PCG: Flurry Was Worried About Too Much Speculation As The Wall Cried Out…

Screenshot of PCG article

Students at Herbert W Armstrong College, on the cult compound of the Philadelphia Church of God, have been given a foretaste of what the PCG imagines the Kingdom of God will be like with a new mural recently painted in the old John Amos Field House. That building was the center of college and church life for many years till Flurry built his mini-me auditorium patterned after the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, CA. 

The JA Field House is still used for basketball, dining, and as a student lounge on the old stage. Sadly the students were subjected to a boring old white wall. But in good COG fashion, someone stepped up to the plate and designed a painting envisioning PCG's imagined world to come.

Evangelist Wayne Turgeon, who oversaw the buildings and grounds department for a number of years before transferring to the United Kingdom-Europe-Africa regional office, said the inspiration for the project came years ago because, with the curtains now open most of the time the stage’s empty white wall seemed to be “crying out for something to fill it up.”

The original concept for the wall was to be a painting of the "New Jerusalem" that the PCG expects soon to descend from on high and plop down at the exact center of the earth. But unfortunately, Gerald Flurry thought that that would involve too much speculation as to what it looked like. 

The original subject of the painting was New Jerusalem, but Pastor General Gerald Flurry said he felt that depicting it would rely too much on speculation.

Imagine that, Gerald Flurry worried about too much speculation! Who would have ever thought that considering the bizarre speculations that come out of his aging mind right now? 

King Flurry then approved a painting of their imagined kingdom to come.

He then approved a scene from the Millennium, the prophesied 1,000-year period of world peace under the government of God.

Gotta get government in there somehow. 

After many discarded ideas had made it into the Kingly dumpster, a design was envisioned and approved.

Artists created several drafts but had a hard time deciding on one. For this and other reasons, the project sat untouched for years. But in early April, Dorning sketched the draft that would become the final version, and the project was underway.

I do appreciate the Temple to Zeus with its Greek phallic columns rising in the background and the father walking the tiger on a leash in the supposedly peaceful kingdom. As one person pointed out on Facebook, "this is a COG where sex and control are always in the background".

Mr. Turgeon expressed his hopes that the mural will “inspire the students, and any other members who see it, to think immediately of the incredible future that lies ahead for all of mankind.”

I also can't help but compare it to the Jehovah's Witness's Kingdom of God paintings that adorn their literature:

 

LCG Claims Disgruntled Members Are Pulling Loose Bricks Out Of The Walls Of LCG

 

It is time boys and girls for the weekly Friday Night Love Letter To The Brethren Smackdown!

This week is about LCG members who are looking for loose bricks in the walls of the LCG that they can pull out when they disagree with leaders, misspoken words, poor understanding of sermons, doctrines, or editorial mistakes. LCG members seem to forget that there are NO PERFECT leaders in the LCG. Instead, LCG members need to realize that God is using the present-day imperfect leaders on the same scale he used Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David, Peter, and Paul in the past. 

Seriously? 

Winnail expects us to believe that today's LCG leadership is on the same level as Biblical leaders of old?

Loose Bricks or Big Picture: Over the years, many have come into contact with the Church and have been excited to learn the Truth. Others have been grateful to reconnect after having been away. Still others who have been part of the Church begin to look for loose bricks. From time to time, some begin to focus on doctrinal teachings or decisions they disagree with, editorial mistakes, misspoken (or misunderstood) words in a sermon, or personal offenses they have seen or experienced. It is easy to forget that no one is perfect and that God has used imperfect people down through the ages to do His Work—Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David, Peter, and Paul. To avoid slipping into this negative trap, we need to stay focused on the big picture. Is there a God? Is the Bible His inspired word? Does God have a Church? Where is it today? Where is the Gospel being powerfully preached? Who has had a more sure word of prophecy? Who is warning the world about sobering events that lie just ahead, before the imminent return of Jesus Christ? Who is preparing a people for the coming Kingdom of God? We need to stay focused on this big picture and not get caught up looking for loose bricks!

Have a profitable Sabbath, Douglas S. Winnail

Notice where Winnail tells us that we need to place our focus:

Is there a God?

Is the Bible His inspired word?

Does God have a church?

Where is that church today?

Where is the Gospel being powerfully preached?

Who has the more sure word of propehcy?

Who is warning the world about sobering events that lie ahead before Christ returns?

Who is preparing a people for the Kingdom of God?

Notice that the focus is entirely upon the physical aspects of who is doing the better job. Nowhere is anyone encouraged to find rest in the words of Jesus. No one is told about the grace and peace that comes from being a follower of The Way. What good is some Mickey Mouse Kingdom that the COG preaches about without Jesus being part of the message?

All any of us witness anymore with the various COG's in a constant pissing battle over who is doing things the best. LCG and Thiel battle over who has the "sure word of prophecy". Each COG claims they are the one true church, above all other COG's. No one is preaching a more powerful message than LCG, Bob Thiel, Gerald Flurry, Ron Weinland, or Dave Pack. People are so sick of this endless pissing contest that most no longer care. Most no longer want to be in the Mickey Mouse Kingdoms they're all promoting.

 

UCG Apparently Does Not Believe Their European Members Know How To Lead

 

Where would the Church of God be if it weren't for its American leaders telling the rest of the world how to worship God and be leaders in their churches? Apparently, they are still a little too backward to do things correctly so the Americans have to come to the rescue.

Mind you, this is the United Church of God, the epitome of bad leadership, that is telling the European brethren how to do things. This is the very same group of guys who in direct rebellion against the Worldwide Church of God and its leadership, conspired and planned their church while on the WCG payroll. They meticulously planned out how to take members and their money with them so that they, the dear leaders, could keep their income stream and their lifestyle of privilege intact when they jumped ship. Mailing lists and church supplies were taken with them, another violation of ethical leadership. Yet, UCG sees itself as the best leaders the church has ever had.

Here is what they are boasting about in the latest United News

Germany—On Dec. 22- 25, 2020, UCG-Germany conducted a leadership training seminar for 37 brethren from the German-speaking and Dutch-speaking regions via Zoom. The presenters were Gary Petty, Steve Myers, Peter Eddington and Gary Antion.

The need for training is essential and the time to develop leadership in congregations is now. Over the course of four evenings, presenters provided training sessions lasting 30-45 minutes. Participants were divided up into discussion groups. Each session closed with a short Q&A session.

The first presenter, Gary Petty, began with his presentation: “To the Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ.” We are all given the commission to help prepare God’s people for works of service so the Body of Christ may be built up, and we can grow in unity and maturity. Everybody can contribute in the Church.

Christians have always understood that the Great Commission of the church is to  "make disciples of all nations" and to "baptize". This is a concept known across Christendom. UCG departure from that commission is subtle, While it is important for followers of Christ to do good works, care for each there and grow in maturity, that is NOT the Great Commission of the church. These are the byproducts of what happens to people who have been touched by the grace of God.

Steve Myers discussed fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which involves actively doing God’s will and accomplishing the God-given purpose of the Church individually and collectively. We are called to an all-in, united mission in the fellowship of the King Jesus Christ. As Dutch member Ronald Djikman put it, “You can’t eat soup with one finger. But five fingers can form a bowl” (Suriname proverb).

When church members understand the concepts of grace and justification, they would be joyful participants in the earthy reign of Christ, presently in their lives. They live their lives to the fullest, worshipping their God, sharing the grace they have received from God with others, and resting securely in their justification. It's an automatic willful and joyful sharing of the bounty of God's love. Not something that they have to be told how to do over and over again, but, because Jesus is always on the back burner, evening in liberal UCG, church members do not really know their purpose, which in cidently is NOT to become god's.

Peter Eddington provided insight into the challenges of preaching the gospel in today’s media landscape. Christianity is facing an uphill battle against secularism, atheism and other negative “isms.” In the Church of God, the battle is even more pronounced because the message we bring is at times unpopular. We have a divine, scriptural commission to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to as many people as we are able. 

COG groups all still try and model Herbert Armstrong's methods of preaching to the world whether it be in video/radio form or in print. It is 2021 and they still cannot seem to connect to the world around them. Their greatest gift to spreading a gospel lies directly in their members and NOT in some self-important presenter on some cable channel that no one really watches. It is the members that can draw people in by truly living as grace-filled individuals who are SECURE in their hope of a better world to come. Their trust in that should be so amazing that they are overwhelmed to share it now in the world around them, with their neighbors, their communities, and all they come in touch with. Helping that kingdom break worth in the world today, one person at a time should be their ministry. The church does not need its evangelists, its ministers, its TV/radio presenters, or any of the false prophets parading around the church today.

The last evening concluded with Gary Antion’s presentation, titled “Leaders Are Needed.” 

 

Leaders lead with love, enthusiasm and alertness. They delegate, evaluate and respect. A leader must lead and cannot stand behind. It is important to be alert to the needs of others. A leader is willing to enlist others to help. Leaders must respect those they serve and whom they are responsible for.

Leaders are certainly needed in the church and church members should NOT look to the present ordained ministry to be leading them. They have failed abysmally due to their previous conduct in the Worldwide Church of God, their duplicity in forming their own church money-stream, and their current lack of leadership skills. 

The Body of Christ has always been its people and not its leaders. It is the members who are to be the ones spreading the Good News because they know their lives have been richly touched by God and they want to share that. Sadly, COG members have never been taught that and have always been told to submit to the chain of command of those over them. Government is the only true gospel of the Church of God, not Christ.

No COG member needs a Vic Kubik, Dave Pack, Bob Thiel, Gerald Flurry, Gerald Weston, Clyde Kilough, or any other so-called minister/leader/chief overseer telling them what to believe and how to act. Church members grounded in their standing with Christ do not need to be told how to lead and when to do it. It is automatic.

Let COG members be so excited about their faith that the Kingdom of God breaks forth in the world NOW in one person at a time.

 

Gerald Weston Co-worker Letter

It is co-worker letter time in the various Churches of God. It is usually either an end of the year letter or the start of a new year letter. There is a standard format to all of these letters, regardless of which COG you are in. You first hear about all of the evil things going on in the world around you. Then it is an "I love you brethren" moment as the writer claims to love the brethren in which he then reminds members they will soon be kings and priests or even gods, and then, the pièce de ré·sis·tance, the usual demand for money. The work of God has never been in such dire need as now, so please send it in and show God that you are worthy to be called His.

Gerald Weston did just this in December as he sent the annual Christmas co-worker letter to the faithful.

Weston starts right off the bad mocking his neighbors and into how awful things in the world will soon be:

A neighbor of mine is planning to light up his fire pit and invite the neighbors to come over and burn their 2020 calendars on New Year’s Eve. My wife and I do not celebrate this occasion, as God has a very different calendar with different days of celebration. But, most of you are no doubt happy this Roman calendar year is rapidly coming to an end. The question now is, What are we to expect in the year to come? Will it be a reprieve or another year with similar drama? Bible prophecy indicates that the world will experience a crisis at the end of the age, and there are multiple signs that we are entering just such a time. Going forward we can expect many things will go wrong. There are going to be some major shocks and surprises in our very near future.

Weston skipped the "I love you" moment and went straight for  the jugular when he says the "love of many has waxed cold."  Could it be because so many LCG members are tired of being treated like worthless worms that constantly need to be seeking daddy's approval? 

At the same time, prophecy shows that the Gospel of the Kingdom of God will be preached in all the world, not to convert the world, but as a witness. Notice this passage in what is called the Olivet Prophecy as found in Matthew 24.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:11-14).

I always love it when COG leaders talk about "false prophets" rising up in the church and the world. So far in 2021 all of the false prophets in the Church of God have been its own leaders! 

Perilous times are ahead this year for the brethren, keep our eyes open!

Notice too that lawlessness will abound. We see more than enough of that, but dear friends, hold onto your hats as anarchy will no doubt be on our plate for the coming year and a second American civil war is not out of the question. Jesus also shows us in this passage that His servants must endure to the end. The year 2020 required endurance, but we must expect even more difficult times to come. But the focal point of the passage is that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (verse 14).

What about lawlessness in the Churches of God? It has been a cesspool of lawlessness for decades. 

Weston then moves into the soon-coming Kingdom of God which always seems to be just beyond his reach. He mocks Christians and flat out lies about what they believe about that kingdom. Christians around the world look to the Kingdom of God with hope and assurance, so much so that they want to share that hope and assurance with those around them instead of just flapping their mouths with the idea that because their words are being heard that is all they need to do. Sadly, putting faith into action in the Church of God is seldom done. Some few do get it though.

Weston then admits, ever so humbly, that he has a negative streak. 

While watching my recent Tomorrow’s World telecast, “Hope in Tough Times,” I realized that I spent a lot of time on that program discussing the bad things and not enough time on the good things found in the Holy Days that Jesus, His apostles, and first-century Christianity kept. More details were needed. The Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom of God means Jesus Christ will come back to rule this troubled planet and He will appoint His servants to be the rulers under Him in His millennial reign (Zechariah 14:9; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Luke 19:16-19; Revelation 20:4). These are those who have shown in this life total loyalty to Him. They are those who have developed His character of genuine care for the well-being of others. It means an end to warfare and to rampant crime where the criminal is let off and the victim suffers. It means the end of rape, murder, and robbery. And, thank God, it means the end of political campaigns filled with lies, hypocrisy, and broken promises.

Why is it that Weston and so many other COG leaders love to talk about members developing "love and genuine care for others" as their lofty goal when in day to day life they treat members and those around them in the world like crap?  When has most of the major COG's ever exhibited genuine care for the well being of others? (Note: I am not talking about LifeNets, of things like what Bill Goff does in Africa) The problem in the COG is the word "other." it never includes those in the world around them, thus they have become insular movements filled with do-nothing ministries and members.

Weston then goes into the real reason for his letter...money. He wants it.

Dear Brethren and Co-workers, these letters are sent to encourage you, to update you on the Work of Tomorrow’s World and the Living Church of God, and to thank you for the support you have given. Your part in this Work of the living Jesus Christ, whether through your prayers or your financial generosity, is immensely appreciated. Most of the financial support we receive might be classified as modest or average, but that is not the whole picture. Jesus gives us an important perspective: 

 

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood” (Mark 12:41-44). 

 

It is human to thank those who give large gifts, as it takes many small donations to equal a large one. However, we must learn to see as God sees and not overlook the widow’s mites. That is why I do not send a special “thank you” letter to individuals for exceptionally large donations. They are, of course, greatly appreciated, and if this applies to you, thank you! But God, it appears, is equally pleased, if not more, with the widow’s mite. 

Rod Meredith/Global/Living Church of God has ALWAYS placed high importance upon huge money givers.  They got away with things the regular members never could. They were given seats of privileged and access to the inner circles of the church, unlike the lowly members. 

I hope this honesty will not offend anyone, but it is something I feel very deeply. I want to express appreciation to all of you equally and let God evaluate gifts and the hearts that give them. We must not be respecters of persons. So whether you gave a lot this past year, or gave a small amount out of your poverty, thank you, thank you, thank you! May the God of creation who sees all bless each one of you richly!

Weston concludes with this:

Dear Brethren and Co-workers, please be encouraged by reading all of Isaiah 35, which beautifully describes how God will heal the earth and the lives of those suffering physical challenges such as blindness and deafness. 

Yes, brethren. Read Isaiah instead of expecting us to tell you anything about the grace, peace, and rest that come with following Jesus. God forbid if Weston ever talked about that! 

Thank you again for your loyal support with your prayers, tithes, and offerings this past year. There is good news in the future for the people of God. Let us not faint in this day of adversity (Proverbs 24:10) and let us do what we are able while we have time.

LCG: Things Doug Winnail Forgets

 

From an LCG source:

Of note is Winnail's statement, "Jesus’ message did not focus on Himself or His birth but on the coming Kingdom of God"

He maybe forgot:

• John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

• Acts 16:31  They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

• Acts 4:10-12  be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole.  11  He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’  12  There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”

• John 10:7-9  Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door.  8  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.  9  I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.

What to Remember: As the world celebrates the December holidays—that find their roots in the ancient Roman Saturnalia with its feasting, drinking, gift-giving, and partying that culminate on the winter solstice to commemorate the rebirth of the sun around December 25—it is good to remember that Jesus Christ was not born on that day, but probably in the fall of the year 4BC around the time of the Feast of Trumpets. Jesus’ message did not focus on Himself or His birth but on the coming Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15; Matthew 6:33) and a way of life based on His laws (John 14:15). It will be His government that will bring peace and justice to this troubled world (Isaiah 9:6–7) as He rules from Jerusalem with His saints (Revelation 5:10; 11:15–18; Isaiah 2:2– 4). The biblical Holy Days are designed to keep us mindful of God’s Great Plan of Salvation for all mankind (Leviticus 23). The mission of God’s Church is to proclaim the knowledge of that plan to all the world before He returns (Matthew 24:14). The time is coming when the pagan-based revelries of December will give way to the true Holy Days of God and what they picture for all mankind and for all time. 

Have a profitable Sabbath, 

Douglas S. Winnail