GrouchoMarxJr

It wouldn't be the first time...

The question that began gnawing at me at that time was...if they are dishonest about this, what else are they dishonest with? ...The next event that demonstrated their dishonesty was when they sent us out lightbearers...we were told that anyone who didn't get a class together would be dismissed from the corps...when I returned without getting a class together, I began to pack and make preparations to leave...but of course, they lied again. Seeing that about 90% of the groups didn't get a class together, they backed off of their word...in other words, they lied...and of course I was quite aware that I was being held accountable for "causing the increase", which was unbiblical. My disillusionment with twi evolved over time as I experienced more and more dishonesty, unethical behavior and unbiblical policies...and you're right oldies...nobody held a gun to my head and when I was ready to leave...I did. :)

This subject has come up before and it always fires me up... When I signed up for the 10th corps...the papers I signed said it was a 4 year training program with an OPTION to take assignments if you wanted to...I am absolutely certain of this...Rumrunner can back me up on this. A few months into the in residence training at Emporia, Lcm announced to us that the corps was a lifetime committment and not a 4 year committment...and he went on to say that if we didn't understand that, we didn't "get it" yet. I have no recollection of anybody, other than myself, objecting to this...I was furious! To me, it was a classic "bait and switch" and I let a few people know about it...next thing I know, I was reassigned to Rome City and the entire wooden spoon culture of Bob Moneyhands... In my opinion, the "Lifetime of Christian service" was always a description of how a person lived after they chose their own path...it was never a lifetime committment to follow orders from any particular man or organization. They baited you in with the idea that you were doing a 4 year program and after they put the hooks in you, they switched it for a lifetime of servitude to them. If you didn't buy into that concept, you were told that you were "spiritually immature" or had no "real committment"... Maybe that's why it was so easy for me to walk away from twi...I never took that final step of committing my life to them...I always kept twi and God seperate.

If I recall correctly, the official twi policy for the financing of abortions was to take the horn of plenty to the abortion clinic and toss the money up in the air...whatever God wanted, He would grab and the rest went to the abortion doctor.

I guess I was getting a little ... When you think about it, most of us here could probably find an old farm and do the same thing...Let's face it, Wierwille ran a good con game and there's folks who have decided to use the same "corps training concept" that they were taught. Are they sincere?...could be...but the question remains...what qualifies them to be "Christian leaders"? If they are recycling Vic's devious doctrines, no thanks, no church with you boy.

Same thing happened to me after I drank 8 shots of Dewer's scotch whiskey... ...especially the knees turning to jello and quivering all over. I was trying to get home after a party in south Chicago and...well, never mind.

That sounds like...Folks who only think they are smart annoy those of us who really are. :) Who's to say?...I think that the bottom line is that it's a matter of personal faith and I don't place my faith in humans. If somebody claims to be in touch with the Almighty...fine. What do they want from me?...Not money I hope.

Whether he himself, actually believed his own bullsh *t or not is a good question. If he really believed it, then he was a nut case...if he knew he was lying about something so important, then he was a lowlife of the worst kind...take your pick. I'm inclined to think that he knew he was pulling a con job on everybody...AND was a nutcase at the same time.

One possible explanation is that Mr.Wierwille was lying through his teeth?

I suppose we shouldn't be surprised... Who are the people behind this?...Finnegan?...I didn't see any names listed or any credentials listed. At least with twi, Wierwille paraded out his bogus doctors degree and at least tried to present the organization as legit... Who are these clowns?...They ashamed to put their names and faces on their website?

I suppose that those who were a product of Wierwille's seed became an extension of his ego as he grew older... I can almost hear him thinking..."YES, my grandson will become a great man of God!...Yeah, that's the ticket" It allowed him to continue living vicariously through his heritage that would "turn the world upside down"...his quest. The mighty Wierwille family will save the world. I think it only illustrates the extreme self love and high regard that he had for himself... In reality, most of his offspring have had enough brains to distance themselves from the delusional legacy left by the monster of New Knoxville...and let me add that I hold them in high regard for the people they are. I will not attach the sins of their father to them. I wish them all well...

What I find ironic is that the old Poop insisted that the Mrs. come with him to India, forcing her to leave her youngest child at home...but when they were home, he slept in the motorcoach with other women while the Mrs. slept in the house... Listening to Mr. Wierwille describe his trip to India, one would get visions of Jesus walking through the center of town with people following him, seeking his blessing....of course, his point to telling this story in pfal was to demonstrate that the spiritually minded people of India recognized him as a "man o' gawd" and it was time for us sluggards in America to do likewise. Much of the credibility given to Wierwille by his followers were based on Vic's bullsh *t stories...The trip to India, the snow on the gas pumps, the story of the snow blizzard in Tulsa (or wherever)...it was all part of the con. He counted on the young and naive kids sitting through "his" class to say "wow, if God talks to this guy, he must be right in what he teaches"...and we bought it. The only difference I see between Mr. Wierwille and Simon the sorcerer is that Simon tried to use money to buy his way into the ministry and Wierwille used the ministry to make money for himself...which was worse?

Level 3 storm here... I left my house this morning at 4:30 am to go to work...the plows had not yet been through and it was hard to tell where the road was...I followed the telephone lines, hoping I wouldn't drive into the ditch alongside the road. Although the wind was blowing snow and ice so hard that it would have been difficult to see the road even if it had been plowed... ...Up and down the snowy and icy hills of rural Fairfield county, Ohio...my Nisan Maxima (Maxine), bravely continued on... ...until suddenly my wipers quit working...instantly, my visibility became zero. I quickly rolled down the window and hung my head out in order see. Small ice pellets assaulting my face, I finally entered the city of Lancaster...only one more mile to go. ...As I slowed down to turn into the parking lot, I tapped the brakes and was suddenly facing the wrong direction in the road...fortunately there were no other cars at that hour and I eventually managed to straighten her out and make into my regular parking space... ...the return trip back home was not much better...now for the good news! I have the next three days off and do not plan to go anywhere. :)

I left on my own in 1987...never looked back. I was quite disapointed in twi at the time but I didn't have any pieces to pick up... I felt that I was right and they were wrong...it was as simple as that for me. Over the years I have changed my views on many things and try to live a godly life... as far as the Humpty Dumpty analogy goes...I think it was twi that "had a great fall"...

I believe that one of the major differences between twi and "normal churches", was that twi claimed to be in direct communication with the Almighty. They used their teachings on revelation to establish their authority and directives as coming straight from "the cookie jar"...most churches teach about being inspired by God but not too many of them claim to be in the same position that Moses was in with the children of Israel! ...and in spite of Wierwille's teachings about the old testament...he, himself used the model of Moses for his role in twi. THAT's why people found it difficult to leave...and that's why people felt that compliance to twi was the right thing to do. They honestly thought they were obeying God...and Wierwille's sin was that he lied in God's name... Eventually, when lcm (who didn't quite have the same "Moses" thing going on but wanted to) took over, the behavior became so contrary to what the bible says about Christian behavior...that eventually people began to realize that something was "wrong" and began to wake up from the "twi is God's minsitry" delusion...and began to think again.

Exactly!...Vic's formula for the abundant life was laden with catch 22's. It's not OUR fault... YOU didn't "believe". What a sweetheart deal he cooked up for himself...and of course twi would never admit to being wrong...afterall, they carry the burden of being at the top of the waytree where revelation for the entire world is dispensed to these "spiritual giants" whose very edicts reflect God's will...how can they be wrong? ...in the meantime, the dollars keep rolling in.

Johnny Jump up represented the inquisitive mind, the guy who jumps out of his seat and confronts with quetions Maggie Muggins represented the common sense, down to earth logic of every day living. Henry Baloko represnted the hard fisted, ain't gonna take no crap from you, stubborness of a beer drinking man. ...All were discredited...shown to be buffoons. Vic used these charactors in such a way as to diminish them and humiliate them. He was preparing to put us all in our place.

I think that twi provided the structure for abuse to flourish...just imagine, middle management positions with a built in "catch 22" clause in the deal. Anyone "below" you that questioned you was questioning God. Now that's what I call an "advantagous position". We saw abuse abound. Lcm set the example for being a heavy handed loud mouth...and anyone with similar "leadership tendencies" jumped all over it. I think that wanting to control other people stems from low self esteem...and twi had plenty of people like that.

I think a lot of Vic's stories were never meant to be parables...but actual accounts to back up his teachings. The guy in India with the withered hand, the snow on the gaspumps, the snowstorm in Tulsa...they were presented as actual events (of course Vic was making it up as he went along)... ...Wierwille even stole the names Maggie Muggins, Henry Baloko, and Johnny F** king Jump Up...I wonder if he ever had an original thought in his entire life. Even his mannerisms and body language on stage were stolen from others...ever watch Glen Payne?...I'll bet that he practiced in front of a mirror.

Wierwille's stories were the bridge that spanned the gulf between reality and bull sh *t...he tied it all together with his home spun tales of supernatural feats that backed up his bogus doctrines... ...and we bought it like a bunch of dumbasses... Yeah sure, this drunk womanizer who steals other people's work is the answer! I was better off when I was eating 200 mics of orange sunshine twice a week. but who knew?...Well, by God we know now...and it's never too late to put the boots to these sissies.

Perhaps the first thing that should be mentioned is that Wierwille was WRONG...his hocus pocus power of the mind teachings were fantasy and bullchit... ...and I think it underscores his total lack of empathy and compassion towards parents who had lost a child and parents in general. What an arrogant jerk he was.

I always spread a little manure on it and then watch to see what happens. :)

I've discovered that I have become somewhat desensitized to face meltings...they don't seem to have that much effect on me anymore...been there, done that.

This should come as no surprise to anyone. Americans have a preoccupation with fast moving styles, instant gratification and a diminished understanding of committment. We have become consumers with minute rice minds. If you don't like something, move on to the next thing... ...Multi million dollar mega churches have become a breeding ground for style over substance and religiosity instead of spirituality... ...Is it any wonder that people change religions as easily as they would supersize their next lunch?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha