Sunday, October 30, 2022

RCG: James E. Habboush Enabler-in-Chief (Part 7) “Meat Puppet”


 

Enabler-in-Chief (Part 7) “Meat Puppet”

 

It looks like somebody finally lost the coin toss at the back of the hall at The Restored Church of God during Sabbath Services yesterday. On October 29, 2022, James E. Habboush gave a sermon to the Headquarters congregation and injected some paltry comments to further confuse the brethren.

 

Standards are really slipping in RCG these days. When Andy “Meat Shield” Holcombe stammered his way through “Special Comments” three weeks ago, I thought the new bar was so low that nobody could limbo under that. Turns out, James “Coffee Kid” Habboush took a shot at it. And lower it, he did.

 

The people in the room were told "they made it" on the First Day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Then they were told one week ago that they would receive SALVATION at 10:56 am on Tuesday morning, October 25. With that backdrop, decide how "helpful" his words are.



Nothing is comforting, inspiring, or valuable within these 44-seconds. Or am I just being a biased wicked antichrist serpent?

 

Even though they do not bother editing their "rushing" messages anymore, they must have upped the special effects budget. You cannot see the strings held by David C. Pack behind the curtain. It may be the Coffee Kid's voice, but it was Desperate Dave's words.

 

Andy can play the violin, but the false apostle Pester General plays people. One hand holding the strings with the other inserted into Jim's head, making his mouth move.

 

No longer just a Coffee Kid, James E. Habboush has been ordained Meat Puppet. To his shame.



 

 

Were the “ministers” expecting smiles and electrified excitement over these insulting words? Oh boy, Jesus Christ is coming back…at some point…maybe after Halloween…maybe by the middle of the month…or something.

 

If anything, these “Silly Comments” create more questions without providing any answers. This is the empty, hollow “appearance of comfort” that the enabling hirelings at Headquarters provide the sheep of The Restored Church of God. Clouds without water, indeed.

 

Meat Puppet misread Romans 13:11 because in RCG, “…for now is our salvation further than when we believed.” They believed in Sivan. And Tammuz. And Av. And Elul. And Tishrei. And during the Feast of Tabernacles. And the Tuesday after The Last Great Day. And then on October 25 at 10:56 am.

 

When I read 2 Peter 2:19, it brings me to tears. Oh, how the word of God stands true and firm and bright while exposing what RCG has become.

 

 

I knew Meat Puppet pretty well. We served alongside each other for years at Headquarters before he became a "mister." Something else of note about James "Meat Puppet" Habboush: He was the first person at Headquarters to rat me out to the ministry back in December 2012.

 

I had been in Wadsworth for two weeks. A group of us went to breakfast on Sunday morning. Coming fresh out of the United Church of God, I asked, “Who is going to give the blessing over the meal?”

 

Jim explained they don’t do that in RCG. I said, “That’s weird. What is wrong with giving thanks to God?”

 

"We do that silently to not make a show of it.”

 

“How is that ‘letting your light shine?’ We aren’t standing on the street corner with a trumpet.”

 

"You should talk to the ministry about that."

 

“I will.”

 

By the time I went to the Headquarters Pastor on Tuesday, he was already aware. "So, I heard there was a kerfuffle at the restaurant this weekend.”

 

Meat Puppet did not let me go to the minister on my own like I said I would. Instead, he needed to ensure I was turned in as soon as possible. No wonder they made him a “minister.” That was my “Welcome to Headquarters” moment. My second week there.

 

Just before I left RCG, he was the same guy who poked his head into a closed office and shushed Carl and me because we were laughing too loud behind closed doors. Laughing is not tolerated on the third floor when God’s Apostle is present. The metal strings were already well-attached by then.

 

 


[Start]

“And before we break. This will be cut off from the end of the recording.

I just want to stress what I said earlier in the message.”

 

Stand by. What you are about to hear is so wonderfully important, he needs to repeat it so that the entire church can listen to these words of inspiration right away.

 

“We shouldn’t be surprised if we’re here next week.

We even could reach the middle of the month.”

 

Very few inside RCG are going to be surprised. The babblings of a false prophet have no value to anyone outside the inner circle and a few broken drones.

 

As a non-prophet/non-psychic, I predict we WILL reach the middle of the month. In fact, Meat Puppet, here is some information that your boss will later declare: We will get to the end of the month of Cheshvan without incident.

 

There. Written in blood, stone, and steel on October 30, 2022. Check with me after sunset on Thanksgiving, and we can do a fact-check comparison of our notes. Who is true and who is false is continually proven by the passage of time. For real. Call me. Dr. Tim Ranney has my number.

 

 

“We understand Cheshvan. We understand the time we’re in.”

 

If Duping Dave, Meat Puppet, and Meat Shield actually understood Cheshvan, he would not be at the front of the room spinning Damage Control. They do not understand anything. Each time they say, “Now, we understand,” it only highlights the fact they did not the day before. All that was taught in the past was garbage because “now” they understand. Uh-huh…

 

The time RCG is in is a time of darkness. A time of deceit and villainy. A time of love waxing cold. A time of uncaring harshness. A time of foolishness and lies. A time of wickedness and evil.

 

“We understand and have confidence in what we’re about to embark on.”

 

If Puppet Master Pack were "confident," then this "Silly Comment" would not be released. God's word stands. Dave preaches God's word correctly. Therefore, it will happen as taught. Unless the Spirit of God is not moving David C. Pack to teach all this. That should be cause for concern.

 

This “confidence” remark reminds me of the Mr. Behrer recording that went live last week. Listen to it again and hear Dave’s “confidence” about getting that Common from a lay member.

 

DCP: …I stress this, Bill, the only way to do that is, "This is me talking to you, Jim. I know I'm a minister, and I'm your boss, but I'm a friend, too. I'm just telling you, don't go away thinking Mr. Pack doubts you. He has no doubt. He's absolutely adamant you're gonna come to see this…Mr. Pack doesn't doubt you.

 

The words of David C. Pack mean the opposite of what he says. The comments from Meat Puppet should be taken the same way. The more "confidence” they assert, the more worried they really are.

 

The RCG fall offerings fell short of projections. There is panic at Headquarters. The enablers are hoping and praying that Jesus Christ does return soon or drastic changes are afoot.

 

“There’s no reason to abandon any of that if we get even past Halloween, for instance.”

[Long pause]

 

IF instead of WILL. Meat Puppet knows nothing will happen by Monday night. He knows it but injects it as another soft landing into failure and disappointment. Dave made such a big deal recently about how God despises Halloween. It looks like God is allowing the kids to trick-or-treat at least one last time before He smites those little satan-loving heathens.

 

If the true God were as cruel as Dave teaches Him to be, then god would make all the candy disappear the next morning. If I leave my window open Monday night, I will wake up to the howls of horror echoing throughout Wadsworth.

 

The screams will be louder than the annual Jimmy Kimmel Halloween “I ate your candy” bit.

 

Dave will drink deep the tears of infinite sadness and rejoice in their anguish. Just like Peter or Paul would do.

 

There was a significant pause after the sentence. What was going through Jim’s mind? Did he realize he lied a little bit? He knows that Dave has already walked away from a Halloween arrival double-time.

 

Since Meat Puppet is a lifeless toy operating under the control of a false apostle, he is forbidden from telling the truth and letting people know straight up Jesus Christ is not going to knock on their door Monday night.

 

The "ministers" inside The Restored Church of God Headquarters are not to be trusted. They have compromised and violated their consciences so much that even the hot iron is worn out.

 

“We’re right on track, brethren.”

 

This is the one sentence that still gives me a visceral reaction. The people who leave RCG remark how insulting that statement is, especially repeated Ad nauseam. It does not help. It does not mean anything. And it is a lie.

 

The wise and still-conscious understand that "right on track" is RCG-speak for "Eff you!"

 

If RCG were "right on track," Jesus Christ would have returned at 10:56 am on Tuesday, October 25. Instead, a Meat Puppet lies to the entire church. And that is what James E. Habboush did. He lied to the members of The Restored Church of God. A "minister" of Jesus Christ spinning Damage Control during a holy convocation so that a false apostle can be comforted by verbal pillows.

 

“Let’s be confident of what God is about to use us to do.”

[Fake smile]

[End]

 

If God were about to do something with RCG, it is not in the way they expect.

 

May God have mercy on these faithless hirelings that care not for the sheep. That make merchandise of the brethren. That feed themselves off the fat and hold themselves not guilty. Ravening wolves which arose from among them. A den of thieves spewing words of poison. Vile compromising enablers.

 

Led by a hypocritical apostle who cannot bother to show up to Services during the Feast. A vain, arrogant man filled with his own self-importance that is so miserable he makes those around him miserable. No humility. No remorse. No shame. Teachers acquire the greater judgment.

 

God have mercy on the lot of them in Wadsworth, Ohio.

 

PS - Raymond, RCG is becoming PCG. Your eyes and ears do not deceive you. Trust the sickening sting in your gut. Get out while you still can.



Marc Cebrian





UCG: Tithing Converts The Soul


 

The boys in Cincinnatti are on a roll trying their hardest to make you believe you need to be funding their jobs with tithe money. Apparently, when you tithe, you are converting your soul.

Psalms 19:7 states, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Is that true when it comes to tithing? At the surface level, tithing can appear to be a mere physical commandment, ensuring that resources are given for God’s Work. However, the verse above indicates that cannot be the whole story! Tithing, as part of God’s law, has a part in “converting the soul”—have we considered how it does so? And how does tithing impart wisdom to a person? 
 
Tithing, like all of God’s commandments, teaches spiritual lessons about our Creator. Paul attests to this, saying, “For we know that the law is spiritual” (Romans 7:14). Tithing is a spiritual command that has a spiritual impact on us—converting our soul and bringing about meaningful changes in our minds and hearts.

Giving your chunks of change apparently changes your heart. So empty those pockets boys! YOu too can have a changed heart by dumping the chunks of change into the offering basket. God wants to hear the money clanging!

1st tithe, according to UCG:

The first tithe has the effect of changing our heart into a heart for God’s work to be done. God is still working here on earth, and we can be a part of that work! When we send our first tithe to the Church, placing it into God’s hands, we become personally invested in preaching the gospel to the world, making disciples and caring for those disciples. We have then contributed our own resources to the effort and put our own skin in the game. When we give first tithe, we can remember how we benefited from the tithes of others, giving thanks for how we first learned God’s truth and asking God to bless our contribution to help others learn His ways and find support through our pastors and congregations.

The new covenant says believers give according to how they have been blessed, freely, without stipulation. No command, but freely given. 

2nd tithe, according to UCG:

The second tithe develops in us a heart of obedience. Deuteronomy 12:14, in instructing us to go and keep God’s festivals, says “there you shall do all that I command you.” Laying up the second tithe for our family gives us the resources to go and do what God has commanded. In keeping the Holy Days, we not only humbly reflect on and rejoice in the blessings He has given us, but we also learn more deeply about His plan of salvation and connect with His people in fellowship. In this way, the second tithe cultivates obedience to God’s entire law and sets our heart toward obeying Him in every part of our lives.

Since holy days are not a new covenant command, being COMMANDED to keep the second tithe is not a requirement. Use that money for a real vacation. 

3rd tithe, according to UCG:

The third tithe sets our heart on the outgoing love of God. God cares about all people—He doesn’t want anyone to starve or suffer poverty or live on the street! Sometimes people find themselves in such situations by their own bad choices or problematic behavior and sometimes it’s through no fault of their own. But in every situation these people are hurting and God cares for them. The third tithe is only one of many commandments God gives regarding help for the poor, and the message for all of them is the same: God wants us to develop deep compassion for our fellow man. Whether it’s when we pay our taxes or whether we set aside third tithe beyond that, God wants our heart focused on those in this world who are in need. We ought also to recognize that we were all once spiritually poor, and God has given us exceedingly great riches with the precious knowledge of His truth!

Sadly, in the COG movement, very little of the 3rd tithe money ever really went to the poor, widows, or orphans. Even in the mother church (WCG) there were persistent tales about ministers using 3rd tithe to remodel homes (like Rod Meredith did) or that money being used for other pet projects of ministers or church leaders (buying artwork, gold, and silver finery. The stories are all over the internet about church members being told they don't deserve 3rd tithe money, even though they are struggling. Ministers will be very vocal in how begrudgingly they hand out some of the money. 

Tithing is a big deal, and it’s important not to take this act of worship for granted as we go on fulfilling it year after year. We work hard for the money that we earn, and to willingly give it over to God at His command requires ongoing humility and faith! 
 
But tithing goes far beyond an exercise of physical obedience—it is about God directing our heart to where He wants it to go. God wants our heart to be invested in His Work. God wants a heart that will “go and do” all His commands, including keeping His festivals. God wants a heart that is generous and inclined to the needy. 
 
If we obey God in this and worship Him not just in the flesh but with understanding in the Spirit, then His law will have the intended effect, “converting the soul” and “making wise the simple.” How Tithing Directs Our Hearts to God’s Purposes

If only UCG ever talked about Jesus Christ with such passion, then they too might really feel the "converting the soul" experience that Christians have understood for centuries. 


Saturday, October 29, 2022

Fleecing the Flock - The One Thing COG's Are Good At


 


TITHING: The fleecing of the flock!


Unfortunately, many Christian leaders have appropriated the Old Testament principle of tithing to support their ministries. The reasons for this misappropriation of the flock's resources are obvious: 1) it provides them with a substantial and reliable source of income, and 2) by grounding it in Scripture, they can claim that it is a Divine requirement - not something which they have instituted in their own self-interest! In other words, church leaders can claim with a straight face that anyone who fails to tithe is actually robbing God and hurting themselves, not the folks who are actually collecting and spending the money! In this way, these ministers have quite cleverly imposed a self-policing mental straitjacket on their parishioners.

In the now-defunct Worldwide Church of God (and in many of its descendants), the tithing principle was probably exploited more effectively than in any of the other Christian groups which have employed it! In addition to demanding that their members give one-tenth of their gross income to the church, they also expected members to set aside a "second" tithe (to be used in attending their annual eight-day celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles referenced in the Torah), and a third ten percent every third year (ostensibly designated to help their poorer members). "How do you convince folks to devote such a large percentage of their incomes to the practice of their faith?" you may be wondering. They accomplished this in part by claiming that God would more than makeup for what they were sacrificing financially. In this regard, one of their favorite quotations was from the Old Testament book of Malachi: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10, KJV)

In exploring this topic, one of the very first things that we need to point out is that the designation of a "first, second, and third" tithe does NOT appear in the Judeo-Christian canon. That's right - modern religionists use those designations to describe what actually appears in the Torah. In other words, Scripture talks about A tithe that was to be used in a number of different ways by the Israelites. Why would religionists describe them thus? Do you think it's possible that it might have something to do with the fact that having ONE tithe employed in three different ways would naturally reduce the amount of money flowing into the coffers of the church?

Next, one of the most important things that these Christian groups often fail to mention is the context of the tithing mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Not only was tithing clearly identified with the tenets of the OLD Covenant as outlined in the Torah, but it is also very clear that the principle was intimately associated with the AGRICULTURAL economy of ancient Israel! In the book of Leviticus, we read: "And all the tithe of the land (Hebrew "eres" or earth), whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord." (27:30) In addition to crops, we read in the same book: "And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord." (27:32) In other words, the tithe was figured on crops and livestock - It was NOT figured on wages derived from labor! Notice too, that the context also takes for granted the farmer's ownership of the land, the planting of a crop, and the preexistence of a flock or herd! This is made even plainer by the insistence in the book of Deuteronomy that the Israelites tithe on their INCREASE (Hebrew "tebua" or product, yield, crops, gain, revenue) - what was produced THAT year! (See Deuteronomy 14:22, 23 and 28). In other words, ancient Israelites were NOT tithing on their gross income - they were tithing on their NET income from their crops and livestock!

It should also be noted that there is absolutely NO MENTION of using tithing as a means to support the New Testament Church in Scripture! Now, it is true that Jesus Christ pointed out the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees relative to their attitudes towards tithing (see Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42). Jesus underscored the fact that they had neglected the more important aspects of their faith by focusing too much attention on getting tithing right. Christ taught his followers to "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." (Matthew 5:42) Indeed, throughout most of the New Testament, we find the principle expressed that Christians should be motivated to willingly give of themselves and their resources (see Mark 12:41-44, Luke 6:38, Acts 20:35, I Corinthians 16:1-2, II Corinthians 9:7, and Hebrews 13:16). In other words, there is NOTHING in the New Testament to suggest that Christians are under any obligation to tithe on their income and present it to the Church! Moreover, anyone who would suggest that this is a requirement for Christians is almost certainly motivated by self-interest! Christians are clearly obligated to be generous and to be looking to help those who are in need, but there clearly isn't any formula prescribed by Scripture for accomplishing that end!

by Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix