Mark Armstrong's Latest Word Salad

Last week Mark Armstrong was surprisingly focused on one topic for most of that weekly update. This week he has returned to form shifting topics bewildering every paragraph with little rhyme or reason. (December 22, 2017.)

Let's see what he has to say.

He mentions a ramming attack in Melbourne and moans that the authorities are inclined to believe that it was a result of mental health issues. He implies that anyone who disagrees with his complaint is using coercion and should be feared by his audience.

Except for the tragedy in Melbourne, Australia, where an Afghan refugee ran over 19 civilians in a crowded shopping district, it's been a pretty good week.  But it wasn't terror, authorities were quick to insist, just a troubled individual with mental problems who missed his doctor's appointment.  Never mind that he was talking Islamic gibberish and says he did it in retaliation for the poor treatment of Muslims.  The obvious thing to do was to jump into a car and start running over shoppers.  By that standard, all Islamic terrorists have mental health issues that are “treatable” provided they don't forget to take their medicine and set out to kill random bystanders.  But it's not terror, and nobody better say otherwise.

He then praises Australia's immigration policy to scare monger that terrorism is somehow much more likely in the United States.

It would be good to remember that Australia has been MUCH more circumspect in its immigration policies in recent years than the United States, meaning that we have a vastly greater potential for terrorist mayhem here at home.  Not only have we seen similar incidents in recent weeks, but San Francisco just dodged a planned attack.  They've arrested an ISIS sympathizer who apparently planned to gun down people on a popular pier on December 25, when he knew many would be there.  You don't suppose he has mental health problems?  Yeah, that could explain it.

He then gets all gross scare mongering about stereotyped Muslim immigrants committing acts of sexual violence against white women in Sweden (even though most sexual violence occurs within ethnic communities). May all such acts of violence be brought to justice.

Terrorism, and the threat of attacks and gang rapes by refugees continues to be a major problem in Europe.  Another gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in a suburb of Stockholm just took place.  Of course, we know from Swedish authorities, there's no refugee problem at all.  Police responded to the gang rape (they don't know how many were involved) by warning women to stay indoors or only go out when accompanied.  This brought protests of “several hundred,” not very happy with the police response.   But, as everybody knows, Sweden loves its Muslim immigrants, and everything is just fine! Got it?  Saying otherwise could get you arrested, in Sweden.

He then moves his thoughts to happier things such as praising President Trump for passing tax cuts which has been widely criticized as favoring the rich at the expense of the middle class and defending Vice-President Pence's praise of President Trump.

Thankfully, in the United States we're not hampered by the authoritarian thought police that rule Europe.  By any definition (excepting that of the deranged mainstream media) this has been a terrific week.  We saw the passage of the first major tax reformation since Ronald Reagan.  For those who staked their claim on the theory that Trump couldn't get anything done, it's a slap in the face.  They couldn't be more disgusted with the joyful celebrations at the White House.  And Vice President Mike Pence!  He's left them laughing till they cry with his “adulation” of the President.  Maybe they haven't noticed, but Mr. Pence is always pretty earnest and heartfelt, regardless of the subject or situation.  Some of us aren't offended that he would be publicly proud of his administration and what it's accomplished, especially when the public has been reminded constantly that they, “can't get anything done.”

He then nonchalantly states that he has "lost all faith in the Dept. of Justice and the FBI" apparently viewing them as tools of the Democratic Party. He alludes to an email from a person who had since been fired from Robert Mueller's investigation.

Perhaps the bigger news is that cracks have appeared in the Deep State dam, and some truth is beginning to trickle through.  If you've been reading these updates for long, you'll know that we lost all faith in the Dept. of Justice and the FBI quite some time ago.  It was obvious that Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch were prepared to ruin any last vestige of credibility to shield Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama from embarrassment.  It now looks pretty certain that top-level “investigators” conspired to prevent Donald Trump from being elected, and when that didn't work, set out to destroy his presidency with (in their own words) an “insurance policy.”  

He gets all hopeful that "the dam may eventually break" within the Department of Justice and the FBI. How dare an investigator within the FBI just might possibly, somehow get the President impeached.

It looks like the dam may eventually break, and that would be the best thing that's happened to this country in a long time.  Wouldn't it be a breath of fresh air if the primary institutions of Law and Justice were restored to a position of trust and respect?  That's hardly the situation now, as the instigators of the “insurance policy” (false allegations, big criminal investigation) are mostly still in place. 

 He then seems to mock media outlets for allegedly propping up "socialist heroes" trying to somehow transform America. He also insists that there have been "a string of miracles offering the opportunity for a revival" of the United States.

Wouldn't it be something if the mocking, sneering tag team in prime time were forced to choke down and report the truth about their socialist heroes who were “transforming America?”  Maybe it’s foolish to get our hopes up, but we've already seen a string of miracles offering the opportunity for a revival of a nation that we love, a nation that was, and is, a part of God's plan.

And following that line of thought he claims that the departure of about two hundred scientists from the EPA is such a miracle, at least in his eyes.

And here's a miracle for you, just reported today.  EPA bureaucrats are leaving the agency in droves!   No doubt, many of the regulations they enforced have been gutted.  Nearly all the language about global warming, or, ahem, climate change, has been deleted off government web sites.  They just can't support the agency's mission any longer, and here's the kicker.  Two hundred of the seven hundred leaving are “scientists.”  Since these “scientists” undoubtedly preached climate nonsense, believing they could “make a difference” in the weather or sea levels, were pro-evolution and anti-God, we can only wish them luck in their future endeavors.  Chances are they'll need to move to Europe or somewhere if they want another job in the global warming field.

He then mocks Pope Francis and casts him a villain who allowed "Muslims and Africans" to move to Europe. He hysterically implies that these immigrants will become the majority of the population within Europe.

We can't ignore this week's newsworthy statement from nobody's favorite pontiff.  Now he's worrying about the “demographic winter” that nations may suffer from having too few children!  Talk about a lack of self-awareness, and having no shame.  He's the one that shamed Europe into allowing millions of Muslims and Africans to flood in.  Europe's low birth rate has been no secret for at least the past twenty years.  Demographic winter?  The new arrivals are making babies like they're going out of style, and Europeans don't.  Didn't the pope know that before he started pining for a Muslim onslaught of Europe?  Now the solution is for Europeans to have more babies?  It's already too late. 

He then indulges in hurling homophobic invective at the Catholic Church.

Catholic spokesmen in the U S A are as gay as they get.  The clergy at Rome is having its way with the choirboys in residence....  Sum it up to say the clergy isn't setting a very good example, Mr. pope.

He alludes to the UN General Assembly vote which rejected the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as being the capital of the State of Israel. He mused that it would be good if the United States just cut off all funding to the UN. It is not mentioned that despite the threat to cut off funding only nine states voted in support of President Trump's decision, namely Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Togo and the United States.

When the UN assembled this week to condemn the United States for President Trump's decision to move the U. S. embassy to Jerusalem, both Ambassador Haley and the president himself warned that American aid might just be the price of that condemnation.  But they did it anyway.  Yes, we know.  There are vast Geo-political implications…  But wouldn't it be nice if we just cut off the funding to the UN?  I'm guessing President Trump could turn that building into multi-million-dollar condos, and we'd all be better off for it. 

He then states his hope that the Christmas rush will finally end on Christmas day. For whatever reason he does not mention Armstrongism's ban against Christmas.

And just think of it, three more days!  Three more days till the clanging ceases and with any luck, the traffic begins to let up.  All in all, it's been a pretty good week and a very entertaining year.  People are starting to get their faces rubbed in reality for a change.  And if you don't believe in miracles, you haven't been paying attention.  Here's to next year being even better!  Have a wonderful Sabbath!   

Mark 

And so we see that Mark Armstrong has delivered yet another shrill polemic condemning those he oppose.

PCG's Ron Fraser: Abortion Makes Americans Just Like Germans During the Holocaust (1998)

This is the 2200th post for the Living Armstrongism blog. I wish to thank you, the readers, for inspiring me to carry on with this blog in the hope that you find it helpful.

***

PCG teaches that a German led European force, which is often compared with Nazi Germany, will conquer the United States and take Americans as slave labor back with them to Europe. PCG promise its members that they can escape this fate by pleasing their God and as a consequence of which be allowed to flee to a place of safety, often assumed to be Petra, Jordan.

But one of PCG's leaders, the late Ron Fraser, seemed to think that Americans are just like Nazis because of legalized abortion. (Ron Fraser, Killing Off America, The Philadelphia Trumpet, July 1998, p. 29.)

Since the infamous 1973 Roe vs. Wade case which set the precedent for legalized abortion in the United States, the U.S. has slaughtered over 31 million of its regenerative population—in the womb! Without this legalized slaughter of human life, the U.S. population would be close to 12 percent greater than it is today. This is America’s lost generation! The Supreme Court decision which effectively legalized abortion in the United States has resulted in a genocide of American lives far in excess of all those poor souls who have fallen victim to “ethnic cleansing” in the Balkans and Africa. Indeed, the figure is more comparable to the number of deaths for which Stalin, Hitler and Mao Tse Tung were responsible.

Ironically Stalin banned abortion.

According to Ron Fraser Americans today are just like the Germans during World War II who looked the other way during the Holocaust in which the Nazi regime murdered about six million Jews.

Increasingly we see the insidious influence of the social engineers which turned the established family culture of America upside down, in the ’60s and ’70s in particular. America’s mind has been closed to the horror of mass slaughter taking place within the collective national womb. Publishers and editors ban the use of the phrase “unborn child,” preferring instead the sanitized term “fetus.” The press at large maintains either a deliberate or ignorant silence. This has bred a collective national conscience largely ignorant of the fact of modern abortion. Yet, subconsciously, the average American knows that something dreadful is extant, even as the average German during World War II feigned ignorance to the holocaust, yet in their heart knew that something dreadful was going on amongst them on a massive scale.

Do the men in PCG realize that Fraser here compared the women in their lives who happened to have had abortions, their mothers, their sisters, their wives, as being like Nazis?

Why the COGs Love President Trump's Decision About Jerusalem

So recently President Trump announced that the US government now recognized Jerusalem to be the capital of the State of Israel.

This was done even though the international consensus is that the status of Jerusalem needs to be resolved between the State of Israel and the Palestinians in an agreement before such diplomatic recognition can be granted lest it seems as though they were supporting one side.

Furthermore the State of Israel is only recognized by the international community as having a right to rule within its 1949-67 boundaries with the rest of what used to be Mandatory Palestine viewed as occupied territory because it was acquired by military force in the Six Day War in 1967. That designation also applies to East Jerusalem. National governments tend to be very reluctant to recognize altered borders lest it should provide support to any secessionists among themselves.

Nevertheless the COGs have generally been happy at this decision. Let us remember why they react this way. It is not because they think it will help bring about peace. They think it is a sign that the second coming is about to occur.

They think the State of Israel will soon be destroyed by the schemes of a future European Empire, its people conquered by military force and taken as slave labor back to Europe. They also insist similar things will happen to the United States.

These are terrible events that they imagine. Who would want such things to happen? Such imaginings are sickening and weary those who yearn for solutions and better days. (It is also rather unlikely at present.) And yet they anticipate such things and get excited thinking that these events somehow prove themselves to be right and everyone else as wrong.

But Armstrongism has a long track record of making false predictions. HWA said that Christ will return in 1936, then after World War II, then in 1975. The Armstrongites merely add to their dismal record of error.

Mark Armstrong Condemns Mueller Investigation and (Apparently) #metoo

Mark Armstrong, leader of the Intercontinental Church of God, has another weekly update. In this weekly update he condemns the investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia by tiring it to Hillary Clinton. Whereas in most of his weekly updates he shifts topics in a bewildering manner here he actually focuses on his topic.

Mystery solved!  But it's no thanks to the mainstream media, which has deceived the whole world with their “highly placed” sources and one “scoop” after another showing the president's inner circle up to their ears in “Russian collusion.”  There's no way you've missed the drill.  It's been the theme of every breathless “revelation” for a full year.

But even though there is so much attention about this topic he assures his readers that there is nothing to see there.

Things have become very confusing to the casual observer amid the theories and dark suppositions of Trump's guilt.  But here's the deal, in a nutshell.  The F.B.I. took and used Hillary Clinton campaign's “opposition research” dossier in cooperation with Fusion GPS and the DNC, which paid some $12.5 million for the information.  It was then used, despite being unverified and containing provably false information, to get a warrant to “tap the wires” of the Trump transition team in Trump Tower, and launch an F.B.I. investigation into the “collusion” allegation. 

He seems to imply that there is some sort of conspiracy within the FBI and the Department of Justice to cripple the Trump Administration.

Internal communications seem to show that the top counterintelligence investigator at the F.B.I. (Peter Strzok) teamed up with the Deputy Director (Andrew McCabe) and a female lawyer (Lisa Page) at Justice to implement an “insurance policy” against a “chance they couldn't take,” that being the election and inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States.  Plan “B” was to cripple the Trump presidency with the ongoing investigation of a “Special Council” (Robert Mueller), and that's been the relentless focus of headlines, “news” articles and endless analysis on many network outlets.

He seems quite relieved to learn of this.

This has been a watershed week that we'll want to remember.  For the first time in a year characterized by dark suspicions of a stolen presidential election and constant, unremitting calls for impeachment from liberal members of Congress, some light has finally been shed on the situation.  Actual communications between the F.B.I.'s head of Counter-intelligence and his Justice Dept. lawyer friend got splashed all over the internet and at least one national television network. 

He complains about concerns about President Trump. He seems present these concerns about him as some sort of plot to remove him from office.

“The leaks were unauthorized!” scream creatures of the swamp who have been riding a wave of leaks by “highly placed sources close to the 'Russia' investigation.”  It's been the most prominent feature of cable news for a year now.  Highly placed “leaks” have been rolling in like clockwork night after night, fueling exited reporting about “coming indictments,” other shoes to drop, the “walls closing in on the Oval Office” and an “unhinged” and “unfit” President Trump falling apart psychologically and emotionally. 

While Mark Armstrong writes so harshly about many things somehow President Trump escapes his ire but rather is praised.

In spite of all the dark suspicions and analysis of “Crisis in the White House,” and pending charges against the President and his inner circle, Trump hasn't appeared concerned.  His speeches are as audacious as they were during the campaign.  He seems optimistic and driven to make good on every promise.  He answers reporters' questions at length and tweets out messages to forty million odd “followers” most every day.  His attempts to enact an agenda have been overshadowed by the probability that he committed “collusion with the Russians to subvert the 2016 election.” 

He then once again insists that the media are not to be trusted. After all, if his supporters did so they just might reach a differing conclusion from Mark Armstrong's.

Amazing, isn't it, how things that are obvious often take months if not years to be recognized, reported or “proven” before the stunned eyes of the general public?  But even now, in the rubble of the massive earthquake that has hit the F.B.I. and the Department of Justice, CNN anchors are still playing dumb. Things that we've known and understood for days if not weeks are a confusing mystery for Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon.  It was too much watching Don Lemon twice mispronounce and express unfamiliarity with the name Peter Strzok, when most of us have known not only his name, but his rank and all about his plainly stated “insurance policy” to “protect America from that menace (Donald Trump).” 

He flatters his audience as being more knowledgeable than the mainstream media.

At the rate things are moving, we might as well not get anxious.  It may take many weeks or some months before things we know today will be widely disseminated.  The mainstream media are so heavily invested in the “Trump team - Russia collusion” story, they won't be pried loose easily.  They've lived it, loved it and pampered it like a doctrinal “idea baby” for so long it's become a part of who and what they are! 

He seems to assures his audience that there is little possibility of President Trump getting impeached.

We've been warned that another wave of allegations may lead to many more resignations from Congress.  And we're finding out that there have been monetary considerations offered in exchange for allegations against the president.  Maybe they can force his resignation!  Fat chance. 

If Trump was forced from office he would be replaced by Vice President Pence. And if Pence had to be replaced the presidency would then be taken by Paul Ryan. And if Ryan had to be replaced next in line would be Orrin Hatch.

He then seems to belittle the #metoo movement as "driving those accused ... over some attempted hanky-panky or other." This is a dreadful mischaracterization and minimization of the recent wave of activism addressing the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace and society at large. This is a movement that society has desperately needed for a long time.

How is it that those in favor of sex education for little children, trans-gender logic, “gay marriage,” free condoms distributed at schools, government-provided birth control, basically saying there is no such thing as morality-- suddenly are OUTRAGED and driving those accused from their superior midst over some attempted hanky-panky or other.  It's plan C.  They just have to get rid of President Trump somehow, and that justifies whatever means must be deployed.  It looks like the evil-doers are being exposed, on every side of the equation.  That doesn't mean that the people of this nation, or of the Western world will acknowledge the truth of anything.  Our society holds that everything is a matter of opinion.  There are no absolutes, there are no facts, (other than that ridiculous apple on CNN) only opinions.

And so we now learn that Mark Armstrong is annoyed at an apple on CNN.

And just to make sure he states it again this week he insists that Europe is on a path to some sort of destruction. He presents President Trump as a hero fighting to preserve America's "cultural identity," whatever Armstrong means by that.

How easily the masses are deceived!  The nations of Europe have been deceived into a “green,” multi-cultural, slow-motion suicide by the pope and Angela Merkel, and yet their governments and media outlets are completely oblivious or worse, actively hiding news harmful to the EU agenda.   We've got a president trying to save what's left of the cultural identity of the United States of America, but he's up against all the socialist minions that have populated government agencies, the mainstream media, the educational system and Hollywood entertainment over the past decade and a half.  Success is but a distant hope. 

He ends with a declaration hoping for protection from those he oppose including environmentalism and seems to indicate that he does not want to live in a "diverse utopia" he claims those he oppose want to create.

May the scales fall off the eyes of the masses, in spite of the campaign to permanently cement political correctness, global-warming claptrap and the lie that a big fascist government can force us into some “green,” diverse utopia.  No thanks!   Have a great Sabbath, 

Mark

So Mark Armstrong seems to loath the thought of living in a "“green,” diverse utopia." So he wants to live in an non-diverse place? 

Overview of the January 2018 Issue of PCG's Philadelphia Trumpet

PCG has released another issue of their recruitment magazine to try and gain more tithes paying converts. (January 2018.) Let's take a look at what they have to say this time.

The editors for this issue are Gerald Flurry, Stephen Flurry, Joel Hilliker, Brad Macdonald, Richard Palmer, Robert Morley, Jeremiah Jacques, Dennis Leap and Phillip Nice.

This issue has a circulation of 247,255 issues. November-December 2017's circulation was 246,769. October 2017's circulation was 245,780. September 2017's circulation was 245,925 issues. August 2017's circulation was 255,897 issues. July 2017's circulation was 267,569. May-June 2017's circulation was 263,551. April 2017's circulation was 267,569 (which happens to be the same as July's figure).

The cover is illustrated by Gary Dorning. The cover features portrayals of the leaders of Russia, China, Japan, Turkey, Austria and Hungary. It should be noted that PCG often scare mongers about Russia, China and Japan. PCG's leaders do not talk of Turley as much Turkey but PCG does teach that the Turkish people are fated to be annihilated by PCG's pathetic parody of God based on the erroneous assumption that the Turkish people are descendants of the ancient Edomites.

Gerald Flurry has a personal article which shamelessly labels the recent victories against the criminal network known as ISIL as a defeat for the United States and a victory for Iran. This is done to promote his claim to be able to see the future since he has taught that Iran is the King of the South since 1994. This prediction gives PCG's 1% a strong motive to vilify Iran as much as possible to glorify their leader as one who can see the future. Widespread concern about the criminal network known as ISIL makes this harder to do. How easy it is for Flurry to shamefully downplay the frightfulness of the criminal network called ISIL when he has never had to flee his home or see his homeland get shattered by an armed insurgency. This is a particularly disgraceful article.

Stephen Flurry has an article saying that the world is becoming dominated by authoritarian strongmen. PCG's writers complain about those they label as authoritarian strongmen and yet their own leader, Gerald Flurry, boasts of implementing "one-man rule" within PCG.

Richard Palmer has an article discussing the leaders of Hungary, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. PCG teaches that in the future a European Empire led by Germany will conquer the United States and take Americans as slave labor back with them to Europe in the days just before Christ's return.

Jeremiah Jacques has articles about the leaders of China, Russia, Japan and the Philippines. Even though Japan has been closely allied to the United States since the end of World War II PCG's leadership continues to portray Japan as a threat to their predominantly American audience.

Brent Nagtegaal has a little article about the president of Turkey.

Anthony Chibarirwe has an article about the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

The Infographic discusses methods of politicians gaining a large amount of power over their nations.

Brad Macdonald and Joel Hilliker has an article insisting that the sexual harassment currently being exposed after the revelations concerning Harvey Weinstein is because people are not living their lives in accordance with PCG's teachings. This seems rather unhelpful considering how widespread this problem is within society, including churches.

Andrew Müller has an article condemning far left protesters labelled Antifa, crudely linking them to German Communists of Weimar Germany who opposed the Nazis.

Christopher Eames has an article insisting that Abraham was a genius in astronomy and mathematics citing Josephus and Philo of Alexandria overlooking the issue that Genesis, which was written centuries before the time of these individuals, said nothing about these alleged events. That indicates that these are legends that arose after Genesis.

Gerald Flurry has an article saying that science cannot help humanity solve its problems.

Joel Hilliker has an article calling for children to obey their parents.

WorldWatch mentions commemorations for the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation to scare monger about ecumenicism; the State of Israel's purchase of submarines from Germany; al-Shabaab's terrorist bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia which killed 512 people on October 14, 2017; a claim that Osama bin Laden worked with Iran; an ISIL sympathizer's terrorist attack in New York which killed eight people on October 31, 2017; an Iranian proposal to stop using the US dollar for transactions involving oil; China further building up artificial islands in the South China Sea; and restoration of full diplomatic relations between China and South Korea.

SocietyWatch mentions scare mongering about social security running out of money in 2036 (which could be easily solved by just making more than the first $100,000 of income applicable to paying into Social Security); scare mongering that young people are becoming witches; that deaths from drug overdoses have tripled since 1999 in the United States; and scare mongering that doctors in Britain are being encouraged to make children change genders as part of PCG's denigration of transgender people.

Andrew Müller has an article praising PCG's God as the true and righteous strongman who must be followed by PCG's followers.

There are letters. One letter implies that PCG has the only media outlet worth listening to.

There is a great comfort with the Trumpet, when everything else is empty.

One letter from North Carolina boasts of knowing PCG's dogmas while the rest of the world knows not.

Yes, the good thing is, we are all still here. The bad thing is, the world is in confusion and will continue to publish garbage based on the imagination of man’s heart. The brilliant thing is that God has blessed our eyes and ears to receive the truth grounded in the sure Word of God. I am so consumed by all the excellent articles and broadcasting on the Trumpet.

One letter from Rarotonga, Cook Islands seems to indicate agreement with PCG's negativity towards the well known phenomenon of climate change caused by human activity.

I sincerely thank you for the two Philadelphia Trumpet magazines, August and September 2017, which I received today. I was extremely interested in the article in the August issue on the subject of climate change. This has been a major worldwide topic that I have tried to follow over several years, and I have to say I agree with you 100 percent on what you say.

One letter from California compliments them on their illustrated covers. Back in 2012 PCG's strongman leader, Gerald Flurry, authorized the creation of an art department.

The cover designs to the Trumpet magazine are top-notch and always interesting to look at. The articles are well written, and Stephen Flurry’s Principles of Living articles are an inspirational read.

And so we see that PCG's 1% has produced yet another issue of their recruitment magazine to gain more tithes paying converts and to keep their followers in awe of them as being able to see the future. However since its founding in 1989 PCG has made at least 52 failed predictions. But despite such a poor record of predictions their talk of doom and gloom has gone well for PCG's leadership. Back in 2012 PCG had an income of about $19.5 million according to a booklet by their leader, Gerald Flurry. Even as early as 1996 PCG claimed to have more than $5 million in annual income. Recently PCG has even bought its own plane. But PCG's many failed predictions clearly reveal that PCG's leaders are but false prophets. There is no need to fear their dire proclamations. PCG's leaders are but false prophets.

Mark Armstrong on Pope Francis, Jerusalem Controversy, California Wildfires, Immigration, the Homeless, Trump-Russia, etc.

Intercontinental Church of God's leader, Mark Armstrong, has another weekly update posted online. (December 8, 2017.) Let's see what he has to say this time.

First he rants about Pope Francis. He also mischaracterize immigration as "a third word invasion ... of Western nations" in his feelings of xenophobia which are often expressed in these weekly updates.

Some weeks you hardly know where to start, and this is one of those.  First, the pope has made a big stink about changing the wording of the Lord's prayer!  And why not?  He, and his predecessors have changed everything else about the Bible, what it says and what it means.  Since when are Catholics authorized to read and understand anything in the Bible?  They chant in Latin, pass out wafers every Sunday, defend homosexuality, promote a third world invasion (especially Muslim "refugees") of Western nations, and despise American patriotism.  Since when did they encourage the reading or understanding of the Bible? 

He crudely implies that Pope Francis is desperately seeking attention.

All that said, there are plenty of clumsily translated passages in scripture, otherwise there would be no need for the commentaries and handbooks that put things into historic and linguistic perspective.  What's the pope going to do, find every passage that might be better translated?  Probably not!  The only ones authorized to study the Bible have been the backward, effeminate cardinals and priests.  Mere parishioners have never been encouraged to read and understand the scriptures by the Catholic church.  It just wouldn't be healthy to whatever is left of a flock told that their "vicar" is infallible!  It's almost as if the pope was looking for any pitiful excuse to command the spotlight.

He also calls Pope Franics a "little twerp." After that ad hominem insult he praises President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel even though just about every other national government views East Jerusalem as territory occupied by the State of Israel because it was captured in the Six Day War in 1967 and governments tend to be very reluctant to recognize altered borders.

The little twerp also condemned the truly important news of the week, and that is that President Trump announced that the American Embassy is moving to Jerusalem, finally.  December 2017 will become one of a handful of historic, watershed events in Israel's relatively short history, as Prime Minister Netanyahu just said.  But the Palestinians are rioting!  They're burning tires, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at police!  Oh no!  That's only happened a couple of thousand times before.  The fact is, it goes on constantly and never stops.  They've been raised to battle Israeli police and that's what they do.

He mentions that rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip. Then complains that "the mainstream media, Hollywood notables and European political elite"  are afraid of President Trump's influence upon political affairs.

But they've fired rockets at Israel from Gaza!  Yes, three.  Two fell short, inside Gaza, and another landed on open land, far from any target.  It's not exactly the first time they've done that either.  Every president going back to Reagan promised to do it, Trump did it.  But, as we all hear from the mainstream media, Hollywood notables and European political elite, Trump is burning down the world.  It's even been suggested he's responsible for the California fires!

He then moves on to the fires in California. He has his own politically charged idea about how the fires started.

A more likely conclusion is that California is burning up due to its own self-congratulatory non-sense.  These fires didn't start themselves, based on the admissions of Fire Chiefs.  There have been no storms, no lightening.  But they've got homeless camps growing out of control, and more illegal aliens than they can count.  Whose money will pay to rebuild all the multi-million-dollar homes going up in flames?  Do you pay for fire insurance?  Do those same companies insure California homes? 

He charges that Californian officials are trying to hide what caused the wildfires. To him it is obvious that undocumented immigrants are to be blamed.

Officials refuse to discuss the likely source of the fires, they're too busy dealing with the heart-breaking tragedy of smoldering properties and altered lives to engage in any discussion that might burn a hole through the logic of a sanctuary state that refuses to hold illegal aliens responsible for any and all crimes destructive to public safety.  We just saw them pat themselves on the back for the mind-blowing acquittal of Kate Steinle's killer.  It wasn't REALLY his fault.  He didn't even know he was holding the gun when it went off!

He seems to imply that homeless people may have started the fires. The highlighted phrase below sounds sarcastic to me.

The liberal media went crazy about the story of Park Rangers catching the illegal leaving a fire he'd admittedly set for warmth in remote park in Sonoma County.  The Sherriff said that story was totally irrelevant.  There's no word on what happened, if anything since he was jailed after having been caught red-handed.  But, as officials have said, these fires didn't start themselves.  Whatever you do, don't suspect the homeless or the illegals who are carving out refuge on the outskirts of nearly every city and town in the state.  They are the proof of California's superior empathy toward the poor.  They're are the pope's sacraments, for crying out loud!

He then insists that climate change is a hoax designed to take away the people's freedom.

And then there is this.  Global warming scientists just got caught "red-handed" (again!) "phonying" up sea level measurements.  It seems that the global authorities on such matters, known to evaluate and publish sea-level data were able to take readings showing long-term STABLE measurement data and alter, or "realign" it before releasing it as scientific proof of global-warming and rising sea levels.  The organization is known as the PSMSL the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level.  It was exposed by two Australian scientists in a paper for Earth Systems and Environment, and it joins the jumble of bogus "scientific proof" that global warming is something that should panic everybody into giving up freedom to "save the planet."

He then tries to discredit the ongoing investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia by insisting that "the lawyers, FBI investigators and Justice Department personnel who have been leading the charge" are "utterly corrupt".

Lastly, maybe you've heard the expression, Fruit of the Poison Tree.  It may sound Biblical, but it has legal connotations.  It means that false, or falsely obtained evidence taints an entire case, and it's been used in reference to the Russia-collusion case that is tried and analyzed endlessly by the mainstream media.  If you haven't been able to keep up with the tiresome giddiness with which media hacks cheer-lead the president's downfall you may not yet know how utterly corrupt are the lawyers, FBI investigators and Justice Department personnel who have been leading the charge.  So many scandals are coming to the surface that it may be bigger news than the accusations of inappropriate behavior burning up the headlines.  Well, almost that big.  If CNN had to retract all the false, breathless reports they've made over the past year (including last night!), we might well not live long enough to see it all straightened out.

He then talks about the latest ICBM test from North Korea and scare mongers that something wrong may occur during the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County, South Korea next year.

But we'll close with some pretty good news.  The report last week of North Korea having successfully completed a test of an ICBM that could reach anywhere in the United States wasn't entirely accurate.  Turns out it broke up on re-entry and was not a successful test.  But the Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held in South Korea, and the North wouldn't need an ICBM to ruin them.

He then ends with these words.

Other than that, everything is looking up!  Have a great Sabbath.   

Mark

What must it be like being in an organization where a man who writes like this is in charge?

Iraq "Fully Liberated" from ISIL Terrorists

CNN reports that Iraq has declared itself to be "fully liberated" from the terrrorists and murderers of the criminal network known as ISIL.

The Iraqi military has "fully liberated" all of Iraq's territory of "ISIS terrorist gangs" and retaken full control of the Iraqi-Syrian border, it said Saturday in a statement. 

"Our heroic armed forces have now secured the entire length of the Iraq-Syria border," Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said on his Twitter account. "We defeated Daesh (ISIS) through our unity and sacrifice for the nation. Long live Iraq and its people." (CNN, December 9, 2017.)

May there be peace in Iraq.

Mark Armstrong Condemning a Jury's Verdict

Intercontinental Church of God's leader Mark Armstrong has another weekly update. Let's take a look. (December 1, 2017.)

Here he complains that a jury found Jose Inez Garcia Zarate not guilty.

When Governor Jerry Brown declared California a sanctuary state, he wasn't kidding!  No doubt millions reacted with astonishment and anger at the “not guilty” verdict issued for the illegal idiot who shot and killed beautiful Kate Steinle.  My TV may never be the same after the tongue lashing it got last night.  And then these slime ball lawyers came out and warned first the President, Vice President and Attorney General, and then all of the rest of us who might be tempted to be critical of the jury's verdict, that we all enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  While it wasn't conclusive about the first lawyer, the second had a serious speech impediment that he seemed to play up, leaving no doubt about his proclivity. 

He assumes he better understands the situation than the jury.

Now we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that the state of California has embraced insanity.  They’re soooo righteous in all their empathy for illegal aliens, that a jury will declare an habitual criminal innocent if he kills someone, and there's some doubt about his intent.  Assuming he didn't intend to take the innocent life of Kate Steinle, he still killed her.  That's involuntary manslaughter at the very least! 

He expresses the hope that his readers will share his opinion.

If this doesn't get the rest of the nation to recognize the depth of stupidity that infects, not just the California state leadership, but in this case a jury of San Francisco citizens who UNANIMOUSLY found the killer innocent, then nothing will. 

He then takes comfort in the thought that of the leftists he despises have been accused of sexual misconduct in the wake of the allegations regarding Harvey Weinstein.

Many may not yet recognize the boomerang effect of the left's air of righteous superiority.  But it's coming back upon them, time and again.  They got so excited about destroying Judge Moore and gaining a seat in the Senate, the scandal they set in motion is taking down a who's who of their own beloved hierarchy.  Their biggest Hollywood financial benefactors, some of their reliable network propagandists, their favorite former president, and some of their biggest heroes in government are dropping like flies.

He then hopes that some similar misfortune will occur to leftists reporting on the ongoing Trump-Russia scandal.

Self-righteous promoters of socialism and political correctness don't have the slightest bit of shame in accusing others of things that they themselves are guilty of.  Wait until their Russian “collusion” obsession comes full circle.  Much of the information is already out, though the mainstream media hasn't yet had its face rubbed in it.  Odd, isn't it, how the “facts first” network is blissfully unaware of information already in the possession of millions?  They know nothing of the financing of the fake dossier, for which their ideological friends paid millions.  They never heard of uranium sales to Russia, approved by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 

He complains of calls for President Trump to be removed from office.

They throw little tantrums about what a lunatic President Trump is, between “facts first” adds about an apple still being an apple even if someone says “banana, banana, banana.”  Facts first!  Then they go back to wondering when Trump's family will stage an “intervention” due to his obvious diminished capacity.  They can't understand why Congress hasn't invoked the 25th Amendment to have Trump relieved of his duties, due to his inability to faithfully execute them.  Facts first, my left foot.

He charges that the Trump-Russia scandal is leaving Americans unaware of problems with North Korea and Iran.

North Korea just demonstrated its ability to launch a full-blown ICBM with a range to hit anywhere in the United States, and carry a nuclear warhead.  Maybe they don't yet have the nuclear warhead, but then nobody thought they had an ICBM of that magnitude either.  There is little dispute over the fact that the world is in grave danger as the radical rogue regimes, such as North Korea and Iran, start to brandish nuclear weapons.  But in the midst of mainstream fury over the election and apparent success of the Trump administration, nuclear threats are a footnote.  The BIG NEWS is that President Trump is almost caught “colluding with the Russians.”  He's been almost caught every day and night for nearly a year now.  They seem to have no recognition that their false reporting and obvious bias is a major reason he was elected in the first place! 

He then crassly accuse those sympathetic to the plight of refugees of causing Europeans and Americans to exposed to terrorist attacks from Al Qaeda like extremists. This is a vicious accusation against those who wish well to those who happen to be less fortunate.

Europe is on red alert for more “holiday terror,” similar to the attacks last year.  Terrorist bombs and massacres are a way of life for much of the Middle East, and as we all know, the danger is all over Europe and all over the United States due to the overwhelming goodness and empathy of those willing to sacrifice all God's blessings and their children's future, assuming they have any, so they can brag about their lofty ideals.  The “goodness” of these godless socialists is liable to be end of Western culture.

He ends this missive against immigrants, those wishing to welcome them, those concerned about the Trump-Russia scandal and jurors doing their duty with a little statement of encouragement.

May God grant all of us the patience and the gumption to recognize what is important and what is not.  We're being pulled in all directions.   

Mark

He then adds a postscript.

P. S. The December letter was mailed two days ago and should be in your mailbox directly.  We have another edition of Twenty-first Century WATCH laid out and on its way to print.  We've also seen very effective results with some of our internet “boosts,” and will continue testing material on the Sabbath, what happens after death, and concentrating on strategies that work.   Have a great Sabbath.

Shouldn't the paragraph above be the weekly update?

PCG's 1%'s Cover-up of the Watergate Scandal

Since around late 2015 some within PCG's 1% have minimized the Watergate scandal (as may be seen here, here and here) despite the weighty evidence indicating otherwise, not least the famous testimony of former White House Counsel John Dean.

While reading Dean's account of what happened in those days I was struck by his reaction to Nixon's resignation speech on August 8, 1974.

By the time he had finished, my pity had given way to dismay. He never admitted a ... thing, I thought. He went out with a campaign speech. Oh, well, I thought, at least he's consistent, but why? Why is he taking Watergate with him? ... 

The cover-up had been a stupid error. Lying about it had been deadly for him. It was over now. He'd been caught in his lies, so why didn't he confess? Was he really far wiser than most would give him credit for? Would history say he'd been unfairly forced from office? Was he planting seeds of doubt? Or did he fear prosecution and jail? (John Dean, Blind Ambition: The White House Years, 1976, p. 357.)

But at least Nixon's seeds of doubt have failed to sprout for the most part and most people know that Nixon was guilty. But these seeds of doubt have sprouted within PCG's 1%. Gerald Flurry and Joel Hilliker have minimized the criminal cover-up. It was a Communist attack. It was revenge for Nixon's prosecution of Alger Hiss. PCG's leadership have been trying to cover-up the Nixon Administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement in the activities of the Plumbers.

We must embrace facts instead of just believing what we want to believe.

What if There was War with China?

Renowned journalist John Pilger in his latest film, The Coming War on China, discusses the possibility of war between the United States and China and what might happen in such a nightmarish situation. This documentary was first released on December 5, 2016 in Britain and can now be viewed on Al Jazeera.

The COGs have often scare mongered about China but if such a dreadful thing as war with China should occur (may that day never dawn) in actual fact the United States is quite well positioned for such an eventuality. The United States have many military bases located in nations neighboring China ready to respond if such a thing were to occur. The COGs have failed to notice that rather pertinent fact.

Those of us who with a COG background have often been encouraged to interpret news not to learn what is happening but to convince ourselves that the COG is right and can see the future. I believe for many of us who were or are involved with the COGs it would be good to learn from one who is not blinkered with COG dogma discuss and confront this important issue.

Roy Moore Implied George Soros is Going to Hell

Just appalling.

Roy Moore, the controversial Alabama Senate candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, said George Soros’ agenda is “not our American culture” and suggested the Jewish billionaire philanthropist was headed to hell. ...

“He is pushing an agenda and his agenda is sexual in nature, his agenda is liberal, and not what Americans need,” said Moore, not explaining what it is about Soros’ agenda that is “sexual.” He added, “It’s not our American culture. Soros comes from another world that I don’t identify with.” ...

“No matter how much money he’s got, he’s still going to the same place that people who don’t recognize God and morality and accept his salvation are going,” Moore said. “And that’s not a good place.” (JTA, December 5, 2017.)

There is nothing wrong with honest disagreement over political matters. But this sort of exclusionary talk is dreadful. How does implying that a Jewish individual as being not a part of "our" culture not sound like anti-Semitism? We need to treat people with equality, dignity and respect.

LCG's 11,600 Members

According to Living University's 2017-8 catalog LCG has about 11,600 members.

Living Church of God membership around the world is about 11,600 (approximately 6,300 in the USA and 5,300 internationally). The Church has international regional offices in Australia, Barbados, Canada, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. Average weekly church service attendance is about 9,000. The Church’s Tomorrow’s World television program airs on more than 118 stations in 206 countries. The potential number of people reached by the telecast is over one billion. Its Tomorrow’s World magazine circulation is over 409,000 in 162 countries. (pp. 23-24.)

Banned by HWA reports that LCG's Living University is to shut down after the Spring 2018 semester.