Twinky

Thanks, HWTB. It is a true story. And Winton kept quiet about it for decades. In fact, this story only came to light almost by accident. He modestly says his part was small and there were so many others who were a part of this (clearly!) - but that doesn't negate that he saw a problem and came up with something of a solution. Didn't sit there passively wringing his hands.

I'm going to see this on Thursday. I've heard really good reports, so looking forward to it. A simple, honest man, doing what he could in the face of great evil. For the children he saved, the bureaucratic pen was much mightier than the sword. Here is a Wikipedia article about him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Winton

The OSC has been demolished? Whatever did they do with the stuff inside it? Of which, I guess, a fair amount was not needed, as there's no RoA any more.

There were some good times. There were some good people. There were more good times at the beginning of my stay there. What should have been good times later were frequently tinged with fear of having done some unknown and previously undescribed wrong, and what face-melting that might bring. Sometimes the good times were tinged with secrecy - as if, on a "Christian" campus, one shouldn't be enjoying fellowship and an impromptu birthday party with other believers. I spent time working with Multi-Services and mostly enjoyed that, and what MS did was quite varied. Also, it was good fun at times preparing for RoA because there was more freedom to do things and to hang out, rather than rushing off to a class or obligatory other event. And it was good times preparing for a big meeting, like the Easter gatherings. But both of these were punishingly hard work with very long hours, while we had to present ourselves with smiles and big welcomes. (Even slaves can smile and find a moment of fun!) I miss some of the people. Some were the best, most honest and deepest, funn-est, people I knew. Most of them got run off fairly quickly. And some were the most priggish, spying, talebearing brown-nosers that I ever met. Many of those graduated and as at a few years ago, were still with TWI. Nostalgia or not - despite the norm of daily ups and downs - my life is happier and more content now than it has been in decades - ever since I got entangled with TWI. Some aspects. especially my work situation, weren't so great before I got involved, but they got a jolly sight worse when seeking help and support from a bunch of kids that didn't know anything of life, or of practical Christianity. I go for regular eye tests. I don't need to look through PFAL-tinted glasses any more .

So has there been any follow-up on this? Are more women coming forward to report sexual assault (inc rape)? And if so, why? Just because the law has changed and the name of the offence has changed doesn't mean that the offence doesn't happen. Nor does it mean that more offences are happening. Any increase in the offences reported may simply be due to more awareness and more support being available to victims, and to victims nowadays being less willing to keep quiet than they were 40 years ago.

Witness of the Stars.

Now that's different, Oldies. A very different thought.

Have a happy, peaceful Christmas and a joyful new year. Be safe and blessed.

Ah heck, I recognise a few of those book titles now. There was also "Witness of the Stars" and "Manners & Customs [of the Bible?]" - can't remember the exact title. Though these might not fit in the question you asked: "whether non-biblical material was taught or discussed in (twig) fellowships," seeing as they could be called "Biblical material" to some extent. For sure, we were not talking about the latest thriller or historical or whatever else novel, or even interesting factual material. Not even how life might be lived in 1980s Israel/Palestine. Nothing secular. Not even current affairs of the day, with the twig leader giving some "spiritual insight" into what was going on. Nothing that might relate what those people 2,000, 3,000 or more years had going on in their lives, to what we might be facing today, except such gunk as was in the Way Rag. That can only be because HQ couldn't control the narrative, therefore squelched discussion of anything non-TWI related. Just a guess, it might have been acceptable to read the rules of netball basketball or some kind of manual to explain what a "hook shot" is. Or to study the rules of any other sport that the local head honcho enjoyed. (Craig would have liked that.)

The books Mike names were recommended reading in the 80s, when I got sucked in. We had to study "Four Arguments" in the WC and give some sort of presentation about how bad it was, to the rest of our Corps group. At that time, all reading of anything other than the collaterals and other TWI material was strictly forbidden. Whatever else was around at that time, a little after the time you mention - let it stay forgotten.

Of Bickle: “There are many misrepresentations of my words and actions in these communications including statements that are out of context, greatly exaggerated, or blatantly false,” Bickle said in his statement. He also said he thought his past misdeeds were “dealt with and under the blood of Jesus.” Sounds not unlike "anything done in the love of God is okay," including assaulting other men's wives. Hmph. John 11:35.

Sorry to hear this. She was good to talk to (here).

At what period? How long ago were you thinking of? Certainly until recent times, they didn't have the ability to even devise a decent-looking website, much less do any hacking.

Here is another, very beautiful, carol that we are also singing in the concert on Saturday.

And for something completely different, try this: Izar Ederrak (Beautiful Star) - it's in Basque (Spain) and we were provided with a translation and a pronunciation guide. What any Basque speakers would make of our singing ... let's hope there are none in the audience! The song grows on you after a while.

My choral group is putting on a concert this coming Saturday. This is a carol you probably won't have heard. It was composed by one of our singers.

We here have all been victims, one way or another. Do we choose to stay victims? I stayed a victim for a long time, too fearful to dare to be other. But even that fear is a part of the growing experience. Now I have something truly to share with those people who are escaping abusive relationships, fear of many kinds, and those who feel incapacitated. I feel that all my life experiences so far, both good and bad, help me to help someone else. Life is not what I expected 20, 30, 40 or more years ago. Whose is, really? Those who can't or won't learn from failures will be victims all their lives, with chips the size of skyscrapers on their shoulders.

Anyone who has never failed has never tried hard enough.

Funnily enough, I was thinking of this only today. Thinking of the positive things I'd learned and done in TWI (and there definitely were some positives). Some were where confidence had been expressed in me where I'd never done a thing before. Some things were enjoyable - especially at the beginning of each year. And I met some awesome people (most of whom, regrettably, soon disappeared - whether voluntarily or pushed is a mystery), both within my Corps and on staff - mostly low-level staff, I have to say. However, there were many negatives. One of which was the destruction of any confidence of any kind that I had. The sense of oppression and fear that developed. The micromanagement. The face-meltings for using one's God-given common sense instead of checking with some "leader." The snitchiness and brown-nosing of some others of my Corps. The spying on each other, and the paranoia that developed from that. Now, I am part of a great church that genuinely and heartily serves its community. All the churches of all denominations work together in my small city to reach out to all groups of people. But nobody is bullied into doing anything; people want to participate and don't have to be asked. I only have to look at the awesome people in my church and associated churches within the benefice and within the community, to see something amazing and so diametrically opposite to anything in TWI that - well, it's joy and sunshine, contrasted with misery and drabness. I'm a little nostalgic for the friends I'd started to make, some of the fun we had, and the sometimes sense of cameraderie. But that's all. There is NO BLOODY WAY that I would or could endure the organizational thuggery now. Maybe that should be NO BLOODY WAY for emphasis.

It was a serious question. To which I sought a serious answer. This thread has now declined into frivolity and swiping at each other. Ho hum. I wish there was a way to sever off the nutty stuff so that just the relevant info is left.

I want a real book. Not very interested in more screen time.

Much as I'd like to read Undertow, it's only available in the UK with extortionate postage costs, presumably from USA. I don't know how much those claimed costs relate to actual postage costs.

Almosdt - but you don't have permission to do so!

Thanks, rrobs, I'll take a look at this lengthy document. I had thought that this man's ministry was connected distantly with TWI but if it once was, it's now moved a long way from original TWI-type beliefs. Author appears to be a "pastor" in his own non-aligned church, in Rhode Island, but no credentials offered. However, we do know to our detriment that credentials too can be deliberately misleading.

Re-reading what I wrote, not sure that I was clear enough that I don't mean everybody who attends church regularly is under "churchianity." Certainly not what I meant. I do know that service in many capacities is deeply meaningful to some attendees, whether doing the flowers, or cleaning and tidying the building, or whatever it is. There are very many people who do these things as an outward expression of their inner faith and a desire to help others. I include myself in that category. Good for your mum, STL, if she can lovingly serve Christ in that way.