Greetings from Charlotte,
The Fall Holy Day period began on a very positive note. Dr. and Mrs. Meredith observed the Feast of Trumpets in Toronto, Canada, with nearly 200 brethren. Mr. and Mrs. Ames were in Sebring, Florida, with more than 100 brethren. Mr. and Mrs. Apartian were in Dallas with 78 in attendance on the Feast of Trumpets. Mr. and Mrs. Crockett were in Milwaukee, and I was in southern California for a combined service in Riverside with about 120 brethren. This week we are finishing a number of projects prior to the Day of Atonement and leaving for the Feast. Let's pray that God will protect everyone traveling, bless the weather and inspire the messages at the Feast.
Because of the Feast days, the next number of The World Ahead will appear on October 18, 2007.
From the Presiding Evangelist
Dear fellow servants of Christ,
Greetings from Charlotte! Thank you, again, for the constant service you give to God's people and your loyalty to His Work. It is deeply appreciated. God continues to move us ahead and all the new programs we have instituted seem to be on track and beginning to produce good fruit. It will take a year or two before the full impact of these new programs takes effect, but a great deal of growth is coming and certainly the impact on the world will vastly increase as we move forward. Also, God is blessing us recently with more dramatic healings than ever before! Mr. Rand Millich has reported to me about two different healings there in the Kansas City area—one being a dramatic one. Just this morning, I received word of another such healing which has taken place among our Canadian brethren. Our members in the Barrie, Ontario, congregation just sent this email:
"Some very good news!! I know you all have been concerned and praying for my mother-in-law, Alida Hamelin, who has been in the hospital for approximately a month now. She had a bone marrow biopsy several weeks ago that told us she had leukemia. Another bone marrow test was ordered. We have been anxiously awaiting the results. Just this evening, Suzanne received a call from her mother, who called not from the hospital, but from her home! The doctors say she has no cancer! Both the doctors and nurses are flabbergasted! They made an excuse that she must have had a virus or something.
Alida walked from the car to her home and is feeling quite strong! Something has happened here that the doctors don't want to admit to! Since the Church fast, we have been praying for a miracle and it seems God in His mercy has delivered it. I was anxious about the situation with the Feast being so close but our great God has come through for us again!
Thank you all for your continued prayers. Have a wonderful Feast of Atonement and a profitable Feast of Tabernacles!!
Warmest Regards,
Al, for the team of Al & Suzanne de Koning"
Let us all be very encouraged by what Christ is doing and try to draw even closer to Him during this Holy Day season. And, fellows, please be sure to emphasize the positive during the Feast of Tabernacles—as I am sure that is what Christ wants us to do. Try to give upbeat and inspiring sermons about Christ's coming government—the opportunity to help millions of people with a better life, what Tomorrow's World will be like in an entirely new society, and similar subjects. As we all "zero in" on this from different angles, I am sure it will be very inspiring to the brethren.
Certainly, world events are picking up, and we can certainly see the "light at the end of the tunnel" now more than ever. For Christ is coming soon! Let's all do our part to have a genuine and positive impact on this mixed-up world. And let's encourage our brethren to do everything they can to do the same—plus glorifying Christ in the way they live and treat one another. Have a wonderful Feast!
Your brother in Christ,
Roderick C. Meredith
Church Administration
Another Miraculous Healing
It concerns the recently-born daughter of Brandon and Lynette Fall, members of God's Church. "At the onset of Lynette's pregnancy, the doctor had concerns about excessive tissue at the base of the baby's heart. Lynette was anointed. Upon returning for another ultrasound to recheck the situation of the heart, which had miraculously normalized, the same visit brought new and worse concerns. From there, Brandon and Lynette were sent to a nationally-renowned specialist centered at Cedar Sinai Hospital, dedicating her work, research, and writing on the subject of Achondroplasia, or Dwarfism. This specialist informed them that she was more than 90% certain of the diagnosis, the condition being her highly-specialized area of expertise. Three weeks later, the extended family fasted, followed by Lynette's request to be anointed again. Two days later, Lynette had a follow-up visit. To their amazement, the doctor came in with the new measurements, saying she was 'baffled!' and brought up the previous measurements, carefully pointing out the dramatic differences! The child NOW was entirely in the 'normal' range! The doctor asked Lynette if she had noticed an abnormal stomach growth in the past four weeks, saying that there had been 'tremendous growth in the baby's limbs and a normalization of the baby's head measurement.' The doctor showed them the documented measurements, and continued to repeat that she was 'baffled'! She emphasized that she was very meticulous and conservative in her measurements, so she was certain that there had been no mistake!-God had healed their child!!!"
A Prayer Request
Our elder in Papua New Guinea, Mr. Peter Devis, requests the prayers of God's people for healing of a severe hearing problem. He cannot hear people even while speaking face-to-face and also has a severe tinnitus problem. He has been anointed for these conditions.
Media
Mr. Wayne Pyle reports: This weekend we re-aired program #286, "The Day of the Lord," which offers a compact disc. From Thursday through Sunday, we received 3,150 phone calls. We are expecting the total response to reach 4,060. This is the first time in four months to pass the 4,000-mark. Mr. Kinnear Penman reported that 217 phone calls came from program #286, which is a new record for Prime-TV in New Zealand. If we have the correct information, Prime-TV's over-the-air signal reaches 1.4 million TV households, which is 91 percent of all New Zealand households. For this size of audience, 217 calls are exceptional.
Feast of Tabernacles 2007
Hymnals
As we previously announced to all Pastors, brethren are encouraged to bring their own hymnal (one or two songbooks per household) from the local congregation's supply for use at the Feast. They will then need to make sure to bring back the same hymnals, so that an equal number of books is returned to each congregation. Area Pastors will also designate someone from each local congregation to bring along extra hymnals for use at the Feast.
Sabbath Services on October 6—Contact Information
We have collected information about those congregations that will be holding services on the first Sabbath after the Feast (Saturday, October 6, 2007). You can see a listing of the contact information and times in the MyLCG section of the member's website: www.cogl.org.
Branson, Missouri
Choir and Special Music Meeting. The Branson Feast of Tabernacles Choir will have an initial practice on Wednesday, September 26, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Please plan to meet at the Convention Center and gather in the Taneycomo Ballroom with Mr. David Polosky. Special music volunteers are asked to meet with Mr. Polosky, as well, in the same location at 4:00 p.m., after the choir practice. We are still in need of additional choir members, as well as a choir pianist! If you can volunteer or have any questions about serving in the choir, please contact David Polosky at 828-883-8856, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Guidelines for the Feast of Tabernacles (CONDENSED from the September 6 issue of The World Ahead)
To Be Read in All Churches
Beach Parties—Appropriate Swimwear Guidelines
The Living Youth Camp swimwear policy has been adopted for LCG Festival sites. Appropriate attire for women is a modest one-piece suit; men should wear boxer style trunks. Two-piece outfits for women and "Speed-o" type bathing suits for men are not acceptable.
Dance Guidelines
1. All music must be chosen carefully with the approval of the Festival Coordinator or an individual he specifically assigns this task.
2. No "free-style" dancing is permitted.
3. Fellows should politely ask a young lady or woman to dance, i.e.: "May I have this next dance?" If the lady accepts, he should offer his arm to lead her out to the dance floor. When the dance is over, he should lead her back to her table or chair.
4. We discourage "pairing off" of teens at our Church-sponsored dances and encourage dancing with many partners, particularly noting who sat out the last dance. Older singles and engaged couples who are of age may be exempt from this rule.
5. Music should not be so loud that those who prefer not to dance have a difficult time carrying on a conversation.
6. Lighting should not be turned down so low that the average person could not read a book with ease.
7. At any dance organized primarily for youth, all parents are welcome to visit.
8. Appropriate dress for a Church dance in the northern hemisphere is slacks, coat and tie for adult and young men and modest knee-length dress or long gown for adult and young women.
9. A minister should be present for the entire function.
10. Small children should be supervised and not allowed to run or engage in horseplay.
These rules and traditions should apply for all our ballroom dances, because they are based upon godly principles of love toward others. Some of these rules obviously do not pertain to square dances, barn dances and dances in other cultures.
Comments
Rejoice 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, "you shall keep the feast of the Lord your God for seven days… and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest… you shall rejoice before the Lord for seven days… you shall dwell in booths… it shall be a statute forever" (Leviticus 23:39-44). The New Testament clearly indicates that Jesus kept the Feast, and He told His brothers, "You go up to this Feast" (John 7:1-39). As we keep the Feast of Tabernacles, we need to remember Jesus' instructions that we should be lights and examples to the world (Matthew 13-16). How we conduct ourselves at the Feast and how we relate to everyone we meet—in services, in hotels, in restaurants—will reflect either positively or negatively on God's Church. While many today view religious people as fanatics and oddballs, the Apostle Paul encouraged Christians, "Let your moderation [your meekness, gentleness, humility, forbearance, reasonableness, courtesy, and magnanimity] be known to all men" (Philippians 4:5). As we rejoice at the Feast, let's remember that we have been called to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Have a profitable Sabbath and a joyous Feast,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—September 20, 2007
Britain Threatens to Block EU Constitution. In a move which will aggravate European leaders, Prime Minister Gordon Brown threatened to veto the current draft of the European (constitution) Treaty if Britain's "red-line" or critical state issues are not protected. This potential veto hearkens back to the rejection of the first EU Constitution by the French and the Dutch in 2005. The EU meets in Lisbon in October to develop a final draft of the Treaty, which Brown is fearful may be modified to wrest more control of Britain's affairs away from the nation. Brown's threat to veto "in the national interest," could go against the deal agreed to, in June, by his predecessor Tony Blair, further raising tensions between Britain and Europe (Daily Mail, September 4, 2007). The Bible indicates that Britain, among other Israelite nations, will be hated by the nations of a future European Beast power. "They shall not dwell in the Lord's land, but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and shall eat unclean things in Assyria" (Hosea 9:3. See also: Jeremiah 50:17; Hosea 7:11-12; 9:10-17). Mr. Brown's threat could add further credence to our understanding of end-time Bible prophecy.
America Bucking the World Again? What do global warming and geopolitics have in common, and how does America fit in the mix? In a recent proposal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel proposed tougher CO2 emissions standards for the world's industrialized nations, in order to counteract emissions from non-industrialized nations. The plan, first proposed by India, would put increasing pressure on larger industrialized nations to cap and reduce their emissions. The task will be difficult for most nations, especially for one of the greatest polluters, the U.S.—whose per-capita CO2 emissions are nearly double that of Germany. German commentators suggest that this action is yet one more "step on the path towards isolating the USA" (Spiegel online, August 31, 2007). Ever since the 9-11 tragedy six years ago, the U.S. has been increasingly isolated on the world scene, due in part to her own actions. The Israelite nations of Israel, the British peoples and the United States appear to be drawing closer together, as they draw apart from the rest of the world—as is prophesied in the last days (see Genesis 48:19-20; Isaiah 5, Hosea 8:1-3).
Arsenic Found in Global Rice Supply. One-third of British baby food rice has been found to contain high levels of cancer-causing arsenic. The London Telegraph reported on August 29, 2007, that about 10 percent of all rice on British shelves contains significant levels of the toxic substance. Professor Andrew Meharg of Aberdeen University, who studied arsenic in rice for the UK's Food Standards Agency, reported that rice from some countries has arsenic levels five times higher than others. The highest level of arsenic contamination was found in rice from the United States, France, Italy and Bangladesh, while Egyptian rice has the lowest. Meharg found that brown rice, favored by macro-biotic health fans, has even higher levels of arsenic. The European Union has no standard governing arsenic levels in rice, and when the UK standard was set in 1959, the relationship between arsenic and cancer was not understood. By contrast, the Chinese government has a stringent standard against the carcinogen. Rice bran from the United States, used as a food supplement, has levels approaching Britain's 1959 standard of one part per million. "That is incredibly high," said Meharg, noting that even rice milk is at risk. Professor Allan Smith, an advisor to the World Health Organization, said that arsenic poses health risks "exceeding every other potential water contaminant." Estimates suggest that one in ten people with long-term exposure to 500 micrograms of arsenic per liter will die of cancer. God prophesied, "The field is wasted, the land mourns; for the grain is ruined" (Joel 1:10).—Don Davis, Scott Winnail