Greetings from Charlotte,
Extreme weather continues to afflict backsliding Israelite nations. The northeastern portion of the USA was recently hit by a major snowstorm, and this week the midwest was buried under more than a foot of snow. However, central California (where a considerable amount of produce is grown) is worried about a dry summer due to a very light snow-pack on the mountains. God said anciently that conditions like this would develop when His people turn away from Him (see Amos 4:7-8). Prophesied end-time violence (2 Timothy 3:1-4) struck the home of Mr. Schaubeck and his family this week in Costa Rica (see announcement below). Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has been writing and holding meetings. The Tomorrow's World television program last weekend by Mr. Ames, entitled "The Prophesied Day of the Lord," has received over 7,000 responses so far. Mr. Glen Harrison reports that 45 visitors attended the follow-up Tomorrow's World presentations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana. I had a very profitable visit to Sacramento, California last weekend for a combined service and our first Area Conference for 2013. We plan to have a number of Area Conferences in the coming year. Your prayers for God's Work and for His people are needed and appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Passover 2013—U.S. Congregations—Repeat Announcement
All Pastors: please let us know as soon as possible if any of the congregations you serve will need additional Passover Service supplies (bread trays, wine trays, or wine glasses) or a copy of the Passover Service recording. Also, let us know of any scattered members who are unable to keep the Passover with a congregation and who need to receive the Passover Service recording and letter instructions for observing it at home. (U.S. pastors will automatically receive one copy of the Passover Service recording.)
To ensure timely delivery and to save on shipping costs, please let us know this information as soon as possible and before March 7. You can direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected]. The Passover Service will be observed on Sunday evening, March 24.
Tomorrow's World Presents
Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana: Mr. Glen Harrison gave follow-up presentations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette on Saturday and Sunday, February 23 and 24. There were nine brand new people who came to these lectures, plus about three dozen who came to the initial presentations by Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka last weekend and returned to hear the second presentations this weekend. Mr. Harrison said that the comments and questions were good and that a number of people are interested in attending services.
Attack in Central America
On Sunday evening, two armed robbers broke into the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Schaubeck, our elder in Costa Rica, while he was visiting a congregation in El Salvador. The thieves attacked his wife and adult son. His son was beaten badly and stabbed, and his wife was hurt. The thieves then made off with some of the house contents. The Schaubecks have lived in the same peaceful neighborhood for 40 years, but are now looking for another place to live. Please keep the Schaubecks in your prayers.
Health Updates
Mr. Fitzroy Greeman, our Area Pastor in Trinidad, reports that he is feeling much better after several rounds of kidney dialysis and that he was able to give the sermon last Sabbath in Trinidad. Mrs. Nancy Hall, wife of Regional Pastor Dan Hall in Dallas, sends her thanks for the encouragement she has received, and requests continued prayers for her healing.
North Florida Spring Holy Day Family Weekend—March 29–April 1
The congregations of North Florida invite you to our Spring Holy Day Family Weekend, Friday, March 29 to Monday, April 1. The event will take place at the beautiful lakefront Cerveny Conference Center in Live Oak, FL. This is an especially peaceful setting with beautiful views and no distractions from God's holy time.
This weekend will be an all-inclusive retreat with a focus on fellowshipping together. All meals, services, and activities will be hosted on-site, providing an excellent opportunity for spiritual growth with brethren. Events include: Friday night Bible Study; Sabbath Services on Saturday and a Family Fun Show Saturday night; Treasure Hunt and Bible Study on Sunday; and Holy Day services on Monday. Four congregations will be combining for services on the Sabbath and Holy Day.
Hotel rooms on-site are $60/night. And we have food costs down to $20/person for the entire weekend (includes six full meals and snacks).
Please visit www.LCGnorthflorida.com (not an official Church Web site) for more information and to register by March 15.
Living Youth Programs
Online Teen Bible Study—Friday Evening
This year we are conducting weekly Living Youth Bible Studies on the subject of the fundamental doctrines of the Living Church of God. The Bible Studies have been moved from Sunday evening to Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. EST (USA). If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The chat room is open at 7:30 p.m. (EST) and the Bible Study runs from 8:00-9:00 p.m. You can access this Bible Study at www.livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for Godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's, "Clean and Unclean Meats," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Josh Penman
Feast of Tabernacles 2013
2013 Registration
Festival Registration for 2013 will begin Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 12:00 noon (EDT): Please do not make housing reservations until you have been given confirmation of your acceptance to your requested Feast site. If you are registering for your assigned site, you will in most cases be given the "go-ahead" to make housing reservations right after completing registration. If you are transferring to another site, approval may take a little while longer. Thank you for your cooperation and your patience.
For those without Internet access, please contact your Festival Advisor for assistance. (Festival Advisors—we will be contacting you soon with more information for you to pass on to the brethren.) All information about this year's Feast sites will be posted on the Church's Festival Web site by March 15—stay tuned for more details.—Festival Office
Congregation Site Assignments—Repeat Announcement
Once again this year, brethren in the Living Church of God will be assigned to a Feast site by congregation, not by home address. Each congregation in the USA is assigned to one of the eleven American Feast sites for 2013. Please note below the congregation you attend, and your corresponding Feast site assignment. International areas, please check with your Regional Office if you do not know what Feast site your congregation is assigned to.—Festival Office
ANCHORAGE, AK
Alaska: Anchorage
BOERNE, TX
Louisiana: Baton Rouge, Ferriday, Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport
New Mexico: El Paso/Las Cruces
Texas: Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Hawkins, Houston, Lufkin, Midland, San Antonio, Temple
CHATTANOOGA, TN
Alabama: Athens, Birmingham, Montgomery
Georgia: Atlanta, Augusta, Blairsville, Braselton, Columbus, Macon
Kentucky: Berea, Louisville
Mississippi: Columbus, Jackson, Laurel, Ocean Springs
South Carolina: Anderson
Tennessee: Chattanooga, Clarksville, Crossville, Knoxville, Nashville
INDIAN WELLS, CA
Arizona: Phoenix, Prescott Valley, Tucson
California: Arroyo Grande, Concord, Fresno, Garden Grove, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Sacramento, San Diego
Hawaii
Nevada: Las Vegas, Reno
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO
Arkansas: El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrison, Little Rock, Russellville
Iowa: Des Moines
Kansas: Chanute, Wichita
Missouri: Columbia, Joplin, Kansas City, Rolla, Springfield, St. Joseph, St. Louis
Nebraska: Omaha
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City, Tulsa
Tennessee: Memphis
NEWPORT, OR
California: Eureka, Redding
Idaho: Boise
Oregon: Grants Pass, Portland
Washington: Richland, Seattle/Tacoma, Tonasket
PALM HARBOR, FL
Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Lake City, Ocala, Pensacola, Tampa
Georgia: Thomasville
Puerto Rico: San Juan
South Carolina: Walterboro
PARK CITY, UT
Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver, Meeker
Montana: Great Falls, Helena
New Mexico: Albuquerque, Santa Fe
Utah: Layton
Wyoming: Casper, Saratoga, Wheatland
SNOWSHOE, WV
DC: Washington
Maryland: Baltimore, Salisbury
North Carolina: Asheboro, Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Statesville, Wilmington
Ohio: Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Lima
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
Virginia: Bristol, Norfolk, Richmond, Williamsburg, Winchester
West Virginia: Bluefield, Logan, Ripley
TANNERSVILLE, PA
Connecticut
Delaware
Massachusetts: Auburn
Maine: Bangor, Freeport
New Hampshire: Lebanon
New Jersey: Cranford, Hammonton
New York: Albany, Corning, Melville, New York City, Rochester
Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Stroudsburg
Rhode Island: Providence
WISCONSIN DELLS, WI
Iowa: Dubuque
Illinois: Chicago, Peoria
Indiana: Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Knox, Terre Haute
Michigan: Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lansing, McMillan, Traverse City
Minnesota: Duluth, Minneapolis
North Dakota: Bismarck
Wisconsin: Appleton, Merrill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
South Dakota
Mail Processing Department
The shipments of Holy Day sermons are being sent out this week. Please check the DVDs/CDs when you receive them, to be sure that they play properly. If there are any problems, we will have time to send replacement copies.—Gaylyn Bonjour
Human Resources
Employment Opportunity: Information Technology Manager
The Headquarters Office is looking for an experienced IT professional to manage its IT Department. The successful candidate will be a member of the Living Church of God, will have a strong background in network administration, database management and computer hardware, and will be expected to relocate to Charlotte (the Church will pay for reasonable moving expense). Competencies with Microsoft Exchange Server, SQLServer and a MCSE certification (or better) are very desirable. Supervisory and/or management experience and programming ability are a plus. Please send your resume to Suzanne Pyle via e-mail at [email protected], or by fax to 704-844-1973, at the Human Resources Department. We request that only those applicants who are able to legally work in the United States apply for this position.—Dexter Wakefield
Comments
Are You a Positive or Negative Person? What is your outlook on people, events and life? Do you grumble and complain about things and find fault with people and decisions made by others? Or do you see positive aspects of people and situations? The Apostle Paul emphasized that real Christians are positive people with a positive outlook on life. He wrote, "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" and "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28, 31). Paul encouraged Christians, "Rejoice in the Lord always" and think on those things that are noble and good and pure (Philippians 4:4, 8). He also admonished Christians, "Do all things without complaining and disputing" (without grumbling, arguing and finding fault with others) (Philippians 2:14). Long ago Solomon wrote, "An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire" (Proverbs 16:27). Jude warns Christians that people who murmur and complain—and cause divisions—do not have, or are not being led by, God's Spirit (Jude 16-19). Even in the Church of God, we may forget that when we make or listen to accusations about other people, we can become tools in the hands of "the accuser of our brethren" himself, Satan the devil (Revelation 12:10). Let's remember these biblical admonitions to be positive and resist temptations to make or repeat negative comments and accusations about others.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—February 28, 2013
Internet Porn and Teens—A Destructive Combination: A recent sobering headline reads: "Young minds are being conditioned by the violent sex they easily access online. Parents have ignored the peril for too long and must act fast" (The Sunday Times, February 24, 2013). Recent research suggests that the average age of first exposure to pornographic images is now age six! In fact, "…the largest consumers of internet porn are the 12-17 age group" (ibid.). Research also reveals that "Exposure to pornography softens opposition to same-sex marriage," especially among heterosexual men (Washington Examiner, February 4, 2013). "The reason: Porn opens their mind up to accepting non-traditional sexual situations, like gay sex… Consequently, the results of the study… could be interpreted as suggesting that backers of same-sex marriage should encourage men to watch more porn" (ibid.). Pornography also seems to make the users more supportive of "all kinds of non-traditional sexual behaviors" (ibid.) including adultery and pre-marital sex. Hand-held electronics and the prevalence of computers have given children access to filth and perversion that was once only available "behind the counter" and required proof of age. Not only does this material literally "scar" and pervert young minds, it also degrades morals. God warns, "Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before [your] eyes"(Ezekiel 20:7), and we are to remove our feet from evil (Proverbs 4:27). Why are 6-year-olds exposed to pornography? Many parents today are far too naïve and preoccupied with their own challenges (and themselves desensitized), and are unaware of what their children are exposed to on the internet. Satan's society perverts good and promotes evil (2 Corinthians 4:4; Isaiah 5:20), and our children are immersed in it. God tasks parents with raising "godly offspring" on His behalf (Malachi 2:15), and raising them His way (Deuteronomy 6:5-7). To do this, parents must vigilantly protect their children from easy access to the perversions on the Web. For more information on protecting your children, review our article on Teaching Chastity in an Unchaste World.
Why the War on Drugs is Failing: The world is coming to realize the drug war is failing because of an ever-resilient enemy: the consumer who fuels the drug business. Where there is a demand, there will be a supply. "In 2010, about 200 million people took illegal drugs… 40,000 tons of marijuana, 800 tons of cocaine, and 500 tons of heroin" (Der Spiegel, February 22, 2013). Addiction is the key to the problem! "No matter how cheap heroin is, most people won't buy it, regardless of the price. But addicts will always pay. They have no choice, or else they wouldn't be addicts. To them, it doesn't matter what the drugs cost. That's the economy of drugs" (ibid.). After 40 years of waging a worldwide drug war, the costs are staggering. The U.S. alone spends about $15 billion annually, while 60,000 people in Mexico have died in the past six years in the drug war. The Taliban uses drug money to buy weapons, while the Colombian government is in a constant battle with drug cartels. What is the answer? At a 2012 Summit of the Americas meeting, 30 national leaders met with a new tactic in the war on drugs—legalization. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said, "If the world decides to legalize (drugs) and thinks that that is how we reduce violence and crime, I could go along with that" (ibid.). Their thinking is that legalizing drugs is a revolutionary tactic which could destroy the mafia-type drug trade and provide increased taxes to national governments. However, Yuri Fedotov, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, disagrees. He commented that, "If drugs are legal, access becomes easier, and something that is legal is taken more often." "Alcohol, a legal drug, kills about 2.3 million people worldwide each year. Tobacco kills 5.1 million. With illegal drugs, on the other hand, the numbers are much lower, with 200,000... falling victim…. For the UN, this number illustrates the success of prohibition" (ibid.). Global morals are declining, and what was once "unthinkable" is becoming modern reality. Drug use is a terrible consequence of human beings giving into "the lust of the flesh" and turning away from the truth of God (Galatians 5:16; 1 Peter 2:11; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The war on drugs will not end until Jesus Christ returns to the Earth and sets up His Kingdom and the world is taught the right way to live (Isaiah 30:20-21). For more information on the impact of drugs and solutions to the problems, review our article Why We Get High.—Scott Winnail, James Bennett and Justin Ridgeway