Living Church of God, World Ahead Weekly Update

Winter seems to be tapering off across the United States while other parts of the world are dealing with adverse weather conditions. This week, Mr. Meredith has been conducting meetings and finished a co-worker letter. Mr. Ames taped a new Tomorrow’s World television program today entitled, “Death, Resurrection, and the Afterlife,” offering the CD Is There Life After Death? Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that Mr. Meredith’s telecast last weekend, Answered Prayer, should draw more than 5,200 responses. The Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation last Sabbath in Greenville, South Carolina by Mr. Ron Poole went well (see announcement below). This coming weekend Mr. Rod King will make a TWSP in Durban, South Africa and I will be doing TWSPs in Walterboro, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia. Announcements have also been mailed for the TWSPs that Mr. Meredith and Mr. Ames will be doing in Charlotte on March 6 and 13. Please keep these efforts to preach the Gospel in your prayers.

The Anderson, South Carolina congregation hosted a follow-up Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation in Greenville, South Carolina on February 12. The lecture on, “Where Is God’s Church Today” was presented by Area Pastor Ron Poole. We had 71 in attendance, including 14 “new” people. Attendees enjoyed finger foods prepared by local members and stayed around long after the lecture discussing various aspects of the Truth. One gentleman had been receiving the Tomorrow’s World magazine since 1999 and had not observed Christmas for several years because he was convicted of the Truth. Another couple talked of their belief that the seventh day was the Sabbath. The information presented was eagerly received and several wanted directions to regular Sabbath services in Anderson. We look forward to seeing the fruit borne from the Special Presentations in the weeks to come!

About six weeks ago we requested prayer for Mr. David Lemmon, the son of Akron member, Mr. William Lemmon. He had fallen and broken his large upper leg bone. The doctors said it was broken so badly that there was a 97% chance that it would need to be amputated. This week, the doctors were reviewing the healing process and were amazed to notice that the bone had grown around the steel rod that had been placed in his leg. They were ecstatic and said “THIS NEVER HAPPENS.” The x-rays show that the large femur bone now looks like it did before the break occurred. They gave him a full release to walk as normal. He just needs to use a cane until he regains his walking skills. Let’s give thanks and praise to the living God who heals.—Rodger Hagmaier

A Pentecost weekend activity for young adults will be held in Belgium this year. The weekend will start on Friday, June 10 and last through Monday, June 13. The weekend will include various Bible studies, interactive discussions and outdoor activities, such us hiking, nature discovery and horseback riding. Accommodations will be at the Chevetogne Domaine. The cost per person for the weekend, including housing and all meals, will be approximately 55 euros (about USD$75). If you are interested in participating, please contact Mr. Rees Ellis, Belgium Area Pastor, for further details and registration. You can reach him at rellis@lcg.org or, by phone, at +32-71-36-88-25.

The Anderson, South Carolina, congregation is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the fourth annual Upstate South Carolina Spring Holy Day Weekend, which is scheduled for the weekend of Friday, April 22 to Monday, April 25. The weekend will kick off Friday morning with a captain’s choice golf tournament at Verdae Greens Golf Club. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy a round of 18 holes with brethren of like minds.

Running enthusiasts and those using the weekend as a target for their exercise program will enjoy a “Run in the Park,” a 5K road race, on Sunday. Other activities include softball game(s), a picnic, zoo visits, and a “Walk in the Park” to the Liberty Bridge, a must-see in downtown Greenville. The weekend will conclude with two services on Monday, the Last Day of Unleavened Bread. Services and the Banquet and Ball will be held at the Greenville Hyatt Regency, the premier convention hotel in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. The Hyatt is offering weekend participants a discounted room rate of $72 (plus taxes) per night.

Brethren with special needs (i.e., handicapped) who need to make housing reservations early (before February 27), should contact the Festival Coordinator of the site they wish to attend to inform him of their need to make housing arrangements before February 27. After this, they can then proceed to make their necessary housing arrangements, without having to wait until the opening of Festival Registration next Sunday.

Sonora California Feast Site (Please anounce)

Due to unforeseen difficulties we will not be using Sonora, California as a Feast site this year. We are currently in the process of contracting with another site not far from the central California coast that will have a number of interesting attractions nearby. Please do not make any reservations for Sonora at this time. We will announce the location of the new California Feast site as soon as arrangements are finalized. – Festival Office

Beware of False Teachers: Jesus warned repeatedly about false teachers, saying, “Many will come in My name… and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5). While such teachers may claim to be “Christian” and talk about Jesus, Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits”—if they teach against the laws of God, they are not of God (Matthew 7:15-23). The Apostle Paul warned congregations that false teachers would rise up “from among yourselves… speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-31). Isaiah provides an important key for recognizing false teachers, “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). The Apostle Paul plainly 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 ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:1-4, 13-15). These are strong words! In order to avoid being deceived by clever arguments, long-winded, emotionally-laced messages and twisted theologies, true Christians must diligently study the Scriptures as the Bereans did (Acts 17:10-11) to correctly understand the “word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

A Key to America’s Survival. George Friedman, geopolitical author and founder of STRATFOR has released his most recent book: The Next Decade. In the “Author’s Notes,” Mr. Friedman makes the following observation, contrasting America as a Republic and an Empire: “I have spent a great deal of time thinking about the relationship between empire and republic, and the only conclusion I have reached is that if the republic is to survive, the single institution that can save it is the presidency. That is an odd thing to say, given that the presidency is in many ways the most imperial of our institutions (it is the single institution embodied by a single person). Yet at the same time it is the most democratic, as the presidency is the only office for which the people, as a whole, select a single, powerful leader” (Stratfor.com). It is interesting that the one thing that Mr. Friedman admits could actually “save” the American “empire” is a powerful leadership office that has been created to have limited power by the American democratic system. He is calling for a “strong leader” who can essentially lead America back on the more righteous track it started down when it was a God-fearing nation. In Mr. Friedman’s mind, the hierarchical position of a strong visible leader is a key to American recovery. This is what Bible prophecies have long foretold about the soon-coming government of God. Jesus Christ will return as “king of kings” and rule over the earth. King David will guide the twelve apostles, who will be over the twelve tribes of Israel (Ezekiel 37:24, Matthew 19:28). The form of government that God revealed to Moses and the children of Israel (Exodus 18:18-24, Deuteronomy 1:13-17) will be established over the entire earth when Christ returns.

EU Influence Grows in the Middle East. EU officials working in Palestine recently “proposed that EU officials should be present at the site of imminent house demolitions or evictions and intervene if non-violent Palestinians face arrest in East Jerusalem, according to a new confidential report.” “The Consuls-General—who are the ambassador-level representatives to the Palestinian Authority—suggested that in addition to being present when houses are demolished, they should attend court hearings dealing with demolitions or evictions and ‘ensure EU intervention when Palestinians are arrested or intimidated by Israeli authorities for peaceful cultural, social or political activities in East Jerusalem’” (The Independent, January 10, 2011). While this proposal appears to be in the interest of human rights, it is a direct challenge to Israeli sovereignty. Bible prophecies offer an additional perspective. Numerous prophecies refer to a three-and-one-half-year period (just before Jesus Christ returns to this earth) called “the times of the Gentiles” when foreign (non-Israelite) nations will gain control of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2). During this period, a European “beast” power (also referred to as the king of the North) and an influential religious figure will play significant roles on the world stage and in the affairs of Jerusalem (Revelation 13; Daniel 9:22-27; 11:40-41). The growing influence of the EU in the Holy Land could lay the groundwork towards the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. For more information on this sobering topic see our booklet, The Middle East in Prophecy.

World Wheat Conditions Worsen. The UN food agency has announced that the drought in China could place that country’s winter wheat crop in jeopardy. Experts warn that if much of the crop fails it could lead to social unrest like that in Egypt and Tunisia (Associated Press, February 8, 2011). Currently, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization believes that more than two-thirds of China’s wheat crop could be at risk for failure. In the U.S., growers fear that excessive winter cold throughout the “bread basket” Midwest region may also damage the winter wheat crop (www.abcnews.go.com, February 2, 2011). Meanwhile, many Middle Eastern nations have placed wheat orders with the U.S., yet Russia and India are refusing to sell wheat that they are presumed to have in surplus. “All these point to an impending crisis in food availability and prices that could lead to further turmoil globally” (The Times of India, February 14, 2011). Bible prophecies have long warned that just before the end of the age, drought and famine would drastically impact world food supplies—including wheat! (Mark 13:8; Revelation 6:6). Where will world food problems go from here?—Deborah Lincoln-Strange, Scott Winnail