Greetings from Charlotte,
Last weekend Jonathan McNair and I gave a Tomorrow's World Presentation in Manhattan, New York. The attendance was short of what we expected as there was a bike tour going on that cut off easy access to the hotel for many, including some members. Nevertheless, the afternoon session, which we billed to be for those who wanted to get further involved in this Work, went very well and we believe some will do exactly that. Mr. Rod McNair recorded a Tomorrow's World telecast titled, "Hope for the Next Generation." We are preparing for Living University graduation and Council of Elders meetings this coming week. Mr. Lambert Greer, Mideast United States Regional Director, is scheduled to give the sermon in Charlotte this week. Dr. Meredith continues to grow weaker and your prayers for him and for his family are appreciated at this trying time. Please remember to pray for God's guidance upon the Council meetings coming up and for His protection for all those traveling for them.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Visit to Papua New Guinea
Most of our brethren in Papua New Guinea are in two main areas, both of which I was able to visit for the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. A small band of God's people gathered for the beginning of the Holy Day season at a village deep in the bush, where six members observed the Passover at the home of a member and his wife. The next day was spent preparing for the Night To Be Much Observed and Holy Day. The hosting couple, with the help of the ladies, had decorated the area with flowers and welcoming messages. The food was superb, mostly sourced from the garden and the surrounding jungle. We had a morning Bible Study on the Holy Day, then lunch and afternoon services, all in our private and peaceful jungle seclusion. It was a wonderful day of fellowship and a continuing banquet of fine food.
After leaving there, I travelled to Port Moresby, where services were held in the apartment where I stayed. We had a very fine weekend, with nine in attendance for the weekly and annual Sabbaths. Two were young men who have recently started attending with us. The weekend was a true feast of fellowship, much Bible discussion, and sermons both live and pre-recorded. I was able to visit at length with the new people and show from the Scriptures why God commands us to keep His Festivals, as well as the blessings that come from obedience.
Other faithful members in other areas were not able to be visited this trip. A cancelled flight during the week meant that one stop to meet with members and a newly interested person, and to check on our Feast site, could not be made, which was very disappointing. We do have an exciting prospect for even scattered brethren with Internet access: Sydney services will be livestreamed approximately once a month to those in remote areas. The PNG brethren are looking forward to joining in services. Before returning to Australia, we were able to place a newspaper advertisement for our booklet Which Day Is the Christian Sabbath? The response so far has been very encouraging and our database is growing considerably in this area.
The Church in Papua New Guinea is not large in numbers, but we do have very faithful and dedicated brethren who have a deep desire to serve God. It is my great pleasure and privilege to know and work with them.—Graeme Hemphill
Charlotte BRiC Weekend (Memorial Day Weekend)—An Opportunity for Singles
The Charlotte Building Relationships in Christ (BRiC) weekend is now just two weeks away! Many have registered and we are looking forward to hosting this special weekend! All singles are invited for an opportunity to have fun, work together, build relationships, and enjoy spiritually focused activities and messages. Those planning to attend need to register by visiting our webpage at charlottelcg.org/bric (password: bric) (not an official LCG website). If you have any questions concerning the weekend, please contact Mr. Jacob Hall ([email protected]) for more information. If anyone is interested in participating in the music during the weekend—special music, accompaniment, choir, etc.—please contact Mr. Marcus McCullough ([email protected]).
Comments
The Value of Education: Over the years, some have concluded that getting an education is of little value to Christians. Since Satan is the god of this world, and Christians are commanded to come out of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; 6:14-18), some have assumed that getting an education in this world is ungodly and/or a waste of time. Such ideas overlook how God has used individuals who were schooled in this world. Moses was raised as a prince in Egypt and was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts 7:22). Solomon was knowledgeable in many areas (1 Kings 4:32-34), and he collected wise sayings in the book of Proverbs. Daniel was one of several intelligent young Jewish captives who were educated in Babylon "in the language and literature of the Chaldeans" before they were used by God (Daniel 1:3-4). Paul studied at the feet of Gamaliel, the leading rabbi of his day (Acts 5:34-39; 22:3), before being used by God to write 14 books in the New Testament. Numerous studies show that more education and training in a trade result in larger incomes, and this enables Christians to provide better for their families and support for the Work of the Church. Christians who understand the Truth of God and the Plan of God should take advantage of the opportunities to gain an education and marketable skills that will help them prepare to serve others now and in the Kingdom of God. This is one of the reasons why we developed Living University—to help God's people prepare to lead and teach in Tomorrow's World.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—May 11, 2017
Big Changes for France: Centrist Emmanuel Macron and his newly created political party just won the French presidential election, much to the relief of EU leaders! He is the youngest French president ever, and this will be the first elected position for the brilliant and ambitious Frenchman. Polls show Macron was elected primarily to prevent the advance of his opponent, Marie LePen, rather than because voters favored him or his policies. One interviewee commented that Macron was the "lesser of two evils" (Reuters, May 8, 2017). French voters spoke loudly during the election cycle, choosing two presidential finalists from "outside" the traditional parties. Marie LePen may have put it best in a debate days before the election, when she warned that a woman would ultimately take the helm in France: "France will be led by a woman, either me or Mrs Merkel"—forecasting her expectation that France would fall subject to Germany should Macron be elected president (The Guardian, May 4, 2017). Macron takes the reins of power in a very divided France. He inherits a large debt and a plethora of divisive social and immigration ills. Monsieur Macron, despite his good intentions, will not truly be able to "protect the republic" as he has promised (EU Observer, May 8, 2017). According to many Bible prophecies, the future of France, like that of all other Israelite-descended nations, will be difficult in the years ahead. To learn more about France's sobering future, read "The End of Liberté?"
Asian Nations Pivot Toward China: "Across Asia, more and more countries are being pulled into Beijing's orbit, with the timid stance adopted by Southeast Asian nations on the South China Sea at a weekend summit a clear sign this fundamental geostrategic shift is gathering momentum... Uncertainty over Washington's commitment, analysts say, will only draw ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] countries further toward China, which can lure them with cheap loans, infrastructure investments and tariff cuts, but with a risk of diminished bargaining power" (Reuters, May 1, 2017). Bible prophecy makes it clear that an end-time Asian superpower, mustering a 200-million-man army will descend on the Middle East just prior to Christ's return (Revelation 9:13-19). Reaction to U.S. policies and to North Korea's aggressive actions may help push this future Asian confederacy together. For more insight into this topic, review our informative article "Return of the Dragon."
Floods and Drought: Rivers in Britain are drying up and threatening trout and waterfowl populations, thanks to an unusually dry winter and spring (The Telegraph, May 8, 2017). On the other side of the pond in Montreal, rain and snowmelt are causing devastating floods. Thousands have been evacuated from over 100 towns and cities (BBC, May 8, 2017). Further south, "A massive wildfire burning in south Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp has engulfed more than 200 square miles, causing evacuations as firefighters work in vain to bring the blaze under control" (Douglasville Patch, May 8, 2017). And in the U.S. midwest, the St. Louis area is bailing out from the second "100-year flood" in 16 months (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 8, 2017). Whether these are only passing cyclical events or not remains to be seen. Certainly they do not indicate God's blessing and protection upon these nations. That God uses weather to get our attention is evident from Deuteronomy 28:15, 22-24 and Amos 4:7. There is more extreme weather coming in the days ahead. To understand how God uses weather, listen to or read Who Controls the Weather?—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, and Chris Sookdeo