Twinky

Mike. As I said: Not the simplistic collaterals. Read the book itself. Didn't your hero himself advocate that, at some point, before he hauled his 3,000 study aids to the dump?

Just read. Not note-taking and nit-picking. Just read, for the pleasure of learning and understanding. One word, then the next, then the next - and you don't need a concordance to do it. Gospel of John isn't the easiest place to start. You could have tried Mark, considered by many the basis of the synoptic (look up meaning) gospels. Matthew and Luke are also easy to read. For myself, it wasn't any of those that started me seeking - it was the riveting adventure story and display of power in Acts of the Apostles. Couldn't wait to read the next chapter! I wanted to see that power in everyday life. I wanted to tap into it. So then, I could look back at the gospels. Mike, if one thing doesn't work, try another. Try reading Mark, Luke, John, Acts, or any of the epistles. Or even reading parts of the OT (for the time being, not Ezekiel, Isaiah, and some of the other more prophetic books). Try Good News Bible, a very easy reader, simple English. Or The Message, in everyday English. Just read the book. Only when you have read the book, or sufficient parts of it, are you even remotely qualified to criticise. And you do criticise the very Bible you purport to believe, when you submerge yourself in Janet & John books that purport to explain the Bible. " I already knew the story..." - that's got to be a GSC gem, scintillating in its ridiculousness.

"Comely figure" - wow! Thank you! When was that? 2007, ooohhh! I've probably put on about 10lb since then. So not too bad, but rather wouldn't have it.

Janet & John book 1

(sigh) Mike, you had a Bible. You found it hard to read. There are many versions, including Janet & John type versions for very early learners and those for whom English is not their first language. You had a Bible. Yet you never thought to read Acts, or the epistles? Sounds like you didn't bother with the gospels, either. Just what, if anything, did you read? And now you're stuck in Janet & John book 1, the simplest reading book, aka the blue book. (sigh)

The only cones I'm interested in are ice cream cones. Unfortunately for my bathroom scales...!

"a right-wing gospel conflating Christianity and patriotism" US "evangelical Christianity" is nothing like evangelism or Christianity in other countries. Thank God. Funny how these evangelical, right-wing Christians are trying to build kingdoms on earth. Yet Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world...but now is my kingdom not from hence." (John 18:36) How hilarious it would be, to see Jesus addressing Congress or the Senate. He'd be quickly arrested and tried for treason, or confined on grounds of insanity. And any number of cases of slander would be brought against him when he called out the "leaders" on their hypocrisy. (You know how much he annoyed the sanhedrin.)

Hear that, Mike? Are you still going at it, a paragraph a week?

You only have to look at the credentials and breadth of knowledge of those who translated the "KJV" (=AV). And then the credentials and breadth of knowledge of "fellowship commanders." Yeah. Really well qualified to make snarky, condescending jabs. About as well qualified as a flea telling an elephant it can't tread somewhere.

I will tell you this. I had a job, bought a house (yep, bought it, with mortgage and all). A recession set in, many people were laid off work, including me. (With this mortgage, so potentially a loss of home!) It was a difficult time. And no jobs were out there, despite my strenuous efforts. I eventually set up doing self-employed work. I believed God to supply people for whom I could work, and for enough money to meet my own legitimate needs (food, bills, etc) AND to have enough to be able to give to others. I saw being able to give to others as a need in my life. Reviewing my now-long client list, I find that very many are elderly Christians who would otherwise have no-one to help them. By my working for them, I am helping God supply their need. Isn't that amazing? God knows what I need, and he knows what they need, and he matches us together. Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!! What can I say? Managed to pay off the mortgage early, have no financial worries (except when it comes to retirement, and that's a mild concern but not a worry) and I can keep upping what I can give to support others - in my own country and overseas. I am very thankful to God for what is available to me and recognise that other countries cannot or will not so provide, so I support various charities that do provide. Oh, and I support my church as well. I know what good it does in my community.

You know, just thinking about this "needs and wants being parallel" in context of some of the points raised here - fancy cars, red drapes - reminds me how this concept is so very "Western." Greed-based. Spare a thought for what "needs" and "wants" actually are. Especially if one is in serious poverty, no matter what country one is in. I have a friend who's been a missionary in Burundi, where he and his family lived for many years. Most families were and are thrilled if they got one decent meal a day. D'ya think they're "believing for red drapes"? No, these people believe God to supply food that will help them keep their families alive. And perhaps one of the "needs" and "wants" in richer countries is the need to recognise God as one's sufficiency and one's provider, and that he overprovides [financially] so that we have sufficient to give to help those who have less than us - whether it's helping those who've lost jobs, homes, and health in one's home country - or whether it's helping to support impoverished families overseas.

Are you off on some parallel track now, OS?

Sorry you feel the need to leave, T-Bone. Do look in on us from time to time. Your wit and wisdom will be sorely missed. I will PM you.

Same for me. And I also saw some amazing answers to prayer. What I didn't see was people "going through the motions" - but, instead, genuine belief and commitment.

Not surprising that they are "popular" among young people in DRC. That unfortunate country is riven with conflict. Rich in resources, and therefore rich in rivals that want control of the resources. Net result: impoverished populace, horrendous fighting, dreadful attacks on inoffensive people who just want a quiet life. DRC is a nominally Christian country, about 50/50 Protestant and Catholic, with a smattering of other religions. Clearly those denominations haven't brought peace, so why not turn to something that promises answers, powerful prayer, more harmony in the home [country]? https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/drc-conflict-facts But make no mistake. TWI is as a grain of sand in terms of percentage of population. Though sand in the machinery of war might not be a bad thing.

Not surprising they wrote it. Many organisations write press releases to send to newspapers and other reporting agencies. And the newspapers just print it verbatim: abridge if they are short of space; or put a big photo in if they have space they need to fill. Of course TWI wrote it, that's why it's called a "press release."

For RoA in previous decades (before I was around) didn't TWI boast 5-figure attendances? 20,000? More? Low attendance at this Pentecost event shows just how pathetic TWI has become. I wonder what Vern really thinks?

In their "international countries" I was struck by how many of the named contacts (Country Coordinators?) have names that do not appear native to the named country. Quite a few of the names appear to be African in origin, or a mix of French-African, suggesting movement from a French colony in Africa to another country. However, I also accept that some of those people could be born in the countries named, from parents who had immigrated there.

Does this thread (or part of it) need to be removed to Soap Opera?

Hello Belle! Long time no see! "Over 900 Way Ambassadors" - could well mean 900 in those African countries - and an exciting TWO in the good ole USA, where doncha know it, the Word is really moving. As Nathan says: Only good thing I can find to say about this article is: they seem to have dropped the phrase "international countries" in favour of "other countries." Maybe they read our humorous comments here at the Cafe?

Just to remind people, this thread is about Charlene's book. It is not about snowstorms, snakes in gardens, lesbian sex, or even, really, about VPW himself. It's about her take on his teaching. Her book. Which, doubtless, Mike and other derailers have not read.

Unbelievable. Not particularly well linked with a minister taking care of his own household. They were dedicated to TWI. Although I could hold something against they - why? Too long ago. All of us Waybrained. I wish them and their family well, wherever they are.

There is great satisfaction and peace about working in a garden. Nice growing flowers and shrubs, great if you can grow some of your own food, even if it's only a few salad leaves. World's oldest profession: "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Gen 2:15). For me, I make my living that way, nowadays. I tend a large number of gardens. For relaxation --- I tend my own garden. Permanent plantings include red-, black-, and white currants, gooseberries, two varieties of rhubarb, two varieties of dwarf apple trees, and several tubs of autumn fruiting raspberries. Annuals include radishes, carrots, salad leaves, spinach, runner beans; and this year, courgettes (zucchini). Sometimes leeks (not this year), parsnips. Onions and potatoes are cheap enough that the small vege plot can do without them. I planted three trees, all a bit close together - no, four: an acer, too, which is now big enough to have a nest in its dense canopy - and a small shrubbery, and have several borders with small flowering shrubs and half a dozen roses (most of the roses are in what was supposed to be a herb garden - herbs still there as companion planting). There are some hanging baskets too. About 15 years ago, I planted a hebe which has long white flowers, prolific, don't know the variety. It's got very much bigger than I expected and really outgrown its space. However, when in flower (most of the summer), it's absolutely full of bees and other insects. Obviously the best bee restaurant in the area. So I haven't the heart to pull it out, just try to cut out selected branches so that it doesn't overtake too much of the garden. Reading this, sounds like a lot, and a lot of work. But it isn't. Even in the belting heat we've had recently, I don't do much, just water occasionally, maybe once a week (containers more often). It's nice to pick my own stuff, but very often slugs, snails, pigeons, and other critters get to it before I do. Other things I like to do are long-distance hiking (multi-day if possible, in wild mountainous or forested places), choral singing, and reading just about anything. I should retire (I could actually be drawing my old age pension) and then I'd have more time for other things that I'd love to do, like learning to play a musical instrument. But if I did that, I may not have the money to go to the places where I like to do the multi-day hikes. What I hate to do: my housework.

Hi, Rusty Duck, welcome to the cafe. Feel free to laugh, cry, scream or hit the walls (don't hit the staff!). It can be a voyage of discovery here. And just when you think you've heard it all, someone drops in a doozy. Have a cup of coffee and a slice of cake on me.

For all TWI's fundy-ness, I know of someone, a colleague, who takes the Bible even more literally. He believes that the Earth was created 4000 years ago, and all the things in it. It all went wrong, so was destroyed; then a new Earth and everything in it was recreated. That's why there are two creation accounts in Genesis and they are not identical. Yes, he really does believe this, or certainly did at one time. He urged me to go to a lecture tour that was promoting this. Even in my fundy post-TWI state, I found this one jaw-dropping. Not sure if he still believes this. I daren't ask. At any rate, he now attends the church that I've been going to for years. And nobody here believes that. But then, we don't discuss that sort of thing at all in this church. It's quite a long way from fundy-ness.