Greetings from Charlotte,
Last weekend brought another positive response to the telecast. More than 4,400 responded to Mr. Ames' program #295 entitled "Prayer: Our Lifeline to God" that offered the booklet, Twelve Keys to Answered Prayer. February was also a record month for letters handled by our Personal Correspondence Department. This week Mr. Meredith and Mr. Ames are taping two new programs. Mr. Meredith taped program #303, "Will Russia Invade Israel?" which will air on May 6 and offer the booklet The Middle East in Prophecy. Mr. Ames taped program #302, "Modern Morality and the Ten Commandments," which will air on April 29 and offer the booklet The Ten Commandments. Mr. and Mrs. Crockett returned to Charlotte after a pleasant trip to the "promised land" of Arkansas, and visiting congregations in Little Rock and Russellville with pastor Rick Stafford. I plan to be in Ohio this weekend.
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
*Note: please read the following statement on ministerial appointments and transfers.
*Ministerial Appointments and Transfers: Periodically, ministers are transferred or new ministers are assigned to congregations. This practice provides both the ministers and congregations with a chance to grow and learn to work together. However, any change presents challenges for everyone—adjusting to new personalities, different ways of doing things, and different perspectives. We need to remember the simple fact that the new pastor is not the same person as the former pastor and that he will grow on the job. It is also helpful to remember the biblical admonition to "be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath [or take offense]" (James 1:19). During periods of transition, it is good to be patient and not jump to premature conclusions. Legitimate concerns should be brought directly to the pastor (Matthew 18:15-17). Truly converted Christians will be able to work through issues that arise.
Change of status: As he enters his 70th year of life, Mr. Don Davis has asked that he be relieved of all his ministerial duties and responsibilities. His health care providers have urged him to cut back on the stress related to his work, so Mr. Davis is now retiring from the ministry. He will continue managing the Congregational Audio/visual Department here at Headquarters, and the News Bureau, along with other assigned responsibilities.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2007
Here is information about another International Feast site
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
The Feast in Jamaica will again be held at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa in the idyllic paradise of Ocho Rios, nestled within the parish of St. Ann known as "The Garden Parish" because of its beautiful tropical foliage, lush vegetation and mountainous coastline. Ocho Rios is where the famous Dunn's River Falls meanders over rocks falling from a height of 600 feet to the beach located at the base where the river meets the ocean. Another famous attraction is Dolphin Cove, where one can choose to swim with the dolphins or just stroll through the craft markets and haggle with the vendors in the town centre. Nature lovers can visit Fern Gully, home to more than 500 indigenous species of ferns, or raft along the White River Valley.
Services will be held in the beautiful Windsor Ballroom at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa. The Resort offers 740 rooms, seven restaurants, a 70-feet water slide, a Laundromat and a well- appointed gym—you name it, and its there! The rooms are equipped with Internet service, ironing boards and hair dryers. Feast activities include a Night of Biblical Presentation, Seniors Luncheon, Singles Mingle and the Jamaican Cook-Out, which will be filled with authentic Jamaican foods, music and dancing.
The all-inclusive rates at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa are: Single occupancy US$170; double occupancy US$220; triple occupancy US$295; children US$30. Members are invited to contact the Jamaica Living Church of God office for further details, and to make their reservations, by phone at 876-929-1650, by fax at 876-920-9078 or by e-mail at [email protected].
COMMENTS
A Transcendental Purpose. God revealed a vital truth to the Apostle Paul when he wrote, "In the last days… men will be lovers of themselves… lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God" (II Timothy 3:1-5). Today, many people have full schedules and empty lives. All too often, we are focused on ourselves—my life, my job, my friends, my feelings, my problems—which is a one-way ticket to frustration. However, some have learned that the key to a fulfilling and meaningful life is to focus on a goal that is bigger than ourselves—that transcends ourselves—a transcendental purpose. This is really the message of the gospel. Jesus taught that we should "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). He told His disciples to "go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). To fulfill our calling as Christians we must get our focus off ourselves and think about how we can serve others (Matthew 20:25-28). Is your life focused on this transcendental purpose?
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
NEWS AND PROPHECY—March 1, 2007
Return to Catholic Roots. A joint report supported by leaders in both churches states, "Anglicans and Roman Catholics are urged to explore how they might reunite under the Pope." "Rome has already shown itself willing to be flexible on the subject of celibacy when it received dozens of married priests from the Church of England into the Catholic priesthood after they left over the issue of women's ordination." Ultimately, many "seek reunion with the Church of England's own mother Church" (Times Online, February, 19, 2007). An Anglican leader observed "One thing that is clear in the New Testament is that the unity of the Church is something that is required" (Christianity Today, February 20, 2007). The Bible refers to an end-time church that will hold sway over Europe as, "the great harlot who sits on many waters [nations]." Later, John called her the "Mother of harlots" (Revelation 17:1-5). For centuries, the Catholic Church has referred to Protestant churches as her "daughters." Isaiah foresaw a mother church asserting, "I shall not sit as a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children" (Isaiah 47:1-9).
Melting Ice and Global Warming. Scientists from 60 countries have launched an International Polar Year—a year long study of the coldest regions of the earth to determine the effects of global warming. At a pre-launch ceremony experts made the following comments: "What is happening in the polar regions is a powerful, irrefutable demonstration of changes on a global scale… The poles are changing faster than we anticipated… This is a critical time in humanity's relationship with our planet" (Charlotte Observer, March 1, 2007). Around the world scientists have noticed "collapsing ice sheets, thawing permafrost, shrinking glaciers and thinning sea ice" (Ibid). Glaciers have been called the "sentinels of climate change" and scientists see "all the glaciers in the tropics are retreating" (Ibid). In the last four years, 22 percent of the ice in the Himalayas has melted. These ice fields are the source of seven major river systems that supply water to millions in Southeast Asia. It appears the stage is being set for the droughts and famines prophesied to mark the end of this age (Joel 1:2-3, 10-20; Revelation 6:5-8).
The "Old Man of the Mountain" Revived? An elite terrorist force from Iran evokes memories of an earlier group that specialized in murder and mayhem. The 2,000-man Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards is a "remarkably efficient organization, quite possibly one of the best Special Forces units in the world," according to the Centre for the Study of Terrorism in London. An Iran expert says, "There are people who believe the Quds Force does not move a muscle without getting explicit orders from [Supreme Leader Ali] Khameini." President Bush says the Quds force "has provided sophisticated IEDs [Improvised Explosive Devices] that have harmed our troops (New York Times, February 14, 2007). Nine hundred years ago, the original Assassin Order of murderous Muslims terrorized the Middle East, led by the Old Man of the Mountain (www.bartleby.com/65/as/Assassin.html). Is a modern Old Man of the Mountain giving orders from Iran today? Scripture notes, "Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips" (Psalm 140:1-3).—Don Davis, Dan Bennett, Scott Winnail, Ben Whitfield