Rebuilding The Ruins of Ambassador

Here are a few pictures the construction going on on the old Pasadena campus and on 

the East Campus area across the freeway.  

The first two are from Del Mar Blvd looking towards where the Health Center and Del Mar Gardens used to be.  The second picture is looking towards the green lawn that was in front of Manor Del Mar.

Click on all pictures to supersize

These pictures are of construction going on where the Data Processing Center/Accounting and 

Shipping & Receiving were.

This shot is from the small parking lot by DPC/Accounting looking towards where the 

Maintenance Shops used to be.  The background buildings are on the old Imperial Schools lot.

This shot is where the old Victorian house was by the Growing Grounds

This shot is looking towards where the old Imperial High School building was.

This is looking towards the area by the Imperial Gym grass lawn.  The Gym would have been to the left.

This is looking at the area where the small parking lot was for the Office Facilities building.

Dave Pack: I Am Sent By God, So This Is All About Me (In 7,590 Words)

Dave Pack has written a huge missive about what an awesome hunk of a man he is and how TRUE COG members should be flocking to his feet in admiration. He explains how he is the most incredibly important man ever sent by God to fill the shoes of Herbert Armstrong.  No man on earth is more favored than he.  No man on earth has the guts to preach a forceful message. No man on earth speaks with as much authority as Davey does.  No man on earth heads up the worlds largest Church of God that has the largest outreach ministry every to grace this planet.

Just so you know how incredibly important he is, Davey takes 7,590 words to get his all important message across. As usual in Armstrongite writings Jesus Christ gets short shifted again.

Davey's ministry is based upon Isaiah and not upon Jesus. Pretty telling right off the bat

Isaiah 58:1 describes a special commission given to God’s leader at the end of the age. This article opens and clarifies this verse by looking at 12 Hebrew words within it. After, for those who even remember it, you will see the verse as almost infinitely more important than you previously thought. Throughout, it looks at what Herbert W. Armstrong recognized about this duty—in his own words—and how he carried it out to the Church and the world. The article covers how this passage applies today, focusing on what I have been doing and will do in a broader way regarding the splinters.

About HWA, Davey writes:

Throughout his ministry, Herbert W. Armstrong “cried aloud and spared not,” warning those headed for punishment foretold in God’s Word. In fact, he spent his life fulfilling Isaiah 58:1, and knew he had God’s authority to do it. He always “lifted up his voice like a trumpet,” never worrying what people thought. He addressed what needed to be said, with no regard for what they wanted to hear.

Yep, that "strong hand from someplace" was a most effective ministry.  Look and the hundreds of thousands that comment brought into the church around the world.  Nada, zippo, nothing.  How can a supposed follower of Jesus Christ, God, preach a message when you are too embarrassed to say the name?

He saw the clear responsibility to warn those—of either physical or spiritual Israel—who were headed for the Tribulation. After reading this article, you will not doubt Mr. Armstrong’s approach to warning those headed for disaster, if they did not awaken. Nor will you doubt mine.

Davey wants you to know that instead of basing his ministry on the saving work of Jesus, grace, etc., that this is what is the basis of his ministry What follows below are various excerpts of Davey trying to legitimize his so called ministry:

Isaiah 58:1 declares, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” A simple definition of the Hebrew from Strong’s Concordance follows each key word in bold. These words become your focus. The definitions are so strong they need no comment from me. First, they demonstrate what GOD intended. Second, notice how certain Hebrew words are repeated twice in the original text. This is God’s own emphasis—a way of HIM saying to not only be strong but to do it with double emphasis. This is much like Christ saying “verily, verily,” meaning “truly, truly.” You are already learning more about this verse than you probably knew:

(1) Cry qârâ' (kaw-raw')—the idea of accosting a person met; to call out to (that is, properly address by name)…bewray [self]…call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous…mention, (give) name, preach, proclaim (-ation), pronounce, publish…say.
(2) Aloud gârôn gârôn (gaw-rone', gaw-rone')—the throat…as roughened by swallowing…aloud, mouth, neck, throat.
(3) Spare [not] châśak (khaw-sak')—to restrain [not] or refrain [not]…refuse [not], spare [not]…assuage [not], forbear [not], hinder [not], hold back [not], keep (back) [not]…reserve [not]…withhold [not].
(4) Lift-up rûm (room)—to be high actively to rise or raise…literally or figuratively…bring up, exalt (self)…go up…heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on…) high (-er, one), hold up…lift (-er) up…loud, mount up…tall (-er).
(5) Voice qôl qôl (kole, kole)—to call aloud; a voice or sound: aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out), fame, lightness…[pro-] claim, proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder (-ing), voice, + yell.
(6) Trumpet shôphâr shôphâr (sho-far', sho-far')—in the…sense of incising; a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn: trumpet.
(7) Show nâgad (naw-gad')—to front, that is, stand boldly out opposite…to manifest…announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically to expose, predict, explain…bewray…certify, declare…denounce, expound, fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, surely, tell, utter.
(8) People ‛am (am)—a people (as a congregated unit); specifically a tribe…hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively a flock: folk, men, nation, people.
(9) Transgression pesha‛ (peh'-shah)—a revolt (national, moral or religious): rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass
(10) House bayith (bah'-yith)—a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)…home.
(11) Jacob ya‛ăqôb (yah-ak-obe')—heel catcher (that is, supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch: Jacob.
(12) Sins chaṭṭâ'âh chaṭṭâ'th (khat-taw-aw', khat-tawth')—an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty…sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender: punishment (of sin), purifying…sin.

Reread the power in this list! Come to grips with—and never lose sight of—the awesome commission built into this single colossal passage within God’s Word. Someone, somewhere, must be fulfilling Isaiah 58:1. Mr. Armstrong said time and again that God’s pattern of government is that He always works through one chief servant and leader at a time. Finding the person and organization performing this commission is among the greatest responsibilities of God’s people today.

Reread Isaiah 58:1, recognizing it is both a COMMAND from God to His servants and a TWO-FOLD commission: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, AND the house of Jacob their sins” (Isa. 58:1). There is more to this verse than first meets the eye. Who is the first group introduced—those whom God calls “My people”? And what is their “transgression”? It cannot be speaking of physical Israel because the “House of Jacob (Israel)” is referenced next—after the word “AND.” The identity of this second group referenced is obvious, as are their “sins.” The first group is also obvious. They are God’s people at the end of the age who have committed a particular “transgression”—one tied to rebellion or religious revolt (recall the definition above). It becomes obvious what that transgression is when one merely understands the meaning of Laodicea—“the people rule, judge and decide.” This revolt/rebellion is against the government of God in His Church, although proving this is not the main subject of this article. See the point. God no longer rules the great majority of His people at the end of the age. His final leading servant is to tell you this widespread transgression in no uncertain terms (he is to “spare not”)!

Mr. Armstrong’s pattern to God’s people is being repeated. Again, the task involves warning in both cases. And in both cases it involves trying to awaken people to biblical truths that have been ignored. It also involves—again in both cases—speaking in the spirit and tone of Isaiah ­58:1. Make yourself comprehend.

Separate warnings must be issued during the period before the Great Tribulation. The stakes for both groups—physical and spiritual Israel—are in part the same. Because those who will not heed will be sent into the worst punishment of all time, a fair, just, loving and merciful God would send an unmistakable warning, explaining there is a way of escape.

It should be easy to see why the final Church era—Laodicea—in the worst spiritual condition of any in 2,000 years (and this after it had been given the full truth through a special restoration—Matt. 17:11) must receive a POWERFUL WARNING from God’s designated ­servant!

NO OTHER VOICE WILL BE SENT TO CRY WITHOUT SPARING!

“God expects the spiritual leader of His people to be His ‘watchman’ (Ezek. 33:7) and to warn the people.”

This statement is literally impossible to misunderstand. Like others from Mr. Armstrong, you either believe it or you do not. (And you either proved it or you did not.) If you do believe it, you must go and find whoever is the man—one spiritual leader—commissioned to fulfill this responsibility. But you will not be able to see the importance of locating the Church carrying out this duty until you grasp the nature and magnitude of the task Mr. Armstrong references. Once this extraordinary responsibility is truly understood, it automatically becomes its own powerful motivator and magnet to search for whom God has selected to be the final “watchman” to “warn the people” before calamity strikes.

See this point. Mr. Armstrong’s statement is meaningless if you cannot know who the leader of God’s Church is. This means you must know where the Church and Body of Christ is. That is where the government of God would be in place, and where Christ would be directing and empowering His chosen servant to carry out this special responsibility. It goes without saying that whoever this man is, he would have to be clear on these things himself. How else could he know it is his responsibility to sound the warning!

It's all about Dave.  Me, me, me, though he doesn't want to influence your thinking.  Not in the least.  You have a brain use it. Though intelligent brains would know that Davey is THAT man.  At least according to his convoluted thinking!

If the appointed leader can know—and he would have to know with absolute certainty—so can you! In fact, for this man to fulfill his duty, he would require a great many people who also knew this and who would back him up.

Finally, God would have to have made available for review the fruits of the man whom He had selected, so that all could prove and know that CHRIST had selected him, and that the man had not presumptuously appointed himself. God’s people would also have to be able to correctly discern all imposters, remembering the devil counterfeits everything.

Then Davey delivers a dire WARNING:

As with Mr. Armstrong, some reject me personally as the one Christ would choose and send to continue His Church, Truth and Work. Be careful.

God would not send someone without ensuring we could know that he came from God. If God sends a man, He would obviously want it known. He would make it plain! 

Think just of this article, and ask: Who else is saying these things?—any of them? NO ONE!

Understand again. Someone, somewhere—I repeat, someone, somewhere!—had to be raised up after Mr. Armstrong’s death to continue God’s Work and lead in the reconstitution of the Church. Someone has to carry the authority to do this and can be found to be doing it. Someone has to warn the nations of Israel. Someone must also warn all God’s people in a lukewarm state. God does not speak audibly from the heavens, but rather through His human servants. If you decide God is not using The Restored Church of God and working through its leader, you must go in search of what would be a clone of this Church and Work. Be sure to keep in mind all the established “qualifiers” in your pursuit. If you do this sincerely, whether your journey is short or long, it will bring you full circle to one place!

So if you decide to leave Davey's cult and go searching for the "one true church" you will find that search fruitless and will return back to Davey's arms???????  that's exactly like a dog eating its own vomit!

Now we get to hear from Dave Pack the martyr:

There is no longer time in this age to speak any way but boldly. But doing this with authority does come at a price. I will continue to do this—no matter the price for me personally, and no matter how few or many are willing to pay it with us! Those who will not pay God’s price now ought to recognize that prophecy reveals the price will soon increase dramatically for His people—and for all people on Earth.

Then Davey jumps from proclaiming himself THE ONE, to kicking sand in UCG, CGI, and in other groups faces:

A side note: Any number of slivers and individuals can claim they are “doing the Work.” I can think of several groups who have anemic and almost pitiful websites, which are invariably badly conceived and poorly maintained. 

Then there is a dig at Lord Six Pack in Edmund Oklahoma:

On the other hand, the one who believes himself to be “That Prophet” bellows and rages, primarily attacking those of Laodicea as though brothers and sisters in Christ are “enemies” in a way no true servant of God would ever do. He actually takes pride in thundering, “We are AT WAR with Laodicea!”

Davey is also not happy that Church of God members around the world  are hearing what a complete ass he is and he intends to put a stop to it.

Do not miss my next two postings. The first will be a sermon (posted April 21) that identifies—and MARKS!—the modern “synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 3:9). The second, an Open Letter (posted sometime in May), will present the truth and clear up many of the greatest lies told about me personally that are circulating throughout the splinters. Brethren must have an opportunity to cut through the 10-foot-thick layer of deceit surrounding my name. I have come to see it as my duty to give all of God’s people a fighting chance to defeat these lies and deceit. I will be specific! The April posting sets up the May follow-up.

If Davey really was THAT MAN, then why is he concerned about what people think about him?  Why does he need to write such bloviated pieces of garbage in order to legitimize himself?  When he does this he comes across as a bumbling idiot!  What an impotent little fool he has turned out to be!

You can read his incredibly LONG missive here:  “Cry Aloud, Spare Not”—What ALL Forgot!

Apostle Malm: Call Soon To Go Out For True Believers To Leave the COG's

Since TRUE Armstrongites are revolted by it, please ignore the cross.

The apostate apostle has issued a decree that there will soon be a call going out for all true believers scattered throughout the various COGlets that they are to leave.

Very, very, soon now; the call of God’s prophets will go out; to LEAVE all these groups who will not turn to God and keep his commandments with passionate Christ-like love. The zealous WILL be separated from the lukewarm in the very, very, near future.

So where are all these deceived fools to go?  With the apostate Apostle to his cult.

I am already a part of a group: The Ekklesia of God; the body of Christ. There are at least a few thousand who are a part of the same group. 

Who will be the leader of this new splinter cult?

Yes, there are other COG Bloggers, but none who would be free to say what I have said....The truth is that I am already a part of a much biogger and better Group than any corporate church organization; which is different than the common today: It is unincorporated and has its brethren scattered throughout all nations and peoples and kingdoms and ages!

What an arrogant, pompous, jackass!

Apostate Apostle Malm: Pope May Die by Late August Unless Satan Heals Him

Our wild and wacky Apostle knows what will be happening to the Pope this year.  Unless of course, Satan cures him (which is exactly what he is referring to below.)

While the word Benedict is the number 666; this man is now not only very old, but very weak and there is presently a power struggle in the Vatican to replace him. He is not even able to walk about now and uses a kind of wheeled platform. I do tend to think that he will soon die and be replaced. If the abomination is to be set up in Sep of this year: this man will likely die in mid to late Aug. Of course I do leave it open that this man could be miraculously healed by his master, but it does look like he will not be the final pope. James

Lot's of Barley, But Still No Jesus

There have always been fringe groups in Armstrongism that take things to the extreme.  Whether it be intense law keeping or pretending to be Jews. As more and more COG's seem to be watering down Sabbath keeping (as they should) these fringe groups intrench themselves deeper into legalistic mumbo-jumbo that has no relevance.

With the ongoing dissolution of Armstrongism over the last several decades these fringe groups seek to be more Jewish than most Jews are. Apostle Malm is one of those people and has gathered a small group of equally legalistic devotees that pay the law more diligence than they do Jesus Christ.

Apostle Malm bases many of his beliefs around a small group of COG members in Israel who spend countless hours traveling all around Israel seeking to be the first to see the new moon or to find a miniscule piece of barley that is growing in a field. Thousands of miles are driven. Numerous trails are climbed up hills and mountains to be the first to declare that the new moon festival can be started.

One of these small fringe groups has a web site up where they log their travels around Israel looking for barley grain and new moon sightings.  You can read countless entries in their blog/site with no mention of Jesus anywhere.  Legalistic mumbo-jumbo - yes, Jesus - no.

Like any good Armstrongite they apparently know all there is to know about doing this.  Even the real Jews don't know as much as these people.

Today we visited all the areas around the Old City and the Mount of Olives. We expected to find the barley in the flowering stage, and we were not disappointed. Of course, the barley and oats that were growing adjacent to the walls and very stony surfaces had prematurely died. Often, you can see plants in such areas that have just barely cleared the boot with the head and then the plant dies. Remember, color alone does not determine aviv. Unfortunately, many folks who live in this day and age do not have an awareness of such things and can be misinformed. This is why we have endeavored in the past reports over the years to elaborate on such things. They are all there on the website for anyone who has an interest to view them.

All the biblical aspects of the start of the year have been present during our inspections. The least prepared was the barley itself. However, by Wavesheaf Day, there will be abundant fields ready to harvest by biblical standards. That is one of the most important reasons why, as inspectors, we need to understand the growth and maturing process with its timing for barley. It is not a whimsical thing, but a clearly defined science. In the upcoming summary to this year’s inspections, we are going to put together a very detailed report on the entire process.

We put on 350 km and enjoyed the drive through this beautiful agricultural treasure in Israel. We travel to the same locations to inspect the volunteer barley year after year. It has taken many years of relentless driving to find these locations.

All this time wasted looking for gran and no time used to even examine the smallest aspect of what Jesus was trying to get across.  Apparently law and legalism trumps and continues to reign supreme in Armstrongism.

You can read of thier exploits here:  Abib Report 2012

Official LCG Spokesperson Knows More Than Rod Meredith

Prophet Robert Thiel, self proclaimed end-time prophetic authority, official spokesman for the Living Church of God and Rod Meredith's official mouthpiece has given 11 "proofs" on why his book is one of the most important books on earth today and should be required reading for all COG members, especially LCG members.

Prophet Thiel has an intense dislike for the current President of the United States and has also trained up his son with the same opinion, as you will see further below.

The Prophet has this to say about his predictions he has made in his book about President Obama:

1.  2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect teaches that the U.S. dollar will ultimately be worthless with another currency (with European involvement and/or control) taking its place in the world (see Chapters 7-8 and Appendix B).  And Barack Obama has helped move the US dollar in this direction.
2. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns that U.S. President Obama will encourage the rise of a European power to the ultimate peril of the U.S.A. (Chapter 8).  And he has done so, with both money and political pressure.
3. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns that the USA will continue to greatly increase its debt (Chapter 8).  And US President Obama has so far increased US debt by about $5trillion.
4. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warned that, “Because of domestic economic concerns and international pressures, Barack Obama is shifting priorities away from defense spending… This will help lead to the destruction of the United States, when the Europeans are ready and the U.S.A. is not” (Chapter 8, p. 147).  This is something Barack Obama has done repeatedly.
5. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns (through quoting Habakkuk 2:7) that foreign creditors “will rise up suddenly” against the USA (Chapter 8, pp. 131-132, 148).
6. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns that Barack Obama will cause people to err and not discourage, but instead encourage, biblical sin (Chapter 8, pp. 130,148).  This has happened repeatedly (e.g. DOMA).
7. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns that Barack Obama will help enable the rise of a multi-national leader of an Islamic confederation, like an Imam, that the Bible refers to as the King of the South (Chapter 8, p. 132).  The Obama Administration’s encouragement of the Muslim Brotherhood and its actions in Libya are two ways this has been fulfilled.
8. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns that China may end up with at least part of Australia (pp. 323, 367).  By persuading Australia to accept US Marines in Darwin (Australia), the Chinese have suggested that they may militarily attack Australia (see also Chinese Upset Enough About USA in Australia that its Hinting About Militarily Hitting Australia).
9. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns (through quoting Habakkuk 2:7) that foreign creditors “will rise up suddenly” against the USA (Chapter 8, pp. 131-132, 148).  The US government credit worthiness has been downgraded by US and foreign rating agencies–this is setting the USA up.
10. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns that because some will partially rely on a Shi’ite prophecy that Iran has indicated points to Barack Obama, they should NOT rely on that “Imam Mahdi” and may do so to their peril  (see Chapter 8, pp. 132-135).
Chapter 8 of 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect is titled Barack Obama, Islam, and the End of America.
The reason that this post states at least ten, is there is another one that is related to number 4, which is sufficiently specific to be its own:
11. 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect warns that there will likely be gaps in the U.S. G.P.S. system and this may require the U.S. military to rely on the upcoming European Galileo system (essentially an upgraded and European developed version of G.P.S) to meet that gap (Chapter 5, pp. 84-85).  This has now been agreed to by the Obama Administration.

It has always been a mystery to me as to why Armstrongite ministers and  prophets have to deliver their messages with numerous numbered points.  Apparently the more points you have the more impressed we are supposed to be.

His son, who is out of school this week celebrating Easter, has produced a video detailing the magnificence of Prophet Thiel's predictions and observations about President Obama.

Our son Brian was off school this week, so he and I put together a brief video (no teleprompter, etc. of course) titled 2012 – Ten Fulfilled Barack Obama Prophecies at YouTube.  You can click here to watch: 2012 – Ten Fulfilled Barack Obama Prophecies.

Prophet Thiel also wants you to know that even without the President fulfilling his (Thiel's) predictions, that prophecy continues to march forward according to the time line he (Thiel) has set. Apparently we should all be groveling at the feet of Prophet Thiel because he claims to know more about prophecy that Rod Meredith does.  Prophet Thiel feels his prophetic utterances are straight out of the Bible and do NOT fail like Rod Meredeth's has. His predictions are so correct that these events will align with HIS predictions instead of his predictions aligning with world events.

Of course, world events have also aligned with other predictions in the book without Barack Obama involvement.  Currently, world events have aligned with at least 21 predictions in 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, and more will happen in 2012.  And since the focus of  2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect is what happens after 2012, more world events will align with many more biblically-understood predictions in the book.

Prophet Thiel also wants you to know that his predictions are so perfect that it is vital that you BUY his book. Screw those free booklets from Rod Meredith, the real truth lies in Thiel's book that puts money in his pocket. Mammon continues to reign supreme in Armstrongism.

If you have not already gotten 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, this may be a good time to consider doing so if you have genuine interest in better understanding end time biblical prophecy as well as to better understand how Satan has a plan to deceive most of humanity through his “prophets” and other leaders.

Whip out those wallets!  Biblical truth can only be obtained with money through the Church of God.

Van Robison on "Living on Church Welfare"

Living on Church Welfare

It has long been my opinion that church pastors such as Herbert W. and many thousands of others, live on church welfare, or at least did before they passed from this life.  Somehow it does not seem right that those who lead others live from tithes and donations, while real men work for a living and support their own families.  I can never forget a Friday night Bible study in Pasadena, when as was the custom, one of the members with a very large family, sent forward a question about paying "3rd tithe", when he had a very large family and had a hard time feeding his clan of nine children, wife and himself on his wages.  Garner Ted in his cold-hearted reply to that question stated that "if you have to starve to death, you pay the 3rd tithe."  That was a real revelation about the character of GTA.  Of course GTA didn't really "work" for a living, but lived from the financial sacrifices of the doctrinally indoctrinated.

There are many who think they are "called", "anointed" and "appointed" by God or Jesus Christ to "pastor" others and as a consequence they believe they have a "right" to your pocketbook, not based upon anything taught by Jesus, but certain comments made by Paul or those who put words in the mouth of Paul.  Jesus actually said to His disciples "freely you have received freely give" and I take that to mean, don't go out and merchandise the name of Jesus Christ for your own welfare.  Of course the world of churches would not even exist without the false tithes and offerings, which are the means to a free lunch for life for the "pastors" and often much more than just food on the table, but luxuries, perks and financial benefits of living the life of kings and queens in the earth for many.

One "pastor" I sent an email to some years ago had the retort that "tithing" was the means that Jesus established to "preach the Gospel to the world."  Naturally that is the excuse they all have.  It is much easier to respect those who work for a living than those who live on donations, tithes and offerings.  Governments of men are really no different than man-made religions, because those who work for government live from "tithes" (taxes) as do preachers and think it is perfectly a moral right.  Does it not seem strange that those who demand your money, are the very ones who control your thinking and think they have a "right" to rule over your life?  Many who work for government in all of its myriad forms also think they have a "right" based upon certain verses in the Bible, such as Romans 13.  Of course many in government are also "Christians" and their rule book is the "Bible" as they interpret it.  "Obey the rulers" is rubber stamped into the minds of millions and etched in stone in the thinking of many the world over.

If there were no FEAR, it is doubtful that humans would see things as they do.  In the church world, many also think they will be financially "blessed" if they pay tithes, keep the Saturday Sabbath and so forth.  Most people who think this way have tunnel vision, because the world has many who are financially well off who do not go to church, pay tithes or bow to "pastors."  In fact there are no doubt many millionaires and even billionaires who are most likely atheist, or who do not go to church, pay tithes or otherwise pretend that their wealth has anything to do with "sowing a seed" into any preachers ministry.    Many church goers have a two fold sense about tithing and "Biblical" law keeping.  On one hand there is the belief that if one "obeys" the rules of tithing and keeping the Sabbath or going to church, they will be "blessed" and the reverse side of the coin, is the FEAR that to not do so is to incur curses.  I have no personal doubt that God does not micro-manage the lives of anyone.  You simply reap what you sow and if you are smart and able to financially prosper in this world, then it is not the consequence of "tithing", but of sound business or financial decisions.

One man I read about some years ago and who worked for some mega-church group, donated $200,000 over a period of time and wound up bankrupt.  Naturally he became bitter when he came to his senses about the whole idea of "sowing a seed and reaping a harvest."  Guess who reaped the harvest?  There are those who will swear that they were financially blessed as a result of "sowing a seed" or some similar act, but I would suggest that it is purely coincidental and had nothing to do with sending some preacher a check.  Some will say they received an unexpected check from some insurance company or some other similar situation and tag that to something they did to "serve God."    It is really amazing how so many church goers connect their dots in life.

Living on church welfare is in my opinion a disgrace and a deception to those who are taken advantage of by the slick salesmen who stand in pulpits, grinding out their own private "Gospel."  On one website I know of, the preacher who is a former "Senior Pastor" of a major church group, but who resigned to be a "Father" to young pastors to bring "revival", pronounces a "blessing" on those who tithe.  And he even has a "2nd blessing" on tithe payers.  That is ridiculous as if this man could pronounce a "supernatural" blessing upon people who send him donations, while he lives on church welfare.

Real men work for a living and support their own families.


Van Robison

Apostle Malm Gives Us World NEWDS Today in Prophecy!

This was too fun to pass up.

Apostate Apostle Malm has up his daily report on news he sees significant to his march down prophecy lane.  Usually it is all about Israel and the Muslim hordes.  Malm's premise is that the Muslims will soon be humiliated is a stinging series of defeats as Europe rises up against them. He conveniently ignores the fact that Egypt is now controlled by the hardline Muslim Brotherhood, that most of Mali was fallen to extreme Islam, and that many more Muslim nations are turning hardline.  But that's really insignificant to the real news of the day.

The real news is NUDE NEWD News!  Woo Hoo!  There for a moment I thought the Shining Light blog was turning into a Russian News program. . Alas, it's not, though it still provides copious amounts of fodder.

ht: Norm and Douglas

COGWA: Can It Really Deliver Life, Hope, Truth?

The 7th Day Sabbath Churches of God are reporting that COGWA has come up with a new internet domain that will be their "gospel" proclamation tool.  The name of it is really, really wrong!  All three of their chosen words depict everything they are not!

Clyde Kilough has announced “a website that will be devoted exclusively to delivering the gospel to the world …. we have settled on this as the domain name for our public proclamation website: www.lifehopeandtruth.com.”

Life?  Hope??  Truth???

Are they serious?  Some of the most conniving men in the ministry of the COG today are part of this group where some of them have helped bring into being three different COG's while in previous church organization employ.  That shows an incredible amount of life, hope and truth!  NOT!

Life?  There is a sickening trail of destruction in the Churches of God in the lives of the membership. We have all seen Church of God "love" put into action over the decades we were all a part of it.  Forced divorces, rapes, stalkings, murders, suicides, child abuse, mental and spiritual abuse, and the list could go on and on.  In Armstrongism "love" tends to be a profanity.  A four letter word.

Hope?  How can there be hope in an organization that gives minimal lip services to the one person that offers them that hope? Where is the"hope" in a message that we were never good enough.  We were at fault for everything.  That were were vile filthy sinners. That God delays Jesus coming because COG members were/are too stupid to get it.

Truth??? Truth?  Really? That god of Armstrongism apparently was so incredibly impotent that he lost His own message for 1,900 years only to have it found in an outdated library in America? That He needs apostles and evangelists today? That talking about "a strong hand from someplace" is a hidden truth?

And they all wonder why there is no Church of God today making an impact.

UCG Loses Portugal Church and Feast Site Because of New Moon Controversy

United Church of God has lost another church from it's ranks.  This group is from Portugal and have left UCG over the UCG's refusal to observe New Moons and for keeping "holy days" on the wrong dates.  They are offended that UCG uses the Jewish calendar instead of the one the new moon crowd uses.

Apostate Apostle Malm has this to say about them:

A reader of Malm's site says:

Interesting developments in UCG. The loss of a congregation and feast site because they refuse to abide by God’s Biblical Calendar based on the New Moons. Will this cause them to look at themselves, analyze their beliefs and turn to God…don’t hold your breath. (Even though they should.)

Malm later responds:

The church in Portugal chose to dissassociate after UCG rejected their acceptance of God’s Calendar. I am NOT personally in contact with the Portugal Church and do not have any further details. I do NOT know where they got their new position from.

Ron Weinland: Featured On "Networks of Doom"

Actually, let’s play a little game.  It’s called “judge men’s characters based on their faces.” Look at the faces above and tell me which men likely laughed off Weinland, or ignored him, or maybe were secretly glad that this doomsday date nonsense would draw attention away from their own shady scams.  Then pick out the ONE GUY who took Weinland’s prophecies so seriously he composed a detailed 14,706-word “Open Letter” attacking his doctrinal errors, and directed his church’s funds to spreading an anti-Weinland message to the masses.

Networks of Doom: Chronicling the web's chroniclers of doom

Here is a new site that is monitoring Ron Weinerdude Weinland along with a bunch of other crazy cults.  Poor Ronnie gets no relief!  It will probably be a great pleasure for him to be incarcerated for a few years just to give his over worked mind some relief.  Of course, he could end up being another Warren Jeff's who still finds ways to communicate to his brainwashed followers.

Weinerdude has made the prediction that the tribulation starts on May 27th of 2012. I think we all need to party down that day since this is a guaranteed failure.

They also pick fun at the the most important man on the face of the work who runs the worlds largest ministry every to impress humanity.