Twinky

Waysider, not sure what you're trying to say with that video, which adds nothing to the specific request:

This post really relates to those who have served in the Way Corps. I've noticed on the Way Corps site that there are a number of Corps signing up who are still in TWI. Obviously the policy of "no using the internet" has long since gone by the board. In a post there, I saw that someone has suggested that current serving Corps may be seeking to hook up with dropped Corps with a view to inviting dropped Corps back to TWI. Hooking up again with old friends and acquaintances is one thing; I'm just wondering if anyone has been approached by former Corps with the invitation to return? If any of you who are "out" are now in contact through the WC site with "innie Corps", how have they been to speak to/email with?

Don't join dangerous cults: Practice safe sects.

Traditionally in the UK pancakes on Shrove Tuesday are eaten with fresh orange juice squeezed over them, and a sprinkle of sugar. Or squeeze a fresh lemon over instead of the orange. But actually, they are really nice as a wrap for fresh fruit, as GC says. I had some particularly refreshing ones last summer (very hot) - the pancakes were wrapped round slices of fresh and juicy watermelon. The crunchiness was lovely.

Okay - these all just got sent to me... the second is a bit near the bone for GSC patrons... and maybe the fourth one... A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?" "Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly. "How do you know that?" "Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up, like the Bishop said, 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer." ______________________________ After a church service on Sunday morning, a young boy suddenly announced to his mother, "Mom, I've decided to become a minister when I grow up." "That's okay with us, but what made you decide that?" "Well," said the little boy, "I have to go to church on Sunday anyway, and I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell, than to sit and listen." ______________________________ A 6-year-old was overheard reciting the Lord's Prayer at a church service, "And forgive us our trash passes, as we forgive those who passed trash against us." ______________________________ A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon. "How do you know what to say?" he asked. "Why, God tells me." "Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?" ______________________________ A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?" ______________________________ ! After the christening of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I want to stay with you guys!" ______________________________ A teacher asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favourite Bible stories. She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent. "The Flight to Egypt ," was his reply. Pointing at each figure, the teacher said, "That must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. But who's the fourth person?" "Oh, that's Pontius - the pilot!" ______________________________ The Sunday School Teacher asks, "Now, Johnny, tell me frankly do you say prayers before eating?" "No sir," little Johnny replies, I don't have to...My mom is a good cook." ______________________________ A college drama group presented a play in which one character would stand on a trap door and announce, "I descend into hell!" A stagehand below would then pull a rope, the trapdoor would spring, and the actor would drop from view. The play was well received. When the actor playing the part became ill, another actor who was quite overweight took his place. When the new actor announced, "I descend into hell!" the stagehand pulled the rope, and the actor began his plunge, but became hopelessly stuck. No amount of tugging on the rope could make him descend. One student in the balcony jumped up and yelled: "Hallelujah! Hell is full!" ______________________________ A little girl was sitting on her grandfather's lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek, then his again. Finally she spoke up, "Grandpa, did God make you?" "Yes, sweetheart," he answered, "God made me a long time ago." "Oh," she paused, "grandpa, did God make me too?" "Yes, indeed, honey," he said, "God made you just a little while ago." Feeling their respective faces again, she observed, "God's getting better at it, isn't he ?"

Progress is creeping on... Had a good fondle at Tuxy this morning. I also managed to weigh her (weigh me + cat, let her go, work out difference). She seems to weigh about 8lb/4kg. She is not a small cat, and her avowed intention is to eat, all at once, every Go-Cat biscuit that comes into the house. When fondling her, I noticed she has a very fresh chunk out of one ear just below the point - not just a tear, but an actual very small piece missing - with a fresh bloody scab on the wound. Looks like Crypto has learned to fight back (well, she has!!) and these two had an active night last night. I took Tuxy a walk up the garden path this morning (in my arms). I needed to check if the dustmen had been. Tuxy was terrified by the time I got to the garden gate, wriggling to get away. She calmed down when I turned round to come back to the house, and walked back down the path. She is fascinated by, but hates, new and different things. Crypto is definitely getting more assertive and I've noticed her have an unprovoked poke at Tuxy on a couple of occasions. Mind you, Tuxy still chases or gratuitously hits at Crypto much more!! Crypto seems to welcome a little fondle nowadays. She is quite willing to let me scratch the back of her neck and run my hand along her spine a couple of times. Crypto has also begun to develop her voice a little more. She usually makes a content sort of "crrroooo" sound (rather like a dove!) and she has a very soft, shy little miaow. But yesterday I got a rather loud assertive miaow. She has learned to make a noise if she wants to ask for food. Rather pleasing. But slow progress, or what? Oh if Tuxy is 8lb, that would make Crypto probably about 5lb, not as much as 6lb. She is only about 2/3 Tuxy's size, as far as I can tell. She was the runt of the litter. Too gentle a personality to fight for herself.

Seriously... Innies, what "teachings" are there about the current economic climate? Or is it all about not looking to worldly circumstances? Not fearing? Is any practical help being talked about? Has any been given? Perhaps the "softer, kinder" TWI has a better attitude to people who lose their jobs because their employer's business has folded? Or is there a change of tack from the "material prosperity" doctrine to a "spiritual prosperity" doctrine, and confidence in God in the face of adversity?] Are there any cutbacks at HQ?

Oh yes, and something else I do with what I know... be wary of false teachers engage my critical thinking skills don't accept everything just because someone says so be patient with other Christian beliefs that contradict my own understanding...we're all right on some things and wrong on others Because I know more than just scriptures. It's not the scriptures that are wrong, it's the interpretation that may have been given.

What I know is more than what TWI taught. I knew stuff before, I learned some stuff there, and I have learned a lot since. What I am doing with what I know is: living a life of thankfulness showing compassion to those in need being non-judgmental being peaceful and kind enjoying "just being" with God enjoying being with God's other people from a diverse range of Christian beliefs trying to live a life that is a witness, without having to ram Bible verses down the throats of those who don't yet know God I read less, but ponder more on what I do know. I enjoy the delicious "fruit of the spirit" listed in Galatians 5.

How about doing something really controversial and making it easier to immigrate legally? (This works in some many other countries. Europe. Australasia. And the host country benefits AND the immigrant's family back home.) Vet people before they come in, then you can keep out real criminals and leave the ordinary Joe (or maybe Jose) to get on, work a little, and then go back home. If Jose is really entrepreneurial, he will benefit the city or state with his/her business, instead of wasting his/her energies on hiding/evasion, and doing menial jobs. Oh, and you will also benefit (perhaps) by putting bigoted law-enforcers out of business.

Hey Leafy, that's progress for you. With scaredy-pants Crypto, what I've found works is hand-feeding bits of ham (she really likes ham) and holding that pinched firmly in two fingers, and slowly bringing the other hand around (so's not to startle) and stroking/scratching the back of her neck while she tugs at the meat. She will endure the handling because she likes the meat. I make her tug at it for a short while then release it so that she can eat; then do the same again. It's not a "main meal" - just a treat - and maybe 6 times or however long it takes before she has had enough of fondling. Another tip that was given me by a trainer of difficult dogs is to stroke the back with a feather. Both of them really like this and do not see it as a threat. If they go through a scared/aversive period, I resume touching with the feather and they soon come round. Strange, but this was one of the most effective things.

Things I miss... ...Snuggling against Twinkle's soft fur, when she had come in from the fields. She used to smell sweetly of hay. ...Snuggling against Twinkletoes's fur, when he'd come in from the garden. He smelled of fresh green outdoors. I managed to pick up Tuxedo the other day. Her fur smells sort of dusty. Maybe she'd been exploring under the kitchen work units again (such an exciting place, doncha know?). But some progress with these two. Tuxy (Tucks-In) has taken to coming by my chair when I am at the computer, and she mews piteously. There's food in the dish and the litter tray is clean (her usual complaints). What does she want? To be fondled!! I may not pick her up, but I may scratch her neck, ears, back, and stroke all along her. She can be quite demanding that I do this! When I picked her up, she made her usual protest, then snuggled into my arms, purring loudly, and in fact giving for the first time that rather high-pitched purr that cats make when they are really really happy or pleased with themselves. Crypto has also decided that being fondled is not so bad. Lately she has come to me, very cautiously, and she bends her head down in a very specific way which invites me to scratch the back of her neck and at the same time I am also allowed 3 or 4 strokes along her body. This may happen three or four times a day. A long way from picking her up, though. In fact, it's quite significant progress with both of them.

Thank you, Waysider and Rocky.

It's not just musical talent that was controlled. If anyone had any ability or talent in any direction, instead of being thankful that God has endowed us all a little differently, any talents had to be totally subjugated to TWI / PFAL thinking. Or the talented person was belittled and their ability sneered at. I have a recollection (vague, and third or nth hand hearsay) that VPW thought the music ministry was very important for TWI. That would be the groups, not the stuff on stage. One of my coordinators wrote a sweet song (and its music) that was very popular in the fellowship and we all loved it when she sang the song. She had been singing it for years. Then one year, around the early 90s, she went to RoA and sang on the Family Stage or some such - anyway, the song came to the attention of Way Prods. Next thing, this song had some of its lyrics changed, an extra verse was added, and it became a Way Prods song commonly sung by someone else AND they, TWI, claimed copyright. She said, gamely, that the additions had made it a better song, but she also seemed rather sad about it. She never got any credit for composing it. Somewhat off topic, Hillsong the group and the Church have attracted adverse criticism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsong See stuff from about half way down the page, and followed up in some of the articles at the bottom of the page. Regardless of any controversy, they're still great songs, very popular in the church I now go to, very popular elsewhere, and often significant chunks of psalms set to modern music. As long as you don't mind the trinitarian bent to some of the songs...

I just looked at this thread for the first time. My goodness me, aren't some of you hard line? Instead of saying, these people deserve to be in prison, why don't you ask WHY they are in prison? What are their circumstances that get them there? What is being done to address their circumstances? If someone is illiterate - do they get reading and writing lessons? If they have been violent is it because they have been abused and have anger management problems - do they get counselling and anger management courses to help them find better ways to cope? If someone has stolen, is it because they really can't make ends meet? Some family tragedy has afflicted them? Violence breeds violence. Brutality breeds brutality. It's hard enough for someone with a prison sentence to get out and find a decent job, or any legal job, afterwards. So what does that do? Push him back into the prison system. Which costs every taxpayer money. Instead if some money were made available to teach skills - there would be a lot more people who could contribute to society. As legal, decent working people. Some prisons I'm aware of have programs that teach prisoners skills for life. Some sort of trade. They get to sit external qualifications. The recidivism rate is very low because these people are integrated back into society. In other countries, there are "restorative justice" programs. These aim to restore offenders back to society by confronting them with the effects of their crimes. Many say it is so painful being confronted by their victims that they would rather go to prison. But the ones who do go through restorative justice programs often realize the error of their ways and do not offend again. If the Sheriff gives some prisoners dog-training skills and a feeling of respect for what they have done, that will go a long way to those prisoners' rehabilitation. If, however, he treats them like caged animals in a zoo, to be kicked whenever he feels like it, he's actually kicking out the welcome mat for their next visit. Which one of you hasn't done something wrong? You just didn't get caught for it. Did you ever "borrow" a pen, or a paperclip, from where you work? Did you ever drive a little carelessly? Did you ever hit out at anything in frustration? Pretty much all of us here have an abused background, to a greater or lesser degree, through our time in TWI. We did things that now we find almost unbelievable. We hurt friends, and relatives; we abused people in the name of God; we may have behaved despicably; we were rude and intolerant; some may have engaged in sexual exploitation (the low end of which is known at the Cafe as "date and switch"). If we had had a decent background to begin with, we may have managed to pull back to that. If we didn't, we have to find out more appropriate ways of dealing with life. It took or takes time, effort, and help to re-train our thinking. Some of those people in prison have lived all their lives like that. They didn't have decent backgrounds or role models to begin with. Violence was their role model. You have had grace and mercy extended in your life. If you have no criminal record, be thankful. Extend some grace and mercy to others. You have done things wrong too, some just in the eyes of God, and some in the eyes of the society in which you live. It's just a question of degree. BTW I don't necessarily advocate not removing people from society; it's what you do with them when you remove them that this post concerns.

How many pinball machines does a man need? :blink:

As potato says, anger, too. It's okay to feel anger. Just keep it under control. Anger is probably healthy, after the learned helplessness of TWI.

I know what they teach, but is it true? I neither know nor care. Better to concentrate on lining my heart up with what God wants as best I understand it. He looks on my heart and sees what's in there. It's either acceptable or it's not, and speaking in tongues won't make it any more so or less. If one doesn't SIT will God love that person less? No. If one doesn't SIT does it mean that person doesn't love God? No. If one SITs a lot, will God love that person more? No. If one does SIT does it mean that person does love God? No.

Jeff, I'm sorry you feel so raw. The TWI exit is nearly always a raw and painful place, especially in situations like your own. It is very difficult for you and it is a confusing time where you undergo many conflicting emotions. You are angry, you are hurt, you feel abused, you feel empty, alone, ripped apart, lots of things. Your emotions are justified and appropriate. Keep them under control. Your personal life has been most spitefully abused and your wife's behavior is bizarre. Please try to feel compassion for - for your wife, at least - which will mean you do not give place to a root of bitterness that will poison your life, thereby allowing more damage to accrue to you at the hands of TWI. Deny them that. :blink: Your wife wholly believes she is right but her belief is wrong. It is terribly difficult, but pray for her. For her to receive understanding, and for her protection from worse things. When all is said and done, she is your son's mother and she needs protection for his sake. TWI/splinter followers at this level of behavior suffer from something like a mental illness. It may be of little comfort to you, but these violations have happened to many of us here (as you have read) and it takes time to recover, to grow above, to ... stand back a little. But you will get through it. I found reading Job and the requirement for him to bless his persecutors scary, horrifying, it was the last thing I wanted to do - but it started the healing process for me. I also bear in mind that Jesus Christ suffered the ultimate violation of human dignity, but still managed to pray for those who were humiliating and murdering him. Feel free to PM me if you wish.

Cman posted a link. Nice verses. If you replace "in spirit" with "in heart" it kinda makes the gist of what worship is more clear. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Sorry, which of these words says "spirit")? If we keep God first, our whole life can be one of worship. All our actions. Actions done in love, for God, and showing respect to fellow human beings. It's not just SIT, whether that is done out loud or silently. We love, because He first loved us. Love doesn't need words; sometimes actions say more than words. This discussion reminds me very much of this passage: http://classicbst.crosswalk.com/OnlineStud...amp;showtools=0 Okay, this is about fasting, but the bigger picture is doing something with heart, and not just going through the motions. You and God know whether your speaking in tongues is genuine worship or just a clanging cymbal. Jesus worshipped God. Um, where is the record that he spoke in tongues??

Geer basked in reflected glory. He had none of his own. At least VPW seems to have had an engaging personality; Geer exuded ego, slickness, falseness. He was/is an egotistical and manipulative character who does not know the meaning of "help" or "service". So to retain his own "status" he had to glorify the man who gave him status - VPW. If he hadn't published "POP"? LCM mightn't have had his "fog years" period. Would TWI have imploded sooner, or later?

And Jeff, you seem to be doing a great job with your little son. You can teach him what it really means to love someone, and to keep confidences. He may, however, repeat back everything that goes on with you and him, back to his mum and she will tell Barnard. If you aren't already doing it, keep a record of any ongoing violations. It may help you if things deteriorate even more and you need to seek custody of the boy from your former wife.

Some comments from my sometime partner, Twinky's latest carer: And I know my friend misses him very deeply.

Let's not forget that the young Jesus, at 12 years old, was found in the temple disputing/discussing with the learned folk there. He listened and learned from them. He engaged his critical thinking and pointed out flaws in their arguments. And probably accepted some of what they knew. He learned from his mother Mary, his foster father Joseph, the rabbis, scribes and whoever at the local synagogue, the people around him; and he studied the scriptures by whatever means was available to him, whether written or oral. That he engaged people more learned than him in discussion is an example we also should be following. We probe for flaws, fit what they say together with what we already know. That way, we can learn. Iron sharpens iron, yes? Sword of the spirit, yes? Actually, what sharpens iron? A whetstone. Ironstone. Something harder and more resistant than itself. VPW discouraged dispute, discussion, another point of view. Our critical thinking abilities were squished and our sensitivities deadened. Instead of looking at other Christian thinkers' points of view, they were treated as if they were stumbling blocks. The scriptures were wrongly used and we were discouraged from other considerations, other theologians, other interpretations. The scriptures themselves can be a whetstone to keep us sharp, but only if we use them correctly. And that means understanding them correctly. We became blunt instruments, not sharp "on the Word" or spiritually sharp. We were dull and blunt in our thinking and dull and blunt in dealing with other people. Our "spiritual sharpness" was fashioned into another weapon, a blunt instrument more like a cudgel, and we could hit anyone who didn't agree with us with claiming they were devil spirit possessed. A whetstone is used by stroking a knife gently along the edge of the whetstone, removing molecules of the knife blade little by little until the blade is sharp. By contrast the Rock of the scriptures became something to beat against in a sort of full frontal assault, thereby dulling the edge. There is sooo much to learn, to be reminded of, by discussing with other Christians. And - dare I say it - with non-Christians, too.

This thread's still going?? :blink: Maybe Mike has discovered a new rule for faith and practice ... silent contemplation.