Dave Pack on how to entertain the minister when he drops by for a visit

 

Dave Pack, in his never-ending quest to control every aspect of his follower's lives, has laid out the rules for when a minister comes to visit. Lock the pets up, silence the children, and DO NOT give him any sugar-laden dessert!

Be sure to show proper respect. Remember I Timothy 5:17: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.” And III John 8, “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.” In so doing, you actually serve the Church while the minister serves you!

You do not need to prepare an elaborate meal, or go to great effort to make something special. In many instances, your minister will have already eaten. It is fine to offer water, milk, coffee, tea or juice to drink and some type of snack. Healthful cookies, a piece of pie or cake are fine, but be sure they are wholesome—not laden with sugar. (Many of God’s people do not follow His principles of healthy living and it shows!) It is critical that a minister watches and takes care of his health. Traveling many miles and eating the wrong food can sabotage this. Do your part to help keep him—and yourself—healthy.

Do not be offended if he declines the refreshments offered; it may be that he has had his fill for the day.

If you have animals or pets, it is a good idea to put them in their cage or in another room of the house. This is not to say the ministry does not like dogs or cats—most do. But a pet nipping at or jumping on the minister or his wife is not good. This can be distracting, and since the minister will be wearing dress slacks, a tie and jacket, this could possibly soil or damage his clothes. 

Also, ensure your children are well-behaved, polite and respectful. Young boys and girls should be able to sit or play quietly. Children of any age should not become a distraction or disrupt conversation.

Of course, you will want to dress for the occasion when receiving a minister. This is not the time for a T-shirt and jeans. While you do not need to put on your Sabbath clothes, and women are not required to wear dresses, you should receive him wearing nice apparel. Dressy casual is your best choice.

Think of it this way. When receiving one of Christ’s ministers, you are also receiving Jesus Christ and God the Father: “He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me” (Matt. 10:40). While this does not mean you should “make a big fuss” over a minister, it does mean you should cordially and warmly welcome him. As always, remember to be balanced.

There is NO minister in the Restored Church of God that is representative of Christ and God the Father and therefore members do NOT need to worry that they are 'receiving" Christ and God. This is the stupidity that is used by COG leaders to instill fear and control over members.

PCG Wayne Turgeon Dares To Talk About Godly Families and Trust

 

Wayne Turgeon, part of the privileged Flurry clan, and one of Philadelphia Church of God's most abusive ministers has spent his years pretending to be a godly minister by destroying marriages and breaking up families. A trail of destruction has been left in his wake over the years. Its been well documented here, on The Painful Truth and the Exit and Support Network.

On August 4 he wrote an article for PCG's web site: Invest in Our God Family Trust: Build the quality that forms the basis of all good relationships! Seriously? This hypocrite dares to talk about family, good relationships, and trust?

Turgeon has this to say:  

The members of God’s Church—virtually one of a city and two of a family today—are called to marry Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 3:14; Revelation 19:7). Our submission to our Husband is reflected in our trust in His every single word. Believing God is putting His way of life into action in our lives. We show God that He can trust us by being doers of God’s Word.

Quoting Herbert from 1966, he adds: 

“[W]hen Jesus Christ gives a command or instructions to you through His Word or through this very Work of God—as you prove it in the Bible—do you realize that God’s laws and instructions always work out right? That you can and should have total faith in living by them? That God stands behind them and backs them up? That whenever you have realized or proved that any command or instruction comes from God you should learn to automatically say: ‘Yes, sir!’ and do what your Creator instructs?” (Plain Truth, February 1966).

In other words, this is subliminal advertising for the sheeple that if a minister or Dear Leader says anything then it is a direct instruction from God and that members should NEVER question that instruction, but say, "Yes Sir!" and it will all be ok! Has anything ever been OK in PCG or any other COG for that matter over the last 80 some years? The ground is littered with damaged lives and deaths at the hands of COG leaders. But, by all means. TRUST Them with everything and God will bless you.  Total bullshit.

We need to focus our minds on important things, including truth and honesty (Philippians 4:8). Our righteous thoughts need to become our inspiring, encouraging and uplifting words. Those words need to translate into our beneficial and fruitful actions. We must live and breathe truth and honesty, even as both virtues expire in Satan’s society. Imagine the World Tomorrow when such conduct won’t be the exception, but the rule!

Truth and honesty in a COG? When? Dishonesty and outright rebellion have spawned over 500+ different splinter groups over the decades with one lie after another being told.

What truly matters is how much we are becoming like God. When we are Christ’s Bride for eternity, we will think and act as He does. That means we must make ourselves ready today!

If all of these corrupt ministers and COG leaders ever followed that inconvenient dude they avoid at all costs, then we might be able to trust them. If they were actually followers of The Way and of that guy they refuse to talk much about, then they would know that the endless "striving" and trying to do things to impress that grumpy god who is just itching to throw them into the Lake of Fire is an impossible task. That work has already been done for them, but they are too blinded to see that.

 

COG Bigshots: Dosen't Everybody Want To Be One?

Doesn’t Everyone Want to Be A Big Shot?

By

LonnieHendrix

Within the culture of Armstrongism, all of the men were/are expected to aspire to give a sermonette or attend Ambassador College. After all, the pastors and the leadership in Pasadena were held up to be the epitome of Godly manhood. All of the lesser men within the congregation were encouraged to emulate them or “to covet earnestly the best gifts.”

In the splinter groups, these notions about aspiring to participate in church leadership have taken on even more significance. In short, asking a man to give a sermonette or sermon is seen as a means of keeping people involved/interested/invested in the particular group. By stroking egos and flattering someone with an invitation to speak, it is hoped that they will not wander off or consider joining one of the other splinters.

Of course, these notions and practices are not peculiar to Armstrongism. Flattery and other enticements have been used from time immemorial to keep people engaged. After all, it is heady stuff to be placed in a leadership role – even if it’s only for 30-45 minutes on a Sabbath!

But what about the men in the church who never got wrapped up in this kind of thinking? What about the folks who don’t want to be in charge or speak? What about the men who had absolutely no desire to emulate Herbert or Garner Ted Armstrong? What about the guys who think that church leaders should serve members and exude humility?

“That man is dangerous!” the other men declare. “Everyone wants to be Garner Ted – he must have some kind of agenda!” “If he doesn’t want to deliver a sermonette, he must secretly want to run the whole show!” OR “He must be planning to start his own group or cultivate a following for himself!” They simply cannot understand anyone who is not motivated by the same kinds of things that motivate them.

Throughout my association with Armstrongism, I have never desired to be an apostle, minister or deacon. I have never desired to start a new church or accumulate a following. I have been asked numerous times by others to speak or write. “I will do anything I can to help you, but I have no burning need to speak or put myself forward,” I would always answer.

Sometimes that would evoke a knowing smile, but I remember one time when the pastor who had asked me to speak understood what I meant. He acknowledged what I was saying and then quoted Plato. “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.”

Unfortunately, many of the folks within the Armstrong Churches of God want to say something. They like the prestige and respect associated with standing in front of a congregation or being the one that folks turn to for advice. For them it’s not about serving and helping others, it’s more about being the big shot – the top dog. It would almost be funny if it weren’t so very sad/pathetic!