waysider

Though I understand your point, Allan, you have to ask yourself how much of it was "God's Word"? Much of what we marveled at, back in the day, as being earth shattering new information has been shown to be nothing more than shoddy "research", laden with error. I don't think that presents us with cause to celebrate.

I grew up not far from where this happened. (not much more than walking distance) It's surreal.

"The only thing I ever heard on this topic was VPW teaching that polygamists were sex perverts.".....Galen According to the definition of polygamy, as VPW presented it in CF&S, he, himself, was a polygamist. Where does that leave us?

Wow, how utterly clever...using sexual innuendo at a class that's supposed to be about learning leadership skills for Christian ministry. Yep, that's spiritual, alright.

He was not a MOG, ours or anyone else's. He was a hick from Hoopyville Hts who stumbled onto a clever way to con people. It just so happens he used the Bible to front his game, instead of musical instruments like Harold Hill (The Music Man).

I've long maintained that it was our lifestyle, not doctrinal issues, that caused so much chronic damage. Ironically, part of our lifestyle involved obsessing over doctrinal minutia that had little, if any, bearing on anything in the real world.

He just followed the formula for a multi-level-marketing-scheme, gave it a Biblical twist, and marketed to a segment of the population he knew would be receptive. There was nothing remarkable about it, really. Lots of people did it before him and lots of people have done it since. He was "small potatoes" as far as this sort of venture goes.

Just so you know, Keith, that line is scripted, word for word. It's from the Advanced Class. Later, in the same class, he gives advice that is contrary to that, telling us we must learn to become meek and follow the revelation coming from the "Man of God" without questioning and skepticism.

Galen said: "I also see the leadership requirements as listed in Timothy and in Titus." ............................................................................. A large segment of modern Christianity, TWI especially, is built on "what Paul said", the Pauline Epistles. Curiously, many scholars are of the opinion that someone other than Paul authored these two epistles. I'm not sure what my point is there. I just find it curious. ............................................................................................ We return you now to your regularly scheduled program.....

This is a typical response to expect from someone who has been conditioned by Way theology. Take a scripture out of context and use it to give an ambiguous, obtuse non-answer.

I was in the "ministry" for less than a month when I gave my first "teaching". Mainly, I think, I was chosen to do so because I had my own apartment with plenty of parking space.So much for required expertise.

Speaking personally, I don't think I could sit idle or remain silent while hearing VPW revered. I guess it's a choice one has to make.

Happy birthday, Roy.

The older you get, the fewer friends you will have. Part of that, of course, is due to attrition. People get old and die. Or, they move up the corporate ladder and drive off into the sunset in a moving truck. That kinda stuff. But, and perhaps more important, as you get older, you are able to spot the so-called friends who are really users/manipulators and extricate them from your life. I wish I had a better answer but that's all I've got.

When I was a kid, we speculated on his middle name. (We concluded it must have been Herman.)

Thou shalt not steal. Hmmm. Probably means "spiritual" stealing. (note to self: Speak in tongues more.) Oh, Wait! That's not all of it. It's got something to do with "administrations", too. hahahahahaha! (I crack myself up sometimes.)

Hang in there, Roy. Better days are yet to come.

And now, you know too, John. So, why do you still hold on?

black heart, white heart coincidence?

Stranger things have happened.

Sometimes people accuse me of being bitter. I'm not sure I was ever bitter. I'm damn sure, though, that I've been more than just a little embarrassed to admit I was duped. And this differs from reading Tarot cards.... how?

I don't think he ever took the Advanced Class, either. In the class, he taught that you can't ask God for a sign, claimed the dew on the fleece was a one-time deal. Then, he turned around and expected us to believe some lame story about how he ordered God to make it snow, as a sign.