skyrider

Three words: THE ZERO CORPS Wierwille didn't have the ability or discernment to properly run a corps program. He charged in full speed ahead to follow his lead with zero tolerance er, "teach and train these young people in Christian leadership".......and when he flat-out FAILED, he blamed it on the students and shifted the blame to them. What a low-life whiner. The MOG status was an end-around scriptural term that he drudged up for generic reasons. See....a "man of God" is legit scripturally, BUT IT DOESN'T PIN ONE DOWN TO ANYTHING SPECIFIC. And, that's what wierwille always was looking for: no accountability. He could then run and hide behind his desk [rather than hiding in the woods as a kid] and not have to be accountable. Oh, he did claim to be a "teacher".......but that could be molded to about any agenda. So, all in all......wierwille had the ability to sermonize [homiletics] from the works of speechwriters [plagiarized works] and that was it. No track record of accomplishments. No missionary work....except going to India and writing a booklet [mostly plagiarized?] on foreign missions. Always hitchhiking on the work of others. The idolatrous stench has permeated every fiber and fabric of twi.......even their red drapes.

And.....the mog-doctrine spread throughout the whole of twi. The corps went forth with indoctrinated loyalty.

As wierwille amassed power and control, the mog-doctrine became a cornerstone for the corps indoctrination. From my experience, the corps coordinators methodically delved into pfal rehash and the Dale Carnegie techniques for the first six weeks. Incremental Indoctrination 101 was the game plan to lull us into subservient obedience. As corps, we reported to a twig coordinator, a work coordinator, a dorm supervisor, elder corps on campus.....and a branch coordinator, an area coordinator, an assistant corps coordinator (and wife) and corps coordinators were ALL IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. See......we were being "trained" to OBEY THE PYRAMID PRAETORIAN GUARD. And......when wierwille was on campus, the fawning adulation was unbridled idolatry. Where were all those *walk by the spirit* teachings? Where were those *make Jesus lord of your life* exhortations? Where were the *members in particular in the One Body* examples? Where were the *take it to the Lord in prayer* admonitions? If you obey your leadership, the Lord will reward you. Say that again? Obedience scriptures were brought front-and-center to drive home their point. Of course....it was a given (cough, cough) that twi leadership WALKED with God. Lectures, lectures, lectures........but could we ever have a public questions/answers time? Nope. They held the microphone, the demanded obedience, and bullied many into submission.....or else. Thus, the corps went forward with these "marching orders"........surprise, surprise it didn't work on the field to bully and browbeat others. Maybe, that's the way a dysfunctional family operates.......but that's NO WAY to run a diverse, dynamic and highly-motivated individuals who love the Lord. It was SO OBVIOUS that this was not going to work.....and for years, I questioned the corps training as to these putrid progressions. Some corps grads would defend the program by saying that it was beneficial for **training purposes** because so many were so ill-equipped and undisciplined. But I would contest....that it was bigger than that BECAUSE THE MOG-DOCTRINE SUPPRESSED MY LORD AND SAVIOR'S PRESENCE IN MY LIFE. Thus, going on the field to where loving *believers* were.....was my refuge from the wierwille onslaught of idolatry. The corps program was NOT what I'd signed up for.....it was NOT spiritual training in the Word. It was cherry-picking verses that furthered the wierwille agenda......the man who was a lazy kid and never held a real job. Yeah, the man who plagiarized his way thru school and into a sleight-of-hand-ministry. The man who would be MOG in all his reflected glory. The chickens have come home to roost in this debunked, cobwebbed henhouse and a fox still has access thru the rotten floor boards. That's what happens when one doesn't know the Lord......he tries to be a Simon mog-sorcerer.

Bolshevik....thanks for starting this thread. In my opinion, this *suppressing of emotion* has been cunningly MANIPULATED from the powers that be in twi. I am certainly no psychiatrist, but I believe that the systematic manipulation of scoffing at those who show emotion is an effective tool of control. There is something about one's emotions that circumnavigate the indoctrination process. I don't quite know how to explain it.......but emotions open one's soul to empathize with his fellow man and "walk in his shoes and feel the sandburs pricking" that identify with trouble, hardship, hurt, oppression, castigating, bullying, etc. I would go so far as to say that EMOTIONS ARE THE GATEWAY to discernment and, often, motivate us to action. How fitting that a cult-group browbeats its followers to shut down their emotions. Does emotional control CLOSE THE LAST REFUGE to critical thought and processing reality? Seems to me, that God Almighty had a very unique and significant purpose in bestowing us with an ARSENAL OF EMOTIONS.....to alert us to danger, to help us survive and thrive, and to give us the full range of life and living. 1) Behavioral control 2) Information control 3) Thought control 4) Emotional control The innermost heart of one's life and soul resides in emotions that we garner throughout our vast array of experiences. We safeguard them because they are, often so intimate and private. While some may attribute the show of emotions as weakness, I find them to be treasured and unique and a collaboration of what makes me....me. Maybe...none of this makes sense. But it does to me. :)

Only a sociopath like wierwille could start a corps program, set up more and more hoops, kick the corps in the teeth daily and demand more slave servitude, demand they work for free, or work for a pittance on staff with leadership that was ANTI-FAMILY.......and then incredulously WONDER why in he!l the corps "won't faithfully keep standing on this corpse commitment." Try upending your life EVERY YEAR and starting over. Try convincing your new boss with that pot-hole resume to hire you. Try looking yourself in the mirror and believing that its going to ever get better. The corps were following in the steps of a lunatic.

Yeah......the MOG dictates to QUIT YOUR JOB [if you have to] and get to every corps week and roa. With travel time and all, it consumed three weeks every year......plus, other long weekend corps meetings and advances and classes. And, then.....one finds out that ole veepee STAYED ON VAN WERT PAYROLL UNTIL AUGUST 1957 while running Leonard's class from October 1953 and onward AND later, heading off on his India itinerary. When did wierwille QUIT HIS JOB? After he'd milked the church for all he could and AFTER he had "all his ducks in a row" to strike out with Leonard's class and skimmed off a number of the church faithful. Yeah.....WIERWILLE THE HYPOCRIT. The guy was a false teacher. The guy was a snake oil salesman. The guy was grade-A hypocrisy on a stick.

Yeah.....they "claim" to have no fear and yet, are stifled by it. Heck, many are AFRAID to buck twi's ridiculous mandates or ask questions without retribution. Nice prison. The control methods of cults: The full article is here --- Untoward Secrecy

Later......"the Word" is used as this nebulous, generic, murky buzz-speak of embracing the [selective] scriptures and standing for them. Later, veepee states..."The Word is the ministry and the ministry is the Word." Really??? So now, twi is synonymous with spiritual standing and state. The whole ministry.....collectively-speaking. Actions? Morals? Intent? Heart? VPW's statement was SO WRONG on so many levels that contradict scripture. The Magic of Believing......became *the magic of believing what you were told.* And, with THAT.......one is akin to his fellow "believer" in North Korea.

To this day.....I still think ONE of the most deceptive elements in this exploitation is the DISTANCE FACTOR between timbuckto twig and "international headquarters." Some good-hearted twig or branch coordinator is out there serving others.....helping, giving, teaching, living, praying to the best of his ability. What do those people see? They see a dedicated servant "of the Lord".....one who is a dedicated representative. At hq......the bureaucratic pyramid of legalism and control is mandating the messaging. Many of the staff live in tightly-quartered dorm rooms that are monitored by snitches and loyalists galore. The upper tier staff have homes off-grounds that are patrolled by twi's safety guys who drive around on 24/7 security watch. Unlike a local church.....where one sees their senior pastor involved in community efforts, hospital visits, local issues, and upfront presence, wierwille and his ilk set up a system that was hidden from public accountability. Plus, this *mystique factor of the mog* was systematically heralded by an echelon of yes-men and the cult is mesmerized by projections of what they presume him to be. The mystique is broken when reality hits YOUR front door. Whether that's confrontation, or dissent, or twi stepping over the line and butting into your personal family issues..... you take a stand or you cower and fall back in line. Like a subliminal picture within a picture......ONCE YOU SEE the hidden snarling wolf in that nice woodland landscape picture, you NEVER see that picture the same again.

The magic of believing twi doctrine is the mastery of its deception. In a small twig far, far away......I once believed in the mission of biblical research, teaching and fellowship via the way international headquartered in ohio. I signed on the line and took this class that claimed to be the foundation for biblical learning. One of the cornerstones to this foundation was "the written word takes the place of the absent Christ." And, this word rightly-divided is of no PRIVATE interpretation.....except when veepee just *knows* that it should have been translated this way, not that way. The outside structure of this house-hold is framed by "the law of believing" and it works for saint and sinner alike [so why, again, one might ask what does accepting jesus or Christianity have to do with twi?]....and I digress. In my small twig....I faithfully felt compelled [coerced] to tithe to this organization that is relatively unknown in the Christian community. Did I say tithing? It was more than that.....plus, I bought their teaching tapes, and signed up for more classes. In their "Renewed Mind Class" [note: the finished product of a complete, locked-shut renewed mind]....my mind was made up for me and no one was going to talk me out of it!! My eyes were fixated on the white-gloved hand of the magician.....and mirrors of deception kept me from seeing the magic of manipulation. After all, I mean, who's going to think that a Christian minister would be this brazen to obscure the truth of the scriptures or his testimony of the Lord's workings? And hey.....he smoked and joked and seemed cool to the hippie-youth and everything! And, the girls......seemed strong and assertive and greeted me with a nice kiss and hug every time I showed up. Not that end of the date kiss kinda thing, but right then and there. And, with several girls in attendance.....let the kissing and hugging commence. Those were the days of magic and bliss. :) Far, far away was this wierwille guy who one-handed had unlocked the secrets and held the keys to the kingdom of God. He offered more classes.....more programs......more answers. Hundreds upon hundreds of youth were swept away in their enthusiasm of this counter-revolution to bash establishment rules of careers, family, home ownership, and equity. I mean, what could possibly be more important than FORSAKING ALL AND FOLLOWING TWI DOCTRINE? All one had to do was follow and believe.

So.....veepee asked to see signs and BINGO. Remember what he said......he didn't know anything about the manifestations and WANTED TO LEARN how to 'walk by the spirit.' Well, according to his definitions.......wasn't it the devil that was answering his requests? He sees black hearts in individuals. He sees white hearts in others. He wins at the horse track [sure, I believe that wasn't some bs story ] Why didn't he share his black snowstorm SIGN in pfal?

When someone talks for a living, preaches for a paycheck and schmoozes for adulation..... you can be sure that he contradicts himself ALOT. Step back and look at his life. Yeah, step back......and connect the dots. What he was quoted as saying in plaf......was scripted for good measure. What he wholesale plagiarized from others.....he couldn't replicate in living. What sounded good to an audience..........was violated in the motorcoach. What one mistook as spiritual maturity....was deceptive mastery. Even the man's epitaph was spoken to mask a life of deception and arrogance. And......if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

"Yet every coercive religious group harbors one telltale trait: untoward secrecy. As opposed to a cult, a religious culture ought to be as simple to enter OR EXIT, for members or observers, as any free nation. Members should experience no impediment to relationships, ideas or travel, and the group's finances should be reasonably transparent. Its doctrine need not be conventional—but it should be knowable to outsiders. Absent those qualities, an unorthodox religion can descend into something darker." Why would wierwille BLAST AWAY at any corps grad who expressed concern or dismay of twi's direction? Why gave veepee the right to verbally assault such an individual? Did he meet with this corps grad and talk thru the controversial issues? Why the name-calling? How does this character assassination technique advance the corps training? Shouldn't this kind of thing be handled in private......or is there other motives at work here? Was I the only one who was deeply disturbed by this heavy-handed corps technique?

Over the weekend, someone asked me....."What was the first red flag you saw in twi that really got your attention? At the time of our conversation, I cited a couple of incidents on my WOW year and how leadership handled it. In further pondering this question, I now would say that the first red flag that rocked my core sense of twi was.....in 1978, at a corps night and how wierwille verbally assaulted a corps grad. For those unfamiliar with corps night "teachings".....it is an in-house corps teaching where, oftentimes, corps behavior or dissent are FOCAL POINTS of what is *off the word.* In these meetings, naming names and berating patterns of behavior are commonplace. Wierwille labeled those who dissented and/or were exiting twi as copouts. THAT was my first red flag. For some reason, it ALWAYS disturbed me. Deep down, I felt that it was abusive and wrong. Why did wierwille have to publically castigate the individual is such a vulgar manner? Why is this acceptable? Is this even Christian? For me, the following article delves into THE FIRST RED FLAG that so disturbed me. I posted this a few years ago on this link.....Untoward Secrecy

Thanks Jim.....I appreciate your kind words. Yeah.....I gotta say, that "earthly family" term ALWAYS irritated me. Most especially when its juxtaposed with A Day with the Wierwilles. Really? It was all surreal.....showboating the wierwille clan, the pictures, the stories, parading them across the stage......and THEN THE PROPHECIES. By 1982, it would be fair to say that a majority of corps took *vacation time* to attend corps wk and roa. At the time, I was on staff at hq......and went SEVEN YEARS without seeing my parents or siblings....so imagine how some of us felt when wierwille seemed to have little empathy for OUR family situations. All of the parading, and promoting, and prophesying did NOT fill the void in my heart for longing to be with my own family. That whole corps week was just creepy. And.....by this time, 1982, many of the corps were starting families. Pregnant women, nursing babies, strollers, crying......the back end of the main tent was lined with a new crop of parents each year. IMO.....the sociopath wierwille didn't display on ounce of empathy for these growing families, with a world of bonding, and memories, and cuddling, and cherished family traditions ahead of them.

FROM WIERWILLE'S OWN MOUTH..... The message to the corps could NOT have been any clearer. The last corps week that vpw would HOLD the spiritual mantle....and he said THIS? Not just a flippant statement, but one that he pondered, and delivered with emphasis. And.....the backdrop of the corps week was THE WIERWILLE FAMILY AND LEGACY. And.....the build-up to rock of ages and 40th anniversary....and martindale mantle. To the body of corps......almost like "the last will and testament of wierwille." And......FOUR YEARS LATER, geer states the same. Forsaking dr. wierwille was the sin of the corps. The trustees abandoned him.....and so did the corps. Doesn't this smell of man-worship and the sin of idolatry?

My interests in re-examining The Delusional Legacy of Wierwille is to illustrate two things: 1) Wierwille was fixated on grandiose, delusions of self-importance and self-love 2) Twi Bureaucracy and machinery were the enablers of this delusion.....and still are Remember this? The Week Wierwille's Wagon Wheels Wobbled Click Here - earthly family......another twi-derogatory-sucker-punch Yeah.....in August 1982, the 40th Anniversary year......the culmination of all that wierwille achieved and THE LEGACY HE WAS BUILDING was paraded across the main stage for all to see. And, what was wierwille living for? What was wierwille's grand legacy? The Wierwille Family MUST stand together on da verd......otherwise, this "verd of god" will not live in our day and time. Period. And further, wierwille "prophesies" that his grandson, Luke S0merville, will be the one who is spiritually groomed to be the third president of the way international. Imagine all the implications surrounding this. The extended family of wierwille was flown in from many parts of the country for this week....many of whom had little commitment to the nucleus of wierwille's ministry and MUCH LESS to his "prophesies." Months of planning, special attention, special seating, grandchildren dressed and paraded across the stage.....and wierwille unveils this incubated "prophesy" that comes out of nowhere. Wierwille heritage build-up. Wierwille Family crest [changed from three seagulls to three doves]. Selling of wierwille-crest wine glasses in bookstore. Special leather-bound edition of RHST. Here, wierwille was "prophesying" the 3rd twi-president BEFORE he'd even placed the mantle of the 2nd? Whoa!!!......nothing like passing over the martindale presidency before it even began. Another thread on this: The Wierwille Heritage Was there ever a retraction of this "prophesy?" None that I ever heard. Like so many things twi, it was given the SILENCE TREATMENT......and no one dared to ask how the mog could be SO DELUSIONAL. And, again I pocketed this "prophesy" as another reason why I thought that someday twi would move beyond the narcissist wierwille and elevate biblical research. Lo, I was sadly mistaken.....and the enablers entrenched twi into a deeper rut of idolatry. Four Years Later, in August 1986......Cgeer read his poop paper and in one full swoop proclaimed that the corps had "forsaken the man of God, wierwille and were thus OFF THE WORD and no longer had the Word." Hmmmmmm......let me think. Now, where had I seen THIS before? Oh yeah......wierwille did it, in 1982. Same trick. Same "prophesy." Same deception. And........many, MANY corps and clergy fell for it. <_< I guess delusions of grandeur are hard to shake.

p. 205 in mrs. w's book........."The first meeting of the Board of Directors after our return from the World Missionary Teaching and Training Tour was held on June 10, 1956. At this meeting the revised constitution and the revised bylaws of The Way were discussed in detail. Both were unanimously accepted as revised." And......speaking of GRANDEUR and DELUSIONAL This "World Missionary Teaching and Training Tour"......... WOWSERS.....the wierwille legacy gets more grandiose with each writing. Mrs. Wierwille's sanitized version in her book, Born Again to Serve is breath-taking deceptive. Maybe twi-publications and Karen edited the text........but geez louise. Did Mrs. W ever proofread her text before publication? Did she not see how DELUSIONAL this looks? Anyone with an ounce of brain cells rubbing together can SEE this ABSURDITY. Can't they? 1) The re-writing of twi events in pompous arrogance 2) In 1956.....victor was STILL on Van Wert Church payroll 3) Board of Directors?.......BEFORE there was a twi? 4) Moonlighting while on church payroll? 5) An insurgent plan to break away and really teach truth? 6) OMG.......what arrogant, delusional drivel I still marvel that field corps continue to be fleeced and exploited by such drivel. Go ahead and "take another corps assignment" to help amass *the wierwille legacy." Suckers. .

Today, February 28th.....marks the beginning date of the Branch Davidian siege [February 28 - April 19, 1993]. Many of the aspects of this Branch Davidian cult have been of interest to me.......much of which I pondered in 1993 and compared notes of twi's compound. And now, twenty-one years later it seems that twi is more of a compound culture than ever. And......another man named Victor, the founder of the "original davidians," took bible studies to a whole new level. :biglaugh:/>/>/>/>/>/>/> Victor T. Houteff "Victor Tasho Houteff (March 2, 1885 – February 5, 1955) was a religious reformer and author. Houteff was born in Raicovo, Bulgaria, and as a child baptised as a member of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. As a young man, he was engaged in the mercantile trade. In 1907, he and his brothers emigrated to the United States after, according to Victor Houteff's testimony, a mob that had taken up arms against his family and forced them onto a boat. Houteff would, on several occasions, return to visit his family, many of whom now live in the U.S. He is best known as the founder of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist organization." More and more, I think that *twi* should be designated as TWD [the wierwille doctrine]. Similarities to twd 1) Victor T. Houteff was a keen student of the Bible 2) His bible study classes were more complex than former church 3) He encountered opposition to his interpretation 4) Housteff persisted and moved his students to a large house 5) He continued to interest his students with new Bible findings 6) In 1929, he completed his doctrinal studies and presented them in book form 7) Victor T. had no intentions of establishing a church, yet used every medium to further work 8) Deprived of denominational advantages, Victor deemed it necessary to find rural location 9) In prayerful consideration of new location [in 1934].....seeking rural isolation Victor T. Houteff's offshoot was predominately study-based....not church-worship based. And we thought wierwille's schtick was SO ORIGINAL. :smilie_kool_aid:/>/>/>/>/>/>/> Offshoot of an offshoot?......Original and Branch Davidians are different >>> Note: Although often confused with Branch Davidians (known for the stand off and fire of 1993 near Waco, Texas) the two groups are separate and distinct. Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventists was begun by the late Benjamin Roden after the death of Davidian founder Victor T. Houteff in 1955. Davidian Seventh day Adventist .

For many.....imo, it takes years of blood, sweat and tears to achieve footholds to upward success .....finding a career and/or a path that gives a sense of personal satisfaction and cash flow .....a work environment and perks that sustain many psychological advantages .....charter schools or public schools that are so strategically important to one's family .....school activities, school friends, etc. etc....the whole dynamics of child rearing .....those very crucial high school years and prepping for college /military/life .....and yeah, some type of friendly camaraderie in those local fellowship BUT....nothing trumps the growing REALITY and STABILITY of one's choices, family and livelihood. Get real, rosie and donna........you've NEVER done the moving from city to city thing! And yeah.....I hope linder prints this off so that you can read it.

Yeah, sure.....many of those corps don't want to leave twi's religion, but they ALSO don't want to reject the REALITY OF LIFE either. Therefore, most of them just ain't going to move. Hey, Rosalie.....don't look now but they are giving you the ONE-FINGER-SALUTE. These Placement Meetings are where *the rubber meets the road* ......where that there "law of believing" takes a beating ......where the corps silently tell you to take a hike ......where dissent is manifestly declared in NOT MOVING ......where you, rosie, are denied your smug control The reason twi's "law of believing" is so hard to sell is.... ....BECAUSE no one in twi can actually produce outcomes of its doctrine. Wierwille couldn't do it either.

Stop and think about this for a second. Who would want to uproot from their job, and city, and schools, and networks of support.......to have "overseers" send him/her [and family ???] to another city and start again, find a job, etc? And, IF.....all it takes is *the law of believing* to accomplish this, then what's the problem? If the corps no longer claim it as such.......then WHY keep teaching the crap-doctrine? Better yet.....maybe Rosalie, donna, linder and other can SHOW how that believing-thingy works by DOING IT THEMSELVES. Yeah, pack your bags and head off to teach and live what you preach. Oh, you're not going to do that??? Smites, doesn't it?........when the tables are turned, huh? Hypocrites.

If twi follows its format, the month of March is when the directors conduct their Placement Meetings........even the name sounds like an impersonal task of setting the table. Of course, these meetings are more image-building and twi-marketing than substance. And, much of these meetings is formatted to re-indoctrinate the region men and women and monitor their twi-commitment. In all actuality, the region men are the *enforcers* of twi doctrine and practice on the field. That's why the directors lavish compliments on them and assign them to "teach" in the auditorium.....the seduction yields compliance. Yeah sure......I suppose that a few who are assigned to a NEW LOCATION, but the vast majority of corps and staff DO NOT MOVE. There are *active* way corps in my city that have been here since 1998.....going on 16 years! So, with SO FEW MOVING.....what do they spend all this time for? Is every corps' personal life [communications, shortcomings, challenges, attitude, failures] discussed in front of all? Is the lockbox of one's life NOW OPEN for these meetings to liberally reveal his life and, perhaps, innermost confidential issues? To me, these meetings are nothing more than a CABAL -- a small group joined in secret....to deceive C...corps A...assignments B...by A...allusive L...leaders As discussed before....CABAL With each passing year, these meetings appear to border on the absurd. Perhaps, behind closed doors.....rosie and the gang spend time playing "Musical Chairs" or something? Well, rosie-belle......most would say that the music HAS STOPPED and you're still standing with no place to sit. You're done. And, if you think that music is still playing......well, it's all in your head.

The wierwille model of elitism has spawned hundreds upon hundreds of wannabe-vp in the cities across the country. Stunning arrogance is pawned off as spiritual leadership. The lyrics of this song come to mind..... Some man's come he's trying to run my life, he don't know what he's askin' ....... ....... He can't even run his own life, I'll be d@mned if he'll run mine.

Who needs those ex-wayfer "friends"......all it takes is a good whiff of former corps staying for an extended visit and then, you're reminded, again, of ALL THE REASONS why you're so thankful to have escaped twi's elitism and stunning arrogance. Aww....nothing quite like the smell of hypocrisy and arrogance in the morning. The "friendly questions" seemed more like snobbish elitism and upmanship. 1) We have our own home fellowship.....but you don't anymore? 2) Do you go to church? Do you fellowship regularly? 3) We don't live in the past (strong implication that you DO) 4) Person hardly listens to what I say before rushing to speak... 5) Uugh.....do these former corps have all the answers? 6) Hmm....where have I heard all this spiel and arrogance before? 7) Drive to your city and visit you? Umm......no thanks. There are STILL ex-corps out there who KNOW how to walk with God.... ......better than twi ......better than geerites ......better than CFF ......better than CES ......better than Finnygan, etc. No, no.....it's not that they use all the twi buzzspeak words or classes. Nope. But the stunning arrogance of KNOWING WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU and yet, you haven't seen them in 8 years. Any former corps like that........YOU ARE NOT MY FRIEND. As the saying goes...."With friends like that, who needs enemies?" Give me MORE enemies.