Greetings from Charlotte,
Severe weather continues to make news in various parts of the world. In the American Midwest, spreading drought conditions could significantly reduce crop yields this year, while in England rains and flooding have created problems for many. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has been writing and holding meetings. Mr. Ames is currently working on a co-worker letter and this morning spoke to the office staff about the importance of working together in a Godly professional manner to accomplish our mission. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that last week's Tomorrow's World television program by Mr. Ames, entitled, "Can You Trust Bible Prophecy?," is expected to draw about 4,400 responses. Last weekend, 66 visitors attended the Tomorrow's World Special Presentations in Oklahoma and New York. This coming weekend we have 11 more TWSPs scheduled in the USA and Canada. I will leave tomorrow for Sabbath services in the Los Angeles area and then head for New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines where we will conduct four TWSPs and two Regional Conferences. Your prayers for these efforts to preach the gospel and for the needs of God's people are needed and appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Special Presentations
We had 17 visitors for the Tomorrow's World Special Presentation which Dr. Winnail gave in Edmond, just north of Oklahoma City, on Saturday, July 7. There were 50 members to welcome them, for a total attendance of 67. On Sunday in Tulsa, there were 27 visitors with 25 members for a total of 52. Many of the guests provided positive feedback on the presentation and indicated that they would be back for the second presentation this coming weekend.—Gene Hilgenberg
Fourth DVD Sermon Each Month?
The Mail Processing Department currently sends three sermon DVDs per month to each congregation. However, some have requested a fourth DVD sermon. We are looking into ways to fill this request. Pastors: If your congregation(s) needs a fourth sermon DVD each month, please pass on the name of the congregation to Mrs. Dorothy McNair at [email protected]. Thank you!
Keeping Announcements Brief
The World Ahead is designed to be brim full of news you can use, from HQ and around the world. However, it is often difficult to cover it in its entirety during the announcements portion of services. Please read the introductory comments and concluding comments (when time permits) and refer to "News and Prophecy" articles by title. Pastors, for the sake of brevity, feel free to skip items that don't pertain to your congregation(s).
Note of Appreciation
Mrs. Larry Rawson would like to thank everyone for the cards and letters of condolence that she has received from across the U.S. and around the world since the death of her husband and she appreciates everyone's continuing prayers for her.
Update from Papua New Guinea
One of our baptized sisters, Ms. Julie Danto, was recently found to have stomach cancer that has recurred. It has made her very weak and unable to walk properly. My wife and I have been visiting her every day and taking her food. She told us that the doctor will let her know when she will be operated on. She is the very woman who refused the Pentecostal, Catholic and Protestant churches to pray for her when she was first admitted to the hospital over one and a half years ago. She told them that she will trust in the God of the Sabbath; HE will heal her. Please ask the brethren worldwide to pray for her as well.—Peter Devis
Annual Zoo Trip—Omaha, Nebraska (Housing Information—Corrected E-mail Address)
Firm up plans now to join the Omaha congregation on a visit to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo on July 29. The Omaha brethren also invite you to join them for services and a covered-dish meal on the Sabbath of July 28. Sunday morning, groups will visit Omaha's renowned Henry Doorly Zoo. The Zoo is extending their group rate to us.
Sabbath Services will be held at Ralston High School on July 28 at 2:00 p.m. The address is 8969 Park Drive, Omaha, Nebraska, 68127.
Housing Information: Guests wishing to stay with brethren may contact housing coordinator Mrs. JoAnn Tieken at [email protected] or call 402-339-0213. Space may be limited.
For those wishing to stay at a hotel, discounted rates have been arranged for you at three local hotels. Be sure to mention that you are with the Living Church of God.
–Travelodge, 7101 Grover St., Omaha, NE 68106—phone 402-391-5757—$59.08 per night
–La Quinta Inn, 10760 "M" St., Omaha, NE 68127—phone 402-592-5200—$69.72 per night
–Comfort Inn, 10728 "L" St., Omaha, NE 68127—phone 402-593-2380—$105.16 per night
To register, contact us via e-mail at [email protected] or call Alex Pomicter at 402-250-7806 or Brian Pomicter at 402-650-1614.
Media
LCG Booklets Available at the iBookstore!
Users of Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices can now download Living Church of God booklets from the Apple iBookstore! You can find the booklets by title, by author or by category, and download them absolutely free of charge for viewing with the iBooks app.
Our booklet ePubs are also available at www.tomorrowsworld.org for users of Nook and other ePub readers. MOBI format booklets are available at www.tomorrowsworld.org for Kindle users. We look forward to expanding into additional online stores and formats in the future.
Living Youth Programs
Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening
This Sunday evening the topic is "Samson: Strength and Weakness," presented by Mr. Adam West. The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Feast of Tabernacles 2012
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only (Repeat Announcement)
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to Church Administration is this coming Monday, July 16. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG website (www.cogl.org).
Short-Cut for Activity Sign-Up
Some people have reported having difficulty registering for activities because they have to sign in twice, and seem to be taken into a loop between the different webpages. If you are experiencing difficulties, please note the following short-cut for signing up for activities:
(1) Go to MyLCG (www.cogl.org) and sign in
(2) Click on the link "Registration"
(3) Click on the link "Activities Sign-up"
—Festival Office
Living University
Registration for the Fall Semester/Semester I Living University courses is under way, and classes begin August 15. This semester we plan to offer 17 different courses, two of which are brand new! For those who have never taken LU courses before, be sure to visit our website at www.livinguniv.com and complete an Application for Admission to the university—this will allow you to register for a class. The website also provides detailed information on our programs, fees, courses, and much more. We encourage you to consider taking a class for credit if you want to work toward a degree or certificate. Or just "audit" a course if you desire the content without the stress of exams and papers. Those age 65 and over are eligible to audit one course per semester, tuition-free. If you have questions, please e-mail or call Ms. Michelle Bottella at [email protected], or 704-708-2294. Below, we highlight three different courses being offered this semester.
THL 421 History of Christianity I
This course deals with the history of Christianity from the first century to the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It focuses on the growth and development of Christianity during the early centuries in the Mediterranean World as well as its expansion into Europe and the East.
THL 460 Contemporary World Religions
The world is changing and God is calling people from diverse backgrounds into His Truth. This course is an introduction to the major religious traditions of the world, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. It also considers neo-pagan and cultic phenomena in the contemporary world. Emphasis is on the historical development, key figures, as well as major doctrines and practices.
THL 473 Archaeology and the Old Testament
This course deals with the archaeology of the Bible lands from the fourth millennium BCE through the intertestamental period. Topics addressed include patriarchal Palestine, Joseph and Moses in Egypt, the reigns of David and Solomon, the divided kingdom, the exile, and the intertestamental period. For those planning to attend the FOT in Israel, an understanding of the content of this course will make your Feast travels far more meaningful and memorable.
NOTE: THL 473 is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those planning to attend the 2013 Feast in Israel. It will not be offered again before the 2013 Feast.
Comments
Are You Teachable? The Scriptures reveal that one of the important qualities of character that God is looking for in Christians and in future leaders in the Kingdom of God is teachability—the desire and willingness to listen and learn. Abraham was teachable and responsive to God's instructions (Genesis 12:1-4). Moses was a very capable leader, yet he was also humble and teachable (Numbers 12:3). David's attitude comes through in Psalm 119:33 when he writes, "Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes." Solomon recognized his human inadequacies when he asked God for wisdom and an "understanding heart" so that he could learn to rule wisely (1 Kings 3:9). When Jesus said the meek and the poor in spirit are blessed, He was emphasizing their teachability and their willingness to learn and grow (Matthew 5:3-5). The Scriptures also make it plain that when we harden our hearts to God's instruction, we will reap serious consequences (Proverbs 28:14). We have been called to reign with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God, and being teachable is one of the keys to attaining that reward.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—July 12, 2012
Europe Encouraged to Rediscover "Christian" Values: On June 11, 2012, Catholic Archbishop Dominique Mamberti addressed European ambassadors at a meeting ending Denmark's six-month rotation in the EU presidency (L'Osservatore Romano, June 12, 2012). In his speech, the Archbishop made it clear that Europe needed to rediscover itself, in order to have a successful future. He discussed the loss of cultural and social identity among Europeans as a people. In his address, he stated, "I am confident that even in the current difficulties our continent will be able to rediscover itself. The success of this undertaking will depend on the extent to which Europe can look with gratitude and recognition at its origins and, above all, at the ability to present anew constructively and creatively those Christian and human values such as the dignity of the human person, the profound sentiment of justice and freedom, hard work, the spirit of initiative, love for the family, respect for life and the desire for cooperation and peace, which are its characteristic features" (ibid.). This "return to your Christian roots" message is one often repeated by Roman Catholic clerics in recent years. Emperor Justinian I (527-565) also used religious values when he successfully united the Eastern and Western empires during his rule. "In the Byzantine Empire, church and state were indissolubly linked as essential aspects of a single Christian empire that was thought of as the terrestrial counterpart of the heavenly polity. It was therefore the duty of Justinian, as it was for later Byzantine emperors, to promote the good government of the church and to uphold orthodox teaching" (Encyclopedia Britannica, "Justinian I"). End-time prophecies reveal that a powerful church will support a revived European Beast power and will influence its policies (Revelation 17:1-5). For centuries the Roman Catholic Church has been a strong influence in Europe, and it will again play an instrumental role in uniting ten nations or leaders in the final revival of a European power with clear historical links to ancient Rome. For more information on the Beast and its influence, read our eye-opening booklet, The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor, or Soon-Coming Reality?
Children of Same-Sex Couples are Worse Off: "Challenging more than a decade of scholarship, a study out of the University of Texas has found that adults raised by same-sex parents reported significant differences in the quality of their lives compared with children of married, heterosexual biological parents" (Statesman, June 11, 2012). This study is "the largest nationally representative study" of its kind, carried out by highly trained faculty from a prestigious research institution. Results reveal that: "69 percent of adults with lesbian mothers and 57 percent with gay fathers reported receiving welfare while growing up" yet only "Seventeen percent of those raised by their biological parents who were married did." The study also reported that, "38 percent of adults with lesbian mothers and 23 percent with gay fathers reported they are on welfare" while only "Ten percent of those raised by their biological parents are." Another finding was that, "19 percent with gay or lesbian parents reported having recent psychological therapy" yet only "Eight percent of those raised by married biological parents did." Researchers say that "We don't have good theoretical reasons as to why these differences might be" (ibid.). However, the Bible, written thousands of years ago, sheds light on the theoretical underpinnings of these study findings. God commanded that marriage was to be between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24), and that any union outside this sacred relationship was considered sin/adultery (Exodus 20:14; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 13:4). The Bible is full of examples of blessings for obedience to the living laws of God, including "You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you…" (Deuteronomy 5:33). The God of the Bible desires that human beings live happy and abundant lives (John 10:10). But there is just one path that leads to life—the other paths lead to sadness, despair, and ultimately death (Matthew 7:13-14). For more information on blessings that come with obedience to God's laws, see our informative booklet, The Ten Commandments.—Scott Winnail and Justin Ridgeway