waysider

It is, indeed, Come and Get It. It's by Badfinger. ( Artist not required on this thread) Yer up!

Norah Jones covering Randy Newman I Think It's Going To Rain Today And this powerful version by Nina Simone HERE

If you want it, here it is

And, you know, the crazy part is that we convinced ourselves (or, at least, I convinced myself) that it was ok for the ends to justify the means. Yeah. I mean, so what if we duped someone into coming to twig through feigned interest in them as a human being? It was all for their own good because they were getting to see the greatness of the Word. That makes it alright, doesn't it? And, hey, they'll thank us some day, I'm sure. You know, in Fellow Laborers, we weren't even allowed to undershepherd the people we witnessed to. Yup, we turned their contact info over to local believers for that task. Doesn't that just ooze of genuine concern for them as fellow humans?

The whole concept of witnessing and undershepharding is based on deception. Time and time and time again we hear people speak of the "date and switch" tactic. I know it's real because I am a living example of someone who fell victim to this practice. The gal who signed me up for "The Class" didn't bother to tell me she was engaged even though she devoted every moment of her free time to "undershepherding" me. The whole twig knew about it and kept it under their hats until I was fully enraptured with the class. Here are some things from Witnessing and Undershepherding: Page 3 Power of Attorney: There are occasions when the principle (Jesus Christ) is not available to carry on his business. He may then execute a general Power of Attorney authorizing an attorney in fact (born again believers). As his agent to carry on his business for him. ************************ ( We are mini-Christs here on Earth??----This idea is so wrong on so many levels, I don't know where to even start!) page 10 Sell out to the ministry--grow in commitment (Need I say more on this one?) page 14 Under The Shepherd--shepherding 1.Show the person that you love him: a.Compliment him-reinforce his good points. b. Do little things for him. c. Let him know that you are willing to help him whenever he needs it. (even at 3:00 a.m.) d.Be interested in that person's interests, especially his chief interests. (The more you know about a person, the better.) e. Just schedule your person into your life (e.g., if you are going out for a coke or coffee, call them up and take them along.) 2. Undershepherding does not stop with the class. (Remember, we might be talking about people we just met last week here!--can friendship be any more contrived than this?) page 15 ---(saving the good stuff for last) 7. Build his vision of his part in the outreach of God's Word. Tell him about the Intermediate class, the great knowledge-packed tapes from Headquarters, the Home Study lessons, and the Advanced Class. People can't go farther than they are shown, so we show them that they can go as far as they want with God in his ministry. (Good lord!---If this isn't a sugar coated version of "build the sale", I don't know what is!) ******************************************************************************** ******* Yes, I would agree that the type of lifestyle that The Way promoted (my tenure was 1972-1990) was heavily based on lies and deliberate deception.

Parents deserve to sing this to their children.

"Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck." :o

Also, there are people from The Corps and FLO who can tell you about first hand experiences with middle of the night rousting that were designed to instill a sense of unwavering loyalty and obedience to "leadership". This was essentially the same kind of blind obedience that was being hammered into these kids under the guise of learning to obey God without questioning. It was bad enough that this was done to us as adults. Now think how utterly traumatic this must have been for the kids.

Interesting you should mention this. This very concept was promoted for adults as well as children. The idea was that when God said jump, you were to jump without question. And since the idea of leaders speaking by "revelation" was a staple of the TWI mental diet, when a 'leader" gave you an order, you were to follow it without question because that "leader" might have some life or death insight on the situation. I remember this happening in the mid 1970's, when a guy in the Corps left HQ grounds despite being told not to. If I remember correctly, he went into town with another guy. He was in a terrible auto accident and died as a result. Wierwille used the incident to condemn people for disobedience and really played up the obedience angle. This was a far-reaching lesson that went out into the areas that weren't directly connected to HQ. For the sake of illustrating that this was an official stance of "WayWorld" and not isolated by any means , I offer this from page 10 of the Advanced Class syllabus. Keys To Walking By The Spirit 10. Inspired action and inspired utterance may be essential. 11. Do not be deceived by the five senses. 12. Do not argue with God. 15. Watch and be ready. Revelation may come at the most likely or unlikely places and times. Of course, each of these directives has accompanying scripture that supposedly validates it as "The Word of God". So, you see, this subject of child abuse is really an extension of a large scale problem that was deeply woven into the mindset of the typical Way "believer".

Maybe a part of understanding why people saw this and didn't do something is that TWI "taught" that it was not abuse. By "taught", I am referring to a scope that goes beyond SNS tapes, and formal settings. In fact, I think it is fairly clear from the various threads here that it was considered vital and necessary. People were expected to treat their kids this way or else be thought of as spiritual weaklings. And this was done so that some two bit, narcissistic cult leader could get a new Harley or other "toy" any time his heart desired. "Yeah, beat your kids. What do I care?---- as long as I can fill my stable with classic cars and motorcycles, ill gotten at your expense".

---(the Blue Swede version)

I'm not sure what to say except that I am so sorry you kids were subjected to this.

So then if you get "tagged", you're **it?

He's 8 years old. HERE is what happens when he gets the"Room Cleanin' Blues".

I think ear hair might be caused by a debuhl spurt. Don't tell it to come out, though, 'cause then your ears will be even hairier. (On account of it "comin' out".) :blink:

The Blob!!

For what it's worth, I feel like I have benefited from your input, John. Thanks

Check out the harp player at center stage. HERE :)

Wang Dang Doodle

If you think about it as being a pyramid scheme (because it was), does it make any more sense?

Maybe these excepts from Witnessing and Undershepharding will add some perspective: Page 2 "The basic reason we witness is to help people into the classes on Power for Abundant Living." OR page 4 "You are to witness- now go witnessing to move the Word. Go and tell." OR page 5 "The reason believers won't or don't witness is always because of fear" OR page 6 "We live abundantly and then give Power for Abundant Living." ************************************************* So, when you boil the cabbage down, what you are left with is the reality of what actually took place. TWI and the PFAL series was a cleverly crafted multi-level-marketing scheme. We were, perhaps, the worst paid sales force in the history of mankind. (exaggeration intentional) We actually paid them for the privilege of hawking their product and were made to feel less than adequate if we didn't participate or succeed. And, the the concept of "Well, at least we moved The Word" doesn't fly either. The product we were pushing was a flawed rendering of scripture, tainted by the "private interpretation" of a guy who was quite adept at privately interpreting it to suit his own desires. We weren't "moving the Word". We were selling a class and establishing a base of followers who would willingly and systematically divert a high percentage of their material gains to further "the cause".

"----and you get all this and more for the low, low price of $100 $85 $200 $65." (pssst, Louie------ how much are we charging this week??)

Bullwinkle Eenie, meenie, chili beenie---the spirits are about to speak. Rocky Are they friendly spirits? (Now watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.)

I'm goin' where the Sun keeps shinin' through the pourin' rain. (*Not the first line*)