Church Administration

Winchester, Virginia, Family Weekend

A Family Weekend in Winchester, VA is scheduled for June 8 – 10. On Friday evening, June 8, there will be a Bible Study. On Sabbath, June 9, will be Sabbath Services with a dinner/dance after sunset. There will be a softball tournament on Sunday, June 10. For more information, please contact Sheldon Monson at smonson@lcg.org; 301-605-7215 (home) or 715-441-6081 (cell), or Gerald Dulaney at dulaney801@comcast.net; 540-662-3696.

Personal Hymnals—Orders Now Being Taken Again! (Repeat Announcement)

To access the order form to order a personal hymnal, please go to the website: http://hymnals.lcg.org. Personal hymnals are in English, purple in color (to differentiate from the current hymnals) and have the option of standard or spiral binding, and option of standard size (same as current hymnal) or large print edition (9” x 11”). The cost per hymnal is $11, including shipping. For this round of orders, please note that purchases are limited to one copy per family, since supplies are limited. To order personal hymnals, please carefully follow the directions on the http://hymnals.lcg.org ordering form regarding payment. If you don’t have Internet access, please contact your local Festival Advisor, who can download a paper form for you to fill out and mail in personally.

Brethren from International areas—if you would like to order a personal hymnal, please contact your Regional Office for specific instructions in your area.

Carolina Singles Weekend Deadline—this Monday! (Repeat Announcement)

This year’s theme will be, “The Fruits of the Spirit,” coinciding with Pentecost weekend. We already have about 56 people signed up—and the registration deadline is approaching fast! All payments must be received by Monday, May 21, 2012. You can either pay by check (payment in the mail must be received by May 21) or online. You can find the registration information as well as a full schedule of the weekend at our local website www.charlottelcg.org (not an official Church website).

As a reminder, discounted accommodations are available at both the Holiday Inn Express and the Quality Inn & Suites near the Headquarters building. Both are easily accessible from major highways. The rate at the Holiday Inn is $99 dollars a night and the rate at the Quality Inn is $79 dollars a night. To receive the discount, you must ask for the “fellowship” rate. This rate applies to weekdays and the weekend and is also available beyond the dates of the Singles Weekend, if you would like to come in early or leave later. Memorial Day is a race weekend in Charlotte, so try to make your reservation as soon as possible. Let us know if you have any problems making your reservation. For more information, contact Darren Brinson at Darren.Brinson@hotmail.com.

Living Youth Programs

The Church of God History Project… A resounding success! Thank you for your participation!

We would like to thank heartily all of those who participated in the LCG “Church History Project” where Church youth interviewed long-time Church of God members about their coming into the Truth. We were nearly overwhelmed by the submissions! We have finally completed our reviews, and our review team was very uplifted by the many wonderful stories of faith and love for the Truth that so many of our members were willing to share. We also want to especially thank the Church youth who contributed to this project. Many youth commented that this was a wonderful experience to get to know some of the older membership better, and that is great.

First- and second-place winners have been selected. All entries were evaluated according to set criteria by a two-phase process, which included a review committee as well as anonymous review. North American and European first-place winners (one boy and one girl) will receive a LYC Teen, Pre-Teen or Adventure Camp Scholarship and a $100 gift certificate. Second-place winners (also, one boy and one girl) will receive a $25 gift certificate. International first-place winners will receive a $200 gift certificate. And, international second-place winners will receive a $25 gift certificate. We will contact the winners directly. We also selected some “staff favorites” which we think many of you will find inspiring and which we plan to make available at www.lcg.org in the near future.—Wyatt Ciesielka and Sheldon Monson
Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening

This Sunday evening the topic is “Deborah,” presented by Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka. The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Human Resources

Employment Opportunity: Web Application Developer (Repeat Announcement)

Are you a Web App Developer? Do you have experience with Drupal, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, Java, Android application development, and/or iPhone/iPad application development, and Linux, Apache and MySQL environments? Are you enthusiastic about web development, new technology, social-media, multi-media, and developing next-generation apps? Are you even more enthusiastic about participating in the greatest Work on the earth at this time by directly helping the Internet Operations Department support the Church’s efforts to proclaim the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to the entire world!? If you are motivated, passionate about the Truth and about the Work of God, if you are a team-player and an innovator who is goal-oriented and who thrives under pressure, then we invite you to submit your resume and apply for our Web App Developer opening.
The ideal candidate will either: a) have a Bachelor of Science degree and at least one year of professional experience, or will b) have at least five years of related professional experience. The ideal candidate will be a team-player who will be able to cooperate effectively with staff in all Headquarters departments. The ideal candidate will also have a positive, “can-do” attitude and will be creative, but able to stay focused and deliver projects without a lot of supervision. Applicants should be truly dedicated to the Church and to the Truth. A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. If you are interested in the Web App Developer position, please send your resume to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, PO Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227-8010. Fax: 704-844-1973; e-mail: hr@lcg.org.

Comments

The Importance of Patience: The Apostle Paul urged Christians to develop the mind of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5). The Scriptures describe the patience of Jesus (Revelation 1:9), tell us that God is patient (Romans 15:5), that patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and that true saints of God develop and exhibit this important quality (Revelation 13:10). We are encouraged to be patient and persevere during trials (Romans 12:12; James 1:4), and to trust in God (Psalm 37:7) as we seek to build character and learn important lessons (Psalm 25:5). We are admonished to be patient and gentle in our dealings with others, so we can truly reflect the mind and character of Jesus Christ and our Father. Paul wrote, “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). He also wrote, “Now we exhort you…be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15). The Apostle Peter even stated, “when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God” (1 Peter 2:20). True Christians should not be impatient, impulsive, vindictive, or seek to get even. If we have the mind of Jesus Christ, we will strive to develop this godly quality of patience.

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

News and Prophecy—May 17, 2012

Despisers of What Is Good! The day after North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, Barack Obama became the first U.S. President to publically endorse homosexual marriage (YahooNews.com, May 9, 2012). His comments stirred controversy around the globe. In a commencement address at the University of North Carolina, New York’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg condemned the state’s new legislation as a “move backwards for civil rights” (Associated Press, May 13, 2012). In Australia, President Obama’s comments emboldened one senator to chastise conservative leaders “who are still cornered by the old thinking, to move ahead themselves and catch up with the majority of Australians who feel that equal marriage is where we should be going as a nation.” In Melbourne, an Anglican cleric said that Australia’s own marriage act was discriminatory. He noted that “It’s dehumanising to tell someone their love isn’t right.” In Sydney, a Baptist pastor told his congregation (which had shifted on the issue), “There’s constant fear-mongering among some Christian conservatives and they’re trying to degrade what is essentially a desire [on the part of homosexuals] for monogamy, fidelity and the family unit” (Associated Press, May 10, 2012). However, many “conservatives” have disagreed and condemned President Obama’s statement. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said the President’s comments were “deeply saddening” (www.osservatoreromano.va, May 11, 2012). Yet, immoral behaviour continues to go mainstream. France’s newly elected President François Hollande and his domestic partner Valérie Trierweiler are now the first inaugurated couple in France NOT to be married. When asked about this, Mr. Hollande stated that marriage “is not something we do because one becomes President of the Republic. The decision is ours.” (Le Figaro, May 9, 2012). According to a new Harris Interactive poll (May 15, 2012), the majority of French (79%) do not consider their President’s unmarried relationship to be a moral problem. Bible prophecy has long foreseen these events. The Apostle Paul prophesied, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers… unholy… without self-control… despisers of good… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). The prophet Isaiah also warned the time would come in the nations of Israel when people would “call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). As we see these events occurring, we should remember that the Scriptures clearly state that when a nation moves away from God’s instructions, it will face grave consequences (Leviticus 18:22-28).

Meltdown of Eurozone? The mounting debt crisis in Greece is again prompting talk that Greece will or should depart from the Eurozone! Respected columnist Roger Bootle writes in London’s Telegraph newspaper that Greece’s departure from the Eurozone and its return to the drachma may be the only way for Greece to recover from its insurmountable debt. Returning to the drachma will allow it to print enough money to continue functioning. Bootle speculates that “this time,” the EU may indeed “let Greece go.” The real problem could be to hold the EU together after such a departure—especially if Greece then begins a recovery (The Telegraph, May 13, 2012). European and U.S. banks have been anticipating a Greek return to the drachma since 2009, and could make the switch relatively easily (Reuters, May 11, 2012). The German finance minister has stated the eurozone can withstand Greece’s departure (EUObserver.com, May 11, 2012). But many fear that if Greece goes, the contagion could spread around Europe (Spain could be next)—leading to the return of a number of national currencies. Although European instability will likely remain for a time, Bible prophecy indicates that order will ultimately come at least to part of Europe—the part that will be led by a strong Beast power and overseen by the Catholic Church (see Revelation 13 and 17)! Just before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth, a group of 10 kingdoms or nations will arise in Europe that will “give their power and authority” to the Beast for a short time (Revelation 17:13). Out of the present chaos in Europe will come a powerful, ordered group, at least for a time. For more information on this vital topic, see our booklet The Beast of Revelation.—Scott Winnail, Michael Tyler, VG Lardé, Justin Ridgewayand John Meakin

Greetings dear fellow servants,

It was really great to see nearly all of you at our recent General Ministerial Conference! It was so wonderful to renew old friendships, make new ones and have the loving fellowship and inspirational talks that we did. Many, many of the older ministers expressed their feelings that it was the “best ever” conference even going back to Worldwide days.

So I want to thank allof you for your part, for your prayers, and for your love and loyalty. I especially appreciate the wonderful help in organizing and setting up this conference which came from Dr. Doug Winnail, from Mr. Ames, from Jim and Sue Meredith and so many others here at Headquarters. So many pitched in to make it a success—for which we are thankful. All remains well here at Headquarters, and we appreciate the outpouring of positive response to the conference and for the Work in general.

Please follow through by doing all you can to build, to strengthen and inspire our brethren around the world to draw closer to God and to do their part in this vital Work which Christ has given us to do! Please help them think through these “upgrades” in our understanding of the Wedding Supper, of the timeline of final events and also the great apostasy. This is a vital challenge for all of you, and I hope that you can be alert to anyone’s misunderstanding and help them—or help your local elder to work with them to come to understanding on these basic issues and help them realize that these changes are, in fact, simply “updates” of our understanding. As you know, we have always said—at least I have—that “someday” we would get the chance to go to heaven to see our Father even before the end of the Millennium. But we have not nailed it down and given the details of all of this—as Mr. Ames has done in recent months. We have always indicated—at least Mr. Armstrong, and I—that the apostasy would be much broader than just the falling away of a few people in the Worldwide Church. As I indicated at the conference, over 99% of the world never even heard about the Worldwide Church and certainly nothing about that falling away. So the really huge apostasy is still ahead of us—as we have explained—and will affect billions of human beings before it is all over!

Also, I hope all of you will do all you can to “hustle” and personally contact or visit all of the new prospective members coming in from the telecast, from our campaigns and from the Internet and other sources. Please realize the opportunity we have out there right now—before they lose interest—and help bring these new people along and bring them into the Church, if God is calling them, so they can be truly strengthened and made part of the “body” which is helping back the Work and get this Message to the whole world.
Things are moving! Even since our conference, as you know, the state of North Carolina overwhelmingly voted against “same-sex marriage.” Yet, the very next day, our American President came out in favor of men marrying men and women marrying women! As one who has been in the ministry now for about 60 years since my graduation from Ambassador College in 1952—this frankly is astonishing in one sense—though many knew this was in President Obama’s heart all along. Never would we have even dreamed of such a thing back during the years of Presidents Truman, Eisenhower or Kennedy. May God have mercy upon us, and upon the other nations where all of us live. We need to pray for our leaders that they will at least not interfere with our opportunity to worship and to do the Work. But we need to cry out more than ever, “Thy kingdom come”!

It is very obvious that God’s Government is desperately needed as more people in Syria are butchered by their own government, as more people are “starving” or being raped or humiliated in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere, and as our own “western,” former “Christian” nations turn further and further away from the God who gives us life and breath. But we can take heart, “fellows,” for as Jesus said, “When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31).

May God continue to inspire, use and bless all of you in this end-time Work. My prayers are certainly with you—and I deeply appreciated seeing so many of you again. Thank you, again, for your love, your prayers and your dedication to serving God’s people and preparing for His Kingdom!

Your brother in Christ,
Roderick C. Meredith

Church Administration

Greetings from Charlotte,

The big news locally is that North Carolina became the 31st state to define in its constitution that marriage must be between a man and a woman, in spite of heavy lobbying by politicians, the media and even some ministers to defeat this constitutional amendment. The current U.S. President found this decision by more than 60% of voters “disappointing” in light of the fact that the Democratic National Convention will be held in Charlotte, NC this fall. Elections in France and Greece appear to indicate that European unity is headed for rocky times. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has finished a semi-annual letter that will be mailed next week. Mr. Ames’ Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations last weekend in New York City drew nearly 300 visitors, and his Tomorrow’s World program entitled, “Beyond World War III” drew more than 4,800 responses.—DSW

Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation

Manhattan, New York: The New York City and Long Island congregations welcomed Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ames for “double-header” Tomorrow’s World Presentations on May 5 and 6. On Sabbath, May 5, Mr. Ames presented “The Gathering Storm.” Seventy-nine members welcomed 205 guests for this presentation. One guest commented on Facebook, “We attended this presentation yesterday in [New York City]. I was feeling down due to a disappointment on Friday, and going to this event was like attending a Balm in Gilead. The people were wonderful, positive and upbeat, and the information given was food for a starving soul.” On Sunday, May 6, 35 members welcomed 79 guests, including 12 people who had not attended the Sabbath meeting. The topic was “Where Is the Church Christ Built?” The enthusiastic group warmly responded to the message, with a number of people asking to attend our weekly service.—Jonathan McNair

Healing

We have had a healing in the Indianapolis congregation. In the fall of 2010, as Mr. and Mrs. Tom Campbell were coming into God’s Church, Mrs. Campbell was diagnosed with breast cancer. After studying anointing, she asked to be anointed and chose to rely on God for healing. She had no chemotherapy or radiation. Her latest tests showed she is now 100% cancer-free. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are most thankful to God and to all the brethren who have been praying for her. The healing has certainly encouraged the faith of the congregation here. Tom and Linda Campbell were baptized in early 2011.—George Dellinger

Personal Hymnals—Orders Now Being Taken Again!

We are now beginning another round of orders for personal hymnals! To access the order form, please go to the website: http://hymnals.lcg.org. Personal hymnals are in English, purple in color (to differentiate from the current hymnals) and have the option of standard or spiral binding, and option of standard size (same as current hymnal) or large print edition (9” x 11”). The cost per hymnal is $11, including shipping.

For this round of orders, please note that purchases are limited to one copy per family, since supplies are limited.

To order personal hymnals, please carefully follow the directions on the http://hymnals.lcg.org ordering form regarding payment. If you don’t have Internet access, please contact your local Festival Advisor, who can download a paper form for you to fill out and mail in personally.

Brethren from International areas—if you would like to order a personal hymnal, please contact your Regional Office for specific instructions in your area.

Carolina Singles Weekend Deadline Approaching!

Space is filling up for the Carolina Singles Weekend—if you haven’t yet signed up, the registration deadline is approaching fast! All payments must be received by Monday, May 21, 2012. You can either pay by check (payment in the mail must be received by May 21) or online. You can find the registration information as well as a full schedule of the weekend at our local website www.charlottelcg.org (not an official Church website).

As a reminder, discounted accommodations are available at both the Holiday Inn Express and the Quality Inn & Suites near the Headquarters building. Both are easily accessible from major highways. The rate at the Holiday Inn is $99 dollars a night and the rate at the Quality Inn is $79 dollars a night. To receive the discount, you must ask for the “fellowship” rate. This rate applies to weekdays and the weekend and is also available beyond the dates of the Singles Weekend, if you’d like to come in early or leave later.
Memorial Day is a race weekend in Charlotte, so try to make your reservation as soon as possible. Let us know if you have any problems making your reservation. For more information, contact Darren Brinson at Darren.Brinson@hotmail.com.

Hotel information:

Holiday Inn Express
9420 East Independence Blvd
Matthews, NC 28105
Phone: 704-443-3100

Quality Inn & Suites
13470 East Independence Blvd
Matthews, NC 28105
Phone: 704-821-9800

Living Youth Programs

Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening

There will be no Teen Bible Study this Sunday evening, May 13.

Feast of Tabernacles 2012

Activity Registration Will Begin JUNE 24

The Feast of Tabernacles is still five months away—but will be here before we know it! In preparation for the Feast, our Festival Coordinators are now busy planning the schedules and activities for this year’s Feast. Please note: Activity Registration for all Living Church of God Feast sites will begin Sunday, June 24, 2012. At that time, brethren will be able to sign up for activities that are hosted at their Feast site. (If you have not yet registered to attend a site, please do so at your convenience.) If you have any questions about the upcoming activities that will be available, contact your Festival Coordinator, or check out the Feast website by going to the LCG website (www.lcg.org) and then clicking on the “Feast of Tabernacles” link. More information about signing up for activities will be forthcoming in the coming weeks! —Festival Office

Human Resources

Employment Opportunity: Web Application Developer

To all Area Pastors: God is opening up exciting new doors for His Church to proclaim the Gospel, and as a result the Internet Operations Department needs a Web Application Developer to assist with the increased workload. Please review the job description below. If you know of an experienced web developer, or application programmer with web design skills who is a Church member, who is creative and who can work well under deadline pressure, please e-mail me (wciesielka@lcg.org). A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. Also, the candidate should submit a resume to Mrs. Suzanne Pyle, (hr@lcg.org), fax 704-844-1973, at the Human Resources Department here at Headquarters. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. Thanks for your help.—Wyatt Ciesielka, Internet Operations Manager

Employment Opportunity: Web App Developer

Are you a Web App Developer? Do you have experience with Drupal, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, Java, Android application development, and/or iPhone/iPad application development, and Linux, Apache and MySQL environments? Are you enthusiastic about web development, new technology, social-media, multi-media, and developing next-generation apps? Are you even more enthusiastic about participating in the greatest Work on the earth at this time by directly helping the Internet Operations Department support the Church’s efforts to proclaim the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to the entire world!? If you are motivated, passionate about the Truth and about the Work of God; if you are a team-player and an innovator who is goal-oriented and who thrives under pressure, then we invite you to submit your resume and apply for our Web App Developer opening.

The ideal candidate will either: a) have a Bachelor of Science degree and at least one year of professional experience, or will b) have at least five years of related professional experience. The ideal candidate will be a team-player who will be able to cooperate effectively with staff in all Headquarters departments. The ideal candidate will also have a positive, “can-do” attitude and will be creative, but able to stay focused and deliver projects without a lot of supervision. Applicants should be truly dedicated to the Church and to the Truth. A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. If you are interested in the Web App Developer position, please send your resume to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, PO Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227-8010. Fax: 704-844-1973; e-mail: hr@lcg.org.

Comments

Pride vs. Humility: Bible prophecies reveal that in the last days people will be proud, boastful, haughty and headstrong (2 Timothy 3:1-5) and that scoffers will ridicule the idea that a real God inspired the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:3-5). Many today are largely unaware of what God reveals about pride and humility. The Bible states that “pride goes before… a fall” (Proverbs 16:18) and that humility is a prerequisite for honor in God’s sight (Proverbs 15:33; 29:23). God says that He looks on the humble (Isaiah 66:2), that He dwells with the humble (Isaiah 57:15), that He raises up the humble (Psalm 147:6) and that He gives grace (unmerited pardon) to the humble (Proverbs 3:34). Jesus said “blessed” are the humble (Matthew 5:3-5). Peter urged Christians to “be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5). The Scriptures reveal that God used Moses because he was humble (Numbers 12:3), and that Jesus was exalted because He humbled himself by dying “the death of the cross” for our sins (Philippians 2:8-9). While many today doubt that God exists, or wonder what His will is, the Bible clearly explains what God is looking for in each of us—“to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

News and Prophecy—May 10, 2012

Will France (Reuben) Divide Europe? On May 6, 2012 France elected François Hollande as the new president, ousting Nicolas Sarkozy. Mr. Hollande, a socialist, has pledged to reverse the course set by Mr. Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (BBC News, May 7, 2012). The outcome of this election is “the victory that both Angela Merkel and the markets had feared: French voters on Sunday night elected François Hollande, who has pledged to halt Europe’s austerity measures and renegotiate the European Union’s fiscal pact.” The Germans have warned that “the president-elect should clarify that he will not follow through with his campaign promise to change the European Union fiscal pact, a deal reached earlier this year that forces signatories to anchor balanced-budget measures in their constitutions and halt deficit spending in order to stabilize the common currency” (Der Spiegel, May 5, 2012). This abrupt change is in keeping with Bible prophecies about Reuben (the ancestor of the French). Jacob told his son Reuben that in the latter days he would have dignity and power, but he would be unstable as water (Genesis 49:3-4). France is a leading nation in Europe, but its fluctuating governmental policies may force Germany to assume a more dominant role in Europe. Daniel prophesied that the ten toes (kingdoms or nations) of the last revival of the Roman Empire would be an unstable mixture of iron and clay—partly strong and partly fragile (Daniel 2:41-42). The recent French election will aggravate the already strained relations between nations in the EU and may further divide France and Germany. For more information on this important topic, read our free Tomorrow’s World article “The End of Liberté?”

“EU Plot to Scrap Britain”: This sobering headline appeared recently in a British paper, The Daily Express, as more details emerged from a covert meeting of the Berlin Group. This elite group of nations aims to create a super-president that opponents believe will be “a modern-day equivalent of the European emperor envisaged by Napoleon Bonaparte or a return to the Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne that [once] dominated Europe.” UK MEP Paul Nuttall observed, “It sounds as if they are trying to go back to the days of the Holy Roman Emperor…” “The holder of this new office would be both Europe’s political and administrative leader, giving them far more powers than those given to the US president.” Some suggest “This [new post] is a plot by people who want to abolish nation states and create a United States of Europe.” “
The only hope for Britain is to leave the EU and become an independent nation” (Daily Express, May 4, 2012). The covert meetings of the Berlin Group have received broad press coverage in Europe. Bible prophecy indicates that Europe will produce a strong, singular leader known as the Beast, who will direct and lead ten final kingdoms or nations for a short time (Revelation 17:12-13). During this same period, many Israelite-descended nations—including Britain and the United States—are prophesied to be taken into a national captivity (Deuteronomy 28:47-48, 64-68; Ezekiel 22:15; Amos 6:3-8). For more information on this sobering topic, review our booklet The Beast of Revelation.

Germany & Iranian Nuclear Power: At a recent Jewish Global Forum meeting in Washington, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle stated, “the international community will block Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon… The current Iranian nuclear program represents an enormous danger, not only to Israel but to the region as a whole.” Germany, as a northern European nation, has recently become more outspoken in regard to Iran. Although Mr. Westerwelle advocates more negotiations with Iran, he has clearly stated there is a “limit” to Germany’s patience if Iran continues to threaten Israel. He noted, “I want you to know that we will continue to stand by Israel’s side” (Israel National News, May 4, 2012). The prophet Daniel foretold a power struggle between kings of the North and South—a European Beast power and an Arab-led southern power (Daniel 11:29-43). While these kings of the North and South are not yet clearly identified on the world stage, Iran’s actions could help galvanize the remaining Arab states. Germany’s actions in support of Israel could lead to its deeper involvement in Jerusalem to counter actions by aggressive Arab nations (Daniel 11:41; Luke 21:20-24; Revelation 11:2).—Scott Winnail, Justin Ridgeway and John Wheeler

Bible Study Webcast Link – Click to sign in and view Webcast

Please, use the password provided during services.

Resources:

The Bible Fact or Fiction – Chart of Symmetry of Scripture

Germano-NT-Document-Dates

The Bible: Fact or Fiction Booklet link

Lesson 1 BOOKLET SELF QUIZ – The Bible_Fact or Fiction

Atheism – Descent of the Modernists (From the book Atheism by Julian Baggini, 2003, Sterling Publishing

We have just completed a truly inspiring Ministerial Conference here in Charlotte. Mr. Meredith opened each day of the conference and provided informative comments throughout the meetings. During the three-day conference, over 270 ministers and wives heard encouraging reports from Regional Directors around the world in addition to presentations on prophecy, doctrinal issues, mission of the ministry, guidelines for preaching, marriage, working with youth, utilizing modern technology, and other topics related to the ministry. One of the highlights was the Living University graduation held on the first day of the conference. Many commented on the warm fellowship, the balance and sense of direction, the enthusiasm and unity and the practical information covered in each session. It has been very encouraging to hear the many positive comments on the conference and to see the unity and dedication that was clearly evident among everyone who gathered in Charlotte this week. This coming weekend, Mr. Ames will make back-to-back Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations in New York City. On Saturday he will present The Gathering Storm and on Sunday he will address the question, Where Is the Church Christ Built? Your prayers for these presentations and for God’s people are needed and will be appreciated.—DSW

Special Note: Mr. & Mrs. Jack Lowe had a traffic mishap on their way home from the conference. Their car ran over a piece of truck tire on the highway, puncturing the fuel tank and disabling the car. After a delay of several hours, they eventually made it home. They were not injured in the mishap.

Church Administration

Second Passover (Repeat Announcement)

The Second Passover this year should be taken shortly after sunset on Saturday, May 5. This Passover is for those baptized members who were unable to take the first Passover due to unavoidable circumstances. The biblical instructions regarding this ceremony are found in Numbers 9:1-14.

Carolina Singles Weekend—Hotel Accommodations (Repeat Announcement)

Discounted accommodations are available at both the Holiday Inn Express and the Quality Inn & Suites near the Headquarters building. Both are easily accessible to major highways. The rate at the Holiday Inn is $99 dollars a night and the rate at the Quality Inn is $79 dollars a night. To receive the discount, you must ask for the “fellowship” rate. This rate applies to weekdays and the weekend and is also available beyond the dates of the Singles Weekend, if you’d like to come in early or leave later.

Memorial Day is a race weekend in Charlotte, so try to make your reservation as soon as possible. Let us know if you have any problems making your reservation.

Holiday Inn Express
9420 East Independence Blvd
Matthews, NC 28105
Phone: 704-443-3100

Quality Inn & Suites
13470 East Independence Blvd
Matthews, NC 28105
Phone: 704-821-9800

Living Youth Programs

Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening

This Sunday evening the topic is “King Josiah: God’s Young Ambassador,” presented by Dr. Scott Winnail. The chat room is open at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) and the Bible Study runs from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Living Youth Camps

Living Youth Camp (LYC) still has plenty of openings for campers at our pre-teen and teen summer camps. These camps are the highlight of the summer for many Church youth, and will leave memories that they will cherish for many years! If you would like your child to attend, apply to one (or more!) of our camps online at http://lyc.lcg.org.

Comments

Are You Thankful for the Truth? The Sabbath is a good time to reflect on an important question: How thankful are you for the Truth? It is easy to take the Truth of God for granted if you are a long-time member or if you have grown up in the Church. Yet, Jesus said that people cannot come to a real understanding of the Truth unless they are called and their minds have been opened to see the big picture (John 6:44). The capacity to understand the plan of God, the purpose of life and the true way of life is a gift that God is making available to only a few at this time (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). These precious Truths are a mystery to most people (1 Corinthians 2:7-8) because Satan—“the God of this age”—has blinded their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Jesus said that it is an incredible privilege to be given an understanding of the Truth (Matthew 13:10-17). Paul said that to be called out of darkness into the light of the Truth is something to be extremely thankful for (Ephesians 5:8-20). He also mentions that those who let go of or reject the Truth, then embrace misguided ideas generated by human reason—reap serious consequences (Romans 1:18-32). Let’s never forget to be thankful for the opportunity to understand the Truth of God that “endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:1-5).

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

News and Prophecy—May 3, 2012

Rise of Atheism: In the United States,atheism is growing faster than any religious group. Nearly 20% of Americans now avoid “organized religion in favor of a non-defined skepticism about faith.” Many are leaving organized religion as American society becomes more secular. These church dropouts are turned off by the increasingly political nature of organized religion and by “Old Testament condemnations of homosexuals, premarital sex, contraception and abortion. The Catholic Church’s sex scandals also prompted millions to equate religion with moralistic hypocrisy.” The once “Christian nation” of America is not just turning away from mainstream Christianity, but from organized religion as a whole (Yahoo News, April 13, 2012). As society moves further away from the “laws of God,” the love of many—for God’s moral way of life—is growing cold (Matthew 24:12). However, religion is the tool for positively influencing the morality of society. Noted historians Will and Ariel Durant have observed, “There is no significant example in history of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion” (Lessons of History, p. 51). While many believe that this moving away from outdated moral instructions in the Bible is a sign of progress, ancient Bible prophecies reveal that prior to the return of Jesus Christ there will be a great “falling away” from the standards of biblical Christianity (2 Thessalonians 2:3). As we approach the end of this age, this trend will continue to increase.

Perils of “Living Together” before Marriage: Today, it is popular to believe that living together before marriage increases the likelihood of success in a future marriage. In the USA, “the majority of young adults in their 20’s will live with a romantic partner at least once, and more than half of all marriages will be preceded by cohabitation.” However scientific research points to just the opposite! Studies show, “Couples who cohabit before marriage (and especially before an engagement or an otherwise clear commitment) tend to be less satisfied with their marriage—and more likely to divorce—than couples who do not. These negative outcomes are called the cohabitation effect.” One reason for the failure of cohabitation is that the “standards” that individuals place on their cohabiting partner are usually far lower than for a future mate (New York Times, April 14, 2012). In the light of modern research, the biblical commandment forbidding adultery (sex outside of marriage—Exodus 20:14) and the New Testament condemnation of fornication (sex before marriage—1 Corinthians 6:18) become much more significant. While popular opinion tends to view these biblical instructions as antiquated and confining, the God of the Bible said that following these instructions would bring blessings (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14). God knew that cohabitation before marriage would bring heartaches and problems, and that is why He inspired instructions against it. For more information on this vital topic see our free booklet, God’s Plan for a Happy Marriage.—Scott Winnail

Weather made news again this week in the northeastern portion of the USA with a spring storm that dumped snow and rain over several states and high winds knocked out power to many areas.
Here in Charlotte, we have been preparing for a Council of Elders meeting on Thursday and Friday of this week and the Ministerial Conference next Monday through Wednesday. Mr. Meredith held a number of meetings this week. Mr. Mario Hernandez has returned from a very profitable trip to South America. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that last week’s Tomorrow’s World program, “Prophecy and You,” presented by Mr. Rod King, should generate more than 5,100 responses. The Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation last Sunday in Harrison, Arkansas by Mr. Rod McNair drew 19 visitors. The TWSP that I made in Front Royal, Virginia drew 42 visitors on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Please pray for the safety of everyone traveling to and from Charlotte for the Council meetings and the Ministerial Conference. Also, please pray for those who are in need of healing and God’s intervention in their lives.—DSW

Church Administration

New Ministerial Assignments
Mr. Rod Reynolds will move from Louisiana to become the Area Pastor of congregations in St. Louis, Rolla and Columbia, Missouri. Mr. Dan Friz will move from Michigan to become the Area Pastor of congregations in northern Louisiana (Shreveport, Monroe and Ferriday). Mr. Glen Harrison will move from Georgia to become the Area Pastor of congregations in south Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans). Mr. Anthony Stroud will move from Kansas to Alabama to become the Area Pastor of congregations in Birmingham and Montgomery, and Columbus, Mississippi. Mr. Jason Fritts will move from Tennessee to become the Associate Pastor of congregations in Michigan and Indiana under Mr. Lambert Greer. These moves will take place this summer.

Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations

Front Royal, Virginia: In spite of a rainy day Sunday, April 22, 88 people gathered at the Holiday Inn near Front Royal to hear Dr. Douglas Winnail’s presentation titled, “The Gathering Storm.” The attendees included 42 visitors and 46 members from the congregations in Winchester and Fairfax, Virginia; and Baltimore, Maryland. The visitors focused intently on the message, and several
expressed an interest in attending services. Visitors and members were engaged in conversations which helped our guests to feel welcome.—Gerald Dulaney, Sheldon Monson, and Larry Alverio

Second Passover (Repeat Announcement)

The Second Passover this year should be taken shortly after sunset on Saturday, May 5. This Passover is for those baptized members who were unable to take the first Passover due to unavoidable circumstances. The biblical instructions regarding this ceremony are found in Numbers 9:1-14.

Visit to Peru

Mr. Mario Hernandez visited Lima, Peru from April 12-16. On the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, April 13, he spoke to the combined Lima, Cerro de Pasco, Trujillo and Huánuco congregations. The following day, the brethren shared breakfast and lunch together, and Mr. Hernandez gave a sermon on the fruits of the Spirit. After the Sabbath, a meeting to organize the Feast of Tabernacles was held. On Sunday, Mr. Hernandez held various family counseling sessions and the brethren were able to have many questions answered. The brethren from Cerro de Pasco, Huánuco and Trujillo departed for home joyfully after having enjoyed a spiritually enriching weekend. On Monday, April 16, Mr. Hernandez left Peru for Bolivia.

Carolina Singles Weekend—Hotel Accommodations (Repeat Announcement)

Discounted accommodations are available at both the Holiday Inn Express and the Quality Inn & Suites near the Headquarters building. Both are easily accessible to major highways. The rate at the Holiday Inn is $99 dollars a night and the rate at the Quality Inn is $79 dollars a night. To receive the discount, you must ask for the “fellowship” rate. This rate applies to weekdays and the weekend and is also available beyond the dates of the Singles Weekend, if you’d like to come in early or leave later.

Memorial Day is a race weekend in Charlotte, so try to make your reservation as soon as possible. Let us know if you have any problems making your reservation.

Holiday Inn Express
9420 East Independence Blvd
Matthews, NC 28105
Phone: 704-443-3100

Quality Inn & Suites
13470 East Independence Blvd
Matthews, NC 28105
Phone: 704-821-9800

Living Youth Programs

Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening

There will be no Teen Bible Study this Sunday evening, April 29.

Living Youth Camps

Living Youth Camp (LYC) still has plenty of openings for campers at our pre-teen and teen summer camps. These camps are the highlight of the summer for many Church youth, and will leave memories that they will cherish for many years! If you would like your child to attend, apply to one (or more!) of our camps online at http://lyc.lcg.org.

If you are considering serving as a staff member at the Ohio camp, please apply as soon as possible. The deadline for applications to staff positions in Ohio is April 30. This only applies to the staff positions for the Ohio teen camp.—Josh Penman

Human Resources

Employment Opportunity: Video Editor/Production Assistant (Repeat Announcement)

To all Area Pastors: God’s Work continues to grow, and as a result the Media Operations Department needs a video editor to assist with the increased work load. Please review the job description below. If you know of an experienced video/media editor who is a Church member and can work well under deadline pressure, please e-mail me (rames@lcg.org). A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. Also, the candidate should submit a resume to Mrs. Suzanne Pyle, (hr@lcg.org), fax 704-844-1973, at the Human Resources Department here at Headquarters. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. Thanks for your help.—Richard Ames, Director of Media Operations

Job Description – Video Editor / Production Assistant

The Video Editor / Production Assistant will have the following responsibilities:
·Production of video content for the Living Church of God.
·Assist with and perform the set-up, filming, editing, closed captioning, duplication, and distribution of various audio / video productions.
·Organize and archive video assets using computer hardware and software.
The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:
·Minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Film / Video Production is preferred.
·3 years or more of videography / video editing experience is required.
·Demonstrated knowledge of video editing software is required (i.e. Avid Media Composer – PC).
·Demonstrated experience with digital video cameras and hardware is required.
·Demonstrated knowledge of Windows and Mac systems required.
·Teachable and positive attitude is required.

Employment Opportunity: Managing Editor (Repeat Announcement)

The Editorial Department is looking for a Managing Editor to assist in the planning, editing, design and production of the Church’s periodicals (primarily the Tomorrow’s World magazine and the Living Church News). The ideal candidate will have good capability in layout and graphic art and will be comfortable using Adobe InDesign. Experience with MacOS X is also desirable.

Applicants should be truly dedicated to the Church and have an excellent grasp of Church doctrine. The right candidate will have an eye for detail, be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment and be a “team player,” able to cooperate effectively with staff in all headquarters departments. A successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Charlotte, and the Church will pay for reasonable moving expenses. We request that only those applicants who live and can legally work in the United States apply for this position. If you are interested in this position, please send your resume to: Human Resources Department, Living Church of God, PO Box 3810, Charlotte, NC 28227-8010. Fax: 704-844-1973; e-mail: hr@lcg.org.

Comments

Beware of False Teachers: Jesus warned repeatedly that false teachers would come “in His name” and deceive many (Matthew 24:5). He also said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-20). The Apostle Paul warned that false teachers would rise up “from among yourselves… speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-31). Isaiah provided an important key for recognizing false teachers when he wrote, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Paul also states that individuals who preach a different Gospel than Jesus and the apostles preached are “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,” and that they are actually functioning as ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:1-4, 13-15). These are strong words! In order to avoid being deceived by clever arguments and long-winded expositions (Mark 7:6-9), we need to diligently study the Scriptures so we can correctly understand the “word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

News and Prophecy—April 26, 2012

EU Super-President on the Way? In a recent meeting of the exclusive “EU Club” (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain), the group discussed merging the current positions of President of the European Council (Herman Van Rompuy) and President of the European Commission (José Manuel Barroso). Additional leadership roles by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and the President of the Council of the EU (six-month rotating presidency currently held by Denmark), create a “messy” and confusing leadership structure. One senior EU official noted that the new super-president post “would have more power than either Herman Van Rompuy or Jose Manuel Barroso do today, but also more ‘democratic legitimacy’ because he or she would be elected by MEPs” (EU Observer, April 20, 2012). Meanwhile, EU leaders are calling for more secrecy in their internal affairs (EU Observer, April 12, 2012). Streamlining the EU’s leadership structure makes sense from a practical and governance perspective, and it also fits with Bible prophecy. Revelation 13 and 17 describe a future European Beast power guided by a powerful political leader and an influential religious leader. Revelation 20:10 labels these two individuals as the “beast” and the “false prophet”. The political leader known as the “beast” has yet to clearly arise on the world scene. The move to create a single post for an “EU Super-President” could pave the way for this to happen. For more information on this intriguing topic, review our free booklet The Beast of Revelation.

Korean Peninsula Heats Up: Last week, North Korea celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the nation’s founding president, Kim Il-Sung. The centerpiece of the celebrations was a rocket launch to put a satellite into orbit. However, the rocket disintegrated a few minutes after lift-off. South Korean president Lee criticized the launch, and “said the estimated $850 million cost of a rocket launch… could have bought 2.5 million tons of corn” for the starving, food-aid dependent nation. The South also unveiled a “new cruise missile said to be able to reach any target in the North.” In retaliation for what it called “defamation of its leadership,” “North Korea’s military Monday threatened ‘special actions’ soon to turn parts of the South Korean capital to ashes… It said the actions ‘will reduce all… to ashes in three or four minutes… by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style’” (Agence France-Presse, April 23, 2012). Whether tensions on the Korean peninsula escalate to the highest level remains to be seen. Bible prophecy indicates that at the time of the end, a 200-million-man Asiatic army will advance on Jerusalem from the East (Daniel 11:44; Revelation 9:13-19; 16:12). To support such an army, there must be a certain level of unity among Asiatic nations—including Russia and China—a situation that currently does not exist. We need to watch where the dynamic events in Asia are going to lead. For more information on end-time prophecy, review our booklet Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled!

Sweden’s Gender Equality Push: In Sweden, “gender equality” begins in preschool. Sweden’s national preschool curriculum states, “Preschools should counteract traditional gender patterns and gender roles. In preschools, girls and boys should have the same opportunities to test and develop abilities and interests without being limited by stereotypical gender roles.” Gender neutrality proponents claim identifying girls and boys by their birth genders forces them into a role that will limit them. One preschool director noted, “Children ought to be allowed to be children, but we should not cement them in roles that we carry with us from the past.” Opponents state, “It is important to have your gender confirmed to you as a child. This does not limit children; it makes them confident about their identity…. Children ought to be allowed to mature slowly and naturally.” Said one author, in regard to those pushing gender neutrality, “… they clearly despise traditional people—that is, the… heterosexuals living in nuclear families” (Christian Science Monitor, April 7, 2012). The Bible instructs parents to rear their children in the “training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Older men are to be examples and older women are instructed to specifically instruct younger women in their gender-roles related to home and family (Titus 2:1-5). The Bible reveals that God “created [human beings] male and female” (Genesis 5:2), with roles designed to bring about true fulfillment—a truth that some today increasingly hate and reject.—Scott Winnail and Deborah Lincoln-Strange