RLDEA brings in COG7 leader to board and puts Allie Dart's Momey to use in the community

Update on the Ronald L Dart Evangelistic Association

Thank you for your inquiry as to the latest developments at RLDEA.  We are excited about things that are happening.

First of all, we are pleased that Joe Limon has been added to our board of directors.  I have known Joe since he was the assistant pastor of the Church of God Seventh Day in Oak Cliff, Texas in the 1990s.  As you can see from his bio on our website, Joe is now pastor of the Church of God Seventh Day in Cedar Hill, Texas.  

Joe brings a wealth of knowledge and pastoral experience to RLDEA.  Joe is not a pastor in the rational sense of the word.  Joe is truly a servant pastor.  Joe is a volunteer pastor who receives no salary for his service.  He has always been just a volunteer.  Joe is now retired and works full-time serving his church. 

The other new exciting development has to be prefaced with a bit of history. 

Before Allie died, she and I spent a lot of time talking to me about how she would like the money from her estate disbursed.  As you know, most of it went to RLDEA.

First, Allie made clear that she wanted Ron’s works promoted.  We feel RLDEA is doing a really good job of that thru our social media efforts.   Promoting the Gospel of Jesus thru Ron’s material has always been our top priority and it will always be our top priority. 

Second, Allie made it clear where she did NOT want any of her money to go.  She made mention of several religious organizations that RLDEA was not to donate to. 

Third, Allie made it clear that she also wanted money to go to charities.  She specifically mentioned St Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the American Cancer Society.  I am sorry we have not, up to this point, done anything in the area of charitable giving.  But this changed on April 5 when we made donations to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the American Cancer Society.   We will continue to support these two charities. 

Further, because of the hardships caused by the coronavirus, we are researching to determine which charitable East Texas organizations we might possibly send donations to -- organizations that assist people thru these difficult times. 

For example, right now we have a problem in that kids can’t go to school.  They are supposed to do their studies on line.  Many kids in our area don’t have tablets and don’t have access to the internet.  So we are making donations to local schools to help kids get tablets.  

We are also having an internet service installed at our Tyler Church of God Seventh Day building.  We are going to then invite kids in our neighborhood to access this internet so that they can do their homework there.  Even though no one is allowed in our building at this time, we have a nice front porch and yard where they can sit so they can access the internet to do their homework. 

We are long overdue in our efforts to helping local people. 

And let’s be clear that any contribution sent by the leadership of RLDEA is not something that we will be rewarded for when we stand before Christ.  It is Allie who will be rewarded for directing us to do this.   It was her money and we’re trying to spend it the way she directed. 

So again, we are excited about these new developments and ask for prayers that God will guide us into doing good works at RLDEA. 

Wes White
wdwhite49@yahoo.com

Personal Comment:  Ron Dart was about the only evangelist on campus that would spend time talking to the campus workers who were considered second class citizens by most other evangelists and church leaders. He was always friendly to all he met.

I also know that Wes sticks his neck out by posting here and commenting.  Some think it is abominable that he does this.  Ian Boyne, from Church of God International in Jamaica, was also a friend of this blog.  He and I had some interesting conversations over the years till he was tragically struck down by a heart attack. He discovered that we had more things in common than we do with differences.

Many in various COG's know the church has issues and they see that.  We may certainly not agree on some doctrine and some extra-biblical teachings, but the bond that goes deeper with our common heritage is far greater than those that want to keep dividing the church or that waste their time trying to get people to stop reading here.

I am also very glad to see that Allie Dart's money will be spent to help the community she lived in for many decades. The sad thing is that most COG's do absolutely NOTHING for the communities they are in. Their easy way out was always this comment; "God will fix things in the end, so why waste our money and time on them now,  They will get a second chance in the kingdom." If the Kingdom of God, that most of them long for is so fantastic, then why would they not want to share that with those around them as a foretaste of things to come?

Wadsworth Residents Disgusted by Dave Pack and Restored Church of God Meeting on Saturdays

The more that Dave Pack chooses to force his employees and members to meet at his cult compound the more disgusted the public becomes. This is what happens when a narcissist thinks it is all about him and that he is above the law.  

One of Bob Thiel's Ministers Gets Arrested For Not Wearing Mask And Gloves

Like so many of the conspiracy-laden Church of God leaders right now, Bob Thiel, of the improperly named "continuing" Church of God, has not had the fortitude to tell all of his group leaders to NOT meet during this coronavirus pandemic.  He leaves the decision up to the men to decide what is right. Those in Africa think they need to obey their Dear Leader at all costs and continue to meet because he has brainwashed them all to think they are required to meet. Bob needs to grow a pair of man-balls and just say NO meetings until further notice because their health is more important to God than their actual presence in a meeting on a Saturday.

Arrest in Malawi 

When I checked the coronavirus situation around the world last Thursday, the WHO said there were no cases in Malawi. 

However, apparently the first case came up sometime that day. 

As it turned out, apparently the government had decided no religious gatherings could take place without gloves and masks. 

We received a report that our host of the Mwanwa congregation was arrested as he was not wearing them as he was unaware of the new rule. Our deacon in the area (Radson Mulozowa) said he had to pay a fine to get him released. We are looking more into this. 

However, the fact that governments can declare and enforce various rules is why I wrote before that each local area needed to decide about how to meet and that in many areas staying at home was the most viable option.

Right now it should be the ONLY option to stay home!

LCG Employee Says Not To "Hate" On Living Education

The comment is on this thread:  

Living Church of God Education Classes: How To Waste A Year Of Your Life

Anonymous said...

As a former Living Education student (and current Living Church of God employee), I am just going to politely remind people to be respectful and not speak of things you know nothing about. You make yourselves look, sound, and act like fools. If you don't like the Worldwide Church of God, that's your business, but if you claim to love God, you should know better than to post foolish things on hate (Christ says NOT to hate) websites. 

April 11, 2020 at 11:05 AM

Idiots in the Pulpit: Preachers and the Coronavirus

Not only does the Church of God have foolish men making stupid predictions and other comments, but so do the pentecostal cult leaders today. Church of God leaders think they are immune to the virus and that God is protecting their members from it. Their foolishness is on par with Ken Copeland's stupidity and may lead to many devoted followers getting sick and or dying.

Our Local Baptists Fundamentalists Pause to Encourage the Community...and also to...

"Never let a good crisis go to waste"

Van Robison on "Must You Have Authority?"

Must You Have Authority?

Is there a difference between leadership and authority?  We all know that life itself dictates that there are many situations where leadership is necessary.  Not all people are leaders and many are followers.  Is there however a necessary authority in terms of religious beliefs or for that matter government of men?  Any church organization can "ordain" anyone they choose to a position or a title, such as "pastor", "youth pastor", "music pastor" and so forth.  I suppose anyone can really appoint themselves as an "authority" figure.    The weather channel states that they are the authority on matters of weather.  Perhaps they are in terms of being the source that can "foretell" what the weather may be in the next few hours or even days.  They are not always one-hundred percent right, but giving them credit, they often are.  It is based upon modern technology and experience understanding the input
and data.

Humans have lived with authority figures since the beginning of time.  We are all led to believe that government is our "authority" source that can tell us what we can and cannot do within the parameters of the physical boundaries of the governments' sphere of power.  It is not a matter of freewill or personal choice, because we are all compelled to comply or else.  Such is the nature of all human governments at all levels of society.  Welcome to prison planet!

In terms of religious beliefs, every religious guru coming and going thinks he or she has some special status, that qualifies them to rule over the thoughts, thinking and pocketbooks of those they influence.  Herbert W. Armstrong considered himself to have the status of being an "Apostle" as if that word has the meaning of a position of power and authority over matters of the church.  In reality, the word "apostle" merely means "one sent" and has nothing to do with a power-position of control.  Men have altered the meaning and definition of words for their own personal vanity and gain.

Many human beings are driven by vanity to seek titles such as "prophet, prophetess, apostle, pastor, senior pastor, bishop, elder" or fill in the blanks.  Does it seem odd that Jesus hand-picked uneducated fishermen as personal disciples as opposed to those who attached titles of self-importance to their names?    Does one really become an authority figure as a result of religious or secular education?  Does having degrees such as bachelor, master or PhD,  make one a necessary "authority" figure?  Perhaps it all depends on the particular field of endeavor that one is involved in.  There are fields of study however that don't make the PhD degree a necessary qualifying expert on what truth is.  For example, one may have a PhD degree and think that because of that, they are now an expert in the field of Biblical archaeology.  What happens when other PhD's disagree or have opinions to the contrary and assert that in fact, archaeology proves "Bible history" is false in many ways?  Now, who is the authority?

In matters of pulpits, is Dr. Senior Pastor an expert on heavenly concerns?  When was the last time  Dr. Senior Pastor or board of elders, had a conference with God and sorted out disagreements?  Obviously never!  So what then makes those who stand in pulpits "authorities" on spiritual truth?  Does being ordained qualify anyone as a master of spiritual truth?  Why would anyone think that they "must obey" those that assume a false role of being "pastor-master?"  No one who stands in a pulpit is your spiritual Daddy, nor is he or she your master.  In Matthew 23 we read that Jesus Christ denounced man-made religion and made it clear that no man, no matter who he is, is your master.  Is there really any difference in calling someone "master" as opposed to "pastor" or "elder", when they all imply that they have "authority" over your life and your thinking?

For those who think they are to follow Jesus Christ, there is ONLY ONE MASTER and that is Christ.  Therefore "master" is NOT the Saturday Sabbath, "Holy" days, tithing, pastors, churches, governments of men or any other substitute for Christ.  Few there are that see this.  And by the way, the Bible is not master either.  If Christ is God, and He is Master, then INK on PAPER is not God.  Only God Almighty could possibly be infallible and inerrant.

Must you have spiritual authority?  Yes, but that Authority is Jesus Christ and NOT men.  The manner in which Jesus Christ is Authority is in His teachings about LOVE and His personal example, which was flawless.  I have yet to meet a flawless pastor or church or human being.  Virtually every authority figure and source thinks they have a right to power over others.  Do they?    No one will ever live in freedom as long as they worship at the feet of self-appointed religious gurus, who deceive as many as possible to follow them and submit their lives to them.  Jesus came to SET THE CAPTIVES FREE.  Are you FREE or are you a captive to some man-made church?


Van Robison

"Be assured that Satan is also well aware that the words of the prophets are about to be fulfilled."

And here we go again...

Today’s epidemic is very troubling but I can assure everyone that God is on his throne and that he is in control and knows exactly what he is doing; and that the Almighty has the wisdom and power to achieve his purposes and fulfill his will!  

I have explained the signs of the onset of the tribulation and Christ’s coming in detail over the years; I have understood the course of events yet I have not known the specific time frame which is why I have never posted and firm dates for anything.  Even the folks at the Banned by HWA blog criticize me for not setting dates, but I just do not know the precise dates.  

Still I can see the progress of events and it is crystal clear that this is now imminent and could begin as soon as this coming winter or possibly in just one more year. Be assured that Satan is also well aware that the words of the prophets are about to be fulfilled.  

Satan knows that he will be removed form ruling he earth and incarcerated very soon  and he is trying very hard to break the prophecies just like he tried to prevent the rebuilding of the temple and the rebuilding of Jerusalem according to the precise timetable that God had laid out through his prophets. James Malm

United Church of God: Moses, Moses, Moses....all the time.

Here they are, in their most sacred time of year when Jesus is supposed to be at least a small part of their focus, but it is business as usual. Its Moses who is more important.

This Coming Sabbath — Home Office Webcast

Peter Eddington, Operation Manager for Media and Communications, will be giving the webcast sermon titled: “Who Was Moses?” How could an abandoned baby become one of the greatest leaders ever known? An immigrant family’s son rose to national power in a foreign land and became known as the greatest prophet of all time—other than Jesus. Why should this, and why does all this, affect your life? Mr. Eddington will lead us in looking at some powerful lessons from the life of Moses. What can we learn from his remarkable example?

UCG: You MUST send us your offerings when you celebrate spring holy days at home

 Send in that money folks!  Otherwise, your Passover is invalid!

Holy Day Offerings

Brethren, as God directs us, we should not come before Him empty-handed during His annual Holy Days, but with an offering reflective of the blessings bestowed upon us by Almighty God. It will take a bit more effort on your part to be sure that you comply, in principle, with this instruction from God. We greatly appreciate your faithfulness in following through with your offering to further the work of God in preaching the gospel and preparing a people for Christ’s return and for service in His Kingdom. Detailed instructions are included in this issue of the eNews (and on the Members site at https://www.ucg.org/members/news/us-holy-day-offerings-for-2020-days-of-unleavened-bread) for your convenience, along with a link to a 90-second video that demonstrates how to make an online donation: https://www.ucg.org/members/news/how-to-donate-online

Passover: Keeping your library card up to date.

Living Church of God members still cannot do anything right.  It's a constant struggle to measure up to the standards LCG expects of them, and of which not one single leader in the Living Church of God has ever done himself. Not a single one!

Living Church of God members spend weeks before the Passover beating themselves up for one sin after another. Others wait till they walk in the door that night. Either way, walking into the room, you know ahead of time, that you are worthless and lower than the worms in the ground. Then as you are sitting there listening to the same story, every year, that you are worthless crap, you get to hear the breaking of the matzos as it is amplified through the sound system so that you feel EXTRA guilty as you recrucify Jesus Christ every year.

As Bereans Did had this up on their site today: Passover in the Age of Social Distancing

It's more challenging to clearly define the views of the Churches of God, since they never had a  systematic theology and each splinter has its own flavor. Generally, though, the COGs view Passover – their annual communion service – as an observance critical to salvation. This view is based on Numbers 9:13:

But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people for not presenting the Lord's offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin. 

This application is in keeping with COG teachings on “ongoing justification” - that man is initially reconciled to God through Christ's sacrifice, but then is responsible for keeping his own slate clean – to varying extents – through a track record of repentance and spiritual growth. In short, if you're required to keep your library record up to date, the appointment for renewing your library card is critical.  and the schedule for available renewals is pretty limited - in this case, one evening per year.

This is exactly what Doug Winnail is describing below:

Passover and Beyond: The Holy Days are a vital part of God’s plan for mankind of eventually becoming part of His family. In the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, we are given two incredible tools to help us grow and develop the mind and character of God (Philippians 2:5; 1 John 3:1–3). To grow in this direction, we need to take time during this period to carefully examine our own thoughts and actions (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5). We need to honestly and prayerfully study God’s word and ask Him to help us see what commandments we are breaking and what instructions we are not following as we should (1 Corinthians 11:26–32). We also need to focus on clearly seeing our own shortcomings and resist judging others for their problems (Matthew 7:1–5). Recognizing the problems that are hindering our own growth is a big step toward becoming more like God and our Elder Brother Jesus Christ. It is also tremendously encouraging to realize that we can be forgiven of our sins (John 3:16). Yet, there is more to the process—we also need to be overcomers (Revelation 2:26–27; 3:12, 21). To actually make progress in overcoming our sins, we need to spend some time during the Days of Unleavened Bread planning how we are going to replace certain thoughts and actions that are holding us back from growing to become more like our Father. We need to “ponder the path of [our] feet” (Proverbs 4:26–27) and identify what changes we need to make (more time to pray and study, how we can treat others better, etc.)—and then focus on doing those things. Make a list and begin to work on it in the days following the Passover and Days Unleavened Bread, so we can prepare to be more effective instruments in God’s hands.

Have a positive and profitable Sabbath and Holy Day Season,

Douglas S. Winnail 

Not a single thing mentioned about what that sacrifice they claim to be celebrating or any word about justification or sanctification.  But then, Jesus is not that important in the LCG.  The law still reigns supreme.

Stephen Flurry: "...Christ 'will sit down and talk to our Father about how to remove our sins.'"

The spiritual madness has descended deeper down the rabbit hole in the Philadelphia Church of God.  For a while, many were looking at Stephen Flurry as the potential savior to lead the church out from under his dad's abominable teachings.  That idea is moot now considering the following:

Flurrys Re-Writing the Bible With Their Heresies:

April 6, 2020

Almost everything that SF and GF says is unbiblical. Not only has GF re-written much of what Herbert Armstrong wrote, they are now re-writing the Bible with their heresies. Neither of them understand how to teach the Bible accurately.

On Saturday SF said Jesus Christ (our Advocate) can “help us get through to the Father.” Help us get through? Both SF and GF at this time of year do nothing but focus on members’ sins. The temple veil (signifying man was separated from God by sin) was torn the moment Jesus died. Jesus does not “help us get through” to the Father. He is our Advocate (“helper, adviser, or counselor” from the Greek word parakleton) in the sense of pleading our case because He has already satisfied the demands of the Law. True Christians have already “gotten through” to the Father because they have been redeemed by His Blood. Colossians 1:14:  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

SF also said that Christ “will sit down and talk to our Father about how to remove our sins.” Such absolute nonsense. Christ already removed our sin when He died for all of them on the cross. Psalms 103:12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” [Also read: The Sin Question]

Another heretical teaching is when SF says we have “two” comforters–the Holy Spirit (which he says is the power of God) and Jesus Christ. That is totally unbiblical. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit when He went away, back to Heaven. [Read: Is the Holy Spirit Only the Power of God?]

I don’t know where SF and GF get these ideas but it’s not from the Bible. Not only do they not have the “love of Jesus Christ” as a previous letter said, but they do not even know how to feel or show love for Christ.

Also, the Flurrys are trying to create the impression that they are growing in numbers and so they’re propping up that illusion in the minds of their members. Most watching these “live presentations” are members. –W. N.

From Exit and Support 

UPDATE: Dave Pack Fails Again With Prophecy That Christ Was To Return Passover Night

Update:  Last night as Dave and his brainwashed devotees were waiting for his "christ" to return, tornado warning sirens went off. This for sure sent many devotees hearts racing! 

Sadly, this entire scenario Dave is creating has the potential to lead to deadly endings.  We may see another Waco happening or see RCG members killing unconverted spouses so they don't have to suffer during the tribulation while they are safely in Petra.


From an RCG source:

Meanwhile, David Pack has given his story yet again (..) a new twist, telling the RCG members he now knows (for sure!) when the Big Event will happen! It’s like watching a soap series, with a new cliffhanger every week over the last year or so. Making you wonder why there’s still people falling for it..

This is the Packsters latest announcement:

Our Passover Watch Continues! 

By now it is clear God wanted at least some of us to keep the Passover. Everyone east of the U.S. concluded services hours ago, which presented a great question: Does God want all brethren to take the symbols a final time?

Passover is a fixed date. It is not going to move. It is still the Day of Christ—the Last Day—“that Day”— and everything else we have come to understand. Of course, what we have long wrestled with is when events begin to unfold. Related to the question above, a second great question emerged: Would Christ really return before His day (Passover)?

The answer that perhaps should have been evident is a resounding no! Before proving this, let’s reason together. Which day would God want to memorialize—Abib 13 or Passover itself, Abib 14? Would God merely “come close” when aiming for a great Passover event? How could “THAT DAY” come “unawares” (Luke 21:34) on ANYONE if events began to unfold the day before?

There is simplicity in Christ, and this has proven truer than ever at the end. You will almost certainly agree by the end of this letter!

Deuteronomy 16:1 becomes even more central: “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the LORD your God…” Our watch is inextricably tied to Passover!

Many verses support this understanding:

* First consider I Corinthians 11:26. We “eat this bread, and drink this cup” showing Christ’s death “till He come.” In one sense this could be taken to mean right up until He comes!

* Verse 27 shows how much turns on this: “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” We have long understood the process of self-examination that precedes Passover. Yet think about this in relation to the imminent period of judgment when Christ arrives. In verse 29, Paul adds, “He that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation [judgment] to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

* Ask: In light of I Corinthians 11, might God want to see how His people scattered across multiple continents in multiple groups—and in a world under lockdown—take their final Passover, ahead of the Great (Passover) Supper that will occur later in Abib 14?

* Peter wrote, “the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (I Peter 4:17). What better way to start this judgment than all God’s people observing a final Passover service?

* Revelation 22:11-12 reads: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly [after this judgment process begins!]; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Brethren: nothing will happen before all have taken the Passover—nothing even can! Nothing was ever scheduled to start before Abib 14. That was always God’s target date—the last day possible that we could “back into.”

We have all been intently watching, and now will through Passover evening. Every “night” verse we have considered comes into play. The night they speak of apparently points to tonight! Of course, on a round earth, many who have already kept the Passover would again be working, satisfying other verses we have long had to factor into the prophetic puzzle. Maintain faith—and HOPE!—to the very end. Passover has not moved. We have merely moved closer to Passover. We are so very close! 

Not close enough buckwheat!  Christ did not return.  He is not in Wadsworth. He is not even shopping at the Giant Eagle for a bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream.

Once again, Dave's cabal of ministers sit there supporting these lies, knowing full well that Dave is full of bullshit. There will be blood on these men's hands before this is all over.

Philadelphia Church of God Still Ignoring COVID-19 Guidelines

The Flurry clan's personal slave detail cleaning leavening out of cracks in floor tiles, all the while ignoring the State of Oklahoma guidelines on COVID-19 infection prevention. Students have also spent many hours cleaning the Flurry's sins out of the family jet.

Classes have not been canceled and students are regularly in close proximity, even in the dorms and dining areas.

This is a Church of God after all, who follows a god that will never allow any of them to be infected. Magical god is amazing!

From a PCG source

PCG: People Catch COVID-19 Becasue They Broke HWA's Health laws

Did you know that those who catch COVD-19 caught it because they were not following Herbert Armstrong's seven laws of success?  Apparently, that includes their present members now sick with the virus. After all, regular members can NEVER do anything right.

From Exit and Support

SF Relating the Virus to Not Following the Seven Laws of Health:

April 5, 2020

SF on his April 3 broadcast brought up Herbert Armstrong’s Seven Laws of Health. This was after he said Sweden isn’t in lockdown and showed pictures. He said “most who get it will not die from it” and the vast majority who are dying “are already sick.” He played a brief clip of Gov. Cuomo talking about his brother who had it and said he (Cuomo) wasn’t acting too concerned about that. I heard him say this virus is mainly like a mild cold. From what I gathered this video was to prepare members for Passover and to concentrate on their sins. –F. U.

SF Using Crazy Talk:

April 5, 2020

To tell the truth I’m getting fed up trying to figure out where SF is coming from and what is behind what he’s saying. I get it that he’s trying to make members feel they are breaking “health laws” and sinning and if they get the virus it’s a result of their own choices. Much of his news sources are what he has cherry picked. So what if he did find health officials saying most people who become infected with the virus will recover? He would make us think: “All is well, go about your business. Sweden doesn’t have lockdown. They’re going on as normal. See how we in our country overreacted?” Next he’ll be saying, “My father and I haven’t got it.”

That’s crazy talk. What about people with serious health conditions that may catch it from someone (in PCG?) running around willy-nilly because they say they feel fit as a fiddle? –MO

Passover Time: It is exhausting to be a COG member at this time of year, both mentally and spiritually.

In the Churches of God, Passover has always been a time of inward introspection and self-examination as to why people do the silly things they do even though they know it is wrong. It is the most sacred observance in the COG calendar.  It is that one night out of the year that members look forward to having their slates wiped clean and can start anew into a more perfect walk.

That rarely lasts longer than the drive home when they start complaining that they had to wash the feet of a person they did not like, or that the person had nasty toe jam. The clean washed slate quickly erodes even more as a driver cuts them off on the freeway and they swear (under their breath, of course) at them.

The next day they hurridly scurry around the house searching for any last morsels of leaven.  Toasters are used for one last time and dumped. Suit pockets are checked.  Cars vacuumed. Children's toy boxes scrubbed clean.  It's exhausting!  All the time this is happening they are trying to cook a meal for a group of people coming over to keep the NTBMO. It's no wonder alcohol flows so freely on this night.

Then the next day they are up early for double services at some dreary high school gym or Masonic Lodge 150 miles away. The kids get antsy in the back seat and the parents snap at them. Arriving at church they have to help set up the chairs and get the food prepared for the potluck between services. They are worn out by the time the service starts. Then they have to sit there through the same god-awful recycled sermon that they have heard for 30 years. And, those damn metal chairs hurt!

The sermon they hear tells them that they are never good enough for God and to stop sinning. Or, even worse, you have a church leader like Dave Pack who declares himself Elijah and that his name means "Passover". Imagine sitting there hearing that!

Others will be sitting there wondering why they are there because their leader had told them Christ was returning a few days earlier, and yet, here they are listening to another boring sermon about how God has delayed the end time for one more final push. Thanks, Ron and Laura Weinland! As the official Two Witless Witnesses, you are the best!

You could always be a Living Church of God member who was told to examine themselves BEFORE Passover as to why they don't give more money, tithes or support the "work" more diligently.

TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Have you been faithful in paying your tithes to God this past year? Have you been faithful in giving offerings? Be honest with yourself. Stealing from God is a serious matter. "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ’In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation" (Malachi 3:8–9).

God owns the earth, and everyone and everything on it. He promises to provide our every need (Philippians 4:19). God provides for His children, but some have "little faith" and do not trust Him (Matthew 6:30). He gave this admonition: "’Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ’If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’" (Malachi 3:10). God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and He promises to abundantly bless the tithe payer. Those who have faithfully saved their Festival tithe know firsthand the joy God gives at His annual festivals.

Examine your degree of faithfulness this past year with God’s tithe. Have you stolen from God? Have you saved a full Festival tithe? Ask God for the ability to give. Trust and honor Him in your tithes and offerings. If you have been a thief this past year, ask God’s forgiveness, determine to trust Him this coming year, then take the Passover in faith!

If there ever was a WTF moment in COGland, this is one of them.

Within that first week after Passover, when the euphoria of being washed clean is still evident, you will get a sermon or a member letter from your church leader who will start lambasting you that the work is being delayed and that Christ cannot return because of the lack of faith of the members. 

Certain church leaders like Pack and Flurry will initiate new draconian rules for their members while they claim new enlightenment that God has personally delivered to them.  Others like Bob Thiel will tell us about more dreams he has had while expecting us to believe God personally delivered them to him.

It is exhausting to be a COG member at this time of year, both mentally and spiritually.

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG)

"If you are a member of a Church of God splinter, you come from an organization that was born in false prophecy...And to this very minute it is led by men and women who continue the family tradition without shame or remorse."

As the Bereans Did has an excellent post up about the COVID-19 virus and how the Churches of God are reacting to it.  As we have witnessed over the last few months, as the pandemic reared its ugly head, various COG leaders have gone into fits of ecstasy over the pandemic as a sure sign from God that he is pissed at humankind and is ready to usher in the tribulation where the full force of his wrath will be on display. Of course, just as we have witnessed for decades in the church, all of these prophecies now being uttered by COG leaders have been and will be utter failures.

In the early 1930s, Herbert W Armstrong started his own ministry on the sly, not letting his COG7 leaders know. What did he do? Let's take a look at his message:

"...19 years after the first seige, or 585 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar made his final siege, drove out all the Jews, took complete possession of the land, and the Times of the Gentiles came fully in. And 2520 years later, or 1936 A.D., the Times of the Gentiles will have completely ENDED. As nearly as we can calculate from the dates of ancient history, the year 1936 will see the END of the Times of the Gentiles. Those "Times" have not been completely fulfilled until that year."

-Herbert Armstrong, Plain Truth, June/July 1934, pp.4-5

That's right. He started with false prophecy about the imminent return of Christ. Did Jesus return in 1936? No. Did that stop Mr. Armstrong? No. 

To save myself the time and effort of writing all this out again, I will direct you to our article "All Systems Are GO!" where we document HWA's repeated false prophesies that did not stop until his death.

HWA tried to weasel out of it all by claiming that he didn't "prophesy" but "predict." No. He DID prophesy! We have documented it. Read our article, "An Inconvenient Plain Truth" and see. We document over 60 time-specific prophecies from one small window of time, and some of those were done in the name and authority of the Almighty God. That's 60 time-specific prophetic failures, from only one publication, from only one decade. How many more are there? Countless!

We have plenty more articles that you can find on our Categories page.

Now, you might be thinking, "How is any of this relevant to me? This isn't 1972 and I don't follow Herbert Armstrong." It is relevant to you because it wasn't just William Miller, or Ellen G White, or Herbert Armstrong, but everyone that followed those people - including the leaders of the Church of God splinter groups today. And those people are relevant. When Dave Pack named his group "Restored" what do you suppose he was restoring? Why, the Worldwide Church of God, of course! Just Google it. It says so right there. When Gerald Flurry named his group "Philadelphia Church of God" it was because that was the name Herbert Armstrong chose for his next church, should the government of California force him to give up leadership of the WCG in the Receivership debacle in the later 1970s. Why do all Church of God groups call themselves Church of God? Because they all come from the Worldwide Church of God. They are not just following naming convention here. This is a continuation in every sense. Herbert Armstrong may not be directly relevant to you, but he is directly relevant to every leader of every Church of God splinter - and that makes this relevant to you.

If you are a member of a Church of God splinter, you come from an organization that was born in false prophecy. It was raised on false prophecy. It makes its living off of false prophecy. And to this very minute it is led by men and women who continue the family tradition without shame or remorse.

Read the complete article here: COVID-19: No More Fearmongering

Commercial Break: Stick to the Rules and You'll All Be Fine

More Bullshit From the Persecuted Dr Robert Thiel

"The reality is that around the world, and certainly not just in the US, we are seeing government officials asserting they are above religion."

https://www.cogwriter.com/news/religious-news/bin-coronavirus-blood-libel-attempts-to-outlaw-religion-and-replace-it-with-spring-break-quien-es-el-hombre-de-pecado/

No Bob, that's not the reality at all.  Government, as per your own Romans 13, which you fail to acknowledge because it goes against your need to feel persecuted, is trying to save lives and put an end to this nightmare.  

People like you prolong it.  It has nothing to do with prophecy. Nothing to do with "The Man of Sin."  Nothing to do with you imagined end times. It has nothing to do with Jews not eating bats and rats and elephants nor does it have anything to do with blame.  Shit happens on the planet Bob and good judgment and common sense along with human cooperation will go a hell of a lot further in solving this than your imaginary friends in high places ever will.  

You're the prophet. Why did you fail to see this disaster coming?  And posting the concerns of the medical profession, immunologist and those that prepare for such things over years of looking ahead in the evolution of viruses doesn't count as "prophecy" That's science and what immunologists do.  We don't call them prophets and you're not one by a long shot. 

And too...why aren't you promoting homeopathy as the cure to all things?  We all know why don't we Bob?   It fails to deliver, fails utterly in the proof department and would be prescribing quackery in times like this.  And some government authority that is burdened with protecting the public might be giving you a call ala Romans 13 and the scientific and medical community as well to challenge your ignore-ance. 

At any rate, we are not seeing government asserting they are above religion. We are seeing common sense and good judgement has to be practiced and sometimes enforced upon the ignorant, self righteous, need to feel persecuted and reckless Churches, pastors and members. 

In this case, as with Dave Pack, this would YOU too. 

Nah, nobody’s that stupid!

BREAKING- Wadsworth, Ohio: Restored Church of God Defies Social Distancing while Neighboring Giant Eagle Announces Covid-19 Positive Employee

Update:  This article broke in a local Wadsworth community list and in a matter of hours spread to numerous Facebook pages.  Now, over 25,500+ (and still counting) people have read this article. 

It has now made available to several regional Ohio Facebook pages, Wadsworth Facebook pages, and The Akron Beacon Journal. Many do not expect the Wadsworth papers and the ABJ to do much about this story.  They were warned by many people several years ago about the issues with the Restored Church of God and the religion editor for the Wadsworth papers made the decision to not pursue it. 

With Dave Pack's "prophecy" last week that end times would hit by Saturday, April 4, this group has the potential to become deadly.  The lives of the employees and its members are a deep concern to many, including family members who have loved ones enslaved by the group.

In defiance of Governor Dewine's social distancing recommendations for church gatherings, Dave Pack has insisted his headquarters congregation gather to attend services and hear his sermons in person. This reckless behavior is fueled by the fact Dave is literally preaching that Jesus is going to return any day now, having named several (now failed) dates in recent months.  

Ohio Governor Dewine fielded a question this week about churches: “Any pastor who brings people together in close proximity to each other, a large group of people, is making a huge mistake. It is not a Christian thing to do. It is not in the Judeo-Christian tradition to hurt people.”

Today, April 4, more than 100 congregants attending Saturday services and were in very close proximity to each other. Their cars in the parking lot pictured here. 

Dave's own wife, who was a nurse prior to marrying Dave, stands by her man through all of this. This in the face of her professional training that would be screaming to not hold services. 

This happened two days after Giant Eagle (the neighboring supermarket) announced one of their employees tested positive (https://www.gianteagle.com/store-cleansing). Every RCG staff member shops there often.

Several days ago, this was sent out by the Headquarters ministry to the whole church: "Keep watching! Based on all we can “forecast,” another Sabbath this side of the Return of Christ, does not appear to be on the horizon. None of the ministers here at Headquarters can see it."

Obviously, that didn't happen. RCG is in a prophetic tailspin.

Dave putting his congregation in harm's way is no surprise. He's already tapped them out of their money, why not their very lives? Sickening, in the extreme.

From an RCG source