Gerald Flurry has claimed his Malichai's Message and Herbert's, Mystery of the Ages are on the same level of importance as the Bible. They are so important that they will eventually be made into scripture. These books should be in every one's library.
Now it seems Flurry has been influenced by another book. A book so significant that it has influenced the editorial department of the Philadelphia Church of God.
Let me give you an example. One time, when the Key of David tv crew was waiting in Heathrow Airport for our return flight to the States, we decided to shop. My dad, as he typically does, made a beeline for the bookstore. He left the store with a new volume tucked under his arm: Full Disclosureby Andrew Neil. It was several weeks later when I realized the importance of that book, as my dad quoted large portions of it at an Editorial meeting.
The impact of that one book has been significant. In the editorial department alone, it has helped to better organize our publications and improve our writing. My dad later told me, “It’s as if that book was written for this Work.”
Keep a watchful eye on what the Church quotes or often refers to. If it is good enough to be quoted extensively in the Trumpet, it may be worth adding to your library. Be observant, seek the advice of those knowledgeable in certain fields, and you will have no problem finding plenty of good books. Your problem will then be trying to narrow your selections down.
Andrew Neil's autobiography. As Managing Editor of Britain's Sunday Times he was the most powerful and innovatiev editor in Britain's Fleet Street. He fought with The Royal Family, endlessly with Margaret Thatcher and eventually with the paper's new owner Rupert Murdoch. Fascinating and required read for anyone interested in journalismAll of this comes from the latest article by Lil'Steveie Flurry telling PCG members to build home libraries. Forget the fact they will be fleeing in a couple of years, it is important to build worthy libraries. Your Personal Library: Build a book collection like Churchill.
This desire to have a library like Winston Churchill comes about after Gerald Flurry was filled with lust in his heart after viewing Churchill's library.
“Wouldn’t you like to get your hands on that?” my dad remarked as he gazed at Winston Churchill’s private library. We were in Chartwell, England, at Churchill’s home. Churchill was a great man, and the books on those shelves—still preserved just as Churchill had left them—helped to shape his mind. That’s why my dad wanted them.I am surprised at Flurry's great desire to have a huge library, considering his idol, Herbert Armstrong did not have a huge collection of books in his home. His library was rather small but was decorated with expensive gold and silver statues, some rare books that he never opened other than the day he bought them at Harrod's and a few personal books, like Message to Garcia, which he kept on his desktop.
Once your small, personal library is in place, don’t just give each book a cursory read. Study those books. Read to learn. And every so often, re-read. This seems obvious for books like Malachi’s Message and Mystery of the Ages, but we rarely apply this principle to secular reading. Why not? We’re better off mastering 20 or 30 excellent volumes than quickly browsing 100.
Mr. Armstrong often said that the Bible does not contain all knowledge; it is merely the foundationof all knowledge. God expects us to build upon that foundation. He admonishes us to prove allthings—to keep growing. There is always room for improvement. Education never stops.
God has given each of us a responsibility to develop character as we support this Work. Studying history and the lives of great men and women, keeping up with current events, and reading all of the Church-produced material makes us more responsible in our role.
Develop your own 20- or 30-volume set, and then let those books shape and mold your thinking the way Churchill’s library did his.
