Joe Sanchez: On the "...total and complete lack of transparency by the ministry. "

I received this today from Joe Sanchez.  He has a web site up that tries to take the leadership of the Churches of God to task for their behind the doors shenanigans where they "exonerate or condemn members" behind closed doors without the ekklesia having a say in the situations.  This has lead to situations like Rod Meredith giving all of his kids hall passes for adultery, drugs and other issues while kicking out regular members over the slightest infractions.

He writes:

Gentleman, this system that the Church of God has used for over 60 years, where in the leadership of the church has been able to either exonerate or condemn members of the Church in secret has accommodated an untold amount of evil and has systematically dissolved trust within the membership. 

He has written letters to COGWA and Living Church of God detailing his take on this situation.

So what led him to take on this issue?  It seems a lot to have to do with his mother.  According to Sanchez she was a serial adulterer who had countless affairs while maintaining a glowing reputation in the church for her good works.

My mother was killed in a car accident with my step father in November of 1989. At the time we were living in Eastern Oregon. She was a mother of 4, solid member of the church, attended regularly and served often in our congregation. There was only one small problem. She was a consistent and frequent adulterer. It wasn’t until later in life that I was able to piece all of the memories together to try and get a count. I estimate she had somewhere between 7-12 affairs that I could put a face to. No doubt there were many more. She was married 3 times and the last marriage took place just a couple months before the accident. And so the question I have is: how is it that someone who was so active in the church, was able to remain a member in good standing and live like she did? My mother definitely had her good qualities but turning a blind eye to her sins didn’t help her at all. I believe it destroyed her.

He also writes:

In the 40+ years I have been in the church of God I have seen multiple churches divide and split time after time- for the same reason. I have seen sexual predatorsgiven hall passes. I have seen good honest Christians, who are just trying to serve God, kicked to the curb like a piece of trash after decades of loyal service. I have seen decisions being made by the Ministry that greatly affected my family, done haphazardly that have affected me still to this day. 

Reading his site gives the impression that he is looking for the membership to have a say in situations like this.  I can see it now, member courts who decide who and how members get punished.  This  creates an entire new set of issues that open the doors for more abuse.  Many members are as vindictive and abusive as the leadership.  This is quit apparent in the PCG, LCG and RCG where members will turn in fellow members for the slightest received indiscretion all to ingratiate themselves with the minister/leader.

This is an issue that will never be corrected in a Church of God.

You can read his site here along with study papers and responses form COGWA:  To the Ekklesia 

Richard Ames On What True Leaders Should Be In The Living Church of God

Richard Ames recently lectured Living Church of God members on what Godly service  and leadership is.  Apparently he has blinders on, since what he describes is not anything close to what LCG and his boss does.

The greatest is one who is a true servant—one who truly cares for and helps others! Notice that it was the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, who took little children up in His arms and who stooped over to wash the feet of His disciples. You can read about that foot-washing service in John 13. It was Jesus who sacrificed His life for us all! As the Apostle Paul wrote: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

Jesus’ example was one of service, sacrifice and love. “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). 

Whatever position we may hold in this life, we will never find true success unless we have an attitude of godly service toward others. One of the measures of true success is the degree of godly service one is willing to give. False success depends on the get principle, the standard carnal condition—or “default characteristic”—of human nature.

When has Rod Meredith or any of the leadership in the Living Church of God ever been a true servant leader?  They certainly practice none of the things that are exemplary of Jesus as mentioned in the first paragraph.

What has the leadership of the LCG ever sacrificed?  From Rod Meredith, down through all of his children, to the leaders in Charlotte, none of them have scarfed anything.  Its the membership that is expected to sacrifice.  to sell their homes, refinance their businesses, cash in retirement funds and send it in for the "final push."  A "final push" that Meredith has been declare for 60 years now.

Will Richard Ames, Rod Meredith, Jim Meredith, Rod McNair and other leaders in Charlotte sell their fancy homes and sacrifice for once in their lives?  Will they actually become servants of the brethren?  We all know the answer to that.  Its a resounding NO!

The Battling Aviv Barley Watchers

Various COG's that have splintered off over the decades have returned to deeper Jewish roots and traditions instead of freedom in Christ.  As a result, new moons and the first sighting off barley is of extreme importance.  As usual, in all things like this, there is NO commonality when it comes to determining the correct dates and times.

The Assemblies of Yahweh  and Yahweh's Obedient Servants have decided their interpretation are best and have decreed that the barley is far enough along that the next new moon will be the start of the new year (Jewish).

It is my judgment that there is significant and verified evidence that the season is well-advanced in Eretz Israel. In my opinion, there is sufficient fully mature grain, in both thewild and agricultural crops that a first of the first-fruits sheaf would be available to wave on the evening after the Sabbath of March 26, 2016 and that there would be sufficient grain (parched or raw) to be ground into the required meal offering at that time. Therefore, it is my expressed conclusion that the New Moon crescent we seek on the evening of March 9, 2016 will be the first of the New Year, and begin the month of Abib. YOSR

Yahweh's Assembly in Messiah has other version.  They say that the new year begins March 24-30 (based on the sighting of the new moon in the USA). 

Then there are the Karite Jews, of which some COG groups identity with. They have this to say:

Nehemiah Gordon and other Karaite Jews (who continue to adhere to the Second Temple Calendar), have posted both of their ‘aviv barley’ reports: 

“On Wednesday March 9, 2016 we examined barley in the Judean Desert and Jordan Valley. Despite finding some lone stalks of Aviv barley, we did not find any fields that had significant amounts of Aviv barley. In one sampling of the most advanced barley at Ein Mabua in the Judean Desert we found 10% of the stalks were Aviv, not nearly enough to harvest with a sickle as per Deut.16:9.”

Thursday, March 10th: “After scouring the Land of Israel for Aviv Barley, the Aviv Search Team has concluded beyond any doubt that the time of the Aviv has not yet arrived. We found individual stalks of Aviv barley in the Judean Desert and northern Negev. However, we did not find any fields with substantial quantities of Aviv Barley. 

The answer is clear. The new moon sighted on March 10, 2016 is the beginning of the 13th Hebrew Month. The First Hebrew Month, Chodesh Ha-Aviv, will begin on April 8, 2016 (barring clouds). The festival of Passover (Chag HaMatzot) will begin April 22 at sunset and Shavuot will fall out on Sunday June 12, 2016.

We sighted the new moon of the 13th Hebrew Month on March 10, 2016 from Jerusalem. The new moon was first sighted by Keith Johnson followed shortly thereafter by Nehemia Gordon, Yoel Halevi, Devorah Gordon, and Gil Ashendorf. Photos of the new moon are on Facebook” 

Then there is is the Abib of God group:

Brian and Linda Convery’s ‘aviv’ reports, with pictures, for March 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th are all on their Abib of God website.

And then we have God's most highly favored Pharisee, James Malm, weighing in on the correct date.  As usual, only he is correct.

NEW YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT:   Brian inspected the crops in the south yesterday even going as far south as Sderot in the Gaza belt.  No barley was found anywhere near the required  maturing stage anywhere.  Not even the fig trees were leafing out yet.  He will inspect in the  north of the country tomorrow.  

Nevertheless it is clear that absolutely no advanced growth barley exists in the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem and the temple; which is required for the first month of the new year to be declared.  

If the New Moon is seen as expected after sunset Thursday night, it will make March 11 the first day of the 13th Biblical month.  As expected the New Year and Passover will be in April. 

All of this needless speculation brings to mind this scripture: Isaiah 1:13

New International VersionStop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations-- I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
New Living TranslationStop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting--they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.
English Standard VersionBring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
New American Standard Bible "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
King James BibleBring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Holman Christian Standard BibleStop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies-- I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. 
International Standard VersionStop bringing useless offerings! Incense is detestable to me, as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations. I cannot stand iniquity within a solemn assembly.
NET BibleDo not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations! 
GOD'S WORD® TranslationDon't bring any more worthless grain offerings. Your incense is disgusting to me, so are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship, and the assemblies you call. I can't stand your evil assemblies.
JPS Tanakh 1917Bring no more vain oblations; It is an offering of abomination unto Me; New moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations-- I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly. 

Then there is Isaiah 1:14:

I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.…

It always amazes me how so many in the Church of God seek to have burdens laid upon themselves.  Because Armstrong weighed down the membership with countless rules, needless demands and foolish burdens, people assume they still need to do so.

With Jesus always out of the picture, its no wonder they ignore this:

Matthew 11:28-30New International Version (NIV)28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Sources:  7thDay Sabbath News and Shining Light (James Malm)

God's Mouthpiece Knows Exactly What Happened During The Great Flood And How The Grand Canyon Was Formed

God's most mighty endtime Chief Pharisee is letting the world know today just exactly what happened during and after the great flood.  For some reason over the decades many Church of God leaders thought they knew everything about the flood and pre-Christian history, even though not a single one of them was a geologist, anthropologist, paleontologist, historian or legitimate theologian.  That though has never stopped the endless stream of know-it-all's pontificating on their immense treasure house of knowledge.

Today, James Malm weighed in on the great flood from Genesis.

The ice ages are a complete fabrication by men, and instead, the sloshing of water due to earthquakes carved out the canyons of the earth.  Instead of ice slowly creeping and receding over the earths surface, it was this sloshing that created the appearance of what ignorant men call the ice age.  Those layers of sediment that record the history of life...sloshing did that too.

Ancient civilizations are covered now with mud under the sea....many of them....more than we can imagine.

After 40 days and nights God began to stop the rain and close up the fountains of waters; and the waters began to slowly recede over the next 110 days so that the water level had fallen significantly.   

Besides the depth of the water, there would have been great earthquakes opening and later closing the deep aquifers of water inside the earth.  Such massive violent earthquakes would have displaced water causing a great sloshing back and forth of billions of tons of water carrying  rock and debris, which would have grooved the ground giving the appearance of ice ages and piling up huge numbers of bodies in various areas as we see in the fossil record today.  

The ancient pre-flood civilizations would now be buried deep under the sea and probably under many feet of mud at the bottom of the sea  today; the legend of a pre-flood Atlantis world may have been based on these facts.

The Chief Pharisee also knows exactly how the Grand Canyon was formed.  Everything you have been told about it in the past is a complete lie.  God's most important man knows the REAL story!

Then three months later on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible as the water continued to recede.  

These were the mountain tops seen by Noah; huge mountains were also being up-thrust around the earth but were not seen by Noah being great distances away. 

During this time some of the great canyons of the earth were formed, as up-thrusts of land caused billions of acre feet of water to suddenly rush off the up-thrust land, like millions of high pressure hoses; the water rushing downward to lower elevations; just like during the creation week. 

No, the Grand Canyon did not take millions of years to form; it took months, as water ran off when the area was suddenly thrust upwards as God resurfaced the earth; thrusting up land causing vast quantities of water to run off at tremendous speed and pressures. 

This present world with its high mountains, hills, valleys and plateaus was formed by God via this flood, and today’s world is quite different from the pre-flood world.

Did you also know that rainbows were not possible before the flood?  God's Chief Pharisee knows that answer too:

Then God continues to bring rain on the earth in place of watering the earth by mist and dew, which rain began at the flood; the forming of rain drops in the atmosphere would now refract sunlight through the large droplets and produce the rainbow. Pre-flood there had been no rainbow as there was no rain drops, only mist [condensing dew], which did not refract the light in that manner. 

Humanity is so richly blessed to have "men" like James Malm, Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry and Rod Meredith in their midst.  All knowledge comes through these "men."  What would we do without them?

Bob Thiel: I am the ONLY person on earth that fits all the criteria for a prophet!

Just when you thought Bob Thiel could not get any worse,  he comes along today telling everyone that he has all the necessary requirements to be a true prophet.  

COGWA recently published a list of requirements that a Church of God member should hold up to measure all the wannabe prophets in the Church of God.  I doubt very much that Chris Moen and the Church of God Worldwide Association had that in mind that what they published applied to Bob Thiel.  The ONLY way this list applies to Bob Thiel is that he meets absolutely NONE of these qualifications.  Period!

Read it here: Four tests to prove whether a prophet is true 

We need to carefully consider God’s Word—the Bible—in order to discern between false and true prophets. The Bible provides four tests to determine the genuineness of a prophet. 

1. Does the conduct of the prophet reflect godly character? 

Jesus and the apostles warned many times about deceptive prophets. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-17). 

These prophets can be identified by their “fruits”—a term used metaphorically by Jesus to describe one’s actions and character. The law of God is the only standard we have to determine whether someone’s fruits are good or bad. True prophets will live in accordance with God’s law. 

2. Do the predictions of the prophet come true? 

Moses instructed ancient Israel: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22). 

The Bible gives a few exceptions. It shows that God has the prerogative to change His mind, as was the case with Jonah’s prophecies about Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). Also, this does not mean that God’s true servants couldn’t be wrong about timing, as Paul was in assuming he would be alive at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:15). 

Except in circumstances like these, if a prophet’s predictions do not come to pass, then he or she is not a true prophet. 

3. Are the words of the prophet consistent with Scripture? 

God explained to those who foolishly seek knowledge from mediums and wizards, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19-20). 

Peter declared that the apostles could truthfully attest to many fulfilled Bible prophecies concerning the life and deeds of Jesus Christ. “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ... And we have the prophetic word made more sure” (2 Peter 1:16, 19, Revised Standard Version). 

Peter also stated that true prophets do not speak their own words. As Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20, emphasis added). 

4. Do the people benefit spiritually from the prophet’s ministry? 

God’s desire was that ancient Israel would serve as a model nation and represent Him to the nations around them. Israel would be blessed as it fulfilled God’s expectation.
With this background, God warned His people, “‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the LORD, ‘and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:32; also read verses 13-14). 

The results of a prophet’s ministry can also indicate whether this person is a false or true prophet.

Here is what the lying false prophet  claims:

Although COGWA left out some criteria, even eased upon the above criteria, there is one person in one of the COGs that meets all those criteria, and he is not part of COGWA, but physically heads up the Continuing Church of God(CCOG). 

Its amazing that there are people out there that actually believe this load of malarkey.  Armstrongism has been filled with these lairs for decades.  Self serving men who claim special "anointed" or "double blessed" status in order to make a name for themselves after they have maligned by their leaders they idolize.

Thiel is so full of his lying self that he claims that Jesus will reward those that believe he is a prophet and follow him.

Consider also that Jesus taught:

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. (Matthew 10:41)

Jesus is telling His followers that if a true prophet is out there, that they need to follow. 

I can state for a FACT that Bob Thiel is NOT a prophet and is NOT a minister of God.   

Of course all of those that refuse to believe he is a prophet are labeled as Laodicean's.  That old fall back that liars in the Church of God try to use to discredit critics.

Yet, in this Laodicean time (Revelation 3:14-18), most real Christians will not listen to what Jesus said on this and many other matters. 

While some discount prophecy and prophets, notice what Jesus admonished His faithful to do:  

     35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.   36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:35-36)

Are we not a lot closer to the end now than when Jesus stated that? Should you not be watching world events as properly explained in the light of Bible prophecy? 

The various Laodiceans will not properly understand end time prophecy, and that will contribute to them NOT fleeing when they should (cf. Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:14-17).

Why is it that the Church of God is filled with so many of these delusional idiots? Every single COG prophet throughout the COG history has been proven a liar.  Herbert Armstrong, Garner Ted, Hoeh, Meredith, Flurry, Pack, Thiel, Waterhouse, on and on the list can go. Liars all!

Aaron Dean on Herbert Armstrong Realizing Rod Meredith Was Unfit To Lead The Church

Attached to the letter that Herbert Armstrong sent to Rod Meredith that was posted on The Servants News, was this addendum by Aaron Dean.  The alt.religion.w-w-church-god forum was a vibrant source of news about the church during all of the changes.  

Rod Meredith, like Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry and Bob Thiel, has rewritten his history to serve his own ends.  Dean calls him out on it.

Aaron Dean, Herbert Armstrong’s Personal Aide, Confirms Accuracy of Above Letter on the alt.religion.w-w-church-god Forum, January 8, 1999:

I have nothing to hide and don't mind if people ask what HWA thought. Some have asked and I have answered these same questions before. People should not be allowed to rewrite their own histories to their own ends.  

What happened in GCG is precisely why I couldn't join Global. I wish I had been wrong. If it will help people find God and Christ instead of men, feel free to use my post. It will probably bring some hate mail, but I have gotten use to it as I am sure some of you are. I wish people could become zealous instead of zealots. I have found you can become zealous for God, but only zealots for men. 

Regards,
— Aaron
ps. I edited my note a bit for clarity. It is below.

AKDean@aol.com wrote:
Hi, 

That is the letter that was in Mr. Armstrong's files. HWA did talk to not only RCM [Roderick C. Meredith], but others about how he was wrong about Stan [Rader]. Mr. A didn't apologize to people, and had other ways of apologizing—some of which could be misinterpreted. His discussion with Rod about SRR [Stanley R. Rader], I imagine Rod took to be an apology. Of course he wanted to see it this way. To RCM it seemed either he was right or SRR was right. Since SRR turned out to be a 'bad guy' RCM assumed he was vindicated. This helps to justify why he maintains he should be in charge. He never understood the issue was not about him and SRR, but him seeing himself as next in line. 

It did not change RCM's problem, as you can see from the letter RCM's problems stemmed from well before SRR. The fact that HWA never reappointed RCM to a position of power shows that he knew RCM still had the problem. The COE [Council of Elders] was never a power body, although many seemed to see it as that. 

RCM took the fact that those he disliked (and it is interesting to note they were always the ones between him and the top) turned out to have problems, so it seemed a vindication of his problem. Mr. Armstrong still felt the same way about RCM up until his death. 

One thing HWA did say, was that "Rod will be personally loyal to me" (HWA). Of course RCM wanted that same loyalty to himself, never realizing that what HWA really wanted was loyalty to GOD. That is why HWA, amid the confusion of the receivership did appoint RCM over Church Administration in '79.  

Unfortunately RCM began immediately to try to solidify his position as heir to the church, and had to be removed within the year, and was never reappointed to a high administrative position. It was RCM's own words that caused him to be sent toHawaii, not anyone else. I pray that he eventually can come to see himself, just as I pray for so many other self appointed leaders.
— Aaron Dean