Does the Church of God Need ANOTHER Booklet on Dating?

As has been normal for the Church of God, it has always felt the need to control every aspect of its members lives, from what they eat, what kind of clothes they wear, and what kind of sex they have and how often.  From birth to grave the church has made a business of meddling in members lives.

Last week, the Church of God's most perfect end-time leader (sorry Dave Pack, it's not you) announced he is writing a new booklet on dating.  Dreamy Bob Thiel is its author.  The weird part about this booklet is that with 2,996 of his members living in Africa, WHY would THEY care about American dating habits?

Almost arrested, but not arrested Bob Thiel says this:

Let me start off by explaining about the forthcoming dating booklet.

Originally, we planned to put out a book about the canon of the Bible this year. However, I realized that with my schedule and the research required for this subject (I had started on it last year), this would not happen in 2018. After praying about subjects to cover, I concluded that we could–and should–get out a booklet on dating. And I have been working on that. This is a subject quite different than others that our booklets, sermons, and magazines have covered.

Many aspects of Christian living should be part of what we need to teach (cf. Matthew 28:19-20), and while they have been, many aspects of dating were basically missing.

Furthermore, as we have scattered unmarried people in many places, and I did not want them to feel left out or without additional guidance from us. I have long prayed for our singles, widows, and divorcees (and yes, I pray for married people too). Soon, we expect to have a dating booklet that may help some of them. And hopefully, this will help others not with the Continuing Church of God as well.

So God revealed to him to write a booklet on dating, just like he revealed to Elijah Thiel he needed to start a new church?  We all know that one was a lie, so why should we believe God told him to write a booklet on dating?  Even worse, you will notice that he is also writing another booklet about the canon of the Bible.  Does ANYONE care?  Tens of thousands of books have been written on the canon since the Jews started compiling their own books in specific order between 200 BC - 200 AD.  The only thing Amos Thiel is attempting to do is rewrite church history to make it more in line with Church of God myths, particularly his myths. But, that is for another story.

The self-appointed prophet Thiel is going to present this new booklet in an awe-inspiring new way on the Internet.  He is going to have ANIMATED videos!  I can see Dave Pack whimpering behind his security gate right now at this most momentous announcement!

Announcing a New Door: Animations 

In order to help get information out to a wider audience, we have decided to produce some short animations that we plan to initially put up on YouTube.

This may be somewhat unique to us as I personally have never been part of a church that used a lot of animations (I only remember a two-minute animation in the 1970s used once as part of a World Tomorrow telecast related to Gehenna fire). The first CCOG animation is intended to be related to dating and our forthcoming booklet on the subject. 

Currently, I have written two or three scripts for the animations, and am working on one or two others. Some will mainly promote booklets we already have, but we also will need additional ones. 

Now, because of this animation door, this seems to be the time to produce some other booklets on subjects I had in mind to write (God’s existence, Christian living, God’s calling as Ambassadors for Kingdom of God, baptism, prophecy, etc.). So, I plan to work on at least a couple of those before going back to the book about the canon of the Bible.

The Internet will have a field day when he starts posting these.  then watch, he will start screaming PERSECUTION when they are mocked.

Apostate Thiel is taking this animation route because Apostle Paul told him to!  It's all there in the Bible.  Apparently, Apostle Paul was a visionary man who knew the Internet was coming down the pipeline in the future.

We are striving to implement ways to better reach the audience in the 21st century. That is consistent with the following teachings from Jesus and the Apostle Paul:

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12, NKJV throughout, unless otherwise noted)

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (1 Corinthians 9:19-22)

Apostate Thiel believes that the youth of the world will be highly attracted to his videos:

To try to reach all, we must also consider their demographics. Younger people are looking for more short bursts of information, and people are more used to being entertained.

There is a place for ‘milk’ as well as ‘strong meat’:

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14)

Apostate Thiel is aiming these dating videos to the 13-30-year-old crowd.  As if some 20-30 year old is going to pay attention to any of his crap!   Apparently, this will be a huge witnessing tool in Africa.

So, while we will continue to have sermons, long articles, etc. (stronger meat), we are looking to provide some basic information (milk, starter food) in forms that more would be comfortable to start with. Plus, everyone who has been around for a long times does not always need strong meat. God made a variety of physical foods, and in CCOG we are trying to provide a variety of spiritual foods (magazines, websites, sermonette videos, sermon videos, personal contacts, visits around the world, baptizing trips, youth camps, church and holy day services, radio appearances, and now also videos). Radio appearances, of which I have done over 100 since CCOG formed, should be considered mainly along the “milk of the word” line.

Consistent with biblical admonitions, we need to “Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, CEV) as well as “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6).

Since very young children tend to have their hearts turned towards their parents and vice versa, I have long believed we need to, in addition to teaching parents (which is something we have always striven to do), better reach young people in their teens and above. Animations look to be one way to do that (and yes, church youth camps, which we have each year are also another specific step we have taken).

But let it be understood that while the use of animations is mainly focused on people from age 13 to 30, animations should also be effective for people of almost all ages. 

Apostate Thiel believes that these animated videos have the potential to start the persecution of his improperly named "continuing" Church of God.  YouTube may pull them for being too controversial. PERSECUTION I SAY! PERSECUTION!

The use of animations looks to be a door that we can use to reach others that we may not otherwise reach as well as those not as likely to want to read long articles and/or to watch long sermons. Hopefully, after watching animations, many will want to learn more.

The use of online television services like YouTube, and modern computer software to make animations, is a NEW DOOR IN TELEVISION.

My hope and prayer is that the short animations, combined with relevant free book offers, will help others develop more interest in true Christianity. This is another way to get the witness out to the world.

We plan to announce each of the animations shortly after they come available.

We also are expecting to make some of them available in other languages.

Now, as far as YouTube goes, yes we are aware that they censor and may one day block our content–it suspended a CCOG sermon by Steve Dupuie once and has blocked non-CCOG people (see YouTube censorship of ‘conservative’ content). However, since more and more people can watch YouTube on televisions in their homes, it is still the least expensive way to reach a broad television audience. Unless something better comes along, we plan to utilize the ‘door’ of YouTube until it closes. Which, one day, it will.

Until then, putting animations online, in addition to our sermons and sermonettes, on YouTube is an exciting development that I ask all of you to pray about. We hope to have the first one finished and available within weeks.

There is nothing new under the sun because it has already been done!

Dave Pack: All of the top splinter groups are in error and ignore the most basic of common sense

Dave does not think too highly of the various larger COG groups out there.  They are all filled with errors and false teachings.  Only he and his group alone have the truth. Only those who follow Dave will receive salvation because they will have doctrinal purity leading them forward.

The Largest Splinters—and Their “Work”

Only a few organizations are making an attempt at the Work. Yet, none are even close to “holding fast” (Rev. 3:11) all God’s doctrines—including those at the front edge of the Work. However sincere, these are works of men, not led and directed by the living Christ who would only use those who will not compromise restored truth. These would fulfill the Great Commission under GOD’S GOVERNMENT. It will become obvious God could not use those who compromise to perform His Purpose.

Only those who will return to—or who come to believe—all of the truths that God taught His Church are candidates to join His final Work. Those firmly rooted in different ideas should attend one of the organizations that may still want to do some kind of “work,” but not be concerned about doctrinal precision. We bear such people no ill will, but know they will be more “content” elsewhere.

Partly because they do not see the crucial importance of doctrinal purity, all the big splinters also do not grasp the colossal importance of what is at stake in the true Work of God today. Only one or two organizations even begin to remember, let alone comprehend, that a powerful WARNING must reach 600 million Israelites throughout many nations and territories. And, again, no one seems to recognize another related warning must reach over 35,000 in the splinters or holding to some truths at home, with both of these to occur before the Tribulation. For this reason, this book will, at least briefly, reference the roles of “watchman” to Israel and “messenger” to Laodicea.

The destructive “spirit of error” (I John 4:6) that has entered all the groups is why so many now believe contributing to disaster funds and relief efforts is the more “loving,” “compassionate” and “Christ-like” approach to gaining “disciples.” Warnings are “too harsh.”

All COG leaders are now just mere spectators who are too pussy-whipped to do anything powerful.  Only Dave is bold enough to say it as it is.  Even Bob Thiel cowers in Central California whimpering at the awesomeness of Dave!

The apostle Paul wrote, “For [God] will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a SHORT WORK will the Lord make upon the earth” (Rom. 9:28). Misunderstanding crucial verses like this, many—I repeat—now believe the Work as the Church did it for decades is finished, with all responsibility COMPLETED. These people have usually also come to believe the “famine of the Word” has arrived—and that this at least generally occurred from 1986—thus ending any duty to announce God’s kingdom to all nations or to warn Israelite nations. That two decades have passed and Christ’s Return has not occurred means some think that in the world’s most awful age (now much worse than Mr. Armstrong’s time), when a message of hope with a thunderous warning is more needed than ever, God’s servants are to stand mute, spectating without comment. They are to ignore the most basic common sense, and what Mr. Armstrong taught about preaching the kingdom and warning those headed to tribulation right to the end, and bite their tongue in silence. However sincere, such misguided thinking could not be more wrong!

Kennewick Man Wonders......

"Just where do I fit in 'God's 6000 year plan for man?"

Kennewick Man is the name generally given to the skeletal remains of a prehistoric Paleoamerican man found on a bank of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington, United States, on July 28, 1996. It is one of the most complete ancient skeletons ever found. Radiocarbon tests on bone have shown it to date from 8,900 to 9,000 calibrated years before present.

What about we Natufians at Jericho?

Natufian hunter-gatherers, c. 10,000 BC

Jericho has evidence of settlement dating back to 10,000 BC. During the Younger Dryas period of cold and drought, permanent habitation of any one location was impossible. However, the Ein es-Sultan spring at what would become Jericho was a popular camping ground for Natufian hunter-gatherer groups, who left a scattering of crescent-shaped microlith tools behind them. Around 9600 BC, the droughts and cold of the Younger Dryas stadial had come to an end, making it possible for Natufian groups to extend the duration of their stay, eventually leading to year-round habitation and permanent settlement.

"Ahem...."

Six miles from Urfa, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey, Klaus Schmidt has made one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time: massive carved stones about 11,000 years old, crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery. The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years. The place is called Gobekli Tepe, and Schmidt, a German archaeologist who has been working here more than a decade, is convinced it’s the site of the world’s oldest temple
Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gobekli-tepe-the-worlds-first-temple-83613665/#wCuhKIrETSGrxTL9.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

Six miles from Urfa, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey, Klaus Schmidt has made one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time: massive carved stones about 11,000 years old, crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery. The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years. The place is called Gobekli Tepe, and Schmidt, a German archaeologist who has been working here more than a decade, is convinced it’s the site of the world’s oldest temple
Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gobekli-tepe-the-worlds-first-temple-83613665/#wCuhKIrETSGrxTL9.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

Six miles from Urfa, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey, Klaus Schmidt has made one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time: massive carved stones about 11,000 years old, crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery. The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years. The place is called Gobekli Tepe, and Schmidt, a German archaeologist who has been working here more than a decade, is convinced it’s the site of the world’s oldest temple
Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gobekli-tepe-the-worlds-first-temple-83613665/#wCuhKIrETSGrxTL9.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter

The world’s oldest monuments may soon get an image makeover. A new project will promote and preserve Göbekli Tepe, home to the most ancient temple   structures ever discovered. Since excavations began in 1995, the site in southeastern Turkey has changed the way archaeologists think about the origins of civilization. Its circular structures, with their elaborately carved stones and distinctive, T-shaped pillars, are more than 12,000 years old—older than the invention of agriculture or even pottery.

"C'mon now!"

Cro-Magnon Man is a name applied to the earliest known European examples of Homo sapiens sapiens, modern human beings. Cro-Magnons lived from about 40,000 to 10,000 years ago in the Upper Paleolithic period of the Pleistocene epoch.

Church of God Answer

"Um ....well...they can't really know how old they are.  They weren't really humans yet . Well I mean they never existed.  We'll I mean they did obviously but they were Satan's people. Look, the Bible adds humans up to Adam and Eve around 4000 BCE so that settles it.  Where's  you faith!  These scientists , falsely so called, just want to find ways to sin and break God's law.  I heard of a scientist once who said just that!  Besides..."Einstein had wild hair"  (Dave Pack)  You can't trust a scientist with wild hair.  It's a shame for a man to have wild hair!   Now put your hand down.....

LCG Parents Not Too Keen On Jonathan McNair "Educating" Their Children

Poor Jonathan McNair, the bumbling dude just cannot seem to get a break!  Snicker, snicker....  Everything he seems to touch lately falls apart.  From wrecking marriages and ripping apart families to the dumbing down and closure of Living "University".  It's not a pretty picture for Michael Germano either.  He has now presided over the closure of THREE COG colleges, Ambassador College Pasadena, Ambassador University Big Sandy and Living University Charlotte.  Though I doubt this was as much his problem than the self-serving elitists above him who thought they knew more than he did.

LCG is shutting down it's LU and rebranding its self as Living Education.   Wut?

Those remaining LU students will graduate this late spring and then the new and improved LCG's educational branch will start in the fall.  McNair was flown into HQ to plan this awe-inspiring new phase for the work.  In January he wrote:

The goal of our new “Living Education” team is to continue to assist our members and ministry by providing a roadmap of “focus points” over the course of the year. Our new format, however, will be designed to be available to all members. Stay tuned for more information about how to register and participate! 

LCG was excited that ALL church members would now have access to the greatest educational process the world has ever seen.  (Afterall, no true education can be found OUTSIDE of the CHurch fo God movement.)  This is much the same situation that happened when HWA threw his royal hissy-fit in the 1978 and shut down the Pasadena campus and reopened it as a Bible College.  True Values would be recaptured, the train set back on the track and the glorious word of God would reign supreme.  Toot that horn! The train is back on track again!

Living Education

On August 15, we plan to begin our first year of “Living Education—Charlotte.” We will accept a limited number of students for our first year, as we focus on building a Godly foundation for life! All students will attend daily classes at our Headquarters facility, in this one-year intensive training program. Class titles will be “Principles of Christian Living,” “Fundamentals of Church Doctrine” and “The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ.” We’ll also study the “Acts and Writings of Paul,” and get an overview of the Old Testament through our “Old Testament Survey” class. This program is for young adults who believe in the Way of God and want to learn more about how to build their life on that Way. Students must live in Charlotte for this program as this is a face-to-face learning and mentoring program by our Headquarters faculty and staff. If you are up for the challenge of this intensive learning experience, listen closely for more details and information about how to apply in next week’s The World Ahead weekly update!—Jonathan McNair

It seems that the LCG graduating youth have not flocked to get a "living" education. LCG is appealing to its members to sign up for classes this fail.

Living Education

Are you a young person considering college? Have you just completed college and you’re at a crossroad in your life? Would you like to build a solid foundation for the rest of your life? If you are willing to rise to the challenge of dedicating one year to immersing yourself in a study of the most important, fundamental principles for successful living, then Living Education—Charlotte is for you. The goal for our intensive program is to teach you how to live, not just how to earn a living. The principles you learn will be timeless and the friends you make will share the same values and beliefs. Enrollment is now open at  LivingEducation  if you’d like to reserve your spot in the program. We’ll continue to provide more detailed information in the weeks to come.—Jonathan McNair

One thing you have to hand to Germano is that he knew what kind of classes the students needed to get a "fairly" balanced education, even while having to play around with LCG's doctrinal beliefs.  With Jonathan McNair at the reins now, many LCG feel that will no longer be the case.  Many have written about how much this is a waste of more tithe money and another opportunity to keep Mcnair employed.

Some things never change in the Church of God.

Living Church of God's Tithe Thug Says 'This Passover Season Examine Why You Don't Save Enough Second Tithe"

Passover, at least in the Church of God, a time of self-reflection over past sins and actions that separate members from one another. It was a time of recommitment to never do it again, but almost everyone did the next day after Passover, hard-heartedness reigned supreme when the law is used as your saviour.

Living Church of God's Rod McNair is taking Passover reflection a step further.  Examine why you don't save enough money to go to the Feast.  LCG is getting sick and tired of helping members.

Saving—and Spending—the Festival Tithe: Passover time is self-examination time. It is time to evaluate our lives. And time to adjust and correct areas where we may be falling short. We can ask ourselves, “Am I being faithful in setting aside the Festival tithe?” Over the years, some brethren have fallen into the trap of thinking that saving Festival tithe—also known as second tithe—is optional. In other words, if they cannot afford it, they don’t need to save it. But Scripture shows just the opposite. Saving the Festival tithe is a command that teaches us to have an appropriate fear of God, keeping our focus on Him providing for our needs (Deuteronomy 14:22–23). In “Self-Examination: A Vital Key to Growth,” (LCN, March/April 2009), Mr. Richard Ames explains that we can even “ask God for the ability to give,” and that tithing shows God we “trust and honor Him.” Reviewing that article might be helpful during this season.

Then Rod McNair has to treat LCG members as the idiots he thinks they are because they are too stupid to know how to spend their money at the Feast.  Even though he and the rest of the Meredith clan used the second tithe to live the high life at Feast sites.  Who can forget Lil'Jimmy Meredith bragging about water skiing, snorkelling and jet ski riding at the Feasts in Hawaii? One standard for the LCG elite and another for the lowly members.

Another question we can ask ourselves is, “Am I spending my Festival tithe correctly?” Deuteronomy 14:24–26 shows that the Festival tithe is for going to or using at the Feast. Certainly, that includes the Spring Feasts. If you know you will have enough Festival tithe for the coming Feast of Tabernacles, it is certainly appropriate to use a small portion of it during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread season. Many brethren use a small part of their Festival tithe for the Night To Be Observed meal. On the other hand, some have, over the years, fallen into the trap of thinking that the Festival tithe can be used for household items or other things throughout the year, or as emergency funds, which have no relation to God’s Festivals. Let’s be careful not to stretch the application of the Festival tithe command beyond its intent.

Why talk about the Festival tithe in March, when the Feast of Tabernacles is over five months away? Because now is the time to examine our Festival tithe saving—and spending—habits.

Passover is only three weeks away!

Have a wonderful Sabbath,

Rod McNair

Church of God News is asking if this is Rod McNair's start of no longer assisting LCG members.

Do Rod McNair's comments, in the March 8th update, mark the end of festival assistance? If you are so poor that you are unable to save the festival (second) tithe, he instructs you to do it anyway, and “ask God for the ability to give.” 

The church has always expected members to tithe, even when they cant afford it.  It was far more important for the church to get their cut of the money than it was for the members to live lives according to what they can afford. That is why it is important to enforce the tithing doctrine, even though there is no spiritual proof that the New Covenant calls for it.  How else can the LCG elite live their lives of luxury?