Twinky

:)

Rocky, yes! We're on the same side, perhaps the written bit didn't come through as well as it might have done if spoken. DL does well to question - everything! Thank God for the ability to use our critical thinking skills - again. Like this better? If you one were to believe that cancer is caused by devil spirits, then also remember: That Jesus Christ is bigger than, and casts out, devil spirits. Carry on thinking :)

This is Braker's website: http://www.povertyvswealth.com/

Interesting and different... finding my way around. Easier for all of us than for you folks upgrading... Thanks for all your hard work.

I'm just wondering what people think about hypnotherapy, whether it works (lastingly) - what it is, really. I was listening to someone on the radio the other day who'd had a fear of water and after one session had found herself able to get into a swimming bath and swim (somehow) for about 25m. Being hypnotised has never had any attraction for me but I can see it might be beneficial to people who have serious phobias about "unimportant" things and some have reported great success in being able to give up smoking after having smoked for many years or decades. If a person is terrified of even the friendliest dog, or cat, or of spiders, or open spaces, not to mention more obscure phobias ... these could significantly impact on one's quality of life. The Way taught that hypnotism was opening oneself up to devil spirit possession; if you weren't in control of your mind/thinking, who or what was? I think that can be an argument the other way too - if you have an unreasonable fear (phobia) that hinders your everyday life, who or what is in control there? Any thoughts, anyone? I seriously DON'T want this to become a Way-beating topic, which is why I've not opened it in About The Way or in Doctrinal. Please try to stay away from those aspects of this topic as much as possible.

"Diameter of the Ages," what the heck is that? This class sounds like "Die-a-Minute" - the excerpt that DWBH posted is more than enough for me. :confused:/>

It was a wonderfully exciting time being in rez with that awesome President, Craig, to teach us the ways of a man of God. I learned some amazing things. Like, what a 40 year old man looks like when he's having a serious tantrum. Like, lots of interesting ways to curse other people. Lots of swear-words that were new to me. Like, how pozzest and ungodly were homosexuals. Like, how unworthy I was, and how gracious the tantrum-thrower was in allowing me to stay in rez and learn even more from him. How weak I was in not coping with 20 hr days. How sinful it was to talk to staff members. Like, how unworthy practically all of my in rez Corps was. How gracious he was in allowing us to stay and be guided by him. :evilshades:/>

I'm not a thread killer, DWBH. But the calm, more measured, objective, style often reaches people more than a rant does. You only have to read VPW's letters for rants, and think of the face-meltings many here endured. Imitating his style...isn't a good look, IMO. Can't we be objective, not objectionable? Jesus called the Pharisees "nests of vipers" but he is kind to those who want to listen (including Pharisees). He did not mock people's names. He called them on their attitudes and (lack of) love for God. He did not attack anyone who loves God, even when they are in error. If he screamed at his followers in the behavior that has been modeled for us by some leaders - d'ya think he would have any followers? Wouldn't he be a "thread killer"? (A "red thread" killer, maybe.) But that's not how he behaved. And it's not what befits any other Christian leader, of any organization - or cult.

Thanks, modcat. Makes a much better read now. And won't put off newbies/lurkers.

DogLover... You appear to be suffering from Waybrain, so sorry! The super-spiritual (LOL! gasp!!) man invented it. Or was listening to the wrong kind of spirits (liquid ones, maybe.) And don't forget that Mr Super-Spiritual died of cancer; more than one type. But anyway: 1. If you were to believe that cancer is caused by devil spirits, then also remember: 2. Then also believe that Jesus Christ is bigger than, and casts out, devil spirits. No problem!!

:offtopic:/> That's one reason to use the Private Messaging facility. Investigate the area at the top right of the screen. Click by your name, and you will find Messenger. You need to [start to] type in the addressee's name (not initials). Hey presto! No derails!

And, FWIW, I was a dyed in the wool TWIt, hadn't been satisfied with any church, boring; here was someone who knew some Bible!! And I went through WC training and did all the rubbish things like alienating my family and friends (or rather, alienating myself) blah blah, finally got thrown out. Which though devastating at the time turned out to be a real blessing. Don't know when I would have left otherwise. Probably have ended up being ... I won't speculate, but a lot of women were abused and someone had been having a go at me, "softening me up." It was awful. Awful. I was depressed for about 10 years. Near suicidal. But now - I make lemonade from it. I thought I had compassion before. Maybe... but nothing like now. I didn't understand abused women, and how they kept returning to abusing partners. I do now. I didn't understand a lot of things... I do now. I've not "changed" to become a different person. I've changed to become freer to become ME.

Excellent post, Penworks. It seems to me that not only can we change as we grow older, but that we should change. When one is 5 years old, parents and other adults give information and instructions. As one ages, that information and instruction may change. And as the information and instruction changes, it ought to change the shape of each individual. The five year old gains understanding and wisdom. Becomes able to make its own decisions, give itself "instructions." That growing and ability to make decisions is called maturity but does it have a finite point? We know only in part - and that will remain so all our lives. And so we are never fully mature, all our lives. Just more mature than we were a few years earlier (perhaps). Do you still believe and act as you did when you were five years old? Few adults do. If you went to tertiary education or professional training, do you still think the same as you did before? Or do you have more wisdom to make decisions? Are you better able to foresee possible outcomes? Yes, you changed! You don't think as you did, when you were a child. Have crises affected your life - maybe the death of a loved one with whom you'd been very close? Maybe a severe accident (they're not called "life-changing injuries" for nothing!)? Yes, you changed! You learned to adapt to the new circumstances. Your underlying personality probably never changes; it's how you express that personality. And what you take into account. What you allow to affect you. How you deal with things. We are not set in stone. We are not required to have hearts of stone - in fact, quite the opposite. We are required to change - to be transformed - to become different people. And yet, remain true to ourselves. And to our God (if we have one!). We should embrace the opportunity to grow and change. It's exciting.

I think that almost qualifies as a "Grease Spot Gem."

Apologies, it looked right when I posted it but re-reading makes it less than logical. Thanks, Modcat. It did feel like I was about to become victim to some of DWBH's ire. I don't like the way he shouts and calls people names; he knows this. Anger at some of he higher-ups I can understand; anger at other posters is out of order. If people shout, I just smile and back off... don't re-engage. I have to say, I'm getting really fed up with the bickering here at the Cafe. Maybe I will just back off... for a long while... I only stay because I hope that a calm and rational voice might be appreciated by some.

You know, if you wanted dto post this on the Doctrinal thread I referred to, it might be helpful to some people: I think that could add something to the discussion there. If you want to post that, I'll reply to it there.

I have no PoV about this, DWBH. Yes, 7 post is deathly silence, compared with the noise some innocuous-looking topics provoke. I don't know what you mean by "if the shoe fits." Do you mean anything? (Rhetorical: no need to answer that)

I started a thread on that in Doctrinal. There's a lot of heated souting about differences, but when I asked the question - there was a deathly silence.

Outie, that's the trouble when DWBH posts his daft names for people. He means Don Weirwille.

Well, sort of, WW, but not quite. It has to be: "Thy will be done" first and foremost. Then, the truly humble, meek, "I'll do thy will" - or maybe, "I will do THY will" as an emphatic statement of personal intention to submit.

My word, I just noticed that I have been supping the coffee in the Cafe for just over 10 years. And I have come a bloody long way in ten years. Thanks in no small way, especially initially, to the Cafe patrons, without whom I'd still be wallowing in Waybrain. And thanks also to the community of Christians at my local church, the one that healed me enormously from Waybrain. And also to the community of Christians in the churches I now attend (one of which is a "daughter church" to the first one). Life is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!:dance:/>

It may be time to move to another church, Tom... or it may not. You will probably find that most churches have some degree of "error" (especially if you look through TWI-stained glasses). If nothing else, pretty much all churches will be trinitarian and promote the "Jesus is God" doctrine. Look at the overall balance of what they teach; can you live with what you believe is doctrinally "off"? What's their response if you raise any queries (meekly, of course!)? How do the people treat each other, and what outreach do they have (genuine outreach and interest in helping community)? For myself, I attend two different churches regularly. I enjoy the fellowship of others in both. I say a silent "don't think so" at some points, and won't sing all the words of hymns, but I don't raise problems. I see what things the individuals do and how they give their lives; I'm thankful to be a part of such awesome generosity of heart and time - and money. One of the groups to which I belong (Street Pastors) comprises Christians from a minimum of four different churches (denominations) and when we are out serving the people of our community, we speak of things we have in common - the things that unite us - not the things we disagree about. There are fundamental points that you can agree, one hopes, with any Christian - does any congregation you might join live those fundamental points? If not - it really is time to move on.

Tom, how does your preacher-man get on with Heb 4:12, where a clear distinction is made? 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and* spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Soul/spirit Joints/ marrow Thoughts/ intent All very very close - but not identical, not the same thing, not interchangeable.

I don't know why this would be a bad thing for the US. I think it could only benefit. Here's a better article: TPP - Wikipedia It's nice for the USA that the USA has been invited to participate in this Pacific Rim arrangement, which has been something the countries from New Zealand to Japan have been keen on for a long time. From the point of view of smaller nations (like NZ) I'm not so sure it's a good thing, but those countries seem to think so.

I've been looking at some of these letters at random. Jeepers, the whiny tone of the letter of Dec 28, 1981. And the duplicity. About love of money, two-drink limit, and sexual addiction. Barf!!