The Battling Aviv Barley Watchers

Various COG's that have splintered off over the decades have returned to deeper Jewish roots and traditions instead of freedom in Christ.  As a result, new moons and the first sighting off barley is of extreme importance.  As usual, in all things like this, there is NO commonality when it comes to determining the correct dates and times.

The Assemblies of Yahweh  and Yahweh's Obedient Servants have decided their interpretation are best and have decreed that the barley is far enough along that the next new moon will be the start of the new year (Jewish).

It is my judgment that there is significant and verified evidence that the season is well-advanced in Eretz Israel. In my opinion, there is sufficient fully mature grain, in both thewild and agricultural crops that a first of the first-fruits sheaf would be available to wave on the evening after the Sabbath of March 26, 2016 and that there would be sufficient grain (parched or raw) to be ground into the required meal offering at that time. Therefore, it is my expressed conclusion that the New Moon crescent we seek on the evening of March 9, 2016 will be the first of the New Year, and begin the month of Abib. YOSR

Yahweh's Assembly in Messiah has other version.  They say that the new year begins March 24-30 (based on the sighting of the new moon in the USA). 

Then there are the Karite Jews, of which some COG groups identity with. They have this to say:

Nehemiah Gordon and other Karaite Jews (who continue to adhere to the Second Temple Calendar), have posted both of their ‘aviv barley’ reports: 

“On Wednesday March 9, 2016 we examined barley in the Judean Desert and Jordan Valley. Despite finding some lone stalks of Aviv barley, we did not find any fields that had significant amounts of Aviv barley. In one sampling of the most advanced barley at Ein Mabua in the Judean Desert we found 10% of the stalks were Aviv, not nearly enough to harvest with a sickle as per Deut.16:9.”

Thursday, March 10th: “After scouring the Land of Israel for Aviv Barley, the Aviv Search Team has concluded beyond any doubt that the time of the Aviv has not yet arrived. We found individual stalks of Aviv barley in the Judean Desert and northern Negev. However, we did not find any fields with substantial quantities of Aviv Barley. 

The answer is clear. The new moon sighted on March 10, 2016 is the beginning of the 13th Hebrew Month. The First Hebrew Month, Chodesh Ha-Aviv, will begin on April 8, 2016 (barring clouds). The festival of Passover (Chag HaMatzot) will begin April 22 at sunset and Shavuot will fall out on Sunday June 12, 2016.

We sighted the new moon of the 13th Hebrew Month on March 10, 2016 from Jerusalem. The new moon was first sighted by Keith Johnson followed shortly thereafter by Nehemia Gordon, Yoel Halevi, Devorah Gordon, and Gil Ashendorf. Photos of the new moon are on Facebook” 

Then there is is the Abib of God group:

Brian and Linda Convery’s ‘aviv’ reports, with pictures, for March 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th are all on their Abib of God website.

And then we have God's most highly favored Pharisee, James Malm, weighing in on the correct date.  As usual, only he is correct.

NEW YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT:   Brian inspected the crops in the south yesterday even going as far south as Sderot in the Gaza belt.  No barley was found anywhere near the required  maturing stage anywhere.  Not even the fig trees were leafing out yet.  He will inspect in the  north of the country tomorrow.  

Nevertheless it is clear that absolutely no advanced growth barley exists in the immediate vicinity of Jerusalem and the temple; which is required for the first month of the new year to be declared.  

If the New Moon is seen as expected after sunset Thursday night, it will make March 11 the first day of the 13th Biblical month.  As expected the New Year and Passover will be in April. 

All of this needless speculation brings to mind this scripture: Isaiah 1:13

New International VersionStop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations-- I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
New Living TranslationStop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting--they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.
English Standard VersionBring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
New American Standard Bible "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
King James BibleBring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Holman Christian Standard BibleStop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies-- I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. 
International Standard VersionStop bringing useless offerings! Incense is detestable to me, as are your New Moons, Sabbaths, and calling of convocations. I cannot stand iniquity within a solemn assembly.
NET BibleDo not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations! 
GOD'S WORD® TranslationDon't bring any more worthless grain offerings. Your incense is disgusting to me, so are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship, and the assemblies you call. I can't stand your evil assemblies.
JPS Tanakh 1917Bring no more vain oblations; It is an offering of abomination unto Me; New moon and sabbath, the holding of convocations-- I cannot endure iniquity along with the solemn assembly. 

Then there is Isaiah 1:14:

I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.…

It always amazes me how so many in the Church of God seek to have burdens laid upon themselves.  Because Armstrong weighed down the membership with countless rules, needless demands and foolish burdens, people assume they still need to do so.

With Jesus always out of the picture, its no wonder they ignore this:

Matthew 11:28-30New International Version (NIV)28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Sources:  7thDay Sabbath News and Shining Light (James Malm)

God's Mouthpiece Knows Exactly What Happened During The Great Flood And How The Grand Canyon Was Formed

God's most mighty endtime Chief Pharisee is letting the world know today just exactly what happened during and after the great flood.  For some reason over the decades many Church of God leaders thought they knew everything about the flood and pre-Christian history, even though not a single one of them was a geologist, anthropologist, paleontologist, historian or legitimate theologian.  That though has never stopped the endless stream of know-it-all's pontificating on their immense treasure house of knowledge.

Today, James Malm weighed in on the great flood from Genesis.

The ice ages are a complete fabrication by men, and instead, the sloshing of water due to earthquakes carved out the canyons of the earth.  Instead of ice slowly creeping and receding over the earths surface, it was this sloshing that created the appearance of what ignorant men call the ice age.  Those layers of sediment that record the history of life...sloshing did that too.

Ancient civilizations are covered now with mud under the sea....many of them....more than we can imagine.

After 40 days and nights God began to stop the rain and close up the fountains of waters; and the waters began to slowly recede over the next 110 days so that the water level had fallen significantly.   

Besides the depth of the water, there would have been great earthquakes opening and later closing the deep aquifers of water inside the earth.  Such massive violent earthquakes would have displaced water causing a great sloshing back and forth of billions of tons of water carrying  rock and debris, which would have grooved the ground giving the appearance of ice ages and piling up huge numbers of bodies in various areas as we see in the fossil record today.  

The ancient pre-flood civilizations would now be buried deep under the sea and probably under many feet of mud at the bottom of the sea  today; the legend of a pre-flood Atlantis world may have been based on these facts.

The Chief Pharisee also knows exactly how the Grand Canyon was formed.  Everything you have been told about it in the past is a complete lie.  God's most important man knows the REAL story!

Then three months later on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible as the water continued to recede.  

These were the mountain tops seen by Noah; huge mountains were also being up-thrust around the earth but were not seen by Noah being great distances away. 

During this time some of the great canyons of the earth were formed, as up-thrusts of land caused billions of acre feet of water to suddenly rush off the up-thrust land, like millions of high pressure hoses; the water rushing downward to lower elevations; just like during the creation week. 

No, the Grand Canyon did not take millions of years to form; it took months, as water ran off when the area was suddenly thrust upwards as God resurfaced the earth; thrusting up land causing vast quantities of water to run off at tremendous speed and pressures. 

This present world with its high mountains, hills, valleys and plateaus was formed by God via this flood, and today’s world is quite different from the pre-flood world.

Did you also know that rainbows were not possible before the flood?  God's Chief Pharisee knows that answer too:

Then God continues to bring rain on the earth in place of watering the earth by mist and dew, which rain began at the flood; the forming of rain drops in the atmosphere would now refract sunlight through the large droplets and produce the rainbow. Pre-flood there had been no rainbow as there was no rain drops, only mist [condensing dew], which did not refract the light in that manner. 

Humanity is so richly blessed to have "men" like James Malm, Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry and Rod Meredith in their midst.  All knowledge comes through these "men."  What would we do without them?

Bob Thiel: I am the ONLY person on earth that fits all the criteria for a prophet!

Just when you thought Bob Thiel could not get any worse,  he comes along today telling everyone that he has all the necessary requirements to be a true prophet.  

COGWA recently published a list of requirements that a Church of God member should hold up to measure all the wannabe prophets in the Church of God.  I doubt very much that Chris Moen and the Church of God Worldwide Association had that in mind that what they published applied to Bob Thiel.  The ONLY way this list applies to Bob Thiel is that he meets absolutely NONE of these qualifications.  Period!

Read it here: Four tests to prove whether a prophet is true 

We need to carefully consider God’s Word—the Bible—in order to discern between false and true prophets. The Bible provides four tests to determine the genuineness of a prophet. 

1. Does the conduct of the prophet reflect godly character? 

Jesus and the apostles warned many times about deceptive prophets. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-17). 

These prophets can be identified by their “fruits”—a term used metaphorically by Jesus to describe one’s actions and character. The law of God is the only standard we have to determine whether someone’s fruits are good or bad. True prophets will live in accordance with God’s law. 

2. Do the predictions of the prophet come true? 

Moses instructed ancient Israel: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22). 

The Bible gives a few exceptions. It shows that God has the prerogative to change His mind, as was the case with Jonah’s prophecies about Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). Also, this does not mean that God’s true servants couldn’t be wrong about timing, as Paul was in assuming he would be alive at Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 4:15). 

Except in circumstances like these, if a prophet’s predictions do not come to pass, then he or she is not a true prophet. 

3. Are the words of the prophet consistent with Scripture? 

God explained to those who foolishly seek knowledge from mediums and wizards, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:19-20). 

Peter declared that the apostles could truthfully attest to many fulfilled Bible prophecies concerning the life and deeds of Jesus Christ. “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ... And we have the prophetic word made more sure” (2 Peter 1:16, 19, Revised Standard Version). 

Peter also stated that true prophets do not speak their own words. As Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20, emphasis added). 

4. Do the people benefit spiritually from the prophet’s ministry? 

God’s desire was that ancient Israel would serve as a model nation and represent Him to the nations around them. Israel would be blessed as it fulfilled God’s expectation.
With this background, God warned His people, “‘Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the LORD, ‘and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:32; also read verses 13-14). 

The results of a prophet’s ministry can also indicate whether this person is a false or true prophet.

Here is what the lying false prophet  claims:

Although COGWA left out some criteria, even eased upon the above criteria, there is one person in one of the COGs that meets all those criteria, and he is not part of COGWA, but physically heads up the Continuing Church of God(CCOG). 

Its amazing that there are people out there that actually believe this load of malarkey.  Armstrongism has been filled with these lairs for decades.  Self serving men who claim special "anointed" or "double blessed" status in order to make a name for themselves after they have maligned by their leaders they idolize.

Thiel is so full of his lying self that he claims that Jesus will reward those that believe he is a prophet and follow him.

Consider also that Jesus taught:

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. (Matthew 10:41)

Jesus is telling His followers that if a true prophet is out there, that they need to follow. 

I can state for a FACT that Bob Thiel is NOT a prophet and is NOT a minister of God.   

Of course all of those that refuse to believe he is a prophet are labeled as Laodicean's.  That old fall back that liars in the Church of God try to use to discredit critics.

Yet, in this Laodicean time (Revelation 3:14-18), most real Christians will not listen to what Jesus said on this and many other matters. 

While some discount prophecy and prophets, notice what Jesus admonished His faithful to do:  

     35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.   36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:35-36)

Are we not a lot closer to the end now than when Jesus stated that? Should you not be watching world events as properly explained in the light of Bible prophecy? 

The various Laodiceans will not properly understand end time prophecy, and that will contribute to them NOT fleeing when they should (cf. Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:14-17).

Why is it that the Church of God is filled with so many of these delusional idiots? Every single COG prophet throughout the COG history has been proven a liar.  Herbert Armstrong, Garner Ted, Hoeh, Meredith, Flurry, Pack, Thiel, Waterhouse, on and on the list can go. Liars all!

Aaron Dean on Herbert Armstrong Realizing Rod Meredith Was Unfit To Lead The Church

Attached to the letter that Herbert Armstrong sent to Rod Meredith that was posted on The Servants News, was this addendum by Aaron Dean.  The alt.religion.w-w-church-god forum was a vibrant source of news about the church during all of the changes.  

Rod Meredith, like Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry and Bob Thiel, has rewritten his history to serve his own ends.  Dean calls him out on it.

Aaron Dean, Herbert Armstrong’s Personal Aide, Confirms Accuracy of Above Letter on the alt.religion.w-w-church-god Forum, January 8, 1999:

I have nothing to hide and don't mind if people ask what HWA thought. Some have asked and I have answered these same questions before. People should not be allowed to rewrite their own histories to their own ends.  

What happened in GCG is precisely why I couldn't join Global. I wish I had been wrong. If it will help people find God and Christ instead of men, feel free to use my post. It will probably bring some hate mail, but I have gotten use to it as I am sure some of you are. I wish people could become zealous instead of zealots. I have found you can become zealous for God, but only zealots for men. 

Regards,
— Aaron
ps. I edited my note a bit for clarity. It is below.

AKDean@aol.com wrote:
Hi, 

That is the letter that was in Mr. Armstrong's files. HWA did talk to not only RCM [Roderick C. Meredith], but others about how he was wrong about Stan [Rader]. Mr. A didn't apologize to people, and had other ways of apologizing—some of which could be misinterpreted. His discussion with Rod about SRR [Stanley R. Rader], I imagine Rod took to be an apology. Of course he wanted to see it this way. To RCM it seemed either he was right or SRR was right. Since SRR turned out to be a 'bad guy' RCM assumed he was vindicated. This helps to justify why he maintains he should be in charge. He never understood the issue was not about him and SRR, but him seeing himself as next in line. 

It did not change RCM's problem, as you can see from the letter RCM's problems stemmed from well before SRR. The fact that HWA never reappointed RCM to a position of power shows that he knew RCM still had the problem. The COE [Council of Elders] was never a power body, although many seemed to see it as that. 

RCM took the fact that those he disliked (and it is interesting to note they were always the ones between him and the top) turned out to have problems, so it seemed a vindication of his problem. Mr. Armstrong still felt the same way about RCM up until his death. 

One thing HWA did say, was that "Rod will be personally loyal to me" (HWA). Of course RCM wanted that same loyalty to himself, never realizing that what HWA really wanted was loyalty to GOD. That is why HWA, amid the confusion of the receivership did appoint RCM over Church Administration in '79.  

Unfortunately RCM began immediately to try to solidify his position as heir to the church, and had to be removed within the year, and was never reappointed to a high administrative position. It was RCM's own words that caused him to be sent toHawaii, not anyone else. I pray that he eventually can come to see himself, just as I pray for so many other self appointed leaders.
— Aaron Dean

Dibar Apartian: Did he really say that the Living Church of God was no longer God's true church or a godly church?

Several LCG asked me if I had any information on Dibar Apartian and his belief that LCG was no longer God's church.  This was posted in December of 2015.  You can see it between snarky comments about Bob and his self righteous grandeous image he tries to portray of himself.  

The only version of this story is coming from Bob Thiel when he tried to use it to smear Meredith whom he is angry with for refusing to listen to him. and incorporate changes he felt LCG needed.



Bitter Bob Thiel is lashing out a Rod Meredith once again.  Bitter Bob has never gotten off the utter rejection of Rod Meredith. Thiel is constantly having to bring up that rejection over and over again in order to make himself out as a martyr.  A martyr that needed an excuse to start his own church.

Bitter Bob also has to trot out Dibar Apartian every once in a while to prop up his self appointed leadership.   Bitter Bob is the only Church of God leader that has NEVER been ordained by a COG minister into a ministerial position.  Fake double blessings is not an ordination no matter how much Bitter Bob tries to spin it.

Shame on Rod Meredith for ignoring Thiel's demands!

Many members in LCG were unaware that Dibar Apartian had issues with LCG’s Tomorrow’s World magazine. He stated it lacked interest, depth, and relevance. In 2007 and 2008, he pushed Dr. Meredith to agree to have articles in it from me as he told me that my articles were what LCG needed. Dr. Meredith agreed, at least at that time. I agreed, but under the proviso that LCG would first fix errors in its booklet on church history. Although LCG, numerous times agreed to do that and told me numerous times that it was working on doing that, it never happened as various ones promised. The reality is that one of the top people did not want the magazine changed and prevented the booklet changes as a reason to not have me submit articles.

Then Thiel claims that Apartian wanted him to whip the LCG ministry into shape, but nooooooooooooo Meredith ignored him yet again! For shame!

Dibar Apartian frequently used to urge me to try to get the other leaders in LCG to correct doctrinal, prophetic, and literature errors. Although I tried to get him to do more of that himself, he always instructed me to not only do that, but to remind other leaders in Charlotte to keep their promises to fix errors, literature, etc.

Then in his ultimate smack down of Rod Meredith and the LCG, Thiel claims that Apartian told him that the Living Church of God was no longer a godly church.

I just wanted to write you about Mr. Apartian and what he REALLY felt about LCG and its leaders.

I know that Dibar Apartian expressed serious concern for the LCG brethren, as he made comments about the “true colors” of LCG’s upper leadership would come out after his death-which is exactly what happened.

Mr. Apartian told several LCG members, whom he trusted, that LCG was no longer God’s true Church, and was no longer even a Godly church.

Mr. Apartian was against the “falling away” doctrine, just as John Ogwyn was against it also.

Mr. Apartian also knew that Herbert W. Armstrong was vehemently against Rod Meredith being the human leader of the church. Mr. Apartian always felt uneasy about following Rod Meredith, since he knew HWA’s feelings about that.

Mr. Apartian was also having private meetings, near the end of his life, with ministers of different Church of God groups-one of those ministers, whom Mr. Apartian met with, told me about their meetings in person. Those private meetings were about Mr. Apartian leaving LCG.

However, due to his rapidly failing health and a few other reasons, he stayed with LCG.
He did make it very clear though, that LCG was heading the wrong direction, in terms of doctrine and other major decisions as well.

Mr. Apartian was also very upset about Rod Meredith’s lack of compassion and concern for him, while he was near his death.

Rod Meredith had heard about some of Mr. Apartian’s revealing comments about LCG, and Meredith was not happy.

Therefore, Rod Meredith did not visit much with Mr. Apartian towards the end, and Meredith even discouraged other LCG members from visiting with Mr. Apartian-worried that more negative facts about LCG would “get out.”

I hope this info is helpful-God’s people need to know the truth about LCG and about Rod Meredith
. . .
Mr. Apartian actually said that LCG was no longer a Godly church!

He also said that we would all see LCG’s “true colors” after he died.

He made these statements to several LCG members, but most of them are still working at HQ, so they just keep quiet and don’t say a word.

Bob Thiel Thinks We Are All Bitter Meanies

Poor Bob Thiel.  He cant get over the fact that Rod Meredith did not like him and that those of us here know he is a  self-appointed spiritual fraud without truth.

He writes today:

03/05/16 p.m. The Banned By HWA corrected the date of its post below to today. Then Gary Leonard called me more names, as did some of those who post there. The bitter people over there have real problems with the truth--and yes, I do pray for them.

You are all such bad bitter meanies here!  Shame on you!!!!!

The Role of Women Writers in the the UCG

For decades women in the Church of God have been relegated to the back burner.  It was not until all the changes hit the church that women really got a voice.  Huge debates wrangled around in the Journal for several months over the roll of women in the church.  A surprisingly large number in the Church of God have no issue with it now, while others rebelled at the thought of women "teaching" men.

Now UCG needs to write up a policy and approve it for women to really have a voice.  It's 2016 not 1936 or 1966

Media and Communications Committee (MCC)—Rex SextonA MCC video conference was held on Feb. 11, 2016. Currently their responsibilities are to review the current Media Operation Plan and how it is being carried out. They also discussed flexibility in carrying out the Scopes and Responsibilities. The subject was discussed regarding the role of women authors in Church publications. There was a general discussion on the history of female UCG authors, and it was agreed that there exists no approved policy or guidelines on the subject. It was suggested that the Council consider an approved policy for Media and Communications Services, and there will be discussion on this topic in this week’s meetings.

False prophet Bob Thiel continues to be disgusted by the Cross, even the one on Mars

For several weeks now pictures have been floating around on news and web conspiracy sites about speculation that a cross and remains of a structure have been seen on Mars.  The fact that Bitter Bob, a certified false prophet, is searching conspiracy sites for his "religious" articles proves what a charlatan he is.

Anyone in their right mind knows that a cross would never be on Mars. But then, there's doubly  blessed Bitter Bob who in his hatred of the cross and that dude he never discusses in any of his articles or web stories has to use the story as an attack on the cross.  If ever there was enmity between Jesus and a COG leader it is has to be the cross.

So what is so evil about this non-cross on the desolate plains of Mars that has the prophet's knickers all in a wad?   Some Christians might use it as a tool of unification between Protestants and Catholics.  Say WHAT???????  Who's brain can imagine such absolute stupidity other than an entrenched Armstrongite?

The first is that it may have ecumenical and interfaith appeal. It may be that those that do may consider the Mars’ ‘cross ‘ (presuming it is not a shadow or something) as proof of its ‘universal’ nature.  This may encourage some to embrace the interfaith and ecumenical agendas that the Church of Rome is promoting.  Especially if the Vatican ever accepts the possible existence of this Mars’ cross as valid.

The second is that Catholic prophecy indicates that a cross will be used as a way to separate its supporters from others in the future.

Then in his outraged bitterness he makes this absurd comment:

The Bible is opposed to the idea of ‘holy relics’ like crosses. Here is one admonition from the Apostle John: 

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21). 

John is no more talking about the cross than he is the Easter bunny.  What Bitter Bob, Meredith, Pack, Flurry and Kubik ignore when they push Jesus to the sidelines in favor of the law, is grace.

That cross is a metaphor for radical grace. Radical grace in Armstrongism has been bastardized into wanton licentiousness through its reinterpretation of it.  A Christian believes that through it, what ever has separated us from God has been taken away.  Wiped clean.  Something the law, sabbath keeping, kosher eating and holy day keeping cannot do.

Letter from the Scarboroughs

I received this today:

To Whom It May Concern

Patrick and I have decided to take down the Go Fund Me account this morning. It seems it has called into question our integrity which makes us feel badly. While much of the scrutiny is baseless (our lawyer isn’t working on contingency and we do not have millions of dollars in our bank account), it is still upsetting to be accused of “going back to court for a second helping” and other untrue statements which have been made to paint us in a negative light.

We tried for over a year to do everything possible to avoid this situation. We would have greatly preferred not to go to court but they left us with no other options because they were unwilling to even speak to us and we were unwilling to let our name be tarnished without basis.

Last Spring LCG put this whole ordeal into the realm of “worldly courts” when they sent us the attached release letter. The last paragraph is appalling. It was them, not us, which drew first (and second) blood and elevated this situation to this point. They not only wanted us to agree to their untruths but there was absolutely no indication that doing so would facilitate the initiation of the peace making process.

I would also like to take this opportunity to let people know that we had our lawyer write Mr. Meredith and Rod McNair a letter last summer stating that we had no desire to take this matter to court. We beseeched them to contact us within 7 business days to schedule a meeting to talk things out but they let the deadline come and go. We have made it clear that we do not desire to be reinstated as LCG members but that we just wanted to walk in peace, have our names cleared, and be able to openly love our few remaining LCG friends without them risking getting in trouble themselves.

From the beginning of this horrible ordeal with LCG, we have tried to do everything as rightly as we possibly could. The point of the lawsuit is to recover the sterling names passed down from two of God’s most devoted servants, Ralph and Patricia Scarborough. We want everything on the level in honor of their memory. We realize that at some point, everything we have done and said will possibly be made public. For that reason, we have strived especially hard to do everything with the best character we possible could.

We greatly appreciate the help of those who contributed to the Go Fund Me account in the short time it was activated. We have already paid over $10,000 in legal fees related to this lawsuit so every little bit helps.

Sincerely,
 Patrick and Elizabeth Scarborough

UCG Spends Thousands of Dollars for an Infinitesimal Return Rate in Nashville

Those fun folk in Cincinnati are back spending more tithe money for a return that is infinitesimal.  UCG is bragging about a recent campaign in Nashville to promote it's esoteric beliefs.  Out of the 1,792,649 in the Nashville metropolitan area and 602,000 in the city itself, UCG  is ecstatic that they had 45 people attend their recent campaign.

The Personal Appearance Campaign (PAC) in Nashville, Tennessee, last week drew 45 new guests who responded to invitations to attend via ads in Beyond Today (BT) magazine, BT subscriber letters, online advertising and Pandora radio ads. These campaigns provide a compelling and powerful way to preach the gospel because they are live and in-person. We come in direct contact with the public and can interact with them. It provides a safe way for people to approach us.

People are looking for a "safe" way to get in contact with a church?  Are they scared of being seen reading cult material or what?

Yep, thats effectively putting tithe money into use for the best return.

United Church of God: He's Baaaaack!

Never let the United Church of God tell you they are open to change.  For 20 years now the UCG has been run and governed by men who worked unethically on the Worldwide Church of God's dime while kicking out members and planning their own break away church.  For 20 years UCG has had the opportunity to do something unique and bold yet has failed at every turn they have taken.  New leadership should have been considered as many UCG members desire.  But no.  The old boy's club voted back in one of their own.  Vic Kubik is back agin.

Victor Kubik was reconfirmed to a second term as president of the United Church of God, an International Association , after a full reaffirmation process on March 2, 2016. This second term runs from 2016-2019. The Council of Elders looks forward to working with Mr. Kubik in furthering the Vision and Mission Statements of the Church.

Is Living Church of God suffering as a church because of its leader Rod Meredith?

Anonymous said... 

lcg, like any other organization, is a reflection of the character of its leader; we all know this is not the first time dr. Meredith has been sued for this exact same kind of behavior...
when i attended lcg a decade ago there was a member who was disfellowshipped because they refused to stop eating swine; then in a sermon the minister mentioned this person and basically said negative things about this person, rather than just letting bygones be...
later, i was told either cut my long hair or i could no longer attend; i chose not to cut my hair, not because i wanted to merely keep my hair long, but as a matter of principle because i felt lcg, and wwcg in general did always choke on a gnat and wolf down a camel; 

i later wrote the minister and asked him not to slander me as he did the other member that he disfellowshipped, and warned him that if i found out that he did, i would consider legal action against him... 

dr. meredith, if you are not satisfied with the growth of the lcg you should look in the mirror and curse yourself; your own unkind, spiteful callous character has not only stunted the growth of lcg, and kept you from becoming the rightful leader of wwcg, but has indeed hindered the gospel... 

March 3, 2016 at 4:16 PM 

Rod Meredith: We are Christian Soldiers and Must Fight this Battle

Rod Meredith writes:

Dear brethren, let us fervently pray for one another! Let us do everything we can to forgive each other, to help each other and to build the attitude of love and unity, of which we have experienced so much recently. Thank God for the wonderful weekend we enjoyed! But, let us also realize that in the months and years just ahead, Satan will do everything he possibly can to destroy that attitude of love and unity. He will come after us with clever arguments and demonic capacity so that we will need God’s direct power to overcome. So we can overcome. And with God’s help, we will overcome! 

That is why—as I have said—we must be willing to fight. We must recognize that we are not just “nice people,” but that we are also “Christian soldiers.” We must ask God for the Spirit, the faith and the courage of the Apostle Paul who wrote at the very end of one of the most traumatic event-filled lives in the history of Christianity: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8).

Meredith wrote this before it became knowledge that the Living Church of God, he and Rod McNair were being sued.   He knew that the church was already in the midst of a lawsuit and yet hid it from the members and ministry by claiming that Satan was out to destroy the "love" that LCG was  built upon.  Of course the instrument for this persecution was Satan, though no mention was made how it was he, Rod Meredith, that was to be the cause of this  attack.

Living Church of God is not filled with love due to the decades of abusive leadership of Meredith.  That so-called "love" that Meredith has is what ripped the lives of the Scarboroughs apart and contributed to the mental break down of Terry Ratzmann.

This attack is  NOT the responsibility of Living Church of God members.  It is not their job to fight it or to contribute money through tithes to fight it. This is Rod Meredith's personal fight and he needs to accept full responsibility.  Though we all know he is incapable of humility, introspection, soul searching, and deep repentance.