Dennis On: "The Plain Truth About Scoffers"

The Plain Truth About Scoffers

2 Peter 3:
3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

The average well read member of the WCG knew these scriptures well and , in fact, all the scriptures that showed just how soon, around the corner, in the next 3, 5, 10, 15 (pick one) and shortly the Second Coming of Jesus was going to be.  We were in the final gun lap, which turned into laps until WCG/COG ran out of bullets.  We all knew how the Apostle Paul went from all will live to see the Second Coming to some will die but not himself who would be changed to "oops, I fought a good fight and I'm outta here..."  We all should also understand the Gospel Jesus telling the disciples that they would see it in their time as well.  I know we tried, but you cannot make "soon" or "shortly" in the New Testament mean "a period of time lasting thousands of years that is still within the parameters of  the Bible meaning of 'soon' and 'shortly.'"  That is just nonsense.

So as time went on and on and on and on to where members were joining On and On Anonymous just to stay on track,  scoffers at the whole idea of "soon" arose in the Church.  Is that really all that difficult for us to believe and in doing so were they really doing it because they had evil desires?  Is that not a bit like saying "the only reason Scientists want to believe Evolution is because they don't want to obey or believe God and the Bible."  Really???  Is that their motive.  Of course not but when scoffers, which is the church term used against people who merely notice things aren't going as advertised, arise, they have to be put in their place lest others start thinking this through on their own as well.

"Peter" goes on to say that they "deliberately forget,"  about Noah's Flood to justify their evil ways.  Really???   Can we see the hot button words that are used against those who notice such realities,  to demonize them to the church members?  I think we can.  Is the scoffer to blame for observing that nothing of what has been said to date about Jesus returning and the arrival of the Kingdom of God has happened yet or appears to be about to happen?  Can we see that what would be considered mature and sane observations by those not in the Church are only called scoffers by those in?  Can we see it is the leadership doing the labeling and it is the membership who is supposed to pick up on the negative word and apply it themselves to others outside the church or at least on the way out?  Of course we can.  

Peter again goes on to say that it is obvious God is giving humans more time in his infinite wisdom.  Sound familiar?  This is a classic recovery used when some predicted event does not come to pass.  It is never that the prediction was slap wrong from the beginning.  It is now that God is just so much more merciful than we thought and we have more time to get our act together.  There is nothing new under the sun. It's a great out when a simple "I was wrong," would do.  
And when all else fails, tell the brethren that while soon had dragged on and God has given us more time, Jesus will still come quickly and in a much more sneaky way than when we first believed.   So there you have it.  Sincere observers are scoffers.  They do it be evil and forget the Noah story.  God is giving us all more time.  But it can happen tonight so still send it in.   2 Peter shows that ministers have been using the same excuses and accusations against the observers among them for 2000 years.

Remember the buzz words and phrases used by WCG (and many many other fundamentalist organizations) when someone strayed for the "soon", "shortly" and "3-5 years and I mean it brethren"?  

Rebellious

Deceived

Scoffers

Worldly

Just want to sin

Unconverted

Never converted

Fallen away

chaff

bad seed

fence sitter

Lazy

Faithless

Taken by Satan

Buttheads

I'm sure you do and I am sure I have missed some good labels.  

But one man's scoffer is another man's wise observer.  Let's face it... the scoffers that Peter rails against were right!  Now whoever actually wrote the text adds the new twist that again it is the members fault as they need to know that "a day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day."  You see, the problem is with the members misunderstanding how God views time.  Of course this was not taught or mentioned in the early years when soon meant soon and shortly meant shortly.  It is only something one throws in after years of disappointment, growing older and seeing the hopeful die like everyone else.  Kinda like Ron Weinland chiding the brethren for thinking some things he said were literally true when in fact they were merely "spiritually true."  He made that up when what he also thought was literally true simply did not happen.  Of course, rather than say, "I goofed,"  the whole thing is redefined by leadership and the blame for ignorance is put on the membership.  Usually, "I NEVER said that," sneaks in there somewhere.  

The fact is that, as John Denver might say,  "Churches need their skeptics (scoffers) like the ocean needs the sand."  

When I or anyone else who has grown through the WCG years,  observes the reality of this or that wrong idea in the past or the foolishness of the ones being currently offered to keep the faithful faithful,  we are not scoffing.  It is a realistic, up to this moment and a true observation based on the observable fact that yet another date for "Soon" has come and gone.  

 It is not scoffing to notice that 100% of the predictions of Jesus Second Coming have been 100% wrong, 100% of the time over the last 2000 years.  That is just a 100% accurate observation.  It is only leadership within an organization that wants to keep the system intact and the "just around the corner" motivator alive and running who calls people scoffers and full of evil desires.  

Leadership must assign judgmental and negative labels to those who think outside the box and observe what any clear thinking human would observe in such situations.

  
The Apostle Paul NEVER admitted to anyone he was wrong about his soons and shortlys.  He kept changing the meanings until all he could come up with was "I have kept the faith..therefore there is laid up for ME..."   Kinda sad actually. While he does add "and not only to me," someone could have penned that in to fix the problem of all the others who had been faithful like Paul not being counted.  Habitually it was all about him in his writings.  Almost feels like the excuses the Captain of the latest Cruise Ship disaster made when he said he slid down the deck when the ship tipped and fell into a lifeboat that then left the ship.  (His second in command also ended up in that very same boat of all things.)  It is just terribly difficult to say, "I was wrong."

When "all those in Asia have forsaken me,"  Paul was unable and unwilling to ask himself why.  He simply asked God not to hold it to THEIR charge.  It would never have crossed Paul's mind to wonder why everyone thought he was nuts.  And so it is today.

As a result of Peter's statements, the soon that wasn't has been dragged out into a "soon" that only has meaning if one reads the Bible. Bible "soon" and "shortly" as well as days far spent really mean long, longer and really long times.   In the real world, we know better.  

A healthy skepticism protects people from going down the wrong paths or at least recognizing they are on one and rethinking the trip.  It is not scoffing. It is reality.  That "Scoffer" label is what those who do not think critically, or refuse to see what they do see, or refuse to say what they need to say, or believe everything they are told in the updates by the church, use.  Blame the messenger for the message is a very old old concept when it comes to Church leaders getting input they don't want to hear.  

  
I don't know if it's the last days or not.  But noticing that nothing has happened in 2000 years since the story ended is not scoffing.  The ultimate problem is that the WCG and the current COGs do not take observations from the bottom up.  All observations and skepticism on this or that must come from the top down.  If it does not, it is not a problem and the membership should not concern themselves with it.  Problems the leadership does not notice or have a clue about simply don't exist.  Problems the membership notices and has plenty of clues to work with are simply one of those listed on the  labels for the lazy and lying slackards listed above. 

To question Church teaching as part of the leadership is just endeavoring to stay on track and obey God with an occasional admission of "God is revealing more truth to the church."  To question the church teachings, or even the Biblical text from the bottom up is rebellion and is nothing but trouble for the one who notices. 

It's ok to be skeptical of claims made by Bible readers, including the minister.  It's ok to not be impressed with his education or the way he cobbles scriptures together to weave a tale.  The reason it is ok is because there will be things you will be expected to do because of his tale weaving.  It might be to send more in than you can afford, do something you normally would not do or believe something and act it out hurting yourselves, your family and mind in the process. 
The day might come when you will thank the Skeptic who opened your eyes to a problem that needed to be recognized and not just view the observations made as coming from unconverted and uncalled Scoffers.  

Sometimes todays scoffer becomes tomorrows heroic observer and their truth may truly set you free in ways you never could imagine.

Dennis C
DenniscDiehl@aol.com

Four Tornadoes Hits Charlotte NC: Satan Attacking LCG or God Protecting Them?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Many will not forget the early morning hours of Saturday March 3, 2012 in the Reedy Creek neighborhood. Around 2:34 a.m. a EF-2 tornado with winds of around 135 mph touched down with a path of destruction 200 yards wide and 3.2 miles long. A total of 192 homes were damaged or destroyed...

A closer look at Saturday's tornado  

Was God punishing Charlotte North Caroling on Saturday Sabbath because of the presence of the Living Church of God headquarters?  Was Satan out after the town because of LCG represents  the only true Christians on the face of the earth??

Pretty soon we will hear Prophet Thiel and LCG claiming God protected their headquarters from the tornado and that no members were hurt or had property damage because God had protected them.

I guess in their minds it is OK for God to protect them while pulling a child from his bed and dropping along side the a freeway and destroying homes, churches and business buildings.

The best thing LCG could do is keep silent on this because what ever they say will make them out to be hypocritical fools.



Tornadoes confirmed in 4 NC, SC counties; 5 dead, 10+ hurt in Carolinas

Yisrayl Hawkins Sees Jackasses In The Clouds

Yisrayl Hawkins, the heretical false prophet of the Armstrongite splinter cult, The House of Yahweh, has been watching clouds too long and is imagining all kinds of things in them.

When was the last time you lay on the ground and watched the clouds roll by and envisioned animals, castles, and all kinds of stories.  Most stopped doing that as kids.  Well, I say most, because Yisrayl Hawkins is still staring at clouds.

What is the first thing he saw recently?  That there was a big donkey in the clouds staring at an olive tree.  In Yisrayl's hallucinogenic state he saw this donkey and had a vision that the was actually representing his church members.  We have heard COG ministers refer to church members jackasses in the past, but never as donkeys.

 

I had driven from the present Sanctuary at Abel, which sits on forty-four acres of campgrounds where we celebrate Yahweh's Feasts, to the studio where we do the Prophetic Word programs, and noticed the clouds along the way. I stopped in front of the studio and looked to my right at the clouds and saw the most amazing sight of my life—a cloud that was not moving. 

I had been bringing out the Prophecies concerning the donkeys (Genesis Chapter 49), which refer to the workers in The House of Yahweh who are tethered to the Branch in this last generation. I had been bringing these Prophecies for several months so everyone was fully acquainted with them at the time this cloud was formed over the Land of Yahweh, now known as Abelin.

I first noticed the donkey itself in this cloud. In fact, I stared at it for several seconds, amazed at how perfectly it was formed. It was not moving. It was a perfectly formed donkey with a perfectly formed pack on its back. Its ears were pointed slightly forward, as if it was staring at the cloud in front of it, which wasn't moving either. It was like someone took a large picture and hung it in the sky over the land of Yahweh. I had plenty of time to study the full scene, as I realized that Yahweh was holding it there for me to see. In fact, it didn't move at all until I called another family in that area to have them see this marvelous sight. Only then, did the cloud start to move and break up. 

The more I dwelt on this scene, the more I realized this was a sign from Yahweh to His House. Yahweh and the High Priest over The House of Yahweh, Yahshua Messiah, are the only Beings in the universe Who have Power (Authority) to actually control clouds. Signs in the Clouds

It amazes me that there are foolish people in his cult that actually believe this drivel!   You have to check out his web site to see this entry that also describes seeing an olive tree in the clouds.  These people are crazy!  Plain and simple.

Is Truth Too Simple?

 

Is Truth Just Too Simple? 

by Zen Gardner

I find it amazing how people can’t see the simplicity of it all.

Honestly.

Is it a desire to hold on to their beliefs–religious, scientific, intellectual or otherwise–because they think that’s their identity?

If so, you can sure see how easily swayed humanity would be.

Which it is.

It’s true though. Try to tug at someone’s belief and watch their identity get yanked with it. How did we get to identify with our ideas and beliefs as if they are ourselves?

ht:  Dennis

Van Robison: The Quest for Answers that Never Ends

The Quest for Answers that Never Ends

I think for those of us who seek answers, the journey is life long.  It will not cease even in death, because others will still be seeking when we are laid to rest.  In this life we will never come to some final conclusion about life and its many complexities.  We may think that we have "arrived", but that is self-deception.  We are not God and our limited human thinking will never stand against the timelessness of eternity.  No matter what we think, it is most likely a very narrow view when seen against the knowledge of the vastness of eternity.

In life there are those who "think" much more than many others.  It therefore becomes a responsibility for the "thinkers" to influence others to also "think" and not to assume that human personalities that are more dominate have the answers or "truth" to the issues of human life.  There is no doubt that strong personalities will dominate over the more docile among human beings.  I suppose that is why the many who think they are "pastors" are in that situation.    It seems to be very human to just roll over and allow the dominate to control and this is what dogs do.    "Pastors" assume the role of the alpha male or alpha female, as in the animal world and control those whom come under their false and fake authority.

The weak in mind submit to those who assume position and power over the weak.  Unless the weak in mind somehow come to their senses, they will be controlled for life.  This is a very common reality among humans in life on earth.  This is the reason why some church groups have hundreds, thousands or millions of weak minded followers.    The weak in mind are not thinkers, they are followers and clones of their leaders.  There is a difference in following Jesus Christ however, because Jesus Christ was NOT a religious cult.    Herbert W. Armstrong was a religious cult, as are many other church groups in the world.    It is next to impossible to convince a religious clone that he or she has been religiously cloned.    From their perspective, anyone who challenges their belief system is "persecuting" them or at the least is off the deep end of "truth."

The sad situation about all "Bible" colleges or religious schools is that the young people, who are the most vulnerable, are the victims of religious programming and are caught in the web of deception that impacts their lives dramatically.  In reality it is religious or spiritual abuse.  Bible schools are NOT really about Jesus Christ, they are about indoctrination and religious programming to etch in the minds of young gullible and naive students the religious propaganda of the particular school they are associated with.    Ambassador College was no exception.    The "Bible" correspondence course of the Worldwide Church of God/Ambassador College was the means of mass religious indoctrination into the particular cult beliefs of Herbert W. Armstrong.

Many of us seek answers and even when we may think we have arrived at some final conclusion, it is just a mirage.  We are all just one speck of sand upon the seashore of human life and we will end life having so much to learn, that we will enter into our grave as kindergarten students, never having "arrived" at the answers to the mysteries of human life.  All we have are personal opinions.


Van Robiosn

UCG Ministers Code of Ethics

Here is the code of ethics that UCG ministers must agree to now.  I guess the rebellious heretics that all jumped ship to COGWA would never have agreed to these items.  If they did, and they should  have signed something prior to this, it goes to show that COGWA was not formed ethically.  But then, when has ministerial ethics ever been in the forefront in COG history?

MINISTERIAL CODE OF ETHICS

United Church of God, an International Association

PREAMBLE:

As a minister of Jesus Christ, I accept the duty bestowed on me through ordination, by prayer and the laying on of hands. I am dedicated first and foremost to preserving my personal relationship with God, therefore I am committed to basing my life upon the foundation of the Word of God. I am resolved to conduct myself in the ministry according to the ethical standards set forth in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and as amplified in this Code of Ethics so that my service in the ministry will be acceptable to God and beneficial to the Church, and my life will be a godly example to the Church, the community and the world.

Serving as a minister of Jesus Christ and as an elder in the United Church of God, an International Association (“Church, or “UCGIA”), I fully accept and agree to abide by the following goals, guidelines, commitments and ethical principles:

Personal Responsibilities:

1) I will strive to maintain my relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting.
2) I will endeavor to maintain my physical, mental and emotional health.
3) I will strive to manage my life by maintaining a balance in family matters, church duties and personal needs.
4) I will not use the office of the ministry to take advantage of any relationship or activity that may lead to a conflict of interest, the exploitation or manipulation of any member, or any unethical personal or material gain.
5) If I become a substance abuser, acquire a harmful addiction or have a diagnosable mental disorder, I agree to seek professional counseling and care in order to recover. I understand that if necessary, I may be relieved of my ministerial duties while undergoing treatment for the same.

Family Responsibilities:

1) If married, I will place my marriage and family as the highest priority in my life after my personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
2) If married, I will respect the unique role of my wife, to love, honor and recognize her as a partner in marriage and the family, and will seek to meet her physical, mental, spiritual and emotional needs.
3) If blessed with children, I will regard them as a gift from God and seek to love them and meet their individual mental, physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

Church and Congregational Responsibilities:

1) I will strive to faithfully shepherd the congregation(s) I serve by following the example of Jesus Christ in love, service, humility, respect, patience, wisdom and integrity.
2) I will strive to faithfully use my time and energies in ministering to God’s people through proper work habits and schedules.
3) In my preaching and teaching responsibilities I will give priority to adequate prayer, planning, preparation and spiritual growth through conscientious study so my presentations will be biblically based, historically and doctrinally sound, interesting and clearly communicated.
4) I will keep confidential all matters discussed in a counseling setting, unless the person being counseled gives the indication of being a danger to themselves or another person, such as a revelation of child sexual abuse or other disclosures required by law.
5) In my ministerial counseling I will limit my advice and counsel to my areas of expertise or formal training and will refer members to other ministers and professionals for any matter for which I am not qualified.
6) I recognize the influence I hold over those I counsel and will never take advantage of their vulnerability, such as becoming sexually or romantically involved with them. I will arrange visits in order to avoid being isolated with a woman who is not my spouse or with another’s child unless accompanied by another person.
7) I acknowledge that all local congregations of UCGIA are, under our Rules of Association, a part of UCGIA. I further recognize that any and all physical assets, including local bank accounts used by or for those local congregations, belong to UCGIA for use as directed by the UCGIA administration. Consequently, I agree that should I leave a congregation(s) or not remain as an elder in UCGIA, that I am not entitled to take, and must return, any assets of UCGIA and/or of a local congregation of UCGIA or its affiliates around the world.

Responsibility within the Ministry:

1) If married, I will endeavor to honor and respect my wife as part of my ministry, so that my ministry may be more effective.
2) I will endeavor to honor and relate to all ministers, especially those with whom I directly serve as coworkers in the work of God, respecting their roles and cooperating with them.
3) I will strive to serve my ministerial colleagues and their families with counsel, support and personal assistance when needed.
4) I will seek to promote an atmosphere of openness and unity within the body by supporting and appropriately communicating with the home office staff or the international equivalent.
5) I will endeavor to promote respect for Church leadership and unity within UCGIA. I will seek to eliminate destructive gossip or hearsay by going directly to the individual involved. I will communicate directly with the responsible person(s) to obtain clarity or to clear up any questions or accusations that are causing division.

Responsibility Within the Community:

1) As defined by Scripture, I will accept my duty to be a godly example and light in the world.
2) I will practice responsible citizenship and not engage in activities that are illegal, unethical or unbiblical.

Responsibility Toward the Governance of UCGIA

As a minister serving in the United Church of God, an International Association, I affirm my commitment to uphold:

• The Fundamental Beliefs as stated in the Constitution of the United Church of God, an International Association.
• The purpose, mission, goals and values of the Church.
• The Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Association of the Church and the governing structure described by them.
• The decisions of the General Conference of Elders (“GCE”), the Council of Elders (“COE”), the UCGIA administration and international equivalents. If I disagree, I reserve the right to respectfully seek change in any decision of the Church’s governing and administrative bodies in accordance with the governing documents of UCGIA, procedures and precedents.

I further agree to:

• Denounce divisions and schisms as a means of resolving differences.
• Support and assist the GCE, the COE and the administration or international equivalent in denouncing and curtailing divisive behavior on the part of anyone in the ministry or membership by word or deed.
• Encourage all to follow, and to work within, established procedures and processes of the Church for any grievances or for any desired change in either governance or leadership in the Church.
• Should I ever leave or otherwise not remain as an elder of the Church, I will not proselytize members of UCGIA in order to draw them away or to gain a following for myself or some other religious organization.

I am in agreement with this Ministerial Code of Ethics and will always strive to practice these ethical
principles. I agree that this Code supersedes and replaces any previous UCGIA Ministerial Code of Ethics.


Signed: _________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Print name ______________________________________________

UCG: Are Public Church Directories A Wise Thing To Do?

Decades back, local congregations of the Worldwide Church of God had what they called "Directories" of members. In some areas, they not only had the name, address, telephone number, family information,  they also had pictures. Apparently UCG is wanting to include baptismal dates in these directories too.  Some of the members back then knew and tried to warn people that this was a bad idea because unintended people may have access to the information and it could end badly for those so exposed in the directory.

United Church of God is at it again. Some of the congregations are again putting together a local church directory with all the information in it. Decades ago some had questions; today many more are raised.

Today, an innocent church member can be at risk from stalkers. Worse, there are identity thieves both in and out of the Armstrongist Churches of God. This is a very dangerous practice. It is bad enough to have names and addresses at headquarters or home office, but this ends up in the hands of the general public. 

It should be added that it is curious that local UCG congregations are again putting together directories at a time when the Council of Elders is making it clear they want and need more money for the church. It may be benign, but there are those who remember the Draconian efforts of Worldwide attempting to strong arm relatives of members who had died and the reputation of the leaders and administrators of the Armstrongist Churches today is less than stellar.

New Book: The God Followers by Rand Zacharias

Here's what happens when you try to literally live 

by a human interpretation of the words from the Bible. 

Here is another book that has been written about life in Armstrongism.  The God Followers by Rand Zacharias 

 Imagine trying to grow up and do everything right. You're six years old and you know that Jesus is coming back...soon...and the world the way you know it will all change into a perfect world, an Utopian dream, a world tomorrow.

Rand Zacharias weaves an eerily humorous autobiographical tale of very creatively-enhanced non-fiction (with a little fiction added for a twist).

His story begins graduating from a world-renowned institution of excellence. He's graduated from the cult's unique learning institution--Ambassador College. Zacharias moves back in time and tells the genesis of their capture involving his loving father, who brought the family for the ride after a fiery explosion during the winter of love--1969.

Did Zacharias find the narrow path that leads to God? You'll find out.

Amazon has this blurb:

The God Followers is the autobiographical trauma-dy, tragic comedy, of growing up in a cult after Rand's father is caught in a fiery explosion. This real life account may make you question the inner workings of any organized religion--while taking you through the challenges of living in a manner of a literal interpretation of that ancient text--the Bible.

In paper back form it is here on Amazon where you can also read a small excerpt:  The God Followers

By eBook, Kindle, and other formats it is here:      The God Followers and here eBook

Follow Rand on his blog:  Randillusions

New Book: Genocide Revealed by Aleksandar Veljic

There is a new book that has been published by a former COG member Aleksandar Veljic.  It is about the massacre of Serbs, Jews and gypsies by Hungary during WWII.   Genocide Revealed: New Light on the Massacre of Serbs and Jews under Hungarian Occupation    Amazon has this review from Wade Frannson who is soon to publish his own book about life in Armstrongism - The People of the Sign.

Aleksandar Veljic has spent seven years doing primary research on events that were covered up 70 years ago. The list of accomplices is long and is not limited to Europeans. In the wake of WWII Miklos Horthy was given an unprecedented get-out-of-jail free card, as stated by the Wikipedia article on Horthy "But American trial officials declined to present charges against Horthy, a kindness that may have been the result of the influence in Washington of Horthy's admirer, the former ambassador John Montgomery." In other words, if we recall the geopolitical context - Horthy's strong anti-communist record was enough for the U.S. and others to turn a blind eye to his overt support of racist facists like Hitler, and the genocidal activities he endorsed and supported in regions under his control.

While under arrest, he made appearances at trials in which he helped convict others, but during which he was never required to testify. After his release from the Nuremberg prison, in December 1945, Horthy was supported by John Montgomery, Pope Pius XII and others. He could also count on admirers such as Joseph Stalin to plead for mercy on his behalf.

I would not have been aware of any of this if it weren't for the work of Aleksandar Veljic. In recent months the BBC has picked up on his work, Serbian news media and agencies are getting involved, and respected members of various Holocaust Societies in Israel and elsewhere are highlighting the importance of this book.

One thing is for sure, Veljic's work is important and explosive enough to stir up interest in atrocities that have been buried for too long. It's not just that the victims' blood cries out, it's that Horthy's reputation has been laundered, that his memoirs have been published in several languages, and that statues of Horthy are on display in his honor, and that schoolchildren in Hungary and elsewhere are reading stories about his role as a heroic leader, with no idea that in other ways he was a very evil man.

The facts, for example, that he was the first anti-Semitic European Leader, and that he had close ties to Hitler, who admired him during Hitler's own ascent to power, need to be surfaced, examined, and judged. Not to mention his record of endorsing genocidal atrocities.

This book is destined to cause a re-examination of those facts.

Congratulations to Aleksandar Veljic for his diligence and fortitude, in the face of opposition, with no resources and very, very little official support, on having created a work of original history that is destined to be cited in every subsequent work on this and related subjects, of which we can be sure there will be many.

Wade Fransson
Managing Partner
Something Or Other Publishing, LLC

Is Dave Pack Ready To "Squeal Like A Stuck Pig?"

The small group of apostate church jumpers at Restored Church of God have this little blurb up today about Dave Pack ridiculing Ron Weinland and his idiotic May 27th prophecy:

New Open Letter Addressing Ronald Weinland’s Prophecies

Mr. Pack has written an extensive Open Letter to followers of the Church of God – PKG. It is titled “Ron Weinland—Spectacularly Wrong!”

Over recent years, Ronald Weinland fell into ridiculous teachings on many topics, but especially his framework of prophecy. He has announced a series of failed predictions. He is most noted for predicting that Jesus Christ will return on May 27, 2012.

Opening with a more than cursory overview of the truth of prophecy, including some brief statements from Mr. Armstrong, this article goes on to identify and refute Weinland’s bizarre, totally unscriptural prophetic scenario. Addressing a number of topics in a way you have not seen, it is a tool to help misled followers untangle themselves from a web of error and delusion.

Apostle Pack says:

 Some time before (referring to Harold Camping), a lesser known “prophet,” Ronald Weinland (of the Church of God – PKG), had spun his own theory about how Christ would return on May 27, 2012. He began pushing in earnest his end-time scenario—through extensive ad campaigns much like Harold Camping—five and a half years earlier in late 2006, in belief that the Great Tribulation would begin on December 14, 2008. (Also paralleling Harold Camping, Ron Weinland has had to recompute events and dates because of failed prophecies.)

Dave does not recognize the fact that Herbert W Armstrong had hundreds of failed prophecies. Gerald Waterhouse had hundreds of them, Dean Blackwell had his share, John Rittenbaugh has his embarrassing failures.  The list could go on and on.

The most magnanimous Apostle to ever walk the face of the earth has this to say:

True ministers of God strive to never attack other human beings. They are for the truth rather than against people—and there is a big difference. Therefore, I have determined to actively resist and teach against any false doctrines that are deceiving people among the splinters. However, this subject presents a unique problem with this policy.

Dave then goes on to say this:

When a leader teaches a false concept or doctrine, it rarely has anything to do with himself. Generally, the heresy can be clearly singled out and countered without having to necessarily address the man who teaches it. 

This is going to come back and  bite Dave in the ass big time!   RCG is all about DAVE!  It's all about HIMSELF!  Hersey in the Restored Church of God is centered squarely in Dave Pack's shoulders!

Dave goes on to say this about prophets, which of course does not apply to him:

The Bible says prophets fall into one of two categories—true or false. All prophets—past, present or future—are one or the other. They cannot be both, and they cannot be in-between. Within the category of false prophets are two types: Those who claim to be a prophet, but falsely foretell events, not being inspired by the true God—and those who do not necessarily claim to be a prophet, but who teach falsely about prophecy—and for that matter any other aspect of God’s Word. The latter would include false teachers and false ministers. Like false prophets, false teachers assert they are vested with God’s authority. Rather than falsely prophesying future events, they teach false doctrines supposedly from the Bible. Therefore, Jesus’ warnings about false prophets also apply to false teachers, who work in the same way.

Ronald Weinland is a complete fraud, and one who is breathtakingly ignorant of even the most rudimentary elements of prophecy—of events that should be impossible to misunderstand. He is utterly wrong—and in his case spectacularly so, and on virtually every point! The Bible does not validate any of his prophetic ideas. You are about to see this.

We can rightly says:

 Dave Pack is a complete fraud, and one who is breathtakingly ignorant of even the most rudimentary elements of prophecy—of events that should be impossible to misunderstand. He is utterly wrong—and in his case spectacularly so, and on virtually every point! The Bible does not validate any of his prophetic ideas. You are about to see this.

Dave says:

Tragically, most who read Bible prophecy remain in near total ignorance of its size and scope. They are completely unable to recognize the speed, sequence and timing of its prophecies. And this is on top of not truly comprehending what any of them means! So many just cannot untangle the maze of what happens when, as well as where and to whom—and WHY!

 Then says this  about his prophecies.  He knows EXACTLY how they will all come about:

The interested reader will want to view my 2-part World to Come broadcast series titled “26 Prophetic Events in Exact Sequence Before Christ’s Return!” It reveals in detail all that lies ahead.)

Dave then goes into a look screed about the specific things that will happen in a specific order.  Just typical Armstrongite prophecy silliness.

 Dave does write some good things in his letter that are spot on about Weinland.

...seeing through Ron Weinland should be a snap. Incredibly, he has managed to get almost nothing right—NOTHING! It has been said that even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut. Not Weinland! He seems unable to get anything right, even accidentally. Again, if Elijah mocked the ancient prophets of Baal, I can mock a modern one.

Pack has this to say about lying false prophets.

A final word of caution: When their silliness is exposed for what it is, false prophets usually squeal like stuck hogs in protest. With his “credibility” now at stake, I realize this article might cause Ron Weinland to smear my credibility. He virtually has to. But at best his words will only carry “weight” until May 28 when his prophecy fails. The even barely discerning person will realize Weinland cannot use God’s Word in any intelligible fashion to do this.

I can see that very soon we will see Dave squealing like a stuck pig because of his lies.

Beware all you splinter cult leaders, Dave has his sight set on you next!  God's most powerful Apostle over the largest web based minister on earth today is coming after you!

I will address more splinter leaders in the future—and in detail. This includes certain other deceivers within these groups.

Dave's letter is long and boring, filled with typical Armstrongite theological stances with a Dave spin added to them.  Read it at your leisure because it is all fantasy:  Ron Weinland—Spectacularly Wrong!

UCG: Money. Money, Money - It's A Poor Church World

Melvin Rhodes, UCG Chairman has a letter on Realtime United detailing the latest UCG Council of Elders meeting.  This apparently is the most cohesive and unified Council of Elders in Church of God history.  Especially now since they have kicked out all there rebellious troublemakers and whiners that made UCG COE a very unhappy place to be.

For the first time in recent memory we managed to cover all the items on our agenda. This is testimony to the incredible spirit of unity and cooperation that exists on the Council of Elders at this time. This does not mean there was no discussion before decisions were made. There are 12 men on the Council and they have 12 different opinions, but we all share the same goals. Our purpose is constant—to preach the gospel and to prepare a people.

The letter quickly moves into the proverbial favorite topic of Armstrongism - money.

We were thankful to note that God has continued to help us through a calendar year of financial challenges. In serving our many congregations around the world we had to step out on faith, asking God to provide. And He always did and continues to do so.

With an 18% drop in income after the vast majority of UCG ministers defected to a new and improved COG and thousands of members jumping ship with them, they now are not able to do the things they want to.

Then they get to the real meat of why they want new members.  It's not about redemption with the grace of God, but it is about money.  The more people that they can con into joining the organization the more money they will have.  They admit they do not have the resources now to do what they think they should be doing.

Our new budget for the coming fiscal year includes a “faith line” like last year. When it is presented, you will see that 30.5 percent of our income is now devoted to preaching the gospel. In spite of suffering a loss in income just over a year ago, we have been able to do more—going through doors as God has opened them. We do not want to let up on these efforts. While our current income will not supply all our needs, we are asking God to call new people into the Church to help finance further efforts.

I guess UCG has taken a lot of heat when it was shown that Living Church of God devotes way more money to spreading the "gospel" than they do. LCG uses over 40% of their money towards what they proclaim is a gospel message, while previously UCG was doing a little over 25%.  The obvious factor here is that UCG is still spending most of it's money on minsters salaries and perks.  A large percentage of UCG  elders jumped ship from WCG in order to maintain their income and now UCG has to keep financing that amount above proclaiming a "gospel" message.

We preach the gospel through our varied media efforts including our website with over 300,000 unique visitors per month; our flagship magazine The Good News; Vertical Thought for our young people; the Bible Study Course for in-depth biblical teaching; and our dozens of booklets and other literature. All our beliefs are clearly answered in our literature, which is freely available to everybody who wants it anywhere in the world.

All of this costs money. With more money, we can do more. Please pray that God will add more people to His Church—people who can help contribute to our efforts.

There you have it, blatantly in print-more people equals more money.

UCG brass want s all of you deadbeat members to know that you need to start sending more money in.  They cannot do the things they want to without you sacrificing more money.  It's all YOUR fault!  UCG seems to be reading from Dave Pack's 'con the brethren' financial model.

In order to devote more to our increased media efforts, our home office expansion proposal is “on hold” until our finances enable us to expand without borrowing. 

If you start sending in more money then we too, can become the most important "Christian" web site on the net.  That's going to be a pretty hard task since Dave Pack claims HIS ministry is the largest and most influential web site on earth today.

It is hoped that we will soon be able to expand the video studio—without which we are limited in what we can accomplish in keeping up with advanced technology like Internet television and an even more professional program. We would like to expand our production of short topical videos for our website that deal with the latest news and items of interest. Our goal is to make the United Church of God, an International Association, website the first Christian website people will turn to for biblical answers and a deeper explanation of what’s going on around the world. We have a long way to go, but are confident that this is the direction in which God is leading us.

Christians are NOT going to turn to UCG for Biblical answers.  That is a proven fact through out the past seven decades of Armstrongism. Ultimately it has accomplished nothing other than creating over 600 splinter groups of which all are impotent wanna-be's.

Then they take a little slam against there boat jumpers who defected to COGWA.  These men apparently had a lot of ethic's issues.  Oh wait, since when has this NOT been a problem with Church of God ministers????? Almost every splinter group was planned, organized and incorporated while in the employ of a previous church.  UCG's present group of elders are no more ethical than the elders in COGWA.

Here's a challenge for the UCG Council of Elders.  If you are really men of faith, then take an immediate 30% pay curt.  Cut off all ministerial allowances and perks.  Steer that money into your pet projects and set an example for the rest of the church.  Prove to your members that you really are ethical men with Christian standards.

Dave Pack: If You Knew My Plans This Room Would Rock and Gyrate!

Liquidate your assets now and send it to Dave Pack,
before the Germans arrive and take it all!

Every once in a while Prophet Thiel has moments of clarity and can see through a lot of the COG crappola.  He has posted on his blog some comments about Dave Pack and a sermon Dave gave on November 3, 2007 where he instructs members to send in all the money they can to support his work.

Thiel claims to have listened to the entire sermon and wrote down several key points when Dave was demanding money from his small group of members.  He commands people to send in half of their net worth. He also encourages women to take their rightful portion (1/2) and send that in.  But gives a stern warning to men who have unconverted wives, that they are not to let their wives have a voice in the matter.



Thiel writes:

(I tried to type verbatim and the following is fairly close) from what purports to be a 11/03/07 sermon by David C. Pack to his followers in the Restored Church of God titled Clarion Call -- The Time is NOW!:

"First Timothy 6 verse 17...'Charge them that are rich in this world'...If you were born in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, then you're rich"

"If you hold those riches, I'm telling you, you trust in them"

"Go get a big chunk out of your home. And put your money where your mouth is and send it here. And I'm not talking about one, two, three thousand either. How about ten, twenty, thirty, fifty, or one hundred thousand dollars? Go do it"  This is the Pack Prosperity Gospel....the more money you give to your Apostle the more you will be blessed.  Not ion this lifetime though.  You will most likely end up in bankruptcy court when you find yourself unable to pay your mortgage instead of sitting in a cold damp gave in the middle or Jordan.

"Wives, you can be independent in this. You have 1/2 the worth of whatever you have in your house. I'm officially telling you this...Wives, legally you have the 1/2 the funds. What are you going to do about it?...Husbands...'well, my wife is not in the church'...tell her...'you don't have a voice woman' " The Plain Truth on how to have a Happy Marriage......."  That's when she should slap her husband across the face and tell him to try it and see what happens!

"Go get those assets and get them here"

"Don't sit on vast resources that we can use now"

 "We do not have the funds...plans...bookstores...We need to redesign our website...We need many hundreds of thousands of dollars to arrive at God's headquarters soon...the timing is now"

"This is different...ask Him for the faith to liquidate certain assets and give it to the work"  Brethren, lets liquidate those stocks, 401K's, 403B's,mutual funds and all other investments.  You no longer need it, so give it all to me!

"I'll say it again, we are talking about liquidating existing assets...it all belongs to God and the brethren" Actually what Pack is saying is that it all belongs to HIM and the brethren will never see a dime of it.

"We have a lot of plans so big going on in this office it would cause just this room to to rock and gyrate if you knew what was going on. We just need a lot of money and we need it post haste...I would give more if I had it"

"Herbert Armstrong wrote an article...'Prepare to greatly reduce your standard of living'...What he wrote by far, is more for us now than it was then...its all going to be taken away from us anyway brethren" You brethren need to reduce your income, but now.  As your Apostle I deserve the best!  I need a new mini-me Auditorium and a new multi-million dollar HQ complex in order to make myself look legitimate.  Everyone knows I am nothing more than an idiot right now, but once my buildings are built I will FINALLY be important!

"Let us know how much you plan to send and when you plan to send it...You must be willing to communicate...If you do need to counsel, please do that...If you are not ready to distribute what you have...you don't believe the flow of prophecy"

"This is announcing the last blast, the clarion call as it were, to finish the work...Whether it is 4,5,7, 9 years to go, God knows...This is liquidating assets...I have the authority to tell you to do it...I have the moral and spiritual, and ecclesiastical authority to tell you to do what I have also done" Dave says the work is coming to an end yet in 2011 he is demanding millions to finance a new cult HQ and a pretend college.  Notice how he declares he has the AUTHORITY and POWER to tell people what to do!  How can people sit in his cult and put up with this bullshit?

 "Get it now when it requires faith...when you are dead you don't need it...if you named us in your wills, it can take us months or years to get it" How dare you imbeciles put us in your will when you know you will not be dying for years and maybe decades from now!  How selfish can you get!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The wives in the faith will say give everything you can...We don't have the luxury of waiting years...today, leaving everything in your will simply doesn't work"

"Now you just have a second mortgage...and frankly we flee before most of it ever becomes due"  That's right!  Mortgage your home a second and third time, don't worry, you will not be here to pay it off.  Stupid, stupid people!

"...some may think that they want to tap their 401k--maybe you want to let us know that...why would you want to tell us? We are starting to prepare a budget now, the needs are now...it would be nice to know now"

"Think big...Pull big triggers"  If I were Davey I would be really careful about making such a statement!  We have already seen this put into action in Living Church of God.  Once RCG members wake up to the fact on how Davey has defrauded them, I can picture serious repercussions in the future.

"We live in the most materialistic age in the history of the world. People trust in physical things. They trust in bank accounts...If you have excess and don't need it, those verses mean you...That's the Laodicean attitude...Put your money where your mouth is...Empty your assets" Yes, give us all your money so we can build one of the most materialistic mini-me headquarters in the middle of Ohio. It is important that we have a physical building to make us look impressive to the world.  Go bankrupt to help us!

11/13/11 a.m. RCG announced the following: World Headquarters Complex

Can there be a more deviant cult leader in Armstrong than Dave Pack right now?  Even Flurry pales in comparison! 

It is only going to be a matter of time till Davey and his lap poodles, Schurter, McElroy and Beher start slobbering their defense of the apostle.  PERSECUTION!

Dave Pack: My Name is Derived From the "Passover"

Pack certainly has no problem opening his big mouth and making an ass of himself.  Did you know that he claims that his name is a derivative of the word Pascha?  As if this is supposed to give him some divine mandate for being an apostle.  Since the Passover has at is base the concept of forgiveness, redemption and wholeness, there certainly cannot be found in Davey Pack any forgiveness and he certainly does not have the power to provide redemption or the tools for wholeness. 

Here is a letter from one of his former members calling him on the carpet for it.

One last and, what should be a, totally shocking example of Mr. Pack’s mind can be found in his latest book “How often should The Lord’s Supper be taken?”  At the bottom of the first paragraph on page 9 the following statement can be found, As a side note, while researching my genealogy, I learned that our family name is derived from this very word pascha.  This statement is made as a concluding remark for the section explaining the translation of the Hebrew word for Passover.  He not only makes the point about his name but it looks as though this is the fact he wants the reader to take with him or her!!  How can a man of God actually and publicly state that his name in effect is PASSOVER?  It should be made known here that Mr. Pack was advised at some length not to include this statement for obvious reasons.  He has insisted on leaving this remark in the book and I might add that this is the weaker version of that statement.  It originally read …I learned that my name is derived from this very word pascha.  Is there anyone in God’s Church who, if they had found this to be true, would actually include this in a book that they had authored?  I guess we have at least one!

Brethren, these are only the things that I am aware of.  I ask you what else is out there and more importantly how many times does this have to happen before we all wake up and realize that this man is not who he pretends to be?  I do not know how else to say it.  I know that all you have to go on is my word, along with a steady stream of other individuals, who have over the years tried to tell you the same thing again and again and again.

The time will come when we will all have to stand before God One at a time. Does it not make sense that He would test us now, One at a time, perhaps to see if we can stand One at a time, finding out if we can be trusted in his Kingdom that is surely closer than we think?

Jim Leighty