Greetings from Charlotte,
While much of the world is preparing for a festive holiday season and others are waiting for the world to end along with the Mayan calendar, Americans are searching for causes and solutions to the ongoing series of mass killings that seems to be plaguing the nation. The "peace on earth" that so many long for simply isn't happening—in America, in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia or South America. What the world really needs is the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom. This weekend we are looking forward to welcoming more than 600 brethren who will attend the 20th Anniversary activities here in Charlotte. Mr. Meredith has been writing and holding meetings. Mr. Ames and Mr. Wallace Smith taped new Tomorrow's World programs. Last weekend, Mr. Meredith's Tomorrow's World program on "Answered Prayer" drew more than 5,000 responses. Living University classes end this week, and registration for next semester classes is underway. This weekend, Dr. Scott Winnail and Mr. and Mrs. Greeman are visiting brethren in Brazil. Dr. and Mrs. Wil Pierre are in the Caribbean for Church visits. Mr. Bruce Tyler and Mr. Dayrell Tanner are in the Philippines for a Church visit and to work on matters related to our operations in the Philippines. Please keep all these efforts to serve God's people in your prayers.—DSW
Church Administration
Kansas City Family Weekend
The Kansas City Regional Family Weekend is next weekend!
Services and all activities on Friday night and Saturday will be held at the Liberty Community Center in Liberty, MO, on 1600 S. Withers Rd. Mr. Phil West will be giving the Bible Study Friday evening, which begins at 7:00. Sabbath Services on Saturday will begin at 1:00 p.m. Our guest speaker this year is Dr. Douglas Winnail. For dinner, we will be serving taco salad with all the fixings. After the meal, the "Through the Ages Radio Show" and dance will run from 6:00-11:00 p.m.
On Sunday, besides sports activities, we'll be offering a fitness class for those who'd like to get some exercise. For the little ones, we have an exciting lineup of children's games. We also encourage you to bring any table games you might want to play. Of course, there will be plenty of time and space for fellowshipping. For those playing sports, the schedules will be out shortly.
We are asking everyone to pay $10 each, up to $40 per family. If you'd like, PayPal options are on the Web site. As always, if you cannot afford the cost, please come anyway!
If you have any last-minute questions or concerns, please call Michael Keesee at 816-847-5635. We look forward to seeing you next week!
South America
Mr. Armando Orrego recently visited brethren in Peru. In Lima, he delivered two messages on the Sabbath, addressing the need to strengthen the family and the need to restore the unity of the apostolic era in the Church. He discussed options for radio programs and the opportunity to air El Mundo de Mañana completely free on a local TV channel in Molinos. The secretary of the town council there has heard the program and is fascinated to be able to offer the program on the local channel. Mr. and Mrs. Orrego then travelled to Trujillo to visit scattered brethren before flying back to Colombia. Mr. Orrego visits congregations in Peru every two months and plans to visit Cerro de Pasco, Ambo and Molinos on his next trip.—Eden Hurtado Villa
Living Youth Programs
No Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening
There will be no online Teen Bible Study this Sunday evening.
LYC Krugersdorp, South Africa 14-21 December
Twenty-four enthusiastic teens and eleven staff members from seven nations have enjoyed a most inspiring and educational camp at Morester Youth Center, near Krugersdorp in the beautiful Gauteng province just west of Johannesburg. The facility we used for the camp caters to school, church and youth groups all year long and is nestled amongst shady trees and lush manicured cricket-pitch lawns. The early morning wake-up is assured by a loud chorus of indigenous and migrant birds which starts at 4:30 a.m. every day. The youth center staff prepared and served delicious hot meals, including South African braai—or barbeque.
Mr. Jamie Meakin and Miss Jennie van der Byl welcomed the campers on Friday, December 14 and helped them settle into their dorms. Camp orientation outlined the rules and regulations. The Friday evening Bible Study covered the Third Commandment and went on to encourage all to get to know each other's names and understand the importance of developing right relationships and respecting each other. The next day, Camp Director Rees Ellis' sermon on Developing Godly Leadership set the tone for camp. We enjoyed a relaxing Sabbath, especially those who had traveled from far away.
The teens attended daily Christian Living classes given by Area Pastor Pieter van der Byl, speaking on maturity; senior pastor Louis Bouwer speaking on Godly example and reputation and also vital keys for radiant health to maintain the "temple." Mr. Jamie Meakin from England spoke on courage and faith. Local Johannesburg/Pretoria elder and Assistant Camp Director Lawdi Ferreira discussed Church standards and proper Godly conduct in teen relationships. He also explained the importance of good communication and gave practical keys to help the campers and staff really get to know each other and develop effective leadership skills to implement at camp and in the future.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferriera did a fantastic job preparing and organizing camp, assuming the role of Dorm Parents which included numerous "mom and dad" tasks such as ending the day with dorm prayer before the campers went to bed. They also gave daily practical instructions in first-aid techniques.
Mrs. Sakala organized arts and crafts "decoupage" projects and Mrs. Fanny Ellis gave an enthralling evening lecture on biomimicry, a science that illustrates just how majestic our Creator God is and how man tries to mimic these wonders.
A Morester's Youth Camp professional facilitator led challenging adventure and skill-developing activities to guide the teens in discovering their leadership abilities and in building teamwork. These included "Stalk the Lantern," high tree swinging, cave exploring, abseiling, wilderness rescue and numerous team-building activities.
Getting to know each other, considering that the campers come from diverse language and cultural backgrounds, certainly had its challenges, but with their common faith and desire to get to know their "fellow teens in the faith," they met the challenges with humility and determination. Not only did they develop talents and leadership skills, but they bonded and built friendships which will certainly last a lifetime.—Rees Ellis
Living University
Living University Facebook Page—Repeat Announcement
Living University has been blessed to have more on-site students this year in Charlotte and with these extra resources, God has enabled us to add to the Living University Facebook page. The LU news team plans to post regular updates on academic affairs, student body news, field trips, and on-site activities that we hope are of interest to the Living Church of God membership as well as to our online LU student body. If you are not a Living University Facebook fan, please consider becoming one today, and help us help others "Recapture True Values" with the opened door of social media. You can find the LU Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/LivingUniversity. Thank you, brethren, for your continual prayers and support!—Living University News Team
Living University—Registration for Second Semester
Registration for second semester classes is now underway. Classes will begin January 16, 2013 and students may register anytime between now and January 16. For those who have never taken a Living University course, you will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course. The following are brief descriptions of several courses being offered next semester. A complete listing of "Spring Semester" courses (spring in the northern hemisphere), can also be viewed on the Living University Web site under the link "Spring 2013 Class Schedule." To make 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.
THL 467: Historical Geography of the Bible Lands. With its focus on "the Land," the Bible is a profoundly geographic text. In spite of this, the geographic dimension of the Bible is often misunderstood, overlooked or assumed. Knowledge of the geography of the lands of the Bible can provide a much fuller understanding of the Bible through establishing the context of biblical events and key factors explaining the course of much of biblical and world history. "The Land" promised to Abraham and his descendants, located on a bridge between the two centers of ancient civilization, has played a pivotal role in the unfolding of the history of what is now known as the Middle East. The names and descriptions given to the natural and manmade features of the lands of the Bible have profoundly affected our civilization, ranging from place names, often reproduced on distant landscapes, to ways we map the world. Its situation on a transition zone between five climatic types, bisected north to south by the Dead Sea Rift System with its complex geology, has made this small area one of the more physically and biologically diverse and agriculturally challenging regions in the world.
THL 474: Archaeology and the New Testament. This course deals with the pervasive influence of society, architecture, and religion on the peoples of the first century. The focus is upon the archaeology related to sites associated with the ministry of Jesus, the journeys of Paul, and the seven churches of Revelation. Particular attention is devoted to the Judeo‐Christian synagogue on Mt. Sion in Jerusalem now called the Tomb of David, the house of St. Peter at Capernaum, and the Constantinian churches of Judea and Galilee as they bear on our understanding of the New Testament period. Emphasis is on orientation to the geography and archaeology of the biblical world and the application of archaeology in biblical research.
THL 475: Ancient Egypt and the Biblical World. This course deals with ancient Egyptian archaeology, history and culture from the Predynastic Period through the Late Period. Emphasis is on the interconnection of Egypt with the land of Canaan, the Exodus, the Conquest, and the Settlement. In this course the student will examine the most current Egyptological evidence and its support of the biblical record concerning Israel in Egypt.
Finance Department—Repeat Announcement
As the U.S. government speeds towards the "fiscal cliff," it is time to think about how you would like to manage your year-end donations. There could be changes in the tax code for 2013 that will affect charitable donations for many people. Donations are credited to your 2012 statement for the purposes of tax deductions if the donation is dated and postmarked by December 31, 2012. Donations dated or postmarked after that date will be credited to 2013.
We greatly appreciate the faithfulness of our members and co-workers in supporting God's Work!—Dexter Wakefield, Business Operations Manager
Comments
Blessings of Unity: David wrote, "how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Psalm 133:1). Jesus said, "I and My Father are one" (John 10:30), and He prayed for His disciples, "that they may be one as We are" (John 17:11). The Scriptures reveal that the disciples had different personal perspectives (Acts 2; Galatians 2), but they learned to work together as a coordinated team to achieve their mission (2 Peter 3:14-16). They obviously realized that if each marched to his own drum, the job they were given would not get done. This is why the Apostle Paul stated that as we do the Work of God we need to be respectful and patient with each other, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3). Paul also emphasized there is "one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism" and the work of the ministry involves fostering the unity of the faith and not being split apart by different ideas about methods or doctrine (Ephesians 4:4-16). As we are led by the same Spirit, we will see divisions diminish and we will be more "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Peace, harmony and unity in the Church of God will become visible fruits when we are led by God's Spirit.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—December 20, 2012
Preventing Horrendous Crimes: On December 14, a 20-year old gunman shot his mother (the parent he lived with) and then gunned down the principal, five teachers, and twenty children (ages 5-10) at a local Connecticut elementary school (Associated Press, December 14, 2012; Good Morning America, December 14, 2012). Subsequent reports have searched for a reason for this tragedy. Sadly, the gunman was 14 when his parents' marriage dissolved and about 15 when the divorce was finalized. As expressions of sorrow pour in from around the globe, the American President and lawmakers are seeking legislation to make sure events like this never happen again. However, will new laws, arming teachers, placing metal detectors in schools, outlawing guns, increased police protection and mental health treatments really solve these seemingly intractable problems? Regrettably today, our secular and materialistic societies want to ignore the critical spiritual dimension needed to solve social problems. Our self-absorbed, hedonistic, morally relative, post-modern world cannot fix these horrendous problems with secular bandages. Long ago, God revealed that obedience to His spiritual laws would bring blessings, but disregarding those laws would bring serious consequences (Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28). God also admonished parents to teach His laws to their children (Deuteronomy 6:7). However God also warned, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6). One fundamental truth that modern societies have forgotten is that God says "He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence" (Malachi 2:16). Today, we want to ignore the fact that fornication and adultery are rampant in our societies and the resulting family disruption caused by divorce generates deep feelings of anger, hurt and abandonment. Until we are willing to acknowledge the connection between the misguided and socially acceptable norms that exist in our secular societies and the consequences we are reaping, we will not solve the problems we face. This is why Jesus Christ is going to return to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God that will bring peace by showing the world the benefits of living by the laws of God (Isaiah 11:9). For more information about how society will change when its spiritual needs are finally met, please read our free and encouraging booklet, The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?
Evidence Uncovered of a "Great Flood": Although many critics disregard the Bible as an accurate historical source, evidence to the contrary continues to surface. Acclaimed archaeologist Robert Ballard—the man who discovered the sunken Titanic—now believes, after his recent research scouring the depths of the Black Sea, that "the Black Sea was once a freshwater lake surrounded by farmland before being overrun by 'an enormous wall of water' from the rising Mediterranean Sea. Ballard told ABC News that evidence of an ancient shoreline suggests a 'great flood' may have taken place around 5000 BC... The ancient shoreline Ballard uncovered is proof, he said, of a catastrophic event in the Black Sea. The carbon dating of shells found along this shoreline suggests this event happened around 5000 BC" (Nine News, December 12, 2012). Regrettably, Ballard's understanding is not entirely accurate as he explains the Flood as being caused by melting ice. However, his general findings of a Great Flood occurring thousands of years ago nonetheless fit with the Biblical account. The book of Genesis explains that God caused the Great Flood approximately 4,500 years ago due to the wickedness and corruption of man (Genesis 6:5-7) and that the waters covered the entire earth (Genesis 7:7-10, 17-24). There are hundreds of non-Biblical accounts of a Great Flood, including ones from Babylonian, Mesopotamian and Hindu sources. Yet, unlike these accounts which mix truth and error, the Bible can be relied upon not only as a guidebook for righteous living and doctrine (2 Timothy 3:15-17) but also as a trustworthy historical source. Read our book The Bible: Fact or Fiction? to help you prove to yourself the reliability of the greatest book man has been given: the Holy Bible.—Scott Winnail and Paul Kearns