Van Robison: "Hypnotized by Pastors"

Hypnotized by Pastors


Is there some kind of magical spell cast upon people by pastors who preach from pulpits?    Seemingly there is.  Anyone who watches television preachers will see multitudes of people sitting in pews, seemingly hypnotized and spell bound by the speaker in the pulpit.    Like little children in a school classroom, adult human beings are mesmerized by those who stand in pulpits and pretend to have all the answers about God and truth.  Pastors of churches seem to have a magical spell upon the gullible and naive who think the "pastor" is the source of all truth, all knowledge, all wisdom and all understanding.

Where does this idea come from that "going to church" is where "truth" is found?    What is the origin of the "pastor" or the clergy/laity system of the church world?  Churches in general are all controlled by one individual or by a group of individuals or by an organization that is the source of their existence.  Charismatic public speakers often prance back and forth across a stage and act like performers in a movie.    Theatrics plays a big role in the world of churches.  The gullible are often sucked into a vortex of religious nonsense, thinking that "truth" is spoken by the quack in the pulpit.

Just because an individual has a bombastic personality and speaks with a sense of "authority" does not make that person the source of truth.  A speaker in a pulpit who addresses the simple minded in the pews as "brethren", does not make the speaker in the pulpit---God.    "Co-worker" letters or "partners" is nothing more than a play on words and it seduces only the naive.  Jesus Christ is not the Head of organized church groups or the author of "Church, Incorporated."    Those in power in all church groups are self-appointed human beings, who love free $money, power and control and who thrive on self-importance and vanity.  Such people have no real power or authority, they just live by deception.    Human sheep who submit their lives to "pastors" and churches are indeed sheep, who are mere followers, not of Jesus Christ, but of vain men who take advantage of simple minded folks.

Church goers are indeed hypnotized by pastors, whose persuasions keep many in religious bondage and captivity for life.


Van Robison

M.T.Memories: "...a short interlude from Weinerdude"

And now a word from our sponsors.....

And now ladies and gentlemen, a short interlude from Weinerdude.  A short break from the blurry of flurry, the smack of Pack, the crimes of names that don't rhyme and a soothing balm from the Malm.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled myths and fairytales sponsored by your local COG "let's make it up as we go," goofballs.

Not So M.T.Memories

Dennis On Ron Weinland's Sermon 6/23/12: " Today's Sermon Stand Fast ....Even if..."

Today's Sermon

Stand Fast ....Even if...

One of the jurors remarked,

Out of the 90% of $4.5 million, the Weinlands alone, spent at least 80% of that money. We are talking Lasik eye surgery, Insight cable bills, utility bills, car insurance, global & domestic shopping sprees for clothing, art, & jewelry, homes, on and on….basically everything and then some. In a nutshell these scumbags paid any and all exspenses down to groceries and morning coffee out of these church donations! The so called “church money” equals Ron and families money.
What a brazen piece of garbage. These people are sociopaths. I feel for those of you who were ever entangled with this freak! There is nothing at all Godly about this man. That is putting it lightly.

Apparently, Weinland wasn’t completely convinced that he was going to heaven. In 2002, he announced that he would begin preparing for the second coming of Christ. And by preparing, he meant redirecting church funds to a Swiss bank account and carrying jewels and precious metals with him, since he would need liquid assets for bartering when the financial system crashed (I guess that was the back-up plan if the Swiss didn’t come through).

And all the time that he’s been preparing, the IRS and the Departmnet of Justice were watching with interest. On November 10, 2011, Weiland was indicted by a federal grand jury on five charges of tax evasion. The allegations included that he had understated his income on federal tax returns, used church funds for personal use and failed to report that Swiss bank account.

Despite the fact that he believed the world would end, Weinland set himself up pretty well. He lived in a nearly $400,000 home, where he used church money to pay for security. He wore expensive suits and went shopping at Nordstrom, allegedly on the church’s tab. On his taxes, he deducted stays at Las Vegas casinos and other tony venues, defending them as meetings with his followers.
 

Juror#215 says: 

June 18, 2012 at 18:21

ronaldweinerhead- Mr Weinland reported a $35,000 gross income each of the years 04 – 07. This figure was supposed to include an additional $35,000 “parsonage allowance” for his home. So essentially, he was claiming that his salary was $70,000, but that half of that was parsonage allowance on his mansion, so his gross income was $35,000.

He claimed that he gave himself a “raise” in 2008, and listed a much higher gross income that year, somewhere in the $200,000 range. This was the year that he had a CPA prepare his return more than a year past his extension deadline. However, even this increased number was short of the real total if his income by about $150,000.

J- the let [list] of inappropriate expenses were extensive; literally thousands of pages of receipts, cancelled checks and credit card statements, but I’ll try to summarize and categorize it as best I can remember.

- BMWs for Jeremy and Audra
- Jewelry for Laura (lots of jewelry)
- Family vacations around the world, not on church business
- Cruises, including spa and massage services while on the boat
- Trips to Las Vegas, not on church business
- Trips to visit other family members out of town
- Dining out around Cincinnati and northern Kentucky, while not doing church business
- Audra’s condo mortgage, and monthly homeowners association fees
- All of Audra’s utility, cable and phone bills
- All of Ron and Laura’s utility, cable and phone bills
- Security systems for both their home and Audra’s condo
- Medical and dental services, including LASIK surgery for Audra
- Miscellaneous expenses for Jeremy, including ski trips
- Personal grocery shopping trips on a regular basis
- Many trips shopping for expensive clothing, including places like the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, Nordstrom’s, and Tommy Bahama
- College tuition paid for Jeremy
- Wedding ring set for Jeremy’s wife
- Wedding ring set for Audra
- Expensive artwork presumably housed in Ron and Laura’s home
- Miscellaneous entertainment, including shows on the Las Vegas Strip
- AND all of Laura’s airfare and meal expenses when she accompanied Ron on his church related travels around the world

You can pretty much count on the fact that wherever they traveled to visit members, they ate well, entertained themselves, and went shopping.

This list is by no means complete, it’s just some of the big memorable pieces. I’m sure that Bags can add to the list from his memory as well.

I have to say I am stunned that he can be in such denial and that his followers do not confront him.  This is not about persecution in light of God's truth.  It is about stealing and materialism, lying and mental illness.

I no longer have any feeling for those who follow Ron.  They are brain dead and can't separate 2000 year old scriptures from crime.  I had once felt Ron, while mentally troubled, may be sincere, but now feel he is just mentally deluded.  The man cannot say the words, "I am sorry, I was wrong, please forgive me."  

Those who still believe in this man's views get what they deserve.  You will soon be totally dis-illusioned, which is not bad as delusions hurt you.

Ron is being persecuted because he is a criminal.  He has taken your money and enjoyed the materialism of this world.  He is not a humble man nor is he Christ like.  He is deluded and going to prison.  The Apostle Paul did not go to prison because he stole an bought stuff for himself.  Actually we have no clue why the Romans executed Paul.

Perhaps it was an embarrassment to the Church so they did not give the real reason. 

Ron is going to prison because he is a criminal. He is a fool and those who follow him perhaps more fools than that. 

He is bullshiting you folks!  If his wife does not get indicted, he will leave her in charge while he cooks in prison.

It is time for you that follow Ron Weinland to wake up and be at least as smart as the children of darkness.  They aren't mocking you for your faith.  They are mocking you for your stupidity, naive perspectives and delusions about Ron Weinland.  Please wake up.

Dennis C. Diehl
DenniscDiehl@aol.com

Ron Weinland: Making The Churches of God Proud!

Weinerdudes story has hit the Huffington Post.  No longer is this story sitting in the shadows and read by a fringe few with ties to Armstrongism.  This must be a proud moment for all the Churches of God!

Ronald Weinland, Doomsday Prophet, Found Guilty Of Tax Evasion 

Out of the 90% of $4.5 million, the Weinlands alone, spent at least 80% of that money.

The God Discussion blog has an article up about the Weinlands escapades.

Jesus fails to save 'God's Final Witness' from jury's guilty verdict for tax evasion 

One of the jurors remarked,

Out of the 90% of $4.5 million, the Weinlands alone, spent at least 80% of that money. We are talking Lasik eye surgery, Insight cable bills, utility bills, car insurance, global & domestic shopping sprees for clothing, art, & jewelry, homes, on and on….basically everything and then some. In a nutshell these scumbags paid any and all exspenses down to groceries and morning coffee out of these church donations! The so called “church money” equals Ron and families money.
What a brazen piece of garbage. These people are sociopaths. I feel for those of you who were ever entangled with this freak! There is nothing at all Godly about this man. That is putting it lightly.

The jury foreman's opinions were not expressed quite as strongly, but he said that the courtroom experience and verdict was draining, adding that the jury carefully deliberated the evidence. He noted:

I do admit that while none of the witnesses from the church appeared to be violent people, the thought has crossed my mind that if any members of the church were to go off the deep-end, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch for them to decide that we are the “enemy” and to seek vengeance, which is why I advised the other jurors to make sure to keep our actual names hidden online and in the media.

Ron Weinland: "...was hand-selecting the “leadership” of the church based on how completely gullible and easily manipulated they were."

Juror 215 has posted another tidbit on Mike's blog.  I am still in amazement at the things that Weinland did.    Corruption is nothing new in the leadership of the Churches of God. It has been going on for so long that most are really good at covering their tracks.  But not so in Weinland's case.  He comes across as an incredibly stupid little man.  Apparently, according to this juror, he surrounded himself will a bunch of bumbling idiots. These morons are the ones preaching to the flock every week too.  How sick is that!

Juror#215 says:

June 22, 2012 at 08:18

Trial tidbit of the day:

Johnny Harrell – Co-conspirator or Clueless?

I believe that there has been some discussion here regarding Johnny Harrell, Mr Weinland’s ‘Senior Evangelist’ and how much he really knows about the chruch’s scams. Mr Harrell took the stand for the defense, but he really didn’t do anything to help Mr Weinland’s case at all. He came across in his testimony as a bumbling fool. For example…

In an attempt to prove that the Swiss bank account was really church money and not the Weinland’s personal money, Ron and Laura flew Johnny and his wife to Switzerland with them (Mr Harrell testified that he paid for their own expenses for this trip) in order to have Johnny sign a Power of Attorney form there, giving him the rights to the account in the case of the Weinland’s death. I believe that this was in 2004 or 2005. Now, this seems like a plausible defense to establish the $400,000 in the Swiss bank as being church money and not personal, until the prosecution began their cross-examination.

Did Mr Harrell know how much money was in the account? No.

Did Mr Harrell know the account number? No.

Did Mr Harrell REALLY know what the Power of Attorney form was that he had signed? No.

The prosecution had Mr Harrell read some of the content on the PoA form aloud for the court. He stumbled over the words, not seeming to understand the relatively simple legal jargon. The prosecution asked him the meaning of what he had read, and he really didn’t know. Johnny came across as just an especially clueless minion, and it appeared to the jury during our deliberations, that based on the church elders that we had seen in the trial, that Mr Weinland was hand-selecting the “leadership” of the church based on how completely gullible and easily manipulated they were. Mr Weinland needed someone who could access that money in the event of an emergency, but he wanted to make sure that the person he chose had no clue what they were doing.

One particularly telling part of his testimony was when the prosecution was trying to ask him questions about Mrs Weinland, and to give some kind of evidence that she had done SOMETHING in the church, other than being Mr Weinland’s wife, that justified Ron declaring her the Second Witness. Mr Harrell’s response back to the attorney was to turn red in the face, get a wild look in his eye, and start screaming, “READ YOUR BIBLE!” It has apparently never occurred to him that other people in the world might read the bible and come up with an entirely different interpretation of it than what has been forced upon them by Ron all of these years.

It was just sad and pathetic.

Apostle Malm: "There is no sin in warning of possibilities as long as we do not declare such possibilities as facts "

Not all of apostle Malm's followers latch on to his every word.  Some have questioned his "prophetic understanding" which has really ticked him off.  He is also not happy that Prophet Thiel is ragging on him again.

The apostle wants you to know that there is no problem if  his predictions don't come to pass, as long as he does not say, "In the name of the Lord" when he utters his earth shattering prophecies.He can lie all he wants and its OK as long as he doesn't say, "In the name of the Lord" afterwards.

Red highlights mine:

The signs are biblical; as to when these things will come, that is up to God. Whether I am correct in warning of the possibility for this year, will be proved out by events as to being true or false.

There is no sin in warning of possibilities as long as we do not declare such possibilities as facts and do not do so in the “Name of the Lord”. To do that would be presumptious and would make one a falee prophet if they do not happen.

I remind everyone that I have NEVER declared anything in the Name of the Lord and have always clearly published that all the signs had to be present and that any dates I presented were only possibilities and NOT set in stone facts.

I remind everyone that HWA did presumptously declare many such predictions in the “Name of the Lord”: ALL of which failed; and this is what the scripture has to say about what HWA did.
Deu 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Those who call me false and then blindly follow HWA are double minded; since I NEVER declared anything in the “Name of the Lord” and was always very careful to explain that I was only discussing possibilities.

Bob Thiel is on the attack again although at least he now appears to be admitting that I am not setting dates [saying I am speculating]; instead of lying about me as he has done in the past. James

Apostle Malm: Most of God's Saints Live In North America

Apostle Malm stated today that the two witnesses will start their "witness" here in the North America.  Because -  most of the true saints are North Americans.  Even though apostle Malm is a Canadian, there is strong doubt that the two witnesses will arise from COG members in Canada since there are so few of them any more.  Unless of course the apostle started believing he is one of them. That seems to be the logical progression of Armstrongite prophets.

This has always been one of my pet peeves of Armstrognism, that it believes it's self so significant, set apart, and special that its most important members are Americans.  Most of the ministry in foreign countries were Americans set over train them in the truth.   This is not unique to Armstrongism, as conservative Evangelicals also believe the same malarkey.  Religious Americans view themselves as set apart from the rest of humanity when it comes to following their God. Armstrongites write off most of Europe because it is Catholic.  Any good COGger knows that they are all part of the great whore that will soon help destroy the U.S.

Look at the response of American Christians and COGers towards the Christian being slaughtered in Iraq, Egypt, Central Africa and Indonesia.  They sit in their comfy chairs and click their tongues and do nothing.  They can't be really true believers since they don't live here. Prophet Thiel, the official spokesman for the Living Church of God, makes that abundantly clear when he labels all Christians outside LCG as "so-called" Christians. What self righteous tripe!

Then there are the Hindu's, Muslims, Buddhists, which are considered pagan.  Just look at the spittle that flew from apostle Malm when he went ballistic that Herman Hoeh might have been a closet Buddhist (which he wasn't.)

Thanks to the British Israel malarkey that started being promulgated in the early 1880's by British invaders trying to civilize the world, and then later latched on to by HWA, America became the Chosen Nation.  Set apart with the godliest ministers and believers that humanity has ever seen. The rest of the world be damned!

The two prophets will DIE at Jerusalem! NO where do the scriptures state or even imply that they shall spend their entire ministry in Jerusalem!

They will probably start in North America [because most of the saints are there] and begin warning the faithful and the world; and they will have the power to take the faithful to the prepared place and then continue on to Jerusalem or wherever else; and continue warning the world and preaching the Gospel from wherever they are at.

Ron Weinland: You Too Can Buy Three BMW's, Just Follow My Easy Steps

2007 BMW



One of Ron Weinalnd's jurors revealed how Ron was able to buy three BMW's.  If you are in the market for three BMW's, here's how to get them on the same credit application.  Notice at the end how he conveniently lost his memory and blamed BMW.  It's always the other guys fault since no true prophet of God could EVER make a mistake.

Juror#215 says:

June 21, 2012 at 08:44

Trial tidbit of the day:
The Mystery of the BMW Credit Application
This was a particularly interesting subset of the trial testimony and evidence. When Mr Weinland purchased the three BMWs in 2007, he really only had to fill out the credit application for the first one; when he purchased cars 2 & 3, the BMW Store printed out pre-filled out credit applications from the data stored in the computer system from what he filled out the first time, and the Weinlands just had to sign them.

That first application was hand-written, filled out by Mr Weinland himself, but listing Laura as the primary applicant and Ron as a co-applicant. When you get down to the “income” section of the application, Gross Income is listed as $175,000, and Other Income as $60,000+ (just like that, with the + symbol on the app after 60K). However, two things are clear- First, that the credit application was obviously faxed back and forth, as the usual text that appears at the top of any faxed page is shown at the top of it. Second, that the $175,000 written in the Gross Income space is written with a different pen and in a different handwriting.

The prosecution called as witnesses both the BMW salesperson (now retired), and another person from the BMW Store who I believe worked in or with the Finance Department at the time. The prosecution asked them why another person would have filled out the Gross Income field in the application. They both stated that if one or more required fields of the application is returned to the store blank, either the salesperson or the finance manager would call that customer directly and get the details to fill in that field over the phone. It is perfectly legal for someone at the BMW Store to fill in the Gross Income on a credit application as long as they have received verbal confirmation from the customer as to the accuracy of the information. To fill in this field without consulting the customer is illegal, and they would not do that.

So, it was resonable to deduce that Mr Weinland had faxed the credit application back with a blank Gross Income field, and that someone at the BMW Store had called them directly to let them know that the $60K+ in the “Other Income” field wasn’t going to cut it, and they needed to provide their real income if they wanted to get that new BMW. It was also reasonable to deduce that someone in the Weinland household had given them that $175,000 figure, since they really wanted that car.

When Mr Weinland himself took the stand, the prosecution, on cross-examination, showed him this credit application again, and asked him where the BMW Store got that $175,000 figure for Gross Income. He claimed to not know WHERE that number came from, and implied that the BMW Store em

I think I will head down to the BMWdealer tonight and go shopping.

Ron Weinland: Bikini Hater

I had to laugh at a commenter on Mike's blog today that uses the name 'Budgie Smuggler".  He had this to say when asked what the meaning was:

Budgie Smuggers ( Australian slang ) for speedo sports swiming trunks, for which I am known for wearing around my home, and at the beach etc:, some time ago Ron banned the wearing of such garments, as well as the bikini ?  yeap , go figure ? ….. when I read this I thought it appropriate for this forum, as a kind of personal protest at this mans stupidity…… what I’m supposed to walk around naked ?

Meredith seemed to have an issue with them too.  Probably still does.  I remember when he went into a fit of rage when the music department in Pasadena, under direction of the Long's, did a ballet in the Auditorium.  Meredith start spitting and foaming that he could tell who was circumcised and who wasn't.

Sex always seems to be at the forefront with so many of these upper-class COG ministurds for some reason.   It was always the American preachers that were having fits about these things.  Their cultural norms were expected to be exported around the world. Dark wool suits with dress shirt and tie were the norm in may  tropical countries for decades until someone used their brain and asked "why?"

Forbes Magazine On Ron Weinland's Prophecy Failure and Conviction

Forbes Magazine is running an short article about the epic failure of Ron Weinland's end of the world prediction and his conviction for tax evasion.  Click on the article headline for the entire story.

Taxes

6/21/2012 @ 12:07PM |415 views

Man Who Touted 'End of the World' Guilty of Tax Evasion

Apparently, Weinland wasn’t completely convinced that he was going to heaven. In 2002, he announced that he would begin preparing for the second coming of Christ. And by preparing, he meant redirecting church funds to a Swiss bank account and carrying jewels and precious metals with him, since he would need liquid assets for bartering when the financial system crashed (I guess that was the back-up plan if the Swiss didn’t come through).

And all the time that he’s been preparing, the IRS and the Departmnet of Justice were watching with interest. On November 10, 2011, Weiland was indicted by a federal grand jury on five charges of tax evasion. The allegations included that he had understated his income on federal tax returns, used church funds for personal use and failed to report that Swiss bank account.

Despite the fact that he believed the world would end, Weinland set himself up pretty well. He lived in a nearly $400,000 home, where he used church money to pay for security. He wore expensive suits and went shopping at Nordstrom, allegedly on the church’s tab. On his taxes, he deducted stays at Las Vegas casinos and other tony venues, defending them as meetings with his followers.

My favorite lines from the story are:

Not surprisingly, the jury – who were all still on earth when Weinland’s trial arrived – didn’t buy his excuses.

The feds didn’t buy it. And more importantly, the jury didn’t buy it. Let’s hope God is more understanding when it comes to tax evasion.

Apostle Malm: Sept 16, Abomination of Desolation To Be Set Up - Well, Maybe...

Apostle Malm, who considers himself as God's greatest gift to the wayward Church of God, is laying out again just how the end time events will soon unfold. The sad part in all of this is watching his acolytes believe his tripe.  They have learned nothing of the massive failures in prophecy from HWA, Waterhouse, Blackwell, Meredith, Pack and Weinland.

1)   The abomination MUST be set up in Rome and he will have ONLY a total of 1,335 days from the time he is set up.  For at the end of the days we “shall stand in our lot” and receive our inheritance as the Kingdom of god is established.  Dan 12:11-13.

2)   Subtracting the 1,260 days of the tribulation from the 1,335 days means that the tribulation will begin 75 days after this abominable false prophet is set up in Rome.  75 days after he is set up in Rome he will go to the Holy Place and Jesus warns us that when he does those in Judea should flee for their lives not even stopping to take their coats.  mat 24:15.

3)   As soon as this abomination is set up in Rome he will call for and bring about  the rise of Babylon [the King of the North] in Europe.  The New Europe must be set up and ready to make war by the time the abomination goes to the Holy Place. Rev 13:11-15.

4)   A comprehensive Middle East peace deal MUST be agreed and when it is proclaimed as achieved the tribulation will be at the door.  1 Thess 5:3.

5)   About four weeks after the abomination is set up in Rome, God will empower his two prophets and they will warn and take his faithful to the pl;ace that God has prepared.  All that is written of them shall be fulfilled and they shall have the sign of the power of God and shall be zealous for God and his commandments. Rev 11.6)   At this time there shall also be a great falling away from zeal for God and his commandments,  into a great laxity and lukewarmness for obeying God’s commandments and much compromising with the way of life, as men begin to do what is right in their own eyes instead of having a zeal for what is right in God’s eyes.

This is called the Laodicean attitude of loving and the exalting men and organizations above any zeal for the things of God.  USING the name of God to exalt themselves OVER the law of God, and rejecting those scriptures that they fo not want to obey, in order to maintain their traditions; making the law of God, of NO effect. Rev 3.

This great falling away has been going on for decades and is now reaching its climax.

Those with eyes to see can see that this is one sign that is already obvious.

In 2016 the count of 45 days between the sixth day of ULB and the day before Pentecost will occur.  This is the ONLY year up before 2020 that this count will occur.

If we remember that it is ”at the end of the days”; it is as the days end that the Kingdom of God will be set up and the resurrected saints will receive their inheritance and responsibilities; we should count back from the day before Pentecost 1,335 days to the setting up of the abomination in Rome.

That date would fall on 16 Sep [if my count is accurate] of 2012.

However, the Apostle covers his righteous posterior with this:  

I am NOT saying that this will happen!  I AM saying that this is the earliest possibility, and with the current world situation it is certainly possible!

Only when the above signs are present and God’s two prophets appear in power to deliver the faithful to the place prepared; will we know for sure!

Study these signs; KNOW them; WATCH for them; do not be swept away by false declarations that the tribulation has come;  or by statements by false prophets,  contrary to God’s two prophets and contrary to these signs.

Brethren, it is not enough to see the signs!  We must be prepared for the REALITIES that these signs herald.  We MUST be worthy to escape all these things.

Escape what?  Three and half years in Petra with the Apostle and his law goons making life a living hell?  No thanks.

Ron Weinland Money Issues

Mike, on the Ron Weinland False Prophet: Don't Drink the Flavor Aid Served By False Prophets, has calculated the estimated financial fines Weinland may have to pay because of his felony charges.    Perhaps the wife, The Second Witness, can hock her massive jewelry collection.

The jurors did not determine a tax loss figure, only that there was a tax loss during each of the years charged and Weinland willfully attempted to evade paying those taxes.  During the sentencing phase, the defense lawyers will be looking to reduce the tax deficiency, but the prosecution may be looking to increase it.  The burden of proof is not “beyond a reasonable doubt” but rather a less burdensome “preponderance of the evidence”.

To the base offense level of 18, another 2 levels for “sophisticated means”, the Swiss bank accounts, could be added for a total level of 20.  For someone like Ron with no prior criminal history, offense level 20 aligned with a sentencing range of 33 to 41 months.  Each change of two levels changes the prison term by 6 to 8 months.  Since this prison term is longer than one year, Ron cannot get probation or serve his sentence at home or in a halfway house.  He’ll have to go to “the big house”.  Well actually he’ll probably go to a minimum security camp.

Within a sentencing guideline of 33 to 41 months, 40 months is the most appropriate judgement for a scamming tax cheat who claims to be a prophet of the God of Abraham and an end-time witness of Revelation 11.  But with time off for good behavior, only 85% would need to be served.  When you consider the length of time for the investigation and obtain the indictment, hardly balances out.  The investigation began before the IRS confronted the Two Witnesses on July 2, 2008  and the indictment was returned on Nov 10, 2011, just about 40 months.

Next the fine.  An offense level of 20 results in a fine ranging from $7500 to $75000.  The government will look at the cost of incarcerating him to determine the fine.  For 3 years in prison the cost will probably be closer to $75,000.

Additionally, Weinland will be assessed $100 for each of the 5 counts for which he was found guilty.  And he may be required to pay the cost of the trial.  Each juror is paid a paltry $40/day.  But the first day, there were 50 candidate jurors called.  $2000.  Then an additional 7 days for 12 jurors and 2 alternates is around another $4000.  Then each witness is paid $40/day so Ron will have to pay the fees for his daughter and all his church members to testify.  Plus all the other witnesses.  Federal courts also pay mileage to their jurors and witnesses.

Then there’s the cost of Ron’s defense.  For Ron’s 3 lawyers just to sit through the 8-day trial at say $500/hour is $100,000.  And several times that for trial preparation.  And the cost of his expert witnesses, such as the forensic accountant who couldn’t stay awake during the trial.  In his blog posting of November 26 discussing the indictment, Ron stated: “The Church has a great team of lawyers and an investigator who are vigorously working to defend the Church and myself.” Wait a minute, Ron.  The Church was not in legal difficulty, you personally were.  Just as you aren’t supposed to wear the $1700 threads paid for by the Church to court on a personal matter, you don’t get to charge your defense to the Church either.  Ron, you’re going to have to treat that as income.  Your $200,000 annual salary from the Church probably won’t cover the taxes on the cost of your legal defense.

In addition to prison term and fines, Ron will have to pay his back taxes.  And probably the usual civil penalties.  Indications from the jurors were that Ron continued operating pretty much as before two IRS Special Agents showed up on his doorstep on July 2, 2008 (in the following sermon he talked about attacks by Satan).  So Ron is probably way, way behind on his taxes for 2009, 2010, and 2011.  I hope that part of the process is to bring him fully in compliance with his taxes including whatever withholding is needed for the legal expenses paid by the church = income.

But PKG members will buy his lame excuses about being persecuted for taking the Silent Witness along or whatever other lame excuses he comes up with.  This will be regarded as persecution of the church, never mind that it was really prosecution of a scamming tax cheat.

Ron Weinland's $35,000 Year Salary Paid For All of This

More eye opening statements on Mike's blog about how Ron Weinland used tithe money for himself and his wife and kids.

Juror#215 says: 

June 18, 2012 at 18:21

 

ronaldweinerhead- Mr Weinland reported a $35,000 gross income each of the years 04 – 07. This figure was supposed to include an additional $35,000 “parsonage allowance” for his home. So essentially, he was claiming that his salary was $70,000, but that half of that was parsonage allowance on his mansion, so his gross income was $35,000.

He claimed that he gave himself a “raise” in 2008, and listed a much higher gross income that year, somewhere in the $200,000 range. This was the year that he had a CPA prepare his return more than a year past his extension deadline. However, even this increased number was short of the real total if his income by about $150,000.

J- the let [list] of inappropriate expenses were extensive; literally thousands of pages of receipts, cancelled checks and credit card statements, but I’ll try to summarize and categorize it as best I can remember.

- BMWs for Jeremy and Audra
- Jewelry for Laura (lots of jewelry)
- Family vacations around the world, not on church business
- Cruises, including spa and massage services while on the boat
- Trips to Las Vegas, not on church business
- Trips to visit other family members out of town
- Dining out around Cincinnati and northern Kentucky, while not doing church business
- Audra’s condo mortgage, and monthly homeowners association fees
- All of Audra’s utility, cable and phone bills
- All of Ron and Laura’s utility, cable and phone bills
- Security systems for both their home and Audra’s condo
- Medical and dental services, including LASIK surgery for Audra
- Miscellaneous expenses for Jeremy, including ski trips
- Personal grocery shopping trips on a regular basis
- Many trips shopping for expensive clothing, including places like the Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, Nordstrom’s, and Tommy Bahama
- College tuition paid for Jeremy
- Wedding ring set for Jeremy’s wife
- Wedding ring set for Audra
- Expensive artwork presumably housed in Ron and Laura’s home
- Miscellaneous entertainment, including shows on the Las Vegas Strip
- AND all of Laura’s airfare and meal expenses when she accompanied Ron on his church related travels around the world

You can pretty much count on the fact that wherever they traveled to visit members, they ate well, entertained themselves, and went shopping.

This list is by no means complete, it’s just some of the big memorable pieces. I’m sure that Bags can add to the list from his memory as well.

James Malm Endorses New Bible

James Malm endorses his favorite Bible translation!

COGSR is the "last instrumentality" of the Worldwide Church of God.

The Church of God Spanking the Remnant Speaking to the Remnant wants you to know that the REAL Worldwide Church of God has never disappeared.  It still exists as the true remaining "instrumentality"  of the original Worldwide Church of God. The hundreds of splinter group leaders out there who started up false groups, are nothing more than cults preaching the wrong message.  Only EW King is the rightful heir to glorious legacy that Herb built.

There is only one true Church. The Church that Jesus Christ built. The Worldwide Church of God is that one true church. It came forth like a “correcting rod” through the Latter-day Apostle, Mr. Hebert W. Armstrong. It manifested at the end of the Sardis period and grew in strength to become the Philadelphia Church.

There is only one true Philadelphia Church; it was given the name Worldwide Church of God. This cannot be changed. If it could how many Philadelphia Churches are there? There is only one! After the death of the Later-day Apostle many offshoot and splinter groups began under a new name.

The only ministry of the original WCG using the original name is COGSR. We, the Church of God ~ Speaking to the Remnant [COGSR] are simply a ministry of the true Church. “Ministry” simply implies that COGSR is the true remaining instrumentality of the original Worldwide Church of God. It is the remaining body of the WCG. It teaches the original teachings. We understand what church era we are living in since the death of Mr. Herbert Armstrong. The Church has since moved into the Laodicean era. The Laodiceans are Christians who have fallen away, they are spiritually asleep. The Philadelphia Church stays true to the counsel it has been given. It is the Philadelphia Church which is to call those fallen Christians out of Laodicea and back into the Worldwide Church of God. Because we are the true remnant of the Worldwide Church of God we are also the only true body of original believers that comprise the original Philadelphia Church.

There you have it folks!  Dave Pack is a fraud.  Gerald Flurry is a fraud.  Rod Meredith's a fraud!  Only EW is the rightful heir preaching the good news of God's one coming kingdom where we all be made into god's to rule over our own universe.   Don't you just miss hearing that phrase!  Move into EW's group and you can hear it all the time!

EW goes on to ask:

Each church era had a faithful angel [messenger] which helped it cross into the next phase. Herbert W. Armstrong was the sixth messenger in the sixth church age. Who is the Seventh Messenger? It is this Seventh Messenger who is to give the Church “meat in due season”. [Matthew 24:45-47]

One guess as to who that 7th messenger is. EW himself.  No shocker there though.  EW is bringing meat in due season to the restored church as it awaits it's new name.

Please understand, after Mr. Armstrong died the Seventh Messenger to help usher in the Seventh Church Age did not appear right away. It has always been this way. There has always been a testing time of faith in between each church era.

After Mr. Armstrong's death in 1986 many were left not knowing where to go. Those who left during this time were confused. Many joined false offshoot groups in haste. Those who waited patiently truly understood that nobody could destroy God's true Church! They stuck with the title: “The Worldwide Church of God”! Today God is calling those who left back into His one Philadelphian era church that was guided by the ONE AND ONLY, MR. HERBERT W.  ARMSTRONG! He fulfilled the Zerubbabel mission and “his hands shall finish it!” [Zechariah 4:9]

We now must understand that there is a last messenger, the Seventh. The Seventh Messenger appeared with the remnant of the true Church on October 7^th, 2011. Now the Church has manifested in the seventh era. It still maintains the true name of the Philadelphia Church, The Worldwide Church of God. 

How much more proof does one need! The Worldwide Church of God is God's only true Last Day church! Notice Mr. Armstrong states that "this church" IS "the Church of God". COGSR is the only true remnant that understands this fact. All offshoots are mislead and following ‘leaders’ under a different name. The Seventh Messenger speaks with authority, the authority of God’s word! COGSR has since been attacked by other groups because of our message.

During this Philadelphian era God's true church was given the name, “The Worldwide Church of God”. Any other church coming up after this with a “new name” is Laodicean or 'cult'. The name that Jesus says that the Philadelphian church has "not denied" is the name He gave us, The Worldwide Church of God! The Greek word “name” used here in Revelation 3:8 is onoma and can mean “character trait”. Because the Church of God had gone worldwide through the message of the latter day apostle, the church took on the name “Worldwide Church of God”.

So the title "Worldwide Church of God" we should never deny!

Then EW wants to know that he has just taught you something so mind boggling that NONE of the splinter groups dare teach it.

 

“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all the kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” [Isaiah 62:2-4] The Hebrew word here, Hephzibah means “my delight”. Why does the true “Worldwide Church of God” take on the character of “God's Delight”? Because they stuck with the TRUTH!  This chapter in Isaiah is talking about the time when Jesus restores His government on Earth.

The Worldwide Church of God will get this New Name at the Second Coming!

Did you just read Isaiah 62:2-4? Did you understand that GOD WILL GIVE THE NEW NAME! No offshoot group can understand this. They have become blind and full of pride thinking that their made up names and splinter groups can somehow save them..... they turn away from letting God give us His “new name”.

Where ever the true Church dwells shall be “Beulah”, which means “the husband [God]” is with them! The true “Worldwide Church of God” will be Hephzibah, “God's delight”! Now what you have just been taught is something that all the offshoot groups and splinter groups do not want you to know! Why? Because the offshoot groups seek glory for themselves and not God! They “know not the Scriptures”. Look at all the false names that they have given unto themselves.

Given the abysmal track record of the Worldwide Church of God with its hundreds of failed prophecies, theft of tithes by the leadership, murders, suicides, rapes and child molestations, why on earth would anyone want to return back to it?

Dennis On: "Oh Paul, You Nut"

"Oh Paul, You Nut"

I believe most readers understand that I personally have come to the "low view" of the Apostle Paul.  This Saul now Paul came out of nowhere to tell everyone the true meaning of his hallucinatory Christ.  Remember, Paul NEVER met any real Jesus of the Gospels , never quotes him and the Gospels never heard of him either.  You'd think the "Pharisee of the Pharisees" and  the one "above my fellows" would have shown up in the Gospel group of Pharisees tormenting Jesus.  Even though the Gospels were written well after Paul had lived, preached and died, he was not put into the stories about Jesus and his confrontations with the Jerusalem Pharisees.  It is simply because they never heard of him or , at best, hated him and didn't agree that he even was an Apostle.

Personally, I feel Paul was the false apostle that the Jesus of Revelation (not Gospel Jesus) praised the Ephesian Christians for getting rid of.  Paul even bitched that all in Asia, where the church of Ephesus was located,  had forsaken him but he prayed God would not hold it against him.  He seems never to have asked why they forsook him and won't share that with us in his writings.

He withstood that scoundrel Peter "to his face," but again, really fails to tell us why.  I wonder what Peter would have said about this event?

"I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false." Revelation 2:2 (NIV)

At best, Paul was and is a controversial figure in the NT.  It is Paul, not any Jesus, that is the author of modern day Christianity.  Paul the Pharisee's Gentile Christianity won out over the Jewish version.

 

Paul cursed those that did not preach the Gospel that he came up with.  Paul hated Peter, James and John of the Jerusalem Church, and they weren't all that crazy about him. 

Let's notice how Paul views himself and ask if this is a man that may have actually been outside the intent of Jesus teachings but who, nonetheless, won out and with whom we are stuck today. 

Paul took a salary from others for those of us who think ministers should not be paid.  However, he admits to stealing it.

 "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service." II Cor 11:8

Paul was given to boasting to keep up with the boasting of others.  What this really means is that since others are presenting their actual credentials, he better think of something to present his own or lose out.  You'd think that he'd not do this to show he was not like them, but alas, he can't resist.

 "Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast." II Cor 11:18

Evidently, one only comes out of the world when that's all there is left to do. Otherwise, use it to your advantage.

Paul had no problem making stuff up that he knew any Jesus on earth did not say.  His opinion was just as good as everyone elses.  Usually when one says they aren't boasting or lying, they know they are so may as well try to say they aren't really.

 "That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting" II Cor 11:17

Paul was not against trickery to get his points.  After all, this is a man who can be all things to all men (duplistic) to save some.  Just what exactly does this kind of "all things to all men," really believe?

 "Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery!" II Cor 12:16  Nice!  You tricked me into the truth.

Paul points to his own example and not that of Jesus.  He says he is everyone's father in the faith.  I remember HWA saying that too.  Paul was not only a guardian of their faith, (do I need one?) but he is the father of it.

"Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me." I Cor 4:15/16

 

"Judge not that you be not judged," seems to have escaped Paul. Of course, he never heard of Gospel Jesus and those stories had not been written yet.  It's the reason when some asked him how to pray he said "don't worry about it. The Holy Spirit would moan and groan, utter and peep for us" and never heard of Gospel Jesus saying,  "When you pray say, 'Our Father who art in heaven....""

"And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just if I were present." I Cor 5:3

Paul had no problem handing someone over to his concept of Satan for destruction for the greater good.  It never seemed to occur to Paul to encourage, love and help the one who had slipped.

"hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord." I Cor 5:5

Paul was as falsely humble as they come.  He felt he was the ultimate way for others to be and his way of being was THE way of being.

"I wish that all men were as I am." I Cor 7:7

Paul felt his views were just as valid as those of his Cosmic Christ.  Even though Jesus didn't teach something, he did and he had the spirit of God.  This is a rather dangerous view and leaves him open to saying and demanding anything he wants thinking he and Christ are one and the same.

"To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):" I Cor 7:12

The single, unmarriageable and probably troll like Paul tells everyone that his being single is the best way to be.  He never heard any Gospel Jesus say, "A man should leave his father and mother...."  Of course, this "stay unmarried as I am" which was a function of his view that "time is short," was bullshit in reality.

"Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am" I Cor 7:8

"Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife." I Cor 7:27

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;" I Cor 7:29

Paul rethinks the above and tells everyone to stay stuck in the situations they are in.

"Each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him." I Cor 7:20

Paul's view of marriage is unreal and childish.  The unmarried or virgins are NOT all that concerned about the things of the Lord, as far I could ever tell.  The married woman was NOT always just concerned about the affairs of the world and I thought pleasing a husband was part of being in a relationship.  Paul knows nothing of love and marriage.  He was only fit to bring a watermelon to the church picnic as that is what the single men were good for.

"An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs:" I Cor 7:34

"But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world - how she can please her husband." I Cor 7:34

"In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is - and I think that I too have the spirit of God." I Cor 7:40

Paul totally expects to make a living off the preaching of the Gospel.  (This for those who think it is not Biblical)  Paul likes his stuff, just as everyone else does.

"In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." I Cor 9:14

"If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" I Cor 9:11

Paul likes his boasting.  It is part and parcel of what he needs to feel good.

"I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast." I Cor 9:15

Paul curses those that don't love the Lord.  Nice touch!  In one place Paul says, "when cursed we bless," however, he had his moments.

"If anyone does not love the lord - a curse be on him.

This reminds me of a sign on a barn south of Greenville, SC here.  "Love Jesus or burn forever in hell."  Nice!

Paul blames others for his having to make a fool of himself and feels they should have appreciated him more. He says he is nothing but thinks he really is something great.  He can't call Peter, James and John "fellow laborers chosing rather to be sarcastic and call them "super apostles."  This shows his immaturity and need to also be "super."

"I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the 'super-apostles', even though I am nothing." II Cor 12:11\

Paul admits that Satan got the best of him and blames some physical problem on Satan.  In other words, he sees Satan behind everything that thwarts him even though it probably is not so and he is just not getting what he wants.

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surprisingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me." II Cor 12:7

Paul was competitive and could not abide anyone being as smart or equal to himself.  He thinks everyone who disagrees with him is boasting and enjoys cutting them off at the knees. 

"And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about." II Cor 11:12

Paul was the kind of personality that would say he was not lying, when he knew he was.  Was not boasting when he knew he was.  And had to keep on boasting to keep up with what he thought others, who simply may have been speaking more truth than himself were doing.

"I must go on boasting." II Cor 12:1

Paul was prone to believing that his having the final say was his right in the lives of others.

"On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others," II Cor 13:2 B

Paul, in his twisted view, knew he was conceited and a boaster.

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surprisingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me." II Cor 12:7

Paul tells us the alone went to the Third Heaven , saw and heard things that no man can utter.  This sheer invention to make himself more special.  At best it is manipulation much like a Dave Pack who tells his congregants, "Great things are happening, but I can't share them with you at this time," and at worst, it is mental illness.  I dare any COG pastor to stand up this next week and tell the church that they were taken to the third heaven but can't report on what was seen or heard. 

When it comes down to it, it is Paul and not any Gospel Jesus that is the founder and author of Christianity.  This is a man who was not chosen as one of the 12 by Gospel Jesus.  This is man who brags in Galatians 1-2 that Peter, James and John were "so called pillars" and that who they are made no difference to him.  He says that they "added NOTHING to his Gospel."  He curses those that don't abide by his "Gospel" and that , contrary to the story in Acts, was called from the womb and NEVER had to bother conferring with the Jerusalem leadership. This is probably true because the Gospel of the Jewish Christians was vastly different from the view of Paul the Pretender.   

Paul was no team player.  He was a lone wolf and could not stand not to be in charge of it all.  He, like so many COG gurus simply will not and cannot work in cooperation with others in a common view.  His views were THE views and his Gospel was THE Gospel.

Paul always played the martyr role.  He was the both the worst and the best.  The least and the most.  The liar who told the truth.  The weakest yet the strongest.  The Pharisee of Pharisees and the Apostle.  The smartest pencil in the box, above his fellows and a fool. He was a man given to exaggeration and self promotion.  He admitted to being big of mouth and small in actual presence. 

In short, he was the perfect prototype of a COG Apostle.....so called.

Dennis C. Diehl
DenniscDiehl@aol.com