PCG's Embarrassing Justification On Jet Plane Purchase

The latest The Philadelphian has an article on how glorious it is for the Philadelphia Church of God to now own a jet - just like Herb did.  The miracle of the jet purchase has not been accomplished by any man, but by the god, PCG claims to follow.

“Doors opened faster than I thought. It’s God opening the doors, not a man.” That is how Pastor General Gerald Flurry described the process that resulted in the Philadelphia Church of God purchasing a corporate jet on April 12. 

The histrionics that streams out of the mouths of Gerald Flurry and Stephen know no boundaries when it comes to drawing attention to themselves as the saviors of the PCG.  PCG has been under the deluded impression that they and they alone are raising up the ruins of the decimated kingdom of Herbert W Armstrong.  The Armstrong empire was the most glorious thing that has ever happened to humanity since the law was given on Mount Sinai. The fact that Herb owned three jets while running his kingdom has always been a sore spot in the PCG's status symbol.  In the quote below you will see that Gerald claims the purchase of the jet now completes all of the imitating left to do in regards to copying HWA.

In past sermons, Mr. Flurry has emphasized Amos 9:11, saying that God is using the pcg to “raise up the ruins” of His Work, which col- lapsed after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong in 1986. at work was re-established in publications, television, radio, foreign languages, personal appearances, copyright litigation, sermons, congregations, ministers, youth camps, colleges, a school, a cultural foundation and other projects. Mr. Flurry and other ministers had stated that one of the last major ruins to be raised was the use of a corporate plane to visit Church members and perhaps world leaders, as Mr. Armstrong did. Between 1966 and 1986, Mr. Armstrong met hundreds of presidents, prime ministers, legislators, diplomats, educators, businessmen and other prominent men and women, as well as thousands of Church members and youth.

“This looks like about the last piece of the raising of the ruins,” Mr. Flurry said. “It was just [a matter of] taking it to God and asking Him for guidance.”

God no more had a hand in PCG buying the jet than he did in raising up Bob Thiel.  The god of some of the splinter groups is the most magical god that has ever been invented by humans.  It has inspired men to invent the printing press so that the COG could publish its materials.  This same god invented the radio and TV so that the church could proclaim its message to the world.  This same god also invented jet planes so that COG leaders could fly all around the world talking about the "strong hands of the god who dwells in someplace."

No world leader has yet to accept the invitation from Gerald to come and speak to them about a "strong hand from someplace."  Even the Steuben Crystal gifts have not impressed them enough to invite him.  All that the jet is doing so far is to provide Gerald and Stephen a private flying experience uncluttered by the unwashed masses, germ belching travelers, and tiresome airport security issues.

Gerald was so stuck on imitating HWA that he even made an attempt to try and buy Herb's original jet when it went up for auction in 2013.

On Oct. 7, 2013, the G-iii aircraft Mr. Armstrong had once used came up for auction. Mr. Flurry told a handful of Church o cials to look into the possibility of purchasing the plane or perhaps another used aircraft. 

“I began to think a little about the raising of the ruins,” Mr. Flurry said. “I had been thinking and praying about it for a few months. It seemed to me that there were a lot of things we could do in the Work with a plane.” 

When they could not buy Herb's jet they started a feasibility study into whether or not the church should buy a jet.

Diving into the complex world of used corporate aircraft was a new experience for the team of pcg representatives, who had to consider not only the significant purchase cost but ongoing operating costs, maintenance and hangar costs, staffng costs, taxes, airport fees, federal and international regulations and other factors. ey also considered the city pairs that Mr. Flurry would most frequently travel: Oklahoma City to Edstone, England; Edstone to Jerusalem, and other potential destinations including the Church’s five inter- national offices, 16 major Feast sites and dozens of congregations. The Church budgeted for about 250 flight hours per year. 

As usual with any COG, money was never an issue.  They knew they had a steady stream of income from gullible church members who with member letters, verbal threats and intimidation would fork over untold amounts of money to keep the Flurry family living in luxury.  The PCG 1% club is truly the Mile High club.

In February 2017, Mr. Flurry wrote a co-worker letter introducing an “aircraft fund” and soliciting pledges from those who were able to contribute to it. 

“We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the brethren for this fund,” Mr. Locher said. “Not only did the members and even the youth respond, but we had a stron- ger-than-expected level of support from co-workers. To date, actual donations have kept up with the pledged amount, making it easier for us to take on this additional expense.” 

Now we get to the reasons why Gerald and Stephen needs a jet. It "zaps" Gerald;s energy to fly commercial. It zaps his energy because Gerald is under the same impression that HWA was that he was "special" and of a higher calling than the rest of humanity and deserved the best.

The corporate aircraft solves several problems that have limited Mr. Flurry’s ability to travel. It allows him to work in privacy and quiet. It also bypasses the need for Mr. Flurry to arrive early at the airport, check baggage, pass through security, and fly commercial routes that may stop in other cities before arriving at his destination. This comes in addition to the time spent in the air and stopping at airports to change flights. To fly to Birmingham, England, near the Church’s regional office in Edstone, requires about two hours at the airport and 14 hours of fight time. “[T]hat 14 hours is more of a hassle for me,” he said. “It zaps my energy more.”

With the Church’s new aircraft, Mr. Flurry can drive straight to the private hangar, board the plane and be in St. Louis in one hour. He can be in Phoenix, Houston, Minneapolis, Cincinnati or Chicago in less than 90 minutes and in any continental U.S. city in less than three hours. Mr. Flurry’s 14-hour trip to Edstone becomes an eight-hour trip (not including refueling time) and a six and a half- hour trip from Edstone to Tel, Aviv, Israel, becomes a four-hour trip. 

Edstone England is one of the main reasons for this jet.  More will be written about this in a post to come. The other reason PCG needed this plane is to give Gerald "credibility."  Gerald is still virtually unknown to the world, particularly to its leaders.  He has been so unknown that the PCG has spent decades focusing their attention on present day COG members in the various splinter groups.  It has always sought to entice COG members to join their group, to no avail.

Now that PCG has the jet, Satan is already attacking them. Or, is it Gerald's god "correcting" him?  they claim both below.

On July 16-17, Mr. Flurry and a handful of staff members planned to use the plane to fly to Mr. Flurry’s public appearance campaign in Chicago, Illinois, but a minor accident at the hangar grounded the aircraft, meaning that the group had to charter a jet for the campaign. Mr. Locher said the campaign was a success, “but the accident served as a reminder about our need to pray for God’s protection. Satan would love to disrupt God’s Work, and can do so through accidents like what just happened, so we must all be more detailed in our prayers.” Mr. Flurry said in a sermon that he also considered the incident to be correction from God to focus more on important dates such as July 16, the anniversary of when his founding book, Malachi’s Message, was first read. The wing has since been repaired and the plane is once again airworthy. 

Apparently, the PCG members have not been praying fervently enough to prevent Satan from sabotaging the jet or their god from correcting Gerald.

Gerald is also looking to establish his work in Jerusalem.  As will be shown in a post to come, an office in Jerusalem needs to be secured so that Gerald can take HWA's prayer rock there so that his 'jesus' can come and sit on it.

Mr. Flurry also hopes that doors for the Work will open in Jerusalem, and when they do, the Church will be ready to walk—or fly—through them. He said, “God is keeping us up to pace with racing world events.” 

Gerald is no more a prophet of God than Malm, Thiel, Pack or Weinland is.  All are professional liars milking their members out of hundreds of millions of dollars annually.  He no more needs an office in Jerusalem than the rest of the lying false prophets desire. God is not going to use any of these little men for some powerful work or end time witness in Jerusalem. Why in the world would God need some pissant COG leader doing a work in Jerusalem?

ExPhiladelphia Church of God Survivors Not Afraid To Speak Out Now

The 2018 Feast Site That Will Be Eight Days of Hell

The Church of God always looked at the feast as a foretaste of the Kingdom of God.  A time of eternal bliss, joy, peace, and members being rulers over planets and all of humanity.  Remembering that, can you imagine attending a feast site where all you hear is Moses, the law and focusing on the book of Malachi?

This is exactly what the Pharisaical, grace hating, Jesus ignoring, Zealot James Malm wants you to do.  Eight days of legalistic bullshit.  Zealot Malm shoves Jesus back into the destroyed temple and sews the curtain back up in order to ignore anything Jesus ever tried to accomplish or teach.

Pharisee Malm has reached the pinnacle of zealot-idolatry that places him right up there with the other professional liars and false prophets of Armstrongism - Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, Bob Thiel and Ron Weinland.

The theme of the 2018 Feast of Tabernacles will be the book of Deuteronomy which is commanded by God via Moses  to be studied every seventh year.  This is especially important at this time because of the drift away from zeal to live by every Word of God, by so many in the Ekklesia in this latter day.

Deuteronomy 31:9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel.

31:10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

31:11 When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.  

At the 2018 Fast of Tabernacles we will obey God, Moses and Malachi, and especially focus on the Law of God.  

Malachi 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.  

Take the new poll on the right side of this page to determine the biggest lying false prophet of the church today.

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UCG Tells Choir Members To Commit Illegal Act For Feast

United Church of God is encouraging its members who are singing in Feast of Tabernacles choirs at Feast sites to photocopy the sheet music they will be singing from.  Instead of UCG doing what is morally right, purchasing the sheet music for the choirs, it is telling members to commit an illegal act.

Is UCG so financially strapped that they cannot spend a few hundred/thousand dollars on some sheet music?  They can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on failed ad campaigns, office redecorating, personal appearances, and playground equipment, but they cannot buy some sheet music.  Isn't that what the non-biblical 3rd tithe you collect is supposedly for?

In the UCG post previously, United Church of God: Continues To Struggle On How to Remain Relevant In The 21st Century  the following comments were made:

Feastgoer said... 

A stunning sign of $$ troubles in UCG right now is the request at one Feast site for all choir members to print out the sheet music, and carry it with them to the Feast.
Is there not enough "Tithe of the Tithe" to purchase songs?

Another comment was made:

If UCG sent out an e-mail requesting that people violate copyright, the statutory penalty is $500 - $20,000 per violation, but rises to $100,000 if the violation can be shown to be willful.

A quick internet search finds this:

If music stores or orchestra leaders could simply buy one copy of sheet music and photocopy it for all their customers or band members, the composer and publishing house would not be able to make a living and create more unique music. Copyright laws protect composers and music publisher's rights; it is a violation of copyright law to reproduce sheet music without permission from the copyright holder. 

Copying

The copyright owner of a piece of sheet music owns the sole right to copy and distribute that sheet music including both the notes and words contained on it, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. Copying sheet music either by photocopier, scanner or by hand, or copying out any individual part or voice from that music without the express permission of the copyright owner is a copyright law violation. Illegal photocopying significantly diminishes the income of music composers, arrangers and publishers, according to the Music Publishers Association of the United States. Copyright violators may be sued for monetary damages.  Sheet Music Copyright Laws

Joe Tkach Announces Retirement

Joe Tkach, President of Grace Communion International (Former Worldwide Church of God) has announced he is retiring as of January 1, 2019.  Greg Williams is replacing him as head of the GCI.

During the conference, I announced that on January 1, 2019 I will be retiring—stepping aside as President of Grace Communion International. On that date, GCI Vice President Greg Williams will become GCI President. After retiring from GCI employment I will continue serving as Chairman of GCI’s Board of Directors and Russell Duke will continue serving as Vice Chairman.

These changes in our leadership, recently approved by our Board of Directors, will be accompanied by the move in April 2018 of our Home Office from Glendora, CA, to Charlotte, NC. We’re thankful to God for the way he has provided our next generation of denominational leadership, both in our Home Office and in our other GCI offices around the globe. Thanks for your prayers about these transitions! Leadership changes; humans in relationship

As one person mentioned to me, this is 12 years after he previously announced he was retiring.

United Church of God: Continues To Struggle On How to Remain Relevant In The 21st Century

United Church of God has an article up on their Updates page concerning issues in Canada (and the US) about the ageing out of its members and the drop in income that will result.  Of course, UCG like any "good" Church of God has solved that issue...preach more sermons on tithing.

Included in the financial discussion is retirement of the baby boomers and what affect that might have on the income of the church. The source of our donations is: 70% from members; 20% from donors and 10% from coworkers. It was suggested it would be a good idea to give sermons as to the importance of giving tithes and offerings and what the scriptural basis for doing so is.

Considering there is no New Covenant command for tithing, UCG is going to have a hard sell in getting ageing baby boomers and others to fork over more and more money so the elite can stay in power and live comfortable lives while they struggle in retirement.

UCG never stops to consider that their message no longer has any impact on UCG members or the world around them.  Like most COG's it still tries to cling to the "glory days" of the past and still looks at old paradigms to run their current iteration of the church.  In Canada, they have lost 1/3 of their responses/viewership due to their message no longer having relevance.  Of course, UCG has a quick response to that, change broadcast stations.

Edwin van Pelt presented a PowerPoint showing a breakdown of statistics regarding the Beyond Today television program. This past year responses have dropped about 1/3 from the previous year. However, almost 30 percent of those responding each week are new people. It was asked if we should try a different station or time. This is a possibility, but can be quite costly even if there is a time slot available.

If you can't rope them in with cable TV and other video sources, then let's resort to Readers Digest.  Does anyone read RD anymore?  It is 2017, not 1965 when every article was some syrupy sweet story of cotton candy and warm fuzzies.  While warm positive stories certainly are good to read and restore faith in humanity, those kinds of books appeal to the 65 and over crowd who remember the magazine from their youth and wish to wax nostalgic compared to the mad rush of society and the digital age of today.

The issues in UCG extend far beyond ageing baby boomers.  According to UCG brass in Canada, current day UCG members have no sense of commitment to the church as people had in the past. You know UCG is having trouble when they cannot get church members to register for the Feast!  Add to that the lack of commitment of UCG members to even have their name put forth to be on UCG's Canadian council that runs the church.

A portion of the morning was reserved for brainstorming. Included in the discussion was: media challenges, trends, the Ministerial Newsletter, current challenges facing the church (lack of commitment, not registering for the Feast,  the need for succession planning for replacing the Secretary, and the lack of individuals willing to have name on ballot selection for council...

UCG Canada is also trying to figure out how to safely navigate rules on spam emails in Canada. UCG now has to have a way for recipients to "opt out" from receiving their mail.   Every email list and every church list that I am on has ways to opt out from receiving their mail.  It is strange in 2017 that UCG has never given their members and readers that option.

Michael Erickson presented concerns to be aware of regarding Canada’s Anti-Spam legislation. Part of the problem is a lack of definition of terms. The legislation concerns “commercial electronic messages”. It is not clear if some of our emails might fall into that category since they may sometimes advertise an event (socials, feasts, etc.). Much of the definition will be determined in court so the church needs to do what it can to protect itself from potential lawsuits. By July 1 all corporations need to have explicit consent to send the commercial electronic messages. We must also find a way to provide an easy unsubscribe for those who no longer wish to receive messages. The legislation applies to both corporations and individuals and all electronic forms of sending messages. It carries a hefty fine.

Many people I know in UCG say they are only there till their kids grow up and head off to college.  They don't want to leave and have their children's friends be lost.

UCG lost its relevance when they kept filling all of the seats on the Council of Elders with aging baby boomers who too often keep looking back at the "glory days" of old and naively thought they could recapture it.

Their model from the past was corrupt and continues to be today.  Abusive ministers still abound.  Legalistic doctrines still keep members shackled down.  Jesus is ignored or at least given a little lip service.  The law reigns supreme, grace, not so much.

UCG had a chance and blew it.  Twenty years later and it still has not comprehended that fact.  Fancy offices, nice homes and steady income for the upper echelon does not make a church make.

United Church of God: Men Have Authority Over Women

United Church of God has always tried to portray its self as more enlightened than other Church of God's.  After all, they were the "new and improved" version of the Worldwide Church of God when they established themselves a couple decades ago.  They were going to do things bigger and better than their mother church did.  Love and grace were supposedly going to trump rules and regulations.

As we have all seen over the last 20 years, that has never happened.  One upheaval after another has hit God's special church. Thousands of members left to join up with a splinter group that also took a large percentage of UCG's ministers with them.  UCG once again placed more emphasis on the rules and regulations than they did on love and grace.

To show that some things never change in the UCG, a UCG source sent me the following today:

The UCG is the most moderate of the splinters right?  Well, you should
listen to Joe Dobson's Aug. 12 sermon on "God wants us to have living
faith."  About the middle, he goes out of his way to say that husbands
have authority over their wives, given by God.  I'd sure hate to be
his wife!

Men, you too can listen to Joe Dobson's sermon here:  God wants us to have living faith

The False Prophets of Africa

This article is sure to cause Bob Thiel some major butt hurt!  African nations are getting fed up with the lying false prophets from America that come there to spread their lies.  this will lead Thiel and other COG false prophets to claim persecution, which it is not.  Liars need to be held accountable.

They rob and steal from the people. They speak lies and utter vain prophecies and visions, leading people astray. They draw people to themselves, claiming to have a special relationship with God, but they lie and deceive the people.They claim to know everything about you but they lie, and know nothing! They sleep with married women and break the hearts of single women. They destroy homes and families. They destroy marriages, businesses and destinies. They are mere diviners and sorcerers and are no prophets of God at all. The Lord says,” I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied.” Jeremiah 23:21. They prophesy lies in God’s name, but God did not send them, command them nor speak to them. They prophesy lying vision, worthless divination and the deceit of their own minds. Jeremiah 14:14. They are all over the place and they spring up everyday like mushrooms.They claim to be “men of God,” “apostles,” “pastors,” “prophets,” “bishops,” “archbishops,” and what-nots, but they lie ! They are ordinary criminals parading as “men of God” and deceiving the gullible who don’t know their Bible and have no discernment. 

The problem of false prophets and pastors is not peculiar to Africa alone, but is all over the world. Many false prophets and pastors have infiltrated the church of Jesus Christ and are causing a great deal of havoc, destroying souls, families, marriages, businesses, and worse of all, faith in God. But their day of reckoning is coming and has come. Many of them will be exposed and are being exposed, and unless they repent they would surely face swift destruction. Jeremiah 23:12; 2 Peter 2:3.

Anyone who studies the Bible would see that the emergence of many false prophets and pastors in the world today is nothing strange but a fulfillment of prophecy. It is one of the signs of the end-times. Jesus said,” For there shall arise false Christs or false messiahs, and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders and shall deceive many.” Matthew 7:15-23; 24:5, 11, 24. The apostles also warned of the coming of many false apostles, prophets, pastors and antichrists. 2 Cor 11:13-15; 1 John 4:1; 2:18; 2 Peter 2:1 These things must be fulfilled because the word of God is true and must surely come to pass. So when we see all these false prophets and pastors and so-called men of God, we should see them as the charlatans that they are and have no regard or respect for them. Certainly, there are true men of God, but most of those out there are just riff raffs and God does not even talk to them nor has He sent them. They are in the ministry for the money, for fame, for possessions and for cheap sex, using the name of the Lord to lure and deceive gullible women, whether they be married or single.

Many of these rogues who claim to be “prophets”, “pastors” and “men of God” are not even Christians and don’t even know the Bible, but they prey on the ignorance and gullibility of so many people who are desperately trying to find God. Many of them are ordinary sorcerers and wizards who use divination to “prophesy,” just like Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:9-13. Simon was a common magician, an unbeliever, who was not even saved, but the ignorant people saw him as “The Great Power of God,” because they were enchanted by his sorceries. Just because someone performs miracles, signs and wonders does not make them genuine. Miracles alone do not validate a ministry, because Satan is also able to work miracles. Nor does the lack of miracles mean that one is authentic. Certainly, God works miracles, but miracles glorify God and point us to Jesus Christ, and not to anyone who wants to draw people to themselves and lead them astray. Those are ministers of Satan, who masquerade as ministers of righteousness, to rob people of their money, to destroy souls and destinies, to break homes and families. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. They are all over the place, and they use lies, deceit, manipulation, fabrication, divination, false prophecies, threats, intimidation and all kinds of gimmicks to lure people after themselves and destroy them.

See:

The menace of false prophets and pastors in Africa

The False Prophets of Our Time in Africa

No One Knows Prophecy Better Than Me! And, Me! And Me! And...

The Church of God has been plagued for decades with one self-righteous know-it-all after another.  Each one claiming to know more than the next guy, and each one with more "accurate" dates. We started out with Herbert Armstrong claiming all kinds of fantastical prophecies.  Then Meredith, Hoeh, Blackwell, and others added their mixture of personal interpretations into the mix making the prophetic quagmire one enormous mess of lies.

Then Herbert Armstrong had to go and die, throwing the long list of prophecies and expectations into the trash bin.  The church then imploded which further threw the prophetic utterances out the window.  With the church in such a mess, Gerald Flurry started making his predictions as the rightful heir to Herbert Armstrong.  Then Meredith added his mess to the mixture.  So far everything these guys have predicted has been one epic failure.

With all of these failures swirling around, God's most superfantabulous man ever to live in human history began reinterpreting the Bible to fit his own deluded imagination. Dave Pack's prophecies have been so far out there that even God has hung his head in embarrassment.

With Dave out of the mess, Bob Thiel and James Malm stepped up to the plate with their equally deluded prophecies.  From Germans rising up and using the Hadron Collider to destroy the United States when Baron von Gututtenburg takes over as the Beast, to Church of God members being slaughtered because they lack zeal, these two bumbling buffoons have made it obvious to the COG that they have no idea what they are talking about either.

James Malm has the tribulation starting in the fall of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and many more dates to just be sure he eventually hits the right one.  Bob Thiel is likewise stacking the deck in his favour.  Both are outright liars and not to be believed.  Malm is the most zealous man on the earth and Thiel is the best doubly blessed self-ordained man the church has ever had lead it in human history, which makes neither one of them followers of the god they claim to follow.

Every single self-appointed prophet the Church of God has ever had, from HWA and onward to the fools we have running off at the mouth today, each and every one of them has been proven to be outright liars.  The Bible says all these little men need to have happen is to have one prophecy fail and they are 100% discredited and that members are not to follow them.  But since when have any of these men ever followed the god they claim to follow? In their eyes, it is all a money making scheme to put money in their pockets, either through forced tithing or incessant begging like Malm does.  None of these men deserves your money. None of them certainly needs to be followed as teachers of truth, because they are not.

10 Year Old Proud To Be Shunning Sister and the COG Disfellowshipment Policy

The above video has been making the rounds on numerous web sites, Facebook pages and blogs of people who have left abusive churches.  The video was filmed at a Jehovah's Witnesses meeting where they trotted out a 10-year-old girl to "witness" how she shunned her sister because her church told her too.

Shunning, disfellowshipping, ghosting and marking is one of the abusive practices of high profile religions and cults as a means of controlling members.  This policy rips families apart, destroys marriages, and breaks long established friendships, all in the name of the group's "god."

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have come under heavy criticism in recent years for their shunning policy. For those unfamiliar, the religion dictates that all baptised members who either resign from the religion, or who are thrown out for some perceived violation of its rules, must be complexly shunned by all Witness family and friends.

This edict extends to family members as well; sons are expected to shun fathers, mothers expected to shun daughters, and so forth. Refusal can, in the worst instances, cause the offender to also be shunned. Because Witnesses are very insular, discouraged from forming close friendships with those outside the faith, it often means that a shunned one literally loses everyone they have ever known and loved.

Disfellowshipping and marking have been a long established policy in the Churches of God. Almost all assume because Herbert Armstrong taught it, that they should too.  the biggest abusers are the more controlling groups of the COG, such as the Philadelphia Church of God, Restored Church of God, Living Church of God, and the Church of God an International Association.  This, however, does not leave out United Church of God, Church of God a Worldwide Association, Church of God International and many more smaller COG's, as they too, at times, publicly discredit former members.

The Painful Truth, Exit and Support and other XCOG sites are filled with one horror story after another about people who have felt the brunt of the COG disfellowshipment policies. A large percentage have ended up being revenge disfellowshipments by ministers who did not like a member or their actions.  Many had nothing to do with doctrine or belief. The Scarborough's are a prime example of this selective treatment.  Even children of church leaders are not immune to being publicly humiliated.

If you are going to take everything in the Bible literally, then the example of disfellowshipping also includes the welcoming back into the fold those disfellowshipped through reconciliation.  Do you know anyone who has been publicly disfellowshipped EVER welcomed come back into the church?  If you had been disfellowshipped, do you think you ever would have returned?

Is this biblical or did Herbert Armstrong add his spin to the biblical admonitions?

Alan Weight wrote the following in The Servants News in 2000 the following article, Is Disfellowshipping a Christian Practice? ,as to HWA's take on the policy.

To me the answer is simple. Mr Armstrong governed on this basic premise that this is the way church government ought to operate. Nip the problems in the bud before they have a chance to develop and get full blown. If you could do this, you could maintain a pretty tight and smoothly run operation. So in order to do this, a minister had to keep a close watch on things. He, may even unwittingly encouraged informants to keep him abreast of goings on.  

If he sensed the problems getting out of hand, he had to deal with them promptly, even if it meant getting rid of the "rotten apple" causing it. This, again, was done in all sincerity in keeping with what Mr Armstrong had taught. And it was carried out with all the more zeal when he deeply viewed it in the best interest of the .flock.. He was to be the shepherd of his local congregation and it was his .duty. and responsibility to God and to Christ.

Further down in the article Weight says this:

...the word "mark" comes from the Greek word skopeo, which simply means "consider" or "take heed". We might say it this way to take note of those people and what they're saying. Again, hearken back to what Christ said. He said "beware". Paul said "mark". No difference.  

But how has this word been used? Has it not been used in a most emphatic way? Whenever a person is "marked" in this way that person is "branded" by name. If some in the congregation were not aware of that person being a problem, they are now forewarned. It begins to color anything that person might say to you in the future. It imputes an evil motive might be lurking in that person and you "best not be talking to them".  

It also insinuates that the "ministry" is in the best position to know this and he's only doing it for your good. Both of these ideas could, more than likely, be false. He might, deep down in his heart, think he's doing it for your good, but what about individual responsibility? Both Christ, as well as Paul, laid the responsibility to "beware" or "mark" squarely on the shoulders of each and every follower... not to any individual leader only.

The ministry of the church has always considered members too stupid or childish to the point that they would be incapable of discerning if someone was wrong and causing problems.  Most people have it in them to discern that. However, COG leadership has always thought differently.

Is there an example in the Bible of Jesus ever doing this?  Every indication from the day to day actions of Jesus, in his parables, and in his healings, did he ever do such a thing? Everything he did and said, sought to bring all he came in contact with reconciled and in communion with God.  It was the church leaders, the Scribes and the Pharisees who thought otherwise.

In other places Paul specifically names a person that may have turned aside from the faith, but Christ rarely did. In Luke 13:32 He called Herod a fox. But rarely did He forewarn anyone about some specific individual. He was so careful not to do that, even his own closest disciples didn't know who would betray him. Doesn't that sound a bit strange in light of this foregone discussion? Rather Christ spoke in generalities such as with the Scribes and Pharisees. Whenever Christ spoke of someone by name or singled him or her out, it usually was in praise of that person or to honor him or her in some way. 

Can you imagine Rod Meredith, Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, Vik Kubik, David Hulme and the rest of the more abusive COG leaders ever doing this? Would they ever speak out in praise or honor the person in some way? We all know the answer to this, they preferred to smear the person publicly from the pulpit. Reconciliation was NEVER part of the equation.

Disfellowshipment was a tool to control members to never cause problems.  The warning was blatant that if they did, they too would suffer the consequences.

Weight ends with this:

In other places Paul specifically names a person that may have turned aside from the faith, but Christ rarely did. In Luke 13:32 He called Herod a fox. But rarely did He forewarn anyone about some specific individual. He was so careful not to do that, even his own closest disciples didn't know who would betray him. Doesn't that sound a bit strange in light of this foregone discussion? Rather Christ spoke in generalities such as with the Scribes and Pharisees. Whenever Christ spoke of someone by name or singled him or her out, it usually was in praise of that person or to honor him or her in some way. 

In summary, we should be able to see, that "marking" someone in this way, as pointed out in Romans 16:17-18 is something all of us must continue to do. Take note of what any and all are saying. If it measures up, fine. If not, be careful. The responsibility is ours. It's not given to any man who claims to represent Christ, or in Christ's service as a command to "brand" that person.

Considering this is the Church of God we are ultimately talking about, we need to ask when has it EVER followed Jesus?  Following the letter of the law has always trumped the grace, mercy, and reconciliation that Jesus taught and exemplified.

The Journal: Issue 197 Now Online

The latest issue of The Journal: News of the Churches of God is online.  It is hard to believe that The Journal is quickly approaching issue 200.

This issue covers the continuing controversy for some in the Church of God over "postponements" with an article written by Dixon Cartwright.

"If you haven’t yet heard about the calendar postponements, just wait a while. Questions about the Hebrew calendar and the touchy subject of its postponements are a hot topic in many of the Churches of God. To some people postponements are no big deal. To others they’re the mark of the beast. 

What are they? Do the brethren need to be concerned about them? Do they make any difference one way or the other? "

There is an interesting article by Benjamin Corey on "ghosting,"   a practice quite common in the COG and practiced by far too many members. He encourages members to NOT be the ones disfellowshipping.  This is probably the best article in some time.

Ghosting is something that can happen to anyone, in any social circle, or from any particular social group. However, we American Christians seem to have perfected ghosting to a finely crafted art. 

What is ghosting? You might not know the term, but you probably know the action. 

Ghosting is when someone abruptly ends a friendship with limited or no explanation, and when the former friend proceeds to quickly disappear from your life. 

Dixon writes about a former Air Force fighter pilot, now professional cartoonist, Earl Cayton

Lonnie Hendriks has a short blurb on former Armstrongites attracted to atheism, that I am sure will stir up a small stink.

I’ve noticed too that evangelical atheism has been particularly attractive to some of the former followers of Herbert Armstrong. 

I guess it’s a way for some of them to maintain their unique status as one of the enlightened (one of those who is not deceived). In short, they get to maintain their superiority over the ignorant, unquestioning masses. After all, it feels good to believe that my understanding is superior to yours. 

Moreover, ridicule and scorn are considered appropriate because the other side is ignorant and wrong. 

Hm, evangelicalism isn’t any more attractive in atheists than it is in theists, is it? 

Rex Jamerson, has an issue with slovenly dressed people at church.  You would not go to Buckingham Palace dressed like that, so why come to church dressed like that?  How many times have I heard THAT one?

COG members and leaders have been complaining about dress standards in the church ever since my family started attending in the late 50's.



Dave Havir as an article about leaders and people desiring to be "worshipped."  While this issue of The Journal was in the works before issues erupted in COGBS, it makes for an interesting read.

Some people (including religious people) have a lust to be worshiped and they overtly behave in a way to demonstrate their desire to be worshiped. 

Other people (including religious people) have a lust to be worshiped, but they are subtle in fulfilling their desire. 

Some other people (including religious people) do not have a burning desire to be worshiped, but they allow a group of people to draw them into sin. 

There is an article by Mrs Mokarow about her husband who died recently.

And, there is the usual nuttiness with some of the paid advertising.  What must a new convert think when they see this kind of malarkey?  Old time COG members laugh it off, but it portrays a disturbing mentality that has existed in the church for decades.

Herbert Armstrong Was RIGHT!!!!!!!!! Hitler Escaped To South America! HWA Vindicated!!!

Many in the Church of God have always had a fascination with alternative "news" sites, papers and books, as they promoted one conspiracy after another.  When I came to Pasadena in 1975, Gary North was the man of the hour.  Newsstands in Old Town Pasadena were filled with his books and WCG members and employees devoured them.  Anything concerning the Illuminati was sure to gather a COG following.  Then there were the Visions of Fatima crowd who thought Fatima had written down three prophecies with the final one sealed till the end of time.  This is the one that sends Almost-arrested and jailed Bob Thiel in orgasmic prophetic ecstasy.  Add to this the anti-Semites that filled the church who passed around the Protocols of Zion as proof that Zionists were trying to infiltrate the church.

In 2017, in the various COG fringe elements, are those who still find solace in alternative news sources and Internet sites.  The three biggest whack jobs in the church today that do this are the Kitchen family, Almost-arrested and jailed Thiel and deluded Wade Cox.  WorldNetDaily is the go to source for news in many COG's today, from Almost-arrested and jailed Thiel to United Church of God.

Timothy Kitchen is crowing on his Facebook page that Herbert Armstrong was right and finally vindicated by offering "proof" that Hitler and Eva Braun did not die, but had escaped to Argentina where they died of old age.

Herbert Armstrong taught this nonsense for many years and the church even printed this idiocy in their magazines.  The church somehow thought that Hitler was in Argentina rallying his troops for the final invasion to destroy the United States.  This has always been the scenario that the Church of God salivated over.  It was as if they actually looked forward to seeing people hung on meat hook parents eating their children, having concentration camps packed with Americans and fiery ovens burning alive American, Canadian and Australian citizens. Nothing would have made the COG ministry more happy to see the youth of the United States carted off to Europe to be slaves to their new European masters.

Timothy Kitchen, posted a story from YourNewsWire.com about Hitler being alive.  Kitchen states:

"Proving God's Apostle and Church true once again."

Documents proving Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun fled to Argentina in a Submarine

Newly released FBI files claim that Adolf Hitler escaped by submarine to Argentina where he lived in a heavily guarded ranch at the end of the Second World War suffering from asthma and ulcers.

An amazing cache of files shows that J Edgar Hoover’s FBI classified files surrounding Adolf Hitler’s escape by submarine to Argentina.

Recently released FBI documents are beginning to show that not only was Hitler and Eva Braun’s suicide faked, the infamous pair might have had help from the director of the OSS himself, Allen Dulles.

In one FBI document from Los Angeles, it is revealed that the agency was well aware of a mysterious submarine making its way up the Argentinian coast dropping off high level Nazi officials. What is even more astonishing is the fact that the FBI knew he was in fact living in the foothills of the Andes.

YourNewsWire mixes articles with half-truths and outright satirical information.  A quick search of the Internet can tell the Kitchens this, but no, that is too hard to do since it does not fit their narrative. This is not the first time that the Kitchens have fallen for a satire site, and it wont be the last.  Almost-arrested and jailed Thiel still does this, as does Wade Cox.  Apparently, decades of listening to half-truths and outright lies from the pulpit have not equipped them to deal with reality.  Distorting the Bible, preaching personal opinion as truth, and deliberately lying to their members, has been the distinctive hallmark of the COG ministry.  Whether one is lying to members about Hitler being alive, deceiving a couple thousand Africans with myths and lies or preaching that the Koran is a legitimate book for Christians and that half of the African Continent is now Sabbatarian and COG members.  Millions of Muslims have abandoned their religion in order to become Sabbatarian COGites.

Can truth ever be found in the Church of God?  As it shrinks into oblivion, does any one care anymore?

Herbert Armstrong:  IS HITLER ALIVE, OR DEAD? 
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No Matter Where You Go In The World, We All Think The Same...

"it's so great that whatever church we visit 

in the entire world, 

we know exactly what all the other members 

are thinking."

The above phrase is one that was common in the Church of God.

Read it again.

Is this really something that is good?

No matter which COG you ever visited, anywhere in the world, everyone believed and thought the same.

No questions, no "what if's," no room for doubt, just accept anything the minister tells you as "truth."