Living Church of God World Ahead Weekly Update

It is hard to believe another year has flown by and is nearly over, yet it has been a very encouraging year! This week, Mr. Wayne Pyle has several exciting developments to report. This coming Sunday, December 5, the Tomorrow’s World program will begin airing on the Discovery channel at 6:30 a.m. Eastern and Pacific Time. It will also start airing again on WRBU-TV in St. Louis, beginning January 2, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., and will begin airing on God TV on the same date at 9:30 a.m. ET and UTC (British time). God TV is viewed around the world by 500 million people. Mr. Pyle also reports that Mr. Rod King’s program last weekend, “The Superpower ‘Beast’ of Revelation” set a new record of responses for The Beast of Revelation booklet—more than 4,000. This afternoon we will be doing budget planning for next year. We are very thankful that in November we had about a 10% increase in income over November 2009 and that the overall income for the year is about 4-5% over last year. Your prayers will also be appreciated for two Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations that will be held in Nanaimo and Courtenay, BC, in Canada this weekend.

Note from Mr. Apartian: “Every day we cross hundreds of people in the streets; some friends, others strangers. Yet, all of them seeking for the same goal—the ultimate solution to life’s endless challenges. The other day, as I passed a great gate of a hospital in Charlotte, I noticed a little girl hiding in a corner not knowing which way to turn. ‘Aren’t your parents with you?’ I asked. She hesitated. ‘I have no parents.’ ‘But everyone has parents,’ I told her. ‘Maybe so,’ she replied. ‘But I myself have never known mine.’ We got into a brief conversation. I asked her if she believed in God. I could see we had different starting points. I’ll be praying for her as my own sister. We have different parents, but it’s God’s plan that we rejoin them and walk hand in hand toward the final goal. Even if I don’t see her again, I will be praying for her.”

Elder Joseph Picker reports: I thought I would share a healing with you that took place at the Feast this year and continued on after returning home. We were able to take with us to the Feast this year a new attendee who has been deaf for approximately 20 years. She had learned to read lips and was eager to attend the Feast for her first time. She started to attend the Living Church of God in March of this year and many began praying for God to heal her so she could hear the sermons as it was handicapping her in so many ways.

After arriving in Newport, Oregon, where we attended the Feast, she was having pain in her shoulder and so asked the anointing Elder on duty if she could have her shoulder anointed, as it was hard for her to hold her head up to see the speaker without difficulty and pain, that she needed to be able to see the speaker in order to read his lips. She was anointed for her shoulder and any other difficulties by Mr. Paul Shumway and Mr. David Wakefield. During the sermon she said her ear started to pop and crackle. Then to her utter amazement and astonishment she could hear out of her right ear. Right after the sermon she came over to my wife and asked her to say something and talk to her. When she did she exclaimed she could hear every word she spoke. She said it was a little dull, but she could hear every word she said. Many people were moved by her healing and many had tears in their eyes.

After arriving home from the Feast she asked if I could specifically anoint her for her other ear and ask God to heal it also. I anointed her and about four days later she told me God had healed the other ear and that she could now hear out of both of her ears. She is so ecstatic and is now in the process of baptismal counseling. She is so happy she can hear for the first time in more than 20 years.

You are invited to a delightful weekend of activities being planned for December 24-26 in Charlotte. The weekend activities will begin with a Friday night Bible Study. Sabbath services will be held at the Hilton Charlotte University Plaza Hotel. That evening we will have a dinner and dance with music provided by a live band. On Sunday, there will be activities for all age groups in a local gymnasium. This will be an excellent opportunity for fun and fellowship. Rooms are available at the Hilton Charlotte University Place Hotel for a discounted rate of $69 (plus tax) per night. When making reservations, be sure to identify yourself as being with the Living Church of God. This discounted rate will be available from Friday, December 24 until Tuesday, December 28.

Please download the Information/Payment form at www.charlottelcg.org and mail it with payment made out to the Charlotte Local Activity Fund by Friday, December 17 (there is no charge for the dance only). For additional information on the Charlotte Family Weekend, please contact Mrs. Dorothy McNair at 704-844-1960, ext. 2248, or send an e-mail to dmcnair@lcg.org.

The time has come once again for the Kansas City Regional Family Weekend. We have added some new activities this year, including a fun show and family games, to make it even better than before. This year’s activities include: Friday night Bible study, Saturday night dinner of beef stew and chili, family dance and fun show (dress code is dressy casual—no jeans), Sunday seminar, family games, children’s games, basketball, team volleyball and recreational volleyball. If you plan to attend, please register online by going to lcgkc.org (not an official Church website) and clicking on “KC Family Weekend.” You will also find more information such as schedule of activities, locations, maps and housing.

Regarding housing, if you would like to stay at the hotel with the discounted rate of $59 per night, you need to make your reservations no later than December 13 (which is one week away). The deadline for rooms with the Comfort Suites has passed, but we arranged a similar agreement with the Sleep Inn in Olathe, Kansas. Please call 913-390-9500 and say you are with the Living Church of God. More information is on our KC Family Weekend website. If you would like to stay with brethren, please state this on the registration form on the website or call Beryl Wilson at 816-537-8133.

On-Campus Students for Fall 2011: Living University is now accepting applications for a limited number of on-campus students who want to study and work at the Church’s worldwide headquarters in Charlotte. Applications for the 2011-2012 academic year can be initiated online via the university website. Additional details and requirements for on-campus applications can be found online, as can an estimate of expected costs. Because space is limited, interested students should complete and submit all application materials by March 1, 2011. Those with no previous college should submit college entrance test scores (GRE or SAT) as a part of their application. You can find out more about these exams through a local High School guidance office or local college testing service. Homeschooled students are welcome to apply. With our on-campus students, we are also looking for students who have skills that can assist the Work and/or the University through a work study position. At this time we can only accept on-campus students from the U.S. Our hope is to expand this opportunity to international students in future years.

Registration for the Spring semester is also currently underway. Classes will begin in January. The following are several courses being offered next semester. A complete listing of “Spring Semester” courses (Spring in the northern hemisphere), can also be viewed on the Living University website under the link “2011 Spring Schedule.” To make application to Living University, to register for courses, and to find out more, please visit the www.livinguniv.com website. For additional information or questions, please contact Dr. Scott Winnail at swinnail@livinguniv.com or 704-708-2292.

This course will present an overview of many of the basic doctrines taught by the Living Church of God. Through review of past and present Church literature, this course will aim to give students a broad basic understanding of what the Church believes, and why it believes as it does. Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to recognize fundamental biblical doctrines, demonstrate an understanding of those doctrines’ implications for Christian belief and conduct, and show basic competence in explaining those doctrines.

The Apostle Paul said to follow him as he followed Christ and to emulate his example of obedience to God. To do so requires an understanding of apostolic teachings and the will to live by the apostles’ doctrine. Our collective task is the examination of the history, traditions, and myths surrounding the early Church to arrive at a fuller understanding of the period and “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). This course focuses on the teachings, message, background, purposes, and themes of the Captivity Epistles, Hebrews and the Pastoral Epistles with special emphasis on the understanding of core doctrines. Students encounter leading issues and engage in assigned readings, conceptualization activities, and vocabulary building.

This course introduces the historical setting, purpose, and central theme of the letters of James, Peter, John, and Jude and the book of Revelation. Emphasis is on the use of critical, historical, archaeological, and cultural analysis. Upon completion, students should be able to use analysis tools to read, understand, explain, and expound these biblical writings. In this course you will encounter information concerning the New Testament and some issues and matters not dealt with elsewhere in the New Testament. Here you should find opportunity to hone your critical thinking skills and aptitudes in discerning and understanding the teachings of God’s Word. This course should provide you with a deeper comprehension of the historical and prophetic content of the New Testament through scholarly information and presentations.

The Age of Skeptics: The Apostle Peter warned that in the last days “scoffers will come” who would ridicule biblical ideas such as the promise that Jesus would return (2 Peter 3:3-4). Today these skeptics are publishing books that ridicule people who believe in God and the Bible as people who believe in “The God Delusion” and they openly state that “God Is Not Great.” These modern skeptics have fostered an attitude of disrespect not only for religion and religious figures, but for authority figures such as parents, teachers, police and government officials. We need to be careful that these critical attitudes in society do not spill over into the Church of God and affect our attitudes toward the leaders and members of the Body of Christ. Peter also warned that false teachers would come who “despise authority” because they are presumptuous, self-willed and want to do their own “thing” (2 Peter 2:1, 10). The Apostle Paul urged Christians to respect authority and be subject to governments because God is the Author of structure and organization (Romans 13:1-2). Questioning, criticizing, disrespecting and ignoring authority only leads to confusion and chaos—and God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). We need to be alert and aware of the fruits that flow from the age of skeptics.

Is the EU at Risk of Collapse? EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy recently warned that the “EU is in a survival crisis… the eurozone and the European Union itself are fighting for their life as a result of the ongoing sovereign debt shocks, most recently in Ireland and Portugal… if the eurozone does not survive, neither will the EU.” While Mr. Van Rompuy believes the EU will overcome the financial crisis, other economists are not so sure. Christoph Weil, a Frankfurt economist states, “In the short-term, no country will leave the euro. But in the long scenario, in 15 to 20 years’ time, maybe we will see another EU and another currency area. I think the ‘euro’ name will have to be changed” (EUObserver.com, November 16, 2011. Emphasis ours). Others “don’t think the current membership in the euro is written in stone” but could split up into “the core and the periphery” by “cutting off the gangrene-stricken western and southern fringes in order to keep the central part functioning” (The Times, November 21, 2010). The threatening break-up of the 27-nation eurozone is sobering in light of Bible prophecies about an end-time Beast-like power comprised of 10 nations or regions that will arise in Europe just before Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God (Daniel 2:41-43; Revelation 17:7-13). What we see developing in Europe appears to be part of a chain of events that God will use to fulfill His end-time prophecies. For more information on this vital topic, obtain a free copy of our booklet, The Beast of Revelation.

Breaking the Pride of U.S. Power. The surprise publication by the website WikiLeaks of more than 250,000 confidential U.S. State Department documents revealing U.S. intentions and perspectives has shaken global diplomatic relations and could endanger the lives of U.S. diplomats around the world. A major German news magazine reported, “Never before in history has a superpower lost control of such vast amounts of such sensitive information—data that can help paint a picture of the foundation upon which US foreign policy is built. Never before has the trust America’s partners have in the country been as badly shaken” (Der Spiegel, November 28, 2010). These documents are not only an embarrassment to the United States and her allies, but they will further undermine trust in the U.S. and its diplomatic credibility on the world scene (Der Spiegel, November 29, 2010). While many wonder how and why is this happening, Bible prophecies reveal the answer. Long ago, God warned His chosen people, “if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes… I will break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:14-15, 19). The United States, as a descendant of the ancient Israelite nation, is beginning to reap what it has sown. When a nation that has been blessed by God, bans prayer in public schools, prohibits the display of the Ten Commandments in government buildings and sanctions same sex marriages—in defiance of the laws of God—the Bible indicates there will be serious consequences (see Deuteronomy 28:15-48)!

Could Tigers Disappear? A century ago there were about 100,000 wild tigers worldwide. Today, the estimate has dropped to just 3,200. Poachers kill about 150 tigers per year, and tiger poaching is a $5 million industry. Habitat destruction is also a major factor in the demise of these remarkable animals. Scientists think that, at the current rate, tigers could become extinct in the wild in the next decade or so (Time.com, November 21, 2010; news.yahoo.com, November, 22, 2010). But why does this matter? The Bible reveals that God gave humans the responsibility to be “stewards” over the earth and its creatures (Genesis 2:15), and that they will be held accountable for exploiting God’s creation. Bible prophecies indicate the creation will suffer when human beings break the laws of nature (Isaiah 24:4-5; Hosea 4:1-3). The Apostle Paul noted, “the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now” eagerly awaiting “the revealing of the sons of God” to “be delivered from the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:19-23). When Jesus Christ returns to this earth, He will put an end to the exploitation of His creation and “destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:15-18). In the coming Kingdom of God, under the rule of Christ and the saints, even the creatures of the earth will find peace (Isaiah 11:6-9). May God speed that day!—Daniel Bennett, Scott Winnail