Greetings from Charlotte,
This week serious flooding has inundated parts of Germany and Eastern Europe, anti-government riots continue in Turkey and scandals continue to plague the current administration in Washington. The world certainly needs the return of Jesus Christ to bring peace and right government. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has been holding meetings and writing. Mr. Gerald Weston was in Charlotte this week to tape a segment for the 2013 "Behind the Work" film. Mr. Hernandez was in Mexico and Mr. Ames is heading to New York City for a Tomorrow's World Presentation. I got back from a very profitable trip to the UK on Monday and left today for Missouri to make a Tomorrow's World Presentation in Springfield and conduct a Regional Conference in Joplin. It is encouraging to report that more than 185 visitors attended Tomorrow's World Presentations that were conducted on the last two weekends in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama; Fresno, California and Peterborough, Ontario. Please pray that God will continue to bless these efforts to preach the Gospel and that He will hear the prayers on behalf of His people.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presents in Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama
Mr. Rod McNair presented "The Gathering Storm" in Birmingham on June 1 and in Montgomery on June 2. Our guests expressed their appreciation for his informative presentation and said they found it very clear and easy to understand. In the Birmingham area we had 33 visitors and 26 brethren in attendance. In Montgomery there were 35 visitors and 37 brethren. Some of the guests were from our former association, while others indicated that they had been watching the program and reading our materials for many years now. One of the guests mentioned that she had been keeping the Sabbath and Holy Days as best she understood with other members of her family, and that she plans to share with them what she learned and experienced at the meeting. Many of our guests stated that they intend to attend the follow-up presentation. I will be calling and setting up visits this week with those who requested them, and looking for those who were invited to attend services in both areas.
One thing that truly stood out was the interaction with our guests by the brethren, both before and after the presentations. I was very grateful to see that kind of interaction by the brethren in both areas. That was so important. After both presentations we all enjoyed very special snacks prepared by the brethren. Thanks be to our Great God and Savior for directing this weekend to be so enjoyable and profitable for all.—Anthony Stroud
Tomorrow's World Presents in Fresno, California
The Fresno congregation hosted a Tomorrow's World Presentation on June 2. Although temperatures reached triple digits, there were 23 members and 30 guests who heard a powerful and thought-provoking presentation, entitled "The Gathering Storm," given by Regional Pastor Jeffrey Fall. Following a brief intermission (during which one more member and five more guests arrived), I gave a presentation addressing the subject of "God Promises—You Can Be Protected!" Several guests remained long after, commenting on the "insightful presentations," asking questions, and enjoying refreshments and fellowship. Eight guests expressed a desire to attend weekly Sabbath services.—Harold Way
Gratitude
From Costa Rica we would like to send our most sincere gratitude to the congregations and brethren for their loving response we received in cards and e-mails following the terrible assault my wife Juanita and son Johan suffered in February while I was in El Salvador. Even though our strength comes from God, the loving response we received from our brethren and congregations meant a great deal for overcoming the difficult trauma of the death threat that our family suffered for two and a half hours.—George Schaubeck
Canadian Regional Office
Greetings from Mississauga! God's Work in Canada continues to move forward with speed. This week more than 2,100 literature requests were received in response to the recent semi-annual letter. Preparations continued for the arrival of Mr. Yvon Brochu, who will record four new French language telecasts in the coming week. Meanwhile, Mr. Gerald Weston conducted visits, worked on a script for the Tomorrow's World Hong Kong program, prepared a script for a portion of the "Behind the Work" Feast film, and prepared for the TWP in Peterborough, Ontario, on Friday night. Mr. Kevin Lee, announcer for the Tomorrow's World program, visited the Canadian Regional Office to record advertisements for the Hong Kong program. Mr. Marc Arseneault worked on Feast preparations and Mr. James Ginn conducted visits, completed the latest Canuck Quarterly and prepared for the TWPs being held in Peterborough this weekend, where he will give the follow-up presentation on the Sabbath. Please remember to pray for God's guidance in all of these activities.—James Ginn
Living Youth Programs
No Online Teen Bible Study Friday, June 14
There will be no online teen Bible study on Friday evening, June 14, and through the summer. The next online teen Bible study is scheduled for Friday, September 6. Archives of previous Living Youth Bible studies, including last evening's on "The True Church of God," can be found at livingyouth.org.—Josh Penman
Missouri Pre-Teen Camp
Thanks for the responses we received to last week's announcement, and we do now have a nurse for the Missouri camp! In fact, it looks as though we are at full capacity for both campers and staff, and we are reviewing our plans carefully to see if we can find a way to accommodate more. Regardless, it looks as if 2013 will be the largest Missouri Pre-Teen Camp we've ever had! A few approvals are still pending, so if you have not heard yet, it does not mean you will not be accepted. After final acceptances are settled, all applicants will receive notice, either that they have been accepted or that they have been placed on a waiting list. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].—Wallace Smith
Internet
Tomorrow's World Presents live Internet event: Dr. Meredith online, June 30!
Please remember to register at TomorrowsWorld.org/online-TWP for Dr. Meredith's live on-line presentation, titled "Prophecy and the Decline of the Western Nations." It is scheduled for June 30 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time USA/19:30 GMT. We thank you for your prayers for the success of this event as we continue to do our part to fulfill the Great Commission that God gave to His Church.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Tomorrow's World Facebook Presence
God continues to bless the Tomorrow's World Internet and Social Media efforts in big ways. Although our various Web sites in multiple languages generate millions and millions of visitors every year from all around the world, and although the main TomorrowsWorld.org Web site continues to be our "flagship" Web site which is producing very strong year-over-year increases in Web traffic, some of the most exciting growth recently has been through our Social Media channels, such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. We encourage you to check out our Facebook page at Facebook.com/tomorrowsworld, where we recently surpassed 50,000 fans! (If we added our fan counts from all of our Facebook pages, including our international pages, the count would be much larger, of course.) Following are just a few examples of the recent "reach" of our Facebook page: A recent post about the new Russian satellite network opportunity that God just made available for us was viewed by more than 90,000 people! Our recent post promoting the Christian Baptism booklet was viewed by nearly 85,000 people. And one of the several posts we have made about Dr. Meredith's upcoming June 30 online presentation, titled "Prophecy and the Decline of the Western Nations," was viewed by more than 96,000 people! Social Media is just one small part of what the Living Church of God is doing to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and we thank you for your support and your prayers for God's continued blessing of these efforts.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Comments
Dealing with Adversaries: Periodically, critics and adversaries rise up to attack God's Work, God's people and the ministry by hurling criticism, spreading rumors, lies and half-truths and doing whatever they can to foster doubt and division. However, God's people need to understand—it comes with the territory! Long ago, Solomon wrote, "an ungodly man [or woman] digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire" (Proverbs 16:27). Solomon also observed, "The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles" (Proverbs 18:8)—however, this is a poor diet that eventually produces a sick and angry mind. Persecution has dogged God's people down through the ages. Joseph was imprisoned on false charges (Genesis 39). Angry religious leaders plotted against Jeremiah and determined to "attack him with the tongue." Yet, God told Jeremiah, "They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you" (Jeremiah 18:18; 1:19). Jesus had to endure mocking and vehement accusations by civil and religious leaders who wanted to destroy His ministry (Luke 23:10-11). Stephen was accused by false witnesses (Acts 6:11-13). The Apostle Paul had to deal with people who "spoke evil of the Way" (Acts 19:9), and Peter warned that false teachers who have gone astray would "speak evil of things they do not understand" (2 Peter 2:12). Critics and adversaries seldom realize that when they spread criticism, accusations and lies, they become agents in Satan's hands to destroy the Work of God (see John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9-10). As God's people, we need to reflect on these biblical examples and remember that wise people don't believe everything they hear or read on the Internet. If someone is troubled by something, wise people seek accurate information from trustworthy sources.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 6, 2013
Which Way Will France Go? With its growing power-base in Brussels, the EU is requiring more fiscal accountability from member-states (EU Observer, May 30, 2013). But responding to Brussels' directive to revise its pension system, France's President Hollande commented, "The European Commission cannot dictate to us what we have to do. It can simply say that France has to balance its public accounts, which is true" (ibid.). This defiant response caused worry that "big EU countries will bully the commission, while smaller member states will have to obey" (ibid.). In Germany, Christian Democratic Union party "deputy speaker Michael Fuchs noted: 'It [EU-level governance] can't work when a big country like France says it can do what it wants'" (EU Observer, May 31, 2013). "CDU deputy chairman Andreas Schockenhoff told German media that Hollande's rejection of EU pension recommendations: 'contradicts the spirit and letter of European agreements and treaties'" (ibid.). But France's position is contradictory. For, a day after his other comments, President Hollande joined German Chancellor Merkel in together calling for a full-time eurozone president, while still making some concessions to France (ibid.). Bible prophecy has long foretold that Israelite-descended nations will face some form of national captivity under a coming German-led Beast power or King of the North (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; Jeremiah 30:10; Amos 5:1-3; 6:6-8). Will France be part of the Beast power, or will it find itself on the outside with others of its Israelite brothers? Time will tell. For more information on this topic, review The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Religious Strife Fuels Middle East Proxy Wars: Muhammad died in 632 AD and his followers disagreed over the next Caliph (leader of Islam). Believers in a Muhammadan dynasty chose his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, who was eventually killed. Ali's followers, feeling betrayed, separated from the majority (Sunnis) and called themselves, Party of Ali or Shiat Ali—thus the name Shiites (Time, September 16, 2009). The current Syrian war is fueling a proxy war between major Sunni and Shiite powers across the Middle East. "A prominent Sunni Muslim cleric influential in the Syrian uprising has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, calling on Muslims around the world to help Syrian rebels… labeling Hezbollah and Iran, which support the Syrian government, enemies of Islam…." And "... the mostly Sunni rebels battle a government backed by Shiite Iran and Hezbollah" (New York Times, June 1, 2013). Iraq is seeing a rise in Sunni versus Shiite violence, prompting many in Iraq to volunteer in the fight for Syria (New York Times, June 1, 2013). Jesus warned that in the "last days" there would be "wars and rumors of wars" and "nation will rise against nation…" (Matthew 24:6-7). The Greek word for nation is "ethnos"—denoting a tribe or ethnic group. As we approach the end of the age, ethnic and religious strife will play a greater role in geopolitics. This will precede Christ's return and the establishment of God's true religion and government on the earth! For more information on this vital topic, read our booklet The Middle East in Prophecy.
"It was Satan telling me to do it": An Australian nurse pleaded guilty to the worst mass murder in New South Wales history. In 2011, he set fire in the nursing home he worked at—apparently to cover up his theft of drugs. The rapidly burning fire killed eleven residents and caused "grievous bodily harm" to eight others (9News, May 27, 2013). Questioned by police, he said, "It was Satan telling [me] to do it" (ibid.). Most "experts" seek to explain hideous crimes from a purely physiological and psychological perspective, but Christians know that there is more going on behind the scenes. There is a real spirit world which includes a multitude of evil and bitter demons led by Satan the devil (Revelation 12:4, 9), "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) and the "accuser of [the] brethren" (Revelation 12:10). Christ called Satan the "ruler of this world" and a "murderer" (John 14:30; 8:44). Demons can influence and possess human beings (Luke 6:17-18; 22:3; Acts 5:16). As the world turns further away from God, we will see more examples of Satan and his demons using yielding human beings as instruments of their crafty work. At Christ's return, Satan will be banished and this evil influence eliminated (Revelation 20:1-3). Jesus Christ will teach human beings how to achieve genuine peace of mind (Isaiah 26:3). For more on this subject, see our article, "Is There a Real Devil?"—Scott Winnail, Deborah Lincoln-Strange, Justin Ridgeway, and Paul Kearns