skyrider

Are you sure wierwille took the staircase? There is a side door on the lower level.

Well, if you're going to construct a pyramid organization.....you don't want a plateau of Phd's roaming the halls. Higher education just needs to be reserved for the 'higher ups.' That way.....some are more equal than others.

"In Precarious Life, Judith Butler discusses recognizing the Other in order to sustain the Self and the problems of not being able to identify the Other. Butler notes 'that identification always relies upon a difference that it seeks to overcome, and that its aim is accomplished only by reintroducing the difference it claims to have vanquished." Everyone clawing for the spiritual/moral superiority. Like.....the aim is to conquer the foe? Denegrate and demoralize the enemy. The ends justify the means. Control the messaging. Frame the issues. In twi....control the message, but don't define the terms. Stand on "the word"....but most view "the word" from different perspectives. No matter. Just keep claiming the high ground. You can't make this stuff up. Wierwille got his degree-mill doctorate at Pikes Peak Seminary.....not Dirt Trail Canyon. Doesn't matter that it was a house of-sorts. Name it and claim it. Fake it till you make it. Repeat it and complete it. Doesn't anyone apply critical thinking skills anyone? Doesn't anyone research what they get involved with? Doesn't anyone really know what time it is? Life is war kinetic military action.

Lockstep loyalty no matter what.....seems like the polarization has been building for the last 50 years in just more than twi. Twi / Cults Public Sector Unions Strikes and Protests Environmental issues Pro-life or Pro-choice Political affiliation Capitalism vs Socialism Rich vs. Everyone Else On the bus / Under the bus Stop the world.....I wanna get off.

Gee....I've gotten far greater 'results' since exiting twi and twi's doctrine. One man's doctrine is another man's deliverance.

This paragraph is full of fluff........... Vpw pursued "his own lines of biblical research"......NO, he was seeking out men who would mentor him to raise his own stature. Dr. Rev. Wierwille would study with men listen to these men preach and teach and, with BG Leonard, Wierwille sat in his class (twice) and then, hi-tailed it back to Ohio to teach the material. And.....the radio broadcast was inspired by Rev. Fuller's radio presentations. But hey.....don't let those pesky, little details ruin the wierwille-idol show.

IF twi was obligated to 'meet the needs of the staff'....WHY were staffers moonlighting? It bothered wierwille....he said so, publically. He addressed it as a lack of believing God and dishonesty. In other words, he wanted to shame people from doing it. But I contend that there were other reasons WHY people did it besides the financial reason. For one thing, it gave people something to do besides twi's boot-scootin' boogey on Saturdays, or whatever. If a staff electrician could stop by and fix a problem, why not? Should the follower hire some 'unbeliever' to do the job at a higher cost? And, then......there were instances where the barter system worked well. Yeah, that's right.....exchanging someone's service for something else. No cash exchanged. Just one believer helping another....and a 'gift' given. See.....rules could be bended a long way, without being broken. If truth be told.....I helped G@ry Fr3d3rick at his house. No money exchanged. If truth be told.....I helped Rosie Rivenbark at her house in 1987. No money exchanged. See......Gary and Rosalie were complicit in 'bending' the rules. .

OldSkool.....I'm not sure if your posed question is rhetorical, or not? Moonlighting at The Way....was a no-no back in the '70s when wierwille was in charge. Some staffers who lived near Wapakoneta had chickens and would sell the eggs....and, when found out, was against the rules. And, no....the mechanics couldn't help work on cars on weekends for cash. And no.....the carpenters couldn't pound nails at your home for extra cash. There came a point when "Moonlighting" was the main topic at a staff meeting. Of course, twi denegrated it as not believing God would meet your need. Back then, lots of staffers were free-wheeling and didn't walk in lockstep as in later years. Rules were rules.....but, so what? IMO....the moonlighting rules were twi's attempt to corral the staff in dependency and control. Just seems when people are independent and motivated to better their financial situation with extra work......they LEAVE twi confines. Even today......why does Rosalie despise J0hn L!nder for being a realtor on his off-hours? I mean, what's the big deal? Does she want him to pick up a broom and sweep floors? It's his life. What is her problem?

Mrs. Wierwille's book, Born Again to Serve, details many of the events, and people, and situations that helped to build wierwille's mystique and ministry. IMO...."it's convoluted" (twisted/irregular) for several reasons: 1) Much of vpw's research was plagairized/stolen and cherry-picked, 2) After BG's class in 1953, wierwille was still on church payroll until 1957, 3) The "India Itinerary" took a huge chunk of time in planning and traveling (Sept 1955-Apr 1956) and reorientation after, 4) Too many balls in the air to juggle, and 5) Left church pastorate (1957).....five kids, wife, employment?, moved in 1962 to wierwille farm.....and a class-based ministry (pfal) was wierwille's plan for his future. Therefore.....by 1967, pfal was "etched in stone." The class WAS the foundation of vpw's ministry....and no future research was going to undo it. But if it was "so great"....one has to wonder why did Dr. EE Higgins split? Rosalind Rinker? neighbors? relatives? Personally, I think those of us that got caught up in the early '70s youth movement, the music, the relationships, the mystique......never REALLY did our own research. Yeah, there was some wheat with the weeds, but the interwoven complexity of disowning our families and "connecting" with twi was based on deception. Anyhoo......few really care to untangle it all anymore and see it for what it really was. Life moves one..... people move on..... the mystique is all but dead

And, that's why twi has Way Disciples......not Disciples of Christ.

Even in the Old Testament, one finds that the Most High set his heart upon his people to treat them with lovingkindness and mercy. The Lord's portion is his people and he kept them as the apple of his eye. Living the relationship is one wherein Jehovah prepared for his own and desired for a relationship to be. The living sacrifice of Christ, as the passover lamb for the beloved, took this relationship to another level. Behold, what manner of love the Father bestowed upon those who should be called, and are known as, the sons of God. The simplicity that is in this relationship, in Christ, is notably detailed in the gospel of John... Experiencing the relationship 1) I am the bread of life [6:35] 2) I am the light of the world [8:12] 3) I am the door of the sheep [10:7] 4) I am the good shepherd [10:11] 5) I am the resurrection and the life [11:25] 6) I am the way, the truth, and the life [14:6] 7) I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman [15:1]

The 15 minute interval planning was a legalistic manuever whereby, with written documentation, twi was allowed intervention into EVERY facet of your life. With payroll and micro-managed schedules, TWI BECAME OVERLORDS TO ALL CORPS. By demanding the impossible and unthinkable, twi crossed every boundary of respectful dignity and christian character. At any time, twi could launch a confrontation on any given corps. The implementation and exploitation of this scheme could only be hatched in the dungeons of hell. Twi became the heavy-handed taskmaster and, in turn, the servant to the rulers of the darkness of this world.

For those who might look at this planning in 15-minute intervals and wonder "What the heck are they thinking?".......here's a brief overview. In March 1995, Martindale declared that he got revelation from the Lord for all corps to be full-time ministers.....ie all corps on twi's payroll starting in September. At Corps Week, all corps met with Brad Th0rpe, twi's personnel director, to discuss twi's allocated budget parameters for employment. The field corps situation was most ambiguious. At the first corps phone hook-up in September, the hammer came down.......as twi realized the immensity of this undertaking. The Trunk Staff was doubled as financial support undergirded every decision-making policy. Martindale was awakened to the new reality as twi was NOW obligated to meet all expenses of the corps and families. 1996 Rock of Ages was cancelled.....too expensive to pay for all corps' expenses Word in Business Conferences........only corps invited to work, could attend Later......twi had to detail financial arrangements: corps kids' dental needs, pregnancies, cable tv, karate/music lessons expense, pets policy, etc. etc. Within weeks, region coordinators were on a 'witch hunt' to remove all corps from payroll who were simply not corps material. In other words, twi was backtracking from this huge payroll burden....not wanting to admit that Martindale's revelation was bogus. Within six weeks, 80-120 corps were designated "corps alumnus" and NO LONGER CORPS. The political gymnastics these first two months was stunning.....whole categories were being rephased or declassified (/sarc) for twi consumption. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THIS.........the 15-minute interval planning was a tool devised by Martindale and co. to add a framework to the field corps' day. The trustees wanted the trunk office to oversee the 'production' of these corps and that they were using their time wisely and honestly. The fax machines were buzzing.....trunk/region/limb/branch.....as twi was twisting in the wind to put job descriptions in place, expectations, reporting, etc. What a clusterfvck of crazy! SO...........as more and more corps left the ranks, the legalism trickled down to others. The planning schedules became the new norm, but few remember the perversion that started it which was Martindale's BOGUS revelation from God. Centralized governing and authority never ends well.....and twi fell right into the trap. The legalism lives on.

Reminded me of this.... In 'The Road to Serfdom,' Friedrich Hayek, an influential critic of centralized government and a major influence on President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher, similarly warned that [government] planning leads to dictatorship because dictatorship is the most effective instrument of coercion and the enforcement of ideals. He added, The more the state 'plans' the more difficult planning becomes for the individual.

Yep....that's what the man said. The rap went like this......The law of believing is the greatest law in the whole universe. If someone marks the day of his death, and really believes it......why, God would have to change all the laws of the universe not to accommodate that man. Wierwille's eye removal......his fault Wierwille's cancer...........his fault Wierwille's demise...........his fault Martindale as vp's pick......his fault

Also.....martindale, with rosie and donna whispering in his ear, wanted to re-establish his ministry in the eyes of twi. He was convinced that his presidency would ESTABLISH the words that wierwille had spoken......remember all that #2 stuff? And, martindale was the modern-day Joshua, taking the children into the "promised land." The new and improved way international was all about planning the adversary out of your life. And, the "present truth" will be different today than it was yesterday....because when circumstances change, revelation changes....and all that jazz. Wherever the prevailing winds blew.....there you was.

And with wierwille..... Ironic that he was highly esteemed for preaching 'it's the word, the word, and nothing but the word.' And then......he left the podium and walked in darkness.

Yep......that pretty much sums it up. Away from the smog of sh!tville New Knoxville and the passing of time......these enablers probably never connected the dots of wierwille's ploy. So, yeah....its fair to say that these 'pillars' were just your average Joe Cornfield.

Wierwille and co. had a way of hyping the "pillars of the church." 1) Wierwille.....his tall-tale stories of the '50s didn't match his '70s example? 2) Harry.........umm, he ran an upholstery business. So? 3) Ermal.........nice guy and all, but a "pillar?" Nope 4) Don...........happens all the time, everywhere. Son gets stake in father's business. 5) Howard........worked in a Kentucky lumberyard. Later drove the party coach. 6) Dorothy, Rhoda......no kids, plenty of time for organ/piano and work 7) Craig...............this pillar was slipped out the back door at midnight. All that leadership/pillar stuff was hyperbole for twi-consumption. There are people everywhere......business, church, community, non-profit......that exhibit inspirational, sleeves-rolled-up, leadership. .

Seems to me.....wierwille used george jess as a "front man." Designated as the first corps director, george jess gave cover for wierwille. Who REALLY believed that george jess was the first corps DIRECTOR?

Shocking, absolutely shocking......that twi would whitewash their sins! Wonder if the '60s folk never heard of the '50s stuff... Wonder if the '70s folk never heard of the '60s stuff... Wonder if the '80s folk never heard of the '70s stuff... etc. And then along came Jones.....the internet.

Groucho......good point The betrayal and hypocrisy that I experienced in twi has really opened my eyes....and, I believe, will harvest benefits for the rest of my life. One of the most repetitious accounts in the scriptures......the Lord leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and the cruelty of their taskmasters. And further, didn't they leave with the gold?

waysider....that "literal translation" could also have been applied to vp's WOW Program. As long as the ministry wasn't blamed, the wow program was providing a steady flow of new recruits while the "wow vets" moved into the college division and way corps program. WOWs---> new recruits ---> more WOWs ---> corps ---> cash ---> campuses ---> strategic power

Why didn't God warn twi leadership to NOT send corps hitchhiking in the first place? That's a good question....of which, one will never be answered. While in plaf, wierwille makes a big deal about NOT POINTING FINGERS else three point back at you.....twi does it ALL the time. They've rigged the guilt-game.....heads they win, tails you lose. And, martindale.....6'2" and 210 lbs male probably doesn't have a passing thought about being raped while hitchhiking. He got his ride and didn't give a sh!t about his female hitchhiker traveling with strangers. Where's the compassion? Where's the common decency of an "unbeliever?" Martindale FAILED to follow 2X2 corps rules.......and then, BLASTS ANOTHER CORPS GUY years later for leaving this girl? What if martindale's situation would have resulted in his hitchhiking partner being repeatedly raped??? Oh that's right......rules only apply to the shlubs, not the ruling class. Of course.....take it back one more notch: Wierwille didn't CANCEL the LEAD PROGRAM after Ken Barton, 7th corps, was accidently killed alongside the roads of Kansas. Years ago, when RalphD was posting on this subject.....he went into length about wierwille and his son-in-law, J0hn Svmmerv!lle, with regards to the TFI program. Wierwille couldn't get John to do certain things that violated John's judgement. Wierwille was unable to push John arround.....and they parted ways. And, wierwille started up LEAD with "his" people. How far back do the violations go? How deep is the arrogance in twi? How vast is the narcissism founding? .

On this forum.....Jonny Lingo is discussing all the fun times he had in twi and, then specifically, the incident where the hitch-hiking corps girl gets raped. Well......I've shared this a couple of times on GSC, so I'll keep it brief: Back in the early 70s, before LEAD.....Total Fitness Institute (TFI) was a similar twi-hitchhiking experience to California. Martindale and a corps woman were partnered to put their thumbs out and get to California. When they got to a bus stop in Oklahoma City, and after about an hour of trying to get rides.....both, martindale and the corps woman, each found a ride at about the same time. With two rides available, they now had a dilemma.....and martindale said, "I'll take my ride and you takes yours. I'll see you in California." And, that's what happened. Both arrived safely without incident.....BUT MARTINDALE VIOLATED THE PRINCIPLE OF 2x2 AND FAILED TO BE THE MAN WHO WOULD PROTECT A CORPS WOMAN. Years later, that corps woman.......I married her. .