Greetings from Charlotte,
Turbulence continues in Eastern Europe as Russia attempts to exercise more influence and the EU and the USA seem powerless to influence events… and Germany prepares to become more active on the world stage. Events in Europe continue to move in the direction that Bible prophecies have long foretold. Dr. Meredith has returned to Charlotte after profitable visits to Houston and the Austin, Texas area. This week we mailed out more than 12,000 co-worker letters to our listing in the USA. Mr. Ames, Mr. Weston, Mr. King and others will be attending the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Tennessee this coming Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I had a very encouraging visit to Phoenix last weekend for services and a Regional Conference. There are a lot of things happening at the moment among God's people. Please pray that God will guide the decisions that many are having to make and that He will hear the prayers of those who are seeking His will.—DSW
Church Administration
Caribbean—Barbados Earthquake
A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck last Monday at 5:27 a.m., off the coast of Barbados. Though it was felt all across the island, and even on the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, there were no reports of injuries or damage. We have been in contact with the Church office there. The earthquake was 106 miles northeast of Bathsheba, on the east coast.—Rod McNair
Passover 2014—Repeat Announcement
Important Notice to All Pastors: This year the Passover Service will be observed on Sunday evening, April 13. Let us know as soon as possible if any of the congregations you serve will need additional Passover Service supplies (bread trays and/or wine trays or glasses) or a copy of the Passover Service recording. To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, we should already have this information for international congregations, and we need it by March 17 for U.S. congregations.
Also, let us know of any scattered members who are unable to keep the Passover with a congregation and who need to receive the Passover Service recording and letter instructions for observing it at home. International requests should have been received by now. For U.S. members, we need the information by March 17. Please direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected] as soon as possible.
Update from Mr. Rod King
I would like to inform everyone of my progress with prostate cancer. First, let me say thank you to the many people who have been praying for me because God has certainly heard your prayers and has intervened in the illness. I recently had a reading of my Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. Over the past six months, my PSA levels have dropped significantly and my energy levels have improved. I still need to rest during the day and I also need more sleep at night. I have an associated weakness in my ankles and legs which has limited how far I can walk. This may be due to factors other than the cancer. The fact is that I am able to do more than I was able to do a year ago and recently I was able to make a trip to South Africa for our annual meetings. I must pace myself, but once again, thank you for your prayers.—Rod King
Prayer Request
We are requesting prayers for our unborn son who is due in a couple of weeks. The latest ultrasounds showed some uncommon abnormalities which could affect long-term development. We know that God is our healer and that He can heal our son at any time—so we are asking everyone to pray fervently for a complete healing and safe delivery of our son. You may contact me for further information by e-mailing [email protected].—Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hall
Regional Conference—Phoenix, Arizona
Last weekend, February 15-16, was another in a series of Regional Conferences, this one in Phoenix, Arizona, with more than 60 in attendance and 126 at Sabbath Services. Dr. Winnail presented two solid days of practical information and focused learning. He discussed servant leadership and growing in teaching, courage, speaking, leadership and education, as we follow Dr. Meredith's overall direction, to finish this Work and feed the flock!
Many stated how solidly they are behind the Work, Church and the leadership at Headquarters. It was encouraging and overwhelming to hear all the support. Members see more clearly our "common purpose" to finish the Work, our Mission to reach this world, paramount with the end of the age just upon us. Comments ranged from "I just wanted to let you know that the conference was amazing... was a wake-up call," to "We are behind you 100%" and, "So much good information presented!"
Attendees were from all over Arizona and New Mexico, even a few guests from another group, who had an opportunity to see for themselves what the Living Church of God is all about, as members let their lights shine. Guest comments, also, were all very positive.
God is working in His Church and it was evident in this weekend. The following comment from another note received sums it up: "Thank you so much—it was a fantastic weekend! What a great shot in the arm between the FOT and UB! Appreciate all the hard work by everyone to make this happen!"—Rodger Bardo
Northeast Family Weekend
The Northeast congregations of the Living Church of God will again be gathering at Kingston, New York, for our annual Spring Holy Day Family Weekend. From April 18 through April 21, we'll enjoy the scenic beauty of the Epworth Camp and Conference Center, nestled along the banks of the Rondout Creek, at the base of the Catskill Mountains. In addition to Sabbath and Holy Day services, we'll enjoy hymn sing-alongs, a Spokesman Club Banquet, and a full day of interactive break-out workshops for all ages. Our focus this year will be on the important, Godly mandate, "Simplify Your Life." In a world that becomes more complex and confusing every year, learning to "simply our life" is increasingly critical for Christians. In fact, this is one of the core lessons of the Days of Unleavened Bread, as we're taught to "come out of spiritual Egypt."
We have plenty of room and a welcome smile for guests! For more information, just go to http://nelcgfamilyweekend.weebly.com/ (not an official Church Web site) or you can contact me at [email protected].—Jonathan McNair
General Ministerial Conference
As a reminder, a General Ministerial Conference is planned for here in Charlotte beginning on Monday, May 5 and lasting through Wednesday, May 7.
Feast of Tabernacles
Final touches are being made to the 2014 Feast of Tabernacles Web site—it should be available in the next couple weeks. And we will soon be announcing the Festival Registration date—stay tuned!
As a reminder, the USA Feast sites for 2014 are:
Park City, Utah
Seaside, Oregon
Indian Wells (Palm Springs area), California
Boerne, Texas
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Tannersville, Pennsylvania
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Palm Harbor, Florida
Repeat Announcement: It appears we will not be able to have a Gulf Coast site this year.
Living Youth Programs
Online Teen Bible Study—Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study Friday evening, February 28, will be on "Who and What Is the Beast?," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00-9:00 p.m. (EST) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on "Is There a Place of Safety?," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Living Youth Camps
Registration was due to close for the 2014 Adventure camp last Friday, February 21, but since space is still available we are extending registration for another two weeks, until March 7. If you are between 13 and 20 years old and are interested in applying as a camper, we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Adventure Camps have always filled up fast, so this may be a wonderful opportunity for you to attend, as well as to experience the beauty of Yellowstone. The cost of tuition is an exceptional value at $450.00 per camper. If you are 21 or older, in great physical condition, good with young people, and wish to serve as a member of the staff, you can also still apply. You won't want to miss this incredible opportunity, so sign-up now! This spectacular park contains over 290 waterfalls, the majority of the world's geys ers, and about 10,000 thermal features. They are the main reason this magnificent park was established in 1872 as the first national park in the world, twenty years before Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming were granted statehood. Yellowstone Park experiences approximately 2,000 earthquakes a year, and is one of the planet's active super-volcanoes—the only one to be located on land. This mountain wild-land has the largest concentration of free roaming wildlife in all of the lower 48 states. Home to grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison and elk, moose, big horn sheep, and many other animal species, this place is truly among the most beautiful places on the planet!
We are also still accepting registrations for all the other LYC camps to be held in North America this year. If you are interested in applying for any of our camps, please head to https://lyc.lcg.org for more information.—Sheldon Monson and Joshua Penman
Comments
Seeking God's Guidance: In the world today, it is common to want to "do our own thing." However, the Bible records the numerous and tragic results of this approach (Judges 21:25; Jeremiah 9:12-16). In the Scriptures we are admonished, "Seek the Lord while He may be found" (Isaiah 55:6). We are also told that God will look to those who are humble and teachable and "tremble at My word" (Isaiah 66:2). King David, a man after God's own heart, modeled the attitude that God is looking for when he wrote, "Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes… Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:33, 105). Jesus emphasized this same theme when He instructed His disciples to "live by… every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Jesus also taught, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). One of the important lessons of life is that if we desire to succeed in any endeavor, we must learn to seek God's guidance in the decisions that we make and be alert to what He shows us—because that leads to lasting rewards.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—February 20, 2014
New Direction for Germany: The winds of change are blowing in Germany. "Since the end of World War II, Germany has pursued a relatively tame foreign policy. But over the past week, Berlin appeared to have acknowledged the need for a fairly dramatic change. German leaders… have called for a new framework that contravenes the restraint Germany has practiced for so long. They want Germany to assume a greater international role by becoming more involved outside its borders politically and militarily… As NATO continues to fray and the challenges posed by an increasingly volatile Russia loom, Germany seems to be taking the first step back into establishing a new national and regional security framework… Berlin believes that holding the European Union together requires adding another dimension that it heretofore has withheld in its dealing with the bloc: military-political relations" (Geopolitical Weekly, February 4, 2014). Bible prophecy indicates that at the end of the age, God will use the Assyrian-descended peoples (the Germans) as the "rod of His anger" against the Israelite-descended peoples (Isaiah 10:1-11, 24-25). This prophecy was written after Assyria had taken the ancient House of Israel into captivity—thus the prophecy is intended for the latter days. As the EU continues to reorganize, Germany will take a more dominant role to hold Europe together. For more on this significant German transformation, read our insightful article entitled, "Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich?"
Germany's Military Desires: Ursula von der Leyen, nick-named the Crown Princess by the German press, is Germany's first female defense minister (The Times, February 9, 2014). With her eyes on the chancellorship, von der Leyen "has been striving to create a cross-party alliance in favor of challenging the 69-year-old taboo against military action" (ibid.). German President Joachim Gauck "also called for politicians to stop using Germany's 'historic guilt' [over the holocaust] as an excuse to 'look away' from the world's problems." Ironically, "London, Paris and Washington… have long bemoaned Berlin's reluctance to match its economic might with military muscle" (ibid.), but they will eventually get what they have asked for. Germany (known in Bible prophecy as Assyria), is prophesied to play a powerful role at the end of the age (Ezekiel 23:5-10). The Germans, as the King of the North or European Beast power, will lead an army that will occupy Jerusalem (Daniel 11:41-43; Luke 21:20-24) and overrun a future King of the South (Daniel 11:40). Ambitious leaders with an agenda are coming to the fore in Germany, and the German drive for dominance, relatively dormant for the last 65 years, is beginning to reassert itself. For more on the future of Germany, be sure to read "Germany's Quiet Comeback!"
The Bones of Charlemagne: Scientists have recently published results from a secret study of bones stored in the Aachen Cathedral. One researcher noted regarding the 1,200-year-old bones that, "Thanks to the results from 1988 up until today, we can say with great likelihood that we are dealing with the skeleton of Charlemagne" (The Local, January 31, 2014). Given the recent display of the "supposed" bones of Peter in Rome (Reuters, November 24, 2013), and Catholic Europe's proclivity to venerate relics, the bones of the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne could be displayed to generate support for a Un ited Europe and to foster the emergence of the long-prophesied King of the North (Daniel 11:40)! This leader is known as the Beast (Revelation 13:1-8). For more on this coming leader, read our article entitled "A New Caesar in Europe?"—Scott Winnail, Deborah Lincoln-Strange, James and Sue Bennett, and Justin Ridgeway