waysider

Interesting stuff. Lots of legal points to deal with, such as who had access to what. (and where and when?) But that part is best left to the lawyers. Musically, the similarity is there. I think the biggest differences are stylistic rather than substance. And a big part of that is due to rhythmic and rhythm section differences. But that's to be understood. After all, how many different versions of You Ain't Nothin" But A Hound Dog have you heard and yet still accept it all as the same tune? The biggest factor here, in my opinion, is the similarity in the single note melody line. If Coldplay doesn't concede to Satriani being the originator, they, at the very least, should offer a "tip of the hat" for inspiration. For what it's worth, I think Satriani's version has more teeth and delivers the emotional message more effectively. (And I'm not usually impressed by "shredders".)

When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go.

Cool idea!

Actually, it is you who have made the stamp an issue in an effort to redirect attention away from what the stamp itself symbolizes. I'm not surprised, though. It seems to be your mission in life to direct attention away from anything that might tarnish the reputation of The Way.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Your assumption is 100% incorrect and clearly demonstrates an act of defiance to God by virtue of disobedience to leadership. But don't take it personally. All have sinned and fallen short.

I personally know of one twig in the late 1970's that met several times a week, in and out of scheduled "twig times". They were all retired people with limited incomes. They gave very little in terms of ABS or "love offerings" but had an otherwise vibrant, active twig. Getting together to sing, pray, listen to tapes, etc. was a source of great enjoyment for them. They were told, by Int. HQ, that, if they wanted to continue on in the same manner, they would have to stop calling it a twig and refrain from stating they were part of The Way Ministry. Of course, the official reason given was that, because they were all retired senior citizens, there was not enough diversity being represented. So much for "self governing".

Hey, Roy You sound like you are on the mend. Hang in there, Brother. We're all pullin' for you. Holy Hugs

How many more times do you need to hear it? It's not about the stamp. Never was, never will be. YOU are the one who has redirected this conversation to focus on something other than the the subject at hand. You should really be ashamed of yourself for criticizing those of us who believed that what we were doing was the proper course of action, taunting us for doing the "right thing" as we knew it. Are you somehow proud that you violated an official (yes, I said official) policy while the vast majority of others complied? By Way standards (whatever that's worth) what you did was tantamount to lying to God. Have you so soon forgotten the lesson of Ananais and Saphira from PLAF? I suppose, at this point, you should be hoping the conclusion reached in that lesson was inaccurate. We were NEVER told it was OK to use ABS for such expenses. The only explanation I can fathom that would explain your lacking knowledge of this policy, which was verbally conveyed, is that you were never present in any of the countless leadership meetings where this very question was addressed ad infinitum even as early as the early 1970's. And that's fine. I don't care. But don't tell people what they heard or didn't hear if you, yourself, weren't there to hear it.

All My Ex's Live In Texas

Great responses, one and all. There are many words that could be used to describe "the twig". AUTONOMOUS is not one of them.

Last year, another GSC'er introduced me to a game called DIRTY SANTA. (not what it sounds like!) It's a lot of fun. Here's a link that shows how to play it. http://www.amazing-christmas-ideas.com/chi...t-exchange.html

"Each twig is self-supporting,self-propagating and self governing." Anyone remember the example used in "the class" to demonstrate context? "There is no God". Yup, that's what it says, right there in the Bible. Oh, but wait, the context reads: "The fool hath said in his heart--------There is no God". Context is a big deal, not just in the Bible, but in everything we read and write. Now look at that twig statement in context. Each Twig is self-supporting, self-propagating and self-governing in cooperation with its respective Branch as each Branch is to its respective Limb, as each Limb is to its respective Trunk, as each Trunk is to the Root of the Way. The Way Tree-------1974 (Bold highlight added for emphasis.) "In context", it means exactly the opposite of what it means when it is stated "out of context". Even in a botanical sense, the statement falls flat. A twig on a real tree can't support itself, propagate itself or govern itself. It was all an illusion. Smoke and mirrors, my friends. We never REALLY had any say in where the train was headed. We were just along for the ride.

Yep

Well, shake it up, baby!

Your ABS dollars at work

I had no idea it was your birthday. I hope it's a great one.

Man, if that don't just hit the nail smack dab on the proverbial head!! They were kind enough to inform us that if we were ever less than completely honest and open to "leadership" inquiries, we would somehow suffer spiritual consequences because it was out of fellowship to disobey a leader. Same thing as disobeying God, really. Heck, they could have gotten the order they fired at you by direct revelation from God Almighty! Doesn't get much heavier than that, now does it? Good gravy! Might even wind up like old Ananais and Saphira. They lied to God and woke up dead the next morning. No siree, even a nickel out of that horn could cost you plenty. And they will know. They'll see it in your failure to manifest positives. Yep, they'll just know.

Is that Pleasant Valley Sunday?---------(Monkees)

You are grossly mistaken. It was made very clear that we were in no way, shape or form to use ABS or money from "love offerings" for postage, money orders, class expenses or anything else at the local level. That was the official Way International policy as stated by limb leadership on numerous occasions as the question was raised at statewide branch/twig area leader meetings. The point here is not the cost of a stamp, etc. The point is that the money traveled down a path of no return. Like a roach motel for personal funds. The money goes in but it never comes back out. Makes no difference whatsoever if we are talking about a nickel or a thousand dollars.

I think practically the whole thing was in error. (That's my doctrine and, having done all, I'm going to STAND! by it.)

:o

Nobody ever did it quite like Skeeter Davis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnbqWaG6_w0

-----------plus the cost of the money order, at a time when the average pay was something like $1.50/hour. But the actual amount is irrelevant. The money collected was supposed to be used to do God's work. Why is it that this part of the process didn't fit that definition?

----and a filet gumbo!