Rod Meredith turns Living Church of God over to Gerald Weston

August 18, 2016

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,

Greetings from Charlotte, NC! I just returned from about five days of peace and joy in our Living Youth Camp in Ohio. Present were about 342 campers and staff who were all filled with an exceeding sense of enthusiasm and dedication. It was very inspiring to see this tremendous warmth throughout each day of activities with Bible studies, swimming, water polo, softball, soccer, archery, etc. The unusual feeling of joy and unity among these young people was absolutely remarkable and very encouraging. Thank God for these camps! Thank God for His Holy Spirit and the chance for God’s young people to be together, work together and enjoy the true expression of brotherly love among themselves—with boys and girls taking their proper roles and deeply appreciating the differences of the opposite sex in a proper and Christian way. We had a couple of dances, a talent show and other activities where the young men and women were certainly able to show forth their talents as men and women of Jesus Christ.

Wow! What an incredible experience.

But very soon after my return here to Charlotte I was given a report with current news concerning our own city and some of the latest stirrings of “Satan’s Alternative Universe” as I have described it. It seems to be coming on our society very soon, and I think all of you should pay heed. For this Work of the living Christ is absolutely needed to “tell it like it is” and help people wake up to the reality of what is very quickly developing around them as the very end of this present sick society is coming soon. Here are some comments from an early report on the developments in the Charlotte schools:

“The new transgender-affirming policy allows students to select their own gender and then choose the bathroom (although that part is on hold for now), extracurricular activity, sport, etc., that best fits whatever label they happen to identify with at the moment…

If you’re confused about how this works, the school system has provided a handy ‘gender unicorn’ to explain everything. I wish I could say I made that up, but I did not… [It] comes accompanied by a chart, which illustrates how ‘gender identity,’ ‘gender presentation,’ romantic attraction, and sexual attraction (all different things, evidently) exist on a spectrum that stretches out unending into the infinite universe….

What’s happening to our children in these schools is a violation of their basic human rights. I’m not just talking about the female student whose rights are trampled when the sick perverts who come up with these policies force her to change or use the bathroom in front of a boy. That’s bad enough as it is. But to put these lies in their heads in the first place; to intentionally cause such terrible confusion in their minds and their hearts; to indoctrinate children into the most radical and fantastic and deranged ideas about sex and gender; to deprive them of the opportunity to learn even the very basic truths about life and about themselves—that is a violation of their rights. It is systematic child abuse, and it’s the primary reason why I could not, at this point, send my kids to public school” (theblaze.com, August 12, 2016).

When word of these things reached the public, school officials were quick to explain that some statements in the reports were taken out of context or were inaccurate. For example, high school sports teams will still be based on “biological gender.” But the fundamental facts—that our educators in Charlotte are being actively and specifically trained to begin incorporating this godless confusion in our schools—remain shamefully true!

Brethren, in light of the above report and literally dozens of examples like them, it is absolutely vital that we get God’s Work growing more than ever. For this sick world really desperately needs the warning message of Jesus Christ before the end comes. We are doing our best to grow and ask you all to help us to continue to grow in every way we can.

For example, the last few months have been especially encouraging as far as our Internet efforts go. Although we continue to thank God for the very strong responses we continue to receive on our numerous television stations around the world and we continue to make prayerful and smart decisions about adding or changing television stations as new opportunities arise, it is becoming more and more evident that the Internet “door” is continuing to become a more powerful and effective way to preach the Gospel. For example, we have been very encouraged to see that for many weeks now, the Tomorrow’s World telecast over “Internet TV” such as Roku, Amazon FireTV, Google TV and AppleTV have been producing responses comparable to some of our biggest and best “traditional” television stations. Many of these responses are from people who have either “cut the cord” and who do not watch cable TV or are from people who watch both cable television and also Internet television.

In addition to working to grow our “Internet Television” audience, we also strive to increase the reach of our various other Internet and social media platforms. For example, many of you know that people nowadays—especially younger people—go to “YouTube” to watch videos and go to “Facebook” to talk to their friends and even to find the news. According to a May 26, 2016 Pew Research Center study titled, “News Use Across Social Media Platforms 2016,” an astounding 62 percent of adults “get news on social media.” The same study reports that this is up from 49 percent in 2012. As this report also notes, “Facebook is by far the largest social networking site reaching 67 percent of U.S. adults.” Similarly, many people now watch video every day on YouTube, which has well over one billion users, with a majority of those visitors coming from outside the United States. Because we must reach the whole world with the true Gospel, we continue to work hard to use all of these platforms and technologies. As of this writing, our English-language Facebook page now has more than 217,000 fans, our Spanish Facebook page has more than 46,000 fans and our French Facebook page has over 118,000 fans. And our English-language YouTube channel passed 12,700 subscribers and more than 6,700,000 views. Our Spanish YouTube channel passed 22,000 subscribers and more than 4,700,000 views. And our French YouTube channel has passed more than 2,400 subscribers and more than 540,000 views. Very importantly, through these efforts we are reaching people whom we may not reach otherwise, and many of those people are reading and “sharing” Tomorrow’s World articles, telecasts, webcasts, commentaries and booklets with their online friends. We sincerely thank God for blessing our Internet “reach” in these ways, but we know that we must reach the whole world, and so I do ask you to keep praying that He gives us much greater growth in the months and years to come. 

Finally, brethren and co-workers, I have some BIG NEWS! Now that Mr. Gerald Weston has been here at Headquarters serving alongside of us for several weeks, and with my declining health and abilities, I have decided to appoint him to be the next Presiding Evangelist, Chairman of the Board and overall leader of God’s Church if I should die or be physically incapacitated. I have talked with Mr. Ames about this more than once, and Mr. Ames—one of the most dedicated and loyal men I have ever known—agrees with this. Both of us will continue in our present responsibilities as long as we are in health. But, in case of my death or incapacity, Mr. Weston will take over.

So I ask all of you brethren and co-workers to give him every support as you have me. I have known him for 51 years—since he first came to college in the autumn of 1965. He and his dedicated wife have been consistently loyal, doctrinally sound and extremely capable in feeding God’s people and building God’s Work.

I have described them extensively—including his ministerial background and all of his training—in previous member letters. But I would like all of you co-workers as well to realize that this is not an “untested” man. He has been involved in the ministry all over the United States, served as Regional Pastor out of Kansas City for a number of years and for thirteen years ran the largest single Work outside the United States, in Canada. From there he helped launch our operations into China and India and he has a truly “international” outlook. Here at Headquarters, he has fit in very well and in the last several weeks has won the deep respect and admiration of all who have worked with him. I have talked extensively to quite a number of our leaders here and brethren as well. So please give Mr. and Mrs. Weston your total support and know that Christ is the living Head of the Church of God. He has guided and will guide in this appointment. Meanwhile, let us all drive ourselves with the strength that God gives us to help fulfill the outstanding opportunities which we have to prepare for Tomorrow’s World. May God guide and bless each one of you as you go all out to support Christ’s Work and do your part in preparing the way for the coming Government of Christ on this earth.

With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith

Bob Thiel Does Not Take Too Kindly Being Called A False Prophet! The Good News Is...He Is Praying For All Of Us Here

Mock not Elisha the prophet!

Bob Thiel was not happy that we mocked his homemade video he made recently where he whined about Hillary and Trump and why he would NOT vote for either of them.

In the midst of his 1,800+ word tirade he has this about me and the rest of us that mock his false prophecies and false teachings:

The Banned by HWA website also regularly calls me a ‘false prophet.’  Its webmaster has claimed that I have made false prophecies (which is not true) and that nothing I have said came to pass (also not true; ; I even posted something earlier today which showed that something I wrote on September 13, 2015 came to pass this Summer–see Germany proposing a type of burqa ban). 

He and those at his site you cease and desist from such things, believe the Bible, and prayerfully study the article How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God. 

Sadly, because many involved with the Banned by HWA website do not have a real love of the truth, they do not seem to care about their false assertions and conclusions. 

Anyway, the latest thing that I apparently did to get attention by the Banned by HWA website was to personally produce a video giving my personal opinions on why I would not vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton (you can watch 10 Reasons Not to Vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton).

Why do these buffoons take themselves so seriously?

Oh...some of you here are reprobates just like me! Never fear though...God's doubly blessed and mightest church leader since Ananias and Sapphira is praying for us!

The webmaster and some others at the Banned By HWA site remain in my prayers. 

The Creationist Mind

Devious Bob Thiel tries to pull one over on the government

The world's greatest double-blessed apostle, the world's foremost Mayan authority and modern day embodiment of Elisha, Elijah and Amos, has produced a new video.  This video is just like all the others he produces.  It is filmed in the same room of his home that all of his other church videos are done.  Sunlight bleeds though cheap curtains while not a crooked bookcase is to be found.

What sets this video apart from all the others?  Not much, but he thinks there is a lot.  He feels that since he si talking about hte electiosn that he cannot use his chruch funds for that purpose.  DOing so would set him up for legal action from the government for trying to influence the election.  No one is deceived by Thiel's claims, other than himself.  It is the same typical bullshit he preaches week in and week out.  So what if he is not voting for either Hillary or Donald.  He is still using his house, his film equipment, his money to fund this video.  Just another COG liar.

He makes these following claims:

Published on Aug 14, 2016Some have claimed that it is their Christian duty to vote for one of the major US presidential candidates in 2016. Dr. Thiel gives ten of his personal reasons why he will not vote for Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump. He discusses their positions on many matters and supplies scriptural reasons for his position. Dr. Thiel also challenges the claim that Jeremiah 29:7 is an instruction to vote. If you claim to be a Christian, you should check out his ten reasons. 

A written article of related interest is titled "Ten reasons I will not vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump" URL: http://www.cogwriter.com/news/doctrin... 

Note: This video contains Dr. Bob Thiel's biblically-based personal opinions. This video was not funded by the Continuing Church of God and no tax-exempt funds were used to prepare it.

He uses church film equipment, his house that he deducts as his parsonage, his utilities that he deducts from his parsonage expense.  He uses his son or other church member to help record the sermon.  Then uses church computers to post it to the internet, and then posts it on his church Youtube page.

So why lie and claim personal opinion and that this is not a church related video? All of his videos are personal opinion.  There is nothihng biblical that he preaches.

Film Being Made On Decision of COG Family To Use Medicine To Save Child

"The Future of Man" Short Film Project from Feazible Productions on Vimeo.

An anti-medicine cult controls every aspect of Josie's life. When she's forced to break one of its core tenets in order to save her young son, she risks public humiliation and permanent isolation from her family.

From the web site: The Future of Man

I was raised in the Worldwide Church of God, a Pasadena, California-based religious cult, founded by the evangelist Herbert W. Armstrong, that prohibited its members from using modern medicine. 

When I contracted a near-fatal pneumonia infection at the age of six, my father, a high-ranking minister, and my mother made a bold choice to defy the church's strict rules and take me to a hospital, where I was given antibiotics and saved.

It can be hard for someone who has never been in a brainwashing cult to understand why someone in the situation like the one my parents were in can't just pack up and leave.

Organizations like the WCG, while venerating the family unit publicly, actually weaponize familial relationships by teaching (and forcing) members to ostracize relatives who leave or are disfellowshipped. My parents' familial, social, spiritual, and professional lives were all inexorably tied to the church.

When I was sallow, colorless, and becoming weaker by hour, they must have certainly struggled with a brutal internal conflict. On one hand, there was clearly something seriously wrong with me and their parental insticts would compel them to use any means necessary to fix it. On the other, taking me to the hospital could very likely cause not only terrible devastation to all of our personal lives, but a permanent "F" on a test from God.

My goal for this short is to capture and dramatize that conflict.

  

UPDATED: It's All "Their" Fault...Until Malm, Thiel and Meredith are on the receiving end and then it is a "Test" from their god.

For many years now the American religious scene has been filled with one outrageous comment after another by men who claim to have an inside track with their god.  

Every time there is a hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or some other natural disaster the god-haunted men start running off at the mouth about how their god is punishing the country for the sins of all the gay people out there.  From James Dobson to Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, to Bob Thiel, James Malm and Rod Meredith, the list goes on.

Robertson has claimed that the 1994 Northridge earthquake here in LA was the result of the gays.  

Hurricane Bonnie was the result of Disney World allowing "Gay Days" at the resort.  Leading up in the days ahead of the hurricane Robertson claimed it was heading directly to Florida because of Disney.  It bypassed Florida and hit Hampton Roads, the area that Pat Robertson is based. 

 Joni Jacobs claimed that the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" was the root cause of the Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011 that killed close to 16,000 people. Japan suffered and tens of thousands died because of President Obama.

Then there was Jerry Falwell who made this statement after the World Trade Center attacks in 2001.

 "I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularized America. I point the finger in their face and say, 'you helped this happen.'"

Then there was Michael Margave who claimed Hurricane Katrina happened to New Orleans because of the gays.  Jumping on that band wagon was one of the biggest theological liars in the country, John Haggee.  He claimed that Katrina happened because of a gay pride parade in New Orleans the prior week.  

In 2012 Pam Olsen claimed that the US was being hit by horrendous tornadoes, earthquakes floods an fires because of marriage equality.

Susanne Atanus claimed that gays are causing autism and dementia in children and older adults.  

Rick Santorum blamed the 2008 economic collapse on the gays.

Then there are the Armstrongite "ministers" who claim they have a direct line with their god and can cast about all kinds of accusations and speculations.  Even though every single one of these men have been proven to be liars, there are still find a few out there that get turned on by their predictions.   

For decades Rod Meredith has been on an anti-gay rampage.  Something set him off early in life that leads him to continually run off at the mouth in every single letter, article and broadcast   Maybe part of that reason is because his idol, Herbert Armstrong, mentioned decades ago that he found Meredith to be rather effeminate at times.  Having to work over time to buff up his body he started boxing and has never let any of us ever forget he was a 'golden gloves" champ.  Over compensate much?  He is filled with so much hate that it is unbelievable at times and makes him look extremely foolish.

Then there is Bob Thiel and James Malm,  These two run off at the mouth anytime they can about the gays causing one disaster after another.  Their eyes glaze over at the thought of their god punishing gays in the lake of fire or thrown into a concentration camp somewhere the Midwest or Canada.

These "men" had better be careful as to what they wish for.  Case in point...

MOTHER NATURE HOMOSEXUALS, OF COURSE!

Tony Perkins who has been a voracious antigay spokesman, who has said that his God sends floods to punish people, just had his home flooded out in the Alabama.   Now that he is on the receiving end it is a "test."  When it is not happening to them it is a punishment from their god to the wicked.  But once they are part of the disaster, it is a test from God to make their faith stronger.

Saying that the flooding in Louisiana was of “Biblical proportions,” Perkins described to guest host Ken Klukowski how he and his family had to take a canoe to escape from their home. Perkins added that he, his wife and their five children will have to live in a camper for six months while their house is being rebuilt. The duo also discussed the idea that god brings trials and tribulations to the faithful to make their faith stronger. That is not an uncommon idea, and many Christians will point to the Biblical story of Job as evidence that sometimes god does rotten stuff to (allegedly) good people. But the notion, advanced by Perkins and others in the past, that natural disasters are punishment for evil-doers, never enters into the conversation.

Is that what Thiel will say when an earthquake devastates his home in Arroyo Grande, CA at some time in the future?  Is it punishment from his god or a test to see how faithful he is?   What about Rod Meredith?  What will he say when a hurricane or some other disaster causes havoc in Charlotte?  Is it a punishment from God at how they mistreat members or is it a test from their god to see how loyal and faithful they are?

This is why no one pays any attention to these delusional men any more.  Decades of outright lies, false prophecies and idiotic bible interpretaions being made against others while their own lives and churches are cesspools of depravity, make their comments invalid.  None of these clowns will ever have a forceful message or a message of warning to the world at large.  Even their god mocks them!

If I were these men I would learn to keep my mouth shut because their track record has already been 100% wrong.  Scapegoats are always needed in order for the self-righteous to feel superior.

UPDATE: Tony Perkins responds to claims:

BATON ROUGE, LA – Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement today responding to the fallacious internet reports regarding causes of natural disasters.

“Deceptive claims are being circulated on the internet that put words in my mouth about God’s role in natural disasters and what causes them.  Those claims are inaccurate.  What I have said, which I repeated yesterday in a sermon at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, is that I don’t know what was behind this flood or any other natural disaster. However, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe the Bible which makes clear that God is sovereign over the elements of nature and can and does use them for His purposes.

“He also allows those same elements to be used as a means of testing our faith and devotion to Him. Is this a test of our faith or a chastisement from God?   I don’t have that answer.  Regardless of what’s behind natural disasters, our response should be the same – we are to be on our faces before God, giving thanks in everything, and placing ourselves in total dependence on Him. We know that in walking in obedience to Him, God will never leave nor forsake those who search for Him and walk with Him. As we cry out to God, we must also reach out to our fellow citizens who are hurting and need help.  We can do this with hope and confidence because God’s Word also tells us that ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’

“The flood has brought together this community as never before as we are learning to depend more on each other and on God. We are thankful for the volunteers and resources that are beginning to arrive from across the country which are so vital to the relief effort as we look toward rebuilding.  We are very grateful for Samaritan’s Purse which arrived at our church within 48 hours of my call for assistance to begin helping the members of this community.  Please join us in prayer that God would use the Church to minister to this community in a powerful way,” concluded Perkins.

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Bible Quiz

Proof Texting One's Way to Truth

I'm sure we all recall many a sermon and sermonette on just HOW the Bible is to be studied and understood.

Isaiah 28: 

9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

10For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, and there a little:

11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people

As a result, sermons tended and still do tend towards marathon races through the Bible, hopping from  one similar scripture to another, weaving a tale of continuity leading to foregone conclusions.  It's how and why one can say you can prove anything you want with this method of Bible study and sermon presentation. 

 I often ended up with long lists of scriptures for notes, with no commentary on how or why they were all connected.  In fact, they mostly weren't really connected or if they were I had lost the why they were long ago.  It made throwing old "sermon notes" easy.  They made no sense twenty minutes after the sermon and I have to say I never went back a second time to read my notes.  In hindsight I took notes because I was supposed to.  I also marked Bible's margins up with correlating scriptures to go to to explain, clarify or prove the previous one was on the right path to truth.  It was more difficult for me to create "inspired margins" with my tiny marking pen during sermons because, growing up Presbyterian, marking a Bible was a bound for Hell offense.  It took me a few weeks but then soon had one of the best inspired margined up Bibles on campus.  

Full Circle in the Portland Library

I have figured out, however, how to study Mystery of the Ages

Let's take a look at what Isaiah 28 really means and it has NOTHING to do with how to study the Bible and the next time it comes up, you'll be armed for a nice rebuttal.

New International Version

Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah

1Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,

to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,

set on the head of a fertile valley—

to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!

2See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong.

Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind,

like a driving rain and a flooding downpour,

he will throw it forcefully to the ground.

3That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,

will be trampled underfoot.

4That fading flower, his glorious beauty,

set on the head of a fertile valley,

will be like figs ripe before harvest—

as soon as people see them and take them in hand,

they swallow them.

Translation:  YHVH is really angry with the Tribe of Ephraim

5In that day the Lord Almighty

will be a glorious crown,

a beautiful wreath

for the remnant of his people.

6He will be a spirit of justice

to the one who sits in judgment,

a source of strength

to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

Translation:  But not forever and it will all work out someday

7And these also stagger from wine

and reel from beer:

Priests and prophets stagger from beer

and are befuddled with wine;

they reel from beer,

they stagger when seeing visions,

they stumble when rendering decisions.

8All the tables are covered with vomit

and there is not a spot without filth.

Translation:  Your Priests are a bunch of beer guzzling, wine chugging dolts who can't think, see drunken visions, muck up decisions and puke all over the place too often.

9“Who is it he is trying to teach?

To whom is he explaining his message?

To children weaned from their milk,

to those just taken from the breast?

Translation:  Who are these guys trying to kid. Who do they think they are teaching...mere babies and children?

10For it is:

Do this, do that,

a rule for this, a rule for that^a ;

a little here, a little there.”

Translation: For these drunks say, do this, do that, follow this rule, follow that rule, a little bit of this, a little bit of that...blah blah blah blah blah....

11Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues

God will speak to this people,

12to whom he said,

“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;

and, “This is the place of repose”—

but they would not listen.

13So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:

Do this, do that,

a rule for this, a rule for that;

a little here, a little there—

Translation:  Fine, that's the way you want it? It could have been nice and you could have rest, but if this is the way you want it. You want to talk strange and babble at the people?  Then I'll send some folks your way that will talk strange and babble to you.  I can play "blah blah blah blah blah" with you just as you play it with the people.

so that as they go they will fall backward;"

Translation:  So you'll fall flat on your asses and it will hurt as you are caught and taken away.

No magic formula on how to study the Bible here!  So next time you hear "for it is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little" quoted  as the way to find the hidden mysteries and doctrines of the Bible, realize the minister is quoting beer sodden, wine loopy, table puking priests who can't make their own words make sense to the people and thus God will repay them unkindly in kind with his own version of "So you want blah blah blah blah blah...?  Well here it comes in the form of an equally strange speaking foreign  people  that are going to sweep you away.

Now...let's all take our hymnals and rise....