LCG: Sciatica, Rumor Mill, Church Successor, Church Wide Fast, Humbling Ones Self, and DON'T PLAY CHURCH!

We are drawing close to the fall Holy Days time and Satan is getting angry. LCG is starting to feel his wrath by Gerald Weston being sidelined by painful sciatica and a herniated disc and busy rumor mills are already starting to spread rumors wondering who his successor will be.

Weston has seen several doctors about this and the prognosis is that it will heal in time. Gone are the days when the church taught that all illnesses in the church were a direct result of personal sin in one's life. And, that God refused to heal many due to their lack of faith. It's interesting that when Herb started getting sick this teaching swiftly went into the digestor in Big Sandy 

Also, it seems pride and haughtiness have set in in the membership of the LCG. Remember, church members can never do anything right so they now need to humble themselves on August 3 to see what's wrong with them in order to appease that incessantly angry COG god.

Oh, and apparently some LCG members are only "playing" church. Stupid members! Don't you realize that all the problems of the church and the failure of Christ returning to spank everyone's behind is all YOUR fault?

Dear Brethren,

 

Rather than allowing rumor or speculation to occur, I want to let you know about my physical condition at this time. Seven years ago, I had a bout of sciatica—a very painful condition. It lasted about three weeks and went away. It came back last September before the Feast of Tabernacles, but it improved enough for me to fly to Texas for the Feast, even though I had to stand at times due to pain while sitting. 

 

By November I was much better, and it was very manageable. However, a few weeks before the Texas Teen Camp this summer, the symptoms started coming back. Though painful, this did not prevent me from traveling to Texas to direct the camp, but I had to fly back to Charlotte on Friday to be here for Mr. Ames’ funeral. 

 

Dear brethren, even though I regrettably had to miss speaking at the funeral, I am extremely thankful to have returned to Charlotte. I was very, very blessed to be able to come back because by Sabbath it was worse, and by Sunday morning, I went to the emergency room for some relief from excruciating pain. This situation would be far more complicated for a variety of reasons if I were stuck in Texas. 

 

I have seen several doctors and the diagnosis is that it is a herniated disc causing pressure against the sciatic nerve that runs down from the buttocks, along the leg, all the way down to the foot. I am surprised how many of you have also experienced this and understand exactly what I’m talking about. While similar to past episodes, this time is far more intense. 

 

I am letting you know of this as I am a little sidelined for the moment. This is something that is temporary. It is excruciatingly painful and very unpleasant, but my doctor told me that 80 to 90 percent of people recover without surgery. 

 

Even though I don’t like focusing on my problems, I know that if I don’t say something then rumors and speculation can get started and people start worrying needlessly. It is kind of funny, but when I get a cold, a few members become anxious and wonder who is going to succeed me. Suffice it to say that there are some very fine men here at Headquarters who are thoroughly converted, strategic thinkers. The only concern I have about succession is which one is Christ’s choice. So far, He has not made that obvious, but it is encouraging to know we have men who can step in when and if needed. 

 

This is written to let you know that I may not be as visible for a few weeks. I sincerely do not like focusing on my own problems because there are brethren who are going through trials that are far, far greater than mine. Some have been going through long trials—very painful situations. And some are in end-of-life situations. So, while I appreciate your prayers, I feel unworthy of them and hope you will remember our dear brothers and sisters who may be going through much greater trials. They are precious in the sight of God the Father and Jesus Christ and must be in our eyes, too. 

 

Now may I address another subject—the upcoming fast on August 3. Sometimes people ask the question: Why are we fasting? What is the cause, purpose, or focus of the fast? Sometimes we miss the major focus of fasting, which is to draw close to God. As we read in Matthew 9:14-15, the disciples of John asked why the disciples of Jesus did not fast. Christ pointed out that since God was with them in the flesh there was no reason for them to fast, as the purpose of fasting is to draw close to God. It is very important that we recognize that we do not approach a fast from the perspective of ganging up on God to force our will upon Him. 

 

There are cases, for example with Esther, where there was a specific issue, a crisis for which to fast and cry out to God. But, as Mr. Herbert Armstrong taught, the focus should be on humbling ourselves. That is what fasting is: humbling ourselves, finding out what is wrong with us, finding out what we need to change. And while there are times where there is a specific focus, most of the time our fasts are about getting closer to God. 

 

Consider what is happening all around us. The world is in turmoil and looking for a savior. We already have three major upsets in elections. Here in the United States Mr. Biden has dropped out of the Presidential race. We had the assassination attempt on Mr. Trump. We have Mr. Macron in France who took a significant hit in the polls. I don’t understand the French system, but certainly Marine Le Pen won the greatest number of votes. Macron it appears, is still in charge, but the dynamics have changed. And, there was a major overthrow in the British government, with power returning to the Labour Party. Several other significant elections are upcoming this year. We also have members suffering serious trials. Our world is burning up in many respects and who knows where we are going to be by the end of the year. 

 

So, brethren, we need to recognize the need to draw close to God. This is a time when we must be serious. As Dr. Meredith used to admonish us, “Don’t play church!” I understand that most of you are not. Most of you are very serious and dedicated. But these are serious times, and we must grow closer to God. We need to examine ourselves, praying for God to show us how we can change as individuals and as a Church to get the message out to the world. Our focus should be on humbling ourselves, drawing close to God, being moved in light of all the things that we see in our world today. And be sure to reference Dr. Winnail’s comments on the fast. 

 

Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston

Crackpot Prophet Attempts To Play Apostolic Jesus Tag And Fails Miserably

@misterdifficult #cults #CultSurvivor #armstrongism #worldwidechurchofgod #wwcg #wcg #continuingchurchofgod #ccog #bobthiel @Pasadenaguy10 @exRestoredCOG ♬ original sound - misterdiffiCULT

Just when you think the stupidity coming out of Bob Thiel, the Great Bwana to Africa and the occasional 100 Caucasians can't get any sillier, along comes MisterdifiCULT highlighting Bob Thiel's apostolic succession nonsense. We have long said Bob is a liar masquerading as a Christian and this just adds more fuel to the fire.

Here is the direct line of succession that Bob Thiel claims leads to him being the end-time prophet. The asshattery here is appalling!

Peter through death circa 64-68 (mainly oversaw churches from Asia Minor, Antioch, and Jerusalem)

John through death circa 98-102 (oversaw churches from Ephesus of Asia Minor) 

Polycarp through death circa 155-157 (oversaw churches from Smyrna of Asia Minor) 1

Thraseas through death circa 160 (oversaw the churches from Eumenia, but died in Smyrna)

Sagaris through death circa 166-167 (died in Laodicea of Asia Minor)

Papirius through death circa 170 (oversaw churches from Smyrna of Asia Minor)

Melito through death circa 170-180 (oversaw churches from Sardis of Asia Minor)

Polycrates through death circa 200 (oversaw churches from Ephesus of Asia Minor) 

Apollonius of Ephesus through death circa 210 (oversaw churches from Ephesus of Asia Minor). 1

Camerius of Smyrna through death circa 220 (possibly oversaw churches from Smyrna of Asia Minor). 1

c. 220 - c. 254 Nepos of Arsinoe

c. 254 - c. 275 Unnamed Antiochian(s) or possibly Dorotheus 2

c. 275 - 312 Lucian of Antioch 2

c. 313 - 380 Unnamed Antiochian (s) 2

c. 380 - c. 470 Unnamed Nazarenes 3

c. 470 - c. 500 Constantine of Antioch and Aushin 3

c. 500 - c. 645 Unnamed ‘Paulicians’3

c. 645 - c. 650 Leader with New Testament from Syria 4

c. 650 - c. 684 Constantine of Mananali (Silvanus) 4

c. 684 - c. 696 Simeon 4

c. 697 - c. 702 Sergius 4

c. 702 - c. 717 Paul the Armenian 4

c. 717 - c. 746 Gegnesius 4

c. 746 - c. 782 Joseph (Epaphroditus) 4

c. 783 - c. 800 Unnamed Paulician(s)

c. 801 - c. 835 Sergius (Tychicus) 4

c. 836 - c. 919 Unnamed Paulicians

c. 920 - c. 950 Basil 5

c. 951 - c. 980 Jeremiah 5

1000s Sergius (27 years) 6

c. 1110 - 1140 Peter DeBruy (Pierre De Bruy)

1140 - 1155 Arnold of Brescia

1156 - 1181 Nicetas 6

1181 - 1205 Peter Waldo 6

1205 - 1224 Arnold Hot 7

1224 - c. 1240 Arnold Aurisonus, in Latin:  Arnoldus Aurisanus 7

c. 1240 - 1310 Unnamed Sabbatarian Waldensians

c. 1310 - 1322 Walter the Lollard 8

1322 - c. 1335 Raymond the Lollard

c. 1335 - c. 1460 Unnamed Sabbatarian Waldensians 3

c. 1460 - 1492 Anthony Ferrar 9

1492 - 1525 Stefano Carlino 8  or Unnamed Sabbatarian Waldenesians 3

1526 - 1528 Moravian Sabbatarian Anabaptist ‘traveling minister’10

1529 - 1540 Andreas Fischer 11

c. 1540 - 1563 Michiel Rovillart of Arras 12

1560 - 1579 Francis David 13

1580 - 1587 Unnamed Sabbatarian 14

1588 - 1600 Andreas Eossi

1600 - 1616 Simon Péchi

1617 - 1619 John Traske 15

1620 - 1652 John Pecke 15

1652 - 1654 Peter Chamberlen 15

1654 - 1661 John James 15

1661 - 1678 William Saller/Seller 15

1678 - 1711 Henry Soursby 15

1712 or 1716 - 1743 Thomas Lucas 16

1712 - 1716 John Maxson 16

1716 - 1718 John Maxson, Jr.

1718 - 1737 Joseph Crandall 16

1737 - 1748 Joseph Maxson

1748 - 1778 John Maxson

1779 - 1797 Nathan Rogers 16

1797 - 1820 James Dunn 17

1820 - 1850 John Cottrell 18 or 1823-1850 Peter Davis

1839 or 1850 - 1871 Asa Bee or unnamed Sabbatarian

1871 - 1900 A.C. Long

1900 - 1905 William C. Long

1905 - 1921 S.W. Mentzer

1921 - 1933 Andrew N. Dugger 19

1922 - 1933 John S. Stanford 19

1933 - 1986 Herbert W. Armstrong 

1986 - 2011 Aaron Dean 20

1986 -2011 Roderick C. Meredith 20

1986 - 2010 Dibar Apartian 21

2011 - present Bob Thiel

What the numbers mean

19 A.N. Dugger claimed to have apostolic succession, yet lost what he may have had shortly after he knowingly refused to teach truth. John S. Stanford taught doctrines like the Holy Days that A.N. Dugger refused to teach, but lost whatever succession he had when he basically ‘faded out’ of leading the work (probably at least partially because of some of his prophetic misunderstandings). 

20 Three leaders, out of many possible, are listed here in the transitional phase from Philadelphia to the Philadelphian remnant to lead the final phase of the work. All three had laying on of hands succession (as do all true Christians and ministers) as well as reasons why they could have had the Philadelphian succession mantle as well as reasons why that would not remain. Aaron Dean though maintaining many Philadelphian traits, has remained supportive of a non-Philadelphia-era governance structure. In Dr. Meredith’s case, he followed in the error of A.N. Dugger by refusing to teach what he said was true. Dibar Apartian, himself, died December 2010, and had tried to get Dr. Meredith to change. 

21 We accept that scores of others from the time of Herbert W. Armstrong have laying on of hands succession related to Laodicea (and perhaps other eras), but since Philadelphia was to continue (cf. Hebrews 13:1) it is through Dibar Apartian to Bob Thiel that we tend to assert the Philadelphian leadership succession occurred. 

We have seen much nonsense from COG leaders, but this one takes the sweepstake prize.

It is important to note the following:

Herbert Armstrong NEVER ordained Bob Thiel
Aaron Dean NEVER ordained Bob Thiel
Rod Meredith NEVER ordained Bob Thiel
Doug Winnail NEVER ordained Bob Thiel
Richard Ames NEVER ordained Bob Thiel
Dibar Apartian NEVER ordained Bob Thiel

The Worldwide Church of God NEVER ordained Bob Thiel

The Global Church of God NEVER ordained Bob Thiel

The Living Church of God NEVER ordained Bob Thiel 

Notice who is directly missing from this mythological line of succession: Gaylyn Bonjour. Bonjour is the man Thiel used to claim gave him the right of apostolic succession and the blessing to start a new church (which Gaylyn Bonjour NEVER intended and publicly said so)

The lies just keep getting deeper:

And, yes, people like Polycarp of Smyrna and Bob Thiel share the same basic doctrines and practices--including those that have been condemned by Greco-Roman church leaders, who gained political dominance in the third and later centuries.

And then there is this:

Anyway, God grants the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands and succession was taught in the old Radio and Worldwide Church of God, and has extended into the Continuing Church of God.

Bob Thiel is a liar in this apostolic line of succession nonsense and therefore invalidates his standing as a Church of God leader, and which rightly places him as a deceiver of the brethren.

Bible Talk: Universal Sabbath?

The Sabbath: Cultic or Universal?

According to Pastor Vance Stinson of the Church of God International, the Ten Commandments are a "universal" feature of God's Law - meaning that they apply to everyone. Of course, as part of the Decalogue, that would also include the commandment to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." Is that, however, consistent with what Scripture has to say about the Sabbath? OR Does the Bible reveal that the Sabbath was a "cultic" feature of God's Law - meaning that it applied to a relatively small group of people as a religious practice which set them apart from the religious practices of other peoples?

First, although the book of Genesis informs us that the Sabbath was created at the end of God's six days of work after "he" had finished creating (or recreating, as some would say) the earth and universe. Even so, we do not see the Sabbath mentioned again until God introduced it to the children of Israel after "he" had rescued them from Egyptian slavery.

In the sixteenth chapter of the book of Exodus, we read that "the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness" because they were hungry (Exodus 16:1-3). As a consequence, we read that God told Moses: "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily." (Exodus 16:4-5, ESV) A little later, in the same chapter, we read: "On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, 'This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.' So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. Moses said, 'Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.'" (Exodus 16:22-26, ESV) In this way, God introduced the children of Israel to the Sabbath.

Later, at Mount Sinai, we are informed that God included the observance of this Sabbath in the Ten Commandments which "he" gave to Moses (Exodus 20:8-11). Of course, in so doing, the Sabbath became an integral part of God's covenant with the Children of Israel. Indeed, this was made clear at the conclusion of that account of God's dictation to Moses of the terms of the covenant. We read there: "And the Lord said to Moses, 'You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'" (Exodus 31:12-17, ESV)

Thus, we can see that the Sabbath was a special feature of God's covenant with the children of Israel. Certainly, the Gentile nations of the world had no such tradition or practice. Hence, if Mr. Stinson is correct in differentiating between "cultic" and "universal" commandments, then we would have to say that the Sabbath commandment is "cultic"!

Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix

COGWA delays building of their new learning center

 

In March of this year, COGWA posted that they are looking at building a new auditorium/learning center, something every true Church of God MUST have! Herbert had one and Flurry has one, so why can't we?

They posted this:

Before I conclude this letter, I wanted to give you a brief update on where we are with the potential building of an auditorium on our property here in McKinney, Texas. We are currently in the process of negotiating with three contractors (we began with five) to see if this project will be viable. We were surprised that from the time we began our planning for this potential auditorium, building costs have gone up exponentially, by 50 percent according to some. To be perfectly clear, our goal from the beginning was to pay cash for any new building, or possibly pay mostly cash with a small, short-term loan that could be paid off in two or three years. If we can’t arrive at a price that we can afford, then we will put the project on hold until we have the cash to complete what we started. This should be determined in the next few weeks. At that time, I will meet with the Ministerial Board of Directors, and a decision will be made as to whether we: (1) put the project on hold for possibly another year, (2) cancel the project or (3) go forward with building. The determining factor will be the cost. I will keep everyone informed when a decision is made.

Now three months later, they have decided to delay the builing yet again. They plan on looking at it in January after the elections and to see whether or not we are in the midst of WWIII. Plus, the average age of COGWA members is getting old and money slows down at that point.

One of our options for this project has always been to delay. With that in mind, during a recent meeting of the administration and the Ministerial Board of Directors, a unanimous decision was reached to delay any building until at least January 2025. Here are the reasons that were discussed for such a delay:

• Economic conditions. There is uncertainty about the future of the U.S. economy. We should have more clarity by waiting until the end of this fiscal year (December 2024).
• Contentious U.S. presidential election. While one can say that this happens every four years, I don’t believe this year’s election will be typical of the past. This won’t be a normal election and could further divide our nation, creating more economic uncertainty.
• Building costs. The cost of construction rose by more than 50 percent in 2023, but the general consensus is that the overall cost of construction (labor and materials) will drop by the end of 2024. We have already seen a decrease in some prices this year, but there are certainly no guarantees that this will be true at the end of this year.
• New budget year. In December of 2024, the MBOD will approve a budget for the fiscal year 2025. Some important facts will be known by that time that are not known at the present time. What will our budget priorities be for 2025? What will our total income be in 2024? (Currently our income is ahead of last year and above budget projections.)

It isn’t because of a lack of funds that we are making the decision to delay. The Church is in an excellent financial position with the capacity to build an education center with cash, and without affecting the annual operation of the Church or our efforts to preach the gospel. The reality, of course, is that once funds are expended, they are gone and no longer available for other projects. During this recent MBOD meeting, we asked ourselves if we are willing to spend funds at the present time or if we should wait an additional seven months in order to analyze economic conditions and the future needs of the Church. The administration and MBOD unanimously concluded that it would be better to wait until January 2025 to make that decision.

In addition to the points mentioned above, there is another consideration that cannot be ignored. Because of the inevitable factor of age, it is obvious to all of us that within the next five to 10 years we will be losing some of our best teachers and pastors to retirement. How we will replace them is on my mind continuously. An education center may not be absolutely essential at this time, but I believe it would benefit our current education and leadership development programs and any new ones we choose to develop for the future. These programs will be essential for the future of the Church and must be given high priority.

Thank you for your support and patience as we work through all these details. Please continue to pray for this important decision for the future of the Church. We are a work of faith and we depend on God to take care of us, but we want to do our part in gathering facts and making the best decisions for the future based on those facts.