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That's why they call you the Wordwolf. Interesting whatever you must share in a community that needs to differentiate agnosticism from satanism. They are different.. (so, what is it? Two or four?) Exegesis, am I using that right? Nice breakdown of the related verses in chapter six. Going back to this "church", have you noticed that churches largely try to expand our generosity by encouraging us to give right here into this offering plate? Right here. Make your checks payable to Crossville Church of His Holiness. Do it now. Yours is the first exegesis of Luke 6:30 I've heard. So, let's talk about the beggars on the street corner. Let's talk about all the merchants collecting money for charities. Let's talk about going deaf and tensing up. We could also talk about giving so as to not look stingy. Giving out of guilt. Giving for a show. In my experiences "churches" don't do all that. Put your tithes in the bucket and we'll sit around in the back room and divvy them up. Trust us. Sorry, been bludgeoned in offerings before. I've been in churches where if you did not harden your heart to the preacher you couldn't take it. Idk, idk, idk. I just know I've developed a method that has enabled me to navigate those waters. If somebody reads this and is truly living a financially abundant life and has real insight into my brokenness I'd like to hear it. The places where we assemble have light bills. The people who organize our meetings gotta feed their kids. It's right to be happy to chip in. Like, who hosts this board? Should I send $20?

I'll start with JCS. I can't touch that. I don't want to touch that. I don't know about all that. Somehow, I've got to try not to offend. I got exposed to all this "trauma informed" lingo in the IHOPKC fallout. I'm sorry, I learned enough not to trample on things I don't understand. I don't. OTOH, I would have hoped you have seen I've been around some. What's readily apparent to me is I haven't been beaten or imprisoned. I never made it out of the minor league and don't really want to. I will however bridge the chasm if I have the opportunity. I'll meet current Wayfers and befriend them. I don't have any other agenda than love for the brethren. Why do I suddenly feel like an astronaut on a launch pad not knowing what he's getting into? I don't know what I'm getting into...!? Maybe I'm a missionary to some African cannibals!? Regardless, I'm down. THIS, I believe is what Jesus would do.

I don't know if I've ever seen bridge on TV? Movies, yeah. But not TV.

"I see nothing!! I hear nothing!!! I see nothing"!!!

Long Tall Sally "Well, east coast girls are hip I really dig those styles they wear"

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with trauma, PTSD or the sting of being ripped off. I was about to agree with you until you leaned on the cult trope of "crying about decades old offenses". These offenses include rape, sir. They include taking my teenage friends for abortions financed by a handful of money dipped from a free bucket of cash called "tithes". Perhaps giving your entire childhood to a movement that turned out to be a fraud run by grifters and perverts, stings a little. "Crying" isn.t weakness. It is a basic human emotions. If you don't cry while you're recovering from a literal attack on everything you are and everything you have, then you're the one with the problem. And by the way, I don't see anyone "crying" in the replies to your post. I see people who learned the hard way and are trying to warn you that these offenses, not all of which are "decades" old, hurt people. People still haven't recovered. Some people died, MAN. Do you have any idea the number of people who have died as a direct result of trauma from this cult? I have friends who died in accidents and were blamed for not being holy enough. It's gross. There is also no rule that says if you're "crying" about the way's literal crimes, that means that we aren't walking with Jesus. That is a fallacy. Both things can be true. You can walk with Jesus and be wise to The Way's bullcrap. And when we meet a person who says they went to HQ and everyone was so nice, we want you to know that trusting in this group will deceive you and you might not even know it's happening. If you want to stick your hand on the burner to see if fire is really hot, go ahead. You've been warned. But don't pretend that we are all crying. We were trying to warn you.

They've all been televised.

I don't think that's going to fly with twi in any era, now any more than before. twi was always organized to make a profit, to say nothing of the investments made with the money they squirreled away when they were shaking us down long ago. But, you and them will have to sort that out, it certainly doesn't affect me. (I think it's a good idea, but I don't think they're going to agree, and you'll get an earful, sooner or later, probably with a nice, diplomatic phrasing nowadays.) As for Luke 6, I think Jesus was making a point by way of hyperbole. Luke 6:31 (NASB) "Treat people the same way you want them to treat you." I think that was the main thrust, and a challenge to aim higher. Luke 6:36 (NASB) "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Of course, you're free to disagree. But I think that verse was making a point, just not a direct, literal one. I don't think Jesus was literally ordering us to be victims of every robber who comes along. (And if he was, I'll never be spiritual enough to do it, nor to teach my kid to do it.)

Gentlemen, I'm just going to write and you'll figure me out. Quoting at times can take up a lot of space and be cumbersome. FREEDOMMMM!!!! I'm not going to last in any assembly of saints that tries to take away my freedom (I've learned to hate the translation "church" with all It's ecclesiastical expectations). Maybe that's why we have different remembrances and attitudes. I was largely on the outskirts just as I was the IHOPKC. Lot's of really bitter people over there, too, but they kicked me out 17 years before the meltdown. I'm not submitting and getting trapped. Just try to dictate my walk with God. I don't think that highly of you. A lot will be revealed if I tell you how I approach financial giving. I get paid and move 10% of my after tax earnings (I'm just telling you what I'm doing. I do the same with my tax refund) into a savings account. Then, I give wherever I give and replenish my checking account with that 'tithe' account. I do this in part because I can be cheap and stingy. To me, it's my training wheels way of giving until such time as I can pass it out freely. I want to keep giving you some truth. I generally look away from the guys on the street corners. I tend to stiffen up or become deaf when I sense a beggar approaching. When they ask me at the store if I want to donate my change I say no. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. Lk 6:30 I hate that verse. Burr in my saddle. I'm chastened by it. I don't live up to it. But, I'll let it bug me. I won't ignore it or pretend it doesn't exist. Idk if I'll ever live up to it. Thus, my method of tithing. Now, don't demand my tithe because this is where I'm getting fed. You don't know everywhere I'm getting fed and you don't know everywhere I'm fellowshipping. Digital age, baby. I've got better sermons than yours at my fingertips. So now, what does that leave? If I love you, and you love me, I'm going to peel off some of that tithe money and give you some. I'm passing it out anyway. I decided it wasn't mine when I moved it from my direct deposit to that savings account. I get "fed" lots of places. I also appreciate the charitable activities at various places. In this way I'm going to give a "tithe", but if any particular ministry is demanding all of it...guess what...not a place I want to be. So, now you know how messed up I am. And, if that don't fly with today's The Way International, no problem. I love you. We good. Just, no man is going to dictate my relationship with God. So, we'll see. That's all. Just kicking the tires. Pray that I stop being so stingy.

Thank you very much.

"If we're going to just disavow the word isn't there some nice satanist forum out there!?" I've encountered lots of groups over the years, and twi was only one of them that said "You can agree with us or you can disagree with GOD ALMIGHTY because we're 100% in accordance with him, and leaving us means leaving GOD ALMIGHTY." I wasn't sure if that's what you meant, but it certainly could be taken that way, and it sounded like that to me. Of course, you might have meant something completely completely different, in which case, a little clarification would be appreciated (by me if by no one else.)

II Corinthians 9:7 (KJV) "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (NASB) "Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Ah, a REQUIRED 10% or required 15% is "of necessity", "under compulsion." In twi, it's required. I'm sure someone can engage in sophistry about the word "required," but the reality is that it is required. Try to be in twi without records showing that you give, and see how long that lasts. There will be "friendly discussions" about how you should be, and so on. You'll get leaned on. I'm not sure they'll kick you out like in the old days, but it's still required- the only difference would be in the sanctions should you try to disobey the requirement. There will be SOME sanctions either way.

Welcome. Lulu. You may find that there's different types of people here. Some are no longer Christian- partly because twi really made a bad case for Christianity. Some of us are still Christian, and even still believe the Bible's really important (Hi, that includes me!). Some people are Christians with varying beliefs- either far from what twi taught, or pretty close to what twi taught, all depending on our journeys. None of those positions is required to post here. You're welcome either way, and posting friendly is appreciated. Goodness, we've had so many discussions about how foolish, unbiblical and nonsensical the no-debt policy was. Even vpw's uncle Harry claimed you should never go into debt EXCEPT FOR A HOUSE OR A CAR.

I found each of those useful for different things. WhatsApp I use on my phone and find it best for that. Zoom I use for groups with a presenter. Skype was flexible for general and casual chatting, and sometimes for a small group. I even find Discord has its uses. And so on.

May I point out there is a bit of flawed logic in this? Disavowing "The Word" does not make one a Satanist. I mean, someone could conceivably disavow The Word and be simultaneously a Satanist, but not necessarily. You say potato, I say tomato.

Thank you, Nathan!

Yep. That happened.

Hi Twinky, so you understand...thank you!

Thank you!

Wow, thank you all for the welcome! Yes, we were threatened to be 'terminated' if we did not sell our house! LOL...25 years later, and I am still looking for healing from that whole crazy nightmare.

"The problem's plain to see, too much technology"

Hi, I know you weren't addressing me but that was sweet anyway. Yes, I've been kindly run off in the past. On another occasion I had a nice conversation with a worker but he had a bad case of potty mouth. That was in the middle of the bitter years and I'm sure to him it signaled 'Im not religious' I want to poke my nose in and see what's up. Evidently, no one else shares that sentiment. All good. All love. I'll report back for the one, two, two and a half that might be interested. I absolutely hope they're doing well, that would make me happy. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 1 Cor 9:11 If we're going to just disavow the word isn't there some nice satanist forum out there!?

Welcome, Lulu. Whatever happened to you, we probably understand. Yah. LCM's screaming sessions at "Corps Nights." The foulness of his mouth. The hatred that was in his words. The wanton slander of those he didn't like, or who had offended him in some way. And he was "a man of God" ?????????????

Love you man. No, I'm not having much fun, here. Look at all this negativity. If only someone would have taught us to make God's word our own!? Then, we'd be walking with Jesus and not sitting around crying about decades old offenses. I love the truth tellers and honestly, a lot of them aren't Christian. But, they're speaking truth to power and that just warms my heart. Baldwin seems like an angry man. Well, rightfully so. But I've known great joy in the Lord and I can't camp out at angry. Then, there are a bunch of ministries centered on Holy Ghost whack. Spiritual drunkenness. Joy in the Lord. I'm stuck in the middle somewhere and I don't know how to navigate these waters. Thankfully I have few pressures and responsibilities and I can take on this challenge to figure out where my mind and emotions should be. My nose will stay in the Word.

I do my video chats via WhatsApp. Much more stable than Zoom, no time limit on call length. Haven't used Skype in a hundred years.