Apostle Malm: "There is no more grace, no more forgiveness"

The Apostle is expounding on the Book of James today.  It's not a pithy read at all.  Typical Malmism's fill the article demanding that you be a law keeper because salvation only comes through the law.

God’s law is a law which brings about liberty. It delivers us from the chains of sin, from the burdens of sin.

That statement along exposes all that is wrong with Malmism and the rest of the harlot Armstrongite splinter cults.  The law takes precedence just like the "piggie" does in Armstrongism.

Imagine making a mistake and bbq some burgers for a quiet Saturday afternoon.  In Malmism you are damned to the lake of fire for that mortal sin.

If you show no mercy to others, no mercy will be shown to you; by God in the
judgment.  If you break the smallest law you are guilty of breaking the whole law itself.  If you cook a meal on sabbath, have a barbeque ect; you face the same judgment as the homosexual if you do not repent.  For the wages of sin is death.

Since Malm does not keep the entire law, he breaks them all every single day.  Is he damning himself here?  And, why are the COG's so titillated by "homosexuals?"  They seem to be the favorite scapegoat for everything  wrong..

His next comment shows how completely ignorant he is of any of the concepts that are brought out in the new covenant.

This is also the issue of Law and Grace; for if we break the law silfully (sic), their is no more grace, no more forgiveness. 

A great many of us are in danger of damnation and we know it not.  Christ will reject us UNTIL WE REPENT, and if we do not repent we shall be condemned.

Malm would do well to heed the wise words of Martin Luther on sin. "Be a sinner and sin boldly..."

."If you are a preacher of Grace, then preach a true, not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly. For he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here we have to sin. This life in not the dwelling place of righteousness but, as Peter says, we look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. . . . Pray boldly-you too are a mighty sinner." (Weimar ed. vol. 2, p. 371; Letters I, "Luther's Works," American Ed., Vol 48. p. 281- 282)

Of course the concept that Luther is trying to get across is totally oblivious to those Armstrongites steeped in their legalistic bullshit.  The law and piggies have more power than their "jesus" does.

Next the Apostle wants you to know that you are not to be friends with the world and society around you.

I cannot help commenting and I know many will take this the wrong way, but when
Herbert Armstrong used to brag about how he was friends with the world and he used to say that he is friends with this king, and that prime minister, and this ruler,
and those people, and those members of parliament, and he valued the friendship
of the world. He should have read the Scripture, “Know you not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God.” It is wrong to try and be
friends with this world, with this society.

This is the verse and reasoning that Armstrongisms has always used to get around feeding the homeless, the poor, the disenfranchised, etc.  Why dirty our righteous clean hands when God will deal with it all later.

If we stop breaking God’s commandments, we can be forgiven. If we don’t stop,
how can we be forgiven?
How can we possibly be forgiven if we’re continually repeating the same sin, continually repeating the same criminal act of breaking the law of the kingdom?
If we are continually repeating and continually committing criminal acts, we will be judged a criminal and we will pay the penalty for our crimes.
It is only if we stop being a criminal, stop committing the criminal act, stop breaking the law of the kingdom, only then can we be forgiven, only then will our sins be covered by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God!

Sigh........, Malm just doesn't get it!  Doesn't get it at all!

UCG Hypnotizing Its Members?

If things could not bet any weirder on Apostle Malms blog.  Today he has headed down a new path.  Subliminal seduction, the subconscious mind, hypnoses, visual stimuli, and more.

The human mind filters everything that is put into it; based on its knowledge, previous experience and logic.  If we hear someone say that black is actually not black but  bright red, our subconscious mental filter dismisses that automatically without having to think about it; that is our subconscious filter at work.

Changing the basic settings on our subconscious filter [changing our basic foundational references] is called brainwashing or mental conditioning.  When the basic subconscious filter has its settings changed, we will look at things in a different manner.  Our natural filter will now filter out different things and accept different input as fact without question, than it did before. We will see our world in a completely different way.

To reset our mental filter, new input must be passed by the existing filter and then replace the core beliefs in that existing filter.  Normally that new information would be automatically FILTERED OUT and REJECTED as wrong according to the ingrained standards of  our existing filter.  So the key to resetting our basic beliefs is to argue logically and painstakingly prove our points; or to bypass our existing filter and reset our foundational beliefs.

When the new material intended to be internalized is regarded as patently false by the recipient, the proof and logic route is clearly a most difficult one.

The attempt to condition the brethren to apostatise therefore mainly  involves the use of brainwashing techniques intended to circumvent the presently established core beliefs of our subconscious mind or internal filter.

The main technique is the use of modified hypnosis.  This involves getting the brethren into a very relaxed situation which they are familiar with and quite comfortable in.

When the brethren feel comfortable and are in their familiar safety zone, their normal defenses are in neutral as they are in their safety and comfort zone and hearing from people they trust.  Their defenses are lowered and the are susceptible to suggestion.

At that point an error is slipped into a pile of truth as a straw is slipped unnoticed into a haystack of truth.  Over months, more and more bad straws are slipped in, until the stack of core beliefs begins to look very different; and the error outweighs the truth in our mental stack of truth and error.
This is a gradual process, often referred to, by the frog in the heating pot metaphor.

Apostle Malm thinks UCG is heading down a slippery slope towards changing it's doctrines to liberalize Sabbath and Holy Days.  He is particularly incensed that the remaining UCG leadership is comprised of men who were active participants in disfellowshipping COG members during the Tkach years.  These liberal heretics are in teh process of changes doctrine which will damn UCG members to the Lake of Fire.

It all started with them allowing members to eat on on Saturdays after Church.  Eating out makes you make someone work to fix your food.  And don't use that lilly-livered sissy response that, "...but they are already working."  God forbid if you kept your day care center open for a few minutes after sundown!

Apostle Malm wants you to know how UCG is slowly brainwashing you:

Another part of the technique is: Visual stimuli will be quickly flashed before an individual can process them, with a relaxed and undefended mind; or flashed and then hidden among some truth, thereby interrupting the processing.

Most of us learn by seeing, while some of us learn by hearing; others learn in a hands on manner.  To combine the methods of hearing and seeing, is most effective in reaching any group of people.

The UCG Feast film is a classic in mind conditioning; first disarming the mind with lots of touchy feely, sickly sweet, love love, and pictures of the familiar and safe; followed suddenly with quick flashes of doctrinal apostasy, flashed so fast that neither the eye nor the mind can have time to properly consider the meaning of what is being presented to them; thus bypassing the natural filter or mental defense system.

People just internalize the message that what we eat is not important without questioning or thinking about it, or even realizing it.  later they may hear sermons on the same idea that we are to be defined by our “love” and tolerance and not by what we chose to eat.

Over time and as this is done in a variety of similar subjects the mind is conditioned into the “Love is all” concept; while the very definition of love; which is the keeping of the commandments is destroyed in the mind of the victim.

Apostle Malm goes on to quote part of a letter from a UCG member that "gasped with shock" at what she heard in  the UCG Feast film.

The UCG feast film is very subtle but I cannot understand how brethren can sit through it and think nothings going on because it’s soooo obvious !!

It starts off with the UCG President Luker preaching directly to camera at what looks like the home office.
It is very sugary sweet at times, nice warm close ups of mature  brethren in United talking about how they came into the Church and nicely reminiscing about the past, talking about Herbert Armstrong.

These close ups of mere brethren are cut to nice warm fuzzy childhood memories of Aaron Dean and Eddington. But then the subtle sinister odd part happened amongst these nice, warm cost memories are the screen goes completly blank with a black background and in tiny White type quotes from the NIV flash up. These blackout NIV quots must only be up for a few seconds blink, blow your nose, turn your head away and you would miss them.

The one I found highly suspect was a blackout which had the NIV quote about how we are not defined by what we eat or drink. I was so shocked I actually gasped.

So eating bacon is more defining than being a good Samaritan?  A little sausage is more important than feeding the homeless?  An occasional shrimp cocktail is more important than loving your neighbor?

All I can say is the quicker UCG starts dumping the heretical load of legalistic crap than burdens down members the better!  A life of grace is sure better than all the law keeping legalistic rigamarole that Malm wants to imprison members with.

UCG, it is time to set your people free!  It's no longer 1986!

The Power of Poor Little Piggie

Poor little Piggie gets no respect! 

Poor little Piggie gets blamed for all kinds of things in the eyes of true believers.

Piggie is supposed to be in gelatin. 

Piggie has been accused of being in lipstick.

Poor little Piggie has been used to save lives in operations except in the eyes of true believers who would refuse his help. 

Piggie gets blamed for contaminating food that has been cooked on grills while true believers are dining at the Feast. 

Poor little Piggie gets blamed for being used in shoes and belts. 

Now poor little Piggie gets blamed for being used in cereal.  What's a poor Piggie to do?

If I remember correctly, the sugar on frosted cereal is held onto the cereal by a coating of pig material. Is this correct?  We use only unbleached natural sugar in our food!!

Poor little Piggie seems to occupy the minds of true believers more than Jesus does. 

Poor little Piggie obviously has the power to  prevent them from helping the poor and disenfranchised. 

Poor little Piggie stops them from clothing the homeless and taking care of the sick. 

Poor little Piggie seems to be far more important than Jesus because Piggie seems to occupy their minds more. 

They talk about Piggie all the time but ignore Piggies Master. 

Poor little Piggie seems to be mighty powerful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

For those Armstrongites who will not be eating halal Butterballs, this ones for you:

The Beast Power: "...is some kind of Catholic"

Besides worrying about halal turkeys, Prophet Thiel has bigger fish to fry.  He is on his Beast Power trip with Karl Guttenberg today.  Guttenberg was the German who moved to Connecticut recently that whipped Thiel into an end times frenzy. He is a spy in our midst gaining intelligence secrets from society around him that he can use later when Germany invades the country.

Today, Thiel lists several points on why Gutenberg may be the Beast of Revelation:

Here are 23 items to consider as to why Karl zu Guttenberg could possibly fill the role that he now seems to be advocating:

1. Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg is a leader from middle Europe and has a Franco-German/Assyrian bloodline.
2. He has a military background.  The Beast of Revelation 13 is shown to be a military political leader.
3. He is considered to have some economic expertise.
4. He is an extremely popular politician (he was the most popular in Germany in early and late 2010).
5. He is considered an expert on foreign policy.
6. He was “Minister of Defence” for Germany.
7. He is some type of Catholic.
8. Because he is married to a Lutheran (and she apparently did not convert prior to marriage), he apparently is not super strict about being Catholic (some other news reports I have seen also seem to confirm this in other ways as well).
9. His wife also has political connections, and has made several public  “morality statements”.  Hence suggesting that the Guttenbergs represent the moral high ground in Germany.
10. He seems to have ecumenical tendencies, and that is what the “Great Monarch” of Catholic prophecies and the final Beast of Revelation would likely have.
11. He is a descendant of the Habsburg line of rulers (the Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were from the Habsburg line).
12. He may be considered to be entitled to use the “King of Jerusalem” title that Otto von Habsburg held.
13. Charlemagne was a Frank-German leader and “Holy Roman Emperor”.  Certain Catholic prophecies indicate that the “Great Monarch” will be a descendant of Charlemagne.
14. His blood line crosses into various countries in Europe (at least Germany, France, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Croatia).
15. He has the right to select the priest for his parish.  Hence, the idea that political leaders should be involved with religion is something he was raised up believing. A leader combining church and state is prophesied in Daniel 11:37-38 and Revelation 13.
16. The understanding that his title means “Baron of the Holy Roman Empire” is interesting as the Book of Revelation describes a power that would resemble a re-emergence of “the Holy Roman Empire” and Catholic prophecy specifically tells of a time when “The Great King will be crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the reigning Pope” (Birch DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996,, p. 555).
17. The fact that he has been the most popular political leader in Germany suggests that he has a certain charisma that would be consistent with that which is expected for the final Beast leader (cf. Daniel 7:20,11:21-24,31; Revelation 13:3-5).
18. He is believed to careful cultivate his public image, which seems consistent with the cunning (Daniel 8:25) and other practices of the final Beast leader (Daniel 11:36-38).
19. Because a Catholic monarchist relative (Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg) of his was involved in a plot against Hitler in 1944 (and killed for it in April 1945), he may be perceived as less of a threat than others with a German background.
20. He is considered to be a smooth talking attractive leader.
21. Some of his entertainment actions suggest that beneath his exterior he may have certain “vile” tendencies (cf. Daniel 11:21). His plagiarism scandal seems consistent with this as well.
22. He is in a type of self-imposed exile and Catholic prophecy indicates that the Great Monarch is supposed to have a period of exile.
23. He has risen to powerful positions quite quickly.  And may do that again.

What is even more worrisome to the Prophet is that Guttenberg's wife wants the German state to take precedence in child abuse cases instead of waiting for the Catholic Church to rectify the situation.  Given the abysmal record of the Catholic Church in handling this child abuse scandals, I guess Thiel prefers that more children be abused while the Catholic Church tries to handle it.

To slightly expand on point 14, notice the following news account that suggests his wife’s attitude is that the state is above the Catholic church:

…Stephanie zu Guttenberg, the head of a leading child protection group and wife of Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, who called on the state to get tougher on abuse rather than leave it to the Church…Guttenberg, who is the German president of the anti-abuse group Innocence in Danger, said the state could not leave it to the Church alone to pursue abuse.
“Priests and clergymen are citizens of the Federeral {sic} Republic of Germany. And if a citizen here commits a crime, then that must be punished through the institutions of the state,” she told reporters at a fundraising event Monday evening. (Minister calls for abuse compensation. The Local: German News in English, 9 Mar 10. http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100309-25745.html viewed 03/09/10)

So, if Baron Guttenberg has a similar attitude to his wife, he may feel that the state has the obligation to be above the Catholic church–a view that seems consistent with one that the King of the North has (cf. Daniel 11:36-38).

 When he became part of the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Baron Guttenberg acquired new contacts in the USA that he is likely to use politically in future. And since there is at least one major Israeli leader in the same think tank, this may influence him enough so that he possibly can fulfill the prophecies Daniel 9:26-27 (which he may do directly, or perhaps only through confirmation indirectly).

Whether he is the one or not the one to fulfill the biblical prophecies to be the final King of the North, I believe that the Baron’s scandal earlier this year and his current self-imposed ‘exile’ appear to be consistent with certain non-biblical prophecies about a leader commonly referred to as the Great Monarch and possibly biblical prophecies concerning the Beast, the final King of the North.

Thiel concludes his article in typical COG fashion. After decades of failed prophecies and outright lies by Meredith and others, Thiel overs his butt by ending his entry with this:

On the other hand, it is possible that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg could simply be a normal politician, with ups and downs like many others. We will see.

I guess Thiel wants to make sure that when Germany invades the country that they don't head straight to Arroyo Grande to imprison him and his family.  Oh wait, they will be in the Marriott at Petra.  How silly of me!

COGers Worried Over Butterball Turkeys That Have Been Killed According to Muslim Halal Standards

Leave it to Prophet Thiel to have such an absurd posting on his blog today.  I still never cease to be amazed at the stupid things that occupy Armstrognite believers minds.  Imagine a turkey taking precedence over the words of Jesus.  Oh wait, this is Armstrongism, after all......

One of his readers, most likely another LCGer, sent him an article that claims Butterball turkeys are killed according to halal specifications. But then you have to take the source of this news story.  For some reason COGers love to read World Net Daily as a news source.

Anyway, here is the blurb this reader sent to Thiel:

America’s favorite meal may be secretly dedicated to Allah…

Customer service representatives from Butterball, one of America’s most popular Turkey brands, confirmed to WND that the company’s whole turkeys are – without being labeled as such – slaughtered according to Islamic “halal” standards…Multiple phone representatives at Butterball confirmed the turkeys are slaughtered according to halal standards, and one named Tracy (she declined to give her last name) further confirmed the words of Islamic dedication are spoken over the birds.  Has your Thanksgiving turkey been sacrificed to idols? http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=370177#ixzz1eRWF91z4

Then the Prophet asks the questions if Christians should eat such meat.

Presuming that WND is correct, this does seem to be a bit unusual.  Perhaps I should add that the above article also states that Butterball is not the only company that allows Islamic prayers over turkeys (there also may be Islamic prayers over other slaughtered animals as well).

Some people find such practices offensive.  And it does show that there is increased Islamic influence in the USA.

But should Christians be willing to eat such meat?

The Prophet responds that it is OK to eat the turkey as long as you do not offend your guests if you tell them that a Muslim prayed over the turkey.  He uses Paul as his defense:

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:4-13)
27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” (1 Corinthians 10:27-28)

I am glad that is all settled!  Now I don't have to throw out my Butterball turkey!.  As if I would anyway!

Love Your Enemies or Pray That They Die?

While I find 95% of what Apostle Malm posts to be total nonsense, I had to laugh today when a reader on his blog said that they are praying that his time be cut short for his attacks against the UCG.  Such loving qualities that Armstrongism has breed into it's mindset!

If UCG and the rest of the COG's truly followed the teachings of Jesus then they would be turning the other cheek and praying that God would love and bless their "enemies."  Instead they cling to their old covenant idolatry and revel in the blood, guts and gore of vengeance being poured out on enemies.

The COG has had numerous people who had said that they pray that God kills critics, gives them cancer, cuts their life short, etc.  Weinland prays that his accusers be struck dead. Neville Stevens cult prays that God will strike down their oppressors and if God doesn't do it then they will do it. 

Your time spewing this filth is short! Prayers will be going up to the Father to shut down such falshood and lies, …distortions of the facts, …totally immoral approach to situations, …not to mention unChristian-like behavior and slander. I am a member of the body of Christ and I, like many others, have Spiritual discernment. You are NOT the owner of all of God’s thoughts on these matters. As a matter of fact, …you have no idea how God looks at these matters. If you did, you would have a different approach. You slander, accuse, slant, spin and even change your tactics as the previous ones show fruitless towards your cause.

You are of your father, and you do his will. But my Father will not continue to sit idly by while you stir the pot of strife, …6 things the Lord hates – YES seven are an abomination, …let the reader understand!! You, James, are guilty of the #7. I fear for you. I pray for you, …and at the same time I pray that God shuts down your ability to attack the members of His body with lies and defamation!! I call on all those who read this message and are ‘of the body of Christ’ that they will join in prayer with me. For the prayers of the righteous avails much!! Please, children of God, look at the lies this man is publishing and ask God to deny him the power any longer.

NO COG is perfect. They were not in the 1st century. All men do need to repent!! Even this man, James!! I pray for repentance for him!! He is guilty of much that displeases God, as we all are!

James- – - Pick another battle!! Pick another leader!! You are following the father of lies!! I do pray for you, as I pray against the work of your hands and the evil desires of your heart!!

In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask you to step aside from such an evil cause. I understand you think your are doing a noble thing. I’m sure Judas thought he was correct as well when he sold out Christ for a few pieces of silver. He later realized his MASSIVE mistake. I pray that you see yours, …before it is too late!! REPENT!! Stand on truth and NOT SPIN!! Get rid of the rotten agenda!! …whatever it is, it is NOT of God!!

I am going to pray ,,,,…..Please, all others join me!!

"This use of logic when it suits Vik Kubik and the COE is appalling."

A reader on Malm's blog commented on the Zambia cattle situation and compared it to UCG taking a building from the Houston members for their own use when COGWA split. 

UCG would do well to stop all of it's silliness in this stupid cattle fiasco and move on.  Instead they are digging the hole deeper and making total asses of themselves.

It is interesting that the Houston Church Building which was paid for by the brethren in Houston had to be relinquished to UCG because of the “law.” That building was an outcome of the Houston brethren’s, donations and labor contributions (there are many that are involved in the construction field). The building was turned over to UCG (100% paid). The brethren there thought that the documents prepared by UCG’s attorney would protect them. Alas, they did not. With about 95% of the Houston members leaving UCG, they would have the same claim as Vik is making here in this case. The members that contributed the majority of the funds left with COGWA. It came down to the Houston COGwa congregation taking the high road and not wanting to take UCG to court.

This use of logic when it suits Vik Kubik and the COE is appalling. This letter also demonstrates what has been the continual problem with this management team. Half truths and in some cases flat out lies.

As far as the name changes, one would have to be familiar with the laws in these countries as to the ease of changing names. It might not be a simple matter as it would be in the US.

Verdict: "GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY."

Prophet Thiel has made up a list of "charges" against Ron Weinland that "prove" he is a false prophet:

Some of these "charges" can be taken and inserted with Rod Meredith's name and thus would equally apply to him!  Shall we make our own list of failed false prophecies of Rod Meredith?

Charge 1: He falsely claimed that he was given power on April 17, 2008 as that was the start of the Great Tribulation, according to him, and that the real others could not see this is that the Great Tribulation at that time was supposed spiritual.  His own testimony convicted him as he later claimed that the Great Tribulation began on December 14, 2008.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 2: He claimed that his wife Laura was the second of God’s two witnesses effective on April 17, 2008, the supposed start of the 3 1/2 years of the two witnesses gaining power (cf. Revelation 11).  Neither Ronald Weinland nor his wife Laura have displayed any of the miraculous powers of God’s two witnesses.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 3: He wrote in his 2008 God’s Final Witness book that various leaders in the Living Church of God, United Church of God, and Philadelphia Church of God would die towards the beginning of his Great Tribulation.  None have, and since according to his own statements, the Great Tribulation is mostly over.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND CLAIMING TO BE ONE OF THE TWO WITNESSES AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 4: He falsely claimed that a little after April 2008, the US dollar would be worthless.  The US dollar is still valuable.  And apparently according to the IRS, so valuable to Ronald Weinland that he allegedly “did willfully attempt to evade and defeat the payment of a large part of the income tax due and owing by him to the United States of America for the calendar year 2008″ on “or about October 15, 2009″ according to federal documents.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 5: Ronald Weinland claimed that if the USA was not nuked by June 2008, he would resign, admit he was false, and never preach again.  The USA was not nuked, he did not resign, he continues to preach, and has not publicly admitted that he was false.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 6: He falsely claimed that the USA would not get a new president to take office in January 2009.  Yet, on January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became USA’s 44th president.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE PROPHET AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 7: He claims to be part of the Church of God, yet instead has repeatedly denied the deity of Jesus.  The Bible teaches that Jesus is God.  Verdict: GUILTY OF HERESY AND APOSTASY.

Charge 8: On August 8, 2009 he falsely declared that 2008 was God’s final witness.  That is false.  By definition the two witnesses are supposed to give a witness.  His own words again convict him.  Furthermore, he and his wife Laura have not been effective witnesses.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 9:  On December 19, 2009 he falsely declared himself to be the final Elijah.  Yet that 1) contracts his own writing {Weinland R.  The Prophesied END-TIME. 2004, pp. 73, 75, 85, 89, 106, 108} and 2) that simply is not true.  Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

Charge 10: Ronald Weinland continues to preach and teach false information about the Great Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ–which he now claims will be May 27, 2012.  This is not possible as certain biblically-required events have not occurred (see, for example, Matthew 24).   Verdict: GUILTY OF BEING A FALSE WITNESS AND SPEAKING PRESUMPTUOUSLY.

"The Culling of the Flock"

Check out a well researched article by Jason about the demise of Armstrongism on A Cult In Decline – Armstrongism In The 21st Century

The Culling of the Flock 

Recruiting however, was only one side of the coin. Once the recruit was in place, great effort was made to keep them attending and to keep them loyal. The WCG was undeniably a very successful church in its day. If the numerous co-worker letters are to be believed, the WCG grew at a steady rate of 30% a year. It would be fantastic if these claims were verifiable, (especially turnover figures) sadly however, they are not.

What we do know is that during the entire course of Herbert Armstrong’s reign, there was never a shortage of members who became unhappy and left the cult. Whether it was because they took issue with doctrines like D&R and makeup, or because they became disillusioned with HWA’s heavy-handed leadership and his constant requests for money, people were always leaving. The never-ending battle waged by those in power was one of damage-control: a constant search for the disaffected, a race to find these “rotten apples” and stop the spread of their discontent before it could affect others.

In the end, the tactics of selective recruiting & culling the herd left the deck stacked highly in Armstrong’s favor. As the years progressed, the group grew to become something other than just a religion. Eventually, it became – at least to the vast majority – a Cult of Personality.

More Crazy Things COGgers Say

Poor COG-Writer Dr. Bob just doesn't get! Those guys who never
where nothing in WCG shouldn't try to correct a Senior Evanglist who would never hurt a flea. Talking about who needs to repent and
needs prayers???

Christ taught the Apostles who in turn taught the
church what Christ taught them. HWA was taught by
Jesus Christ and we all were taught by HWA. If we
don't follow what the teacher taught us then why did we need him in the first place? Government is what God wants to see all His people follow and obey.

We had better heed to the one whom God sent and used to teach us what we should be following not our own ideas or the ideas of other men who claim they know better than HWA.

 Regarding The Passion of the Christ movie.  Jesus is obviously a graven image in the movie.....go figure that one out!

Maybe I am the dumbest person on this forum. But, the second commandment says not to make images.

So, when you say "Should we not then allow that the Gibson movie  naturally suffers from similar flaws"... The flaw is that its breaking one of the Ten Commandments. End of Story.  There is no *allowance* for that.

We are forbidden to make images of God or of anything angelic or heavenly that even *could* be worshipped.. or that was worshipped.  This includes many earthly objects that were worshipped in times past.   This movie is exactly an image of Christ.. a false image set up.

Maybe this is what God plans to use the YELLOWSTONE
super volcano for -- TO RAIN FIRE AND BRIMSTONE DOWN
ON SICK, PERVERTED NATIONS WHO WOULD DARE ATTACK GOD'S SERVANTS FOR SPREADING HIS TRUTH!

Maybe THIS will be the kind of language these perverts will  understand, to die in EXACTLY THE SAME WAY AS SODOM AND GOMORRAH!

And with the lake bed of Yellowstone Lake rising at least 3 ft.+ per year, and the animals dying all over the park from SULPHUR POISOINING, I dont' think our gay hugging Canadian friends will have long to wait!

Real Christians (COG, of course) Will NOT Be Watching Football on Thanksgiving Day

Prophet Thiel is on his annual anti-football rant because it is close to Thanksgiving and football occupies the TV's in most homes that day. 

Is playing football really about "loving your neighbor" as the Prophet claims?

Dirty, nasty, violent, ungodly football! You are damned to the Lake of Fire!

Should Christians support violent sports like American football?

The late Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

Hostility toward the other is sin…Boxing at Ambassador College is definitely banned. God did not create the human brain and head to be pummeled and knocked senseless by an antagonist.
Wherever a game in sports involves antagonists–in hostile attitude to harm the other and/or to “get” from the other–to get the best of the other then a harmful, satanic and evil attitude enters in, and the sport is evil, not good…
Football (American football) is a violent body-contact sport. It is often played with an attitude of hostility and is dangerous and is fraught with physical injury. (Plain Truth, July-August 1984)

While I have even heard some thank God for football, it is not a sport that I believe that the God of love would condone.

“Love does no harm to a neighbor” (Romans 13:9), yet what do sports like American football and boxing do?

Gnats and Camels

This is courtesy of Van Robinson, a reader of this blog:

GNATS and CAMELS

*Man-made religions all strain at gnats, with their do's and don'ts.
*The Internet is a veritable library of websites by innumerable sources, proclaiming what they believe as "truth."
*Human religious leaders will often lead the gullible and the naive down a path of gnats.

*Jesus taught that the pharisees strained at gnats while swallowing camels and this is typical of the religious minded.
*The religious minded will focus on days,  physical buildings, physical temples, dress codes, head gear, tithing, titles, credentials, religious "education", Ink on paper called "the Bible" as if God is the Bible,
"religious languages", scholars, "pastors", "prophets and prophetesses", "end times", television preachers and quoting "the pastor said", or some "prophet or prophetess" said, or upon following someone that is a
charismatic leader and speaker, or someone that is thought to be of influence.

*Jesus taught that swatting at gnats as so many do, is a narrow minded focus, while this type of tunnel vision blinds the mind to the far more important issues of LOVE, COMPASSION MERCY, EMPATHY and HUMILITY.
*Many church groups and countless church goers are GNAT SWATTERS.
*Gnat chasers think that going to church, observing days, tithing, financing pastors so they can go fishing, hunting and play golf, while poor people struggle to make a living and other gnat ideas, is what makes a "Christian."

*It is human to swallow camels and strain at gnats. 
*There is no greater and more important life principle than "love your neighbor as you love yourself" and "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and "blessed are the peacemakers", based upon Jesus Christ.
*Gnat chasers are more concerned with Saturday church, Sunday church, meetings, days and religious issues than "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS and GLORIFY
YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN."

*Camel swallow(ers) bypass HUMILITY and draw attention to their own self-importance, as all religious leaders do.
*Cult beliefs always involve swatting gnats, because their ideas of what "truth and righteousness" are, are simply the cult leaders camel swallowing nonsense.

*What is more important---to love others, or to go to church?
*What is more important---tithe to the local "pastor" or feed your children and family?
*What is more important---listen to preachers preach, or be led by Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit?
*What is more important---read the bible everyday for life, or produce the fruit of love, compassion, mercy, empathy and humility?

*Gnat chasers make a religion of bible study, going to church and following human religious leaders (who themselves are deceived, they just don't know it).
*Gnat chasers deny that they are gnat chasers.
*Gnat chasers think that gnats are so important that they swallow camels.

Only The Best For The Leaders

I had to laugh when I read the following news story this morning that someone sent me.  It immediately reminded me of the hypocrisy of Armstrongite church leaders that claim to be "Just stewards" of the tithes of Church members as they live lives of luxury. 

Mr./Evangelist XYZ is God's TRUE Apostle/leader/Pastor General who needs to interact with world leaders at their own level.  Therefore we MUST have the best. Best Westerns and Marriott's are NOT for us!  We must have our luxury suites, drive the best cars, wear the best tailored suits, etc.

While the people suffer, the leaders revel.

As we can see from the following article, hypocrisy knows no boundaries:

Occupy Wall Street Leader Reportedly Pitches Golden Tent at 5-Star Hotel

Hell no, we won’t go — unless we get goose down pillows.

A key Occupy Wall Street leader and another protester who leads a double life as a businessman ditched fetid tents and church basements for rooms at a luxurious hotel that promises guests can “unleash [their] inner Gordon Gekko,” The Post has learned.

The $700-per-night W Hotel Downtown last week hosted both Peter Dutro, one of a select few OWS members on the powerful finance committee, and Brad Spitzer, a California-based analyst who not only secretly took part in protests during a week-long business trip but offered shelter to protesters in his swanky platinum-card room.

“Tents are not for me,” he confessed, when confronted in the sleek black lobby of the Washington Street hotel where sources described him as a “repeat” guest.

Spitzer, 24, an associate at financial-services giant Deloitte, which netted $29 billion in revenue last year, admitted he joined the protest at Zuccotti Park several times.

Read the entire story here:  Occupy Wall Street Leader Reportedly Pitches Golden Tent at 5-Star Hotel

UCG Calls For "God to Lovingly Intervene" in Zambia Cattle Fiasco

With mounting negative publicity shining a bad light on UCG's "christian charity" it has hit back through Kubik with a letter regarding the Zambia Cattle fiasco.

November 18, 2011

In recent weeks, a number of people have weighed in concerning what they claimed happened or is happening regarding members of the United Church of God in Zambia. This includes one person who directly wrote to a family member of a former UCG COE member, copied to leadership of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association (COGWA), asking that an “open letter” be published on anti-United Church of God websites “and anywhere else it can find a home.”  

As is evident by the now-published material, that request has been carried out, apparently with no one who received that request asking that  it  remain private for determination by the appropriate authorities.   This “open letter” includes a distorted  summary of events, as well as what can only be described as a completely fabricated story about an “apology” that simply never took place. 

What is particularly sad and tragic is that, what started out as a legitimate prayer request for God to intervene and straighten matters out regarding the loss of cattle harming the livelihood of some UCG members, has now become a public campaign to bias the facts.  While we were not interested in a war of words, this public misinformation requires a reply, lest silence be taken for agreement of the false information being broadly circulated.

What we would desire, and what we believe is the position of the United Church of God, would be that a spirit of civility be restored among those who were once dear friends working together, that property be restored in a spirit of honesty to whom they were intended and that all of this be done according to the will of God.

With this, we humbly renew the prayer request, asking that God positively and lovingly intervene and set these matters aright. Since this simple prayer request, which did not include any other factors in Zambia, has been inaccurately portrayed and escalated publicly by others, it is necessary that we provide the following summary of events so members can focus their prayers.


In early January 2011, our now former pastor along with some other members of the United Church of God in Zambia announced that they were no longer going to be affiliated with United Church of God, an International Association and, instead, became affiliated with Church of God, a Worldwide Association (COGWA).   However, these people decided to claim a continuing control of the name United Church of God in Zambia (and with that control and ownership of its physical assets).   Members in United Church of God in Zambia who desired to remain affiliated with United Church of God, an International Association also claimed that they have the right to the name and property of United Church of God in Zambia and dispute the right of this now COGWA affiliated group to that name or assets. 

Last February, United’s former pastor in Zambia, who is now a pastor for COGWA in that country, wrote that they would not relinquish control of the UCG-Zambia name or its assets unless “proof” was produced that they were required to do so by simply claiming that they have the legal right to use the registered name of the United Church of God and declaring in writing that they “had never left this church,” they claim ownership.   The fact that most members of United Church of God in Zambia continue to maintain that they remain, as before, affiliated with United Church of God, an International Association and desire continued use of the United name and its property does not matter to them. 

There is no question that the property they are keeping was overwhelmingly the result of gifts of people still affiliated with United Church of God, IA.   Yet they still refuse to walk away and build their own separate COGWA entity in Zambia.  And to add insult to injury, when announcing their break with us last January, they stated that they “sincerely appreciate the financial support that the United Church of God, an International Association has provided in the past years.”

As a consequence, litigation was initiated about last summer by two United Church of God elders in Zambia to seek a ruling on those issues, which case is slowing proceeding in the Zambian courts.  A judge has indicated that the issues involved are questions that appear to require adjudication in a trial to essentially determine which of the two groups is the “true” (from a legal standpoint) “United Church of God” in Zambia entitled to use of that name and ownership of its assets. 

Similarly, at the same time last January, members of the breakaway COGWA group in Zambia who happened to be directors of the LifeNets (International) local Chapter in Zambia also announced the severance of their affiliation with its International sponsor, but retained the local Chapter name and its assets.  They have rejected LifeNets (International) call on them to relinquish that name and assets to those seeking to maintain an affiliation with LifeNets (International).

Of course  these former members are also well aware that Beverly Kubik, wife of Mr. Kubik, personally assisted in raising  much of the funding that made possible the purchase of the property and erection of buildings and their furnishings for United Church of God activities in Zambia as well as projects (such as the Heifer gifting program) and other assets for LifeNets outreach in Zambia. Many photographs of the Kubiks’ trips to Zambia to help brethren have appeared in several publications. They demonstrate the direct engagement of the Kubiks in helping Zambia members.

Attempts were made to peacefully resolve the cattle taking issue privately but to no avail. Members who had their cattle taken were understandably upset and traumatized by these actions. Thus a worldwide prayer request was issued to ask for God’s direct intervention.

We call on COGWA and its affiliate in Zambia to honor its ethical promise of last January that  “We will respect all property of our former affiliation (tangible, intangible and intellectual) and will promptly return all such items to the local congregational leaders of United Church of God (Hebrews 13:5). This can be done by returning:

1)      The United Church of God property donated for  our Zambian UCGIA affiliated members – a Festival site and youth camp, etc. – and LifeNets gifted property are returned to these rightful owners (those who remain affiliated with UCGIA and LifeNets (International), including vehicles and the $42,000 in the Zambian account that was to be used to finish the buildings on the property. This would honor all donors, and particularly the two UCG members who contributed the vast majority of funds (over $100,000) required to purchase the property and build the facility. It would help restore peace, honor God and give use of the facility to the majority of Zambian brethren  who have chosen to remain affiliated with UCGIA and who, this year, were forced to pay for an alternate Feast site and youth camp elsewhere in Zambia.

2)     The remaining cattle gifted to individual members or to UCG Zambia, but not yet returned to those owners must be returned immediately, as planting season has already begun. It should be noted that no efforts by these COGWA affiliated people have been made to take cattle away from cattle owners who benefited from the LifeNets Heifer gifting, but who are affiliated with the COGWA fellowship—they only took cattle away from members retaining their affiliation with UCGIA.

On a visit to Zambia in about mid-January 2011, Victor Kubik tried to have discussions with the former Zambian senior UCG official who had resigned from UCG when these actions first occurred. Contrary to what has been publically posted, this former senior UCG official wrote that he would not talk to or meet with Victor Kubik.   This was prior to any involvement by any attorneys writing to that former UCG minister objecting to their continued use of the UCG-Zambia name and property in late January and February, 2011. 

It was on a later trip to Zambia in April 2011 following another request by Victor Kubik to meet that Mr. Kubik received the e-mail, now publicly posted, listing that former UCG elder’s pre-conditions  for any meeting.  A meeting could have taken place before any legal action was filed (that occurred sometime later)... 

We also reject the proposition that we are “taking a brother to court.”  The recovery of the exclusive use of the name United Church of God and of that Church’s asset is against people who are former members of United.  They are falsely claiming to be members of United Church of God while belonging to (and attending the Feast site of) another church (COGWA) and who refuse to relinquish Church owned property.  They are not “brothers.” They do not recognize any person in our Church as having the authority to act as arbiter in this matter.  
 
We do not appreciate the posting of selective correspondence that leads to false conclusion that we did not try to resolve this matter face to face   before being forced into a different course of action.

LifeNets and UCG have gone to great lengths, with personal visits, phone calls, e-mails and meetings to be circumspect and accurate in what has been written above. This response is in answer to posts, asked to be made public, that paint an inaccurate picture of events.  

We bear no animosity, but we do seek equity and God’s intervention in all the related matters in Zambia. It is the fiduciary duty of the leadership of  UCG in Zambia to  protect the integrity of their projects and the assets given to and for use of Zambian members who did not leave our fellowship.