COG Heads Explode Over New Book Out Claiming Jesus' Birth Actually Being On December 25th.

There is a new book out debunking many of the pet theories of the various Armstrongite splinter groups that they use to defend their stance on not keeping Christmas. 

The book is entitled:  The Eternal City: Rome & and Origins of Catholic Christianity. by Taylor Marshall

Sadly, because this book is written from a Catholic point of view those steeped in the cult of Armstrongism will NEVER entertain a divergent view than what they were brought up with.  Never mind the fact that Marshall has more theological training than ANY of the COG leaders do.

Some of the points he discusses on his blog are:

Objection 1: December 25 was chosen in order to replace the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia. Saturnalia was a popular winter festival and so the Catholic Church prudently substituted Christmas in its place.

Objection 2: December 25 was chosen to replace the pagan Roman holiday Natalis Solis Invicti which means “Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.” 

Objection 3: Christ could not have been born in December since Saint Luke describes shepherds herding in the neighboring fields of Bethlehem. Shepherds do not herd during the winter. Thus, Christ was not born in winter. 

UCG's Scott Ashley's War On Christmas

Here is an excerpt of a post from an exCOG member and her take on Christmas.  This is from her blog:  It's a Mis-fit.  Her post is in response to UCG's Scott Ashley and his  asinine 10 points on why he doesn't keep Christmas.

Which brings me to the opposite end of the war on Christmas spectrum. As I mentioned in my last entry, I didn’t grow up keeping Christmas, so seeing the following article this afternoon brought up the memories of hearing these reasons to avoid the season at all cost. I get point #1 on that list. The commercialism of Christmas is ridiculous, but there are billions of Christmas celebrants who don’t go batshit insane over commercialism. Its mostly a USA phenomenon. So that point really doesn’t fly.

The second point tries to hammer home the fact that Christmas wasn’t mentioned in the Bible. Well neither was Thanksgiving, Mother’s day, or Memorial day, all three US holidays. Then they try to make the date of Jesus’ birth an issue. It’s common knowledge that no one knows the date, that’s not the point of honoring the event of his birth. One of their proofs, as if we can call the absolute ridiculousness of it proof, was that shepherds would not have had flocks in the field in December. 
There’s this assumption that Judean winters are hellish and too cold for any livestock with heavy wool coats to survive. I just looked up the weather for Tel Aviv. As I am typing this, its 3am there. The temperature is a frigid 54 degrees. Its actually colder in SC.

For those of you who are quite certain that Christmas is the epitome of evil, that those who celebrate the holiday with all its pagan debauchery and frivolous frolicing, and that God is going to make sure that we are punished for our wicked ways,  I wish you a happy and joyous Thursday. Let me also assure you that you have nothing to fear from a celebration season, nor are your neighbors, your family members doing so a danger from God whatsoever.

For all of us, whichever you fit on the Christmas spectrum, as well as those of you celebrating the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Eid, Kwanzaa, and any celebration I missed, I wish you Happy Holidays and/or a restful rest of the week

Feast of Tabernacles 2015: Head Coverings Required for Women While Men Don't Have to Wear Ties

Are you ready to attend the most perfect Feast of Tabernacles ever?  Are you ready to stop wearing your tie and for ladies to cover their hair?  Can you imagine bringing into a hotel your own food cooked in a hotel room because you don't want to make the hotel cook for you - even though they are already working to set your room up and clean up after you?

If so, then get ready to attend the Feast of Tabernacles with the Church of God's greatest Pharisee James Malm and a few of his acolytes.  Women are expected to cover their heads when entering the meeting room they are gathering in.  Since neckties are not mentioned in the Bible the lucky men don't have to wear ties if they don't want to .

Can you imagine what a week of hell this will be for any kids in attendance!

2015 Feast of Tabernacles 
We have booked meeting space at the Medford Oregon Convention Center, from evening Sep 29 through the evening of Oct 7, for the 2015 Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of The Eighth Day.   

I would strongly advise attendees to arrive a day before to avoid any travel complications, and to have ample time to make preparations for the High Day. 

The Convention Centre has a swimming pool and work out room, and offers a breakfast included.  New this year, a Denny’s is also in the building.  There are also numerous good restaurants in Medford. 

The Centre is only about 150 feet from a large grocery store, similar to Wal-Mart which itself is only a few blocks away.  Rooms in the Centre are no smoking and have cable TV and small fridge’s. 

The meeting space is set up classroom style with tables and they will permit us to bring in food and drink for our Sabbath and High Days communal potluck meals.

Youths 17 and under stay free with parent. 
 
Our Feast will be very heavy on the spiritual. (Translated: the LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  No Jesus and grace but TONS of LAW!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies will be expected to cover their glorious hair during services as per the biblical command.  1 Cor 11: Covering the Hair in Prayer  There is NOTHING in the Bible about wearing ties; so that will be optional.