Wednesday, June 26, 2019

The Ultimate Coin Toss That Produced Jesus Also Established Church of God Government


Our favorite kitchen table Pharisee/prophet and one of the biggest lawbreakers in the Church of God, explains below how God and God had a conversation in the seventh heaven over which one of them would give their glory in order to come to earth and become this thing that would eventually be called Jesus.  James Malm has been getting his Pharisaical knickers into a snit over United Church of God's understanding of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. He hates any idea that some of the COG's think differently than he does.  Everyone is too dumb to understand that HE is the FINAL authority on everything, just like Bwana Thiel thinks he is.

The GCE Keynote presentation this year was also on the same subject.  “The Compact:” Keynote Address at the 2019 General Conference of Elders by Bill Bradford.
Their comments about God have an appearance of being consistent with what has been taught for generations, after all even Herbert taught that is the past eons the two God Beings decided on a plan and then they decided which Being would take on each role.  Then at his physical birth Jesus became a Son and the Other became his Father. 
This has to have been the ultimate coin toss, that according to Malm, is being used by UCG to promote church authority, from the top down and how that organization unity unites members with God through the Holy Spirit.
However they are carrying this much further and attempting to slip in the idea that BOTH the Father and the Being who became the Son dealt with humanity before the birth of Christ.
They are using the unity of Jesus Christ with God the Father to push the idea that both the Father and Jesus worked with humanity through the Old Testament period, in order to promote organizational unity as being the same as unity with God.


Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Gerald Weston: Should Young People Go To College or Trade School?



Gerald Weston is back presenting to us FIRM reasons on whether a young person attends a college, goes to a trade school, or ends up like him, living on the dole for the rest of your life off the tithes of other people. Sadly, it is just not the same world that Weston grew up" in.

Of course, in typical Living Church of God fashion, no article from the chief overseer can ever start without first mentioning gay sex and then peppering straight sex throughout the article.

In his June article University or Skilled Trade, Weston writes in the very first paragraph:
Our world is changing at lightning speed before our eyes. Australia was one of the last English-speaking nations to accept same-sex “marriage,” and since that acceptance on December 7, 2017, it has become one of the most aggressively “accepting” countries in the LGBTQ+ movement. The United States is experiencing a political transformation that was unimaginable even three years ago. Activists in both academia and the media shamelessly spawn social tsunamis, which increasingly affect all of us.
He then continues on to warn Living Church of God members that the world is filled with evil in the colleges their children will go to. Satan and his minions are ready to devour LCG kids and turn them into gay rights activists, liberals and delicate snowflakes.
How are our members to advise their teens and young adults about getting an education, in light of the war against godly values that has spread throughout much of academia? Universities are hotbeds of anti-God indoctrination, where naïve students become pawns in a grand, satanic scheme to transform our world into something very different from that which we embrace in the Church of God. Immorality of every sort is not only allowed but encouraged. What is a parent or young person to do?
LCG members must always keep in mind the sole purpose of their children. Young men are to get good jobs and provide for their families and women are to stay at home and be housewives and mothers.
Fundamentally, we must consider God’s design and the roles He has ordained for us. A young man is expected to one day provide for a wife and family, and a young woman is expected to grow into the role of homemaker, with the skills needed to uphold her husband and care for her children. The educational paths we choose should keep God’s loving design at the forefront of our minds.
Weston feels it is more encouraging to send young men to trade schools if they are more masculine and like to work with their hands.  They will end up making more money, for the church first and then for their families.
With that understanding firmly in place, wise judgment is the key to determining how to prepare for future roles in life. For example, not every school is the same. On both the pre-university and university levels, there are still schools that restrain bad behavior and encourage character development. They are becoming fewer, but they are out there. Also, what is good for one young person may not be good for another. There are high-paying skilled trade jobs available for the energetic young man who is more inclined to work with his hands and who excels in doing so, and this option often avoids generating a huge load of debt. Nevertheless, skilled trades require education, which is often gained from a trade school, an apprenticeship program, or a combination of the two. The more knowledgeable and skilled one is in a trade, the more sought after and better compensated he will be.
Then there are the other young men, those who are "all thumbs" and would starve if they had to do hard work in manual labor, like him.  They could go to school and be accountants, engineers, lawyers, or better yet, a COG leader!
Some young men are “all thumbs” and would starve if they tried to go down the skilled trades route, but they may make excellent engineers, accountants, and yes, even lawyers. The list of honorable careers that require a university education is long, but how does one gain such an education and avoid the destructive influences too often found in universities? Here are three suggestions.
LCG members should never allow their children to study to be geologists, paleontologists, scientists or politicians.  As we should remember, those fields are filled with EVILutionists and nasty gay feminist leftist snowflake liberals!
First, the choice of career is vital. There is a great deal of wisdom in sticking to practical disciplines based on absolutes. For example, engineers must work within dynamic laws. If they don’t, the plane will crash, the building will collapse, the electric circuits will fail. A real estate or corporate attorney will spend his time learning about the laws that govern his discipline. An accountant learns the language and workings of that profession. In other words, there are honorable professions that avoid politics and social engineering. Other disciplines—say, pursuits in history or language arts—may involve more subjective evaluations but can still provide practical skills in writing, research, and critical thinking, if handled carefully. Regrettably, however, many of the social sciences are rife with the very trends and abominable philosophies that are tearing civilization apart, and their “leading lights” are often those most passionately seeking, through societal reprogramming, to undermine even the most fundamental godly values. It is foolishness to think that surrounding our sons and daughters with influential educators, passionate about promoting such twisted philosophies, will have no impact on our children’s worldview and character. Options should be considered and evaluated with care.

God forbid if your child wants to take science courses!  Everything you need to know about EVILution and creationism has been written about in Church of God booklets.  COG ministers are the FINAL word in science.  Herbert Armstrong's writings and Garner Ted's Whale of Tale are the ultimate proof that EVILutionism wrong!
Second, carefully plan for the specific academic courses ahead and how to approach them. The first two years of a university education normally have general prerequisite classes, and these are not always directly related to one’s desired major. Some courses may deal with social engineering and attempt to break down biblical values. Science courses most often promote evolution, but this need not be a problem for the student who is well-grounded and who does some study on the subject. Our booklet, Evolution and Creation: What Both Sides Miss, is a good starting point, but there are many additional informative and helpful resources out there for anyone who wants to explore them. The greater problem is the indoctrination of students through a collection of classes designed to tear down biblical standards. This is why one must carefully investigate schools and the courses they require. By doing so, one may be able to minimize or avoid the worst influences of university life.
It is important to try and not let your child live on campus. If they do, the chances are high they will start breeding like rabbits, smoke pot and become hippies.

Finally, consider where your student will live and the pros and cons of that environment. The greatest challenge for young people on their own for the first time is campus life, which more often than not stands in direct opposition to the Christian life in many ways. This is why many of us in the ministry recommend that a young person live at home and attend a local or community college for, perhaps, the first two years. This decision can also save thousands of dollars.
At some point, a local institution may not suffice for the degree one is pursuing, and the last two or more years may require the student to attend university away from home. Certain decisions then need to be weighed carefully. Can the student live with a relative, Church member, or others who share your values? We must always remember to put God first and seek His ways above every other consideration. Is there a congregation nearby where your student can attend services and remain connected to the Church (Luke 14:26)? Is one required to live on campus as a student? There are reasons some schools require this. Just as our one-year Living Education program has this requirement in order to help us teach godly values, worldly universities use this requirement to indoctrinate young people into a radically different value system. Co-ed dorms, for example, increasingly mean co-ed bathrooms and shower areas. The Internet gives plenty of “what’s the big deal” advice on this, but one ought to ask the simple question, “Why?” What is it that they are promoting by breaking down natural barriers between unmarried people of the opposite sex? There is an agenda behind this.
It is much better to send your child to the greatest university on the face of the earth today, for at least a year, so they can do like of previous Living University seniors, breed like rabbits. Getting a Living Education rocks!
Does this mean a university education must be abandoned? Certainly not, but as I’ve pointed out, careful planning, wise choices of schools and courses, and considering where to live are all vital. One also needs to evaluate carefully one’s talents and aptitudes. University is not for everyone. The Apostle Paul and the prophet Daniel had formal educations, and it is evident that they were not without their challenges. Several apostles were fishermen with family businesses. Jesus Christ was a skilled carpenter. Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong chose to learn on his own, with mentoring by experienced advertising men, yet he went on to found three colleges of higher learning.
Too often, we think only in terms of “either/or.” A careful study of the Bible shows that this is not always the mind of Christ. Throughout the centuries, God has called individuals with a wide variety of talents, and He does the same today. The Church needs young men and women who are formally educated, but it also needs skilled tradesmen and entrepreneurs who run their own businesses. Consider all the facts, make wise choices, and always put God first.
While certainly not all of his points are bad, he far underestimates the young people of the church and how easily they can be influenced by liberals. Those young adults I have been around after they have completed university are thoughtful people concerned about their world and strive to make a difference in it. Not so much those trained in COG one room universities.

Read the article here.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

The Thatcher Meeting: Herbert Armstrong and Margaret Thatcher




Declassified files from the Margaret Thatcher foundation
 reveal the truth about the infamous Herbert Armstrong meeting with Margaret Thatcher: For Thatcher and the development of the Royal Opera House, it was all about securing money for the completion of the Opera House. For Armstrong, he bought his way into a meeting with the Prime Minister, and literally bought his name on a plaque on the foyer of the Opera House. But there were concerns from within. 

Concerns were expressed that Herbert Armstrong would "Misrepresent" the meeting to suggest the Prime Minister's support of "The Church and it's activities". Strong caution was advised, because "Armstrong had been trying hard to become identified as someone with contacts to the Royal Family and the Prime Minister". 

In one file, it was stated: 

"In Herbert Armstrong's mind, image seems to be all important. His desired association with the 'great and near-great', as he states it, seems to be principally for the purpose of improving his own image. And he is willing to pay well for just such association." 

It was also stated:

"The main purpose of the advertising appeared to be to gain respectability for himself." 

It was said that any meeting with Armstrong would be "Inappropriate". There were also concerns that Herbert Armstrong, "through his checkbook", is gaining access to people he "certainly should not meet."  Armstrong agreed to donate a considerable sum to the Royal Opera House fund for it's completion. 

Margaret Thatcher agreed to the meeting with Armstrong because of his donation. Armstrong only wanted "a few minutes" with the Prime Minister, if possible. Thatcher would meet with him to "thank him for his generosity to the Royal Opera House Development Appeal". 

When Armstrong was told that the "Plaque" in Herbert Armstrong's name had a qualifying donation of 100,000 pounds, he "increased the check to that amount, and raised the amount of the check to 185,000 pounds." The meeting with Margaret Thatcher was allowed because they had reason to believe Herbert Armstrong would be even more generous if he had the opportunity to meet her. 

The bottom line is, the Royal Opera House needed Herbert Armstrong's money to complete the Royal Opera House because it needed donations from the private sector. Herbert Armstrong needed recognition and a meeting with Margaret Thatcher, and his name on a plaque in the foyer. Both goals were accomplished at the expense of the Membership and co-workers of the Worldwide Church of God, under the guise to the membership of a Matthew 24 prophetic fulfillment. There was no time, nor was there any interest by Margaret Thatcher, of any gospel proclamation or any witness in fulfillment of the "gospel of the Kingdom of God" being preached or proclaimed to Margaret Thatcher or the British Government. This was all about money, ego, and self-gratification on the part of Armstrong. 

It was, as this blog has been saying, over and over again, all about the money, and on the part of the Church, a scam to it's well-meaning and well-intentioned members. 


Incidentally, The Thatcher files show the membership of the Worldwide Church of God in the United States in 1982 at 51,888, and internationally at 19,154.

submitted by SHT

Lil'Stevie Now the Public Face of Philadelphia Church of God


For the couple years or so, Gerald Flurry has been having serious health issues.  From heart problems to pain so intense in his legs that it prevents him from traveling on his luxury family jet. Due to his recent issues with his leg, Lil Stevie has been brought back from Edstone, England to be the public face of the Philadelphia Church of God and to stand in for Gerald at the personal appearance campaigns that Flurry had foolishly booked far in advance. Campaigns that have produced no new money streams for the church.

Now that Lil Stevie is back in Edmond, some speculate that he will start receiving more and more power, till eventually Gerald appoints him as his successor.  For some time now, people have claimed that Lil Stevie, the Turgeon clan and several other top "leaders" of PCG are only there for the money and prestige it brings them.  They do not necessarily believe some of the crap Gerald Flurry preaches.  While Gerald may truly believe he is right, many of his lower minions do not. But, like the United Church of God, many are only in it for the money.

Then, to make matters worse for the folk in England, abusive Wayne Turgeon has been sent there to replace Lil Stevie.  He has a horrendous track record of spiritual abuse of PCG members.

The day Gerald Flurry dies and these little guys take over will be the death knell of the Philadelphia Church of God.   May God quickly speed that day!



Wayne Turgeon: "...a man of low character..."



PCG: God Inspired Wayne Turgeon Into Forcing PCG Students To Work On Sunday


Letters of those impacted by the Philadelphia Church of God

Saturday, June 22, 2019

A Conversation about Positivity




It can be very easy to think back to the way times were and think very negatively about the situation we all were in. This is now my 5th year in deprogramming therapy - and have learned mountains and mountains of information - not only about cults, how they work, and how they try to program you and take over your life - but life in general - and loads, and loads of information that are more valuable than anything - and I do mean ANYTHING the Church ever lied to me about - and that was a lot. But the biggest things I have learned in regards to my experiences in a fundamentalist conservative family in the Worldwide Church of God in relation to my childhood is that first off, it was not my fault. second off, change is a part of life. And thirdly, I must find the positive because there is - and sorry if this is cliche - power in positive thinking. Even when we remember. And tonight, I remember the Feast of Tabernacles - in my early childhood.

YES - It's been a long, long time since I was among 14,000 people in a metal warehouse wearing a suit and tie, anticipating the Wonderful World Tomorrow among the only people in that area that God had called on the face of the Earth, or in a sports Arena, with slightly less people yet the same goals. I can still hear the “Why are We Here” booming out of the PA System, the echoing choir practicing, the hum-drum of thousands of people ready to hear the morning sermon, and the feedback of a poorly trained sound technician. I can still feel deep within the anticipation of the food to come and the places we'd visit once the 2-hour service was over.

I can still remember sitting in the back seat of my parents' vehicle, driving to a Family Day Horseback Riding Event – hearing “Unless the Lord Shall Build the House” in my head. I can still remember sitting up in the top left seats of the Arena, giddily excited the service was ending, watching Al Dennis, the song leader, lead “O God, Forsake Me Not”. I remember these events as if they were yesterday.

I can remember the smells of the motels – the clean smell of disinfectant. I can hear the ice machine unloading its newest ice cubes into the dispenser trays at 3 AM. And I can still remember the treats we'd only eat at the Feast – trail mix, health bars (I think they were Heath bars, actually), and the cool plastic cups wrapped in plastic next to the little bitty soaps we'd collect from the hotel. These memories are ingrained in my head deeper than the Grand Canyon, so it seems.

I remember sitting there, watching the minister speaking, absorbed in every detail of my surroundings. The lights – the ceiling fans whirling about. I would sometimes look down when they quoted scripture at all the heads dropping to take note of the exact chapter and verse. I would watch the Ushers ushering, or just standing around like they always seemed to do by every entryway.

I can remember the crying of scared babies when Herbert Armstrong went on a sudden crescendo about the Kingdom, or about how badly we need to wake up, or the “TRUTH”. I remember how his voice would echo around the hall on such a high note. And how quiet the audience was, so deathly quiet. I remember the voice of Art Gilmore with those films – the ones with the giant Statue, the beasts, or the Young Ambassadors. I distinctly remember Herbert Armstrong talking about Roast Porcupine in a very expensive silver serving tray.

I remember wearing that name badge – so proud of wearing an actual Festival badge. I can remember those proud moments of placing a Green Sticker on the car – verifying we were the True Church going to the True Feast. And I can remember when I would get those special Feast Edition magazines – yes, it's that time of year again – Feast Fever, the chill in the air, you can see your breath – and that special moon the night before we took off. These are things you can't forget.

Are these things me? No, they are not me. These are not my worst memories. These aren't my horror stories - But they are a part of my vivid childhood experiences, and they always will be. Pretending they didn't happen doesn't help anything, or change anything. The truth is, I thoroughly enjoyed some of these experiences. Was it - the whole thing - wrong? Absolutely, a lot of it was. Was it incorrect? Certainly. Was this version of the Feast of Tabernacles even done “right”, or “biblically”, if we even could? No, not at all. Yet, this was my experience. This was my life. And I have learned that while everything in life changes, and those days and times and seasons – and the very church itself – is gone, I have learned to take the good out of it and reflect on what was positive, what was decent, and good – because in everything you will find goodness if you look for it and focus on the positive.

Yes, it was a vacation. We were away from home for eight days. We ate good – real good. The hotel was far better than the house we lived in at the time. The people were friendly and like-minded, the enthusiasm and energy was palpable. The choir music was sometimes quite beautiful. We were all dressed beautifully and smelled... as best as we could smell! We went to museums, riverboat cruises, amusement parks, met great people, and made friendships that lasted decades. Even though in retrospect I am fully aware now that the entire thing was a fraudulent, lie-filled, financial convention that benefited the top, I also am fully aware that I was a kid – a child – and despite how much I believed the lies and went all in with it, I could be a kid, and there were moments – like ski-ball, roller-skating, and mall-walks that were a whole lot better than the day to day drab life at home.

What's the point of all of this? The best thing we can do is find the positive out of our experiences. The past is gone. The future will always be the future – but now – NOW is our present. Now is the only time we have. When we reminisce – either in nostalgia or in horror about our past – and though we all have been hurt and pained in life, and many of us by the WCG experience – thinking positively will be as an ointment soothing on the skin and calming to the nerves. Taking just a half an hour to write down the positive things – the positive aspects of our collective experience – might be far more beneficial than you might possibly imagine – and might even bring a smile and a laugh or two. Let's be thankful for those moments in time that brought smiles in unfortunate situations, because to everything there is a season, and to every season of sorrow there's laughter in the rain. We just sometimes have to go deep to find it.

submitted by SHT