Is Dave Pack Doing His "Utmost To Deceive You?"

Apostle Malm has a letter on his site today from a person that claims to have known Dave Pack before he started Restored Church of God and was then with him as he started RCG. It's in the post where Malm plagiarized my earlier post about Schurter "washing his mind."  Dale Shurter repents: Bob Thiel Justifies: One Accord out

This person has one very telling observation about Pack that many have recognized over the years. Notice particularly the last paragraph

We were one of the first brethren to join Dave Pack in this exciting new venture, we loved his enthusiasm and great oratory but soon and I mean immediately soon, trouble began. As time passed, my only comment I can say to the brethren is the Dave Pack has built the Restored Church of God on spiritual blood and many brethren have been murdered along the way financially. It is a sad organization of brutality, enforcement, immaturity and greed via the many sermons and messages based on ”the get system” which is the opposite of what Mr. Armstrong taught in the 1980’s.

HERE IS WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING: In the “early years” just months after he started the church he gave a sermon and said, in quote, “ that if he ever proclaimed he was an apostle or some greater position higher than being a humble minister….he would be deceived”. Further, he said, “that if he was deceived, he would do his utmost due to his dynamic personality to deceive YOU the brethren AND that we should not follow him”….in quote.

What a narcissist! Dynamic personality?

This dude is a case study for the next edition of DSM 5.

Dale Schurter: "I Have Strayed From The Truth," "I Have Washed My Mind"

Never underestimate the power of these blogs.  As much as we are hated by many of the diehard Armstrognites, they are regular readers here and elsewhere.  I guess they love to be titillated, or they silently admit that their news sources are not as good as ours.

On January 14th, I published the comments of a reader here as a blog post, Dale Schurter: The Master of Flip Flopping (Updated)   It has went viral through many COG networks and has landed at the feet of Davie Pack and  Dale Schurter.  You may have noticed the week long absence of posts from Schurter during his reeducation process when Davie got wind of his many heretical beliefs.

Today Schurter and RCG's PR machine had to answer some of those accusations.  His comments are very telling of the cult mentality he has jumped ship into.

He starts off by laying blame at UCG's feet for his actions. He claims he was not following "true church government" and that he sinned by sharing his papers with his congregations on various topics.  Ministers only write papers on subjects that are dear to them. Schurter is being disingenuous by trying to pass the buck.

Those in the United Church of God understand that this group allows, or encourages, local ministers to present “study papers” and include input from local members before sending them on “up the ladder.” I personally have worked on several research, study projects, and would sometimes share the study with the local congregations I pastored. The idea was for brethren to be like the Bereans, who “searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so,” and to give feed-back and input, etc. It was always my intent to help broaden and deepen our understanding of a doctrine (if doctrine were indeed involved). While well-intentioned, I now realize this was wrong.

Obviously Schurter has had to deal with the wrath of Pack on the various weird beliefs that he had when he jumped ship to RCG.  Schurter has had to "repent" of his grievous and erroneous beliefs that have watered down church doctrines

Without church government as we understood was restored to God’s True Church through Mr. Armstrong, this type of confusion occurred. And, yes, through anointing my eyes with more oil and eye-salve, I found that I had some repenting to do…and I have; and as I continue to see more clearly, I continue to restore the full truth in my life, lifestyle and teachings. This includes repenting of my slow changing and watering down of church doctrine, traditions and practices because I had lost sight of how---through which office---doctrine is placed into God’s Church.

Schurter goes on to say he had to "wash out his mind" in order to fit in to Dave Pack's off the wall  beliefs. Washing ones mind sounds a whole lot better than saying "brainwashing."  It is quit obvious that we are all first hand witnesses to a real brain washing by Davie Pack and what it does to his followers.

While the “modern” approach appeals to the typical twenty-first century, democracy-oriented mind, it is wrong---and the fruits make this plain. Just this practice makes it impossible to follow Paul’s exhortation in I Corinthians 1:10: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” This is the environment that I realized I had to come out of, after learning many hurtful lessons from inside it. And I have had to wash out of my mind the approach used there---so different from what God established and used through Mr. Armstrong’s tenure as Apostle and Pastor General of the Church of God. Mr. Armstrong’s---and the Bible’s---approach, and this washing is an ongoing process.

Through Dave Pack's miraculous, mind boggling inspiration, Schurter has had to admit he has "strayed" from truth.

Some of what has been reported of my past beliefs is true. Thus, I found I had strayed, although unintentionally, from truths in a number of areas. I realized from scripture that one cannot be “partially” in a Laodicean era condition, we are either Laodicean or we are not.

One of the things we nailed him on was his widely know belief in the "sacred names" malarkey.  Many Armstrongites have gravitated to this legalistic belief system.  Schurter was one of them, no matter how much he wants to gloss it over.  Too many people have heard him talk about it.

For example, I developed an incorrect focus on the Hebrew names of God. I did not intend to be part of any “sacred names” movement (and I never taught that it is “evil” to say “God” or “Jesus Christ”). Our Father’s and Savior’s names are pronounced differently in many different languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, etc. However, I often over-emphasized the Hebrew to the point of creating a potential stumbling block. I firmly believe that we should speak God’s names in our native languages…wherever we live around the world. Those who make Hebrew names a point of contention become self-righteous and divisive. This can be seen among some groups that make the “sacred names” their sole identity. 

 The next thing we had reported on him was his belief in a "young earth."  This did not sit well with Davie and as a result, Schurter has had to repent of that understanding and return to what Pack believes and HWA taught.

I had also moved toward the idea of a “young earth,” based on certain Bible translations. I had a certain line of reasoning driving my thinking. I had forgotten that Mr. Armstrong was settled in his mind on this by explaining the time “gap” between Genesis 1:1 and verse 2, and re-confirmed it in his final book, Mystery of the Ages. 

Next he calls those who made claims about new moons and other astrological events are lairs. I guess Dale seems to forget that there are countless people that have heard him talk about this.

This said, some of what has been presented regarding my past is either misrepresentation or pure fiction. I did study new moons from the agricultural perspective, as astronomical events related to growing seasons, and the way to mark the beginning of a month, years, etc., using God’s calendar. Most of this stems from when I was asked by Mr. Armstrong to lead the agricultural department at Big Sandy. But I never advocated new moons as holy days for the church to observe, as some have proposed. And, I also continue to believe and teach that the Sabbath begins and ends at sunset, not at any other time. Recent reports to the contrary in order to discredit me (and RCG) are simply invention, or perhaps the intent of what was spoken/heard was communicated poorly, not understood correctly, or both.

Schurter writes:

Many of you may believe that, “in your own way,” you are holding to what you learned from God through Mr. Armstrong. But I have learned how far one can drift from his teachings, traditions, and example and not realize it!

No where in his entire letter did Schurter mention following Jesus.  It is all about following Dave Pack as he follows the teachings of Herbert Armstrong.  You have to look far and in between to find Dave Pack talking much about Jesus too.  It's all law, all the time.  But have no fear, Schurter is just like Hebrew prophets and leaders.  They were sinful men used by God and he (Schurter) is a sinful many being used by God.  Through Dave's almighty instructions he has come to see the error of his ways and has repented.

I am encouraged when I recall that mistakes made by Moses, King David, and others are recorded in Scripture for our learning---and that, because of their repentance, they still will receive great reward in God’s kingdom. It is good to again be in the Government of God. Again, the good fruits of The Work He is accomplishing through the leadership of the Pastor General of the Restored Church of God, Mr. David Pack and his support team, is both encouraging and inspiring. On a more personal note, I have heard Mr. Pack say, just as Mr. Armstrong often said both publicly and privately, “I have made mistakes in the past for which I have repented and also, when proven wrong, I changed and corrected the error.” Good example.

Dave Pack has used this heretical beliefs of Schurter as a tool for reeducation and publicity.  Schurter says he has repented and had his eyes anointed.  Lo and behold, Pack as a booklet on that same topic!

Brethren and friends, if my public admissions, needing to anoint my eyes, repent and change will help others to do the same, this would be a rewarding joy. I do urge you to seek God’s help to anoint your eyes. You will find Mr. Pack’s book, “Anoint Your Eyes – Christ’s Warning to His People,” contains all of the scriptures to recognize where one stands, and how to go about the anointing.

Schurter signs off by letting you know that other ministers who are "chomping at the bit to write about their exodus from pagan, filthy UCG into the glorious light of the Restored Church of God.  Besides, these men will need to write as Schurter continues his reeducation at the feet of Apostle Pack.

Please understand that I am deluged with emails and calls, and that other RCG ministers who were formerly in UCG (and some in other splinters) will be writing posts for the next period of time. It was always the plan to include other voices on this website (as outlined in “About This Website”). These men are “chomping at the bit” to add support to what I have written over the last week and a half.

Not once has Schurter mentioned he was following Jesus.  That alone tells a whole lot about what a fool Schurter has turned into.  Maybe I should not have said that, now we will get to see a flurry of posts from Schurter and other defecting Ministers all talking about how they are following Jesus.

Why anyone in their right mind would continue to follow this man now is beyond belief.  Members of UCG know exactly what this man was like, what he believed and taught.  Even though he was widely liked, they know exactly what he taught no matter how much he denies it.  Now he has done a 180 degree turn and seen the light; in one of Amstrongism's more aberrant cults.  Since he made such a dramatic turn around and has now repented of countless beliefs, what is there to make us want to believe him now? The mind washing and reeducation in Restored Church of God must be mighty powerful.  Especially since it has been revealed that RCG only has 2,100 members.

To read Schurter's entire letter click here:   The Choice God’s People Face

COGer Teaching Other COGers about Cults

Church of God-Speaking to the Remnant

I guess it takes one to recognize one.  The only trouble is that cult recognition usually happens when a person leaves an Armstrongite splinter cult and their eyes are opened at the abuses they have just left behind.  It is worse when it is an Armstrongite who sees these things and then justifies it all by remaining in their respective splinter cult thinking their group has none of these traits.  Then there is also the group that claims that the early Christians and the Catholic Church was originally considered a cult therefore COGs are in good company..

So now we have another group in Armstrongism who thinks they have all the answers. Of course this is another Church of God like all the others. Just like all the other splinter cutls, its all about the law.  Law, law, law, hardly anyting about Jesus but tons of crap about the law.

This one is another Church of God but has attached Remnant to it's name: Church of God-Speaking to the Remnant.  Why do all these splinter cults think they are something special?  Remnant?  Really? REALLY?

Like in true Armstrongite blinded to reality in the church,  they have to start off bashing all the web sites and blogs that point out the foibles of Armstrongism.  This person has listed all the different character traits of those who expose Armstrongism. For all of you that expose the crap of Armstrongsm you are suffering from one of the following:

Sadly, many who know anything about the true “Worldwide Church of God” have gotten their information off of websites or out of books by people who no longer even believe in God. Many of these misfits were told to leave the Church because they abused their wife, practiced homosexuality, taught false doctrine, etc. After refusing to admit their sins and become clean in God's eyes, they instead chose the path of sin and began to make false accusations against the true Church. Anger consumes them! “For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.” [Proverbs 24:2] 

Then he goes on to uses HWA's favorite method of reasoning: "Don't believe me, believe the Bible."   We have all seen how well that has worked out! 

Most of the hateful information found on these websites and books is arrogant jargon. They make claims that all true members of the Church are “evil”, “confused”, “lost”, etc. The fact is, these people should be testing all claims based on what the Bible says, not what any man says. I challenge all people who visit this website and read my articles to test it all against the Word of God. The fact is, these people just do not want to live the Christian life. Thats okay but why so much anger against the truth? This should not surprise us. These types killed almost all the apostles and hung Jesus from a stake. Making a clean break from false worship may not be very fun. Jesus warned that one's relatives may oppose such a course. But if we are called of God this should make no difference in our decision. [Matthew 10:32-37] If we truly love God we will run to Him. We will throw away all of our false doctrines and cherish the TRUTH!

This much he got right.  After Herb died hundreds of splinter cutls were formed.  Just a a few are: LCG, PCG, RCG, GCG, CBCG, UCG, COGWA, CGG etc.

It is true that after the first latter day apostle's death many broke away from the true Worldwide Church of God and started cults. Many of these groups have leaders who use scare tactics, power tactics and even pay people to help them control others. This also should not surprise the true Christian. The apostle Paul from the Bible warned: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock

His qualifications for cults are as follows. Most of these are truly irrelevant. 

Cults Have False Apostles and Prophets: False groups teach false doctrines and their leaders have some sort of egomaniac problem. Instead of putting God, His Law and His Word first they seem to stress importance in themselves.

Cults Try to Control: Another aspect of cults is the fact that they use fear to try and control their people. Now we must remember that there is such a thing as “healthy fear”. We should be afraid of those trying to hurt us...Just because true Christians do these things does not, from a Biblical standpoint, make them “cult” members. God leaves it up to you, the individual to make the choice. No true Christian is commanded to control you or some how force you into believing the TRUTH. But cults do indeed try and use psychological tactics and sometimes physical tactics to do just that....

How You Live Your Life Matters: You have a choice in these Last Days...days of confusion and spiritual battle, to make a choice about your future. You can live a happy future or a miserable one. No man can make that choice for you. No cult leader, no denomination, no “spiritual” teacher. You must make the ultimate choice. How you live your life does not just effect you and others...IT EFFECTS GOD.

Fault Finders & Accusers of the Brethren: For those who have the true Gospel be prepared for hard times! We [true Christians] have the TRUTH, not “a truth”. When we fail sometimes to live up to the truth we find many around us begin to swarm in like flies to begin the “breaking down” process. These are nothing but demonic attacks to try and discourage you and make you turn from God's truth. Just because a Christian fails sometimes to live a perfect life it does not change the fact that Saturday is Sabbath, Jesus is Lord, and His one true church is the one and only Worldwide Church of God....There are many instances in the Bible where the people would judge the messenger instead of the message. This happened with the prophets. King David murdered, worshiped false idols and many other sins he committed but through him God wrote part of the Bible. King David wrote many beautiful Psalms. When we look at the type of people Jesus chose to be His apostles we see some sinful men. But no matter who God ultimately chooses God continues to tell them to not give up, to continue to try and follow His commandments no matter what anybody else says.   

He never touches on the dangerous aspects of cults and how they damage the person mentally, spiritually and physically.  Instead it is just superficial fluff.  If he exposed the falsehoods, lies, the mental manipulation, the physical abuse and spiritual abuse he would have to condemn his own splinter cult. But no, it is better to keep one's head in the sand with their butt in the air as they continue to make asses of themselves.

"Gentile Idiots," "Nincompoops," and Pretend Jews: A COG Wallet Drainer

 The Good News About Herbert W Armstrong

Just when you thought Armstrongites could not get any crazier along comes another one out of the woodwork.  This one comes to us based out of the Philippines.  When you read through it you have to ask, is this for real or is it a parody?  It is just so off base that it could be parody, especially when it starts talking about "Sweet young things" donating money.  :-)  Though, it is just crazy enough to attract COG members over to it!

This site claims to have been aorund since 2000.  This one is unique above all others though because they claim to be neither Christian or Messianic Jews.  They despise Messianic Jews as frauds and the same for Christians.  Like any true Armstrongite splinter cult they know all. They are the ONE and ONLY "congregation" that follows the truth of Jesus that is wrapped up in all the useless laws of Judaism.  This should appeal to the hardliner Armstrongites that try as hard as they can to be Jewish while worshiping HWA's teachings.

On September 10, 2000, Adonai Eloheinu placed in the possession of Rav Yeshua Ed a book written by J.R. Church titled ‘Hidden Prophecies in the Psalms.’ Rav Yeshua is able to decode the Sefer Tehillim better than Mr. J.R. Church on account of the prayer he asked face to face before Rabbi Yeshua that his eyes could see clearly. There are many authors of prophetic books who wrote of things they did not fully understand like Michael Drosnin of The Bible Code 2. Some people are given understanding and knowledge that many people do not have.

The New Jerusalem congregation started as a religious organization with the Key of David in its possession already. The Key of David is a key that helps us understand biblical prophecies and their fulfillments in the latter days of mankind.

I wonder if Gerald Flurry knows about this?  Two crackpot Armstrongites both claiming to have The Key Of David.  Only in Armstrongism!

Remember this. When you worship, worship God like what the Orthodox Jewish people are doing. Flee Christianity. Set yourself free from Messianic Judaism now. Worship God not in the same way that the born-again Christian group are doing. Even though they believe, God will not welcome them in the coming Kingdom of God.

 For instance the Jewish rabbis have confused all of the believers in Jesus Christ as Notzarim or Christians and Catholics alike. They think of all the believers as Roman Catholic Church members.  Christians do not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians worship God in the spirit of rebellion and idolatry. Therefore, it must be Jesus who taught the Christian people to do what they are doing in the past and in this present time, they conclude.

The New Jerusalem congregation is not a Christian congregation. Only idiot (sic) believes the words ‘congregation’ and ‘church’ are different from each other. If your group is sporting the word ‘church’ you must be Christian or if you are a congregation, you are Jewish. 

The Kingdom of God is Jewish. And so are we in Kahal Yerushalayim Hachadasha (The New Jerusalem Congregation in Hebrew).

You only convert once with us.

 Then to appeal to a small segment of Armstrongism they get into the sacred names crap:

Rabbi Yeshua Bar El heads and leads the New Jerusalem congregation in a way the people on earth would not be able to comprehend. The righteous and knowledgeable people on earth know that this Yeshua is the son of Miriam and Yosef way back on his birth at 5 BCE.

Yeshua Ed is the Hebrew name of the administrator of the New Jerusalem congregation. The title ‘rav’ means a teacher. The Hebrew word ‘rabbi’ explicitly means ‘my teacher’ or ‘my master.’ In the New Jerusalem congregation we only have one master and that is Rabbi Yeshua Bar El a.k.a. Yeshua Ben Yosef veMiryam.

We have two entities in the New Jerusalem congregation with the Hebrew name of Yeshua. Yahshua is not the name of Jesus Christ in Hebrew even if it seems the same. But once you learned Hebrew language you will realize Jehovah is not the correct pronunciation of YHVH. Yahweh is not also the proper pronunciation of the name of God in its transliterated form. Only the uncircumcised Gentile idiots and nincompoops of this world use the names of Yahshua, Jehovah, Yehovah and Yahweh as the names of the G-d they worship. (emphasis mine)

Since their leader uses the name "Yeshua" in his title he is referred to as "Jesus". Only true truth is revealed through this lunatic.  Again, this should really appeal to the Armstrongites.....

However, I do have to hand it to them for being "different" from the other COG's.  This one uses Katy Perry videos in their web pages......The Seven Churches    Now all we need is Rod Meredith to start using "Pet Shop  Boys" on his web site......oh wait, that's too obvious....

If you are a believer in Jesus the Promised Messiah of Israel, what generation among the seven Churches do you belong to?

 Are you a Philadelphian or a Laodicean?

 Are you an Ephesians or a Smyrnians?

You will now know the truth about the seven Churches of God.

 You need to register so you can access the true interpretation of the seven letters of Jesus to the seven Churches. But the creation of account in our website is not accessible to the public at this point. I am not in my best mood at this time. Account shall be created personally by Admin for a donation of $ 10.00 to our Paypal account.

 Otherwise, you wait until I finish writing the little book of Revelation.

 So if you want to access articles concerning the content of the Book of Revelation, contact us after you have sent your ten dollar donation. Give us your email account and we will register your e-mail address for an account in this website.

 A young and beautiful thing can get a free registration here. The dead and dying can also get a free registration. Simply send us your picture and we will register you personally. If we owe you money or any thing, you are entitled also for a free registration. But consider our debt paid.

 The Two Witnesses are also entitled for a free registration.

 If you donate, $ 5,000.00 to our Paypal account you can consider this website yours. Your name is going to be in the by-line of all the articles that will be created starting from the date of your donation.

 Shalom Aleichem to all who would land in this page!

They do have one rather LARGE character trait that sets them apart from the rest of Armstrongism. This should really make Gerald Flurry and Meredith boiling mad that they never thought of it.  They have a link on their web page for people to send in "Offerings for Sin".    Maybe our Yahooists can join up and tell us the details!  :-)

That is what the little orange (yellow?) button is. It is a test that only the true Philadelphians can pass. A $100.00 donation means you are ready to enter the gate of righteousness where only the righteous can enter in. Please send us a note stating the amount of your sin offering for we want to know who you are. It is like, we will go through hell and high water to bring you people to the place of safety we know as Eretz Yisrael—at the border.

Entertaining, to say the least!  All power to the Nincompoops!

Dennis on Weinland: "Oh Ye Of Little Faith?"

Oh Ye Of Little Faith?

Last weekend I had the rare Saturday afternoon off from the spa where I work in therapeutic massage.  Januaries are like that.  So I tuned into Ron Weinland's sermon to hear what Witness One had to say.  Ron , as we know, is one of the very true Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 and Pastor Only of the Preparing for the Kingdom of God Church of God. 

I'm am writing this to those of you from Ron's congregation or who follow him as if he really was who he thinks he is....but is not.  

I would have hoped that most would have learned by now to question their minister when he claims to see himself written of and spoken of in the pages of the Bible.  I mean really, what's the chance?  I suppose believing such things goes back to when we got "Waterhoused" over who and what everyone from HWA to GTA to Joseph Tkach were in the pages of the Bible and the mind of God, but look back and see how well that went.  

If HWA brought the hearts of the father's to the children and the children to the father's," etc, I guess I don't see it.  If Joseph Tkach was a "Weaver" then all i got from that is that he used lousy material, mixed his fabrics and it all fell apart as a very inferior garment.  What i mean is that if you look at what was supposed to be what, it was not and still isn't.'  Personally, if I have to be under a Ron Weinland, Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry type in the Kingdom...well,  can I just have a log home in the mountains and be left alone?

Ron thinks that holding back your money over the next few months, "just in case," is a total lack of faith.  Those of you who do this, congratulations, it is a total exercise in common sense and proper care of yourself and your family.  Don't quit your day job as they say.  

Somehow, Ron had found out that some of his very own congregation were holding back on their offerings and funds that he would really like to get his hands on "just in case Jesus doesn't return " in May of this year. (2012)  I expect that a year or so from now, this article will seem prophetic, but I spare you.  Don't confuse prophecy for Common Sense.

He chided you for your lack of faith.  I think he must of said, "incredible" in there somewhere because that is what Ron always says when he simply can't understand why others do or don't do what he does or doesn't do.  

But we have to talk...

Please don't put all your hopes, dreams , faith and resources into Ron's opinion, and it is just an opinion, of what the immediate future holds for you. No God is going to chide you for your caution.  "Prove all things.." remember?

 I listened to Ron totally misuse the original context and meaning of the Book of Daniel to motivate you to see the error of your ways on this putting all your eggs into one basket thing.  Ron does not really know the historical context , setting of or even the actual time and peoples to whom the Book of Daniel was written, so of course he can't get it right to begin with.  But please, please, do your own homework and draw your own conclusions.  

Anyone can be a Bible reader.  When you read the Bible like a newspaper, which you should not do, you can come up with all sorts of hope that "time is short," "the day is far spent," or it is time to reveal things "which must shortly come to pass."  Ron never notices that ALL those verses were addressed to people 2000 years ago who just knew the end of the age was upon them and Jesus would soon return.   From our perspective, we now know that they were wrong.  How badly it hurt them, their families and resources we don't know.  The Bible never really tells us the rest of those kinds of stories.  I always wish Paul had not just told us what a loser he was ("The things that I should not do I do and the things I should do I don't," but what exactly he did or did not do that made him such.  But alas, I know the trick.  I'm a bad person, I do bad things but don't ask for specifics.  We'd probably all feel better if Paul had told us specifically how he was just like us.

 Ron, like most, read the New Testament as if it was written yesterday to all of you today, but that would be wrong wouldn't it?  Ministers get around that by fooling you about the idea of "types."  Remember when Ron was wrong about a date or event awhile back that you all had been earnestly looking for and when he had to finally speak up about his failure, HE BLAMED YOU!   I remember him saying something to the effect that "You people took it all wrong.  I didn't mean it was physical, I meant it was spiiiiiiritual.....incredible."   Evidently most of you bought it as you are still there waiting for the next shoe to drop. 

I prophecy ahead of time you will hear, "God is giving us more time," or "Who knew God had even MORE to reveal to me!   I never know until we get to that time where God talks to me and tells me more!!!"   Of course, Ron is full of bullshit on this, but it's a great technique and keeps you in your seats doesn't it...

I don't question (maybe one should) Ron's sincerity, perspectives, motives or way he filters his world both Biblical and currently, but I do question his common sense and wisdom.  Do you?  You do realize that every prediction about the imminent return of Jesus, every date set, every expectation expressed, sermon given, shortly, soon and almost ever expressed on this topic over the past 2000 years has been 100% wrong 100% of the time don't you?  What's the chance a real Deity is talking to Ron and will get it right this time.

I will spare you from the entire argument that Jesus is not coming back at all and all of the Bible including the New Testament is past history but that is terribly hard for us all, me included to accept.  Even in the New Testament after the Apostle Paul had told the married to be as they weren't and those that were not married to forget about dating and marriage at that point, (hmmm, sounds familiar?), we find Paul was dead wrong. 


Real people listened to Paul, adjusted their lives accordingly and ended up with nothing to show for it but less funds and broken relationships.  Of course, Paul never said, "I apologize,"  "I meant well,"  "I thought that voice in my head and light in my eyes that spoke to me was real but I guess not,'" or anything like that.  He turned on the church and accused them of being "scoffers who asked where was this coming of Jesus we keep hearing about."  Please stop and realize that to Paul these people of common sense were scoffers, but in fact, they were right.  Time was not proving to be short nor was the day shown to be far spent.  Life went on, Paul said basically, "oh well, I fought a great fight. It was fun while it lasted.  I kept the faith.  I came up with and I know there is laid up for ME a crown of righteous which I guess you get too maybe someday...gotta go."

I know you will have a hard time with this, but from all we can see and read in the New Testament,  the Apostle Paul, Peter, James, John, all the Elders, all the opening prayer givers, all the closing prayer givers, Deacons , Deaconesses, False prophets and false apostles and yes....even Jesus as presented to us in the Gospels was wrong about the arrival of that Kingdom and just how soon it would be upon them.  "We shall not all sleep but we shall be changed, " for them and every prophecy haunted minister and church since has turned into "We shall all sleep...deal with it."

I am speaking to you with a sincere heart.  I suppose in some way, I am ministering to you in a really weird way from what you have always thought of what ministers do.  Actually I am no longer a minister but go with me on this concept.  :)  

PLEASE DO NOT LET RON WEINLAND CHIDE YOU FOR YOUR LACK OF FAITH IN HIS OPINIONS

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE WAY HE SEES AND FILTERS THE BIBLE THROUGH HIS BRAIN IS HIS OPINION

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU ARE TO 'PROVE ALL THINGS' THEN YOU HAVE NO PROOF THAT RON IS IN TOUCH WITH GOD NOR GOD WITH HIM IN ANY REAL WAY THAT CAN BE PROVEN

PLEASE REALIZE THAT ANY REAL GOD IS NOT OUT TO TRICK OR DECEIVE YOU AND THAT THESE THEOLOGICAL DISASTERS IN THE MAKING IS MERELY DUE TO THE LACK OF WISDOM AND COMMON SENSE OF YOUR PASTOR

PLEASE GIVE IF YOU MUST.  IF THAT IS WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS THEN LET YOUR HEART FOLLOW, BUT PLEASE USE YOUR OWN COMMON SENSE AND PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR OWN "JUST IN CASE."  JUST IN CASE IS NOT A SIN.  IT IS BEING RESPONSIBLE.  YOU KNOW...'IF A MAN PROVIDES NOT FOR HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD HE IS LESS THAN AN INFIDEL.." OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

LEARN TO SAY DIRECTLY TO MR. WEINLAND, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE, "PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS ON HOW I PERCEIVE MY FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES SHOULD THIS REALLY BE THE END OF THE AGE OR REALLY NOT."

PLEASE FIND A WAY TO DISCONNECT THE RING IN YOUR NOSE THAT RON HAS THE LEAD FIRMLY ATTACHED TO.  FOLLOW IF YOU MUST BUT FOLLOW ON YOUR OWN TERMS.  RON CAN NEVER PROVE TO YOU THAT HIS WAYS ALONE ARE GOD'S WAYS OR THAT YOUR CAUTION IS UNBIBLICAL OR A TOTAL LACK OF FAITH.  REMEMBER, RON IS ACTUALLY ASKING YOU TO HAVE FAITH IN HIM WHILE HE MAKES IT SOUND LIKE YOU ARE DENYING YOUR FAITH IN GOD.  APPLES AND ORANGES...

Well, I think you get the point.  I promise that if the real Jesus really really returns on Pentecost of this year and you really really are the only true church and Ron was truly truly God's faithful witness of two, I will write a humble letter off apology and recognition of this as being so.  I'll renounce my own insights over the years and sit quietly in church and never never want to be a deacon, elder or minister ever I promise.  I'll just give what I have not got, or should not give and call it even.

Well, I guess this is the Forrest Gump moment.   And that's all I want to say about that.....

 
Dennis C. Diehl
DenniscDiehl@aol.com