03/20/08
Greetings from Charlotte,
Reports continue to come in to the Church Administration Department of new requests for visits and new people coming to services—a number of whom have been associated with the Church of God in the past. Mr. Sheldon Monson reports that we have had a very good response to both the Living University course on Camp Leadership and the summer backpacking trip to the Tetons. This week, Dr. Meredith has been busy writing. Mr. Ames is working on television scripts and LU lectures. I recorded a sermon for the Feast of Unleavened Bread and a LU lecture this week. Mr. and Mrs. Crockett were in Raleigh, North Carolina last Sabbath for services. We will have a Council of Elders teleconference this afternoon. Mr. Ken Frank will be conducting a public Bible lecture in Williamsburg, Virginia, this Sabbath.
Mail Processing Department
This week our Mail Processing Department began mailing the fourth in our series of special mailings, in which we use a “hot topic” in the news as a springboard to offer one of our booklets to a select group of subscribers. The mailing list includes subscribers who have previously ordered at least two booklets, but not the booklet we are offering. Our small staff in MPD can put out about 25,000 letters per day, using our automated equipment.
In this mailing we are offering a “Tomorrow’s World Special Report” entitled Three Mistakes Reveal the Truth About America’s Economic Future. The four-page report is presented in a format similar to special bulletins or reports put out by various financial newsletters. It is being mailed to 86,000 subscribers offering The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy booklet.
Three previous special targeted mailings have received a very good response, resulting in more than 57,000 booklets being distributed to our subscribers. Please pray for the success of this endeavor to get the “Good Message” out to the world, which so desperately needs it.—Davy Crockett
Church Administration
Next Package of Sermon DVDs and CDs in English
Attention all Ministers and Video Recipients: Due to unforeseen circumstances, our production and mailing schedule of sermon DVDs and CDs has fallen behind. The next package of sermon DVDs in English will be mailed to all Video Recipients on Friday, March 23. This package will contain the sermon DVDs of the first and last days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Video Recipients in the USA will also receive the Holy Day offering report forms and extra Holy Day offering envelopes in this package.
Church Hymnal Transposed
We are pleased to make available transposed copies of all the songs in our hymnal. These are available for all B-flat, E-flat, F, and alto clef instruments, such as the trumpet, clarinet, the saxophones, French horn, and viola. This will allow you to play in the correct key with the piano or other concert pitch instruments. Each song in each transposition is available inside the MyLCG area of the www.cogl.org website as a PDF file, ready to download and print. A special thanks to Keith Rideau, on of our TV Editors, for his work in transposing the hymns.—J. Charles Ogwyn
Kansas City Family Weekend
You are invited to celebrate the last day of Unleavened Bread with the Kansas City congregation. We will have a 7:30 p.m. Bible Study on Friday, April 25. On the Sabbath of April 26 we will have morning and afternoon services. That evening, we will have a Formal Dance. On Sunday, April 27, we will have activities from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for all those who are able to attend. Please contact Mr. Phil West for information regarding the Bible Study, Holy Day services and the dance at 816-220-2947 or 816-885-1587 or at philsfam@gmail.com. Contact Mr. Mike Keesee for information on the Sunday activity at 816-847-5635 or at mike_keesee@hotmail.com.
Feast of Tabernacles 2008
International Registration Update
More than 220 brethren have already registered to transfer overseas since International registration opened last Sunday. For those who registered and are awaiting “approval,” thank you for your patience as we allow local brethren to register and obtain housing first. We will begin approving transfer requests soon. If you have any questions or special needs, please write to festival@lcg.org. International site descriptions are posted on the MyLCG website, www.cogl.org.
If you have not yet registered and would like to transfer to an overseas site, please do so at your convenience. As a reminder, online registration for United States and Canadian sites will begin on May 4. Watch for more information in The World Ahead and on the MyLCG website, www.cogl.org.
The two international Feast sites featured this week are The Entrance and Albany, Australia.
The Entrance, Australia
The Entrance is named from its beautiful location where the Tasman Sea enters the Tuggerah Lakes. Feast of Tabernacles services will be held at Forresters Beach Resort (960 The Entrance Road, Forresters Beach) in a pleasant environment set on two acres of tropical gardens. This four-star Central Coast resort is just a five-minute walk to exclusive Forresters Beach and a five-minute drive from Terriagal to the south and The Entrance to the north. It’s just a one-hour drive north of Sydney.
For further details on this site, such as a list of websites for property rental agents who can assist with your accommodation arrangements, and to register, visit the MyLCG website on www.cogl.org. You can also address questions to Mr. Michael Gill at mgill@lcg.org.
Albany, Australia
The 2008 Feast in the western part of Australia will be held in Albany. This is one of the most remote spots in the world, 400 km (240 miles) south of Perth and almost at the antipodes of Charlotte, North Carolina!
Its geographical position on the southern coast gives it many advantages: excellent fishing, sailing, wonderful coastal scenery, beaches and national parks. The wild flowers are still in bloom in October and the Feast falls within the whale-watching season as well. The population, presently around 25,000, makes the area somewhat of a tranquil place to keep the Feast. Services will be held at the St. John Ambulance auditorium and is fairly near to the centre of town. Full details of the exact location will be available to all who register for this site.
For further details on this site and to register visit the MyLCG website on www.cogl.org. You can also address question to the Festival Site Coordinator, Mr. Mal Jennings at mjennings@living.org.au.
Human Resources
Employment Opportunity: Secretary/Administrative Assistant
The office of Legal Affairs and Risk Management is looking for someone to provide secretarial and administrative support in a very busy administrative office. Duties include: research; organize, maintain and archive files, working-copy binders, and unique information databases; schedule and/or track events, deadlines and required filings (for multiple organizational units); interface with and assist field personnel; track contractual agreements, request documents and certifications, produce correspondence and otherwise relieve administrator of minor to moderately complex administrative and business detail by performing a variety of tasks. Ideal candidate is very organized and detail oriented, able to work under pressure with moderate supervision, has good communication skills and is familiar with standard business concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field, which could include: Business Management, Law, Banking, Insurance, Nonprofit Management, or Contract Administration. This is a position of trust and has a high level of confidentiality involved. An ideal applicant has a college degree and/or equivalent work experience (a minimum high school diploma with 2-4 years of administrative experience in a field will be considered). Experience as an administrative assistant or executive secretary (or similar) would be helpful, but is not required. A more complete job description is available upon request.
Résumés / CVs may be sent to Human Resources via e-mail at humanresources@lcg.org, or by fax to 704-844-1973.
Comments
The Importance of Kindness: On the night of the Passover, Jesus Christ told His disciples, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8). One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that God is looking for in the lives of Christians is kindness (Galatians 5:22). The Scriptures tell us that Christians are to become “children of God” who are to “be like Him” (1 John 3:1-3). The Scriptures also tell us that God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness” (Nehemiah 9:17). David mentions that God “has shown me His marvelous kindness” (Psalm 31:21). Solomon describes the Proverbs 31 woman, “on her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26). Jesus said that God is even “kind to the unthankful” (Luke 6:35). In 1 Corinthians 13:4 we learn that “love suffers long and is kind,” and in 2 Corinthians 6:6 we see that anyone who ministers to others should be “longsuffering” [very patient] and “kind”—which are fruits of the Holy Spirit. This is why the Apostle Peter urged Christians to “add to your faith… brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). If we hope to become like God and be in the Kingdom of God, we will need to develop and exercise this important quality of kindness.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—March 20, 2008
Witchcraft-Driven Murders Cause Terror. A rash of murders have taken place in two remote South African communities. Victims were attacked in their sleep, hit in the head with a hammer, and their body parts were removed for use in a witchcraft ritual known as muti. Police put the number of dead at nine, but locals say it is more like 18. Many fear to return to their homes in the evening and a sense of terror has permeated these small communities. Local vigilante groups have organized to flush out would-be perpetrators (Sunday Tribune, March 16, 2008). South Africa is a member of the British Commonwealth and a mostly “Christian” nation. Yet, while South Africa’s citizens are familiar with the Bible and should understand biblical teachings against witchcraft, primitive superstitions still remain an influence, especially in rural areas. End-time prophecies warn of how God will “appoint terror over” the Israelite-descended nations, due to their disobedience (Leviticus 26:16). “…You shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life…. because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see” (Deuteronomy 28:66, 67). There are powerful reasons why God commanded Israel to deal strongly with sorcerers and witches (Exodus 22:18)—their ways are truly Satan-inspired and lead to death.
A New Chapter in German-Israeli Relations. German Chancellor Merkel participated in a historic meeting this week in Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert stating, “This is an extraordinary, in many ways a historic occasion in relations between Israel and Germany.” Acknowledging the legitimacy of the nation of Israel, and forecasting a bright future between the two nations, Merkel commented, “Sixty years after the creation of Israel we affirm again the special responsibility of Germany towards Israel… But there is not only the responsibility for the past but projects for a better future… I am grateful we can open a new chapter in relations between our two countries.” The two leaders discussed bilateral relations in the areas of economics, science, culture, education, and media. Merkel is also the first German Chancellor to address the Knesset (Deutsche Welle, March 17, 2008). Germany may be the key nation to break the United Nations gridlock over how to deal with Iran (Jerusalem Post, March 16, 2008). Daniel 9:27 talks about a “prince” confirming a covenant with many—a covenant that will lead to the establishing of sacrifices on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. A King of the North will defile the “sanctuary fortress” and remove the daily sacrifices, eventually magnifying himself above the gods (Daniel 11:29-37). This King of the North will emerge from a powerful political-religious union involving European nations. It is important to watch the continuing involvement of European nations and the Vatican in Israel.
Don’t Trust the Water! Forty-one million Americans receive tap water containing “a vast array of pharmaceuticals,” according to an Associated Press investigation published on March 9, 2008. Antibiotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones were found in water supplies, along with over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Utilities insist their water is safe, and say only minute traces of these chemicals reach the public, but some scientists are alarmed about the consequences for human health over the long term. Drugs find their way into the water supply when people eliminate the substances through toilets into sanitation systems. Researchers do not know the precise risk people are facing from decades of exposure to these chemicals, but recent studies have found alarming effects on human cells and on wildlife. “We recognize it is a growing concern and we’re taking it very seriously,” says Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. government does not have any regulations for, nor does it require testing of, the amounts of drug residue in the nation’s water supply. “…They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land may be emptied of all who are in it…” (Ezekiel 12:19-20).—Don Davis and Scott Winnail
COGwriter 2008