Living Church of God World Ahead Weekly Update

Weather-related disasters continue to make headlines in the USA. Last weekend’s tropical storm Lee that drenched the Gulf Coast forced the cancellation of Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations scheduled for New Orleans, Louisiana, and Biloxi, Mississippi. High temperatures and tinder-dry conditions across the southwest have spawned some of the worst wildfires in the history of Texas. Some of our members there have had to evacuate homes, but no lives or member properties have been lost. This week a number of very significant statements have appeared about the urgent need to form a “United States of Europe” to combat the European debt crisis (see News and Prophecy section). This week in Charlotte, Mr. Meredith has been writing, and holding meetings about the Internet. Mr. Hernandez and I and several staff members had a productive meeting by phone with our Board members in Costa Rica. Mr. Meredith and Mr. Ames spoke to the office employees about the importance of focusing on finishing the end-time Work of God. Last weekend’s Tomorrow’s World television program by Mr. Wallace Smith entitled, “Diagnosis: Christianity,” is expected to draw more than 4,500 responses. This weekend Mr. Rod McNair will present TWSPs in Denver, Colorado, and Casper, Wyoming. Follow-up TWSPs are rescheduled for New Orleans and Biloxi, Mississippi. Please keep all of these activities in your prayers.—DSW

Mr. Larry Rawson was recently in the hospital with a heart attack. He is also still dealing with cancer of the spine, which he has had for the past five years. He also has restless leg syndrome. Mr. Rawson is an elder in the Tampa congregation and truly has faith that God will lift him up so he may attend the Feast of Tabernacles in Panama City this year. He believes that with all of God’s people praying for him, he will gain the strength and courage to attend. Let’s all give fervent prayers for Mr. Rawson’s healing so he may not only attend the Feast this year, but also so that he may return to serving his family and the local congregation.—Larry and Marie Rawson, Wyatt Ciesielka

Biloxi, Mississippi: The Tomorrow’s World Special Presentation hosted by the Ocean Springs, Mississippi, congregation was given by Dr. Douglas Winnail on August 28. The Super 8 Conference Center in Biloxi, Mississippi was the site for the TWSP. There were a total of 48 in attendance, including 17 guests and 31 members. Dr. Winnail’s presentation was well received by the audience, with many nodding in agreement as he explained the prophesied events that are going to happen shortly in America. Afterwards, guests and members mingled and talked for about one hour with seven individuals asking about attending services with us next Sabbath. Many commented that they would be back next Sunday for the follow-up presentation.—Ed Breaux

One other exciting development is a new door opening to us via television in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and in Victoria, as well as on the Gold Coast in Southern Queensland. The scheduled start date is September 25, just before the Feast of Trumpets. We pray this will be a door that will eventually help open other doors to the commercial television networks in this country. We are looking forward to knowing that a few more humans on the planet will have the opportunity to hear the Truth. But there is still a long way to go yet!

I left for Kolkata on Tuesday, August 16. The next day, two prospective members came to visit me. We discussed many matters and I counseled them for baptism. They were baptized in the Water Park. On Thursday, I flew from Kolkata to Imphal. I was met by Subash Singh and Prem Kumar. After resting a few hours, five members visited me at the hotel and we discussed my program for the next few days. On Friday, I held a Bible study, speaking on “Counting the Cost” and counseling 12 people for baptism. Most of these people have been studying the Truth for a number of years and have been eagerly waiting to be baptized.

On Sabbath morning I gave the sermon on “Building Faith.” There were 27 members and we had a smooth and orderly service. After the morning service, we viewed a slideshow of my visit to Thailand and Mr. Bruce Tyler’s visit to Malaysia. On Sunday morning, I briefed those who were to be baptized about their commitment and covenant with God. At the public swimming pool, not very far from Sani Mao’s home, I baptized 12 new people into the Body of Christ. It was a very inspiring and unforgettable moment for all of us. I laid hands on them and asked God for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide, lead and strengthen them. It was a joyful day for all of us in the Church.

We returned to Sani Mao’s home to have tea and I spoke and encouraged the newly baptized members about their commitment and loyalty to the Truth. We had a splendid lunch with all the brethren and had a lengthy question and answer session. There were many questions about Sabbath keeping, Tomorrow’s World, our future spirit body, keeping the law of God, kings and priests and many other questions. Later in the afternoon, we visited the colorful rose garden. This concluded my trip to Manipur in eastern India, which was very inspiring and successful. We now have 25 adult members and 10 children attending the Living Church of God in India. All the members are growing spiritually and continue to learn and understand more of God’s truth. We look forward to further growth in the coming months.—Rajan Moses

Our July trip to Mae Sot, Thailand was profitable as far as the growth of our little group here is concerned. We are now ready to build layers upon the foundation laid and nurtured by the late Mr. Mem Pho Saw, an incredible individual we all loved. The brethren in this area speak Burmese, Thai and Karen. Without the power of God’s Spirit, it seems impossible for us to preach the Gospel in this part of the world. Yet, God always knows what to do with His Church in any part of the world, including Mae Sot, Thailand. We now have Mr. Ryan Foster and his wife, La Wan, working with us. They translate our English articles into the local languages.

Nimrod and his mother Semiramis have successfully confused the world with their pagan teachings and we can see the result of this confusion right before our eyes. Our job in introducing, teaching, and guiding God’s people is a challenge of protecting them from pagan ideas. Just as Paul said in Athens, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23, KJV). We have been struggling for all these years in giving our group a deeper understanding in how to worship and respect the God of the Bible, and most importantly, to guide them so that they can walk perfectly before God. The Work in Thailand, Myanmar, and other neighboring Indo-Chinese countries is far from being finished, and we do need your prayers so that we can reach more people to witness the Good News about the Kingdom of God. God the Father will surely call more peop le in this part of the world as the end time is drawing nearer (John 6:44). May you always remember our Work and God’s people in this part of the world in your daily prayers.—Arius Nusantara

Where Is Your Heart? The Scriptures reveal that God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and that He examines and tests our hearts and minds (Psalm 7:9)—because “a man’s heart reveals the man” (Proverbs 27:19). Our priorities—what we think about and what we do or plan to do—reveal what is truly in our heart. This is why Jesus said, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). When God sees that our priorities are focused in the right direction, He will also provide many of our personal desires (Mark 10:29-30)—in His time and in His way. Setting right priorities is important when we follow the biblical admonition to do whatever we do with all our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Jesus Christ exemplified these principles in His own life. Jesus was a mission-oriented person. He told His disciples, “My food [nourishment, focus, consuming desire] is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus was totally focused on His mission of preaching the Gospel, warning the world and preparing a people to reign with Him in the coming Kingdom of God. Regarding priorities, Jesus taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Jesus’ time, talents and resources were totally committed to His mission —He was not drawn off course by trials or the “cares of this world” (Matthew 13:18-23). Jesus’ heart was in the Work of God! We need to periodically examine our priorities and ask the question, “Where is our heart?”

Financial Crisis Brings Calls for United Europe! Last week in Berlin, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called the creation of a “United States of Europe… to avoid future economic crises” declaring “we will have to give up national sovereignty” to a common government (Reuters.com, September 4, 2011). In Paris, former head of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, stated the European project was “incomplete” and the EU required a “federal government with a federal finance minister” (euobserver.com, September 6, 2011). In Australia, the head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, observed that dealing with the European debt crisis will demand “more integration at least for the euro area” (euobserver.com, September 7, 2011). These statements echo what former German defense minister Joschka Fischer told the European Parliament, that a “United States of Europe the only way to preserve European influence in the world” and that “future integration steps need a political union” (euobserver.com, January12, 2011). In New York, an official with Citigroup, the largest financial services firm in the world, said that “the eurozone is likely to fall apart unless the European Union’s member states fuse both on the fiscal and political level” (euobserver.com, April 21, 2010). A former Belgian prime minister has written that a federal EU is “the only option” and might consist of a core of the 12 eurozone states using the prestigious title “United States of Europe” surrounded by other more loosely integrated states (euobesrver.com, December 1, 2005). Sc holars have noted that past crises have been the impetus for spurts of European integration; the current debt crisis offers another opportunity for further integration. In light of these developments, it should be remembered that Bible prophecies have long foretold that a short-lived (3½ years) “beast” power of 10 kings (leaders or nations) would emerge in Europe just before the return of Jesus Christ (Daniel 2 and 7; Revelation 17)—and that its sudden appearance would surprise the world (Revelation 13:3). We need to watch and not be surprised!

Food Prices Approaching a Violent Tipping Point? In an article in the UK’s Guardian, author Damian Carrington reviewed recently published research by three Cornell University faculty members suggesting that when food prices reach a specific level, riots and civil unrest are more likely to occur. The researchers estimate that food prices will reach a crucial “tipping point” and be permanently above this threshold within one to two years—a sobering reality that will impact the world (www.guardian.co.uk, August 25, 2011). Bible prophecies warn of widespread hunger and starvation in the end times. Jesus warned that “famine” and fighting within nations would be important si gns that would signify the “beginning of sorrows” at the end of the age (Matthew 24:7-8). The Apostle John wrote that hyperinflation due to a scarcity of resources will eventually result in very small quantities of wheat and barley being sold for an entire day’s wages (Revelation 6:5-6). Jeremiah also prophesied that conditions would get so bad that cannibalism will once again be practiced (Jeremiah 19:9)! Modern research and current events point in the same direction as Bible prophecies!

Hatred for Christianity Among Muslim Extremists. Sheikh Adel Shehato was imprisoned in Egypt in 1991 and released following the Egyptian uprising earlier this year. He is a senior official in the Egyptian Jihad and his fame and influence are growing in Egypt. In a recent interview, he shared his extremist views about Christianity. When asked whether he was against blowing up churches, the sheikh responded, “Yes and no. The Christian is free to worship his God in his church, but if the Christians make problems for the Muslims, I will exterminate them. I am guided by the Shariah, and it stipulates that they must pay the jizya tax [tax on certain non-Muslims ] while in a state of humiliation.” When the interviewer expressed fear at his views, the s heikh responded, “I will not act [in ways] that contradict my faith just in order to please the people. ... We say to the Christians, convert to Islam or pay the jizya, otherwise we will fight you. The Shariah is not based on logic but on divine law. That is why we oppose universal, manmade constitutions” (www.MEMRI.org, August 29, 2011). There has been a visible rise in Islamic extremism across the Middle East and North Africa in recent years. The Bible clearly indicates that at the end of the age, a religio-political King of the South will “attack” the European King of the North. This King of the North will prevail and ultimately overthrow many countries, including Egypt (Daniel 11:40-43). We appear to be watching events that God will use to fulfill His prophecies.—Joe Brown, Ben Whitfield, Scott Winnail

COGwriter 2011

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