Twinky

Dammit, they're everywhere. At the bottom of the page was a random advert - "Download The Twi Course Used to Teach Diplomats - $39.95". The class is pretty cheap these days, then. For diplomats. From an organization with the diplomatic skills of ... a sledgehammer. http://www.langocity.com/courses/twi_cours...CFUoa3godnFw5iQ

John: that's a pretty intense posting. Thank you for sharing. There are unfortunately so many of us here who can relate to it at similar levels. Had you posted that about your time in TWI you would have immediately got much sympathy. You are right that cult survivors have more in common than not. You have also put a lot of stuff on your website that is self-disclosing and helpful to others. Sometimes I look at your web pages and think, "Oh, yeah, I know that one!" - something that's not quite been covered at the Cafe, or something that wouldn't quite fit into words. John, you said cman was cryptic in his postings. He always has been and simply alludes to his difficult story. His posts have ever been such. There must be issues there that he is struggling with. We all have the same story and yet it is so intensely personal that it can be very difficult to talk about. Perhaps your lengthy post will encourage him to open up a little more, at least to himself. Anyone who has not looked at John's website will find helpful material. Free. John offers a service to those who might be in need. If any of the people John has helped still visit at the Cfe, perhaps they might care to post and let us know if he's genuine. Other posters here make - products - or write books - and offer them (selling them, sometimes) to others at the Cafe. Wow, are they advertising, then? Kahler, Skedgell, others with their "cult experience" books? What about other books mentioned in the Reading Room ("Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse"? "Toxic Faith"?) Have others found their books helpful? I only know John through his posts at GSC but I have PMd him occasionally (as I might with any poster here) and my PMs have been responded to promptly and politely and not pushing anything. He's not a "drive by" like JAL. Other non-TWI people like Brushstroke are welcome and have a perspective to offer, too. So pack up the food fight and play nicely with the froth on the cappuccino.

Most people who understand English would have a difficulty with that. I myself said, what if I choose not to "donate" anything? - You can't take the class. - It's a fee, then; a charge. Why not call it so? - It's a donation. - No, it's not. And so began everyone's entry into the world of TWI double-speak. Now I ask: why did they call it a "donation"? Was it because if it were a charge or fee, an element would be liable to tax, on the "profit" from the sale of the class? Tax on the difference between the cost of the materials, and the cost of the class? But if a donation, could someone claim tax back on the donation that had been paid by the taxpayer? At one time, taxpayers could claim back the tax on charitable donations they had made. Receipts may be required. I think that led to abuse and is not now available; but the charities have been empowered to claim the tax back. Nowadays, charitable organisations in the UK can claim tax back on donations by taxpayers. Many places, like museums, the National Trust, schools, youth groups, tell taxpayers about this and offer a form that the taxpayer can complete and which allows the organisation to claim money back. It can boost their funds by about 17%. If TWI could not claim back the tax, then the payer (=class taker) as taxpayer should have been able to reclaim tax on the charitable donation. But I never heard of any forms being given out with the charity number on so that the "donation" could be offset. Hah! I bet that's it. Not just double-speak but some other kind of scam to minimise the tax TWI might have to pay.

Many thanks for the replies on this. Seems pretty clear it was around from the beginning, from when the WC was first established anyway. Pretty much everyone has heard about the Zero Corps, of which nothing since has ever been heard. But someone has said or at least hinted that it might be a direct result of VPW himself having been chucked out of his original church (ie, marked and avoided himself). Looks like he spent the rest of his "ministry" enjoying getting even (trying to think like a psychopath here). Another foundational nugget that he "stole" from some other church, along with PFAL and RHST!

This is a recipe from Psalmie on the Candy, Chocolate Truffles thread. Thought it bore repetition: I made these for gifts and they were well received. Make SMALL balls, as they are very rich. I put some with a little liqueur and some with coffee essence. If you don't want to drizzle white choc, finish by rolling in cocoa or choc sprinkles or icing sugar. Or anything else that looks good. Collected 12-egg cardboard egg boxes and spray painted them gold outside. Nice gift.

Interview went okay, very professional interviewers, different style from any other interview I have had. Said they would let me know by end of last week but so far nothing. But then it took them 2 months to invite me to interview. They don't move fast - well, I think the department does, but the organisation as a whole (and perhaps, therefore, Personnel) doesn't. The risk of barbecued fieldmice is still there, but I will be sure and find some tasty recipes. I understand one can also eat hedgehogs (roll in clay, roast in the embers), and also squirrels (Ham, better take care if you come!). Sausages are popular in Europe and take many fillings. Bratwurst is only one type. UK sausages (sausage links) are different again and are not like the "dog roll" type of sausage meat found in the US.

Ex10 my beautiful sister, sorry I missed posting birthday wishes and sorry also I forgot to wish you a happy birthday when we spoke on the phone! I knew it, but I blew it! You know what? You are so special that a birthday doesn't make the day any special-er. But glad you had a good quiet day. It was good to speak with you. All the best for a wonderful year ahead.

Gophers! Wow! And I thought slugs were a problem. I have some garden reorganisation to do before Spring. My back (only) garden comprises a long thin strip of land, concrete path on the right edge, lawn, then a narrow border on the left. I love cut flowers and want to widen the border, perhaps make it curvy, and put some nicer bushes and flowering plants in there. This part of the garden slopes up and away from the rear of the house and the expanse of lawn, being sloping, appears bigger than it is. Behind that is a little row of rocks and the garden levels off and there is the "shrubbery" (currently being reduced in content) with the vege garden behind. Some screens or eye-distraction devices half way up (where the garden levels off) could look nice but whatever is put there doesn't need to limit but to enhance the garden layout. The upper part of the path needs re-laying (paving slabs uneven) which is my Autumn project but so far hasn't happened yet. GC, I need your eyes on this!!

Lots here to enjoy. Stuff about TWI, discussion of doctrines (not necessarily just of TWI), politics, and some complete nonsense (LOL). Have fun and make new friends. You are only censored here if you behave abusively towards other posters; not if you just disagree. Disagreement is highly welcome. :)

In-rez WC gifts at this time of year might include a voucher book (or "vouchers") entitling the recipient to something nice that they couldn't easily get, or might enjoy. For instance: married couples had a bathroom (with bath) but single Corps just had showers. So a gift might be a candle-lit bath - simple, but some people enjoyed baths above showers. Others might give a voucher for a massage. Or a "get out of jail free" substitute thing - to take their place on some kind of work crew. Not having spare cash this year, I decided to give vouchers (eg): - For a back massage - For a week's worth of ironing of shirts - For a roast dinner complete with dessert of apple crumble You might consider vouchers for: washing someone's car, walking the dog, babysitting, window washing, digging the garden, mowing the lawn, trip to the beach/lake/forest/anywhere within xx miles. You choose what you feel able to give. Also, don't overlook Freecycle. I posted elsewhere about that. Amazing, some of the things you can get there. I got a "Survival" book (humorous) for a friend who is imagining disasters and loves wargames.

We have imperfect bodies. We inherit a range of genes and some are "better" than others. It's not a sin to catch a cold, or to fall over and break a bone. Not a sin to be born with parts of the body missing or defective. God looks on the (spiritual) heart, not the physical body. Because of time spent in TWI, some have (spiritual) hearts that have become damaged, or maybe were damaged to start with. even that's fixable. But TWI promotes spiritual "hardening of the arteries." That's a very serious disease.

I recall this saying as "doctrinal error leads to practical error." Let's face it, before we became Christians, all we had was practical error. We needed doctrine to set us right. Tzaia - I echo your post. So much of what was taught was an intellectual satisfaction or curiosity, or something to set us apart. Details. Irrelevancy. (Well, God is in the details, doncha know?) The details of being loving, kind, merciful, tender-hearted, forgiving... now those became submerged in the need to confront wrong thinking. Pah! Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up. The biggest doctrinal (and practical) error was the concentration on the knowledge - that puffs up the person holding the knowledge. The concentration on that - not on the loving building up of the other person.

Hey, I could sell my copy?? Get money back for it?? I could do with some of that money that I invested in TWI books and materials. If they're still selling it in the bookstore, that's another dose of Way hypocrisy. We all know that as soon as anyone left - writer, musician, whoever - any of that person's works were immediately withdrawn because the person was obviously possessed and all their works must have been subtly influenced by DS and therefore should not be listened to or read. This even extended to requiring followers on the field, just ordinary twig members, to discard their copies of music tapes and books. So obviously, that's what would happen to all materials authored by or involving LCM, right? Tell you what - AoS went up well, in the woodburner...! But I still have R&E someplace. Offers, wnyone? Who'd like to buy it from me? (Form an orderly line, please, this isn't Wal-Mart).

Seen those bumper stickers that say, "Speed kills"? This is, "Greed kills." Wild animals. Shame on anyone participating in the mad rush - there or elsewhere.

I just irony-ed my blouse in readiness for my interview tomorrow. Hope that magnetic personality attracts them to me. All their defences better be down (it's with the Ministry of Defence).

Don't know about your peas. Think you will have to treat them very tenderly and protect from frost. As to beans, these are very frost susceptible and usually aren't planted out until about May. They may be started indoors a little earlier than that but really, even if you plant later straight outdoors, they catch up. Spinach is good - a fresh green vege at this time of year. I have LOTS of chard ("perpetual spinach") which is growing faster than I eat it. I found a recipe for spinach soup the other day. Sounds weird but hey, why not try it at least once? But somehow it doesn't seem as appetising as pumpkin soup. I have lots of tiny seedlings where the leylandii were removed. They would only be "weeds" so they can sprout all they like and I will just keep knocking them back (or the frost will). Get 'em before they constrict my desirables next year.

Well, this could be fun. :) Very good fun. But we're thinking about next summer some time, and a lot of things could happen between now and then. If I don't get a job of some sort, any sort, pretty soon, I will be living in a tent in a field somewhere. :( With Tuxedo and Crypto to catch prey to feed us all, perhaps. Maybe the whole world will be living in tents. Barbecued mouse anyone?

Ah, but Juff, he did donate the FAMILY FARM to TWI. Whatever that was worth. But then he continued to live in it and enjoy it for the rest of his life. Like having your cake and eating it. Having your crop and it continuing to grow indefinitely. More reliable than farming, with the vagaries of weather and blight. Wouldn't be surprised if there was some sort of scheme whereby the farm (belonging to a charity) paid lower or no taxes on the land, than it did privately owned. Maybe the accountants among us can comment on that? Would he also get some sort of tax relief on personal taxes paid, if he gave away something of large value to a charity?

At the moment it's just an idea, Tom! There are flights direct into Bristol (nearest airport, 14 miles, decent bus/train transport). Or visitors can do the gruesome thing, fly into Heathrow or other London airport, battle for hours getting from the airport, and still sit 3 hours on a coach/train.

Yeah, I thought the "freely received, freely given [away]" bit, too. Though I realize Bibles are not given away except by the Gideons, and I accept that study books also need to be paid for. But not at a huge mark-up! On the other hand: how much is the cost of the following? TLB recites: TLB also says: I posted above that the Alpha course that I did a few sessions of invited donations (and they were donations, non-obligatory) towards the cost of a meal. If you couldn't or didn't want to contribute that was fine. I do think that if TWI had provided free meals and babysitting services, that also would have been a point of argument for some people here. They would say it was like those free meals that Moonies invited people to. So in that respect TWI was criticized if it did and criticized if it didn't. (Come to think about it, as my PFAL was all day Sat (2 sessions) and all day Sun (2 sessions) they DID provide the meals and I can't recall being asked for a financial contribution.)

Yes, I always hated that. Couldn't see why I had to pay. No church I'd ever heard of made one pay. I took ages to come up with the money. I was really hesitant. It was only because the person who had witnessed to me and eventually got me to sign up was coming under huge pressure from others (probably interim Corps) to stop hanging around with me. He was on his WoW year and just nobody was signing up. At the time I said, if it's a donation why do I have to pay? If it's a charge, call it so. I was told the £25 (I think; varied between £25 and £50) was to cover the cost of books and materials. When I got the books, I thought, these couldn't possibly cost £25 to produce, how much mark-up is there on these? Ha ha. Welcome to the world of obligation and double-speak. Had I known what was to come, I would have departed right after PFAL. The Alpha course starts with a group meal, then a talk, then a discussion time. Anyone can talk about any thing. No charge for the evening. People are invited to contribute towards the cost of the group meal but it's not obligatory and no-one keeps a record. This thread's made me think: what they were looking for was the "fleeceable" ones - who they could get putting their hands in their pockets right from the get-go. And I ahve a suspicion that even at that stage, those who would not pay up were subject to some minor condemnation - not wanting to enjoy the greatness of God's Word. Of course, right after (if not during) PFAL there was the "encouragement" to buy the Blue Book then the rest of the collaterals... and the subscriptions to the Way Mag etc

You mean something like, fist of iron in a creamy glove? (LOL)

Thought Cafe patrons may be interested in the following: http://www.packhorseinn.com/ Called in for a visit yesterday after a country walk. Just had to sample the guest cider. And play with the open log fire. And have another pint... When I get a new job (note I say when, not if) my friend who has been so kind to me will permit me to take him out for a meal to celebrate. We are going to the Packhorse. The menu on the web page looks rather out of date and the website could do with a bit of updating (for spelling) but the whole sort of adds to the rustic feel of the place. Check out the bit about the pub itself.

Interesting, WD. They made me close my account, too. Sent a check and insisted I present it. I wanted to transfer the funds to my spiritual partner who was in rez in teh WC but they wouldn't allow that. They wrote to me several times to get me to present the check. They even extended the use-by date as more than six months had elapsed. Afterwards I learned that my SP had left in rez (voluntarily, I think) but did they tell me that? Ha ha.

Misread this to start with. Thought you said, "This sediment comes from one of my mom's favorite coffee mugs....." But I guess there's no butts in your coffee. Went to give blood last Friday (true story). Medics wouldn't take it. My iron level isn't high enough. They took a blood sample. The blood sample will be tested back at the Blood lab. They will be checking my level of ferritin. The medic just didn't get it when I said there were no ferrets in my blood.