Twinky

That's just plain mean, Nero. Your efforts should have been valued and appreciated for the "heart" you put into it. But then, you need "heart" yourself to see how much heart someone else invests.

Course he won't. Anyway, anyone who posts here knows the gory details anyway. All I want to hear from him is that he truly repents of the evil he has done, and the evil he has by his own actions propped up. (His true repentance will be evident from his actions in humbly helping disadvantaged people in whatever community he finds himself.)

:biglaugh:/>:biglaugh:/>:biglaugh:/> :confused:/> :evilshades:/>

Really good news, Tommy. This is such an interesting thread, and so relevant. There probably isn't a adult on the planet, or at least the developed world, who hasn't known someone who's suffered. The more it's talked about and the more people know, the more likely they are to take prompt action about those strange marks or lumps. And the sooner the action, the better the outcome. And every day is a day to be thankful. Rejoice in the Lord today.

You're going off on one just a little bit here, WW. Pontificating a bit too much. This isn't doctrinal; Nero was expressing some honest concern about family that is still Waybrained Which is affecting Nero somewhat in actual or perceived parental responses and in family relationships. Nero, rejoice in the Lord. Be lighthearted, be kind, be patient. TWI folk have plenty of rejoicing in the "Word" but have forgotten how to rejoice in the Lord - how very sad!

I don't remember any banning as such, just that there is so much material available relating to KJV [which is actually called the Authorised Version, did you know that?] [because it is "authorised to be read in churches" - see its foreword] that it's easier to use KJV/AV. And of course everything always came at us in that old-fashioned wording. Also, we were always so busy doing - whatever - that few would find the time to spend hours reading another version - when if you'd tried to prepare a twig teaching using another version, you'd probably have been jumped on. But what kudos! You can give a "literal according to usage" that might have been uplifted almost word for word from some more modern version. And you can spend hours teaching people some inane perceived nuance, thus avoiding having to teach something that can actually be applied and used in someone's lifestyle. Be kind to her. Really kind. Surprise her. You're not in TWI now.

Maybe, Nero, that's a way you could get to reach your Mom? Show/read to her from a different version, Hey, look what I discovered! (It might even be something close to one of the dreaded "literals"). After all, TWI never banned use of other versions of the Bible. They said that more study materials were available for KJV. And of course since VPW recorded the original PFAL class, some good new versions have been produced (some awful ones too). KJV is not "God-breathed." I like Holman Christian Bible which is very readable, in sensible comprehensible English, yet seems to give nuances close to (what I understand as) the meaning of "original" words. NAB is good, RSV/NRSV are good too.

Thank God TWI hasn't really discovered the internet yet. Even though some of its splinters have. TWI's website has to be about the most static website one can possibly imagine.

Thanks, Krys and Dave. Those are pretty much the conclusions I came to, too. I think as time permits I will sift out and retain any useful articles, and there's probably stuff that I don't need to keep any more that can go into the paper recycling. Is keeping stuff ... building a monument to an ugly past? Or building a pillar of witness and warning to say, "Don't go here again!"? Or is it something else?

I was rooting around at home tonight for some documents I need to complete my tax return. In my cupboard are 3 or 4 THICK ring-binders of stuff I printed off from GSC when I first discovered the site. (I tell you, I was open-mouthed, shocked and completely horrified to begin with; later, open-mouthed with anger.) I printed off (at my then employer's expense) vast amounts of documents and threads and read and re-read at home. At a guess, this was 8-10 years ago. I also printed off a load of CFFM newsletters and some of their articles. Of recent years, these things have just sat in the cupboard. And now I need the space. It's time for them to go, don't you think? I burned all my TWI material two years ago. That was very satisfying. I just don't quite know yet whether I want to keep some of the awesome articles reprinted from GSC, just to remind me of the arguments against and flaws in reasoning of TWI. Anyway... how different life is now, 10 years on! Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :dance:/> (I was gonna put 3 of those little dancing figures but it reminded me too much of the Singing Ladies' rigid routines, LOL)

Nero, so difficult for you with loved ones still tied in to TWI. It's true that there are some great people there - just not the ones in charge. At least, there used to be some great people. Maybe not now. It is easy to make superficial friendships while everyone is buddying along. When things get tough, it's a little different. As in, such and such a person has problems; therefore they have a d.s.; therefore if you hang out with them you yourself will get pozzessed - so stay away - it's their problem. I totally agree with you about different versions. When I started reading the bible again after many years I decided to avoid KJV and started on The Message - two versions nearly as far apart as you can manage. Now, I read in several versions though I have a fave version. Sometimes one version puts something differently, words it in a way that makes you think. That's nice. It avoids all that BS about in-depth meanings. Keeps it simple. Like it's supposed to be.

May this year bring fulfillment of some of your hopes, dreams and ambitions ... and leave you with some new aspirations for another year.

Interesting talk, Rocky. Lots to think about.

Happy Christmas everybody. Eat a little too much, drink a little too much, sleep a little too much ... and enjoy time with those you love. And thanks to Pawtucket for another year hosting this site. Blessings, Twinx

It was all about distortion. As a final stab, when I got thrown out, the then Country Coordinator growled at me (with a fair degree of viciousness), "You could have been great!" as if to say, if I'd toed the party line more, I could have been a bigwig in TWI. Fact is, I'd done everything they demanded and still couldn't get it right. Because I wasn't "meek" enough. Fact is, I was meek to God and did as He wanted - not as TWI wanted. In God's eyes, I'm as "great" now as I'm ever going to be. As I was then, too. It's nice to be liked, but I don't care too much for man's fickle approval. I've got "me" back ("reclaimed," if you like) and I'm a better person for it. And that's because I have a closer walk with God. And with true Christians who have a close walk with Him. End of!!!

"What the Bile says" ... !! I misread what you said at first.. It's definitely "what the Bile says" coming out from that place. Rants and all. As in that infamous blue book, "the Bile tells me so."

Here's two words at a time for you, Sky. HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Thought you'd enjoy this inventive dog playing. Apparently its favourite game is playing with balls etc and tossing them around. Its owners were nearby and claim that this dog will do things like this for long periods of time.

This started as "sanctification" and seems now to be "salvation." Not the same thing. If we're thinking about "salvation," let's think about it. Salvation ... linked with English "salve" (not save) ... something to soothe, to heal, to make soft. Lip salve. Salve for dry skin or burns. I think of "salvation" as being the soothing of the soul. Don't need to quest around, wonder what life's all about, be restless for the next new thing... One is soothed, softened, and made whole. (Puts a slightly different complexion on demonstrating one's salvation, too.) One definition: salve1salv/nounnoun: salve; plural noun: salves 1. an ointment used to promote healing of the skin or as protection."the wound should be washed with water and then a salve applied"synonyms:ointment, cream, balm, unction, unguent, balsam, pomade, rub, embrocation, emollient, liniment More"lip salve" something that is soothing or consoling for wounded feelings or an uneasy conscience."the idea provided him with a salve for his guilt" verbverb: salve; 3rd person present: salves; past tense: salved; past participle: salved; gerund or present participle: salving 1. soothe (wounded pride or one's conscience)."charity salves our conscience"synonyms:soothe, lighten, alleviate, assuage, comfort, ease, allay, dull, mollify, mitigate, palliate More"she promised him lunch to salve her conscience" 2. archaicapply salve to."the salved my cuts and stopped the bleeding" (And I guess we're "salvage" too, in that we have been rescued)

Roy, what is it, you need a pee? Hmm...

I wholeheartedly agree that we impact the culture in which we live - by praying for our communities, the people we are involved in, the businesses in which we work, other activities that we know about. We impact that culture by bringing God into whatever's going on - bringing his blessing into it. Where I'd disagree is that it is TWI impacting culture. It's not. It's Christianity impacting whatever's going on. That some of us may first have gained some knowledge of God, of Christ, of Christianity, whilst in TWI, is neither here nor there. It is not TWI that is to be given any glory; it's in spite of TWI. All praise to God and the Lord Jesus Christ for what they do, and for allowing us the joy of serving them.

:offtopic:/> Is where I learned to swear so badly. Foul language by LCM in a Sunday night teaching was fairly normal; it was completely, completely, completely, normal in a Corps teaching. Don't know about "the Word," or application of scripture - but I surely learned a lot of offensive words. ... but I was too deeply in, by then.... :( Shudda gone when they were so legalistic when putting on my first PFAL class!

Matthew 5:45 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth spit on the just and on the unjust. :redface:/>

newlife, what you say seems to be ringed in red flags! This preacher fellow seems to have a lot of "look at me!" and not a lot of "look at God!" or "look at Jesus Christ!" You have a bible; read that and do the best you know to do. Ask the Lord to show you better ways to do what is required. Ask him to show you where you can work on reckoning your "old man nature" dead. Stay humble to God and he will show you. Seek the loving support of those you can see live a Christian lifestyle and avoid those who want to berate or belittle you. Avoid like the plague anyone who tells you you are not "meek to the Word" or who is angry or self-opinionated. Go to a church, or better yet two, if that's helpful. If you keep hearing the same thing in both it's quite likely right. If you hear something that sounds off the wall in one, you can ask at that church or in the other church. Look at the people in your workplace, in your community, and see if any of them are leading a Christian lifestyle, and ask them about it. "I've noticed you always seem so peaceful/ that you always have a smile on your face/ that you're gentle with.../ you're so encouraging with your children..." Ask yourself if the way you treat other people is the way you'd like God to treat you. If it's not, do your best to treat others as you would expect a loving God to treat you. As you would expect Jesus, if he were right beside you, to treat you - or the other person. If you try to match your behavior to that ideal, you'll be living out your sanctification in grand style. Don't beat yourself up when you fall short of the standard...we all do.

Sanctification is the process whereby we learn to live sanctified, holy, is it not? Which we do by living the best we can today (tomorrow might be better or worse) according to God's commands. Spiritually, sanctification is a completed work. Practically, it's an ongoing process. Spiritually we are many things as well as sanctified - including being seated in heaven; being more than conquerors, having all things necessary to live. But we aren't yet, physically, are we? And you only have to look at Christian churches overseas to see that many Christians are still being persecuted for their beliefs, including to the point of being murdered. Others live in great poverty with barely enough food to eat each day. But it's available to everyone to live joyfully and giving thanks in (not for) all things. And we know that one day we will see the reality of the things that are promised. Living sanctified is in my view living looking forward to the future physical reality of the promised things, and doing our best to live each day as if they were a present physical reality. Living with integrity in the ways God would have us live. Living sanctified is part "active" living = doing what we know God would have us do; and partly abstention living = refraining from some types of behavior. Some of those behaviors are specified in the Bible; others are cultural norms. Living sanctified is doing our best with what we know, understand, hold in our hearts. And not beating ourselves up about what we don't know, don't understand, or don't yet have deeply within our hearts.