Greetings from Charlotte,
As August approaches, violence and brutality are certainly heating up around the world. Besides the tragic massacre in Colorado, more than a hundred people are being killed every day in an all-out civil war in Syria, and recently 500 villages were burned in ethnic violence in Northeast India. What a privilege it is to know God's solution for this sick and war-torn world—that there is a solution—and we will soon be rehearsing that merciful plan during the Fall Holy Days!
Meanwhile, the Work continues to move forward… Last week's telecast, "What Happens After Death?" is expected to bring in more than 5,000 calls. This week, Dr. Meredith has been busy making phone calls and conducting meetings, and Mr. Ames recorded a new telecast as well. The Adventure Camp was a great success and was blessed with God's intervention, as you can see from the report below. Dr. Douglas Winnail is leaving Malaysia and heading for the Philippines to meet with brethren and conduct a Tomorrow's World Special Presentation in Manila on the Sabbath. He will join Mr. Bruce Tyler, Mr. Dayrell Tanner, and the Filipino ministry next week for ministerial meetings in Manila. Last week, ten presentations were conducted in five countries: Australia, Malaysia, U.K., Canada, and the United States. Thank you to all of our ministers and brethren who are making these local events such a successful part of this truly global Work!—RMcN
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Special Presentations
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: We had 56 visitors (including two pastors of other churches) for the Tomorrow's World Special Presentation which Dr. Winnail gave in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday, July 25. There were 56 members to welcome them, for a total attendance of 112—a good response!—Rajan Moses
Sacramento and Reno: The follow-up Tomorrow's World Special Presentations for Sacramento, CA and Reno, NV were attended by a very receptive audience. A total of 102 were present, including 42 guests, many of whom had attended the previous week. Following the presentations, quite a few guests remained, asking challenging questions that showed they were thinking. This has been a very good training experience for all of us, "be[ing] ready always to give an answer to every man that [asks]... a reason of the hope that is in [us]" (1 Peter 3:15, KJV).—Jeffrey Fall
Yorkton, Saskatchewan: There were a total of 19 new people who attended presentations in Yorkton on Thursday and Friday, July 19 and 20, given by Mr. Michael Elertson. Nine members also attended each presentation, making a total attendance of 26 on Thursday and 15 on Friday. One man came to Church on the Sabbath of July 21 as a result of the presentations.
Glasgow, Scotland: We had a very successful TWSP in Glasgow on Saturday, July 21, with 28 guests and a total attendance of 49. Several former Church of God members attended, as well as some other interested parties, so it's looking very promising for some growth in the local congregation.—Jamie Meakin
Living Youth Programs
Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening
This Sunday evening the topic is "Jonah: The Challenge of Accepting God's Will," presented by Mr. Phil Sena. The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Adventure Trip 2012—Glacier Park, Montana
Thirty-two campers and staff members embarked on an adventure in the backcountry of Glacier Park, Montana on Thursday morning, July 12, from a trailhead on the U.S.-Canadian border in the northeastern corner of the park. Four groups of eight backpacked through fields of wildflowers, forded chest-deep streams, swam in clear and refreshing glacial waters, stood in the cool mist of several large thundering waterfalls, and viewed several species of wildlife. Members of the various groups came into close contact with deer, elk, black bear, and mountain goats. They endured rain and cool temperatures on a couple of days (nighttime temperatures dropped down to 39 degrees F.), and enjoyed warm sunny weather the rest of the time. After hiking roughly 40 miles, and enjoying a restful Sabbath together in the backcountry, hikers returned to civilization and spent the night at a commercial campground. The following day they covered another 10 miles on foot to see several sights off of the Going-to-the-Sun road. The group drove this 50-mile stretch of road but stopped along the way to hike to St. Mary Falls and Virginia Falls (3 miles), the Trail of the Cedars (1 mile), and to hike Logan Pass to Hidden Lake (6 miles). However, as we were leaving the Logan Pass parking lot, we were caught in dense fog, heavy rain, and hail. The storm caused a number of large mud-and-rock slides which covered the road in front of and behind us. One vehicle and several pieces of construction equipment were buried in rock and mud. Several other vehicles were damaged and knocked sideways by falling rock and mud. All of this occurred near our vehicles, and both behind and in front of our group, yet we and our vehicles were untouched. Heavy equipment removed the debris, opening up one lane of travel, and in an hour-and-a-half we were on our way down the mountain to our destination. The sun was shining once again.
The last day of our adventure was spent whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Middle Fork River, followed by a trip to Hungry Horse Dam, and a steak dinner at the Cabin. We thank God for the protection He granted us, and the beautiful sights He allowed us to see and experience! The trip was a huge success and an adventure that we will not forget!
You can view photos from all of this year's youth camps on http://www.livingyouth.org, or on our Living Youth Facebook page.—Sheldon Monson, Adventure Camp Director
Feast of Tabernacles 2012
Activity Payment (Repeat Announcement)
Feast of Tabernacles activity payment is now open for those Feast sites that are using the online payment system. Please go to www.LCG.org, click on the "Feast of Tabernacles" link and select your location. Click on the "Activities" tab and you will be prompted to log in to your MyLCG account. Once logged in, you can register and pay for activities of your choice.
Living University
Registration for Fall Semester/Semester I Living University courses is well under way, with more than 130 students now registered for August classes. The semester begins on August 15, so there is still time to enroll in the University and register for a class. Interested students need to do so as soon as possible to allow time to order textbooks and have them arrive in time for the start of classes. High school/secondary school students interested in taking LU courses may do so by enrolling in the Dual Enrollment Program. To do so, students must be entering grade 10 or higher. Dual enrollment students can take courses in the Certificate of Biblical Christianity program, along with their regular high school curriculum, at a greatly reduced cost (the equivalent of US$10 per credit hour, plus fees and textbooks). For more information on the dual enrollment program and courses, see the online catalog on the www.livinguniv.com Web site. For those who have not taken LU courses before, be sure to visit our Web site at www.livinguniv.com and complete an Application for Admission to the university. This will enable you to register for a class. The Web site 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. If you have questions, please e-mail or call Ms. Michelle Bottella at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
Comments
Buyer Beware: The massacre in Colorado revived the question, "Do violent movies and games cause violent behavior?" Opponents of any restraint on the entertainment industry will say, "There has always been violence in the world—modern media didn't create it." And that is true. Cain treacherously murdered his brother thousands of years before television was invented! And not every person who watches a brutal film today becomes a mass murderer. But does that really settle the debate? Of course not.
Ironically, though, the field of advertising does settle the matter. Every time corporate executives spend money on television advertising to sell a product ($3.5 million on average was spent for a 30-second ad at this year's Super Bowl game in the U.S.), they stake their careers on the belief that compelling video, catchy music, and clever dialogue does influence the way people think. How could it be any clearer?
Of course, watching gratuitous violence won't automatically turn us all into raging murderers! But it will lead us down the path toward erosion of our natural aversion to brutality, and toward being more passive and accepting of these heinous acts. The Bible teaches that our eyes are a direct conduit to our heart and mind. Where the eye goes, the body follows. That's why advertising works. Have you ever tried to walk in one direction while looking in another? It's virtually impossible! As Jesus said, "if your eye is bad [i.e. continually exposed to sinful acts] your whole body will be full of darkness [i.e. actions will flow in the same direction]" (Matthew 6:22-23). We cannot help but be affected by what we see!
We are living in a world where pre-packaged brutality is sold for a profit. As God's people, let's make sure we are making wise decisions about what our eyes are buying.
Have a peaceful and refreshing Sabbath,
Rod McNair
News and Prophecy—July 26, 2012
U.S. in Drought and Britain's Flooded Kingdom: The United States is experiencing the worst drought in 50 years, and the United Kingdom had the wettest April to June on record, with July following the same pattern. On July 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared that more than 1,000 counties in 26 states (almost 2/3 of U.S. land) are now natural-disaster areas, making this the largest declaration in U.S. history (Business Week, July 16, 2012). The conditions are becoming even worse. "In the high-plains states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, the areas designated as being in moderate to exceptional drought rose to 84 percent as of July 10 from 74 percent a week earlier. In the Midwest, 63 percent of the region was in drought as of July 10, up from 53 percent on July 3" (ibid.). While the United States lacks rain, the United Kingdom has received more than enough. "The wettest April to June on record, followed by more heavy rain so far this month, has caused widespread—and in some cases, repeated—flooding." "The Met Office has warned that many areas are expected to see between 20mm and 30mm of rain, and that some parts could see up to 60mm—as much as might be expected to fall in a month—in just a few hours…. John Curtin, Head of Incident Management at the [Environmental Agency], said: 'We have experienced some severe weather in recent weeks and the risk of flooding remains high across England, but particularly across the Midlands and the East of the country.'" (The Telegraph, July 14, 2012). God clearly states that if we walk contrary to His way of life, He will make the heavens like bronze, the earth like iron, and the rain will be changed into dust powder (Deuteronomy 28:23-24). He also warns that He will cause it to rain on one city, but will withhold rain from another (Amos 4:7). Scripture indicates that the U.S. and Britain will suffer weather calamities because of their immorality. As these two nations turn their backs on God and promote clearly sinful behaviors and lifestyles, we should expect to see God set His hand against a rebellious people (1 Samuel 12:15). For more information on God's purpose for these two nations, request our free informative booklet on the subject, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Theater Terror in Denver: Last Friday morning at the midnight opening of the latest Batman movie, a lone gunman burst into a packed theater in the Denver, Colorado suburb of Aurora, set off a smoke bomb and tear gas, and began firing his weapon into the crowd (Good Morning America, July 20, 2012). Survivors recalled the terrifying confusion and panic of those trapped inside the theater. Twelve people were killed and many more injured before the 24-year-old man ceased his rampage (ibid.). Authorities report the apparently deranged gunman claimed to be the villain in the Batman movie, and acted very oddly during his questioning and court appearance (Good Morning America, July 25, 2012). In response to the shooting, "All over the nation, gun-sellers are reporting big increases in sales in the wake of the Colorado movie-theater shootings" (www.KHOU.com, July 25, 2012). People are buying weapons out of fear and a desire to protect themselves and their families. This event in Aurora is tragic and heart-rending. True Christians should always view such tragedies with deep sadness and a greater desire for God's Kingdom to come soon! God expects His people to "sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within" the land (Ezekiel 9:4). But we should also expect such events to occur with increasing frequency as the end of the age approaches. God warned ancient Israel and her modern descendants that "…I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart," because of their sins (Leviticus 26:14-16). We live in a God-rejecting age when the ways that lead to peace, God's laws, are no longer honored or obeyed. And as a result, we experience the consequences of rejecting Him. God speed the day when this powerful prophecy is fulfilled: "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).—Scott Winnail and Justin Ridgeway
Addendum
The following is an update on the travels of Director of Church Administration Dr. Douglas Winnail, from last week's leg of his trip (Australia) sent by Mr. Rob Tyler of the Australian Regional office...
"Dr. Douglas Winnail arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, for the Australasian Regional Ministerial Conference. Upon arrival, Thursday 19th, he went straight to the Clarendon office for meetings with the staff.
"Friday he again returned to the office where meetings continued as he discussed many of the regional issues associated with administering a vast area with such a diversity of cultures and customs. Saturday, Dr Winnail delivered the sermon which included a special moment as he and Regional Director, Mr Bruce Tyler, performed the ordination of five Elders to the rank of Pastor. They included Mr Dayrell Tanner, Mr Rajan Moses, Mr Michael Gill, Mr Kinnear Penman and myself. Later in the evening, the Adelaide congregation entertained the visiting ministers and their wives with a night of musical entertainment.
"On Sunday, Dr Winnail heard informative reports on the region, including Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines by their respective Area Pastors. Later that evening, Dr Winnail held a "Tomorrow's World Special Presentation," with 140 attendees, of which 74 were visitors and 66 were members. We were very excited, as it represents approximately a 4% response to the total number of invitations mailed. Many of the visitors expressed interest in learning more about the Living Church of God and eventually attending church. Others personally thanked Dr Winnail for coming to Australia to deliver his presentation on the "Gathering Storm."
"The following day, the ministry were again instructed by Dr Winnail and Mr Bruce Tyler on topics of administration and doctrinal issues relative to the region. There was a total of 41 in attendance. Many expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the Work and to be better equipped as we strive to become true servant leaders for God's chosen people."—Rob Tyler