More to Philadelphia Church of God Family Horror Story

On November 18th, 2010 The Painful Truth web site posted a letter from a man who's niece had been thrown out on the street by her parents, members of Gerald Flurry's cult, The Philadelphia Church of God.

Philadelphia Church of God Parents Abandon Minor-Aged Daughter

When my 17 year-old niece told her parents she no longer wanted to participate in the Philadelphia Church of God, her cult-member parents abandoned her to the streets. “God’s Will,” her mother said.

For some time, my niece has been disillusioned by the Philadelphia Church of God. Her first awakening occurred when she asked her parents if she could stay with a non-cult member relative who lives on the East Coast, (that would be my wife and me), for two weeks, as part of her summer vacation. A boy her age, (a non cult member), who was enrolled in an accelerated program at school studying to become a doctor, was staying with us. My niece particularly wanted to meet this boy because she is also interested in studying medicine. The relative, that would be me and my wife, planned on taking the boy and my niece to see NYC and the NJ shore. My niece’s parents adamantly refused to let her visit the us. My niece’s “God ordained head of the household father,” who had been barred from practicing nursing in several States for violations, (I believe he showed up at the care facility in which he was employed, intoxicated. First, he was suspended for 2 years, then he had his license revoked permanently), especially wouldn’t even hear of the idea. My niece became distraught. Instead of letting their daughter enjoy her summer vacation with a like-minded teenager pursuing a career in medicine, her parents forced her to stay at home in the company of another girl from the Philadelphia Church of God. My niece says this cult member spent most of the time on her cell phone, bragging about having a three-way with two Mexican boys.

Another important event influencing my niece to leave the Philadelphia Church of God occurred while she was attending the Philadelphia Church of God youth camp in Edmonton, OK. Camp organizers forced my niece to play soccer in the heat, even though she had high fever. When she returned home, she had puss running out of her ears, and was deathly sick for two weeks afterwards. PCOG believes in relying on God’s faith to heal. Philadelphia Church of God “ministers,” camp organizers, and her parents refused to treat her medically.  The rest of the story is here: Horror Stories, How Bad Was It?

The follow up to this story is here: Wrecked Family: Part 1

After spending $2,000 on rescuing my niece from the streets after her PCOG parents abandoned her, she no longer talks to us, unless the topic of conversation is about money. I believe PCOG intimated her parents, threatening them with “disfellowship,” unless they stopped their daughter from telling us about PCOG. Perhaps PCOG read her story posted on this website.

As far as I know, my niece is back “dating” the younger, classmate boy referenced in my first story. Side note: According to my niece, her PCOG mother accused this non-cult member boy of statutory rape, confronting him in the hallway of her daughter’s public high school. My niece is actually almost a year older than him.

Ysrayl Hawkins: Armstrongism Weirdest Splinter Cult Leader

Click to enlarge

Armstrongism has produced some theological morons over the years, but none as weird as Yisrayl Hawkins, the convicted felon in charge of The House of Yahweh, in Abeline Texas.  Yisrayl has declared himself one of he two witnesses.

Read about this amazing man of god in his own words (warning-a barf bag may be necessary)

The man named Yisrayl, the one whom Yahshua Messiah and Mosheh testified would bear witness, teaching that Perfect Government based upon Perfect Laws, would be hidden through Yahweh's actions so that he would not be assassinated as a child by Yahweh's enemies.

Years ago, during the worst times of the Great Depression, a baby boy was born to a family in Oklahoma named Hawkins. At the time, these people were living in what was known in those days as the Dust Bowl. Due to severe droughts after World War I, that part of Oklahoma was a dry, desolate place, with poor people.

In that desolate area, a son was born to a family named Hawkins. Although the child's mother had a feeling this child was special, biblically, for some reason, she and her husband named the little boy Buffalo Bill Hawkins. The reason the child was named Buffalo Bill is a miracle in itself.

The man and his wife had an older son who was only eleven months old when the new baby was born on August 28, 1934. The father and mother were discussing what to name the new baby when out of the eleven month old child came the words "Buffalo Bill." They were amazed and all agreed that he had clearly said the name, Buffalo Bill.

 The parents did not understand how the child could suddenly say these words so clearly, but thought it must be coming from a Higher Power. Up until that time the eleven month old could only babble a few words. Yet, he said this name, Buffalo Bill, so clearly that everyone in the room understood. Thinking that a Higher Power spoke through the mouth of this eleven month old child, they named the baby Buffalo Bill Hawkins.

They had no idea that they or their newborn son started the fulfillment of Prophecy.

To most, the name Buffalo Bill Hawkins has no Scriptural or Prophetic meaning. It was the name of a famous showman. This was a part of Yahweh's Plan to hide the one man who would bear witness and teach that Perfect Government based upon Perfect Laws.

In the name Buffalo Bill Hawkins, the English word or name buffalo actually traces back to a Hebrew word written in the Holy Scriptures. A Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament by Julius Furst, page 1454, shows that in the original Hebrew Holy Scriptures, the Hebrew root word ta and its derivatives means a wild ox or a buffalo. This same Hebrew word ta, which Dr. Furst shows to mean buffalo is also listed on page 1641 of Volume 2 of the Hebrew-Aramaic-English Dictionary by Marcus Jastrow, which shows this word also means Yahash was kept hidden in the compartments of The House of Yahweh.

The name Yahash that Dr. Jastrow says is part of the meaning of the same Hebrew word ta that Dr. Furst said was translated buffalo in some Scriptures, is listed on page 375 of The Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros by Koehler and Baumgartner, which shows this word or name is a compound word that combined the name Yah, the syllabic form of the Name Yahweh; and the Hebrew word owash. The Hebrew word owash that became the second part of the word or name Yahash is listed on page 691 of the Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros by Koehler and Baumgartner, which shows this word means to restore.

What the Hebrew word ta that is translated buffalo actually means is: Yahweh hid him...in order to restore The House of Yahweh.

The name or word Bill that appears in the name Buffalo Bill Hawkins, when the English vowel I is removed, shows in the original phonetic Hebrew the Prophets and Apostles wrote and spoke to be a form of the Hebrew name Abel. This is shown on page 13 of A Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament by Julius Furst.

The word Hawkins in the name Buffalo Bill Hawkins, once the vowels are removed, and the phonetic letters of this name are reverted to phonetic original Hebrew, is listed on page 287 of the Students' Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary by Alexander Harkavy, which shows this word means a priest.

Without knowing it, by naming their child Buffalo Bill Hawkins, as suggested by his older brother, this man's parents gave him a name that means: He was hidden in order to restore The House of Yahweh at Abel and the Priesthood

.Psalms 27:5—
In the time of trouble You will hide me in Your Pavilion; in Your House in the Secret Place at Abel, You will hide me! You will set me high upon a rock! 

By the very name this man's parents gave him in order to hide him from his enemies, he also showed what he would do when he grew up. 

Not only is Yisrayl spoken of in the Bible but the Koran legitimizes this amazing man. 

The Qur'an

There is yet one more prophecy, found in the Qur'an, that we would like to bring to your attention.

Notice the following excerpts from The Meaning Of The Holy Qur'an by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Amana Publications 8th Edition Revised Translation, Commentary and Newly Compiled Comprehensive Index, page 1586.

Now I want you to carefully notice the messenger that sounds this warning as shown in the Qur'an.
The Name of the Caller, trumpeter, messenger is Yisrayl (Israyl) (Israfil).

This Prophecy agrees with the Holy Scriptures of Yahweh. Yahweh says the Messenger who brings this Prophecy is named by Yahweh. His name according to all Prophets, in all languages, is Yisrayl.]

This false prophet also has several failed prophecies just like Herbert  Armstrong:

September 12, 2006- Hawkins announced in the "House of Yahweh" newsletter (February 2006) that nuclear war would start September 12, 2006.[10] He claimed it is a part of the HoY's commission to warn the nations and the people of the world. Hawkins was interviewed on the Channel 4 web show "thisisaknife" about his apocalyptic predictions. Among other things, he claimed that Abilene, Texas would be saved from the impending destruction and invited the show's presenter to join him there so he would be safe.

June 12, 2007- Hawkins amended his prediction to state that a nuclear war was only conceived on September 12, 2006, and that it would follow the natural birth cycle of a woman, finally being "born" nine months later on June 12, 2007. On May 7, 2007 a new counter was put up on his website, counting down to the June 12 date when supposedly, the "Nuclear Baby" (conceived September 12) would be born.
Whether the entire nuclear event was to take place on that date, or in the months leading up to was never made clear. He also stated that by four months after June 12, October 13, 2007, four-fifths or 80% of the human race would be dead from nuclear war.
June 12, 2008- [11] Most recently, he has stated the nuclear war would begin on Thursday June 12, 2008. Since the passing of this date without incident, Hawkins has yet to predict another date for a nuclear war.

World Religious News had this  about him.  I can't figure out if this felon is still in jail or not.  Reading his cult's web site you would think he was there in Texas.  But then we also need to remember that Mark Armstrong is still promoting his dad as if he were still alive.  There is money and control to made with a name!

House of Yahweh's Hawkins sentenced to 30 years for sexual assault
By Daralyn Schoenewald ("Abilene Reporter News," December 10, 2008)
Abilene, USA - A House of Yahweh elder found guilty in October of aggravated sexual assault of a child was sentenced Wednesday by a judge to 30 years in prison.

Yedidiyah Hawkins, 41, used a vaginal speculum — a medical instrument used by gynecologists — to perform an examination on his then 11-year-old stepdaughter in January 2005.

Hawkins told the girl that he wanted to check her for cervical cancer, though he has no medical training, testimony at the trial showed.

Lisa Thornton, a former House of Yahweh member, testified that Hawkins was worried the girl was no longer a virgin.

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony, and Hawkins could have received life in prison.

The gallery of the courtroom, which seats 48, was full, and more than 10 people — not including members of the media — were forced to stand.

Other witnesses for the defense testified Wednesday during the sentencing phase that they never saw Hawkins abuse any of his 11 children. Several of the character witnesses became emotional, teary even, when pleading for leniency for Hawkins.

“We need him,” Erica Hawkins, a 16-year-old member of the House of Yahweh, told 42nd District Court Judge John Weeks.

“I know and believe him to be innocent. What he’s been through is more than anyone should ever have to go through. He’s innocent. He would never do anything like that,” former sect member Meleana Segura said.

Dressed in a standard-issue orange jumpsuit, Hawkins occasionally appeared agitated during the proceedings and was frequently jotting notes to his attorneys. One of his two Dallas-based attorneys, John Read, mispronounced Hawkins’ first name more than 30 times, leading one witness to correct him.

Read was pronouncing it “Yed-uh-DYE-uh,” which he said was “close enough” to the correct pronunciation of “Yeh-DID-ee-uh.”

Read seemed derisive when prosecutor Shane Deel referred to Hawkins by only his last name.

“Which Hawkins are you referring to?” Read asked, adding that there were a “lot of Hawkinses around here.”

Read and second defense attorney C. Tony Wright vociferously objected to Deel entering into evidence letters that Hawkins had sent to friends and family while incarcerated in the Taylor County Jail.

Jail administrator Lynn Franklin testified that all inmate correspondence is regularly inspected and photocopied by jail staff, and inmates are supposed to be aware that their mail is checked.

Read and Wright objected, alleging that the letters had been illegally seized by the jail staff. Weeks overruled the objection, and the letters were admitted. Later during closing arguments, Deel read portions of the letters. The letters showed a growing obsession with a young House of Yahweh member, whom Deel said Hawkins had chosen as his fifth bride.

“He not only abused his stepdaughter with the speculum he bought from a sex toy Web site, he’s got an eye on another girl. He’s got four wives, all on welfare because he doesn’t support them, and he wants to add the girl,” Deel said, pushing for a lengthier sentence than the minimum of five years that character witnesses and the defense wanted. “He was the only father the victim ever knew.”

Wright said in his closing arguments that Hawkins is a man who turned a troubled childhood into a useful adulthood. Deel, Wright said, is trying to smear Hawkins because of his religious beliefs.

“He is capable of doing good and deserves a sentence on the low end of the guideline. A very appropriate sentence would be five to six years,” Wright said.

Hawkins showed little emotion as Weeks announced the sentence. He still faces several other charges, including aggravated perjury, indecency with a child, engaging in organized criminal activity and bigamy. The cases will remain pending until Hawkins has exhausted all appeals on this case, according to the Callahan County district attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case.

48 Hours Left Before the End-times Hits May 21, 6:00 p.m.

 

There is a little over 48 hours left before you can kiss your a....family goodbye.  Do you have your Petra Pack ready?  


Harold Camping has predicted the beginning of the end-times on Saturday, May 21st at 6:00 p.m. exactly..  He and his little band of idiots will be raptured off to heaven while Flurry and his little band of idiots will still be waiting in Edmond.


People have sold their houses, their businesses and left families in order to prepare for this great day.  What is going to happen at 6:05 p.m. Saturday night when they are still sitting on their sofa's? Will Jesus have delayed his coming yet again because people just were NOT ready?


That is what HWA blamed the church for in 1972 when the world did not end according to his plan.  It was the membership's fault because they were not ready!  Gerald Flurry, the certified dingbat Armstrongite in Edmond, OK has predicted the end-times several times now.  They are still parked on their sorry asses in Oklahoma.  Rod Meredith has made so many predictions over the decades that no one pays attention to his silliness anymore.  Well, may Bob Thiel does.  But even Thiel has made his own silly predictions.  2012 anyone?


Harold is just one more in a long line of ministers who are delusional liars.  Sunday, May 22 will prove him wrong.  Camping is a false prophet just like Armstrong, Meredith, Hoeh, Blackwell, Flurry, Cox, Pack, Weinland, and Steven's.


Below are just a few of HWA's and Meredith's false prophecies:

1964 Coworkers letter: "only 7 years before H-bomb warfare breaks out"

Feb 1965: by Meredith: "documented proof Hitler did not die in his bunker"

Nov 30, 1963, coworkers letter: "we have only eight years to finish the Work"; Nov 22, 1963, coworkers letter: "in eight years all of our ministers will be silenced" - religious persecution on WWCG

13 Dec 1965, HWA in co-workers letter: "We are in the grand smash climax - only 6 years left."

1959 PT: "Doom for US within 10-15 years

1934 PT: "Christ will return in 1936

1940 PT: "Christ will come after 3.5 years of tribulation in October 43

 1960's PT repeatedly claimed 1972 would be the year of Christ's coming

 after 1969: HWA claimed it would be 1975

Gerald Waterhouse continually: if HWA died, God would destroy the world

through 1960's/70's until 1978 in coworkers letters: he & GTA will be two witnesses Zerubbabel and Joshua

January 1955 PT: hoeh: "We face a national catastrophe by 1975.. . we will be totally consumed and carried away captive to other nations as slaves within twenty years." No.

"Why has God called so many construction workers, plumbers and electricians into HIS Church? It is because we are going to build a city for Him in Petra during the three and a half years the Church is protected from Tribulation." - Carn Catherwood at Feast sites as late as the late 1980s.

If Herbert Armstrong dies before the Coming of Christ, he will sleep until the Coming and then be the top ruler of the world under only Christ himself.

It was Hoeh's 1950s "calculations in that ludicrous "Compendium" which convinced him, and, for at least 15 years, Herbert, that Christ would return in 1975 and that the three and a half years of Tribulation would therefore start at Passover 1972.    

1982 Coworkers letter: (for those who claim he mellowed with the years) "I hope to arrange for the use of Petra as a possible refuge or place of safety during the Great Tribulation when I see King Hussein. Pray for this please."      

For more of Herbert W Armstrong's failed prophecies click on this link:

Herbert W Armstrong's 209 Failed Prophecies 

How Proud Should We Be of William Miller?

Armstrongism has always loved to connect it's self to William Miller as proof we are in a continual chain of Sabbath keepers.  But, just how proud should we be of our association with Miller?  The It's OK Not to be a Seventh Day Adventist web site has several postings on it's sidebar from newspapers that had articles about Miller and his cult in the late 1800's.  Like Armstrongism, Millerism is riddled with one failed prophecy after another.  People have died because of Millerite teachings just as they have under Armstrongism.

Instead of bragging about our connection to him we should have been examining what he said and taught.  We should have been reading about how people sold their homes, farms and personal belongings because of his rantings so that our own people would not have done the same thing in 1969-1972. Maybe then we would have been more willing to see the lies and false prophecies that emanated from Herbert Armstrong, Rod Meredith, Herman  Hoeh, Dean Blackwell and Gerald Waterhouse.

How many more need to die in Armstrongism before people finally wake up?

Check out It's OK Not to be Seventh Day Adventist  for more of these articles.

They have also published a book that details the Millerite movement that Armstrongism broke off from.  One interesting thing about the book is the cover. 

It shows someone trying to sew the Temple curtain back together again.  That is exactly what Armstrongism tries to do day in and day out.  Sew the curtain back together by forcing the law on humanity.  It's not gonna work bubba!

Click on article to enlarge

Other Pasadena Locations

Below is an idea of how Pasadena has been changing over the years.  For those that made the walk from the campus to the Salt Shaker you passed by this area.  It is the old Amtrack train station on Raymond.  Now it is a great restaurant (that is far too expensive and noisy for a quite night out) called La Grande Orange.  Surrounding it are hundreds of apartments and condos that cover the Gold Line Metro Rail tracks.

Click for larger pictures

This is looking towards where the Salt Shaker Restaurant used to be that was kept in business by Ambassador students over the decades.

The following are shots of the third construction project that sits where the Pasadena Mall originally was in the late 70's.  The mall was changed in the late 80's because it was so hideous, and then torn down in the 90's and replaced with shops that are covered by apartments and condos. 

A so called 'urban village' that only the uprising young urbanites can afford.

 Pasadena Convention Center being torn down and buildings replaced (new buildings are up)

 Looking towards the Main Library

Pasadena Convention Center in background

Demolition Ambassador East Campus

Below are pictures of the demolition of the old Ambassador Press building and Mail Processing Department area.  These pictures are four years old, so this is not new demolition.  There are also pictures of some of the new buildings rising on the East Campus.

Mail Processing where the roll up doors were

(Click for larger pictures)

Small parking lot between Accounting building and rear of Machine Maintenance

 Looking East towards the old Publishing area

Foreground is where the cabinet shop was.  Building in background is there the Office Facilitates 

parking lot was

Standing where the rear door of the cabinet shop was looking towards the old maintenance storage area.

These condo's are in the rear parking lot of the Transportation Department including the lot of the old printing press on the corner.

Entrance area to the old Accounting Department - building has since been torn down.

UCG, the SDA's, COG7th Day and Sin City

One interesting thing about UCG that has been floating around for a while now involves UCG supposedly reaching out to the Seventh Day Adventists and the Church of God 7th Day.  There has always been a lot of bad blood between Armstrongism and our mother churches that we split from.  Many of the COG doctrines are similar to these two groups, but with Armstrong placing more emphasis on holy day observance.

Is UCG ready to chuck some of the more controversial elements of Armstrongism and make it's self look more legitimate in the eyes of our mother churches?

One thing UCG is distancing itself from is the end time freak show that seems to permeate the United States right now.  However, if UCG is ready to get in bed with the SDA's they might want to send some delegates to Las Vegas for the upcoming SDA Conference at the Cashman Center May 25-28th.

The SDA's and Armstrongites  have always looked upon the Catholic Church as the Great Whore of Babylon.  The title of the SDA conference is "Babylon Rising."  I can just picture three days of preaching about the Great Whore, and the Mark of the Beast (Sunday worship).  What a trip that will be in Sin City!

Babylon Rising 

You’re Invited to Be a Part of ‘Babylon Rising’ This May
This May, a four-night event called Babylon Rising will take a new look at the age-old controversy between Christ and Satan. From May 25-28, It Is Written’s new speaker/director, Pastor John Bradshaw, will host a timely, interactive series live from the Cashman Center in Las Vegas.
These meetings will take full advantage of new technologies to reach as many people as possible. Anyone—anywhere—will be able to host the meetings via satellite or the Internet in their home, church or business. There will even be a way for viewers to get involved with the live event through Facebook and Twitter.
“Babylon Rising will look at current world events and answer the questions people are wrestling with today, by examining ancient prophecies that have long been neglected,” said Bradshaw of the series.

What Is Babylon?
In the Bible, we read about a power that rose up in rebellion, defied divinity and conquered kingdoms and nations. Babylon was the greatest kingdom on the face of the earth, and rose to such prominence in all areas of life that it was able to impose its dominance on the world.
The Bible says that in the last days of this planet’s history, a revived Babylon will again be the dominant force in the world, and will again impose itself on a planet searching for solutions to pressing problems. “This is all so relevant because…history repeats,” said Bradshaw.
Babylon Rising will not only look at the issues in the world today—religiously, politically, socially and environmentally—but it will also see the cosmic connection between a reeling planet and a rising Babylon.

UCG Council of Elders: Kubik and Dean Replaced by Elliot and Ward

Kubik

Elliot

Dean

Ward

The United Church of God has finished its annual conference. Kubik and Dean are no longer on the council.  John Elliot has replaced Kubik.  Donald Ward will be replacing Aaron Dean starting July 1st. In the meantime Roc Corbett will be filling Dean's shoes till Ward takes over.

Once again we get to see the same old guard ruling over the members.  When will they ever bring new blood in?  Don Ward has so much baggage attached to his name that many UCG members are not pleased.

Then there is this tidbit about all the ministry standing around singing "Thank the Lord" at the close of the last day  is a creepy one to envision.  After losing close to 50% of their elders and ministers, they are getting all clappy happy.

Finally, to close this year’s general conference, Dan Salcedo, an elder from Southern California, led everyone in a closing hymn: “Thank You Lord.” The closing prayer was offered to God the Father by long-time pastor, Vernon Hargrove.

UCG's new Council of Elders Board is as follows:

• Gary Antion
• Scott Ashley
• Bob Berendt
• Bill Bradford
• Roc Corbett (On July 1, 2011, Donald Ward will take Roc Corbett’s seat.)
• Bill Eddington
• John Elliott
• Roy Holladay
• Darris McNeely
• Melvin Rhodes (chairman)
• Mario Seiglie
• Robin Webber

Would You Quit Your Job Over Pork Shoes?

I have not looked at Apostle Malm's, "Glowering Darkness" blog for a few days now.  It is always such a hoot to get back to reading some of the silliness that makes his blog.

Today a person admitted she/he quit their job at Payless Shoes because they were selling shoes made of pork leather.  I am so glad Apostle Malm is an authority on EVERYTHING!  How would we exist in this evil polluted world with out the magnificent instruction from our beloved Apostle?

I know I have asked a similar question, but I used to work at Payless and then after I left it hit me: was I selling some leather that was from swine? I recently have an opportunity to work at a supermarket that respects the Sabbath. But I can’t help but think that they sell pork products and I will be working the cash register. Is this somehow supporting it? Like selling what I myself wouldn’t buy? Is it wrong to work there? I have been looking for a job for some time now with no luck, either because of the Sabbath or other issues.

It is the store that is selling the product not you.  You are just working for that company and as long as you are not involved in becoming unclean through the cutting of the pork etc then you may work for that company.  If we could not work for sinners we would need to be taken out of this world altogether.  We are IN this world: We are not OF this world and are to keep ourselves personally unspotted by its wickedness.  We can work for a store that sells pork in the same way that we can work for a man who curses;  that is their problem and not ours unless we begin to sin as well.

"Dreaming In Arabic" Now Available In Book Form

Jennifer Armstrong's book, Dreaming in Arabic is now available in book form.  Check it out here: Dreaming In Arabic

I grew up in the Worldwide Church of God, an organization labeled “cult” by most of mainstream Christianity. At the head of it, was Herbert W. Armstrong, a forceful personality, with a unique interpretation of scripture. I grew up believing that we in the Worldwide Church of God were the only true Christians in the world. My mother told me a story of how when I was a toddler in the stroller and we were passing by a large old church, I pointed and said “Man's way.”

The Worldwide Church of God took a lot of their beliefs from the Old Testament. Being young, I never really understood why some of the ancient laws were kept and some were discarded. I'm sure there was a reason and I'm sure it made sense to the adults. At least, I hope it did. I've never felt bad for being part of a group that taught Biblically unsound doctrines. I was a child and a child will believe in
Santa Claus if you tell them with enough conviction. But I do wonder about the adults and why they were so quick to let someone interpret the Bible for them. My husband, who is eight years older than me, said that it wasn't so much the doctrine that attracted him as much as the emphasis on righteous living. And there was an emphasis on righteous living. But unfortunately most people were not living
up to the high standards we taught.

 I think another draw for a lot of people was the emphasis on prophecy. I grew up believing that someday, before a great tribulation fell upon the world, we believers would be taken to a place of safety where we would be hidden from the wrath that fell on everyone else. Herbert W. Armstrong had a radio show and a television show called The World Tomorrow where he preached out of Daniel and Revelation and gave his own unique interpretations. I think there were quite a few people who joined the church to escape the great tribulation.

It was believed that the place of safety was Petra, in Jordan. Mr. Armstrong would travel around the world as an “ambassador for peace” and one of the people he met was King Hussein of Jordan. The church had some sort of outreach to handicapped children in Jordan. Since Petra was in Jordan and Mr. Armstrong was a “friend” of King Hussein, it was taught that we would all fly to Jordan and stay in Petra for the duration of the tribulation. I have some vague recollection that at some point, soldiers of the world would surround Petra and threaten us all, but that heavenly retribution would strike them down. What was more critical to people was what they would bring to survive the years in Petra. One woman said she was going to bring two suitcases of maxi pads.

As a child, I once packed a small briefcase full of my favourite books and then carried it around with me, even if we went across the city on the subway, because it was said that we could be called to flee at any moment. One of my childhood fears was that I would come home from school and find my mother and younger brothers gone and that I would somehow have to make my way to the airport (by taxi, I suppose) or else I would miss the flight to safety. Contacting my dad at work was not an option. He wasn't a member of the Worldwide Church of God and therefore would have to face the tribulation. When it was preached from the pulpit that during that horrible time the guillotine would probably be restored as a form of punishment I resigned myself to my dad's inevitable fate. You see, my dad knew
too much. He had lived with a believing wife and would therefore have to stand up for the truth in the future time of persecution and would be punished for his belated realization that everything the church taught was true.

The Great Tribulation would be followed by ....

Spiritual Bastards

You never know what deep theological ramblings you will find coming from COG members.  Of all the important things in the world labeling people "Spiritual Bastards" seems to be important to some.    This classification by some Armstrongites is a convenient way to label all who disagree with them. You are the way you are because you are the child of unequally yolked parents.  Or the offspring of a believer and non-believer.  Or a person born out of wedlock.  You might be from an  incestuous relationships. Or, God forbid, you are the product of interracial marriage!  That is the ultimate abomination!

There are all kinds of ways some Armstrongites seek to deligitimize anyone who disagrees with them.  Sadly, that seems to be their goal.  To do as much as they can to make non members illegitimate and unworthy.  It is important in Armstrongism to be be able to label people as "the other'.  This deliberately makes them out of bounds from God's love.  By having 'the other' out there, it makes the Armstrongite feel special and called out above all others. God's chosen. Rulers of worlds. Gods to be.  Yuk!

What is a bastard?: Based on the above Bible helps, a bastard could be one of the following:
      · Descendant of an irregular union
      · Illegitimate children
      · Person produced as a result of an incestuous union or
        adultery/fornication
      · One born out or wedlock
      · Offspring of an interracial union

In a spiritual sense, a bastard is one who refuses to use God’s
correction to change or to be changed. He/she is one that is
supposed to be of the Body of Christ, but is not a pure spiritual
Israelite – washed white and clean by the blood of Christ.
Instead, they have become like an illegitimate offspring from a
wrong union. A mixed breed - like those that were the mixed
multitude that followed Israel out of Egypt – becoming thorns in
the flesh of the Israelites – causing problems and issues (Ex
12:28; Num 11:4). These try and destroy the sons of light with
their slanders and lies. From such, turn away. Origin of Nations: Spiritual Bastards

We Find This Very Disturbing!

Below is a video of a baby dancing on a table somewhere in Brazil.  

Armstrongites are outraged!  

A few of their comments after the video.

"I find it disturbing, not cute."

"What is the purpose of this dance that baby is doing?"

"Yes a little baby in diapers dancing. Its disturbing."

"Yes, it is disturbing. It is also disgusting that parents would do this 

to their young child."

"I wonder about why so many children are developing weird "talents" 

before they can even control their bladders." 

 

Is It OK To Do Puzzles While Listening To Sermons At Home?

 

The idea that any COG members needs to ask this question shows how sick Armstrongism really is!

Back in those early years in Church services, it seems that I can remember when the preaching Pastor would speak out against someone who was sleeping when he was trying to present his sermon! It must have been very exasperating for him to do his best to do his job in preaching and to have someone sleeping!

I can remember when, at one of those Holy Day meetings with several hundred gathered together, that I had spotted a Deacon, at the time, who was sleeping in his chair. I thought that he should have known better but that perhaps he had a bad night the previous night. I`m guessing that he was in his sixties at the time. Obviously, since I was in my forties, I couldn`t understand that!

Now, in my eighties, it is easy for me to understand! Most of the time lately, during services, I have had to fight off nodding to sleep and my wife would give me the elbow to wake me up and on another occasion I would have to bump her arm to wake her up!! We would always be sitting back about the third row and it could be very easy for the minister to see us and for us to be embarrassed.

We had been checking out MP3 tapes to bring home to hear and then when they came out with the DVDs, we chose to watch them through the TV, but the problem was, we would both start falling asleep so we went back to checking out the MP3s. What we had been doing was to put picture puzzles together when listening to sermons which would keep us awake and we could take in every word of the sermons! I had wondered if that would be proper to do on the Sabbath but that is the only way that we can stay awake to hear the sermons!! We have a card table set up in the den next to the computer where we listen to the sermons while piecing the puzzles together. It is the only way that we can stay awake .  

David Barrett Looking for COG Related Photo's

GTA at BING (Bing Crosby's TV Special)

Gavin has a post up today soliciting photographs for author David Barrett that have been taken by individuals of HWA, GTA and other Church leaders over the decades.  Requests to GCI/WCG have been refused.

I find it really strange that GCI/WCG is refusing to assist Barrett in this endeavor.  His first book, The New Believers was a well written book on various sects and cults active today.  He had a lengthy chapter on the WCG that was not a hatchet job or negative, but laid the facts out plainly.  It is also quite ironic that GCI won't assist him in any way considering how they have sold all kinds of WCG related materials to every moonbat out there that wants to continue to promote Herb's teachings.


This is reblogged from Gavin's site Otagosh

Are you a former WCG member? There's a new book in the offing. David V. Barrett, author of The New Believers, has studied the COG movement, and made it the topic of his PhD thesis. That thesis has been reworked for general publication. But David needs your help.

I've been hunting high and low for photos of HWA, GTA, RCM and others that I can use in my book.  The Churches themselves (with the exception of Restored for a pic of Pack) have been unhelpful; WCG/GCI won't even allow me to use a pic of the first edition of Plain Truth, let alone any pics of HWA.  Apart from Pack I've been able to track down privately-taken photos of Flurry and Hoeh -- but not yet of the really big names.

Do you have -- or know anyone who might have -- any copyright-free photos of any of the Great and the Good?

If I can't get HWA himself -- and there must be thousands of pics of him in AC graduates' photo albums around the world -- I may have to scrap the idea of having any photos at all in the book.

This is a book that many of us want to see in print. Can you help? David adds:

What I most need are copyright-free high-res photos of HWA, GTA, RCM, David Hulme and, if possible, the United council of elders to show the contrast.  And it would be good to have pics of the Pasadena HQ/AC to show the splendour of the site.  Ideally I'd like a similar pic of the Philadelphia HQ (or the swans taking off) to show the similarity, but I doubt if anyone has those.

The photos must belong to the photographer who is willing for me to use them in the book with a suitable credit line...

David Barrett's email is david@barrett.cc