waysider

I was thinking the same thing. The irony is part of what makes it so startling.

It takes more than one voice to sing in harmony.

And when you think of it that way, it's no longer important whether the Bible or Christianity or Islam or any other belief system is based on myth because the myths may be based on an effort to explain/understand something that is real.

I get what you're saying. That's how I feel when I see the sheer beauty and brutality of nature and the utter complexity of various life forms. It feels much too big and interwoven to simply write off as a random unfolding. When you witness a baby being born or sit with someone as they breath their last breath, it's like some kind of message that transcends verbal expression. I think all religions, in general, are man's various ways of trying to assign some tangible meaning to whatever that message may be.

Lawyer: "Your company, General Motors, makes a model called the Corvette, is that correct?" President of G.M.: "I think so. I'm not actually involved in the production process. I'll have to get back to you on that."

I don't think sexual predators seek out the "drop dead gorgeous". They hone their sights in on people that they perceive to be vulnerable.

Some thoughts regarding income tracking: 1. As twig leaders,in the 1970s, we were required to file a weekly financial report informally known as "the blue form". This form listed individual donations as well as group offerings. Twig members were strongly "encouraged" to donate by check so that records could be kept. 2. These records were reviewed when a person would apply for the Advanced Class, Way Corps or Fellow Laborers. It was a written requirement that any applicant for Fellow Laborers must be actively donating to The Way. It was a matter of record. 3. I personally (as in first-hand knowledge) know of a twig that was disbanded by Way Int. HQ because their abundant sharing record was sub-standard. These people were all retired seniors, many of whom had "kids" in the WC and WOW programs. They were on fixed incomes and didn't have much to spare. Official word came down from New Knoxville that they would have to either disband the twig or cease to represent themselves as being associated with The Way. The "official" reason given them was that, because they were all retired seniors, there was not enough "diversity" in the twig. They broke the hearts of good people who had not only given of themselves, but, had given their children over to this avaricious cult. But they don't track such things?? MY AZZ!!

There was really no money left to keep. We had ABS, FLO fund (general fund for rent and utilities), house fund (coffee, sugar, bootie wipe, etc. for "house" you were in), Manna fund (our mandatory food co-op) and any personal items like deodorant and razor blades. Barely left enough to buy smokes and Moon Pies to last the week. (Went into FLO right after ROA '75.---Like the rest of TWI's programs, the year began right after ROA.) But on the bright side, I learned to make my own Mayonnaise from scratch. edit: We were supposed to sponsor someone in the WC, too.

It's easy to say, "Get over IT" when you have no idea what IT really is.

Tell me something, Mr. G., have you ever known someone who died as a direct result of doctrines taught by The Way? If you spoke in tongues as much as you are supposed to, you wouldn't need any sleep at all!

Up at 5am---in bed at Midnight. I mean, come on, who really needs more than 5 hours sleep every night?

Yeah, I guess that was the concept of L.E.A.D. Just go and "believe God". Except, some of the participants got robbed, run over by semi trucks, raped and suffered irreversible physical and psychological traumas. Some committed suicide. Not so easy for those folks to "get over it". L.E.A.D. Accident

Not offended here. I'm enjoying your posts. Stick around-----or not. It's your call.

Sometimes on laundromat night (Saturday), if we could come up with some extra cash, we would walk over to the ice cream store for a couple dips and a sugar cone. Yah Hoo!!!

Yeah, that thought was always somewhere in the back of our minds, wasn't it?

Walked to the the nearby truck stop (Wayside Truck Stop) with someone who could hold a confidence and tried to make sense of what was going on. This usually took place between evening chores and night twig (about a 20-30 minute window) It was the only time you could speak openly and freely. Of course, you didn't make that trip with just "anyone". That's why I call myself a "waysider". edit: Fellow Laborers of Ohio (FLO), not Way Corps (WC).

Technically, it was really three separate classes developed as a series. The PFAL foundational class was divided into twelve, three hour sessions. It met four times a week for three weeks. Originally, there was an additional, one hour "teaching"/two hour "practice", session that was optional. This was unofficially called the T.I.P. (tongues, interpretation and prophesy) session. It was later scrapped for The Intermediate Class, which was three, three hour sessions, taught over one weekend. Essentially, the class did not contain any more information than the T.I.P. session. It relied heavily on practice (excellor) sessions to fluff out the time. Third in the series was a class called The Advanced Class. When I took it in 1973, it was taught in rez./on site, at Int. HQ, over a two week period. Foundational dealt with the law of believing, the inerrancy of the Bible, administrations (ie: dispensations) Sonship Rights, the new birth, Christ in you, speaking in tongues in one's private prayer life, etc. It culminated with everyone being led into speaking in tongues at the end of session twelve. Intermediate dealt with "tongues with interpretation" and "prophesy" (the "utterance" manifestations) within the body of the church. Advanced dealt with "word of wisdom", "word of knowledge" and "discerning of spirits". (the revelation manifestations) In addition, it dealt with "faith" (believing), "miracles" and "gifts of healing" (the impartation manifestations). edit: Of course, my memory "ain't" the greatest any more. Please feel free to correct my errors in remembrance.

From what I understand, they are not "open to the public".

Actually, there is an outline of sorts. In the PFAL syllabus there is a list of collateral reading material that accompanies each session. These include specific sections of the PFAL book, Receiving the Holy Spirit Today and Studies in Abundant Living (volumes I, II and III).

Sure. Just sign here on this green card. Your pen or mine?

I'll just bet they had to "run to the big tree and back" and eat familia for breakfast every morning. (And never complain about it.)

PLAF (Puke, Loogie And Flatulence)

We need to get .

How did that work out? <_<

I don't think it's just you. It reminds me of how we used to push doors open to sell PLAF (The Wonder Class).