Living Church of God: Who Are You?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
After spending millions and millions of dollars on TV programs, webcasts, magazines and a college, the Living Church of God is still an unknown commodity in the world today.
In January the church was unknown, but now, according to Meredith, it is ready to "EXPLODE on the world scene." Dave Pack claims his group is already doing that, yet no one knows who they are either. Having Roku Channels and streaming on Apple TV does not produce any lasting benefit to the church, other than being a financial drain.
What is it that makes Meredith think he has a message that will "explode" onto the world? The negative publicity from the Scarborough lawsuit is making him and the LCG the laughing stock of the entire splintered church right now. Once that makes the papers the church will loose even more credibility. Fasting certainly is NOT going to correct this situation.
In the Living Church News, January-February 2016 he (Meredith) wrote:“If you go around your neighborhood, you find virtually no one who has heard of the Living Church of God ...” — yet now he claims: “This Work is growing in a consistent manner and we will soon, no doubt, explode on the world scene as our power increases.” Church of God News
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
He woke up in a Charlotte doorway
A policeman knew his name
He said "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"
He staggered back to headquarters
And the breeze blew back his hair
He remember throwin' punches around
In those Golden Gloves days
And preachin' from the Auditorium stage
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
He took his Cadillac back out of town
Back to the Glory Days of old
He felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of failed prophecies
He stretched back and he hiccuped
And looked back on his wasted life
Eighty years in a fractured church
God, there's got to be another way
Who are you?
Ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa ...
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I
31 comments:
Don't forget the companion song! (As Horatio puts on his mirror shades) "Won't Get Fooled Again!"
BB
That is the question:
Who are these kooks? pushing discredited 19th-century Adventist fanaticism.
Something "explodes" onto the world scene when it goes viral, like PSY's Gangnam Style did, or like the Pokemon Go! app is doing now.
In order for that to happen, you have to bring something interesting to the table that people need and want. You have to provide something that people feel benefits them in some tangible or intangible way. If you can manage do that, you don't have to fork over millions and millions just in order to get your message out there. You don't have to spend a fortune just to get people to pay attention for a minute or two. In fact, what happens is people can't wait to spread the "good news" about you and what you're doing, for free! The revenue travels to you instead of away.
LCG's "power," if it has any appreciable quantity of that in "worldly" terms, isn't increasing. It's dwindling. For every extra dollar spent trying to trick people into thinking that Herbert Armstrong really did have anything of benefit for humanity, instead of just being one more perverted con man, trying to trick people into thinking they should give two sh!ts about what LCG is trying to sell today, for every extra dollar LCG spends, the field where everyone grows their fvcks becomes increasingly barren.
And why do they care whether they have any "power" or whether anybody is noticing them? Don't they take pride in being ignored? Isn't that a sign that they're "god's chosen few"? Isn't it "no skin off their nose" if nobody cares about the message their is ineptly trying to get across to the world because he selects bumbling incompetents like COG ministers who can manage to make even an interesting topic seem staid, stale, and boring? In fact, if anyone did listen, if they really did "explode" and suddenly have some of this "power" wouldn't that mean they aren't "god's chosen few" any longer? Nope. Because their specialness is unfalsifiable. When the opposite happens of what's happening now, that's even better "proof" of how special they are. When everything is "proof," then nothing is.
All LCG is getting ready to do is implode, and fracture into warring tribes who hate and despise each other even more than they hate and despise the "world." And all that will do is precipitously decrease any
Rod must know, unless he is totally deceived, that the days of his group are quickly fading. The negative publicity that the Scarborough lawsuit would bring forth, could well be the last nail in the coffin, especially if a guilty verdict is rendered and substantial damages are awarded.
The cogs have to wake up to the fact that their message is considered as just another opinion among millions. The only messages that would draw serious attention, are those given by the two forth coming witnesses, who will have miraculous power that would give credence to their message, though they are not going to like it.
The most that can be achieved is for members to concentrate on their spiritual condition and spend their 'tithes' on the poor and needy, the actual ones that Yahshua spoke of as a way of living out His example, instead of throwing their money away by enriching the lives of an elite that couldn't give a shit about them.
Wake up you ministers and members. Know you not that Yahweh has spoken of these days in the book of Zechariah (Zec 11:3) A voice of the wailing of the shepherds is heard, for their splendor is destroyed. A voice of the roaring of young lions is heard, for the pride of Jordan is destroyed.
(Zec 11:4) For so says YAHWEH my Elohim: Feed the flock of the slaughter.
(Zec 11:5) Those who buy them kill them and are not held guilty. And those who sell them say, Blessed be YAHWEH, for I am rich. And their shepherds do not have pity upon them.
Continued reading through the chapter and then continue with chapters 12 and 13. Read and see what Yahweh is now doing. Co-operate with Him and remove yourself from these hirelings, and not allow yourself to become an accomplice to evil.
In this day and age of internet and 1000 cable channels, it is much harder to be noticed. HWA came onto a scene where radio was nearly new, and religious broadcasting was in its infancy. There were large "clear channel" radio stations that could be heard across huge areas of the United States. In a sense, he was novel, new and unique.
America was a different country too, with a large majority of people still interested in God and some sense of Biblical morality.
Times have changed, and there is a lot of market saturation. People don't go to Fraternal Lodges, or VFW meetings, they don't go to Council meetings , PTA or the like either. Churches are a bit passé at all denominations.
All of this would come from the point of view that religion and Christianity is a commodity that is "Marketed". This is the first clue to why there is a problem.
The gifts of the Spirit that the Apostles were given gave them a unique voice at the time. No need for money, for if you could heal people , you had a great skill set for receiving meals and other gratitudes. Speaking in other languages for communication, gifts of administration, gift of wisdom, gift of faith and wisdom.
So it appears self evident that the church lacks the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The next question to ask is why, and what can be done about it. May I suggest that hierarchal power and control quenches the activity of such gifts, and that Christianity is about relationships and not about promotion and marketing machine empires.
Great post Connie, and its the Plain Truth!
Richard
on July 15, 2016 at 6:50 AM
Connie Schmidt wrote:-
Much that makes a lot of sense. Fortunately the answers and end outcome do not depend on us.
cheers
ralph.f
Connie, "Christianity is about relationship." Really, what about self actualisation? And what about warning the world of a coming WW 3, unless they repent? God makes it clear in Ezekiel that the blood of slaughtered billions will be on the heads of those given the responsibility of warning the world, if they refuse.
Anonymous that should be elohay.
Elohay is like this אֱלֹהָי (see I included the nekudos for you)
Elohay means my god. Not elohim. If you want to intersperse Hebrew into things for some weird reason at least get it right.
Hint: try using a tanach instead of a Christian online translator which is piss poor at best.
Failure is the inevitable consequence of incompetence.
'After spending millions and millions of dollars on TV programs, webcasts, magazines and a college, the Living Church of God is still an unknown commodity in the world today.'
The LCG is not a commodity. Let us define the term commodity:
: something that is bought and sold
: something or someone that is useful or valued
The reality of this is that the LCG serves no value to the public and is a disservice to those who are associates of the group. The value of the corporation is to those whom it employees and for the ownership that runs the day to day affairs of the corporation. There is no other intrinsic value added to make this corporation rate above junk status.
Anonymous said...
"Connie, "Christianity is about relationship." Really, what about self actualisation? And what about warning the world of a coming WW 3, unless they repent? God makes it clear in Ezekiel that the blood of slaughtered billions will be on the heads of those given the responsibility of warning the world, if they refuse."
RESPONSE: In order to have good relationships with your Maker and with others, one must work at spiritual self actualization, certainly. If one has concern for mankind , (a relationship with the brotherhood of man), they would certainly be exposing the message of a Watchman as well.
Im not sure what your point is, other than I did not detail my proposal to your satisfaction. The two great commandments are relational.... Love God and to Love Man. All the rest of it is simply details.
All that money spent throughout the lifespan of the WCG on "warning the world", and yet no one remembers WCG, HWA, et cetera.
Why should it be any different for LCG? Look, if you really buy into that "church eras" interpretation, all they have to do is "hold fast", promote unity amongst themselves and stop bickering about minutia. Which requires a much smaller HQ staff and would put a lot of sanctimonious old farts in LCG out of work. This is why they don't want that. The Ezekiel passage is just a threat used to milk money out of the members.
Since You HAD to put a musical Youtubie there, I'll add another or two.
Los Lobos: 'Bertha'
Fire On The Mountain
This Land is Your Land (Los Lobos etc.)
Deal
The correct warning and the proper timeline have not surfaced as of yet. Obviously, the Armstrong message has been false, baseless, and tentative. 1975, or "possibly within the next 3-5 years" are obvious guesses. The Armstrong movement has whispered "possibly fire" in a crowded theatre, when actually there was no fire. Those who heeded had their lives ruined, and got abused and exploited.
So, yes, blood on head for failure to warn, but Lake of Fire for being a false prophet. The second (TLoF) is the warning we need to be concerned with.
BB
RSK said, "All that money spent throughout the lifespan of the WCG on "warning the world", and yet no one remembers WCG, HWA, et cetera."
MY COMMENT - Which again makes the point about how ineffective God is if WCG & HWA was God's best effort to warn the world. And of course, why all the false dates & deadlines. What was the purpose of warning the world in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s when most adults who heard that HWA warning broadcasted are either dead or about to be? Those that heard it in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s are aging quickly and most don't remember it.
It doesn't speak very highly of the God family if this is the best they can do. Why spanky the children for the warning message their grand parents heard and croaked never receiving the promise?
Richard
Black Ops Mikey wrote:
"Failure is the inevitable consequence of incompetence."
No, not always:
How to Use Your Incompetence to Achieve Your Goals
What if Fonzie became brainwashed?
Connie is right. I first got hooked back in l952 by a copy of The Plain Truth I happened upon at my uncle's home which proclaimed that Hitler did not die. (Just another bombastic statement of non-truth that grabbed people's attention.) I then managed to pick up XELO in Del Rio, Texas during the fall and winter and sat glued to that old radio I owned every night.
Radio is passe now with TV, the internet and computerized cell phones people glue themselves to. Even Television doesn't have the power it had way back there, and there is no mass communication currently available that has the same impact as radio did in the mid-twentieth century. Nor does any of the splits and slivers field a spellbinding orator who can hold a candle to a Garner Ted or any of the myriad current evangelical con men. It has to be a study in frustration for someone like old Rod Meredith who always fancied himself the ultimate orator as long as he had a Nave's Topical Bible to rely on.
Connie, Many Christians denominations talk about a 'relationship' with Christ whilst being 'soft' on the ten commandments. Hmmm. To me the core of Christianity is productivity, not 'love.' love is meaningless unless one has something to give. The German scientist who discovered the different blood types, enabled millions of lives to be saved with blood transfusion. He might not have given a hoot about relationships. And I disagree with your Christianity is not about 'promotion and marketing machine empires.' Planes, cars, movies etc need to be created, then marketed via marketing companies. Paul promoted and marketed Christianity, and God helped the marketing via healing miracles. Not forgetting, we all promote and market ourselves eg your pic Connie. Promotion and marketing is part of love.
BB said:
"The correct warning and the proper timeline have not surfaced as of yet."
A warning can only be considered correct AFTER it has been given and had some merit in hind sight. So with a proper timeline which implies the future is all laid out in advance which, to me , is a bogus concept. A timeline is only accurate in hind site and usually bears little resemblance to the one folks had in mind. Everything else is a guess and sets everyone up to be a false prophet and to date, everyone has been just that. There is no "know the future" as if just the right person with just the right insights will come along with the right set of keys. Everyone thinks they have the right set of keys until they die trying to get the door open and enter the realm of false prophet again.
BB also noted:
"So, yes, blood on head for failure to warn, but Lake of Fire for being a false prophet. The second (TLoF) is the warning we need to be concerned with."
Failure to warn when all warnings thus far going back forever are failures is a slippery slope and to then dish out the Lake of Fire for getting it wrong again and again is pretty harsh. (There is no lake of fire in reality but going along with the thought here.) To be fair, the Deity simply must cut out all the failing middlemen and talk directly with the folk he is not willing should perish and all to come to the knowledge of "the truth." He can tone down the brilliance of his countenance, ask Jesus if he might get up off his right hand so he can get up and come have a chat with humanity. Of course, he won't and can't for obvious reasons.
Anon 1:07:
At least she is willing to put her name and picture up with her comments.
3.17 PM if it was safe to do so, I too would use my real name. Why don't I see your pic and name either.
I used my name proudly but something I don't know or comprehend kept my comments from going through. So, I reluctantly started commenting as anonymous. That probably applies to others also.
6.25PM your explanation sounds like 'the dog ate my homework' excuse.
if they had only spent the last 75 years or so developing a reputation as an organization known for practicing the love of Christ through charity, advocacy for the civil rights of and justice for oppressed americans and the poor, the condemnation of the violent and frankly racist foreign policy of the united states, the acknowledgement of the pollution of the environment by powerful corporate interests, etc., etc. (all of which are biblically sound positions), they might very well have developed into an organization known for its principles and integrity...
instead it chose to combine a right wing, tow the line, self righteous, hypocritical, racist philosophy with being at odds with the rest of they what are of the churlish persuasion...
inherently, the right wing tends to be exclusive and repulsive; add to this the unconventional religious views, and the stench of being uncaring and aloof:
the natural outcome is being universally ignored if not outright rejected...
Agreed, 11:16. Further compounding the error, they attempted to market these right wing positions to the so-called "weak of the world", the "dumb sheep". Collectively, the tithes of basic salt of the earth blue collar people will finance a lavish life style for an elite ministry. And, why not throw in absolute authority as well? It is a completely repugnant and enslaving package that appeals to naturally self-loathing individuals who feel that they need to be punished, and to atone, while aspiring to and qualifying to become something better. The worst aspect is that it is deeply flawed and fails to deliver.
BB
yeah, bb, it is indeed a recipe for ultimately being ignored...
yet my hope still is in the Kingdom of God...
Folks, nice to know that there are some fellow ex-COG Deadheads floating around out there. Awesome links and music! But, please don't forget Gary Duncan, John Cipollina and Quicksilver Messenger Service! They were another Bay Area band, and Jerry used to have them jam with the Dead when they shared the same billing. There is a kick -ass QMS version of Bo Diddley's "Mona" on youtube.
BB
Bob, please give a link to that "Mona" on youtube.
Is it this one?
Or the one with Tom Petty, or another?
My iphone isn't cooperating in doing links. Google: "Quicksilver Mona live", and on the list that comes up, you will see "Quicksilver Messenger Service - Mona 8/15/1969 Sonoma State College (official). That would be the nugget you are looking for.
Gary Duncan is doing the vocals and is the guy in the tie-dye shirt playing the Gibson Les Paul. John Cipollina is the tall guy in the brown Davy Crocket jacket playing the Gibson SG. Amazing trade off of guitar licks!
BB
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