tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post4448828133145795853..comments2024-03-29T06:42:44.507-07:00Comments on Banned by HWA! News and Observations About Armstrongism and the Church of God Movement: After Another Year of Banned, Some Personal Food for ThoughtNO2HWAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02018654662518613623noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-15230188798384186872017-12-25T09:47:21.403-08:002017-12-25T09:47:21.403-08:00Yeah, I'm sure you don't like that, makes ...Yeah, I'm sure you don't like that, makes ya COGlodyte types look unclean. I saw it in WCG and I see it frequently on these comments. Whitewashed tombs.RSKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06427255805476848046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-36337619927008407322017-12-25T03:17:27.698-08:002017-12-25T03:17:27.698-08:00I recall reading how a son forgave his father on h...I recall reading how a son forgave his father on his deathbed for a life time of abuse. I've read of similar stories. Personally, I believe these people failed to exercise the courage and strength to hold their abusers accountable. Sometimes so called 'forgiveness' is a cowardly cop out and betrayal of justice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-21734641474853537942017-12-24T11:49:52.406-08:002017-12-24T11:49:52.406-08:009:12 you make the perfect psychopath9:12 you make the perfect psychopathAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-45492495842980240072017-12-24T09:12:30.218-08:002017-12-24T09:12:30.218-08:00I never forgive, forgiveness is a sign of weakness...I never forgive, forgiveness is a sign of weakness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-27079294674813215472017-12-23T20:17:05.008-08:002017-12-23T20:17:05.008-08:00Good post. I identify with it. One of my greates...Good post. I identify with it. One of my greatest struggles has been to be able to forgive myself for being such a blind fool for so long. Overall, I've succeeded. I meant well, but I could not know what I did not know for so long a time.Allen C. Dexternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-74986457118027700602017-12-23T20:02:36.638-08:002017-12-23T20:02:36.638-08:00Byker Bob, in reference to your last two sentences...Byker Bob, in reference to your last two sentences, wouldn't 'incorrigible's' be another name for the 'dead'? As in "let the dead bury the dead". It kind of read to me like, let the incorrigible's deal with the incorrigible's. Personally I don't believe anyone is truly incorrigible, I think it is more that the key into their heart and mind hasn't been found yet. Yes people do need to 'want to change' and need to want to do better. Then I remember how something, like what Dennis has written here, has been a "key" into my own heart and mind. A step for growth. Something 'clicked'. It's beautiful when it happens. How do you know you or something you may say aren't the 'key' for another that might help them turn that hard part/seemingly impossibly broken part of their life around? Honestly we don't do it. I fully believe it is the God of love that provides.<br /><br />A lot of problems can't be solved or "fixed" right now but mercy can be shown and forbearance (putting up with), working towards the goal of forgiveness. If we are only willing to do the least possible in effort, finding only quick/easy fix situations to 'help', are we really helping others or just attempting to "save ourselves/our own life"? I understand it. I went into self preservation mode as I was surrounded by some very 'toxic' people and I cut them off because I was not able to function with their -stuff-. It's as if I was not to be given the time of day but was supposed to 'worship at their feet'. Ugh. The thing is, after one of them died 3 years ago, I realized that I had robbed myself of a very special friendship and very likely a great deal of healing for both of us. What I needed to do was to fully speak my mind and not stay in that box that seeming 'incorrigible' kept putting me in. My Dad. I miss him.<br /><br />Dennis, it's funny. I was just this afternoon saying to my husband that, yes, some of your posts seem to be way out there..but many if not most, show a heart, compassion, understanding and have great meaning for some of the biggest matters in life. This post is the kind of teaching/sharing that I always wanted to hear in "the church". Something beneficial that pertains to the now and works for the future. Thank you for sharing your beautiful and real thoughts on forgiveness. Perfect timing. set the captives freenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-19842665334256021892017-12-23T20:01:12.535-08:002017-12-23T20:01:12.535-08:00Nobody incurred wrath just for existing. Stop lyi...Nobody incurred wrath just for existing. Stop lying. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-20007551175767608332017-12-23T17:21:09.207-08:002017-12-23T17:21:09.207-08:00You didn't look at the amounts relative to lev...You didn't look at the amounts relative to level of income and years paid into the system. 20 years in many cases would qualify you to live on or below the poverty line, eating dog food and hoping there are no medical issues. Could you live in any meaningful way on under $1,000/month?<br /><br />Personally, I have no dog in this fight since I've been paying into Social Security since 1975. However, I consider retirement to be 1) Something you do for chicks, and 2) Identity foreclosure, since most of us derive our worth from our careers. 3) A ticket to the 'heimers, since you are no longer challenging your brain and all the aluminum from your beer cans, antiperspirant, and HWA-approved cookware suddenly kicks in.<br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-62915059162624127422017-12-23T15:59:01.440-08:002017-12-23T15:59:01.440-08:00Should we forgive the Stalinist legacy media for d...Should we forgive the Stalinist legacy media for destroying the country with no end of lies? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-76439350894940261972017-12-23T15:42:01.068-08:002017-12-23T15:42:01.068-08:00No, no, no! That simply will not do!
Don't yo...No, no, no! That simply will not do!<br /><br />Don't you know that our god is a god of vengeance and anger, just waiting to imbue us all with power so we can torture all the big bad bullies out there with scenarios Dante could never have dreamed?!? Hell, even people who just incurred our wrath by simply existing, like gays, Catholics, and North Koreans! And all the bastards who we say are just deceived... yet if they get in trouble with the law, we have nothing to do with darkness and eeeeeeevil, oh no! Nothing shall come between me and my high horse!<br /><br />(/end parody of common COG mindset)RSKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06427255805476848046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-60032356554871836772017-12-23T14:25:50.844-08:002017-12-23T14:25:50.844-08:00People qualify for Social Security after 40 quarte...People qualify for Social Security after 40 quarters -- ten years -- of employment.<br /><br />Any minister who left WCG between 1995 and 1998 has now had 20-23 years to get those ten years. <br /><br />There are lots of reasons to regret one's WCG-related choices, but lack of Social Security benefits became a non-issue a decade or so ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-89511340048611096802017-12-23T14:11:02.252-08:002017-12-23T14:11:02.252-08:00I believe that forgiveness is one topic (the basic...I believe that forgiveness is one topic (the basic theme of what Dennis has presented once again validates the oft-repeated precept that our exercise of forgiveness is largely something which benefits ourselves). A separate but related topic is that of basic management or control over factors or conditions which can impact each of us. There are certain people to whom we could either never relate, or who are simply not good for us, or not edifying. They tend to take us down. They are sometimes control freaks, in other cases immoral or unethical, criminal, profane, scammers or trixters, manipulative, hostile individuals or bullies, insatiably and deliberately needy, practicing addiction, violent, paranoid, abusive, dangerously careless, racist, and a laundry list of a whole bunch of undesirable things which tend to make any relationship you could have with them co-dependent. Forgiveness is all well and good. You can and should forgive these people, and yourself as well for the mistakes you make in your relationships and interactions with them. But common sense, the desire for a successful life, and your own stability and ability to remain strong so that you can help others who are not going to consume 100% of your attention or co-opt your life dictates that you cannot and must not get too close to such people.<br /><br />Successful people constantly attempt to grow, and to fix certain detriments or negatives which they see in themselves. Unfortunately, in many cases, this process becomes like the old adage of the self-lawyering individual having a fool for a client. Still, in order for the process to even start, there must be a recognition that something is wrong, and a desire to improve or change. Not everybody has the introspective perception to even realize that something is wrong, or the desire to seek a better path. Unfortunately, this means that there are some people who cannot be helped, until something happens to destroy their immunity to help. These are people who will exhaust and grieve anyone close to them who desires something better for them. They cannot be fixed until they recognize the need for repair, and are motivated towards fixing.<br /><br />There are collecting places from which close relationships are generally born: family, the workplace, school, the neighborhood, church, associations, hobby groups, etc. These appear to be great equalizers, places where similar people assemble and participate. But, that is often an illusion. It is not a millennial or transcendental setting. Masked as they are by "the group", unusual, unstable, or unreasonably needy people can just as easily glom on to other members, as can stable people who simply share a common interest. It is not wrong to identify people who always have or cause an unusual amount of problems, and to erect protective walls or barriers distancing oneself from them. I'm not talking about avoiding to help another with a sudden problem that you can resolve. That is not being co-opted and used. I'm talking about avoiding a barrage, an incurable epidemic, a class 4 hurricane, or a plague.<br /><br />Forgiving is one thing. Choosing one's battles based on ability to win and to maintain strength is quite another. After all, it is by virtue of our strength that we are even able to assist others at all. It is a noble cause to give another a nugget that brings measurable value into their lives. But you must also be able to recognize an incorrigible when you see him/her. Incorrigibles rob others of their share. That is the essence of the parable of the pearls before swine, and it also adds depth of understanding that the people who use "let the dead bury the dead" as their universal paradigm will never attain.<br /><br />BBByker Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15602697337552385535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226103369043606765.post-31845167526427071142017-12-23T14:00:48.233-08:002017-12-23T14:00:48.233-08:00Many good points made from experience and reflecti...Many good points made from experience and reflective thought.<br /><br />Your statement; "It might be the shame you feel which is a perception that you have not lived up to tribal or religious expectations, as if most do, or the guilt over breaking the taboos of the group. Only you need to know how seriously you take that which happens in life and do not let your forgiving yourself depend on whether others give you permission to do so" should be a banner in front of those who have just left or are considering leaving one of the COGs. Many with the fear of the edicts of the church freeze their thinking to a point that a correct decision can't be made regardless of the situation. If there are any second or third thoughts, most likely they are not forgiving themselves and fear are involved. For those that believe, a day of judgment is coming and what will the answers be? Will there be a lot of "I was just following orders (church)" or "I didn't believe everything they said but I stayed not saying anything (Hypocrisy)" or will it be "I through council and prayer and the Spirit in me made a decision - a tough decision.Wnoreply@blogger.com