From Hare Krishna to Seventh Day Adventist, to Church of God, to Beatnik and Now to Buddha

The convoluted life of Eric King has taken another twist.  After spending a few years in the Hare Krishna movement King suddenly became an Adventist.  That lasted until he ticked off some members and leaders and he jumped to Armstrongism where there was money to be made. Recently however, he made a move into the Beatnik status and his blog disappeared and his COG related web site was taken over by his Beatnik exploits.  Now all of a sudden, that page is gone and he is back on the web site promoting Buddhism.

We teach that one must make the conscious decision to join his or her human spirit with God’s true Spirit of pure love and understanding. To become a true Christian one must be birthed through and in the power of Holy Spirit. In this article I would like to incorporate some of the philosophical insights of Buddhism into our understandings as COGSR members.-

Originally Buddhism was never a “religion” but instead it was a world view, more of a philosophy. When we look at what are called “The Four Noble Truths” of Buddhism we can find some correlations with COGSR & SOCT teachings which are beneficial to our spiritual understandings.

The first “Noble Truth” is the fact that all life faces and experiences SUFFERING.

The second “Noble Truth” of Buddhism is that CRAVING causes all suffering.

The third “Noble Truth” is to find the “cessation of suffering”.

Another interesting teaching in Buddhism is the idea that “self” is an illusion.

Buddha found out some things that helped him deal with getting over all the suffering. These became codified in what is known as the “eightfold path” of Buddhism. I will here give a basic list of these eight findings:

1-Right understanding

2-Right thought

3-Right speech

4-Right action

5-Right livelihood

6-Right effort

7-Rightmindfulness

8-Right concentration

So these are the eight life changes one must develop to experience “enlightenment” according to the Buddhist. These are vague statements without definition. However, if one studies the SOCT teachings along with the COGSR teachings one can discover how the Christian views the definition of this eightfold path. As COGSR students we do not separate the physical from the spiritual. Both the physical practices and the mental practices must be balanced.  

Another interesting teaching in Buddhism is the idea that “self” is an illusion. As Christians we would apply this aspect of Buddhism to what we call the “sinful self”, or “fallen self”. The fallen nature is indeed a trap and a “false self”. I hope to do some more articles regarding the teachings of Buddhism and Christianity. 

King started his exploration of Buddhism about three years ago.  He also decided at that time to stop associating with certain friends and to stop drinking alcohol.

One thing I would like to say here…a most important discovery that has unfolded to me over the past three years in this ministry. I have learned that sometimes we need to cut-ties with certain people in order to continue HEALTHY GROWTH. When I made the decision just about three years ago to be more specific in who I associate with I found that I became more creative in my personal life. I gained much wisdom and understanding. Believe it or not some people hold us back from doing what we really want to do…they may not be conscious of it but somehow we are letting them. To move away from such people can free us up to experience a more joyful life.

While I like to make fun of King, I do understand he is on a spiritual journey.  What is obvious is that he has never found a place to be at peace.  Armstrongism has the great reputation of making its followers feel like they are never quit good enough.  God is always pissed off about something.  Members can never do anything right and always need a more intelligent person to tell them what to believe.  As the months and years go by King will shape shift into another persona, and another, and another.  He obviously wants to enjoy life, but will never find happiness while in the clutches of Armstrongism or legalistic religion.

Its too bad Herman Hoeh is no longer around.  King could take to Hoeh about what it means to be a Buddhist.

Herman Hoeh Closet Buddhist
The Enigma of Herman Hoeh
Herman Hoeh Memorial

Future God David C Pack Is Already MORE Than An Average Man

A reader here writes...maybe its Dave since he has instructed all members not to read "hate" sites....

I often see the comments about how Mr. Pack is foolish or only in it for the money. But he is not bothered by what you say, he knows that it is Satan working trying to disrupt the work that Mr. Pack does as God's only true end time apostle. Why else would so many enemies attack one person as you do here. It only strengthens our resolve to continue to support the work and Mr. Pack who is more than just some average man, he is obviously given special strength and abilities from God, he is super natural and awesome. You will all see soon that everything he teaches will come true and he will be a ruler in the Kingdom of God, and you will listen then because it will be so obvious. We know that we don't have to give anything that we don't want to, but it is a privilege to give to RCG and the money is used wisely by God's steward. So just keep scoffing and telling your filthy lies, or just get over it and prepare for the punishment that God will soon bring upon you. It gives me peace to know that I am of the elect and will have a special place in the kingdom, I will pray for you, you need that.

   

Bob Thiel Now Humbly Takes On The Elijah Mantle Because Rod Meredith Was Too Weak

Bob Thiel continues his fascinating mental meltdown into irrelevance in the eyes of the entire Church of God.  For a long time now Thiel claims to have had a double portion of the holy spirit pour out upon him by Gaylon Bonjour. Believing that he was somehow now highly enlightened spiritually he stabbed Rod Meredith and the Living Church of God in the back by starting his own "church."

Thiel has no credentials.  Has no meaningful theological training nor a degree in theology.  He was never ordained and never worked his way up through the ranks of the church.  None of that matters any more.  He has now bypassed the ranks of deacon, elder, minister and evangelist.  Bob now has become Elijah!


Thiel has to get in another dig at Meredith  and then moves on to his "doubly blessed" portion that is the same as Elijah's.

Elijah, however, over time seem to have lost the mental/emotional ability to properly lead (cf. 1 Kings 19:13-18). God later took him and replaced him with Elisha as the top ecclesiastical authority. Elisha then received a “double-portion” (two-portion literally) of the gift that God had given Elijah:

9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. (2 Kings 2:9-13)

The recipient of the double-portion, Elisha, was a type of Elijah. Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah (2 Kings 2:13) which God wanted him to have (1 Kings 19:16-19), did a similar miraculous dry river crossing (2 Kings 2:13-14), also did other miracles (2 Kings 4:30-35; 2 Kings 10:5-14; 2 Kings 6:16-18), as he replaced Elijah as God’s top ecclesiastical authority on earth (cf. 1 Kings 19:16).

A minister of the Living Church of God prayed and anointed Bob Thiel for a ‘double portion’ of God’s Spirit back in late 2011.

Then he trots out dead Herb to give himself more legitimacy.

The Church of God position has been that someone would come in the spirit and power of Elijah to “restore all things” and possibly be one of the two witnesses. While the late Herbert W. Armstrong (died in January 1986) sometimes indicated that he fulfilled that role, he told people that I have personally spoken with that there could be another other than he. Those with a WCG background might find the following quote from Herbert W. Armstrong of some assistance here as he wrote:

Those called into the Church were called not merely for salvation and eternal life, but to learn the way of God’s government and develop the divine character during this mortal life in the Church age…
Also Malachi 4:5-6 pictures the Elijah to come at the very end of the Church age (Mystery of the Ages. 1985, pp. 201, 349).

Now since the Church age has not ended, and the Day of the Lord has not yet come, then it follows that Elijah was to come on the scene publicly after this was written. His restoring of “all things” means that he is to be restoring information that the true Church of God once understood, but later must have lost or misunderstood (see also LCG on Prophets: Rare, But Look for the Fruits and Is there a need for a prophet now?).

Those of the true and genuine Philadelphian remnant will pay much attention to his voice.  Those who do not will not fare as well as they could (cf. Revelation 12:14-17).

We in the Continuing Church of God “have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).”

It is fascinating watching the mental melt down a wanna-be COG leader in front of our eyes.  What makes Thiel more fascinating is how he self created himself into a church leader while never having been a minister. Its easy to see how David C Pack and Gerald Flurry went off the deepened because they were already narcissistic ministers.  Thiel however, is a new breed.