The Ambassador College Correspondence Course: Tinfoil Bob has determined he needs to add to it.

How many of you ever completed the Correspondence Course that the old Radio/Worldwide Church of God put out?  Most church members only know it in its abbreviated form of 32 lessons which was eventually shortened to 12 lessons.  Those who grew up in the church in the "Radio" years remember the mind and butt-numbing 58 lesson course.  Remember all of those wonderful hours parked at your dining room table diligently reading each lesson and handwriting out every single Bible verse it referenced?

Each lesson was meticulously planned out so that you never had the opportunity to question what was being presented.  After all, this was coming from God's College and therefore had to be 100% right!  God would NEVER lead the Apostle astray into letting something as miraculous as the Correspondence Course EVER be filled with error!

The problem with the entire course is that was nothing more than an elaborate "proof-text" of what the church believed after "proof-texting" scriptures to fit their interpretations.

Here is the definition of proof-texting:

Prooftexting (sometimes "proof-texting" or "proof texting") is the practice of using isolated, out-of-context quotations from a document to establish a proposition in eisegesis (introducing one's own presuppositions, agendas, or biases). Such quotes may not accurately reflect the original intent of the author,^[1] and a document quoted in such a manner, when read as a whole, may not support the proposition for which it was cited.^[2][3][4][5] The term has currency primarily in theological and exegetical circles.

This is to be distinguished from quotations from a source deemed a hostile witness, which inadvertently substantiate a point beneficial to the quoter in the course of its own narrative. Even when lifted out of context, those facts still stand.

Many Christian ministers and Christian teachers have used some version of the following humorous anecdote to demonstrate the dangers of prooftexting: "A man dissatisfied with his life decided to consult the Bible for guidance. Closing his eyes, he flipped the book open and pointed to a spot on the page. Opening his eyes, he read the verse under his finger. It read, 'Then Judas went away and hanged himself' (Matthew 27:5b). Finding these words unhelpful, the man randomly selected another verse. This one read, 'Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."' (Luke 10:37b). In desperation, he tried one more time. The text he found was: 'What you are about to do, do quickly.'" (John 13:27)^[6]

The church was quite adept at twisting scripture to fit the interpretation it wanted the members to believe. Most members never knew it was happening.  After all, if Herbert said it, that settled it!  Since it was settled it could never be questioned.  God forbid if anyone dared to read a book that might have an opposite viewpoint!

That brings us to today, as Doubly-blessed, Almost-arrested Tinfoil Bob Thiel has determined that he need to correct the old Correspondence Courses.  Tinfoil Bob, like almost all the other splinter group leaders has never had an original thought in his head.  He has spent years copying and imitating everything the church did.  Now he has determined that he needs to add his great interpretations to these old courses.

We have been making progress on literature and clarifying matters for an upcoming Study the Bible Course lesson. Working on that lesson (number 15) caused me to do a lot of research and add many scriptures that were not in the original course from the 1950s. We expect that lesson to be available next Spring.

Speaking of the Study the Bible Course, we have been working on getting all the English version lessons online by themselves, as opposed to only being available in the magazines. This should be ready fairly soon.

Can any of these self-appointed pissants ever write or preach anything NOT already done by HWA and his crew?  Not a single new thought or interpretation for the 21st century.  No new way of looking at things that have relevance for people of this world.  No one humble enough to admit mistakes were made and interpretations were wrong.

Humility is not a word any present-day Church of God leader knows or exemplifies.  They cannot because they REFUSE to follow the one person who taught them what it was to be humble. Liars and boasters of themselves and their supposed good works of magnificent campuses, auditoriums, great websites, booklets in Swahili and other African languages, the list can go on and on because it is always about themselves.

Herbert Armstrong, as arrogant as he was, at least had a vision.  Something bigger and grander for members to look forward to as a unified group on a journey together.  Today's COG leaders have no vision.  The beat their chests as if they do and boast a lot, but they are visionless.  Herbert Armstrong could circle the wagons and realign people to his cause when it got waylaid, yet today we see scores of little men who cannot inspire people to join up with them to complete the grand vision Herbert Armstrong envisioned.  They have ended up being like dung beetles rolling their little balls of malevolent teachings up the side of an ever-growing pile of stinking crap.

YHVH's Great Test

Retired Prof said...

Dennis, your comment about the story of Abraham and Isaac is pertinent to an anthology I am composing, with the working title "Fables of the Gods." The pattern is to summarize a story that includes a god or gods from one ancient tradition or another. Then I follow it with a moral like those attached to Aesop's fables.

Here's the moral for this story: "Not being human themselves, the gods see no reason to follow basic rules of human decency when they play a practical joke. Deal with it."

Your emphasis on Abraham's culpability is equally justifiable. In fact, way more so, if we're talking psychology instead of theology.

RT  Even as a child in Sunday School, this story puzzled me but also terrified me.  What father would do that? What if the voices in his head were wrong?  How damaged and distrusting of his father would Isaac forevermore be?  What did Mrs. Abraham think of this?  It never made sense to me and I never took it as a story of great faith worthy of note.  It seemed a manifestation of mental illness. At any rate, I was NEVER inspired by it.  And in the Dutch Reformed Sunday School classes, Abraham got a pass and was one of the great men of the Bible.  Not in my young world.

So for your consideration, this sums up an alternative answer to the whole thing nicely for me and would have had I seen it as a child!   :)

YHWH's Amazing Test

NOTE

There is also some consideration in theological circles that the story was a transitional story between the Age of Moses and Taurus the Bull,  4000-2000 BCE where Bulls and Calves were the prominent icon of worship (i.e. Golden Calf worship)  and the now beginning of the Age of Aries, the Lamb. Thus the change in symbols to be used in worship.  

(An "Age" is noted as the 2100 years or so the Sun is found in each of the 12 Constellations ending in one complete cycle of 25,000 years, called the "Great Year")

Even Mithraism, which preceded Christianity,  notes the change with the God Mithras slaying the Bull in it's iconography making way for the new age of Aries.  The death of Jesus in the story marks the end of the Age of Aries with the death of the Lamb of God and the beginning of Pices, the Two Fish  (ahem) and the Church Age of Christianity. I personally think when this Age, which is about to end and whose sacred fluid is blood, without which there is NO forgiveness, the Age of Aquarius , the Water Man, will find the sacred fluid of the future to be WATER.  . 

Spiritual Extortion

Ambassador College Correspondance Course VOL 7 1955

submitted by SHT

The Orlin Grabbe Letter

You can finish the rest of this 70-page letter from Orlin Grabbe on The Painful Truth.

A Letter to Mother by J. Orlin Grabbe

The Museum of the Bible and the Worldwide Church of God

In November of 2017, the Museum of the Bible opened in Washington DC.  For those that have been to visit it, they say it is an extremely interesting place to visit.  It is certainly a far more scholarly attempt than the epic failure of The Ark Experience in Kentucky that draws in people from various COG splinter groups in the Eastern part of the country.

A reader here sent me the following photographs of a display in the museum. Low and behold it has a display featuring the work Basil Wolverton.  Thankfully it is not the Bible Story that the Worldwide Church of God published, but a book designed by Monte Wolverton as a tribute to his father.  It is a vast collection of Basil Wolverton's illustrations that were published by the Worldwide Church of God and other sources over the decades.  

The Wolverton Bible

Dave Pack vs. Tin Foil Bob Thiel on Football

It is a typical day in COGland as many members are settling in for a Thanksgiving meal and watching a game of football on TV.  That is except in Arroyo Grande, CA where Tin Foil Bob is having another meltdown over American football.

Give thanks to God, but not for American tackle football 

Today is the national holiday in the USA called Thanksgiving. And despite certain claims, its specific origins are not pagan. But, of course, no Christian needs to celebrate national holidays like it if they do not wish to (cf. Romans 14). And the Bible does condemn gluttony.

Yet, whether on this day or others, the Bible teaches that people should give thanks:

4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Psalm 30:4).

The Bible is full of admonitions to give thanks to God. The New King James Version of the Bible has the word ‘thank’ 25 times, ‘thanks’ 75 times, ‘thankful’ 3 times, and ‘thanksgiving’ 32 times. It also has the word ‘praise’ 237 times and ‘praises’ 11 times.

One thing that I have noticed on the day called Thanksgiving by those in the USA, is when I have been at many other places than the home I lived in, American football has been playing on television.

For many, other than food and family, football is a major focus of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Christians should give God thanks, but not encourage violence in sports like American tackle football.

To close, perhaps I should mention that we do not ‘add a day’ to God’s holy days if we somehow observe Thanksgiving or other national holidays. National observances are NOT holy days, nor does anyone have to keep them. Jesus, however, observed at least one (cf. (John 10:22-23), setting an example that we can if we so choose. But not through encouraging violence.

Dave Pack, at least, had a more historical history of Thanksgiving posted about why we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States, something Tin Foil Bob never does since all of his articles are always about him.

Dave Pack seems to be ok with football:

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, ponder and consider the many wonderful blessings you enjoy. Be grateful for these wonderful benefits. (To learn more, read our article “The Sin of Ingratitude.”) Realize that these material blessings were not given to us because of anything we have done—we do not deserve them. God has bestowed them on us—simply because of His mercy, and His promise to Abraham, the father of the faithful (Gal. 3:6-9).

Before you and your family enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, or begin watching a parade or football game, be sure to take time to truly thank God in prayer and thought for the national wealth, power and prestige He has given this nation.

While there is still time, make certain that you and your family are not partaking in the nationwide, unthankful attitude. Be sure to give thanks to God in the same heartfelt, sincere manner that the pilgrims did on the first Thanksgiving in North America! Should You Celebrate Thanksgiving Day?

 

Gerald Weston on Living the Way

So what do you have to say about the following from Gerald Weston?  There are things I could be snarky about but will let you decide.

Living the Way

True Christianity is a way of life (Acts 18:25; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). That way encompasses many things. In the context of these references to “the way,” the most obvious application is that those walking in it were followers of Jesus Christ, their Savior. They understood Him as the Messiah who came to die on our behalf, but also understood that He is coming again. Keeping the Sabbath and Holy Days would not have differentiated them from millions of Jews living in the Middle East and Mediterranean countries in the first century. “The way” goes beyond those observances.

That way was and is different in many respects, and one is how we treat our neighbors (John 13:34–35). We are to do what Christ commanded and walk as He walked (Luke 6:46; 1 John 2:6). He expects a higher standard under the New Covenant. We are not only to love our neighbor, but even our enemies, and that love is expressed in what we do. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you… for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:44–46; see also Luke 6:27–36). Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).

During my first few years in the ministry, we visited many “GOTO’s,” people who had requested a visit or wanted to know about baptism or attending services. Street numbers are not always easy to read, but there was a common denominator when looking for a home: We could look for the most run-down property on the block! Yes, this is an exaggeration, but it was not a rare occurrence. The Apostle Paul would understand this (1 Corinthians 1:26–29). Yes, God calls the weak of the world, but nowhere does it say that we are to remain the weak.

The world often judges by outward appearance, and let us be honest: We often do the same. Is this not what James warned us against in James 2:1–9? Does this mean that our outward appearance is not important? Is it not being a good neighbor to take care of our property and so lift the value of our neighborhood? Did not God command Adam “to tend and keep” the garden (Genesis 2:15)?

Being a good neighbor involves many things, far more than this article can list, but with a little thought, we can all come up with ways to show genuine concern for those around us. Practiced thoughts and actions eventually become part of our character—again, “second nature,” as we often say. Godly character is expressed in the two great commandments. And who knows what long-term good may come from your example (1 Corinthians 7:16; Ecclesiastes 11:5–6)?

Our best friends and greatest service efforts ought to be among the family of God, but there are also plenty of opportunities to serve our closest neighbors: the homes around us, co-workers on the job, classmates, and let us not forget those who share our abode. Let us not forget Jesus’ admonition, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Gerald Weston on loving your neighbor, if you think you must

Gerald Weston and other COG leaders have been regularly taken to task for running insular churches who only look inward at themselves whether it be with their time, money, or deeply held religious beliefs.  The Church of God has had a long history of its leaders and certain ministers who loved to mock other Christians who assist the homeless, feed the hungry, care for the sick and those on the margins of society.  The belief has always been, as widely blasted from the pulpit, that why waste time and tithe money in this present age on these people or issues of life when God will eventually fix all of the problems in the Kingdom to come. Besides, why waste money feeding the homeless when a new jet or auditorium is more important!

The constant criticism of their insular activities apparently gets to them every once in a while.  So much so that Gerald Weston has to write about it.

Who Is Your Neighbor?

This brings us to a vital question: How much love do we have for our neighbor?

Love is more than an emotion. Godly love requires action! Yet, some members do all they can to avoid their earthly neighbors. Perhaps you have heard one of these justifications: “Familiarity breeds contempt, so I keep my distance.” “We are to come out of this world and my neighbors are in this world.” “I don’t want to have to deal with questions about Christmas or the Sabbath.” Some churches go so far as to command their members not to fellowship with those outside of their organizations! How misguided! How sad!

It is true that we should prioritize helping those who are spiritually like-minded. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). We all have limited time and resources, and yes, our first concern is to those of the household of faith, but the Bible tells us to “do good to all,” and there are numerous admonitions in Scripture to care for outsiders.

One of the most well-known parables is that of the Good Samaritan. Jesus gave it in response to a self-justifying lawyer who asked, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). The parable is so well recognized that it requires little rehearsing. Jesus used it to demonstrate that our self-assumed status is not what matters. Rather, how we treat others is what matters. We read how a priest and a Levite passed by a man robbed and beaten by thieves, but a Samaritan, one despised by the Jews, went out of his way to give aid (vv. 30–35). Concluding the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And the lawyer replied, “He who showed mercy on him” (vv. 36–37).

We ought to be the best neighbors in our communities, helping where needed. Does this mean we should volunteer our time at “skid row” food kitchens? No one can deny that a warm meal is a service to a hungry person, but we need to make sure our heads work with our hearts. Such programs may make us feel good, as though we are doing something significant, but is there any lasting benefit? Have we done anything to help anyone off skid row and into a more productive life? Are we even capable of doing such a thing at this time? Is this how we should spend our energy and resources? Each of us must evaluate our own circumstances and opportunities.

It is quite obvious that Weston has never set foot in a facility that assists the homeless by feeding and providing housing.  Those using these facilities for food or housing have to fulfil many requirements that they are actively looking for jobs, staying clean and sober, and much more.  These organizations who do this DO look towards lasting benefits that their clients have physical and mental health issues met.  These organizations DO get people off skid row and homeless families into homes so they can lead productive lives.  Weston's flippant remark is just another easy-out so LCG members do not have to do any things.

The important comment above is in the second to last sentence. "Is this how we should spend our energy and resources?" Why spend money feeding people when we can dump millions of dollars into failed advertising campaigns, personal appearances, cable channels that failed to draw in viewers with income streams, and endless remodelling of church HQ offices?

Consider whether there are better ways to help. Are there closer neighbors? Checking on an elderly neighbor, mowing her lawn or shoveling his snow, may be of genuine benefit to someone who has a need and who may live as close as next door. Cooking a meal for a sick neighbor may also be appropriate. Watching over someone’s home while he is on vacation and walking and feeding his dog may be much appreciated. Of course, this requires knowing our neighbors well enough to understand their needs, and well enough to be trusted by them. These may seem small deeds, but they can be meaningful. 

Then to further intimidate members into doing nothing, Weston makes the claim that most of those who help the less fortunate of society only do it because they want to be seen doing it. Because this is a common trait within the Church of God does not mean everyone outside the church is guilty of this.

On the night of Jesus’ last Passover, He instructed His disciples—and those of us who follow in their footsteps—in the importance of expressing love by observable actions. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). How can anyone know that we “have love for one another” unless they observe acts of love? But this brings up another question. Did Jesus not tell us not to let our charitable deeds be shown? “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1).

The key is in the final phrase of the sentence: “to be seen by them.” In other words, “showing off” should not be the motivation for our good deeds. Calling up the television station to let them know you have organized a work party in a flood zone is not the thing to do. This happens all too often during natural disasters, as I have seen firsthand. So, it is a delicate balance. Or is it?

If you look at LCG, RCG, PCG,, and other COG sites/member papers, etc., you will see one story after another about church members who do good deeds for their churches.  They send in the stories with pictures and want to be seen doing it. After all, being seen raising money to send into HQ is more important than feeding a homeless man.  There ARE priorities!

Bob Thiel and the impending government conspiracy against him

For someone who supposedly has God's double blessing and has been personally watched over by God for many decades in order to prepare him for his great "ministry",  Almost-arrested Bob Thiel certainly is paranoid about so many things. If he was truly a follower of the one he is afraid to mention then he would not be living a life of fear as he is consumed with scores of conspiracy theories.

The doubly blessed prophet is now claiming that the United States government may soon be creating fake videos of him saying things he claims he will never say.  I guess we should now start adding Tin-Foil Bob to his many titles.

(Excerpted from "Letter to the Brethren: November 15, 2018")

Fake Video Persecution

Can convincing fake videos be produced?

The Apostle Paul warned:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, …
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1-2,12-13)

Notice the above was for the last days.

Now notice:

In the summer of 2018, DARPA launched a project to determine the possibilities of identifying fake video and audio generated by artificial intelligence. The analysis of such files is also done using artificial intelligence.

Videos typically have more impact on an audience because it is believed that they are harder to fake than photographs. They also look more convincing than a text read out on behalf of a politician. This is no problem for modern technologies, however. …

Technologists at DARPA are particularly concerned that new AI techniques for creating fake videos make it almost impossible for them to be recognized automatically. 

And while scientists in military uniforms are racking their brains over how to get ahead of other countries in such a specific information arms race, their civilian colleagues are already calling the trend “an information apocalypse” and “disinformation on steroids”. https://orientalreview.org/2018/10/31/deepfakes-and-political-manipulation/

DARPA is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a US government agency. With artificial intelligence, for example, going over our videos, they could have mannerisms down pat for me as well as some others in CCOG. So well that the videos would convince almost any one without a strong love of the truth.

There is an expression that goes like, “just because you are paranoid, that does not prove no one is out to get you.”


So yes, I expect that one day some governmental or other entity will have videos of me and/or others in the CCOG faked and saying things that we would never say.

When that happens, be careful not to misjudge. Deceivers will “wax worse and worse” in the end times (1 Timothy 3:13, KJV).

Bob Thiel Speaks Out On Pagan Origins of Men's Suits...Kind of...

God's greatest gift to the Church of God has a new screed up about Catholics and dalmatics as if any of his African members truly care!

Using the same deep thinking The Great One uses, we can learn things about the suits men wear in the COG!

Consistent with other historical reports, this admits that the suits worn by deacons, ministers, and church Overseers in the Church of God were not an original Christian practice.  

Specifically, Doubly-blessed and Almost-arrested Bob Thiel is admitting: 

1. The suit and tie was not from the Bible.
2. The suit and tie were not an original garment that deacons and ministers wore.
3. The source of the suit and tie  came from worldly society.
4. People had concerns about the tie because it was considered to be phallic.
5. The suit became associated with overlords of the church, including including church leaders.
6. Because of its ties to politics and power, the suit was adopted by Pastor Generals, Chief Overseers and Evangelists.
7. During the time of Herbert Armstrong, it was demanded for use by all males. 

Despite this, the Church of God acts like a suit and tie is important and perhaps sacred.  

But it is not.

Just so Bob Thiel understands how a proper church leader dresses, we present the OTHER greatest gift to the COG:

James Malm: Thanksgiving Is a Babylonian Mystery Religion Holiday.

It is almost Thanksgiving here in the United States as we can't let another year go by without mentioning the craziness of some COG Debbie-downers who have to find fault with everything in life.

Thanksgiving, a day to celebrate the gifts of creation and blessings.   A day to gather with family and friends. A day that you would think most Armstrongites would be appreciative of  due to its religious undertones.  But no...it is a day for the bottom feeders of the church and society to go into demonic fits of rage over.

Take James Malm for instance.  The self-appointed delusional legalistic Pharisee despises Thanksgiving.  I guess the miserable little man needs to sit in his dreary little apartment on this day pounding the keyboard in a zealous rage to get out his personal message of the way he wants scripture to be understood.

If you thought the Almost-arrested Boob sitting in Arroyo Grande was nuts, Malm may surpass him.

The self-appointed Church Pharisee writes:

We must remove every sin and every pagan blot on our garments to prepare for the marriage of the Lamb. 

The traditions of the Protestants including Puritans and Anglicans came mainly from Roman Catholicism, the Roman Catholic church is the ancient Babylonian Mysteries traditions were adopted from paganism. 

Sunday, Easter and even Thanksgiving are very ancient pagan holy days.

Why is it that everything that an Armstrongite come in contact with has to be pagan or evil?  Why are they such miserable human beings?

Malm continues with this...Thanksgiving originated with the Indians as a time to sacrifice virgin women.

Actually the harvest feast was well known by these Indians and was a tradition practiced throughout the new world, as well as the old by the pagans. Thanksgiving is a universal pagan tradition descended and spread from Babel worldwide. Some of whom paid homage for the harvest by sacrificing young virgins.

Those damn Babylonians!  At it again trying to destroy an American and Canadian holiday!

Is it wrong to be thankful? NO, Definitely NOT!

It IS wrong to cloak pagan traditions in the guise of being thankful to the true God. That is what Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving are all about; cloaking rank paganism in an appearance of something good; of making evil seem desirable, godly and good: Of deceiving people into sinning by exalting the pagan pantheon under the illusion and false cloak of pleasing the true God! 

The big question is: To whom are you being thankful? To some pagan god and traditions; or to the Eternal Creator who has given us his own Holy Days to rejoice and be thankful on?

We tend to think of Thanksgiving Day starting in the New World. But actually a thanksgiving for the annual harvest is one of the oldest holidays known to mankind, though celebrated on slightly [due to differences in climate and harvest dates] different dates. In Chaldea, in ancient Egypt and in Greece, the harvest festival was celebrated with great rejoicing. The Hindus and the Chinese observe the gathered harvest with a holiday.” 

The deviate Pharisee fails to mention that pagans also wore clothing, went to the bathroom, had sex, built homes, ate food, got married, eat apples and pumpkins, and many more things we we do today that they also did.

The first two Thanksgivings in the present day United States [Another was an Anglican service in Canada] were Roman Catholic. The Pilgrims can only claim a third one, a correction I suggest should be made in school history books.

The first Thanksgiving’s in the US were celebrated by Spanish explorers, not pilgrims. It is Florida that today proudly claims the first Thanksgiving, with a feast and celebration between the Spanish and Timucuan Indians on September 8, 1565, 56 years before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth in 1621. Therefore, St. Augustine – and not Jamestown – is the first permanent European settlement and oldest city in North America. Another correction for many history books.

pagan apples and pumpkins

Now what could some of the things you’re eating on Thanksgiving symbolized?(For all Our Kitchen Witches Out there!!!!) Turkey-– Native Americans–symbolized the Mother Earth and a shared Harvest. Apples–Celts–rebirth, healing and youth Pumpkins--Native American– was symbolic of personalized power (in some cultures) and symbolized the sun. Wishing you a Merry Pagan Thanksgiving!

God’s Thanksgiving is the Fall Harvest Festival of the Feast of Tabernacles! 

You too can read this  malarkey fest here:  All About Thanksgiving: What You Were Never Told About Thanksgiving

1955 Correspondence Course Described Present State of COG's Today

1955 Ambassador College Correspondence Course  Lesson 4

submitted by SHT

This may be the one "prophecy" uttered by the church that actually came true!  The present-day splinter leaders, including Malm and Thiel, all pick and choose what Bible verses they want to use to justify their "ministries."  Has the Church of God ever had a more self-absorbed leader who goes to outrageous lengths of using scripture and reams to justify his apostasy than has Bob Thiel?

From Flurry, to Pack, to Weston and on, the various COG's have twisted, wrested and perverted the Bible into a weapon of intimidation and mass destruction. Where would the church be without some arrogant preacher waving his thick bible in the air as he beats his members up with it?

The one thing all COG members are really good at is ignoring Jesus while they justify their actions.

The Bible in the Millennium

South Africa CEO Reveals What It Was Like Growing Up In Armstrongism

A man has revealed how his childhood was ruined by sexual assault, physical abuse and poverty when his parents joined a 'cult'. 

Trevor Glass, 45, is a CEO from the Gold Coast who was brought up in the worldwide Protestant Christian movement Word of Faith. 

Born in South Africa, his parents joined the church when Mr Glass's great uncle listened to radio broadcasts by Herbert Armstrong, the leader, which lead the family to believe they had found 'the truth'. 

The decision to join the church resulted in a life that Mr Glass has spent decades recovering from. 

'I was personally molested along with at least 54 other kids in the church by a man that would visit homes of church members that had young boys,' he told FEMAIL. 

'He would abuse the boys but we were all too afraid to speak up because we were taught to respect our elders and that people within the church were God's chosen few.'

---------

As a result of our beliefs, we were extremely isolated. We didn't fit in at school or other social circles and we were taught that people in the "outside world" could not be trusted,' he said.

'We largely reduced our contact with outside support networks such as family and friends. We were teased and bullied because we were different. 

'Parents were taught by the church to "spare the rod and spoil the child", which meant that we were physically punished when we made mistakes.'  

He said members were constantly fed 'the truth' that involved instilling the overwhelming fear that an apocalypse was imminent.  

'I remember being absolutely terrified when they told us about the torture, rape and abuse that occurred during other wars and they warned that this world was going to see a war that eclipsed those,' he said.  

They were told to watch the news and look for any sign of the end times and any hint of war, famine and natural disasters were held up as living evidence that the war to end all wars was close. 

Read the entire article here, though be forewarned that the author who wrote this obviously needs to get her facts together.  Armstrongism, no matter how bad it was, was not part of the Word of Faith movement.  Though, we did borderline on it as we claimed that people would be blessed as they tithed. The more they tithed, the more they would be blessed.

Poor, hungry and sexually abused: Australian CEO who grew up in a 'CULT' reveals the most frightening part of his bizarre childhood - and how he's still haunted by it today

Restored Church of God: Behind of the Work 2018

A Flurry of Hymns

COG hymns as they were sung in the back rows.

The Youth Bible Lesson That Should Have Been Sent to Your Children

submitted by SHT

Jesus Who?

submitted by SHT