Rick Shabi of UCG, The Same Old Tired Stuff

Rick Shabi of UCG, The Same Old Tired Stuff

A friend recently invited me to review two presentations by the President of the United Church of God, Rick Shabi. The first, The Man of Sin Revealed?, is the same old vitriol against the Roman Catholic Church which only Armstrongites and Protestants of three hundred years ago could truly appreciate. In this instance, he excoriated Pope Francis for allowing the blessing of same-sex relationships. According to Rick, homosexuals need to be kept on the outside looking in – that they are entirely undeserving of God’s blessing! For Mr. Shabi, the Pope has changed God’s Law and made good that which is perverted and bad.

The truth, however, is that the Pope’s recent declaration is far cry from an endorsement of same-sex relationships. As a recent article in America: The Jesuit Review pointed out, “As noted in ‘Fiducia Supplicans,’ Pope Francis’ response to the dubium on blessing same-sex unions ‘provided important clarifications for this reflection and represents a decisive element of the work of the Dicastery.’ While acknowledging that the church ‘has a very clear understanding of marriage...and it is much more than a mere ‘ideal,’’ the pope insists that ‘pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or more persons, that do not convey an erroneous conception of marriage. For when a blessing is requested, it is expressing a plea to God for help, a supplication to live better, a trust in a Father who can help us live better.” In other words, the position of that church on same-sex relationships has NOT changed – the Pope was simply calling for a little more kindness toward the folks who find themselves in those circumstances. The article went on to quote Francis as saying: “in our relationships with people, we must not lose pastoral charity…. The defense of objective truth is not the only expression of this charity.” (See How Pope Francis Reconciled Church Teaching with Blessings for Same-sex Relationships)

The not so subtle insinuation of Mr. Shabi’s message is that Pope Francis is probably the “man of sin” referenced in II Thessalonians 2:3. This is all part and parcel of the old Armstrongist message that the Catholic Church is the great false church spoken of in the book of Revelation. He reiterates the Armstrongist interpretation of the “little horn” mentioned in the book of Daniel and pointed to the pope and the Roman Catholic Church as the obvious fulfillment of that prophecy. Of course, he completely ignored the history of Herbert Armstrong’s modifications of God’s Law, and Mr. Armstrong’s horrendous record relative to relating biblical prophecies to current institutions and events. In other words, Mr. Shabi appears to be very comfortable with repeating the mistakes of the past and clinging to understandings which have been thoroughly discredited here and elsewhere over the last fifty years.

Mr. Shabi’s second presentation, A Biblical Worldview, was recorded for the church’s Beyond Today program. In the space of a little over twelve minutes, Rick asserted that the equally discredited notion that the English-speaking peoples of the earth are the descendants of the Israelites of old, and that this “fact” explains the current “decline” that those nations are experiencing. Not surprisingly, this observation centered around some comments by the notorious right-wing commentator, Tucker Carlson. In a speech to Canadians, Tucker noted that the nations of the “Anglosphere” are in trouble, and “they are on the brink of becoming not salvageable.” The former Fox News commentator, also humbly noted that he didn’t fully understand why this phenomenon was happening, “because I am not God.”

Mr. Shabi, of course, seized on the also long ago discredited Armstrong teaching about British-Israelism as the perfect explanation for the phenomenon that Tucker had so eloquently noted. For Mr. Shabi, God had blessed these nations (Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States) because of promises he had made to their “ancestor” Abraham in the distant past. Rick even expanded on Herbie’s teaching a tad by insisting that the United States had drawn its form of government from a passage in Isaiah. For him, this passage from that book demonstrated his point: “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.” (Isaiah 33:22, ESV) You know: judge – judiciary, lawgiver – legislative, king -executive. Don’t worry – it didn’t make sense to me either!

Mr. Shabi encouraged his audience to “Just look at the commonalities of these nations and their mindsets and their beginnings. Is there any other group of nations like them that share such ideals and success? All these nations are, or at least were, Christian nations, generally following the Bible and precepts outlined in it. Those principles, when followed, do result in blessings. And when a nation or individual departs from them, God justifiably takes away those blessings. It is a fact that you reap what you sow.” Of course, he completely ignored in these remarks the FACT that these “Christian nations” stole land and wealth from indigenous peoples all over the earth, engaged in the slave trade and slavery, ravaged the earth, denied status and rights to minorities, and imposed an imperial system on nations weaker than them. Never mind all that, those nations are CURRENTLY engulfed in wickedness and decline!

Yes, I’m afraid that as I listened to Rick Shabi’s messages, I experienced a little bit of déjà vu. Sure, the faces have changed, but the message of the United Church of God is like a blast from the past. The TRUTH is that these messages are basically the same old stuff that Herbert Armstrong preached in the last century. Sad, so sad!

Lonnie Hendrix

Gerald Flurry On How Not To Deceive Yourself

Considering that Gerald FLurry is not aging well and suffers continued health issues, the fun boys in Edmond had to drag up one of his old articles to repost. it is about finding true happiness and avoiding self-deception. 

Flurry writes:

Did you know that you can hear the Word of God and, at the same time, deceive yourself? Self-deceit destroys your happiness and deprives you of blessings. It makes your Bible muddled and confusing in many ways—in fact, God says He will actually hide His revelation from you! 

 

However, if you overcome self-deceit, you will have a strong spiritual house that can weather any storm. Your life will overflow with joy and happiness. God will pour out blessings on you. You will understand your Bible better. These are all promises from God!

So how do you not deceive yourself and remain happy? Keep the law!!!!!!!!

How many truly happy people do you know? Many reject Christ’s example and successfully gain temporary pleasures. But those pleasures do not bring real happiness, and they do not last. God created us to be continuously filled with hope, joy and vision! How much of those qualities do you see in the world today? A big reason for the prevalence of unhappiness is self-deception. 

 

Jesus also said, “[B]lessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28). We must go beyond simply hearing God’s Word. We must guard it, protect it, live by it. When we do that, Christ promises we will be blessed.

When has Gerald Flurry or the rest of the Church of God ever "guarded, protected, and lived by the law"? Why is the god of the Church of God so impotent that it cannot guard and protect its word? The dude lost it for 1,800 years until Herbert discovered it in an Oregon library. Not a very powerful god, I would say.

Oh, by the way. Christ's blessings come from following him, not the law,

Flurry continues, describing the current state of affairs in the COG movement:

Some people were following Jesus and even calling Him “Lord,” or master.That surely seemed right and good. But here is what Christ said to them: “[W]hy call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). 

 

This is shockingly serious! These people felt very righteous! They followed Jesus around. They wanted to hear His words. They regarded themselves as His followers. But they would not do what He said! They were self-deceived! Christ boldly told them, I’m not your master if you don’t do what I say! There’s no point in calling me Lord unless you obey what I’m telling you to do!

They regard themselves as His followers yet do not do what he says or even understand what is accomplished. 

He then goes on to describe building your foundation upon a rock, something the Church of God movement has never done. They built their houses and still build their houses upon a man.

Christ went on to emphasize the importance of what we do with what God teaches us. “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock” (Luke 6:47-48). 

 

What a marvelous picture! When you do as God commands, your life becomes stable and grounded—because you are building your life on the Rock! Hearing and then doing the word of God gives you great spiritual strength. Violent storms, difficulties and trials can arise, yet they will not shake you. No problem can cause you to leave Jesus Christ! 

 

What happens if you don’t do as God commands? “But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” (verse 49). 

 

This man didn’t build on the Rock—Jesus Christ. He may have heard Him. He may have agreed with Him. But he did not do what He said. Matthew 7:26-27 say this man built his house on sand. When the flood came, the foundation of this house washed away in an instant. Many people who hear what God says fail to concentrate on applying it. Because they are not doing these words, they have no strength. Once a trial comes, their house quickly falls in, and they leave Christ.

At the first moment of "trial" in the Church of God all we have ever seen happen is people getting angry, then rebelling against church government, and then pitching a royal hissy-fit and starting their own group. Then, those same issues rear their ugly heads in the new group and more splits happen. Then more splits. All the while leaving Jesus sitting all alone in the local Masonic Lodge or local union hall as they split and splinter bitching and moaning about how bad things are. All of their houses are quickly falling apart.

World Renown Prophet Continues To Bear His Heavy Cross

 

I can't beleive he was stupid enough to say this. 

How US Navy's Bill the Goat Figures Into Prophecy - Yeshua House

 

Just when you think Armstrongism can't get any crazier, it does. This time it is from a sacred names splinter group that has Armstrongism ties. It is like reading an alternate universe version of our Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel but in the same looney dimension.

Daniel 8:19, And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 20 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 

 

You would think Daniel who was one of the main rulers of Babylon at the time would have been able to figure out if this Ram was the country he lived next to…or if it was to appear in the End Time. He needed to be told the identity of the Ram and the Goat because these are not national symbols but are connected to how they conduct war and conquer their enemies. 

 

Daniel 8:21, And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 

 

While Alexander of Grecia is often depicted as either wearing a leopard skin or riding a horse spotted like a Leopard indicative of the speed with which he conquered…at that time it was not his national symbol. It became associated with him due to how he conducted war against his enemies. 

 

The angel clarifies this prophecy of the Ram and the Goat is for the End Time. I have proposed just as the angel indicated that the Ram is End Time Media and Persia now known as Iran and the great He Goat is not Grecia of Alexander’s Day, but as the angel indicated it is a great empire composing the west known as the post World War 2 USA Empire composed of the USA, United Kingdom, NATO, and various other nations around the world. 

 

Knowing that we may not find a national symbol of a goat connected with the USA we must wonder if there really is a connection. Many prophecy teachers have obsessed that the eagle is associated with the USA and we should look for connections between any scriptural reference to an eagle and the fate of the USA. 

 

Remember though that the symbols portrayed in Daniel 8 are not national symbols. This is why the great prophet Daniel couldn’t identify the characters portrayed and the angel had to tell him. The symbols that are portrayed are connected to those characters principal method and manner of conducting war. This should give us a hint. 

 

It is unequivocal. This Daniel 8 prophecy is not Alexander and it may not be “Grecia” or Ionia. It may be the great Western Empire of the USA inheritor of the End Time Grecian Empire. It may be the great Western Empire of the USA. Is there a connection between a symbol of a Goat and the means by which the USA conducts war? 

 

What is the principal means of war of the USA in the past 70 years? Air power and Naval power. The USA empire moves its Airforce to any local conflict both by air, “not touching the ground” and by Naval power through Aircraft carriers on the seas, again “not touching the ground”. The great He Goat of Daniel 8 is described by how it attacks…not by another national symbol. 

 

Daniel 8:5, And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6 And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

And what do they deem as the "proof" that the U.S. is the goat? Yeshua House grasps at straws just like our Great Bwana Bob Mzungu does. 

The fact that the Air Force/Navy has a goat mascot is the first "proof".

Bill, the goat. 

A sure sign of prophecy.

If this is true, can we find any symbol associated with the USA Airforce or Navy?

“One legend about the first association of the goat with Navy football tells of a pet goat who died at sea while aboard a Navy ship. The affection for the goat was such that the officers decided to save the skin of the animal and have it mounted upon arrival in port. Two young officers were entrusted with the skin when the ship docked in Baltimore. On the way to the taxidermist, the ensigns dropped in on their alma mater where a football game was in progress. With them -- for lack of a suitable storage place -- was the goat skin. While watching the first half of the game, one of the officers came up with an idea for some half-time entertainment. When half-time arrived, he romped up and down the sidelines cloaked with the goat skin barely covering his blue uniform. Such ungoatlike antics brought howls of laughter from the midshipmen, and the Navy victory that day was attributed to the spirit of the late, lamented goat. (https://www.usna.edu/PAO/faq_pages/BilltheGoat.php)

There is even a human named the "Goat". Prophecy comes alive in front of our very eyes! Woo Hoo!

Vice President Joe Biden smiles as Army Cadet Alex Fletcher celebrates being named the Goat of the U.S. Military Academy’s Class of 2016, in West Point, N.Y., May 21, 2016. The Goat is the last-ranking cadet to graduate and usually receives the loudest applause from the class. Biden delivered the speech at the academy's commencement ceremony. (https://dod.defense.gov/OIR/gallery/igphoto/2001542913/)

The looniness continues:

I am the first to admit I would have never dreamed of finding such a connection. But it is there. It is in the End Time and it is associated with the means and method of the USA conducting war in such a fashion that they “come from the west”…”on the face of the whole earth”… “ not touching the ground”…“come near”… and “moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him (Daniel 8:1-7). 

 

Clearly Daniel and the Angel are not describing national symbols, but are describing how these two great nations approach war. This opens the door that indeed Iran is attacked in the End Time right before the Day of the Lord by the empire of the West known as post WW2’s USA Empire. 

 

A global great horn that after this war with Iran (Media & Persia) is broken by one means or another and out of its greatness four less notable horns rise up on the global stage and out of one of those Horn’s arises the Antichrist who then conducts war to the south, east, and the Pleasant Land - Holy Land (Daniel 8:9). 

 

Geographically this lesser horn is likely Turkey and is currently a part of the Great Western Empire of the USA and NATO. 

 

Some may want to say Goats have two horns. Remember this is a prophetic vision with meaning. The goat portrayed has a singular power center behind it, unlike the Ram which has two horns or power centers behind it. The number of horns is indicative of the controlling power and authority…which in both cases end up broken.

It is time for all of you lazy backsliding Laodiceans to dust off your Bibles and join up with this one true remnant! Forget our Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel! He preaches baby pablum compared to these biblically accurate chosen ones. 

Why are there no sane Church of God leaders?

 

Gerald Weston's Compassion?

Check out this lovely little tidbit from Gerald Weston. Aren't we all so lucky to be part of the Church of God where compassion is embedded in the bedrock of the faith! 

I have observed that there are more deaths and funerals in the winter than at other times of the year, but my observations are anecdotal, so I decided to check to see if the facts agree. According to the American Council on Science and Health, my observations are accurate. More people die in the months of December, January, and February than at any other time of the year. This is what we have seen recently here in Charlotte and elsewhere, with another funeral this past Sunday. It is never easy to lose a loved one, but God has given us a living hope—resurrection to eternal life in His family, with no pain, no suffering, no sorrow. However, death is important in God’s plan as it reminds us that we are not yet immortal and that the decisions we make are important. Death is a governor on human behavior, at least for many people. Can we imagine what life would be like if people were already immortal and there was no check on behavior? Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to remember the big picture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Because of age and other factors, we have many members suffering from serious ailments, but let us not lose sight of why God allows suffering and death. And let us not forget Paul’s words to the Romans, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (8:18).—Gerald Weston

Crackpot Prophet Getting All Bollocky About Red Heifers

 

Our one and only self-anointed, narcissistic, dream machine of idiocy is back today hyperventilating over 5 red heifers that a Christian farmer from Texas sent to Israel recently. This kind of irrelevant lunacy that certain crackpot prophets of the Church of God focus their energy upon shows how spiritually bankrupt they are as so-called church leaders.

The leader of any church organization anywhere on earth (Church of God or mainstream Christianity) knows, or should know that their focus should be upon the ONE the claim to follow and not on idiocy concerning made-up prophecies and/or myths and legends of various peoples groups.

Being a follower of Jesus Christ is not a priority of the current flock of crackpot Church of God leaders. Look at the topics of their sermons, booklets, magazine articles, and website posts and you will not see Jesus mention all that much, and if he is, it is a byline towards the end of a booklet or article and then only as proof that he kept Torah perfectly.

Ask the blubbering fools about the law and they can preach and write till hell freezes over and when it does will still have more to say about it. Talk about Jesus and the things that were accomplished and you can hear a pin drop in the local Union or Masonic Lodge hall.

5 Red Heifers and Year 5783?

The Temple Institute announced that “5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA” on September 15, 2022.. Chanan Kupietzky, an Orthodox Jewish teacher, pointed out that last year was 5781 in the Jewish calendar, pointing to the year these red heifers were conceived, 5782 is when they were to arrive in Israel, and that the year beginning sunset September 25, 2022 is supposedly 5783, which is supposed to be the year of red heifer redemption. Is that the correct year anno mundi (year of the earth) or is 5989 to 5992 more in line with history? What about the claimed Shemitah year? Might the appearance of a proper red heifer encourage the Sanhedrin to begin regular animal sacrifices? Might political considerations result in the resumption of animal sacrifices? Does the Bible show that animal sacrifices in Israel will be stopped? Does possibly having a red heifer mean that a massive Jewish temple is about to be rebuilt in Jerusalem? Do Christians need the sacrifice of Jesus or the blood of a red heifer to be purified? How close do we seem to be for Daniel 9:27b to be fulfilled?

If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't.  

 

 

"The EXODUS of the Worldwide Church of God is commencing." Well, crap! Left behind, again!

Ron and Laura Weinland fry Bob Thiel's homeopathic knickers

before Samuel Kitchen anoints them and they begin witless witnessing.

 

I hope you still have your Petra Jerusalem bags packed! The Worldwide Church of God is in the process of leaving the United States and heading over to Israel in such large numbers that it will scare Europe so badly that they will send their armies to Jerusalem to fight the WCGers. I kid you not!

If Europe is scared, can you imagine what Israel would be feeling, especially after the invasion and slaughter of their people on October 7 by the Hamas filth? Imagine seeing another invasion of thousands of crazy American cultists arriving at Ben Gurion Airport and Israel not doing anything about it. Seriously!

Samuel Kitchen tried to do this last Feast of Tabernacles and ended up suffering a humiliating defeat that turned his family against each other, caused the loss of jobs, and broke relationships.

The EXODUS of the Worldwide Church of God is commencing. Are we going to obey God? Or are we going to follow Satan? 

 

Once the restoration of the Worldwide Church of God commences, and it already has, we are going to gather in Jerusalem and that is something we need to start thinking about. Going to Jerusalem and leaving our homes behind. 

 

We need to get ready brethren, to go. When we arrive in Jerusalem , because of the number of people arriving, Europe will send an army down to destroy us and they will surround Jerusalem! 

 

Then we shall flee and be spared. But we won't be there seeking to save our skin! We will be there to set up the two witnesses, that annointing will occurr in Jerusalem! The Worldwide Church of God will be there, just as the brethren in Oregon laid hands on Mr. Armstrong, so shall the Worldwide Church of God lay their hands on God's witnesses and God through them will annoint His servants.

Why are Church of God people so incredibly stupid that they believe this kind of bullshit? 

Samuel has popped a cork over the various websites that contain all of the historical data of Armstrongism. He and he alone believe that his website is the ONE TRUE WEBSITE ABOVE ALL OTHERS! Bob Thiel was once again seen cowering in the corner of his leaky office sobbing like a little third grader.

There will still be some who stay with these C.O.G groups. Who refuse to serve God. 

 

But notice brethren! 

 

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 

 

"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."(vs. 16-17) 

 

This is the same Church spoke of in Revelation 3:7-13. This Worldwide Church of God is going to be spared, and Satan is going to try to murder this Church. Revelation 12:14-16 shows this future attempt from Satan, using armies. 

 

So the ministry needs to wake up! They need to receive God's tithes, but not give them towards these C.O.G groups. God's tithes belong towards the Worldwide Church of God. 

 

Today, our job is to stop the presses and engines in these C.O.G groups! Ministers need to work towards bringing the congregations towards becoming the Worldwide Church of God! That is our spiritual structure as the body of Christ. That is the name Jesus Christ gave to us, and it was established by and through the name of God. The authority stands forever. 

 

The gates of hell have not nor shall prevail over the Worldwide Church of God!

Church members in the various splinter groups and non-church members need to IMMEDIATELY stop sending in their tithes to these apostate groups and send them directly to Samuel Kitchen. He needs it for that final push.  Either that or for bail money when Israel throws them all in prison.

COGWA Is Looking Into Building An Auditorium And Education Center

 

The greatest Church of God to ever exist in human history that is based out of a little itty-bitty storefront in Grover Beach, CA just got its delicate little toes stepped on again.

Church of God a Worldwide Ass. is now looking to find ways to build another mini-me auditorium and campus. More useless things to bleed the pockets dry of church members. Poor Bob, all he's got to show for his efforts is a leaking storefront on a side street in Grover Beach, CA.

COGWA had this to say:

I don’t have any news on the potential for adding an auditorium and education center on our current property. We are still waiting on five different contractors for bids on the actual costs. Originally, when we secured the services of Alliance Architects, we were given an estimated amount for the cost of construction, which was easily affordable and would not put the Church in any financial difficulty. We now need to confirm those numbers before we can decide whether or not to move forward. Hopefully, we will have an answer before the end of January. Thank you for your support and for your prayers that God will guide us in these important decisions.

Gerald Flurry built his mini-me auditorium and started a little concert series, Dave Pack tried to build an Auditorium and Student Center for the amazing university he was going to build. It flopped, just like his television studios did. Now, all the most amazing COG in human history has to offer is a little leaking storefront where God has no longer placed his protection.

With no way of adequately training his so-called ministers, he has to rely upon Seventh Day Adventists, Church of God Seventh Day trained ministers, and a few witch doctors to do his work.

All of these splinter groups imagine they are doing mighty works in line with how Herbert Armstrong did it. Herbert Armstrong had a charisma that absolutely NONE of these splinter group leaders do. No COG splinter group has ever and will NEVER reach the same scale that the Mother Church did in the 60's-late 80's. It hasn't happened and will never happen. 

COGWA: Says "we have reached a crisis in ministerial leadership"

 

COGWA likes to pride itself as the best of the COG movements as they try to fly under the radar most of them. The problem is, that its higher-up leadership is from the same corrupt group that apostatized from the mother church when they knew they were getting terminated or fired in 1995 and needed to maintain their income level and thus helped start the United Church of God. Then a few years later they pitched another hissyfit in another direct act of rebellion against Church government and took a huge percentage of UCG ministers and members with them to form Church of God a Worldwide Ass.

Here we are now, close to 30 years since the main apostasy, and all of those initial loyal ministers and elders are aging out and or dying off. The younger men being raised up have no real theological education other than church-produced books and articles. Hardly any of them have a real degree in theology outside the COG empire. 

They have now reached a crisis in that they have fewer and fewer men to serve and no way to educate them in theology, real counseling skills, or biblical hermeneutics and eschatology.

It is our view that outside the U.S., we have reached a crisis in ministerial leadership. Our church attendance is around 12,000, and it is divided evenly between the U.S. and areas outside the U.S. But when it comes to ministerial leadership, 75 percent of all elders reside in the U.S., and 25 percent reside outside the U.S. That means 25 percent of our ministers are caring for 50 percent of our members. This has become increasingly more difficult in the past several years with the deaths of four pastors, three of whom served outside the United States. The three international pastors were Manuel Quijano, from Peru, who died in June 2017; Norman Julag-ay, from the Philippines, who died in February 2018; and Eriz Dizon, also from the Philippines, who died suddenly the day after Pentecost in 2022. The fourth pastor, who worked in the U.S., was Todd Carey, who died in May 2017. Replacing these men was a major challenge for the Church.

Not only that, but COGWA is having to deal with over 50% of their ministers not trained by an Ambassador education (if that were actually worth something when it comes to theology), they now need to resort to little mini sessions in trying to educate their leadership.

The purpose of the PDP (Pastoral Development Program) is to upgrade the education and development of our current pastors. To date, we have 45 pastors and associate pastors in the U.S. Along with their wives, they will come to the McKinney office for four days of training during 2024. With almost half of our pastors having no Ambassador College training, we believe that these classes are essential for improving our service to the brethren. Our current plan is to hold three sessions of these classes in March, June and July respectively. Each session will consist of approximately 30 ministers and wives.

Not that the so-called training from Ambassador College was a legitimate thorough training in the Bible, but at least those that took classes there had some exposure to the Bible, even though most of it was still insular coming out of booklets and/or sermons by Herbert Armstrong and a few other so-called evangelists. 

We are witnessing the death knells of Armstrongism in its slow painful downward spiral.

COGWA Maps Out Its Youth Program With One Glaring Obstacle

 

From a female COGWA member:

COGWA recently had a conference of MEN who lead their youth camps. They discussed the following:

What struck me was that the women are stuck on the sidelines in the photo above, their voices silenced by the men who know all. This is how we are always treated in the church. We are shoved to the sidelines and silenced. God forbide it any of us had an opinion that was better than the men in charge. One thing I have to hand to Grace Communion is that women have an equal say in their denomination and are not shoved aside like we are.

UCG: We Are Going To Be Knocking On A Lot Of Doors To See Which One God WIll Open

 

Those fun boys in Cincinnati have their work cut out for them They are in the process of knocking on a lot of doors in social media and other avenues of outreach. One thing that you can say about UCG is that they have made full use of social media far more than any of the other die-in-the-wool COG's have.

We have the opportunity to serve and be a part of this work—as we strive, under Christ’s direction and guidance—to literally preach the gospel “in all nations” as He instructs. We live in an unparalleled time when, through the power and “miracle” of social media programs like Facebook and Instagram, and the worldwide power and reach of YouTube, we literally can reach nations that may never before in this era of the Church received that message. 

 

God has provided the talent, skills, financial, and other resources so this can be accomplished, as He wills. We will be “knocking on doors” of those many opportunities to see which ones God will choose to open as we move closer and closer to the time of Christ’s return. His Church—all of us—must “work the works of Him who [called] us, while it is day” (John 9:4). 

 

And we can use the help of all of you, too. We know God has called and provided talents and skills in every area of the world. We need to understand each area of the world better, so that we may do the Work in all areas of the world, not just from the home office.

Then like any good COG will do, they have to remind members that this cannot be accomplished without their money. Lots of it! 

We are here to help and serve, but your contributions are necessary since Scripture teaches us that “every part does its share” (Ephesians 4:16). If you would like to write articles about the spiritual or life situations in your area of the world, if you have skills in technology or other areas that can help us further the work in your area, let us know. God’s work will be accomplished by “what every joint supplies.”

Apparently, an impotent god cannot open doors without a little money lubrication.  The more you give the easier that door will open!

Rogue UCG Minister Holding His Own Feast Site To Compete With UCG Italy Site

 

Angelo Di Vita

The clown show that is the Church fo God continues on unabated! Woo Hoo! 

Splints and splinters are the name of the game. 

Such an amazing legacy Herbert Armstrong has unleashed on the world!

Check this out from UCG's member update about a UCG rogue minister.

At this time, too, it is necessary for us to remind you that the site being advertised in 

Sabaudia is not a United Church of God Feast site. Neither Angelo Di Vita, nor his church, which continues to errantly use our name, are part of us or affiliated in any way with UCGIA, and Mr. Di Vita is no longer a minister in the United Church of God, having had his ministerial credentials revoked by the Council of Elders in December 2023, for several ethical violations. He has declared himself “autonomous and independent” from UCGIA. Thus, his Feast site or anything associated with him and his church is not part of us. 

What good does revoking preaching credentials do in the Church of God movement? It did not matter when their credentials were revoked when they left or were kicked out of the mother church, the Worldwide Church of God. It did not even matter when ministers were kicked out or left the Radio Church of God. It never mattered when Herbert apostatized from the COG7. 

It has never worked as hundreds of splinter groups left other splinter groups with all of them keeping their credentials intact. Not one of them ever had the decency to stop preaching since they had no credentials to do so. They just formed new organizations, set up their own rules of engagement, and did what they wanted to do.

UCG's stance that they revoked Angelo Di Vita's credentials is useless. They never set an example for him to follow so why should he listen to them?

Fear: The Biggest Tool of Manipulation of the Church

 

From a reader:

I am grateful to my WCG parents for starting their family in 1975, despite the apocalyptic expectations of the time. 

 

But despite Mr Armstrong's prophecies of doom not eventuating on schedule, the church culture has continued to embrace an enthusiasm for the mantra that doom is imminent, that the world continues to get worse and worse, and we're just circling the edge of the drain at this point. I was of the era that grew up listening to "It Won't Be Long Now" (apparently sung by a nervous young lady with a drugged-up lion lounging behind her) on the Young Ambassadors. When I was 10, I was assured by someone in the congregation, "You won't have a chance to get baptised; you won't get married; you won't have kids; because Jesus Christ will return before then." Looking back, I resent this false message. 

 

The old-timers in UCG apparently still believe the notion. But the younger folks (which is to say, those under 60) don't seem to embrace the doom messaging so much. I suppose there's a possibility that they might turn out to be right, but only by accident. History of the last few decades has shown that we're not prophets; the more we say it, the more we lose credibility. But it's apparently so ingrained and still repeated often enough in the church echo-chamber that people aren't cognisant of how stale the message is. We've learned only in so much as we don't set dates — now we just say suitably vaguely, "soon". 

 

The doom message is not just stale, but it has failed to bear fruits of righteousness. If anything, expectation of imminent doom encourages us to defer any long-term investment in growing in grace and knowledge and wisdom. It encourages us to just sit tight and spiritually stagnate while we expect the prophesied doom is just around the corner... any day now... no really, it's coming, very soon! Historically it influenced members to make unwise financial and even marital decisions with a short-term outlook, since they didn't expect to have to face long-term consequences for such decisions. 

 

The doom message discourages us from being the salt and the light of the world. We ought to be contributing to the physical and spiritual good of our communities. But I see the church becoming more insular, more "us versus them", preaching that we're the good people and everyone out there are the rebellious ones. "Come out of her, my people" is a message I hear more often than "be the salt and the light". 

 

Perhaps the old-timers are worried that giving up on this message amounts to giving up on a sense of urgency, make us Laodicean, etc. But we need a sense of urgency that is relevant whether Jesus Christ has a second coming in 6 months or 1,000 years. Life is like a vapour, and for each of us personally, our personal calendar entry for standing before Jesus Christ might be effectively tonight, for all we know. Romans 13:11-14 can give each of us a sense of urgency. The true gospel message is one that should give every human a sense of personal urgency, regardless of national or political circumstances, or the timing of a second coming. 

 

I wish we would just give up on the doom messaging which time has shown to be embarrassingly inaccurate. It undermines our historic claims of legitimacy, and more importantly, fails to properly represent or glorify God. It's also simply not the gospel.Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 5:46:00 AM PST