Greetings from Charlotte,
Adverse weather is again making news: another super typhoon is heading towards the same area of the Philippines that was devastated by a previous typhoon about a year ago (see below). In drought-stricken California, heavy rains are causing flooding and mudslides on slopes that were heavily burned by fires this summer. Meanwhile, the flames of war and violence continue to rage in the Middle East, and the Roman pope continues his efforts to urge Europeans to return to their religious roots. Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has been writing and holding meetings this week. Mr. Ames is preparing a new telecast, and we have been working on plans for next year's Feast of Tabernacles. LU students are taking final exams this week. Please keep our scattered brethren around the world in your prayers.—DSW
Church Administration
Prayer Request: Super Typhoon Heading for the Philippines
The Philippines are again threatened by what the U.S. Navy classifies as a super typhoon, already packing sustained winds of 240 kph/150mph. Internationally named Hagupit (called Ruby in the Philippines), it is still offshore in the open ocean but is possibly going to strike the same areas of the Philippines which were devastated just one year ago with the loss of thousands of lives and huge damage to buildings, infrastructure and agriculture. Damaging winds and drenching, flooding rain are expected, but the worst damage may be from the expected storm surge which can occur when ocean waters are driven and funnelled into straits between islands. We have many members in the threatened areas and some of the brethren have already evacuated to safer areas. The typhoon will likely make landfall on this coming Sabbath. We do ask for prayers that God will spare our land from another tragedy such as that wrought in November 2013. On that occasion He protected all of our members from death and injury.—Kinnear Penman
Charlotte Family Weekend Update—Must Read
Registration for the Charlotte Family Weekend (December 24-28) is now open and based on current numbers it looks like we will again have over 500 people attend this event! Last year we had a record of 566 at Sabbath services and we hope to top that number this year. For more detailed information and to register, go to your MyLCG page on the www.cogl.org Web site. We need everyone to register for the various activities you plan to participate in as soon as possible. (If you do not have computer access, your local Festival Advisor may register for you.) A special group rate of $94 has been negotiated at the host hotel, the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel. This rate includes a full buffet breakfast for two adults. Please note that there is a AAA and senior rate of $84 available online, but it does not include the breakfast buffet that costs $14 per person. The hotel suites can comfortably accommodate up to six persons in beds with two double beds in the bedroom and a fold-out couch in the living room. You may make reservations by using the hotel's Passkey Web site at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/LivingChurchofGod2014 or by calling 877-212-5752 and mentioning the Living Church of God. There are a number of other hotels within a five mile radius, but we have not negotiated any group rates with them. There is a limited amount of housing in Church members' homes for out of town guests that cannot afford to stay at the hotel. If you need to stay in members' homes in order to attend the event, please contact me at [email protected]. For those planning to play in the basketball or volleyball tournaments, please get your teams together now. We need all teams to register online as soon as possible. We still have space for a couple of more basketball teams and quite a few volleyball teams. Please note that all teams must have a minimum of seven players and we are limiting the basketball tournament to a maximum of eight teams due to space and time limitations. There will be a fee of $30 per team (basketball only) to help pay for the hired referees. We will also have free play courts available for anyone not on a team. Please go to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LcgCharlotteWinterWeekend to find updated information on this year's event and pictures from last year's. We hope many of you can join us for a weekend of spiritual rejuvenation, fun, food, and fellowship!—Jim Meredith
Kansas City Regional Family Weekend Update
This year we invite you to celebrate the Tenth Annual Kansas City Family Weekend (I know, can you believe it?). This is a weekend you don't want to miss. Register at lcgkcweekend.org (not an official LCG Web site) and sign up for dinner and activities.
If you plan to stay at the hotel, please call the Hilton Garden Inn at 816-350-3000 and tell them you are with the Living Church of God. Rates are $79 per night, plus tax, and include a free, hot breakfast.
We will roll out the red carpet for our black-tie gala event (Sabbath wear acceptable) and present the first-ever "Ambassador Awards" (not to be confused with a serious awards show). We will have several categories of awards, some of which we will open for nominations on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/lcgkcweekend (not an official LCG Facebook page). And who knows, maybe you will be nominated.
Don't forget, we want to showcase your artwork this year, too. If you plan to bring art to display, please sign up on our Web site and click "Art Show Signup" at the top.
For questions or for more information, please visit the Web site or contact me at 816-847-5635.—Michael Keesee
Living Youth Program
Online Teen Bible Study
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, December 12, will be on "The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Part 5," 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 one half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at www.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 4," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
Living University
Call for On-Site Students and Registration for Second Semester
Call for On-Site Study Applications (U.S. only at this time): For those seeking a unique and exciting learning opportunity, LU is now accepting applications for full-time students to study on-site in Charlotte, North Carolina beginning in the fall of 2015. At this time we can only accept on-site students from the U.S., but we hope to expand this opportunity to international students in future years. We plan to have several new male and female students here in August 2015! Applications can be initiated online through the University Web site. Additional details and requirements can also be found online, as can a rough estimate of associated costs. We will have housing available for on-site students next fall. With our on-site students we are also looking for individuals who might have skills they can contribute to the Work or University, through part-time work-study. Interested students should plan to complete application submission by February 2015, but should begin the process now. Those with no previous college should submit college entrance test scores (ACT or SAT) along with other application materials and should plan to take that examination this fall. You can find out more about these exams through a local high school guidance counselor or local community college or university testing service. If you have questions about on-site attendance or work-study or to find out more, please call or e-mail Dr. Scott Winnail at 704-708-2292 or [email protected].
Registration for second semester classes is now underway! The Spring Semester (fall in the Southern hemisphere) will begin on Wednesday, January 14, and you may register anytime between now and January 14. Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course(s). This semester, along with many of our traditionally offered spring classes, we will be offering four completely new courses. Watch for these in the weeks to come. The following are brief descriptions of courses being offered next semester. A complete listing of second semester courses can also be viewed on the Living University Web site under the link "Spring 2015 Schedule." To make application to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com Web site. For additional information, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294. Note that the earlier students register and purchase textbooks, the better the prices they may find for the textbooks.
THL 350—Principles of Counseling and Conflict Resolution
This course focuses on the philosophy and techniques of Bible-based counseling including interpersonal, premarital, marital, family counseling, addiction counseling, and biblical conflict resolution. Most people are faced with counseling opportunities in their personal lives and this course equips students with basic skills and understanding to positively impact those they care about.
THL 380—Introduction to Biblical Doctrine
This exciting foundational course taught by Mr. Richard Ames presents an overview of many of the basic doctrines taught by the Living Church of God. Through a review of Scripture as well as past and present Church literature, students gain a broad and basic understanding of what the Church believes, and why it believes as it does. This course is required for most degree and certificate programs.
Comments
Prayer Is Important! Numerous scriptures emphasize the importance of prayer. David and Daniel prayed three times a day (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10). Jesus began His day with prayer (Mark 1:35). He prayed all night before making important decisions (Luke 6:12-13). Jesus also took time to teach His disciples how to pray, and He provided an outline of a model prayer so that they would not simply offer routine and repetitive prayers like many other religions (Luke 11:1-4; Matthew 6:5-15). The Apostle Paul urged Christians to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The New Testament reveals that the prayers of the saints are like sweet incense to God (Revelation 5:8), and that God's ears are open to the prayers of the righteous (1 Peter 3:12). The Apostle Peter admonished believers, "the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers" (1 Peter 4:7). As we see the end of this age approaching, let's follow these examples and heed God's instructions about the importance of prayer.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—December 4, 2014
Pope to Europe—Reclaim Your Roots! Recently in Strasbourg "Pope Francis addressed the European Parliament with a strong message for the European Union (EU) to work together and be aware of its own identity" (Deutsche Welle, November 25, 2014). Building on the EU motto "United in Diversity," he exhorted EU leaders to appreciate their religious roots, embracing them as the foundation that will make Europe "immune to the many forms of extremism spreading in the world" (ibid.). He characterized Europe as "elderly and haggard" and admonished leaders "to find a new sense of purpose" (Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2014). Europe's "two-thousand-year-old history linking Europe and Christianity... 'must still be written. It is our present and our future. It is our identity. Europe urgently needs to recover its true features in order to grow'" (The Telegraph, November 25, 2014). Bible prophecy reveals that at the time of the end, a final revival of the Roman Empire will emerge as a group of diverse nations seek to establish a single identity. The prophet Daniel foresaw this final revival would resemble a mixture of iron and clay "partly strong and partly fragile… they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay" (Daniel 2:41-43). This short-lived European confederation of ten nations or leaders will be promoted by a church with links to Babylon and Rome (Revelation 13; 17:12-13). Pope Francis' efforts could prepare Europe to fulfill its end-time prophetic role. To learn more about this vital subject, read "How the Romans United Europe: Then and Now."
World Focuses on Israel and Jerusalem: "French lawmakers voted in favour of recognizing Palestine as a state on Tuesday, a symbolic move that will not immediately affect France's diplomatic stance but demonstrates growing European impatience with a stalled peace process. The motion... echoes similar votes in Britain, Spain and Ireland…" (Haaretz, December 2, 2014). "European countries have grown increasingly frustrated with Israel, which since the collapse of the latest U.S.-sponsored talks in April has pressed on with construction of settlements in territory the Palestinians want for their state. Palestinians say negotiations have failed and they have no choice but to pursue independence unilaterally… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Tuesday's... French vote a 'grave mistake'" (ibid.). France has backed "a two-year timeframe to re-launch and conclude negotiations, and said Paris was working on a United Nations Security Council resolution that would set those parameters" (ibid.). As global support grows for the idea of a Palestinian state, Israel is predictably angered, and seen by some as increasingly unstable. The future could see some type of international intervention to try to bring "peace in the holy land"—just as the Bible predicts (Daniel 9:27; Psalm 83:5-8). Bible prophecies indicate that Gentile nations will control Jerusalem for a short period of time at the end of the age just before the return of Jesus Christ (Luke 21:24)—see "Jerusalem's Sobering Future!"
More Children in Broken Families: A major study of childhood in the UK reveals, "The number of children living with both their parents by the time they start secondary school has collapsed since the sixties… 61 per cent of 11-year-olds share a home with both parents, compared with 90 per cent in 1969" (The Times, November 28, 2014). The study also reports "Those with both parents under one roof report higher levels of happiness than those whose parents separated. Children who have only ever had a lone parent are the second happiest group… More than a quarter of 11-year-olds in lone and step-parent families have behavioural problems, compared with just over one in ten of those in homes with two natural parents" (ibid.). While separated families are not the fault of children, it is the children who suffer from the decision by parents to divorce—which is one reason "God… hates divorce" (Malachi 2:16). It is sobering to see how modern studies reinforce the importance of the family structure that God created—one father and one mother living together to raise a family (Genesis 2:24; 1 Timothy 3:2). God gave these instructions to provide blessings to any who would obey this advice—because God's way works! To learn how to build a happy marriage and avoid divorce, read God's Plan for Happy Marriage.—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, Deborah Lincoln-Strange and James Bennett