Greetings from Charlotte,
As the world sings carols about "peace on earth and good will among men," religious and sectarian violence continues to spread around the world. Again this week, racially and religiously motivated killings have shocked cities from New York to Paris—as prophetic events continue to make news. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith is working on an article for Tomorrow's World magazine and preparing a sermon for this Sabbath. Mr. Hernandez, Mr. Cristian Orrego and other ministers are in Mexico for the Living Youth Camp this week. Mr. and Mrs. Rees Ellis are in South Africa to work with the Living Youth Camp there that also began this week. We are welcoming some 650 people for the Charlotte Family Weekend. Your prayers for God's Work and for God's people around the world are certainly needed and appreciated at this time.—DSW
Church Administration
Northeast Spring Holy Day Weekend
It's not too early to begin planning for the annual spring Holy Days! Members from northeast USA congregations will again be gathering this spring Holy Day season to worship God, learn more about His way of life, and build bonds of brotherhood. We will be using a new venue this year, which will add to the excitement. Situated in the beautiful Catskill Mountains, Frost Valley YMCA Camp will provide an idyllic setting to focus on the nuts and bolts of "Coming Out of Modern-Day Egypt." Beginning with Passover evening (April 2) and concluding at noon on Sunday, April 5, each day will be filled with educational and inspirational experiences for all ages. For more details, watch and listen for more announcements!—Jonathan McNair
Kansas City Weekend—Final Call!
We are just a week away from the Tenth Annual Kansas City Family Weekend! The weekend kicks off with a Friday night Bible Study beginning at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, a seminar is planned at 10:00 a.m. and Sabbath services will be at 1:30 p.m., all at the Hilton Garden Inn, 19677 East Jackson Drive, Independence, MO 64057.
If you're planning on eating the catered meal, please, please, please pay as soon as possible. The PayPal option is available on the Web site. If Sony hackers frighten you from using the Internet, then please plan on paying by check at the weekend. If you cannot attend, e-mail the coordinators ([email protected]) as soon as possible so we are not responsible for your meal charge.
For more information and to register, go to lcgkcweekend.org (not an official LCG Web site). See you soon!—Michael Keesee
Feast of Tabernacles 2015
2015 U.S. Feast Sites—Repeat Announcement
We are happy to announce the 2015 Feast sites for the United States. Stay posted for more information about these sites, as well as the announcement about the opening date for festival registration. As always, please do not make housing reservations until you have registered and have been approved for your site. The 2015 U.S. Feast sites and Coordinators are:
Boerne, Texas (Gary Stein, [email protected])
Gatlinburg, Tennessee (Ron Poole, [email protected])
Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii (Jim Meredith, [email protected])
Indian Wells, California (Stephen Elliott, [email protected])
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri (Gene Hilgenberg, [email protected])
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (James Sweat, [email protected])
Navarre, Florida (Ed Breaux, [email protected])
Palm Harbor, Florida (John Strain, [email protected])
Seaside, Oregon (Brandon Fall, [email protected])
St. George, Utah (Rodger Bardo, [email protected])
Tannersville, Pennsylvania (Jonathan McNair, [email protected])
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (Rod McNair, [email protected])
2015 International Sites
Most international sites are still being finalized but, as of this moment, the following international sites can be announced:
Great Malvern, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
Ballina, New South Wales, Australia
Victor Harbor, South Australia, Australia
Rotorua, New Zealand
Christ Church, Barbados
Living Youth Program
Online Teen Bible Studies Resume January 9
Online Teen Bible Studies will resume on Friday, January 9. In the meantime, you can access previous Living Youth Bible Studies at www.livingyouth.org.
Living University
Registration for second semester classes is now underway! The clock is ticking and the Spring Semester (fall in the Southern Hemisphere) will begin on Wednesday, January 14. Students may register anytime between now and January 14. Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for the selected course(s). A complete listing of second semester courses can be viewed on the Living University Web site under the link "Spring 2015 Schedule." To make an 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. Students should register and purchase textbooks as soon as possible so that they may find better prices for the textbooks and to allow time for textbook delivery.
Comments
Are You a Peacemaker? Jesus Christ explained a fundamental aspect of Christianity when He told His disciples, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). The Apostle Paul advised brethren in Rome that Christians should do all they can to "live peaceably with all men" (Romans 12:17-21). He explained that we can become peacemakers by not seeking revenge, by not mistreating others when we are mistreated and by overcoming evil with good. Solomon wisely observed, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). Jesus warned that reacting angrily to a brother or sister is the same as murder, because it breaks the spirit of the Law (Matthew 5:21-26). One important lesson we must learn as Christians is that peace comes when we follow and learn to apply the laws of God. This is why David wrote, "Great peace have those who love Your law" (Psalm 119:165).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy— December 25, 2014
Spreading Ethnic Violence: Religious and racial violence continues to erupt around the world. In Nigeria, Islamic militants have killed or kidnapped hundreds of men, women and children and torched homes of people of different faiths. In Syria and Iraq, Shiites and Sunni Muslims are killing and beheading each other. In Canada, Australia and East Africa, Muslim fanatics have mounted attacks on non-believers. Just this past week, an angry young man assassinated two New York policemen in apparent revenge for the killing of two black men that led to days of riots and demonstrations in dozens of American cities (The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2014). Also last week, terrorists shouting Islamic slogans drove their vehicles into pedestrians in several cities in France, and another attacked police officers with knives, causing the French government to disperse armed military personnel in the streets of Paris (The New York Times, December 23, 2014). Long ago, Jesus warned that a major sign that would precede His return would be "nation will rise against nation" (Matthew 24:3-8). The Greek word for "nation" is ethnos—indicating that ethnic strife would erupt at the end of the age. The Apostle Paul wrote, "in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be... unloving, unforgiving… brutal" (2 Timothy 3:1-4). The book of Revelation states that at the end of the age peace will vanish from the earth and people would "kill one another" (Revelation 6:4). We are watching these ancient prophecies come alive—right before our eyes. For more details about the end of the age, read our informative booklet, "Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return."
It Is More Blessed to Give! "Research suggests that generosity is hardwired into our brains," according to new research from Simon Fraser University in Canada (NPR, December 24, 2014; see also The Wall Street Journal, December 24, 2014). Researchers studying young children (toddlers) have learned that young children derive far greater satisfaction from giving away "treats" to others than from keeping them for themselves (ibid.). In fact, when given the opportunity to give away their own treats versus treats that did not belong to them, the children were happiest when they gave away "their own" treats. Similar research in university students demonstrated that those who gave away their money to others found far greater satisfaction than those keeping the money and spending it on themselves (ibid.). Long ago, God gave commands about giving in the Bible—Cain and Abel were directed to "give" of their increase to the very Creator (Genesis 4:3). The Apostle Paul noted the benefits of giving when he instructed the brethren that, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). God created us with needs and desires, and He designed us to be far happier when we are giving instead of getting—and science is now proving this ancient biblical principle to be true! For more about giving and God's commands to give, read our booklet God's People Tithe.—Scott Winnail and Chris Sookdeo