Church of God News

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COGwriter

The July-August 2008 edition of Today’s Christian Woman (a Protestant publication) had the following article by Stephanie Voiland:

Work the Wait

How I make the most of God’s delays

When will I get my turn to hang a white dress in my closet?” I mumbled as I hung up my fourth bridesmaid dress last summer. A single 29-year-old, I’d watched friend after friend join the ranks of “Mrs.”; I couldn’t help but wonder, How much longer, God?

As I contemplated my life’s many delays, I realized I don’t like waiting—and I’m not very good at it. But I wanted to grow during my waiting seasons rather than become bitter or lose faith. So I asked God to show me how he’s working through these divine delays.

Reminders of Redemption

Sometimes, a wait seems to have no apparent reason. The delay is simply the product of a sin-ravaged world…

The Timing of Trust

Strangely, it’s in the bleakest waiting moments that God’s intervention manifests itself most clearly. Sometimes, those miracles are glamorous. We receive the perfect job, the physical healing, the necessary funds—and the wait is over.

But other times, God does the miracle in us…

A Compassionate Presence

Often a wait seems long when life doesn’t unfold according to our agendas. But sometimes God has amazing reasons for a delay.

I mainly posted the above article because of the title. Jesus told us to wait and to do the work until He returns.

That is what I strive to do, that is what the Living Church of God strives to do, and that is what I pray that readers of this page will do.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Women and the New Testament Church Were women important in the New Testament Church? Which women and how were they involved?
Priscilla and Aquila An early Christian married couple from Rome who moved to Asia Minor.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.
How Much Did You Cost? Some have complained that the total costs spent to proclaim the gospel as a witness is too high since it does not (in their opinion) result in enough conversions. Is that how God sees it?
The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so. It also answers the question, does a physical temple need to be built in Jerusalem before Christ returns?
Parable of the Mustard Seed Jesus told many parables. Why? What might this one mean?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?

COGwriter

The following web-news item was of interest:

Are There Deadly Superbugs in Your Pork?

Scientists have detected antibiotic-resistant bacteria in pork, pigs and some veterinarians. It is possible that these so-called superbugs could infect farmworkers or even people who eat pork.

Antibiotic-resistant bugs were found in more than 7 percent of over 100 swine veterinarians tested. The same bacterial strains were found in nearly 50 percent of 300 tested pigs.

Perhaps of greatest concern, the bacteria were also found in 10 percent of more than 200 samples of ground pork and pork chops collected from four Canadian provinces.

An estimated 18,650 deaths a year in the U.S. are estimated to be caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/07/12/are-there-deadly-superbugs-in-your-pork.aspx?source=nl

The site also had the following from Dr. Mercola:

Scientific Backing for the Avoidance of Pork

Bacon, perhaps one of America’s favorite breakfast staples, is in fact one of the worst type of processed meats you could eat for your health. According to a 2006 study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating bacon five or more times a week was linked to increasing your risk of bladder cancer by 59 percent. Aside from the processing of the meat, another likely cause for bacon’s negative influence on your health is the heterocyclic amines that form when meat is cooked at high temperatures.

If you cook meat that is loaded with pesticides and hormones at high temperatures, you’re simply asking for trouble. That’s why I limit my meat choices as much as possible to grass-fed and organic meats.

You also need to beware of eating undercooked pork, as it can cause trichinosis. Fortunately, trichinosis affects only 11 people per year in the U.S. and less than 2 percent of those infected actually die from the disease, which means there is one death every five years in the U.S. from this.

As far as MRSA is concerned, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have previously warned consumers about the risks inherent in the ever-popular holiday ham in their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Turns out the high salt and sugar content of pre-cooked canned hams provides an ideal growth medium for the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

Additionally, if you’re a diabetic or if you have a weakened immune system, you may also do well to steer clear of chitterlings, a dish consisting of boiled pig intestines that are served up as traditional holiday fare in the Southern U.S.

It’s possible for people with poorly controlled diabetes to become seriously ill with enteritis necroticans, a potentially life-threatening intestinal infection. The rare disease causes severe stomach pain, vomiting of blood and low blood pressure. The culprit is the chitterlings-contaminating bacterium known as Clostridium perfringens type C, which produces a toxin that is lethal to tissue in your digestive tract. Even cooking the chitterlings might not rid them of the bacteria.

But wait, there’s more!

The Unsavory Side of Pork

The pork and swine industry has been continually plagued, and continues to be so to this day, by a wide variety of hazardous and deadly infections and diseases, including:

PRRS — A horrendous disease, which I first reported on in 2001, but which had been a nightmare for many nations since the mid-1980s, is still alive and kicking today.

At one point referred to as “swine mystery disease,” “blue abortion,” and “swine infertility,” the disease was finally named “Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome” (PRRS), and may afflict about 75 percent of American pig herds.

The PRRS virus primarily attacks the pig’s immune system, leaving its body open to a host of infections, particularly in the lungs. Initial research revealed that the virus was transmitted via semen, saliva and blood, leaving pigs herded closely together and transported in close quarters by trucks more susceptible to infection.

However, according to new research presented at the 2007 International PRRS Symposium shows that the disease is now airborne, making eradication efforts very difficult. According to the PRRS Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP) and the National Pork Board, it is still the most economically significant disease of swine in the U.S.

The Nipah Virus – Discovered in 1999, the Nipah virus has caused disease in both animals and humans, through contact with infected animals. In humans, the virus can lead to deadly encephalitis (an acute inflammation of your brain). I originally reported on this virus in 2000, but according to CDC data, the Nipah virus reemerged again in 2004.

Hepatitis E (HEV) – According to the Mayo Clinic and an article in the Journal of Clinical Biology, pork may be the reservoir responsible for sporadic, locally acquired cases of acute hepatitis reported in regions with relatively mild climates as HEV has been found to transmit between swine and humans.

Porcine Endogenous Retrovirus (PERV) – According to a study in the journal Lancet, this virus can spread to people receiving pig organ transplants, and according to test tube studies, PERV strains does have the ability to infect human cells. PERV genes are scattered throughout pigs’ genetic material, and researchers have found that pig heart, spleen and kidney cells release various strains of the virus. 

Menangle Virus – In 1998, the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases reported that a new virus infecting pigs was able to jump to humans. The menangle virus was discovered in August 1997 when sows at an Australian piggery began giving birth to deformed and mummified piglets.

What About Pasture-Raised Pork?

In a slightly ironic twist, I can’t even safely recommend consuming pasture-raised pork, because while researching this article I stumbled across a study in the current issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases citing concerns about pastured pigs being vulnerable to Trichinella spiralis infection, due to their exposure to wild hosts that carry the disease.

Pasture-raised pig farming has expanded with increased demand from health conscious consumers, and currently there are 28 U.S. farms located within 50 kilometers of a previously infected site.

Of course, since we in the Living Church of God do not eat pork, we are less likely than pork eaters to be affected by diseases in it.  However, once people get infections, they can often pass them on to others.

An article of related biblical interest would be:

The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals.

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Ronald Weinland Says His Books and His Interpretations of the Bible Are What He Wants Potential Supporters to Study. The COGwriter Site Instead Urges Those Interested in Him and End-Time Prophecies to Spend More Time Checking His Writings with the Bible.

COGwriter

Yesterday in Bowling Green, Ronald Weinland started out basically saying that God runs things His way. And while that is true, it is not God’s way to tell His prophets to prophesy falsely. Which is what has happened with Ronald Weinland.

He mentioned where he intends to preach next week and the week after, even though earlier this year he said he would stop preaching if nuclear bombs did not fall on “port cities” of the United States by June 8th (which has past) and/or July 16th (which is in a few days). But as regular readers of this page are aware, about two weeks ago he decided that essentially since God had not revealed everything to him before, but revealed more later, that he essentially will not keep his word.

In yesterday’s sermon, Ronald Weinland claimed to have many more people than he had at this time last year. He said that he had a much better week this past week than the week before (this is most likely because he did not have to figure out how to explain why he made a major change in his prophetic teachings–like he did the week before).

He then started by discussing the Feast of Tabernacles from the Bible (those interested in that Holy Day, may wish to read the article The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians?). He also discussed the Passover (those interested in that Holy Day, may wish to read the article Passover and the Early Church ). Ronald Weinland actually used the Bible more in this sermon than his own books. This is a good change. But he did not change completely.

Then Ronald Weinland said that God did not give Ron’s church everything until they grow–another allusion to the fact that he (NOT God) has changed his prophecies.

Ronald Weinland specifically stated:

What we are doing this year is by design, it is not an accident.

The implication is that the changes and problems with his prophecies is by God’s design as opposed to thoughts of his own mind.

He also announced that while his people would keep the Feast of Tabernacles for 8 days, that for 4 of them that they would keep apparently in their homes.

He actually said:

We are not to come together for the full 8 days this year.

He stated that it was fine not to come together for 8 days even though that is what the Bible teaches– please see The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians?

He specifically said that NONE of his followers are to keep the Feast for more than 4 days (except possibly Australia/New Zealand who might be able to keep them for 5 days).

He said that his group needed to have:

One final push…where God has a purpose of getting the message out…You are helping to prepare a lot of people…What could be a better place to give to, to support.

Well, supporting the true work of God would be better than supporting him.

He then went into a discussion of government and is trying to tell people to respond to him, despite the fact that he changed how he wants people to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Ronald Weinland never really understood government himself–please see the articles Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God and Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government).

Ronald Weinland then said:

Who controls the money controls the church.

His implication is that he needed to do that.

Despite his prophetic errors, however, Ronald Weinland still feels that he is God’s prophet. But, he is not.

Not according to the Bible:

21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’– 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:21-22).

What Ronald Weinland prophesied has not come to pass. He has spoken presumptuously.

No one should follow him nor believe his revised dates.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008. Is he a false prophet? He has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the COG.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples ofthe United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Who Are The Two Witnesses? What is their job? What does the Bible reveal? What has the Church of God taught on this subject? Might even Roman Catholic prophecies give some clues here?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–and Ronald Weinland is one of them–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.

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Ronald Weinland Says His Books and His Interpretations of the Bible Are What He Wants Potential Supporters to Study. The COGwriter Site Instead Urges Those Interested in Him and End-Time Prophecies to Spend More Time Checking His Writings with the Bible.

COGwriter

Throughout 2008 I have documented and commented upon the declines of some who claim association with the COGs who are, in fact, false leaders.

From an internet perspective, probably the one with the greatest decline has been the self-appointed false apostle David Pack of the Restored Church of God. David Pack’s internet popularity may have peaked in November 2007 (see Quancast chart in the news item titled Decline of the False Apostle) when he told his followers to send him their assets, mortgage their properties, and cash out their retirements where possible (see the news item titled David Pack of the Restored Church of God Declares: “Go get those assets and get them here”).

Despite claims that his internet presence would grow to the next level in 2008, thus far this has not been the case. Notice the results from Quantcast.com:

The self-appointed false prophet Ronald Weinland, despite changing his positions and prophesies, still generates a lot of interest on the internet. According to Quancast.com it appears that Ronald Weinland’s internet interest peaked in April 2008, which is when he originally stated that the time, times, and half a time (1260 days) of Daniel would begin:

So a major drop in Ronald Weinland’s internet rankings has occurred.

And while he is still wildly popular on the internet, as he changes more he seems likely to lose followers as well as have a harder time retaining any. He has simply been wrong a lot –plus even in his sermon last week (see news item Ronald Weinland is Delusional) he still keeps going through his books as proof that he is correct, even though he taught until a couple of weeks ago that his books showed why the 1260 days begin on April 17, 2008.

I have repeatedly stated that I believe that Peter warned about leaders like Ronald Weinland and David Pack when he wrote:

2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber (2 Peter 2:1-3).

And it appears that the destruction of both has began, but how long until that is complete remains an unknown.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
Why Not the Restored Church of God? This group, led by David Pack, claims to be the most faithful. The information in this article suggests otherwise.
Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland falsely claims to be one of the two witnesses God is raising up and that the end will come in 2008. Why is he a false prophet? He also has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the Church of God.

Flag of the Arab League

COGwriter

In an addendum to his weekly update last night, ICG’s Mark Armstrong wrote a section with the following:

The Coming “Moment of Truth” with Iran

The latest in a long line of Iranian provocations was this week’s test-firing of nine ballistic missiles, with coincidental statements by one of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s spokesmen for the Revolutionary Guard. The statement indicated that Tel Aviv, U.S. ships in the Gulf and U.S. interests around the world will be “burned down” if “the first bullet” is fired against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Late word is that Iran has fired another 20 ballistic missiles on day 3 of “The Great Prophet” war games.

What could be more apparent than the coming showdown with Iran? The question is, will it come before or after Iran has the ability to employ nuclear weapons?…

The whole tangled scenario is a major subject of political posturing in both Israel and in the U.S. Former Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz is cited in today’s Jerusalem Post as saying that any attack against Iran should be undertaken by an international force lead by the United States. “At the moment of truth, America will be with us.” But the still politically active Peretz also allowed for the possibility that Israel might have to go it alone.

Either way, the Iran situation reigns as the most dangerous current threat to the Middle East, and to the world’s economy. It seems clear that there will be no clean way out of this problem, particularly given Iran’s angrily defiant posture. The situation has vexed the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. for years now. At length, Iran dealt with the UN’s nuclear regulatory body in apparent good faith, until they were caught in repeated bald face lies regarding their enrichment work. Most analysts suspect that Iran is now very near to completing work on their nuclear weapons program. The “moment of truth” cannot be far off.

As I have long believed, something is going to knock Iran off as the premier agitator of the Islamic world as it is NOT the prophesied King of the South.

On a related note, ICG’s Mark Armstrong has taught:

Even the UN’s IAEA worries in public that Iran is concealing the military ambitions of their nuclear program. There are further reports that Iranian bases involved in training and supplying insurgents in Iraq may soon come under U.S. attack. What should we make of all the talk of war? Is Iran the “King of the South” of Bible prophecy? Would military conflict with Iran by either the United States or Israel signal the beginning of “tribulation”? As many advances as we’ve seen in the overall scenario, it seems that there are major portions of the equation that are simply not yet in place (Weekly update. 6/06/08).

So, ICG believes that Iran may be the future King of the South, but it is not sure.

PCG, though, is more certain that it is as its “prophet” Gerald Flurry wrote:

Daniel 11:42 implies that Egypt will be allied with the king of the south, or Iran…The king of the south, or Iran, is going to “push at him”—that is, the king of the north (the European Union)… The king of the south is about state-sponsored terrorism. That is how Iran became king! Daniel 11:40-43 is an end-time prophecy. It is about a nation that is always pushy in its foreign policy. It pushes until it starts a war. Having such power means that it must be a large oil-producing country. This king is close to Jerusalem, Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya. Who else could it be in this end time but Iran? Iran is extremely radical and the king over radical Islam” (Flurry, G. The King of the South. PCG Booklet).

Notice this prophecy in Daniel 11:40: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” Iran leads this “king of the south” (Flurry G. From the Editor: Why You Must Watch Europe. Philadelphia Trumpet. Nov-Dec 2006).

Hence, PCG clearly and repeatedly teaches that Iran will be the King of the South.

But Iran is not.  It is not really south of Jerusalem.

To learn more on these matters, please consider the following articles:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? What does the Bible say?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.

Main Street of Laodicea (A Term Signifying the Rule by the People)

COGwriter

UCG announced that the July 2008 edition of its United News is now available online.

Jim Franks announced the following concerning its former treasurer:

Tom and Sarah Kirkpatrick will move from the home office to pastor the Birmingham and Gadsden, Alabama, congregations. They should make this move and assume the pastorate before the Feast. In the meantime, David Dobson will continue to pastor the congregations.

The Kirkpatricks served in the U.S. field ministry prior to his becoming treasurer for the Church in 1998.

Here is a report from its new treasurer Jason Lovelady:

As reported earlier, the months of February (9.39 percent increase), March (8.78 percent increase) and April (6.8 percent increase) were all trending higher than the 2 percent increase in income that we were experiencing year to date. The last two months, however, have not been as encouraging. In the month of May regular mail income was down 4.9 percent compared to last year; and for the month of June (through June 25) income is down 2.8 percent compared to last year.

While just a month and a half ago, I was confident that we would close the fiscal year with income $23,500,000 or higher, we will most likely end the year slightly less than that—somewhere between $23,400,000 and $23,500,000. Even with the sluggish last two months of the year, we still expect to end the year with close to a 2 percent increase in income over last year, and we can be thankful for that.

While LCG seems to be doing better than that percentage-wise, because of gasoline-prices, floods, food prices, etc., any increase this year should probably be seen as a positive by most groups

Some articles of related to those two groups include:

There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
Differences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government What form of governance did the early church have? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era was predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. Non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.

Galileo Logo

COGwriter

The following news item was of interest:

I have long explained that that Galileo project was intended for military applications, and this recent vote helps to once again demonstrate that. The fact that it is intended to possibly be operational in 2013 appears consistent with biblical prophecy.

Currently, the USA (GPS), Russia, and China have their own systems. Having Galileo will make the EU a true possible global military superpower presuming that it further develops its weaponry by then.

Some articles of related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? What MUST happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans and the Hindu Indians (who were not even on the same continent). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final “Anti-Christ” be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Catholic writings indicate this, but what does the Bible show?

Young Grasshopper

COGwriter

The following news item was of interest:

Grasshopper plague takes a tur for the worse

Baker City Herald, Oregon – July 10, 2008

A grasshopper plague spawned in drought-parched rangeland where the voracious insects laid their eggs last summer, is spreading to wheat, hay and potato fields, where crop damage could be devastating.

“The USDA’s threshold for economic damage is eight grasshoppers per square yard. In some heavily infested areas, we’ve had counts of 100 to 120, and possibly up to 140 grasshoppers per square yard,” said Cory Parsons, Oregon State University Extension agent for Baker County.

“They are probably as close to an epidemic as they can be in Baker Valley,” Parsons said. “When you get into them, you know, because the ground is just crawling with grasshoppers.”

Three weeks ago the grasshopper infestation was limited to pockets scattered around the county, primarily on rangeland, but Parsons said the situation has taken a dramatic turn for the worse.

“We’re finding grasshoppers from the north end of the Baker Valley off Ladd Canyon all the way to Huntington, and from Medical Springs, Sparta and Keating to the Burnt River, Unity and Hereford,” Parsons said.

“Eagle and Pine Valley, around Halfway and Richland, the Sumpter Valley and Whitney Valley are the only places we have no grasshopper populations,” Parsons said.

When grasshoppers are small they typically remain in the dryer rangeland areas where they hatch from eggs, but once they mature and sprout wings, Parsons said “they will move into wheat, alfalfa and potato fields and do some substantial damage.”

That scenario appears to be coming to pass, Parsons said, based on phone calls to the Extension Service and aerial pesticide applicators from concerned farmers and ranchers across Baker County.

“With the rangeland drying up, the guys out cutting hay are finding grasshoppers coming into hay ground,” Parsons said.

The infestation extends far beyond Baker County to an estimated 1 million acres across Northeastern Oregon, according to reports from the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which dispatched a team to help locate and map areas with the heaviest grasshopper populations.

Aerial pesticide spraying initiated this week is designed to kill flying adult grasshoppers after spring applications of biological control products failed to knock down the grasshopper population at the egg or nymph stage, Parsons said…

He warned landowners who do nothing and hope for the best that “once grasshoppers finish devouring vegetation on your land, they will move to your neighbors.”…

The downside of applying broad-spectrum pesticides is that they can also kill off beneficial insects ranging from lady bugs to honey bees, Parsons said.

In an effort to protect the region’s already declining honeybee population, Parsons is encouraging landowners and pesticide applicators to notify owners of beehives to move their hives before spraying to control grasshoppers. http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=6869

Killing honey bees and ladybugs in order to control grasshoppers can lead to food reductions and increases of other insects.

Infestations of grasshoppers, like the ancient locust plagues, can lead to severe food shortages (locusts are one of the problems China is having this year, please see China Disasters). The grasshoppers combined with the fact that the USA has had some severe earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires this year suggest that perhaps things are starting to turn against this nation.

The Bible indicates that when there are a lot of grasshoppers, that God expects His people to pray to Him:

28 When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 29 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: 30 then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men), 31 that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live (2 Chronicles 6:28-31).

The Bible encourages prayer, forgiveness, and personal repentance.

Now the end itself (meaning the Great Tribulation) cannot occur for several years yet. However, things may get quite difficult before they get really bad.

Two prophetic articles of interest may include:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans and the Hindu Indians (who were not even on the same continent). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?

COGwriter

The following news item was of interest:

The reality is that in the USA unusual lawsuits do happen.

We in the Living Church of God believe that the Bible condemns all sex outside of marriage, but that all can repent. This is the 16th century KJV translation, essentially prepared for the old Church of England, of what Paul wrote;

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:8-11, KJV).

The Rheims New Testament (also a 16th century translation) from the Catholic Church puts it this way:

9. Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err, Neither fornicators, nor servers of Idols, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor the liers with mankind, 10. Nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God. 11. And these things certainly you were: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of our Lord JESUS Christ, and in the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:8-11, RNT).

The Bible (based upon just about any translation) condemns many practices, but allows for repentance. An article of possibly related interest may include Baptism and the Early Church.

COGwriter

While it is commonly taught these days, did you know that the idea of humans possessing an immortal soul that goes to heaven upon death was not taught by early professors of Christ?

Catholic and Orthodox saint Ignatius of Antioch, who was probably part of the Church of God, c. 110 taught:

Be sober, as God’s athlete, the prize is incorruptibility and eternal life…[i]

For neither shall I ever have such [another] opportunity of attaining to God… It is good to set from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him…Suffer me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God…[ii]

Thus Ignatius taught that eternal life and some type of deification were not yet possessed, hence that humans did not have an “immortal soul”.

The 2nd century heretic “Marcion denied the resurrection of the body”.[iii]

More specifically Catholic and Orthodox saint Justin c. 135 taught,

For I choose to follow not men or men’s doctrines, but God and the doctrines [delivered] by Him. For if you have fallen in with some who are called Christians, but who do not admit this [truth], and venture to blaspheme the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; who say there is no resurrection of the dead, and that their souls, when they die, are taken to heaven; do not imagine that they are Christians.[iv]

Catholic and Orthodox saint Polycarp of Smyrna, who was most likely part of the Church of God, c. 155 taught,

I bless you for because you have considered me worthy of this day and hour, that I might receive a place among the number of martyrs in the cup of your Christ, to the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and of body, in the incorruptibility of the Holy Spirit.[v]

Catholic and Orthodox saint Theophilus of Antioch, who was most likely part of the Church of God, c. 180 taught,

For if He had made him immortal from the beginning, He would have made him God…so that if he should incline to the things of immortality, keeping the commandment of God, he should receive as reward from Him immortality, and should become God…[vi]

And while Theophilus clearly ties deification in with becoming immortal, this concept has been lost to what passes for mainstream Christianity.  While Protestants generally teach that humans have an immortal soul, the Living Church of God does not (a prominent Church of England bishop also teaches that humans do not go to heaven when they die[vii]).  Furthermore, while the Eastern Orthodox (and to a degree the Romans) teach deification, as does the Living Church of God, the Protestants generally seem to consider this to be a cultic or otherwise heretical doctrine.

We believe that since God is a God of love that He wanted to reproduce Himself and share His joy to all that He could and that His plan of salvation accomplishes this.  This concept of God “reproducing Himself” for us to be truly part of His family is basically what Theophilus taught.

It is also not totally foreign to some of what passes for mainstream “Christianity” as even the Catholic and Orthodox “Saint” Athanansius (fourth century) taught of Jesus,

“For He was made man that we might be made God”.[viii]

The famous Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas into the 13th century taught:

It would seem that no souls are conveyed to heaven…immediately after death…On the contrary, It is written: “If our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have . . . a house not made with hands, but reserved in heaven”.[ix]

Yet, the Catholic and Orthodox now, however, teach that upon death non-condemned “immortal soul” does go to heaven (though they will agree with Athanansius’ comment.

The Living Church of God retains the original and biblical view that when people die they are in their graves awaiting the resurrection and that deification occurs when this mortal puts on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53).

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Did Early Christians Believe that Humans Possessed Immortality? What does John 3:16, and other writings, tell us?
Deification: Did the Early Church Teach That Christians Would Become God? What does the Bible teach? Is deification only a weird or cultic idea?
What Did Early Christians Understand About the Resurrection? Is there more than one future resurrection?
Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
The Similarities and Dissimilarities between Martin Luther and Herbert W. ArmstrongThis article clearly shows some of the doctrinal differences between in the two. At this time of doctrinal variety and a tendency by many to accept certain aspects of Protestantism, the article should help clarify why the Living Church of God is NOT Protestant. Do you really know what the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther taught and should you follow his doctrinal example?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions.
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.