5/11/06

Greetings from Charlotte, 

The Council of Elders meetings are progressing well and they will continue all day tomorrow, Friday.  On Sunday, the majority of ministers and wives from various parts of the country and the globe will arrive for the Ministerial Conference.  Your prayers are much appreciated for the safe travel of everyone and for God to guide the meetings to accomplish His purpose as the world enters a critical stage in human history.  Mr. Meredith has just finished a co-worker letter and I have turned in copy for a new booklet about the Bible.  Many others are busy preparing for various aspects of the meetings that will be held over the next eight days.  Final edits are also being made on the 2006 Festival Planner. Last Sabbath, Mr. and Mrs. Crockett visited the Asheboro, North Carolina congregation—his report follows. 

Please take note that next week The World Ahead will not be published. Next issue will be May 25.  

CHURCH ADMINISTRATION  

Sabbath Visit to Asheboro, North Carolina. Barbara and I had a very nice visit to our Asheboro, North Carolina congregation last Sabbath.  It was very nice to see brethren that we know and to make new friends. About 35 were in attendance.  I spoke on the life of the Apostle Paul in a message titled, “Finish the Race.” 

Afterwards we enjoyed snacks, great conversation and fellowship. It was exciting to learn that there was a new person there who was attending the Church of God for the very first time.  He has been searching for the Truth for some time and firmly believes that God brought him to the Living Church of God through our telecast and website.  He is studying our literature, including the Bible Study Course, and is eagerly growing in his understanding. The seeds we are sowing are bearing fruit.—Davy Crockett 

Barbados Feast of Tabernacles Site 2006 

We are happy to announce that this year the Feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated in Barbados at the Barbados Beach Club (www.barbadosbeachclub.com), Maxwell Coast, in a peaceful, beautiful atmosphere overlooking the ocean. Cost is US$85 per person, per night for double occupancy deluxe, US$90 per person, per night for double occupancy super deluxe or US$140 per person, per night for single-occupancy. These prices are all-inclusive. There is room for 50 transfers. Those interested in attending the Feast of Tabernacles in Barbados should contact the Barbados office by e-mail at livcogbb@sunbeach.net or by phone at 246-429-5995, or contact Mr. Clyde Skeete at skeetecl@sunbeach.net.  

Living Youth Camps 

Living Youth Camps for teens and pre-teens will be held this year in Texas, Missouri and Michigan.  Details and applications can be found at www.youth-web.org (not an official Church website).  This year we updated our application process so that many more functions can be done online.  This has caused some delays and a few glitches have occurred and we apologize for the delay in getting applications out.  Therefore, please note that the original deadlines are no longer valid.  If you or your son or daughter would like to attend camp, there is still time to apply for all three camps, but we urge you to apply ASAP, especially for the pre-teen camps in Texas and Missouri. 

MEDIA 

Mr. Pyle reports that last weekend’s TV program by Mr. Ames titled “How to Survive Stress” offered an audiotape dealing with the subject and is expected to bring more than 3,100 responses.  This is an increase of 20% compared to a year ago, when this tape was first offered. 

COMMENTS 

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 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 (I Corinthians 1:26-27).  These precious truths are a mystery to most people (I Corinthians 2:7-8) because Satan—“the god of this age”—has blinded their eyes (II 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 for which we should be extremely thankful (Ephesians 5:8-20).  He also mentions that those who were unthankful for what they could have understood let go of the truth and embraced faulty ideas generated by human reason—which had 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 11, 2006 

More Anti-Christian/Anti-Bible Rhetoric. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi called the Bible’s legitimacy into question last week in an interview with the Arab satellite network Al Jazeera. Mr. Gadhafi said that the Bible was a forgery because it does not mention the prophet Muhammad. He went on to state that “If Jesus were alive when Muhammad was sent, he would have followed him. All people must be Muslims.” Earlier in the interview, Mr. Gadhafi shared his view of how Europe would “turn into a completely Muslim continent within a few decades.” He cited the 50 million Muslims currently residing in Europe and another 50 million Muslims that would become European when Turkey is welcomed into the EU (WorldNetDaily.com, May 3, 2006).  Bible prophecy reveals that at “the time of the end” a king of the South will “push” against a king of the North, only to be attacked and overpowered by this power from the north (Dan 11:40).  These kings represent geographic and religious powers north and south of Jerusalem. Not only is the Catholic Church taking a more visible role in Europe, but Islam is taking a more prominent role in middle-eastern politics. Libya is also seeking a more prominent role in world politics and is destined to play a role in end-time events (see Ezk 30:3-6; Dan 11:42-43). 

Collapse of The Euro? A Belgian economist this week stated that the euro could collapse in ten to twenty years if the political unification of Europe does not occur. Echoing these sentiments was German Bundesbank’s vice president Jurgen Stark, who also commented on the need for a political foundation for the euro currency to survive (EuroObserver.com, April 25, 2006). These comments reveal how “un-unified” the European Union really is. The nations of Europe truly resemble the “iron and clay” mentioned in Daniel’s vision (Dan 2:33). Will the Euro collapse in a few years? Will a “strong man” come on the scene who will finally pull ten EU nations together?  Will a switch to the euro from the U.S. dollar (as the oil trading currency) be the act that will precipitate a political union in Europe? Time will tell. The Bible clearly states that this final union of ten nations that will arise in Europe will be ridden or overseen by the great woman/church (Rev 17:1-5, 12). We must watch to see how the details of this prophecy will unfold. 

How Will Inflation Affect God’s People?  “How bad is inflation in Zimbabwe? [Does this matter to developed Israelite nations?]  Well, consider this: At a supermarket near the center of this tattered capital, toilet paper costs 417 Zimbabwean dollars. No, not per roll. This is the value of a single two-ply sheet. A roll costs 145,750 dollars, or $1.45 (US) at the official exchange rate. For untold numbers of Zimbabweans, toilet paper—and bread, margarine, meat or even the once-ubiquitous morning cup of tea—have become unimaginable luxuries. All are casualties of a hyperinflation that is roaring toward 1,000 percent a year, a rate usually seen only in war zones” (InternationalHeraldTribune.com, May 5, 2006). Meanwhile, “the dollar is falling and doing so at a quickening pace. It’s falling against the euro, the Japanese yen, the Swiss franc, the British pound and even the Brazilian real…  And today, when a country’s trade deficit exceeds 5 percent of its GDP, it’s a major sign of real and present danger, according to the International Monetary Fund” (Money and Markets, May 8, 2006). Many economists are concerned about the potential for the fall of the U.S. dollar, unbridled printing of money, and subsequent rapid inflation. The situation in the U.S., and ultimately other Israelite descended nations, may not get as bad as it is in Zimbabwe, but what if it does? The Bible warns that “in the last days” highways will be desolate and the traveling man will cease—people will not be able to afford to travel and it will be unsafe to do so (Isa 33:8). God also warns about massive inflation—a quart/liter of wheat for a denarius, an entire day’s wages (Rev 6:6). Difficult times ARE ahead, but God promises physical protection and peace of mind for those who love Him and place Him FIRST in their lives (read Matt 6:25-34). We must develop deeper faith and draw near to God NOW, so that as the difficult times approach, He will be near to us (Psalm 73:26-28).—Scott Winnail, Don Davis, Daniel Bennett, Ben Whitfield

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COGwriter 2006