Greetings from Charlotte,
While some critics and self-appointed prophets and apostles continue to predict the imminent demise of the Living Church of God, these predictions are simply not connected to reality. This week the Tomorrow's World television program began airing in Russia on four powerful satellite stations, and just this week another major door has opened for the program to reach all of Europe on Sky TV. In September, the Tomorrow's World program will begin airing again over the entire southern African region. We have also contracted with a new cable station in the Philippines and for new stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas. Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka reports that our Internet and Social Media sites are seeing very strong growth. The income is also showing improvement along with a number of generous special offerings. Mr. Mario Hernandez has returned from a very productive trip to Europe, and preparations for the fall Holy Days and the Feast of Tabernacles are well underway. The Living Youth Camp (for teens) begins next week in Ohio, as does the Family Camp for pre-teens in West Virginia. Next month, Living University will begin its seventh year of operation, with seven on-site students and well over a hundred students around the world taking online classes (see announcement below for current class offerings). In addition, dozens of men and women are involved in the Advanced Leadership Training Program diligently preparing to serve God's people more effectively. Please continue to pray that God will enable His Church to powerfully warn this world of the sobering events ahead and preach the exciting news of the coming Kingdom of God (Mark 16:15).—DSW
Feast of Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles Speaking Schedules
The Festival Office is currently putting the final touches to the speaking schedules for this year's Feast. Opening Night is only a little more than seven weeks away! Speakers should start receiving the schedules by the end of next week. Contact the Festival Office if you have any questions. Thank you to all of our speakers for their service to God's people at this year's Feast!
Lake of the Ozarks Festival Choir and Special Music—Repeat Announcement
The Festival Choir in Missouri needs you! Anyone interested who has not yet signed up for the Feast Choir in Missouri this year, please e-mail Mr. Vince Fratto at [email protected]. Sheet music and practice recordings have been e-mailed and we'd like to include everyone interested as soon as possible. Also, if you would like to volunteer for Special Music at the Lake of the Ozarks, please contact Mr. Fratto.—Wallace Smith
Tithe of the Second Tithe—Repeat Announcement
For those who are able to contribute a tithe of their second tithe to help defray the expenses involved in conducting the annual Holy Days, including the Feast of Tabernacles, it would be greatly appreciated if this contribution could be sent at this time (if it has not already been sent). The tithe of the second tithe is used to help brethren with limited funds attend the Feast of Tabernacles, as well as to pay for hall rentals and other administrative costs associated with the annual Holy Days.—Jerry Ruddlesden
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon CDs—Repeat Announcement
Attention Pastors: Please send Mrs. Dorothy McNair, at [email protected], the names of those in your congregation(s) who will be unable to attend the Feast and who will need to receive the Feast of Tabernacles sermons on CD. The deadline to submit these requests is August 15 for international recipients, and August 30 for recipients in the U.S. Note: Feast sermons will also be uploaded (one per day) during the Feast at www.lcg.org, for those who have Internet access.
Living University
Living University—Registration for 1st (Fall) Semester
Living University classes will begin in just 2 ½ weeks, on August 14. Those planning to take an LU class should register as soon as possible and order the necessary textbooks. For those who have never taken a Living University course, you will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course. The following are brief descriptions of several courses being offered next semester. A complete listing of "2013 Fall Semester Courses" (Spring in the Southern hemisphere) can be viewed on the Living University Web site. To make application to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com Web site. For additional information, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
NUTR 207 – Introductory Nutrition. This course pertains to everyone's life, because we all need the right kinds of foods to live a healthy life. This basic nutrition course emphasizes nutrients and their relationship to the human body, including human nutritional requirements and nutritional values of various types of foods. Key issues include standards for an adequate diet and healthy eating for prevention of chronic diseases. Students will also learn the essential components of a healthy diet and to evaluate their own diet.
THL 211 – Old Testament Survey I. In the first of two classes, Dr. Douglas Winnail reviews the books of the Old Testament and their background in detail. He deals with the Law, Former Prophets and Writings, focusing on background, content, structure, geography, teachings, and basic meaning of each book and outstanding people and events. Emphasis is on the Old Testament Scriptures as the background and foundation for understanding the New Testament.
ANTH 230 – Biological Anthropology. This course deals with human origins, including intelligent design, the creation of mankind, human genetics, genetic forces, what it is to be human, and human variation and adaption including human nutrition, growth and development, health and demography. In this course we deal with the concept of evolution, but through the lens of the Bible, thereby equipping students to understand the science and defend against attacks by biblical naysayers. This course is required for our Bachelor and Associate degree programs.
ENGL 261 – World Literature I. This course introduces selected works from the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas and the Bible, from their literary beginnings through the seventeenth century. Seminal works reviewed in this course have powerfully impacted society, government, religion, and much of Western thought. Emphasis is placed on historical background, cultural context, and literary analysis of selected prose, poetry, and drama. A review of these works will give the student greater insight into why the world is what it is today! Required for the Bachelor and Associate degree programs.
Comments
Beware of False Teachers: The Bible repeatedly warns about the dangerous influence of false teachers, and the Scriptures indicate that serious consequences will come to individuals who "presumptuously" claim to speak for God and cause people to stumble (Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Matthew 18:6). Jesus predicted that just before He returns, "many will come in My name… and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:5)—He warned that false teachers will talk about the Bible, prophecy and Jesus, but they will mislead people. The Apostle Paul prophesied that "after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" and that "from among yourselves men [false teachers] will rise up, speaking perverse [misleading] things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:29-30). Paul stated that men who are led by a "different spirit" are "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ"—he said they are actually instruments of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:1-4, 13-15). Paul also warned, "in the last days… men [including false teachers] will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud… unloving, unforgiving, slanderers…" who will have a "form of godliness"—they present a religious façade that deceives susceptible people (2 Timothy 3:1-6). To avoid being deceived and misled by the clever arguments and long-winded expositions of false teachers (Mark 7:6-7), we must be alert and remember these important biblical warnings.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—July 25, 2013
Sarkozy Calls for Two-Speed Europe: Speaking to politicians in his own party, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy stated that the euro "will no longer work if the French-German leadership is not ready to exercise, not its right, but its duty to lead the euro" (Libération, July 8, 2013). He warned, "If the euro explodes, Europe will explode, and if Europe explodes, then you cannot maintain peace" (ibid.). He also noted that "the Europe of the euro cannot be the Europe of the European Union… we cannot say that countries which do not have the same currency must be conducted like countries which have the same currency, that does not make any sense!" (ibid.) Bible prophecy has long indicated that the final Beast power in Europe will be comprised of ten kings or nations that give their power to a centralized government called the Beast (Revelation 17:12-13). Ten is a much smaller number than the current 17 nations in the euro-zone, or the 29 members of the European Union. Coming events in Europe will reduce these larger numbers to ten, and Mr. Sarkozy's comments point in this direction. For more on this world-changing topic, be sure to view our Tomorrow's World telecast on "What Is the Beast?"
Muslims Wage "Rape Jihad" on Britain: "A court in London has sentenced seven members of a Muslim child grooming gang… to at least 95 years in prison for raping, torturing and trafficking British girls as young as 11. The high-profile trial was the latest in a rapidly growing list of grooming cases that are forcing politically correct Britons to confront the previously taboo subject of endemic sexual abuse of children by predatory Muslim pedophile gangs" (Jewish Press, July 14, 2013). This issue has been downplayed by community and national leaders "afraid of being accused of 'Islamophobia' or 'racism'" (ibid.). "The fact is that the vicious activities of the Oxford ring are bound up with religion and race: religion, because all the perpetrators, though they had different nationalities, were Muslim; and race, because they deliberately targeted vulnerable white girls, whom they appeared to regard as 'easy meat', to use one of their revealing, racist phrases" (Daily Mail, May 15, 2013). Sadly, these reports are just the tip of the prophetic iceberg for many Israelite-descended nations. Scripture reveals that, "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower" (Deuteronomy 28:43). Bible prophecies indicate that events leading up to Christ's return will bring much suffering to men and women in Israelite nations as foreign invaders seek to demoralize and destroy these once powerful nations (Lamentations 5:11-12; Zechariah 14:1-2). The real hope for a peaceful future rests not in court decisions, but in the return of Jesus Christ who will bring real peace to this earth (Isaiah 9:6-7). For more on this topic, read our Tomorrow's World article "Islam in History and Prophecy."
Weather Extremes: While areas of the American West are going up in flames, northern India has been inundated with monsoon rains, mudslides and devastating flooding. Over the last few weeks, "Swollen rivers have swept away entire villages" (BBC, July 15, 2013), and more than 5,700 people are presumed dead following flooding in late June when severe weather affected more than 4,000 villages (ibid.). "The government has announced that the temple town of Kedarnath, one of the worst affected areas, will be closed to the public for at least a year." The government is still struggling to reach people cut off due to roads and bridges being washed away (ibid.). Jesus foretold that severe weather and natural disasters would be among the signs that the end of the age is near (Matthew 24:3-8). God also warned the back-sliding nations of Israel that He would make it rain on one city and withhold rain from other cities to bring people to repentance (Amos 4:7). While this prophecy is directed against Israelite nations, these weather patterns will likely impact nations all over the earth. God desires for all men to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), and all people will come to see the futility of man's ways. One day soon Christ will return and fully manage the weather (Deuteronomy 28:12). For more on extreme world weather, read our free booklet, Who Controls the Weather?—Scott Winnail, VG Lardé, and Justin Ridgeway