From the Presiding Evangelist
(Please read in all congregations)
Dear Fellow Servants of God,
I am very grateful that God has allowed me to have 85 full years of life now. I made it! I want to continue to serve you and all the brethren for another few years—if it is within God's will. So I would appreciate your prayers for health and for God's guidance more than ever.
In that regard, I am praying and seeking God's will about the best way to have a much greater impact on this world in spite of our small work and the much smaller income we have than the income available to Mr. Armstrong in his day. One of the obvious huge ways that would make a difference is if we become really close to God as a ministry, cry out to God and are—in His time—granted the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts would certainly include faith, divine healing, the discernment of spirits and the capacity to cast out demons. Many of us are already doing this from time to time—but with nowhere near the power that the early apostles and even evangelists, such as Phillip had (see Acts 8). So I hope that all of you will try to "get on board" with the crusade that I want to launch for our entire Church to begin to emphasize the urgency of getting closer to God and building the kind of faith that the early apostles and ministers had.
This past Sabbath, I gave a sermon on that very topic and we have made it a "Must Play." I hope all of you will encourage the brethren to really carefully listen and respond to this sermon. It is really something that I feel God is leading us to do and I hope every one of you will realize how very, very important this topic is and what a huge difference it would make to the entire Work if we had the kind of power that the early prophets and evangelists had in their day. Yet, we know that God tells us: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). So it is certainly not out of the question or some pipe dream that we can do this and that we should do this. Please join me in this crusade. And I pray with all my heart that we can begin to develop an "atmosphere of faith" more than we have ever had in the Church of God in this era. May God continue to bless and guide you. I certainly appreciate your love and loyalty and will pray for you regularly and appreciate your prayers for me, for my health, for Mr. Ames and all of our team here at Headquarters. Thank you very much!
In Jesus' name,
Roderick C. Meredith
Church Administration
Greetings from Charlotte,
Five liberal judges on the United States Supreme Court have decided that same-sex marriage will now be legal in America. This follows Mexico's Supreme Court ruling to legalize same-sex marriage throughout that country. Also this week, the vice-president of the European Commission called for same-sex marriage to be recognized in all member states of the European Union. The snowball of anti-God and anti-biblical rulings continues to spread around the world. However, God will not be mocked; mankind will reap what is being sown by leaders who have turned their backs on God and His laws (Galatians 6:7). Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been holding meetings. This week, we reviewed a new video that is being prepared to send to GOTOs and work continues on the Behind the Work film for the Fall Festival. Canadian minister Jacques Secours is doing well after a heart operation earlier this week, Mr. Sheldon Monson continues to improve and Mr. Harold Way has been able to return to services in California. The Adirondack Canoe Trip began on Wednesday this week in New York state and the LYC Adventure Camp begins in Wyoming next Tuesday. Please keep God's people and His Work in your prayers.—DSW
Feast of Tabernacles
Activity Registration and Payment opens July 12
Beginning Sunday, July 12, all LCG members and guests attending the Feast of Tabernacles will be invited to begin registering for activities at their respective Feast sites. Payments for activities will also be enabled at that time. Activity registration and payment will be made via your MyLCG account, through the Festival Web site. To access it, go to www.lcg.org, and click on the link "Feast of Tabernacles."
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon CDs—Repeat Announcement
Attention Pastors: Please send the Church Administration Department at [email protected] the names of those in your congregation(s) who will be unable to attend the Feast and will need 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 July 8 for international recipients and September 4 for recipients in the U.S. Note: Feast sermons will also be uploaded (one per day) during the Feast at www.lcg.org, for those who have Internet access.
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Wednesday, July 15. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG Web site (www.cogl.org). Note: Members requesting second tithe assistance should plan to attend their assigned site, unless there are extenuating circumstances.—Festival Office
Internet and Television Operations
Tomorrow's World telecast on Roku update!
Thank you all for your continued prayers about the Tomorrow's World telecast. As you know, we broadcast around the world, not only over cable and satellite, but also on the major Internet television platforms: Roku, Amazon TV, Apple TV and Google TV. We are happy to announce that our Roku channel audience continues to rapidly grow and we are now approaching 29,000 installs on Roku! If you have a Roku, please install the Tomorrow's World app, and please give it a "five-star rating." This will further help the success of our channel. You can find the English-language telecast, the Hong Kong Telecast, French and Spanish telecasts and our Webcasts on Roku, Amazon TV, Apple TV and Google TV! Please join all of us in continuing to pray for the success of all of our efforts to fulfill the Great Commission that God has given us (Mark 16:15).— Wyatt Ciesielka, Director of Internet
Living University
Registration for 1st (Fall) Semester
Registration for Fall semester classes is now underway and classes will begin August 17. Students may register anytime between July 1 and the start of classes. For those who have never taken a Living University course, you will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course. The following are brief descriptions of several courses being offered next semester. A complete listing of "Fall 2015 Class Schedule" (Spring in the Southern hemisphere), can also be viewed on the Living University Web site. To make application 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. The following are a selection of the 16 classes we will be offering this semester. We plan to share an overview of our Fall courses over the next month in The World Ahead, so be sure to watch for them.
THL 211 – Old Testament Survey I: In the first of two classes, Dr. Douglas Winnail reviews the books of the Bible and their background in detail. He deals with the Law and the Former Prophets focusing on background, content, structure, geography, teachings, and basic meaning of each book and outstanding people and events. Emphasis is on the Old Testament Scriptures as the background and foundation for understanding the New Testament.
CIS 110 – Introduction to Computers: This course is extremely beneficial to those wishing to better understand how to use one of the most important innovations of the modern era. It introduces computer concepts, including fundamental functions and operations of the computer. Topics include identification of hardware components, basic computer operations, security issues, and use of software applications. Students will conclude the semester far more comfortable and confident in using the computer. This course is required for our degree programs.
BUS 223 – Personal and Family Finance: This course provides a study of money management decisions in relation to personal and family finances. It emphasizes building useful skills in buying, budgeting, managing and tracking finances, increasing resources, saving, and coping with current economic conditions. This is designed to be a practical course that can easily be applied in one's life, and is based on solid biblical principles.
Comments
Godly Perspective on Trials: When we encounter trials, it is not uncommon to wonder "why" is this happening? Has God forsaken or forgotten us? However, in challenging times, we need to remember several fundamental scriptures. Jesus told His disciples, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). God also promised never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5). The Apostle Paul reminds us that "all things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28), and that even in trials, God knows our limits and He will "make a way of escape" if we look to Him (1 Corinthians 10:13). James states that trials are opportunities to exercise faith in God and His promises and to build patience—while we do our part to work through challenges (James 1:3-4). When we encounter trials, we need to remember that we have a loving Father who hears our prayers and knows what we need to learn to serve Him and our fellow human beings in the coming kingdom—let's strive to maintain that godly perspective when challenges arise.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—July 2, 2015
Is the Eurozone Doomed? "The Eurozone is doomed and cannot survive in its current form, regardless of what happens to Greece, a major new study shows. New research demonstrates that members of the single European currency are becoming more economically divergent, making a single rate of interest increasingly unsuitable for the bloc" (Telegraph, June 21, 2015). "Political, social and cultural differences will also make it increasingly hard for the euro members to share a currency. Eventually, the Eurozone will have to either 'integrate or disintegrate', the analysis says… While many of the countries that joined the Euro were indeed converging before 1999, the study suggests, they began to diverge afterwards. By some measures, the Eurozone economies are now more divergent than at any time since 1982" (ibid.). Further, in order to make the euro work, "Eurozone states should cede more powers to EU institutions, including to a euro area treasury to be set-up in the next 10 years, according to a new report on further integration in the single currency area" (EU Observer, June 22, 2015). The make-up of the Eurozone will continue to change until its final end-time formation. Bible prophecy states this will result in ten kings operating with "one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast" (Revelation 17:13). Ultimately, "these will make war with the Lamb [the returning Jesus Christ], and the Lamb will overcome them" (v. 14). For more information on the future of Europe, read our booklet The Beast of Revelation.
China-Led Investment Bank Established: A Chinese-led initiative to compete globally against the U.S. dollar has begun. "A total of 50 nations have signed the founding charter of the AIIB [Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank], seen as a potential rival to US-dominated economic institutions such as the World Bank… Amongst developing countries, there had been increasing dissatisfaction with the governance structure of the IMF and World Bank, particularly due to the dominant position of the US and Europe in their respective voting structures" (Deutsche Welle, June 29, 2015). "This is not just a diplomatic win for China, it serves an important economic objective too. China wants to move away from building infrastructure at home. Its engineering giants need somewhere else to build ports, roads and cities," and they intend to "lend the region the money to pay Chinese companies to build a 21st Century Asia according to a Beijing master plan and with Chinese influence at its core" (BBC News, June 29, 2015). Once this economic money train gains steam—U.S. influence in the region could decrease considerably. Bible prophecies indicate an Asiatic superpower will boast a massive economy, and a 200 million man army will march against Israel before Jesus Christ returns (Revelation 9:16; 16:12). As the Israelite nations reject the laws of God, their "stubborn pride" will be broken (Leviticus 26:19, NIV)—while other nations to the East will grow in strength. For more on this topic, read "U.S.-China Trade War: Coming Soon?"
Homosexual Marriage Legalized in the USA: "The Supreme Court on Friday ruled same-sex partners have a constitutional right to marry, sweeping away state bans on gay unions and extending marriage equality nationwide" (Wall Street Journal, June 26, 2015). The high court's decision came from a 5-4 vote. Writing the majority opinion, "Justice Kennedy said gay and lesbian couples had a fundamental right to marry" (New York Times, June 26, 2015). "Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., in a dissent joined by Justice Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, said the Constitution had nothing to say on the subject" (ibid.). In recent years many nations with Bible-based values have discarded those values in favor of changing societal morality. Liberal courts and politicians have spearheaded the move away from biblical morality. This has long been prophesied in the Bible: "in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves… blasphemers… unholy… despisers of good" (2 Timothy 3:1-3). Sadly, it is the "good" that has made many nations "great" in years past. As biblical values disappear, we see "every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes" (Deuteronomy 12:8) which has produced disease, mental and emotional despair, and unhappiness. However, Bible prophecies state that Jesus Christ will return and restore these fundamental biblical values when He establishes His Kingdom of true peace and happiness on this earth. To learn more, read The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, Chris Sookdeo and Deborah Lincoln-Strange