Greetings from Charlotte,
As Americans take time to enjoy a Thanksgiving weekend with friends and family, millions around the world are struggling to survive under very difficult circumstances in areas plagued by violence, brutality and increasingly adverse environmental conditions. This troubled world certainly needs to hear the "Good News" about the return of Jesus Christ and the setting up of right government in the coming Kingdom of God. At this time, we can all be thankful for the precious truth that God has opened the minds of His people to understand and the opportunity and technological means that we have been given to share this positive and inspiring message with people all around the world. – DSW
Church Administration
Charlotte Family Weekend Registration Open!
If you plan to attend the Charlotte Family Weekend event December 24-27 please register online as soon as possible. Registration for the activities will close December 15th. For more detailed information on the events and to register, go to your MyLCG page on the www.cogl.org Web site. (If you do not have computer access, your local Festival Advisor may register for you.) Please register for all the listed events you plan to attend. There is a separate sports registration page for volleyball and basketball. Updated information on this year's event can be found on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LcgCharlotteWinterWeekend?ref=bookmarks. You do not need a Facebook account to access this page. We hope many of you can join us for a weekend of spiritual rejuvenation, fun, food, and fellowship!—Jim Meredith
Kansas City Family Weekend Registration Open!
The Kansas City Family Weekend is only a month away. For those who have not yet registered, the details are on the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lcgkcweekend) and on the event Web site at (http://kcweekend.moluf.net). Rooms are available at the Hilton Garden Inn in Independence, MO (phone 816-350-3000). Mention that you are with the Living Church of God to get a discount rate of $81.00 per night + tax). Housing with brethren is also available, but register soon so you don't lose out on available space.
The weekend will include Bible studies, a catered meal, art show, fun show and dance. Sign up on the Web site if you plan to bring artwork so we can have plenty of room for your exhibit. The beef brisket Saturday evening dinner will cost $18/adult and $10/child under 12. Dress for the evening will be formal or Sabbath-wear if you prefer. Activities on Sunday will include teams for family games plus basketball and volleyball tournaments. Deadlines are coming up in mid-December. There will also be a volleyball skills clinic, teen basketball games, children's basketball clinic and gaga ball. Please register soon! —Michael Keesee
Internet Department
New German-Language Web Site!—Repeat Announcement
We are very pleased to announce the launch of our new German-language Tomorrow's World Web site—www.weltvonmorgen.org! This new site complements our new French and Dutch Web sites and is modeled after our flagship English-language Tomorrow's World Web site. We thank the translators for their contributions and we hope that the new site produces much fruit!—Wyatt Ciesielka
Summary of New International Web Sites Recently Launched!—Repeat Announcement
God has commissioned His Church to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to "all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). We thank God for blessing His Work in so many ways, and for providing us the resources to be fulfilling that Great Commission. Thanks to extremely important translation help from many of our members around the world, as has been previously reported, the Internet team has been working with our international offices to launch important and significantly updated new Web sites in multiple languages. We felt that a quick summary of some of the main new Web sites recently launched may be helpful: new French TW Web site: www.MondeDemain.org, new French LCG Web site: www.EgliseDieuVivant.org, new Dutch TW Web site: www.WereldvanMorgen.org and the new German TW Web site: www.WeltvonMorgen.org. There have also been launches or updates of other Web sites and social media sites, such as TW Instagram and a Spanish LivingYouth Facebook page at facebook.com/IDVCampamentojuvenil, plus more. For a more comprehensive list of most of the primary Living Church of God Web sites, please see the link titled "Primary Sites" at the bottom of LCG.org.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Living Youth Program
Online Teen Bible Study Friday Evening
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, December 4, will be on "Just What Is Man?," 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. (Eastern time) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at http://www.livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful 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 can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
Living University
Registration for Second Semester
Registration for second semester classes is now under way! The next semester will begin on Wednesday, January 13. New and existing students may register for the spring semester (fall in the southern hemisphere) anytime between now and January 13. For those who have never taken a Living University course, you will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected course. This semester, along with many of our traditionally offered spring classes, we will be offering two completely new courses one of which is listed below. The following are brief descriptions of several 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 2016 Class Schedule." To make application to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com Web site. Members who are in their Third Tithe year at the start of the semester are eligible for a 50% tuition reduction and those age 65 and above are eligible to audit one class per semester without a tuition charge. For additional information, please contact Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
NEW –THL 345—Christian Men: This course deals with Christian men as husbands, fathers and masculine leaders of the family. It addresses the purpose God has given men, being a loving leader and head of a family and key areas in which Christian men are biblically challenged to mature and excel. This class will explore masculine principles relevant to the life, work, and success of the Christian man.
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. Long-time Church members will grow in the depth of their understanding of Biblical Doctrine. This course is required for most degree and certificate programs.
THL 413—Epistles of Paul II: This is the second course focusing on the Apostle Paul's life and writings. Its emphasis is on the final five of his letters to the seven churches (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians), his letter to the church at-large (Hebrews) and his letters addressed to individuals (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon). This class examines the historical, archeological, and cultural background of the life and times of the Apostle Paul and the start of the New Testament Church. THL 412 is a prerequisite for this course.
Comments
Are You Thankful? We live in an age when many people take blessings for granted. Yet, the Bible reveals that "every good gift" comes from God (James 1:17) and that we should give thanks "always for all things to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). According to the Scriptures, an attitude of thankfulness is very important to God. David said that when we come before God we should "come before His presence with thanksgiving" and "bless His name" (Psalm 95:2; 100:4-5) and remember His "wondrous works" (Psalm 26:7). Daniel thanked God for revealing the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and sparing the life of Daniel and his friends (Daniel 2:23). Jesus thanked God for revealing the truth to "babes"—people willing to be taught (Matthew 11:25). The Apostle Paul taught that our prayers and requests should be made with "thanksgiving" (Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2) and that we should be thankful for the faith that God has allowed us to understand (Colossians 2:7). You might take some time this weekend to reflect on what you have to be thankful for—and convey your heart-felt thanks to God!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—November 25, 2015
Where is God? The spread of terrorism and recent attacks in France, the daily stabbings in Israel and the turmoil, suffering and death in the world, even religious leaders are questioning their faith. "Justin Welby [Archbishop of Canterbury] said he was left asking why the attacks happened, and where God was in the French victim's time of need…asked if these attacks had caused him to doubt where God is, he said: 'O gosh, yes,' and admitted it put 'a chink in his armour'" (Telegraph, November 22, 2015). So where is God in all this tragedy? Few remember that God warned the ancient nation of Israel that if they turned away from Him and despised His laws, they would suffer serious consequences (Leviticus 26:14-39). The prophet Isaiah warned, "They have forsaken the Lord…They have turned away backward…I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear" (Isaiah 1:4, 14-15). Isaiah urged the sinful nation to repent and return to God, but they refused and were punished (Isaiah 1:16-25). The Israelite nations of today—America, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and Commonwealth Nations have turned away from the biblical morality that once separated them from the rest of the world. Because of this God is allowing these ancient prophecies to be fulfilled in our time. For more on this sobering subject, read The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.
Global Drought Conditions: California, the most populous state in America with 40 million people, is in the fourth year of a record-breaking drought with nearly half of the state showing extreme to exceptional drought conditions (U.S Drought Monitor, November 10, 2015). South Africa is experiencing "the worst drought in decades" that threatens to send "shock waves through the economy" as agricultural jobs are lost and food prices rise—which could spawn social unrest (The Guardian, November 17, 2015). Indonesia is suffering what could be "the worst drought on record" that is reducing yields in critical rice growing areas (Reuter's, October 29, 2015). Nearly half of India's districts are "reeling under drought"—including grain growing areas with large populations. (The Times of India, October 3, 2015). In Brazil, the "worst dry spell for 100 years" has seriously reduced water supplies to Sao Paulo, the biggest city in the western hemisphere (Daily Mail, October 24, 2015), where residents storing water in open containers has contributed to an epidemic of mosquito born Dengue fever (bloomberg.com, April 21, 2015). While few today link the Bible to current events, ancient Bible prophecies have long foretold major droughts, famines and disease epidemics will occur—along with global turmoil—as we approach the end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ (Joel 1:15-20; Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8). To learn more about this vital subject, read our booklet Who Controls the Weather?
New Deadly Disease South America and Caribbean: "A virus believed to cause under-developed brains and skulls in newborn babies has sparked a public health emergency in Brazil and the Caribbean. The Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease similar to dengue fever, was first identified on Easter Island, Chile in February last year and has spread to Brazil, Columbia and the Caribbean" (The Independent, November 19, 2015). Health officials across the region warned authorities to prepare for "a potential burden at all levels of health care" as doctors began treating patients with the disease, and health officials in Europe are concerned the virus could spread to the continent (Ibid.). This is happening as "Scientists in China discover a gene that enables resistance to move between bacteria—which is likely to spread worldwide"—making treatment even harder (The Guardian, November 18, 2015). Jesus Christ prophesied that one of the signs of the end of the age would be widespread "pestilences"—outbreaks of diseases—that would devastate populations (Luke 21:7-11; Revelation 6:8). As we see these prophecies coming to pass, we need to earnestly pray "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10). For more about signs of the end of the age, see our revealing booklet, Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ's Return..—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, Christ Cookdeo.