Twinky

Well, folks, business is building up...and dying down. I have several gardens to tend, but as autumn (fall) approaches, that's slowing down - instead of every week, people want my help every other week. It'll be autumn tidies for the next few weeks, then very little. So I asked the Senior Partner for some more work and he has sent me some more "indoor" work. This is a couple of houses to tend, a "companionship" job which will be 5 hrs every Weds (more if I want), two decluttering jobs (well, one declutter and one ... dunno what exactly, for someone who has emigrated and left the house as it was!), a petcare (feeding) job for someone on holiday, and a catering assignment (dinner party for 7). There is also some exterior painting to do when the flowers and foliage die back. And a management job for a block of flats. So an interesting variety of jobs, and some very grateful clients. Not making a whole heap of money, but enough to cover immediate outgoings and to overpay a bit on my mortgage. What's nice is being able to come and go at will, fit the jobs around other things I want to do and have time for people. Open for any options, and willing to try practically anything legal, decent and honest.

Congratulations to you both. Best wishes for very many happy years ahead.

D'ya know, JJ, now you say that - I think I remember hearing him say that, too. The earth doesn't have to be the center of the solar system or anything like that, but it is the center of the universe - the focal point. Hadn't thought of that for years. (Probably, not even for 30 seconds)

I guess Housekeeping has to be a (paid) staff job now, not done by in-rez Corps, as there aren't enough in-rez Corps to waste on doing that job. Yep, your ABS at work.

,,, pay Housekeeping????

They won't leave till they're ready and the more you try to persuade them, the more they will think you are possessed. it's a trick of the adversary, etc. Maybe the question(s) to ask of - or about - them is, Why do they stay? What do they get out of it? What's the emotional hold on them (on them as individuals - not the "fear factor")? There are other threads on this, on how to help people - and also how to help them once they are out.

Looks like they're working the kids hard there. Lotta equipment on view. But they still get 'em doing keep fit in the dark (so early in the morning, before the working day begins). And where exactly were was a group of them rowing to - in the dark? I see from the pix that there is a .....LE MEMORIAL LIBRARY. What d'ya reckon, "Wierwill Memorial Library" to honor Gramps? Is there, perchance, a doctor in the house?

Well done, OE. What's your target weight? Lots of simple substitutions can make a difference: eat fruit not candy, change French fries for a baked potato, etc. If wannabe lessofme's must use a car, park on the far side of the car park, not in the nearest slot. Walk up one flight of stairs, walk down 3 or 4 instead of using an elevator. A pedometer (step counter) is quite good - set a target and each day try to take more steps. My biggest thing is to avoid grazing. (If I eat a decent meal, I don't need to snack out.) So I keep my grazable items (cookies, cakes, candy) in the shop. If I'm bored and want some chocolate then I have to go (on foot or bike) to get it. So probably I won't (lazy critter that I am ( ... not really)).

Clever, dmiller. Does that mean that the concept of pyramid selling is set in (soap)stone? Soapstone

Nice deflection, Johniam, but working fast food is not "living the Word" at TWI HQ. Though the manner of delivery of instructions/orders might be "screaming" we're not talking about outrageous delivery but outrageous statements. I can agree with you that most of what LCM said was outrageous and delivered in outrageous manner...but that's not quite this thread. LCM was good at outrageous statements. I don't want to go dredging around in the back of my mind looking for any specifics. I'm having quite a nice life without him and his venom. He had his own "God spoke to me" moments. One I recall is when he felt God put his "hand" on his head and turn his head so that LCM saw something that God wanted him to. Was it true? Dunno. I did perceive it at the time as being "God always shows me - you can't hide."

This is the word translated as "comforter" and you'll see it appears only 5 times: ================= The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon Strong's Number: 3875 Original Word paravklhtoß a root word Transliterated Word Parakletos Phonetic Spelling par-ak'-lay-tos Parts of Speech Noun Masculine Definition summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor of Christ in his exaltation at God's right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins [*] in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom King James Word Usage - Total: 5 comforter 4, advocate 1 ================= If you read this as "another advocate" or "another to speak up for us" - that gives you an entirely different sort of understanding. The "Comforter" isn't some sort of big warm blanket, or a hug from a friend. Jesus himself prayed, asked of his Father, spoke up for, his disciples in his physical lifetime on earth. There are enough records of this to know that speaking up for his disciples to his Father wasn't an occasional event or something he did on an ad hoc basis. He did it regularly and committedly. He was the first "comforter" and, as he says in John 16:7, "another comforter" (holy spirit, Jn 14:26) won't come unless he, JC, goes. Paraklesis is derived from parakaleo (Strongs 3870), to call near, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation); beseech, call for exhort, intreat, pray. Knowing you have someone there, standing with you, standing by you no matter how stupid you've been, someone always ready to take your side, hold your hand - now that's a real comfort. We derive such comfort from being spoken up for, defended. Comfort from being loved...unconditionally...by someone who's always rooting for you.

I always had a big vision for seeing God BIIIGGG in people's lives. Even from a child I knew that God could do big and special things for people, and loved and cared for them. Guess I musta listened in Sunday School. I wanted to be a missionary in Africa. I had big visions for a life of service when I got involved in TWI. I enjoyed my WoW year and had big vision for the city (which didn't come to pass, but we certainly did find some excellent new people for our WoW twig who really saw God's love and care in their lives). I never had the ambition to be a big religious hotshot, and the idea of building up anything that made people look at me, as opposed to glorifying God, never entered my head (I think I fancied the adventure of the idea of going to Africa!). As we all know, TWI's ideas of service and other people's aren't quite the same. I wasn't the hard b----- they tried to turn me into, so they squashed and squished every idea and every attempt at service. I met some very frightening people - and they made a point of being frightening. Some who were not frightening to start with became so, with that constant "You are not obedient to the Word" condemnation of individuality. Having big vision is fine. Having ambition is fine. Having ambition to climb over and squash everyone else to achieve one's vision is dead wrong.

Exactly, allswell. Would be a steep learning curve for them. Have to teach themselves first. It's funny, really, because as individuals, I find Americans very generous, giving, and openhanded, and particularly within TWI, I found individual believers to be ready to give. As an International coming from a country with lower per capita income [not the UK], my WC tuition fees and little extras came in large part from US believers. Within my home country, the believers were very giving and sharing with each other and also with the WC they supported. And yet the parent organization is so tightfisted and hoards all the ABS, which individuals willingly (or maybe unwillingly) give, thinking that it will be shared out to those in need...but there's a big logjam in Ohio. But it's not all about the money. That's only a symptom of the hardheartedness and lack of genuine love and compassion - that again was often evident among individuals, but not the organization as a whole. "Do as TWI says - not as TWI does ..." Huh...

Nah, the no-mortgages policy came out way before that, Socks. As I understand it, VP mortgaged one of the campuses and it took a lot to pay off the loan. The mortgage deed (once repayment was effected) was then cut up into small pieces and distributed - to whom I'm not sure, but I do know someone who had a piece. VP said that having a mortgage put you under enslavement because you always had to work and work, to pay the interest on the mortgage. Under Martindale, that became part of his no-debt policy and went far too far. I'd have to agree, having a mortgage does cause worry. The monthly payment has to be met, regularly. It's not so easy to change to smaller, cheaper accommodation. It's not so easy if your location no longer meets your family's needs, for whatever reason. There is the thought of paying off large sums of money for decades. Some kinds of benefit/state aid may not be available, because you have a capital asset that you could (notionally) sell. But then again - rent has to be paid, or landlords tend to get rid of tenants. Large sums of money, sometimes exceeding what would be a mortgage payment, have to be paid, for decades - except that at the end of the decades, you're still renting. Whether one rents or buys, there is financial outlay. It should be left to individual families to determine what's best for them - not following everyone else and buying, if they can't afford it - nor renting, if it would be better for the family to live in an owned home. If the WC managed to own homes - huh, they wouldn't be moved on every few years...a loss of control over them. Or maybe the house-owning WC would move - but just rent their homes out to other people at something that would cover the mortgage payment. Maybe rent to the next Branch Coordinator or whatever. Martindale was proud that his family owned nothing, no property, but lived well. Yeah, because they'd nabbed the Log Cabin, which was supposed to be for ALL Way Corps; and they lived at virtually no cost on a campus with housekeepers, gardeners, chauffeurs, and any other kind of staff they could desire. I'd love to know his views now on some of those subjects he once pontificated so vehemently upon. And I wonder if his kids have taken out mortgages so that they can buy their own homes. Oh .. and VP said paying interest on a loan for TWI facilities was a waste of ABS. Yeah, sure was...but that doesn't mean the same principle should apply to private (non-TWI) facilities.

OB, "confidence" is another good word to use there. Myself, I shy away from anything like the "believing/faith" type of argument, which isn't an argument really but another way of causing division in the Body by teaching something that ... isn't really there. More of "doctor's" superior knowledge. What's left to teach? VPW was all about "gimme the money." Compare and contrast with George Muller, who dismissed people for not having complete confidence that God would meet needs - without money. That same George Muller, whose legacy survives today, whose "children" are still living and thankful for his life. Muller's bold believing/confidence is something we could really learn from. He did what the book said - not said what he said the book said.

Oh, do keep talking, Socks. (You can believe for an earthquake to get out of the Doctrinal cave, if necessary. )

The hype wasn't just that he could work at a Fortune 500 company - it was that he could be the CEO of said company. If he ran it anything like he ran TWI, it wouldn't be Fortune 500 or even Fortune 5,000,000 for very long. Yeah, so that claim ... was pretty outrageous. Or egregious. Or maybe just somewhere in outer space.

Roy ... what exactly is an Atheist Christian???

They could try teaching about the generosity and lovingness of God. They could try reading and teaching from the gospels, about the exemplary life of Jesus. They could try teaching humility, respect, generosity, not esteeming others greater than oneself, making themselves servants (ie really serving) others. They could try teaching "love" as being tender, and being like a nursing mother with their flock - instead of practicing "tough love" and bullying their flock. They could try teaching hospitality, and opening their doors to all, including the homeless and filthy off the street (think: what might be in Plurality Palace), those with addiction problems; those who need a break from the hardness of their lives. By "teaching" of course that would be by example, not by the mere words of their mouths. Waysider...really...there is sooo much more that they can teach. As to the things you mention in your opening post - can't say they've ever helped me in my relationship and walk with my Father. Worse, they've been a hindrance.

Rascal, I remember all of those statements. Wasn't there also something ... A request from a leader is just as much the Word of God as a command in the Bible ...? If a leader tells you to get a bucket of [water - or some such], you need to obey that just as you would a command from God. Maybe that was something from LCM's VP-worship book.

Johniam, as that's not about an outrageous statement in a TWI meeting, you might want to carry it on in your own personal soapbox. Johniam's personal soapbox

bump Hi Johniam, do carry on here...!

Not an option, though, for Internationals...we were expected to attend. The mighty US calls. For such reasons, the US is not seen favorably by overseas countries. However, if compelled (as TWI did) - well ... you just did it. I don't know how many US believers ever managed to visit Gartmore - was hardly running long enough. It really would have been much better to build up local expertise, dealing with the local culture, country by country... but TWI never operated that way. "Our way or no way." And it really didn't work in other countries. All that happened is that people were totally put off. And I agree with you, BA: I really don't think US believers would willingly make the trek regularly, year after year, to such an event. To ... such an event. Even if they did feel obliged to trek long distances across the US to such an event in Ohio. So what are we seeing here? It's wicked (good word, that, "wicked") to withhold lawful taxes. Does the IRS, or other countries' governments, lawfully require residents to pay taxes (tribute)? Yep, they sure do. Therefore, should one pay taxes? Yep. 'Fraid so. I don't see wiggle room here to maintain two sets of books. I'm sure God can cope with only having his share and not a part of Caesar's share also. The choice is : give Caesar (the government) what is rightly due to it; give to God what is rightly due to God. The rest is one's own. This account appears in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Three times: complete!! So in keeping two sets of books : who was TWI serving? (Like verses appear in Matthew and Luke) But of course - if you discourage (or worse, disallow) the Gospels and looking at the life of Jesus ... hey, what does his example matter, anyway? We live under grace now. Yeah, right.

Hmm, I thought it was Michael Jackson who copied AoS? Wasn't the "moon walk" devised by someone in TWI? And then, there was "His-story" which was some name devised by TWI. For all this "MJ copied TWI" - one day my Corps was told to watch a video of MJ dancing. Because even if he was so possessed, we could still learn from his skill in dancing. Or something like that. Too long ago to remember, really. Or maybe not "off topic" - they're certainly outrageous statements. Just not the most outrageous.

Wow, GSG, there was a real doctor in the house! And yes, as a chemist, you would be a Ph.D-type doctor not a MD-type doctor, but you're a highly qualified man nonetheless and justly entitled to the accolade. Bet DocVic never called you "Doctor" though.