J0nny Ling0

I guess Oldies got thrown out?

Okay. Would somone please post a picture of Jeff Bridges or Kurt Russell my alter ego. Please? My wife says I look like a "combination of the two", and so have others actually. But I have, thus far, been a total failure at posting their pics. And yes, I know I am vain... JL And Bowtwi/Dolly, can we get together?

Oh, most definitely. I thought I had made that clear. At one time I believed that it was, but only a part of the overall big picture. Even then I believed that the Gideons, and all kinds of Christians around the world were and are a part of the Ministry Of Reconciliation. But I also believed as so many of us did, that The Way had the only source of the "Rightly Divided Word", which then therefore made TWI the most vital aspect of the overall Ministry. And, I always figured that if there were others out there which had the "rightly divided Word" as we did, that "the twain would meet". Now though, I only believe that certain aspects of TWI were accurate when it comes to the scriptures. I do believe that it was where God wanted me to be at that time though. Personally, I do not buy in to the "The Way was evil from it's inception" theory: That VPW started it all as a sex farm/money farm. I simply believe that TWI went the way of all flesh. One can read record after record in the OT and the New where wonderful God fearing people went bad and chased after heinous whoredoms and idolatrous lifestyles, all of which hurt people no less or no worse than what we have seen in The Way today during our lifetime. Same thing with the Roman Catholics, the Baptists, the Jimmy Swaggerts, and on and on down the line... I enjoy many Biblical truths that I found in The Way to still be things that are a tremendous blessing to me: "To whom it is written, punctuation is devoid of authority, Christ in you the hope of glory! The mystery of the One Body, God's gift of holy spirit to all and upon all who call upon him and believe, salvation by faith and that not through good works, God answers our prayers when we believe (Matt 21:22), we are righteous NOW (that's huge to me), And on and on and on. Many will say, and have said, that these things were findable elsewhere, and not remarkable at all. That these truths were stolen. Well, all I have to say to that is that one night, as a young eighteen year old kid, in my despair, I got on my knees in the wheelhouse of the boat I worked on, and begged God to "send me a Christian person, "and I promise you Lord, I will go to their church or whatever". That very next day, a radiant gal who was a 1975/76 WOW Ambassador came to work on my cruise boat as a cocktail waitress. Within minutes, she was telling me about the Bible, and about our lord Jesus Christ. This is a miraculous answer to prayer that I will never deny, ever. I had also told God in that prayer that I would become involved in that Church or whatever "if He would send just someone". And He answered my prayer, and I kept my promise to Him. And if it was good enough for God to send me there, then it must have been okay for Him at that time. And so for me, it was The Way. WOW, Corps, and even ordination. But when it all turned so sour, it was time to go. When the gold mine goes dry, it's time to stake out a new claim. And so we left. Got kicked out actually, but really it was because of our refusal to answer LCM's ridiculous ans scripturally baseless ultimatum question of "With whom do you stand? Me or CG?" That's a paraphrase as you know, but the sum and substance of it... My comittment remains the same though, but only to Him, and not through any organization. :)

JL (Just Loafing), how could you not expect some one to think you were flaming them? Just look at your avatar! Just teasin now... :) JL (Jonny Lingo)

Thanks Lindy. And here is the rest of my quote; And so, my wife and I simply checked out...

Thank you for your response. And so, all of you ex-clergy people, what are you going to do with your emblematic seal/symbol of a lifetime comittment even bigger than the Corps comittment? Give it back? Or keep it for your family? Or burn it...

Oh sorry Lindy. You either posted your "let's return to the topic admonishment" while I was writing my previous post, or I accidentally skipped it. Sorry. I think my question is valid though. And so. I think God, in His wonderful Word, has axed us all for a lifetime comittment to the Ministry Of Reconciliation through the preaching of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And a very large percentage of us here thought of TWI as just that, THE Min. Of Rec. And so, when I went into the Corps, my comittment to a Lifetime of Christian Service was to be through The Way. When it became evident that the Word of God had nothing to do with The Way anymore, because of my lifetime comittment to God and His Word, "I had to go". And of course, I was totally trashed for for doing that by many of those who post here who "took a stand" with TWI for the next fifteen years. But, c'est la ie! What will be will be, and what was, was. Bottom line is, I knew that it was a lifetime comittment, and I really don't think it was a purposeful "bait and switch". I think it evolved into that though, simply because the "product" changed so drastically from the time I first got involved until the time I checked out. It went from Love to Legalism you see, and I wasn't going to allow anyone to coerce me into doing any thing I didn't believe was right, for I have always believed that my freedom of will was/is a precious God Given right...

Can I as a question? Okay. What Oldiesman has said to Rascal is harsh. There is no question about it. But, why can Rascal accuse someone else of "forcing her to commit the murder of her baby", when she herself by her freedom of will signed the papers to allow it? That is a very heavy accusation! It's harsh! Why is this accusation not worse or at least on par with what Oldiesman has said? Just curious...

"Oh Let my life tell the stow-ree...." Gak! Just kidding. Sorry 'bout that

Hah! Raf! That Jon Lovitz cracks me up! Too funny!

Ooh Justloafing, You edited your post. What did you really say? Hah ha! :)

Kurt Russel or Jeff Bridges, whom my wife says I look like a combination thereof... :

I wonder if when one shows up and one were to give a fake name, would they then ask for identification? I have no doubt I am M and A, so what if I wore a gray hair wig or something andf gave a different name? Man, that would be too weird... Shoot, I remember the first time I went to a teaching in the BRC. It was Easter Sunday in 1976. Walter Cummins taught, and it was a fine morning and I was treated like gold. Loved us. Ralph D took me under his wing, found John Kn*ve for me (the person I was told to contact and who would then therefore find me a place to stay), and I ended up staying in NK town with John Kn, John T*rn*er, and N*ck R*tt*r. They took us to Adolphs and we had huges stacks of hotcakes. No one really cared about who we were, we were just flat out "welcome at The Way". We (my 18 year old buddy and I) were simply referred to as "those two new guys from Maryland". Curiously though, I do remember D*l D*nc*n quizzing us about who we were when we wandered about HQ grounds without our name tags, but then, Uncle Harry came to our rescue, put his arms around us and took us down below the BRC and kindly told the cooks to; "Get these boys something to eat! Two hamburgers apiece for 'em! Heh heh heh..." Yeah, it really was a far different ministry back in those days. Far kinder, and I do believe that love lived there for awhile. I would hate to go back and I never will. To see what it has become would just be too much. All of the few remaining "old ones" acting like such stupid automatons would just be too damned weird. Security check? Whatever happened to the concept of "walking with God"? in order to know if there was a "miscreant" in the midst? Well, that was a rhetorical question....

And you clergy who are no longer with The Way: What are you going to do with your emblematic seal/oak/brass pentagon deal that has your name on it signifying your even bigger lifetime comittment? Just curious. When we die, we are supposed to have these deals returned to TWI by our families or surviving loved ones. I wonder if TWI has made a new law that anyone who is a copped out clergy person will not be allowed to have their oak plaque deal returned? Just curious. Personally, mine will stay with my family...

I was a Mal Pack Platoon Leader. We saved the world back then in '79...

As for me, I may as well weigh in here: I was fully aware of the lifetime comittment of Christian service aspect of the Way Corps training program. I went in to The Way Corps with my eyes wide open, and I don't think of it as "bait and switch" at all. I believed that The Way Ministry was synonymous with the Ministry Of Reconciliation to which I had comitted the rest of my life and I believed that being in The Way Corps was the best vehicle to help me become the most effective I could be as a minister, whether I continued on as a "lay" minister or if I was honorable enough to become ordained. I wanted it all, because I wanted to serve the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, through The Way Ministry and PFAL, opened my eyes so that I could see, and saved my sorry butt from oblivion. But when it became evident that The Way was no longer "of God", as Tom said; "I left TWI". Now Tom, I know that you didn't say "no longer of God". I said that. But I quote you as having said "I left TWI", for maybe you have decided that it never was of God, a point where we may diverge, ya know, which is fine... :) Anyway, I knew about the lifetime comittment, and was all for it. No "switcheroo" for me...Peace

Hey DMiller, Thanks for the link to Merle's story. Ya know, I had heard differently about Merle's death. I had heard that Merle Watson was somewhat of a "badboy", drinker, somewhat of a trouble maker, and that he was killed in a "drinkin' 'n 'drivin a tractor" accident. I had never heard about the big splinter aspect of the accident. I'd heard that the reason he drove the tractor was because he lost his license to having multiple DUI's. This story sounds much better than the one I heard from a guy who is an awesome bluegrass guitar picker and longtime fan of both Doc and Merle Watson. This story wouldn't be a sanitized version out of respect for a man now gone from us, would it? Either way, it is a sad loss. So sad for Doc Watson to have a son who followed in his footsteps and in such a prime time of life and as such a fabulous player, to be struck down like that. Doc Watson must have been extremely proud of his boy. Just imagine playing music like that with your own son in front of all of those people! Wow! Must have made both of their hearts burst with healthy pride! :)

I like Branded. The lead guitarist was an old friend of mine from Jr High School daze. He and I used to "experiment" with marijuana, and I was amazed at how well he played guitar, for such a young guy. And a few years later, he showed up at the same twig where I had only recently begun going to, and we were "new guys" together. And by then, he had gotten even better on guitar. And when he got involved with Branded, I loved his C and W guitar licks a whole lot. The sad part of it was that he ended up pretty much giving up his guitar playing to become the Vice President of TWI. He'd have been better off playing his guitar with that old band "Lone Oak" that he was in before started coming to Twig...

Favorite type of pet? Dawgs..

Aww geez DeeMiller. Nice photo. That guy blessed my life so much when I was but fifteen it's unbelievebable...."Muskrat oh muskrat what makes you smell so bad, layin 'round the farmers yard eatin up all he had, eatin up all he had, boys eatin up all he had....." Yeah, takes me back big time. And ya know, when I first went to Twig, I used to pray during the "season of prayer time" during twig that "Doc Watson would come to an accurate knowledge of the Word, and truly be be born again". Yeah, I was really worried for his soul. And now of course, I am thankful to know that good old Doc Watson is no doubt just fine, and in the Hands of our Heavenly Father. And ya know? When he gets his New Body, no doubt he'll not be blind at all, but will be able to see! And thank God Almighty for that Hope! Yeah man, that'll be so cool... P.S. I never knew his first name, Arthel. Interesting name to be sure. Where was he born and raised? And can any of you out there find and post "Freight Train Boogie" By Doc Watson? Awesome acoustic steel string guitar...

Damn, Socks, I am envious. I know, I know, envy is a sin, but, it must be nice to be around the music like that. Tonight, we are going to watch the Johnny Cash movie with Joachin Phoenix. And, nice to here about Skip. Great to know that he is not only playing but performing. Have a great night! JL Oh, and DMiller, after I posted, I noticed your mention of Doc Watson's 83d birthday. So cool that he's still with us. Is he still playing? Man oh man what a picker he is! A few of my favorite songs of his are "Shady Grove", "That Train From Danville", And of course, "Tennessee Stud". Wow, what a player! Shoot, there is nothing that he plays that I do not love...

Ya know Sunesis, I remember when you were a WOW in my area and when Harvey Platig started coming to twig. And how everyone ranted over Harvey's guitar playing as if you weren't a guitar player at all. The only time I heard you play then was when I went to your house and visited you with that girl Jan whom you witnessed to, and I was amazed. I was always thinking that you and he should get together and play twin leads together. I was really into the Allman Brothers Band and loved the twin guitar leads they played in their songs. At least, that's what I called it, when there was two guitars playing a solo but together and in harmony. But it seemed that Harvey was the "new guy sensation" with the band he was in and all that... I remember the dance band deal at Emporia. I am thinking that you played at one of the Christmas parties there. And, you cracked me up just a bit ago when you said that they tried to make you wear a dress. Yeah, I can just see you up there in a long formal gown playing bass. Somehow, it just wouldn't have been you at all. Anyhoo, glad to know that you got back to doing what you love so well. Gosh. The "Way Prod" thing. Seems kind of "gaggy". Once, my wife and I played at Corps Week for the whole Corps in a talent night kind of a thing back in 1985 I think it was. We had to go back stage of the big top for "make up" and "hair coiffing", and just before us was this really effeminate Atheletes Of The Spirit Dancer dude getting his "face done" by Murphy Galbreath, and he was terribly upset by this zit that he had on his face while Murphy consoled him. It was way weird as we listened, waiting our turn. We'd just come in from Alaska, and here we were in this "faux broadway backstage dressing room scene" and all we were gonna do is go up there, and strum the guitar and sing this Mexican soundin funny song I wrote called "Sittin On Top Of The Heap", my one hit wonder believer song. And, at least the song came off well and everybody laughed. But the whole scene was really weird. I never had any big talent at all, but I am glad I stayed away from all of that. Oh wait GUITARS: And the guitar I used was my wife's Guild. Really nice. Good action, big sound. When she graduated highscholl in Texhoma, OK, he mom drove her down to Amarillo and let her pick any guitar she wanted. Her choices came down to either a Martin, a Gibson with a dove inlaid on it somewhere (up by the pegs?) and the Guild D-50. She liked the Guild. I think it was five hundred bucks back then in 1974. It's still a really nice guitar today...

Ahh! Amazing! Plucks at my heart strings as I look back on that Amazing thread. I wonder if Johnny Winter knew? Oh and Socks. Bummer about Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his sanded down guit-tar. I mean, old Willy Nelson has an amazingly worn down guitar where the pick guard was/is. But I think it was worn down in an authentic manner, unlike KWS's guit-tar....

"Nyet! Nyet! Give that mee-ann his money. Give that mee-ann his money. He beat me. He beat me straight up....." John Malchovich to Matt Damon just after Matt Damon beats him for a lot of money in the final game of poker in "The Rounders". It's a family favorite around this house... :)

Hey. I have an idea: You know that radio show on NPR called "Car Talk" with "Click and Clack"? One of you guitar maestros (who know way more about guitars than me) should start up a talk radio show called "Guitar Talk". Yeah. Get your self a nice Brooklyn accent goin on, take calls, talk about guitars just like we are doing here, do adds for Fender, Gretsch, Silvertone, Gibson, and all the rest, and you could make millions! You could have guests such as Johnny Winter, Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Sunesis (unless you decide to be the host Sunesis), Socks, Doc Watson (should he continue to keep on livin for awhile-how old is he?), Danny Hoeffer (he's pretty good, right? What happened to him?), and Jonny Lang and all of the rest of the Greats. Shoot. Whole shows could be devoted to Jimmy, Chet, Les, Stevie Ray, Bo Diddley, Clapton, Buchannon, Blind Melon Chitlin... That could actually be a pretty cool thing. "Guitar Talk". Ya see, I have noticed that there is definitely a certain "lingo" (no pun intended) that seems to go with all of youz who really know your guitar stuff. I don't have it. I don't know Jack. But you all do. Sunesis, Socks, Bluzman, Diazbro, etc... I think Sunesis should be the host, because not only are you a hot guitarist, you are hot. Really, someone like you doing "Guitar Talk?" Yeah... :) You have a really nice voice you know. I still remember it... Just think of it, you could talk accoustic steel string, hardcore heavy metal, nuttin but the blues, bluegrass, Gibson hollow body electric jazz, Dobros, why, it would be endless! A veritable gold mine of conversation and "Guitar Talk". Oh well, just a thought...