You can finish the rest of this 70-page letter from Orlin Grabbe on The Painful Truth.
Friday, November 23, 2018
Thursday, November 22, 2018
The Museum of the Bible and the Worldwide Church of God
In November of 2017, the Museum of the Bible opened in Washington DC. For those that have been to visit it, they say it is an extremely interesting place to visit. It is certainly a far more scholarly attempt than the epic failure of The Ark Experience in Kentucky that draws in people from various COG splinter groups in the Eastern part of the country.
A reader here sent me the following photographs of a display in the museum. Low and behold it has a display featuring the work Basil Wolverton. Thankfully it is not the Bible Story that the Worldwide Church of God published, but a book designed by Monte Wolverton as a tribute to his father. It is a vast collection of Basil Wolverton's illustrations that were published by the Worldwide Church of God and other sources over the decades.
Dave Pack vs. Tin Foil Bob Thiel on Football
It is a typical day in COGland as many members are settling in for a Thanksgiving meal and watching a game of football on TV. That is except in Arroyo Grande, CA where Tin Foil Bob is having another meltdown over American football.
Give thanks to God, but not for American tackle football
Today is the national holiday in the USA called Thanksgiving. And despite certain claims, its specific origins are not pagan. But, of course, no Christian needs to celebrate national holidays like it if they do not wish to (cf. Romans 14). And the Bible does condemn gluttony.
Yet, whether on this day or others, the Bible teaches that people should give thanks:
4 Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (Psalm 30:4).
The Bible is full of admonitions to give thanks to God. The New King James Version of the Bible has the word ‘thank’ 25 times, ‘thanks’ 75 times, ‘thankful’ 3 times, and ‘thanksgiving’ 32 times. It also has the word ‘praise’ 237 times and ‘praises’ 11 times.
One thing that I have noticed on the day called Thanksgiving by those in the USA, is when I have been at many other places than the home I lived in, American football has been playing on television.
For many, other than food and family, football is a major focus of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Christians should give God thanks, but not encourage violence in sports like American tackle football.
To close, perhaps I should mention that we do not ‘add a day’ to God’s holy days if we somehow observe Thanksgiving or other national holidays. National observances are NOT holy days, nor does anyone have to keep them. Jesus, however, observed at least one (cf. (John 10:22-23), setting an example that we can if we so choose. But not through encouraging violence.Dave Pack, at least, had a more historical history of Thanksgiving posted about why we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States, something Tin Foil Bob never does since all of his articles are always about him.
Dave Pack seems to be ok with football:
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, ponder and consider the many wonderful blessings you enjoy. Be grateful for these wonderful benefits. (To learn more, read our article “The Sin of Ingratitude.”) Realize that these material blessings were not given to us because of anything we have done—we do not deserve them. God has bestowed them on us—simply because of His mercy, and His promise to Abraham, the father of the faithful (Gal. 3:6-9).
Before you and your family enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, or begin watching a parade or football game, be sure to take time to truly thank God in prayer and thought for the national wealth, power and prestige He has given this nation.
While there is still time, make certain that you and your family are not partaking in the nationwide, unthankful attitude. Be sure to give thanks to God in the same heartfelt, sincere manner that the pilgrims did on the first Thanksgiving in North America! Should You Celebrate Thanksgiving Day?
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