Greetings from Charlotte,
This coming week we will begin another Spring Holy Day season. As we observe the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let's earnestly pray that God will help each of us to examine ourselves in the light of His word so we can be molded and fashioned into more effective instruments in His hands—to finish His end-time Work. As the world careens toward the climax of this age, millions need to hear the warning and the good news that God has allowed His Church to understand—just as we need to grow and prepare to show the world a better way in the coming Kingdom of God. This week Mr. Meredith finished another co-worker letter that has been mailed to more than 11,500 members and co-workers. Last week's Tomorrow's World program by Mr. Meredith, entitled, "Answered Prayer," is expected to draw about 5,000 responses. The program the previous week by Mr. Meredith, entitled "How to Know When Christ Will Return!," drew 5,725 responses. Mr. Ciesielka has returned from a very profitable trip working with our Internet coordinators in various countries in Europe. A number of ministers from Charlotte will be traveling to other cities and other countries to visit congregations during the Spring Holy Days. Your prayers are certainly needed for brethren who are facing trials at this time and for those who will be traveling during this period.—DSW
Church Administration
Travis Patrick Goddard (March 16, 1990 – March 17, 2013)
As many of you have probably now heard, Travis Goddard died in a tragic motorcycle accident early Sunday morning, March 17, in Fisher, Indiana. Travis was a baptized member of the Living Church of God and he had a love for the Truth. God's way, the Church and the brethren were a major part of his life. He was an example to many, had an unforgettable laugh, and will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. Funeral arrangements have been made for Thursday, March 28, at the Cassidy Funeral Home in Tweed, Ontario, Canada. Viewing is from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; funeral service is at 1:00 p.m.
Cards may be sent to the Goddard Family at:
302 Oak Leaf Road, RR2
Lyndhurst, ON, K0E 1N0
Canada
In lieu of flowers and memorials, the family has requested that donations be mailed to the Canadian Living Church of God on behalf of Travis Goddard—because that's what he would have wanted.
Living Church of God
P.O. Box 409
Mississauga, ON L5M 0P6
Canada
Re: Travis Goddard
Living Youth Programs
No Online Teen Bible Studies on March 22 and 29
There will be no online Teen Bible Studies on March 22 and 29 because of the spring Holy Days. The next online Teen Bible Study is scheduled for Friday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. (Eastern time). You can access previous Bible Studies in the archives on the Living Youth Web site www.livingyouth.org.—Josh Penman
Feast of Tabernacles 2013
2013 Festival Web Site "Live"—Repeat Announcement
The 2013 Festival Web site is "live!" Please note: Festival Registration is not open until April 7. You will not be able to register until April 7. If you do not have Internet access, please contact your Festival Advisor to print off information for any site(s) you are interested in attending. If you do not know who your Festival Advisor is, please check with your local Pastor.
To access the Festival Web Site, go to: www.fot2013.lcg.org.
(You can also access it by going to the Living Church of God Web site (www.lcg.org) and clicking on "Feast of Tabernacles.")
Festival Advisors: A "Festival Advisor's Packet" is now available for you to download and print off, as well as registration and volunteer forms. If you have any difficulty or questions, ask your pastor or e-mail [email protected].
Pastors (Repeat): Please make sure that Headquarters has been updated with any changes in your local congregation rosters. For example, please let us know of any Church Youths (CY) who have turned 18 and now should be listed as Prospective Members (PM). Please also let us know of any other changes in status of any brethren in your area (i.e. baptisms, etc.) or if any brethren have moved to another congregation. Send these status updates to [email protected].
All brethren (Repeat): Please make sure your MyLCG account is working. This will be necessary for you to register on April 7. To test it, go to www.cogl.org and sign in to MyLCG with your username and password. If you don't have an account, you will have the option of creating one. If you have any problems logging into MyLCG (www.cogl.org), please write to [email protected].—Festival Office
Comments
A Time to Reflect and Change: The Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread provide us with an annual reminder of the important initial steps in God's great Plan of Salvation. The Passover reminds us that Jesus Christ died for our sins. When we come to realize that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, we must also take time to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28-32) and make every effort to eliminate any sins that God allows us to see. We also need to remember that we are to examine ourselves and not sit in judgment of other people (Matthew 7:1-5). To effectively carry out this process, we need to remember the biblical definition of sin—that "sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4, KJV). The Scriptures can help us identify sinful attitudes and actions if we read and meditate on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and consider the spiritual intent of God's instructions (Matthew 5-7). If we do not use God's word as a guide we can deceive ourselves that we are OK—if our thoughts and behaviors are not as bad as others in the world around us. The Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are designed to help us in this vital process of reflection and change so we can become more like Jesus Christ.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—March 21, 2013
Doubts Growing Over EU Membership: Europe's top trade unionist, Ms. Bernadette Segol, recently stated, "Rising unemployment, bleak economic prospects and continued austerity is making people question the benefits of the EU" (EU Observer, March 14, 2013). Speaking about the negative impacts of austerity measures, Ms. Segol also said "doubts about the benefits of the European Union is showing more and more" (ibid.). Hungary is rapidly dismissing EU values of "freedom, democracy, and the rule of law" (Der Spiegel, March 11, 2013). A new German political party, "Alternative for Germany," plans "to capitalise on a growing resentment about the euro-crisis and what Germans perceive as costly bailouts for profligate southern countries" (EU Observer, March 12, 2013). Not only is the party against the euro, it is also "for" a return to the Deutsche Mark (ibid.). A recent Gramercy Capital Corporation survey showed that currently 65 percent of Germans support the euro, while 35 percent support a return to the D-Mark. The "Alternative" party recognizes, "There is a schism in Europe, a divergence not convergence" (ibid.). Bible prophecy reveals that an end-time Beast power will arise in Europe that will consist of ten kingdoms or nations (Daniel 2:40-43; Revelation 17:7-13), not the current 27 that are part of the EU. It is worth noting that some are calling for fiscally irresponsible nations to leave the EU, and some nations are looking to exit. It appears that something will cause the current 27 nations to shrink to 10. Bible prophecies reveal that the final European Beast will be smaller and more powerful than the current, faltering EU structure. For more information on this timely subject, see our booklet, The Beast of Revelation.
An Asian Arms Race: "Two trends in the international arms trade, in particular, have caught the attention of Western governments. For one, for the first time since the Cold War, the ranking of the world's five largest arms exporters has changed. China has pushed Britain out of the Top Five. And secondly, military expenditures in Asia in 2012 exceeded those of the European Union for the first time ever" (Deutsche Welle, March 18, 2013). China and Russia have capitalized on the economic troubles plaguing Europe and the U.S., but have also experienced increasing tensions around the region. India and Pakistan are constantly at odds, moving China to export more arms to Pakistan in hopes of keeping India from extending its power and influence. Tension continues between the two Koreas, who threaten each other. "Since Asian countries... have no arms industry to speak of, they depend on weapons imports…. India, which buys mostly from Russia, has imported more weapons in the last five years than any other country in the world" (ibid.). Bible prophecy reveals that a final end-time superpower will march a 200-million-man army across the Euphrates River to wage war against a European Beast power that will be in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 9:13-18; 16:12-16). We are watching Asian powers building up both economically and militarily to defend their assets from an attack by a foreign force. What will bring these Asian forces together and ultimately push against a European Beast power? To learn how God is guiding world affairs, review our free booklet, Prophecy Fulfilled: God's Hand in World Affairs.
Dangerous Hospital-Acquired Bacteria: Two weeks ago, Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, held a press conference "to 'sound an alarm' on the advance of CRE, a highly drug-resistant bacteria" (CDC.gov, March 5, 2013; NPR, March 7, 2013). Dr. Frieden called CRE a "nightmare bacteria" that poses a "triple threat." It is highly resistant to virtually all drug options, it is often fatal (roughly a 50 percent mortality rate), and "the mechanism that these bacteria use to beat back the antibiotics can spread from one type of bacteria to another." Although infection rates within health care facilities are very low, they have increased 400 percent in the last decade (ibid.). Increased population density and increased use of antibiotics increases the risk of serious illness. Long ago, Jesus warned that one sign of the end of the age would be "pestilences" (plagues or diseases) (Luke 21:11). Many of these diseases arise because God's moral and health laws have been broken (Exodus 15:26). When Jesus Christ returns and sets up His Kingdom on earth, His health laws will be fully implemented and the results will change the world. For more on these powerful laws, be sure to read our article on "Bible Health Laws"!—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway and Deborah Lincoln-Strange