Sunday, December 4, 2022

UCG Rick Shabi: Are the righteous garments he wants members to be wearing nothing more than filthy rags?


 

United Church of God has been on a roll lately preaching to their followers about the right kind of "garments" they should be wearing.

Over the last few Sabbaths in the Home Office/Cincinnati East church there have been sermons given on “garments” Christians should wear. Among them are the garments of praise, joy and a cloak of zeal for God’s work. You might want to take the time to listen to them if you would like to build these traits back into your life.

If they actually preached about the One they claim to follow they would automatically have those traits and not need to be reminded of them continually, but that is another story. Of course, as with all COG's everything that happens in the church and with the members has to point to one thing, ZEAL for the work.

When "zeal" is lacking in the membership, income drops and the elite suffer. That's the real goal for maintaining zeal in the church.

How can UCG members be filled with joy and praise when they never hear much about that inconvenient dude they call Christ other than he preached about some kingdom to come. In COG speak, that kingdom and the meaning of justification, sanctification, and grace, never the twain shall meet. The emphasis is placed upon a mythical kingdom where everyone sits around on thrones of power singing Dwight Armstrong hymns as they weld superiority as a living god over the lazy Laodiceans at their feet. Of course, in COGland this is an endless thankless task of continual work that exhaust members to the point their zeal quickly disappears.

Coming off the Thanksgiving season, Shabi and UCG are focused on "thankfulness", a garment that all members should be wearing. When they leave that garment in the closet they become unthankful and Satan has a toehold on their lives and the church suffers. It's always the member's fault, remember?

There are fundamental attitudes we must develop and that we must “wear” in our lives. At the root of rebellion, sin, disregard and disrespect for God and His way is a lack of thankfulness. Of Satan, God says, “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you” (Ezekiel 28:14, emphasis added).

What about the root of rebellion that the top leaders of UCG/COGWA were consumed with when they plotted and schemed while on the Worldwide Church of God payroll to hijack as much money and members as they could when they started UCG? What about the rebellious sin in all of that? Was it a salvational issue for the souls of potential UCG members or really about keeping the money stream going for the elite of the church who claimed to be god-fearing ministers?

Shabi continues:

At the core of what we do, we are reminded that we are God’s Church and that we are committed to the truth of God. We must speak it, but as importantly (if not more so), we must live it and demonstrate it in our lives. Christ made the foundational statement that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). 

Jesus did make that statement, but it does not mean the ministry of the UCG believes it. Look at how many sermons are preached, articles written and Bible Studies given on keeping the law as compared to sermons, articles, and Bible Studies on grace, justification, sanctification, and even redemption. And they knew him not.

As part of His body, all of us must be dedicated to living, becoming and speaking the pure, plain truth taught by Christ and preserved for us in His Word. “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). 

And yet, do they REALLY follow it? Can they ever do anything without dragging the law into it? 

That we will do, as we follow Jesus Christ, the Head of this Church, and seek His will and guidance in all we do.

If only! 


Part 408: Here Dave, Let Me Write the Intro for That One

 

I don't think I have ever quite given a sermon like this...No, I never have...


 "I want to make a statement about...me...now, 

I have indeed become deceived; I really need to share with you and tell you what I'm going to tell you now...

I am confessing that I have indeed gone off into strange ideas, misconduct, rebellion, you name it, and while I asked you to follow me, please don't. I am deeply sorry for the confusion and bad theology, strange and crazy ideas and mistaken notions about myself I have heaped upon us all lo these past years. 

 I want to tell you that now, because I did all that and have made every effort to get you all to follow me. Indeed, I did come to you and tell you it doesn't apply, it doesn't mean me, no, no, no, no, no, no, it's OK to follow me because ABCD and XY and Z. Do you understand what I'm saying?  I am deeply sorry for doing exactly what I promised you all I would never do. I tend to do that. I recognize it and I need and want you all to forgive me. 

 Listen to me now, please when I tell you don't follow me because, admittedly, I did go off into weird ideas and badly parsed scriptural fairytales.  I did get off into other things that are total and absolutely unscriptural conduct, and I did paint it with a different face and try to get you to follow me. Do you understand what I'm saying brethren?  I am deeply sorry for all this mess I have created and pain in the lives of all of you and those good folk who have left us. 

Please remember that, because I promise you that I see my mistakes and self-absorbed folly. I did become deceived, I did, of course, want you all forget it and not notice.  Marc, Dennis and many others of you did remember it well enough to quote it right back to me... and I thank them and am deeply sorry. If you need me to step down and go somewhere else, I will.

Goodnight..."

David C Pack
Probably Never and Only in Everyone's Dreams

Tiny Crackpot Prophet Claims He Will Be The One Uniting The Church

 


One would think after watching the epic Dave pack debacle over the last 10 years or so with the outlandish claims of three COG leaders being struck down and all of their members joining up with Dave for the final push, that crazy self-appointed crackpots like Bwana Beto Bob Thiel should learn to keep their mouths shut. But, no, he cannot. His narcissism and vanity trump every decision he makes and boy does he make a lot of wild ones. We mock Dave and Gerald Flurry's craziness, but Beto Bob's outlandish statements are just as ludicrous.

Today, the self-righteous know-it-all was lambasting the Church of God Outreach Ministries out of the UK for an article in the newsletter about Zephaniah and prophecy that was written in 2016. Beto Bob was immediately taken aback by any other COG understanding prophecy since he and he alone has the inside scoop on EVERYTHING.

Beto gets his homeopathic knickers in an organic twist when any of the COGs dare to make the claim that there is no need for a prophet in this day and age. When they say that then it invalidates Beto's position as the one true prophet, preordained before the dawn of creation to come in the end times to lead the one true church to enlightenment in the desert of Jordan.

Beto had to throw this comment in:

Jesus taught that His prophets were not heeded throughout history (e.g. Matthew 23:29-31; Luke 13:34, 16:31).

They were not, but why does Beto feel the need to say this? It is because we reject his self-appointed position as a prophet to the church. We know for a fact that's a lie and that frosts his butt to no end.

God had given Joseph dreams that his brothers would not heed. Furthermore, even though the situation in the world was bad, they were not taking the action they should. 
 
Something similar is happening now.

Here we go, AGAIN...those dumb dreams and church members not heeding or believing his dreams and words spoken. How can any of us seriously take him at this word? Rod Meredith did not. Dibar Apartian did not. The evangelists and ministry of the Living Church of God did not. LCG members did not. And yet here we are once again being accused of not heeding his words.  Beto, please! Get down off your cross, someone needs the wood!

Beto next sticks his wimpy chest out and pounds on it with his flailing hands and says LOOK AT ME!

In Acts 2:17-18, the Apostle Peter said that God would provide dreams and prophets in the last days, but even most true Christians do not accept that. They are at least figuratively looking at themselves and not accepting what God is doing...(suppsoedly in the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god".

Next, Beto makes a bold claim similar to Dave Pack and that is a supposed gathering of COG's into one united fellowship. Bob, being the Beto he is, believes that HE is the one to do that.

Now, there is something specifically for our time in the 21st century to consider as God inspired the Prophet Zephaniah to also write the following:

1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, (Zephaniah 2:1) 
 
Although it has certain misunderstandings, the Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary realized that the gathering together was intended for a religious group or assembly:

Zephaniah 2:1
Gather yourselves together – to a religious assembly, to avert the judgment by prayers, (Joel 2:16, “Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders,” etc.) (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) 
 
When are they to gather together? 
 
2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! (Zephaniah 2:2)

Can you imagine what a living hell it would be to isolated in Petra with Bwana Beto Bob as your church leader and speaker for 3 1/2 years? Holy hell, what a nightmare! The licking flames in the Valley of Armageddon would look pretty good at that point.

The Beto goes on to say:

The gathering is to take place well before the day of the Lord (which happens about 2 1/2 years after the Great Tribulation of Matthew 24:21 begins) and before some type of decree is issued. 
 
Who does God want to gather together? 
 
The end time Christians. Notice what Jesus stated and something the Apostle Peter wrote:

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19, NKJV)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10, KJV) 
 
This is a peculiar people. These are people who the world does not desire. These are Philadelphian Christians.

Read the subtleness of Beto's comment above, particularly the last line. In Beto's fantastical mind, there are NO real Philadelphian Christians OUTSIDE the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god". 

No other COG on the face of the earth is more humble and meek than Bwana Bob's followers. Even he believes himself a really humble and meek man. After all, he is peculiar, so this HAS to be about HIM! 

For they are the only ones who will actually ‘gather together’ as they should. 
 
Why? 
 
Because it is they who will lead the final phase of the work and it is only to the Philadelphians that Jesus promises to protect from the coming hour of trial, also referred to as the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord:

Why should we believe Bwana Bob is leading the final phase of the world? Every single COG leader out there makes the same claim. How can so many who claim to be right are so wrong?

Beto goes on to make more claims about how he is the one to gather the COG's together:

The decree to ‘gather together’ will be repeated in the area of Judah just before the time of great destruction. 
 
Why a decree? 
 
Apparently, to make it easier for people who read what Jesus said to better be able to understand that Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 and Daniel 9:27b and Daniel 11:31 had been fulfilled. 
 
By whom will the decree be made? 
 
The Bible says:

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken! 
Who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8) 
 
The prophet may make the decree personally and/or pass it on to another authority in the church to make. 
 
Who is the only Church of God in the 21st century to teach all of this?

Who is that Bwana Bob? Who is that?

This is who...

The Continuing Church of God.

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!

If you're not part of Bwana Bob's little group then you will NOT know when it is time to flee and will be left behind to listen to Dave Pack preach the same sermon for 3 1/2 years and be subject to Ron and Laura Weinland walking the streets of Jerusalem for those 3 1/2 years.

If you are not with the group that is leading the final phase of the workwill you not be able to flee if you wait until the last moment? While that may be remotely possible for some, remember that God inspired Zephaniah to admonish God’s people to ‘gather together…before the decree is issued.’ 
 
Most will discount this and many will scoff. Most COGs do not have anyone considered to be a prophet, and in those other than CCOG who claim to have prophets, those prophets have been proven to be false (e.g. PCG, CGPFKG, TPM). But the Bible says that there will be prophets in the last days and that God does communicate with them in dreams...

The Great Bwana Beto ends with this ludicrous statement:

The old WCG taught that Zephaniah had to do with being protected, yet few teach that today. 
 
Since no later than 2007 I have written that Zephaniah had to do with Philadelphians being ‘gathered together’ so that they would be protected from the coming trial that will hit the earth. 
 
We in the Continuing Church of God “have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).” 
 
Should we not be “exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25)? 
 
We in the Continuing Church of God boldly teach the need for Philadelphians to be ‘gathering together’ today. Will you heed God’s instructions as the Prophet Zephaniah was inspired to write? Would you possibly like to be protected? If so, will you ‘gather together’?