Greetings from Charlotte,
This has been a busy week. The Council of Elders meetings have gone well. Dr. Meredith reviewed a number of new initiatives the Living Church of God has developed for doing the Work—including the Leadership Training Program, Public Lectures, Regional Conferences, Special Mailings, Internet Development and the Advanced Leadership Training Program. Regional reports noted baptisms, responses to Public Lectures, healings and the overall stability of congregations. Mr. Rod King presented some sobering information about political developments in Europe that tie into Bible prophecy. Mr. Crockett reported that we have received our millionth response to the television broadcast and a certificate of recognition from Google for our millionth response to one of our ad initiatives with them. The Living University report noted that our first semester enrollment tallied more than 150 students from 18 countries. The Council spent time exploring more effective ways to do the Work of God. Doctrinal discussions included aspects of Church government, ordination procedures, prophecy and other topics. Dr. Meredith concluded the Council meetings with comments about the importance of walking with God and working together. We will conclude the week with additional meetings with Regional Pastors, a meeting about Church youth programs and a Living University board meeting on Friday. We appreciate your prayers for these meetings and for the safe travel of all those involved.
Church Administration
Online Registration for the 15th Anniversary Weekend in Charlotte
The response to the invitation to the 15th Anniversary celebration has been tremendous. The "hand count" that we requested resulted in 431 people responding so far. To aid our planning and to let us know what activities you actually want to attend, please register online at the MyLCG section of the www.cogl.org website. Click on the "Event Registration" button and follow the prompts. This site also includes the address and telephone number of the hotel where Church services and the dinner/dance will be held along with other housing information and the cost of the various activities. If you plan to attend, please register right away!—Davy Crockett
Married Couples Seminar
If you are interested in attending the Married Couples Seminar, please go online to register for it (see announcement above). The hand count we took recently does not constitute registration. We need you to register online if you are interested. Space is limited, so don't hesitate to register right away!—Rod McNair
Hymns in Burundi
We received the following moving note from a former member of Worldwide, and his family, in the French-speaking country of Burundi in Central Africa, who recently requested the hymnal music. He wrote: "Thank you for sending me the compact discs of the hymns, which I had been searching for for many years. You made us very happy because these songs are like a rallying cry for my family. One day, at one of my daughter's wedding at a Protestant center, we were asked to sing a hymn of our Church. Without hesitation, I started singing Psalm 95. The guests were not listening attentively at the beginning, since they were not familiar with this type of music. But as we continued singing, the room was filled with silence and composure. When we pronounced the words, 'and of His pasture we are sheep,' it seemed as though the people were remembering former days of joy. A ripple of applause followed. As we were leaving, we were asked where we had learned these songs, and if we could sing another one."
Media
Internet Update: Millionth Response
On Thursday, June 13, 2002, we began using Google AdWords to advertise our websites and introduce people to the true Gospel. On Sunday, June 17, 2007, we reached a major milestone with Google—more than 1,000,000 visitors to our site as a direct result of our AdWords campaigns! In today's mail, we received a letter from the Director of Google AdWords congratulating us on this achievement and presenting us with a special certificate in recognition of this accomplishment. Our impact and reach through the Internet continues to grow as God opens doors and guides us forward.—J. Charles Ogwyn
Finance Department
Progress Report
As we prepare to wrap up 2007, we are beginning the budgeting process and planning for 2008. Income for the Work has been flat since October and we are slightly below the amount budgeted for income year-to-date. Our expenses are within budget at this point, as we strive to be good stewards of the resources God gives us.
As we approach Thanksgiving season in the USA, we certainly want to thank all of you for your faithful support of God's Work. We also ask that you pray that God will continue to provide the financial and human resources we need to accomplish His will.
Online Donations
More and more people, including our members, are using the online donation feature of our websites. It is a fast, convenient way to contribute without incurring postage expense and mail delays. It is also very cost-effective for our processing.
If you choose to donate on line, please utilize the bank transfer method by using your bank routing number, which you will find written across the bottom of your personal bank check, rather than using a credit card. While we do accept credit card donations, it is primarily as a convenience for those who find us on the Internet. The credit card companies charge 2.5 to 3 percent of the amount donated, so we ask members and co-workers to use the bank transfer method. If you have any questions or problems with this service, please e-mail us at [email protected].—Davy Crockett
Comments
The Importance of Prayer: The Scriptures reveal that when Jesus Christ returns, He will surprise many professing Christians with the statement, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:21-23). One of the ways we get to know God and He gets to know us is through prayer. David prayed three times a day—morning, noon and evening (Psalm 55:17). He was also called a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). Daniel also prayed three times a day and developed a close relationship with God (Daniel 6:10). Jesus began His day with prayer (Mark 1:35) and even prayed all night before selecting twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-13). The Apostle Paul urged the Church to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is an essential tool that we can use to develop a closer relationship with God. This close relationship will prove to be important when Jesus Christ returns.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—November 15, 2007
Pushing for a European Military. As France takes the lead of the EU in the second half of 2008, it plans to push hard for a Europe of defense. The French Defense Minister, Mr. Morin, "described European defence as an 'absolute priority' which is at least as important for European integration as the EU's common currency, the euro. 'With the common currency, we have created a strong symbol for Europe. But nothing can better express the European community of fate than common defence, a common sense of Europe's threats and security interests,' he said." This common defense would require not only an exchange of soldiers, but a "harmonization" of military training (EU Observer, November 13, 2007). In many places in scripture, God warns of an end-time Beast power that will both oppress and subjugate Israelite-descended nations (Hosea 11:5) as well as overrun Middle Eastern nations (Daniel 11) and occupy the Holy Land (vv. 41-43; Luke 21:20-24). As prophecy marches on, we see actions taking place to bring about this future capability.
Rising Tension in the Middle East. Military actions and plans continue to escalate in the Middle East. Israel is bracing for a Syrian bombing raid on one of its nuclear reactors (JPost.com, November 11, 2007), Turkey is attacking Kurdish rebels on the northern border of Iraq (AP, November 13, 2007), The U.S., Britain, France, Germany and even Russia are considering much tougher sanctions on Iran after Russia's failed attempts at diplomacy with Tehran last month (Debka, November 12, 2007). Meanwhile, the Vatican's ambassador to the United Nations, speaking on behalf of the Holy See last week, strongly put forth the Vatican's desire to see a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The archbishop went further by reiterating the Vatican's long-standing desire to make Jerusalem a central pillar of peace, stating, "the Holy See renews its support for internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the city of Jerusalem the freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the faithful of all religions and nationalities" (Zenit.org, November 8, 2007). God prophesied of a time when a treaty would be signed, paving the way for the commencement of sacrifices on the Temple Mount (Daniel 9:27; 12:11), and we are likely hearing the rumblings of such a future treaty.
Decline of the Dollar. The U.S. is printing more money, the value of the dollar is at an all-time low against world currencies, oil is nearing US$100 per barrel, corporate earnings are falling, and some experts are predicting crashing stock values (Money and Markets, November 13, 2007). French President Sarkozy, in a recent address to the U.S. Congress, warned that if the U.S. does not do something to pull out of its economic slump and raise the value of the dollar, Europe and the world will feel the negative repercussions (Bloomberg.com, November 7, 2007). Inflation is the natural reaction to plummeting dollar values and the U.S.'s attempt to bolster the economy by printing more money. Today, as many in the U.S. are "living life" and ignoring the news and world economics, many are ripe for being caught "unaware" as God's prophesied events occur all around them (Matthew 24:36-44). God prophesied of a future time of increasing famine and corresponding inflation (Revelation 6:6). This time will also be marked by the U.S. and other Israelite-descended nations being known as debtor nations (Deuteronomy 28:44). The stage is being set for the fulfillment of these prophecies now.—Scott Winnail