waysider

HeeHee They were probably too consumed with wondering if you thought God was talking to THEM.

If those things (and more) that you experience during those events are God talking to you, TIP in twig fellowship ain't chopped liver!

Ditto

That depends on what you mean by "talking to you". Maybe He's talking to you when you see the miracle of a child being born or hold someone's hand as they take their last breath. Was it ever promised He would "speak" to us in words? Maybe his "voice" is shouting out loud in the symbolism of the wonders of nature. Maybe he doesn't even need words or language to "speak" to us.

Hey, What's that behind you?? HaHa--made ya look, made ya look.

How about this one from the AC? "Speaking in tongues much daily is prerequisite to revelation."

"Fear is sand in the machinery of life"---E. Stanley Jones Wierwille took it and used it to make us afraid of fear. A major component of the law of believing formula

That may be true, but I think it was used to fuel a heightened sense of urgency that affected our daily lives.

Interesting observation.

Yeah, that one tied in with the revelation stuff. Always lookin' for heavy revvy, ya know?

The Law of Believing!!

Yup---that definitely had an effect on our daily lifestyle.

Peachy keen! :) Yeah, I don't know why I forgot about that trinity thing----not just disbelief in it but a fear of it and disdain for all who professed it. I guess that played a big part of the stuff we believed, too

In the interest of keeping this on topic, here's a thread about miracles and such: http://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/index.ph...c=16327&hl=

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who wanted to know what our core beliefs were back in the day. Now, I'm not talking about 4 crucified, Eli, Eli----, etc. What I'm talking about are the beliefs that governed our behavior and day-to-day living. The best I could come up with was devil spirits, manifestations and the hedge of protection. :( Any thoughts?

Oh, I'm not so sure about that. When I took the AC in 1973, it was already plenty weird regarding devil spirits.

I can't remember if it was Raf or Jerry B., but someone has done work on this. It's here somewhere, I just don't know where.

Interestingly, studies have shown that, while one is engaged in speaking in tongues, the areas of the brain that are normally active when language is being processed, become relatively inactive. Thus, your brain is not processing language in a typical sense. ****************************** "A group of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine used Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) to analyze brain activity within individuals as they spoke in tongues. It was the first study of this kind. During this technique, a small quantity of a radioactive drug is injected into a person's vein. The scanner then makes detailed images of tissues as cells take up the drug. During an interview on 2006-SEP-20 by Steve Paulson, Andrew Newberg -- Associate Professor of Radiology, Psychiatry, and Religious Studies and Director for the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, at the University of Pennsylvania -- said that the region of the brain involved in language is not activated when a person speaks in tongues." http://www.religioustolerance.org/tongues5.htm

"Yes, Your Honor, there was snow on those gas pumps."

More to ponder Speaking in tongues already existed before and during the lifetime of Christ. Why didn't he ever encourage people to speak in tongues? Again, please note that I have specifically used the Way acronym, "S.I.T." That's because I'm referring specifically to the "WAY" teachings regarding the topic. How did you feel when you discovered that speaking in tongues is not an exclusive activity of Christians and that it is not an ability bestowed solely upon the "born-again" or proof of the "new birth"? Those items are contrary to TWI doctrine, thus the TWI doctrine (of S.I.T.) is bogus.

Shhhhhhh!----They can hear you!

Having been there in TWI in the early 1970's, I find I must disagree with this part. Drugs were very much taboo. The thinking that prevailed was that drugs would open a trap door in your mind and let in devil spirits. Likewise, premarital and extramarital sex was considered "off The Word" at the rank and file level. In fact, in Fellow Laborers, if you were caught using drugs or having illicit sex, you were promptly dismissed from the program. Now, does that mean that no one did these things? Of course not. But, there were instances that involved people being tossed out in the middle of the night when they were caught. ("Wham, Bam, thank ya, Ma'am"---get your butt out of Ohio before the sun comes up!) Sorry, didn't mean to derail. I just felt like that particular point needed clarification. Back to the "Too Many Chiefs" theme.

Maybe this should be on the "my story" thread. I'm not sure. I only know that it seems to tie into this one. ( I'll try to give the abbreviated version.) When I got "witnessed to", not only was I an adult, I was already estranged from my family. Big time! When I made the split with my family, it was a very, very intense experience. -----Fast forward---I get made a twig leader and my kid brother shows up for twig meetings. He wants to take PFAL so, for his 16th birthday, my parents pay his way into the class. -----fast forward again----my parents take the class---my Mom becomes a twig leader. My parents meet lots of great people with whom they maintain friendships that span decades. Lots and lots of great memories are made. -----at the same time--- My brother gets on the TWI conveyor belt line. Lots of classes. Three leadership training "programs". Lots of memories are made. Not all of them are great. Some of them are, well, you know. Chalk it all up to fate. I'm not really sure anymore. All I know is that it was my zeal for The Way that played a large part in how these three lives evolved. And, while I recognize my role as a factor in the equation, I can't allow myself to feel guilty. I never did anything out of malice or greed. I simply thought I had struck gold and wanted my family to share in the wealth. It's convoluted. Life is convoluted. You can't beat yourself up for doing what you thought would help people. Some were helped, some were hurt. Life is like that sometimes. All I can do is say I'm sorry for the adverse effects my involvement may have indirectly caused. I truly mean it.

At least that choice is yours, not someone elses.