KEY FACTS

TANGENT

In Arizona, Pro-Trump protesters gathered outside the Maricopa County Elections Department overnight, as tensions mount over a tight race in the county that, as of Thursday morning, Biden is winning by a slim margin, but that Trump won in 2016. The Arizona race hinges on Maricopa’s result, a state that the Associated Press has already called for Biden.

KEY BACKGROUND

Unrest had been expected, and virtually guaranteed, in the aftermath of Tuesday’s presidential election, especially if a winner could not be called on election night or a candidate refused to accept the result. Retailers across major U.S. cities boarded up their shopfronts in the days leading up to Tuesday, in anticipation of unrest. Both of these circumstances have been realized, with Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric, frequent claims of the election being somehow fraudulent and rigged against him, and at least three lawsuits attempting to stop vote counting in key states driving up the risks of unrest.

FURTHER READING

City Business Across U.S. Brace For Election Day Unrest, Board Up Storefronts (Forbes)

Trump Supporters Protest At Key Arizona Vote Counting Center As Biden’s Lead Erodes (Forbes)

Trump Challenges Georgia Mail-In Ballots In Third Battleground State Lawsuit Of The Day (Forbes)

Robert Hart

The post Oregon Activates National Guard Amid ‘Widespread Violence’, 11 Arrested In Portland As Police Declare Riots first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

“No, no, no,” said former Secretary of State (under Obama) John Kerry.  If some one thought it would be possible to make peace between Israel and other Arab nations without first satisfying the demands of the Palestinians, they had another thing coming.  It simply wasn’t possible, so why even try?  But John wasn’t the only one haughtily talking sing-song.  The media said it constantly.  Most believed it and parroted it.  Nothing could move past the stalemate between Israel and the Palestinians, it was impossible.  There was nothing to do but satisfy the demands of the “Palestinians,” and no leader of the Palestinians dared move toward peace with Israel without risking the very real possibility of assassination.  It wouldn’t be the first time.

But as we saw this week at the White House signing ceremony, it wasn’t impossible after all.  The President sat between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign Ministers of both the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and signed a comprehensive pact of cooperation dubbed the Abraham Accords that includes the exchange of embassies, direct flights between capitals and phone system links.  According to statements by the President and his aides, we’re going to see a whole raft of Arab countries make peace with Israel including eventually even Iran and the Palestinians.  “Iran can’t wait to make a deal,” said the President at last night’s rally (he called it a friendly protest).

Is it OK to mention the strides toward Middle East peace, or is that too “political” for an organization like ours?  On the surface, it sounds like a wonderful development.  Too bad we know some of the warnings contained in the Bible.  When do we get to start worrying about “peace and safety” in the Western world?  How about American cities?  What we’ve seen developing, which is anger and violence on a whole new level, doesn’t inspire much confidence.  We’re being led to believe that ALL the demands of the riotous protesters must be satisfied, or we can just get used to “peaceful protests” burning down businesses, ambushing police officers and trashing city centers.

Global warming is on the march too!  For nearly four decades those who want to see Western civilization under the thumb of a dictatorial system ranted and raved that “global warming” was an “existential threat,” and that we needed to start driving battery cars and using windmills and solar panels for electricity before it’s too late!  We wanted to print an article that appeared in Forbes’ publication in the upcoming 21^st Century WATCH.  Since it’s not going to appear, we’ll tell you what it says.  An electric car has already used half the “carbon footprint” of the life of an internal combustion vehicle before it ever leaves the showroom floor.  If the battery has to be replaced before the vehicle is worn out, then the pollution involved surpasses anything produced by your standard piston engine, to say nothing of the constant charging of the electric vehicle.  That’s not to say that electric vehicles don’t have their place (quiet golf carts are nice), but they’re definitely not going to “save the planet.”

They’re blaming the West coast fires on “global warming.”  If somebody says otherwise, the media labels them a right-wing kook.  But arsonists keep getting caught setting fires, particularly in and around places like Portland where the rioting has been the worst.  Despite mainstream denials, you can watch videos of firebugs being caught in the act.

The F.I.B. investigated and zuckerbook has been removing posts that claim activists are responsible for some of the western wildfires.  The information was on the (9-14-20) Yahoo page.  To the right of that page it said, “What to Read Next” above a photo of a fire fighter and his dog rummaging through  the rubble of a building or house surrounded by charred forest.  The headline read, “Oregon Man Arrested Twice in 12 Hours for starting Fires Near Portland Freeway.”  Maybe no one noticed that the second story on tap disputed what was just said in the first.  Maybe you saw the Oregon video of a man being made to lie face down on the pavement as a female landowner holds him for the police.  He’s in all black, of course, and the landowner asks, “What are those matches doing in your hand?” He replies, “I’m a smoker.”  “Then where are your (expletive deleted) cigarettes?!?”  The whole scene is choked with smoke.

To get a feel for the extent of the smoke, take a look at the satellite images.  You can see the whole thing from space, and it shows that the smoke gets blown out to sea and then comes back with the weather.  Having talked to John Mitchell in Sacramento (9-15-20), he said that the smoke in that area has been “hazardous” for the past 10 days straight, and there is no letup in sight.  There have been stories, most times accompanied by video, of firebugs running around lighting fires in Washington state and Oregon.  But that disputes the media narrative that seeks to convince us that the fires are nothing more than PROOF of global warming.  It’s more like PROOF that black lives matter and antifa thugs are willing to burn the country down to get their way.  Getting their way demands the destruction of freedom.  Or is that too political to talk about?

California is ordering Jewish congregations NOT to gather in observance of Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Trumpets, in Los Angeles.  We’ll see what legal ramifications are involved, but it kind of looks like both the governor and the mayor of Los Angeles are pitting their “authority” against God’s instructions for the good of the collective. But we don’t believe in “the collective” or any of their other communist ideals.  Good luck to the preening politicians.  They’ve picked the wrong fight.  We’ll be here for the Feast of Trumpets as commanded by God.  The Texas governor has screwed up big time, perhaps having destroyed Texas’ reputation permanently.  But at least we haven’t been “ordered” not to assemble for the annual Holy Day.  We’d have defied him anyway.

Mark

PS:  We hope that all of you will be able to observe the Feast of Trumpets without incident. It begins at sundown this evening.  We’ll be live streaming our service on the Intercontinental Church of God youtube channel at 1:00 pm Central time.

Source:  http://www.intercontinentalcog.org/fridayupdates.php

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – 18 September 2020 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

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Maybe the approaching hurricane will supplant the excited COVID-19 reporting for a couple of days.  That would be a welcome respite.  Every news report begins with “spikes,” “hot-spots” and concerns that some are not doing all they can to “keep everyone safe.”  Talk about a divided country!  You can get yourself hurt depending on the “message” you send when leaving home.

   It was shocking to see the treatment that the Attorney General received from the Judiciary Committee this week.  It was beyond rude.  Many “representatives” called him names and leveled utterly unjustified accusations at him, then refused to let him respond.  They shouted him down and claimed they controlled the “time.”  At one point of complete exasperation, Mr. Barr allowed as how he thought it was a “hearing,” and he was the one to be heard.  WRONG!  He was supposed to sit quietly while they accused him continuously without ever responding.  The chair’s hammer nearly got broken over some members not wearing their masks properly.  It was as embarrassing as nearly anything we’ve seen.  Well, almost.

It seems that we’re watching helplessly as many “authorities” all around the United States stand with the “mostly peaceful protesters.”  You know, the ones with black helmets and backpacks loaded with various incendiary devices and projectiles. Maybe those gut-wrenching images beamed from our big cities are just a “myth.” Never mind what you think you’ve seen, repeat the catch-phrases and take a knee.  It’s beginning to look like the “authorities” actually want the destruction to take place.  Nobody better obstruct the “protests,” lest they be called “stormtroopers.”  Not that the “stormtroopers” were doing much other than playing defense anyway.

Some national agency type police had been sent to Portland, where they were accused of every evil intent imaginable.  They’ve been called off as of late, and “state police” will now be responsible for the security of public buildings including the Federal Courthouse.  Maybe the arsonists will give it a rest now that the “stormtroopers” are gone.  Sure they will.

We’ve all heard of the “1619 Project.”  It’s a work of journalistic fiction promoted by the N. Y. Times, awarded by the Pulitzer Prize Board, and expected to be taught as part of a “history” curriculum across America.  It endeavors to say that all U. S. founding documents are invalid, and credits slavery for the national wealth.  Even the authors have said that it’s NOT HISTORY, but a work of “journalism.”  That’s perfect for the age in which we live.

With very few exceptions the corporations represented by our household products, familiar retail chains, food franchises, entertainment conglomerates, newsprint outlets and TV networks side with those who are working to destroy the American way of life.  Anybody who steps out of line in any form of communication is banned, fired and held up to public ridicule.  That’s where we are with free speech. It’s been outlawed by the public sector.  These self-righteous entities are out to purge everything the mob calls “racist,”  which is pretty much everything you can think of.

Who will stand up?  Nobody in harm’s way of any national conglomerate, that’s who.  Disagree with the communist narrative, and they’ll see that your life is ruined.  The examples are many.  It doesn’t even matter what someone may or may not have meant, social media will decide if you’re allowed to participate, and often destroys the ability of some unlucky American to earn a living.  You can’t afford to participate in the public square unless you symbolically take a knee, and agree with people who believe in “micro-aggressions” and omnipresent American racism.

The NBA took a knee at a game last night.  All the players, the coaches and even the referees!  The NFL will do likewise.  What do they care?  Their futures exist in China.  My suggestion is that they move the whole operation over there, and just once imply something negative about the communist leadership.  If ballplayers are going to run interference for communism, they ought to have to live under it.  We have no such intention, especially not here.

This isn’t the United States of yesteryear.  Everything has been turned on its head.  Who knew that freedom was the “myth”?  Governors, mayors and county commissioners will decide whether you come outside or not, go to work or not, take the kids to play or not, and you will wear a mask and abide by all quarantine mandates or be accosted or arrested.  American freedom is under attack from all directions.  The mob, the “authorities” and the media have all officially determined what we will and won’t do or they’ll cancel somebody’s future.  We’ll see how they feel about it when THEY GET CANCELED.  And they will.  Maybe they think they’ve got not only the mob, but the majority of people and the media on their side.  It’s doubtful that’s true but even if it were, it won’t matter.  May they enjoy their time siding with what they perceive to be the “majority” while it lasts.  This thing is not unlike the French Revolution, in that new offenses against the narrative keep getting raised, and every time they do everyone has to go a little further with their appeasement efforts.

Meanwhile, some 12,000 American troops are to be transferred out of Germany.  Mind you, there’s been an American presence in Germany since the end of World War II.  But Germany has apparently not lived up to promises made on funding its own defense.  President Trump says Germany is “delinquent,” and the U. S. will no longer be responsible for funding its defense.  News outlets are predictably alarmed that NATO is being undercut, and that this is a “gift to the Russians.”  They’re grieved about the expense and the time squandered in the move.  But Trump plays hardball.  He expects promises to be kept, otherwise he’ll take matters into his own hands to every extent possible.

Iran is playing offense again.  You can find reports of them test-firing missiles at a mock-up of a U. S. aircraft carrier.  But Iran hardly rates a mention in the midst of the COVID-19 excitement.  After all, this is the one thing that just might bring down the United States.  And that’s what the mainstream is demanding.

Who’s going to draw the line?  It looks like the whole American experiment is on defense.  It was months ago when this update said things might get ugly.  Have things ever gotten ugly! It appears that major segments of the economy will remain shuttered until everyone takes a knee, buys into the 1619 narrative and sides with the anarchists.  Whether some remaining hope of law and order prevails over the nearly universal corruption is anybody’s guess.  Not only have the national agencies been corrupted beyond all recognition, the courts (in many cases) are no longer dependable.  All bets are off.  Well, almost all.  We didn’t want to have to wait for Jesus Christ to have to come down here and straighten everybody out.  But that may be our last hope.  If all else fails, it’s a sure thing.

Mark

Source: http://www.intercontinentalcog.org/fridayupdates.php

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