Some prayer requests to begin this week. Dene and Rose Beswick are longtime members of the church in Tasmania. Dene has been suffering from a degenerative spinal condition. Rose is now also suffering some kidney issues, making it difficult for her to assist him in the way she has been. Please remember both of them.

Also Mrs. Linda Cartwright. Many of you might be familiar with her husband, Dixon Cartwright, who recently passed away. Dixon used to work at Ambassador College and was the editor of the Worldwide News. In later years he published The Journal, which carried Church of God news as well as articles from and about many of the different branches. His memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 15th at 2pm at the Church of God Big Sandy (1106 W Broadway St. Big Sandy, TX 75755).

The US elections delivered a brutal result for the Republican party. There have been no publicly overt allegations of fraud, at least from anyone in a position to do anything about it, though some claim they are coming. We shall see. It is beyond a doubt going to be a litigious couple of years however. Democrats, bolstered by their new majorities in the House and the Senate, have made that abundantly clear. Many have gleefully advised the President to “lawyer up.”

We do not have to wade into the political hows and whys to appreciate the potential impact this election could have. It is a tense and volatile time on the world scene, and without diving too far into speculation, it seems we are about to enter a couple of years of political recriminations and infighting. Even inside of the major parties themselves. As to how the results were received, the NASDAQ shed over 5% of its value over the perceived impact on AI development.

Tehran was ecstatic, though perhaps Khameini should get to enjoy gloating while he still can. Slightly farther behind the scenes, Pakistan’s Parliament ratified the Mecca agreement. This was a final hurdle before troops could be formally sent to Saudi Arabia. It is known that Egypt wants to join, and Syria expressed interest while also signing a bilateral pact with the Saudis this week. Some insiders claim this is preparation for the fall of Iran.

An alarming announcement came from President Trump just prior to the election. He mentioned during an interview that the US was going to stop $4 billion of aid to Israel at the end of this year. Currently funding has been approved through the end of 2028. There has been no denial from Netanyahu, who stated the need for aid had largely passed and the relationship should become more of a partnership. The news caught many in Israel off guard.

Europe also had an interesting week. Protests continue to roil many major cities across the continent. Supermarkets found their refrigeration systems had been hacked and temperatures turned way up. Enormous amounts of food had to be thrown away. Worse still, blood banks were also targeted. Great idea it was, to put all of those controls online.

Airlines received numerous bomb threats. Many flights were diverted and searched but thankfully no explosives were found. Still, the episodes caused many disruptions and delays. NATO has also been on edge over shipping incidents in the Black Sea. With so many pressure points, you have to wonder when the whole thing might finally break loose.

-Michael

P.S. We often get prayer requests through the ICG website. You can view them, indicate that you have prayed for them, or even make your own here.

The post Weekly Update by Michael Armstrong – November 6, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Halloween falls on the Sabbath this year. How ironic that something despicable will be embraced amidst public revelry while something Holy and pleasing to God (not to mention beneficial to ourselves) will be largely ignored.

Is there anything wrong with candy, costumes or public holidays? No. But there is a big problem with the glorification of evil, as well as with turning wicked spirits into a game for children. Further, while we have the liberty to set aside memorials or celebrations (as scripturally evidenced by Purim or the Dedication), taking some other religious practice and saying we’re doing it for God is repugnant to Him.

Deuteronomy 12:30-31 lays this out explicitly. We know this very thing was standard Roman practice. So many supposedly “Christian” traditions are exactly that. “All Saints Day” and the “Hallowed Evening” are not exceptions.

The upcoming election will certainly be interesting, to say the least. While we are not a political organization, we are called to be a moral people. Once upon a time, a vote might not have had an impact on the establishment of Biblical values one way or the other. Unfortunately, that is not the case any longer.

You may have seen some of the post-election chaos from Brazil. Flavio Bolsonaro has fled to the United States. A post he made claiming to be the rightly elected President was quickly deleted (and somewhat hilariously attributed to AI) but he did allege fraud and meddling by the Supreme Court in the aftermath of the vote. The Chief Justice is a staunch ally of his opponent Lula. His departure may have been prudent. He had been asked to turn in his passport but refused. His father is currently serving 35 years for contesting the last election. And we thought American politics was brutal…

Israel also held an election but the final result is not yet clear. Netanyahu’s bloc still holds the most seats but lost ground and now lacks a majority. Eisenkot’s rival bloc has fewer seats, but may be able to cobble together a coalition at the expense of some campaign promises. Options may be to form a minority government with the help of Arab parties, which made significant gains, or to drop their opposition to religious exemptions for military service and try to govern with some of the more Orthodox parties.

Both were ruled out pre-election, as was cooperating with Netanyahu in a national unity government, and we shudder to think a politician might actually break a campaign promise. Netanyahu will remain as Prime Minister in the interim. If no coalition is possible, there will be another election in a couple of months.

A major theft occurred this week, possibly the biggest in history. Crypto exchange platform Binance was hacked, losing the staggering sum of $6.3 billion. About $3 Billion has been tracked down and frozen as of this morning, and the company is promising to cover their client’s losses. State sponsored hackers from North Korea are currently being blamed. Reliance on digital platforms to clear currency and incumbent security risks show how the world could be pushed into a unified global system with total oversight, an outcome equally unpalatable and prophetic.

There are quiet pushes for peace with both Iran and Russia. Meanwhile, people are panic buying in many places, partially due to many governments updating their recommendations for emergencies and the kind of disruptions that could be caused by a major war. Video also emerged of the US military practicing how they might dig mass graves to preserve combat casualties temporarily. Unsettling to say the least. Whatever the future holds, our faith is in God and His plan. Everything else will pass away in time.

-Michael

The post Weekly Update by Michael Armstrong – October 30, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

I bring you greetings from your brethren in Australia. The trip went smoothly, and it was a pleasure to meet many friends in person and make some entirely new ones. Murray was laid to rest last Friday and we had a special Sabbath service in Sydney the following day. Please continue to pray for Murray’s wife, Dita. They were married for over 40 years and as many sadly know firsthand, it is a difficult loss to endure. We can be thankful for the comfort of the truth, and the knowledge of God’s promises.

Our Sabbath service went well. There is inevitably going to be a period of adjustment in Australia as Murray personally handled all of the church’s operations over there. If anyone needs immediate support please reach out to us and we can provide DVDs, anointed clothes, or whatever is necessary to fill the gap for the time being. Or if you just want to make the connection, it never hurts to verify addresses, phone numbers and be sure that no one will be overlooked during this transition.

One remarkable thing about the trip was seeing the warmth and similarity in God’s people, wherever they may call home. We often encounter this at regional meetings or at the Feast of Tabernacles, but it was comforting somehow to find it about as far away from Texas as you could possibly get! Those who are called share the same overriding priority; we share God’s Holy Spirit. It guides our lives and shapes our characters. In this we are the same, brothers and sisters, even if we have never met.

Everyone I encountered wanted to pass along their love and regards. I cannot speak highly enough of their hospitality or the beauty of their country. It is exceptional. God has blessed their land tremendously. Yet, sadly, they struggle with many of the same issues we do in the United States. Governments with mixed-up priorities, migration-based cultural pressures, lax law enforcement (except for speeding and red light cameras, they’ll get you!), and seemingly irreconcilable political divides. On one of my final days in the country a member of Parliament was intentionally run down by a driver who tried to keep backing and pulling over the poor lady before a shopkeeper intervened.

How well does that bode for the future? Look at what is consuming France. Protests have gotten so out of hand that they have been banned over the weekend. We will see if that order holds. This round began over school conditions, verifiably awful in some places, but as always it is those who merely wish to wreak havoc that end up taking the lead. How can burning e-bikes in the streets, stopping ordinary concourses, destroying historical buildings, looting shops or stealing i-phones possibly improve France’s budget constraints? Spoiler alert: it can’t. It is just another opportunity for evil to run rampant.

France has yet to be able to get its fiscal house in order, though to be fair, they are not the only ones. Every time a cut is proposed people flood the streets, whether it is retirement age, fuel taxes, or what have you. Consequently nothing gets done. Interestingly some like Marine Le Pen propose cutting France’s contributions to the EU budget, something that the average person would not feel directly. That is significant from the point of view of prophecy, which indicates a coalition of 10 nations rather than a sprawling federal bureaucracy. Whether or not France is the first major nation to pull back remains to be seen, but they have few options as their deficits grow and their bond yields rise, increasing the cost of continued borrowing.

The conflict with Iran continues to simmer. They are trying to punish and deter traffic through Hormuz as the brief period where shipping reached pre-war levels nearly made their claims of control irrelevant. The Houthis also have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia. Oil operations, airports and even the Ministry of Defense have been targeted. There is a feeling that the US may begin serious strikes again sooner than advertised, despite many statements about “after the mid-terms.” Aramco evacuated their headquarters. Diplomatic missions have been drawing down their staff, even US bases have been quietly removing personnel. This may be to limit potential casualties if there is a sudden escalation.

Israel flew a sortie of aircraft to the border of Iran before turning around and heading home. Some speculate they may have been hoping to draw fire and use the incident to renew hostilities. An election is looming in Israel, and Iran represents unfinished business for Netanyahu’s fragile coalition.

No doubt there are those that feel similarly in the US. A return to open hostilities is no small thing however. Reports have emerged about the accuracy of Iran’s attacks on its gulf neighbors. Statements about debris from intercepted drones being the main source of damage were patently false. The targets struck were often critical and hard to repair pieces in the oil and gas processing and transport equation. It is not credible to believe such components were repeatedly destroyed by random fragments falling from the sky. This is the risk that low-cost swarms of drones pose; it only takes a very few getting through to compromise high-value targets.

Another election worth watching is unfolding in Brazil. Their socialist President Lula is in a runoff with the son of former President Bolsonaro. The final vote takes place this weekend. It could have major repercussions as Brazil under Lula has been antagonistic towards the US, to say the least. Should he be defeated that could change dramatically.

Until next week, hope you all have a wonderful and refreshing Sabbath!

-Michael

The post Weekly Update by Michael Armstrong – October 23, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Michael is in Australia for Murray Allatt’s funeral, and is staying with a church member in Sydney. He’s had tremendous hospitality and kindness from all the folks there. I’m having flashbacks of my trips to Australia… We will welcome Michael back with open arms.

We’re at war; two wars. Iran isn’t backing down on the Strait of Hormuz. They’ve got enough weird holy men, and they’ve already started naming them.

The Pope had surgery and has been photographed since. He doesn’t look too chipper. This little guy doesn’t look like the one at the end time, but who knows? He apparently had some of his lung removed, but cancer has a way of coming back.

You know I don’t like Zelensky, but he just keeps on. There’s some news about him postponing elections again. It’s eastern Europe after all. I don’t think Trump likes him.

Gas prices are off the chart, and diesel is even higher. (I’m sure you’ve noticed.) With the Strait of Hormuz this dangerous, it could go on. But not if Trump has anything to say about it.

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – October 16, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Murray Allatt has gone.  He often called me on Friday afternoon.  I’ll miss those calls. My son Michael is going to Australia for the funeral service and a special Sabbath meeting. I’m sure the Australians are going to love him.

We had a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles in Florida. I shredded a tire on the way down, and spent the night in the front seat of the pickup. Couldn’t tell you if I slept or not. I’ll tell you all about it, someday. Florida was wonderful this year, but now a hurricane is bearing down. I’m glad we’re gone. Michael and his family went to Tahoe this year, and enjoyed it.

We have a new WATCH magazine on its way. It’s 36 pages, and beautiful, and you should have yours soon.

  The more Trump takes it to them the more they hate him. He’s a threat, the way they see it, and no amount of… well they’re hardly trying. If you read the internet, and most of you do, the gap between what the media tells you and what’s really going on is vast. And they take advantage of that. The way things are now, Trump is at war with the media. They’ve got to stay on offense, otherwise they come under scrutiny. They wouldn’t want THAT!

Iraq is not giving up. Neither is Ukraine. I think it will be bad for both of them. But we have the United States, and let me tell you there’s no place like it.

Mark Armstrong

PS from Michael Armstrong:

Greetings friends,

We hope everyone has had safe travels home from the Feast of Tabernacles! There were good reports all around, with particularly robust crowds in both Branson and Myrtle Beach. If you were not able to attend, it is never too soon to start planning for next year! Many thanks to all of those who pitch in and make each site a success.

There were many happy moments, but I am sad to have to report a couple of deaths. Ms. Angela Pollard, from the Atlanta area, was in Panama City Beach for the Feast this year. Unfortunately she was not feeling well and stayed home from services the first day. When a friend checked on her later in the day she was found unresponsive. She will certainly be missed by all. We have not received any details on a memorial yet but please keep her family in your prayers.

Also sad news from the site in Nelson Bay, Australia. Many of you will be familiar with Mr. Murray Allatt, who has handled all of the church’s affairs and been our primary contact on the continent for over 20 years. He began feeling unwell during the Feast. After being examined by a local facility he was transferred to a major hospital for emergency surgery. Most sites heard prayer requests on his behalf.

We were overjoyed when he came through the procedures well, and those with him reported he was recovering and sounded strong. Tragically, despite the positive outlook, he passed suddenly from a heart attack about 24 hours after the Feast had ended. The news came as quite a shock, my dad was particularly devastated as they were quite close, speaking every week through these many years.

Please remember his wife Dita and all of the brethren there in your prayers, they are all reeling from the loss. We will gladly forward any condolences to her through the office here. His funeral will be Friday, October 16^th at 2:30pm. It will be held at Woronora Memorial Park, Linden St, Sutherland, in New South Wales, Australia.

I will be flying over for the funeral, in addition to having a special Sabbath meeting with the local Sydney group the following day. It is a sad occasion, but it will be good to be there to honor Murray and his years of service in the work of God, and I look forward to meeting with our brothers and sisters down under. Even though the Feast reminds us that what we have now is temporary and not to be compared with the Eternal promises, we mourn the loss of our fellows and look forward to the Great day when we will meet again.

-Michael

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – October 9, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Michael, my son, wrote the letter. It was only the 15th and my writer’s block hadn’t cleared up. It’s a great letter, and you’ll see. He’s going to be at the Feast in Tahoe this year, one of my favorite places. It seems like we just got back, but God has a way of reminding us every year. We can’t have too good a time.

The news is so screwed up, we don’t know what to believe. I’m sure you’ve seen it. I’m going to save my commentary for the Feast, and it won’t be pretty. Well, God is still in charge. The media is out for blood, and Trump keeps one step ahead. They’ve decided that he’s a tyrant. A tyrant that believes in America.

If you’ve ever traveled, you know what I mean. The whole world is a mess. They’ve let all the backstabbers into Europe, and I hope you’ve been already, because the situation we see now is not good. I know people who got mugged in France in the old days. It’s worse now.

We’re lucky to be in the U. S. A. and, where are you going to go? It’s no better anywhere in the world, and I’m busy enjoying Texas, or a small portion of it.

Everything is the way we left it. Nobody knows anything. Zelensky is still in charge of Ukraine, wearing his little fake clothes. The Strait of Hormuz is… who knows? You get conflicting reports nearly every day until you can’t say anything categorically. The world is a mess, but we’ve got a good President, possibly the best ever. History takes time to be written. The press thinks they’re writing it. They’ll probably skew history.

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – September 18, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The Feast of Trumpets is almost upon us. It is good to reflect on God’s guidance and ultimate victory. The world is so far away from the righteous decency that He has laid out for us it’s hard to know where to start. In spite of that, we can still be thankful for His truth, His word and the tremendous blessings we still enjoy.

This is all the more poignant as we reflect on the events of 9/11/2001. Most of us can remember where we were that day. My grandfather was actually airborne when the attack took place, en route to a reunion. His plane was grounded. Instead of continuing on his trip he returned home to be able to address the situation on TV and in print. As far away as that day seems at times the effects are still with us. In many ways it was a pivotal moment.

It is not insignificant that we still find ourselves embroiled in the turmoils of the Middle East. However most people may feel about our conflict with Iran, there is no doubt that they would inflict that and more on us again if given the chance.

Things got hot around Hormuz again this week. The announcement that the former passageway was clear of mine prompted Iran to try and launch more from shore, which is not exactly the ideal method. It has escalated from there, with attacks and reprisals rippling across the region.

The idea that oil and goods were flowing again essentially spells doom for Iran. Control of the Strait is leverage they need to retain relevance and their grip on power. Analysts debate how much oil is currently flowing. Ships transiting with their transponders on are few and far between, but this does not tell the whole tale. Most switch off and proceed with escort, and pipelines bypassing the strait have contributed a great deal.

This is why we see the Houthis on full offense over the last days, seizing an important island, with the encouragement and backing of Iran. Added pressure in the Red Sea keeps the trouble alive, and has indeed contributed to a spike in oil prices this week. Iraqi militias also struck a major Saudi pipeline. The Saudis have asked the US to intervene, but the feeling is we would prefer to have them step up and do their own dirty work. Time will tell.

There is plenty to be on alert about but we can thank God for the opportunity to pause on this double Sabbath Day and look forward to the time when all of these problems will be behind us.

-Michael

The post Weekly Update by Michael Armstrong – September 11, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Trump’s at it again. Every time somebody from the peanut gallery pipes up, Trump puts them in their place. They’re even targeting Barron, and he’s keeping a low profile these days. The whole media hates him, for some unknown reason. They particularly hate his hair.

The wars rage on. Zelensky fired deep into Russia and did some damage. He better be careful he doesn’t make Putin mad. He may already have. This is a dangerous war to not be involved in. Good as we have it, and a veritable champion we have as President, you wonder if things might turn south. I’m not worried too much. We have a lot to be happy about. Mainly that we’re not anywhere else in the world.

Pete Hegseth, president? The internet says he’s weighing a run. He better get Trump’s endorsement. In fact any Republican better have it, and hope Trump doesn’t change his mind. We’ll probably see a host of Trump aids running for president, and he won’t dare tip his hat. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think Trump will have a hand. Maybe he’ll be an advisor. Then again maybe nobody will want his advice. I think he’ll throw his weight behind some who does.

In the Reno airport they’ve got poster sized images from Burning Man, and if that doesn’t ruin your appetite, there are plenty of places you can get a bite to eat. But on the way to your gate, they’ve got images, bigger than life, all over the walls. It’s a lot cleaner than the real thing. But this year they’ve got fires around Lake Tahoe. I hope it doesn’t interfere with our Feast. But it’s only a month away! The partyers will all be gone by then.

Mamdani is an idiot. He thinks if we’d just install communist ideals we’d be a whole lot better off. He’s engineering a disaster, and he doesn’t even know it. Wouldn’t it be great if we just didn’t have to pay for anything? There wouldn’t be anything available! Hasn’t he traveled?

We’re going to hear some bad news along the way. The media is doing everything it can to try to turn us against Trump. We’re not going to be swayed by a bad hair-do in the wind. 

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – August 28, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Now the news is trying to make something of Trump’s relationship with his aide, Natalie Harp.  If you were married to Melania, I don’t think Natalie Harp would spark an interest.  I hope there’s nothing to it. If he allowed the media to break up his marriage and there wasn’t anything to it, it would be a sad day indeed. They’re printing Natalie’s letters, but who knows what goes through the head of a beautiful woman.  She certainly takes her job seriously.  

We’re at war, and we hardly know it.  We have to consult the news to find out what’s going on, and even then we’re not sure. The Strait of Hormuz is in the news again. Donald Trump claims we are policing the narrow gap, and the media is making the most of our vulnerabilities.

To be clear, I thought the war with Iran would be over by now, but those wily suckers refuse to give up. It’s like the Old Testament. Sooner or later they’ll be forced to reveal the obvious. But for now they’ve got unexpended drones. This is why we didn’t pull the trigger before. One thing about people from that region, they won’t admit defeat. Trump’s advisors should have told him that. They talk big. Too big.

 With all their “Save the Planet” jargon, they’re about to destroy California, if the job hasn’t been already done. I don’t know what the situation is now, so I’m avoiding California. I’d love to go back, but things are never as you left them.  

We’re playing mind games over Taiwan. Would the Chinese dare attack?  If they did, it would have an impact. We couldn’t afford gadgets anymore. But Trump is trying to repatriate these industries so we won’t worry.  But if China attacked Taiwan it might escalate.  That’s what we have to worry about.  Most of the world’s concerns are much more immediate.

Post apocalyptic movies are making a comeback.  There’s one candidate from Colorado claiming, forget the claims, we don’t want to know.  Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – August 21, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The Strait of Hormuz is a long ways away.  Some reports say we have control and the others, who knows? We’re involved in two wars, or slightly involved. We know why. The Gulf is essential for a good bit of the oil out of the Middle East.  Zelensky, well that’s another story altogether.  I don’t know about his problem-solving abilities, but he has that look on his face. 

Trump has his number, if they’re speaking. The idea that a little guy like that could play such a major role! I don’t like our potential involvement in it.  But nobody asked me. I don’t like Zelensky’s reputation. 

The media is busy calling out Trump for every perceived infraction.  They can all go jump in the lake as far as I’m concerned. But he is into everything, and maybe that’s what the President was meant to do.  The courts are busy trying to slow him down, but he just keeps coming. Trump is apparently poised to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U. S. territory or something, and patrol it.

There’s lots of gossip news.  Caroline Levitt has resigned and now they’re talking about her joining a network.  Should be entertaining.  But she’s done a great job, good luck replacing her.  All the news now is about people in the media.  Will she go to Fox News?  Who cares?  

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – August 14, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.