Novel About Growing Up In Armstrongism a "Best Seller"

Benjamin Grant Mitchell's book, The Last Great Day is selling well.  Kudos to him for the success.  Maybe he can prevent more lives from being destroyed by Armstrongism!

My novel is a ‘Number One’ Bestseller

4 Aug

A writing affirmation popping up on my screensaver from time to time lately is:
“My writing brings happiness to others”

Amongst other self-penned reminders like “Everything I write makes me a better writer” are others focussed on my novel, The Last Great Day.

Occasionally I will return from making a cup of tea or changing a nappy (or changing a nappy while making a cup of tea—it’s all about time management) and see something like:

“The Last Great Day is an inspirational story”
or
“My focus in 2011 is on promoting The Last Great Day“.

The point of these particular bits of silent self-talk-it-up is to help me remember that although I am writing other stories now the one I spent three years perfecting is available for others to buy, read and—hopefully—enjoy.

Having put my heart, soul and back into making The Last Great Day ‘sing’, it is important for me to let people everywhere know The Last Great Day exists.
Luckily for me I’ve been invited to officially launch The Last Great Day at Melbourne Writers Festival (on Saturday 3rd September) this year. I’m really looking forward to it but am also grateful for other opportunities I’ve already had to share my story.

Since self-publishing on 21st April this year I have been fortunate to have been invited to the Emerging Writers Festival; Readings in Carlton have taken on The Last Great Day, and I also got to do a book signing at my local Dymocks.

At my first writing festival and my first retail outlets I’ve been able to share—and sell—my story. I’ve also met people who’ve already read my novel. It’s been fantastic getting enthusiastic and positive responses and seeing in the eyes of my ‘ever expanding readership’ how my words have found an appreciative and growing audience.

There’s been photo opportunities too. The one I’ve put up with this blog shows a small step towards achieving one of my other affirmations which is:
“The Last Great Day is on top of best seller lists everywhere”

And it’s true.

At least for one day, in a single bookstore in East Doncaster, The Last Great Day outsold all other books. As of August 2011, The Last Great Day is officially (not just in my imagination) a “Best Seller”.

Now, for my next bookstore storming…

COGWA: "Many in the COG Suffer From Emotional and Psychological Problems

The Church of God a Worldwide Association has an article up on it's web page geared towards young adults.  It starts off mentioning that many in the Church of God suffer from anxiety, emotional, and psychological problems. No shocker there!

COGWA had the opportunity to start afresh with new ideas and new ways of doing things when they had their hissy fit and left United Church of God late last year  All indicators over the last year have proven that they have no new ideas and that they are deeper entrenched in the worship of "all things Herb, all the time and in all ways."

Armstrongism has always taken a deep seated hatred against therapy, counseling, and psychiatry.  HWA, GTA and Rod Meredith have always made tremendous effort to mock and ridicule therapy and psychiatry.

So what words of wisdom has COGWA spelled out for those suffering from anxiety, mental health issues and psychological problems in the Church of God?

Christians are not immune to the emotional and psychological problems facing many in the world today. We aren’t comfortable talking about them, but ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. How can we begin to deal with these challenging issues?

As Christians, we know that we will suffer various kinds of trials and tribulations and that our trials can test us and help us grow. Jesus Christ mentioned this reality and gave us encouragement: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Many in the Church of God suffer from anxiety disorders and/or other sorts of emotional and psychological problems. Speaking from personal experience, these are difficult things to deal with, and the subject is not talked of often within the Church. When facing difficult times, my searches generally uncovered little help beyond the advice to pray about it and try to overcome fear.

The second paragraph translates into Armstrongite speak that, mental health issues are "trials and tribulations that we bear because we are "aliens in this world."  Because we live in this world we are filled with anxiety and suffer greatly.

Could that anxiety be coming from horrible aberrant doctrines and sermons by evangelists and ministers threatening the members with every imaginable kind of curse unless they follow their jack booted masters diligently?

What about the anxiety that is produced from endless speculation and silliness regarding the end times, the books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation?  How much blood, guts and gore can people take before they have mental issues?

We saw that first hand when one of Rod Meredith's cult members snapped after listening to one of Rod's sermons and went on a shooting  spree killing several  members.  We see it in action with all the end times speculation that is rampant in Armstorngism.  In Bob Thiel's 2012-2016 bullshit, in Apostle Malm's specific date setting, to Wiener Dude Weinlands moronic prophecies which had ALL failed, to LCG's sick obsession with  violence, death and torture in the end times.  The list can go on and on.


So what is the magical COG fix for mental health issues?

The first thing they are told to do is pray about it.  While this may work for a select few, this will NOT cure the vast majority of  people with mental issues. Working with a 'higher power' along with good therapy and counseling techniques will work together for the better.  But when "prayer" is mentioned in COGspeak it has different meaning than it does for most Christians. COG prayers are heard before all other prayers in the world.  COG prayers have a direct pipeline into God's ears where it will be dealt with in some magical way.

 Praying is our most powerful tool as a Christian; being able to take any problem to our Almighty Creator is an incredible blessing! And overcoming fear is also important, although those who suffer from anxiety are obviously going to have a harder time with that—and it doesn’t necessarily mean they are short in the faith department.

Next they are told to "overcome fear." as if it is their fault they are in this condition.  Why are they fearful?  Could it be because of aberrant doctrines and church teachings?  Fear of theologically bankrupt ministers? Or, a deep seated fear of  a god that they think is sitting there in glee waiting for them to commit some kind of sin so he can dish out well deserved punishment?

The author goes on:

I’ve grown up in the Church and am a baptized member of the Church of God, and I have an anxiety disorder. I’ve learned a lot through the ups and downs. Here are a few things I’ve learned:
Never give up on God!
No matter what, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, despite how impossible it may seem. The following scriptures helped me through troubled, and often scary, times.
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Psalm 57:1).
“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).

Seek God’s help
Pray; fast; get anointed. God will bless you for seeking Him. Go boldly before God and ask for help.

Pray, fast and get anointed.  You fast because you know you must have something topower to do what a real therapist cannot do.  When this method is used it is an endless circle of disappointment.  "Why haven't I been healed, I need to fast  more and pray more because I still must be doing something wrong!"   Years go by as the person does this cycle over and over as they sink deeper and deeper into mental  health issues.

Don’t keep things inside
I know it feels like you’re the only one who has ever felt this way; but you’re not. Opening up to my pastor and to my family was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but it was the first step in getting where I am today—and believe me, I am in a much better place today!

Seeking help from a trained and qualified pastor will work wonders if he is trained in good counseling methods.  Sadly, there is not a single COG minister alive that has had proper training in counseling techniques and therapy!  Almost all counseling training is "in house" training, because it is not tainted by the "world's techniques".  That's why we have ministers in the COG refusing to deal with rapists and child abusers.  With violent husbands, alcoholism and rampant drug abuse.

Get help
I think that in the past, a negative stigma has been associated with mental health problems and with seeking professional help for them. The stigma is not without cause. There are psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists who look negatively on religion and God and do not work within biblical principles.

On this the author is correct.  The COG has mad a mockery out of mental health professionals.  A well trained therapist or psychiatrist can easily see if dangerous religious beliefs are causing issues.  The problem is that COG members think there is no issue with their beliefs.  "There is no way what I have been taught is wrong.  God revealed this lost information after 1,900 years to God's Apostle and there is no way he ever made a mistake!"

I met with one therapist who was convinced my religious convictions were somehow to blame, but obviously that is not the case. I think he would be shocked if he saw the positive change in me, even though I still attend church and have the same beliefs!

A wise therapist!  A foolish COG member!

But, after praying and searching, God has led me to other professionals who have helped me, and who were supportive of my beliefs.
The decision to seek treatment and the treatment you choose are very personal choices.

At least this person did go outside the COG to get some help.  However, like all god COG members, not too much credit is not given to those people, all the credit goes towards the church and the "truth" they have that they think magically cured them.

As long as any person remains part of an Armstrongite Church of God, there will never be totally mentally healthy.

Google

Pope Benedict Google's "Gerald Flurry"

Does Being A Sabbath Keeper Give You Special Protection From God?

For decades I heard over and over from various ministers that because we were faithful sabbath keepers we were set apart from the world by God and given special protection.  Ministers always loved to get up in church after some major disaster and trumpet out that Mr and Mr's Set Apart's home and business were left untouched by the tornado that destroyed every single home next to them over a 50 mile wide path.  Their home alone out of 30,000 homes was spared........or, "...the earthquake damaged thousands of homes in New Zealand, but all of our Church members homes were not damaged, not even a broken glass..."

Of course, such miracles could only occur in Church of God land.  Anyone outside the "true church" were agents of Satan and were not able to be protected.  That's the simplistic logic and magical god that permeated Armstrongism and still does to this day.

This mentality is not unique to Armstrongism, it is also found in other Sabbatarian sects.  Take a look at this story in the latest Seventh Day Adventist, Adventist World for a similar story of miraculous protection.

Note that this story has only women in it, no men or children were spared. Unbelieving husbands who refused to believe were killed.

While I have no doubt 'miraculous' things have occurred around the world that are unexplainable, there is something not quit right about this story.  If this is true then it should scare all Armstrongites into leaving their respective splinter cults and head over to the nearest SDA church ASAP!

The Hiroshima Miracle: Saved from the atom bomb

When the first atomic bomb in history was dropped on Hiroshima on the morning of August 6, 1945, it destroyed everything within a two-kilometer (1.2-mile) radius: the temperature of the ground reached an unimaginable 6,000° C (10,832° F). Everyone within a four-kilometer (2.5 mile) radius was burned to death. A tremendous wind, at the speed of 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) per second, was generated, causing even cement buildings to collapse and broken glass to fly up to 16 kilometers (9.94 miles) away. The radiation from the bomb was unbelievably strong, causing those exposed to it to lose all bodily functions and their cells to undergo apoptosis, a kind of cellular suicide. Between the blast itself, the resulting fires throughout the city, and the radiation burns, some estimate that 200,000 citizens of Hiroshima lost their lives.

Not One Adventist Harmed
In the midst of all this devastation, was it really possible that not one church member, even the one living within 1 kilometer (.62 miles) of where the bomb hit, was killed, or even hurt?

During her investigation the journalist heard the testimony of church member Mrs. Hiroko Kainou, who, surprised by the sudden fierce wind, fell to her knees and prayed. Though every piece of glass in the house blew out, she came away without a single scratch. All of the other 20 Adventist church members in Hiroshima were also kept alive and safe. Though six of them have since passed away from old age, Mr. and Mrs. Morita, the Yoshimuras, the Sumis, the Matsutanis, and others are still active.

Iwa Kuwamoto, who is still doing evangelism from her home by telephone and letter at age 83, was within one kilometer (.62 miles) of the bomb site when the bomb fell. When she crawled out from under the fallen buildings, she witnessed the giant mushroom cloud that was obscuring the sun and shrouding the land in darkness. She tried desperately to help her husband, an unbeliever at the time, to get out from under the fallout, but the raging fires were threatening to close in on them. Taking her husband’s hand and crying, (Iwa) said, “The fire will be here soon. I can’t do anything more, so let’s die here together. God knows everything. Please believe in Jesus Christ. I cannot save you!” But her husband said, “No. I will die here, but you must escape for our children’s sake. You must somehow get to safety and find the children. Do it for the children!”
 

Dennis On: Converted? Unconverted? Armstrongism's Favorite Weapon of Choice

You only need to listen to about 3 minutes of this to remember how Armstrongism uses "conversion" 
as it's favorite weapon of mental destruction.  What better way to destroy a life of a hurting person than to spit out:
"You're UNCONVERTED and because of that God has removed ALL blessings from you!"

"You're Problem is that You're Just Not Converted"

Occurring within all religions, the phenomenon called "conversion" is, in reality, nothing more than mind-control, programming, or brainwashing to achieve the desired compliance. All Christian organizations use the idea of conversion in one way or another to amass followers of a particular persuasion.

In my own experience, it ended up exchanging the idea that my previous beliefs were wrong for new ideas on who and what Jesus said or didn't say about this or that topic. It had a bit to do also with first seeing and then admitting to my absolute sinful state of being, no matter how nice a guy or well behaved a kid I had been in reality. Any "good" I could come up with was labeled as "filthy rags" according to the rather wacked out Jeremiah, I believe. I think it was also Jeremiah who declared my heart was "deceitful above ALL things and desperately wicked", and was such a worthless and duplistic vessel that it needed converting, or all hope was lost. This conversion was evidenced by my repentance from tons of stuff I really hadn't practiced to any great degree, you know, jealousy, anger, lust and greed, but never the less, I was full of it and to say I was really just a nice kid looking for the truth was proof of my depraved self in spiritual denial. So upon repentance from "God's holy and righteous law", which Paul, I later learned either was for or against depending, I was admitted into the club of the converted. I was 19 years old, well within the ages of between 10 and 25 where the majority of humans who go through this experience, have it.

After the initial conversion from the bad me to the God now in me through the Holy Spirit so I could be like Jesus, me, it was a life of overcoming and becoming "perfect like my heavenly Father was perfect." Yikes, no challenge there, so I was never good enough as were none of my friends. Actually no one ever made that grade and you don't know anyone who is anywhere near that either. But that challenge does manage to keep the sheep in a constant stage of "not good enough", compliant and open to the suggestions of those possessing the superior and more mature spirituality...yeah right.

"Conversion" is an artificial, deleterious state induced in a submissive person by a self-serving religious leader." The Psychology of Religion, Dr. Edwin D. Starbuck

Dr. Starbuck went on to note "The essence of 'conversion' is the induction of a state of mere feeling which, when it has passed, leaves no spiritual improvement and often results in the subject feeling like a victim. Frequently the experience is so humiliating after the fact that the subject rejects not only the "conversion," but anything having to do with religion." I guess my writing this is proof enough of that reality. Sometimes well meaning types try to convince me that if I joined their church, I would have a much superior experience but let me tell you that there is no such thing as only half opened eyes when it comes to lessons learned this way. Once experienced, the eyes are wide open to even the well meaning, yet marginally informed good intentions of others.

In the last days of my ministry, it had become rather expected of the ministry to involve the men in the then flourishing Promise Keepers movement. I resisted noting that I was not about to stand in a group of 100,000 guilt ridden, shame driven and fear guided middle age men, listening to any Grand Poopa force them to their knees in another round of heartfelt repentance, blah blah. Besides, it was too much trouble to go potty in a group that large. I did not attend when ministers in the area got together to go to Washington or Atlanta and I sure as hell was not going for the special minister revivals. Nothing worse than weeping ministers trying to get that old feeling back they had when they first got tricked into thinking what they knew at 22 was all there was to know about things theological. Even though I publicly told my minister friends and elders that Promise Keepers was a bit suspect, archaic in it's approach to women, and would be history in three years, I was viewed as not being at team player, marginalized and finally not considered worth keeping in the organization. Don't weep for me. I wanted out at the time and just did not know how to walk away from something I always thought I was supposed to be doing. It's not a light thing getting fired by God ;)

At any rate, Promise Keepers tanked in less than two years, I was right and they still came out the winners because they were doing the "converted" thing by attending and I was not. Promise Keepers was as much a control mechanism as any 19th revival ever was. Women should rejoice that it did not spread any further than it did or you'd not be able to tell the difference between your life and that of the women under the Taliban.

Those who subject themselves to the conversion rules of a particular denomination, group or belief are always liable by the controllers for not being "converted enough." This is a phrase they will hear, along with having experienced a false conversion should you ever be found not to be towing their particular line. It's control rearing it's ugly head again, and they may not even know they are doing it. Or they may. A basic rule to live by is any time any group makes you feel in any way that you are not "good enough," it's not you, though you will be made to feel it is all you. Just leave. Anytime your conversion or lack of it is tied to your not being healed of this or that malady even though the Church or ministry has prayed for you etc, just leave. It's not you, it's them.

Anytime your conversion is questioned because you simply brought up a question about doctrine, Biblical errancy, contradictions, the practices of the ministry, the way money is spent, the content of sermons that promote your guilt, shame and fear, just leave. You will not change those that wish to control you by questioning your sincerity and "conversion" to their views, and remember, all churches promote their own views of God and all ministers also use their human reasoning to do it. One of the great put downs available to the ministry against the converted Sheep is "you are just using human reasoning." Just ask them what kind of reasoning they use. Most will not be so bold to reason that their reasoning is purely of God while yours is not. Don't get me wrong, some will, but most aren't that sold on their own infallibility. It's all human reasoning unless you are willing to trust a man who tells you "God told me." I am not.

Conversion from one state of being to another is a slippery slope for many. It often involves playing on the feelings of sinfulness, unworthiness and self loathing one might have for themselves at any particular time in life. These are times when we can be most manipulated by others, especially theologically or on topics that seem to give us hope of some sort, though misplaced.

Let me give you a few observations, based on experience of what conversion is not tied to.
Conversion, enlightenment and personal growth is not based on the giving or not giving of your financial resources to support the Guru. If you want to contribute to building a grand edifice to the organization or the man who started it, that's your choice, but if your giving and the amount you give is tied to your sincerity, loyalty, devotion or conversion to the group, then leave. It is not. Any church or minister that checks up on the amount of money you freely give before promoting or even including you, is a spiritual bastard having his own conversion issues. Ok, he's also just a regular bastard too.

Conversion is not based on numbers. Just because a church has four services a day and boasts thousands of members, is no indication of any inner peace or spirituality you will gain from joining it. I predict that many people will drop memberships at mega churches for this very reason. They are too filled with busy work, self promotion and glitz to be meaningful for the inner person. They perspire you instead of inspire you. I predict a return to smaller churches, closer to home where you do not have to even go near the damn interstate.

Conversion is not based on how often you participate in this or that "proof of your loyalty" activity. Just say no, I can't go. If your not giving four hours of service a weekend to make church work is a measure of your conversion or lack of it, walk away and reclaim your inner spirituality. If you don't have time to spend during the week helping the minister do his job, yet will never be an elder if you don't, hold your ground. If you think you have no life now, just let yourself get ordained into obligatory conversion activities and see how depressed you get. You'll burn out anyway in time and then be labeled "unconverted" when you leave exhausted and rankled.

Conversion is not related to your knowing or not knowing the details of your churches doctrines or beliefs. Remember, they are all just beliefs and beliefs are based on opinions and ideas about what this or that person or group thinks something means. There is NO ONE AND ONLY TRULY CORRECT, GOD LOVES US THE MOST CHURCH OF GOD on this planet. We are way too divided and not one body we, no matter what the song says. Coupled with the idea that Jesus never thought to start a new movement or Church and the Apostle Paul introducing a cosmic Christ in place of any real Jesus he never met, pretty much eliminates your being in the one true pure, true church. And where did those 12 disciples go any way?

Conversion is not connected to what anyone else thinks of you, your understanding, your skepticism or your caution in following those that declare themselves to be God's representatives on earth. We have had our Jones Towns and Wacos to keep us alert to where people can be lead. There are thousands of churches with unstable ministers and messages that are accidents waiting to happen...again. I can list several, but I spare you. Count the number of times a minister uses the word "I" in his sermons and if it is more than three times, walk away. Ok, well at least it should be less than 100 times. Well no, 50. You judge. Ministers that appoint themselves as the Watchers for God, Apostles of the End Times, or one of the Two Witnesses need mental health counselors, not congregations. Ministers that mind your business more than you get to should be avoided, as well as ministers and churches that seem to have no one besides themselves to be accountable to.

Conversion is not a lot of things but several things it is would be things like personal, meaningful, private, inner, calming, encouraging and hopeful. An even more mature approach is that conversion can also be called enlightenment. En-Lighten-ment...to make lighter or to make lights go on. Too much of what passes as fundamentalist Christianity and truth actually shuts off the flow and turns off the lights. It is that kind of conversion experience we should seek to avoid so as not to have spend years in recovery from religion gone sour.

If all else fails when some asks you what Church you belong to, just tell them you are Non-Condemnational and you will enjoy both their puzzled look and your new found freedom from the kind of conversions, so called, that are meant to control, discourage and keep one in the box of never being good enough. I love the bumper sticker that says "Born Right the First Time." Hmmmmm, maybe that's the answer!

Dennis C. Diehl

DenniscDiehl@aol.com