Greetings from Charlotte,
Unfortunately, the world did not stop turning while we were observing the Feast. Concerns about the spread of Ebola and the turbulence in Eastern Europe remain in the news. Some observers wonder if Russia and China will take advantage of America's focus on ISIS in the Middle East to further their agendas in other parts of the world. Bible prophecies about the end-time kings of the North, South and East appear to be coming alive—as the Israelite nations of the Western world continue their downward slide. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been writing and held a number of meetings and completed a semi-annual letter. Mr. Ames has been at the Canadian office to tape several programs for Chinese television. Mr. Weston is in England for a number of meetings. This weekend, Mr. Rodger Bardo and Mr. Phil Sena will conduct Tomorrow's World Presentations in Corpus Christi and Temple, Texas. Mr. Dan Hall and I will conduct TWPs in Macon and Columbus, Georgia. Your prayers for these efforts to preach the Gospel and warn this world are needed and appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Tomorrow's World Presents in Brussels, Belgium
Mr. Yvon Brochu gave a very fine Tomorrow's World Presentation in Brussels, Belgium on October, 18, the Sabbath immediately after the Feast. He spoke about Armageddon and then about the Holy Days and God's plan for humanity. This is our first presentation in Belgium since Mr. Apartian and Mr. Carion held public campaigns in the mid-1980s, so there was much excitement! One of the gentlemen who attended remembered Mr. Armstrong on RTL with sub-titles. There were 11 visitors, three of whom attended services the following week. We were delighted with the response and look forward to hosting another TWP in the future.—Rees Ellis
2014 Charlotte Winter Family Weekend: December 24-28
The Charlotte congregation will be hosting its annual Winter Family Weekend in December. There will be activities for all ages. Arrival will be Wednesday, December 24, and departure will be Sunday, December 28. Bible Studies, Sabbath services, a dinner-dance and seminars will once again be held at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel. Plans are set for a full day of sports tournaments and games on Thursday, December 25. On Friday morning there will be seminars for teens, young singles, mature singles and married couples, followed by an activity in the afternoon. More details will be announced in the coming weeks. Please start planning now to join us for three days of spiritual rejuvenation and fellowship! Registration for the activities will open soon.—Jim Meredith
Save the Date! Kansas City Regional Family Weekend—January 2-4
Mark your calendars! The KC Family Weekend will be from Friday, January 2 through Sunday, January 4. Accommodations and Sabbath services will be at the Hilton Garden Inn in Independence, Missouri. Hotel rooms are available at $79.00 a night.
Join us for a family-focused weekend, including a Bible Study, Sabbath services, a catered dinner from the locally famous Hereford House, and black-tie dance and entertainment. This year's Sunday activities will feature new events including a volleyball clinic and children's basketball clinic in addition to women's and coed volleyball, men's basketball and children's activities. We're also introducing a lively, spectacular team smorgasbord for all ages. You won't want to miss this!
On top of all these activities, we are also including an Art Showcase. Do you draw? Paint? Sculpt? Stitch? Take photos? Write poetry? Whatever your talent, we want everyone to enjoy it! All artwork will be available for viewing throughout the weekend and the best will be recognized. Just bring your choice of artwork to the weekend. No matter what category your creative artwork is, we have a place for it at the Kansas City Regional Family Weekend.
For more details on hotel, housing and a schedule of events, please visit our Web site at http://lcgkcweekend.org (not an official LCG Web site). Registration will be open soon. We hope to see you in January!—Michael Keesee
Feast of Tabernacles
Survey Form—Your Comments are Requested!
Brethren who attended the Feast are asked to fill out the short, five-minute Festival survey. You can access the survey at: fotsurvey.lcg.org. We wish to thank everyone for their helpful comments and feedback!
Living Youth Program
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, November 7, will be on, "The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Part 2," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, we encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (EST) 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 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 "The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Part 1," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
Comments
Are You Positive or Negative? How do you view life? How do you view other people? Do you grumble and complain about things and find fault with people and decisions made by others? Or do you see positive aspects about people and situations? The Apostle Paul emphasized that real Christians should be positive people with a positive outlook on life. He wrote, "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" and "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28, 31). Paul encouraged Christians to "Rejoice in the Lord always" and to think on those things that are noble and good and pure (Philippians 4:4, 8). He also admonished Christians, "Do all things without complaining and disputing [without grumbling, arguing and finding fault with others]" (Philippians 2:14). Long ago, Solomon wrote, "An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire" (Proverbs 16:27). Jude warns Christians that people who murmur and complain—and cause division—do not have, or are not being led by, God's Spirit (Jude 16-17). Even in the Church of God, we may forget that when we make or listen to accusations about other people, we can become tools in the hands of "the accuser of the brethren"—Satan the devil (Revelation 12:10). Let's remember these biblical admonitions to be positive and resist the temptations to make negative comments about others.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy— October 30, 2014
Canadian Capital Attacked! Last week's attacks on the Canadian parliament and the murder of an honor guard at the National War Memorial in the nation's capital of Ottawa were sobering. They followed closely a vehicular attack on two soldiers two days earlier in Quebec (Associated Press, October 24, 2014). The shooting attacks shook the capital city of Ottawa and the whole nation. Over the years Canada has appeared to rise above the fray of geopolitics and has avoided the political and terrorist backlash unleashed upon many Western nations. An ISIS spokesman recently called for independent terrorist acts against civilians in allied nations opposing the Islamic State: "Hinder those who want to harm your brothers… The best thing you can do is to strive to your best and kill any disbeliever, whether he be French, American or from any of their allies" (CNN, September 22, 2014). This call was answered by the driver of the vehicle that struck the two Canadian soldiers (ibid.). However, despite Canada's efforts to remain above the consequences of geopolitics, it cannot escape its heritage or God's prophesied punishment for its national sins. Canada is an Israelite-descended nation whose leaders and people have increasingly rejected God and His laws. If Canada and other Israelite-descended nations do not repent and return to God and His ways, they will suffer more of the consequences that God prophesied long ago in the Bible (see Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28). The prophet Jeremiah warned, "Your own wickedness will correct you" (Jeremiah 2:19). For more information on Canada's prophesied future, read our Tomorrow's World article entitled: "Reputation, Character and Leadership" and our booklet The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Future of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: Tigris and Euphrates river waters have been receding over the last decade as northern Iraq and Syria experience ongoing drought (Geopolitical Monitor, August 11, 2014). According to a recent analysis, "Some of the more extreme projections hold that, owing to a combination of climate change and upstream dam activity, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers won't have sufficient flow to reach the sea by as early as 2040" (ibid.). Bible prophecy has a similar projection. Speaking of the end, the Apostle John was inspired to write of a 200-million-man army (Revelation 9:13-21), composed of the kings "from the east and the north" (Daniel 11:44), that will come up to Jerusalem by crossing over the dried-up Euphrates River (Revelation 16:12). This army will gather at Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) and then come against the Beast power in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:41-45) where they will be defeated by the returning Jesus Christ (Joel 3:12-16). The drying up of the Euphrates River will be part of the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. For more on important end-time events read our article entitled "Armageddon?"
The Power of Mary: Recently, the Roman pope celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and observed, "These two women—Mary and the Church [the Catholic Church]—carry on the hope that is Christ, they give us Christ, they bring forth Christ in us. Without Mary, there would be no Jesus Christ; without the Church, we cannot go forward… today we can go forward with a hope: the hope that our Mother Mary, steadfast at the Cross, and our Holy Mother, the hierarchical Church, give us" (Vatican Radio, September 15, 2014). For centuries Catholic popes have been known for their "Mariology"—resulting in the veneration and virtual deification of Jesus' mother, Mary. Mary was "blessed" among women, being granted the privilege of carrying and raising the Son of God (Luke 1:42), but nowhere are we commanded to worship any person—including Mary! The Bible states that Christ alone is holy (Revelation 15:4) and worthy of worship. It is not "through Mary" that we come to Christ, it is through a calling from God that we are brought to Christ (John 6:44). And it is through Christ that we have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18). The Bible also states that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).We must never allow human beings, no matter how excellent their example, to be venerated or placed equal with Christ or the Father. For more on this important topic view our telecast on "The Real Jesus."—Scott Winnail and Chris Sookdeo