Dear Brethren,
Below-freezing temperatures have come to the Carolinas over the last few days—a refreshing change after a long, hot summer! Mr. Gerald Weston is still travelling, and will be conducting a Regional Conference in Joplin, Missouri this weekend. As December begins, here in the office it's budgeting time as the Accounting Department works with the different departments to map out the budgets for 2019. Parents, please note that we are posting new Children's Bible Lessons each week on the lcgeducation.org website, for three different age levels. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Meredith are moving to Knoxville, Tennessee next week to take up their new responsibilities there—we wish them well on their new assignment. Please continue praying for Mr. Martin Fannin, and note the encouraging update about Mrs. Connie Breaux below! And I look forward to seeing all you brethren in Helena and Great Falls, Montana for a church visit and TWPs this weekend.—Rod McNair
Church Administration
Update: Mrs. Connie Breaux
As you know, Mrs. Connie Breaux was recently hospitalized with blood clots in her lungs and other complications. She recently had a scan to reevaluate her lungs. When she saw her doctor, she was relating to him how she was feeling pretty miserable the previous Friday, when her symptoms suddenly decreased and she felt much better. Mrs. Breaux writes, "The doctor said he couldn't wait to discuss my case with the other doctors that are involved with my case… He felt 'it was a miracle.'" Her lung still has one spot of fluid, but she's off the fluid pill and potassium pill. She will be on lower dose blood thinner for six months. Thank you for your prayers for Mr. and Mrs. Breaux—it certainly appears that God has dramatically intervened on her behalf.—Rod McNair
LCG Webcast Live Stream of Sabbath Services and Bible Study from Charlotte Family Weekend—Repeat Announcement
LCG congregations and members are welcome to join us online for the Charlotte Family Weekend Friday night Bible Study on December 21, and for Sabbath services on December 22. The Friday night Bible study will begin at 7:30 p.m. (EST) and Sabbath services will begin at 1:00 p.m. (EST). To join, please go to www.lcgwebcast.org, and under "Stream Site" select "Charlotte Family Weekend." Enter the password, your name (or congregation name), and the number of people viewing (for attendance purposes). Please note: this Internet broadcast is for LCG membership, and you can find the password at your "MyLCG" account. (Just go to www.cogl.org and click on the "MyLCG" link.)
Charlotte Family Weekend
Activity Registration is live! To register and pay for activities, and see a detailed schedule of events, go to: charlottelcg.org/cfw (not an official LCG website).
Games: Be sure to be planning your Family Games and Basketball or Volleyball teams. We want everyone to join in the Family Games on Sunday! Family Games Teams should have 12 to 20 players, with a minimum of three pre-teens (ages 7–12), three teens (ages 13–17), three adults (ages 18–59), and three seniors (age 60+). Team registration will begin within the next couple of weeks. If you don't have a team, come anyway and we will assign you to one.
Crafts: Take note all "Crafters"—We need your help! If you would like to donate craft items for the Craft Auction on Sunday, please contact Mrs. Jeanine Smith at 816-804-8535 or e-mail [email protected].
Schedule: Some of the events for the weekend include:
- Bible Study (Friday evening)
- Sabbath Service
- Elegant Dinner Dance
- Family Games and Sports Day (Sunday)
- Educational Seminars: Parenting, Teens, Singles, Mature Singles (Monday)
- Bowling (Monday afternoon)
- "International" theme dance (Monday evening)
- Departure (Tuesday)
Kansas City Family Weekend
The Kansas City congregation is ready to welcome you to the 2018 Kansas City Family Weekend from Friday, December 28, through Sunday, December 30. Our guest speaker will be Mr. Jonathan McNair from Headquarters. We will have many opportunities to learn more of God's word, to fellowship, and to enjoy being with family and brethren. Please register at kclcg.org (not an official LCG website) to let us know you are coming.
The deadline for making reservations at the Embassy Suites is December 13. The password to the "Housing" link is "security."
This year's Saturday night dinner and dance theme is "The Bible Comes Alive." We invite you to add a biblical element to your formal wear. Be creative! This could be something like fine linen and purple (the Proverbs 31 woman), an old pair of sandals that have not worn out (Deuteronomy 29:5), or sandals of iron and bronze (Deuteronomy 33:25).
Please register for the weekend on our handy website and select events for each family member (Contest of Christians, gaga ball, volleyball, basketball, etc.), then start building your teams for the Sunday activities. Remember, our Contest of Christians is for all ages and a variety of skills—not just young or athletic or quick, but also for quick-witted, artistic, musical, and regular folks of all ages. We look forward to seeing you there!—Mike Keesee
Living Education
We are now accepting applications for the 2019–2020 "Living Education Charlotte" program. Seven young men and seven young women will be accepted, as we begin the second year. This is a focused experience, emphasizing the building blocks of a Godly, Christian life. Students learn in the classroom with other young adults, guided by our faculty. They also learn through our "Work-Study" program, working alongside Headquarters staff in various capacities. A major part of the experience is the interaction with other students as they study together, work together, and socialize together, building friendships that will last a lifetime. If you are a young adult, at least 18 years of age, and have a passion to learn more about God's way of life with others who share the same goals and values, then apply now. For more information, go to lcgeducation.org.
Living Youth Program
Living Youth Friday Evening Study
The online Friday evening Teen Bible Study, December 7, will cover Matthew 18, and will be given by Mr. Sheldon Monson. Join us at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The chatroom will open 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the study.
To join the study, just visit www.livingyouth.org, and follow the links to "Friday Evening Bible Study." We are utilizing a new streaming provider this year, so you must access the Bible Study through the links from the Living Youth website. This also means that e-mail alerts are no longer being sent when we go live. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. For those who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's covering Matthew 16–17, can also be found on the Living Youth website.—Josh Penman
Living Youth Program Pictorials
We have just completed mailing the 2017 pictorial albums to pastors for distribution. If you or someone from your family attended an LYP camp last year, your household will receive a copy shortly, if you have not already.
We have a limited number of additional copies of the pictorials from 2014 through 2017. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please contact [email protected].—Josh Penman
Comments
Pay Attention to Bible Prophecy: Jesus told His disciples to stay alert and watch for the fulfillment of specific prophecies that will mark the approaching end of this age. This admonition is repeated numerous times in the New Testament (Matthew 24:42–44; 25:13; Mark 13:33–35; Luke 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:6). Jesus also warned in the parable of the foolish virgins that many will be caught napping by the surge of events that will precede His return to this earth (Matthew 25:1–13). God has given His Church a "more sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19, KJV) so His Church can act as a watchman to warn about the prophetic significance of both current and impending world events (Ezekiel 3 and 33). Yet, over the years, misguided teachers and preachers have ridiculed the Church's understanding of prophecy and accused anyone watching Bible prophecy of suffering from "prediction addiction." However, as we see world events fitting into the end-time scenario that is outlined in Scripture, we need to make sure we are building a closer relationship with God and that we are learning to live by every word of God—as we continue to pay attention to Bible prophecy.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—November 29, 2018
EU Approves "Brexit" Plan: On Sunday, the 27 members of the EU unanimously approved the "Brexit" plan presented to them by British Prime Minister Theresa May and her team, despite a last-minute attempt by Spain to stir up the Gibraltar debate (BBC, November 25, 2018). Britain is now one step closer to "peacefully" exiting the EU on March 29, 2019. The plan, referred to by European leaders as "the best and only deal possible," will now be reviewed by the UK parliament and voted on in December.
However, there is significant disapproval in the UK parliament, and no one is sure how that vote will end (Deutsche Welle, November 25, 2018). Prime Minister May has roughly a month to convince her fellow leaders to vote in favor of the "Brexit" plan. If the UK parliament fails to agree to Mrs. May's "Brexit" deal, it could lead to a "hard Brexit" in March—Britain leaving the EU with significant penalties and potential devastation to both the British and EU economies. The next four months are of critical importance to the fate of Britain. Given the discord within its borders over the details of this "divorce" from the EU, the people of the United Kingdom are not truly "united" at all.
Bible prophecies have long foretold that the Israelite-descended peoples will suffer serious consequences for turning away from God and will be taken into captivity before the return of Jesus Christ (Leviticus 26:14–20; Deuteronomy 28:15, 32, 45–52; 31:29; Hosea 7–8; Amos 5:1–3). This "divorce" from Europe by Britain could fit well with these prophesied events, even kindling greater animosity against Britain by EU member nations who could seek retribution in the future. What few understand today is that the Bible identifies the British-descended peoples and it predicts their future. For more on this important and timely subject, be sure to read or listen to The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Huge Animal Population Decline: The latest report from the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) contains shocking figures about accelerating species declines from 1970 to 2014. "Global wildlife populations have fallen by 60% in just over four decades" due to factors that involve increasing pollution, hunting and poaching, habitat destruction, and disease (CNN, October 30, 2018). According to the report, "The proportion of the planet's land that is free from human impact is projected to drop from a quarter to a tenth by 2050." According to the President and CEO of WWF-US, "Natural systems essential to our survival—forests, oceans, and rivers—remain in decline. Wildlife around the world continue to dwindle" (WWF Report Reveals Staggering Extent of Human Impact on Planet, October 29, 2018).
God gave Adam and Eve directives to be good stewards of the garden where He placed them (Genesis 2:15), a principle that should have followed them as their descendants took dominion of the world (Genesis 1:28). Since then, mankind has largely ignored this directive. The Bible clearly indicates that when human beings ignore the laws of God, they will bring on themselves serious consequences, and "the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away" (Hosea 4:1–9).
As we approach the time of Christ's return, we should expect to see increasingly severe environmental problems that include the continuing decimation of animal populations. This is a natural result of mankind's selfishness and quest for personal fulfillment as well as his poor stewardship of God's creation. Thankfully, Jesus Christ is going to return, and all human beings will be taught how to "dress and keep" the creation. At that time, animals will again be abundant and thrive (Isaiah 11:6–9). For more insight into this coming time of peace for creation, read or listen to The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?—Scott Winnail, John Meakin, Francine Prater, and Chris Sookdeo