Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Meredith Misses Writing First Member/Co-Worker Letter In Ages



Richard Ames has written to the members of LCG letting them know that Rod is too BUSY to write the latest coworker letter.  With his rapidly declining health, there may be more to the story than "being too busy." Ever since Rod jumped ship from LCG he has never missed an opportunity to write about how awful the world is, that gays are ruining everything, and that LCG is the most awesome COG ever!

Ames starts off by praising Rod and his outstanding leadership of the LCG.  Given that LCG is embroiled in power struggles and deep issues at the Charlotte offices Ames congratulations carries a lot of background baggage with it.
God’s Work continues to grow and expand under the leadership of our Presiding Evangelist, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith. We thank God that Dr. Meredith continues to demonstrate zeal and vision at age 83. He administers the global operations of Tomorrow’s World and the Living Church of God and daily communicates with ministers and brethren around the world from his office here in Charlotte, North Carolina. His passion for fulfilling the Great Commission continues unabated, and he inspires all of us to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Amidst his many scheduled activities and projects this month, he has asked me to write this month’s letter to you brethren and co-workers.

With the pointed and stinging rebukes that Dave Pack has leveled against LCG recently because of their shrinking television program, Ames wants everyone to know how great it all is.  You will also notice that Meredith cannot discuss Jesus when that is the dude he claims to partially represent

As you have seen announced in our July-August 2013 Tomorrow’s World magazine, the Tomorrow’s World telecast will now blanket the nation of Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. These programs will feature Russian-language voiceovers. We are excited about this new “open door” for the preaching of the gospel. The first two telecasts will be Dr. Meredith’s “How Can You KNOW God?” starting on July 24, followed by my telecast “Vital Keys for Bible Study” on July 31.

Ames then continues on to channel Meredith.  A letter to the membership could not be adequate unless sex was part of the conversation.  The more gay sex they can talk about the more money they hope to bring in.  So far it hasn't worked for them.

I hope most of you had the opportunity on June 30 to watch Dr. Meredith’s live on-line Tomorrow’s World Presentation, “Prophecy and the Decline of the Western Nations.” He powerfully indicted America and those nations supporting and promoting same-sex marriage. Shockingly, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27 struck down the Congress-legislated Defense of Marriage Act. As Dr. Meredith has proclaimed, the Supreme Court of Heaven will not be mocked by men and women rebelling against the laws of God! The history of the world has demonstrated that civilizations decline, decay and self-destruct when they reject the Ten Commandments and the nuclear family. The Roman Empire was one case in point. Read my Tomorrow’s World magazine article “Rise and Fall of Nations” (July-August 2002) on our Web site.
Twenty-nine of the 50 U.S. states currently ban same-sex marriage; in another five it is not legal but not explicitly banned. Twenty states directly ban “same-sex civil unions” meant to approximate marriage. Will their moral strength remain strong? Or will the wave of immorality undermine even these states? This Work has warned—and will continue to warn—our Western nations that, if they will not repent and turn to their Creator, God will judge them with severe punishment. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of our end-time and referred to the Great Tribulation, a time unique in all history, when the American and British-descended peoples, descendants of the ancient patriarch Jacob, will be punished: “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7). Why will God punish our nations? “For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased” (v. 14).
If the above is true, they why does LCG continue to mock their god by the continual adultery by members and some of the leadership?  The sanctity of marriage is not a top priority in LCG. They need to clean up their own house before they start throwing stones at others.  they have been spitting this same message for over 25 years and people are sick of hearing it.

Ames then launches in on how the Russians hate us and will over power us.  That the  entire world hates Manasseh, ad naseum.

Then he starts in "reason" and how thinking contributes to a godless society.  I think this is a knee-jerk reaction by LCG towards the thinking LCG members that have been leaving the fold over the last several years.  People are using their brains, reading the Internet and logically thinking through the message of Meredith and they have been left wanting.

The entire letter is yet one more long process of death, damnation and gloom.  It offers not hope and cannot talk about Jesus except to say this:
  
Jesus also declares the genuineness of true freedom: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

If LCG actually paid attention to Jesus and really understood what he taught then LCG would not be so fear based in all of its work.  Who wants to read stuff that is constantly filled with damnation and death?  That is what every single letter,  booklet, magazine article and TV broadcast dwells on. If you are so screwed already, then why not enjoy life?  Fear does not change many  people, but good examples and hope does.

Then Ames ends with telling LCG members how exclusive and special they are.  Screw the rest of humanity, you are god's chosen - frozen in 1986.

Brethren and co-workers, God has freely given us His precious truth. His wisdom and understanding are far more valuable than rubies (Proverbs 3:13-15). God’s truth protects us from the deceptions of this world, and—as long as we practice the truth by Christ living in us (Galatians 2:20)—it will keep us free from sin. We must continue to fulfill the Great Commission and preach the gospel of the Kingdom as a witness to the world (Matthew 24:14). Thank you all for your continuing zeal, participation, support and prayers for this most important mission in the world. May God help us all to stand for the Truth as we look forward to the coming Kingdom of God that will bring true liberty and freedom to all nations!
Continue to pray for the success of the Tomorrow’s World telecast in Russia. And pray for more open doors for the gospel to be preached in all nations around the world.
Thanks Richard for all the grace filled hope in Jesus.  It just makes me all warm and comfy as the world falls apart around me. Some day I hope you can let the dude into your life and be set free from all the bullshit.

The Church of God: Fact or Fantasy?


All About Armstrongim has a great post up today about the reality of the mindset of the Churches of God.  The myths and stories we believed over the decades have no relationship with reality. 

Check the article out here.




Tedd Armstrong (Beverly Gott's Son) Sings About HWA and GTA


Tedd Armstrong, the son of Beverly Armstrong, has been a musician since his yearly days in Pasadena.  He has written a song about HWA and GTA

His biography, written by Larry Gott, has this:

Tedd Armstrong, (born Tedd Alan Gott) always knew in his mind that he was a musician. Spending hours and hours as early as two and three years old listening to his mothers record collection of Duke Ellington, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Raymond Scott, etc. Tedd began playing drums at the ripe old age of five. His Mother, Beverly Armstrong was a recording artist for Capitol Records, and was featured on the weekly television and radio programs "The World Tomorrow." where she sang sacred classical music for her televangelist father Herbert W. Armstrong.

She noticed when Tedd was only three, that he was playing along with her Duke Ellington records with wooden spoons on pots and pans and empty Quaker Oats boxes,and actually playing many of the Louis Belson riffs on songs like "Skin Deep". So for his 5th birthday,she purchased him a small set of drums behind which he spent much of his childhood playing along with jazz records from his mothers collection.

At the age of 12, Tedd saw The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show and it altered his life forever! He formed his first rock and roll band at thirteen, and began playing junior high dances and backyard parties. His first paying gig was at age 12, the 1964 Christmas show at The Acadamy Theater in Pasadena Ca. Playing hits like, Wipe Out by the Surfaries  and She Loves You By of course, The Beatles... Tedd continued to play in rock cover bands throughout Jr. high and high school, mostly with much older musicians, playing in night clubs like Gazzaris,The Whisky A Go Go, and college campuses, and at the Hollywood Palladium in 1970.

After High school Tedd began playing guitar / bass / keyboards / harmonica / sitar / 4 string banjo / ukelele, pretty much anything musical he could get his hands on, and taught himself to play them all by ear, having no formal training nor ever learning to read music. By the mid Seventies he had started writing songs on guitar and piano, and recorded his first self titled solo album with the help of Track Records owner, musician, song writer and producer Robert Safir. The album was an ambitious project of 13 original songs on which Tedd played most of the instruments and sang all of the vocals himself.
 
One night, while driving to the studio during these sessions, Tedd came very close to losing his life when he rolled his 1970 Charger at very high rate of speed. This of course slowed production of the album for several weeks. Tedd, however managed to complete the project with the a broken back.

Read more here:



It is Techno rock so it may not appeal to some.  He has more music and pictures here and on Soundcloud here.