oldiesman

I'd love to have it but there's no way I'm paying 10 grand.

A trial reveals all the facts under oath and allows the interested observer to have a knowledgable opinion, knowing all the testimony. That would have been much more substantial than internet hearsay.

I think this is inaccurate. Yes God asks us to confess our sin in order to be in fellowship with Him. But God may grant forgiveness of sin, and indeed has, whether or not people confess or ask, or do anything. We may do the same.

If the judge in the case thought that a legitimate rape had been committed, he could have easily notified the district attorney, and had LCM arrested. The judge didn't do that because the judge didn't believe a rape had been committed. That's one reason why I don't believe LCM committed a rape. From the facts I have of the circumstances, it sounds more like sexual harassment to me. I don't think so. The settlement means, from TWI's perspective, they settled because of what they were afraid of losing, not because they admit a crime had been committed. And as I said, had a legitimate crime been committed, something punishable by the authorities, the judge could have easily arranged an arrest. This kind of thing happens all the time, you know, settlements; which is why had the Allen's not taken the money, there would have been a trial where all facts would have been exposed, and all testimony under the scrutiny of cross-examination.

Golly, I have a feeling this thread is gonna be good.

Mo please bake me some homemade cookies. Take the weekend.

Ah .. don't we all ...

In my mind, *courage* would have been not taking the money, but instead having the trial, wherein all sides would have been subject to cross examination. I think that of twi as well. I agree. There are different applicable scriptures too.

And so what is bothering you White Dove? Just kidding.

What tens of thousands? Last time I looked, TWI was still in business. How many folks actually left because of the Allen's lawsuit? LCM, and a few others maybe. TWI is still there. Whether they deserved what they got, is debatable, but here's what happened: TWI gave, and they took. Did they donate their winnings to charity after all their legal fees were paid?

He did ... after he got his piece of the pie.

This sounds a bit overstated. What you describe didn't happen every time. When I had questions and/or problems with something that was being done that couldn't be handled on the twig level, or doctrinal problems, I wrote letters to hq, sometimes to VP, sometimes to Craig, sometimes to research dept., sometimes to the Trunk Coord. And at those times I got polite answers. I still have these letters in my files. The answers weren't always what I wanted to hear... but it was nothing like you described.

Easy for me to understand. Repentence is for the unsaved sinner. Forgiveness is for the saved sinner. Repentence is confessing the Savior: Romans 10:9, John 3:16, then God gives eternal life. Forgiveness is confessing sins after salvation: I John 1:9 He has given eternal life to us who believe. Some folks believe that God grants everyone eternal life, no matter whether one believes in Christ, or not. But I believe one must believe in Jesus, as the bible says. Automatic forgiveness? God asks us (saved sinners) to confess our sins, and he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Thanks for the info. I just put this at the top of my netflix queue. From netflix:

I think God made it easier for us to understand, in Christ Jesus. Jesus came to, among other things, expose the works of the Devil. The Devil is the author of sickness pain death, and all manner of evil. That is not to say that man is not responsible for his actions ... But, when we understand and BELIEVE that there is a spiritual source of evil, I think it makes it easier to forgive ourselves and others. It works for me.

The stink of sewage? Is that what you think likemindedness is? Likemindedness is a biblical principle, to be strived for. In many scriptures, it may even be considered a commandment of the Lord. Golly, I wonder what your views are of the Third Heaven and Earth, and what it will be like? For instance, think your wifes Tarot Business will be allowed?

Posting my opinions.

Mikes posts get read more than anyones, even mine.

Of course.

The Greasespot Cafe forum is a freedom of speech, freedom of expression forum. There are forums that do not allow contrary opinions to the stated purpose of the website. Greasespot Cafe is not one of those.

I really should say expected "guidelines" because of course we varied in what we did from time to time. But the basic themes were all the same, were pretty much standard. For example, singing, prayer, manifestations, abundant sharing, teaching, ministering, prayer, coffee & twinkies, and so forth. Oh, and we had to start on time. Any divergence from these basic themes? All of these came from hq.

Diazbro, did you have self-governing authority in your fellowship? Or were the rules & regs. decided by hq?

Who knows that their local fellowships in the home are perverted? I'm gonna say "I don't know" because I haven't been there in 15 years. For all I know, maybe a local fellowship of theirs is quite good.

Most everything came from the top down. Or from the root up, however you look at it. What does "self governing" mean anyway? It means we at twig governed everything ourselves. Well, did you govern things? Of course not. You followed the rules and regs. established from Intl Hq.

That is correct. I do not gloss over VP, despite his learning from other sources. I also am very thankful for Stiles Bullinger Leonard Kenyon Luther, et al. I wasn't taught by them, but am thankful they taught VP and others.