Ham

Well.. I dunno. But I think throwing away the two drink limit probably fixes everything..

Reward and purpose it is perhaps.. but I could hardly call it joy..

Belle, I have been out now for nine years! Finally remembered when I left. And it was about this time, roughly the week after the fourth. And I've gone to see family for a reunion on the fourth of July week every year since. It is still the highlight of the year.

Now I think we are talking the reward: what it is not. It surely is not financial abundance and stability. Lessee. Fifty some years old, still grinding your foot at a second rate job or "full time" corps position, no savings, no house. Your reward is more work. You will work until the day you die. I am suprised that they don't have a sign above the entry at the corner of W. Road and highway 29, "Work will set you free".

Maybe that's why they don't have a real big following too. Just not "comfortable" for someone just leaving TWI..

But what about the offshoots that are NOT offshoots? I am acquainted with at least two, and they do not command any significant following- but they do not resemble TWI in any way, shape or form. They like functioning in local churches. The persons involved have thrown everything away- or view doctrinal differences as being inconsequential in the big scheme of things. They could care less if you believe in the trinity, believe the dead are alive, and refuse to use guilt and intimidation to bully you into accepting their viewpoint. There might be a different kettle of fish altogether..

Exie, just don't eat the whole box in one sitting..

Congratulations Belle! Isn't it really nice to take a VACATION and see RELATIVES. I hope you don't miss your cube farm too much..

Well, I was thinking of something a little more subtle, or maybe not so subtle.. The superior claims.. that it is the greatest understanding of the bible since the earth cooled.. still lives on. As if his version was an actual improvement upon the truth. The attitude that "I've forgotten more about... than you'll EVER know.." The self-abasement and thankfulness for ole doc vic's selfless service that gave it all to us.. that somehow, we would be going to hell in a handbasket if it were not for his herculean efforts.. I think this state of mind exists in all of the offshoots, ranging from a tame recognition of the guy who "brought them da verd", to outright fanatical devotion. I am beginning to really hate religion.. And it is not limited to Der Vey, not by any means. Look at the Lutherans.. many of them consider Martin Luther to be a saint. Maybe he was just a product of his times, but some of the things he did and wrote are despicable. Huss and many others are just as much their "father in the word" so to speak. In the offshoots, I'd like to see some more recognition to those that "brought them da verd". What about Bishop Pillai, George Lamsa, Kenyon, Bullinger, Leonard, Stiles, Walter Cummins, and DOZENS of others that are worth mentioning? These men and women were just as responsible for giving us the Word. And I would like to see everything documented properly, all the T's crossed, all the i's dotted.. all credit given where credit is due. The syllabus for their latest and greatest teaching should have probably five or six pages set aside for works cited. At least that's how it is supposed to be done in the real world. I think they skipped a few steps along the way to claiming superior knowledge. Don't get me wrong about this though, I still love them, they are brethren.

I dunno.. I kind of didn't "fellowship" with anybody right after leaving, at least not in a religious or church sense. I got a little more involved in the community though. Community organizations were what loy targeted with a lot of venom, and I thought that they might be the first logical place to go. They weren't NEARLY as "devilish" as he portrayed. Really- I had to go see for myself.

Exie, I think its one of those big office rooms divided up into cubicles, but I could be wrong. I never heard them called that, but at least it would make sense. Belle, YOUR turn, heh heh.

Whatever it is, I would like a couple of helpings of it.. But I "kind of" get it. Really- love is what motivated God to give. And He wants a pretty intimate relationship with us. And sex is about as intimate as you can get. I dunno.. I don't exactly feel "screwed" in all of this. Still thinking about all of this though..

Yep, you said it! Probably true though. After so much stupidity, you could probably sell them such a brush to brush their teeth with.. Oops, I said THAT..

Yep Coolchef. The interesting thing.. the people that I helped in the most significant way, they never committed to the mininstry- thank God. They got what God held out for them, and moved on. In this I am thinking of three specific incidences. One of them was a real, iron clad, undeniable miracle. And it was just for the person that was there at the time. Come to think of it, Da Vey was never even mentioned.

Belle, I did a yahoo search for Huriahulla. Guess the only place in the universe it showed up at..

The one scary part of it to me, is some of them carry the legacy of PFAL- some STILL think it is the verd like not revealed since the first century. That kind of exclusivism does seem to be a rather good breeding ground for abuse.

Funny, but true. Really. Give it twenty, twenty five years or so.. She is not the same gal you married, or the one you thought you did. I think that actually can be kind of fun! Who says marriage is supposed to be boring..

HCW, I'd wear that as a medal of honor..

One more point, and I'll be done for a while.. Why in the he** did I just sit in those da*n meetings and just suck that junk up? I think I figured it out.. These were THE SAME MEN that this character had expressed respect for. He made his "deal with the devil" to do either what he thought was right, or just what he wanted to do.. These were the men he endorsed with HIS reputation. And that was all I knew. The wolves came, and we were basically defenseless.

One of the next few meetings, I remember the "beloved" branch coordinator's wife boasting how they "got rid of" the people that were bothering us.. ptooie.

I recall the manner they publically defamed this character. For all I know he may have had a few faults, but holy smokes. The most scathing comments regarded his financial affairs, and his marriage. He was not "qualified" to be any kind of leader, because.. he couldn't get his wife to tow the line regarding every ministry doctrine and mandate. They called his wife an unbeliever. Made him less of a man, somehow, and at the least, "unequally yoked". He was accused of padding the books to get a decent salary. Looking back, he probably barely got his need met, if even that. Of course his opinion or reply was not present or welcome. If you're REALLY a good guy in the Corps, you don't stand a chance.

I remember the few brief comments I EVER heard about inside stuff from any of them- "I just don't see how we are THAT jaded. But it must be true.."

The "corps household" under his leadership paid the most dearly. Anybody with ANY love or compassion had a choice- get on track with the "decade of confrontation", get on track with uncle loy, or get the hell out. We never heard from the old limb guy again. Never heard his side of the story. Sure "protected" us from the bad element- right.

Just one more of those dang conspiracies I guess..

Yep.. good point Catcup. If somebody thinks they are going to be able to protect people, think again. What's gonna happen to "your" people when you are forced or chased out? Usually it is not very pleasant. We had a limb coordinator here, and he was a pretty nice guy.. When they "found out" about him, the whole state paid, dearly. Blood ran- almost literally. They screamed and snarled, they cut and they chopped. What was left they ran through a meat grinder. They "lovingly confronted" roughly nine-tenths of the followers all the way to oblivion. What do you think is going to happen to the people YOU are responsible for?