Training COGWA men to be MEN

COGWA has a men's blog up to teach men how to be masculine he-men.  Apparently the years spent in UCG made the men weak and slightly effeminate, so this was created to help the men become  "godly" men. Oh, and there's one for women and one for kids too.

The latest entry is a weird story about a COGWA man who orders some cookbooks for his wife and drives to a woman's house to pick them up.  That's when the trouble starts.

Earlier in the day, I had ordered two popular recipe books for my wife, and I had arranged with the woman in charge to pick them up that evening at her home, as that was much more convenient than driving all the way to the middle of town. When I arrived at her house, it was already pitch dark. The woman came out with the books to give to me. I requested the use of her toilet.

Most COG ministers/elders/etc. have always been warned to NEVER place themselves in such a compromising situation.  The WTF! moment here is WHY did he need to use the woman's bathroom? Go down the road to a store or a restaurant!

Without a word, she opened the sliding security gate to her driveway, and I drove in and got out of my car. “This way”’ she said, and opened the gate to her garden. Pausing, she said “Oh, by the way, we have large dogs. So just move slowly.” (Very funny!)

Then all hell breaks loose:

But within seconds the dogs were on me, and I was in a tight spot. Then suddenly the thought entered my head: “Get into your car—quickly!”

I turned and ran for my car, clicking the remote control as I ran. I stumbled and nearly fell with one of the dogs on top of me!

I ripped open the door and sprang into the car. Immediately the dogs jumped up, trying to get at me through the car door! I opened the window slightly and shouted: “Let me out now! I have to reach a hospital!” The husband appeared and opened the gate.

Shocked and bleeding

Shocked and bleeding, I drove away as fast as I could. I spent some time at a medical center getting treatment, a tetanus injection and antibiotics. The doors of my car were badly scratched.

My wife was absolutely furious! “This woman was negligent!” she cried. “I’ll bet she doesn’t even phone you!”

So what's a poor COG member to do?  Take the bite in the ass and move on, sue, or forgive them in a loving Christian manner?  There is a "Christian" story in all of this. Here is what the man did:

So have you forgotten what Jesus said about loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39)?
Jesus told us in Matthew 5:46, “If you love [only] those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors [scoundrels] do the same?” Instead: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27)—then you can call yourself a Christian.

And what about forgiving and forgetting? The Lord has forgiven your sins completely! And He expects you to forgive those who sin against you, or He will not forgive you (Matthew 6:14-15)!

You’re right. So what should I do?

That’s your choice. God will not force you into anything. But He is testing you right now. He wants to see whether you will try to take revenge in some way, or whether you will forgive. Yes, she was culpable and negligent. But are you perfect? Have you never been negligent in your life—and really hoped that retribution wouldn’t strike you afterwards?

That’s true.

In fact, this is a great opportunity for you to develop God’s character—to forgive and forget!
Thank you. What a tremendous opportunity I have been presented with to show the Lord I am serious about seeking His Kingdom and developing the mind and character of God. I believe all this has been a trial—and I must not fail it!

Our pastor always says: “Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the prize: membership of His eternal Kingdom!”

 

Did the lady phone me? Yes, actually she did—only the next morning, while I was in the bathroom. I got a curt voice mail saying: “I have phoned to find out how you are, and to say I am very sorry for what happened.”

Did she try to contact me again? No. Obviously she wasn’t very concerned about me at all, or about taking responsibility for the incident.

And do you know what? It’s okay with me! Because I have forgiven her. And as far as I’m concerned, the incident is closed and forgotten. And I am so happy to have learned an important lesson! What I have gained far overshadows the inconvenience, loss of personal possessions, etc. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, emphasis added).

Dennis On: "The Tiring of the Churches of God"

"...entire Church of God phenomenon is worn out, tired, pooped, exhausted..."

The Tiring of the Churches of God

I have to say I miss the Feast.  My last was at Myrtle Beach where I spoke to about 8000 on the "Politics of the New Testament."  You know...James distrusted Paul and his teachings. Peter didn't like Paul.  Paul confronts Peter. John likes neither Peter or Paul and both don't like him.  It was a journey through the sarcasm and writing styles in the NT that show the animosity these guys had for each other.  I have to say I had a lot of fun with it and in a passive aggressive way, was able to show that nothing has changed in the Church to this day.  There never was a time when anyone all spoke the same thing, no matter the admonition to do so.  I pushed it a bit, kidding about how we must stop singing, "We are not divided, all one body we....."  and "One in hope and doctrine. One in charity," because we all know we had a long long way to go.  

In hind site it was a mistake to show where Matthew got his Virgin Birth views and how he made scripture mean what it never meant, but that is another story.  I did learn you don't say, "Where do babies come from?"  in such a venue ...LOL

But it was fun and the response was great.  I got a free dinner out of it that evening from a well known Evangelist type who wanted to know more.  

It was the last time I ever felt good about the energy and "we can work through this," attitude in the Church.   A few months later, I was gone.

The Churches of God are tired and suffering, whether they know it or not, from everything from "time is short," to "We are God's people," fatigue.  It's a normal cycle and the one you see played out in the New Testament itself, but one they never thought they would have to face themselves.  These are folk who have seen the hope of things to come blasted to pieces.  They have seen split upon split and suffered the loss of friends who used to stick closer than a brother.  They have gone from trusting everyone, sometimes to their harm, to trusting no one.   Teachings that were so sacred have been trashed and replaced by those that most feel are merely a reinvention of the wheel or simply bullshit.  

The splits and schisms  (I once said "shits and splisms" in a study) are expected and men who have waited in the wings for decades unnoticed now have their chance to step forward and make fools of themselves simply because they can read the Bible.  

In my view, the cold and unstable former full time WCG ministers that most wished back then would simply go away, have risen to be the millionaire gurus of dozens.  They are doing today what they did back when and I see little life change or personal introspection in these guys whose names we all know well.  They dis-courage their congregations with their "much speaking,"  and haven't grown an inch in their understanding of the Bible in their entire lives.  These are not men who can admit that what they learned between 18 and 22 might have more to the story than they were told.  While some might be flashy or mouthy, for the most part, the active ministry is ignorant of Bible origins, background and intent.  They fill congregations of people who, while sincere, are listeners  and not thinkers.

Ron Weinland talks to his followers as a disgusted parent to the children who need to get it.  He is no teacher.  Dennis Luker, a formerly good friend, looks and sounds exhausted.  Dave Pack, as ever, just sounds stern and in charge.  Michael Meredith's thrown together "Let's rejoice at the Feast in Hawaii," is a metaphor for the exhaustion and boredom most are feeling.  His video was simply awful and whoever let it be the one they wanted must be in a fog of fatigue.  The "Jelly" video concept is beyond embarrassing and the fatigue is shown by the fact that no one cares if the church wants to make fools out of themselves. Few have the energy to be offended or at least express the idea that this might not be all that Gospel like.

People move around from church to church and Feast site to Feast site hoping to find what will never be found again.  There is no security, hope, specialness or inspiration.  One site at which I have family took in $19,000 the first Holy Day.  Remember when one site could produce nearly $180,000 and most felt we could do better the last day.  I suppose we can say those high amounts reflected our hope, firm belief in the Church being "THE" Church and our naive and simplistic views about the times in which we lived.  I had a sneaking suspicion that since Jesus did not return for the Holocaust, He might not return because of KISS or Queen, but I spare you.

At any rate, the entire Church of God phenomenon is worn out, tired, pooped, exhausted and sliding into home base.   Members always die. Even well known ones, but soon in the scheme of things the men of renown will pass.  A second or third generation will take up the mantle and grow even more weary being stuck in something they may not have personally chosen in hind sight.   Eventually it will simply be a memory in the tradition of Billy Sunday, Aimee Semple McPherson and Benny Hinn.  All the smaller churches and dramas will simply be forgotten.

What caused all this?  Human and Ego and the human propensity to be deaf, blind, dumb and stupid.  It didn't have to be this way.  Or maybe it did.

I believe it was the True Church at one time.  I could read the Bible and see everything from Holy Days to tithing and Sabbath.  Kingdoms sounded much better than Heaven and I'd rather burn up in hell than just burn.  While British Israelism never captured my interest and I never spoke on it, it had a ring to it, if you lived in the the 19th Century.  I didn't see where the New Testament cared about such things and it did seem contrived to me.  But then again, I thought, being Presbyterian in the past, one could take and leave different views as believed or not believed much. 

I just didn't have all the facts I would have liked to make better decisions.  The Booklets and media did a great job in my youth of capturing my attention.  In reality, just like Bob Jones University two streets over from me, WCG and the COGs are mid life crisis factories.  Only those who never thought to think outside the box or only allowed their church to inform them are still keeping on.....and they are exhausted, tired and quietly wondering what the hell happened to their good intentions, hopes and dreams of The Wonderful World Tomorrow. 

The COGs have simply relived and created all the drama and disappointment , excuse making and doctrinal evolution that we see in the New Testament.  They have gone from "soon" and "shortly" to "I fought a good fight," and now I'm going to die.  Paul still hates Peter and James still thinks Paul is a putz. John still views Peter as no better than Judas and Paul still is the only one in the various shits and splisisms who thinks he really is an Apostle, Prophet, Watcher or Presiding Somebody and eventually got his butt bounced out of Ephesus...

Anyone got an orange sticker????   :)

Dennis C. Diehl
DenniscDiehl@aol.com

Lil' Joel Meeker Is NOT Happy! Again!!!!

Lil' Joel wrote an article for COGWA's blog site.  He wishes "Happy Birthday" to the United States.  Can we say hypocrite?  Another Armstrongite who considers birthdays pagan is wishing the entire country "happy birthday."

That being said, he goes further in claiming the United States is now a cesspool of degeneracy.  Lil' Joel writes:

Observers with perspective in the United States (those with some years under their belts) know that the country is changing in what should be alarming ways. Our moral compass is being corrupted. Selfish, petulant, immoral behavior that would have caused our founding fathers and mothers, and even most of our grandparents, to gasp in shame and disbelief, are now not only becoming commonplace, but are touted as good and positive by de facto cultural leaders.

This has not escaped the attention of the rest of the world. More and more, our political leaders are seen as corrupt and self-serving. Sometimes, we reelect them even after they’ve been convicted of felonies. People around the world follow those stories.

If I didn't know better I would think Lil' Joel just described the current leadership of COGWA!  Selfish, petulant, immoral men who back-stabbed, connived and conspired behind UCG's leadership just so they could keep a paycheck coming in.  Some things never change in the Churches of God.