Greetings from Charlotte,
We have more positive news to convey this week. Mr. Jack Lowe reports that 58 guests attended the follow-up Tomorrow's World Bible Lecture in Atlanta, Georgia, last Sabbath and that 43 were "new" people—which means that a total of 163 visitors attended the two-lecture series in Atlanta (see report below). Wayne Pyle reports that Tomorrow's World television broadcasts set several new records in recent weeks. Mr. Ames' program #366, "The Coming Day of the Lord," which offered the CD titled The Day of the Lord, brought 6,526 responses—setting a new all-time record for a Tomorrow's World program. Mr. Wallace Smith's program #364, "Seven Signs of the Antichrist," offering the booklet, Who or What Is the Antichrist?, generated more than 6,300 calls—the highest number of requests for that booklet. In addition, more than 3,700 of the callers were first-time callers—which was another record for the Tomorrow's World broadcast!
This week, Mr. Meredith wrote a letter to the brethren in Milwaukee, Chicago, Menasha and Upper Michigan, in remembrance of the tragic shooting that occurred five years ago in Brookfield which claimed the lives of eight people—seven of our beloved brethren, including their pastor, and the assailant. Mr. Meredith mentioned that we want to remember all of the families who lost loved ones and that we deeply appreciate the steadfastness of brethren who have endured through this trial and kept their minds on the hope and calling that God has given them. They have certainly been an example to many.
Mr. Meredith has also written his TW Personal this week and conducted several meetings concerning the Feast of Tabernacles and the Internet. Mr. Rod King has been in Charlotte to record another Tomorrow's World telecast. He recorded "From Sabbath to Sunday," offering the booklet, Which Day Is The Christian Sabbath? This coming weekend, Mr. Bob League will conduct a Tomorrow's World Bible Lecture in the Huntsville, Alabama, area and I will present TW lectures in Jacksonville and Ocala, Florida, on the subject "What's Ahead for America?" Your prayers for all these activities are much appreciated.
Church Administration
Attention Area Pastors and Video Recipients: Special Pre-Passover Must Play Sermon
A special Must Play sermon by Dr. Meredith titled, "Prepare for the Passover," is intended to be played before the Passover (either on March 20 or on March 27). This means Area Pastors should rearrange accordingly their congregations' speaking schedules. The DVD and its corresponding CD are being expedited to all English-speaking congregations around the world tomorrow and possibly on Monday. It is being shipped by FedEx, where available. Video Recipients should be expecting this package next week.
Passover 2010 (Repeat Announcement)
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 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.
Atlanta Follow-Up Tomorrow's World Presentation
Mr. Jack Lowe reports: We are happy to report that we had 58 guests, and 62 members in attendance at our follow-up Bible Lecture in Atlanta on March 6. Forty-three of them were "brand new," giving us a total of 163 visitors for the two lectures. The topic was "What Is a True Christian?" The audience was very attentive and most of them stayed around, some for up to an hour, after the presentation. The guests were served coffee and homemade cookies. The brethren were very helpful in answering questions for our guests. Several people wanted to give us their tithes and offerings. We explained to them that tithes and offerings are to be sent to Headquarters. They said they would be doing that in the future. From the two lectures, 20 people have been invited to Sabbath services. If they all attend, we will have a full house—and that will be wonderful! We thank God for the success of these two lectures.
Shreveport Follow-Up Sabbath Service
Mr. Dan Hall reports: Mr. John Strain, local elder in the Hawkins congregation, conducted the follow-up Sabbath in Shreveport on February 27. Six TW subscribers returned to hear Mr. Strain's sermon on "Your Ultimate Destiny." We are encouraged by the attitudes of these "new" people and the increase in numbers, which nearly doubles our small congregation! Thank you again for all your prayers and support for these vital Subscriber Bible Studies.
New Zealand Update
Mr. Kinnear Penman reports: For the last three weeks of February there was no Tomorrow's World broadcast in New Zealand. All Sunday morning religious broadcasting on Prime was supplanted by coverage of the Winter Olympics. However, God has blessed us with a great time position on Prime's 2010 scheduling. We have been given the 8:30 a.m. slot. Our program is now preceded by The Hour of Power, which is new to Prime and should present us with a good "follow-on" audience. This potential was proven on March 7. Our first program, after the enforced hiatus, brought us a wonderful result for Mr. Wallace Smith's program, "Seven Signs of the Antichrist." We have received 202 responses and exactly half of these were first-time callers. I believe we have been presented with a ready-made audience of new viewers.
Our outgoing mail was well down in February, with three weeks off the air. However, we did mail out 675 packages, which contained a total of 1,219 literature items. Fifty-eight sets of Bible Study Course lessons were amongst the mailings.
Carolina Singles Weekend (May 28-31)—Registration Deadline Is March 15
Have you registered yet? If not, the registration deadline of Monday, March 15 is approaching quickly. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn, fellowship, and have an experience of a lifetime at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. For more information and to download the registration form, go to the Charlotte congregation website at www.charlottelcg.org (not an official Church website) and click on the "Carolina Singles Weekend" category. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity. Registration ends Monday, March 15. We look forward to seeing you in Charlotte! If you have any questions, contact Mark Smith at [email protected] or, by phone, at 704-844-1960, ext. 2238.
Living Youth Camp
With spring weather arriving, it is time to think about summer camp! Many have already registered for one or more of our camps. In order to answer questions that come up on a regular basis, we have prepared a "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) listing on our Living Youth Website. If you have questions about the camps, or the registration process, visit www.livingyouth.org, then click on the "FAQ" link.
Feast of Tabernacles 2010
Early (International) Registration—March 14
International Registration, including Alaska, begins Sunday, March 14 at 12:00 noon (EDT). If you are planning to transfer to an International site for the Feast, you may begin registering at that time. Check the MyLCG section of www.cogl.org for complete write-ups on International sites open for transfer. Please note: registration for United States and Canadian sites will not begin until Sunday, April 18 at 12:00 noon (EDT). Registration for U.S./Canada sites will not be open until that date.
Anchorage, Alaska
Registration for the Alaska Feast site will begin on Sunday, March 14. We hope that everyone attending the Feast in Alaska will stay at the Millennium Hotel, where services will be held, as we have guaranteed a minimum number of rooms. We have negotiated a rate of $79 plus tax per room, per night, for members. This is a substantial discount from their regular rate of $249 per night, but we need a minimum number of rooms to keep our discount. Please do not make hotel reservations until you have received confirmation that your transfer request has been approved. When you do call the Millennium Hotel for reservations, tell them you are with the Living Church of God. More information on the Alaska Feast site will be available at www.fotalaska.com, beginning March 14.
This week we feature abbreviated descriptions of the Feast sites in Barbados and in the United Kingdom (unabridged descriptions are available at the MyLCG section of our Members Resources website, www.cogl.org):
Llangollen (Wales), United Kingdom
This year's Feast in the United Kingdom will be held for the third consecutive time at Llangollen in the Northeast corner of Wales. Nestled on the banks of the beautiful River Dee and surrounded by the magnificent scenery of the Berwyn Mountains, the area is famous for its outstanding beauty. The town has earned an international reputation as the Festival Capital of Wales. It is home to the International Musical Eisteddfod and numerous other festivals throughout the year. The Dee Valley has become an outstanding outdoor activity centre for kayaking, white water rafting, climbing and mountain biking.
There is a wide selection of varied accommodation in the area and good quality places in which to eat. Services will be held at the Bryn Howel Hotel, situated some two miles east of town on three acres of secluded, landscaped grounds. We have negotiated room rates with this and the sister hotel, The Wild Pheasant, situated west of town, and our guests at both hotels will have access to the relaxing spa facilities available at The Wild Pheasant. Please be sure to mention when booking that you are part of the LCG Convention (rates and contact information for these hotels are available at the MyLCG section of www.cogl.org). A wide variety of other accommodation is available in the area. For more information, you may contact the Llangollen Tourist Information Centre at +44 (0) 1 978 860 828, [email protected], or "Visit Wales" at +44 (0) 870 121 1251. The town website, www.llangollen.org.uk, is a mine of information relating to accommodation, restaurants, activities and travel information.
If you are requesting a transfer to the U.K., please contact Mr. John Meakin, the Festival Coordinator at +44-(0)-1-460-54240 or at [email protected], if you require additional information. We regret that capacity at this Feast site is limited by the size of the meeting hall to 220, and we anticipate considerable demand for places available to international applicants. It is therefore essential, after registering at www.cogl.org, to also apply at the 2010 UK Feast website and be accepted as a transfer before making travel and housing arrangements. The Feast site's website address is http://fot.lcog.eu (username: member; password: feast2010).
Christ Church, Barbados
Fellowship and rejoice in 2010 at the Feast of Tabernacles in Barbados! Cruise the tranquil blue waters of the Caribbean along the beautiful west coast, taste exquisite cuisine or just enjoy the sun on the warm, white sandy beaches. The friendliness of the local brethren will encourage you to rejoice beyond your expectations!
Located on the scenic Maxwell Coast Road in Christ Church, the Barbados Beach Club offers us an all-inclusive package unmatched on the Island. Air-conditioned double occupancy rate is US$95 per night, per person. Single occupancy for an unrestricted beach view is US$165 per night. Cost covers breakfast, lunch and dinner with an open bar throughout the day. Hired vehicles are not necessary. To reserve directly, call Deborah Ifill or Maxine Weir at +1-246-428-9900, or you can visit the website www.barbadosbeachclub.com. If you would like to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in Barbados this year, register at MyLCG (www.cogl.org), beginning March 14. For further details on this site, contact the Barbados Living Church of God office at [email protected].
Comments
The Value of Wisdom: Solomon said that as we live our lives, gaining "Wisdom is the principal thing" (Proverbs 4:7). The Bible states that as Jesus grew, He "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). The Scriptures emphasize that wisdom "is more precious than rubies" and that acquiring wisdom leads to happiness and a long and honorable life (Proverbs 3:13-16). The Apostle Paul urged Christians to use wisdom in dealing with people (Colossians 4:5-6). According to the Bible, the key to wisdom is learning to fear God and live by every word of God (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). If we ask God for wisdom (James 1:5-7), if we seek wisdom by studying God's word (Deuteronomy 4:1-10; 2 Timothy 3:15), and if we listen to older and wiser people (Proverbs 10:1; 15:7; 18:15; 22:17), we will become more like the wise God whom we worship (Romans 16:27).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—March 11, 2010
Iron and Clay! The financial crisis in several Euro-zone countries is heating up the historical divide between EU nations. Along with the deep economic turmoil in Greece have come different suggestions for solution, many from Germany, which stands to absorb the greatest amount of Greece's debt. Recently, a senior member of Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat party commented, "When you're bankrupt you have to sell everything to pay off your creditors… Greece owns buildings, companies and uninhabited islands, which could all be used for discharging debt." A recent article in the German newspaper Bild suggested that the Greeks could get $140 billion if they sell the Acropolis (New York Times, March 5, 2010). In response, not having forgotten Greece's experience at the hands of the Germans in World War II, the Greek media warned that "the Germans could take absolute control" of the Greek national budget (GermanForeignPolicy.com, March 2, 2010). God warned that the end-time European Beast power would consist of "ten kings" whose relationship to each other would be "partly of iron and partly of clay"—an unstable mix (Daniel 2:42-43). The current division within the EU reflects God's insightful understanding of the histories and unique characteristics of the nations in Europe. The Scriptures indicate that, ultimately, ten kings or nations or groups will one day willingly hand their power over to the final Beast power (Revelation 17:12-13). How this will happen bears watching!
Another Deadly Quake. On Monday, March 8, 2010, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Turkish village of Okcular and surrounding areas. The small village of 900 was virtually leveled and the initial death toll was 51. During Monday alone, nearly 80 aftershocks reverberated through the village, magnifying the fear and unrest. One survivor observed, "Everything has been knocked down, there is not a stone in place" (AP, March 8, 2010). The last two months have brought two earthquakes that rank among the most powerful in recorded history (in both Haiti and Chile). In addition, several extremely strong quakes have hit off the coast of Asian nations. Now another powerful and "deadly" quake has struck in Turkey. As we move closer to the end of the age, Jesus Christ's admonition about "earthquakes in diverse places," as a sign of His impending return, should ring in our ears (Matthew 24:7). Yet, Jesus said these events are just the "beginning of sorrows" (verse 8). For those who are truly watching for the signs of the end of the age, there will be no doubt that the Time of Jacob's Trouble is not far off. However, for those who are caught up with the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22), these events that Christ said would occur may catch them unaware—while they are not looking or expecting (Matthew 24:50). We must all make time to "watch and pray" so that we are counted worthy to escape the things that will shortly come to pass (Luke 21:36).
The Head Is Getting Sicker. Britain's Human Rights Commission recently warned that "it may be illegal for any school to require girls to wear skirts as part of their uniform, since this could discriminate against transsexual pupils." The Commission feels that school uniforms are too "gender specific." The author of the human rights bill now under consideration "has said the Bill will create 'a new social order.'" Schools and civic organizations are under increasing pressure to treat transgender groups and individuals "appropriately." In Hampshire, leisure centers [health clubs] are encouraged to set aside evenings in which facilities are accessible only to transgender individuals. Leaders are cautioned about the pronouns they use to refer to transgender persons. Much of the issue is rooted in what critics call the "social engineering" of society. One ultra-feminist document comments that "Gender identity is subjective," in contradiction of almost "a million years of biology" (Mail Online, March 1, 2010). Long ago, God stated through the prophet Isaiah that "… the whole head [all of society] is sick…" (Isaiah 1:5). As society moves further away from God, it moves more inline with Satan and his perverted mind. Humanity, because it has disconnected itself from God, has lost its vision and understanding and, thus, has "cast off restraint" (Proverbs 29:18). We need the Lawgiver to return and set up His perfect Kingdom, grounded in the simple irrefutable law that brings both liberty and order!—Scott Winnail and Sue Bennett