Greetings from Charlotte,
This week, Dr. Meredith completed a semi-annual letter that will be mailed to our global mailing list of more than 440,000 subscribers. While we have just completed the 2013 Feast of Tabernacles, Mr. Jim Meredith is busy finalizing plans for Feast sites for 2014 and 2015. Mr. Ciesielka's trip to the U.K. has gone well, visiting the U.K. office and our U.K. call center and exploring some potentially exciting television opportunities in Europe. Mr. Wallace Smith will make two Tomorrow's World Presentations this weekend in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and Mr. Rod McNair will make a congregational visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota. This coming week, Mr. and Mrs. Ames will visit the Canadian Office in the Toronto area, where Mr. Ames will tape several new television programs for Hong Kong television. Later next week, I will join Mr. Ames and Mr. Gerald Weston for a Canadian Ministerial Conference. Please keep these efforts to carry on God's Work and the needs of God's people in your prayers.—DSW
Church Administration
2013 Charlotte Winter Weekend Is Still On!
This week a number of individuals received an automated e-mail stating that the Charlotte Winter Weekend had been canceled. The weekend is definitely still on! (The automated e-mail was due to the deletion of the 2012 LCG Charlotte Winter Weekend Facebook page.) Activities for all ages are being planned for this fun-filled family weekend in December. Arrival will be Friday, December 20 and departure will be Tuesday, December 24. Bible Studies, Sabbath services, a dinner-dance and seminars will once again be held at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel. This upscale all-suite hotel was very popular with everyone who attended last year and is an excellent value. A special group rate of $92, which includes breakfast, has been negotiated at this hotel. We will once again have a sports day with basketball and volleyball tournaments on Sunday. (Now is the time to put your teams together.) We will also have free-play courts, organized children's games, and top it all off with a tasty lunch. On Monday morning there will be seminars for teens, singles, and married couples, followed by a seniors luncheon and singles and youth activities in the afternoon—different from last year. Visit our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/LcgCharlotteWinterWeekend, for more information and updates. Registration for the weekend will be open soon. Please start planning now to join us for a weekend of spiritual rejuvenation, fun, food and fellowship!—Jim Meredith
Living Youth Programs
Online Teen Bible Study—Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study Friday evening, November 1, will be on "Predestination—Does the Bible Teach It?" and will be presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for the online Bible Studies yet, I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The chat room is open at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) and the Bible Study runs from 8:00-9:00 p.m. 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 "What Does the Bible Say About Speaking in Tongues?," can be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Human Resources
Employment Opportunity: Staff Accountant—Repeat Announcement
The Headquarters office is looking for an experienced Staff Accountant. Job duties would include, but are not limited to: supervising and maintaining Accounts Payable workflow and systems; interfacing with Purchasing, vendors including hall rentals and employee expenses; responsibility for 1099 reporting and compliance; General Ledger reconciliation as assigned and preparation of Audit Schedules. The successful candidate will be a team player in the Finance Department and must be customer service- and deadline-oriented. Knowledge and experience with accounting systems such as Microsoft GP or similar accounting packages and Excel spreadsheets is a requirement as well as a minimum 3-5 years of experience and a degree in accounting. This job is in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. Applicant must meet the legal requirements to work in the United States and must be a Living Church of God adherent in good standing who is truly dedicated to the Work. If you are interested in this position, please send your resume, along with a cover letter to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, 2301 Crown Centre Drive, Charlotte, NC 28227. E-mail: [email protected]; FAX: 704-844-1973.—Jerry Ruddlesden
Living University
Call for On-Site Study Applications (U.S. only at this time): For those seeking a unique and exciting learning opportunity, Living University is now seeking applicants for on-site students to study full-time in Charlotte, beginning in the Fall semester of 2014. We hope to have several new male and female students with us beginning in August 2014! Applications can be initiated online through the university Web site. Additional details and requirements can also be found online, as can a rough estimate of costs associated with on-site study. We will have housing available for on-site students this Fall. With our on-site students, we are also looking for individuals who might have skills they can use to contribute to the Work or university, through part-time work study. We have work study opportunities available in several areas. If you are interested in on-site LU study and have questions, please contact us. At this time we can only accept on-site students from the U.S. Our hope is to expand this opportunity to international students in future years. Students interested should plan to have their applications completed and submitted by February 2014. Those with no previous college should submit college entrance test scores (ACT or SAT) along with other application materials and should plan to take that examination this Fall. You can find out more about these exams through a local High School guidance office or local community college or university testing service. If you have questions about on-site study or to find out more, please call or e-mail Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or [email protected].
Comments
Humility—Key to Unity: King David wrote, "How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). The Apostle Paul urged Christians to "walk worthy" of your calling "with all lowliness and gentleness… endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3). He stated that the work of the ministry is to edify (build up) the body (the Church) "till we all come to the unity of the faith" (Ephesians 4:12-13). Paul also told the contentious Corinthians that they should be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). In order to grow together in unity, we need to understand what causes contentions that disrupt unity. The Scriptures reveal that pride is an underlying cause of contentions (Proverbs 13:10) and that pride will contribute to a person's downfall and destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Insisting on our own way also causes dissensions and strife (James 4:1). However, humility will eventually bring a person honor (Proverbs 15:33; 29:23) and will promote peace and unity (James 3:17-18). Just as Jesus Christ humbled Himself and followed His Father's instructions (Philippians 2:5-9), as Christians we must be subject to government (within and without the Church) and not resist authority (Romans 13:1-2). As we learn to exercise true Godly humility and treat each other with love and respect (Romans 12:10-18), we will promote unity within the body of Christ.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—October 24, 2013
Saudi Cleric Calls for Muslim Unity: Last week during the annual Haj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti reminded pilgrims from all over the Islamic world, "to avoid divisions, chaos and sectarianism, without explicitly speaking of the turmoil in some Arab countries. 'Your nation [the greater Muslim community] is a trust with you. You must safeguard its security, stability and resources,' he said… 'You should know that you are targeted by your enemy... who wants to spread chaos among you... It's time to confront this'" (Saudi Gazette, October 14, 2013). These were powerful words from Saudi Arabia's highest cleric, calling for unity among all Muslims and Muslim nations. Meanwhile, military leaders are pushing Egypt's interim leader, General al-Sisi, to run for president next year—something many Egyptians also support (Al Arabiya, October 23, 2013). Al-Sisi represents stability for Egyptians and is growing in popularity among Egyptian citizens and military leaders alike (ibid.), and he has the support of many Arab leaders throughout the region. Bible prophecy reveals an end-time "king of the south" will arise on the world stage from a region south of Jerusalem (Daniel 11:40). Powerful Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both located south of Jerusalem, are pushing for Muslim unity. Events taking place in both these nations could precede the emergence of a powerful, end-time, regional leader! For more on this important topic, read our commentary on "The Arab World in Crisis"—also visit the links in this article.
Churches Without God: A new Sunday Assembly "community group" recently began in London with the goal of encouraging people to "do good" to others. (The Times, September 16, 2013). Its "service" includes singing, music and taking up donations. "Modelled on church but with no mention of God or even a higher power, it began as an idea on Facebook with a handful of supporters… At the event, packed with hundreds of non-believers, [founder] Mr. Jones announced the Assembly's first global tour, 40 Dates and 40 Nights: the Roadshow." Plans are to add 30 new congregations by December (ibid.). God warned that "in the last days perilous times will come" when societies begin to break down and show the bad fruits of human actions (2 Timothy 3:1-6). This will be a time when knowledge explodes, yet Truth will be lost (v. 7), and a time when people have "a form of godliness" yet deny the power of God (v. 5). This new London-based Sunday Assembly pictures what the Scriptures describe—a forum for people to gather in a type of worship, but without the admonition and leadership of Jesus Christ. It is a very interesting "sign of the times." For more on this subject, view our telecast "Morality Without God?"
3D Organ Printing and No Need for God! For several years, scientists have used a person's own stem cells to slowly grow replacement organs in an artificial environment (Live Science, September 24, 2013). Simple organs like skin, tracheas and bladders, with a person's own DNA, have been grown and transplanted into patients—with no rejection effects! Regenerative medicine is now developing 3D printers to rapidly make new organs. The goal is to make complex organs like hearts, livers, and kidneys (ibid.). 3D printing of complex organs will take time, but some experts believe it to be possible within decades (ibid.). Millennia ago, God confused man's language in order to delay the impact of his creative endeavors (Genesis 11:5-7). Jesus suffered before He died so that human beings can be healed (1 Peter 2:24). Medical science could advance to the point that people feel there is no need for God yet Christ's return will dramatically alter that assumption!—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway and Sue Bennett