There is a Seat for Every Butt

There is a Seat for Every Butt

Humans tend to select the religious beliefs that suit their needs, not their beliefs. Beliefs are maintained to keep feeling that whatever need they have for that belief is fulfilled. Beliefs and practice are more often a function of personality than many would like to admit. We might think of God as being able to call, work with and maintain a group of "Chosen Personalities" easier than generically "Chosen People." Cats tend to hang with cats, dogs with dogs and fish with fish. Organizations divide up in much the same way based on needs that lead to beliefs to maintain and fulfill that need. Have a need that is unfulfilled, and you will find a belief to meet the need. It's what the brain looks for when the mind is not happy, insecure or confused.

Some people need a thinking man's religion. Episcopal, Unitarians, Methodist and perhaps Lutheran (I'm being illustrative here based on my own experiences so keep this in mind), might fall into this category for people like that. The people, or at least their ministers, are highly educated in theology and, while often not able to share everything they know about the Bible, its origins, transmission, contradictions and problems, are open to the fact that human beings wrote it in some way inspired by God but maybe not perfectly or as we might have wished. These types tend to go with the flow and as long as church feels good, is informative and inclusive, their need is for that is fulfilled. Unitarians would allow for the most free thought, in my experience, and usually attract those that need to express and validate what their own personal studies about the errancy of scripture, the many ways God can be and a very large inclusiveness of all. Unitarians tend to meet people where they actually are in life and it is ok. They don't throw you out for understanding that Christmas is the birthday of lots of Godmen like Jesus, throughout history. Similarly,

Unity Churches (different from Unitarians) are a step above and you can understand that much of the theological cycle of belief can be understood in the study of astro-theology or the journey of the sun thru the 12 signs of the zodiac. They also don't mind much if one is gay and any other ideas you have may also be welcomed, or tolerated. Love is the answer. We're all hear to learn. People who come to these types of churches tend to have suffered under the more fundamentalist denominations and beliefs, stepped outside the box of what they grew up with and simply refuse to be restricted in the beliefs that work for them personally any longer. They need to not be controlled or come under the "guidance" of personalities or denominations that demand respect as being specially called of God to annoy them. Of course, many are born into these churches too.

Some people and personalities need emotional experiences to feel good and loved. They seek people, churches and organizations that fill that need and arrange their beliefs to keep the flow going. Many Evangelicals fall into this need. Hand waving, lots of emotion charging music, group hugging and "fellowship" are high on their list of needs that fuel their beliefs about the truth their church has to offer. They love a good Passion Play or Christmas program with lots of human actors to play out the story of Jesus visually. They can't understand why those who do not need that kind of emotional reenactment aren't crying along with them and wanting to go out and tell the world about Jesus. They loved Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ" and took it very very personally.

Their ministers tend towards the emotional type sermons, wipe their brows often in sweaty performances for Christ and walk around a lot on the podium. They like people, (not themselves) carrying big crosses down the isles and stages draped in purple. Some of their ministers have a cadence in their speech that would only work in church and a presentation that would make you chuckle, if it wasn't the minister under God's inspiration. The more gawdy, (no pun intended) the furniture, the better they like it because they think it resembles what God might use Himself in heaven. They like the color of gold as well and in fact, love the gold itself. Their followers give the gold too as if they were really giving it to God, who in fact, doesn't really need it personally. There is little accountability over the spending of the gold because God has informed the Pastor just how this should be done and that's pretty much the end of it. These folks tend to enjoy a good Gospel show and will support any visiting star of the Christian stage that comes to town, in addition to their local church.

 Emotion, inclusiveness and specialness is what this group needed, along with accepting the ridiculous, and that worked just fine. Accepting the ridiculous in both religion and government is often the price one pays for wanting to feel safe, special and cared for. Not one person got up and said, "this is nuts and I am out of here." That's the power of need.

Some groups attract people who need to feel special and experience the direct and the perceived power of God. This would be Pentecostals who, while they tell the new person that speaking in tongues is not required, make them feel less than spiritual if in time they cannot perform this feat of emotion. Let's face it, if you can speak in a heavenly language that no one understands in fact, YOU ARE SPECIAL. The fact that speaking in Christian tongues sounds the same as speaking in voodoo tongues is beside the point. Add throwing yourself down on the floor and flopping around like a fish out of water, and your degree of godliness and specialness soars through the roof. This type of emotional need also brings Pentecostalism and Pentecostals the distinct honor of being the denomination that has the most sexual "sins" among it's membership and ministry over all. Emotionally motivated people need all emotions, not just the flopping around on the floor ones.

The best drinkers in the country are the Baptists who aren't allowed to drink by the church. The denominations that prohibit it suffer from the most alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The counties that ban it and go "dry" are the wettest counties in America behind the scenes. As they say, a Good Baptist can't remember you're name if they see you at the liquor store, or Hooter's. In these cases, "Thou shalt not..." provokes "Oh yeah, just watch this." The Baptists also have a very high turnover rate, perhaps the highest of men in the ministry for falling into the sins that they deride the congregations over week after week. "Me thinks thou does protest too much," applies quite a bit of the time when a man can't stop referring to specific sins or lifestyles, in my observation and experience. We tend to berate the things that fascinate us.

Some people need to feel secure and safe in a world that they perceive as ruled by satanic forces opposing the now just around the corner, (still) Second Coming of Jesus. Their churches and ministers tend toward reading the Bible like a newspaper and every world event is leading towards "the crisis at the close." It's all about prophecy, the true church vs. the false, the called vs. the uncalled and the saved vs. the unsaved. There is an immediacy in every sermon and you can't outgive God financially to do this end time work, but they ask you to try. God may love a cheerful giver, but being a cheerful tither is pretty much expected if you are sincere about knocking Satan off his throne for Jesus sake. You don't need to fix your teeth, your home or prepare for your children's education, because "by then" you'll be a spirit being born into the family of God, so give us your money.

Finally, there are those that need one grand religious know-it-all to tell them everything about God, Christ, Jesus, the Gospels and how it all fits together from Genesis to Revelation. These are the Religions of the Grand Poopas. The one minister that those who need the one man show follow is "amazing," "charismatic," "smart," "truly lead by God," "Knows the mind of God," (in all things by the way), and Apostolic in his ordination. To not come to services in groups like these is to be checked up on and ask why not. To miss an church sponsored event is to be thought of as "non-supportive," or even in danger of falling away from the church. The followers tend to sit back and just listen, needing the comfort of his words and perspectives while their own are dismissed as limited in scope. No one tells the Pastor he is out of line, as he is never out of line and no one has any authority over the man. While not often spoken, the feeling the man gives is that "when I need to be corrected, God will correct me." Of course, this is a rare even, often unrecognized by the man even it were to happen, which it doesn't, but no member can ever inform the Pastor of his mistakes or in some cases, mental problems.

I have often felt a minister or self appointed leader can better hide out in a church than in a corporate environment. IBM would fire by noon a man who declared himself to be the "One True CEO or Manager."

Ministers with mental problems or with narcissistic tendencies appear to be "spiritual" or more obedient to God, because they always quote scriptures to make it sound like they are doing what an Isaiah, Jeremiah or Jesus would do. Aside: Did you you know Jesus wears a bracelet that says, "Why Did I Do that?" Some say it really asks, "What Would I Do?" Some church members who come under the authority, because for some reason they need to, of one man need to wear a bracelet that says "remember not to leave my brains at the door of this church every week." Oh well. Mental illness disguised as righteousness or obedience is what gets some churches, ministers and their members into the headlines. Quirkiness in the ministry can be harmless or harmful depending on the need to tolerate such things the congregation has. The level of toleration that some audiences have for the words spoken by the one man show can sometimes leave one's head spinning as to why. But only those that don't need that type of religion, who often in the past were victims of it, tend to be able to spot it when they see it.
People who need this type of church are easily lead and controlled, which is their need. "You tell me why the world is this way, and make me feel safe and special, and I'll support you." These people need to feel God's daily protection from harm, specialness and that "a thousand shall fall at thy right hand and ten thousand at thy left, but it shall not come nigh unto thy dwelling." Adventists, many Evangelicals and Christian Zionists fall into this category of need. Some take the need for personal security to great lengths with stored food reserves and a home arsenal that would make a Marine blush. Some will kill you and let God sort you out, if you get in their face or space, or try to inform them that the Bible may not be informing them quit as accurately about the times that THEY just happen to be living in as they think.

Whatever our need is that informs our beliefs, it might be safer to also understand these observations about not giving up your self, your brain, your money, your time or your need to let other people, organizations or governments do all your thinking for you. Don't let your needs take you into something that you'll end up sorry you got for your efforts.

"A man who does not think for himself does not think at all."

"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."Oscar Wilde

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."Howard Thurman

"If I'm going to sing like someone else, then I don't need to sing at all." Billy Holiday

"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers" Voltaire

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something." Plato

"There comes a time when you have to stand up and shout: This is me damn it! I look the way I look, think the way I think, feel the way I feel, love the way I love! I am a whole complex package. Take me... or leave me. Accept me - or walk away! Do not try to make me feel like less of a person, just because I don't fit your idea of who I should be and don't try to change me to fit your mold. If I need to change, I alone will make that decision. When you are strong enough to love yourself 100%, good and bad - you will be amazed at the opportunities that life presents you."  Stacey Charter

We all have needs. We need to be loved, listened to, appreciated, helpful, believing, trusting and to feel secure in an insecure world. Those needs end up informing our beliefs. There are many things that one can believe about many things. There are many organizations, belief systems, Churches, Temples, men, women, gurus, apostles, priests and kings who are more than willing to manipulate your needs, either deliberately or in their own ignorance of doing so, for advantage. Next time you sit in a crowd, congregation, group meeting, or audience, ask yourself "what is my need that I am here, listening to this?" Sometimes when we answer that question we end up defining our real needs better by getting up and voting with our feet on whether one really needed that.

Remember, if your head says yes, but your tummy says no...your tummy is telling you the truth and your head is lying through it's follicles. When the mind makes your stomach hurt, it's trying to tell you some truth. We don't need to come up with any more beliefs based on artificial needs, created by others for us to fall into at this particular time in history.

Dennis C. Diehl

DenniscDiehl@aol.com

Racial Purity, Armstrongism and Haile Selassie

There was a post on Stuff Fundies Like the other day about a letter that was written to Bob Jones University about interracial dating.  The letter refered to the story that Moses married an Ethiopian.  Bob Jones III had the typical things a fundamentalist would say (as do far right Armstrongites.)There are two types of Ethiopians - blacks and whites.  Whites were the good kind and that is what Moses married.

Click to enlarge

What struck me as interesting in the post was the reference to Haile Selassie.  Remember how Herbert Armstrong salivated over this man.  He featured him on the Plan Truth, showered him with Steuben Crystal and made numerous visits with the man. Selassie also bedecked HWA with gifts and medals.

What was HWA's fascination with the man?  Could it be partly in reference to the comments made by Bob Jones?  Jones like HWA was not too keen on close ties with blacks.  Selassie was looked upon as a white Ethiopian and NOT one of the black Ethiopians. Therefore in HWA's British Israel thought process, white was good.  HWA assumed that Selassie was a direct descendant of the Queen of Sheba also an Ethiopian.  Because she was mentioned in the Bible interacting with Solomon, she therefore had to be white, since the Christan church has compared Solomon and Sheba at many times as Solomon being a type of Christ and Sheba being the Church.  Because Christ marries the church, therefore Christ could NOT have married a black woman!

Let Caeser Feed Your Hungry Neighbors

One of the hallmarks of a Christian is that a person is supposed to care for those less fortunate, the hungry, the imprisoned, the naked stranger at the gate.  This kind of caring does not stop with Christians. Agnostics, atheists, people of other religions all see the need to care for the less fortunate. 

However for Church of God members that all flies out the window.  Herbert Armstrong and the Churches of God has had a long history of IGNORING the homeless, the hungry, the poor and the Samaritan at the side of the road.  The reason was, that if Church members spent money on the poor and the homeless, then that was money that was not being sent to Herbert Armstrong or any of the harlot daughters of Armstrongism.

In the late 70's there was a minister in Pasadena who was an alcoholic.  He had struggled with it and found that AA worked for him.  He got a small group of local Pasadena churches together to work on this issue.  HWA, Meredith, and other right wingers in the church had a fit.  They screamed and screeched till the man had to withdraw from the group.  Church members were then discouraged from attending AA meetings.  They were to find support and encouragement from REAL godly men who were Christs ministers on earth in the Church of God.

Another incident was right after Herb had shut down the Pasadena campus the first time around and before GTA was canned.  Ted wanted to use the Student Center to feed and clothe the homeless in Pasadena.  This went over like a lead balloon with Herb and crew.  Another screaming fit was had by HWA and Meredith about the lost income and the hungry, dirty, urine soaked homeless people that would be walking on God's most beautiful campus on earth.

Like every other issue Apostle Malm wants to get his grubby little hands in, he has something vitally import to say about this too:

 A reader of the Apostles blog asks:

Hi James, We still have that freedom to own and run our property here in Tassy {AUSTRALIA} and as I mentioned before, owning and looking after live stock is a 24/7 job, we pay no one to work on the sabbath, I do what needs to be done ! and then call it a day. And as much as I dislike factory farming,{ours is notone} who or what will feed this ever increasing population ?

The Apostle replies:

Let Caesar worry about his increasing masses! We are called out of this world to learn a better way so that we can teach that way to others in the Kingdom! David was a shepherd and the farmers and herdsmen in the faith have a special opportunity to learn so very much! Let us learn from our circumstances and not get drawn into Satan’s ways of doing things; who knows what will come for us in the Kingdom? James

So, in other words, it is SATAN who has inspired people to take care of the poor in the cities, to feed them, clothe them, give them shelter!  Part of the real issue behind Malm, Meredith, HWA, and other COGlet ministers is that the homeless tend to be made up of a disproportionate number of blacks and Hispanics.  A true British Israelite knows that these people are 'gentiles' and therefore will be take care of later in the Kingdom when they are washed clean of their 'gentile' heritage.The stupidity that continues to come out of Apostle Malm's mouth is amazing.  The worst part are the FOOLS that think he is making sense!

COG Members: No Gas, No Food and NO Plane Flying on Saturdays!!!!!

The Apostle has a hard time for those poor folk in the COG that might have to stop off and get their gas tanks filled up because they have to drive such long distances for church services. God forbid if you are stupid enough to also stop and grab a bite to eat!  You eternal salvation is at risk if you do. The Lake of Fire is your destination for that Big Mac and Coke you had to stop and buy to keep yourself awake after sitting for three hours listening to a boring preacher.


If you had only been a REAL Christan and had planned ahead you would not have had to buy gas or food.  And, if you were foolish enough to have bought a home a long ways away from a 'local' church then that is your fault too!  Apostle Malm has these awesome words for you to consider:

We are not to work, cook, travel, buy or sell; nor are to be the direct cause of others working.  To buy food and services in a restaurant on a Sabbath or Holy Day is to break the Sabbath,  it is hypocrisy to pay other people or businesses to do what we would not do ourselves on moral grounds and it is setting a very bad example.
If in driving to services we must buy more gas; we are going too far and should better stay home and listen by other means.  Artful organization will provide answers to these various problems.  Elders are to set an even better example and are NOT to travel, or enter a restaurant or business establishment on the Sabbath or Holy Days.

Buying gas or food on Saturdays is not the only problem Apostle Malm has an issue with. He does not appreciate that you might have to  take care of your animals on Saturdays or at the Feast of Tabernacles time.  If you are a foolish and unthinking COG member that owns a large farm with a lot of animals it is YOUR fault and you should get rid of them so you will not have to 'work' to feed, milk or care for them on Saturdays.

The fact that you have a lot of animals is a direct result of Satan attempting to cause you to sin on the Apostles so called 'sabbath' day.  When you have to care for the animals or have to hire someone to help you, then you are a heartless reprobate who has become a tool of Satan.  It's Satan's fault that you have "no feelings whatsoever for either workers or animals."

How many more stupid rules and regulations is this man gong to continue to dump on his acolytes in order to make their lives more miserable than they already are?

LEAVING FARM ANIMALS FOR THE THREE PILGRIM FESTIVALS

This is indeed a problem.  First I would say that the biblical concept of an agrarian society is far removed from the feed lots and factory farms common today.  Since these are seven days a week operations and have no feelings whatsoever for either workers or animals I would suggest that it is not appropriate to be involved in such activities and that anyone so involved should take steps to disentangle themselves.  The family flock or farm was the Israelite tradition of the past and it will be the wave of the future in the Kingdom of God; where every family will again have its inheritance of land.

I realize full well that Satan has set up an economic system which strangles the family farm today, and that the family farm is facing virtual extinction in America.  That is Satan’s means to taking to take control of every aspect of society and God will change that very soon now.

We could speculate endlessly about the Kingdom, but we live in the here and now and must apply scriptural principles to the situation today.

1.   Take proper care of your animals on Sabbath and try and do what you can to make that easier by preparing what you can during the week.  If you and family members are not enough and you have an employee, take the time to explain to him that you want NO work done on Sabbath except that which is necessary for the comfort, safety and care of the animals.  No spreading manure etc etc.  Make your instructions very clear and take a close watch to see that they are followed.

If someone is working for you, then you are responsible for their actions while in your employ.  We may ask people to help in performing lawful acts such as caring for animals, or acts of mercy; we may NOT pay [which payment assumes responsibility for], or seek help to perform unlawful acts; such as working in a restaurant, flying an airplane, or selling anything else  on Sabbath!

2.   When leaving for the Festivals, make the same instructions absolutely clear: Only do what is essential for the care, safety and feeding of animals on Sabbaths and Holy Days.   Since the caring for animals is a biblically recognized essential; it is not inappropriate for someone to remain behind during the Festivals for that purpose.  Therefore it is not unlawful to pay someone who is not attending the Festivals to care for our beasts.

These are broad guide lines based on the scriptures and on the input that has come in.  I hope that they are helpful and further input is most certainly welcome.  The details will have to be worked out as each individual farm and family has different circumstances

The Apostle's Commission: To Tighten The Yoke Tighter

Apostle Malm has stated the purpose of his commission and ministry:

Isaiah 58:1

 ¹ “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
   Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
   and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.

Now that he has established that, he wants your money!  Like all good harlot daughters of the mother church, he is begging for money to support his vital (in his eyes only) ministry.  He is shouting the same blubbering nonsense that the other 600 some harlot daughters have been preaching for decades.  Not a single one of them has ever accomplished anything or told the truth.

This full post has also been put up at the news site, as I work to use the news to also present the Gospel.  As time passes and things unfold I intend to use the keen interest in the news that events will bring to really reach out and fulfill Is 58:1.

This is only the earliest beginnings of that plan. I am preparing to begin advertising in earnest over the next few weeks and content [on the news site] will become more scriptural.  Please consider supporting this effort to provide a message of warning and hope to the world.
This is a tremendous opportunity to really preach the Gospel of warning. repentance and hope; which is being overlooked by the major COG groups: who are asleep at the switch!

Anyway, back to the Apostle’s bible quote.  Like a good harlot daughter he only quotes ONE verse from the Isaiah 58 - verse 1.

He conveniently ignores verse 4:

⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
   and in striking each other with wicked fists.

In his arrogant pride he is just another false prophet in a long line of Armstrongites who have ripped the church apart with strife and quarreling.  His way is the only true way and all who disagree with him are rebellious sinners.  Lot's of love in that belief!

Then on to verses 6 and 7:

 ⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
   and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
   and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
   and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
   and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

The Apostle has been telling his acolytes to fast that God's will be done.  Nothing of the sort has happened.  Apostle Malm, like the rest of the harlot daughters of Armstrongism have tightened the chains of oppression
and injustice and made the yoke even tighter and heavier.  Myriads of laws, rules and regulations are laid out (i.e. the women's hat stupidity) to burden believers down more and more.

Armstrongites don't share their food with the hungry, or provide the homeless with shelter, or clothe them.  They have been taught by Herbert himself that we are not of this world and should not worry about the world around us.  Christ is coming at some point in the future and will take care of it all then.  So, at this point in time it is more important to give that money you should have used to care for others, to the Church of God for it's so called work.  Only UCG (whom Apostle Malm despises with derision) comes the closest to this with Victor Kubik's ministry LifeNets  Apostle Malm certainly is doing no such work in the world.  He is not caring for the sick, the homeless, or the oppressed!  Instead he has turned into the oppressor!

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
   with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
   and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
   and your night will become like the noonday.

When we see the Apostle Malm doing these things then he might, just MIGHT be considered worthy of being listened to. Instead he is proud, boastful, arrogant, and dismissive.  He is nothing more than a liar and a false prophet of Armstrongism.

Shocker: Satan is a Woman and Was Married To God!

Armstrongism never is dull!  So many are willing to believe anything after being spoon fed for decades by HWA, GTA, Meredith and others.  So it is an easy thing for them to jump ship into crazier things.  Many left the COG and went into Messianic belief systems. However, I doubt many joined up with this kind of silliness.  Words fail me......

Satan--Was She Married to God?

The article Was Satan/Helel/Venus "Married" to Yahweh? by Rabbi Edward "Levi" Nydle writes about a very controversial topic which he had in his mind for some time.

Not only do we discover Satan is a SHE-a woman, but in fact was a bride adorned to God. But not content with being the bride of the King, she wanted to RULE over the King. Very far fetched some would say. Others would immediately believe this is apostasy of the utmost--if not, blasphemy!

On Isaiah 14:12, Rabbi Nydle writes:

"Satan –Lucifer or in the Hebrew Hillyl which comes from the Hebrew root of Halal. Halal is #1984 in the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary and means: to be clear, to shine, to boast, to celebrate, glory, give light, to give in marriage, praise, rage, renowned, shine. Did you notice the bold words on marriage? In the Lexicon in Veteris Testament Libros, by Koehler and Baumgartner, page 235: Halal means: a beautiful woman, a wife who is praised by her husband, a woman whose works praise her. The New Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies, page 506, shows it to mean to be given in marriage, worthy to be praised."

Rabbi Nydle points out that Satan originally created to be the bride of Yahweh--her intent was to be given in marriage.

Satan Was She Married To God? 

Bin Laden, Adolf Hitler and Beltane

Can Armstrongism get any wackier?  The lengths people go to find some kind of conspiracy and work of satan is amazing! Church of God and Messianic News

Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Bin Laden, Adolf Hitler and Beltane

Few will realise that Osama Bin Laden's death was announced on the 1st May, 2011, which is the occult holiday, Beltane. Yet, even more surprising was that Adolf Hitler died on the 30 April, 1945 but his death was also announced on the 1st May, some 66 years earlier.

From the Time.com:

"On May 1, 1945, Germany announced that Adolf Hitler was dead, leading to the end of the allied campaign in Europe during World War II. That same date 66 years later, President Obama announced the death of the al-Qaeda leader and international terrorist."

The 1st May is the occult holiday known as Beltane. The day has immense occult significance, marking the midpoint of the Sun, between the summer and spring equinox celebrated by bon fires, fertility rites and maypole dancing.

The Bible warns us not to have anything to do with the occult. Those who engage in these activities put themselves at risk of being possessed by evil spirits which will ultimately destroy them. If you are under occult bondage, burn all your occult items, and pray to Jesus Christ for deliverance, asking the Holy Spirt to help and guide you!

The rest of the site is filled with Rothschild< Jesuit and Zionist conspiracies,  more drivel on the Koran as a support to the Bible, numerology, tassels, 613 laws, mezuzahs, and more!

Dennis On: Choose Your Beliefs or Someone Else Will Choose Them For You

Choose your Beliefs or Someone Else Will Choose Them For You

"Be sure to choose what you believe and know why you believe it, because if you don't choose your beliefs, you may be certain that some belief, and probably not a very creditable one, will choose you." Robertson Davies,'The Deptford Trilogy ' (p477).

Early in life, people believe what they have been told and taught to believe by those who have been also so taught before them. For better or worse, most humans on the planet still believe what others have taught them from the beginning as if, by chance, they just happened to luck out and end up being born into a family that absolutely had the final truth on most topics already understood. Of course we know this is not really likely.

But humans are mostly content not to look out and wonder if what they have been told is really true. Most humans, it seems, are not so much interested in truths as they are with comfortable beliefs. Comfortable beliefs don't really have to be true, but they are satisfying as long as one does not think too deeply about them or question the facts or their presentation.

Truth on the other hand can be very uncomfortable and yet while true, pushes the person away from that set of beliefs they were given at birth and expected to abide by. This causes no end of drama, as those who are content with beliefs, do all they can to punish and coerce those who opt for truth over belief.

They may over talk to them about how wrong they are, or not speak to them again to punish them for straying outside the tribal beliefs. In some pathetic cultures, they simply kill you and solve the problem of you're influencing others to rethink their own beliefs, given by the tribe. It is not nice to fool Mother Nature, but it is even worse to buck the tribal beliefs and wonder if maybe you have not been told everything.

Today we see that discomfort over beliefs vs. truths in the rancorous debates over evolution vs. creationism. While the facts of evolution are generally true, details to follow, creationism is falling quickly out of favor as the explanation of how life and mostly humans came to be on this planet. The people who defend creationism do so to defend their belief on how God did or didn't do something. Their belief is based on an ancient text. It is also based on the absolute need to defend the inerrancy of the text and reality of God as we have been taught "him" to be in Sunday School.

Science defends evolution based on evidence that there might be more to life than what is contained in ancient texts. They don't claim to understand it, but are willing to step outside a box that creationists aren't, because there is so much evidence that contradicts the Biblical account.
Now creationists are endeavoring to defend the text as being good science, but it simply can't be done anymore. Showing animals in Old Testament stories spotted and stripped poles before birthing so that they produce spotted or stripped offspring is something even they will have to admit is not how it works. That's really bad science on the part of the Bible, but made perfect sense to them three thousand years ago. Modern genetics really is the answer to really bad biblical "science."

Other beliefs, based on biblical texts are falling out of favor due to overwhelming evidence that contradicts them. Most honest pastors and theologians know that the birth stories of Jesus are not literally true. Most know, the story of Jesus is not all that unique in human history and the archetype of a dying God/man, persecuted, crucified, dead three days and risen again is not a once told story of Jesus.

Most recognize that the Old Testament did not spring out of vacuum, but rather out of the pagan cultures and Egyptian influences that preceded it. Most who take the time, realize the concept of God evolves even in the Old Testament right on through the New. The simple Christian, "loving father God" of today is not how it all began. Today we have a difficult time thinking an all knowing, all caring, all forgiving, all everything God would define himself as a "jealous God" who punishes generations of people for the sins of their great great grandfathers. Although literalist christians are very comfortable with that because, "God says, I believe it, that settles it for me." Whatever is not comfortable to even a literalist is dismissed as your not really understanding the text, or that God, while jealous, is all the other good stuff too. I think if I hear, "for the wisdom of man is foolishness with God", "My ways are not your ways", or "God does not see as a man sees", one more time as a way to bale the literalist out of a pinch, I shall scream :)

With just a bit of time today researching a favorite topic on the internet, one can find that there is much much more to the story, the facts and the implications of a topic than what they simply had passed on to them from mom and dad who got it from their mom and dad, who got it from ....

Many today are coming to realize that the entire drama played out in the New Testament as the literalized story of Jesus was first played out in the heavens and still is today as the earth rotates around it's axis and around the sun. The rising and setting of the Sun of God in the heavens, which is literally the "light of the world" and literally as the sun, delivers us from darkness, and "in which is no variableness nor shadow of turning" is a type that literalists christians will someday have to come to terms with. It is no coincidence that when Jesus is said to have been born of a virgin on December 25th, at the end of the three darkest days of the year, Virgo, the Virgin precedes the sun rise and thus literally "the Virgin brings forth the Sun."

It is no coincidence that the Lamb is crossified in April when the Sun is in Aries,the Lamb, at the junction of the celestial equator and the sun's path across the heavens at the spring equinox (equal night). Humans have seen this story acted out for thousands of years. The entire circle of the zodiac, and the path the Sun/Son takes through it, tells the identical story of the life and death of Jesus and every other God/man in all cultures. The names have been changed to protect the innocent when it comes right down to it.

It has only been since the corporate and literalist church and church fathers demanded the allegory be believed as literal history upon pain of death that all the conflict and heartache of religion began. Taking an allegory and making it literally true is why the Bible seems to have so many problems and is not the harmonious piece of work that the Church would have one to believe. Many of them know it is not, but won't tell you because it does not keep the system alive if people think for themselves.

It is not to a literalist church's advantage for you to realize that a real God does not require you to go through anyone and certainly does not need you to show up at a specific building at a specific time where you learn specific and contradictory truths from the one true minister, and lose about ten percent of your annual income to boot. That's religion.

True spirituality is an inside job. What we see today in literalized Christianity is crowd control and a demand that people stay put in the box and reject any contrary facts in the name of Faith. Faith is what is demanded when the facts start to scare the powers that be. In truth, Paganism = truth when one understands Christian origins. The Christians met the pagans, and inspite of appearances, the pagans won.

So, back to original point.

Most of us had our truths preselected for us and we simply were expected to carry on the traditions. But we live in a world where information is much more available to show that most likely we have not all been told the truth of many things. Frankly, most won't even bother to look outside their given truths. I know that. Some will look and in horror at being wrong, will retreat back to where it is safe and comfy. Some will be intimidated for a time to not look, though they want to.

Some ministers today are forced to warn their parishioners NOT to go on the internet and research the real background of their church, religion or sacred story. Whatever you do, don't use the search words "jesus mythology", or "pagan Christian origins", or "Astrotheology", "Errancy", "contradictions Bible" or a host of other words combined in such a way as to open your mind and infuriate everyone else who does not want you to learn one bit more than the guy, and it's mostly guys, who is the provider of his truth to you.

But go for it anyway, and remember...

"Be sure to choose what you believe and know why you believe it, because if you don't choose your beliefs, you may be certain that some belief, and probably not a very creditable one, will choose you."

Dennis C. Diehl

DenniscDiehl@aol.com

Men's Hair Lengths and Women's Veils: "Duplicitous" COG Teaching

Is it? Or, isn't it?

The circle dancing continues with the Apostle regarding hair.  The Apostles claims almost all who have read his postings concerning women's hair coverings agree with him (over 2,000).  A few have disagreed and that has gotten under his skin and he has become very defensive.

Today he has this blurb about men who have long hair.  It's not as bad as you think, Godly men can wear long hair.  Herb and Spanky must love that! " It it was good enough for Sampson, it's good enough for us."

.   This was the custom of that time:  If we reject that custom for today; we must also reject the concept that men must have short hair and ladies long hair because these were also the customs of that time in that area.

When Paul says that nature teaches that it is a shame for men to have long hair, he is appealing to the natural or cultural norms of the day and area.  In terms of the natural order, it would be unnatural to cut that which nature grows.  And the prohibition against hair cutting in certain vows of service to God clearly demonstrates that God is not against long hair in men.  It was indeed the custom for men to cut their hair and the prohibition against the cutting was among other things a sign of being set apart to God.

The biblical injunction was against effeminacy which could most definitely include hair length and style;  that doe not give the COGs the right to legislate specific hair length as being over the collar etc.

One cannot reject one part of the issue and then accept and demand another part be required.  Either it is correct for men to have short hair and women to wear veils or it is not; they go hand in hand as cultural norms of that time and place.  The church has been very self righteous about setting Corinthian cultural norms for men’s hair lengths and yet has not abided by Corinthian cultural norms in female head coverings.  This is duplicitous.

You rebellious Jezebel's aren't off the hook either.  The Apostle claims you are upset about hair coverings because you are not humble!

Covering the head by women is not a specific command of God, neither is it condemned.  Yet it is thought to be humbling by some, or they would not protest so much.   It is burdensome; it is too much trouble, etc!  Personally I put on a hat every time I go out into the rain [which is a lot on the west [wet] coast, and I do not find it burdensome at all!

The Apostle, like all Armstrongite legalistic apologists cannot seem to make up his mind. Hair coverings are not required, yet he encourages you to do it.  It's the same dance that all the harlot splinter cult leaders trot out when they claim to be new covenent' followers, but that the law is to be kept also.  You can't have it both ways.  Apostle Malm can't have it both ways and will soon resort to making it a requirement for all women in his cult just as all the splinter cults require the law today.

So this is how the Apostle dances around it all:

Of course I write in generalities, there are some very whole hearted and true brethren out there!  God bless you all!

Translation:  The TRUE called out believers will get what I am saying, the degenerates will not and will be rebellious.....

Take a Hit of Jehovahjuana

It's no wonder Christians are looked upon with so much derision by so many when there are these kinds of people out there.

 John Crowder claims he met Jesus while on an acid trip and now travels the world getting people quite literally high on God. He and his disciples 'drink', 'inject' and 'smoke' Jesus and spend much of their time seemingly wasted and posting bizarre sermon videos on YouTube.

Those Immodest Church of God Women

 

Looking at the above picture you see a group of happy people who have reached a milestone in their lives.

However, according to the grumpy far right nutjobs in the Church of God this is a group of immodest, inconsiderate, ignorant wanna-be fake Christians (i.e the women only).

These are the recent graduates of the UCG Ambassador Bible Center.  Regardless of what I think about the 'biblical' education they have received, they have accomplished something important in their lives. 

Maybe with the new direction UCG is headed these might be the movers and shakers that actually make a difference in the Church. However, that is another post.

Now get a look at what one woman in the COG thinks about these women above.  She was responding to Malm's asinine hat post yesterday:

Custom or no, it is quite clear to anyone who attends any of the COG’s that there is rampant immodesty in dress exemplified at services, so one can imagine what is worn at other times. I am amazed at the number of strapless dresses, mini-hemlines, plunging necklines, and sprayed-on applicator dresses that are worn for purposes of worship. A quick glance around at services and at the 2011 Ambassador graduating class picture (posted proudly online for all to see) speaks volumes. When was the last time we all heard a genuine sermon at ANY of the COG’s about appropriate dress and its impact on cultivating modesty (or not)? At every single church event that involves swimming or beach/pool access (like at the Feast, etc), a reminder announcement to wear modest swimsuits apparel has to be written. How sad is it that God’s own people have to be constantly reminded to dress with a modicum of humility? Shouldn’t this be a moot point by now? Is it that we really still don’t know how to dress ourselves properly after all these years or is it that we just don’t give a flip? Do we fear offending some by taking a stance on the issue publicly, from the podium? If so, then this begs yet another question–what is the attitude behind the silence?

I can only imagine what this woman dresses like.  Probably still in a long skirt to her ankles like COG women had to wear in the 50's/60's, no make up, her hair up in a tight bun like this:

or 1960's Ambassador hair like this:

Today's Society is Evil Because It No Longer Wears Hats

It's too bad the bogeyman satan didn't totally take down Apostle Malm's blog yesterday in order to stop the asinine silliness in legalistic bullshit he has been coming up with lately.

His constant harping about hats for women and men is getting ridiculous.  As long as he wants to continue in this legalistic BS, I will continue to point out his silliness.

Hats for men are symbols of power and authority, hats for women are a sign you are chaste and under authority of a man (and men in general) and that you know your place in the food chain.

In a similar manner the custom in Israel of covering the heads of women was used by the apostle Paul as an allegory of spiritual things.  We cannot understand the meaning of 1 Cor 11 unless we understand something of this custom in Israel.
COURTESY, MANNERS AND CUSTOM

Until very recently it was the custom for men to wear hats while outside.  When the entered a home or business they removed their hats out of respect for the household or establishment and it was considered an insult for a man not to remove his hat on entering.  It was also common courtesy for a gentleman to tip or lift his hat upon meeting ladies, this was also good manners and common courtesy.  Gentlemen ALWAYS removed their hats while praying or in the presence of god or that considered Holy.  This was done as a show of RESPECT to God and the Holy.

Ladies especially married ladies usually wore hats which would be worn both inside and outside.  This was a token that they were chaste and faithful to their husbands, a token of the power [authority] of their husbands and their faithful submission to their husbands. To be properly dressed would include a modest garment including some type of hat or head covering.

These customs of proper modest dress including head wear were almost universal in the western world until about WW1 when national mores began to loosen and change.  it is now at the point that such considerations have been long forgotten.  I recently entered a restaurant only to see several men eating with their hats on.  This is an incredably rude and uncouth, mannerless thing to do; yet these folks were quite probably just ignorant of the basics of good manners and courtesy.

Today we are living in the most wicked period in human history and we are so enured to it and the evils are so commonplace that we go about blissfully unaware of the overspreading of our abominations. 

If the Apostle Malm wants to talk about abominations in the world he needs to start with the Churches of God and the evil that exists in it first!  Oh wait, he is, that's why hats for men and women are a first step in obedience.

(Malm's interpretation is in black, scriptures in red)

 Women should cover their heads in front of their men as a sign of submission because you are less than.

 In Israel a woman who uncovers her head symbolically removes herself from the authority of her husband and is as an adulteress.  For that reason a woman accused of adultery is to uncover her head at her trial of loyalty.

In Israel married women specifically covered their heads to prevent men other than their husbands from lusting after their beauty revealed in  the glory of their hair. A married woman who went out with her head uncovered was considered promiscuous.

⁵But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. If a woman has her head uncovered she is considered promiscuous by the custom of Israel.  For having her head uncovered is a dishonour to her husband and is the same as broadcasting that she refuses the authority of her own husband; which means that she also refuses the authority of his head, even Christ and the Father.

⁶For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. If a woman refuses to cover her head, then let her head be shaved or her hair cropped close.  This cannot mean that the hair is the covering since if she had hair and it were the covering spoken of; why would Paul command that the hair be shaved off?

In Malm's world and in all legalistic fundamentalist cults, sects, and religions, women are relegated to the dung heap as unworthy, less than, potential wanton hussies, all the while they are bombarded by the fact that that the men are created in the glorious, majestic, powerful image of God.

⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: the husband is a type of Christ who will become the husband of the New Covenant. but the woman is the glory of the man. The woman is to cover her head as a symbol that she is under the power or authority of her husband and of his head, Christ and the Father.  For the man symbolizes Christ as the husband of spiritual Israel.

¹³Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? People of Israel; whose custom is that an uncovered woman is a promiscuous person and an unfaithful wife; is it right that a woman come before God with the attire of a rebellious wife?

Apostle Malm has discovered the root of ALL the problems in the Churches of God.  You rebellious fools who do not wear hats are the cause of ALL the problems in the Churches of God.

Look at the state of the church today!  Why are we in such a state?  Because we lack God’s spirit, and we lack God’s spirit because we do not obey him with zeal and a whole heart; instead every group leader is doing what is right in his own eyes.  Why do we not obey?  Because we lack that basic of love for God called

R E S P E C T.  We neither love him enough to fully obey him, nor do we respect him enough to obey his Word!

I had thought that this head covering was a small thing and after more study I find that is goes to the very basics of the problem in the COGs; Personal P R I D E and a lack of respect for God!

So a word of warning to all you ladies out there.  Unless you wear your hat to church for prayer and around your husband, you will turn into a wanton hussie like this:

Satan Attacks End Time Prophet/Apostle Malm's Blog

ANNONCEMENTS: Last evening the site was hacked and a Roman Catholic article in Polish was published and remained on this site for about one hour.  I thank those who brought this to my attention and as I was checking my email last evening this was caught and dealt with almost immediately.  Your prayers are needed and requested.  AS the message gets stronger and stronger, the ACCUSER will become more and more active.

 

The Genographic Project

For those interested in discovering your British Israel roots that determine you are an heir to the throne of England.........or to establish your legitimacy as an end-time prophet through your royal blood line from David.........

 

The Genographic Project 

Dennis On: Sanctified Ignorance

Sanctified Ignorance is Still Ignorant

We all have our stories of how we got here and who we are in the universe. Most stories told by every culture point out the unique origins of that culture, like as not, springing directly from that particular cave or mountain in distant and mysterious times in the past. When the National Geographic Genographic research team gently informed aboriginal Australians of their African origins, according to the DNA evidence, the Elders reacted with a simple "no, we originated here and maybe they came from us." Comforting and upholding of ancient aboriginal beliefs, but not scientifically true. You could feel the tension this new information brought into the cultural beliefs that for so long had encouraged and sustained them. I doubt they will change their understanding of themselves with this bit of scientific information.

A similar reaction occurred when the team informed the Navajo in the Americas of their DNA origins linking them to a still existent people in Siberia. The immediate reaction was understandably defensive for Navajo origin stories which had them always living in the Four Corners area of the now United States. In time, I believe they agreed that there was room for both the science and the tradition and, in this case, both maintained their truths on tribal origins. But the science was more literally correct. The uneasiness was palpable.

And now the Indigenous People's Council on Biocolonialism, the IPCB is raising even more concerns about the effect this knowledge will have on belief systems of indigenous peoples. For better or worse, "Indigenous peoples have consistently voiced their opposition to this type of research because it breaches cultural values, bioethical standards and human rights law. The IPCB believes the project is being undertaken at the expense of indigenous peoples. Debra Harry, the organization's executive director, writes on their website, "It is quite likely this project will advance new theories of our origins that may contradict our own knowledge of ourselves. There can be no claim as to which understanding is correct, and will result in a clash of knowledge systems. Moreover, there could be serious political implications that result from a so-called "scientific" assertion that indigenous peoples are not "indigenous" to their territories, but instead are recent migrants from some other place. This cuts at the heart of the rights of indigenous peoples, which are based upon our collective, inherent right of self-determination as peoples, under international human rights law." A standard ethical requirement in human research is that the benefits must equal the risk. The IPCB believes that in this type of research, there will be no benefit to indigenous peoples, yet the research creates substantial risk for the individuals and peoples affected."

It is this advancement of "new theories of our origins that may contradict our own knowlege of ourselves," that seems to be so difficult for humans to handle. Truth is still true though denied by all. In such defensiveness science always get's called "science so called" and even does in the Bible as "Science, falsely so called" (I Tim. 6:20). This phrase is always used when the science is really not false, but it is threatening to sincerely held beliefs. I don't like someone knocking the nose off my idols any more than the next guy, but that's progress, painful and ever moving forward. The Bible makes fun of learning at times in this nervousness over knowledge when it mocks those who are "ever learning, but never able to come the knowledge of the truth" (II Tim. 3:7), to which I say, at least they keep trying and even Jesus is reported to have said, "seek and ye shall find." Of course he meant spiritually but it's good advice in all endeavors too.

The moment you believe you have it, you've lost it.

We all have our origin stories that, in time, will probably prove to not be true, at least not literally. We live in an age where even most Christians realize that the origin stories of mankind in the Garden of Eden, through a first set of parents, Adam and Eve, are not literally true. The problem with believing that is that much of the doctrine in the New Testament requires the story of the first Adam and Eve to be literally true as they lead to such literally true doctrines as the role of women in the church, why women have babies painfully, Jesus being the "Second Adam" and the Doctrine of Original Sin. All of these beliefs and teachings are destroyed by the Genesis story not being literally true.  Scientific truth has implications for Biblical origin stories.

If there was no real Eve, or Adam whose fault this wasn't ;) who really caused all of mankind to fall into original sin, for which we all must repent etc, then there is no need of repenting of that which never happened or of needing a Savior in the way portrayed in the New Testament. Stories and ideas have implications to say the least. Many Christians think it is ok NOT to believe in things being literally true. But that has incredible implications for other things they think they believe but dont' realize the connection and contradictions their position causes theologically. Plainly, if there was no literal Genesis like creation of mankind and fall into sin, and it is shown to not be true by good science, the implications are staggering in how we will have to change our views. Frankly most won't but will, as always, attack the messenger and burn the message, or just burn both.

Actually, a simple cheek swab was all it took for me to find out my own amazing DNA trip out of Africa 70,000 years ago. Perhaps this is done for some reason somewhere, but for the Genome project, this fear is very unfounded. Our genetic history is easily taken from the inside of our mouths. Every cell contains the whole.
Simply speaking, it appears that ALL modern humans originated in and then spread out from Africa within the last 100,000 years or less. What a great story to read at Clan meetings! All the "differences" we see in humans are adaptations we made along the way in our trek from there to Europe, Asia and the Americas. Good science gives us good explanations, always subject to new information about this process.

Indeed, we do need to insure the privacy of the individual if they wish it and we need to be sensitive to the process that others go through when they are faced with the implications of such information and research. It takes time to accept change and as stated, many won't, but rather will just become angry and defensive. We see this all the time in the attacks Christian literalists launch into from their pulpits when new knowledge threatens old ideas.
It's funny, in my previous church affiliation there was a belief that always annoyed me scientifically. It was the belief, now long discredited, that the Lost Tribes of Israel turned up as the powerful nations of Europe, The British Empire and of course, America. I was Dutch, so that clearly put me in the Tribe of Zebulun, according to the theory. I never gave a sermon on this topic! However, my DNA shows I made no such trip through the middle east to become an Israelite and go on into Europe. Rather it shows a long trip through Iran, Iraq the various "Beckastans" on out onto the steppes of Asia and then one big swing into Europe as Cro-Magnon and then into France, Holland and England in much more recent times. That British-Israelism idea is bunk and DNA testing will show it to be so. That particular idea is racist if ever there was one.

The historical speculations of the Book of Mormon on race origins have been destroyed by DNA testing.  Native Americans are Siberian in origins for the most part and not Middle Eastern from the Levant.  Of course, this will not stop the spread of Mormonism but it does leave them with some difficult problems to explain. Don't worry, the truth of the matter won't stop that Church anymore than it has stopped others.  The book will no doubt become "spiritual truth" instead of literal truth at some point in the future and continue to deceive.

So good science is not "science, falsely so called" or "so called science." Yes, it has implications for theologians and Christians but believing something is true never makes it really true and we need to always have a love of discovery. Sorry to say, it is usually the reactions to new information by those most threatened by it that plunges our world into chaos.

Dennis C. Diehl

DenniscDiehl@aol.com

Women's Head Covers ARE A Requirement for COG Women Today!

Pretty soon this is what women in the Church of God Malmite will be wearing.

The Apostle has spoke, AGAIN!  You rebellious brawling cantankerous women had better SUBMIT! 

A reader of Apostle Malm's blog had this to say about women's hair coverings in church:

 I, too, agree with Christian…God’s Word is the standard, not a linked article. God’s Word says a woman’s LONG hair IS her covering…1Cor.11:15. I come from a Catholic background and always wore a veil until learning this from God’s Word when God called me in the mid 70s.

The Apostle responds:

God’s word says that if a woman refuses to cover her head she should be shorn. If her hair were her covering, why is she to have her hair shorn for not wearing it? If you have hair you would always be covered and would not need to be shorn; or to be threatened by Paul with being shorn! How many refuse to wear their hair? If they refuse to wear their hair they would already be bald so why the need to shear them? We have been mistaught for a long time and now the tradition means more than the scripture. James

Scripture is in red, Apostle Malm's interpretation is in black:

I Corinthians 11

5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her [Lord, ruler] head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. To fail to cover her head while worshipping and praying is a shame to a woman; even as it is a shame to have her head shaved. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: If the woman's hair were her covering; why should she be shorn for not covering her head? If her hair is her covering, than her head is already covered so why should she be shorn? And if the woman have no hair to cover her head: how can she then be shorn? Therefore if a woman refuse to cover her head in worship; she should have her head shorn. but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. If she is ashamed to have her head shorn, then let her cover her head in worship and prayer.

 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power [a covering]on her head because [as an example for] of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? A man does not have the glory of long hair; needing to be covered. 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.  A woman’s hair is her covering crown of glory, her mantle or veil. Therefore she must humble herself and cover her crown of glory in the presence of her God. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.  This instruction is in response to the Jewish practice of men covering their heads in prayer. The question being addressed here is not about women covering their heads while praying; but about men covering their heads while praying.  Paul is saying that a man is the head of the woman; and as such is a figure of Christ; while the woman is a figure of the Church and is to be humble herself before her God; by covering her crown of glory in humility when coming before God in prayer or worship.

It All Started 78 Years Ago Today

The cause of so much trouble and division in the Churches of God can be traced back to one single event that happened today, July 9, 1933

78 years ago HWA started a 6-week long tent preaching extravaganza in Oregon.  This was his first rebellion against the Church of God Seventh Day who had ordained him in 1931.  They did not swallow his drivel on British Israelism and holy day requirements.  So in a rebellious attitude he started preaching on his own and today we are/were part of the legacy of destruction left in his wake.

Real Men Will Shave Head of Wife If She Prays In Public Without Head Covering (Updated)

Men, is your wife asking too many questions at church causing long discussions to happen?  Dose she run off at the mouth at church talking to other men asking questions that she should be asking you first? Is you wife going over your head in other matters without seeking your holy manly wisdom first?

Apostle Malm has laid our the law on what you men need to be doing with your brawling women in church:

A wife’s function is to be a HELP MATE for her husband. She is to ask her husband; to cut down on the discussion in church service and help maintain order; to keep her husband “in the loop” so that he knows what is going on and also learns the question and answer; and out of respect for him.  He is the one she should be loving and putting first in her life and thoughts; to whom she should be looking.  It is not right for her to go over his head without his consent to ask another.
This is called “Chain of Command” and it is the major cardinal sin in any organization to go over the head of one’s boss.  That is a major sign of DISRESPECT. 

 Wives are not to provoke their husbands and are to faithfully fulfill their role regardless of what the husband does.  They are to set a godly example even if the husband does not.   

Is the Apostle soon going to be demanding that women in his splinter group cover their heads in church like the COG splinter group House of Yahweh cult does?

Paul tells us that a woman’s hair is given to her as a crown of glory and they she is not to pray or prophesy without covering her glorious crown of hair with a veil as an act of humility; so as not to outshine her husband, her head.  before I go into this further I would like to make the point that Paul here clearly says that a woman may prophesy.
Were not Deborah judge in Israel? And Miriam a prophetess?  Was not Anna a prophetess, Luk 2:36 ?  There is plenty of room in the faith for our women to shine!  Let them do so decently and in order; remembering that their first priority is their husbands and children until they be widowed and their children be grown.  Then let them become guides and wisdom for the younger women; and through the younger married women [who will influence their own husbands] they will influence the whole Ekklesia.

 Now women are to cover their crown of glorious hair whenever praying or prophesying [in public or private] out of respect for the authority over them.  And if they refuse to do so, they should have their heads shaved and their glorious hair cut off [shorn].  Why? So that they do not wax proud and become vain, as so very many have become today.  So that they do not outshine their husbands in their glory.  So that they come before God in the beauty of true humility; and not in the emptyness of proud, vain,  transitory physical beauty [vainglory]

You  men are not off the hook either.  Do you bully your wife?  You had better be careful;. She might just be ruling over you in the world tomorrow on some distant planet!  God knows how embarrassing THAT would be!

You husbands who are domineering, how do you know: Whether in God’s Kingdom your wife will be greater than you? 

Women, know your place in the Church of God! Otherwise you could have a nightmare like Loma did and cause your husband to start a new Church of God!  As if we need any more of them right now....

(UPDATE)  The Apostle Malm DOES think that you women need to cover your head in church!

In the area of women wearing a covering while in prayer, does this mean we (the ladies) should have a covering on our heads during opening or closing prayer, or during any other prayer we have a part in by saying Amen? We have never been taught this in WWCG or LCG, I don’t know if other COG’s teach it. Thanks very much.
This was NOT taught by HWA as Loma would have none of it. And a simple scarf or small hat [not overly ostentatious remember the purpose is to show modesty and respect for Godly authority]. The instruction is when you are praying or prophesying, and I think that would include participating when others are doing so together with us as well. I understand what you are saying about just during the prayer, but you are also participating in prophesying when you participate in any service. When we were younger the wearing of hats was customary and some just did not remove them in the service which is quite correct. This is indeed something new as far as modern HWA based COG teachings are concerned [there may be an exception that I do not know about], although some have been following this instruction for many years. My wife who you knew began doing this in the 70s. James

Clyde Kilough Calls His Opponents "Nasty, filthy Cockroaches"

When James Malm is not dealing in prophetic interpretations and end time speculation, he has great moments of clarity as to the current state of affairs of United Church of God and Church of God a Worldwide Association.

Today's post by Malm deals with Clyde Kiloughs member letter published on July 7th.  Kilough goes to great lengths to distance himself and those henchmen he surrounds himself with as being apolitical righteous men.  Yet, the main reason Kilough and his crew left UCG was over politics!

Kilough lays out these points as to what he says shows the political corruption that corrupts unfaithful Christian leaders (i.e. - not him or anyone in his splinter cult).

We could recount many stories in the Bible that illustrate politics at work and its destructive consequences for individuals, nations and the entire world. Would we dare be so naive as to think it could not exist in the Church today?
How does it manifest itself? Just to give a few examples, we can see politics at work when people:

• Ambitiously strive for personal goals and put themselves and their interests first in trying to advance themselves.
• Use their power or position to obtain their own will over what is best for the whole body.
• Advance certain other people due to friendship, reward or payback for favors.
• Manipulate situations to get close to those in positions of authority, either to influence them or perhaps just for the prestige of being in some kind of “inner circle.”
• Shift blame when they’ve done something wrong in order to avoid accountability and responsibility and thus try to protect their place or position.
• Manipulate others, such as through controlling the flow of information or slanting of information.

No siree Clyde!  That does not sound like you and your men at all! No way, no how!  Puke, gag, sputter..........

The best part of Clyde's letter is how he describes what these kind of men are like.  Talk about a pot calling the kettle black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me leave you with this thought. Where I live is in a part of the country where one of the nastiest and filthiest of insects—cockroaches—commonly invade and infest houses, and virtually everyone has a battle on his hands to keep them out. Worldly politics is one of the nastiest creeping sins that can infest the house of God as well. There are basically three things to do to prevent cockroaches: You don’t bring them in from the outside, you stop them from coming in by repairing the cracks in your house, and you keep your house clean so they don’t have anything to feed on. Brethren, preventing politics in our spiritual house is no different—let’s not bring it in, let’s not give it openings, and let’s not give it anything to feed on in our hearts and minds!  July 7th Member Letter

Malm says there is a deeper meaning to this letter than Kilough is letting on.  Malm says there is deep division in COGaWA concerning government.  Many of the men who jumped ship to join up thought they were coming into a church that was going to clean up it's act.  Now that the dust has settled, they are quickly seeing that things have not changed.  Kilough and crew are still dealing in dirty politics and are in the process of weeding out all that disagree with him.

There is a power struggle going on in COGWA between the split leaders who want power and those who had followed them believing that a new and better way was on offer.  Clyde and friends must be deeply frustrated to resort to this level of dirty politics.

The genius of this missive is that it does not name anyone, rather it takes the more generic approach of attempting to link the concept of any type of dissent, as somehow being evil and in need of  being eliminated. The use of innuendo, inference and double talk to make his faction appear righteous and any dissent appear evil, is the very classic dirty politics which he is railing against.

By making this link in people’s minds, people are united in support of his factions policies and any dissent is thought as an unthinkable evil.  This is “Power Consolidation” at its worst, and is the very thing that they complained about in UCG.  This is the very reason some left UCG and here it is; right back in their face.

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The HWA WCG was a very political organization that was in a constant state of political intrigue which resulted in regular splits.  The brethren were kept ignorant of most of this through the control of information. Even so several major splits in the 1970s could not be kept secret.

 As the Tkach changes took place over a period of about five to sight years, most of the elders fully supported the changes [some did not].  Many of those who did not support the changes either resigned or were fired by those surrounding Joe T.  Only when a large segment of brethren began to understand what was going on and began to leave, did a large group of Tkach supporters decide to leave and set up shop for themselves.

These people cared little for doctrine and cared mainly for power, a paycheck  and personally belonging to a caste system that elevated them above the brethren.  Within this group of elders was division over how to proceed, but the main division was over which clique of friends could gain and maintain control.

The really big issue with them was that Joe would no longer be able to afford to pay them with so many leaving, and there would be many layoffs and pay cuts.  They acted to leave Joe and lead the leaving brethren; for the primary purpose of saving their jobs and pay checks!  Doctrine was never a real issue for most of these folks.  The elders who had doctrinal questions had already left long before.  They come close to admitting as much on the UCGAIA website when they said that they left for administrative reasons and made no mention of doctrine!

Today, neither UCG nor COGWA has any real interest in doctrine; the split was all about control and power as Denny admitted.  It is about the success model that they want to follow and the control to follow their agenda.  To them doctrine is a means of keeping the brethren happy and contributing and it is really only lip service with little practical application.

It finally became clear in 09 that the Franks Kilough group would lose control and be forced out.  As soon as the balloting for the new CoE took place the new president Dennis Luker invited the losing group to an amicable separation.  This was a mutually agreed divorce.  This then took some months to effect as both groups vied to maintain control over as many brethren as possible.

The new group called COGWA was then set up with the split leaders in charge temporarily; followed by those who would naturally follow them, as well as many who were motivated by disgust over the treatment of the Latin American brethren and the rhetoric concerning the UCG Council’s unethical behaviour.

You can read the rest of Malm's missive here:  COGWA Member Letter