Greetings from Charlotte,
Jesus' warnings of end-time disasters and strife are certainly making news today. The Balkan countries in southern Europe have experienced record flooding while the much of the American southwest remains parched by serious drought. Terrorist activities, conflicts and threats of war afflict parts of Africa, Asia, southern Europe and the Middle East. The world certainly needs the return of the Prince of Peace. Here in Charlotte, a number of people in the office are recovering from the virus that has afflicted many across the country. Dr. Meredith is back in the office today after a bout with the flu. The Charlotte congregation will host the Carolina Singles Weekend beginning with a Bible Study this coming Friday night. Mr. and Mrs. Ames will be in Cincinnati this weekend for services, and I will be in Atlanta for a congregational visit. We will have a number of ministerial moves over the next few weeks, and I am sure that these families will appreciate your prayers that all will go smoothly.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presentation in Germany
On April 19, a Tomorrow's World Presentation was held in Karlsruhe, Germany. Mr. Rees Ellis and I covered two subjects regarding Armageddon and God's Holy Days. Five new people attended. One man asked for baptism counselling so I was able to cover the introductory principles of baptism. Mr. Adrian Kaefer did a great job of preparation for the occasion. The number of people in the Church in Germany is gradually growing.—Rod King
Trip to South Africa
Recently, we returned from a very profitable trip to South Africa. After speaking at the First Day of Unleavened Bread services in Statesville, North Carolina, my wife, Marcia, and I flew to Cape Town, South Africa. The trip took about 25 hours. We were met at the airport by Mr. and Mrs. Pieter van der Byl, our Area Pastor for South Africa. I gave the sermon on the Sabbath to the Cape Town congregation, and also on the Last Day of Unleavened Bread. The brethren were friendly and engaging and we were able to meet most of the congregation. A number in the South African congregations have recently joined us from another fellowship. While we were in Cape Town, we were shown around the area by the van der Byls and also by Mr. and Mrs. John Laggar, a deacon. Cape Town is a very beautiful area.
On April 23, we flew to Johannesburg where we were met by Mr. and Mrs. Christo Botha. They drove us the 2½ hours to Harrismith, where the South African office is located in their home. Operations have grown until now they virtually take over the house and garage, and Mr. Botha has built a large shed in his back yard for additional storage. The Bothas were very helpful as I was able to become familiar with the office operations and we discussed how Charlotte Headquarters can assist the Work there.
While we were there, we also had opportunity to become better acquainted with the other Elders in the area. We also visited game preserves in the Pretoria-Johannesburg area, the federal buildings in Pretoria, the Mandela Monument there, and had a brief tour of Soweto. I had been interested in seeing some of the places that were part of the anti-apartheid protests 20 years ago. We saw Nelson Mandela's home and Winnie Mandela's home. The 20th anniversary of "Freedom Day" marking the end of apartheid occurred that weekend. That Sabbath, I gave the sermon in Pretoria, a very warm and friendly congregation.
I was able to get a first-hand understanding of how the South Africa region operates and to suggest some things that will help manage future growth. We built some very good relationships. Marcia was especially helpful in getting to know the women and families, which helped knit us all together. The trip was a very profitable one.—Dexter Wakefield
Volunteer Translators Needed—Repeat Announcement
Members proficient in one or more foreign languages, who have translation skills and would like to volunteer occasionally with translations for the Work, are encouraged to contact their Area Pastors. Pastors, please forward the names of the volunteers in your areas to [email protected]. We are in need of bilingual or multilingual members with translation abilities to help us fulfill the commission of preaching the Gospel as a witness to all the world and make disciples of all nations.
Adirondack Adventure!—June 1 Deadline for Applications
The Northeast Region will be hosting an "Adirondack Adventure," July 2-6. The Adirondack Region is one of the most diverse destinations on the East Coast, offering unparalleled outdoor recreation throughout its dazzling lakes, wild mountains, and charming towns and villages. Established in 1892 by the State of New York amid concerns for the water and timber resources of the region, the Adirondack Park today covers six million acres, an area larger in size than New England, and more expansive than Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon and the Great Smokies National Parks combined, and is the largest park in the lower 48 states.
We will be using the Adirondack Mountain Club facility, near Lake Placid, NY, for our accommodations, with day-hikes into the surrounding High Peaks Region. Our program will conclude with a Sabbath spent together relaxing, departing on July 6.
This activity is geared toward young adults and teens, though adults of any age are welcome, provided they are in good health for moderate hiking.
Important Details:
Dates: July 1—Arrival in Albany or NYC
July 2—Travel to Adirondack Mountain Club, warm-up/training hike
July 3 and 4—Hikes into the Adirondacks
Cost: The cost for the program is only $95.00
Deadline for application is June 1. Applications must include a $50 deposit, which will be returned if our program is full.
Register now for the trip of a lifetime! Space is limited! For more information and to register, go to http://northeastadventureclub.weebly.com/adirondack.html.
Feast of Tabernacles
Argentina Open for Transfers—Repeat Announcement
The Feast site in Argentina has re-opened for international transfers. A new hotel has been booked and space is now available for more Feast-goers. The cost of the Feast remains the same ($290 per person for lodging and three meals a day, for eight nights). Come and enjoy the Feast with the Argentinean brethren! If you would like to attend the Feast in Argentina, register online at www.cogl.org and contact Madeleine Lincoln-Strange at [email protected] for further information.
Living Youth Programs
Ohio Teen Camp 2014—Final days for staff members to apply! Campers must apply by June 1. (To be read in all congregations)
Due to the overwhelming response of adults applying to work at the "Ohio Teen Camp 2014," very few staff positions remain. If you are 18 years of age or older, and wish to apply to work at this camp, you will need to submit an application by no later than Sunday, May 25, 11:00 p.m. EDT, to be considered for acceptance. Anyone who has proof of certification in any area (lifeguarding, CPR, First Aid, Ohio Boaters Safety, Riflery, Archery, etc.) is asked to submit a copy to Sheldon Monson at: [email protected]. It is important that we have these on file.
"Campers" are also encouraged to sign up soon. Already, more than 140 campers have applied. The deadline for camper applications has been moved up to Sunday, June 1, 2014—no later than 11:00 p.m. EST. Any camper applying after this deadline will only be accepted if space permits.
To register for camp, or for more information, visit https://lyc.lcg.org.
Online Teen Bible Studies Suspended During Summer Months—Repeat Announcement
There will be no online Teen Bible Studies through the summer months, although the teen studies given at the Adventure Camp 2014 and LYC Ohio 2014 will be posted during these camps. Also, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies can be found on the Living Youth Web site.—Sheldon Monson
Youth Camp in Europe—Repeat Announcement
Applications for LYC Europe, which is scheduled for August 13-22, are still being accepted but we are getting close to capacity. If you are hoping to come, please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. This year's camp is promising to be a great experience with a new location and some new faces providing more great opportunities to participate in activities and learn about God's way of life. It really is an opportunity not to be missed! If you require more information or application forms, please contact Mr. Rees Ellis [email protected] or Jamie Meakin [email protected] at the UK Office.—Jamie Meakin
Comments
The Value of Counsel: One of the common pitfalls of life is trusting in our own judgment when we only see part of the picture. When we make decisions or take actions based on how we feel or how we see a situation, the results can be costly to ourselves and to others. This is why Solomon advised in Proverbs 3:5, "lean not on your own understanding" and in Proverbs 3:7, "Do not be wise in your own eyes," and again in Proverbs 28:26, "He who trusts in his [or her] own heart is a fool…." Solomon also warned in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man [or a woman], but its end is the way of death." To help us avoid making serious mistakes in life, God inspired Solomon to write in Proverbs 11:14, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" and again in Proverbs 15:22, "Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established." We can obtain wise counsel from parents, the ministry and from older, more experienced friends and associates who can be objective and help us see a bigger picture that we can perceive on our own. Seeking wise counsel can be a very profitable way to avoid making serious mistakes.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 22, 2014
Could Japan's Military Policy Change? Following World War II, Japan's constitution was developed to prevent future military conquests by the Japanese. However, recent provocations by China and North Korea have caused the Japanese to reconsider the 70-year-old ban on a military (Reuters, May 15, 2014). "Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called for a review of legal limits on the military's ability to fight overseas on Thursday, signaling a potential landmark change in a security policy long constrained by the pacifist, post-war constitution." Today, the U.S. favors Japan developing the ability to defend itself in the region (ibid.). However, critics warn that even small changes in policy could open the door to more sweeping reforms (ibid.). Bible prophecies describe an end-time conflict between a European power and "kings of the East" who will converge on Jerusalem with a mighty army (Daniel 11:40-41; Revelation 9:13-16; 16:12). Japan, China, Russia and other eastern nations could fulfill these ancient prophecies. A change in Japan's military policy could lead to the formation of this pan-Asian military force. For more on this timely subject, read our article, "Five Prophetic Signs for the Middle East."
Schools Destroy Morals: A school headmaster commented recently in a major British paper that "The state education system is producing a generation of 'amoral' children who fail to understand the difference between right and wrong" (Telegraph, May 15, 2014). With the major emphasis on testing and "the basics," schools are failing to equip student with the "moral compass they need for life" (ibid.). This same trend away from traditional values is visible in France where some schools are experimenting with an "anti-sexism" activity that allows boys to wear skirts to school on Friday—an idea suggested by students (Telegraph, May 15, 2014). Long ago, God prophesied that end-time leaders of Israelite nations would reject His laws and call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20-24). God further warned, "Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments… I am against you" (Ezekiel 5:7-8). The moral decline of Western civilization that we are witnessing today is the result of abandoning the "moral compass" found in the Bible. Thankfully, Jesus Christ is going to return and point mankind back to the laws of God that produce "moral" children (Ezekiel 11:19; Malachi 2:15). For more information about this future transformation, see our article, "Modern Morality and the Ten Commandments."
Science Confirms Scripture… Again! "Scientists using two different age-determining techniques have shown that a tiny zircon crystal found on a sheep ranch in western Australia is the oldest known piece of our planet, dating to 4.4 billion years ago… They used a technique known as atom-probe tomography that was able to identify individual atoms of lead in the crystal and determine their mass, and confirmed that the zircon was indeed 4.4 billion years old" (Reuters, February 23, 2014). "Researchers said the discovery indicates that Earth's crust formed relatively soon after the planet formed and that the little gem was a remnant of it… The finding supports the notion of a 'cool early Earth' where temperatures were low enough to sustain oceans, and perhaps life, earlier than previously thought" (ibid.). This discovery is interesting because it does not support the idea that the earth formed slowly from space debris and dust over billions of years, as some scientists propose. Instead, it suggests that "the planet was perhaps capable of sustaining microbial life 4.3 billion years ago"—relatively soon after it was created—which fits with the biblical account in Genesis. For more on this topic, read our Tomorrow's World article, "How Old is the Earth?"—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, Chris Sookdeo and Leatrice Erlander