Twinky

Not Rosie unless she has moved to the Philippines. mmm...the currency is quoted in US$ and Philippine currency. Seller appears to be in Seattle. Pretty expensive for a bit of fire starter material.

Doing well on this. Feel free to check out the web page, even if you don't want to donate (but feel free to do that, too!). I have 76% of my desired total, will go up a little when the charity gets the tax back from the taxman. Am very grateful to all my donors. What's surprising is the number of people who say that they themselves ran marathons or half-marathons in their youth...looking at them now, it's hard to imagine some of them in fit enough shape. Alas, age and gravity affect us all; also, too much sugar in the coffee... (he he). My link

Now for a slightly different take on PooP... I knew Geer from Gartmore, hated his arrogant self-satisfied smirk, and had early encountered that he said one thing and didn't follow through what he was spouting off in public. A lot of things flowing from Gartmore and the hard attitude there caused immense hurt and confusion to me, a mere "twiggy". The fog years were there and Geer was making a play for power and re-working PFAL. God took me out of that and I ended up in another country, where the believers were kind and tender and really cared for each other and the BCs were great. That aroused a desire in me to want to serve better and I ended up going in rez. When in rez, I was shown a copy of Poop. It was presented as being something special for me because of my knowledge of Geer - it wasn't shown to other in rez WC. I was appalled at the venom, vitriol, vileness of the language in the document. I was so utterly completely shocked at how any so-called leader could let such abusive language and outright evil spew forth. Any vague doubts I might have had about Geer being the "right man" were instantly dispelled and it deepened my commitment to TWI, and the BoT at the time. :wacko: <= koolaid Little did I realize that they were (are) ALL vile, venomous, and abusive. :asdf: Choose your poison wisely! So it "rocked my world" in a bit different way to the "rocks" others have described. In fact, it put some real big stumbling rocks (blocks) in my Christian walk. (edited cos my little symbols didn't turn out right!)

I never heard this one before, soul searcher. Barffff....just when you think it couldn't get any worse.... I really do think I have to thank Rosie, yes, that Rosie. He told me he'd wanted me to be in the Green Room but she told him that I wasn't "spiritual" enough. Guess that means she knew I wouldn't (not even going to name it) and furthermore might make waves about it, being as I was never "meek" enough. Ps 84:10 I had rather be a dish washer in the dishroom of my God, than to dwell in the Green Room of wickedness. (with apologies)

Officially spring!! And actually it is. Was out and about over the weekend and there are snowdrops everywhere, absolutely wonderful, great carpets of them, wall to wall little white flowers. And now there are some in my garden, not saying how they got there but I have a few clumps. As to the rest of the garden, guess I should be planning what to put where and getting things started but I have a Project which will take place over Easter which might negate any planting that I do. The Project: my garden path needs relaying. It was very ricketty when I bought the house and I started to re-lay it last fall but the weather suddenly turned inclement. All the paving slabs went back as best they could and now this temporary arrangement is showing signs of having had a hard winter. So the plan is to re-lay the path properly over the longer break. Exciting decisions to be made: how many steps, how deep, what sort of slope on the path, what to use to form the steps.... Frankly I'd rather take my tent and go camping, but Easter is when I can get some help with The Project.

Bit late in the day to think of this, but "teaching" and "style" with regard to LCM - aren't these two complete opposites? Now if you said, "screeching style" ... that would be accurate ...

That would be PFAL sign-up cards, wouldn't it? Hey word of knowledge and word of wisdom go hand in hand... like a WIZ with a WOK...to cook up some new enchantments, no doubt.

Gen-2, you talk about learning to ride a bike. You have a saddle, a chain, handlebars, pedals, wheels, tires, brakes, gears and gear levers without which the bike is useless; and parts that you don't use so often but which are still necessary: a bell, lights, perhaps a basket or panniers... Sure you could learn how each one worked correctly. You still wouldn't be learning to ride a bike until you used all the parts correctly, all together, working properly to make one powerful and useful item. If you want to ride your spiritual bike, you need all the parts, too. But hey, Tom, what a great idea - break it down, and teach it as separate classes - hook 'em in with SIT then another cute little class called TIP (ha ha, interesting name) which was "fun" with practice sessions. By now they're well and truly hooked and you can smack 'em for a big payout on the Advanced Class. All part of the MLM strategy.

I was there when he was teaching some Class live - Adv Class? DTA? Started out teaching it to the in-rez WC live (in the auditorium) but after a few sessions shifted the Corps to the room at the side (to the left as you enter the aud). Said this was because he was "teaching to the needs of the Corps" rather than teaching to wider more general needs that was appropriate to a class to be widely released (those weren't his words but the general import of what he said). I guess he might be right on that. Anyone presenting a lecture, show, play, whatever, does to some extent feed off the audience response...even though the WC was ordered to be silent. I do remember him getting het up about ...who knows what? being "spiritually angry" about something. Perhaps that was coming through in what he was teaching when the WC was present.

Jeff, I realized Sky was out but my gut response to what he posted was just - GET OUT! to people still in. I see now my post was slightly misleading in that respect. Way life did acknowledge the wisdom of "a multitude of counsellors" - but those counsellors were always people higher in the Way tree than the individual seeking counsel. And so some sort of linear counselling developed. It was never counselling among equals nor seeking counsel/views from those affected by a decision. Hence "leadership" and "counselling" were detached from the lives of those affected (most here can attest to that). That's how it became "lockstep." Never mind that in "one body" all have a part to play. And the "head of the body" has a specific part to play. But then, the head of the body in TWI is not Jesus Christ, is it?

GET OUT !!!!!! (if you're still in) and find a church where your God-given talents and abilities can be put to use and not buried in the ground, returning a profit to no-one.

I put some pre- and post-race photos on my online page. Unfortunately the official photos are all copyrighted and they want megabucks for permission to download. If any of you would like to support me financially, my online donation page is open till June 2010:Twinky's page

My time was 2 hours 22 mins 04 seconds. There are some photos on the web of me (and all competitors!) and I look really...blessed... to be doing this. Kind of a rough style, but hey, I did it! It took 45 mins to get from the start gate to the start pen, so although the race started at 11am, I didn't actually get to the start line until about 11.15. Everyone has a microchip on their shoe, which records times at (personal) start, 10km and finish. I was lapped about a mile or so in by the winning little group - the winner was a Kenyan and boy, did he have style. He was past before anyone near me realised what was happening, just so smooth, made it look nearly effortless. A collective groan went up from those near me at the though of his speed and our slowness. He was closely followed by two other black men (one last year's winner, also Kenyan who came third). A white local (UK) male came next and his style was really ponderous compared with the Kenyans - different sort of body shape - but hey, he too came in in excellent time, about 1:06. It was quite something being in this seething mass of bouncing heads. Looking forward up the road, it was bobbing solid ribbon of multicolored shirts. Looking back was the same. Some were quite fit, others definitely lacked style, and some you might think should never attempt such an undertaking. Big crowds all the way round, a samba band, other musicians, lots of encouragement. Lovely sunny day, dry, but a very cold strong wind blowing. A mile or so from the end I had to put my sweater and gloves back on. And now I'm the delighted possessor of a Race Finisher T shirt and a commemorative medal. Got a round of applause when I walked into the place where I'm a volunteer worker, yesterday. Thanks for your good wishes and prayers . I'm sure they helped . Every year there is a casualty rate but I saw only three emergency vehicles rushing people away (to hospital presumably), which is quite good for saying there were 15,000 entrants. If any of you would like to support me financially, my online donation page is still open and will remain so for the next three months:Twinky's page

Well. I did it. Something between 2h15 and 2h20mins, I think. Results are posted on the organisers' website, but can't get on that. Everyone else wants to know their times. Quite tired. An early night beckons.........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Less than 12 hours to go! - There is a group photo for all the people running on behalf of The Genesis Trust (nine of us, if no-one withdraws - and if everyone turns up for the photo), then into the holding areas for 10.30 ready for 11 am start. ...Still no disaster has struck me such that I can honorably withdraw...guess I need to go through with it. The weather forecast is good. Sunny, cool, dry. No rain. I have some encouraging visual imagery to help me round the course. But specially, I keep visualizing myself going through that finish line and the satisfaction of having completed my race. Yay!!!!! Whatever time I achieve, it'll be my PB (personal best) - being as I've never attempted anything this ambitious before.

Thought it might be useful to bump up this old thread, for the benefit of people who have found the Cafe in the past few years.

Thank you very very much Bowtwi! Pleased you got the link to work. It's tomorrow!! Aargh! (Head in hands) Not so sure I am looking forward to the run - but I am MIGHTILY looking forward to getting across the finish line and thinking, "Yes, I did it!" (grins with delight, victory salute) Weather forecast looks good. Should be dry, sunny...probably quite warm.

Thanks Chas. Someone at the Cafe kindly let me know the link doesn't work, not sure why because it has worked for donors in the UK and in another country. Maybe something to do with how this board is set up. If anyone is willing to sponsor me, perhaps they could type into their browser this address - but omit the spaces, of course: http://www/ justgiving.com/Twinky and a little picture of my braver cat Tuxedo will be there to greet you. The link in post #1 works but the later one doesn't seem to. Try below: http://www.justgiving.com/Twinky Had just a little run today, as I have been strictly told to rest and not overdo running, so only a shortish 3 miler today, and I walked up the hill and the last bit home, so really it was only about a 2 mile run. I am not to run after this, just continue to do stretches. But it was too pretty and bright an afternoon to stay in. Lovely just looking at the trees and the swelling leaf buds; at the catkins on some of the bushes; at the snowdrops in full bloom; at the daffodils just swording up out of the ground. Birdsong was deafening. The wind was quite strong and cold but the sun was bright. Must remember to take some sunglasses on Sunday!

Aaaaarghhhh.... it's this weekend! This Sunday!!! Am I ready? Not really, but as ready as I'm going to be. I may not complete with much style, but I will complete it! Whatever time I achieve will be a personal best. Things can only improve ... .... does that mean I'm thinking of doing another one? Lord, preserve me from such madness.

I never had the "privilege" of hearing her teach. Guess I never will, since they don't dare put their teachings out on the net so that anyone can listen (how's that for "moving the word," huh?). Say what you like about CFFM, at least their teachings are available to anybody, free of charge. It's all their on their website. Gosh, how embarrassing would it have been if some of the SNS from LCM had been in the public domain - available to all on the TWI website (shudder). Sounds like RFR's are the other end of the pendulum from histrionics to utter boredom.

Workman, if Charlene posts an essay here, isn't it more courteous to discuss it here, rather than in some other location? Better yet, privately with her?

"Diffused light" means not in full sun on a window sill, nor in semi darkness at the back of the room. Sometimes you have to experiment with a plant to find its preferred location. I have a houseplant which I thought to treat to a sunnier location and it kinda threw up its leaves in horror and refused to grow. Back in a more obliquely lit location, it's doing nicely again. Confused light would be where you put it near a "disco ball." (LOL)

I never heard any words to the "Chicken Song" before, but those kids are funny. It's a tune that really gets me moving ---- out of the room, and as far away as possible.

Oh my lord! That was inflicted on little kids??! Was it as much fun as the "Birdie Song" ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeswZaReE0I (Now you can't get that out of your head, either, can you, LOL)

You will chart your own course, brainfixed. When I first left (got kicked out), life was terribly difficult. I didn't trust any kind of non-Way person (especially Christians); and there were no Way people at all, anywhere near. So there was no-one to talk to. I finally (after some years) managed to hook up with some ex-Wayfers (which was terrifying but the only place I found anything like safe). It was reading a particular book, and a very long chat with one of these ex-Wayfers, that really "healed" me. I cannot remember anything discussed. It was just as if a load of guilt, shame, abject misery ... just dissolved. But now, I don't like to be around those people. Not that I don't like them, or don't believe they sincerely, honestly, genuinely, want to help. It's just that I've moved on a long way and what they believe and teach sounds like the same-old, same-old. It's not, but I value input from elsewhere now. And I recognise how much my own understanding and relationship with God has changed. Grown. The book (and it's highly recommended here at the Cafe) is "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse" by David Johnson & Jeff Van Vonderen. Subtitle: "Recognizing and escaping spiritual manipulation and false spiritual authority within the church." It's very readable. Eye-opening. You might find the book helpful. As you were raised all your life by Wayfers, it may help you differently from how it helps someone who came to - any abusive church or relationship - later, when they already had some idea of life. You can get the book from Amazon, if you can't find it in a bookshop near you. Meantime, spending time here might help you see how many of us here have moved on and gone in different directions. If being here helps you explore some of your head-stuff, stick around. If it hurts you, stay away for a while. If anyone abuses you, report them to the Moderators.