Greetings from Charlotte,
The Fall Holy Days got off to a very positive start with the Feast of Trumpets this past Monday. We are looking forward to observing the Day of Atonement next Wednesday and then the Feast of Tabernacles that pictures the coming Kingdom of God and the Last Great Day. These Fall Holy Days remind us annually of the final phase of God's great Plan of Salvation for all of mankind. As we head to the Feast, it is sobering to note that events in the Middle East continue to develop in a threatening way. This week, Mr. Meredith recorded another new Tomorrow's World television program. Last week's program, entitled "Seven Signs of the Antichrist," by Mr. Wallace Smith, broke all previous records, drawing in 8,779 responses. Mr. and Mrs. Ames left this morning for New Zealand and Australia where they will spend the first part of the Feast before flying on to Hawaii where they will end the Feast. Let's all pray that God will bless the Festival sites around the world with pleasant weather, inspiring messages, warm fellowship and safe travel. Please note the announcements below pertaining to the Feast. This will be the last issue of The World Ahead until after the Feast.—DSW
Church Administration
Appropriate Dress at the Feast
As we prepare to be "lights to the world" at the Feast, it's good to review some basic principles about our outward decorum and dress. Jesus stated in a parable that some invited to the wedding supper will be turned away because they are not dressed appropriately (Matthew 22:8-14). Individuals who feel that God only looks on the heart and therefore is not concerned about how we dress when we come before Him, are simply missing the point of Scripture. We have taught for decades that when we come to church, we are coming before the God of the universe and we should dress in the best we have, to show proper respect to God. In most modern cultures, coats, collared shirts, ties and nice slacks are considered appropriate attire for men on special occasions. This may vary in tropical climates, yet, in all climates there is a distinction between what is appropriate and what is not. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 explains that ladies should dress "in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation." This does not condone the trendy and immodest apparel that is commonplace for many women in our society today: short, tight, form-fitting dresses, necklines displaying cleavage, bare shoulders, backless dresses, belly-baring tops, etc. These are simply not appropriate forms of attire for Church services and many other situations! We come to church to worship God, not to display our bodies. Just because something is comfortable or acceptable in our modern society does not make it appropriate at church. When women dress in a manner that attracts attention to their bodies, they become a distraction to others from the real reasons for being at church. Our challenge as Christian men and women is to come out of this world (2 Corinthians 6:17) and recapture true values (Matthew 17:11) so we can be lights to a world that has lost its way (Matthew 5:14-15). This is especially true as we gather to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles—picturing Christ's glorious reign on earth!
Trip to the Canadian Office
From September 13 to 18, my wife and I visited the Canadian offices of the Living Church of God in Mississauga, Ontario. We enjoyed our visit with Mr. and Mrs. Weston and appreciated their hospitality. On the Sabbath I had the privilege of speaking to the Mississauga congregation, and to 221 people at combined services of seven area congregations on the Feast of Trumpets. There were also fruitful meetings at the Canadian office regarding how Charlotte and Mississauga can continue to support one another in doing the Work, including discussions about accounting, information systems, printing and the Hong Kong telecast which is produced at the Canadian LCG studio. In recent years, God has blessed the Canadian Work with good growth through the efforts of evangelist Gerald Weston and others. The Canadian office has its own video studio and printing facilities and the Work there is well-positioned to handle the growth that we pray that God will provide in the coming years.—Dexter Wakefield
Kansas City Family Weekend
Mark your calendars! The Kansas City Family Weekend will be December 28-30. We'll be hosting a Bible Study on Friday evening; services, meal, fun show and dance on Saturday; and sports and family games on Sunday. The theme this year is "Through the Ages."
If you would like updates on the details of the weekend as they become available, please "like" us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/lcgkcweekend or request to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lcgkcweekend.—Michael Keesee
Spanish Update
Visit to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico: Mr. Antonio Mora visited the brethren in El Salvador on the Sabbath of August 18. The 22 people who attended also enjoyed fellowship and a covered dish meal together. Over the next three days, Mr. Mora had the opportunity to visit each individual family. On Friday, August 24, Mr. Mora traveled on to Guatemala and met with the members in the city of Coatepeque for services on the Sabbath. He visited with brethren in Guatemala until Tuesday, August 28. On the Sabbath of September 1, he visited the congregation in Mexico City.
Feast of Tabernacles 2012
The Feast is just over a week away! As the Feast of Tabernacles draws near, please note the following items:
Live Streaming for the Feast of Tabernacles 2012
Live Video Stream: Those who are unable to attend services during the Feast and who have an Internet connection will be able to view a live video stream of daily services from the Vail, Colorado, site. Just log in to your MyLCG account (www.cogl.org/mylcg.shtml), then click on the button under the "Feast 2012 Streaming Video" header in the right column. (The link is currently not visible but will be visible at Feast time.) The Opening Night service in Vail will start at 7:30 p.m. (U.S. Mountain Time Zone), and most daily services will begin at 10:00 a.m. The video should play with almost any Internet connection, as we plan to offer both low- and high-bandwidth options, and you should be able to access it on mobile devices (iOS and Android). For all computer users, please make sure you have the latest version of your favorite Internet browser with the most recent version of the Adobe Flash plug-in (http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/). For those in different time zones or outside the U.S., you should be able to watch an archive of that day's service. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. John Robinson at [email protected].
Live Telephone Access: For those who cannot attend the Feast and do not have access to the Internet to view the streaming video, you can listen by telephone to a live audio feed of daily services from Vail by following these instructions: five minutes prior to daily services, or any time during services (see times of services above), dial 704-444-0341 and within the first few rings you should be connected to a live feed. Very important: Please mute your telephone during the call. This is basically a conference call, so if you don't mute your telephone, the background noise coming from your phone will drown out the feed for everyone else on the line. People who fail to mute their phones will be dropped from the call. Thanks for your help! For any questions, contact Mr. Jonathan Bueno before or any time during the Feast at [email protected] or 361-331-1099.—Phil Sena
2012 Festival Survey: Every year we have a survey taken to get valuable feedback from brethren attending the Feast. We will once again have the Festival Survey available online (as well as having paper forms handed out at the Feast). The Web address for filling out the Feast survey is fotsurvey.lcg.org. We ask everyone at the Feast to be sure to fill out the survey form during the Feast, as it provides us with helpful information on festival planning for future years.
Sabbath Times/Contacts for the Day of Atonement and Sabbaths of September 29 and October 13: A chart listing the times, places, and contacts for Living Church of God services on the Day of Atonement and the Sabbaths of September 29 and October 13 is posted on the MyLCG website. Log in at the following address to access the chart: www.cogl.org. We hope this information will be helpful for you as you plan your travel, especially so that you don't have to travel long distances on God's Sabbath.
Children's Conduct AND SAFETY in Meeting Halls and Adjoining Rooms: Parents, while at the Feast, please remember that children are not permitted to run or engage in horseplay before or after services. Children darting in and out among fellowshipping brethren can be a hazard. For the elderly, a fall can be life-threatening. Parents need to be aware of and responsible for their children at all times. Also, for their own safety, young children are not allowed to wander around unaccompanied on Church property (including leased/rented property at the Feast—these places are open to the public). Young children should not go to restrooms or wander the halls of
hotels unaccompanied by an adult.
Children—Sitting With Their Parents: God wants families to rejoice together at His Feasts! Experience has shown that children and teenagers pay better attention and therefore learn more from the messages when sitting with a parent than when sitting with a group of children off by themselves. Therefore, it is advised that children and teens sit with their parents during services. An exception may be allowed where an individual child or teen sits with a friend who is sitting with his or her parents. The Feast is a time for families to grow together. Let us use the precious time we have during services to further that goal.
Hymnals: (Repeat Announcement) Brethren are encouraged to bring a hymnal (one or two songbooks per household) from their local congregation's supply for use at the Feast, if they don't have a personal hymnal to take. For those who do take a congregational (blue) hymnal, please be sure to bring the hymnal(s) back to your congregation after the Feast, so that the number of hymnals returned to each congregation is equal to the number of hymnals taken. Please make sure that all hymnals are clearly marked with the name of the congregation to which they belong.
Shawinigan, QC, Canada: The Feast of Tabernacles in Shawinigan is a bilingual site (sermons will alternate between French and English every day). Translation will be provided throughout the Feast. In order to receive translation, you must bring an FM radio and headset. The frequency will be provided on Opening Night. The Opening Night service will begin at 7:30 p.m. Also, we have planned to have a meal for everyone between services on the first day and Last Great Day of the Feast. Please buy your tickets for these two meals in the reception area of the hotel when you arrive at the Feast site. The Dance Night is a formal evening; Sabbath wear or better is required. Ladies, you can bring out your evening gowns. See you at the Feast!
Virginia Beach Children's Choir (Repeat Announcement)
Parents of children 4 years of age and older, if your children would like to sing in the children's choir, please contact Margie Dulaney at [email protected] or call 540-662-3696, if you have not done so as yet. Requests for a practice CD will be honored through September 20.
Living Youth Programs
Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening
This Sunday evening the topic is "Timothy: Behind the Scene," presented by Mr. James Ginn. The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
This will be the last online Teen Bible Study until Sunday, October 14.
Finance Department
Payments (U.S.) (Repeat Announcement): Please note that our last scheduled day to print reimbursement checks will be Monday, September 24. We will not be able to print any checks again until Tuesday, October 16. Any invoices we receive before September 20 will be paid before the break. Any invoices we receive after September 20 will not be able to be paid until October 16. If you have any questions about specific invoices or payments, please contact Samanthia Kreis in the Accounts Payable Department at 704-844-1960 ext. 2236, or send e-mail to [email protected].—Jerry Ruddlesden
Internet Operations
Tomorrow's World Facebook Page: Social media is a huge door for the Living Church of God to reach billions of people with the true Gospel, and of all social media platforms, Facebook is predominant. It is estimated that there are approaching 1 billion Facebook users worldwide, and many of these users say that Facebook along with other social media greatly influence what they read, study and even purchase. According to one study, 68 percent of Americans who use social media said that social media influenced even their buying decisions, and 23 percent of Facebook's users check their Facebook account for updates five or more times daily (Socialnomics report, "10 New 2012 Social Media Stats"). As we have previously reported, God has been greatly blessing the Church's efforts in using the Internet and social media to reach more and more people. Currently, the Tomorrow's World Facebook page is regularly reaching more than 1.3 million people in a single week! And, the number of Facebook "Fans" (the number of people "Liking" the Tomorrow's World Facebook page) is also growing at a very rapid rate. If you haven't checked out the Tomorrow's World Facebook page lately, please do so. You will find links to interesting telecasts and articles as well as comments by others. We thank you for your continued prayers that God will bless all of our efforts to fulfill the Great Commission, to preach the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to a world that desperately needs it.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Comments
Be Lights at the Feast: The Feast of Tabernacles is the highlight of the sacred year. It pictures the coming Kingdom of God when the saints will rule with Jesus Christ and bring peace to this earth. It will truly be a joyous time! To keep us mindful of this major step in the Plan of God, we are commanded to "keep the Feast of the LORD for seven days" and to "rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days… It shall be a statute forever" (Leviticus 23:39-44). The New Testament clearly indicates that Jesus kept the Feast and told his brothers, "You go up to this feast" (John 7:2-39). We also read in Zechariah 14:16 that "all nations" will keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the coming Kingdom of God. As we rejoice at the Feast, we need to remember Jesus' instructions that we should be "lights" and examples to those around us (Matthew 5:13-16). How we conduct ourselves at the Feast and how we relate to everyone we meet—in services, in hotels, at restaurants—will reflect either positively or negatively on God's Church and His way of life. As "ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20), let's strive to let our light shine to everyone we come into contact with.
Have a profitable Sabbath and a wonderful Feast,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—September 20, 2012
Will the Deutsche Mark Rise Again? The EU Observer just published results of a German-conducted survey that was released on September 15. Survey participants hailed from Germany, Poland and France. When asked whether their nation would be better off with their own national currency, two-thirds of Germans said "yes" to a return to the Deutsche mark. Forty-nine percent (virtually half) of Germans also agreed that they would be "better off" if the EU did not exist. The same survey showed that most Poles are uncomfortable with the euro as well, while the French still favor the euro (EU Observer, September 17, 2012). A greater percentage from all three nations view the EU important in keeping up with world economic powers. But, only 32 percent of Germans see the EU successfully moving forward (ibid.). The economic upheaval in Europe has many wondering what will come next for Europe, and it appears to be stirring up suppressed feelings of nationalism—something the EU was designed to overcome. Bible prophecy illustrates that the end-time "Beast" nations in Europe will be a fractured and fragmented mix that attempt to bind together "iron and clay" (Daniel 2:41-43). The eventual ten kings (possibly nations) that arise out of this group will come together for a time under an economic system strong enough to control a substantial amount of trade (Revelation 17:7-14; 13:16-17). The specific currency and final configuration of this coming powerful political and trade bloc remains to be seen. For more information on the coming European Beast power, be sure to review our very insightful booklet, The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Coming Reality?
Egypt, Europe, and the Future: During a recent visit to Brussels, the newly elected Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, pledged to support democratic values, freedoms, and foreign embassies in Egypt. In return, the EU pledged more than a billion euros in aid to Egypt. EU President Herman Van Rompuy also promised that the "EU will stand by Egypt 'as friend, neighbour, and partner'" (Middle East Online, September 13, 2012). "Egypt's future is seen as vital in Brussels, keen on strengthening economic ties with the Arab Spring nations while shoring up developed democracies in its backyard in the interest of Europe's security" (ibid.). While the U.S. appears to be looking for a Middle East "exit," Europe is strengthening its ties—just as Bible prophecies predict. The Scriptures state that at the end of the age, a European power will make a treaty involving Jerusalem for one prophetic week (seven years—see Daniel 9:27). This treaty will involve Germany (Assyria) and a number of Middle East nations and peoples (Psalm 83:5-8; Ezekiel 23:22-23). Ultimately though, this treaty will be broken after only three and a half years. According to Bible prophecy, the King of the North and the King of the South will turn on each other, and this will result in the European Beast power (King of the North) overrunning the King of the South, including Egypt (Daniel 11:40-43). The developing relationship between Europe and Egypt could set the stage for the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies.
Ebola Outbreak in Africa: The World Health Organization recently warned, "An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] risks spreading to major towns if not brought under control soon after the death toll doubled within a week" (Reuters, September 13, 2012). Thirty-one people have died, including five healthcare workers who treated the sick. Ebola is caused by an incurable virus that causes up to 90 percent of its victims to bleed to death quickly. The cases in the Congo are believed to have been contracted from infected bush meat hunted by local villagers. According to a WHO spokesman in the Congo's capital of Kinshasa, "The epidemic is not under control. On the contrary the situation is very, very serious" (ibid.). The outbreak in the DRC comes on the heels of a similar outbreak in Uganda that is now under control (Los Angeles Times, September 3, 2012). Jesus Christ warned that in the last days, "pestilences" or plagues will torment mankind (Luke 21:11). Public health officials fear diseases like Ebola because of their potentially long incubation periods (up to 21 days), their deadly nature, and ease of transmission from person to person. As time goes on, Bible prophecies indicate there will be more and increasingly severe outbreaks of deadly diseases leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth—which is all the more reason to pray, "Your kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10)!—Scott Winnail