel) than in their own president. Even when American foreign policy was unpopular in the past, "people around the world still believed in America—the place, the idea. This is less true today." While a post-America and post-Britain world is prophesied to occur at the end of the age, it is still sobering to watch this become a reality. Long ago, God warned that if the Israelite nations fail to live by His commandments, they will fall from their position of power and be overshadowed and embarrassed by others (Leviticus 26:14, 19; Deuteronomy 28:15, 44). However, at Christ's return, the Israelite nations, along with Egypt and Assyria (modern Germany) will be used by God in very remarkable ways (Isaiah 19:24-25). To learn more about the challenging days ahead, be sure to read "The Demise of the West."
Pushing the Boundaries of Science and Morality: Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University have successfully "edited" a gene mutation in human embryos that they created (National Geographic, August 2, 2017). "The team used 'genetic scissors' called CRISPR-Cas9 to target and remove a mutation associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common inherited heart disease, in 42 embryos." While many scientists are hailing the research as revolutionary, bioethicists are labeling it as "scientists... out of control." To conduct the research, scientists created 58 living embryos. Following the successful gene editing, the embryos were destroyed. If the U.S. government prevents research from continuing, through bioethics laws, some scientists plan to conduct their research in other countries that allow this type of research. Many liken genetic editing to "playing God" and are thus opposed. In today's rapidly changing world, it is worth remembering why God intervened in human affairs at the tower of Babel. God saw human society going in a direction He did not want it to go, so He confused the languages because He knew that "nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them" (Genesis 11:6). Today, science and technology are advancing faster than the ethics needed to control this advance—which is one more indicator of the need for Christ's return! Scientific progress without a godly foundation is a recipe for disaster. For more on this important subject, read "Wanted: Leaders with Character."
Christianity and Extremism: The meaning of extremism is changing daily and is beginning to mean the opposite of its original intent. In a recent homily, the Bishop of Shrewsbury (UK) shared his concerns that, if British law continues in its current direction, belief in Jesus Christ and the Bible may one day be viewed as "extremist" ideology (Catholic Herald, August 1, 2017). In his comments, he cited a recent poll where "20 per cent [of respondents] said Gandhi could be considered an extremist while 25 per cent thought Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela could be considered as such. More than 40 per cent said people who believed marriage was only between a man and a woman were extremist." The Bishop's observations are interesting in light of Christ's own prophetic statements. Speaking of His Church at the end of the age—people who actually believe and follow His biblical teachings—Jesus Christ warned "you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake" (Matthew 24:9). In addition, God warned that Israelite nations at the end of the age would eventually label evil things as good and good things as evil (Isaiah 5:20). We are watching these prophesied events happening today. To learn more about events that will mark the end of the age, read or listen to Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return.—Scott Winnail, Rod McNair, and Francine Prater