Greetings from Charlotte,
In the last week, strong earthquakes rattled Southern California and coastal areas of Chile in South America—seismologists think there could be more on the way. Central California is also attempting to deal with the effects of a prolonged drought. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has conducted meetings, begun a new Tomorrow's World magazine article, and conducted the funeral of Mrs. Irma Jimenez. Mr. Ames is taping another new Tomorrow's World program today. Registration for the Feast of Tabernacles is underway, and we are also planning for the Council of Elders meetings and Ministerial Conference that will be held in Charlotte during the first week of May. Last week, Mr. Cristian Orrego and his wife, Carmen, visited the office in Charlotte. Mr. Orrego plans to join us here to work in the Spanish Department in early May. Mr. Hernandez left yeste rday for a number of visits in South America over the Spring Holy Days. Mr. Rand Millich reports that 128 visitors attended the Tomorrow's World Presentation in Independence, Missouri. This weekend, Mr. Dan Hall and I will make TWPs in Dallas and Hawkins, Texas. Your prayers for these efforts to preach the gospel and warn this world are much appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Passover 2014—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 and/or wine trays or 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.)
You can direct your requests to the Church Administration Department at [email protected]. The Passover Service will be observed on Sunday evening, April 13.
Feast of Tabernacles
Registration Underway
Almost 3,000 brethren have successfully registered and received approval for their Feast site of choice. If you have not already registered, please do so as soon as possible. It will be especially helpful to us if those of you who definitely plan to attend your assigned site register right away. This will enable us to know how many more transfers we can take for the sites nearing capacity. To register, go to fot2014.lcg.org and sign in with your MyLCG log-in information.
Over 800 on Waiting Lists
Thank you to everyone for your patience as we process the Feast transfer requests. Some brethren have asked about their transfer status, as they have only gotten a "waiting for approval" e-mail. Due to seating arrangements and hall capacities, we have over 800 brethren currently on waiting lists for several sites. With some sites nearing capacity, we must make sure we are leaving enough room for brethren assigned to these sites before allowing more transfers in.
If you are currently "waiting for approval," we thank you for your patience. We will let more transfers in when we know for sure that we have the capacity. In the meantime, many other sites still have room—you may wish to re-register for another site at your leisure.
The sites that are at or nearing capacity (with waiting lists) are:
Myrtle Beach, SC
Jamaica
Navarre, FL
Gatlinburg, TN
—Festival Office
Living Youth Programs
Online Teen Bible Study—Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study Friday evening, April 11, will be on "The Resurrection Was Not on Sunday," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. 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 Bible Study runs from 8:00-9:00 p.m. (EDT) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at 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 on "Our Incredible Human Potential," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Important Announcement for Employees of the Living Church of God—Repeat Announcement
All employees of the Church should register no later than Sunday, April 13 for any camps they wish to attend. Employees will be notified of acceptance or denial by April 22.—Sheldon Monson
Registration for LYC 2014 Camps—Repeat Announcement
We are still accepting applicants for all of our camps except the Adventure Camp.—Sheldon Monson
Finance
Green Holy Day Envelopes, U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
The green Holy Day envelopes were mailed to U.S. households March 12. These pre-coded envelopes save the staff hours of processing time when they are used for Holy Day offerings. We would suggest that you place these envelopes with your Bible and notebook that you take to services. If you did not receive your envelopes, please e-mail [email protected] and we will resend them to you.—D. Jerry Ruddlesden
Comments
Adjusting Your Focus: Prior to Passover and during the Days of Unleavened Bread is a good time to evaluate how we spend our time and where we focus our energies and concerns. Jesus admonished us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). Are your thoughts focused on this big picture—of doing the Work and building the character necessary to function in the Family of God? The Apostle Paul advised Christians to "walk circumspectly" (live purposefully) and to make the most of our time "because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16). Paul also instructed Christians to treat each other with respect and to avoid interpersonal bickering and arguments over doctrinal issues that shift our focus away from the big picture (Romans 12:9-12; 14:20; 1 Corinthians 1:10). Jesus warned that "the car es of this world" can choke the truth and cause us to be unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). In light of these Scriptures, we need to periodically evaluate how we use our time, what we watch on TV, what we read, and how much time we spend on the Internet and what we post on Facebook. If we really want to focus our minds on what is true, noble, just and pure (Philippians 4:8), let's use the Spring Holy Days to focus on the big picture.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—April 3, 2014
G8 Removes Russia! In the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea, the G8 reduced its ranks to 7 by excluding Russia from its emergency meeting in Brussels last week. The group also cancelled a June G8 meeting in Russia and moved it to Brussels (EU Observer, March 25, 2014), citing Russia's actions and beliefs that are "not consistent" with the other G8 nations (ibid.). Australia moved to ban Russia from the G20 meeting in November; however "the BRICS grouping (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has unanimously and, in many ways, forcefully backed Russia's position on Crimea" (The Business Insider, March 31, 2014). "BRICS has often tried to overcome these internal challenges by unifying behind an anti-Western or at least post-Western position" (ibid.). "Although the West generally celebrated the fact that the UN General Assembly approved the resolution condemning the Crimea referendum, the fact that 69 countries either abstained or voted against it should be a wake-up call. It increasingly appears that the Western-dominated post-Cold War era is over. But as of yet, no new order exists to replace it" (ibid.). End-time Bible prophecies speak of regional power blocs on the world stage. Daniel wrote of three adversarial kings or powers located north and south and east of Jerusalem (Daniel 11:40-44). The eastern powers will eventually bring a huge army to fight against a European Beast power (Revelation 9:13-16). We appear to be witnessing a global power shift toward the end-time configuration of nations that was prophesied long ago. For more, be sure to read our booklet, Armageddon and Beyond.
Pope Greets Evangelicals: A New Brotherhood? During a meeting of Evangelical Pentecostal leaders organized by televangelist Kenneth Copeland, an engaging Evangelical Anglican Bishop (Tony Palmer) called for reconciliation and brotherhood between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics—pointing out that all "Christians" are catholic in the truest sense of the word (Catholic World News, February 21, 2014; YouTube, March 2, 2014). Mr. Palmer also declared that Luther's revolt was over and there was no longer a need for a Protestant Church. Mr. Palmer then shared a video he made on his cell phone of Pope Francis, who addressed Mr. Copeland's audience of charismatic leaders. The Pope spoke "the language of the heart" and called upon his Evangelical brothers to join him in the "Brotherhood of Christ" and put divisions of the past behind. He spoke about how Catholics and Evangelicals must cry together over past divisions and that their "tears will unite them" and he stated "the miracle of unity has begun." (YouTube). Mr. Copeland ended the meeting by inviting his audience to join with him by praying "in the spirit" (speaking in tongues) for the Pope and for visible unity in the church (ibid.). Bible prophecies have long foretold of the end-time reuniting of the Catholic Church with her Protestant daughters (Isaiah 47:7-8; Revelation 17:5). It is remarkable to see this process developing, initiated by the Pope himself. This process will grow and spread in the future. For more on this topic, read our article on "Who Is the Harlot of Revelation 17?"
Men vs. God: Britain has joined the growing club of nations that have legalized homosexual marriage, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, Argentina and others (BBC, March 29, 2014). Following the legalization, Prime Minister David Cameron wrote, "This weekend is an important moment for our country. It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth" (ibid.). "Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said 'Britain will be a different place' as a result" (ibid.). However, British law still prevents the Church of England from performing same-sex marriages and forbids it among their priests—over objections of some homosexual priests. One priest commented, &l dquo;It is more important to do what is right than to be frightened into not doing what I believe to be true. And I won't be frightened by what the possible consequences are for me [as a result of his upcoming same-sex marriage]" (ibid.). The Bible has long warned that at the time of the end, people would ignore God's laws and everyone would follow "the dictates of his own evil heart" (Jeremiah 16:12), doing what is "right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 21:2). These misguided actions will cease when Jesus Christ returns to restore all things (Acts 3:19-21). For more on this topic, read our article on "What Happened to the Truth?"—Scott Winnail, Jonathan Bueno and Ron Ramsingh