It's About Truth

The ideology that Herbert Armstrong has dictated in his doctrines, ideas, predictions, speculations, and heresies is morally, spiritually, and ethically reprehensible in every sense of the world. The very core of his work goes undeniably against the very fruits of the Spirit of God and the very core of the heart and soul of what Jesus came to reveal, to accomplish, and ultimately, to give His life for. 

Jesus did not come to bring one set of people to abject poverty while another set of people rob, steal, and dine on their dimes. Jesus did not come so the little children had to sit silently and listen to their ministers talk about death, destruction, false prophecies, corrections, rebukes, and absolute lies. Jesus did not come to enable abusers to abuse. Jesus did not come to promote racism, white supremacy, bigotry, Gulfstream Jets, mansions, and GQ suits. Jesus did not come to advance a religion of arrogance, greed, chauvinism, and bullying. 

Jesus did not come to this Earth 2,000 years ago to advance the causes of uncontrolled and unchecked power. Jesus did not come to this Earth 2,000 years ago with a weak, powerless, dismal Gospel that was just waiting for a worldly-oriented businessman to raise up a scheme that would collapse in just about 50 years. None of these reasons are why Jesus came. 

When we look at the legacy of Herbert Armstrong, and it's splinters, we can, without any effort, bring forth volumes of information of the lies, the falsehoods, the distortions, the cover-ups, scandals, misrepresentations, and harm that have disseminated from the "House of God" in Pasadena for decades upon decades. We can, without any effort, bring forth volumes of testimonies - painful, real, honest testimonies of the chains and the shackles that the doctrines of Armstrongism - taught by biblically and theologically illiterate leaders - that prove not only the dark and wicked attitudes that prevail in the thick sewage of Armstrongism, but prove the spirit of evil that has shattered and broken thousands upon thousands of lives in it's destructive wake. It's not isolated. It's the force, and the strength of destruction that to the end, even decimated itself into slivers and shards, where little remains of what once was. 

Now, today, we have a few that continue to believe - some wholeheartedly and with sincere conviction - that somehow they and they only hold the keys and the answers to life. Answers that not only completely trample and trash everything that Jesus ever came to accomplish, but hold people in chains of bondage, ruining families, destroying relationships, destroying opportunity, causing division and separation time and time again. Now today, we have a few that are divided amongst themselves, making merchandise of the brethren to advance their own miniature empires led by men thirsty and hungry for power and control - lying, deceiving, and destroying without regard to reach their own ends and to maximize their own schemes. 

And then there are those who finally wake up to the realization that they were involved in a world of darkness pretending to be light. These come out of the dense fog of Armstrongism in a world of trauma, hurt, and disbelief. Many even have come to reject Christianity itself, and embrace the concepts and notions of a godless universe. Others have retreated into a world of reclusive living, untrusting and unwilling to allow themselves to submit to such a scam ever again. - subject to lie after lie after lie, over and over again. 

There is no doubt as to what they - the perpetrators of Armstrongism and all of it's injustices - want those who shine light on the problems - to do. They want us to "get a life", to "shut up", to "grow up", and to roll over and play dead, and not say anything about the abuses that continue unabated. They want those who see, who hear, and tell others to "mind their own business". Then, they accuse the ones who speak out of being blasphemers. Of being haters. Even of being devils. They accuse those of the same attitudes they have no problem displaying, while making themselves out to be the bearers of light and hope. Many have cast judgement against them, without authority, up to and including their eternal lives, without realizing or knowing that only God holds the keys of life and death in His hands - or the one who came to save us. They don't acknowledge the depth, the width, the height, and the length of the love of God in Christ our Lord that exceeds the pathetic boundaries created by that businessman, Herbert Armstrong, who only understood the physical realms, and even then, didn't have a clue. 

If your watched your son or your daughter - with so much potential to live - get involved with a man or a woman who constantly oppressed them. Who constantly told them everything they were doing wrong in every area. Who stripped them of their ability to make decisions. Who stripped them of their responsibilities. Who eventually would take as much of their rights, responsibilities, and income as possible - and then that man or that woman who did that went out and built a house, living off their income - lying to them, over and over again - promising them the world while they were chained up in the basement, living off whatever they could scrape out - would you not be outraged? would you not want to tell someone? Would you not want to do all you could to help that person understand their situation? Especially your son and daughter? Or would you expect them to sit down, shut up, and bask in willful neglect and disbelief about the whole thing? Would you be on the side of your son or daughter, or the abuser? 

What would Jesus do?

What would YOU do? 

For all the time we spent in Armstrongism, we heard four words in our hearts and minds throughout the whole experience: Tithe, Pray, SHUT UP, and OBEY. Today, those same leaders WISH we would tithe, WISH we would shut up, and despise our "rebellion" against their tyrannies. We got up, and we said "NO MORE". We ignored their constant threats against our eternal lives, and cast them aside as worthless. We rejected their nonsense, their false prophecies, their lies, their arrogance, their abuse, their judgemenal attitudes, their greed, their sneers, their cold, heartless attitudes of worldly gain and greed, and their shouts of powerless authority. Make no mistake - their words are powerless. They have been disarmed. They hold no power - except on those who give them such power through fear. 

Let me be clear on this: None of them hold any power over ANYONE, except the power of fear and deception. Not oneof them has uttered one prophecy of truth, one speculation of substance, one word of power - just disappointment and lie after lie. Who remembers the guy who "cursed" his detractors to no avail? Or the guy who made up such ridiculous prophecies about 2013 and ended up proving himself a liar? Or the guy who believes he was ordained and never was? What about the man who started it with over 200 false speculations, a man with rage, temper, and in his own words, an "evil nearly impossible to overcome"? The only power they've ever had over anyone are those who believe they have power. 

We don't. We have been freed. We're here. They are powerless. We have a voice. It's not hatred. It's standing up to the Lectern of the Internet through the Banned By HWA Arena in front of a crowd bigger than any Feast of Tabernacles site with volumes of information and indisputable facts. It's booming the truth of what Armstrongism was really about "AROUND THE WORLD", And really is. Not one person has EVER been able to refute any of the claims that have been revealed. Because they cannot. Because it's truth. And truth is all it's ever about.

submitted by SHT

On a Personal Note:

NOTE:  I post this simply because it is a way that many who knew Karen could find out that she had passed from the brain cancer that presented itself in August. Karen was a very fine and loving person who spent many years going where I went and supporting me during all the drama and trauma that came to us while pastoring in those 14 congregations scattered over five states and 26 years. My sons have been wonderful in their care for their mom right through the end of life. I am very proud of them as they too were dragged all over the country , changing schools on a moments notice and giving up their friends. In spite of all that, they have turned out as excellent sons, husbands, fathers and friends for which I am very grateful.  

This is not to not acknowledge all the also fine Church members who have passed in this life having also been through much in their WCG/COG experiences 

Thank you in advance for those who have made kind and supportive comments. 

Karen Fuessel Diehl

July 17, 1950 -December 19, 2018

Journal entry by Chris Diehl — Dec 19, 2018

Moms struggle is over and she is at peace. Mom passed away at noon today in her sleep. She was in no pain and was not alone. My brother Jeff and I were with her the whole time. We we're able to hold her hands and be right next to her up until her last moment.

Moms service

Journal entry by Chris Diehl 

Moms service will be Friday December 28th at Kornegay and Moseley Funeral Home here in Columbia. Visitation will be from 1pm to 2pm.

UCG Declares Year End Fast After Income Drops 8%. Will The Boys Of Cincinnati Take A Pay Cut To Set The Example?

Preaching the "gospel" is a hard business for United Church of God. After dumping a bunch of money into a new recording studio and other pet projects, UCG has discovered its income is down 8%.

We are all products of the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God—given to us free of charge. It’s the convicting Word of God and the Holy Spirit that have done this. But it was not free to produce. It costs a lot of money to accomplish all the things that the United Church of God produces. There are writers, pastors, television presenters, Ambassador Bible College staff, Internet costs, and much, much more that goes into supporting our collective efforts.

And so, now I come to you with a matter of concern. While we have had steady, but modest growth over the past several years, you may have read in the report from the December meeting of the Council of Elders that the Church’s income for the current fiscal year is about  8 percent under budget.There are a number of possible factors contributing to the lower amount of received donations—including uncertainty about U.S. tax law changes introduced for 2018 (including changes affecting deductions for charitable contributions), and the ongoing correction in the stock market (which Reuters has described as the “worst December performance in 16 years” for U.S. stocks).

Notice the one thing that UCG leaves out as a potential reason for the downfall.  Have they ever considered people find their canned 1970/80's sermons and same silly exegesis methods as Herbert used as producing sermons that have no relevance to people living in the 21st century?  Just how many times do people need to hear anti-Christmas, Easter, Halloween sermons or see slick videos? How many doom and gloom sermons need to be preached picturing the end times in the same brushstrokes Herbert did in the 1930/40's?

So brethren, as UCG looks forward to setting 2019's budget you had better make damn sure you have upped your giving so that they can do what they want

With this in mind, we would appreciate your prayers that we see our income trends clearly as we prepare an appropriate budget. I’d like to request that you please join me in prayer and fasting to our great God on a day of your choosing between now and the end of December. Please ask God to not only bless the United Church of God, an International Association, but for Him to show us how we may be the wisest of stewards with the income and blessings He has given us.

Here's a suggestion for the big boys in Cincinnati.  Why doesn't the top leadership take a dramatic pay cut and set the example of true leadership instead of soaking the members for more money?

Even better, why lie to them that you are preaching some kind of gospel message when you really are doing no such thing!

Prayer and fasting are tools that God gives us to humble ourselves and seek His presence among us. Biblically, prayer and fasts have been called for safety, repentance, mourning, and before making an important decision. Again, I am asking that we all fast and seek God collectively in earnest between now and the end of the December.

When has there EVER been a humble leader in the hierarchy of the United Church of God? After watching them all act like snakes in the grass while plotting to lead people away from WCG into their new money ensuring adventure, they disfellowshipped and treated people like dirt who did not agree with the changes.  Then once they had money in place to ensure a good financial changeover and a steady paycheck, they jumped ship.

If they want to recoup 8% missing income, let these weasels set the example and donate their salaries.

A Glimpse of HWA's Compassion and Care for his Co-Workers

From Co-Worker Letter August 15, 1949

Was there any concern with Herbert Armstrong about the well-being of those who contributed to his projects? Read through this and see this, and more observations I've noted in yellow and bold. 

When our Co-Workers either grow careless or forgetful of God's Work, I wonder if you realize the criticism it heaps on me, and the desperate predicament I find myself in? 

When we begin to fall behind in paying the bills for carrying on this work---bills that have to be paid for carrying the true MESSAGE OF CHRIST to millions---bills for that which has resulted in HUNDREDS of precious converted souls and changed lives---you know, I am sure,
what those we must do business with in the world for God's cause think of me, and say to me and about me. And all the more, because we are CHRIST'S representative. They persecuted Christ. Just let a known representative of Christ get behind in paying a bill to a worldly man, and can you imagine the condemnation that man heaps on God's servant, the names he calls him? It becomes a reproach to the cause we are devoting our very lives to promoting. But not only that---when I have to send out urgent appeals to our Co-Workers, then even many of our perhaps less-Spiritual Co-Workers point a finger of accusation against me personally---and begin to PUT THE BLAME ON ME, or imagine that in some way it must be my fault.[The measure of spirituality was directly proportional to the level of loyalty to HWA.]

These occasional lapses on the part of our Co-Workers ARE IN NO MANNER A CASE OF IMPROPER BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IN OUR OFFICE. The truth is, it requires just so much every week, and every month, to conduct this great work; it is MOST carefully managed and is geared to a fixed rate of expense well UNDER the normal income of the work. We cannot reduce expenditures without upsetting or completely paralyzing the work. But when, at times, our Co-Workers grow careless[are struggling] and FAIL TO KEEP UP THEIR PART, and the income drops to around HALF the normal rate, we find ourselves heading for
financial trouble, getting behind in current payments which we try to keep paid PROMPTLY, or even in advance, we get telegrams from radio stations threatening to put the program off the air. TODAY I RECEIVED SUCH TELEGRAMS FROM TWO OF OUR THREE BIGGEST STATIONS!

....

Yes, GOD IS DOING HIS PART---and we here in Pasadena are putting our very UTMOST effort, almost night and day, into this work---we are DOING OUR PART! Many of our Co-workers are making great sacrifice, and are diligent and faithful in sending in generously of God's money---DOING THEIR PART. But MANY of our Co-Workers, on the other hand, have been growing careless, or forgetting [struggling]---AND THEREIN LIES THE TROUBLE WHICH MAKES US SUFFER, BRINGS REPROACH ON THE WORK [HWA], AND THREATENS TO STOP IT ALTOGETHER!

.....

Pray with me that God will, through our Co-Workers, literally open the windows of heaven and send upon His servants here in Pasadena a veritable DOWNPOUR of dollars---for His glory, and to lift His work from reproach, and to keep it going---week by week, and month by
month! Surely, among all our Co-Workers, there is at least one who is able, if willing, to send us that entire $3,000 to pay off that loan our Co-Worker made for us. [!] Surely there are beside, at least two or three who can send in a thousand dollars each to pull this
work out of its slump, help us get bills paid up so we can owe no man anything! And I know that EVERY ONE OF YOU can send in at least the poor widow's mite---just $2! And most of you can spare God and His work considerably more than that!

In addition to this financial crisis, we need extra funds quickly to print and mail the August-September PLAIN TRUTH, now almost ready for the printer.

NOTE: $2.00 in 1949 is equivalent to $20.00 in today's money. 

NOTE: $3,000 in 1949 is over $30,000 in today's money. 

ADDENDUM: The practice of asking for a loan of 30K, and then being unable to pay the loan back, and then placing the burden on ANOTHER Co-worker to pay off the first Co-worker's loan?  What do you call this?  And Herbert says there was no "mismanagement"? Mismanagement is asking for loans when there is no funding to pay back loans!

submitted by SHT

Welcome to the Place of Safety

submitted by SHT

The moment when all the COG leaders who claim exclusive rights to the place of safety all arrive at the same time. 

But it was too cold for the sheep....

Christ was not born at winter time because 

it's too cold for sheep to be in the field.

How many times have we heard this crap in the Church of God?  The myths that were taught be theologically ignorant men was appaling.  Just because one man in Pasadena made a dumb statement, the entire church was treated to this nonsense as fact.

The person who posted this on Facebook said:

Consider the fact that Bethlehem shares about the same climate as Jacksonville, FL. Mild winters. Sheep have a lot of wool which keeps them nice and warm. In the Navy I was stationed in Iceland and saw sheep out in the winter months. 

I remember thinking I've been lied to.

Bethlehem Weather

Behold!!!!! The Bridegroom Cometh - But ONLY for the ZEALOUS and NOT for you LAZY backsliding COG members!

The Great Church of God Pharisee, James Malm,  has laid down another timeline for the end of the world events. Oh, the joy.

A lot of it contains the typical COG speak for the abomination of desolation, the pope, and other pesudo-scary shit.

The children of light are pillars who stand unalterably on every Word of God like the Thessalonians did, they are zealous and faithful to God and his Word. 

Having been warned and being the children of LIGHT through their zeal to live by every Word of God, they will see and understand the signs and will NOT be taken by surprise. 

The sinners of the world’s nations and the spiritually lukewarm and spiritually blind children of darkness, including many in today’s spiritual Ekklesia, will reject the scriptures and insist that Jesus was wrong in Matthew 24:15; and that there must still be 3 1/2 years before the tribulation, or that some physical temple must first be built, and so will be deceived by their own false traditions and beliefs. 

First the abomination, the man of sin will be set up in the Vatican and then within about 75 days he will go to the holy place. 

The world’s peoples and the worldly brethren will not believe the warnings and will be caught completely by surprise. 

Only the pillars of today who are like the zealous of Thessaloniki will be alert and aware and will understand and will NOT be taken by surprise; they have been forewarned and when peace is about to be declared and the man of sin schedules his visit to the holy place; the children of light will know that the tribulation is about to begin.

So who exactly are we to believe when certain COG leaders spout off that the "brethren" will be caught unaware when the troubles start because they have refused to listen to these great Pharisees, self-appointed prophets and other hand tools of Satan?  Just who is right?

Malm claims only followers who are zealous will not be caught unawares, while Bawana Bob Thiel claims all other COG members, except for his African tribe, will be caught unawares.  Add to that mix the sheer lunacy of Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack and it soon turns into one frightening scenario as they all end up arriving at the narrow gate into Petra at the same time.  Just imagine the shit storm that will go down over who is the rightful COG leader or who gets to set up his HQ outside the gate in the Petra Marriott.

The sign of the beginning of the tribulation is the setting up of the final miracle working man of sin in the Vatican and his visit to the holy place about 75 days later.

24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

This abomination is set up as pope in Rome and then goes to the Holy Place [the whole Mount is Holy] within about 75 days, triggering the tribulation.

When the abomination [the final false prophet] is set up in Rome, he has only a total of 1,335 days before he is destroyed (Dan 12, Rev 19:20).

1,335 minus 1,260 for the tribulation, begins the tribulation about  75 days after the final abomination is set up in the papacy in Rome.

When you see the abomination set up in Rome, and recognize him by his miracles and his call for a New Europe; then know that the tribulation is imminent and will begin when he goes to the Mount. 

When we understand that some will leave the land to run to safety and some will not, it should be self-evident that a split between the zealous for godliness, and the lukewarm [Cold for God, hot for men] of Revelation 3:14-22; is inevitable. 

It should also be self-evident from the obvious apostasy in the Ekklesia today; that the prophesied falling away of many from any zeal for God, has and is taking place. 

The spiritually wise will know that the tribulation will begin within 75 days, when they see this abomination set up in Rome. After that God will send his Two Servants who will take the zealous to God’s refuge as one of their first acts.

The scripture rejecting wicked in today’s Spiritual Ekklesia will not understand until the tribulation begins with the occupation of Jerusalem.

Who would have thought the official Two Witless Witnesses, Ron and Laura Weinland, would be the ones leading the ZEALOUS COG members into the place of safety. That must cause Pharisee Malm major butthurt!

The beginning of the great tribulation and the time of the coming of Christ will not be concealed from God’s faithful zealous pillars. They WILL KNOW, because they are the wise in Christ; for they have been warned and they have BELIEVED the warnings and they are faithful and zealous to live by every Word of our God!

It still amazes me that these spiritual terrorists always place so many burdens upon their followers instead of relying on this:

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG)

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

As the dining-room table prophet continues to extol his amazing revelations to his ZEALOUS followers, he reveals the date the shit hits the fan:

IF these things take place in 2019 as they are lining up to do, the only issues will be how long it will take to reach an agreement on the Peace Initiative and exactly when a man is set up in the Vatican doing miracles. 

If these things go more slowly and it takes a little longer for peace talks, then the tribulation will begin late in 2020. 

However IF the tribulation is to begin in 2019 then this man will be set up in the Vatican doing miracles in September or in October 2019, and God’s two servants will be revealed within days of the Feast of Tabernacles, with the tribulation beginning in December 2019.  

I am quite sure that after a summer of the fulfillment of these things and articles on reviving the brethren, that these things will be the focus of conversation at the Feast of Tabernacles; which will set the stage for the appearance of God’s two servants a few days after the Feast.  

Brethren, the time is at hand, “Behold the Bridegroom Cometh!”  I will be doing everything I can with the help of God the Almighty, to prepare the brethren for the advent of God’s two servants.  God is watching what we do!  

How many years now have the great prophets of Armstrong been saying "IF"?  For 80 some years now they have had to reset the date of the coming of Jesus Christ. Every single COG leaders, prophet and self-appointed guru has been proven to be a liar, over and over and over.  With a 100% failure rate a person would assume that modern-day COG leaders would keep their fly traps shut.  But no...