05/31/12

Greetings from Charlotte,

Weather conditions are again making news. Tropical storms have drenched the southeastern coast of the United States and coastal areas of Mexico. Drought conditions, lightning and high winds have spawned wildfires in New Mexico, Colorado and southern California. Several earthquakes rattled towns in northern Italy as public disclosures of corruption and power struggles in the Vatican made headlines around the world. Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has been writing and holding meetings. Reports from around the world indicate that Pentecost was a very encouraging Holy Day for God’s people. On e of our pastors described several healings that occurred in his congregation over the weekend. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that last week’s Tomorrow’s World television program entitled “The Sabbath Controversy” should draw more than 4,500 responses. Mr. and Mrs. Ames are due back in Charlotte after congregational visits and Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations in western Canada. Dr. Scott Winnail will be in Jamaica this weekend for services and board meetings.—DSW

Church Administration

Carolina Singles Weekend a Success!

Eighty enthusiastic singles participated in the third annual Carolina Singles Weekend, May 25-28. Visitors came from all over the United States as well as Canada, Argentina, and the United Kingdom, to share in the “Fruits of the Spirit” theme for Pentecost weekend. In addition to the Sabbath and Pentecost messages, attendees heard special sessions entitled, “Fruits of a Godly Man/Woman,” “The Fruits of the Spirit Show Godly Love,” and “The Encouragement of the Holy Spirit.” Other activities of the weekend included a Saturday night ice cream social with Bible games, a Sunday night banquet with Topics session and dance, and a Monday cookout to cap off the weekend. Many commented on the inspiring messages, and the opportunity to form and strengthen friendships in God’s Church. On e attendee commented, “I was very impressed with everything here. I’m so glad I came down, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I would love to come back again! It was the best vacation I ever had.”

Winchester, Virginia, Family Weekend (Repeat Announcement)

A Family Weekend in Winchester, VA is scheduled for June 8-10. On Friday evening, June 8, there will be a Bible Study. Sabbath Services on Sabbath, June 9, will be followed later with a dinner and, after sunset, a dance. 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 loca l 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.

Living Youth Programs

Teen Bible Study—Sunday Evening

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

Internet Operations

Internet Operations: Tomorrow’s World telecast now available 24/7/365 on Roku!

Internet television is a powerful way to augment our ever-expanding commercial and public-access TV coverage to reach millions of potential additional viewers throughout the world! Not only is Internet television a rapidly growing phenomenon with a rapidly increasing subscriber base, but this is also a way to reach parts of the world where we do not yet have commercial or public TV access... for free! We are very pleased to announce that the Tomorrow’s World telecast is now available 24/7/365 on Roku, one of the leading Internet TV devices! You can visit www.TomorrowsWorld.org for more information. Or, if you already own a Roku device, just browse to the “Religion” s ection on your Roku to find the Tomorrow’s World channel.—Wyatt Ciesielka

Feast of Tabernacles 2012

Activity Registration Will Begin June 24 (Repeat Announcement)

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 cl icking on the “Feast of Tabernacles” link. More information about signing up for activities will be given in the coming weeks! —Festival Office

Comments

Are You Filled with God’s Spirit? We read in the Scriptures of numerous people who were “filled” with God’s Holy Spirit—John the Baptist, his mother Elizabeth and his father Zacharias (Luke 1:15, 41, 67). On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were “all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). Later, Peter and Paul were described as being “filled” with the Spirit (Acts 4:8; 9:17; 13:9). Paul admonished the brethren, “do not be drunk with wine… but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).< span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> How do we become filled with the Spirit? If we repent, make a commitment at baptism and receive the laying on of hands, we are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). God gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey His commandments (John 14:15-17; Acts 5:32). However, that Spirit must be nourished daily by regular prayer and Bible study if we are to be “filled” with the Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16). Paul’s admonition to Timothy to “stir up” the gift of God’s Spirit indicates that there are things we can and mus t do to become “filled” with the Spirit of God (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Let’s make sure we are doing our part to nourish and exercise the fruits of God’s Spirit so that we can be instruments in His hands.

Have a profitable Sabbath,

News and Prophecy—May 31, 2012

A New Financial Option for the World? As Europe’s financial situation melts down, some politicians claim the U.S. economy is rising from the ashes. However, numerous analysts believe more turmoil remains for the United States. Britain gives wise financial advice, but continues to “borrow” endlessly without fixing its own financial problems. According to one financial analyst, “The entire [British] tax system needs to be replaced with something coherent.” In fact, he notes that “…the optimal size of government is closer to a third” (The Telegraph, May 17, 2012). Some cry for smaller government and others cry for lower taxes. Many voices suggest that “federalizing” Europe will cure its financial woes. God long ago laid out a plan for the financial success of nations, based on a clear set of laws. God’s financial system (known as tithing) calls for giving 10% of one’s increase to support His form of government. This system includes clear accountability and teaches character and fiscal responsibility. While the details of the tithing system appear after the giving of the law at Sinai (see Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 12, 14), tithing was first recorded about 500 years earlier, in the days of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 14:18-20; 28:22). Jesus indicated that this system was still in effect during His ministry (Matthew 23:23). When Jesus Christ, who “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), returns to this earth, He will reinstitute the biblical tithing system on a global scale! Finally, there will be a fair and functional financial system for all mankind! For more information, see our free booklet God’s People Tithe!

Tragedy of Abortion! This week the United States Congress is debating a bill that would prohibit abortions on the basis of the sex of the unborn child. In a number of countries around the world baby girls are more frequently aborted than baby boys—a practice that appears to be increasing in America (cnn.com, May 31, 2012). Since abortion was legalized in America in 1973, more than 50 million babies have been aborted—about one in three or one in four babies conceived in America are murdered in the womb. Worldwide, t he figure is many times that number. While arguments for legal abortion center on a woman’s right to control her own body and risks to the woman’s health, studies reveal that the main reasons for taking the life of an unborn infant are personal preference and convenience (Wikipedia, “Abortion in the United States”). This is the tragic consequence when people turn away from God and ignore His laws. One of the Ten Commandments is “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The prophet Jeremiah warned the ancient Israelites that when they turned from God and offered their own children as sacrifices to idols, “You all have transgressed against Me [God]… Also on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the poor innocents” (Jeremiah 2:4, 29, 34). Jeremiah warned the rebellious Israelites that God would “hand them over to trouble” and “cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly” (Jeremiah 15:4, 8). Unless America repents and moves away from killing unborn babies—male and female—there will be serious consequences ahead!

City Government Seeks “Spirit Guidance”: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently voted overwhelmingly to urge the U.S. Navy to name a vessel the “USS Harvey Milk.” Harvey Milk was one of the first openly homosexual politicians in the U.S. and served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In order to determine if the idea was a good one, the Board consulted the spirits. According to one supervisor, “We actually put our hands on the Ouija board and the letters g-o-o-d-r-i-d-d-a-n-c-e-d-a-d-t came out. We asked Harvey, and Harvey gave us these letters: ‘Good riddance don’t ask, don’t tell.’ It w as quite clear that Harvey Milk would have been opposed to ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ I can honestly say that’s one aspect of this resolution that’s really valid” stated one Board of Supervisors member (San Francisco Chronicle, May 23, 2012). Few today are aware of what the Bible says about such practices. The prophet Isaiah noted that God will forsake the Israelite-descended nations, in part, because they “are soothsayers” or use sorcery (2:6). Ezekiel prophesied, “Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The LORD says,’ but I have not spoken” (13:7). Jeremiah also recorded that the false prophets and leaders of the land “prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart” (14:14). These same prophets describe a coming persecution on nations that have chosen to reject God and His instructions. Sadly, we will see more of this as the end of the age approaches.—Scott Winnail, John Meakin, Paul Kearns, and Annette Wright

COGwriter, 2012

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