The latest issue of The Journal is out.
This issue has a tribute to Ian Boyne, a COGI minister who was a fixture on the island of Jamaica, with the public and his church members.
It also includes on the front page an article about the "Dig" in Israel that Ambassador College participated in for many years. The "dig" was a bone of contention with many students in Pasadena and Big Sandy as it was considered a "perk" for the elite students who had played the AC/COG well.
Like all things with the COG, there were ulterior motives to the choice of the church being involved in the dig. Much the same excuse that Gerald Flurry is using to fund his "college" students work in Jerusalem digs.
The Journal has this:
Mr. Dick, who came to Ambassador as a married student in 1957, told how it all began for him during the Days of Unleavened Bread in 1967.
“During the afternoon sermon on the first day of Unleavened Bread at Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, Mr. Ted Armstrong [vice chancellor of Ambassador and son of church founder Herbert Armstrong] shocked his audience by saying the Jews had to build a temple,” said Mr. Dick.
“The only place to build it was on the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem, so something had to happen soon to place it under Israel’s control. Remember, this was April 1967, and the church was expected to flee [to Petra, in Jordan] in 1972.
“The main announcement that afternoon was about establishing an office and having a contract for The World Tomorrow.”
Reg Killingly has an article about what it means to "turn the other cheek", something CEM needs to take into consideration as it prepares to sue Allie Dart's Ronald Dart Evangelist Association (not mentioned in this issue.)
Jesus, though, is telling His followers that they should not seek payback for hurt. His disciples should not behave as normal.
It would be hard enough to obey if He were telling them—and us—simply not to retaliate, not to hit back when hurt.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. The response He expects goes much further. He tells His disciples: Don’t just passively refrain from retaliation but proactively seek to behave in a way that defies every expectation. Do the diametrically opposite thing. Your response must be 180 degrees from what it normally would have been.
Michael Harris has an article about how the church still has a long way to go when it comes to dealing with gay/lesbian members (of which there are quite a few spread across the various COGs)In other words, don’t just not retaliate. Actively help your adversary.
But has the Church of God always offered a balanced and biblical approach to
ministering to people who are homosexual?
No! No, the Church of God is not always balanced and loving towards people like me.
‘Call them queers!’
I remember years ago when a prominent Worldwide Church of God minister came to speak in our congregation. He was known for his outspokenness in condemning gays, so I knew what was coming.
As he shouted out “Brethren, call them all queers! That’s what they are!” I sat in my seat in literal pain waiting for his ranting to stop.
This man’s sermon did not help me. It left me hurting. It was not a godly way to respond to the issue of homosexuality or to minister to people who experience homosexual temptations.
There are the usual ads that are beyond the pale at times for the sheer craziness included in them.
Jan Aaron Young always knocks it out the park though. He rails against Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Thanksgiving, which apparently are a result of a Masonic conspiracy. Where would the COG be without blaming the Masons and the Catholics for everything wrong in the world and the church? He also rails against the modern day Jezebel's who wear make-up, red lipstick, jewellery, participate in beauty contests and wear high heeled shoes. As usual in the COG, women get the short end of the stick as everything seems to be their fault. Damn it, Eve! Why did you have to pick that apple, even though Adam was standing right next to you and is as equally culpable? It has not been women who have wrecked the church, but the men!
There is also an ad searching for tapes by Charles Dorothy, who apparently was the greatest speaker the church ever had. If you have any of his tapes left in the bottom of your desk drawer or in a box, they might be worth $100.00! These tapes need to be before 1980 though. After that, those darn liberals influenced everything in the church.
And then there is Alton (Don) Billinglsey. All I can say is, WTF?????
He claims President Trump is the likeness of Cyrus the Great.
Lest you think it cannot get any crazier, there is this about Art Mokarow, the "Ministering Sparrow.".President Trump has been made aware of his likeness to King Cyrus by the religious people in Israel. And Christ using his brashness and lack of fear of what anyone thinks of his decisions will stir up his mind at the exact time to make the proclamation. With his support, the Jewish people will begin the sacrificial offerings and laying the foundation for the new Temple.
You too can read this second to the last issue of The Journal here. Issue 201