Greetings from Charlotte,
Events in Europe and the Middle East are again making news. This week Pope Francis visited Palestinians and Israelis in the divided city of Jerusalem and invited their leaders to a peace conference at the Vatican. Meanwhile in Europe, voters created a political earthquake by electing representatives to the European parliament who want to take back powers from Brussels to the nation states. We need to watch as Bible prophecies continue to come alive today! Here in Charlotte, most everyone is back to work after bouts with the flu. Dr. Meredith has been holding meetings and preparing for his trip to Chicago for Pentecost. The Charlotte Singles Weekend and the Cincinnati Creation Weekend both went very well and were enjoyed by all who attended. Mr. Bruce Tyler reports that the office in Clarendon has been granted "Training Center Status" which means that we can now bring individuals from the Australasian Region to Clarendon for further training to serve God's people in that region. This coming weekend, we will hold Tomorrow's World Presentations in Gander, Newfoundland; Mena, Arkansas; and Clarksville and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Your prayers for these efforts to preach the Gospel will be much appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Healing in Alabama
Greetings! I want to share with you a healing of one of our brethren in the Alabama area. A couple years ago, shortly after he had come into the Truth and been baptized, this member was working under a car when suddenly the transmission fell on him, breaking ribs and leaving a hole in one lung. Since then, he has been unable to keep any food in his system. Anything he ate was lost within minutes. Things grew worse and worse until he felt he could no longer go on and needed and wanted God's intervention. I anointed him on the Sabbath prior to the ministerial conference, and later received a phone call from him letting me know that God had intervened. He was excited that for the first time in a long time he can eat and retain his food. He feels there is more improvement to come, but is extremely grateful for God's intervention and the ability to enjoy eating and retaining food as he does now.
I just thought this would be good to let you all know. Our God is truly our Healer—to God be the glory!!!—Anthony Stroud
Instant Intervention in Barbados
Last Thursday one of our members who works for a lawn company went to work at the property of a client. After finishing the front, he went through the gate to the back of the building where two large Doberman dogs are usually kept. He understood that the dogs were put up, so he locked the gate behind him, planning to leave the area through the far end of the yard. As he worked his way around, he noticed that one of the dogs was loose. The dog noticed him and began growling. Then the other dog came out. Now he was faced with two Dobermans charging toward him and he was sure he was about to be attacked. Not knowing what to do, he shouted, backed away, and prayed, "Lord, help me!" The dogs stopped advancing and halted their aggression immediately. They even bowed their heads as he backed slowly away, trembling, until he could open the gate and exit. He was very thankful that God had mercy on him and preserved him from injury or even death as he is the sole breadwinner in his family at this time.—Clyde Skeete
Cincinnati "Creation Weekend" a Success!
This past Memorial Day weekend, 160 people gathered in southern Ohio for the "Creation Weekend" hosted by the Cincinnati congregation. Our grateful thanks go out to all who came and did their part to make the event a wonderful experience!
Mr. Richard Ames, Mr. John Robinson and Mr. Wallace Smith gave messages and presentations about the relationship between the Bible and science, things that the theory of evolution cannot explain, biblical evidence concerning the age of the world, and how we should understand fossils of dinosaurs and so-called "human" ancestors. Children's crafts during the weekend allowed our youngest visitors to learn about the seven days of God's "re-creation" week.
On Sunday, we all enjoyed a trip to the famous and controversial Creation Museum in Kentucky, followed by a lively Q&A session about what the museum got right and what it got wrong, as well as other topics discussed over the weekend. Participants of all ages joined in the discussion, and it was a wonderful way to cap off a very full couple of days.
One participant succinctly summarized the event, "It was fantastic!" Again, our thanks to all who participated!—Wallace Smith
Carolina Singles Weekend
"You are the salt of the earth!" That was the theme of the Carolina Singles Weekend, held over Memorial Day weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Organized and run by our enthusiastic and hard-working Charlotte singles group, this fifth-annual event drew 65 participants. Visitors came from Canada, the United Kingdom, and all over the United States. Special messages on Friday night and on the Sabbath focused on seeking God's will in relationships, maintaining a good reputation, reflecting the many positive attributes of salt, and understanding why every member of the body is needed. On Saturday evening, 81 singles and guests were treated to a delicious banquet, featuring a topics session and a talk by special guest, Dr. Roderick Meredith. During the evening, four of the participating single men also delivered thought-provoking speeches about real friendship, savoring the "season," being a "life preserver" for one another, and true commitment. A dance capped off the evening.
On Sunday morning, the singles headed for the business district of Charlotte to participate in the fun-filled and uniquely-designed "Uptown Challenge." Later in the day they enjoyed a cookout, games and a sing-along around a bonfire. A Living University panel discussion and an outing at McAlpine Creek Park on Monday morning rounded out and concluded the weekend. One of the participants commented, "I am so happy I came. Everything turned out beautiful and there were a lot of nice people there who were so helpful in getting things to run so smoothly!" Jonathan Bueno, weekend organizer and president of the singles group in Charlotte added, "God truly blessed the activities and messages. It was inspiring to see all the happy faces and hear the positive comments about the weekend."
Adirondack Adventure!—June 1 Deadline for Applications—Repeat Announcement
This is the last week to register for the "Adirondack Adventure"! As a reminder, 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. The trip will run from July 2-6, and will take place in the High Peaks, near Lake Placid, New York. This four-day adventure is an affordable bargain at only $95.00!
We are at capacity for those who have expressed interest—but to secure a spot on the roster, you must be registered, and have submitted a $50 deposit. For more information and to register and pay, go to http://northeastadventureclub.weebly.com/adirondack.html (not an official Church Web site.)
Outreach—Exciting Upcoming Projects—Repeat Announcement
Dr. Meredith has encouraged us that, while powerfully preaching the Gospel to the whole world remains the priority of God's Church (Mark 1:14; Matthew 24:14; etc.), we must remember that Jesus Christ Himself also said that His faithful servants would "feed the hungry, help the stranger, clothe the naked, visit those in prison," etc. and that when we serve those in need, we actually serve Him (Matthew 25:31-46). Following these biblical admonitions, as we have the time and resources, Living Church of God Outreach is active in "[doing] good to all" (Galatians 6:10) by engaging in community service work that especially helps those who have less, such as the widows and fatherless in their time of need (James 1:27) and also in assisting in local congregation service as desired by the local ministry. Our Church member volunteers have been a wonderful light in both the local community as well as with organizations that have national and international reach. These organizations include groups such as Habitat for Humanity, local hospitals and retirement homes, Goodwill, and others. Coming soon, we have another Habitat for Humanity critical home repair project planned and will also be working with Ronald McDonald House to prepare and serve a large dinner for parents and families of children who are hospitalized with serious medical conditions. To learn more, or for ideas about how you can get involved in local Outreach activities in your area, visit LCG.org and click on the "Outreach" menu item.—Wyatt Ciesielka, Outreach Coordinator
Feast of Tabernacles
As summer—and Pentecost—approaches, plans for the Feast of Tabernacles continue to roll forward as well! On top of their many other duties, Festival Site Coordinators in the USA and around the world are formulating plans for Feast activities, to be posted on the festival Web site (http://fot2014.lcg.org) toward the end of June. Activity registration will open soon after that.
If you have not yet registered for the Feast, please do so now to help with planning for the Feast.
2014 Israel Feast Tour
There is still room for more brethren to spend the Feast of Tabernacles in Israel this year, and we would love to have anyone interested in this special tour join us. This will be the last time we will have a Feast in Israel in the foreseeable future, so don't miss out on the amazing trip. Your Bible will come to life as you visit places you have read about—enter Jerusalem; walk through Capernaum, Megiddo and Nazareth; stand by the Sea of Galilee; just to name a few. This is truly an experience you will never forget, but the deadline to register is fast approaching. If you would like to be a part of this special trip, please go to the MyLCG page and register as soon as possible. This site will officially be closed to further registration on June 15.—Jim Meredith
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Tuesday, July 15. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG Web site (www.cogl.org).—Festival Office
Living Youth Programs
Ohio Teen Camp 2014—Limited time left for campers to apply!
Campers who are interested in attending the Ohio Teen Camp must sign up by Sunday, June 1, no later than 11:00 p.m. EDT. Any camper applying after this deadline will be accepted only if space permits. Staff registration for the Ohio Teen Camp is now closed.
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
Sobering Signs of the Times: For the last several years I have been teaching a Living University class in Old Testament Survey, and I am regularly struck by the sobering parallels between events mentioned in Scripture and the times in which we are living. In Genesis 18 and 19, God sent two angels to warn Lot and his family that the cities where they lived—Sodom and Gomorrah—were about to be destroyed because of their wicked and perverted ways. Homosexuality was one of the main reasons that God poured out punishments on these cities. The citizens of these cities—including Lot and his family—had forgotten why God destroyed almost the entire human race only 400 years before (Genesis 6-7). While Lot's family enjoyed the abundance of the area (Genesis 13:10-13), they had grown so accustomed to and tolerant of what was going on around them that they were reluctant to leave. Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back longingly at what she was leaving behind. As we see our modern societies going the way of Sodom again—approving and promoting homosexuality, same sex marriage, and other behaviors that God condemns—we need to remember that these Old Testament examples are recorded for our admonition today (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). The Apostle Paul urged Christians to "come out" of this world and its perverted ways (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) because God's judgment on our modern societies is coming—just as it did on Sodom and Gomorrah! We need to wake up and recognize the real significance of what is happening around us today and earnestly pray, "Thy kingdom come."
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 29, 2014
Europe's Fragile Union: Long ago the prophet Daniel foresaw an end-time European empire composed of ten kingdoms or nations and represented by feet of "iron and clay" (Daniel 2:41-43). The mixture of "iron and clay" is symbolic of a union of nations that do not naturally adhere to each other. This past week's parliamentary elections reflected the iron and clay nature of the European Union and illustrated that "Europe is a divided continent" (EU Observer, May 26, 2014). "EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (27 May) are still digesting the result of EU elections, which saw anti-establishment parties winning in Britain, France, Belgium, Greece, and Denmark and making gains in several other countries" (EU Observer, May 27, 2014). "The revolt had been a long time brewing. The rising voices of discontent. The anti-austerity protests. The steady rise of Eurosceptic parties. Even so, the shock could not be disguised when a stridently anti-EU party topped the poll in France" (BBC, May 26, 2014). Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right French National Front (FN), proclaimed "Tonight is a massive rejection of the European Union" (EU Observer, May 25, 2014). While some see the election as a "wake-up call" for European leaders, others believe a majority of leaders are still proponents of EU integration. However, the election revealed that European citizens see the need for reforms. The future of Europe promises to be very interesting and bears watching. For more on Europe's future, be sure to read our fascinating booklet, The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality?
Pope, Politics, and the Future of the Holy Land: This week in a visit to Israel and the West Bank, "Pope Francis inserted himself directly into the collapsed Middle East peace process… issuing an invitation to host the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a prayer summit meeting at his apartment in the Vatican, in an overture that has again underscored the broad ambitions of his papacy" (New York Times, May 25, 2014). "More broadly, Pope Francis' actions on Sunday posed a striking example of how, barely a year into his papacy, he is seeking to reassert the Vatican's ancient role as an arbiter of international diplomacy" (ibid.). Both presidents accepted the invitation to the Vatican "prayer summit," to be held on June 6 (ibid.). While on his visit, the pope visited both Jewish and Muslim holy sites in an attempt to gain the trust of both groups. The pope's ultimate goal is to promote the interests of Christianity in the Middle East, and his visit was designed to further that agenda (The Atlantic, May 27, 2014). Bible prophecies indicate that an end-time European Beast power, backed by a powerful world church, will control the Holy Land (Daniel 11:40-43; Revelation 13:11-17; 17:12-13). Future developments will give the Catholic Church and ultimately the head of the Beast power access to the Holy Land. For more on this topic, be sure to read our article on "The Future of Jerusalem."
Kidnapped Nigerian School Girls Found: "Almost six weeks after nearly 300 girls were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Nigerian defense chief believes the girls have been located. Despite this breakthrough, the Nigerian government seems reluctant to use military force to free the girls" (Yahoo.com, May 26, 2014). "Boko Haram has attempted to use the girls as leverage for a prisoner exchange. The terrorist cell's leaders have threatened to sell their victims abroad if authorities refuse to meet their demands" (Deutsche Welle, May 26, 2014). This kidnapping atrocity may be long from over, as the Islamic group defiantly pursues its goals. Sadly, the plight of these teenage girls is just one story among millions of young girls around the globe who are kidnapped and exploited. However, the message of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ will return to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God where it will be safe for all children, and God gives us a glimpse of that peaceful world in Zechariah 8:4-5, "Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets." Imagine a world where parents feel safe enough to allow their children to freely play in the streets. For more about the Kingdom of God, see our booklet The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?—Scott Winnail, Sue Bennett, Deborah Lincoln-Strange and Chris Sookdeo