Greetings from Charlotte,
World events continue to develop in line with Bible prophecies. The influence of America, the UK and other Israelite countries continues to decline in the world as Islamic nations in the Middle East and nations in the Far East attempt to exert more power and control. One scholar has noted we are watching "the decline of the West and the rise of the rest." Here in Charlotte, Dr. Meredith has conducted a number of meetings this week and wrote the final co-worker letter for this year, which was mailed out to more than 14,000 recipients worldwide. LCG Teen Camps are underway this week in Guatemala and South Africa and are going very well. The camp in New Zealand will start next week. Classes will end this Friday for 185 students registered in Living University this semester. During 2015 we have conducted 60 Tomorrow's World Presentations. The 58 presentations conducted in local areas drew more than 2,300 visitors, while the two on-line TWPs were seen by more than 8,500 viewers. Please pray that God will continue to guide and bless His Work and His people as we conclude one more calendar year and plan for the future.—DSW
Church Administration
Livestreaming of Headquarters Sabbath Services on December 26
On December 26, we will be breaking exciting new ground as the full Sabbath service at the Charlotte Family Weekend will be streamed live over the Internet. Dr. Meredith plans to give the sermon. The livestream will include the entire service, including hymns and prayers. (Our local congregational announcements will be made after the live-streaming is over, so they will not be included.) There will also be separate live streams with simultaneous translation into French and Spanish.
We have been advertising this as an opportunity to "Meet the Living Church of God," on the Tomorrow's World telecast, Internet Web sites, Facebook, Twitter as well as in the recent semi-annual letter sent out to over one-half million subscribers all over the earth. This is an open service that anyone may watch and potentially tens of thousands of people could view the service. Many LCG congregations around the world will also be connected to the livestreaming, where it is locally feasible for them to do so. In order to be able to track where the viewers found out about it, we have created a number of different landing pages. Members and congregations are asked to use the following URL: www.lcg.org/member to watch the service. If you are unable to watch the service live, you will be able to watch it later, as the recording of it will be posted soon after the service ends. We ask everyone to pray that God will bless this special service and that everything will go smoothly.
Charlotte Family Weekend Activities Live Streaming
On Friday, we will be streaming both of the Marriage seminars as well as the first Teen seminar and the second Singles seminar in the morning, and the Bible Study in the evening. We will then stream the Bible Study Saturday morning, Sabbath services as mentioned above, and the Sports Day event on Sunday. The link to watch these activities and services will be posted at the top of the MyLCG page of the member Web site. Please refer to the "Overview and Schedule" tab in the "Charlotte Family Weekend" box on the same page for the times of these events. All times listed are Eastern Standard Time Zone. We hope that many will enjoy being a part of this special event, even if you cannot be there in person.—Jim Meredith
Tomorrow's World Presents in Springfield, Missouri
On Sunday, December 13, in Springfield, Midwest Regional Pastor Rand Millich gave a presentation on "What's After Armageddon?" That was followed by a short intermission with snacks and fellowship, and then I gave a second presentation on "The Mystery of God's Holy Days." The presentations seemed well received by the 77 in attendance (43 visitors and 34 members) and a number voiced interest in attending services next Sabbath.—Gene Hilgenberg
Charlotte Family Weekend Registration and Payments Closing—Must Read
This year we will once again set a new record attendance as we now have over 700 people registered to attend this weekend of fun and fellowship! However, many have not yet paid for their activities and meals. The deadline to register and pay for activities is Sunday, December 20! Please note that since we must give guaranteed numbers to the hotel for the meals, if we do not receive full payment for them by the deadline, they will not be ordered. At this time only online payments through PayPal can be accepted. If you have mailed a check to us in the last few days, please e-mail [email protected] to let us know you have sent the check, otherwise we will have to remove your name from any paid activities that you have registered for. Thank you for your cooperation in getting this done.
Since we have a record number of teams this year, we have decided to hire professional volleyball referees and we are asking for a suggested donation of $5 per player to help offset this cost. This cash donation will be collected on game day. If anyone would like to volunteer to help with line judging, please contact Mr. Sheldon Monson at [email protected].
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 can register for you.) Updated information on this year's event can also be found on the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/LcgCharlotteWinterWeekend?ref=bookmarks. (You do not need a Facebook account to access this page.) We look forward to many of you joining us for a weekend of spiritual rejuvenation, fun, food, and fellowship!—Jim Meredith
Kansas City Family Weekend Update
Just two weeks remain until the Kansas City Family Weekend! Registration has been busy and we are officially out of room to stay with brethren, though we still have rooms at the hotel for $81/night. Please see the weekend Web site for more details: kcweekend.moluf.net (not an official LCG Web site). The password for the Housing and Information pages is the third word in the first paragraph of the password page.
The address for all Friday and Saturday activities is: The Hilton Garden Inn, 19677 East Jackson Drive, Independence, Missouri 64057. The meeting hall doors open at 6:00 on Friday evening and the Bible Study begins at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, the Bible Study begins at 10:30 a.m. and services start at 2:00 p.m.
Please finish forming your teams for the basketball and volleyball tournaments as well as the family games. The deadline has been extended to this coming Wednesday, December 23. If you are new to the KC Weekend or don't know who you can team up with, we plan to create teams for those who have registered for an activity by the deadline but are not listed on a team. You must be signed up for your activities by the deadline for us to be able to do that.
If you have not paid for your Saturday night dinner, please use the Web site to pay via PayPal or see the Information page for details on where to send a check. The dress code for the dance is formal wear, but Sabbath wear is acceptable. A special photo booth with photographers will be available for family pictures before dinner and after the fun show on Saturday evening. One photo session per family, please. Also, please continue to register your artwork if you plan to bring something to display, and bring any easels or stands your work requires. We will provide tablecloth-covered tables.
We look forward to seeing you soon!—Michael Keesee
Fayetteville, Arkansas, Family Weekend—Registration Open
The Fayetteville, Arkansas, Family Weekend is scheduled for the Presidents Day weekend, February 12-15, 2016 and online registration is now open. The weekend will again be held at the Mount Sequoyah Retreat & Conference Center. Housing is available for $89/night and Sabbath breakfast and lunch as well as Sunday breakfast and lunch are included.
Weekend activities will include: Friday night pizza social, Saturday morning Bible Study and afternoon Sabbath Services (guest speaker Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka), Saturday evening tailgating party, and then on Sunday, "The Amazing Race" and a Preparedness seminar.
Registration and housing reservations can be made online at lcgfayetteville.org (not an official LCG Web site). This Web site will give you more details and also enable you to contact us directly with questions you may have.—Gene Hilgenberg
Third Annual Rocky Mountain Ski Weekend
Coming up February 19-22 is the Third Annual Rocky Mountain Ski Weekend in Casa Vista Colorado… just 15 minutes away from the Winter Park, Mary Jane, and Granby Ranch ski resorts. Check-in will be at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19, and check-out will be Monday, February 22, at 11:00 a.m. The Friday evening Bible Study, Sabbath services, and a Sabbath workshop will again be held in our rented group home, and we're working on arranging a special guest minister for the weekend. There will be activities for all ages, including snow skiing, snowboarding and other winter recreational sports.
The cost of housing for the entire weekend will be $115-$150 per person (private rooms will be priced differently). Please note that the more guests we have, the lower the housing rate will be per person. Food costs per person for the entire weekend will be in addition to the cost of housing and will be determined once we know how many people will be attending. For budgeting purposes, expect the cost to be around $50 per person.
To reserve your spot for this wonderful winter activity, please contact Krista Keefe at [email protected] or Shawn McMillin at [email protected].—Ben Whitfield
Feast of Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles 2016 USA Sites
We are happy to announce the following sites have been secured for the 2016 Feast of Tabernacles:
San Diego, California – The Bahia Resort on Mission Bay www.bahiahotel.com
- Coordinator – Stephen Elliott – [email protected]
Seaside, Oregon – Best Western Ocean View Resort www.oceanviewresort.com
- Coordinator – Brandon Fall – [email protected]
St. George, Utah – Red Lion Hotel www.redlion.com/st-george
- Coordinator – Rodger Bardo – [email protected]
Montgomery, Texas – La Torretta Lake Resort latorretta.com
- Coordinator – Gary Stein – [email protected]
Osage Beach, Missouri – Tan-Tar-A Resort www.tan-tar-a.com
- Coordinator – Gene Hilgenberg – [email protected]
Traverse City, Michigan – Great Wolf Lodge www.greatwolf.com/traverse-city
- Coordinator – Bill Long – [email protected]
Mount Snow, Vermont – Grand Summit Resort Hotel www.mountsnow.com/your-stay/grand-summit
- Coordinator – Jonathan McNair – [email protected]
Panama City Beach, Florida – Boardwalk Beach Resort www.boardwalkbeachresort.com
- Coordinator – Anthony Stroud – [email protected]
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort
- Coordinator – James Sweat – [email protected]
Gatlinburg, Tennessee – River Terrace Resort and Convention Center www.westgateresorts.com/river-terrace
- Coordinator – Ron Poole – [email protected]
We have been able to contract some very special rates at these establishments and we plan to post them on the Festival Web sites in January. Please do not make any reservations at these properties until you have been accepted, even at your assigned site.
With six exciting new sites this year, you should have plenty of time to check them out and make a decision where you want to spend the Feast next year. We hope to have registration in March again this year, so start planning now!—Jim Meredith
Living Youth Program
Living Youth Camps This Month!
Living Youth Camps in Guatemala, South Africa and New Zealand are getting underway! Please pray for the success of these camps, and check out #LivingYouthCamp on Instagram, Facebook.com/Living.Youth.Programs, and www.livingyouth.org for pictures, video and updates.
No Online Teen Bible Studies on the Next Two Friday Evenings
There will be no online Teen Bible Study on the Friday evenings of December 25 and January 1 because of the Family Weekend activities in Charlotte and Kansas City. However, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on, "Will You Go to Heaven?," can be found on the Living Youth Web site, at livingyouth.org.
Living University
Registration for Second Semester
Registration for second semester classes is now underway! Classes will begin in just over three weeks, on January 13! Students may register for the spring semester (fall in the Southern Hemisphere) any time before the start of classes. Those who have never taken a Living University course will need to enroll in the University first, and then register for your selected courses. This semester, along with many of our traditional spring semester classes, we will be offering two completely new courses. Be sure to check out our new classes and a complete listing of second semester courses 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.
Early College Program: Teens in their last three years of high school/secondary school are encouraged to enroll in LU's Early College program. This is a great way to build a solid "spiritual foundation"! This program allows high school students to take one LU class per semester while completing their high school course work—and they can do this at an 80 percent discount in tuition. THL 226 Christian Living is a great class for Early College students to begin with next semester. For more information on the Early College program, visit the following link, www.livinguniv.com/early-college. For additional information on this and our other programs, please contact Assistant Registrar Mrs. Michelle Broussard at [email protected] or 704-708-2294.
Comments
The Most Important Quality: Most of God's people understand the importance of keeping the commandments, the Sabbath, the Holy Days and the health laws of the Bible. They also know the importance of government, tithing, faith and watching for the fulfillment of prophecy. Yet sometimes, in our zeal to obey the laws of God, we can overlook something else that is even more important—the need to develop and exercise Godly Love. We are told in the Scriptures that without Godly Love, we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Here the biblical word for love (agape) refers to an unselfish outgoing concern for others. In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul states that Godly Love does not seek its own way; it is calm and not easily provoked, it does not jump to conclusions or assign motives or sit in judgment of others. Instead, Godly Love is gracious and forgiving. It is positive and focuses on what is right and true. It never fails or falters. Godly Love is the most important fruit of God's Spirit that we must nourish and cultivate if we hope to become like our Father and Elder Brother Jesus Christ because God is love (1 John 4:8). Let's make that our goal. Let's ask God to help us learn how to love Him and love others as He does, so we can develop this most important quality of Godly Love.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—December 17, 2015
Saudi Arabia Forms "Islamic" Military Alliance: "Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that 34 nations have agreed to form a new 'Islamic military alliance' to fight terrorism with a joint operations center based in the kingdom's capital, Riyadh… The new counterterrorism coalition includes nations with large and established armies such as Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt as well as war-torn countries with embattled militaries such as Libya and Yemen. African nations that have suffered terrorist attacks such as Mali, Chad, Somalia and Nigeria are also members… Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman said the new Islamic military coalition will develop mechanisms for working with other countries and international bodies to support counterterrorism efforts. He said their efforts would not be limited to only countering the Islamic State group… He said the joint operations center will be established in Riyadh to 'coordinate and support military operations to fight terrorism' across the Muslim world" (The Associated Press, December 15, 2015). While this new Islamic alliance is drawing praise from Western leaders who have urged Middle Eastern nations to take the lead in battling terrorism, Bible prophecies have long foretold the emergence of an end-time coalition of some Middle Eastern nations in league with Assyria (Psalm 83:5-8). End time prophecies also show a "king of the south" in conflict with a European superpower referred to as the "king of the north" (Daniel 11:40-43). This new Islamic alliance could set the stage for events described in these prophecies. For more information about Bible prophecies and future world events, read our booklet "The Middle East in Prophecy."
Preacher Charged in Northern Ireland: "An evangelical preacher from Northern Ireland who branded Islam satanic has been charged with spreading a 'grossly offensive' message. In a May 2014 sermon [broadcast online], James McConnell told worshippers… in Belfast: 'Islam is heathen. Islam is satanic'" (AP, December 14, 2015). The prosecutor in the case claimed that Mr. McConnell's comments had "nothing to do with religion or freedom of expression" (ibid.). Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins recently made a similar attack on the Muslim religion without incident by stating "the Bible is just as 'toxic' as Islam's holy book, the Quran" (Christian Post, October 16, 2015). The difference appears to be that Dawkins, an avowed atheist, also denigrated the Bible. As society succumbs further to political correctness and clamps down on free speech, stating one's beliefs will become more difficult—especially if those beliefs come from the Bible. Isaiah's dual prophecy to ancient and modern Israel warns "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20). Sadly, there will be consequences for nations who reject God and elevate non-biblical religions: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6). For more on this subject, read our article "Warnings Ignored!"
Japan and India's Growing Relationship: "Japan will provide $12 billion of soft loans to build India's first bullet train, the two nations announced during a visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that also yielded deeper defence ties and a plan for civil nuclear cooperation… Under defence deals announced on Saturday, the two sides will share technology, equipment and military information, but the long-awaited sale of Japanese aircraft in a deal worth about $1.1 billion was not concluded" (Reuters, December 12, 2015). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted "The memorandum we signed on civil nuclear energy cooperation is more than just an agreement for commerce and clean energy, it is a shining symbol of a new level of mutual confidence and strategic partnership in the cause of peaceful and secure world" (ibid.). End-time Bible prophecies describe a powerful military alliance known as the "kings from the east" (of Jerusalem) that will descend on the Holy Land at the end of the age, with a huge army (Revelation 9:13-18). This eastern power will ultimately "trouble" the European Beast power that comes to confront it (Daniel 11:44-45). India's and Japan's growing military and political cooperation could play into this military force that will come from the east. To learn more about future events in this important part of the world, read "Five Prophetic Signs for the Middle East."—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway, Chris Sookdeo, Vincent Lardé, Francine Prater and Roderick McNair