Greetings from Charlotte,
Weather-related catastrophes are again making news in various parts of the globe, including torrential rains that caused heavy flooding in Detroit, Baltimore and Long Island—while in the turbulent Middle East, humanitarian tragedies continue to unfold. Dr. Meredith has returned to Charlotte from his visit to the Living Youth Teen Camp in Ohio. This week he has been writing, holding meetings, and today he is taping a new television program. Mr. Hernandez has been busy taping Spanish telecasts and he will tape French telecasts next week. Mr. and Mrs. Weston have been visiting the European Living Youth Camp in the UK this week before returning to Toronto next week. Mr. Gary Ehman reports that the first six months of 2014 set a new record for the Personal Correspondence Department, which generated 1,000 more responses than the same period last year. Registration for Living University classes for the Fall Semester is coming to a close, but will continue through August 20 (see announcement below). So far, almost 200 students have registered for classes. Last week, 32 visitors attended a Tomorrow's World Presentation in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Wilner Pierre and Mr. Etienne Duval held a TWP in Cayenne, French Guiana yesterday. This coming weekend, TWPs will be held in Chicago, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky. I will be in the Los Angeles area this weekend and plan to visit several ministers and congregations across the Southwest next week. Please pray that God will continue to bless and guide His Work.—DSW
Church Administration
Baptism and Healing: God's Mercy
A woman in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, congregation was diagnosed with carcinoma of the lung in July 2013. She had been attending services, but was not baptized. In 2014 she was admitted to the hospital and called Mr. Rodger Bardo, the local pastor, to anoint her. He came to the hospital and followed God's direction, asking for His merciful intervention. She spent 34 days in the hospital and lost 64 pounds during this stay, suffering from several other complications.
She began counseling for baptism and shortly before Passover, the time was set for her baptism. As she came up out of the baptismal water, she exclaimed, "Mr. Bardo, I am healed, I know I am healed of cancer!" That was quite a statement! Mr. Bardo encouraged her to get further testing to be sure of the details, but the fact remained that something was definitely different!
In the next few days she followed up with her oncologist and no cancer was found! He was absolutely amazed, but the member was not. She said she knew in her heart that God had removed the cancer cells while she was under the baptismal water.
She still must go for check-ups with her oncologist every six months. These entail blood work, MRIs, and CT scans. While her other health challenges (she suffers from an old back injury and fibromyalgia and must often use a ventilator at night to help her breathe) were not healed at that time, she is very thankful that the cancer was taken away. She is looking forward to her first Feast of Tabernacles this year in Park City, UT.
We praise God and thank Him for such a marvelous miracle!—F. Young
Rocky Mountain Saratoga Family Weekend
What a wonderful family weekend we just had at Saratoga, Wyoming! Twenty-seven brethren assembled by the North Platte River for three days of rest and relaxation, spiritual and physical food and wonderful western hospitality. Mr. Rodger Bardo traveled from Phoenix with his wife Betty to present to the brethren an inspiring program on "Leadership with Integrity," jam-packed with thoughtful information to take home and implement in our lives.
Mr. Bardo started the weekend off with a very effective Bible Study Friday evening on "Five Foolish and Five Wise: Leading with Integrity Requires Wisdom" from the source that all knowledge is measured by—God and the Bible, the "foundation of all knowledge."
What a delightful Sabbath day it was. Sabbath brunch brought the warm Saratoga sunshine and cool morning breezes for all to enjoy at the river's edge. Afternoon Sabbath services provided more thought-provoking aspects of effective leadership. Mr. Shawn McMillin, visiting Elder from Denver, Colorado, gave an excellent sermonette on "Leadership—Wisdom, Character and Courage." Mr. Rodger Bardo talked about "Hold Until Relieved—Character Is Built." Leadership requires Godly character. He used in-depth knowledge of the Scriptures and extensive research to teach effective leadership from a Godly perspective. After all, we're going to be "Leaders in Tomorrow's World."
Following Sabbath services, we all enjoyed a cookout and then homemade ice cream for dessert, brought all the way from Nebraska by Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Johns. It paired well with Mr. Eugene Api's delicious "Granddad's Famous Cookies."
Saturday evening we continued the theme of "Learning with Integrity" with an interesting Bible Bowl. Mr. Shawn McMillin kept our attention for the entire 1 1/2 hours of "Leaders with Integrity (Wisdom, Character and Courage): 40 Powerpoint Bible Questions."
Sunday morning brought things to a close with an excellent breakfast and a concluding workshop on "Dynamics of the Leader-Follower Relationship." After lunch at Mr. and Mrs. Alan Williams' home, we said our good-byes. Another Rocky Mountain Saratoga Family Weekend came to a close but fond memories still linger while we think about next year and the subjects we'll cover. Stay tuned! There's always more to come... maybe even an afternoon float trip down the river!—Ben Whitfield
Feast of Tabernacles
Feast Speaking Schedules
Speaking Schedules for the Feast of Tabernacles are now being sent out to all those who will have speaking assignments at the Feast. Those who are on the speaking schedule are encouraged to put in the time, prayer and preparation now—even though it's still summer—to bring messages that are inspiring, stimulating, and focus on the wonderful message of Christ's reign on this earth! We thank all of those who will be preparing to bring spiritual nourishment to God's Church during this highlight of the year.—Festival Office
Local Church Services on the Day of Atonement and the Sabbath after the Feast
Pastors: You should have received an e-mail requesting information about Sabbath Services on the Day of Atonement and the Sabbath immediately after the Feast. Please respond to that e-mail by Monday, August 25, so that we can compile the information and make it available to brethren who are traveling to and from the Feast sites.
Living Youth Programs
Living Youth Camp Ohio 2014
Two hundred ninety-two campers and staff just completed another exciting and successful year of LYC summer camp! Amidst the tears and hugs on the final day, many campers remarked that this was one of the best experiences of their life. In an effort to connect parents and families to the campers, this year we broadcast many of the events over LiveStream. An average of 700 brethren viewed the daily Christian Living classes and many tuned in to Sabbath services, the talent show, and several sporting events that were broadcast over the two-week camp. The LYC Facebook page also exploded with approximately 423,000 user interactions!
We would like to thank all those who volunteered to serve on the faculty and staff at the Teen Living Youth Camp in Delaware, Ohio. Your selfless contributions in time, service, and money, demonstrate your dedication and love for the young people in God's Church. May God abundantly bless you for your wholehearted efforts to "feed the flock" through the youth program.—Sheldon Monson and Jason Fritts
Living University
Registration for First (Fall) Semester
Registration for Fall Semester classes is coming to a close, but will continue through Wednesday, August 20. A couple of our classes are full or nearing capacity, so if you are desirous of taking a class this semester, time is of the essence. Classes are set to begin on Monday, August 18. Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for their selected course. Enrolling is quick and easy—it will only take 5 to 10 minutes. Just visit our Web site and click on the "Apply Now" link. We are offering 16 exciting courses this semester. For a complete and detailed listing of "2014 Fall Semester Courses" (spring in the Southern hemisphere), to apply and to register for classes, please visit www.livinguniv.com. For additional information, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or [email protected]. This semester promises to be an exciting one with new courses, new faculty, and strong student enrollment.
Comments
Are You Easily Entreated? The Apostle James describes a Christian who uses God's Spirit as "peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated" (KJV) or "willing to yield to reason" (Amplified) or "reasonable" (NASV – James 3:17). Individuals who are easily entreated will not erupt with anger or indignation if someone questions their actions, opinions or decisions. They will not be so convinced that their own ideas or actions are right that they are unwilling to listen to advice or counsel from others. Solomon made the observation that "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise" (Proverbs 12:15). Solomon made numerous references to the value of being receptive to counsel and advice (Proverbs 19:20, 27; 22:17). Paul told Timothy that real Christians should be "temperate [self-controlled], sober-minded [serious], of good behavior… gentle, not quarrelsome [conciliatory]" (1 Timothy 3:2-3). A truly humble Christian will be approachable, have a teachable attitude and be able to work smoothly with others. That is a goal that we can all strive to achieve.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—August 14, 2014
Typhoon Inundates Tokyo: Typhoon Halong "lashed Japan on Saturday as the country headed into a holiday week, causing the authorities to order the evacuation of a half-million people living near swollen rivers and canceling hundreds of flights" (Associated Press, August 9, 2014). By Monday, over 1.6 million people were told to evacuate and at least ten were dead. Hundreds of buildings were also destroyed as the storm moved to the north (Agence France Presse, August 11, 2014). Mid-July of this year also saw a super typhoon hit the Philippines and devastate southern China, killing 100 (CNN, July 19, 2014). The Pacific typhoon season is only about half over and threatens even more devastation before it is through. It is tragic to watch people around the globe suffer from natural disasters. However Jesus warned that one of the "signs" of the end of the age would be "fearful sights… [and] the sea and the waves roaring" (Luke 21:11, 25). According to the Scriptures, as we draw closer to the end of the age, increasingly destructive storms will be more commonplace. We need to watch, and let these catastrophes motivate us to pray more fervently, "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10). For more information about the "end of the age," be sure to read our free booklet, Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return.
Enforcing Peace in the Holy Land? With the Israeli-Hamas conflict dragging on, Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman told the Germans, "Germany and the EU must dispatch inspectors to Gaza to monitor... trade with the neighboring countries" (Agence France Presse, August 7, 2014). Mr. Lieberman noted that the inspectors should not be "police or soldiers" and "urged Germany to take a leading role"—with the agreement of Germany and France (ibid.). Also last week, PLO Prime Minister "Salam Fayyad said… he was proposing ideas that include the temporary deployment of Arab security forces in Gaza to help reunite Hamas-run Gaza with the West Bank" (Reuters, August 7, 2014). Mr. Fayyad voiced his concern about the division in the Palestinian territory, noting that "restoring Palestinian Authority control over the Gaza Strip, run by Hamas since violence a year ago and separated from Abbas' Fatah-run West Bank 'is a key objective of policy and has to be pursued vigorously at all times'" (ibid.). It is sobering to see the Israeli and Palestinian governments both suggest, at roughly the same time, that international intervention and guidance is needed in the Holy Land. It is also sobering to see Israel call for a German-led intervention team to monitor trade into the Palestinian territories and the PLO call for an Arab-led security force to stabilize its own territory. Bible prophecy reveals that both a German-led "king of the north" and an Arab "king of the South" will work together in a quasi-peace for a time (Daniel 9:27; 11:27; Psalm 83:5-8), after which they will turn against each other (Daniel 11:25-30). This action will lead to a military occupation of Jerusalem by the "king of the north" (Daniel 11:31, 40-43; Luke 21:20-24). This Work has warned of these events for decades, and it is sobering to see these events actually coming to pass. For more on this topic, view our telecast, "Five Prophetic Signs for the Middle East."
Drought Danger in Western USA: "A 14-year drought in the southwestern United States has drained reservoirs such as Nevada's Lake Mead to record lows. But satellite measurements show that the losses are even greater underground" (Nature, July 25, 2014). "The Colorado River basin—which supplies roughly 40 million people in seven US states—lost roughly 65 trillion litres of fresh water [between 2004 and 2013]… roughly 1.5 more than the maximum capacity of the United States' largest reservoir, Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona. 'It was way more than we ever thought,' says study co-author Jay Famiglietti, a water-cycle scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California" (ibid.). The Colorado River basin supports some of America's largest cities: Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles. One of the prophetic signs of the end times is famine (Matthew 24:7). Famine and "extraordinary plagues" are prophesied to come upon the Israelite-descended nations due to their rejection of God and His laws (Deuteronomy 28:18, 58-59; Matthew 24:7). As we approach the end of the age it is important to watch for these prophesied events and understand why they are happening. For more information about how God guides history, read our informative booklet, Prophecy Fulfilled: God's Hand in World Affairs.—Scott Winnail and Marc Arseneault