Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. Mario Hernandez and Mr. Cristian Orrego recently travelled to Mexico where they ordained six deacons, one deaconess, and two elders, for a total of nine. Mr. Rob Tyler reports that Mr. Rajan Moses recently travelled to India (the first time since COVID lockdowns) and that he ordained Mr. Subash Singh as an elder and Mr. Marc Casey a deacon. He visited four areas where we have members or prospective members and baptized several.
Our long-time deacon in Scotland, Mr. Colin McIntyre, is saddened to announce the death of his much-loved wife of 57 years, Pat McIntyre. Pat died peacefully June 9 with Colin by her side. Your prayers for Colin and his family will be appreciated. Your prayers will also be appreciated regarding the Council of Elders meetings this coming week. Please especially pray regarding safe and uneventful travels, as air traffic in the U.S. has been greatly disrupted due to staffing shortages. This will be the first time since lockdowns that most of us will be able to meet in person. Due to the uncertainty of border regulations, Mr. Tyler will have to log in online.—Gerald Weston
Feast of Tabernacles
Volunteers Needed
Some Feast sites are in need of volunteers for specific areas of service. Pianists are especially needed. If you can help in the following areas, it would be greatly appreciated:
- Sandusky, Ohio – Pianist, special music
- New Bern, North Carolina – Pianist
- Boerne, Texas – Pianist
- Fontana, Wisconsin – Pianist
- LaGrange, GA – First Aid, choir director, pianist
Living Youth Program
This Coming Monday, June 20: Deadline for Texas Teen Camp Talent Show and Camp Choir
The deadline is approaching for all campers who would like to participate in the Texas Teen Camp Talent Show! We are looking forward to an evening of entertainment provided by campers for the whole camp to enjoy. Selections should be vocal or instrumental music reflecting godly values of wholesome, positive, and uplifting entertainment in words and/or music, avoiding worldly themes or messages. If you would like to participate, please fill out the participation form by this coming Monday, June 20. The form can be found when you log in to your MyLCG account, and it takes about seven minutes to complete. All participants must submit this form in order to be considered for the Talent Show. If you have any trouble accessing the form, please contact Mr. Rod McNair at [email protected].
We are also planning to have a camp choir. Campers and staff members are all invited to participate. If you would like to be part of the camp choir, please fill out the participation form by this coming Monday, June 20. You can access this form through your MyLCG account, and it only takes about a minute to complete. If you have trouble accessing the form, contact Mr. Rod McNair by email at [email protected].
Comments
Where Is Your Heart? The Scriptures clearly reveal that God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and that He tests our hearts and minds (Psalm 7:9) because “a man’s heart reveals the man” (Proverbs 27:19). Our thoughts, goals, and how we use our time reveal what is in our heart—and this is why we are urged to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Jesus’ focus was not on His own desires, but “to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus’ mission was to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, to warn the world, and prepare a people to reign with Him in the Kingdom. Jesus taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). Jesus’ time, talents, and energies were totally committed to His mission—His heart was in the Work of God. If we are determined to follow in His footsteps, we need to examine our goals and priorities and ask ourselves, “Where is our heart?”
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—June 16, 2022
What Is Truth? The world is awash with efforts to prevent “disinformation” and promote “truth.” As the impact of false and misleading information online and in the media is being felt at a growing scale by society, governments are increasingly stepping in to establish rules and regulations and act as protective “gatekeepers” of information. International political expert Michael Bröning, writing in Politico, highlights just how broad such efforts are becoming: “In Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, India, Sweden and South Africa, the fight against ‘hate speech’ is now enshrined in law.” Bröning notes, too, efforts by legislators in South Korea to officially distinguish between “truthful history” and unwelcome interpretations of the nation’s past, as well as U.S. President Joe Biden’s controversial new Disinformation Governance Board. Yet, as Bröning astutely notes, “when authorities are in charge of objectivity, who will object to the authorities?”
Today, “truth” really seems to be in the eye of the beholder. So, how truthful can a mere human government be? As Bröning observed, “asking politics to define the demarcation line between fact and fiction all too frequently amounts to entrusting the care of the sheep to the wolf.”
During the interrogation of Jesus Christ, the Roman governor Pilate asked Jesus the universal question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). God inspired the prophet Isaiah to write about our coming future when “truth is fallen in the street” (Isaiah 59:14). Jeremiah wrote that, at the end of the age, few will even be motivated to seek the truth (Jeremiah 5:1). The Bible records what life is like in a world where everyone does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6) instead of seeking God’s own righteous standards, and the results are chaotic and brutal. Few today realize that the only real source of absolute truth is God’s Holy Bible (John 17:17)! Unless humanity chooses to use the word of their Creator as their foundation, “truth” will be considered relative. To learn more about the impact of a world in which “experts” are increasingly untrustworthy guardians of truth, be sure to read or listen to “The Credibility Crisis.”
Cabbage for Lettuce—Rearranging Deck Chairs? The concept of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic has become a favorite idiom for describing activity that seems beneficial on the surface but which is, in reality, utterly meaningless compared to the magnitude of what is actually happening. And, to be sure, many chairs on the Titanic’s deck are being frantically moved about. For example, as a result of recent massive flooding and subsequent crop failures, fast food giant KFC (Australia) recently replaced lettuce in its sandwiches with cabbage (BBC, June 7, 2022). Lettuce prices have tripled in Australia resulting in one head costing over $10 AUS ($7.18 US and £5.72). Substituting one product for another due to supply limitations is certainly resourceful, but such efforts in the end, amount to deck-chair shuffling.
During His earthly ministry Jesus Christ warned about the coming end of this age. He said the days before His return would appear to be normal, but that His sudden return would be a surprise to many unsuspecting people—just as the flood caught many people by surprise in Noah’s day (Matthew 24:37–39). Today, life goes on with problems and challenges for many people, yet few are looking for or even concerned about the return of Jesus Christ. However, He said He would return (John 14:1–3) and save mankind from utter destruction (Matthew 24:21–22). And in passages such as Matthew 24, Jesus also explained a number of signs that would appear on the world stage just before His return—and He advised His disciples to watch (Mark 13:37).
Substituting cabbage for lettuce is no big deal. But don’t let rearranged deck chairs on the Titanic distract you from what is really happening. To learn more about signs of the end of the age, be sure to read or listen to Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return.—Scott Winnail, Francine Prater, and Chris Sookdeo