Twinky

I just had a quick look at the Peace Corps website and they have three mission statements, none of which resembles the WC principles. Not to say they haven't changed their mission statement or whatever. The text of their early newsletters, without being at all the same, has a not unfamiliar feel about it... Peace Corps started in 1960; when was the first WC intake? You might have something there, Penworks. Excie, you'd have been a lot better off... But who knows what other "adventures" and persuasive overseers you might have had?

Don't think anyone's accusing the Old Boy of participating. Wouldn't surprise me however if some within the Vatican did participate. If they lived normal lives like normal men, ie, married to supportive women, well, perhaps things would be different. Instead of male priests having "housekeepers" who look after them as well as after the house. I did hear something briefly that the RC church might consider removing the vow of celibacy. There have been calls for that. Here's one article: Catholic priest celibacy to end? But here's another view: Or maybe, not to end? Something for the next pope to wrestle with, maybe...or the pope after that...or the one after that...

With God, time is an eternal NOW. Time is not a linear thing such as we know. So that means: Now, right now, the earth is being made into what we now know. Now, right now, Adam is being created. Now, right now, Adam is falling. Now, right now, prophecies are being given about Christ coming. Now, right now, Christ is coming. Now, right now, Christ is being executed. Now, right now, Christ is rising from the dead. Now, right now, the time of Pentecost is occurring. Now, right now, YOU are being born. Now, right now, all the events of your life are taking place. Now, right now, YOU are dying, dead, and your funeral is taking place. Now, right now, the time of Revelation is occurring. And so, it doesn't matter if you're a dispensationalist, a preterist, a whatever or a something else. It gives a somewhat different perspective on life, foreknowledge, predestination, fatalism, and how you live your day today. Not saying that I agree or disagree with this view - just saying it's another take on Christianity and God's plans that some people espouse. Good strong fervent Christians too, not drum-bangers but with a desire to educate God's people into a fuller spiritual awareness.

You need to open your ears and your heart to listen to a few other people. Maybe even (gasp) go to a church or two. You'll hear a good many teachers, and a good many teachers teaching about and living grace, too.

Steve, I lost sight of who Jesus is, overlooked him pretty much altogether, as I expect many if not most Wayfers did and some still do. It's accepting the gift without any sense of what the cost of the gift was, or what its value is. If you worked hard to buy a diamond necklace for someone as a gift, or for a new car, or for - anything expensive - an operation, say... Or even, if you gave a body part like a kidney to someone whose kidneys had failed...and that person just said, oh thanks, and walked away and never displayed the item but shoved it in the back of the sock drawer or never thought of you again... I imagine if someone as a living donor gave you their kidney, or donated their loved deceased person's heart or lungs for a transplant, you'd be so grateful for the new life you'd received. So thankful for the gift, and so thankful for the donor's kindness and selflessness. And acknowledging the grief and loss that a deceased person's family may feel, in order that we, the donee, may get life anew. We were taught to ignore the kidney donor, the donor of the deceased's healthy heart. We just took the parts and shrugged at the donor. Like it wasn't a choice, wasn't a real cost. How selfish can we get? And that was sooooooooooo wrong.

So then, so far no further forward apart from a pervading idea that they were borrowed from somewhere else. But where? :spy:/>

Just a thought – in light of plagiarism of other TWI materials – but where do the Way Corps principles originate? Did VPW pinch these off someone – or some other organization? He was fond of calling the first semester of WC training “boot camp” (except that boot camp continued throughout WC training). Please someone (Galen?) tell me he didn’t steal some version of these principles from the Marines! For those of you who don’t know, or don’t remember – here they are…well, as they were at one time. From the Chalet sign: Acquire an in-depth spiritual perception and awareness. Receive training in the whole Word so as to be able to teach others. Physical training making your physical body, the vehicle [vee-hicle] of communication of the Word, as vital as possible. Practice believing to bring material abundance to you and the ministry. Go forth as leaders and workers in areas o concern, interest and need. They did change slightly from time to time. LCM added a word, changed a word… maybe VPW did, too. For instance, LCM added “of the Word” at the end of CP1…which makes it a rather different principle. Don’t really want this do become a discussion about the principles themselves – that would be a different thread – it just struck me that VPW probably didn’t think these up any more than he thunk up PFAL or other class materials. (Apologies to any of you who I grossed out by repeating what you might prefer to have forgotten!)

Newlife, :knuddel:/> what you say is probably common to many posters here. There are still people who need to be rescued. :cryhug_1_:/> So there is still a need for people to be here, to throw the lifeline. There are a number of people here who come ... because they want to help. :dance:/>

Glad you're still around here. Have a great birthday. Many more to come.

Maybe there aren't that many more to "move on"? Whoever is left is there for life and won't move on regardless of what they learn. The "lifers" at HQ. But I don't doubt there are some useful fellowships out there - at basic twig level maybe there is still some genuine heart. And of others - children of lifers - they want out and are ready to flee regardless of GSC. Mind you, some of the younger ones have fled to VPW's grandson's cult...they'll want to move on some day. As to the rest of the old hands around here, we stick around for various reasons. Not sure that for any of us that it's the lack of somewhere else to go - we've mostly been out long enough to want to look around at what else is offered that's not vpw-linked. One reason for sticking around is to help those who might still be looking for a way out. The lurkers. The lost. Someone had the kindness to stick around for us in those difficult days...

Actually WW, there was an announcement just over a year that this site would close. And many people said their goodbyes and left then. Since that time, certainly the number of posters has dropped off. Yep, O&A, I look in often but there can be days without posts. I've started a few to see what interest there is...not much. Steve, the entire Christian community is so diverse that there is always something going on. The different facets of contribution into community life can be fascinating. Some are deep Christian thinkers but they don't spout their knowledge, just act on it; others don't know so much but enthusiastically get involved in outreach in whatever manner - nobody spouts superiority TWI-style. I always enjoy and find thought-provoking the discussions you start in Doctrinal.

I think there's not a 64 bit driver, only 32 bit. Yes, it was that No driver message that has me confused, esp when you found that driver. There's nothing to lose (is there?) by having a go at installing it. Cheaper than a new printer, anyway. A task for the w/e perhaps.

Ah, cool, thanks, Hap. Yes, typo on my part. I had a good old rummage through the actual Epson website so why I couldn't find this is a mystery. The driver is for 32-bit and I think I have 64-bit, will it still work? Maybe because I put in Win8 & 64 bit - but even so, I thought the printer might show. I guess I have to install it from your link, see what works, and uninstall if nothing happens. I'll let you know. Thanks for your help.

Just got myself a new laptop which runs Windows 8 (an interesting (?) and amusing new development for those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure). It's definitely nothing like Win7 or XP or anything else. I also have an Epsom DX4050 all-in-one printer/scanner. And wojja know, there doesn't seem to be a Win8 driver, or at least I can't find one online. Any of you computer geek types got any ideas?

I didn't hear that WW but if he ever read his Bible he'd know that "walls have ears" - something in the Bible about what you say in your (bed)chamber the birds will tell outside. Beanie, I wondered about a terminal diagnosis too. But even so, he didn't have to resign, could just have died in office. RC would cover/disguise even prolonged cancer treatment (hence non-appearances).

I think, in the circumstances, it's a brave decision. He watched the previous Pope declining, didn't want that for himself, knew it was all too much. He's an old man. Realistic about his declining health. Recently (3 months ago) had an op to upgrade his pacemaker. No doubt there will always be some controversy about whether he went voluntarily or was pushed. It is said his decision took everyone by surprise. I'm sure he had some confidants though with whom he must have discussed, researched protocols, etc. The divine right of Popes...to die in office? Interestingly, but completely off topic, the queen of the Netherlands has just, at the age of 75, abdicated in favour of her son. And she's not even "past it" mentally or physically. Just ready to let a younger generation deal with the problems of today. While still being around to offer the wisdom of age. And the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican church, retired at the end of last year and a new man has been elected, to take over. (quote)In his opening statement at Lambeth Palace, Bishop Justin said he was “astonished and excited” to be taking over from Dr Rowan Williams, who stands down as Archbishop at the end of December. Acknowledging the many challenges faced by the Church, he said it will be a privilege to provide leadership "at a time of great spiritual hunger".(end quote) New archbishop's statement Time to move on...it seems to me that Pope Ben did the right thing. It might be a useful thing if the cardinals now elect a man in his early 60s to take over and lead for the next 10-20 years (no longer).

The way I read it, too. It's a fine balance between being genuinely helped in one's Christian walk, being corrected and encouraged to a more worthy endeavor where necessary - and being bullied. As we have all found.

So today the Pope has resigned. A surprise, apparently, to everybody. I wondered what any of you who were once (or have returned to, or become) Roman Catholics think of that? Saddened, respecting his decision, think he should have continued unto death, think he should have gone sooner? As one brought up with different denominational background, I don't find it alarming - for example, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Head of the Anglican church) retired recently and his successor is now in post - but it's not a RC practise.

Never heard of it before, but it sounds all too familiar.

Tried it, yes, Not a thing you do twice with Crypto. She moves like mercury if she senses something amiss. This is a cat that swings from lying on one side of her body to the other side with apparently no intervening positions. She also is an extremely wary cat and once surprised/frightened/alarmed won't quickly re-visit what alarmed her. She has a terrifying hiss and would, I suspect, attack not cower down. I might try again grabbing her by the scruff, though. She loves to be fondled on her neck. I have just never managed to grab a handful of skin. The slightest tensing of my fingers provokes flight. Perhaps sometime when I have sprayed my hand liberally with Feliway.

Johniam genuinely feels that PFAL helped his life. And as such, PFAL was valid and worthwhile. To him. And in fact to many of us, because it showed us things that other church and religious organizations did not. That's in no small measure because more godly men than VPW first worked out the material in PFAL, that VPW subsequently plagiarized. It's by the grace of God that all of us profited to some degree from PFAL - Johniam included. But by the further grace of God that our eyes were opened to the legalism and hypocritical behavior practiced by VPW and others in leadership. And, for some of us, by yet further grace, our eyes were opened to an understanding of what things, what practices, God protected us from while we were subject to TWI. While ever eyes are focused on individuals in leadership, leadership will be found to fail. Our eyes are to be focused on a much better model - that of Jesus Christ. Then we can be forgiving of real, perceived or imagined failures on the part of leadership... ...unless, of course, leadership seeks to insert itself into the place rightfully occupied by Jesus Christ. ("You shall be like God!" or "You shall be like JC!") Now that is nutty!

I thought I'd resurrect this old thread and just re-read my last post on it. I could just about repeat it word for word as to how the girlies are doing now. But there has been progress. Tuxedo is getting more of a fuss-puss - with me, and only with me. She follows me round the house. As I move from room to room, just a few minutes later she will be there. Particularly noticeable in the evenings (I'm in and out a lot during the daytime). She yells at me to be fondled or picked up and then runs off when I reach out to her. She likes to lie on the back of the couch near my "office" chair or to walk across the keyboard. At night she has taken to yelling at me, and for an odd reason - for her. I like to lie with her and fondle her, but if I do this on the couch I fall asleep. So I take her up to bed at night sometimes. A few times now it has got near "bed time" and she yells at me and looks meaningfully at the door at the foot of the stairs, even goes upstairs pausing to glance back at me as if to say, you come too. Sleeps somewhere on the bed with me. If I don't get up when she thinks appropriate in the morning she leaps about on the bed and miaows and pats my face, and leaps off when I try to grab her. Normal cat, you say? Yeah, until someone else comes, then you never see her. Crypto is the Ham glutton - she loves bits of ham (sorry, Mr Squirrel). I give her a little at night, the remaindered stuff from the supermarket; now she yells very persistently at me until I give her some. She has a small thin slice torn into tiny fingernail-sized fragments. I am using this demand to my advantage. Lately, I sit on the couch and make her get up on it to get these treats. Then I fondle her with the hand not holding the treat. She gets her head, ears, neck, chest and flanks lightly fondled. She will only tolerate a little of this but the bribe makes it less scary. The hope is that she becomes used to being touched. Seems to be working. When totally besotted with the ham, she will purr (yep, a real purr) and has been known to put her front feet on my leg - I'm not sure if she realizes quite what she's doing in pursuit of her piece of ham. She's always rubbed up against chairs, furniture, etc, but lately it's also against legs, etc and she demands a nape scratch and lately a back stroke. One stroke, then she's away but back 10 seconds later for another stroke. Better yet, she does this with other people, wants and enjoys a little fondle from people she knows. No closer to picking her up - touching both sides of her body at once will have her away before you register you've touched her. And it doesn't stop her hissing at me if she is startled by movement or I approach the place she sleeps or the table she's under. She often follows Tuxedo about so at night I think sometimes I have both of them in my bedroom. She's such a stealthy mover that it's difficult to know whether she's there or not. It's a loooooooooot of progress compared to the creatures I first acquired.

This is going to be 1h 09m 28sec of what, exactly, TeachYouVP? What has it taught you? What have you learned (and applied) from it?

I haven't looked at this video, but if you are trying to make a point - please make it. Don't just post a video running for 59m14s for no apparent reason.