skyrider

Yep......FOUR graduates!! Wonder if they made them wear nametags to class???? Didn't the ZERO CORPS have five or six.....before veepee canned it? And, the 1st corps.........nine.

On the other hand..........even with a skeleton staff crew around.... It shouldn't take too long to peel a few potatoes, should it? It wouldn't take all that long to wash some dishes, would it? Stringing two rows of chairs...........no problem. Or, how about learning ALL the names of your corps brethren? And......the reading of the names at corps graduation took all of one minute. Talk about the practical application of the Redeeming the Time Class...!!!

Oops.....I see your emphasis now. I'm still chuckling that there were only four corps graduates. How low will the numbers go? If only one stays.....will they keep the program programming?

dmiller........in the back of the book there is an order form. Name__________________________________ Address________________________________ City, State, Zip__________________________ Country________________________________ Phone__________________________________ Book pricing: 1 copy $15.00 2-9 copies $12.00 per book 10+ $10.00 per book Shipping: $3.00 for the first book and $1.00 for each additional book within US. Make checks payable to: Redlands Bible Fellowship And mail to: Redlands Bible Fellowship 1308 Fairview Lane Redlands, CA 92374 Fax: (909) 798-9660 The book is detailed with some Greek and Hebrew......and occassional versions besides the King James. IMO, it is well-done and inspiring to the Christian believer. I liked it and plan to reread it. To answer your second question dmiller..........I have no idea.

Speaking of W@lter Cummxins......... The corps grad who recently left a geerite group told me that Cummxns new work on the gospels and the life of Jesus Christ is the new "acceptable standard"........according to many. Apparently the 2004 book by Rev. David Bergey entitled Jesus Christ Our Approach Offering is no longer touted now that Cummxns has come onboard. Surprise, surprise. Seems to me, the alpha male superiority and adulation gets top rung. Just no room in religious hierarchy to give "a level playing field" to members in particular in the Body of Christ. Getting back to "the word".....indeed? NOT I've read Bergey's work.....good stuff. Table of contents: chapter 1.................Introduction: Jesus Christ, The Way into God's Presence chapter 2.................Leviticus: Approaching God with an Approach Offering chapter 3.................Approaching God in Prayer chapter 4.................Jesus Christ: Our Approach Offering chapter 5.................The Veil Rent chapter 6.................Our Right of Boldness in Approach chapter 7.................Without Blemish Before Him in Love chapter 8.................Holy Before Him in Love chapter 9.................The Intimacy of Our Approach chapter 10...............The Final Approach

If my math is correct........that would be the 34th WC. Four Way Corps graduates.........??????????????? Imagine the expenses at gunnysack land to accommodate a "corps training location" for these four graduates?? The innies abs at work. I know, I know.........really, in actuality, camp gunnison is an investment, an asset for the twi books, a rocky mountain getaway for the bigwigs, and a nest egg for the corporation.

Thanks Eagle. I appreciate you adding that link to this thread. Nice.

With regards to the class fee and ABS............I'd venture to say that MANY of these guys worked the numbers of abundant sharing as the lion's share of profits that they'd be receiving in terms of the geer franchise. IMO, the geer label was the MOST ATTRACTIVE at the 1986 juncture....and would sway the majority of ex-twi followers into their fold. During my twi tenure.......I ran plenty of class....but it was the ABS that put the ship to financial shores of plenty. The classes were merely an anchor.....relatively unseen but an important part of the vessel. There is NO comparison. ABS stokes the coffers.....and the big dogs know it.

Socks......good stuff. You're a real card!

Yep, igotout.........follow the money trail. :) No longer is the "geer label" needed to leverage the allegiance of many ex-wayfers into their folds. For surely, 18 years of association (for many) has rooted their convictions and friendships. And, unless geer is pumping new and exciting classes into the works........most, I would assume, have repeated the standard classes enough times. It really comes down to business. Like WhiteDove stated, he "ran the numbers" when first looking at the geer contract and decided against it. Others....with a larger influence and/or area....signed on the line and have made a go of it. To me.......it sounds like modern-day business activity, like a MLM. Not quite the book of Acts in operation, IMO. Just re-packaging the pfal package with different colors and contents that stimulate academic exercises and elitism.

Kinda like.........."the secrecy of his (geer's) success is the secrecy of his (geer's) moves." Wowsers!!! The guy sure can wheel and deal.

Belle......Yes, the Uncle Harry quote was along the lines that much of the Bible was just plain common horse sense. Seems that they loaded them in thar starting gates with their a$$es forward.......tis a public sight for sore eyes for sure. Just another back-assward move on their part.

Thanks WhiteDove, I understand the part about losing or choosing to discontinue their license agreements. I think what this corps grad was referring to was the clergyman's association with other peers......feeling like he'd failed and was doing a second-rate work without the geer license. For indeed.........if the geer-franchise/license is the working model of success, then to "lose this license" is backsliding, sorta speak. Dunno though. Still don't quite understand how it all works. I mean...........if Doug Sxxd lost this geer franchise/contract (as I heard from this corps grad), can "his people" or "area of influence" STILL ATTEND the summer camps when geerites get together??? I know you say that they're independent.........but, it seems to me, that they still fly the same flag of allegiance. Because........if they're "independent" then why do they congregate with only like affliation at these summer camps?

Over 20 years ago, Geer gave a public "spiritual slapping" to twi's trustees when he read his infamous "The Passing of a Patriarch." Geer touted himself as having the nod from God to lead those who "wanted to get back to the Word." Last week, I was talking to a corps grad who had been involved with a geerite group and he said, "Many of those guys (leaders) are losing their license with geer because they have not kept the standard and conditions of that contract." Thus, their affliation with the geerite following is on shaky ground......kinda like another spiritual probation scenario (just like twi). Is the geerite following fading away? And.....as was pointed out on another thread, these groups are merely a local haven for common interests and beliefs........NOT a movement that is flourishing. After all, 18 years of association in many of these geerite groups.........and the same faces, the same seats at fellowship.......hardly qualifies for a SPIRITUAL MOVEMENT OF GOD. Geer's "nod from God" would more appropriately be qualified as a "trustee stab and power grab."

Other splinter groups/movements: Larry Panarello.....teaching tapes / headed out of Columbus, OH Dale Sides.....don't remember the name of it Michael Ruud.....books, tapes, publication "The Ruud Awakening"

Having just talked to a corps grad who recently left a geerite group............he said there were two main points of contention: 1) Conformity to Geerite class doctrine........All local teachings stemmed from geer's classes. No emphasis was placed on the particular needs in this "independent" fellowship. 2) The ex-twi reverend's top goal for the year.....was to NOT lose his license for running geer classes. Apparently, many have not upheld their agreement and/or standard of this geer-license/franchise/contract. Doesn't sound too "independent" if you ask me. What are the rules? The fees? The agreement to keeping a geer-license??? Anybody know? :unsure:

Yes, Mrs. W was definitely the queen bee of twi. IMO, on so many levels..........she found "her space" to function apart from veepee. He was the president..............she was the first lady. He was "the teacher"..............she was the loving, faithful helpmate. He was out traveling...............she was busy raising the kids. He was living "coach style"......she was rooted in the Wierwille homestead. He was confrontational............she was the caring, gentle soul. He was controversial...............she was the soft side of acceptance. He was on the prowl................she was stedfast in prayer. And, yes.........her position in twi was unmatched. During the late 70s / early 80s...at the peak of those ministry years, she was in the spotlight........elevated far beyond her Ohio-farm background. At major events and the annual Roa, she was showered with gifts from around the world......perfume, jewelry, accessories, etc. Even into the 90s, gift tables were in her suite......as the gifts came pouring in during WIB and/or Adv Class Specials. To me, it seems that.....as the corps program gained momentum, veepee had overpowering access to these corps women (and others?). The isolation facilitated it. The mog-adulation facilitated it. The motorcoach facilitated it. The systematizing of doctrinal error facilitated it. Wierwille's "weakness" became a gaping hole of lust and license for sin. And, Mrs. Wierwille stayed put and stayed quiet.....because she "weighed the balance" of good versus evil and dutifully succombed to her soft-spoken side. Right or wrong, it was a choice that must have weighed heavy on her heart until vpw's death in 1985.

WM......??? Probably, W@lly M@nthie (sp?)........from that part of the country. Could be wrong, but that's who came to mind.

Hardly. My grandparents, back in the 1920s, had home fellowships.........and about once a month, an itinerant preacher made his rounds to their home.

Someone posted recently that B & R S@ge are Limb and/or Reg. coordinators for this area. I wonder if Bill travels around packing (a gun).....like he used to during his Arkansas reign (1990-1993) ?? IMO, it always seemed paradoxical to "be packing" and "be preaching" on an itinerary?? Yeah, nice folks.......but don't know how they stomach the legalism and dull droning of rosalie & co.

And...........you saved $52.00 to boot. :)

Yeah...........group emails, but no personal email. That's the ole groupthink mentality that permeated twi in the late 80s and continues to this day. By the late 90s, in many limbs and areas it was standard procedure to get clearance from your branch/limb guy if you wanted to have a backyard barbeque with others in your fellowship. And, of course.....the branch leader and wife were to be invited as well. All conversations were monitored and steered to wayspeak. If they can't herd you in their direction.....they tend to mooooo..ve on. SFS....I will wait for "the rest of the story." :) skyrider

SFS..........lol Thanks....and a warm welcome to GS.

"Burn the Ballast".....later, "Burn the Chaff" day aka "Uncle Harry Day" WAS recognized every year on the Sunday nearest to Uncle Harry's birthday of March 17. The practical aspect of bringing stuff to hq's fire to burn made it imperative to recognize this annual event on a Sunday.....when people were off work and able to attend a Sunday Teaching Service afterwards.

Tom.....sounds like wierwille went to NY to boost his influence and "power grab" the spiritual activity. And, for that matter.......seems like wierwille's motorcoach runs were aimed at HOT SPOTS of growing work rather than the spirit of God in action as noted in the book of Acts. In marketing his product.........wierwille was loading up all the bells and whistles when he went on these (business) itineraries. More hype than substance. Understandably, this approach did NOT please the One True God.......and, as you noted, the "joints and bands" were cut asunder and a counterfeit structure was implemented.