Greetings from Charlotte,
Some sunny weather has returned to the southeastern part of the USA this week, after last weekend's snow. Mr. Meredith taped another Tomorrow's World program today, titled "Will America Cease to Exist?," offering The World Ahead booklet. Mr. and Mrs. Ames have returned from a very successful TW Bible lecture in Kingston, Jamaica. Dr. Scott Winnail is currently attending the annual meeting for the Association for Biblical Higher Education in Orlando, Florida, and will fly to Jamaica to give a follow-up Bible lecture in Kingston this Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hilgenberg are visiting the office in Charlotte this week. Mr. Hilgenberg pastors congregations in Oklahoma and northern Arkansas. Dr. Germano is also here this week to tape lectures for Living University and to work on university-related matters. I had a very positive trip to the Los Angeles area last weekend for Sabbath services and a leadership mini-conference.
Church Administration
Passover 2010
Important Notice to All Pastors: Let us know as soon as possible if any of the congregations you serve will need additional Passover Service supplies (bread trays and/or wine trays or glasses) or even a copy of the Passover Service CD recording. Additionally, let us also know of any scattered members who need to receive the Passover Service CD and letter instructions to observe it at home (this is the same Passover CD that we have been using since 2006). Please direct your requests to Dorothy McNair at the Church Administration Department by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 704-844-1960, ext. 2248, as soon as possible to ensure timely delivery.
New Zealand Update
Mr. Kinnear Penman reports: We had a busy January. The Tomorrow's World broadcast garnered a weekly average of 124 responses of which 58, on average, were first-time callers. Two hundred and eighty-nine names were added to the New Zealand mailing list. A working-bee was held to prepare mailouts of the semi-annual offer. Responses are still arriving on an almost-daily basis and more than 35% have responded so far. About 75% of responders have also requested the Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return booklet in addition to the DVD. In all during the month, a total of 3,043 items of literature were mailed. Among these were 28 sets of Bible Study Course lessons.
Spanish Update
Members of the Bahia Blanca, Argentina, congregation recently designed, printed and distributed locally color flyers advertising the El Mundo de Mañana (the Tomorrow's World version in Spanish) magazine and inviting people to request a free subscription. The effort has been successful and several new subscribers from Bahia Blanca have been added to the mailing list. One responder wrote, "When I came home yesterday, I found in my mailbox a flyer offering El Mundo de Mañana. I recognized the name, since I have been listening to the radio program for some time. The program is very good and instructive. I never cease to learn from it. Each time, God has something new to teach us. Thank you, for you are doing the Work of God…"
Among other happenings, Mr. Raul Colon recently completed a ministerial visit circuit to South America. He was in Chile from February 3 through 7. During his time there, he visited this year's Feast of Tabernacles site in El Quisco and presented a live radio broadcast on Radio Arco Iris. The title of his program was "The Coming Tomorrow's World." Mr. Colon also conducted services for the congregation in Santiago on the Sabbath of February 6 and gave an interesting Bible study titled, "From where did we get the Spanish Bible?" The brethren organized a social and delicious meal for Mr. Colon before his departure on Sunday, February 7.
Carolina Singles Weekend (May 28-31, 2010)—Additional Information
The time is now! The Carolina Singles Weekend registration has begun. Go to the Charlotte congregation website (www.charlottelcg.org) and download the registration form. Print it, fill it out and mail it in, along with your payment, to register. The deadline for registration is Monday, March 15, 2010.
The cost for the Singles Weekend activities is $20 per person, not including the afternoon at the U.S. National Whitewater Center on May 30. Admittance at the Whitewater center is free, if you want to fellowship only, but if you would like to participate in any of the sports activities, you can purchase one of the special group rate day passes. You may select one of the two options we have available: (1) All Sport Pass at $41 per person or (2) Cool Sport Pass at $26 per person (Cool Sport Pass is like the All Sport Pass, but without rafting). For more information on the activity at the U.S. National whitewater center, please see the registration form at www.charlottelcg.org and visit the Whitewater center website at www.usnwc.org.
Again, for registration and more information regarding the weekend's schedule and descriptions of the activities, please visit the LCG Charlotte Congregation website at www.charlottelcg.org. If you have any other questions, e-mail Mark D. Smith at [email protected] or call him at 704-844-1960, ext. 2238. The plans are set and the details for the weekend are coming together—now we need you! We look forward to seeing you here.
Living Youth Camp
LYC Adventure
The Living Youth Camp Office is excited to announce this summer's LYC Adventure Program. It will be held July 7-15 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Snow-dusted peaks, high country lakes, meadows flush with wildflowers, rushing mountain streams, and dense forests of lodgepole pine and spruce make this area one of our nation's best backpacking sites. The views are spectacular! Wildlife is abundant with ample opportunity to see elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. To apply, visit the Living Youth site at www.livingyouth.org. This camp is open to campers 13-17 years of age, and to high-school staff trainees aged 18-20. Staff positions are limited to those 21 or older. Anyone 21 years of age or older is asked to contact Sheldon Monson by phone at 715-386-6898 or by email at [email protected]. Staff selections will be made by April 1, 2010.
Feast of Tabernacles 2010
Three more international sites for 2010 are highlighted below: Argentina, Chile and Guatemala. For more information about these and other international Feast sites, check the MyLCG website at (www.cogl.org).
Delta Tigre (Islas del Delta), Argentina
The Argentinean brethren invite you to enjoy the Feast of Tabernacles in Delta Tigre (Islas del Delta), only 30 minutes from Buenos Aires. Feast services and accommodations will be at Aires del Delta (www.airesdeldelta.com.ar), a tourist complex on the shore of the Sarmiento River—located just 30 minutes from Buenos Aires and 90 minutes from the Ezeiza (Buenos Aires) International Airport. A 15-minute boat ride from the river station will take you to Aires del Delta.
Clean air and peace prevail in this ideal island nature. Aires del Delta offers sixteen cottages for two, four and six people. The cottages are equipped with central heating, air conditioner, full kitchen with microwave, sheets and towels. Housekeeping service is provided. The complex has an open terrace and a conference hall, and is within walking distance of a minimarket, a beautiful park next to the Sarmiento River, and a boat station offering transportation between islands (taxi boats, catamaran and boat trips, etc.). Tigre offers tourist attractions such as museums, Park de la Costa, and the Puerto de Frutos market.
Lodging cost for the entire Feast is USD$220 and it includes three separate meals (a meal on the first day of the Feast, on the Sabbath and on the Last Great Day). Come and enjoy asado—the typical Argentinean grill! Please note that, due to the state of the Argentinean economy, the lodging cost could increase. Confirmation of availability of simultaneous translation into English during Feast services is pending. If you would like to attend the Feast in Argentina, register online via MyLCG (www.cogl.org) once international Feast registration commences, and contact Madeleine Lincoln-Strange at [email protected] or at 704-844-1960, ext. 2217.
El Quisco, Chile
The brethren in Chile extend a warm invitation to enjoy the Feast of Tabernacles in the South American city of El Quisco—a peaceful, coastal city located some 80 miles west of Santiago, the nation's capital, and 93 miles from the airport. The city offers a millennial view, outdoor activities, and cultural sites. Feast services and lodging will be at the Puertas del Sol complex. Its hall has a capacity of 90 people. The complex offers indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzi, games areas for children, and wireless internet. At Puertas del Sol, the daily cost per person, including lunch and dinner, is approximately USD$42 or $20,000 Chilean pesos. Rooms are equipped with a kitchenette and television. Housekeeping service is provided. For more information on the complex, visit www.turismopuertasdelsol.cl. If you would like to attend the Feast in Chile, register online via MyLCG (www.cogl.org) once international Feast registration commences, and contact Madeleine Lincoln-Strange at [email protected] or at 704-844-1960, ext. 2217.
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
This year the Feast of Tabernacles in Guatemala will be celebrated in the city of Quetzaltenango. The city is located 7,650 ft. above sea level and enjoys comfortable cool temperatures throughout the year. Quetzaltenango is about three hours from the La Aurora Airport in Guatemala City. Among the site's attractions are the El Baúl and Tecún Umán volcanic domes, east of the city, providing oak forests hosting a wide variety of birds, squirrels, and other animals. With, easily-accessed trails, at the top you can enjoy a marvelous view and Chicabal lagoon, a beautiful clear forest pool and a true gift from God. From this area you can also hike up to the volcano.
In Quetzaltenango there are plenty of lodging choices. Most brethren will stay in the Arizona Hotel, where rooms can be rented for USD$35 (single), USD$50 (double) or USD$60 (triple). There are many restaurants available. Guatemala is open to international transfers. If you would like to attend the Feast in Guatemala, register online via MyLCG (www.cogl.org) once international Feast registration commences, and contact Madeleine Lincoln-Strange at [email protected] or at 704-844-1960, ext. 2217.
Comments
Study the Word: Isaiah records that God is looking for individuals who tremble at His word (Isaiah 66:2). Jesus taught that we are to live "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). He also warned of men who would set aside the commandments of God and teach "as doctrines the commandments [ideas, traditions, teachings] of men" (Mark 7:5-13). This is why the Apostle Paul stressed that we must diligently study the Scriptures so that we can rightly divide [correctly understand and teach] the word of truth and avoid being deceived by false teachers and misguided ideas (2 Timothy 2:15). In a world where many people have different ideas about what to believe, we need to know what the Bible really says to avoid being misled. Jesus plainly said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—February 18, 2010
What To Do With PIIGS? Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain have affectionately become know in European circles as the PIIGS. These predominantly southern European nations all have rapidly expanding debt and slowing economies. The question of how the EU should deal with these nations has been plaguing the EU for months and may well be the biggest challenge to the EU thus far. Expelling these nations from the EU is not currently an option, but just how to "bail them out" remains a challenge. The reality is that these nations are generally poorer and have less competitive economies. How the 16-nation Euro Zone will "rescue" these nations remains to be seen, and there are likely to be many "strings" attached to a solution (New York Times, February 6, 2010). Some journalists are now calling the PIIGS the "weak sisters of Europe," instead of European Brothers (Sunday Times, February 7, 2010). Exactly how the PIIGS will come through this economic crisis remains to be seen. The current economic crisis and its future outcome are especially interesting from a prophetic perspective.
Ezekiel 37 Fulfilled? "Speaking on the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland" two weeks ago, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, stated that the Ezekiel 37 prophecy about dry bones living had been fulfilled. He stated, "The Jewish people rose from ashes and destruction, from a terrible pain that can never be healed… Armed with the Jewish spirit, the justice of man, and the vision of the prophets, we sprouted new branches and grew deep roots. Dry bones became covered with flesh, a spirit filled them, and they lived and stood on their own feet, as Ezekiel prophesized…" (CBN.com, February 3, 2010). Although Mr. Netanyahu is convinced of the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37, he has ignored passages in Revelation 20, 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 that prove that Ezekiel 37 is a prophecy about the second and "great" resurrection that will take place at the beginning of the White Throne Judgment period—1,000 years after the return of Christ. This awesome resurrection will include all those who never had the opportunity to understand the Truth and will fulfill another prophecy of Jesus Christ, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37). It will also fulfill the prophet Joel's prophecy about God pouring out His spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28). Ezekiel 37 will be fulfilled in the future!
EU Army: A Coming Reality. The EU is moving forward with its plans for a European Army and is being strongly supported by Germany's foreign minister. In recent comments, Mr. Westerwelle stated, "The long term goal is the establishment of a European army under full parliamentary control…" He also noted that the German government "wants to advance along this path." Mr. Westerwelle added, "Moving further on common security and defence will be the 'motor for greater European integration." The EU Observer article also noted the sober truth that, "Under EU rules, member states with certain military capacities and the political will to move in this direction can club together [emphasis added] to move forward on common defense" (February 8, 2010). God prophesied long ago of a group of ten kings (possibly kingdoms or even nations) banding together under the leadership of a Beast power (see Revelation 17). Speaking about this end-time Beast, or King of the North, the prophet Daniel noted that it would honor a "god of fortresses" or its own military might (Daniel 11:36-39). As this Beast power in Europe develops, we see prophesied evidence of its character beginning to take shape.—Scott Winnail, Dan Bennett, Sue Bennett and Annette Wright