tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127146812024-03-23T10:55:51.021-07:00Post-WCG Life and Theology ARCHIVESThere is a life to build and a theology to be developed after being in the Worldwide Church of God. It is an adventure but it is worth it!Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-69690738033516037482007-09-08T23:39:00.000-07:002008-07-23T08:38:55.964-07:00A New home for the blogFor those loyal readers like Douglas Becker, FYI Again and Richard Burkard (and of course many other lurkers out there!), I have decide to write newer posts on WordPress.com at http://lifeafterwcg2.wordpress.com. This blog will still be around forever but only for archival purposes, thus the "new" name here will be Post WCG Life and Theology Archives. See you all at WordPress.com!Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-38470028812967648322007-09-04T20:25:00.000-07:002007-09-04T21:08:40.663-07:00Intelligent Quote of the Day from FYI Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtv8YEuoa-wSQsIPECi8sIPAUHAFP7S7_N4GCgR5L1VFXHSlFpI-XVJeZi5S3QSOwcbLMXPOFz-y2CIL1eL_PPtRrtZqO43Ilc8auRSUmRJ3-9q4d5SFPxFj4ut2Fgq6mWQT3/s1600-h/The_Ten_Commandments_lg.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtv8YEuoa-wSQsIPECi8sIPAUHAFP7S7_N4GCgR5L1VFXHSlFpI-XVJeZi5S3QSOwcbLMXPOFz-y2CIL1eL_PPtRrtZqO43Ilc8auRSUmRJ3-9q4d5SFPxFj4ut2Fgq6mWQT3/s400/The_Ten_Commandments_lg.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106566441128762610" /></a><br />It all depends on whether your perspective is that the TGCOL (Love God, Love Neighbor) is a synopsis of the Ten. Obviously as you pointed out some of the commandments couldn't have applied before God created other beings.<br /><br />I would also submit that they were unnecessary prior to Lucifer's rebellion. Apparently evil did not exist previously. Jesus called Satan the father of lies - which I interpret to mean he originated the practice. He also called Satan a "murderer from the beginning", which based on other passages I take to mean from the beginning of his rebellion and not from the beginning of his creation, after all, he was "perfect" in all his ways "until iniquity was found" in him.<br /><br />I can only assume - the Bible doesn't go there - that the angels were given instructions on conduct right from the start. What precisely that code of conduct might have been there simply isn't any way to know. But since God doesn't change I would assume they contained the same fundamental principles of love towards God and love towards others.<br /><br />It is fascinating that this whole argument - whether the 10 Commandments are part of the NC - was not really an issue in Christianity at large until the SDA's (and later the WCG) made an issue of the Sabbath.<br /><br />Prior to that time Christianity was more or less united in a belief that the 10 were the fundamental code of conduct for Christians. The Sabbath was almost universally presumed to be Sunday - in fact it still is in many denominations and in the minds of many believers.<br /><br />Even now many sincere, devout Christians if asked whether or not they keep the 4th commandment (assuming they even know what it is) would reply "Yes, I go to Church every Sunday".<br /><br />Why else do you think there has been so much controversy in recent decades over the 10 Commandments being posted in court rooms? They still hold a place of honor in many denominations. Not all of them try to toss them out, or equate them with tassels and mixed fabric garments.<br /><br />The main proponents of "the 10 Commandments are done away" concept are either former Sabbatarians or individuals and/or denominations who for one reason or another are strongly opposed to the idea of a 7th day Sabbath.<br /><br />The Sabbath is the one great indigestible lump - the one thing that most people simply cannot or will not accept. And it is only when the Sabbath becomes an issue that the Ten Commandments as a whole become controversial in any way. Absent the Sabbath, the nine other Commandments are nearly universally accepted by Christianity.<br /><br />All in all, it's just "pick and choose" of a different sort.<br /><br /><br />---FYI Again critiquing a particular WCG Alumni post making strong assertions that the ten commandments are NOT the eternal ten!Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-13566601167422126912007-08-21T20:24:00.000-07:002007-08-21T20:39:13.689-07:00Bill Maher's update on his documentaryFrom Larry King on CNN, August 14th.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LRO-LVi1FKU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LRO-LVi1FKU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-71346667038028581972007-08-06T21:42:00.000-07:002007-08-06T21:46:59.282-07:00Amen again J!!!<div align="justify">J, of Shadows of WCG has a new video comparing the words of HWA and the Apostle Paul. Who will you pick as the final authority? A word of warning: those who can't stand the hymns of Dwight Armstrong just might want to turn the volume down---but anyway volume or not, J does a great job as always. Thumbs up again!</div><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zBtbj8gOWuo"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zBtbj8gOWuo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-91549155723743948972007-08-05T23:58:00.000-07:002007-08-06T00:15:51.594-07:0036 years ago this week, the Taylor family bought the stairway to heaven<div align="justify"><br />It is around this time my mom , young in her very early twenties brought me, a one and a year old kid to the Worldwide Church of God back in 1971. My brother was added to this rollercoaster ride when he came on the scene in 1974. He was the first one with the smarts to see through the authoritarian nonsense in Worldwide and boldly left at age 14 back in 1988. My mom saw through the nonsense of Joe Jr.'s administration and left in 1997. I was finally tired of the confusion and the unnecessary bullying that was perpetrated by the same leadership. I followed suit and left the rollercoaster ride in 1998. To commemorate a sad beginning that began 36 years ago this month, I have courtesy Youtube.com Led Zepplin's Stairway To Heaven. Believe you me, you get involved into a deceitful religion like Armstrongism, you are truly "buying" the stairway to heaven---whereas Jesus Christ, 2000 years ago paid that price. The sad fact there ares some who are "offended" at the gift and have a need to pay for it. Stay tuned in October when I will have another concert video commemorating my exodus from Worldwide back in '98. Hint, it deals with taking steps of never allowing no one to deceive you ever again in your lifetime.<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ayzhJKy8H_A"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ayzhJKy8H_A" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-89625142769419654312007-08-05T21:47:00.000-07:002007-08-05T23:49:37.871-07:00What makes one an Armstrongite by Koey Koala<strong><em><span style="font-family:arial;">This was excerpted by Mark Tabladillo's Jesus Loves Fellowship based on a poll that I started which asked , "What makes one an Armstrongite" back in 2004.</span></em></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTlh3nsS93dfyifEnLf8aFS1D9Ahyphenhyphen0S7aAq8igsQn5L63Y_g6JRPpVQfIvoYEquLiXbBLGwU0lzNbXsPjt3YcnxJFcic17sSQQqVlqYeX6J7W8mmgnOjSPpj19PX3oED53gGZ/s1600-h/koeykoala.bmp"><strong><em><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095075401476153650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTlh3nsS93dfyifEnLf8aFS1D9Ahyphenhyphen0S7aAq8igsQn5L63Y_g6JRPpVQfIvoYEquLiXbBLGwU0lzNbXsPjt3YcnxJFcic17sSQQqVlqYeX6J7W8mmgnOjSPpj19PX3oED53gGZ/s400/koeykoala.bmp" border="0" /></span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:arial;">---Editor, Post WCG Life and Theology</span><br /></em></strong><strong><em></em></strong><br /><div align="justify"><br /><br />I think Armstrongism could be summarized by listing the 10 major areas of theology and his particular twisted views on each of them:<br /><strong>1. Theology of Armstrongism</strong> - God a "family" not limited to Father and Son (orthodoxy teaches one God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit)<br /><strong>2. Christology of Armstrongism</strong> - Jesus "qualified" to become ruler (orthodoxy teaches he was already God made flesh and so did not need to qualify)<br /><strong>3. Pneumatology of Armstrongism</strong> - Holy Spirit is a "force" not God (orthodoxy teaches God is Spirit, God is Holy, God is Holy Spirit)<br /><strong>4. Angelology of Armstrongism</strong> - close to orthodox<br /><strong>5. Anthropology of Armstrongism</strong> - saved humans to become God (orthodoxy teaches saved humans are to live in eternity with God)<br /><strong>6. Hamartiology of Armstrongism</strong> - sin refers to small narrow selection from the OT laws (orthodoxy teaches sin is missing the mark, lawlessness)<br /><strong>7. Soteriology of Armstrongism -</strong> salvation by OT works and offered to most in a 100 year period (orthodox churches detail our election, calling, regeneration, conversion, union with Christ, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification in far greater depth than Armstrongism even considered)<br /><strong>8. Bibliology of Armstrongism</strong> - Bible a coded book unlocked only by Sabbath-keeping and British Israelism (orthodoxy teaches the Bible is understood by illumination of the Holy Spirit & British Israelism is a fairy tale)<br /><strong>9. Ecclesiology of Armstrongism</strong> - the Church at large is not of God, because they do not keep the OT Sabbath. Herbert claimed he was the only apostle for 1800 years and dictated a monarchial church government (orthodoxy teaches that the Church consists of all who have the Holy Spirit in them, not a fleshly observance of a physical day)<br /><strong>10. Eschatology of Armstrongism</strong> - post-tribulation, premillennial, literal 1000 years, Jesus returning in various years from 1940's to 1970's, well er "in our lifetime," key to prophecy is the fable of Anglo-Israelism (orthodoxy varies on this point, tho most believe the 1000 years is symbolic because apocryphal literature is a symbolic not a literal genre)</div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-29008931344330943822007-08-04T22:35:00.001-07:002007-08-05T23:42:09.473-07:00An oldie but a goodie from Brian Knowles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjWB7ln6ijnZpKQEjZmMCTdyJr4mxfPA1e4ehXXEfaN7bcAzacivfTGEePRpN20ISWGQWGvcLGaJ5COzhwkrO8SYCIcOjtP9WRHHwz6yg1n10-s8mWRI07jTK-uyB48NR2sx8/s1600-h/knowles3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095086048700080466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjWB7ln6ijnZpKQEjZmMCTdyJr4mxfPA1e4ehXXEfaN7bcAzacivfTGEePRpN20ISWGQWGvcLGaJ5COzhwkrO8SYCIcOjtP9WRHHwz6yg1n10-s8mWRI07jTK-uyB48NR2sx8/s400/knowles3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">You know him as the contributors on the Association of Christian Development website. For those who remember waaay back was a minister in the Worldwide Church of God as far back in the 1970's. Of course he has moved on from the WCG eversince and has been a successful Christian writer. He even has some articles in the Church of God (Seventh Day) magazine <em>The Bible Advocate</em>. Also he is a fellow Canadian! We probably are both fellow Conservatives, but he is more of neo-conservative Blue Tory and I am more center-right Red Tory (let my fellow Canadians understand this) but I have enjoyed his writings. One of his older writings when he was with Worldwide was in the Good News magazine titled, "Why Aren't You More Christ Centered?" David Covington had this article reprinted on his website which is now defunct but this timeless article is on Post WCG Life and Theology forever!</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em></em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>GOOD NEWS February 1976</em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em></em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Why Aren't You More Christ Centered?</em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em></em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>By Brian Knowles</em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em></em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>With the possible exception of a very few Armstrongisms toward the conclusion, this article could be published in the 1990's [and 2000's] WCG Plain Truth magazine. The idea that the new covenant changes were just revealed to the WCG since Joseph Tkach Sr. is simply not accurate and amounts to propaganda. There have been two periods of great reform and doctrinal upheaval in the WCG, but the complete control of the hierarchy reversed the changes of the 70's. It is our belief the WCG changes of the 90's are no more secure unless the governmental structure is actually changed too.</em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em></em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>---David Covington, 1997</em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em></em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</em></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></em></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Are you ashamed of Jesus Christ? Are you afraid to mention His name in conversation? Is Jesus Christ at the heart and core of your Christian life? Or have you relegated the name of Christ to the realm of maudlin, sentimental, mushy "religious" conversation?</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">for whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father wioth the holy angels" (Mark 8.38)</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">These powerful and indicting words of Jesus Christ of Nazereth ring down through the centureies with fearsome import! Are you ashamed to mention your Savior, your King, your Lord and Master in everyday conversation? Are you embarrased by a discussion concerning Christ, your High Priest, over dinner in a fine restaurant? What part does the Captain of your Salvation play in your daily life and activity?</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">These are critical questions.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Is it "Protestant" to talk about Jesus Christ as though He were a living entity who occupies a central part in your life? Why should professing Christians squirm at the mention of their loving elder brother in the Faith?</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Make no mistake about it---if you expect to be saved you had better acknowledge Christ in your life! There is no other name under heaven by which we may be saved(Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ alone can rescue you from the inevitable penaly of eternal death which all of us incurred (John 3:16). He is the only hope you and I have of immortality.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">If there is no ressurected Christ---no Messiah---then your faith is in vain (see I Cor.15:12-20). Apart from Christ all religion is meaningless. There is no way to overemphasize the importance of the person of Jesus Christ to the Christian! Words alone are not sufficient to magnifiy the supremacy, the glory and the meaning of Christ to those who would fulfill their ultimate human destiny!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Those who not acknowledge the transcendant supremacy of in every sphere are not Christians at all!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The apostle Paul was perhaps the most Christ-centered individual who ever walked the face of the earth. He wrote, "For to me to live IS CHRIST..." (Phil. 1:21). He was totally preoccupied with Christ! Paul was, in a sense, obsessed with Jesus Christ! Nothing was more important than to preach Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church; "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (I Cor 2.2). Christ, and His life, death and resurrection occupied the centrality of Paul's preaching and doctrine.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Paul, the other apostles, and the early first-century Christians were conscious of a continuing, living, relationshop with Jesus Christ throught the vehicle of the Holy Spirit. John wrote; "And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us" (I John 3.24). Christ actually takes up residence with in the Christian life through the Holy Spirit! Paul wrote that "Christ in you" is "the hope if glory" (Col 1:27). Apart form the indwelling of Christ there is no hope. There is nothing to look foward to but oblivion. But with Christ there is everything to hope for!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>What makes you righteous?</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">No human being is righteous in God's sight of and by himself. It is the righteousness of Christ that makes any of us clean. We are all sinners ---withou exception. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. We are all dooomed to pay the penalty for our sins which is eternal death in the lake of fire (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8, 10 etc.). We have all consigned to eternal dath by our own sins against God.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">But God has provided a way by which we can be made righteous in spite of ourselves! Christ said, " I am the way, and the truth and the life..."(John 14:6). Through Jesus Christ we can all be made righteous. There is no other way!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">But exactgly how does all of this work? Just how are we saved by Christ? The answer is: we are justified by faith in Christ's sacrifice!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are told in Romans 3: 26 that God justifies "him who has faith in Jesus". It is through Christ we obtain access to God's mercy and grace. That is why He is "the way"! "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have pace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom 5:1-2).</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Christ, and Christ alone, is the source of our salvation. It is He who is working out God's great purpose on earth. That is why he is called the "captain of our salvation" (Heb. 2:1 KJV). Those who would be saved must be willing to recongize, acknowledge and admit that Jesus is their "Lord" or "Master" so far as salvation is concerned. There is no other door through which one may pass in order to obtain mercy, justification and, ultimately, salvation.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Law-keeping Saves No One</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">One cannot be saved, for example, by the Law. Law keeping makes no one righteous---"For no human being will be justified in his sight by owkrs of the law..."(Rom. 3:20). The law merely points out what sin is (verse 20, last part). "Whosoever committeth sin transgressseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (I John 3:4, KJV). The law simply convicts all of us of sin! We are condemned by the law as sinners. None has ever obeyed that law perfectly but Christ. "For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all" (Rom. 11:32).</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The law, then, can do no more than identify sin for what it is and condemn us all for committing it! Once we have broken the law, no amount of future law keeping cannot make one righteous. It cannot justify for past sins. It cannot save you from the penalty of past violations.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Christ alone can do that.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our eternal salvation is entirely in Christ hands: "if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's" (Rom.14:8).</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">To the true Christian, Christ is everything. Paul said, "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (I Cor.1:30). Any righteousness the Christian may possess is not his own but is of christ. It is Jesus who sets us apart (sanctifies us) and buys us back from certain death (redeems us). We are purchased by His blood (I Cor 6:19-20) Our future is entirely in His hands.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Only One Mediator</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Jesus Christ, not any human being, is the head of the Church which is His own body (Eph 5:23; Col 1:18). He leads the Chruch through His Holy Spirit, There is no human mediator or intercessor between between God and man, "For there is no one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Tim 2:5). The Christian's relationship with God and with Christ is a direct one. It is not "filtered" through men.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are accountable to Christ for our actions and our sins in this physical life. It is He who will judge "the secrets of men" at the last day. No man should be allowed to rob us of our crown of righteousness which will be granted at Christ's return (Rev. 3:11). We must maintain a direct, personal, one-on-one relationship with our Savior! Certainly Christ has His true ministers (servants), but there is no true "Vicar of Christ" in God's scheme of things according to the Bible.</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A word of qualification is necessary at this point. The fact that each of us should have a personal, one-on-one relationship with God does not mean that we should isolate ourselves as individuals from the Christian community. It does not imply that we should become "independent" Christians. Fellowship is a very important and necessary part of the Christian life. We should not forsake "the assembling ourselves together, as the manner of some is" (Heb. 10:25, KJV).</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Christians are expected to "come together" in congregational meetings (I Cor. 11:18, 20, etc.). We are to meet in the fellowship of Christ and the Holy Spirt. Where two or three are gatthered together in Christ's name He is among them (Matt 18:20). Whenever possible, those who have been begotten by the Holy Spirit should seek out fellow Christians and assemble with them in worship services. The Worldwide Church of God does hold wekly service around the world. For furhter information, please see the box entitled, "If You'd Like To Know More" on page 29 of this issue.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Saved by Christ</strong></span></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The Christian must internalize his belief and his faith in christ. god first calls the candidate for the Kingdom, brings him to repentence and baptism, then gives him the gift of the Holy Spirit. Once begotten, the Christian walks in "newness of life" (Rom.6:4) Now his life, to use Paul's phraseology (Col 3:3) is "hidden" in Christ. He trusts implicitly in Jesus Christ to save him. He knows and believes that it is only by faith in Christ's shed blodd that he can be justified for sins. He looks to no other source for salvation, His confidence is in the Son of God who lives to make intercession for the saints (Heb. 7:25) He know that "...We are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God" (Rom 5:9).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Those who have God's Spirit know that salvation, in the ultimate sense , is a yet future event. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Rom. 5:10). The blood of Christ "cleanses us from all sin"(I John 1:7). We are reconciled to God through Christ, but we are not saved in the ultimate sense. We look forward to receiving the promise of eternal life at the ressurection (I John 2:25; I Cor, 15:51-54).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">All of this according to God's great purpose. It is all done in accordance with a pre-ordained plan. That purpose is being worked out under the personal direction of Jesus Christ, "For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in christ as a plan for the, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth" (Eph.1:9-10).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Jesus Christ is at the heart of this plan. He is the focal point of it. The entire purpose of the human creation of god is to be found in Christ. Therefore, to truly have faith in Christ (and all that it implies!) is to have eternal life! To be ashamed of Christ, to minimize the importance of His great office, to place Him anywhere but in the very center of your thinking, is to reject Him.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Nothing and no one is more important than Jesus the Savior! He alone holds the key that unlocks the door to eternity for every human being that has ever lived or died.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The gospel is a message about Christ and His coming government (Isa.9:6-7). He is at its center. He is described as Savior of all mankind and its coming King of kings and Lord or lords. He will rule over all the earth in the world tomorrow. Ultimately, He will unite all things in Himself and in God the Father. God will be "all in all" (I Cor.15:28, KJV).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Paul, realizing the sheer magnificence of God's marvelous plan of salvation through Christ, was moved to write : "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: It is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Will you be ashamed of Christ?</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>The Offices and Titles of Jesus Christ</strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>God.</strong> "But of the son he says, Thy throne, O 'God, is for ever and ever" (Heb.1:8)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Mediator.</strong> "And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel" (Heb 12:24).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>King of kings.</strong> "...For he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful" (Rev.17:14).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Apostle.</strong> "Therefore, holy brethren, who share in the heavenly call, consdier Jesus the apostle and high priest of our confession" (Heb. 3:1).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Deliverer.</strong> "And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob" (Rom. 11:26).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Master.</strong> "Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ" (Matt. 23:10).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Captain of our salvation.</strong> "for it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Heb. 2:10 KJV).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>High Priest.</strong> "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come..." (Heb.9:1)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Counselor.</strong> "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Savior.</strong> "To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior" (Titus 1:4).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Judge.</strong> "And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead" (Acts 10:42).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Lamb of God.</strong> "The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him,a nd said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Advocate.</strong> "My little children, I am writting this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (I John 2:1)</span></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-75030427705196838942007-08-04T21:59:00.000-07:002007-08-04T22:31:50.103-07:00Pastor Neil Earle's two cents on the Holy Days and the Christian<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNesEhXSX0ZeaQLkNJR2F9Ll2EH2iLZsbRTTphNMKs5vSBxKHkl9hemjS1peBraxngTAIpcYaKaoPcCf7qGH-AYsn-RSP9TO0sRWCQEeCSkz7r_K-dJGDbTFZlA5KqLeUXq1h5/s1600-h/GlenNeilSuepic2.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095079906896847170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNesEhXSX0ZeaQLkNJR2F9Ll2EH2iLZsbRTTphNMKs5vSBxKHkl9hemjS1peBraxngTAIpcYaKaoPcCf7qGH-AYsn-RSP9TO0sRWCQEeCSkz7r_K-dJGDbTFZlA5KqLeUXq1h5/s400/GlenNeilSuepic2.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><strong> After mentioning about Richard Burkard and Dr.Garr reminding me a bit of my former Pastor Neil Earle (and Rush), Anne Hanna has a comment on Neil Earle's summary on the Holy Days which was recently in his congregation's (Glendora, California)webpage. </strong></div><p><br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's a commentary by Neil Earle on </span></em><a href="http://www.glendorachurch.org/" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">www.glendorachurch.org</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;"> :<br />What in the world is Neil's point here? Is it okay for members to go ahead and celebrate tabernacles as an everlasting ordinance if they are kept in Christ, using these themes? Certainly not the message I have heard elsewhere in the WCG.<br />What's Neil trying to say here? Maximum effect? So if the Days are kept in Christ they are MORE important now for what Christ has done?<br />Given the rather harsh steps WCG HQ has gone to in order to ditch the WCG traditional days, commentaries like this just add to the chaos.</span></em></p><br /><br /><p align="right"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Anne Hanna</p><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /></span></em><strong>How the Festivals Were Fulfilled</strong></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><strong>By Neil Earle</strong><br />“No matter how many promises God has made they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Jesus came to fulfill the Law, to bring it to its maximum effect (Matthew 5:17-18). He was Lord of the Sabbath (Mat. 12:8), greater than the Temple (v. 26). These claims got him in trouble with people who had their minds made up about how and where God was working. “Christ our Passover” fulfilled the spring feast by dying on the cross. What about the Fall Festival of Tabernacles (FOT) or Succoth (Booths)? Here is the briefest overview:<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Leviticus 22:42-43 – FOT instituted to depict Israel wandering in the Wilderness. “Booths” and hazardous journeying.<br />Isaiah 4:4-6 – Jesus our tabernacle shelters us on our Journey. We are “in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17) and He tabernacles in us (John 14:23-24 and John 1:14).</span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Deut. 16:13-15 – A change – FOT now an Agricultural Feast of Ingathering (Ex. 34:22).<br />2 Cor. 6:16-17 says we are the Temple or Tabernacle of the Living God – can there be a greater fulfillment?<br />Deut. 31:10-12 – Every seventh year the Law was read.<br /><br />Jesus fulfills the Law inside his people by giving us His righteousness (Philippians 3:9 and Romans 3:21-23 – apart from Law).</span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Amos 9:11 – An interpretative key – prophecies for Israel now transferred to Christ, says Acts 15:16-19, thus…<br /><br />Luke 10:2 – The Ingathering of people is Christ’s major harvest going on right now and climaxes at His return, not in the Millennium (Mat. 13:39).</span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">…Zech. 14:8 – Living waters from Jerusalem.<br /><br />John 7:37-42 – Jesus offered this at FOT in Jerusalem – many convinced, not all (see Zech. 14:2). </span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Zech. 14:9 – One Lord, one King.<br />Ephesians 4:5-6 – Who is the King the Magi were seeking?</span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Zech. 14:16 – Gentile remnants worship in physical Jerusalem.<br />Mark 7:26 and John 12:20 show Gentiles converts seeking Jesus and later coming to Jerusalem (Acts 2:11 and 8:27). </span></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Hebrews 12:22-24 points to an even larger “ingathering” fulfillment in the heavenly Jerusalem also happening right now. Says Tony Warren: “These feasts can only be kept as everlasting ordinances if they are kept in Christ.” </span></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-14272827229430374522007-08-03T23:14:00.000-07:002007-08-04T21:05:42.206-07:00Two good articles worth a read!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpOFWWCe4tNY59RZBmyzD-z69KUeynf8Y7XnI85VC2h3YJWCw-pExrDTP3z3Hu2j7ocbM0bV84PZ_yL3R3OV6F0ntc7B0VUUs17gSTIFCYcgisHYv1MkAClr_n0MuE_M-7GdC/s1600-h/garr.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095061069170286866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpOFWWCe4tNY59RZBmyzD-z69KUeynf8Y7XnI85VC2h3YJWCw-pExrDTP3z3Hu2j7ocbM0bV84PZ_yL3R3OV6F0ntc7B0VUUs17gSTIFCYcgisHYv1MkAClr_n0MuE_M-7GdC/s400/garr.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify">I always enjoy Dr. John D. Garr and the opportunity to meet him in the spring of 2002 here in Toronto to celebrate a Passover meal with a group that was interested in the Hebraic roots of Christianity but still wanted to subscribe and incorporate Traditional Adventism (and Sacred Namism) in their theology. Because of their (stubborn and sometimes ultraconservative) controversial stances, I have not fellowshipped with them ever since (plus visiting this group was taxing on my travel from the west end to the east end of Toronto). In spite of this, Dr. Garr's company is always a delight, anywhere, anyplace (plus he's a good fan of the late John Belushi's Animal House :)). Like Richard Burkard he too is a cross between Rush Limbaugh (but with a social conscience like Richard, both from the U.S. state of Georgia!) and my former WCG pastor Neil Earle. For those who don't know Dr. Garr, he has a ministry called The Restoration Foundation (<a href="http://www.restorationfoundation.org/">http://www.restorationfoundation.org/</a>) which discusses the importance of Christianity discovering its Jewish roots and being proud of that fact. Like myself, Dr. Garr has no use for anti-Semitism, supercessionalism (that God rejected Israel and replaced it with the Church) and Judeophobia (a fanatical fear of all things Jewish). Here in this article, he furtherly proves that the Holy Days can serve as use for the Christian. He does not promote legalism and he definately is in no way an Armstrongite nor promotes that heretical theological system. The article is titled The High Holy Days and Christian Faith and you look at it here at <a href="http://www.restorationfoundation.org/volume%2014/53_6.htm">http://www.restorationfoundation.org/volume%2014/53_6.htm</a> .</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2JamKPsZ8rtee6grtReaClxyeX2cs250L8NcyORoY6KiKIn_MpL3QDfl6y3ejpcgHtPAjg577hDQoh5DP0RXcR8M5X-A8CiHWYMuADns1Q6fmimDBzkhS7kxrAxMs0f6Bnbg/s1600-h/pastor.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095061932458713378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2JamKPsZ8rtee6grtReaClxyeX2cs250L8NcyORoY6KiKIn_MpL3QDfl6y3ejpcgHtPAjg577hDQoh5DP0RXcR8M5X-A8CiHWYMuADns1Q6fmimDBzkhS7kxrAxMs0f6Bnbg/s400/pastor.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Wasn't there an article you felt that Herbert W. Armstrong should have read??? Well, we know that he wasn't the one you didn't "tell" him something you "suggested" to him and you were mighty fine lucky if he took your suggestion seriously! If Herbert Armstrong was really interested in spirituality and the care of the flock instead of fleecing his opulent lifestyle and acting as a control freak and proud of it, he would have sense enough to read this article from Dr Garr's magazine Restore, Who Pastored The Early Church. I have to give you an excerprt from this article .</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc0000;">Because of the anti-Semitic stance taken by the Church in the second and third centuries, many of the Church’s Hebraic foundations and practices were discarded and heathen policies adapted. Consider the functions listed in Ephesians 4:11 which had been part of the synagogue prior to the advent of the Church. That the Holy Spirit had inspired the Church to keep these practices so that it might be unified and mature is evident in Paul’s letter. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be shepherds and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). Paul had no need to define these functions since they were so well known among the first century Jewish followers of the Messiah. The cooperation of these anointed functions that had been established in the synagogue would enable God’s people to serve Him, to mature in Him, and to attain the fullness of His Son.<br />• An apostle (Heb. shaliach / Gk. apostolos) was a person sent forth to an appointed place on a mission. This is not a position of dominance either through ecclesiastical position or anointing. An apostle is a person used by our Lord to complete a specific mission. The Twelve, then Paul, received special commissioning from Jesus. But note other believers referred to as apostles: Andronicus and Junias (Romans 16:7), Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Silvanus and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 2:7).<br />• An evangelist (Heb. magid / Gk. euaggelistes) was a synagogue planter and repairer. In the Church this person not only shares the Gospel, but gatherstogether a faith community which he will leave in the responsible care of the elders. Timothy and Titus were both evangelists and church planters: "But you,keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy 4:5); "The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you" (Titus 1:5).<br />• A prophet (Heb. esha’elohim, nabyi’ / Gk. prophetes) was one to whom and through whom God spoke for the benefit of His people. Prophets generally functioned beyond the confines of the Hebrew synagogue while Paul expanded that function to include prophetic messages shared within worship gatherings.<br />• A shepherd (Heb. zaken / Gk. poimen) was a gray-haired man of leadership who imparted wisdom and counsel to a specific group of people, caring for them as a shepherd would his flock.<br />• A teacher (Heb. rab / Gk. didaskalos) rightly divided the Word to bring clarity to others and to exhort them to action.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#666666;">If only the historic WCG truly waaay back to the foundation as mentioned above??? It would be nice if many Christian denominations other than the WCG go way back on how to pastor a church? Read and enjoy the rest of this brief article at</span> <a href="http://www.restorationfoundation.org/volume%2011/44_28.htm">http://www.restorationfoundation.org/volume%2011/44_28.htm</a> .</span></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-62916066641842186502007-08-03T21:58:00.000-07:002007-08-03T23:14:07.394-07:00Open Letter to Richard Burkard: It is time to go again!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5DUPiYJdosPsg8lBaHsSnG8PvsZ9tsZpLOOIRTZolNDnKuUQRGzTdoEigiEUk8ykwMjYVcfcnFELWjCDZnn302SmpMbOKD-uRF2t35VUfSN87XNuq6JucOwuFz0KM_Wh_Pv1/s1600-h/157871420_88d6a0ae22.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094319783584801026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5DUPiYJdosPsg8lBaHsSnG8PvsZ9tsZpLOOIRTZolNDnKuUQRGzTdoEigiEUk8ykwMjYVcfcnFELWjCDZnn302SmpMbOKD-uRF2t35VUfSN87XNuq6JucOwuFz0KM_Wh_Pv1/s400/157871420_88d6a0ae22.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Dear Richard!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="justify">I cannot believe it has been 9 years since I have known you via the internet and it will be exactly 9 years this coming fall at one of my last feasts with the Worldwide Church of God in Toronto that I met you in person. You were and still are quite a character. Talk about a cross of Rush Limbaugh (with a greater social conscience than he has) and one of my former WCG pastor Neil Earle. You were very charitable in paying for both of our meals at the feast in Toronto, I hope some day I can return the favour. Swiss Chalet Restaurant is truly the best! I am eternally grateful at your kindness. We agreed on many issues. We disdained Joe Jr.'s ideological campaign to rid the WCG of the Hebraic roots liturgical calendar in favour Western (Roman) Christian liturgical calendar. This was one of many things that the broke our trust in Joseph Tkach Jr.---forever! In your website, you chronicled your last days in the Worldwide Church of God, like mine , they were difficult and completely confusing times that no one should ever repeat in their lifetime. You also chronicled your visits to various Sabbatarian churches until you final eliminated it to one: the United Church of God. It is been now over a half a decade you have been involved with the UCG. That too has been a ride. On the outside, it seemed like an open minded liberal organization of all the splinters. It seemed like it was the WCG in the 1970's---free and easy before Ayatollah Armstrong took away the fun in the '80's. The UCG, what you have discovered, has not what it has appeared to be. There are many good people in the United Church of God but again I feel that the system itself is tainted and when an organization says its a continuation of the 18 truths of Herbert W. Armstrong (which some of those truths have been proven to be theologically false) creates serious problems than it does solutions. This is why I said to you on Mark Tabladillo's Jesus Loves Fellowship board, "You are getting to wise for these people" (I mean the UCG clergy) and I still stand by my statement. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Yes Richard, what I am saying is, "It is your time to go again!" You know that there are geniune Christians in many other denominations beside the XCG's. The UCG still officially grasps with that concept. I remembering visiting an UCG congregation in toronto in '98 and a local elder whom I knew sort of lambasting well-respected Canadian televangelist David Mainse (former host of 100 Huntley Street)in saying that if you mention to David Mainse about "laws and obedience" you would lose him. This is not true and grossly unfair! Pastor Mainse does believe in "laws"---but he'd argue it is the law of Christ and yes he does believe in obedience IN Jesus Christ. Pastor Mainse may believe that some parts of Old Testament law is relevant (and it is highly like it is a smaller fraction than what the UCG believes). The UCG still does graple with the issue of grace. They may say (and they say it loud), "We believe in grace!!!!" But in reality they charge a price, they might even say it is a small price but a gift ceases to be a gift. Richard, you may plead in their defence by saying that they do not communicate this issue properly. The fact is, that the Church of God (Seventh Day) has a better understanding let alone communication of what grace is. Time to go way back what the father of the sabbatarian XCG's has to say. It might do some good. It is time for you to go again because they will not investigate deeply and thoroughly on subject. You did.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Of course Richard, as I left the WCG in '98 (which started as a leave of absence and grew to a permanent departure), it was a very lonely experience. So-called friends (let's call 'em what they really are---users and manipulators---and proud of it!) do not call you up to see how your doing. The probable exception is a ploy to stay within "The Church". That's it! You are nothing but a target to be used by these people. I find it is usually the people who left any kind of Armstrongist XCG are the real friends at the end of the day. At first, you think they are trouble-makers, crap disturbers but the fact remains they have the best interests for you at heart. Their only crime is to desire for you to have your sanity back. If you know some of these people (I don't care if it's via internet) HOLD on to them dearly! Respect what they have to say. They usually have helpful information on life after a splinter group. It is time for you to go again to discover a journeyful life after the XCG churches.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">May I add in the process of leaving the UCG, quit trying to look for the perfect church. It is simply not there! Whether it is Sabbatarian or Sunday---all churches, I believe, are in a state of confusion as we speak. This is not say don't visit any church, what I am saying that it would be completely unwise and stubborn to have a list of churches and a process of elimination to find the right fit a second time. In more stronger and harsher terms, this would be proving Albert Einsten's point about insanity. I am not being mean, I am just telling you in the possible way that it is time that you do not be fooled again. You can still practice the principle of a day of rest in the comfort of your own home. I do find some Christians of New Covenant Theology persuasion a little too neurotic and devoid of reason when they shout and scream words and slogans like, "Legalism!!! Bondage!!!! Rest in Christ is all YOU EVER NEED!!!" I would like to say to these people (and trust me some of them you can't tell them anything, it childishly their way or the highway) is: GET A FLICKIN GRIP ON REALITY GUYS!!! I see nothing wrong in continuing a spiritual discipline of a day of rest that benefit the mind and soul as long as one does not make it a sacrament of salvation (in which Traditional Adventism and Armstrongism gleeful fall in that trap). I think North American society can learn something from a day of rest from worldly and business pursuits. Sadly it seems in North America with both Christian churches and the world, it seems stary eyed when it comes to consumerism and when you take out that principle of resting the body and soul it is inevitably problematic. North American Church as a result has become hyper-dualistic in its thinking and has no room for the holistic---but that's another topic for another time.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Keep reading religious material from many sources---always keep an open mind but at the same time continue to have low BS meter when one tries to major in the minors in their theology which tragically minimizes the gospel of Jesus Christ and what he stood for and what he has promised for all mankind is thrown out the window because of their petty doctrine which has no consequence. Now is the time to make the stand! To stay with the UCG any longer than you have to is just another journey to a dead end street to nowhere. Come along with the adventurous journey, it is rough, it is tough but in the end it will be worth it. The consequences for taking that journey is beneficial for the long term.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">God Bless!</div><div align="justify">YBIC,</div><div align="justify">Felix Taylor, Jr.</div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-51152089408714665992007-07-29T22:03:00.000-07:002007-07-29T22:09:07.210-07:00What is WRONG with mega-churches??? "J Source" Explains!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTqBAdPSCe7RduI1jJpTQLe7txL2KYK63RzR8jM6yGTCzHlNcVf_ABI5Ph093hn_YVd3kZ7eBavGp1kKcxXiL2yJVZsjHSMp2XJDlfKZzmfRRvpqPm1uM9FXgFmB_X0CJsefj/s1600-h/megachurch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092852300633940210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTqBAdPSCe7RduI1jJpTQLe7txL2KYK63RzR8jM6yGTCzHlNcVf_ABI5Ph093hn_YVd3kZ7eBavGp1kKcxXiL2yJVZsjHSMp2XJDlfKZzmfRRvpqPm1uM9FXgFmB_X0CJsefj/s400/megachurch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div align="justify">One thing I cannot stand in Christian MEGA-Churches today is how cool and businesslike they are.I attended a large mega church for about a year and a half. The Mega-Church had a Sunday morning attendance of over 2,500 people. And I made the following observations:</div><br /><div align="justify">1. Approaching the Senior Pastor is next to impossible.</div><br /><div align="justify">2. The Senior Pastor usually cannot be bothered and is cool and impersonable.</div><br /><div align="justify">3. There are so many types of ministers you need a guide to know which one to go to for what.</div><br /><div align="justify">4. Tithing is preached about more often in a mega church then one would expect, even for a mega church.</div><br /><div align="justify">5. There are practically innumerable committees, sub committees, and other things.</div><br /><div align="justify">6. They have no problems selling merchandise on their Sabbath.</div><br /><div align="justify">7. Java and Latte and Capuccino in the lobby for sale is common in mega Churches.</div><br /><div align="justify">8. Red tape, red tape, red tape on starting or doing anything service oriented.Is it just me, or when a church becomes a mega church, isn't it just a large business with religious overtones?</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><strong><em>Editor's note: RIGHT ON BROTHER!!!</em></strong></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-37946179932028642412007-07-18T21:12:00.000-07:002007-07-18T22:15:46.003-07:00To the XCG's: Here is REAL persecution!<div align="justify"><br />If you are member of the XCG splinters and if you think you are going under persecution because a few bloggers and theologians think your religion is a very cruel one and should begone from the face of the earth, well GET A GRIP!!! Christian believers in Iraq have paid with their own blood. Thanks to WCG Alumni's Hannah she picked an article from WorldNet Daily Report:</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Christians in Iraq, including converts from Islam and people involved in mixed-faith marriages, are being crucified by Muslim terrorists, according to a Dutch member of Parliament studying the war-torn country.<br />Several Iraqi Christians "are nailed to a cross and their arms are tied up with ropes. The ropes are put on fire," </span><a href="http://www.wnd.com/redir/r.asp?http://www.houseofrepresentatives.nl/members_of_parliament/members_of_parliament/voordewind_joel_stephanus/index.jsp"><span style="font-size:85%;">Joel Voordewind</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> told BosNewsLife, an online news agency focusing on Christians and Jews in difficult circumstances.<br />According to the site, Voordewind described how a person, who "survived" a crucifixion, "even showed holes in his hands," apparently from nails.<br />Voordewind said victims of the crucifixions are "in most cases Christian converts who abandoned Islam or people who, religiously speaking, are involved in mixed marriages."<br />He did not specify how many Christians have been crucified in recent weeks and months, as an official report is expected soon. Voordewind is slated to present his findings to Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen within the next few days.<br />The report comes as thousands of Christians are said to be fleeing Iraq due to ongoing threats and violence against them. Just yesterday, over 80 people were killed in bomb blasts in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Most of the casualties resulted from a suicide truck bomb which detonated near the offices of the Kurdish political party led by Iraq's President Jalal Talabani.<br />BosNewsLife says Voordewind was part of a Dutch delegation visiting several countries in the Mideast, including Syria, where several lawmakers held talks with the terrorist group Hamas. </span></div><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">See the original article at <a href="http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56726">http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56726</a> </span></p><div align="justify"><br /></div></span>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-11276518372101582902007-07-18T09:56:00.000-07:002007-07-18T10:00:41.744-07:00I couldn't resist again...<div align="justify">I have been always trying to find Amy Grant's '90's remake of '70's group 10CC, "The Things We do For Love". Again, I am soo grateful for Youtube.com that I found that wonderful version of that song again!</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UQCsU1saesQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UQCsU1saesQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-12308884886093761492007-07-18T09:02:00.001-07:002007-07-18T09:26:51.961-07:00Special treat for my 200th post...some old school CCM!<div align="justify"><br />Yes, this is a milestone on my 2 year blog and thought it would be nice to have some good ole fashioned Christian Contemporaray Music by none other than The Master, Amy Grant. She too, faced a lot of legalism and unnecessary controversy in the evangelical community. They criticized her sharply for her marriage troubles and her subsequent marriage to fellow musician Vince Gill and in the video below "Wise Up" some even criticized her outfit which include a "leopard jacket and tight stirrup pants" (when will this misogynist and stupid hatred of the female body in some fanatical ultra conservative factions in Christianity begone and die?!). More importantly, she does have a large place in Christian Contemporary Music and secular popular music history, which she can take great pride in. Enjoy these videos, courtesy of Youtube.com, "Wise Up" an '80's video and her 1993 crossover hit, "Baby,Baby".<br /><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gmW_JwJjaVg"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gmW_JwJjaVg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/46QAjaCg5Yc"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/46QAjaCg5Yc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-75955541280163926652007-07-17T21:18:00.000-07:002007-07-17T22:20:26.767-07:00A waaay far better alternative to universalism, I think.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0JhzTg8Ha2fDX7xXag3dxjSi97-JE9AmKvp4cJibAlSw3ltmFeQZg9hwPXrGnJsMea61J57yQnoobsYrcD955DlKZJkuYHCo0WojYE8IjOr2Xe6NZRGuUDmi2hMPrSkzJG19/s1600-h/buckjohnathan_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088388691368913810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0JhzTg8Ha2fDX7xXag3dxjSi97-JE9AmKvp4cJibAlSw3ltmFeQZg9hwPXrGnJsMea61J57yQnoobsYrcD955DlKZJkuYHCo0WojYE8IjOr2Xe6NZRGuUDmi2hMPrSkzJG19/s400/buckjohnathan_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify">I had the opportunity to meet Jon Buck in the late '90's at one of which was probably my last Feast of Tabernacles of WCG. I will say with my meeting with him, he's quite a character and that is a good thing. He was supportive of the changes in the WCG without the evangelical schmaltz that Joe Jr. and friends sought to aggressivel impose on the WCG membership. C'mon, Jon is a Brit and Brit's have no time for sentimentality (especially the American kind) or being "over the top." I do hope there will be an opportunity to talk with Jon Buck again at some pont (hey, if you are reading this blog, feel free to comment here anytime!). He currently pastors a WCG church in Barrie, Ontario. I have replied to Douglas Becker in the comments section of the post on Bishop Carlton Pearson's view on universalism that the evangelical WCG still preaches a righteous provision on the unevangelized dead. Jon Buck explains this in the Sepember/October 2005 edition of The Northern Light (a Canadian based WCG publication) in the Pastor's Corner section titled Exclusive or Inclusive? What Are We? Mind you, there are those Protestants especially of Calvinist persuasion wished WCG that they would accept a more restrictivist view (in addition with the belief of the Western Church's view of hell, eternal torment in The Lake of Fire). Because of the new evangelical WCG's refusal to do so, those of Calvinist persuasion still believe that the WCG is a still a cult. Where do I stand? Those who have known what I have said that I believe that theological the WCG is orthodox in it's theology but cultic in it's orthopraxy (the practice of those beliefs) . The root cause I believe, is the hierarchial government that is still instituted (but this is another subject for another time). I see nothing cultic in believing in the divine perseverence of God. A 19th century Scottish fiction writer and Congregationalist preacher George MacDonald believed in it to and had no use for the restrictivist view of Calvin (which the theory of predestination actually reduced him to tears). Well here is the link to Jon Buck's article at <a href="http://www.wcg.ca/northernlight/2005_sep_oct/pastors_corner.htm">http://www.wcg.ca/northernlight/2005_sep_oct/pastors_corner.htm</a> . I hope many will enjoy it or be inspired by it!</div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-68367828650109070302007-07-15T21:13:00.001-07:002007-07-16T07:51:09.318-07:00Carlton Pearson and the problem of hell<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BR4pMNol6rxGVqEZgc8_3XvMNvvlvxNjWVtzEAXyZrkV8fU0bR4Np8A2H2EYhy0rxNE3teEyf6L0ADRVUibjZMTUlumMHymV4KeTezDsrLW6lD6_494c3MsLlpstKb3vFNin/s1600-h/abc_gma_hell2_070708_ms.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087684664624720754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BR4pMNol6rxGVqEZgc8_3XvMNvvlvxNjWVtzEAXyZrkV8fU0bR4Np8A2H2EYhy0rxNE3teEyf6L0ADRVUibjZMTUlumMHymV4KeTezDsrLW6lD6_494c3MsLlpstKb3vFNin/s400/abc_gma_hell2_070708_ms.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div align="justify">I remember seeing Carlton Pearson (and many other preachers) when I used to have UHF on my old black and white TV to tune in on Trinity Broadcasting Network on channel 49 (now on channel 26) on Buffalo, New York's WNYB in the early to mid 1990's. As my theological perspectives have changed over the years, so has Bishop Pearson's. While I have embraced much of the theological orthodoxy of essential Christian faith, Bishop Pearson has accepted a more heterodox view. Some will argue that he has accepted a heretical view or is a heretic, plain and simple. It is over the touchy issue of hell. It is a very emotional and argumentive issue over many Christian theologians whether they believe in the conditionalist or traditionalist view of hell. Bishop Pearson believes in a form of universalism, that nobody goes to hell. Instead we go through hell (with the trials and suffering on earth) as opposed of being consigned to hell. Bishop Pearson also says, ""The bitter torment of the idea of an angry, visceral, distant, stoic, harsh, unrelenting, unforgiving, intolerant God is hell. It's pagan, it's superstitious, and if you trace its history, it goes way back to where men feared the gods because something happened in life that caused frustration that they couldn't explain." Bishop Pearson has a paid a price for his newfound teachings. Besides the heretic label, he lost his associate ministers who resigned and a congregation that dwindled from 6000 to 300!</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Where do I stand in the midst of this? I can sympathize with Bishop Pearson's sentiments but I cannot agree with his conclusions. I believe his conclusions do not in anyway solve the problem of fighting evil. What happens with people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh---or Charles Manson---how about the fanatical con-men of certain XCG splinters ---or the child molester, the pedophile, the sexual promiscous stripper who uses and manipulates men sexually and financially, the greedy and narcissistic corporate executive---or the abusive boss at work---all get a free pass to heaven? Their lives on earth was of no consequence? What they did on earth was okay? God said in the book of Nahum that he will in no way acquit the wicked. Will God just change their natures to good? If that is the case, God was joking about free-will and prefers robots. To me, that god is just as immoral as the "harsh, angry and vindictive" god. Therefore, a hell must exist to restrain or eliminate evil on a permanent basis. I believe that hell is the choice of man, I have stridently opposed the Augustinian-Calvinistic view that there are those who are predestined to hell and I have took the scripture from II Peter 3:9 that, "God is not willing anyone to perish but for all come to repentence" very seriously and at take it at face value. At the same time Hebrews 10:26 warns of unimaginable eternal consequences for those who want to live a life of sin and want to be an a "spirit of independence" from God after receiving the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, there must be a hell as a demonstration of God's ulimate love for the righteous and his ultimate fight against the wicked. As C.S. Lewis described that in the final judgement, the righteous say, "Your will be done!" and God says to the wicked, "Your will be done!"</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Where do I and Bishop Pearson have common ground? We both do struggle with the restrictivist view that the unevangelized dead count as automatically "unbelievers" and "the wicked" and will automatically go to hell, whether or not they heard the gospel or not. Bishop Pearson had relatives who were "unevangelized" and it cannot not be argued that this can make him (and other people) struggle with the idea of how this can be a "loving God?" Many people have known that I have always believed that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to salvation, I have at the same time believed that it is possible that God (the Father, the Son and the Spirit) CAN make a righteous provision for the unevangelized dead who did not hear nor understand the gospel through no fault of their own but this is where the similiarities end. I cannot believe that everyone goes to heaven. If one has a problem with the conditionalist view of hell (annhilationism) and the Western view of hell (literal eternal torment by fire taught by Protestants and Catholics), I hope that Bishop Pearson may spend some time on what the Eastern Orthodox believe in heaven and hell and I think this is probably the most humane treatment on the topic for those that believe that the spirit in man is conscious after death. I provided the link here before and I will do it again: <a href="http://aggreen.net/beliefs/heaven_hell.html">http://aggreen.net/beliefs/heaven_hell.html</a> . It is my hope that Bishop Pearson does re-read his Bible again (as I had to do many times and I will be doing it many times over for years and maybe perhaps some decades to come) and can reconcile the love of God and his judgement against evil as a single unit. His current theology as it stands will present some very serious problems and dire consequences that he probably never intend to create but nevertheless have been created by faulty theology.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">Read about the controversy about Bishop Pearson at ABC News at </span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3362554"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3362554</span></a></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-21635347750826092422007-07-11T07:51:00.000-07:002007-07-11T08:50:49.938-07:00The One True Church dogma lives on...in the Roman Catholic Church<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXbvbeXlwtHEEZY0KxkRG76v3Bd5vEOQLGywn8zBKgNQBA62aF2HBcxw2aUqdVTTMQ_yrJGQR0gBs_5cx_r8kc5tqUTzbC79Q8IVBwSihfOKEvUJY6mYyEqZB_zu1Kp45Sjby/s1600-h/pope_wideweb__470x334,0.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085958593445817234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXbvbeXlwtHEEZY0KxkRG76v3Bd5vEOQLGywn8zBKgNQBA62aF2HBcxw2aUqdVTTMQ_yrJGQR0gBs_5cx_r8kc5tqUTzbC79Q8IVBwSihfOKEvUJY6mYyEqZB_zu1Kp45Sjby/s400/pope_wideweb__470x334,0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">It should come to no surprise that not only the historic WCG and its splinters believe that they God's only one true church. This is was what the Roman Catholic Church has believed for years. Pope John XXIII in the 1960's at Vatican II at least compromised and recognize that the Protestatnts are "separated brothers". Current pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI had a statement that really may throw the concept of separated brothers out the window. Courtesy from the blogsite CrunchyCon.com, here's what I am talking </span><span style="font-family:arial;">about:</span></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Vatican has set itself on a collision course with other Christian faiths, reaffirming the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church in a corrective document designed to clear up recent "erroneous" doctrine.<br />The document's central claim that the Catholic Church is "the one true Church of Christ" is likely to revive a debate that has dogged the Vatican's dealings with other Christian faiths for decades.<br />The 16-page document, prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Pope Benedict used to head, describes Christian Orthodox churches as true churches but says they suffer from a "wound" because they do not recognise the primacy of the Pope.<br />But it says the "wound is still more profound" in the Protestant denominations, a view likely to further complicate relations with Protestants.<br />"Despite the fact that this teaching has created no little distress... it is nevertheless difficult to see how the title of 'Church' could possibly be attributed to them," it said. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">There is no doubt that this will effect relationships with Protestant Churches in a profound manner. We really should not be really suprised about the Pope's statement. Before Benedict was Pope, he did say he wanted a "smaller" and "purer" church. This statement may be one step toward his wish. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Where do I stand with this? I have believed since the mid-1990's that the "Church" is an "invisible body" as opposed to a certain religious organization and I still believe that. I take Jesus Christ's statement "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" as every single human being having the right and responsibility to come to Christ personally as opposed to an organized church taking that responsiblility in place of the Savior. I hope the day that there will be a more progressive-minded Pope that will be bold, believe that I and many others believe and say that the Roman Catholic Church is a "part of the only One True Church". I may have been highly critical of the evangelical WCG but I applaud Joe Jr. for being bold and saying just that. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-72204752399565175922007-07-10T06:59:00.000-07:002007-07-10T07:26:52.558-07:00Oh yes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2Gw57vjnTMG0La957OpH3XVzuSFURcwhWr-Oay7GZQNSzXbJuGx1gO50BD-5g_Bv64-JtDcEi5A552igR0PjGjkc5WztJvDYa_CnJPKCiHH3jLGnStsuyZXazWz9lCyWC4xv/s1600-h/gse_multipart26199.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085574524585306994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2Gw57vjnTMG0La957OpH3XVzuSFURcwhWr-Oay7GZQNSzXbJuGx1gO50BD-5g_Bv64-JtDcEi5A552igR0PjGjkc5WztJvDYa_CnJPKCiHH3jLGnStsuyZXazWz9lCyWC4xv/s400/gse_multipart26199.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div align="justify">J, of Shadows of WCG and of recent, Gavin Rumney has introduced this person's new blog. I think it's just as appropriate for me to introduce Stand Gardner's Ambassador Reports and you can look at it here at <a href="http://ambassdorreports.blogspot.com/">http://ambassdorreports.blogspot.com/</a> . I will even put his blogsite in my links section. I wish Stan's blog will also be around for several years to come keeping people like Joe Jr. and others to account!</div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-40973765579836424282007-07-09T21:03:00.000-07:002007-07-09T21:47:34.874-07:00More Best of The Agenda's shows: 5 days of faith<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CjraahtiJzPGMTI7vPw_-npUGY5NomMIdBloCn6hr7tX6c5DjgZ-UQAaC6qo3LAzFCReCVYW-TDkGntjcOJWx8Yaql-hh8u16KrBghTI7A9xmFGi8EHFwz8zxS1QN-AnJXNv/s1600-h/Steve_agenda1_site.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085425068313340770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CjraahtiJzPGMTI7vPw_-npUGY5NomMIdBloCn6hr7tX6c5DjgZ-UQAaC6qo3LAzFCReCVYW-TDkGntjcOJWx8Yaql-hh8u16KrBghTI7A9xmFGi8EHFwz8zxS1QN-AnJXNv/s400/Steve_agenda1_site.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I have recently explained to people who are Canadians outside the province of Ontario and many Americans whose borders DO NOT touch the province of Ontario about TVO Ontario which is the roughly the equivalent to the U.S. public educational service PBS. I have explained about TVO's flagship current affairs show called The Agenda hosted by Steve Paikin. I have been remarkably impressed with the show and the most of the episodes that followed. Here is a repeat of earlier this year's week theme of episodes called, "5 days of Faith". You can click here to see each video which is approximately an hour in length which is in total with all five episodes is approximately 5 hours of viewing. Enjoy!</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div><a onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoutils/globalfiles/VideoPop.cfm?spot_id=2775&sitefolder=theagenda','','width=370,height=520,scrollbars=no,resize=no')" href="javascript:void(0);">July 6: Cheri DiNovo Worshipping at Secular Altars</a><br /><a onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoutils/globalfiles/VideoPop.cfm?spot_id=2774&sitefolder=theagenda','','width=370,height=520,scrollbars=no,resize=no')" href="javascript:void(0);">July 5: The Psychology of God</a><br /><a onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoutils/globalfiles/VideoPop.cfm?spot_id=2773&sitefolder=theagenda','','width=370,height=520,scrollbars=no,resize=no')" href="javascript:void(0);">July 4: Clyde Wilcox The Geopolitics of Religion</a><br /><a onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoutils/globalfiles/VideoPop.cfm?spot_id=2770&sitefolder=theagenda','','width=370,height=520,scrollbars=no,resize=no')" href="javascript:void(0);">July 3: Jerry Coyne Science and Religion</a><br /><a onclick="javascript:window.open('http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/tvoutils/globalfiles/VideoPop.cfm?spot_id=2769&sitefolder=theagenda','','width=370,height=520,scrollbars=no,resize=no')" href="javascript:void(0);">July 2: God in an Enlightened Age</a></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-15449981729940418082007-07-08T22:45:00.000-07:002007-07-08T23:29:53.113-07:00This woman GETS IT!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFtxphzd6OhrOzO2HmH2mRa56npxFpDSWmcBjQqtFSChs82LweRU6n2H4OyE22F1KeTjazqyignx1epP8c1qyVcYD_wfmSx9-WOxhkujOKGCerpUCf0CH5IsSS-OTm6hCpziU/s1600-h/mariannecolourphoto.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085076162350082898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFtxphzd6OhrOzO2HmH2mRa56npxFpDSWmcBjQqtFSChs82LweRU6n2H4OyE22F1KeTjazqyignx1epP8c1qyVcYD_wfmSx9-WOxhkujOKGCerpUCf0CH5IsSS-OTm6hCpziU/s400/mariannecolourphoto.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">For those outside the Toronto area and Canada, I present to you Marianne Meed Ward who writes columns for the Toronto Sun dealing with issues of faith and religion. I congratulate her for standing up to Bible literalists trying to make scripture into a science book. She is right that the literalists have done more harm than help to the Christian church. In fact, the literalists have ruined the credibility and public trust to the Church all because of their narrow view of what faith should be. Ms.Meed-Ward rightfully objects and says, "First, faith should be stronger than a house of cards that comes crashing down with every breeze of revelation, or alternatively imprisons its followers in an infantile reduction of key religious themes.<br />I envision faith more like a web, with strands coming and going as the believer gains more knowledge and insight. This is a strong faith, able to incorporate new information, and even abandon downright kooky notions without throwing out the entire faith. " I do look forward to a time in the Christian community, the evangelical in particular, when people will not be looked down for taking a metaphorical view of Genesis chapters 1 & 2 but I think I know that is not going to come anytime soon but I am optimistic that coming decades in this century that will change. If some in the evangelical community were really honest behind all their literalistic shouting,huffing and puffing and other hot air, it's all about defending "original sin", especially it's Calvinistic derivitive of "total depravity" and other misanthropic man-made doctrines (made in the name of God) to make people "hate" themselves and to control the congregating masses. Probably this is high time to believe in "original blessing" as opposed to original sin (but that is truly another topic for another time). The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox for years have had no problem with believing in evolution and faith. It has been perennial problem with American evangelical Christians or as I borrow Gavin Rumney's phrase "fundagelicals". I can only say, it is time for North American evangelical Christians to grow up amongst other issues.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Read the rest of Marianne's article here at </span><a href="http://www.torontosun.com/Lifestyle/Columnists/MeedWard_Marianne/2007/07/08/4322735-sun.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.torontosun.com/Lifestyle/Columnists/MeedWard_Marianne/2007/07/08/4322735-</span>sun.html</span></a></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-87639840143366991792007-07-06T20:31:00.000-07:002007-07-06T21:00:18.674-07:00Sick!!!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">FYI Again pointed out that I was rather very passionate and extremely dogmatic in my remarks in my other post that Armstrongism was one of the wickedest religions of mankind. Maybe I was a "little" over the top but I do believe that most of the XCG splinters are EVIL and they need to be resisted and fought vigourously at ALL costs but this video I am about to show you from Fred Phelps' anti-gay (and proud of it) church by the name of Westboro Baptist Church has a new video called, "God Hates The World" truly takes the cake! This guy makes Rod Meredith look like the more "moderate" Billy Graham!!! Somebody show this man John 3:16 but probably it doesn't exists in this man's warped mind. Make sure you see the ending of this video and you will definately say to yourself, "Is this child abuse or what???"</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">If any "fundagelical" (with apologies to Gavin Rumney) wants to complain about videos on MTV, this is one of the sickest music videos,ever. Sad, it had to be religious.<br /><br /><object height="392" width="464"><param name="movie" value="http://embed.break.com/Mjc4MDU5"><embed src="http://embed.break.com/Mjc4MDU5" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="464" height="392"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://my.break.com/media/view.aspx?ContentID=278059">God Hates the World</a> - Watch more <a href="http://www.break.com/">free videos</a></span></div></span></object><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /></span>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-17591654338785881072007-07-04T22:13:00.000-07:002007-07-04T22:23:14.111-07:00Intelligent quote of the day<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">The responsibility of a parent is first to the child. Not to anything else. Not to church, not to religion, not to money - to the *child*.Anyone who is completely mentally healthy would walk into the church, see immediately that something is not right, and leave. Once they get to the point where they accept ministerial *counseling* (the sermon should be an immediate tipoff that there's a problem), they have already bought into it a little bit.But even if they don't - the minute that they see that what they are doing will harm the child - that should be it. No amount of religious influence, no amount of ministerial influence, no amount of *anything* should supersede the fact that the child will be harmed if a certain course of action is followed. I don't care if someone is yelling in your face saying you will go to hell, a parent should say "them I am going to hell but MY CHILD WILL NOT BE HARMED."In the case that a parent isn't healthy enough to tell the difference, then they have no business having custody of a child in the first place."But I was hoodwinked" is no excuse - *no excuse*. If you have a child it is your responsibility *not* to be hoodwinked. And if you are, it is *your responsibility*, as you are ultimately responsible for that child. Not the church, not the minister, no one but you.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><em>---Russell Miller, participant on J's Shadows of WCG message board and a bloggist in his own right, discussing the issue of the power of the cult vs. the power of the parents.</em></strong></span></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-313465507918659532007-07-04T22:07:00.000-07:002007-07-04T22:09:25.481-07:00Another good video from J of Shadows of WCG!<span style="font-family:arial;">Somebody give that man a prize!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tGm-fwjm0Fg"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tGm-fwjm0Fg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-53459193533758324242007-07-04T21:08:00.000-07:002007-07-04T21:14:31.023-07:00Another sad childhood in the historic WCG<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAxXb2702ssWeboGiGp8VDhhDxvN8LTk32B-7HmHeD9qUTgvINcXqXHNNWwexRlTCbvpZt-4jzNjAAVQHWymQNTYcnhFolVYHhz_oxRWr4Pu0HFDZx4Z2zAk5LTklOZqd1g6h/s1600-h/hollywood_scarlett.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083561215715633938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAxXb2702ssWeboGiGp8VDhhDxvN8LTk32B-7HmHeD9qUTgvINcXqXHNNWwexRlTCbvpZt-4jzNjAAVQHWymQNTYcnhFolVYHhz_oxRWr4Pu0HFDZx4Z2zAk5LTklOZqd1g6h/s400/hollywood_scarlett.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div align="justify">Thanks again to PasedenaGuy 10 of WCG Alumni message board, he discovered a bloggist discussing her sad childhood in the historic Worldwide Church of God. The blog site is called Her Scarlet Letters and here is the blog post at:<a href="http://herscarletletters.blogspot.com/2007/07/e-is-for-elephant.html">http://herscarletletters.blogspot.com/2007/07/e-is-for-elephant.html</a> . For those who understand what this lady went through, just read it and weep! </div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12714681.post-58572530207390898052007-07-04T20:49:00.000-07:002007-07-04T21:07:55.032-07:00FYI AGAIN's take on the future of Rod and the LCG<strong>LCG is toast</strong><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Whether it happens next week, next year, or the year after, it's been obvious to me for some time that LCG is headed for a complete breakdown.Many long time, loyal members have already left, either for one of the other COG groups or dropped out of the COG's altogether. Much of the growth that RCG's David Pack loves to boast about has come at the expense of LCG.And yet LCG's leaders and their proxies on the web continue to act as though all is well and nothing is amiss. To the degree they acknowledge any problem at all, it's always attributed to just a few disgruntled members who are in a "malaise" (another word for "bad attitude").I don't see how Rod Meredith can continue to hold to the delusion that God is somehow working with, even focusing His attention on his pathetic and steadily shrinking "work". By no stretch of the imagination are the fruits of the Spirit evident in anything they are doing - let alone the "gifts of the Spirit" which they've been praying and fasting for over the past few years.There is indeed a malaise in LCG, but it starts at the top and works its way down. Rod Meredith should be taking Jesus advice and look to the beam in his own eye first. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>My response:</strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>You hit the nail again FYI Again! Like the rest of us, we eagerly hope it is VERY soon. Even a year or even two years to wait for the LCG's demise is a wee long.</em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em></em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Isn't it amazing that Herbert W. Armstrong found Rod Meredith repellent? Here's a letter written in 1980 discussing this at: </em><a href="http://www.servantsnews.com/PDF/merlet01.pdf"><em>http://www.servantsnews.com/PDF/merlet01.pdf</em></a></span></div>Felix Taylor, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00327093213807879954noreply@blogger.com1