Greetings from Charlotte,

This past week the fractious United States government temporarily patched up its embarrassing squabbles over the federal budget, while the Germans are emerging as the real financial power in Europe. A searing heat wave continues to roast almost 30% of the southern part of the USA while thousands are dying of starvation in parts of Africa—and troubles continue to erupt in the Middle East. All these events are fitting into end-time Bible prophecies! Here in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith held a number of meetings this week, and Mr. Hernandez has returned from very profitable visits in Europe. Last week’s Tomorrow’s World telecast by Mr. Meredith, program #345, “Seven Steps to Destruction” is expected to draw more than 5,500 responses. Mr. Jonathan McNair reports about 200 campers and staff arrived for the teen Living Youth Camp in Ohio. This weekend, I will be in Norfolk and Richmond to give TWSPs and then make a short visit to the Living Youth Camp in Ohio. Please remember brethren in your prayers who are dealing with serious health problems—especially Mr. Wayne Pyle who has been dealing with cancer. Please read the announcement below about sign-ups for activities at the Feast.—DSW

Louisville, Kentucky: The Louisville congregation hosted a follow-up Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation on July 30. The PowerPoint presentation, “Where Is God’s Church Today?,” was given by Mr. Lambert Greer. There were 51 members in attendance and nine guests. All of the guests had attended the previous presentation by Dr. Winnail. It was encouraging that eight of the nine guests expressed an interest in visiting Church services.

Mr. and Mrs. Ames were eagerly welcomed by the brethren in the Memphis, Tennessee congregation on July 30. Sixty-two brethren from the Memphis, Jackson (Mississippi), Swifton and Little Rock (Arkansas) congregations came to hear Mr. Ames’ Bible Study on the Epistle of James. Some traveled for three hours to get there. At noon, everyone enjoyed a very delicious home-cooked southern meal prepared by the ladies who went above and beyond the ordinary preparations. The fellowship was warm and wonderful, as all had their opportunity to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Ames and to ask questions. The attendance grew to 70 for the afternoon sermon, “Pray for One Another.” It was a powerful and moving sermon that will be very helpful to all. Everyone wants to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ames for taking the time to visit the Memphis congregation and making it such a delightful Sabbath. As someone made the comment, “It was like the Feast.” His visit brings us closer together with Headquarters and also as a Church, and we are thankful for that.—David Stiffler

We are pleased to offer the French-speaking brethren the possibility of purchasing a personal copy of the French Hymnal. It would be the same as the existing French Hymnal, with the exception of added stripes on the cover. The cost will be a little higher than the English version, due to a smaller volume printed. The price will be $15 (Canadian currency) each, with shipping and handling charges included. If you are interested in purchasing a personal copy of the French Hymnal, please send your request by e-mail to marseneault@lcgcanada.org to receive further ordering and payment instructions.

This morning, the smell of fresh baked wholesome cinnamon rolls greeted the 101 campers and 91 staff members attending Living Youth Camp 2011 in Delaware, Ohio. After a nutritious breakfast, the campers start their day with a Christian Living class covering challenges faced by today’s teens. Then it is on to a variety of activities—speech, dance, volleyball, softball, archery, team-building, aquatics, canoeing, and a camper favorite, riflery. Both girls and boys look forward to the upcoming Table Topics and Dance evenings, where the girls prepare the meals and decorate the hall, while the boys host the Table Topics session. On the Sabbath, we will have the opportunity to have special music sung by the Living Youth Camp choir. Talent show tryouts and practice is also underway for Saturday evening’s Talent Show. Next week, we look forward to the arrival of Dr. Winnail and another full week of activities!—Jonathan McNair

Attention Pastors: Please send Mrs. Dorothy McNair, at cad@lcg.org, the names of those in your congregation(s) who will be unable to attend the Feast and who will need to receive the Feast of Tabernacles sermons on CD. The deadline to submit this is August 23. Note: Feast sermons will also be uploaded (one per day) during the Feast at www.lcg.org, for those who have Internet access.

If you are planning to attend any of the activities at the Feast (Senior Citizens Luncheon, Dinner Dance, etc.) for which there is a charge, please register as soon as possible with your local Festival Advisor or directly on the website for the Festival site that you are planning to attend. The Festival Coordinator at each site needs to be able to accurately estimate how many will be attending each of these functions. Thank you!

To register and make payments for Feast of Tabernacles activities in Branson Missouri, please go to www.fotbranson.org and click on “FOT Branson Activity Order Form.” A couple of our activities are approaching maximum capacity while others are running lower than projected. For example, we have noticed that sign-up for Family Day and for the Seniors Luncheon are both only about 1/2 of what we anticipated based on the last couple years’ attendance, and based on our 2011 total Festival registration.

We have negotiated good prices on our various activities and we need to provide final counts to our vendors within the next few weeks in order to avoid contract penalties. If you are attending the Branson Feast site, please register for these activities as soon as you can. And, if you need help registering, please ask your local Festival Advisor for assistance. Or you may e-mail Mr. Wyatt Ciesielka, the Branson Festival Coordinator, at wciesielka@lcg.org. –Branson Missouri Festival Business Office

There is now just one week remaining until the start of the next LU semester. Classes begin on August 15. If you have not already registered for your LU classes and purchased your textbooks, please do so. If you are considering taking courses for the first time, it is not too late. You will need to apply for LU admission first, and then you can register and order books. The admissions process is easy and all online. For more information on LU admissions and to register for classes, please visit our website at www.livinguniv.com. For detailed questions, please contact Ms. Michelle Bottella at michelle.bottella@livinguniv.com or 704-708-2294. Listed below are a few more courses being offered this semester.

This course deals with the history of Christianity from the first century to the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It focuses on the growth and development of Christianity during the early centuries in the Mediterranean World as well as its expansion into Europe and the East.

This course deals with developing, organizing, and coordinating Church youth programs. Emphasis is on the development of Christian values in youth and adolescents. An excellent course for parents and anyone interested in working with youth programs.

The world is changing and God is calling people from diverse backgrounds into His Truth. This course is an introduction to the major religious traditions of the world, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam; and consideration of neo-pagan and cultic phenomena in the contemporary world. Emphasis is on the historical development, key figures, as well as major doctrines and practices.

This course deals with the archaeology of the Bible lands from the fourth millennium BC through the Intertestamental Period. Topics addressed include patriarchal Palestine, Joseph and Moses in Egypt, the reigns of David and Solomon, the divided kingdom, the exile, and the Intertestamental Period.

This course deals with the development of Jerusalem from prehistoric through the Byzantine Period in light of archaeological discoveries and extant historical details. Emphasis upon key stages of the city’s past as Canaanite Jebus, City of David and Zion, Nehemiah’s Jerusalem, Herodian Jerusalem, Roman Colonia Aelia Capitolina, and Byzantine Jerusalem. Special emphasis placed on the Temple Mount, Cenacle, and Golgotha.

Skills That Promote Teamwork: Members of effective organizations (teams, families, businesses, governments and churches) develop the necessary skills to function together to accomplish goals. These skills can be identified and learned. As Christians, we must develop these same skills—and many are clearly biblical. Effective team players avoid saying or doing things that offend others (Matthew 18:7; 1 Corinthians 10:32). They are forgiving and able to overlook slights and insults because they have learned not to be easily offended (Proverbs 10:12; 17:9; 1 Corinthians 13:5). Team players do not sit in judgment of others—accusing, criticizing and digging up evil things about others—instead, they make sure their own lives are in order (Matthew 7:1-5; James 4:11). Team players are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) who promote harmony and work smoothly with others (James 3:17-18). They deal with people gently, respectfully and patiently, and are willing to listen (James 1:19). Team players do not promote themselves at the expense of others (Matthew 20:20-24)—they ask, “How can I help?” instead of, “What is in it for me?” Effective team players appreciate that a team is made up of individuals with different talents and abilities who make unique contributions to the team (1 Corinthians 12:12). Their main priority is to work together smoothly to achieve a goal while showing love to one another (Ephesians 4:16). In short, good team players have learned to be good Christians who love their neighbors! Are you developing these skills?

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

 

Growing German Power in Europe. “The euro crisis will give Germany the empire it’s always dreamed of,”so wrote the Chief Political Correspondent Peter Osborne in his Telegraph-supported blog. Osborne referred to the recent agreement by EU leaders to a German-led plan to continue “bailout” funding for Greece and Portugal—a decision that is likely to impact Spain, Italy and Ireland as well. What this means is that Germany, with Europe’s strongest economy, will be footing most of the bill—with German tax money going to support Greece and Portugal, while these nations work to pay off their debt. In some cases the debt payback periods have been extended to 40 years! On the flip side, this opens up tremendous market potential for the sale of German manufactured goods well into the future. Mr. Osborne also states, “By authorizing a huge expansion in the bail-out fund that is propping up the EU’s peripheral members (largely in order to stop the contagion spreading to Italy and Spain), the eurozone has taken the decisive step to becoming a fiscal union. So long as the settlement is accepted by national parliaments, yesterday [July 20, 2011] will come to be seen as the witching hour after which Europe will cease to be, except vestigially, a collection of nation states. It will have one economic government, one currency, one foreign policy. This integration will be so complete that taxpayers in the more prosperous countries will be expected to pay for the welfare systems and pension plans of failing EU states… Yesterday’s witching hour of the European Union means that Germany has come very close to realizing Bismarck’s dream of an economic empire stretching from central Europe to the Eastern Mediterranean” (Telegraph, July 21, 2011; EU Observer, July 26, 2011). According to one conservative source, “Germany is on the verge of once again becoming a great power… The French nightmare scenario of an unrestrained Germany is now possible.” (Stratfor, July 26, 2011). Osborne’s comments are particularly sobering in light of God’s end-time prophecies about a future European Beast power that will comprise ten kingdoms or nations (Revelation 17:7-13). This group of kingdoms will give their power over to the Beast. We are witnessing a situation in Europe where these debtor nations will be forced into fiscal subservience to rich European nations, particularly Germany, for many years to come. Exactly how this all plays into Revelation 17 will be very interesting to watch.

Starvation in America? On July 8, U.S. budget statistics revealed a slight increase in the official unemployment rate, to 9.2%. For many of these people and more, the U.S. offers a “food stamp” program designed to provide minimal subsistence. During the recent recession, participation in this program has soared. As of April 2011, nearly 45 million, or one in seven Americans (14%) was participating in the food stamp program. From 2008 to 2010, the annual cost of funding this program almost doubled, from $35 billion to $65 billion. The administrator of the program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimates that only two thirds of those eligible for food stamps are using the program currently. The concern now is what might happen to the program if the U.S. bond rating is downgraded. Many suggest that if this occurs, unemployment will rise and there will be greater demand on the program. Simultaneously, the funding for the program may be cut in order to help “balance the budget” (The Economist, July 14, 2011). It is sobering to see so many people dependent on a failing government for their food. As time goes on and the U.S. government is plagued with greater debt problems and a dollar continuing to decline in value, the situation could become dangerous. God prophesied long ago that difficult times would come on the Israelite-descended nations because of their rejection of Him and His ways, “‘I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; yet you have not returned to Me,’ says the LORD” (Amos 4:6). The future is predicted to be difficult if our nations do not return to God. However, a time of abundance is also predicted for the world, “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it’” (Amos 9:13). No more hunger! God speed this wonderful time of peace and abundance that the world cries out for so desperately (Romans 8:19-23).—John Meakin, Deborah Lincoln-Strange, Scott Winnail