Greetings from Charlotte,
This week, Canadians and Americans celebrated their Independence Days (July 1 and July 4). Sadly, both nations have been incredibly blessed by God, but they are drifting further and further away from biblical values that were part of their foundations—and they are experiencing serious problems as a result. Last weekend, Mr. and Mrs. Weston were in Spokane, Washington for services, and Mr. and Mrs. Cristian Orrego visited brethren in Guatemala City. Also last weekend we had 30 guests and 175 members attend a TWP and four follow-up presentations in five states in the USA. While it is encouraging to see visitors, our members are also encouraged by these outreach activities and the opportunity to connect with new people. Mr. Adrian Käfer reports that visitors to our German website, weltvonmorgen.org, and requests for literature are up more than 30% over last year.
This week, our Living Education students and chaperones returned from their trip to Israel where they had a chance to visit biblical sites and participate in an archeological project (see report below). Currently, the Missouri Pre-Teen Camp is underway, and the Texas Teen Camp will begin next week with staff arriving on July 7 and campers on July 8. Mr. and Mrs. Weston will be in Calgary, Alberta this coming Sabbath, and Mr. Hernandez will be in Geneva. Here in Charlotte, work continues on the Behind the Work film for this year’s Feast of Tabernacles—and numerous other projects. Your prayers for God’s Work and His people at this critical time in history are much appreciated. Please note the July 15 deadline to submit festival assistance requests (announcement repeated below).—DSW
Living Education
Trip to Israel
This week, our intrepid group of adventurers returned from three weeks in Israel. A big thanks goes to Mr. Joe Ross for organizing the trip, assisted by his wife, Wanda. With Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Smith, they led the group through a dizzying line-up of fascinating sites, ending the trip with a week in Jerusalem. We plan to include further international experiences for our Living Education students next year. Our 2019-20 school year is quickly approaching, beginning on August 12. It’s not too late to apply—we still have room for a few more students, particularly young ladies! If you know of a young adult between the ages of 18 and 30 who would benefit from nine months in Charlotte, studying God’s way of life with other young adults, encourage them to apply!—Jonathan McNair
Feast of Tabernacles
Please Register!
We still have a few brethren who have not registered for the Feast—if you are in that category, please register! You registering may mean we can free up some room for brethren who are wishing to transfer to your assigned site. Without knowing where you plan to attend for the Feast, some brethren are left in “limbo” waiting to find out if their transfer request can be accepted. So, if you haven’t yet… please register!
Activity Registration Is NOT Yet Open
Some brethren have inquired about Activity Registration and making payments for Feast activities. Please note: Activity Registration is NOT yet open. The Festival Office is currently working together with our Festival Coordinators to put together speaking schedules and activity and payment information, but this process will be ongoing for a few weeks. We will be working on these items for the rest of July—we will keep you posted!
Festival (Second Tithe) Assistance Requests—U.S. Only—Repeat Announcement
Attention U.S. Pastors: The deadline to submit Festival Assistance Request forms to the Church Administration Department is Monday, July 15. All forms should be properly completed by the members requesting second tithe assistance to attend the Feast this year. Then, the Area Pastors should write their recommendations/comments on the forms before submitting them to CAD. Festival Assistance Request forms are available to ministers on the MyLCG Web site (www.cogl.org).—Festival Office
Feast of Tabernacles Sermons—Repeat Announcement
Attention Pastors: Please send the Church Administration Department at [email protected] the names of those in your congregation(s) who will be unable to attend the Feast, who do not have access to Feast sermons online, and who wish to receive a set of the Feast of Tabernacles sermons on CD. (Sermons are available in English, French or Spanish.) The deadline to submit these requests is July 22 for French international recipients and August 19 for all other international recipients. For recipients in the U.S. (any language), the deadline is September 18. Note: Feast sermons will also be uploaded (one per day) during the Feast at www.lcg.org, for those who have Internet access. The French sermons will be uploaded to www.eglisedieuvivant.org and the Spanish to youtube.com/IDVsermones.
Living Youth Program
LYP Camp Contact Information
For anyone wanting to send a care package to someone at LYP Camp Texas, the address is:
LYP Camp
Attn: [person to receive mail]
C/O: Camp Lone Star
6829 FM317
Athens, TX 75752
To contact the camp office during Teen Camp:
Phone: +1 (704) 708-2283
Text: +1 (704) 741-3636
Email: [email protected]
LYP Teen Camp Live Stream Schedule
We hope you’ll join us for the live streams from LYP Texas! The following are the events we plan to stream live from Texas. Recorded archives will also be available shortly after the live event. All of the streams will be available at https://live.livingyouth.org. You’ll need your MyLCG or LYP credentials to access them.
| Date | Pacific | Mountain | Central | Eastern | Event |
| Tuesday, July 9 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Sheldon Monson |
| Wednesday, July 10 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Jason Fritts |
| Thursday, July 11 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Jonathan McNair |
| Friday, July 12 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Dexter Wakefield |
| Friday, July 12 | 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM | 8:30 PM | Friday Evening Bible Study: Mr. Jason Fritts |
| Saturday, July 13 | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM | Sabbath Service: Mr. Dexter Wakefield |
| Sunday, July 14 | 8:15 AM | 9:15 AM | 10:15 AM | 11:15 AM | Christian Living: Dr. Scott Winnail |
| Monday, July 15 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Phil Sena |
| Tuesday, July 16 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Bobby Jacques |
| Wednesday, July 17 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Dan Dever |
| Thursday, July 18 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. Gene Hilgenberg |
| Thursday, July 18 | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 8:00 PM | Camp Talent Show |
| Friday, July 19 | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Christian Living: Mr. John Robinson |
| Friday, July 19 | 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM | 8:30 PM | Friday Evening Bible Study: Mr. Sheldon Monson |
| Saturday, July 20 | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM | Sabbath Service: Mr. Jonathan McNair |
Comments
Respect for Authority: Today, we live in a global society where respect for authority and anyone in authority is in serious decline. Parents, teachers, police, judges, politicians, heads of churches and heads of state are portrayed and ridiculed as buffoons and liars or worse. While some of the cynicism and disrespect is deserved, much is fostered by an anti-authority attitude promoted by the media—that is unknowingly influenced by the god of this world, Satan the devil, who rebelled against God (2 Corinthians 4:4; Isaiah 14:12-15). The apostle Paul predicted that pride and disrespect for authority would be rampant at the end of the age—and that it would also impact the Church (2 Timothy 3:1-7; 4:1-4). However, this anti-authority attitude is contrary to God’s instructions in His word. Moses told the Israelites, “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Exodus 22:28). Solomon advised, “Do not curse the king, even in your thought” (Ecclesiastes 10:20). James wrote, “Do not speak evil of one another” (James 4:11). The Apostle Paul instructed husbands to love their wives, and wives to respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33). Paul also advised the Church, “we urge you, brethren, to recognize [get to know, acknowledge, value, respect, defer to] those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord… and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). The Scriptures indicate that God wants to see a very different attitude towards authority than we see spreading through our society today. Let’s recognize what is happening around us and strive to develop a godly attitude toward authority.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—July 3, 2019
Attacks on British Police: A recent study of British police officers revealed some startling results: “Eight out of ten police officers have been physically attacked and a third suffered injuries last year” (The Times, July 1, 2019). During 2017–2018, there was a 20% rise in assaults on police officers—over 26,000 in total. One third of police surveyed reported assault injuries so severe that they needed medical attention. Last year police officers took over 500,000 medical leave days for mental health reasons. One British police officer is attacked every 20 minutes.
Anxiety has long been part of the job for police officers, but it is now reaching epic levels, especially in Britain—historically a law-abiding nation where British “bobbies” were unarmed. However, Bible prophecies provide a unique perspective for this upsurge in attacks on officers designated to keep the peace and protect society. The Bible states that “in the last days perilous [difficult, dangerous, stressful] times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves… proud… unloving, unforgiving… without self-control, brutal, despisers of good” (2 Timothy 3:1-3). The prophet Ezekiel wrote, “The end has come…. Pride has budded. Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness” (Ezekiel 7:2, 10–11).
Sadly, these violent and aggressive behaviors are not limited to Britain. As we look around the world, we see fewer and fewer people who respect authority. Not only do many despise those in authority, but they are also taking violent actions against them. To better understand the significance of the times in which we are living and to find out where all of this is leading, be sure to read our insightful commentary “Violent Times.”
To Live Longer, Make Your Mate Happy: Society has long known that your choice of mate will have a powerful impact on your future. A new study at Tilburg University in the Netherlands sheds even more light on the importance of choosing a future mate wisely. Researchers followed over 4,000 elderly couples for eight years (Psychological Science, March 21, 2019) and found that “having a spouse who was more satisfied with life is associated with reduced mortality”—meaning that if your spouse is more satisfied with life and more positive, you are more likely to live longer! A related finding was that your spouse’s life satisfaction was just as strong a predictor of mortality (long life or short life) as your own life satisfaction. In the words of the researchers, “The present study showed that having a happier spouse is associated not only with a longer marriage but also with a longer life.”
God created marriage and gave guidelines for how to have a happy marriage. Psalm 119:165 states that those who love and live by God’s law, which includes loving others (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:36–40) have a great deal of peace. Happiness flows from keeping God’s laws, as well (Psalm 128:1–6). Jesus Christ taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The Apostle Paul taught that “husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28). It is interesting that thousands of years later, modern science is discovering the truth in these biblical passages. To learn more about God’s instructions for having a happier marriage, be sure to read or listen to God’s Plan for Happy Marriage.—Scott Winnail, Chris Sookdeo, and Francine Prater