Greetings from Charlotte,
This week Mr. Meredith taped his Opening Night Message for the Feast of Tabernacles and also his segment for the "Behind the Work" film that will be shown at the Feast. Mr. Rod King and his wife have returned safely to the UK after being in Australia for the funeral of his father. Our elder and office manager in Costa Rica, Mr. George Schaubeck, reports that he is feeling much better. Mr. Jonathan McNair reports that 34 visitors attended a Tomorrow's World Presentation that he made last weekend in Buffalo, New York. This Sunday, Dr. Jeff Fall and Mr. Darrell Lovelady will make a Tomorrow's World Presentation in Glendale, California. Mr. and Mrs. Ames will make a congregational visit in Florida this weekend, and I will be in Pennsylvania for a congregational visit and a Regional Conference. Your prayers for these activities to preach the Gospel and for the needs of God's people are greatly appreciated. Please remember Mr. Dan Hall and his family, as his wife Nancy died on Thursday after a battle with cancer.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presents in Buffalo, New York
The Buffalo, New York congregation hosted a very successful Tomorrow's World Presentation this past Sabbath. A total of 61 attendees were present, including 27 members and 34 guests. As has happened in other areas recently, there were more guests in attendance than were registered for the event! Mr. Jonathan McNair gave a very inspiring and sobering message on "The Gathering Storm." Several guests expressed interest in attending Sabbath services and many others requested literature and follow-up meetings with the ministry. Thank you to all of our brethren for your prayers and support for this important inroad to the Buffalo area.—Randy Moran
Announcement: The Death of Nancy Hall
Nancy, my dear wife of almost 39 years, died peacefully Wednesday afternoon after a seven-and-a-half month battle with cancer. Though grief stricken, my family and I have been uplifted by all the cards, letters, e-mails, and prayers from the brethren. Thank you for all your love and concern during Nancy's illness. A memorial service will be held Sunday afternoon, June 23, at the Caudle-Rutledge Funeral Home in Lindale, Texas. Mr. Bob League will conduct the service.—Dan Hall
Thank you Note
The Schaubeck family would like to express their gratitude for the prayers of the brethren for Mr. Schaubeck after his recent stroke. He is recuperating at home and is in very good spirits, answering some of his e-mails with his usual humor. Continued prayers for his complete recovery are appreciated.
Rocky Mountain Saratoga, Wyoming, Family Weekend
What a wonderful weekend we just had in Saratoga, Wyoming! Twenty-four brethren assembled down by the North Platte River for three days of rest and relaxation, spiritual and physical food, and wonderful western hospitality. Mr. Rodger Bardo and his wife, Betty, flew in all the way from Phoenix. He presented to the brethren effective aspects of communication... both in the congregation, personal life, work and family. It was jam-packed with information worth taking home and implementing.
Mr. Bardo started the weekend off with a very instructive Bible study on learning to communicate effectively, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Sabbath brunch brought the warm Saratoga sunshine and the cool morning breezes across that morning cup of coffee for all to enjoy and continue to fellowship. More thought-provoking aspects of effective communication, including learning to control the tongue, were given in afternoon Sabbath services. Mr. Bardo combined in-depth knowledge of the Scriptures and his extensive research on the subject to bring to the forefront ways to communicate from a godly perspective. What a delightful Sabbath day it was. Following Sabbath services, we all settled back with an old- fashion afternoon steak cookout and BBQ with real "homemade" ice cream for dessert.
Saturday evening we continued the theme of "Learning to Communicate" with a workshop on appropriate responses in various situations where effective communication is needed to get your ideas across without causing offense or misunderstandings. Will you live in the negative zone or the positive side with your communication skills?
Sunday morning brought things to a close with an excellent breakfast and a wrap-up workshop on analyzing one's own behaviors of responding and communication. Then we had lunch at Alan and Sarah Williams' home, followed by our good-byes. Another Rocky Mountain Saratoga Family Weekend came to a close... but fond memories still linger while we think about next year and the subjects we'll cover. Stay tuned!—Ben Whitfield
Omaha, Nebraska, Zoo Trip
Come to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo where you will find the world's largest open-air aviary with exotic birds from all over the world.
Join the Omaha, Nebraska congregation on a visit to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo on July 14.
You are invited to join the brethren for services and a potluck meal on the Sabbath of July 13. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Ralston High School, 8969 Park Drive, Omaha, Nebraska, 68127. The following morning we will visit Omaha's renowned Henry Doorly Zoo and have an opportunity to tour all of the spectacular exhibits.
Reviews by visitors to TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel Web site, have given this Omaha attraction a No. 1 ranking. Its Desert Dome and Lied Jungle were cited as two of the reasons for the No. 1 ranking.
The Zoo is extending its group rate to us:
- Children (2 and under): Free
- Children (ages 3 - 11): $ 9.00
- Adults (ages 12 and over): $14.50
- Seniors (ages 65 and over): $13.00
Payment is to be made in person Sunday morning at the zoo entrance and Mr. Pomicter will then make a single payment to the Zoo for the group.
Guests wishing to stay with brethren may e-mail housing coordinator Mrs. JoAnn Tieken at [email protected] or call 402-339-0213. Space may be limited.
Those wishing to stay at a hotel may make their own reservations. A block of rooms at discounted rates has been reserved at the Travelodge, 7101 Grover Street, Omaha, NE 68106. Their Web site is www.travelodge.com/omaha-travelodge. Be sure to mention that you are with the Living Church of God when you speak to Veronica at 402-391-5757. A room with a king bed is $53 per night. A room with two queen beds is $65 per night. Reservations must be made before June 30 in order for these rates to apply.
Be sure to register for the weekend's activities by contacting us via e-mail at [email protected] or call Alex Pomicter (402-250-7806) or Brian Pomicter (402-650-1614).
Living Youth Programs
No Online Teen Bible Study on Friday Evening
There will be no Friday evening online teen Bible studies through the summer as we will be taking a break for the summer camp season. The studies will begin again in September and will be announced in advance in The World Ahead. Archives of almost all of the Living Youth Bible studies can be found at livingyouth.org. A password is required to access the recordings. If you don't have the password, please contact us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to get you logged in.—Josh Penman
LYC Texas Pre-Teen Camp Success!
They say everything is big in Texas, and this year's Pre-Teen Camp certainly was our biggest gathering yet! Sixty-six campers and 69 staff members are spending an action-packed week of fun and challenges in Dallas. Early-week rains only cooled the temperatures but didn't prevent the normal schedule of activities from continuing. Campers enjoyed the usual camp favorites of archery, soccer, team-building, wilderness skills, craft and sewing for girls and woodworking for boys. Additionally, this year saw the return of kickball, dance, orienteering, nature walks, swimming, and the Texas tradition of Big Ball, plus the addition of an all-new media class for older campers. All-camper activities included morning motivation, Christian living classes and evening activities such as Play-Doh Pictionary and musical chairs. Many commented on the high-quality food provided by the outstanding kitchen staff. The camp will end with the always- entertaining fun show. Perhaps the longest-lasting impact this year's camp will have is through the strong relationships built by the family atmosphere that pervaded throughout the week. We are very grateful that God richly blessed this year's Texas camp!—Phil Sena
Packing for LYC Ohio—Repeat Announcement
Probably the most common malady that befalls youth at our summer camps is heat exhaustion. The best way to avoid this is by having plenty of fluid intake. In previous years, some campers have come to camp without any sort of water bottle or canteen. This year we are asking every staff member and camper to bring two Nalgene-style water bottles to camp! Having ready access to water throughout the day should reduce the number of visits to the nurse's infirmary!
Something else that people frequently run short of at camp is dressy clothing! During the camp session there will be two Sabbath services and two formal dances, all requiring "Sabbath-appropriate attire." There will also be two Bible Studies, Sabbath brunches and a semi-formal talent show, for all of which dressy casual is appropriate.
Finally, if you are attending camp as a staff member (as opposed to adult staff or camper), you'll most likely be waiting tables at "the final banquet." For this, young ladies will need a white blouse and black skirt, and young men will need to wear a white, long-sleeved shirt with black trousers.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the LYC office at [email protected].
LYC West Virginia Family/ Pre-Teen Camp—Registration Deadline: June 28
The registration deadline for the West Virginia Family Camp (July 28-August 2) is Friday, June 28. This camp has a unique flavor in that the campers are accompanied by their families or another designated adult. Activities are geared to 8-13-year-olds and there is also a strong emphasis on involving the parents and younger children in the entire camp experience. The goal is to provide a truly family atmosphere where campers and families can bond closer to God and to each other. In addition to the activities, which include Christian Living, Archery, Canoeing, Life Lessons, Music/Guitar, Sports and Team Building, special emphasis is placed on helping our youths develop greater confidence and leadership. You may register online at lyc.lcg.org. If you need a hard copy of the application, you may request one from Jenny Penman at [email protected]. For further questions, contact Mr. Paul Shumway, Camp Director, at 304-425-0025, or [email protected].
Internet
June 30 Online TWP Reminder and Encouraging Social Media Update
In preparation for Dr. Meredith's June 30 online Tomorrow's World Presentation, we have been a little more active with our Social Media accounts lately. Currently, about 5,000 people have registered for the online TWP, about half of whom are members. We project that we will again have somewhere around 10,000 or more people watching this presentation. What is also exciting is that our Social Media platforms have seen some very aggressive growth just in the past few weeks, in part because of posts, tweets and videos we are producing to promote this upcoming online TWP. We thought it may be encouraging to share with you some current "Social Media Statistics," because as most of you know, Social Media is a huge way that we can reach millions of people even beyond cable and satellite TV, radio, and classic Internet.
The TomorrowsWorld Facebook page now serves well over 56,000 "fans" and often has 10,000 to 20,000 people per day "talking about" our content. As mentioned previously, in addition to being able to reach all of these "fans," we often reach tens of millions of Facebook users and occasionally multiple hundreds of millions of Facebook users through paid advertising. Our @TomorrowsWorld Twitter account has grown from about 500 followers at the beginning of January 2012 to more than 45,000 followers today! And of course, as with Facebook, we also run multiple other Twitter accounts in multiple languages. In addition to this powerful witness, we regularly receive inquiries for literature, ministerial visits, or doctrinal questions through our social media accounts. Additionally, our YouTube channel at TomorrowsWorldTV has begun to see significant growth recently, with many videos receiving 12,000 to 28,000 views, and some videos receiving even up to 100,000 views. As you brethren know, the hundreds of powerful telecasts on our YouTube channel are a major way that we reach people all around the world with the true Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God, and as some of you may not be aware, these videos are organized into very helpful "playlists" to make it more convenient for visitors. We know we have much more to do as we strive to fulfill the Great Commission, but we do sincerely thank God for so abundantly blessing our Internet, television, magazine, and Social Media efforts over the past year, and we again thank each of you for your continued prayers and support as well.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
Activity Registration Begins July 14!
The Festival Office would like to announce that Feast of Tabernacles Activity Registration will begin on Sunday, July 14! Brethren are encouraged to begin signing up for their Feast site's activities on that date. Check the Festival Web site (www.fot2013.lcg.org) or your site coordinator, for more information about payment options which may be available.
On Wednesday, June 19, the Festival Office conducted an online Feast meeting with coordinators from all over the world. We had 21 coordinators (or their representatives) log on from Belgium, the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and from six states around the USA! In the meeting, Dr. Winnail encouraged coordinators to keep their focus on the meaning God attaches to the Feast of Tabernacles—the coming Kingdom of God. Mr. Jim Meredith gave an update on festival planning for 2014, and I reviewed upcoming Festival Office deadlines. Mr. Mark Smith gave a review of how to load activity information on the Festival Web site.—Rod McNair
2014 Israel Feast Tour
We were able this week to approve all who have registered for the 2014 Israel Feast. If you applied for the Israel Feast 2014 and have not received an e-mail from me this week, please e-mail me at [email protected]. If you have not yet registered for this trip and would like to be a part of this wonderful tour, there is still room. You can go to the My LCG page of the www.cogl.org Web site and register. If you have any questions or concerns about this trip, please feel free to contact me.—Jim Meredith
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 Monday, July 15. All forms should be properly completed by the membersrequesting 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).
Human Resources
Employment Opportunity: TV Production Assistant (Repeat Announcement)
The Headquarters Office is looking for a TV Production Assistant with experience in video editing and TV studio equipment. The successful candidate will enjoy video production and will have some experience in video editing software (such as Avid or Final Cut). The right candidate for this position will be a "team player" able to produce results quickly in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment. This job is in Charlotte, NC. 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 résumé, along with a cover letter and a letter of reference from your area pastor, to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, 2301 Crown Centre Drive, Charlotte, NC 28227. E-mail: [email protected]; FAX: 704-844-1973.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Comments
The Value of Hope: Having a hope in the future—something positive to look forward to—is a vital aspect of life. Many have long understood that life without hope is empty. The Bible states, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12). But what is the real hope in life for a Christian? King David wrote, "You are my hope, O Lord GOD" and "I hope in Your word" (Psalm 71:5; 119:147). The Apostle Paul said under cross-examination before a Roman governor, "I have hope in God… believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets," including the promise of a resurrection and eternal life that he would receive at the return of Jesus Christ (Acts 24:14-15; Titus 1:2; 2:13). We are urged as Christians "to lay hold of the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18) and to purify ourselves so we can become "children of God" (1 John 3:1-3) and to "be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15). We should all be motivated by this same hope today!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 20, 2013
Russia's Secret Siberian Weapon: When the Cold War ended, Russia looked to establish new relations with the West. But it has since grown frustrated with Western foreign policy. "Russia is determined to veto any UN resolution… it fears that, as happened during the 1999 Kosovo crisis and the 2011 Libya showdown, the US and its Western allies would misinterpret these resolutions as a blank cheque to do as they please" (BBC News, June 19, 2013). Russian President Vladimir Putin, "hammered home his point that arming Syrian rebels was reckless by zeroing in on an incident from last month in which a rebel fighter was filmed biting on the entrails of an enemy" (Reuters, June 19, 2013). Many see Russia dependent on the West for its economic support, but Russia has a well-kept secret weapon, located in the Siberian wilderness. "Siberia is being touted as a beacon of light by the Russian government as it looks east, rather than west, for growth potential. Mineral and metal-rich Siberia is already home to oil, diamonds, gas… and… enables Russia to capitalize on Asian countries' growing demand" (CNBC News, June 18, 2013). Russian geologists have discovered "enough iron ore to build hundreds of millions of cars… For resource-starved China, overland supply of Russian metals and oil is an important diversification away from seaborne shipments" (New York Times, June 9, 2013). According to the CIA World Factbook, Russia is already a leading national producer of crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products. The Bible prophesies that at the end of the age an Eastern power will marshal a 200- million-man army that will threaten a European Beast Power (Revelation 9:13-18; Daniel 11:44). These forces will meet to battle at Armageddon just before Christ's return (Revelation 16:12-16). With Siberia holding trillions of dollars in mineral resources, Russia may very well become the leader and the supplier for this great coming Eastern superpower. The pieces are falling into place for the fulfillment of end-time prophecies. For more on this topic, be sure to read our informative booklet, Armageddon and Beyond!
Marketing Evil: A new Australian marketing campaign shows a couple reviewing a fetal ultrasound and joyously receiving the news that their baby is a… "lesbian" (TV Commercial). The commercial states that homosexuality is not a choice or the way one is raised, but that a person is "born that way." The goal of the commercial is to make homosexuality appear normal and mainstream. However, there is no definitive research to support a genetic basis for homosexuality. The American Psychological Association notes that "There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors" (APA.org). In addition, homosexuals cannot agree over the "biology vs. choice" debate. Some of the most scathing condemnations of the "born gay" argument come from homosexuals themselves. One lesbian blogger wrote, "But while the idea that if gays can't help it because they are born that way seemingly might arrive at our acceptance into society, it also diminishes us as thinking purposeful beings" (PFOX.org). She explained that being a homosexual is very much a choice and a much more powerful recruiting tool for the gay way of life, than the "born gay" angle (ibid.). God's Word clearly shows that He hates the sin of homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13; Romans 1:27). God clearly did not "make" people this way. God made us free moral agents, able to choose between good and evil, regardless of fleshly urges. Yet the Bible powerfully reminds us to avoid the "lusts of the flesh" as we choose to live His way of life (Ephesians 2:3). This world is ruled by the "god of this age" who is deliberately marketing a way of life that is contrary to the life-giving laws of God (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4). However, this world and its ways are going to pass away, and one day soon the ways of God will be restored and sin will no longer be considered good (1 John 2:17; Acts 3:19-21).—Scott Winnail and Justin Ridgeway