It's THAT Time of Year! Winter Family Weekend

 

It is that time of year as people look forward to Christmas and all of its pleasures. From beautiful music to amazing Christmas light decorations. From delightful and delicious seasonal food and drink to Christmas services where the amazing birth of a child that COG groups like to push to the side is celebrated. Since the day after Halloween, various COG are belching and squawking about how pagan everything is and do their utmost to make everyone around them miserable. But since COG groups are more enlightened than the heathens in the world around them, they look forward to Winter Family Weekends at Christmas time.

Nothing irritates some of these Churches of God more than Christmas does. As they are imploding with schisms and losing disgusted members who are sick of being spiritually abused, they find fault in all the world around them while never keeping their own houses in order.

As the shrinking Church of God movement moves into 2021 and as their congregations are getting older and older some are trying to do what they can to attract the younger crowd and look cool. Having these winter family weekends is more about looking cool to the world around them than it is about ignoring Christmas.  Almost all of them have picked hotels and resorts that are decked out to the nines with Christmas decorations, food and music. Apparently, they assume that all of the COG members attending these locations put on blinders and wear earplugs to drown out any sight and sound of Christmas. They pack turkey ham sandwiches on whole wheat bread and eat carob brownies so as not to look like they are participating in the pagan food around them. God forbid if they took a  sideways glance or ate some Christmas cookies or drank some eggnog or, ghastly days, hummed a Christmas tune.

For all of the years these groups have been doing this it has looked hypocritical but this year with the COVID hysteria it is even more shocking that some still plan on letting family groups gather playing sports and games where the spittle will be flying. One would think that of all years to take the time off and just let families rest at home with loved ones it would be this year. During these COVID times, it surely does not set a good example for the world around them which they seek to impress with their coolness. this is especially true after quire a few COG members caught COVID at COG Feast sites this year. These groups should have learned their lessons but they did not. So far UCG and COGWA have canceled their WFW.

Sheldon Monson's group is doing winter family weekend this year in Murfreesboro, TN at the Embassy Suites while the Living Church of God plans on being in Charlotte where they will restrict their "fun" weekend to members only. God forbid if they were a light to the world around them!

Also joining this COG trend is the Common Faith Network, a loose conglomeration of Churches of God who have made a concerted effort to cooperate and associate with one another. Church of God Cincinnatti and the Common Faith Network is looking to take their WFW to Tanglewood resort in Texas, though they are only currently asking for member's input.  The one advantage of this site is that it could be relatively free from Christmas decorations. This site is also the site this same group used for the Feast this year. Of the many COG sites, this one was apparently run rather well as there are no reported cases of COVID arising from meeting together for the week.

Common Faith Network

COGWA and UCG have canceled their Winter Family Weekends

COGWA

UCG

Doug Winnail on the dangers of rebellion and not following wise decisions of LCG ministers

 

Below is the letter Doug Winnail sent to the ministry of LCG in the wake of Sheldon Monson and Jason Fritts's departure. It is pretty hypocritical of Doug Winnail to be condemning Monson and Fritts on their recent departure considering the fact that he and Rod Meredith did the exact same things when they left the mother church and started Global Church of God and then in a rebellious fit of rage started Living Church of God.

One thing for sure about the current state of affairs in the Church of God movement is that it is the best soap opera ever created.

Received from an LCG source this morning.

To: All Ministers
Greetings Fellow Elders,

The recent departure of two ministers here in the USA with several other elders and those who have followed them has generated numerous posts on social media that contain inaccurate assertions and some wildly distorted accounts of what led to this departure. Some posts claim that these two men were treated unfairly, and even harshly, that they were yelled at in an attempt to intimidate and humiliate them and then summarily fired after this rigorous ordeal by their unfeeling superiors. I want to provide you with some firsthand background information so that you can address any questions that you may encounter. While this departure may not be affecting your congregation (it is mainly affecting a few small pockets around the United States where these men have pastored or had friends or people they worked with at camp—including young people, there are important lessons for all of us to learn from this situation. 

LCG has never "learned" any important lessons over the last 25+ years. They keep repeating the same mistakes and claiming martyrdom when caught. 

The seeds of this departure are exactly like the seeds Meredith and others planted months before they apostatized from the Worldwide Church of God in a fit of self-righteous rage because they had a better way of doing things. 

The seeds of this departure go back some time, as many can attest, but began to emerge openly in comments made by these ministers in sermons, Bible Studies and personal comments at the Teen Camp in Texas this summer. Several ministers and other adults sensed these men were divisive and critical of the leadership of the Church. One of these ministers also mentioned in some of his congregations that he might be fired for his actions. 

 

After camp, we asked these two ministers to come to Charlotte to discuss their ideas (that we are dishonoring God by wearing a mask at services and that we are sinning if we don’t sing at services). Several of us here then spent about 4 ½ hours with these men, talking to them and listening to their ideas. At one point, one person here did raise his voice for 5-10 seconds and then apologized. He did not appreciate these men openly disagreeing with Church decisions and using the forum of a youth summer camp to do so where his children were in attendance. He was not the only incensed parent who felt this was totally inappropriate and did not appreciate it. He was also concerned about how these ideas were affecting some people in congregations that he has pastored. As we listened, we also let these men know that we did not agree with their ideas. They were informed that we would bring their ideas before the Council of Elders. It was not our intention to fire them when we invited them to Charlotte to talk. 

It is interesting to read how they were concerned about how members of congregations were affected by Monson and Fritts's stances. They were not concerned when they were actively seeking to steal members and money from the Worldwide Church of God as they plotted and schemed with Don Davis to set up the Global Church of God. They were not concerned when they stabbed Raymond McNair in the back and took all of Global's money and most of its members to start the Living Church of God. They left a trail of broken lives in the wake of each of these decisions and now they are concerned about how people have been affected? 

Later that week, one of the ministers joined a special online meeting of the Council of Elders that lasted for more than four hours. We also asked him to submit a paper providing the scriptural basis for his ideas. This was the first time the Council had seen this information. Our standard approach has been for new ideas to be submitted to and discussed by the Council before these ideas were preached to congregations. However, this had not occurred, even though these men had been promoting these ideas for some time. No one on the Council agreed with their ideas. There was no yelling or screaming. There was no intimidation. However, a number of men spoke frankly, yet respectfully, indicating they did not agree with what they were hearing from this minister. We later sent out papers countering these ideas.

When the Worldwide Church of God spoke with Meredith and many other ministers that were joining Meredith in his rebellion they were asked if they would support the decisions and teachings of the church, none of them agreed to and felt they should separate themselves and go their own way. They saw nothing wrong with this and yet they see Monson and Fritts as being in a state of rebellion. 

Meredith and the other ministers that followed him never grasped the fact that their decision and rebellion was going to have a negative impact upon the WCG. And if they did, they certainly did not care! 

The next day, Mr. Weston and I spoke with each of these men on the telephone. When they were asked if they could support the decisions and teaching of the Church, they both indicated they could not. In fact, one of the ministers commented that since we appeared to be on separate pages, we should just go our separate ways. As a result, they were relieved from their roles as ministers in the LCG. That decision was made when they each stated that they could not support the decisions and teachings of the Church. The decision was also based on the verified fact that for some time these men were making numerous negative and divisive comments about leaders of the Church, and they had been in open disagreement with decisions made by church leaders. One man was offered time to think it over, but he said his mind was made up and would not be changed by postponing a decision. Neither man appeared to grasp the seriousness of the negative comments they had been making or the impact of those comments on others and how their ideas were dividing the Church. Since these conversations, they have departed and started their own organization. One minister has been marked for causing division (Romans 16:17-18) since he has been the leader, the other minister has been made a former member. Both men and their followers should be avoided. In our view, this has been a very sad situation. 

Church government has always been used as a weapon to keep members and ministers under control. Of course, that government goes out the window when men set themselves up as saviors of the truth once delivered and do what they want to do. Once they set up their fiefdoms, woe be to anyone who dares to cross their self-righteous paths and question them!  Those rebellious people are in direct rebellion against the very government of God! They are Korah's! They were just like Ananias and Sapphira!

There are a number of lessons that we can learn from all of this. The Scriptures reveal that God has placed authority in His Church. Moses was instructed to appoint leaders in Israel to judge the people (Exodus 18:24-26). Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:18 that God places us in the body as it pleases Him and that Jesus Christ established different roles and offices in the Church for doing His work (Ephesians 4:11-12). The Bible also records that there are serious consequences if those offices and that authority are not respected (see the example of Korah and his rebellion along with 250 leaders in Numbers 16 and Aaron’s and Miriam’s mistake in speaking against Moses in Numbers 12). While Moses was not perfect, the consequences of speaking against the authority of his office were serious and dramatic—as a lesson to others. We see a similar situation in the actions of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11). The men leading this current departure (and now some of their followers ) have been making negative comments about church decisions and leaders for some time—in spite of these biblical examples. 

Winnail admits that people who are in rebellion against the government of God (i.s church leadership) are not pleasing God when they do so. Yet, it was pleasing to their god when they rebelled against the mother church and formed TWO separate COG splinter groups. No rebellion there! No sirree!  

While these departing ministers are emphasizing the importance of having faith and trust in God’s promises for protection from disease (Exodus 15:25) and healing from sickness (James 5:14-16), we also need to put our faith and trust in other very clear instructions we find in the Scriptures. The biblical instructions for resolving controversies in the Church are found in Deuteronomy 17:8-11. When controversies arise, the issue is to be taken to the priests and Levites to be judged, and when a decision is made, it is to be followed. However, if a person acts presumptuously and ignores the decision made by the elders, there were serious consequences that were witnessed by the entire nation—as a lesson that this was not pleasing to God. 

Rod Meredith and the men who followed him into two different groups caused confusion when they rejected counsel.  

We see this biblical process for resolving controversies in action in Acts 15 when the question of circumcision of Gentiles was addressed. The issue was brought to the elders in Jerusalem, and a decision was made and promulgated to other congregations so there would be a unified policy. However, it appears that not everyone agreed with this decision as other individuals continued to create dissension by pointing back to the OT command for circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14; Galatians 1:6-7; 5:1-6). Yet, we read in Matthew 16:18-19 that God has given His Church and its leaders the authority to make decisions about the application of scriptures for the unity and benefit of the body (2 Chronicles 30:22-23; Ephesians 4:12-13). The Bible also warns that when everyone does their own thing, the result is chaos and confusion (Judges 21:25) and that also leads to serious consequences (Proverbs 14:12).

The Bible also provides numerous guidelines to help us avoid making serious mistakes. Proverbs 11:14 tells us “where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” These ministers felt they had to follow their conscience in these matters. However, our conscience is guided by our beliefs, which are based on our understanding of the Scriptures. If our understanding of the Scriptures is not correct, our conscience will be misinformed. These men chose to promote and follow their own ideas and ignore the advice of the Council of Elders regarding their understanding of the Scriptures. Proverbs 14:12 warns there is a way that seems right to a person, but that way leads to death. The Apostle Peter admonishes younger elders to be humble, respectful, and submissive to their elders (1 Peter 5:1-6), however, these ministers chose to reject the counsel they were given by senior ministers who were old enough to be their fathers. We need to remember these instructions. 

The track record of rebellion in the COG movement is a sure indication that the senior ministers of the church have been the most rebellious over the decades and are the ones who have caused the most damage to members' lives. Is it any better reason that people do NOT follow their advice?

Winnail goes on to write that the fruits of these departures have not been good (Global members can testify to that!) and admits that their own history proves this fact.

Another important lesson is from our own history as an organization. During the last 25 years, we have seen more than a dozen ministers and self-appointed leaders depart from the Global/Living Church of God. In nearly every case, these individuals found some point of doctrine they disagreed with or encountered situations they did not like or people they could not get along with or who did not accept their ideas. Yet, in nearly every case, the organizations they started either jumped the tracks doctrinally (with leaders claiming to be apostles or prophets) or their organization dwindled away to little or nothing. The fruits of these departures have not been good—and the evidence is there for anyone with eyes to see. This is why Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 that the historical examples in the Old Testament were recorded for our admonition today! Our own history as an organization should also be instructive. 

Winnail goes on to blame the internet for causing confusion in the church in spite of the fact LCG has caused so much confusion over the last 25+ years that no one knows exactly what they stand for anymore.  

But never fear though, it is NOT his role or LCG's role to pass judgment upon these rebellious men. the only role that LCG leadership has is to lovingly help you see the bigger picture than what you see on the internet and God forbid allow any ones personal feelings enter into the play.

In dealing with the fallout of this current departure, you will encounter people who are genuinely confused by what they see on the internet or because they have a personal relationship with some who are leaving. It is not our role as ministers (or as members) to pass judgment on the fate of people who are confused or have left. It is not our role, or the role of our members to determine who will be in the Place of Safety or in the Kingdom. That is God’s decision. However, you can encourage those who are confused to watch what happens as this situation plays out—and make their own decision based on the fruits they see. In Acts 5:33-39, Gamaliel advised those who were upset by the ministry of the apostles, “if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it.” Every person must make their own decisions about who they are going to follow. Our role is to try to help them see a bigger picture than what they see on the internet or what their personal feelings might tell them 

Rough times are ahead for the LCG organization as more men will split off and go their own ways and take members (money machines) with them. Income will drop and Satan will be the cause. 

Rebellious ministers and members will take to the internet and share their concerns and hurts and will be labeled as instruments of Satan that Paul warned about. Satan is like a roaring lion running around the world seeking to devour the LCG church and lead all of its members astray. LCG does not need to worry about big bad meanie Satan destroying the LCG, its very own leadership is doing a great job of that already.

Just remember boys and girls, if you see something on the internet that seems way out in left field, don't' worry, because it probably is! COG history proves this to be true! In the COG where there is smoke there is ALWAYS a fire burning and it is not always Satan who is behind it.

Fellow ministers, this departure will probably not be the last, because the times ahead will be challenging. We should not be surprised by this because Paul warned us this type of thing would happen (Acts 20:29-31). We all have to be alert because Satan is like a roaring lion seeking who he can deceive and devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan knows our individual vulnerabilities, and he will try to exploit those weak points. Don’t let that happen to you. If you see or hear something on the internet that sounds way out, it probably is! However, if it sounds reasonable and you have questions, please call us to get our input. We need to work together because we have a work yet to do, that Satan will try to disrupt in any way that he can. Let’s pray for each other and for our members and for those who are caught up in this current departure. God does not want any of His sheep to be lost, and that is part of our job as shepherds 

 

Warm Regards,
Douglas S. Winnail

Living Church of God members once again falling under influence of Satan. Can LCG members EVER do anything right?

There is a reason followers of Christ don't have to worry

about constant temptation and worrying about "qualifying" 

for that kingdom to come.

 

I truly feel sorry for the Living Church of God members and how they are constantly being told they are screwing things up.  Now they are "drifting off course" due to big bad meanie Satan influencing them. Can these poor people EVER do anything right?

Their entire life seems to be one big mess as they allow themselves to be constantly distracted by trials and temptations because they are unfaithful and losing focus. Because of that, they are in danger of losing their "qualification" status with God, since he is ALWAYS testing them to find out if they are worthy. It has to be a tiresome and weary struggle to be constantly struggling to please an eternally pissed off god such as that.

There is a reason that Jesus said his way of grace, mercy, justice, and compassion was a way that brings true rest.

Matthew 11:28-30
The Message

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.”

 

Stay Focused on Our Mission: 

 

The lessons of history record that mankind and God’s chosen people have drifted off course again and again due to Satan’s deceptive influence. Adam and Eve made wrong choices that sent the course of history off in a wrong direction (Genesis 3). Ancient Israel turned from God and suffered consequences—and modern Israelite nations are heading down this same path. Even individuals called to be saints have turned aside (1 Timothy 1:18–20; 2 Timothy 1:15). Jesus Christ called disciples and raised up His Church to preach the Gospel (Mark 1:14–15; 16:15), to warn the world of the consequences of sin, and to announce events that indicate His return is near (Matthew 24). The mission of God’s Church also involves preparing a people to rule with Jesus Christ as kings, priests, and teachers in the coming Kingdom of God (Luke 1:17; John 21:15–17). To qualify for this challenging and exciting reward, we must avoid being distracted by the trials and temptations of this world (Matthew 13:18–23), and we must remain faithful and focused on our calling and our God-given mission (Matthew 24:13–14; Revelation 3:8–12; 17:14). Let’s each make that our goal!

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

King Gerald Flurry, Heir to the Throne of David Has His Crown Stripped Away By Colorado Man

 

Poor King Flurry, the little guy just cannot do anything right anymore.  After proclaiming he is the true King of the Throne of David and has the new coronation stone his fake "jesus" is coming back to sit his royal holy hiney on, just had that all stripped away by the

 TRUE 

King of England 

who now lives in Colorado.

Another Church of God pipe dream down the drain, again.

Darryl Henson's Sabbatarian Community In Arizona Strip Is Having Huge Issues

 

Another day and another Church of God splinter cult is having problems. Who could have ever guessed?

This time around it is Darryl Henson's group, A Congregation of God - A Free Church based in the Arizona strip close to Colorado City (the polygamous RLDS city). 

Several years ago he claimed that he had a dream where his god told him to buy land close to Zion National Park and set up a community of Sabbatarian believers. He bought a large plot of land and let COG members who were his followers move onto the land. 

It should not surprise any of us that whenever 2 or more COG members gather together disunity and division is bound to happen. Sure enough, Henson is now dealing with issues with his residents. Residents are leaving his cult and refusing to move off his land.

Church unity is such a fun thing!

I made the decision to buy the land for God's express purpose of preparing a place as He had instructed in the dream. We are a Free Church, not a worldly 501c3 corporation, which is overseen by corporate law and the state, even to the point of closing some churches who teach against abortion or homosexuality, etc. The State has no jurisdiction over a Free Church. So we have no board of directors and board of deacons who hire and fire ministers. I was commissioned directly of God to prepare a place near Zion. As the one given the direction, He also placed me in charge of the operation and I formed A Congregation of God, A Free Church to fulfill His purposes on the piece of land He provided.

I was deeply committed to preserve it in a way that outsiders could not buy lots and move in on us. The Fair Housing Act has a clause that states churches can discriminate in this manner. Additionally, I determined that it should not be sold as it was a gift from God for His purposes. The church and the land were inextricably bound together to accomplish what God instructed me to do.

On the day of closing the purchase, Dec. 7, 2002, I wrote a letter to all members in Utah and around the country offering anyone who desired, a lease on one acre each if they wished to move out and join the project. The letter mentioned a lease several times, not once hinting at a purchase option, which I had not intention at all of offering so as to prevent future sales of lots to non-members. I prepared a lease that was specifically designed with that in mind. The lease was for 49 years with the intent of giving security, but also preserving the land intact for God's use. No offer of eventual ownership was made as people understood why it should be that way.

None of use expected (expect) this age to continue that long in any case.

Immanuel the Christ personally directed me via dream, vision and scriptural instruction to find a place for Him to use. He led and directed me to form A Congregation of God, A Free Church as a continuing part of the original church He founded while on earth with the apostles as its directors. I was duly ordained into His ministry by Herbert Armstrong in apostolic succession. Therefore as founder under Christ, pastor and signatory from its beginning, I declare that the original intent for purchasing this piece of land in Cane Beds, AZ to prepare for the gathering of Christ's remnant was to keep it sacrosanct from the infringement of the world at large, reserved for God's own remnant. The original intent of the lease I wrote was to prevent subdivision and sale of any portion of the land. Those present in the church at the time, read, accepted and signed the lease, most of them in late January 2003. Others signed and accepted later. All have lived under the lease, most have complied with its financial stipulations and accepted it as their security for a 49 year period, short of their violating its terms.

Some, in recent months, have lost confidence in me as pastor of ACOG and left its fellowship, not attending and withdrawing any verifiable financial support of the church, such as tithes, other than the lease stipulations. Now, after adhering to the lease all these years, they suddenly “remember” that they were promised ownership at the beginning. Most of those protesting for ownership were not even here at the beginning. How would they know what was originally promised? They also read, accepted, signed and lived by the lease, but now are lobbying for ownership and subdivision which was never offered and appears on no documents in any form.

I do not wish to air our dirty laundry in public beyond this, but feel a statement which will be posted on our website, is now necessary to establish original intent, as evidenced by letter and lease documents, that this hierarchical church, governed solely by God through His ordained ministry and not “majority opinion” intends to preserve the land purchased for God's purposes to be retained for those purposes. A subdivision with potential sale of land, has never been a part of those purposes. The church and its purpose cannot be separated from the land and its purpose. They are one and the same. Of course, since the land is in the name of the church, some are trying to take over the church to obtain the land.

There is no example in the bible, anywhere, of the nation of Israel or the New Testament church having a matter resolved by a majority vote of its members. All decisions have always been made by the patriarch in charge or the ministry in terms of the New Testament, first apostles, then prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

Paul states clearly in the book of Hebrews that the members were to OBEY them that had rulership/oversight/governance over them. The ministry.

The history of ACOG is not finished so I will stop here. But be warned that any who seek to take over God's land and His church may be found to be fighting against God Himself as indicated in Jer. 11 concerning a rebellion at Anatoth. I am truly frightened for any who might dare go there. This is not about Darryl Henson, a human and a sinner. It is about Almighty God in heaven and The Lord of Hosts and their purpose for this land.

Dave C Pack His EPIC Failure when Jesus Christ Did Not Return 10/10/20 !!"

 

United Church of God: Stressed Out During the Current Political Environment and Covid Times? Let Us Calm You Down

 

Ah, just what church members and the world needs, UCG calming everybody down. Who knew they were able to do such things? 

Given their track record of rebellious ministers causing numerous several church divisions are we expected to look to them for direction on how to be calm and peaceful? Seriously?

So many people in the United States are anxious and depressed. This anxiety and uncertainty knows no borders. It stretches around the globe. Psychologists talk openly about “election stress disorder.” People were already fatigued by the never-ending coronavirus pandemic and the rioting that swept through our country a few months back. This is now compounded by the uncertainty of a national election that has not yet ended, with both sides claiming victory and/or fraud. While relative calm existed on the American election day, civic unrest now froths in U.S. cities. This all takes its toll. In the United States, essentially 50 percent of the population is guaranteed to be unhappy with the final election results, even depressed and angry, no matter what the outcome. It’s a tough time. 

 

This angst of anxiety even threatens the bond of love and peace among some of our brethren! Our words between us have power and we must be careful not to weaponize our words, inadvertently indulging in accusations and counteraccusations, judging and condemning each other, and causing offense. 

 

We must maturely and sensitively realize that many people—both in the Church and outside—hurt deeply, even feel torn apart, on all points of being human. While we must remain true to our mission and purpose, we must also exercise spiritual discernment, and as the apostle Paul writes to us: “Let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up” (Romans 14:19, New Living Translation). 

 

How are we handling the tumult in our midst? The answer is vitally important because the proper response allows us to plant our feet firmly on the ground, put our shoulders back and stand firm, even when earthly forces storm and howl around us. 

 

We must remember who we are as Christians. We must remember our calling more than ever at this time. We must not forget our primary citizenship. When we surrender our lives to obedience at our conversion, we are granted citizenship in a coming Kingdom that will last forever, one that God Himself preserves for us in heaven, awaiting the return of the King of kings to this strife-torn planet (Philippians 3:20). 

 

We need to confidently fix this in our mind—no matter the outcome of any earthly election. God is still in charge! We can boldly embrace these words: “Remember this and stand firm . . . I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying ‘My counsel shall stand’” (Isaiah 46:8, 10, English Standard Version). Personal from the President

Living Church of God: LCG members are to take questions to the ministers and MUST follow the decision given and NEVER try and correct or save the church

The reason COG leaders despise questions

Living Church of God leaders just cannot handle LCG members confronting them with questions or even daring to "correct" the church or "save" it. Nothing irritates Weston and his boys more. How dare church members question them! When members do have questions over doctrine they are to go straight to the ministry and MUST, I repeat MUST, follow whatever decision is handed down. No questions asked!

One of the biggest weapons and lies the church has used over the last 80 some years is that if someone leaves the church they are in the bonds of satan at that point. That's why disfellowshipping and marking are such important tools in the church. Putting fear into people's lives is vitally important and keeps them compliant and under control.

The problem LCG and the COG as a whole has is how can any member ever really trust the leadership to make the right decision considering the enormous mess they have made of the church.  Hundreds and hundreds of splinter groups all led by bellowing fools and self-appointed prophets who think they know more than anyone else. It is a disgusting mess.

Beware of Misguided Ideas: 

The Apostle Paul warned, “in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1–5) and that many will not listen to sound doctrine but will prefer to ignore advice and follow their own ideas (2 Timothy 3:1–6; 4:1–4). The Apostle Paul also warned that critics from within and from outside the Church will try to divide the Church to gain a following (Acts 20:29–31). He pointed out that Satan will try various ways to mislead people (2 Corinthians 2:11) by appealing to the human desire to be independent, or be recognized as an authority, or as being important (3 John 9–10). Numerous issues threatened to destroy the early Church: different ideas about foods, hair lengths, the resurrection, circumcision, or following a particular leader (see 1 Corinthians and Galatians). However, Paul’s constant advice was to “guard what was committed to your trust” (1 Timothy 6:20), to “hold fast” to what you have been “taught” (Titus 1:9–11), and “avoid foolish disputes” (Titus 3:9; 1 Timothy 6:3–5). When questions do arise over doctrine, the biblical example is to take the issue to the leaders of the Church for a decision and then follow that decision (Deuteronomy 17:8–11; Acts 15:1–31). Nowhere do the Scriptures encourage individuals to take it on themselves to correct or “save” the Church. That is something that Jesus Christ will take care of in His time as He “builds” His Church (Matthew 16:18).

Have a Profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

If Robert Thiel Gave The Sermon on the Mount

 

5 Now when Bobus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them...

:3 Junk food, synthetic nutrition, and your health   November 10, 2020

:4 Hamas leader calls on Biden to abandon Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century’   November 9, 202

 :5 Why St. John Lateran, Not St. Peter’s Basilica, is ‘Mother of All Churches in the World’   November 9, 2020

:6 Rickards: Life Under Biden   November 9, 2020

:7 Where did Canadian settlers come from?   November 9, 2020

:8 EU Set to Impose Tariffs on $4 Billion in US Goods’ ‘

:9 China and Europe Won’t Get Any Relief on Trade From Biden’   November 8, 2020

:10 ‘Biden to Bring Noah-like Flood into world’ Rabbi warns; The Hill:

:11 Biden plans to issue orders reversing Trump policies immediately upon taking office: report   November 8, 202

:12 Roman Feast of Holy Relics   November 8, 2020

:13 Euthanasia: Mercy killing or murder?   November 8, 2020

:14 Trump Says “Election Far From Over”; Biden “Honored & Humbled” After MSM Declares Him President-Elect   November 7, 2020

Gerald Flurry’s False Prophecy About Trump and Jeroboam

Gerald Flurry’s False Prophecy About Trump and Jeroboam

In the lead-up to the 2016 US Presidential election, when it was becoming clear that Barack Obama would not be the last president to usher in the return of Jesus Christ, Gerald Flurry began to indicate that Donald Trump could be, in his words, an “end-time Jeroboam” figure. 

During the 2016 Feast of Tabernacles, Flurry said he leaned towards Trump being elected President for prophetic reasons, even though polls suggested Hillary Clinton was more likely to win. After Trump was elected, Flurry began to announce emphatically that Trump was this “end-time Jeroboam”—even going as far as saying this may be the last presidential term before the Tribulation. 

Many other specific prophecies surrounding Trump and Jeroboam have been made by Flurry in the subsequent four years. Given the fact that Trump has was not re-elected, being replaced by Joe Biden, let’s review these prophecies in order to make sure Flurry remains accountable for the predictions he has made.         

1) Donald Trump is Jeroboam 

“Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election gives us a clear indication as to where we are in Bible prophecy.” - Great Again, p.1

“The Prophet Amos recorded a prophecy about a leader named Jeroboam. I want to show you that this is referring to a powerful individual who is on the scene right now.” - Great Again, p.1-2

“It seems obvious that God is telling us we have now entered the time frame of Amos chapter 7. What does that time frame mean for America and for you? God has revealed to me more understanding from Amos 7.” - Great Again, p.2

“The bible also describes President Trump as a “king” – a type of King Jeroboam in Amos 7...” - December 5, 2019 Co-worker Letter

2) The United States will be destroyed in the time of Donald Trump

“When God says, “I will not again pass by them any more,” He is talking about them being destroyed in the time of Jeroboam.” - Great Again, p.3

“God will not bring this warning to His people again; the Jeroboam time is going to be the last time!” - Great Again, p.4

“God is sending His message into the “midst of the house of Israel,” into the very heart of America and Britain. The Philadelphia Church of God message is going to take center stage. Just watch how this prophecy is going to be fulfilled. God has spoken!” - Great Again, p.5

“Amos “warned the people that the supreme moment of their success was but the prelude to their doom” (Soncino commentary). This is what we are looking at with Donald Trump assuming the American presidency.” - Great Again,p.17

“This “supreme moment of their success” is but the prelude to America’s doom. A man is on the scene whose house God is going to take out by the sword!” - Great Again, p.17

3) Joe Tkach Jnr is going to conspire with Donald Trump

“Amaziah is accusing Amos, God’s true prophet, of treason—“conspiring against” Jeroboam! Amos is a type of the man in this end time who is proclaiming God’s warning message to Israel today. So this is a prophecy of a real clash between a false minister and a true prophet of God.” - Great Again, p.5

“I believe Amaziah the priest is the same man as the leader [Joe Tkach Jnr] of God’s rebellious Church whom we battled with for copyrights to the truth and message of God (Amos 9:1, 11-12). Amaziah hates our message. He is almost certainly the individual who led a six-year court battle trying to suppress God’s truth from going out to this world!” - Great Again, p.6

4) Donald Trump is going to kick the PCG out of the United States

“At the time of the end, Jeroboam is going to be laden with problems and difficulties, but his biggest problem is going to be the message of God coming out of this organization! Our message is going to plague him! This is what people in this land are going to fear most of all. God is forcing them to face the warning message of their own destruction! This is a problem Jeroboam never saw coming.” - Great Again, p.8

“Amaziah is being directed by Jeroboam about what to say. He’s saying, Tell them to get out of here! This is “the king’s chapel,” the president’s domain—this is our religious place. Get out of this land because we will have none of that message!” - Great Again, p.10

“This man becomes the evil “Jeroboam” because he is fighting against the message of God—along with Amaziah the priest, who is a spiritual Antiochus.” - Great Again, p.10

5) The “Trump Tide” will open doors for the PCG in Jerusalem

During the 2019 Feast of Tabernacles and just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Gerald Flurry tells his followers about riding the Trump tide:

When God opens the door, we must ride the “flood tide” through it and on to amazing success!... Right now, there is a tide in the affairs of Judah!... The bible also describes President Trump as a “king” – a type of King Jeroboam in Amos 7… With the right kind of business deal in Jerusalem, God’s Work could certainly ride the momentum of this “Trump tide”. God wants us to take this tide at the flood and move on to miraculous achievements in finishing this critical end-time Work. - December 5, 2019 Co-worker Letter

This “Trump Tide” never materialized and the PCG is yet to accomplish anything of note in proclaiming a message to Jerusalem. 

6) Donald Trump would get re-elected

Since none of these prophecies materialized during Trump’s first term as President, he would need to be re-elected in order to fulfil them. It is common knowledge in the PCG, because of Flurry’s predictions, that Trump would be the United States’ “last president”. 

“Anciently, though Jeroboam was unrighteous, God did use him to save the nation temporarily (2 Kings 14:23-27). “God granted mercy when Israel really didn’t deserve it,” I wrote in that article. “Rather than sending Israel into captivity at that time, God used this king to save Israel and give them one more age of prosperity before Assyrian conquest.”

This is what is happening right now in America. God is saving Israel temporarily. If the 2016 election had gone the other way, I am convinced the nation would already be finished!” - ”The Kavanaugh Hearings Reveal America’s Lawless Spirit”, November-December 2018 Philadelphia Trumpet 

Now, Trump has failed to be re-elected and none of these prophecies have come to pass. What explanation does the PCG have? In order to explain this failure, the PCG has resorted to claiming that the results of the United States 2020 Presidential Election were in fact prophesied in the Bible. Accordingly, the election can only be explained by Democratic ballot fraud which amounts to a national coup! 

“There is no doubt this election is being stolen. The whole thing is a sham, and I am not saying that as a Republican. I’m just saying that as someone who has eyes and ears. It’s obvious. It’s completely obvious. It’s plain to anyone with any amount of honesty that this election is being stolen.” - “The Coup is On” (3:42 to 4:00), November 6, 2020 Trumpet Bookshelf

“This moment was forecast in Bible prophecy. God knew this was going to happen. This coup is only going to further His plan and benefit His work. For nearly two decades now, God has been telling us to expect this. There is no reason to be surprised, and, if we trust and obey God, there is no reason to be frightened or worried.” - “The election exposes the radical left’s rolling coup”, November 5, 2020 The Trumpet

This is quite a prophecy! What exactly is being prophesied here?

That 1) Jeroboam will come on the scene, but 2) Amaziah wouldn’t approach him, and 3) he wouldn’t kick the PCG out of America, and 4) the sword wouldn’t fall upon the land and 5) the Tribulation wouldn’t start during his term, but 6) the Democrats would steal the election by ballot fraud, and 7) Jeroboam wouldn’t accept the election?

The state of this failed prophecy is so dire that no matter what, the PCG is simply resorting to imagining that they predicted this situation all along:

“Today we are experiencing the “end result” of Mr. Obama’s handiwork—it is worse than most people imagined in July 2008!... The same people who were behind this attack on law seven years ago, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden, are the ones orchestrating the present constitutional crisis! This coup has been building for 12 years… Unless God intervenes, this diabolical attempt to manipulate the election is going to destroy America’s government, just as Mr. Flurry warned… The coup to overtake America was stopped with the election of Donald Trump in 2016. Will God stop it again through Donald Trump?” - “The election exposes the radical left’s rolling coup”, November 5, 2020 The Trumpet

Considering the PCG’s track record, one can only laugh at Stephen Flurry criticizing the media for their bias and complaining that no-one ever holds them to account:

We know that they got it wrong flat out wrong this happened now twice in a row it happens all the time and they're never, never, never held to account. - “US Election Limbo Added to a Year of Chaotic Events” (37:06 to 37:15), November 4, 2020 The Trumpet Daily

Joe Biden is the new President of the United States. The world has not ended. The PCG is still in the United States. All these prophecies were wrong. It is time to hold the Gerald Flurry and his Trump-Jeroboam predictions to account. 

 

Submitted by a PCG source

Restored Church of God: Bradford Schleifer

 

Bradford Schleifer

Surely, David C. Pack is beyond hope and completely overwhelmed by his grand delusions. But what about the men under him? Why do they stay?

Perhaps it's time to share our collective experience of the key people surrounding and giving power to David C. Pack. The highest-ranking is "Evangelist" Bradford Schleifer.

What would you say to somebody who is approaching 20 years serving Dave Pack? Though he may not admit it, he will read every comment. What would you say if you had his ear? Try to save him? Scold him? Rail at him? Share your feelings below.  

(From a reader)

Dave Pack: With the failure of his "christ" not returning last month, Davey says "...God has tested our patience—and is testing it even further.."

What life is like in the Restored Church of God...

 

Why does the "god" of Armstrongism have to continually "test" the faith of "its" followers? Apparently, for the last 80 some years "it" has never deemed the faithful to be worthy of anything and therefore has to continually "test" them to find out how faithful they are. Members are too stupid to do what's right and "it" needs to weed out the chaff. This is the same crap that Bob Thiel, Gerald Weston, Vic Kubik, and all the rest of the COG henchmen use on their followers. That angry "god" is eternally pissed off and is ready to squash everyone and refuse them eternal life.

Is it any wonder COG members are depressed and tired of the current state of affairs in the church? This is why they are leaving each and every COG out there.

Dave is setting himself up for a major tragedy to happen in his church. With all of his constant lying, he is going to push some employee or member over the edge and we may see another mass killing like Living Church of God experienced. It will never be his fault though but that of the unstable mind of the church member or employee.  That is how Living Church of God spun the story to take the heat off of Meredith's vile sermons. Dave will do the same thing.

From a reader

From Davey himself:

November 6, 2020

Greetings from Headquarters!

In God’s Church, we do not take political sides—period! We actually have a booklet explaining the many biblical reasons true Christians do not vote. But we are a people who look at plain facts and can see the difference between right and wrong. Habakkuk—who wrote with powerful clarity of OUR TIME!—was likewise deeply troubled by what he saw in vision. How much more we who must live through it!

Keep the election in mind as we look at the vision this prophet was given. 

Habakkuk opens “The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see” (1:1). “Burden” means many things, one of which is “doom.” America has entered the darkest time in its political history. Not only is the nation divided, but neither side is willing to concede. 

The president appeared poised to win. Strangely, however, votes simply stopped coming in about five key states and the counting was shut down! This has never happened before! President Trump described this turn of events. His words set up the remainder of Habakkuk. He said:

“The results tonight have been phenomenal… There’s never been anything like it to support our incredible movement. “We had such a big night. You just take a look at all of these states that we’ve won tonight… We won states.” Then this: “And all of a sudden I said, ‘What happened to the election? It’s off.’ And we have all these announcers saying what happened?”

Here is more from the same speech: “This is a fraud on the American public. This is an embarrassment to our country. Frankly, we did win this election. We did win. So our goal now is to ensure the integrity for the good of this nation…” 

The president in one breath claimed victory and accused the left of what could easily be called the greatest political heist in American history. Habakkuk—and what news reports revealed over the ensuing hours and days—prove him right.

Habakkuk continued in verses 3 and 4: “Why do You show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment does never go forth: for the wicked do compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceeds.”

Here is but one example of what happened. Recall the president warned: “We don’t want them to find any ballots at four o’clock in the morning and add them to the list.” He made this statement to illustrate a point, but this is allegedly exactly what happened less than two hours later! In fact, numerous reports like this emerged in multiple cities. Over the next days, states the president was on the way to winning began to change direction, flipping states to the challenger. Widespread media efforts to explain away the reversals also followed.

The point is this: In a world where iniquity, grievance, spoiling, violence, strife, contention, slacked law, no judgment and wickedness is everywhere, you CANNOT get all the facts! It is clear there is MUCH wrongdoing, but when there is a concerted effort to take down the most powerful government in the world—an effort that has lasted four years—things become very unclear, very fast.

Brethren and co-workers, I made the calculated decision to write this letter as soon as possible. Based on what Habakkuk foretold, you can expect the situation to get MUCH WORSE before it gets infinitely better with the imminent arrival of God’s Kingdom. We are praying for you. Please do the same for us.

In Christ’s service,

David C. Pack

P.S. Brethren, this is for you. The possibility of a longer-than-expected wait became a reality. God has tested our patience—and is testing it even further—to see who believes Christ will “come quickly!” So much is at stake for those in the “little flock” that Christ promised would go first. I just wanted you to hear from me that there are a number of additional scriptures that tell us everything is RIGHT ON TRACK! Stay the course!

PCG Munchkin So Excited About King Flurry's Wedding He Wakes Up In The Middle Of The Night With Excitement!

Sooooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Philadelphia Church of God is not known for having men of integrity in its leadership positions. Even worse are the children of these men who rise up in importance and are given leadership positions. The men that Gerald Flurry has selected to help run his empire have tended to be as abusive or worse than Gerald himself. The one thing that Flurryism despises the most is familial relationships if its members have to come into contact with family members who are not part of the PCG.

Parents have been told to turn their backs on their children if they are not part of the PCG and especially if they were once Church of God members and now are not. Children who are students, employees, or church members have disowned their parents if they too have left the fold. This only applies to the lowly members though as the elite carry on relationships with those in their wayward families.

Below is a letter that was sent to Exit and Support Network detailing how ecstatic munchkin Grant Turgeon (son of Wayne Turgeon) is with the announcement that King Gerald Flurry is getting married to a  woman who came to him for counseling.  That counseling apparently taught the woman to submit to church government and when King Flurry wanted to marry her she could not refuse! It is proper church government, after all! Lil'Turgeon is almost on the verge of wetting his pants with excitement at the glorious announcement that Gerald is continuing the God Family with his marriage. He is so excited that he is waking up in the middle of the night to....um....think about it.

Lil'Turgeon

The links in the letter lead to further information on the abuses in the Philadelphia Church of God.

On November 2, Grant Turgeon (son of Wayne Turgeon), aired on his Behind the Work program “A Big Announcement,” which was about Gerald Flurry getting remarried on Nov 16. Grant gushed as he said he knew about this two weeks in advance. During that time he admitted he could hardly contain himself until he could tell about this “joyful news” that he said is “a good thing.” 

Referring to GF, he said, “Sixteen years of being single has been completely devoted to doing God’s Work.” [Translation: completely devoted to exploiting, controlling and lording it over as many families and children as possible, as he deceives them about the gospel of grace.] 

Grant said it is “challenging to be single and to not have that help at home.” The question is: how is GF going to treat this new wife who will be his “help at home?” Will it be differently than how most PCG husbands have treated their wives? (Read: Are You Being Abused By Your Husband?) What is she expecting to receive from this marriage to King Flurry? Or is she merely going to take care of him and cater to his every need in his old age? I think it’s obvious that one of the things she will receive is the honored prestige of “being married to God’s Apostle and That Prophet.” (Read: Biblical Titles Gerald Flurry Has Appropriated For Himself.) 

“Some people [in PCG] end up not getting married” Grant tells us. Would this be because of how extremely difficult GF has made it for them to find a mate–someone who must be in PCG? We have posted many testimonies and letters about this. 

Grant carried on about how all of us must be obeying somebody, if not multiple somebodies, because “there is a government structure in everything God does.” (Read: Why do members emphasize the government of God?) He said “Everyone is submitting to someone” and mentioned God, Christ, a boss, a supervisor; a certain role within the home. But it seems he intentionally left out “obeying GF” which members know they are to do since they have been told he “speaks for God” and that every word that comes out of his mouth is truth! 

Grant told about the “joy and beauty in proper submission.” This is an atrocious statement given the testimonies on this site of those who have been abused and had their lives destroyed by this so-called “submission” and the horror that lies behind many closed doors in PCG marriages. He used words such as “unselfish and unloving,” “moving as one unit,” and “character building” family roles. What dream world has Grant been living in?? He either does not have any inkling of the abuse going on beneath his nose in PCG (which is very hard to believe)–or else he is choosing to ignore it. 

He mulled over what Gerald Flurry’s marriage could do for God’s Work as we follow GF “as he follows Christ.” What a crock of B. S. Is it Christ-like to lean back in your easy padded throne while you divide and destroy families? Where is Grant living?? On Mars? Or close to the feet of King Flurry? 

This marriage of GF’s is supposed to have “such an impact on God’s Work.” Like Loma‘s did on Herbert Armstrong? Until she died without medical care? It is supposed to “push the Work forward for this final surge.” “The final transitional phase of God’s Work.” Haven’t we heard those words a thousand times before? How many more times do we have to hear them? 

Grant went on to quote several words by HWA from his marriage booklet which says, “Man’s stupendous potential is to enter divine family life.” (the God family) “Marriage was given to us by God to prepare us for the God family.” In like manner, GF must keep that false goal of a “God Family” (which HWA copied from the Mormons) in front of the members’ eyes constantly, even though it is absolute blasphemy to consider such a thing! 

He finished by telling us that he “wakes up in the middle of the night excited about this marriage announcement.”

Here is Lil'Turgeon sharing his excitement. This has to be the most pathetic thing I have heard in a while.

Trumpet Bookshelf · A Big Announcement