Greetings from Charlotte,
World events continue to align with end-time Bible prophecies. Arab nations are taking more initiative toward building their own alliances, China's surprise weakening of its currency will have a rippling impact on neighboring countries (and potentially the world economy). The once- professing Christian nations continue their downward moral slide. The city of Charlotte will host a major homosexual event this weekend. Dr. Meredith has returned from a visit to the LYC Teen Camp in Ohio. Mr. Stuart Wachowicz, the new Regional Director for Canada, spent two days in Charlotte. This morning, we held an orientation for new and returning on-site Living University students. LU classes will begin next Monday, August 17. Mr. and Mrs. Cristian Orrego will leave Friday, August 14 for Mexico and Guatemala, and the European Teen Camp will also begin on Friday. This coming weekend, Mr. Wachowicz will conduct a Tomorrow's World Presentation in Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada. Mr. Bruce Tyler reports the Montgomery family has returned safely to Australia and that they are very appreciative for the help and encouragement they have received during their great trial. Your prayers for God's Work and for His people are deeply appreciated.—DSW
Morgan Montgomery Funeral Arrangements
The funeral service for Morgan Montgomery will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 17, at Penny's Hill Cellar Door and Function Centre, 281 Main Road, McLaren Vale, South Australia. Following the service, guests will be invited to the graveside for the interment. This will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery, 12 St. Jude Street, Willunga, South Australia. Following the burial, there will be a reception back at the same location where the funeral service was held.
Living Youth Program
Ohio Living Youth Camp
The Ohio Living Youth Camp concluded this past Sunday with a Memorial Service for Morgan Montgomery, conducted by Mr. Sheldon Monson. Then many campers headed for their respective homes, some of them flying internationally. We are uploading a video of the service to the Living Youth Web site, www.livingyouth.org, and to the Living Youth Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Living.Youth.Programs.
Due to the tragic accident, it had been a difficult week, but many inspiring moments helped everyone along. Camp staff also appreciated that the local responders were very professional, courteous and helpful. Also, the local TV and print media were professional, respectful and tried very carefully to report events accurately as they unfolded. A number of campers and staff stayed over Sunday afternoon to see a flotilla of boats from the area travel down the lake and place flowers at the location of the tragic accident.
Church staff coordinated local arrangements, communicating with local authorities and also coordinating the family's transportation arrangements to and from Australia.
The Montgomery family was a light and an inspiration, not only to the Church, but to the people of the surrounding area in Ohio.
Many people have asked how to contribute to help the family of Morgan Montgomery in this difficult time. Transportation and related costs were fully covered upfront by the Church and were reimbursed by insurance and private donations. Church offices in Charlotte, NC, and Adelaide, Australia worked together on travel arrangements.
The Morgan Montgomery Memorial Youth Fund
Others are continuing to express a desire to help. So in Morgan's memory, and with the family's approval, the Church has set up a special fund, the Morgan Montgomery Memorial Youth Fund to provide scholarships and transportation for Church youth around the world to participate in the Church's youth camps, in addition to providing other important services to Church youth.
Donations should be made payable to Living Church of God, designated for the Morgan Montgomery Memorial Youth Fund and sent to: Living Church of God, P.O. Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227. Or you can donate online. There is a link at http://www.lcg.org/memorial_youth_fund.shtml.
The love and generosity of God's people is greatly appreciated.—Dexter Wakefield
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presents in Reno, Nevada
On Sunday, August 12, the Reno congregation hosted a Tomorrow's World presentation attended by 30 enthusiastic guests and 15 members. The first part, "After Armageddon" set the prophetic theme for the second part, "The Mystery of God's Holy Days," in which it was clearly demonstrated that the Biblical Holy Days outline the future of God's plan following Armageddon. One visitor stated: "I know that what he said is true... you can't just pray to God and be saved. I know I am not saved because I still am living in sin, but I want to change, I want to stop sinning and be in that Kingdom that he spoke about!" We scatter the seeds of the glorious Truth of God with the knowledge of God's plan and beyond. "I set before you life and death, blessing and cursing... choose life that you might live." The choice is theirs, but we will do all that we can to aid them in their search for Truth.—Jeffrey Fall
Rocky Mountain Saratoga Family Weekend
Fifty brethren from Montana, California, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska and even New Zealand shared three wonderful days of fellowship, great spiritual food and mouth-watering meals during the "Rocky Mountain Saratoga Family Weekend." The Friday evening Bible Study by Mr. Arnold Lalum was a fascinating history and geography lesson on the journey of the ancient Israelites to the Promised Land. A peaceful Sabbath included a delicious Sabbath Brunch and Sabbath Services in the afternoon. The sermonette, on "Spiritual Burnout," was given by Mr. Mike Elliott and the sermon, on "The Importance of Love," was given by Mr. Stephen Elliott, Area Pastor from Southern California. After our evening meal, Mr. Shawn McMillin led the "Bible Bowl," a favorite Saturday evening activity for the Saratoga Family weekend. After breakfast on Sunday morning, Mr. Stephen Elliott led a workshop on "Family Is Important." The weekend concluded with a special lunch at Mr. and Mrs. Alan Williams' home. As we all said our good-byes, we were thinking about next year in Saratoga, which will be our 18th Rocky Mountain Saratoga Family Weekend. Mark your calendar for the first weekend in August 2016 and plan to join us in Saratoga!—Ben Whitfield
Feast of Tabernacles
Just Six Weeks Away!
The Feast of Tabernacles is just over six weeks away! Excitement is building for this year's Feast, which will be conducted in 51 different sites in 31 countries around the world! We hope that your Festival preparations are coming along well, in anticipation of this highlight of the year! Almost 8,000 brethren are now successfully registered for the Feast, and many have already signed up and paid for activities. Be watching for e-mail communications from your Festival Coordinator. He will most likely send by e-mail any important information as the Feast draws near, and he may have already done so. If you have not yet signed up for activities, and have not paid for the activities which offer prepayment, please do so as soon as you can. This helps the Festival Coordinators pay deposits and make other preparations so all of us can come together and keep God's Feast!
Feast Speaking Schedules
The Festival Office is reviewing and processing the site speaking schedules and should have them finalized and approved by Dr. Meredith soon. We hope to begin sending the final versions to speakers and song-leaders by early next week.
Volunteering at the Feast
Thank you to all our brethren who have volunteered or will volunteer for the many necessary functions at the Feast. Volunteering for service is a crucial function that enables the Feast to run smoothly. And it's fun, too! If you have any questions about what service area you signed up for during registration, or what area you will be assigned to, please contact your Festival Coordinator. You can find his contact information by going to the Festival Web site (go to www.lcg.org, click on "Feast of Tabernacles," and follow the links).
Watch for Announcements
As the Feast draws near, many more announcements will be posted in The World Ahead, so stay tuned! Please be praying that God will inspire all of His people during these coming Holy Days, picturing the culmination of God's great plan of salvation for mankind!—Festival Office
Finance
Festival Assistance
Festival Assistance checks are being mailed to members, Friday, August 14. We are also contacting local pastors to let them know who has been approved (or not approved) for Festival assistance this year. Anyone who was not able to be approved is being mailed a letter that will include instructions on how to obtain the sermons for each day of the Feast, either on CD or over the Internet.
Hall Rentals
October Sabbath hall rentals should be sent in to the Accounting Department on or before September 15 to ensure that we can process the request before the Festival break.
Living University
Registration for First (Fall) Semester
Living University classes begin on Monday, August 17. Some classes are now full, but there is still room in many of them. If you would like to take for credit or audit an LU class this semester, be sure to register and order your textbooks this weekend so you are ready to start on Monday! Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for selected courses. Those age 65 and above are eligible to audit one class each semester tuition-free. Those who are currently in their third-tithe year qualify for a 50 percent tuition reduction. For a complete list of available classes, visit the LU Web site and click on "Fall 2015 Class Schedule." To apply to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com Web site. For additional information, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
Comments
Watch and Be Ready! We live in a world filled with distractions. Television, computers, e-mails, video games, jangling music, jobs and family concerns constantly pull our minds in different directions. Yet, the Scriptures warn that Christians must be alert and watch for the convergence of events that will mark the end of this age and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The admonitions to be alert and watch appear more than a dozen times in the New Testament (see Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:24-36, etc.). The events making news today—droughts, floods, earthquakes, spreading violence, wars and moral decline—appearing while we also see turmoil in the Middle East, Europe coming together and ecumenical efforts by the Roman church, should be sobering to anyone with a knowledge of Bible prophecy. The convergence of these prophetically significant events should motivate us all to grow spiritually and prepare for roles we have been called to fill in the coming Kingdom of God. We need to remember Jesus' warning that if we do not watch, we will not be ready for His return (Revelation 3:3). However, Jesus also promised, "Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching… therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Luke 12:37).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—August 13, 2015
Sabre Rattling over "The Rock": "The British government on Sunday accused Spain of violating its sovereignty over Gibraltar, saying Spanish state vessels had repeatedly and unlawfully entered its territorial waters without notifying it. The row is the latest in a long line of diplomatic spats between Britain and Spain over the territory, which was ceded to Britain about 300 years ago but which Spanish authorities now want to reclaim" (Reuters, August 9, 2015). However, an official from Spain's Foreign Office denied any wrongdoing and claimed "the waters are Spanish" (ibid.). Gibraltar is one of only two remaining "sea gates" under Britain's control. The Rock of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain and defend, as Spain and Argentina assert their desire to reclaim the disputed lands. Long ago, God promised that the Israelite-descended nations would "possess the gate of your enemies" as a blessing for Abraham's obedience (Genesis 22:17). Yet Bible prophecies warn that if these birthright nations turn away from God and violate His laws, these strategic gates will be lost (Deuteronomy 28:15, 52-57). Today, only two remain under British control. How long will it be until Gibraltar and the Falklands are also gone? For more on this topic, read "Sea Gates in Peril."
Saudis Flex Muscles in Middle East: A recent BBC report notes, "Something is stirring in Saudi Arabia. Gone is the historically conservative, don't-rock-the-boat, tip-toeing approach to the big strategic issues of the Middle East. In its place has come a new, assertive attitude that is seeing the oil-rich kingdom set off on previously untried and risky ventures" (BBC, August 8, 2015). Seasoned observers note "in the wake of the disastrous Arab Spring that has brought such misery to much of the Arab world, Saudi Arabia had no choice but to look after its own interests, form its own alliances and forge its own path, irrespective of what Washington is up to" (ibid.). For many Washington policy-makers, the Saudis taking care of their part of the world is seen as a relief. However, Bible prophecy sheds a different light on these events. Long ago, God warned at the time of the end, a "king of the south" would unite the Arab world against a European "king of the north" (Daniel 11:40). The increasingly assertive actions by Saudi Arabia could become the catalyst to create this end-time "Arab confederacy." To learn more about the future of this volatile area of the world, read "Five Prophetic Signs for the Middle East."
Playing Games with Demons: The entertainment and gaming industry is actively promoting violence and occult practices. Multiplayer and role-playing video games with demonic themes are attracting millions of players and generating billions of dollars in profits (Forbes, July 19, 2014). These elaborately constructed games make players feel like the star of a science fiction movie and also "meet social needs" for companionship and self-esteem (The Guardian, August 29, 2011). One ad for a new role-playing game states, "Dominate your foes as a Demon Hunter, an elven outcast shunned for daring to wield the terrible powers of the Legion… Demon Hunters can tap into forbidden powers at times of dire need, metamorphosing into terrifying fel forms [demons]. Focus on Havoc to demolish any who stand in your way with fiery demonic attacks, or specialize in Vengeance and go toe to toe with even the most powerful demons, withstanding massive punishment as their attacks fuel your hatred" (Blizzard Entertainment). God clearly states that we "cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons" (1 Corinthians 10:21). The Bible also warns us to "abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22). As we approach the end of the age, demonic activity will increase (see Revelation 13 and 12:10). While our society has forgotten that Satan and his demons are real, their mission to attract and destroy human beings remains the same (Ephesians 6:12). This is why the Bible urges us to put on "the whole armor of God" so we "may be able to stand against the wiles [tricks] of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). Playing with demons is a dangerous game. For more about the growing influence of the occult, watch our informative telecast, "Modern Dangers of the Occult."—Scott Winnail, Chris Sookdeo, Francine Prater and Justin Ridgeway