Ham

The hardest part is reconciling the two often far removed but equally valid experiences.. and I meant no offense to Linda Z..

maybe its just me.. but why did they purge people who seemed (to them) just a little "funny"? I really think.. it wasn't "personal".. it was just business..

Perhaps that explains it.. but really.. the only group they seem to lreally isten to is court and lawyers.. if there were no liability, the loyster would still be busy in the twi oval office of sorts.. lack of liability appears to be the path of least resistance.. maybe there's nothing to this.. but who knows..

And I think I got the answer.. or maybe part of it. Liability. an organization can be responsible for the actions of volunteers. And we were volunteers. I think it was a PURELY corporate decision.. most volunteer organizations around here perform a background check of sorts.. whether one is criminal, has a history of drug or sex offenses, etc. I think because of decades of loose, slip -shod work, to get a hold on accountability, it would have been an administrative nightmare.. the solution? Send the volunteers off for a myriad of "spiritual" reasons.. what do you think?

a side note.. these were the "kind" of people (volunteers) twi shaved from their ranks around here in the nineties.. and I don't have an agenda. It's an honest observation.. those who are left, with MAYBE one exception.. would not give one the time of day..

what do you suggest we put out in the feeder for them.. the spurits, that is?

"Ambition".. that's it. I don't know why.. there's this five minute delay for this one word...

Maybe it's just the almighty.. no matter how evil, arrogant, criminal.. abusive or such a man can choose to be.. "by gawd.. nothing I make can be ENTIRELY useless.." like Capone.. didn't do much to fix his reputation in history, but he DID feed a few hungry people in Chicago..

if it makes any difference.. I'm not making fun of your "side of the str-ee" linda. It''s my perception of it, considering what I've come to learn of the vicster's character. 1. I am taking you at your word.. that it ACTUALLY happened.. 2. Now add the vicster's documented non-ethical, non christian behavior.. and I say.. if the almighty wants to strap a large encumberances on a lead brick to make it fly.. so be it.. I've seen similar dealings with certain people.. sycophants take a five minute break from obnoxious selfishness, greed, arrogance, and unbridled.. what's the word, it'll come to me five minutes after I post this.. but take a momentary break from all that, and actually compassionately help another individual.. so no. I am not laughing at *you*, if it makes any difference..

and I'm not minimizing your personal experience either. The freakish (not as in being a freak.. freakish as in rare as raining cows in a thunderstorm instead of rainwater or something) occurrence would not be unlike Him forcing a known hoodlum, murderer and psychopath to take a five minute break, and open soup kitchens and give away free coffee and doughnuts.. It DID happen.. I've had the same kind of "freakish occurrence" happen as well.. imagine, in a time of economic downturn, technology jobs going away.. universities making drastic budget cuts.. a university actually PAYING a scruffy middle or past aged Squirrel to teach math, and throw in free graduate classes to boot.. does anyone else see the humor in this?

I dunno.. maybe God was bored that day.. been too easy and routine to send a *real* minister to do the job.. I might be laughing.. but Linda, in all sincerity..I think the almighty loves you enough he made a lead dump truck fly for you that day..

"God USED him.." it's like something I heard from some guy in the air force.. enough hardware, and even a lead brick can fly..

I think it's an apt description.. I don't think the vicster was a prophet or anything.. but it's pretty similar.. such a dullard, he wouldn't get it if his donkey took up ta few issues with him..

The children of Israel did end up snuffing old Balaam out, didn't they? "Thanks for the.. whatever.. but we gotta do what we gotta do.."

Hope you had a nice day..

the "good times" at least for me.. maybe I shouldn't say.. :) they were long before involvement in da way..

maybe the problem was.. we were not allowed to live our lives open and honestly for the most part.. I know I wasn't.. couldn't grieve without administration of a wooden spon.. sheesh.. call it "hookypookiism" or whatever by way standards.. I feel I've lost whatever "connection" it was I had, or could have had with my parents.. the damned doctrine closed the door.. who knows..

thanks friend.. :) well.. all I can say is.. the numbnuts "missed their calling".. it took me about twenty five or more years to figure I needed to go back to school.. I won't recommend "their kind" of religion to anybody, anytime soon..but they probably don't care. They are too busy running a seminar on healing or casting out devils or something..

yeah.. that was me. I don't think you'll EVER have a clue.. having "parental authority" ripped from you, before you even have a chance to rebel.. good times.. yep..

It makes a little sense to me.. I watched a couple of "times".. twig coordinators reamed unmercifully because some deadline past.. and no class materialized.. and that's mild.. what about VOLUNTEERS.. worked to no end, mucking the wienerville pond.. then stoutly reproved, because they had the audacity to feel sore at the end of the day.. yeah.. it was a good time I'm sure.. what about the guy employed in da way in a "professional" manner.. subject to vicious reaming because he didn't have the "revelation" that some poor sucker's wowmobile would vomit a half a quart of grease in gawd's parking lot.... and somehow "missed it" on his way to work that morning.. and promptly remove said oil slick, before it even occured.. or the character who lost both parents.. and was severely criticized because *they* merely THOUGHT he might be feeling sorrow for himself or something.. all I'm saying is.. I understand the point made. what about you guys who were in "leadership" positions when the victser's "vision" of four thousand wows didn't materialize? Was that a "good time"..? from my observation.. I'd say, no.. they weren't *reallY* good times.. not to mention the personal cost of participation in "god"'s "household".. How much did we pay.. to *enjoy* a wow burger.. just a thought, or a few.. I can understand the observation..

I generally hiss and spit in their direction.. it isn't beliefs in particular.. it's the fact they use their precious beliefs to herd people like cattle..

so, at the end of it all.. *they* finally found a "loony bin" for me.. kind of.. toss me in as instructor of a class, where likely seventy five percent of the students don't want to be there, and hate math.. maybe it's really purgatory.. or even hell itself. I wonder what the kids did to end up there...

and I haven't even begun to tell people here what the *ministry* really cost me, personally, professionally, financially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.. physically. Those who know me may know a little bit of this..and I'm sure if they are honest, they can see the same thing in themselves.. the more I look at it.. I see most of the good I realized had a heavy price tag.. and I only claimed a little bit of the good.. others claimed a lot more..

it isn't my call.. it's theirs. But I think If they came to find their offshoot leader to be a drambuie soaked, kool short huffer with a propensitiy of drugging women and such, I think the answer would be obvious.. just for me.. I've abandoned every last bit of vic/twi related material. For me, personally.. I don't think any perceived *good* I got from twi was worth what others paid. You may feel differently, I just don't. I know of cases in offshoots where their promised "healing" methods failed to materialize.. *significant* health *issues*.. and apparently the "green light" that is always on was burned out at the moment or something.. they probably spent the next six months trying to analyze why *doc*'s miracle potion did not work.. and I have seen some supposedly healed physically, but hobbled for life spiritually.. mistaken or not, those are a few personal observations..

I dunno.. one LONE SINGLE innocent victim is far too much. *you* can have my "eternal life".. back.. along with te "good times".. it's not worth it..