2007 Mark Armstrong letters
12/29/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
Yesterday we were awakened by the sobering
news of the assassination of Mrs. Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. An almost
mythical figure in Pakistani politics, she was campaigning for a return to
power, promoting democratic ideals and hoping to forge an atmosphere
friendly toward the west. While the news was shocking, it was predictable.
Pakistan’s population seethes with a hatred the western mind can barely
comprehend. With the realization that Pakistan has an operable nuclear
arsenal, there is grave concern at the highest levels of the U.S. military
and government as to the status and security of those weapons.
Reassuringly, the Pentagon has released a
statement declaring that, for the time being, Pakistan’s nuclear assets
are secure.
However the best connected, most knowledgeable
experts on the region have surfaced to express concern that current
instability in Pakistan, bordering on anarchy, could lead to an overthrow
of the Musharaff government. Experts agree that there are elements of
radical Islam, not only in Pakistani society, but within the Musharaff
government, and inside the Pakistani military that could conceivably stage
a coup, and ultimately gain control over an estimated eighteen medium
range missiles with nuclear warheads.
Two of Pakistan’s four provinces are ruled
independently of the Pakistani government. They are tribal regions ruled
by Islamic clerics oriented toward the Taliban and supportive of al
Qaeda. The people there virtually worship Osama bin Laden. These are
remote regions, bordering on Iran to the south, and Afghanistan on the
west, that have never been conquered by an outside power, “dating back to,
and including Alexander the Great,” according to Monsoor Ijaz, one of the
foremost experts on the situation. Osama bin Laden himself, is suspected
of hiding out in this area that has a long history of impenetrability.
A hotbed of terrorist indoctrination and
training, President Musharaff has long been under U.S. pressure to bring
these tribal regions under his control. But it’s seen as politically
impossible and it may be militarily impossible as well.
We’ve seen how the people of this region react
when society erupts in outrage. They are continuing to riot even now.
They destroy everything they can. Buildings and vehicles become targets
as crowds fill the streets. Musharaff knows that radical elements within
Pakistani society, and possibly within his own military would react with
mindless rage if he dared try to interfere in the Islamic tribal regions.
Will Musharaff survive? He’s narrowly
survived numerous assassination attempts on his own life. He has enemies,
not only within Pakistan, but detractors all over the world, including
here in the U.S. Some of them are presidential contenders.
Will the nuclear arsenal remain secure? How
might those weapons be utilized in the event they fall into the hands of
the Taliban or al Qaeda? How might India be expected to respond to such
an event, particularly in light of the fact that they also possess nuclear
weapons? Will the U.S. stand by Musharaff in the face of this crisis?
No one “in the know” seems inclined to
downplay the importance or the catastrophic potential of the crisis in
Pakistan. The whole of “Christian” Europe is surely very concerned to see
tensions escalate so dangerously to their south, with radical Islam
erupting in a renewed rage. Will this situation contribute substantially
to the “King of the North, King of the South scenario of Bible prophecy?
The situation in Pakistan, the whole of the
Middle East and Europe has lots of angles and the potential for twists and
turns ahead. But the simple answer to the question just posed is YES.
It is also a major concern as to how some of
the self-appointed “prophets” and “apostles” may try to use these
prophetically important developments to “stampede” members of the Church
of God. The turmoil in Pakistan is, without question, a potentially major
development. But there are several other pieces of the puzzle that have
yet to fall into place. We have to watch carefully to see whether Europe
is moved toward becoming a greater military entity. We have to watch to
see whether Europe moves politically toward support of Rome’s version of
“Christianity,” and reverence for its religious leader as a response to
militant Islam.
The response to this week’s telecast has been
lower than usual due to the holiday, and the lady who runs the weekly
reports has been off, hosting a visit from her son and grandchildren.
We’ll catch you up with all the statistics next week. Meanwhile, have a
safe and restful Sabbath, sober as these times are. I’ll be in touch next
year!
Mark Armstrong
PS See two new Word from News Commentaries by Mark Armstrong, "Pakistan in Crisis" and Jim Josephsen, "The Annual Christian Challenge" |
12/22/2007
|
The GTA telecast brought a fantastic response
this week. The program on “the Rapture” and “Heaven” brought in 517
requests with two hundred fifteen first time callers. Chris reports that
some 23 million pages have been downloaded from our web sites during
calendar 2007. We’re going on the national ION network beginning Jan. 3,
and the state of the Work is rock solid.
Is it time to cry “Wolf!”? I think maybe it
is.
Pakistan has a nuclear arsenal. The country
is politically unstable and there is news this week indicating that Al
Qaeda is turning its attention toward Pakistan.
Iran is spinning the centrifuges, enriching
uranium, and elements within our own government have tried to tie the
President’s hands, insisting that Iran “halted” its nuclear weapons
development in 2003, a program they consistently claimed never existed.
It seems now like it’s a matter of “when”
rather than “if” nuclear weapons can be deployed by elements of radical
Islam. Maybe it’ll be a couple of years, maybe more depending on whom you
believe, unless there’s intervention. It could happen sooner if things
should go wrong in Pakistan.
Many of the dominoes have lined up for Europe,
but by no means all. They’ve got a common currency, a serious Muslim
problem, and a German Pope. But they have in recent years elected
surprisingly conservative politicians, apparently in an attempt to reverse
the ravages decades of socialism have wrought. I’m amazed to see a French
president who’s more pragmatic and pro-American than many of our own
candidates.
Despite the advent and success of the EURO currency, Europe has not yet become the strong political and military power of Bible prophecy.
Despite threats to Israel’s continued
existence, no entity fitting the description of the prophesied “king of
the South” has yet emerged. Could it be Iran? Will Al Qaeda gain
acceptance throughout the Islamic nations and fulfill that role? Could it
be…? Fact is, time will tell, and we just don’t know yet.
What about America? While the prophetic
scenario has not fully developed, we should remember that the United
States doesn’t appear to be a player in the final scenario. A case can
now be logically made that the U.S. is in greater danger from those who
would lead it than from any exterior threat. No we don’t get involved in
politics, and wouldn’t even if we could.
Here’s where crying “Wolf” comes in. The
wolves are those who would save us from the grave threats only they (the
wolves) clearly perceive. Al Gore is one who wants to save the planet by
demanding that we, the U.S. hand responsibility for our energy resources
over to UN control, along with our economic resources to the tune of
untold billions of dollars. We are being prodded by unrelenting peer
pressure via the media to do our part in “going green” saving the planet,
and that means an ultimate willingness to give up anything or everything
for the FEAR religion of global warming. Much damage is already done, and
it’s caught hold across party lines. No drilling in Alaska, regardless of
how much it might bolster energy independence. The Chinese can drill just
outside our territorial waters, but we can’t produce within them!
It’s also time to cry “Wolf” about several of
these shameless self-styled “heirs” to Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Since
when is it a minister’s (servant’s) place to demand immediate and
unquestioning obedience in regard to decisions that should be personal?
Since when are “ministers” supposed to be strong-arming hapless,
well-meaning members of the Church of God? I’ve seen about enough of this
kind of wretched ABUSE. People have been financially destroyed by this
kind of abuse. Families have been rent asunder by the dictates of
so-called “ministers.” It’s enough already! There are “bad actors” of
the cloth in just about every surviving entity of the COG, sometimes where
you’d least expect it. But there are at least a few entities claiming my
Grandfather’s name, preaching imminent tribulation and thriving on
organizational authority. “WOLF!”
The U.S. is in mortal danger from the fear
religion of global warming. Members of the COG are in danger of
immediate, imminent tribulation, alright. Tribulation imposed by their
authoritarian “ministers.”
Mark Armstrong
|
12/15/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
I sure hope those of you on the weekly sermon
list have received your DVDs by now. They were mailed early in the day on
Tuesday, and I hope the “seasonal” mail has not caused any delay.
News came to me this week that is sickening.
That is, that one of those claiming to have inherited “the authority of
Herbert W. Armstrong” has told his congregation that they should liquidate
any holdings and send in their money.
How many abuses will be committed in the name
of my deceased Grandfather? And how long will some poor abused people
remain in a state of deception, or worse, mind control?
I realize that there is a lot of legitimate
respect among the churches of God for Herbert W. Armstrong. But
honestly! He was not a deity, and no one should be blindly obeying any
men, ministers, or otherwise, who falsely claim his authority. Yes, it’s
a touchy subject, and I realize that our reach is limited and that
hundreds or thousands of people are going to be bilked out their family’s
financial security because they don’t have access to any source of truth
on the subject. And that’s a crime.
My Dad spent the last thirty some odd years of
his life trying to warn against following abusive, demanding, bogus
religious leaders. But its still going on. Do people think God will
reward them, or at least hold them guiltless if they accept the bizarre
demands and edicts of a religious authoritarian? Garner Ted Armstrong was
against it! I’m sure neither my Grandfather nor my Dad ever expected the
family name would be used by brazen unknown individuals to issue edicts
and make abusive demands over people’s personal lives.
No, I can’t sum it all up here. But under the
circumstances, my mind is working overtime wondering how to discharge a
responsibility to warn the unsuspecting “members” of the dangers they face
from the abusers of the Armstrong name. I’m not asking anyone to leave
one organization and join another. But I’m miserable knowing that my
Granddad’s legacy, and my family name are being used to impoverish
people. What’s next? Coolaid!?!
Some of you may or may not even be interested
in this subject. Unfortunately, I have to go on the record, and this is
only the beginning. But it’s way past time people have access to the
knowledge they need to see through the misuse of Herbert W. Armstrong’s
name. Unfortunately, it’s reached a stage that can’t be ignored.
The GTA telecast this week brought in 514
requests for material on the Trinity with two hundred twenty three first
time contacts! How ‘bout that? If people in the world of mainstream
churches aren’t afraid to entertain a discussion on the origin of the
doctrine of the Trinity, after all the brainwashing that’s transpired in
every so-called “Christian” church, maybe there’s hope for some of the
Church of God refugees as well. I hope you’ll pray with me that that is
the case.
I’m told that we’ve mailed out some seven
thousand parcels this week, and will very soon be completely caught up to
the point that we are entering requests on the very same day they arrive!
I can also tell you that we’ve had over 100 first time contributors during
the month of October alone, and that means growth.
The weather has brought some segments of the
country to a virtual standstill, and some few of our folks may have been
without power for days. Most that I’ve heard from have been spared the
worst of it and were making do.
There’s much more to be discussed, but this
day is done and the Sabbath has arrived.
Stay safe, stay warm, and have a good Sabbath.
Mark Armstrong
|
12/1/2007
|
Greetings from HQ,
I guess you got Chris’ note about the office having been closed Thursday and Friday of last week for Thanksgiving. What a wonderful occasion it is. I hope all of you enjoyed it as much as we did! Even though last week was a short workweek, we were still contacted by 247 people requesting material (144,000) offered on the GTA telecast, one hundred twenty were in touch with us for the first time. This week has been significantly stronger, with 550 requests and two hundred twenty six first time responders. The 550 came in response to a program on the subject of Christmas, which is also the subject I chose to be the theme of our December letter to the mailing list. That new letter should be arriving in your mailbox within a matter of days now. It offers a fantastic sermon that I was unaware of until recently. Be sure to request it. It is an all-time great. I guess you’re aware of the latest international incident that has sparked rioting in Sudan? Imagine the insanity of calling for the execution of a British school teacher for the capital crime of allowing seven year olds to name a teddy bear Mohammed! Obviously, the riots were not a case of spontaneous combustion, but orchestrated by crazed Islamic clerics. I’ve known for many years that Muslim culture is all about the perception of an insult. But naming a teddy bear Mohammed? Who new? If you travel anywhere near the Middle East, you’ll find more men and boys named Mohammed than anything else. Why isn’t that considered blasphemy? Recent talks about future talks regarding the status of Israel, the Palestinians and Jerusalem have been played up as having great import. Of course the Palestinian president Abbas does not have the support of the duly elected ruling faction in Gaza, Hamas. Hamas called the summit a “failure.” But most disconcerting were the comments by Israeli PM Olmert. It now becomes clear that he has apparently been in favor of abandoning territories so that those swelling Muslim populations cannot vote in Israeli elections. He now says, “If the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights, then the State of Israel is finished.” It sounds like the Israeli PM is neither confident nor committed to Israel’s survival! It also sounds as if he is not confident that future U.S. leadership will back Israel’s right to sovereignty. We’ve just lost a staunch ally with the defeat of PM John Howard in Australian elections (see Murray Allatt’s Update). As Murrray noted, the just elected Mr. Rudd intends to ratify the Kyoto treaty immediately and begin withdrawing troops from Iraq in coming months. As we look across the spectrum of political candidates vying for the U.S. presidency in next year’s election, our continued status as a sovereign world power is also in jeopardy. May God inspire our present leaders, and guide our nation in the dreadful year ahead. The work going out from Tyler, Texas remains strong and viable, as does the church at large. Thank you all for your encouragement and support. We hope you have a safe and restful Sabbath. Until next time, Mark Armstrong |
11/17/2007
|
Dear Elders, Hosts and Members,
We’ve made solid progress on catching up with orders, with several large batches of material delivered to the Post Office over the course of this week. In addition, two new DVDs have been prepared and will be in the mail either today or Monday. Please remember Mr. Bill Mays in your prayers. He’s dealing with heart concerns, and the situation is currently uncertain. He’s not in the hospital at this time, but expects he’s facing the prospect of medical procedures. Maybe you’ve noticed, now that the situation has changed dramatically for the better in Iraq, there’s hardly any reporting from the mainstream media. Even the politicians who’ve been so determined that the U.S. would “lose the war” have virtually dropped the subject. But there is big trouble elsewhere in the Middle East. Last week Iran boasted that it now has 3000 centrifuges installed and operating. Estimates, even by the UN’s agency puts Iran only a year or so from having one or more nuclear weapons. Rumor has it that Israel is studying contingency plans. The situation in Pakistan is emerging as an even more immediate crisis. Marshall law has been imposed by President Musharraff, and the country teeters on the brink of anarchy. The Taliban is said to have enormous popularity among the Pakistani population, and there is an operational nuclear arsenal at risk. The arsenal is protected by the Pakistani military, but the military itself is said to contain large numbers of radical Moslems. At least one expert on the situation believes that al Qaeda has a relationship with elements inside the Pakistani military, according to an article that appeared in today’s edition of THE SCOTSMAN. The article also suggests that contingency plans to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, on the part of Israel, the U.S., and possibly even India may come into play if radicals gain control. Oil prices have been bid up dramatically as a result of the numerous mounting dangers in the Middle East. Yet there seems no movement toward increasing production domestically. The price of gold has risen dramatically as a result of fear, not only in the financial markets, but also fear of global instability. And you are aware that the dollar has been falling in value steadily at the same time. I could go on about numerous other threats to our way of life, from the lack of any willingness to secure U.S. borders, to some of our politicians’ apparent urge to abandon our nation’s sovereignty. But enough of the bad news for now! Now we are looking forward to an autumn Sabbath, a time when we can take a break from daily cares and concentrate on the Good News beyond this world’s terrible troubles. And we have a great national tradition next week, and that is the day of Thanksgiving. We should give thanks year round for the many blessings Almighty God has granted us, and never forget that those blessings are largely the result of Abraham’s obedience and faithfulness, and God’s promises. The Garner Ted Armstrong telecast this week was on the subject of Christ in the Old Testament, and the Law Before Sinai. We’ve counted 470 requests, with 196 first time contacts! The Work is thriving, thanks to a solid and growing core of dedicated supporters. Mr. Jim Josephsen and his wife Barb are due in this afternoon. Jim will be our guest speaker here tomorrow, and you will have the benefit of having the service on DVD within a couple of weeks. I hope you will all have a great Sabbath. Until next week, Mark Armstron |
11/10/2007
|
Hello from Tyler,
Several important events have developed dramatically just since I wrote
to you last week. The news from Pakistan has been somewhat limited due
to circumstances, but a very complicated and ticklish situation is
developing. President Musaraff has been considered a U.S. ally in the
war against terrorists, but an unpredictable ally due to the fact that
he has only narrowly been able to retain order amid a population that is
largely anti-American and sympathetic to radical Islam.
The situation has come to a head with national elections looming, and
has been further complicated by the return of Mrs. Benazir Butto, the
former Prime Minister who has returned in the hopes of regaining a role
in the Pakistani government. You’ve head the demands from Washington
D.C. that Musharaff back away from the imposition of marshal law and
allow democracy to function. However, democracy can lead to disastrous
results in this part of the world. Why should we care about
demonstrations, marshal law or the political atmosphere in Pakistan?
Because there is a nuclear arsenal at stake!
Another mighty touchy development is Iran’s boast that they now have
3000 centrifuges (for nuclear fuel enrichment) in full operation. That
is the magic number that is believed to be the key for Iran to be able
to produce nuclear weapons. And Israel is reportedly very concerned.
There are reports that an “urgent inner cabinet” meeting was convened
this week, during which experts expressed their belief that Iran will be
able to field nuclear weapons by 2009. Some scientists believe that Iran
may be able to achieve nuclear capability in as little as one year. This
is of extreme immediate concern to Israel.
The news regarding Israel’s September 6th bombing of a facility in Syria
has been shrouded, with rumors that the operation was an attempt to
“clone” North Korea’s nuclear advances, with further rumors that there
may have been Iranian involvement as well. Israel apparently had
intelligence that the facility represented a threat on their border, and
took action. The UN’s Dr. Mohammed al Baradei (chief nuclear
investigator) has reportedly failed to send inspectors, raising Israeli
suspicions as to his political neutrality. Nevertheless, Israel blasted
the Syrian facility, apparently with U.S. acquiescence.
But Iran seems to be daring the U.S. and or Israel to take action! The
defiance of their front man Ahmadinejad is absolute, and something is
going to have to give, lest we watch Iran emerge as a nuclear terrorist
power.
Not to depress you any further, but some worry that the U.S. dollar is
in a state of near collapse, that our domestic banking industry has an
unmanageable “bad debt” situation on its hands that threatens panic on
Wall Street and the world’s major stock exchanges.
I’ve only scratched the surface of some of the major stories that are
unfolding this week. But it is our responsibility to WATCH and to warn.
The GTA telecast this week offered material on the SABBATH, and pulled
in 482 requests, with two hundred nine first time contacts! The website
is also drawing large crowds, and we’re very gratified to see the work
going forward with solid results. Thanks to all of you.
Have a wonderful Sabbath.
Mark Armstrong
|
11/3/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
This week went a lot like last week. Our best
estimate is that we’ve mailed out about six thousand parcels over the past
two weeks, much of that in the way of DVDs, CDs and literature. Mr. Leon
Cunningham, (our eccentric but beloved sound man, for those of you who
aren’t familiar) usually comes in one day a week, sometimes two, to help
us duplicate our discs. He’s had some health concerns that have kept him
away since the feast. I’m sure he’d appreciate your prayers, and we’re
missing him in more ways than one! Anyway, we’ve maneuvered to fill the
gap and kept the machines whirring, the printers printing, the mail
moving, and I think we’re about to see light at the end of the tunnel,
meaning that we’re almost caught up, at least until the influx of requests
from the latest letter arrives!
I have big numbers to report, on requests from
the Garner Ted Armstrong television program. We’ve determined that the
numbers are swollen, due to the fact that we’re still handling some of the
backlog from the requests that were being generated just prior to, and
during the Feast, both from regular mail, and from the web sight.
Last week, our program offered The Real Jesus
paperback book, and we entered 740 requests, three hundred fifty three
were first time contacts. This week the program was on the subject of
death, and what happens next. We’ve tallied 708 requests, with three
hundred sixty one new contacts. These are big numbers, I realize. But
these are very popular programs, and a lot of interest is obviously being
generated, with the numbers boosted even higher as we’ve worked through
the remainder of the backlog.
Our trip to Louisville, Ky last weekend went
very well, and was productive. We were happy to have Mr. Jim Mgee and
some of the folks from Nashville come over for the meeting. The room was
full, with about forty in attendance, and seven or eight meeting with us
for the first time. I spoke first, and was followed by Mr. Mike Garrett,
who did a commendable job. We are confident that we’ll be able to start a
fellowship group with Mr. Monte Harpe and his wife Leanne as hosts.
I know that there are quite a number of issues
in the news causing concern right now. One is the acute water shortage in
the southeast. An article published today told of one small town
northeast of Atlanta where the water has already virtually run out.
Apparently water is cut off to the town all night and day to allow an
incoming trickle to supply the town’s water tower, and the spigot is only
opened for a couple of hours in the evening to give the population a
chance to take care of the necessities. But that’s just a town of 145
people. As the mayor of the little town of Orme, TN said, they’ll make
do, but what happens if the water runs out for the 4.5 million residents
of Atlanta? I think we should all remember our friends in the drought
stricken region, and pray for them to get some serious rain. It is
estimated that Atlanta only has around a two-month supply of water
available.
Our nation needs God’s favor and His blessing
if there is any hope of maintaining the peace, security and abundance that
we’ve collectively taken for granted. As you look at the many wrong turns
our country has taken, you can’t help wonder what lies ahead.
We’re working on an issue of the
Intercontinental News, which will carry detailed Feast reports, in
addition to some really excellent and strong articles. Our thanks go out
to all of you from all of us here. May we all have a good and restful
Sabbath!
Until next time,
Mark Armstrong
|
10/27/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
I’m writing to you Thursday afternoon this time, as we are scheduled to be on our way early tomorrow morning for a special Sabbath meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. We’ve tackled the backlog of requests from television, the Internet and monthly letter offers, and have kept the machines, and the employees working hard all week. There have been several trips to the post office, getting out large mailings of requested material. We’ve duplicated and printed probably close to three thousand DVDs and CDs this week, and the work goes on! It has been terribly disheartening to witness the fiery destruction in Southern California. There seems to be no doubt that arson is involved, so it is a kind of terrorism! The question is, who would do such a thing? We may never learn the answer. Some reports have reminded us that the FBI has warned in recent years that brushfires are promoted as a strategy in Jihad manuals. Fires have been intentionally set in Israel over the years, by adherents to terror organizations. Then again, this disaster in California may have come from an entirely different source. CNN has suggested that “global warming” is part of the equation. And, of course, the very phrase comes with all kinds of baggage that I can’t begin to deal with right now. But lately, it seems that nearly every story on the network has a “global warming” component. And that’s in addition to the foreboding Planet in Peril series that airs so often. Talk about dire predictions! There’s no end to them. It is a never-ending stream of indoctrination, and recent opinion polls indicate that it is getting traction. Of course the solution is to sign international treaties that would supersede our own interests, and put our nation under the jurisdiction of international interests. It follows the logic of so many of the mainstream personalities who virulently hate the current administration, disdain our founders, and work to undermine the very concept of our God-ordained place in the world. Our weather here is perfectly seasonal, as it is pretty much everywhere else. I know there is a serious drought in the Southeast. Maybe the water planners should show a little more concern for the human population, and not deplete remaining supplies for the sake of fresh water mussels. Just a knee-jerk reaction. The response to recent programs and monthly letters has been all but overwhelming, and we are very happy and thankful. I won’t have this week’s statistics for the Garner Ted Armstrong program in time for this update, but will include them next week. Thank you all for your interest, your participation and dedication. A simple thanks is really inadequate. Have a wonderful Sabbath, and we’ll be in touch next week,
Mark Armstrong
|
10/20/2007
|
Greetings from Texas!
Last week I promised figures on the Garner Ted
Armstrong telecast response would be carried in this week’s report. We’ve
had a huge week here, in spite of the fact that the program is not
currently airing on the ION network. Over the past two weeks we’ve had
1358 requests for material offered on the television program, and just
over seven hundred fifty of those were first time contacts. These numbers
are unusually high, even for two weeks, particularly without the dish
coverage from the ION network. But we did offer the Bible Fact or Fiction
this week, which consistently gets the biggest response of all. (Some may
also have spilled over from the last program that aired on the ION
network.)
Did you see the story the Vatican TV station
in Rome deemed newsworthy this week? A photograph of a bonfire near Pope
John Paul II’s birthplace, lit to mark the second anniversary of his
death, appeared to mimic an actual photo of the pope when alive. That’s
right, a momentary flare out of the fire is being hailed as a “sign” from
beyond the grave. Although I’m unaware of any discussion of this story on
domestic television, the picture was “broadcast continuously on Italian TV
and also posted on religious websites, some of which crashed as thousands
logged on…” You can see how incredibly gullible people can be, which has
been amply demonstrated long prior to this absurd incident. Those who
took the photograph conferred with their priest and agreed that the
deceased pope is still making pilgrimages, even in death. Interesting
that a story with this kind of sensational potential didn’t seem to rate
mention on the American talk circuit. Among the true believers, including
priests identified in the story, there was no explanation for why the
blurry image thought to be the former pope is seen on fire!
The other quirky religious story this week was
of the “desecration” of a mass ceremony in San Francisco by flagrant
homosexual advocates dressed as “nuns”. Actually, the gay nuns weren’t
the first guys doing mass in drag! Maybe the priests should begin
dressing as men. But, no, that wouldn’t work either.
A story of much greater import is the
assassination attempt on the life of former Pakistani PM Butto as she
returned home after years of self-imposed exile. She survived unhurt, but
over 130 were blown apart by a massive explosion, thought to be a suicide
car bomber. Who would do such a thing? We all know the answer. Pakistan
is not only strategically positioned, but it has operational nuclear
weapons. Radical Islam has enormous influence in Pakistan, and General
Musharaff, himself the object of earlier assassination attempts, is
politically weak and physically vulnerable. Mrs. Butto, still politically
powerful, returned to Pakistan to negotiate some kind of power-sharing
arrangement with Musharaff, which is designed to prevent the collapse of
the current government. Can anybody imagine the outcome if proponents of
radical Islam should gain control over Pakistan’s arsenal?
You heard, of course, Russian President Putin
warn the United States not to contemplate interfering with Iran’s nuclear
program during this week’s visit to Tehran. Unfortunately, unless the
Iranian theocracy should fall from within, those few responsible nations
left in the world may have no alternative but to interfere. The stakes in
regard to Israel are off the chart, and to the rest of the world would
come the specter of nuclear terrorism.
Yes, there are some mighty important
developments unfolding, and I for one, am thankful to be in East Texas!
May God protect our nation, our young men and women overseas, and see us
through the frightening prospects that lie ahead. Enjoy your Sabbath.
We’ll be in touch.
Mark Armstrong
|
10/13/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler!
Having spoken with Feast Coordinators and
members who attended at each of our Feast sites, and having visited most
of them personally this year, I can say that the Feast of Tabernacles
2007, for the Intercontinental Church of God, was an unqualified success!
I know that all of you individually and collectively contributed in a
whole range of ways to make the meetings and activities this year positive
for everyone. I want you to know that your efforts do not go unnoticed,
and that we very much appreciate all your assistance.
Back here at HQ, we’re covered up in mail and
television requests and working to rapidly supply the backlog of printed
materials, CD’s and DVD’s that have been requested while we’ve been away.
Most of our staff has been back since Monday, but some just arrived back
today, and that relates to the computer entries and reports that are
generated for the weekly telecast. All indications show that response has
been better than expected, but we won’t have the statistics on current TV
response until next week.
I guess you’ve all seen the big news of the
week. Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace prize for his promotion of the “new
age religion” of man-made global warming! And of course the solution is
for the United States to abdicate its sovereignty to global entities who
can police our use of resources. What has this to do with “peace”? I
can’t figure it out. The important thing to note is that Al Gore has
become the self appointed “savior” of the eco-system. His messianic
complex is evident in every photograph and video clip. It represents a
giant leap forward for the religion of Gaia. Mother earth must be very
proud.
Today, October 12, is the day Iran promised
its “final response” to supporters of the Zionist state of Israel. That
would be us, here in the United States. I’ve been checking the news for
some word of the “final response” but there is nothing so far. Not that
these terror-mongers don’t have the will and the means to carry out
vicious attacks, but they’re also prone to great gusts of hot air. Let us
hope our nation’s current leadership has not completely lost the nerve and
resolve to deal with those who endeavor to destroy our God-given heritage.
I’ve just noticed a story detailing U.S. plans
to build a military airbase inside Lebanon, close to the border with
Syria. It will be interesting to see how that all plays out. You’ll
remember what happened the last time the U.S. had an installation near
Beirut, when some three hundred Marines were killed in their barracks by a
car bomber. If this airbase story is accurate, it will no doubt become a
terrorist target. And it will be interesting to see whether American
policies in the Middle East have any continuity with the present given
some of the likely prospects for the U.S. presidency.
Concerns over Iran’s intentions to build a
nuclear arsenal remain red hot, and there is a fair likelihood that this
situation will reach critical mass before the end of the Bush term. And
on that happy note, we’ll wish you all a good and restful Sabbath. The
Feast everywhere was terrific, but it sure is good to be back home!
Until next time…
Mark Armstrong
|
9/15/2007
|
Dear Elders, Hosts and Members,
We had a wonderful feast of Trumpets here in Tyler yesterday, with an absolutely excellent message from Mr. Stan Roberts, and our third potluck meal in the last four weeks. I don’t know how the ladies have managed, but they sure have been feeding us well! The office has been a blur of activity, keeping up with phone responses to the telecast and of course producing, handling and mailing all of the materials we offer; not to mention getting out materials for all the Feast sites and all manner of additional preparations. Plus we’re sending an additional three new DVDs to our congregations, fellowship groups and far-flung members. Those will be arriving in time for your return from the Feast of Tabernacles. I can hardly write this Update without making reference to the most recent rant by Iran’s president Ahmadinejad. In a wildly contradictory statement, he said that his nation loves all nations and all peoples, but that Israel “cannot continue to live.” I’m surprised the warped ayatollahs can even stomach his rambling tirades. And there was something published this week about our administration studying strategies for taking out Iran’s nuclear facilities. Somehow, it seems likely that such plans have been under discussion for some time now. On the Israel/Gaza front, rockets fired from Gaza hit an Israeli boot camp injuring sixty nine recruits, some seriously, a few critically. According to the report carried by the Debkafile, Israeli jets retaliated with pinpoint strikes on missile sites. The report ended by saying Palestinians celebrated their strike on Israel by firing celebratory shots in their mosques! Talk about lunatic! You may have seen some of the reports about Israeli jets making passes over Syrian territory this week. Israeli analysts are convinced that North Korea has sold nuclear technology and materials to Syria, and that it represents a potentially serious threat. On the home front, the California Parent Teacher Association is supporting legislation that will make the promotion of “alternative lifestyles” mandatory, even in the grade schools. If you have the stomach for it, the details are carried on WorldNetDaily. It seems to me unbelievable that our school system is determined to subject young school kids to any such discussion, depriving parents of their right to protect their own children’s right to have a childhood, and be free of perverse indoctrination by their teachers! The Garner Ted Armstrong telecast this week was precisely the kind of witness and warning message we are commissioned to provide, offering The Best News Ever about the coming establishment of God’s Kingdom on Earth, and Your First Priority, a message on salvation. I think it is fitting that this message aired now, just prior to the Feast of Tabernacles. Once again, the telecast brought in a mighty respectable response. By early afternoon we’d had 613 requests, with two hundred forty three first time contacts. And the phone has continued to ring steadily until well after five o’clock. Now, we’re looking forward to our Sabbath’s rest, and very thankful for it! Hope all of you have a great one too! Thanks so much to every one of you,
Mark Armstrong
|
9/8/2007
|
Greetings all!
You’ve heard the news. Bin Laden is widely believed to be alive and well by some analysts who’ve seen the “new” videotape released today. Having read some of the analysis and commentary, I’m inclined to reserve judgment. His beard looks phony and I’ve not heard of any reference to some current event that would guarantee the tape is new and the criminal mastermind is still alive. Time will tell. His monologue reportedly urges young Muslims to be willing to give their lives perpetrating attacks against Westerners.
However, other news this week makes it abundantly clear that the al Qaeda terrorist organization bin Laden founded is alive and active. Three native Germans, along with one Turk were arrested in a massive bombing plot intended to target American soldiers and civilians in Germany. The authorities say al Qaeda was responsible for the plans. One of the most troubling aspects of this incident is the fact that three of these Islamic fanatics were white skinned German “converts,” seething with intense hatred toward Americans. There are reportedly some more than 5000 native Germans who have “converted” to Islam over the past three years. Germany’s Interior Minister is quoted as having said last May that Islamist groups present the “biggest threat to the stability and security of Germany.” According to the Associated Press, German officials are still looking for at least 10 additional terror suspects. This may be an even bigger story than it appears at face value. You may want to refer to some of the articles we’ve posted by Michael Burkert in recent months, describing the extreme discomfort Germany’s citizens (and all Europeans) are feeling toward the large and unassimilated Muslim communities in their midst.
Presidential debates this week were dedicated in large part to discussions about the possibility of military action against Iran as they progress nearer to the ability to produce nuclear weapons. The question was presented primarily to the more conservative candidates, and the consensus seemed to be that there may ultimately be no choice but to strike militarily to deprive Iran and its terrorist henchmen of the ability to wreak mass destruction.
Attacks against Israelis continue to be launched on a daily basis from within Gaza utilizing weapons that have been smuggled in from Iran. Israel’s Defense Minister says that Israel is preparing an offensive to “stamp out” the missile and mortar attacks. We’ll see.
While news out of Iraq has been largely encouraging of late, our American soldiers are still suffering heartbreaking losses. Let us not forget to pray for them on a regular and continuing basis.
The Garner Ted Armstrong television program has logged another banner week! This week’s offering included the audio sermon entitled Is Jesus God? and the brochure, Only a Fool Says there is no God. By mid-afternoon we’d received 687 requests for the material, with three hundred fifty eight making their very first contact! Thank you all very much for your support of my Dad’s program. It continues to reach a wide and interested audience!
We’re
looking forward to guest speaker Mr. John Mitchell and his wife Charlotte
being here in Tyler with us this Sabbath, and a special potluck has been
scheduled to make sure all our folks have plenty of time to spend with
them. I hope all of you are looking forward to your Sabbath as well. |
9/1/2007
|
Greetings Again!
The New York Times, not known as a “hawkish” publication, ran a story today claiming that Iran is “ramping up” its nuclear enrichment program. This comes only a couple of days since President Bush warned that the world would be “under the shadow of another holocaust” if Iran is allowed to achieve nuclear weapons. Even France’s new president Sarkozy made a statement indicating a near resignation to the necessity of bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities if they fail to respond to the incentives that have been offered. (Sarkozy is the first U.S.-friendly French leader in recent memory.) Will there be military action against Iran prior to the end of the present administration? Given Iran’s apocalyptic complex, it looks like a pretty good bet.
Though it’s not big in the news, terrorists in Gaza continue firing rockets into Israel at the rate of several per day. This is in spite of the recent amnesty PM Olmert granted to hundreds of Palestinian terrorists in exchange for an agreement to no more attacks. And yet the attacks continue, and top leaders of Abbas’ Palestinian Authority openly state that they have no intention of ceasing terrorist actions against Israel. They even boast that they now have a supply of longer-range rockets that can penetrate significantly farther into Israel. This is the same phenomenon that’s been recurring for the last forty years under Yassir Arafat. Nothing has changed! Peace deals with terrorists aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Maybe the diplomats who demand that we bargain with Iran should take note.
The UN held a major summit in Brussels this week, primarily to denounce Israel as racist and call for trade sanctions. The tall security fence erected to keep terrorists from simply walking or driving into Israel to carry out bombings of innocents, was repeatedly condemned as equivalent to “apartheid.” The stated goal is an international boycott of Israel, and the theme was pushed by leaders in the European Parliament as well as representatives from UN agencies and dozens of nations. Israel is being demonized as a hated, racist nation. If anybody thought things might be different under the new UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, they were wrong.
And no wonder the inspectors couldn’t find Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction. At least some of them were being stored, at the UN!
The Garner Ted Armstrong telecast this week was on the subject of that most cherished of mainstream Christian beliefs, “the Trinity.” My apprehension was that it wouldn’t get near the response we’ve seen in recent weeks, but check this! We had 712 requests, with three hundred twenty six first time contacts! This is what we, together, are accomplishing. Thank you all so much for taking part in this work, and for being instrumental in opening the minds of so many who’ve grown accustomed to the deceptions of mainstream religion.
And now we’re entering the weekly Sabbath, to be followed by one of our good and great national holidays, Labor Day. We can all take part in this terrific guilt-free national holiday. Let’s enjoy our blessings, and remember where they come from!
Mark Armstrong |
8/25/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
On Thursday afternoon of last week we attended the funeral of Mr. Thurlow Mooney, a long-time member of the Tyler congregation and a great friend. The service was beautifully officiated by Mr. Stan Roberts. Mr. Mooney had continued driving a considerable distance to services, until about the middle of last year, even though his health was obviously waning. He was always so happy to be here, he’d be on the brink of tears. What a lovely old guy! We’ve been missing him for some time. Mark Petkovich and I went to visit him in a rehab center just a matter of days before he expired. What a shock to learn that he’d hurt his back just a couple of weeks earlier while riding his lawn tractor. He leaves behind his wife, Jenny, and a large and beautiful family that must number about thirty.
Between the long drive to the funeral and our early Friday departure for a meeting last Sabbath in Pocahontas, AR, I didn’t manage to get out an update last week, so will be reporting two weeks’ responses for the Garner Ted Armstrong telecast. We had a good meeting in Pocahontas, with about thirty-five in attendance. About twenty-five of them were new, non-members of the ICG!
Last week we ran a program offering audio sermons on the Resurrection, and the booklet When I Die… We tallied 669 requests, with three hundred thirty four first time responders. This week we aired a program on (the false hope of) The Rapture… and the booklet Heaven on Earth. It produced a whopping 817 requests, with four hundred fifty one first timers!
These results are beyond what we’ve expected, and the quality of the calls we are getting is remarkable. I took a call from a gentleman in New York yesterday, and he had absorbed the teaching in the program and expressed a genuine thirst for more. In fact he said that after seeing the program for the third time, he is “hooked” and can’t wait for it to come on each week.
One of the big news stories released today is about the scientific report released regarding a recent discovery of a “handful of teeth from the earliest direct ancestors of modern gorillas ever found.” According to the story, the find “shows that humans and apes probably split six or seven million years earlier than widely thought, according to the landmark study released Wednesday.” Every time an anthropologist discovers a bone, the entire evolutionary theory has to be wildly “adjusted” to account for the new discovery. And they call it science!
We’ve just posted a new article by Mr. Michael Burkert on the GTA website [will be posted by morning], on the coming ecumenism, showing how all the world’s “Christian” churches are already in acceptance of the doctrines set forth by the Roman Catholic church, and how the current pope is trying to bring them all back under Vatican authority. It is a good and logical article that shows how such a move is right in line with Bible prophecy for the end times.
Tomorrow we’ll have Mr. Mike Garrett as guest speaker, and I believe he’ll
have Mr. Bill Burchell and his wife Mary, and Mr. Daryl Craig too, I hope!
Plus we’re having our monthly potluck, so it should be a very good and
enjoyable Sabbath. I hope all of you will have a good Sabbath as well. |
8/11/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler
Mr. Robert Nunnery traveled up to Pennsylvania earlier this week to
perform a very emotional funeral service for our beloved Bernie Berkosky.
Mr. Frank Scherich also spoke at the funeral, and was able to draw on his
long friendship with Bernie and inject stories of some of the good times
they’d shared. There were over 125 present to pay respect to Bernie, and a
great number of them expressed their appreciation for the messages
delivered on this sober occasion. It was, of course, not your “standard
Christian funeral.” Please remember all the members of the Bercosky family
in your prayers, and particularly his dedicated wife, Lois.
I’ve seen welcome news reported today. That is that the President has ordered what appears to be a serious crackdown on the flood of illegal aliens flowing across our borders. This report coincides with news that al Qaeda is partnering with drug smuggling cartels, and learning to pass themselves off as Hispanics once here in the U.S. You may also have noticed reports earlier in the week showing that people of Anglo descent are already in the minority in one out of ten of our most populous counties. One of the examples cited is Denver, Colorado, where foreign-born immigrants already outnumber indigenous Americans. Another threat to our way of life came from China. They’ve built up such a trade surplus over recent years that they reportedly hold some 1.3 trillion dollars worth of American securities. They’ve threatened to torpedo the dollar with a massive liquidation of those assets, should the American Congress impose trade sanctions. Hopefully it’s an idle threat, due to the fact that such a move would not be in their own best economic interests. But it is one more example of how the U.S. has allowed our economic security to fall into the hands of a potential enemy. The other most obvious example of this is our absolute dependence on Muslim sheikdoms to supply American energy needs. Threats against the U.S. delivered by bearded turbans over terrorist web sites have become so commonplace that few seem to take note anymore. And that is really starting to irritate them. DEBKAfile is carrying a story where they are claiming that we will pay for not taking them seriously when large trucks carrying radioactive materials go off in LA and New York. True enough, it seems that many Americans, taking their queues from our media, do not take the threat of Islamic terrorism nearly seriously enough. Let’s hope another attack on the scale of 9-11 will not be the impetus for another brief wave of patriotism. There is better news out of Iraq in recent weeks, where despite regular explosions of Iranian-made munitions, significant progress is being made against terrorist factions intent on fomenting civil war. There are quite a few children and relatives of our own membership in or on their way to Iraq to serve in our military. I have deep respect and admiration for them, and for all of America’s finest who are risking their lives to preserve what we have here by taking the fight to the terrorists over there. Let’s remember them daily, pray for their success and their safe return! I had the opportunity to talk to a soldier in his early thirties in the DFW airport a few weeks ago. He was with about fifteen others who were coming home for two week’s leave. Contrary to the reports of low morale and a lack of belief in American goals in the Middle East, this man and his buddies were gung-ho! He was animated, enthusiastic and obviously committed to his mission. We can all take a lesson from their courage and determination. I have great news on the results of this week’s Garner Ted Armstrong telecast! We’ve had a total of 815 literature and tape requests, and five hundred six of those were from people contacting us for the very first time! Most of those were asking for the Answer to Unanswered Prayer book (one of my Dad’s finest!), but a few of the local stations were broadcasting one of our GTA programs contrasting Sabbath and Sunday worship. We’ve already placed an order for an additional seventy five hundred Answer to Unanswered Prayer books, as this current response should just about wipe out the last of our inventory! All of you who own a copy know that it is a very substantial work, from the standpoint of its size and its content. Many have confided how valuable it has been to them, may it never be out of print! We’re looking forward to our day of rest here in East Texas, and hoping all of you will have a fine Sabbath too! Thanks to all of you, |
8/4/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
It is with sorrow and disappointment that I must report that we lost Mr. Bernie Bercosky at 2:45 a.m., Friday, August 3, 2007, to his long bout with illness. Bernie maintained a tremendous attitude even in his darkest hours. I spoke with him last Sunday, and could tell he was weakened. His was a record of love and unselfish service, and we will miss him terribly. At least Bernie’s suffering is over, and his legacy secure. Please remember his wife Lois in your prayers. Mr. Robert Nunnery will be traveling up to Pennsylvania to perform the funeral, scheduled for Monday, August 6th. We were in Tulsa, OK last Sabbath along with Mr. Tom Griffith. Turnout was better than expected, with 33 in attendance. Everyone seemed very supportive, and I thought the meeting went real well. I found out yesterday that some of our members in the Minneapolis area were planning to traverse the I-35 bridge shortly before it collapsed, but decided to delay crossing due to the traffic. We can be thankful that they are safe. But many others are dealing with death and terrible injuries in the aftermath of the catastrophe. It’s amazing that many others actually survived it! The Garner Ted Armstrong program has produced excellent results over the past two weeks. Last week we had two different programs airing, The Real Jesus, and The Answer to Unanswered Prayer. We had a total of 636 requests, with three hundred thirty first time contacts. This week we aired a program on the false religious concept of going immediately to “heaven.” It brought in 608 responses with three hundred twenty-four new contacts. Thanks to all of you in the field for your help in the local areas, and your assistance to HQ as well. Have a good Sabbath, and we’ll be in touch next week.
Mark Armstrong
|
7/28/2007
| Dear Elders, Members & Hosts, Please continue to remember Mr. Bernie Bercosky, his wife Lois and all their family in your prayers. His situation is increasingly grave. I know I’ve said it before, but Bernie has been a great asset, a terrific example of service to others even when he was dealing with very serious health problems of his own. I spoke with him early Sunday morning, and was touched, again, by Bernie’s calm and his confidence. Mr. Jim Josephsen and his wife Barb were here as scheduled last Sabbath. He delivered an excellent, thoughtful message you’ll appreciate. We sure appreciate the efforts of those who have been willing to travel and give of their own personal time for the benefit of the whole church. Two new DVD’s were mailed out on Monday of this week, one by Mr. Frank Scherich and another by Mr. Tom Haltom. Both are terrific messages. We hoped they would reach everyone before this weekend. The one from last Sabbath with Jim Josephsen’s message will be in the next mailing. We (my Mom and I) are leaving tomorrow for Tulsa, OK for a visit with our group there and Mr. Tom Griffith who will be coming up from Dallas. Everyone seems to be trying to wrap up Feast plans for this year, as the time is growing very near. I hope everything is working out for each of you to be able to attend with us and make this year’s FOT another great occasion. We sure appreciate all who’ve pitched in and volunteered to help in planning and execution at all the various sites! Since I’m writing on Thursday, and our response reports will not be completed until tomorrow, I’ll have to give you this week’s numbers in next week’s update. Thanks again to all you in the field. Have a good Sabbath, and we’ll be in touch again next week. Mark Armstrong |
7/21/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler, We had a fine turnout, and a great meeting in Columbia, Missouri last Sabbath with the group led by Mr. Dave Kleindienst. We had nearly one hundred in attendance, as many as eight or nine first timers, and it was really an attentive and appreciative audience. I spoke first, and was followed by Dr. James Ricks. Everyone asks about my Mom, so I’ll just tell you that she made the trip with me as always, and really enjoyed getting together with so many good friends who were there. I’ve just completed a draft of the next monthly letter, and may have to come in and cool it down a little Monday before it goes to print. Can you believe what an absolutely brash, insulting, ridiculous statement came out of the Vatican late last week? And yet hardly a peep out of anyone about it. No salvation without acceptance of papal authority? Well, that’s preposterous! It disputes the whole theme of the New Testament! This was up for discussion in Columbia, it will be in the letter you’ll get around the first of the month. Try as you might, you won’t find anyone prominent disputing the brazen statements of the German pope. It’s almost as if it’s a trial run for the kind of blasphemy prophesied at the time of the end. Similar claims are being made by some self-styled Church of God leaders. Have they no shame at all? And what of those who buy into their megalomaniacal rants? Have they taken leave of reason? The whole thing is sickening, particularly where it concerns the name and the memory of HWA. Not to get carried away again, but the letter deals with some of these pertinent, important, and potentially dangerous issues. I can’t tell you folks how thankful I am for you, practical, friendly, down to earth people who aren’t playing these sick games. Pity the poor, abused, intimidated people who’ve been ensnared by the abuse of people’s love and respect for name of HWA. Lucky for his “successors” he’s not here to witness their false claims or their tyranny. I have two weeks’ response to the GTA telecast to report. Last week we had a combination of programs playing on our stations which include the one on “Harry Potter” (you notice, the news commentators are on a first name basis with “Harry”) and the Bible – Fact or Fiction. We tallied 618 with four hundred twenty one new! This week we aired a program on The Mark of the Beast and the Antichrist. It brought in 765 requests with three hundred eighty three first time callers! The GTA website is also getting near record traffic, so there are a great many in the aggregate getting a strong dose of truth. Mr. Jim Josephsen and his wife Barb from Chicago are due to arrive this evening and participate in tomorrow’s service, and we’re finally having that potluck we delayed due to flooding. The work is going forward, and yet it looks as though many challenges remain. Thanks so much! Hope you all have a great Sabbath. Mark Armstrong |
7/14/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
Things are looking up considerably since I wrote last week. Power was restored on the office property late Friday afternoon, and the weekend deluge that was forecast failed to materialize. We’ve only had isolated showers a couple of times since and, thankfully, the floodwaters have receded.
I mentioned that we’d had a busy week fielding television responses, but that no statistics were available yet. Well, last week the GTA telecast brought 612 requests, with four hundred and five first time responders. Two different programs were circulating on the various stations, one of them offered The Bible Fact or Fiction booklet and tapes.
This update is being prepared today, Thursday, as we are leaving tomorrow morning for a visit, along with Dr. James Ricks to Columbia, Mo. Minister Mr. Dave Kliendienst and his wife Dot have helped to organize our visit there, and we are looking forward to a positive and productive meeting.
Articles appeared yesterday about recent official statements issued by the pope and released through the Vatican stating that the Catholic Church is the only route to salvation and any group or organization claiming to be Christian cannot be legitimately called a “church.” He extended his remarks to include the Anglican Church, and all protestant churches who reject papal authority! Only the Catholic Church can “prove” an unbroken succession of “apostles” leading back to Jesus Christ, according to the statement.
There are several obvious problems with the assertion. History shows that there have been two and as many as three competing popes at one time in the past and also records all manner of corruptions, including the “selling of indulgences.” And that’s only the tip of the iceberg when you consider all the ways God’s clear instructions have been argued away and overruled in favor of “the traditions of men.” News of the pope’s vast assertion of authority is right in line with the article just posted by Mr. Michael Burkert on the GTA web site, showing how rapidly this pope and the Catholic Church are moving to assert influence in Europe. The pope’s official statement may be the most brash assertion yet that all non-Catholics and deniers of papal authority are in effect, heretics!
Furthermore, a debate is raging in Germany about how to avoid inevitable terrorist attacks in the wake of last week’s airport bombing in the U.K. There are “conservative” elements such as the German interior minister, proposing eavesdropping measures to identify terrorists before they can strike. This is prompting the same kind of uproar we’ve had here in the United States where the Bush Administration has been accused of “spying on the American people.”
Don’t you feel safer since Al Gore’s worldwide concert to save the planet from the global warming crisis? We have so many threats to our nation, to our way of life, and to our freedoms it’s hard to accept the preachments of a politician with a messianic complex, and musicians, most of whom don’t even fit that description.
Please pray for Mr. Bernie Bercosky. He is in the hospital with leukemia. I talked to him quite a while yesterday and he is a tremendous example of faith and a full heart at a time when his situation is very grave. Bernie needs a miracle, and one that only God Almighty can perform. Even though his health has been deteriorating, he has continued in dedication and service way beyond the call of duty. His wife Lois, and his family are with him, they desperately need our support and prayers.
I hope you all will have a good and restful Sabbath. |
7/7/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
The situation with local rain and flooding has changed dramatically since the reassuring message I sent you last time. We’ve cancelled tomorrow’s service due to the fact that many of our roads are closed with sections under water. Electricity here at the office has been out all day, apparently due to uprooted trees on the power lines. Since the outage came suddenly and without warning we had not time to transfer our lines to the answering service. Consequently the line will sound to be ringing, unanswered, to anyone calling in.
Another six to seven inches is forecast for the next 24 hours, and the storm trend is expected to continue through next week at least.
What a relief to know Al Gore and his favorite rock band and celebrities will be saving the planet this weekend. You might want to look at details of the pledge he’ll be urging his audience to sign. Signing means you promise to demand US and all nations sign on to international regulatory treaties. It also includes important economic clauses, such as buying “carbon credits”, and demanding the US institute “carbon taxes.” We’re already under a horrendous energy tax burden. But if Al Gore and his performers get their way, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Mr. Michael Burkert has written an excellent article on Europe and the coming State Religion, showing how Catholic church is growing powerful while the European Union is faltering. It won’t be posted on the GTA web site till early in the week due to the fact that all system are down for the time being.
I know many of you desperately need rain. We’re in a reverse predicament. I hope we call all enjoy our Sabbath regardless.
We’re
scheduled to be in Colombia, MO with Dr. Ricks and Mr. Dave Kleindienst
for a special meeting next weekend, if the water don’t rise and the levy
don’t break. We’ll be in touch! PS... There are no stats on the program, as our database is currently inoperable. But we had a very busy phone bank this week. We also had 15,707 visitors to the EA web site over the past week! |
6/30/2007
| Hello from Tyler, Everyone who calls me from around the country asks if we’re in any danger of being washed away by flooding. I let them know that we’ve not had anything that serious in this area, we just keep getting thunderstorms and showers dropping another two or three inches every two or three days. It’s been unseasonably cool lately, finally hitting about 90 degrees today, but there is thunder nearby even now. I got away without writing an update last week, as we left fairly early Friday morning for North Little Rock, Arkansas. The meeting there was attended by 29 or 30, which was unexpected, and went very well. We have a solid core group with the potential for growth. It seems that much of the country has breathed a collective sigh of relief since the political attempt to legalize all illegal foreigners in the U.S. failed in the Senate. We as an organization certainly never get involved in political activism, but we do love, respect and treasure the fabulous inheritance that is the United States of America, and pray for God’s protection and guidance. The very institution of the United States has begun to look fragile, as it is under attack from the Islamic world, from many quarters inside the nation, and with this unbelievable “immigration plan”, even being jeopardized by our governmental representatives! One bullet has been dodged, but many more are in flight. You’ve no doubt heard the news today, that two car bombs that would have caused massive injury and death in London were discovered before they could be detonated. The threat is real, and it is continuous. We can be thankful that many innocent lives were spared, but we must also be aware that they (radical Islamic believers) will stop at nothing in their pursuit of worldwide Islamic domination. Israel is in tremendous jeopardy, and every peace plan has resulted in bought time for her enemies while Iran’s proxies gain organization and strength. Will the U.S. continue to pursue a doctrine of diplomacy with enemies sworn Israel’s defeat and the destruction of our homeland as well? It appears that the enemies of western civilization are growing ever stronger and bolder as we, as a nation, occupy a position of weakness. The Garner Ted Armstrong telecast last week brought in 415 requests, with one hundred thirty one first time responders. This week, (the first program of the quarter on the ION network) pulled 581 requests, with three hundred twelve contacting us for the very first time. I believe that the audience for the new network will build each week, and the response should increase as well, although this first program offered The Real Jesus in paperback, and it is a very popular offer. We’re hearing encouraging news of new contacts and growth in several of our local groups around the nation and are very thankful for the support and the growth that God has continued to provide. Mr. Tom Haltom, from the Chicago area, is making his very first visit to our facilities here, and will be our guest speaker tomorrow. I always look forward to hearing him speak, and you can look forward to having a copy of our meeting tomorrow on DVD in the very near future. As always, our thanks go out to all of you wherever you may be, and we hope you’ll have a safe and happy Sabbath! Mark Armstrong |
6/16/2007
|
Hello All,
News from Gaza over the past two days has been
absolutely stupefying. Israel’s withdrawal from the territory, the
bolstering of that ridiculous “coalition government,” the appeasement of
one group of more moderate terrorists hoping to hold at bay the more
radical terrorists, the whole thing has turned into a slow motion train
wreck. And it’s not over yet. The way the U.S. and Israel have chosen to
play the “diplomacy” game with these animalistic zealots has led to an
entire region, Gaza, within what should have remained sovereign Israel,
becoming an outpost for Iran and terrorists of every stripe.
What a stroke of genius it was to arm Abbas
and his “fighters.” A sizable percentage of Abbas’ military (cough,
choke) force are open members of al Aqsa brigade, and have boasted
responsibility for nearly all of the suicide bombings that have taken
place in Israel over the past couple of years! The U.S. and Israel
determined that this bunch of rag-tag murderers should be armed with
American vehicles, weapons and ammo, but not only that, they were also
provided all manner of sensitive CIA intelligence on American operations
throughout the Middle East to be held in a “Security” compound inside
Gaza. Obviously the compound wasn’t too secure. And how could anything
of value have been entrusted to these people?
None of that matters now. Gaza, the Abbas
“government” has fallen to the more radical Hamas. I’m sure you’ve seen
and heard the stories of defeat and mayhem. Palestinians killing
Palestinians. The more radical of the terrorists have prevailed over the
“moderate” terrorists. It’s just beyond comprehension that our
Administration or our State Department or the Israeli government could
have done business with any of them in the first place. But the fallout,
as the news has detailed, is unbelievable.
And it doesn’t stop there. World Net Daily
posted an article today saying that the U.S Administration is pressuring
Israel to make additional concessions to Abbas. They apparently want to
attempt to prop him up further, now that he’s already been defeated and
deposed, thinking that somehow this will keep Hamas from gaining control
in the West Bank as well.
For Israel to have given over any of these
territories in the first place was madness. Now it’s led to disaster.
And it looks like the diplomats are in the process of arranging the
ultimate disaster. And that would be part of Jerusalem and the West Bank
ending up under the control of these mindless Islamic zealots who have
sold their souls to the ayatollahs, and are obsessed with the killing of
Jews and Americans. If the State Department had planned it this way, it
couldn’t have turned out any worse. I’ve written an article for the GTA
Web site. It’s called The Iran Connection.
The GTA telecast this week offered Is Jesus
God, and Only a Fool Says There is no God. It brought in 415 calls with
one hundred thirty seven first time contacts. We’ll be commencing on
national television again in just a couple of weeks, and have already paid
for the first five programs. I think we’ll see a major increase in
response when that begins. You’ve no doubt seen some of Chris’
communications about the recent surge in traffic to the GTA website.
We’ve set records like crazy over recent weeks. We sure appreciate all of
you in the field, and hope you have a fine Sabbath.
Until next time, Mark Armstrong |
6/9/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
The news this morning indicates that the long-term plan for national suicide has suffered at least a temporary setback. The idea that those who’ve sworn oaths to preserve and protect the integrity of the United States would argue tirelessly in favor of making “wards of the state” millions here illegally has got to be one of the most divisive moves we’ve seen yet. I thought the United States government was supposed to be on our side! I thought they ran for office to represent the interests of “we the people.” So much for trusting our elected representatives to stand for the integrity and sovereignty of this great land, which was founded on sincere belief and trust in God. I wonder how often our modern politicians reflect on that! You’ve probably been unsuccessful in your attempts to ignore the many politicians campaigning to become the next president. You have my sympathy. Ninety eight percent of the posturing is pathetic and so transparent. You can’t help but wonder how long peace and prosperity can survive. Something seems to be driving a dramatic increase in traffic to our websites, but I’m not sure what it is. Chris reports that all three of our sites are seeing traffic at nearly forty percent above average. We had a good week’s response to the Garner Ted Armstrong telecast. (I think some were delayed arriving from the last two weeks, both mail and internet.) Nevertheless, we’ve logged 438 requests this week, with two hundred thirty two contacting us for the first time, and this week’s telecast was on the validity of the Sabbath! Speaking of the Sabbath, I hope you’ll all have a good one! I’ll be in touch next week.
Mark Armstrong
|
6/2/2007
| Greetings from Tyler, From all reports, our groups around the country had positive and uplifting Sabbath and Pentecost services last weekend. My Mom and I had the pleasure of meeting and socializing with some 46 people who traveled to Holland, Michigan for the special meetings organized by Mr. Gary Johnson from the Detroit area. Speakers included Mr. Tom Haltom, Mr. Jim Josephsen, Mr. Gary Johnson and myself. The ministers on hand served up “meat in due season”. I spoke about the march of world events, relating to Europe and the Middle East, as well as the United States on the Sabbath, and on Pentecost about the things that set us (the ICG and GTAEA) apart, not only from the world’s churches, but also apart from the other churches of God. I can say unabashedly that we all had a terrific time! All of the folks in attendance were happy, positive, and as a group contributed to a genuinely joyous atmosphere. To top it off, two new members were baptized. The congregation here in Tyler had over 60 in attendance, and a fine message from Mr. Stan Roberts. We arrived home to some blinding rainstorms that made the drive home from DFW somewhat tense. I know that much of the country is suffering drought conditions, but we’re being flooded with another two or three inches every day or two. I hope some of it moves your way if you live in the southeast where it is particularly parched. I’m sure you realize that our nation is in a world of trouble. If you’re keeping one ear open to the news, you are aware that there is very grave concern, even in high places, for the future of the United States. Not only is Islam, one of the world’s largest religions, intent on our destruction, it seems some of our politicians and many in the media have a vision of our future that is very different from the bountiful and free nation we have loved, enjoyed, and taken for granted. It is frustrating, maddening, heartbreaking to see where these preachy politicians are taking us. Will God intervene to halt this juggernaut? For the sake of our children, and our children’s children, I sure hope so. The GTA program last week brought some 430 requests. This week we tallied 360 calls with 151 first time contacts. I keep getting calls and letters thanking us for the work we are doing, and for the visits. But the real thanks are from us to all of you across this country, who have seen through the legions of pretenders, and persevered in the plain, practical teachings, and the way of life that God’s truth represents! We’ll be in touch again next week. Have a great Sabbath! Mark Armstrong |
5/26/2007
| Greetings from Tyler, It has been a great week here in Tyler. Chris Cumming is off to Fayetteville, North Carolina and I am off to Holland, Michigan, so there will not be the normal Weekly Report. Wishing everyone of you a wonderful Pentecost Weekend. I will catch up to all of you next week. Mark Armstrong |
5/19/2007
|
Greetings from Tyler,
This week has gone by so rapidly, I couldn’t
believe it was Friday! But now it’s very late on Friday, so forgive me if
I’m brief. The good news is that we have finished our long awaited Feast
brochure and sent it to be printed. The monthly letter was also due, so
work on that has transpired throughout the day amid quite a number of
interruptions and distractions. But, not to be negative. I hope the
letter will be well received, as the last couple obviously have been.
Believe it or not, our donor list is actually growing steadily, and the
last couple of letters have brought a return response beyond our
expectations.
The weather here is absolutely gorgeous, the
rivers and creeks, the ponds and lakes are brim full, everything is green
and the air is like velvet. When I walked with Mom around Emerald Bay
last evening, we remarked how much Dad would be enjoying the beauty of the
atmosphere if he were there with us. “He’d be doing backstrokes through
it.” But, with the necessity of the instruction that we must watch the
march of developments around the world and here at home, attention must be
focused back on the news and the wretched politically correct conventional
wisdom that has overtaken the vast majority of the American population.
It seems the media works to create the
conventional wisdom, also known as public opinion, and then the
politicians have to pander to it. I’m sure you are aware of how some of
that is playing out, not only in the unending harangue of political
campaigns, but also with the grandstanding politicians who are busy
writing laws that negate and subvert laws that stood our nation in good
stead when they were enforced! Remember that? It looks as though both
political parties may well join forces, with the blessing of the
president, in passing legislation that may alter the future make-up of our
population in ways no one would have dared predict only a few years ago.
But that is something that will play out over
a period of many years. Just an observation, but are the politicians more
interested in advancing their personal power than securing the future of
our nation? Of course there are more immediate concerns. Not only were
there several new reports on Iran’s rapid progress toward the ability to
manufacture nuclear weapons this week, but an interview with the FBI
director I made mention of in the body of the monthly letter which says
there is intelligence showing that al-Qaida is completely obsessed with
the idea of detonating nuclear weapons in major American cities. I read
the interview, and it’s clear that the intelligence agencies are taking
the threat seriously. One quote from FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III
in the NewsMax.com interview, “We are going to be hit at some point. It’s
just a question of when and to what extent.” Sorry to pass this kind of
news along. I don’t like it either!
The Garner Ted Armstrong program brought 345
responses this week, one hundred twenty were first time contacts. I hope
you all have your plans firmed up for the observance of Pentecost next
weekend. We (my mom and I) are planning to travel up to Holland, Michigan
to meet with some folks we rarely get to see, for the Sabbath and for
Pentecost. We’re looking forward to having Mr. Tom Griffith here as
guest speaker tomorrow. I hope all of you have a terrific Sabbath too!
Thanks,
Mark Armstrong
|
5/12/2007
|
Hello again from Tyler,
We’ve had a fairly frenetic week here at HQ. The Post Office began to circulate information on coming rate and rule changes just over a week ago. It appears that many of our bulk mailings may have to be configured in ways that are yet unknown and unfamiliar to us, and will be subjected to higher rates. The new rates and regulations take effect as of Monday. Consequently, we’ve been trying to get as much as possible that is already in the pipeline ready and out the door by today! Several on our staff have gone to considerable trouble to get this accomplished, and I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Mrs. Wilma Gilbert and Mr. Leon Cunningham. It’s hard not to feel good about the results of the election in France. News reports say that more than 90% of eligible voters turned out, resulting in the election of Nicolas Sarkozy. He has signaled a willingness to confront the domestic problem of vast ghetto’s of unassimilated foreigners who are prone to violence and determined to create their own society within the host nation. His Socialist opponent warned of an outbreak of violence if Sarkozy should win. Well, she (Ms. Royal) was right. Riots broke out, businesses were vandalized and cars burned. Presumably, Mr. Sarkozy will take steps to curtail these kinds of outbreaks that have become so commonplace there. France is not the only place this problem has taken root. It is also a major point of concern within Germany, and England, and one that may well warrant attention here in the United States. On the surface, this change in leadership looks like good news. How it plays out in the context of the overall situation in Europe may not be that simple. Israel is in a state of political disarray. Prime Minister Olmert has so far ignored calls for his resignation from across the political spectrum. For many years, we in the western world have felt confident that Israel could rise to any military challenge that might confront her. With last summer’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon still fresh in everyone’s memory, that confidence has dissolved. Iran responded to a statement that Olmert issued regarding the possibility of military action against the Iranian nuclear program by saying that they would rain down “more than 10,000 missiles on Israel.” Europe’s Islamic problem, and for that matter America’s terrorist problem all goes back to Israel and Jerusalem where it all started. And regardless of all the decades of trying to assimilate a magic formula under which the parties can live in peace, there is no peace. There is only the prospect of more violent upheaval. I’m sure you are aware of the terrorist plot against our service men at Fort Dix that was averted this week. You can’t help but wonder how many cells may be here in the U.S., plotting some diabolical plan to kill Americans. Our country needs our prayers for God’s continued protection from the terrorists, and from the social and political forces that are working so fervently to undermine American sovereignty. The Garner Ted Armstrong program this week dealt with the concept of the Rapture, (mainstream Christianity’s own version of escapism) and offered the booklet Heaven on Earth, showing that God will establish His kingdom here on Earth following Jesus’ return. It brought 512 requests, one hundred eighty three of which were from first time contacts. I hope you’ve all had a good week, and are looking forward to the Sabbath. Have a good one, and I’ll be in touch again next week.
Mark Armstrong
|
5/5/2007
|
Greetings from HQ, We’ve suffered a tremendous loss this week with the death of Mr. Cecil Reece. Mr. Reece has been a faithful worker and member of God’s Church since 1952. Many who’ve called in response to the GTA television program know his voice and had interesting conversations with him when time permitted. He was here at services with us last Sabbath, and was in his usual good form during the fellowship of the potluck meal that followed. Would you believe, he worked on his last day. This past Sunday morning, he came in and helped answer the phones as responses came in from the telecast. He went home to rest, and died. He was eighty-four years old. He leaves behind his wife Opal, his daughter Cecilia (our receptionist and gal Friday), three living grandchildren (including a baby boy born this Monday), seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. His funeral was Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Mr. Stan Roberts and included a twenty-one gun salute by the military Honor Guard. He’s been such a supportive, can-do personality in all our lives for so long, his death will leave a void with all of us here in Tyler. We have two new “Word From” editorials about to be posted on the GTA we |