skyrider

Man, Oldies..........you're living in a time capsule of sorts. Now, lots depended on region/limb/area/branch/twig leadership..........but geeze, you might have found the ONE SPOT on earth where twi sat around and held hands. And, by 1985 or so.....all was racheted up quite a few notches. By the 1990s.......string were not only attached, but WELDED with iron tie-rods!!

The minute one cuts ties with twi......twi declares that person "possessed." I've sat in ENOUGH corps meetings to know what twi leadership says.....when someone exits!!!!!

Belle....is this BC couple still retaining their corps status?

Yes, Belle......I know of whom you speak and KNOW some specifics regarding these "counseling cover-ups." Talk about inside information? It doesn't get much closer to the center than that! If twi had any shred of integrity....this region couple would have been ousted THE SAME DAY martindick hit the road. Of course, then rosie and john reyxxxxs and donna and lindxr and many others would have been packing too! But hey......twi isn't so bad now! At LEAST, martindick isn't roaming the twi landscape with trustee approval. Thankfully, twi's lawyers have more brains than twi's directors.

Twi doesn't use the word "grooming" either....its language has to "sell the biblical product." Thus, "way corps training" is inserted. In proverbs, Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from thee. (??) See, it's even got "train" and "the way" in the SAME verse. --> --> BUT.....the word "conditioning" is more suited to the process. :P-->

Belle.....so true! And, those region guys......they are the dobermans out there guarding the junkyards at night! Whenever people exit twi....it threatens their domain, their power, and reverberates back to twi hq! The slander campaign QUICKLY moves in for damage control....and the bullying doesn't subside until the region guy is satisfied that all subjects are back on their heels. I've seen this approach ONE TIME.....and that was enough! It didn't take me long to connect the dots and plan an exit strategy. Those region couples manipulate and are manipulated. And, imo....they KNOW it!

outandabout.....LOL "Twi isn't so bad now.".....hmmmmmm, maybe we should do a word-by-word study to see exactly what is being said here (like vpw's infamous literals according to usage). 1) Twi......emphasis ON twi, an organization, mother-ship, life support system, etc. 2) isn't....aka is NOT....hmmmm, why on the defensive? "truth" needs no defense, remember? :P--> 3) so.......descriptive word to "lessen the bad"??? 4) bad......so, now that it's a lesser BAD....it's good to go back?? whao!!! 5) now......like it wasn't safe BEFORE. So, here's the literal.......The way international was a corrupt, deceptive, man-exalted organization that has been exposed by the internet and lawsuits and former followers who have drawn away thousands of followers and hundreds of thousands of dollars of abundant sharing. THEREFORE, in more subtle measures we are welcoming back those who left and want your money to help us rebuild a gentler image now.

Did there NEED to be a Zero Corps to start the conditioning? I mean....was the threat of "dumping the whole thing" something vpw used to leverage his policies and startup conditioning?

Geeze.....and wouldn't that region guy in Florida and Georgia and Texas be 55 or so? maybe a little older? Where could they possibly go if, for some conscience-filled moment, they decided to leave twi? What a REALITY check!!! :D-->

Even today......twi thrives on yearly themes of loaded language. The Promised Land of the Prevailing Word: Building Spiritual Understanding......ambiguous? confusing? mumbo-jumbo?........you betcha. Just the way they want it!

Shaz....yeah, he learned alright. At times, I stop and think about twi's timeline......wierwille was 51 years old when his pfal class was filmed and on the field for public consumption. Add a couple of years or so, and the zero corps program got canned. Heck, wierwille was around 55 years old......and had been around the block a few times when things started growing to anything substantial. By the time the 4th, 5th and 6th corps were pluggin away....certain patterns were set.

On another thread, Satori brought up the point that the way corps program was more about conditioning than training. Here is the quote: This topic deserves its own thread. Countless books have been written on the study of behavior modification, social conformity and thought reform. Even the broad strokes of studying cults and high-demand groups lead one to many thought provoking questions about the inresidence way corps program and its practices. For instance...... * Limiting all forms of communication with outside world. * Chain of command communication rather than personal communication. * Ultimate high purpose within a special group. * The twig, branch, & area leaders manipulate and were being manipulated. * Witnessing weekends, work days, lightbearers, etc. were engineered for a deliberate effect. * Public beratings were common......guilt & condemnation was deeply sown in one's soul. * By works, corps person maintained status....and demanded 'self-attainment' from others. * Confession was monitored in the twigs, branches, areas.....a self-policing environment. * Inresidence corps had little or no privacy, physically or mentally. * The word "was" the ministry.....and.....the ministry "was" the word. * Conformity was the goal....and individualism was vigorously repressed. * No questioning of "training" was permitted.....public grievances were not tolerated. * Loaded language.....inresidence corps adapted to newer in-house terminology. * Black-or-white concepts and teaching points were used to indoctrinate. * Controlling words helps to control corps' thoughts. * Past experiences and careers are invalid if they conflict with present truth goals. * The value of individuals is insignificant when compared to group and group values. * Group belif supersedes individual conscience and integrity. * Current news was ignored or altered by the leader at microphone. * The group decides who has the right to exist and who does not. * All former corps are seen as "weak"...."evil"...."the enemy." * The group insists that their "training" is "the best in all the world." Does any of this LOOK familiar? Yeah.....we sang children's songs alot! We sang Father Abraham even though some knew the meaning behind it! We sat on the floor.....sunday morning meeting, afterglow meetings and other times. Okay.....I had some laughs....I had "some" fun times.....I still have a few friends from the corps experience...........BUT IT WAS CORPS CONDITIONING. skyrider

That's for sure! Without exaggerating one bit......I'd say there were about 150 - 175 guys standing in line......standing in the dark.....waiting for their turn.....to ride a mechanical bull....to see if they'd qualify. Yeah,......AND at rodeo time vpw would be sitting in the announcer's booth with Uncle George. The reason for the 5:30am mechanical bull ride.......1) to see who was serious about riding, 2) to have the qualifiers named by breakfast (7:30am?), and 3) to organize all those who didn't qualify as volunteers to open/close chutes and stuff. If I remember right......there were only about 25 bulls to ride, at most. That meant LOTS and LOTS of guys didn't make the cut.

Yeah.....during corps graduation week. That's the one. I'd forgot that this rodeo thing was opened up to others in the following years. With vpw on campus, the place was buzzing with activity. Lots of meetings....an afternoon of volleyball, rafting, games, and a couple of nightowls that week. At the supper meal the day before our rodeo, I was sitting at the head table when vpw took the microphone after announcements and said , "We'll see which one of you cowboy studs can ride dem bulls tomorrow." He talked for about 3 or 4 minutes and then left. Whether he was hyping it or just pokin' at us, I don't know. BUT........my, oh my......there were so many guys lined up the next morning at 5:30 am (NO kidding.... 5:30am to ride the mechanical bull to qualify) that you'da thought there was a $20,000 prize. Even I got to the back of the line and tried to ride that damn thing....but couldn't. :D--> Glad to hear that Donxaldson got his buckle back. I remember him giving it to craig as a gift. Don't quite remember why he did it......even at that time, it struck me as a little odd. And, for craig to even 'want' to accept it......?????

Radar, Rodeo School.....that's it! Thanx. Yeah....Pat was extremely disappointed the last time I saw him. What a change! That guy had undying zeal and a heart of service for so many years.

Yeah.......he could have heating pads, massages, medicine, sauna, chiropratic appointments, comfy lounge chair, the works! and NOT HAVE ANYONE IN HIS FACE TO CHALLENGE HIS BELIEVING. The lowly corps were berated by corps leadership if they missed one class or meeting.

I know that this was posted in my original post.....BUT I believe there are several levels between corps/clergy and the BOD. Unmistakeably, the centralization of twi's structure fuels its belly with INSIDER INFORMATION and MONEY. The hq finance staff see the paperwork.......like when twi's 18 wheeler got wrecked by that 8th corps guy, staff cars wrecked, petty cash expenditures, etc. etc. There is always the "public release of information" that follows. The trunk office personnel get the skinny on INFORMATION. They help cover up information when a region guy or limb guy quits and leaves twi.....they back up the BOD when announcements are made at lunch. Or, in their silence....they condone the lies that are spewed forth. Trunk personnel are involved with this stuff constantly! There is absolutely NO comparison between these guys and corps on the field. None. Then, at the very least......another couple of levels of "inner circle confidantes." Include WayGB types.....at hq and field. Top region guys would be in on this level. Maybe a few cabinet members....wouldn't you think? And, include some of the sex-solicitors....the girls who coaxed and manipulated situations to assist lcm. Anyways.........the network had several more levels. All of these threads on GS have exposed the multi-faceted, interworking exploitation.

VP could have his fancy plane and motorcoach. BUT......corps rode in the back of a truck??? The twi hypocrisy stinks to high heaven!!!

How many times did vpw LECTURE THE CORPS ON DETAILS.........citing how when howard allen was driving the coach that he had to be extra diligent to not swerve an inch. ELSE......veepee would get thrown around at the back of the bus!!!!!!

simon.....LOL Yeah, I heard about that one. Good thing twi didn't test people like that.....there would be more DEAD corps than there are. If they were just testing our LOY-alty....that's one thing.......... But, if they were testing our BE-LEAVING.........I wish that I'd had the good sense to LEAVE. :D-->

To be clear.... The bull riding was optional.....but with vpw hyping up the event, few men declined. It was a test.....at corps graduation week.... and to see who was REALLY believing.

As finances rolled in and numbers swelled, the way corps program became a testing ground for "believing God".....those who failed the tests did not graduate. Some of the tests were: 1) L.E.A.D. 2) Bull Riding School 3) Lightbearers (and get a pfal class together) 4) Hitch hiking to destination (and back) Talk about risks!! Twi had us sign a waiver before anyone was allowed to ride a bull. WHY??? Because they knew there were risks involved!! And, corps DID get hurt......while trying to ride a ton of raging, snorting, twisting, kicking hell. This was another bonehead test to weed out unwanted corps. Vp's corps program was an extension of his pfal class........where the law of believing was the incarnation of his corps. The tests and risk-taking adventures can be traced back through martindale and wierwille.....whose narcistic behaviors were always trying to "up the stakes" of each incoming corps. The Bull Riding School was high risk.....and vpw watched it with great delight. skyrider

Punxsutawney The legend of Groundhog Day is based on an old Scottish couplet: "If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year." Every February 2, people gather at Gobbler's Knob, a wooded knoll just outside of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Residents contend that the groundhog has never been wrong. The ceremony in Punxsutawney was held in secret until 1966, and only Phil's prediction was revealed to the public. Since then, Phil's fearless forecast has been a national media event.

Just ANOTHER confirmation of ego-maniac control. :D--> EVERYTHING since the day I walked away from twi.......God's blessings on my life, lawsuits against lcm, Y2K fear-phobia, waydale, greasespot, rosie-donna leadership, and more.....ALL HAVE BEEN EXCLAMATION MARKS FOR LEAVING. And.....I ain't goin' back no more, no more, no more, no more.......I hit the road jack and I ain't goin' back NO MOOOORE. :D--> ... I wish I could sing it in original... :D-->

Well....I'm not going to be the one who says, "ALL of it was WRONG." John 14:6.......was RIGHT.....and I still believe it. :D-->