tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post8527141414551708171..comments2024-03-28T22:34:16.707-07:00Comments on Banned by HWA! News and Observations About Armstrongism and the Church of God Movement: The COG MarineNO2HWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018654662518613623noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-84943183903181915052013-04-12T04:02:30.827-07:002013-04-12T04:02:30.827-07:00In my 35 years of experiences in the WCG in Manila...In my 35 years of experiences in the WCG in Manila, the very HQ of the so-called Philippine Work of God (?), it is pretty obvious that if you are nobody or just average income earner reflectd in terms of tithe and offering contribution, the ministers and the elite members couldn't care less if you exist or not. You are just one of those being milked of tithes so that these ministers could live in comfort.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-83615384923560242742013-04-11T21:36:08.449-07:002013-04-11T21:36:08.449-07:00leonardo, I liked your little story, and the story...leonardo, I liked your little story, and the story about the marine. My dad was in the WCG and just an ordinary member but very extroverted and outgoing. He was friends with anyone who would be friends with him. Unfortunately he had a somewhat flawed reputation and was never picked to be a deacon or whatever even though he was one of the best speakers at spokesmans club. But he befriended many of the lonely bachelors including some elderly men living alone. Almost every weekend he would go visiting many of these people and he took me along when I was only a child of about 10. I remember sitting in many old rooming houses drinking tea and sometimes wine and getting to know some of these men who actually were sometimes a lot of fun. It all sort of ended a few years later when I got older and a few of them asked my dad if they could date me...... ahhh. And then one of the old ladies on our visiting circuit complained we just came to eat her cookies -- I admit that was part of the attraction. A few years later my dad got thrown out of the Church for a bad attitude - he argued about things too much and was told his house was too messy and a Christian wouldn't live that way.<br /><br />I really think the world as a whole mostly judges people on surface matters and appearance.<br />As far as ministers went, it was a mixed bag -- some were just beautiful people who would help anyone especially in the earlier years, the one I remember mostly was Dr. Benjamin Rea. We never had another ministers who was as loving as him.caspernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-6495742431394625472013-04-11T19:28:10.448-07:002013-04-11T19:28:10.448-07:00The way they treated this awesome biker/marine is ...The way they treated this awesome biker/marine is typical of the ACOGs. Unless achievements related directly to their myopic little cult, they just didn't count for anything. In fact, achievements considered worthy by "the world" were actually classified as detrimental because they might cause vanity. And, some of the ministers might actually become intimidated.<br /><br />I admire Douglas for thinking outside of the box even back then and making the effort to be a friend and brother. One day, we'll all know that that really counted for something!<br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-41001971405019108202013-04-11T18:49:56.807-07:002013-04-11T18:49:56.807-07:00Luker was an evangelist? When did that happen?
&q...Luker was an evangelist? When did that happen?<br /><br />"I’ve known some ministers/elders in the WCG who would take the time and effort to get to know each and every individual member in their congregations on a personal basis, but such men (or their wives) were exceedingly few and far between."<br /><br />Agreed, but given the size of both congregations I attended when growing up (1200 and 300 members, respectively), I don't find it that surprising. My current congregation had 90 at its peak (I never attended here before the changes) with the goldfish bowl result (and the main pastor during those years is NOT remembered fondly by most), and he is apparently drinking Junior's Kool-Aid now (and wrote a shockingly anti-Semitic "thesis" to that effect).<br /><br />All of the ministers and their wives who I remember as decent human beings remain so. Needless to say, the ones I remember with (much) less fondness are the ones who either went to one of the splinter groups, or started one of their own.Velvetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-12632589249460279422013-04-11T18:31:07.935-07:002013-04-11T18:31:07.935-07:00Anonymous, what the fuck is your obsession with Le...Anonymous, what the fuck is your obsession with Leonardo? You follow him around like a stalker from one blog entry to the next. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-8034686958715503312013-04-11T16:10:35.872-07:002013-04-11T16:10:35.872-07:00Hey, plasma dude, why are you always nipping at th...Hey, plasma dude, why are you always nipping at the heels of just one guy? Why not insult the rest of us? It could hardly lower our estimation of you at this point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-8253982636823397602013-04-11T15:28:33.553-07:002013-04-11T15:28:33.553-07:00Anonymous 3:06 wrote: "Leona: this is not the...Anonymous 3:06 wrote: "Leona: this is not the appropriate place to write a book."<br /><br />Well, Anon, all I can say is if you truly consider three or four paragraphs to be a BOOK, then that goes a long ways toward explaining your incredible lack of depth in what you so frequently say in your comments. Just a few paragraphs, and you're mentally fatigued and totally exhausted, such that you can never seem to muster enough mind power to say anything relevant in response, or that somehow would add to the discussion, but instead just shallow, unoriginal insults, and poorly worded at that. You might want to spend some of your money on a few mind-expanding books for a change, Anon, rather than on tattoos, pink hair die and body piercings. That way one day you might actually be able to say something here of value for once.<br />Leonardonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-12210358079022566482013-04-11T15:13:28.172-07:002013-04-11T15:13:28.172-07:00I agree with you, Dennis. For accuracies sake, ev...I agree with you, Dennis. For accuracies sake, every minister or member would need to be discussed individually on the basis of their own specific merits, which of course would be way beyond the scope of this blogsite. My point is that some generalities are valid on the whole. And the generality I drew in my comment above is that a rather large number of COG ministers aren't exactly known far and wide for their caring, sensitivity and other crucial human-relationship skills.<br /><br />As I mentioned, I've known some who were true shepherds in every sense of the word. Such truly belong in encouraging, helping and healing professions, like the ministry ideally should be. While many others should perhaps have become Navy SEALS, or cowboys out on the western plains bringing in their cattle herds to slaughter in the rough and tumble elements of nature.<br /><br />I realize all ministers could tell one story after another of the wacked-out members they’ve had to deal with through the years. I’ve heard a number of such mind-boggling accounts because many of my friends from AC eventually became involved in the COG ministry. The ministry it would seem to me would have a very high burn-out rate as a profession. It’s a very demanding and draining task.<br /><br />You might be happy to know that last weekend I talked to a long-time COG member I knew many years ago, still back in the Detroit area, now with UCG. Anyway, I mentioned that I had talked with you recently, and this member remembered you very fondly, and had only the best of things to say about you from your days serving down in Toledo and Findley, Ohio – even kept referring to you as “Mr. Diehl” even though this person is retired now and probably older than you!<br />Leonardonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-52745549013905427022013-04-11T15:06:31.414-07:002013-04-11T15:06:31.414-07:00Leona: this is not the appropriate place to write ...Leona: this is not the appropriate place to write a book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-74821549036129061712013-04-11T14:43:35.896-07:002013-04-11T14:43:35.896-07:00After several years on this site, I have found tha...After several years on this site, I have found that some paint with a very broad brush on topics such as "the ministers". I could paint with such a brush on "the members," but my personal view is that we are all just folks, flaws and all doing the best we can. That's how I grew up . <br /><br />I know "too much" about lots of people. That's why I believe so firmly in the masks we all wear, and I do mean all. Religion causes people to mask up and even if one wanted someone to talk to etc, in religion you have to be VERY CAREFUL because anything you say can and will be used against you in a Church of God. <br /><br />Lots I could say but we're all just humans and religion can often put burdens on people they can never actually face and work with because the price is too high in the herd.DennisCDiehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10417850852638492246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-77166093802339595232013-04-11T14:16:12.533-07:002013-04-11T14:16:12.533-07:00I’ve known some ministers/elders in the WCG who wo...I’ve known some ministers/elders in the WCG who would take the time and effort to get to know each and every individual member in their congregations on a personal basis, but such men (or their wives) were exceedingly few and far between. And such were highly prized by me, because in most congregations I was ever in the vast majority of the local leadership couldn't have cared less about getting to know each "sheep" on an individual basis like this, their strengths, their vulnerabilities, their family backgrounds, their life situations, their most pressing needs, their current concerns and fears, etc. (Much like a real shepherd would his flock of sheep as explained in that old book A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT PSALM 23 by W. Phillip Keller, a wonderful book.)<br /><br />A WCG pastor once told a true story of another area he had served in some years before: it seemed there was an older single man in that local congregation who got sick, and subsequently called the minister and asked him to come over to his place and anoint him. Though he had been a long-time, faithful member of the WCG for many years, still, this gentleman, being rather mild and quiet in temperament, was not one of the more outwardly impressive members. Few ever really took the time to chat with him at services. He worked as a lowly stockboy at a local grocery store, he didn't wear the finest Armani suits to services, nor drive the latest style of automobile, etc. You get the picture.<br /><br />So the minister went over to his place of residence, just a small little run-down apartment building not exactly located in the best part of town. He knocked on the member’s door, expecting to be confronted by a smelly, sloppy, dirty, unorganized pigpen – but instead was quite surprised to find the place remarkably well-ordered and spotless. He anointed the member, and stuck around a little to talk with him, which the pastor openly admitted to have never done before. The minister was absolutely astonished at the level of insight into life this gentleman had. So much so that he ended up talking with the man for over four hours, I think it was. As the minister related this story in his sermon many years later, he said, almost with tears in his eyes, “Brethren, this man was by FAR the most deeply converted person I had ever met in all my entire experience in both the church and the ministry. And I can tell you he was considerably more converted that the pastor of his congregation, because I was that pastor!”<br /><br />So yeah, good things of incredible value sometimes come in unattractive, unconventional packages – and ministers might want to recognize that reality, especially those serving in the COG’s.Leonardonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-88008667458046366762013-04-11T13:14:12.208-07:002013-04-11T13:14:12.208-07:00This is a disturbing story on several levels. I am...This is a disturbing story on several levels. I am sorry the Marine did not get the recognition he deserved for his service and life. <br /><br />I suppose not unlike the Unknown Soldier "Known Only To God." as far as Church was concernedDennisCDiehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10417850852638492246noreply@blogger.com