Greetings from Charlotte,
Record high temperatures and high winds continue to fan fires in western states of the USA. In Colorado, a raging fire near Colorado Springs has forced 30,000 to flee their homes. Viewing the smoke and flames, the governor of Colorado said, "It's almost surreal… it's like nothing I've seen before." Also this week, heavy rains caused flooding in Florida, and sectarian riots have destroyed 22 villages in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has been writing and also taped the Last Great Day sermon. Mr. Ames taped segments for the "Behind the Work" Feast film for 2012. Dr. Scott Winnail is visiting congregations in Barbados and Trinidad. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that last week's Tomorrow's World telecast entitled "A World in Crisis" by Mr. Wallace Smith is expected to draw more than 4,100 responses. Last weekend, I had a pleasant and profitable visit with our congregation in Kansas City, and nearly 130 visitors attended Tomorrow's World Special Presentations in the UK, Canada and the USA. Six more TWSPs are scheduled for this coming weekend. —DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Special Presentations
Blairsville, Georgia: Last Sabbath, June 23, our brethren living in the picturesque mountains of Georgia hosted a very successful Tomorrow's World Special Presentation. Mr. Rod McNair presented "The Gathering Storm" to a total attendance of 87. This included 37 guests enthusiastically received by the Blairsville congregation. Many guests arrived early and then stayed late, asking questions and making positive comments regarding the message. A number indicated a desire to return. The brethren here are certainly anticipating a successful follow-up presentation by Pastor Martin Fannin to be held Sabbath, June 30, titled, "The Return of Jesus Christ."—Marc Nicholson
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada: Two Tomorrow's World Special Presentations were recently conducted in Cambridge, Ontario, where we do not presently have a congregation, in order to gauge interest in the area. On Friday evening, June 15, a presentation entitled, "Why the World Won't End in 2012" was conducted. Twenty guests and 21 members from nearby congregations attended. The follow-up presentation, titled "Has Religion Failed You?," was conducted Friday June 22. Twelve guests, including four first-time guests, attended the follow-up, along with 18 members from the Guelph, Ontario, congregation. Both presentations were delivered by Mr. James Ginn. Follow-up visits and conversations have been very encouraging, and we thank God for blessing these efforts.—James Ginn
London area, UK: The results are in. For our TWSPs in the London area we had 124 "new" people attend. In Dartford, east of the city, there were 20 visitors. I have detected a real change in the audiences in the time we have been having the presentations. I have found the new people now to be well versed in the Bible. They are receptive to the Truth and teachable.—Rod King
Annual Zoo Trip—Omaha, Nebraska (Repeat Announcement)
Set aside time now to join the Omaha congregation on a visit to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo on July 29. The Omaha brethren also invite you to join them for services and a covered-dish meal on the Sabbath of July 28. Sunday morning, groups will visit Omaha's renowned Henry Doorly Zoo and have an opportunity to tour all of the spectacular exhibits. The zoo boasts the largest indoor rainforest in America and the largest indoor desert in the world. The Lied Jungle and Desert Dome were cited as two of the reasons that this zoo was recently ranked as the #1 zoo in the U.S. by TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel website.
The Zoo is extending their group rate to us: children 2 and under–free; children ages 3 to 11– $8.00; adults age 12 and over–$12.50; seniors age 65 and over–$11.50. Ticket payment (cash only please) is to be made in person, on the day of the visit, and tickets will be handed out at the zoo entrance.
Information on housing will follow shortly.
Contact us via e-mail at [email protected] or call Alex Pomicter at 402-250-7806 or Brian Pomicter at 402-650-1614.
Living Youth Programs
Calling All Artists! (Repeat Announcement)
The Living Youth Program would like to begin featuring artwork and illustrations by you on the Living Youth website. You do not need to be a youth to participate; this is a request for artists of all ages. If you are interested in producing artwork of a nature relevant to the Youth Program and our camps, please send a sample of your work to [email protected]. We hope to have a number of artists and feature them on a rotating basis. If we choose to feature your artwork on the website, you will need to sign a document giving us the right to use it.
Living Youth Camp in Ohio
Registration for Living Youth Camp Ohio will close next week on July 5. If you have not yet applied to camp and still wish to attend, please visit https://lyc.lcg.org. Late registrations will not be accepted. The camp this year runs from August 7 through August 19, and will take place at Camp Lazarus near Delaware, Ohio. We're expecting more than 200 to attend, so you won't want to miss it!—Sheldon Monson and Joshua Penman
West Virginia Pre-Teen Camp
There will be a West Virginia Pre-Teen Camp this year at the 4-H Camp in Princeton, West Virginia. The dates are Sunday, July 29 to Friday, August 3. This camp is designed for children between the ages of 8 and 12. Activities include canoeing, archery, guitar, orienteering, kickball, life lessons and, of course, Christian Living. We had a very successful camp last year and many will be returning. There are still some openings. Check www.livingyouth.org for more details. The closing date for applications to the West Virginia camp has been pushed back a week to July 13 for U.S.-based campers/staff to give more time to apply. International applicants will still need to apply by July 6.—Paul Shumway, Camp Director
Feast of Tabernacles 2012
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only (Repeat Announcement)
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to Church Administration is Monday, July 16. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting 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 website (www.cogl.org).
Activity Registration Underway…
Beginning last Sunday, Living Church of God Feast sites are now accepting activity registration. To sign up for activities at your Feast site, go to the LCG website (www.lcg.org), click on the "Feast of Tabernacles" link, then follow the links to register for Feast activities. Check with your Festival Advisor if you have any questions.—Festival Office
Feast of Tabernacles 2013 Israel Tour (Please Announce)
Everyone who has been accepted for the 2013 Israel Feast tour must register by this coming Monday, July 2, 2012 with the travel company that is organizing the trip. If you have not filled out the required registration forms by then, your place on the tour may be given to someone else. Information on how to register was given in your acceptance e-mail. If you have any questions regarding this, you may call or e-mail Jim Meredith at 704-844-1970, or [email protected] . We appreciate your cooperation in getting this done promptly.—Jim Meredith
Internet Department
Tomorrow's World Roku Update
The Tomorrow's World telecast Roku channel has been installed by more than 5,000 households all around the world, with hundreds more installing the channel every week! It is very exciting to see how God is using this new Internet television medium to reach thousands of new people with the true Gospel. We thank you for your prayers for this effort, which is already beginning to produce fruit.
The following is one e-mail we recently received from someone who found the telecast on Roku. "E.I." from Oregon wrote, "Grace and peace be with you, I just found you on Roku. I'm amazed with your content. I would like to request the free pub [publication] offered in the videos; The Real God, Proofs and Promises. Thank you and God bless you."
If you have a Roku box, please install the Tomorrow's World telecast, and, if you would, please consider giving it a "five star" rating. This helps the telecast rate higher, which in turn helps even more people find it.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Living University
Registration for the Fall Semester/Semester I Living University courses will begin on July 1. Classes begin August 15. This semester we plan to offer 17 different courses—two are new! For those who have never taken LU courses, be sure to visit our website at www.livinguniv.com and complete an Application for Admission to the university—this will allow you to register for a class. The website also provides detailed information on our programs, fees, courses, and much more. We encourage you to consider taking a class for credit if you want to work toward a degree or certificate. Or just "audit" a course if you desire the content without the stress of exams and papers. Those age 65 and over are eligible to audit one course per semester, tuition-free. If you have questions, please e-mail or call Michelle Bottella at [email protected], or 704-708-2294. Below we highlight three different courses being offered this semester.
THL 200 – Principles of Christian Living: This course covers topics that are closely related to our Christian lives: the purpose for human life, human nature, belief, values, morality, ethics, dating, marriage, family, career planning and interpersonal communication. Because of the nature of the topics, course material is both interesting and immediately applicable to one's life. The lecture core is a set of contemporary lectures by Dr. Douglas Winnail dealing with the foundations of Christian living for successful life in today's world.
THL 211 – Old Testament Survey I: In this informative and detailed course, Dr. Douglas Winnail deals with the Law and the Former Prophets, focusing on background, content, structure, geography and teachings of each book, as well as outstanding people and events. Emphasis is on the Old Testament Scriptures as the background and foundation for understanding the New Testament.
THL 236 – Camp Leadership: This important class is designed to provide instruction and training for leadership at our "summer camps." The material covered in this class is intended to help train current and future camp leaders. It will prepare students for service as a Christian camp counselor or activity leader. Emphasis is on techniques of Christian camp counseling and leadership, camp safety, activities and program development. Individuals wishing to serve at our summer camps in the future will definitely benefit from this course.
Comments
Humility—Key to Unity: 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 contentious Corinthians that they should be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). The Scriptures reveal that pride is a cause of contentions (Proverbs 13:10) that can lead to a person's downfall (Proverbs 16:18). Insisting on doing things our own way also causes dissentions and strife (James 4:1). However, humility will promote peace and unity (James 3:17-18) and will bring a person honor (Proverbs 15:33; 29:23). Jesus Christ was of one mind with His Father (John 10:30), and He was exalted because He humbled Himself and followed His Father's instructions (Philippians 2:5-9). As Christians, we are to be subject to government (within and without the Church—Romans 13:1-2), treat each other with respect, be humble and not conceited in our own opinions (Romans 12:10-18). Let's strive to develop true humility, because this is a key to promoting unity.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 28, 2012
"10 Countries for a United States of Europe"— so read a headline last week in Presseurope. "Ten EU foreign ministers participating in a 'study group for the future of Europe' aim to exert pressure to transform the EU into a federation along the lines of the US. Together they have prepared what the front-page headline in Die Presse describes as a 'Plan for transformation into a European state'" (Presseurope, June 20, 2012). This plan is to be presented at the EU summit at the end of June. The "study group," formed by German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle, "proposes to put an end to the dominance of national government leaders and give greater authority to the European Commission—in particular the European Commission president, who will be elected by universal suffrage and granted the right to form a 'governmental team', making him or her the most powerful politician in Europe" (ibid) (emphasis ours throughout). "National competencies, most notably the management of borders, defence and public spending will be transferred to the federation, 'making membership of the euro irreversible'" (ibid). What will Europe look like as it undergoes its metamorphosis and the "experiment" takes on a new shape? Writing almost 2,000 years ago, the Apostle John was given a vision of an end-time European Beast power. This power will consist of ten kings or kingdoms (possibly nations) that "have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast." They will be of "one mind," and "will give their power and authority to the beast" (Revelation 17:7-13). These ten are the same as the ten toes spoken of by the prophet Daniel (Daniel 2:33, 41-43). It is not surprising that these ancient prophecies are coming alive today before our eyes. When Daniel explained the dream that God gave to Nebuchadnezzar, he said "The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure" (v. 45)! For more on this exciting topic, be sure to review our free booklet The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor, or Coming Reality?
What Is Egypt's Future? In the recent Egyptian election, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi emerged the victor (Agence France-Presse, June 25, 2012). During the vote count, Egypt's Supreme Council of Armed Forces issued a declaration claiming for itself legislative power and control of the budget and the drafting of a new constitution in a move that some have characterized as a "complete coup" (BBC June 18, 2012; Telegraph, June 14, 2012). However, the Muslim Brotherhood is now the largest party in the Egyptian parliament and apparently growing in influence (The Week, May 4, 2012). Several weeks ago, at a presidential rally, a popular Muslim cleric commented about what would happen if Mohammed Mursi were elected president: "Our capital shall not be Cairo, Mecca or Medina. It shall be Jerusalem with God's will. Our chants shall be: 'millions of martyrs will march towards Jerusalem'… The United States of the Arabs will be restored on the hands of that man [Mursi] and his supporters. The capital of the [Muslim] Caliphate will be Jerusalem with God's will… Yes, we will either pray in Jerusalem or we will be martyred there.'" A video of this event aired on Egypt's religious Annas TV and went "viral" when it hit YouTube (Al Arabiya News, June 7, 2012). Mursi has since suggested that the longstanding peace agreement with Egypt and Israel be reconsidered in order to "build ties with Iran to 'create a strategic balance' in the Middle East" (Agence France-Presse, June 25, 2012). These sobering comments may seem far-fetched, but they fit well with end-time Bible prophecy. The prophet Daniel foretold of a coming King of the South (apparently a combination of Arab states) that will attack a coming European Beast power (King of the North) which will ultimately overrun the King of the South. Egypt figures prominently in this prophecy and could be a catalyst that helps bring together this King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). The events we are witnessing in Egypt and across North Africa and the Middle East could bring about the fulfillment of these long-pondered prophecies. For more on this intriguing topic, please review our free booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy.—Scott Winnail, Rick Stafford, Adrian Käfer and Phyllis Api