Greetings from Charlotte,
Our world is heading for trouble, with Middle Eastern nations descending into chaos, Russia on the move, China attempting to dominate Southeast Asia and beyond, African nations in turmoil, Europe mired in debt and America befuddled and divided by developments at home and abroad. Conditions around the globe reflect the Apostle Paul's prophecy, "in the last days perilous times will come" (2 Timothy 3:1). Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been writing and holding meetings. Mr. Ames has completed a letter that has been mailed to more than 13,000 members and co-workers worldwide. In the month of April, Sabbath attendance in the USA broke 5,000 for the first time. This week, Mr. Bill Long, the new Associate Pastor of congregations in Michigan and northern Indiana, and Mr. and Mrs. V.G. Lardé from England are visiting the office. Mr. Lardé works on our French Web site. Mr. Hernandez and Mr. Cristian Orrego have returned from a very profitable trip to Mexico City and Guatemala. Tomorrow's World Presentations will be held this weekend in Anderson, South Carolina; Crossville, Tennessee; and Grande Prairie and Calgary, Alberta. Your prayers for these efforts to preach the gospel will be much appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Northeast Outdoor Adventures—Repeat Announcement
We have had two spots open up in our roster for our Adirondack Adventure. The program will run from July 2 through July 6. If you would like to participate, don't delay! See our Web link for details: http://northeastadventureclub.weebly.com/adirondack.html (not an official LCG Web site).
We're also opening registration for our Mount Katahdin Adventure in August. Mt. Katahdin is the centerpiece of the beautiful Baxter State Park, and also the finish line of the Appalachian Trail. At 5,270 feet, this mountain provides a challenging day hike with spectacular views of the Maine wilderness. Our trip will begin with Sabbath services in Freeport, Maine, on August 16. On Sunday, we'll travel to Baxter State Park, and we plan to summit Mount Katahdin on Monday. Return home is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19. If you'd like more information and to register, go to http://northeastadventureclub.weebly.com/katahdin.html (not an official LCG Web site).—Jonathan McNair
Denver Fourth of July Weekend—Repeat Announcement
It's time to plan for what's becoming an annual event—the Denver Fourth of July Weekend! Here's what we have finalized thus far:
Thursday Night, July 3: Colorado Rockies Fireworks Game. There are only nine tickets left for what is sure to be a great activity! Tickets can be purchased on a first-come-first-served basis at a cost of $45 per ticket. Please call Shawn McMillin at 720-879-4804 or e-mail [email protected] to reserve your tickets.
Friday, July 4: Group Picnic at Cherry Creek State Park Swim Beach in Aurora, CO from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more details and to sign up, please e-mail Shawn McMillin ([email protected]).
Friday Evening Bible Study: Special guest Mr. Rand Millich will be conducting a Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. at the Littleton Hall.
Sabbath, July 5: We're still working out some of the details—but plan to have Mr. Rand Millich as our guest speaker, with services followed by fellowship, a Bible Bowl, pizza and possibly a movie night to round out the evening.
Sunday, July 6: Still in the planning phase.
We hope everyone will join us for a great wholesome weekend of fellowship and fun!—Ben Whitfield
Sixteenth Annual Saratoga Family Weekend—Repeat Announcement
The 16th Annual Rocky Mountain Saratoga Family Weekend is scheduled for August 8-10! It will again be at the Riviera Lodge, 104 E. Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, WY 82331. Reservations can be made by calling 866-326-5651 or 307-326-5651.
Back by special request, this year's special guest speaker will be Mr. Rodger Bardo, long-time Pastor from the Southwest Region of the U.S. You won't want to miss his special presentations.
A Friday evening Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. will start the weekend.
Sabbath brunch at 10:00 a.m.
Sabbath services at 2:30 p.m. with a covered dish meal and steak cookout afterwards.
Saturday evening Bible Bowl.
A Sunday morning workshop will follow breakfast... then good old family recreational time on your own for the remainder of Sunday. Lunch at Alan and Sarah Williams' home will wrap up the morning and the weekend.
When making reservations at the Riviera Lodge in Saratoga, just mention that you are with the Living Church of God under Ben Whitfield's name. Book your room now before the summer reservations come in.
For those more hearty souls, there is camping for a nominal fee at the Saratoga Lake just a short distance from the Riviera Lodge... the fishing should be great!—Ben Whitfield
Television
New Tomorrow's World Telecast "Short" Just Released
Last year we began creating very condensed, two-to-three minute video "shorts" of some of the Tomorrow's World telecasts. In addition to the full-length telecast which airs around the world in English, French, Spanish, Russian and now even Ukrainian on satellite and cable television, and is also available on the TomorrowsWorld.org Web site and other Web sites in multiple languages, these Tomorrow's World "shorts" are an effective way to pique the interest of additional people, especially on YouTube and Facebook. To see the latest Tomorrow's World "short," where Dr. Meredith introduces the topic of "Counterfeit Christianity," go to TomorrowsWorld.org or visit our YouTube page (which is now approaching 3.5 million views!) at YouTube.com/TomorrowsWorldTV.—Wyatt Ciesielka, Television Operations
Feast of Tabernacles
Activity Registration Coming
Some have inquired about signing up on the Festival Web site for activities at this year's Feast of Tabernacles. Activity registration is not yet open but should open next month—stay tuned for coming announcements and more details! When activity registration opens, brethren will be able to sign up (and pay online) for many activities now being planned by the Festival Site Coordinators.
If you have not yet registered for a Feast site, you may do so on the Festival Web site (http://fot2014.lcg.org).
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
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 Living Youth Camp
The "Daily Activity Schedule" for the Teen Camp in Ohio is now posted on the Living Youth Site. All activity directors should check this schedule so that they can formulate their course outline and lesson plans and get them to each member of their staff as soon as possible. The "Evening Activity Schedule" and a revised "Staff Assignments List" has also been posted.
Adventure Trip 2014—Yellowstone National Park
The "Trip Itinerary" for this camp was posted a couple of weeks ago. The itinerary notes what is planned for each day of this Adventure.—Sheldon Monson
Comments
Trials Test our Faith: The Apostle Paul warned, "know this, that in the last days perilous times will come" (2 Timothy 3:1). Jesus predicted that the end of the age would be marked by trials and turmoil on a global scale (Matthew 24). Jesus also wondered aloud, "when the Son of Man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8, KJV), and He prayed that Peter's faith would not fail when he encountered trials and tribulation (Luke 22:32). When the challenges of life begin to mount, we need to remember that faith is one of the fruits of God's Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and that God gives His Spirit to those who trust Him and obey His instructions (Acts 5:32). We must do our part to stir up God's Spirit to help us overcome trials and fears (2 Timothy 1:6-7). We can also ask for more faith (Luke 17:5). We need to remember that faith comes from hearing (and studying) God's Word (Romans 10:17), which states plainly that God is faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9) and that He is like a rock and a fortress protecting His faithful people (Psalm 31:3, 23). James wrote, "the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:3-4). Let's do our part to build faith by studying the examples of faith recorded in Hebrews 11, as we strive to please God.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 19, 2014
Death-throes of Modern Iraq? Radical Sunni militants known as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) have taken over several major cities in Iraq while government security forces laid down their arms and walked away. Reports indicate, "We're seeing a country that is ripping apart, along ethnic and religious lines"—between Shia, Sunni, and Kurds (National Public Radio, June 16, 2014; CNN, June 16, 2014). World leaders are discussing "what, if anything, to do as Iraq nears disintegration" (FOX News, June 16, 2014), and commentators recognize that the current crisis in Iraq "could reshape relations in the Middle East" (Christian Science Monitor, June 16, 2014). Bible prophecies have long foretold that in the last days "nation will rise against nation" (ethnic group against ethnic group—Matthew 24:7)—which is what we see in Iraq and other places around the globe today. For years this Work has been warning readers to "watch the Middle East" based on this and other prophecies. The current "wars and rumors of wars" in the Middle East (Matthew 24:6) will eventually give rise to the "king of the south" and will fulfill other end-time prophecies (Daniel 11:40). For more biblical insights into this conflict-prone region, be sure to read our booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy.
Is God Pleased? The Washington National Cathedral, "The most visible Episcopal church in the U.S. is hosting its first openly transgender priest [Cameron Patrick] this month" (Washington Times, June 9, 2014). "The Right Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal priest… [will] be presiding the same service" (ibid.). "We at Washington National Cathedral are striving to send a message of love and affirmation, especially to LGBT youth… We want to proclaim to them as proudly and unequivocally as we can: Your gender identity is good and your sexual orientation is good because that's the way that God made you" (ibid.). Speaking of the transgender priest who will preach, a spokeswoman for LGBT-promoting Integrity USA commented "This is just a devout minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ who is being given an opportunity to preach the Gospel" (ibid.). While these efforts may be sincere, it is possible to be sincere, and yet be sincerely wrong. The Bible presents a very different view of these misguided and perverted activities (see Leviticus 18:22-24; Romans 1:18-28). God warned of the wickedness of the Israelite-descended nations and their "religious leaders" at the end of the age, "Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law… the unjust knows no shame" (Zephaniah 3:4-5; also Ezekiel 22:26). Many professing Christians "mean well," but often fail to focus on honoring and obeying the God they claim to worship. This is why Jesus Christ is going to return and "restore all things" (Acts 3:20-21). For more information about end-time events, be sure to view our telecast "Who Is the Antichrist?"
Appetite for Destruction: This summer is being called the "summer of destruction" by movie critics (CNN, June 10, 2014). A plethora of summer blockbuster movies boast abundant blood and violence—referred to as "destruction porn" by film critic Lewis Beale. In a recent editorial Mr. Beale chided the U.S. movie industry for its addiction to blood and violence and decried the example these movies set for the world: "we're exporting this American blood-lust globally, giving outsiders the impression of a country that has totally gone over to the Dark Side" (ibid.). Mr. Beale offered a sobering perspective that America is, "A country where scenes of mass destruction are the norm, and carnage is preferred over peace, love and understanding. Is this the kind of negative image of America we want to export? And sure, we all know that 'It's only a movie,' but don't kid yourself: When we get geeked at the leveling of entire cities, it says something about who we are, and where our society is going" (ibid.). Speaking of the morally floundering end-time Israelite nations, God prophesied "for the land is filled with crimes of blood, and the city is full of violence" (Ezekiel 7:23). Then, speaking of their religious hypocrisy God states, "For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger" (Ezekiel 8:17) and "An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land… and My people love to have it so" (Jeremiah 5:30-31). Mankind's appetite for blood and destruction will not continue indefinitely. A change will come for the better! For a glimpse of a different future, read our insightful commentary on "A Promise of Rest."—Scott Winnail, Joette Monson and Chris Sookdeo