waysider

When the Marines break you down in basic training, it's with a view toward building you back up in a stronger, more vibrant form. That's the ingredient that Wierwille either missed or purposely ignored with his Way Corps indoctrination recipe.

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I suppose someone might argue that it"s really in a minor key.

I'm not sure I would call it pressure in my case. More like one of those Pocket Fisherman TV ads that ends with the pitchman saying, with a loud, excited voice, "Call now! Operators are standing by!" I remember some WC (probably 3rd or 4th year) coming home for Christmas and telling me that I could live a more abundant life if I would only learn to use a small amount of toothpaste and switch to bar soap instead of shaving cream. I thought to myself that they must be morons if they didn't realize that an abundant life should be one where you DON"T have to worry about how much toothpaste or shaving cream you're using. I knew it wasn't for me. Then Mr. Burden (not sure if he was a Rev. yet) talked to me about this exciting new 2 year, in-rez. program where you lived just like they did in the first century church, did an intense study of the book of Acts and then returned to your hometown to assume leadership responsibilities. Well, it was quite an eye opening revelation to discover that the believers of the first century church lived in socialist communes and thrived on sleep deprivation, hunger and poverty. I never returned to my hometown or assumed any more leadership responsibilities. I did learn, however, how to make mayonnaise from scratch.

Apache is an umbrella term that includes several native tribes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache

Dear FLO diary It sure is exciting to realize we're living a lifestyle that's just like the believers in Acts lived in the first century. I wonder if they had a food co-op or utility fund.

Dear FLO diary 5am--. I just rinsed the mung bean sprouts and set 6 places at the kitchen table for our house's breakfast. I forgot to soak the wheat berries overnight. Maybe I could soak them for about a half hour and no one will notice they taste like tiny rubber ball bearings. I guess I could substitute some familia from the staples cupboard but if someone should happen to mention it to the wrong person I'll get called on the carpet. Hah! Figured it out! I'll stick the apples in the freezer for a 1/2 hour. That way, everyone will be so taken with their crispness, they won't notice the wheat berries. Gotta get the coffee started so it will be ready when everyone gets up. Man, this "stretching the coffee" sure was a good idea. 5:20--- Time to head for the coordinators basement for morning fellowship. It doesn't start until 5:30 but this way I can stake out a choice spot to sit cross-legged on the cold concrete floor. Heck, I can even catch a short nap and pretend I'm doing my lift list. 5:30--"Someone speak in tongues and----- " 5:45am--What?? The meeting's over? What did I miss? Oh well, let's all run to the big tree and back. We don't really have to concern ourselves with the safety of running down a pitch black country road. Our believing will cover us. Hey! The cows in the pasture next to the road are running with us! It's a sign from Gawd! Not sure what it means. Must mean something, though. It's spiritual, I'm sure. 6:00am--Time to start the shower rotation. We all need to get our showers and head for our jobs. I think I can make it to my job, 20 miles away, in the big city, by 7:30 if I can maintain a constant speed of 85 mph. Piece of cake as long as I don't blow a tire. Oh, my God! I just confessed a negative. SIT much---SIT much---SIT much. 7:30am-4:00pm--Work as unto the Lord at secular job. Be sure to say "God Bless You" to everyone several times throughout day. Look for open doors to witness. Oh, crap! I forgot my green cards back at the house! I'll have some 'splainin' to do if anyone notices I left them on the kitchen table. 4:00pm--Jump in car and head back to FLO houses. Trip back is much slower due to traffic. Can I afford to stop and get some gas? 5:00pm--Here I am, back at the FLO houses. Gotta get cleaned up and help the dinner guy get the evening meal and place settings packed and ready to go to Limb HQ. 5:45--We're pulling into the limb parking lot. Ought to be plenty of time to set our table and grab a quick smoke before 6;00pm mealtime 6:30pm---Dinner is over. That wilted mustard green salad with homemade celery seed dressing and a hard boiled egg really hit the spot after a long day in the hot factory. 6:45--Tables are cleared, chairs and tables are all folded and stacked neatly and in order. Tonight we have a special work assignment. We're going to destroy all the mimeograph plates for the state newsletter mailing list. That's just in case "they" should catch on to us. No proof of membership. After that, we're gonna clean the crappers and mop some floors. The floor drains backed up again 'cause the septic system needs repair. It don't smell like petunias, that's for sure. 9:00pm--Everyone stop working and assemble in group. Crew leaders report on progress made. 9:15--Leave for "houses". 30 minutes away. 9:45--Race into truck stop along the way to pick up smokes. Hey! Can somebody lend me a buck for smokes? 10:00pm--Meet in night twigs until 10:30. It sure is good to hear those teachings from "The Blue Book" being repeated night after night. I'm really blessed. 10:30-- Gotta get those dinner dishes cleaned and start soaking tomorrow's oat groats. Rinse mung bean sprouts again. Hey! Who forgot to rinse them on the last shift? They look pretty funky. 11:00pm--Sneak down to truck stop for one on one conversation with other FLO. We'll just say we're going over there for Moon Pies or something. Call it a "junk run" or something. 12:00 midnight--Lights out--no talking--try to sleep whether you're tired or not.

Shame on you OldSkool! You make it sound like they were concerned with outward appearances.

Posted 25 September 2007 - 09:51 PM Hey Kids!!! Good News! It seems that recent developments have revealed that the whole "Way Cult" thing was actually an elaborate hoax. Yep, some prankster slipped some sort of psychedelic cosmic mold spores into our familia while we were preoccupied with putting big HS's and small hs's into our Bibles. The whole time we thought we were scrubbing toilets for Jesus and having BM's(ummm, that's short for Believer's Meetings.), we were actually sitting at the campfire, holding hands, making s'mores and singing Kumbaya. HaHa--- I drove by the old "HQ" property not long ago and discovered that it was never really there. There is nothing there but cornfields that have obviously been cultivated there for eons. Remember Tom Wolfe's Electric Acid Kool Aid Test? I guess what happened to us musta been kinda like the Psychedelic Cosmic Mold Spores Familia Test HeeHeeHee---I feel so silly in retrospect. Hmmmmm. I didn't really post this. (Or did I?) This post has been edited by waysider: 25 September 2007 - 09:53 PM

When I was in fellow laborers, there was a young lady whose parents were actively trying to have her deprogrammed because they considered The Way to be a cult. (1975)

Wierwille said that the Jewish people of the present day are descendants of Attila the Hun. As I understand it, DNA technology can identify markers of geographic origin and the geography involved in Wierwille's claim does not prove out. Someone please correct me on this. I'm sure I've oversimplified it. He also said that when God reunites the peoples of Israel, they won't be arriving on jet planes. This was a derogatory statement directed toward the country we current know as Israel.

Yeah, "replacementism". That was what Wierwille promoted. Only he never came across as being hateful about it. It was almost like he professed to have some sort of "pity" for the Jews. He did, incidentally, claim that modern days Jews are not the descendants of the Biblical Jews, a claim that modern DNA technology has shown to be incorrect.

Internet??? He!!"s Bells. We didn't even have telephones in fellow laborers. That is, not unless you count the very expensive, very public pay phone at the local truck stop.

According to Wierwille, God gave up on the Jews and made us (Wayfers) the chosen people. Is that anti-Semitism? I like to think it is more like a misguided, delusional form of elitism.

For us, it was a cult. For VPW, it was a get rich scheme.

Now that there is funny, even though Sarah Silverman is not.

Good for you! It didn't have quite the same effect on Tom Mitchell's family. http://www.greasespotcafe.com/main2/editorial/editorial-items/driven-to-suicide.html Or Kristen Skedgell's http://www.greasespotcafe.com/main2/radio/episodes/kristen-skedgell-more-on-losing-the-way.html

Oh, you could take one of the more basic promises, such as "promotes harmony in the home" and have a veritable field day with it.

The product they are pitching is "The More Abundant Life" via subscription to their particular brand of theological doctrine. You can review the rather long list of benefits of said subscription on the back side of the now infamous "green card." The product has been modified and repackaged but the essence of it remains the same.

I don't feel like looking up the exact citations, though I will if it's deemed necessary. In the Foundational Class, we are taught that spirit has no form or comeliness. In the Advanced Class, we are taught that spirits can take on physical form. (ectoplasm)

That's pretty much how EVERYTHING worked in The Way. Not many people at the branch meeting? It's YOUR fault. You didn't believe for a bigger turn-out. Not enough classes being run in your area? It's YOUR fault. You should have believed for more people to sign the green card. Not enough sponsors being faithful to their commitments? It's YOUR fault. You should have believed God for more dependable sponsors. The list goes on. It was always YOUR fault for not believing big enough.

Billy G The Way does not want people who don't appear to typify the product they are pitching. (Kinda like Avon would prefer not to have a representative who is so homely, you have to tie a pork chop around their neck to get the dog to play with them.) That has been the modus operandi of The Way from day one. Unless, that is, said person is particularly skilled at generating revenue for the corporation. (WOW Ambassador program) It is, after all, a multi level marketing scheme.

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. The doors to GSC are open 24/7, friend. We'll keep a pot of coffee on in case you should ever need a cup Here's one for the road.

That certainly seems to present a bit of a conundrum regarding the resurrection.