tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post3106830762939321203..comments2024-03-28T07:15:19.938-07:00Comments on Banned by HWA! News and Observations About Armstrongism and the Church of God Movement: Brethren, We Are Now Entering The Season of No DoughnutsNO2HWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018654662518613623noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-38348514699972120272013-04-02T19:33:18.855-07:002013-04-02T19:33:18.855-07:00No hard feelings. It's all good!
BBNo hard feelings. It's all good!<br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-39149327710905901972013-03-30T16:41:12.271-07:002013-03-30T16:41:12.271-07:00"It does, and thanks. Actually when you guys&..."It does, and thanks. Actually when you guys' friendships broke apart, I was concerned for all of you, because it had appeared that the three of you had at one time functioned as a kind of mutual support group."<br /><br />I wouldn't say we were a mutual support group at all, personally; it seems to me, looking back on that whole crazy period of time, we all brought out the worst in each other, not the best.<br /><br />"I can see where there would be a feeling of betrayal, and that's one of the unkindest things that can happen to any of us in the course of life."<br /><br />Eh. All things work to the glory of God.<br /><br />"I got involved because someone had posted at WCG Alumni Forum that a new forum had started."<br /><br />Oh, right, I had almost forgotten that existed. Weren't you getting a lot of grief from one or two regulars over there at the time?<br /><br />"So, I visited Shadows, or whatever it was called at first, and found that there was a completely different group of people than were on my regular haunts, such as Alumni, PT, or AW."<br /><br />I think it was the first, and quite possibly the last, ex-WCG website where those of us who grew up in the '70s and '80s in the Church congregated. Now, they're probably all on Facebook or something, I don't know. <br /><br />Shadows of WCG had the potential to be something <i>good</i>, and to truly be a force for change in the Church, if really HAD been "open to people from all perspectives and all ways of life" as it claimed to be; said claim which became a blatant falsehood to anyone who wasn't either a Baptist or a professing Christian, who tried to participate. With endless, unceasing proselytizing towards same.<br /><br />The betrayal part came later, when I was led (by God, I believe), to discover that Jeff had blocked my IP address from his current blog (which he has since deleted, as he did the forum, and all his other blogs, in an attempt to deny responsibility for his actions), specifically so a group of them could badmouth me behind my back without being caught. All things hidden will come to light, etc.<br /><br />It's typical of professing Christianity to engage in that kind of duplicitous behaviour, of course, but there were a few people involved that kind of stung to see their usernames, I'll be honest. <br /><br />But, eh, it precipitated every event that followed, which led me back to the truth, and eventually back to the Church, where I discovered the prophecy of the 7,000 remnant might actually hold water. (Or it might not.) Which never would have happened, if everything that occurred had not taken place in exactly the way that it did. Like I say, all things work to the glory of God.<br /><br />"It was fun for a while. I learned about some new things there, one noteworthy nugget being panentheism."<br /><br />Ugh. I can't believe I pushed that as heavily as I did. Needless to say, I have fully repented since! <br /><br />I was still pretty heavily involved with the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) mailing lists when all that went down; I do wonder though, if God hadn't used the events with the Miller brothers to turn me back to Him and His grace, if I would have continued down that road at all. I've certainly prayed about it since, but so far, the answer seems to be a pretty clear-cut "No." and I am to remain where I am, doing what I am doing.<br /><br />Glad I could clarify, and I hope there are no hard feelings, Bob. I know it gets pretty tetchy around here at times, and I am not immune to that myself!Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-2081402545123919162013-03-29T14:00:19.866-07:002013-03-29T14:00:19.866-07:00It does, and thanks. Actually when you guys' ...It does, and thanks. Actually when you guys' friendships broke apart, I was concerned for all of you, because it had appeared that the three of you had at one time functioned as a kind of mutual support group. I can see where there would be a feeling of betrayal, and that's one of the unkindest things that can happen to any of us in the course of life.<br /><br />I got involved because someone had posted at WCG Alumni Forum that a new forum had started. So, I visited Shadows, or whatever it was called at first, and found that there was a completely different group of people than were on my regular haunts, such as Alumni, PT, or AW. It was fun for a while. I learned about some new things there, one noteworthy nugget being panentheism.<br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-12856070470413147332013-03-28T20:45:25.391-07:002013-03-28T20:45:25.391-07:00"There is not going to be any argument."..."There is not going to be any argument."<br /><br />Ironically enough, Anon @ 10:07, I agree with Bob!<br /><br />"it appears that she somehow holds me responsible for whatever she feels happened to her there."<br /><br />I'm sorry if I said anything to make you think that I hold you responsible, Bob; rest assured,I DO NOT hold you responsible for what happened to me on the forum, and Jeff's various blogs.<br /><br />I don't even hold <i>Jeff</i> responsible, anymore; he most assuredly has Another to Whom he will have to answer...but then again, so will we all.<br /><br />I certainly don't hold you responsible for anything that happened on Shadows of WCG, Bob, and I'm sorry if I have said anything to you that indicated I did, as that is NOT the case at all.<br /><br />I hope that clarifies.Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-35402398592296038552013-03-28T19:42:34.724-07:002013-03-28T19:42:34.724-07:00There is not going to be any argument. I don'...There is not going to be any argument. I don't debate with Armstrongites any more than I would with Jehovah Witnesses, Scientologists, or the people who go around chanting Gnengamarachamarumbabeepuss.<br /><br />I happened to have been on a forum that Velvet was on several years ago. She feels as if the webmasters there victimized her. I had never met them, never exchanged personal email with them, and have no idea what happened to them. However, I seem to have the misfortune of being the only one around besides Velvet who posted on that blog, and it appears that she somehow holds me responsible for whatever she feels happened to her there. <br /><br />Just thought I'd clear the air, so everyone would know what is going on. <br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-49719156390538787272013-03-28T10:07:30.036-07:002013-03-28T10:07:30.036-07:00And yet another argument over what scripture actua...And yet another argument over what scripture actually means about to take place between two called and chosen of God's beloved. The spirit of peace and unity is obvious at work once again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-76339536830599009382013-03-28T05:53:08.479-07:002013-03-28T05:53:08.479-07:00OK, thank you for answering my question. But since...OK, thank you for answering my question. But since this was a verse often used by the Church, what's your point? Some are called in this age, and those who choose (note I said <i>choose</i>) to live godly lives, are inviting God into our lives. (i.e., "He will come in and dine with you")Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-24382139615503443952013-03-26T17:00:04.912-07:002013-03-26T17:00:04.912-07:00One nugget, the beginning one, would be Rev. 3:20...One nugget, the beginning one, would be Rev. 3:20.<br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-5996588856923326002013-03-26T15:45:06.472-07:002013-03-26T15:45:06.472-07:00Bob,
My 5:15 post that was "completely off t...Bob,<br /><br />My 5:15 post that was "completely off the wall" to you was, I admit, over-long. Let me distill it for you.<br /><br />I asked you a direct question, to prove your statement (initiating a relationship with God); a question, I note, you STILL have not answered.<br /><br />You replied that "Jeff Miller did a really good job of answering this." I provided evidence that, in my opinion, he did NOT do "a really good job" at all, in fact he tended to cut and run, whenever he couldn't do that "really good job" you said he did.<br /><br />And you still didn't answer my question.<br /><br />Finally, you ended your way too condescending post with an insinuation as to my mental health, which, I assure you, is perfectly fine (although you're probably just dogpiling along with Douglas, because I mistook one thing he said (a mistake I admit to making, by the way), that's fine, if that entertains you, go right ahead).<br /><br />As for the rest of what the Baptists on Shadows of WCG did to me, you're just dismissing the REALLY painful truth about what they did, and trying to discredit my experiences there, and to discredit ME by questioning my mental health.<br /><br />I'm sorry, what were you saying about THE CHURCH being cult-like?Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-6342247242264365112013-03-26T15:37:26.005-07:002013-03-26T15:37:26.005-07:00"A female version of Robert Thiel?"
So ..."A female version of Robert Thiel?"<br /><br />So your outlandish accusations are somehow completely beyond reproach, just because I made an honest mistake over one thing you said, a mistake that I admitted to making?<br /><br />I don't think I'm the one digging any holes here, Douglas. But you go right ahead, keep it up. Have you reached China yet?Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-58825936723444166322013-03-26T15:32:08.295-07:002013-03-26T15:32:08.295-07:00"I did not say that the Feast begins in the m..."I did not say that the Feast begins in the middle of summer. I said the fall begins near the middle of the Feast."<br /><br />So you did. My mistake. Though the fact that you assign an honest mistake as an automatic indictment of others (not of me, I trust), is a bit much, Douglas.Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-21627100497940581132013-03-26T14:44:55.758-07:002013-03-26T14:44:55.758-07:00Velvet, your 5:15 AM post to me is just completely...Velvet, your 5:15 AM post to me is just completely off the wall, and over the top. Irrational, and not making any sense or connection with reality at all. Are you sure you are OK?<br /><br /><br />BB<br /><br />Byker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-86184055478351593272013-03-26T14:40:56.395-07:002013-03-26T14:40:56.395-07:00Velvet,
Any Christian mentoring that I do will be...Velvet,<br /><br />Any Christian mentoring that I do will be devoted to struggling people probably in my own community, one on one. <br /><br />I don't consider conversing with those entrenched in cultic beliefs to be beneficial in any way. It becomes a never ending argument, kind of blog theater put on for a captive audience. It goes nowhere.<br /><br />At least, if I can assist someone local struggling with alcohol, abusive relationships, or substance abuse, or aid a person who is temporarily down and out, I know that it's going somewhere. Sorry, cause I know you find debate stimulating, but I've fallen into the trap of arguing with Jehovah's Witnesses, Armstrongites, Scientologists, and others one too many times. It's a waste of precious mentoring time.<br />So, worship as you will for as long as you feel it works for you. <br /><br />As for the Millers, as I've told you before, I only knew them from their blogs. Since they shut those down, I have no clue where they might be, or what they might be up to. I have only heard your side of the story on all of that.<br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-49411006504139980982013-03-26T12:31:06.000-07:002013-03-26T12:31:06.000-07:00Truth hurts, doesn't it, Anonymous? And it isn...Truth hurts, doesn't it, Anonymous? And it isn't a game. Whether you like it or not, all are forced to participate in it one way or another. You can run away like a scared rabbit from open and honest talk, or you can just cowardly chalk it up to "trolls." It's your choice, but I hardly see how not playing gets you anywhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-62669967483829449592013-03-26T10:42:14.018-07:002013-03-26T10:42:14.018-07:00A simple reminder, please do not feed the trolls. ...A simple reminder, please do not feed the trolls. It's just a game and you don't have to play it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-29237342037918636952013-03-26T10:24:45.895-07:002013-03-26T10:24:45.895-07:00Watching these people blog with each other is like...Watching these people blog with each other is like watching a unbridled food fight in a middle school cafeteria - everyone against everybody else, and to no constructive purpose!<br /><br />And such relevant topics:<br /><br />Arguments about when FOT/summer begins or doesn't begin.<br /><br />Arguments over how to keep passover.<br /><br />Arguments over past arguments about previous arguments.<br /><br />And then there's Crazy Corky - accusing others of being brain dead when his rambling posts make about as much sense as a drunken sailor! You might want to diminish the dosage of those meds a bit, Bro, because your posts are completely baffling.<br /><br />Like I mentioned in my first post, Armstrongites can't seem to do much other than to engage in squabbling with each other over who's right - and the funniest thing of all is that even irate ex-Armstrongites can't shake the habit of bickering over such minor and completely irrelevant issues.<br /><br />The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-14605083886028498282013-03-26T10:19:38.460-07:002013-03-26T10:19:38.460-07:00Yep. It being spring in one part of the world whil...Yep. It being spring in one part of the world while it is fall in another part of the world illustrates why the 'holy days' can only be "kept" in the Levant.<br /><br />And the Sabbath? Well, today here is already tomorrow in Australia. <br /><br />That's because the God who created the world didn't know about the equator or the western hemisphere or even that the world was spherical at all. From Ethiopia to Syria and from Persia to the Mediterranean sea was the whole world to Yahweh. Corkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15894537940881776504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-15236819105032454352013-03-26T07:58:42.296-07:002013-03-26T07:58:42.296-07:00Wow!
Entering "The Season of No Doughnuts&quo...Wow!<br />Entering "The Season of No Doughnuts" apparently gets some people quite riled up.<br /><br />Maybe they have an inner Homer Simpson, or an inner HWA.<br /><br />-Norm, off to check my pant-cuffs for sin...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-84920983411689981952013-03-26T07:42:37.405-07:002013-03-26T07:42:37.405-07:00Hey, everybody, in the United States, Winter begin...Hey, everybody, in the United States, Winter begins right after the Thanksgiving Day Weekend.<br /><br />And maybe in Canada too, although it's much earlier for their Thanksgiving there.<br /><br />(People in Australia and New Zealand: You're still going to have to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread at the beginning of Fall. It's too bad we couldn't synch it up with Anzac Day.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-39918547659668720352013-03-26T07:36:25.232-07:002013-03-26T07:36:25.232-07:00I thought we were making such good progress. A fem...I thought we were making such good progress. A female version of Robert Thiel?<br /><br />I would not want such careless folks to change the oil in my hybrid, take care of my cat, work in a nuclear plant or be air traffic controllers.<br /><br />Herbert Armstrong played fast and loose and so do his followers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-671606483008330692013-03-26T07:30:34.026-07:002013-03-26T07:30:34.026-07:00I said: "In 2013, the Feast of Tabernacles be...I said: "In 2013, the Feast of Tabernacles begins Thursday, September 19th and <b>Fall begins Sunday, September 22nd -- not quite half way through the Feast</b>."<br /><br />I did not say that the Feast begins in the middle of summer. I said the fall begins near the middle of the Feast.<br /><br />It's no wonder Armstrongists believe the things they do.<br /><br />If you want to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread absolutely right, go read Scripture: You're supposed to keep the first <b>two</b> Days as holydays. (But also the last one as well.)<br /><br />The Lord's Supper is different from the Passover as well and is kept on a different day. The Passover begins the Days of Unleavened Bread.<br /><br />If you want to keep it, keep it right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-32401003775008866392013-03-26T05:15:48.767-07:002013-03-26T05:15:48.767-07:00"Asked and answered. Jeff Miller already did ..."Asked and answered. Jeff Miller already did a really good job of this...."<br /><br />So, Bob, if Jeff "did a really good job of this" how come he deleted whatever his current blog was, EVERY TIME that he COULD NOT answer the objections (both Biblical and common sense) that were raised to his nonsense "arguments"? Arguments which entailed NOT initiating, nor even making the attempt, to develop a personal relationship with God at all! And mocking those who made the attempt.... <br /><br />In fact, as I recall, the crux of Jeff's argument was "Look, everyone! Jesus saved <i>me</i>! <i>You</i> don't need to do anything else because I'M SAVED! Isn't that so wonderful for me? Aren't you so happy <i>for me</i>?" And all of his Baptist minions on the board, fell similarly in line with that same toxic, SELF-centred (as opposed to Jesus-centred) attitude problem. Talk about THE WAY OF GET; those Baptists were steeped up to the eyeballs in it. (And, I should also add, they all lied by omission, and did not tell anyone they were specifically pushing the Baptist denomination.)<br /><br />Additionally, whenever someone poked enough holes in Jeff Miller's SELF-congratulatory and thoroughly un-Biblical assertions, Jeff simply deleted the works of it all, rather than admit that he had NO basis for his vain idol-worship. <br /><br />I am sure Questeruk can verify that, despite repeated attempts, neither Jeff nor Bill H. provided ANY solid scriptural support for their toxic beliefs, on the second-to-last blog Jeff had, which (yet again) he deleted, only AFTER he determined that he and Bill H. were not going to "convert" Questeruk to their poisonous professing Christianity (falsely-so-called). <br /><br />If, however, you are following Jeff Miller, Bob, I would only point out to you the dangers that surely we are all, by this point aware of, in following men.<br /><br />So, tell me, where is YOUR scriptural support, for how to initiate a personal relationship with God? What do YOU say? What do YOU believe? Don't just parrot what someone else said, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away! (Anyone who steps up to the plate and accuses me of doing just that, has clearly not been paying attention.)<br /><br />And, no, the question has not been "asked and answered" -- because I asked YOU, Bob. Not Jeff Miller, nor whatever version of Jeff Miller that lives inside your head and tells you what to do. (Instead of, oh say, the actual Head of the Church, Jesus.)<br /><br />So answer the question, Bob. How do YOU believe that one initiates a personal relationship with God? And what is the scriptural support for YOUR beliefs?Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-7203372568015115002013-03-26T04:56:38.929-07:002013-03-26T04:56:38.929-07:00"In 2013, the Feast of Tabernacles begins Thu..."In 2013, the Feast of Tabernacles begins Thursday, September 19th"<br /><br />The old calculating program (available <a href="www.herbert-armstrong.org/Miscellaneous/Holy%20Day%20Calculator.exe" rel="nofollow">here</a>), as well as the current calendar published by a member in the UK, have Opening Night services on the 17th, and the first holy day on the 18th (and this is the schedule the Feast site in the UK I attend still follows)...if you don't consider those to be part of the Feast, then, yes the Feast "begins" on the 19th. But you're rather splitting hairs here, Douglas.<br /><br />"Fall begins Sunday, September 22nd -- not quite half way through the Feast."<br /><br />That's still hardly classifiable as "the middle of summer" though. And in Canada, the "seasons change" (by the calendar, anyway, on the 21st, not the 22nd.Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-3687781251588476822013-03-26T04:53:33.357-07:002013-03-26T04:53:33.357-07:00Happy Passover!Happy Passover!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-53985721723789671072013-03-26T04:49:29.822-07:002013-03-26T04:49:29.822-07:00"But what's wrong with trolling on here a..."But what's wrong with trolling on here and pointing out hypocrisy? I'm good at it, and the people here are obviously all losers with nothing better to do than cut down Mr. Armstrong and God's Church."<br /><br />Meh. 2/10, Anon. We were a bit more on the satirical side, when the group of us trolled Ambassador Watch. (Not that we planned it out, or it was any great conspiracy, or anything, it would just be like, "Oh, yeah, that was me, by the way." If one of us had happened to catch one of the others off-guard.) <br /><br />For instance, I never took potshots like you did above ("obviously all losers"), rather tended to present the bull-headed mindset model (Sending up the attitude, not criticizing those criticizing the attitude--wait, did that make sense?). Fine line to walk, IMO. There's nothing "wrong" with such trolling, per se. In fact, it was hilarious to me, whenever I would do it -- I can't speak for anyone else. <br /><br />However. If you are serious about the "pointing out hypocrisy" bit, that's actually not what I used to troll for...more of exorcising some of the bad attitudes I saw, from a small minority, in the congregations I attended when I was growing up.Velvetnoreply@blogger.com