Twinky

Only some ex-Way people, surely. Probably the majority have gone on to live relatively normal lives (whatever "normal" might be). In fact, you might even say that many ex Wayfers are more sceptical than the general populace regarding conspiracy theories and the latest snake-oil fad.

Here's one I heard today. I joined a community choir recently and the joke was somewhat in keeping... Q. How many sopranos does it take to change a lightbulb? A. Ten. One to attempt it, and 9 to stand around saying she can't reach it.

I hear ya, JJ. The good stuff - like better empathy etc. The lemonade from the lemons. And the bad stuff - that we all had and have to wade through to get to the empathy. But how is it that some people manage to develop the empathy and real heart for others, without having had to go through all that TWI dange? Were those of us who fell for TWI' and their methods especially bad at empathy, etc, and needed a specially tough dose of medicine?

Would be funny if it weren't so very true. That "thinking evil" stuff was a wicked way of making us all shut up - permanently. Perpetrated by the Father of Lies and foisted upon us by his ministering angels (heh, when did you ever see VPW, LCM and Rosie as ministering angels before, LOL?) Actually, JJ, you're a woman. And therefore fair game. OF COURSE they were out to get you. But you only realize that when you find out it was a common pattern. When you find GSC.

Right now I think my NY res has to be to get my tax return done by 31 Jan. Otherwise I get a fine of £100 plus interest on tax adjudicated outstanding. Happy New Year to y'all. May it be a peaceful but challenging year.

Absolutely NOT you, Tom! Was thinking about some people in the church I go to. And specifically some people in my house group. They think I'm weird when I say, Open up and talk to people! (Oh, we have to wait for and listen to the holy spirit before we speak to ..., you can't just start talking to people.) They think that because I do mention God to people, I'm a "real evangelist." No I'm not, I'm just saying what I think and what I do. I challenged this housegroup for the next week (just for one week) to say to people, perhaps upon parting, "God bless you." They thought that was a really difficult challenge. I don't think any of them managed it beyond two days. I frequently wonder why I was assigned to this housegroup. Should I believe (as I once believed at TWI) that that was God's will for my life? Or more pragmatically, that leadership in my church thought we were all more or less of an age (read "older people" - most of the group is retired, I'm not)? Or maybe it is God's will - to wake up these people to be more active in speaking out to new people. Actually they are all active - in the church. Serve meals, tea, coffee, sing, clean up, set out chairs, preach sermons, etc. They might talk of God to people in that "safe environment" but even then they're quite likely not to. Fine, but who gets the newbies through the door in the first place? A dear friend of mine is a Methodist minister. We had a long conversation over New Year. She has run, and will be running again, a short course to encourage people to speak out what God has done for them. It frustrates her that people in her congregation won't speak of what God has done even to each other. And yet they are a "lovely" congregation and welcoming to visitors. After last year's short course, they did speak out to each other just a little bit. For a little while. But mostly, they don't bring visitors/other people. I have to say, if someone simply says "God bless you!" to me, it always gives me a thrill. I want to talk to them.

It is a significant annoyance to me that people will speak of ... the football match, what was on TV last night, a movie they saw, what their kids are doing, and so on. But many Christians won't speak of what matters to them (or doesn't matter?) - how they saw someone healed, a great point from the sermon yesterday, deliverance seen in the church, exciting things happening. Some Christians think they have to "wait until the spirit prompts them" to speak. They speak of choosing their moment carefully. Yeah, so careful that after years some have never spoken to friends or colleagues of Christ. Some witness that is.... Why is it that there is no fear in speaking of secular things - and great fear in speaking of things Christian? Those enthusiastic for football (say) bore others to tears - but there's no doubting their commitment. But Christians? And in free countries? I can certainly see the "silent witness" in countries where speaking out is very dangerous and carries a significant risk of injury, long imprisonment or death - Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, some parts of China etc. But in most western countries? Where all there is to fear is that your neighbour might think you a crank? For fear is the only reason one would not speak up. Is it a hangover from TWI, or is it that I see complacency, and concern for what others think, as significant enemies in western society today? It's no surprise that the biggest, fastest, most enthusiastic growth in the church today is seen in formerly very repressive regimes - Russia, China, Korea - and in countries where there is a less desirable standard of living - some African countries. Living life, acting on what you know, and speaking what's really in your heart have to go hand in hand. It's not too difficult to say, "Thank you! God bless you!" if someone has done something nice for you - and it can be surprising what doors even such a gentle statement opens up.

Catcup, good to see you :wave:/>.

I sometimes think that churches are an excuse for people not getting involved in such things - they leave it to others - and it can end up with just a few doing all the Christian "outreach" type of work. I sometimes wonder how much the original Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers would recognize what passes for these people's ministries today. A lot of church ministers would like to be "pastors" or more often "teachers" and will openly state that they aren't any of the other people. I believe these gift ministries can operate in the body of the congregation as a whole, and the people often don't receive the recognition they deserve because they aren't "trained." The new minister in my church presented the church budget to the congregation recently. He ended with words approximating..."And these all need money to carry out, so increase your giving." No no no no no. These things the church wants to do require PEOPLE who are willing to undertake these tasks - not necessarily people who undertake these tasks and get paid for doing so. (For sure, someone to coordinate what's going on may have a full-time job on their hands and need some recompense.) We should want to be involved. To have an outworking of our love for God, our walking in the way Christ did. There is plenty of work to do. There are plenty of unreached people. And there are plenty of things that are perhaps shorter-term or less demanding in nature. Some people won't give in terms of themselves. Some people won't give in financial terms. And some won't give anything, either time or finances. They like to be passengers. So it would be better, if some of the latter group did give to help pay someone - but it doesn't really absolve them of the need to contribute themselves. One of our church ladies died recently. Sheila. Awesome woman. Sheila had MS, I think Americans call this Lou Gherig's Disease. Sheila took to a wheelchair at age 50 but was still active in the church. As she became less mobile, what she did reduced in physical activity but not in spiritual. In later years, she had a prayer book. She went to a Focus group and people wrote down what they would like prayers for. Sheila took the book home. Her carer turned the pages and Sheila read them, or was read to. She prayed for every one and every thing. She saw answers to prayer. Things happened. In the last couple of years she couldn't speak intelligibly, couldn't do a thing for herself. She could just smile. And pray. Her brain still worked, slowly, but it still worked, and she still believed. Until the day she died she believed for complete healing in her body. If anyone could have sat back and said they couldn't do anything to help the church, Sheila could have. No-one would have criticized her. But that's not what happened. She wasn't a passenger at anything. She was active until the very last day. Sheila was 73 when she died. She was joyful. She expected to receive a new body forthwith.

That strikes me very much as "not having a mortgage" - you don't have a mortgage because you borrowed from your parents and pay them back, ie, you get someone else to do the "dirty work." Rosalie can pride herself on not having a computer because basically she keeps it in someone else's office. :offtopic:/> On that note, I reckon if he'd been born in our time, Jesus would have been computer literate, had a computer and a mobile phone. Not sure he would have had a Facebook account though, too much else going on in his life. And certainly not a Twitter account.

Just found this entertaining thread. My current cats are called "Tuxedo" and "Crypto" - Tuxedo because she is all-black except for a white V on her chest, white toes (only - not feet), and white whiskers. Looks so beautiful. Other cat is Crypto because she spent her first three months with me hiding under the cabinets in the kitchen. She is all-black. My previous cat was called Twinkletoes - he was quick on his feet and would sneak into the house if the door was ever left open. Not just my door - anyone's door. He also adopted my next door neighbour - she called him John after her recently deceased husband. Very good at giving comfort, that cat...he first started appearing on my doorstep as a tiny kitten when I was utterly devastated after TWI. I needed something to love...and Twinkletoes invited himself in. (There's a thread in Pet Memoriam or whatever it's called, RIP Twinkletoes). Growing up, we had a cat called Mr Pod (no idea why, named before I was born) who was also known as Podgy (he was a bit fat). Lived to a very old age. Very affectionate cat. Later, I had a longhaired Persian cat - he was grey in lighter and darker stripes round his body and a darker stripe along his back. I called him Possum because I had an idea that that's what opossums look a bit like. (I don't know why I thought that) A place I used to stay was occupied by a man with one arm, who had a 3-legged cat. We called the cat Tripod...and tried not to call the man the same name...! Oh, Twinkletoes was later nicknamed Twinky...and when I needed a name here, that's what I eventually settled on. So I guess I'm named after a cat.

JJ, you surely have stamina. You managed two years on staff? At that period of TWI's existence? That takes stamina or complete numbness - and you weren't numb. Or dumb. I thought at one time they might call me onto staff. The thought made my skin crawl. I had to go on some seriously long walks with God to get my head round it and accept that as a possibility. The thought of it still makes my skin crawl. you've got stamina, girl. Live life to the full. Abundantly, in fact.

Gotta agree with you, Ron. Nothing much seems to have happened. Nobody "gathered" and everything seems to be working okay.

Or a New Start / New Era party. I know...let's have one in a couple of days time, give us chance to get organized. Let's call it ... a New Year's Eve party. :smilie_kool_aid:/>:smilie_kool_aid:/>

Thanks, Kit.

Hampshire, glad to have you here and glad to hear that your life is back on track now and you're enjoying it. Probably most of us here tried most of the options - and then some! - whatever it takes to get you over it. It's good to live life joyfully. :eusa_clap:/> :dance:/> A happy and peaceful new year to you.

I still think that "The Subtle Abuse of Spiritual Power" is a scary book - like they had taken the lid of TWI and were analyzing the contents. But actually it never refers to TWI at all and refers only to spiritual abuse in other organizations. Regrettably we find ourselves in a rather large company of abusees. Enjoy Kahler's book, OS.

Great news, Kit. Hope it all works out for you. 90 miles is a long commute, but God willing, you will show yourself to be such a great worker that they will give you a transfer to a nearer location in a much shorter time.

Hey folks, I got myself a new computer and it works faster than watching paint dry like my old one did. So now I can run a few useful and/or interesting programs, one of which will be one or more Bible study programs. Just wondered which ones folks here found most useful, and why. I already use Online Bible Study Tools and several people have recommended Blue Letter Bible or some such name. Perhaps some programs are better than others. Ease of use and ease of comparison would be preferable to tons of commentaries. Thanks for your help.

Started by attendance at the Abbey on 24th for the traditional service of 9 Lessons and Carols; left feeling very jolly and joyful. Started Christmas Day by taking my (visiting) Mum a cup of tea in bed. Light breakfast. Opened the pressies under the Chrissie tree. Had a huge laugh at some of the things. Did some washing up. Made a sherry trifle. Did some washing up. Roasted a large lump of pork, which served up with many delicious veggies etc followed by a luscious Chrissie pudding. At 3pm, listened to the Queen's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth. Did some more washing up. Went to the Church where we were having an "Open Living Room" for anyone who cared to come. There were fewer people than we had expected, but we still had a good time. Ate and played games. Did yet more washing up. Came home and played some board games. Accompanied by port and Christmas cake. Did yet more washing up. Hmm. Seems to me there is a common theme running through this day...dishwashing. It was a very nice day.

Saw a bunch of people supposedly "Mayans" chanting and doing...whatever. They were saying it's not the end of the world but the end of an era or stage. They're probably as Mayan as I am. The usual anticlimax, though. Life goes on. It's a friend's birthday today. No doubt he too is pleased it wasn't the end of the world.

Some say it's the end of the world. Some say it's the end of the present era. Some say life will never be the same again. Some say it's a new beginning. (Wonder if the Malpaks are all ready?) What's gonna happen? Will anyone read this, or will everyone have disappeared? Methinks tomorrow will be not dissimilar to last Friday and the Friday before that. To be followed by a Saturday not greatly dissimilar to preceding Saturdays. If it really is the beginning of a new era, as the Mayan calendar appears to predict, what would you like to see in the new era that is about to begin? How would you like it to be different? (Always supposing you survive the changeover, that is...(LOL))

So you get yourself a FB account, don't friend many people, and use it on "spy" on exWayfers so's you can find out if you are likely to run into them. If they say they're moving to your town...you can choose to move somewhere else, or just stay out of their way. Some of 'em do seem to have got a life. Many others don't. JJ, you are probably a different person from the one you were when you worked at HQ. You're back to being "you" and not, perhaps, the legalistic b---- that you were required to be at HQ (if you were). Sometimes I wonder about the people I was in rez with. The ones I liked best, and who were the most fun, were - well, the most fun. Many of those disappeared early in the piece. I think those ones would still be friends of choice. The ones who were all holier-than-thou, most zealous and oh-so-pious (read: priggish) were still there when last heard of. I think I'd still find difficulty being friends with them. But hey, I'm willing to be surprised. Some of the staff members I sensed a tension in that I didn't understand then, but do now. The tension between being who they wanted to be, and who they were expected to be.

Very important Chrissie eating tip - but not for you: Don't forget to leave the required mince pie and glass of sherry out near the chimney, to refresh Santa after he's finished filling the Chrissie stockings. (If you don't. he'll take all your pressies back with him.)

You are funny, JJ. I laugh with you at the silliness of it all. But I laugh at TWI for the pitifulness of it all. I can't bear to listen or read anything from TWI or its droppings... whether individuals or other cult-like entities.