waysider

No man is an island-------John Donne

You should be able to look at the annual statement SS sends out and see if those years reflect a contribution.

You have to wonder, too, how many people needlessly suffered or even died because they opted for "believing & ministering" rather than seeking appropriate mental or physical treatment.

Now THIS one used to bug me. "Father, thank you for renewing this man's fellowship." I never knew "intercession" was in our job description. <_<

Legitimate Question: One that warrants a legitimate answer.

If you hurry, you can still squeeze in part of Friday The Thirteenth.

Thanks, Krys I wasn't sure what I was looking for when I started this thread. You seem to have zeroed in on it. It's not so much about healing as it is about the TWI practice we all referred to as "ministering". Lots of times, all you did was offer up a generic kind of prayer for them. And, there was an element of compassion that accompanied the "ministering" event. It was a source of comfort, if nothing else.

I think it must have been 1973 or '74, at ROA, immediately following the main teaching on closing night, VPW announced there was going to be a mass-healing service. Anyone wanting/needing to be "ministered to" was to come down to the front of the stage. All AC grads were told to come down front and team up with someone so they could "minister" to them. It completely took me off guard. I wasn't about to be a part of it unless God told me to. (Remember the teaching about "God told me to tell you"?) So, I stayed back. After it was over, the second guessing and guilt set in. (ie: Maybe God had told me to be a part of it and I wasn't listening. Maybe someone's life depended on me stepping forth on my "believing".) Do you know how long I carried that guilt with me? I carried it until I came here and got a glimpse of what The Way was REALLY all about.

I thought there were 3 VP's, no?

I remember some guy "ministering" to me and thanking God for healing me from some obscure thing or another. When I told him I didn't have such a problem, he said, "Of course not, I just 'ministered' to you." :blink:

I remember being one of the few AC grads in the area and having people ask me to "minister" to them. (Only AC grads were supposed to "minister".) It got kinda weird sometimes. You could be in the middle of the shopping mall, when some believer would spot you and want you to "minister" to them right there in front of the wishing fountain. It was awkward, to say the least. Plus, what were you supposed to do when there was no great "revelation" smacking you upside the head? And what about all the times the shoe was on the other foot? Were they just making stuff up like you did for them?

Oh, I'm not sure there was anything specific I wanted. It's just a subject I haven't seen addressed very much here so I thought I would toss it up in the air and see where it landed.

Headphones required!

When I was in Cleveland in the early 1970's, "ministering" ( administering of healing) was quite a big thing. Anyone have any interesting stories to relate?

Hey, ex. I posted real quick this morning on my way out the door. When I got back home, I reread what I had posted and thought, "Holy Crap! That doesn't sound at all like what I meant!" Of course, it was too late to edit. All I was trying to say was that if I knew what it is that your friend finds objectionable, maybe I could help in trying to fix it. Well, that's still not exactly what I'm trying to say but I hope it makes it a little clearer.

I doubt they really care what happens to the cash cow after they croak.

Did this person give any indication of what they don't like about GSC? Is the coffee too bitter? Were they, perhaps, hoping to find blueberry scones on the menu? Is the decor not to their liking? Maybe we can direct them to a cafe that has the type of fare they're looking for. I'm just sayin'------

Just curious as to "why?".

Hey there, longgone Life sure can throw some weird stuff in your direction when you're not looking. I don't usually try to assign too much deep meaning to any of it, though. Maybe that's just how I am. There was another poster here with the same handle a few years ago. He later changed his screen name to LG. I'm sorry to say, he passed away some time ago. I'm looking forward to your contribution to this wacky place we call GSC. Hope you like lemon meringue. (It's on the house.)

Now that there's some mighty funny stuff!! :P

No one recognized this as La La Means I Love You? Sorry----free post?

TWI insisted everyone fit their cookie-cutter prototype. Hell! You weren't even supposed to use the word "creative"! (Only Gaaawd can create, dontcha know?) For whatever it's worth, we're here and pulling for you.

PFAL syllabus/ page #1 THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WILL OF GOD John 10:10 THE GREATEST SECRET IN THE WORLD THE BIBLE IS THE REVEALED WORD AND WILL OF GOD Listening with a purpose/ session #1/ question #1 Q. What is the greatest secret in the world today? A. The Bible is the revealed word and will of God. Page #2 The Word means what it says and says what it means. The Word has a purpose for everything it says, the way in which it is said, where it is said, how it is said, to whom it is said, when it is said. Page #6 The Bible as The Word of God is "God-breathed" Page #10 GOD is the LOGOS-THE WORD CHRIST is the LOGOS-IN PERSON BIBLE is the LOGOS- in WRITING with, PROS= together with yet distinctly independent of Page #11 The Bible is the Living Word in action. Page #12 It takes the Master's place in us through the Renewed Mind. **************************************************** There you have it----inerrancy and parity are clearly major focal points of PFAL.

This is how I remember it, as well. In fact, Wierwille, himself,stated, somewhere, that he had recently changed his stance on the number of days between the ascension and Pentecost, due to new research. I think he did that for "show". When people would question us about contradictions, we would parrot back this same line and incident as if it was proof we were willing to change our stance.

Re: "There may be discrepancies and errors in the sacred writings, but those truths that God wished to see included in the Scripture, and which are important to our salvation, are placed there without error... the Bible is not inerrant in detail, but God has ensured that no substantial errors, which mislead us about the nature of salvation, are to be found in Scripture." The "reality" is that the Bible is a book that's been cobbled together from copies of copies of copies, ad infinitum. The inerrancy line of thought embraces the concept that God not only inspired their content but their very assemblage, as well. There is a similar line of thinking that is used to rationalize Wierwille's plagiarism. ("Yeah, VPW stole the materials from Stiles, Bullinger, Kenyon, etc., but God told him how to put it all together.") I don't personally share that opinion on either inerrancy of the Bible or Wierwille's works.