waysider

Felice Cumpleanios

"Dude, we're getting the band back together!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lvu8GKCPVM

edited

Good points, johnj Kinda brings to mind the old cynical remark-----"But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, what did you think of the play?" The Way was scarcely a blip in the history of New Knoxville, much less the history of Christianity.

Right city---wrong group I thought this was appropriate because the lead singer, Levi Stubbs, was buried at Woodlawn Cemetary in Detroit today. And really, just the sound of his voice is instantly recognized, if not by name, at least by the intensity he projected. Here's a link. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)---The Four Tops You're up, N.I.S.---The artist is not necessary to qualify as a correct answer.

In one of the first twigs I was in (1972), we had someone show up for twig who had lost an arm. You know what the talk was in twig? "Hey, if we can get this person made whole again, people will be lined up around the block, begging to take The Class." TROPHY MENTALITY!! All focused on facilitating a sale. We should have been reassuring this person they were loved for who they were, arm or no arm. Instead, we yammered on about the asinine "law" of believing and told them The Class would help them "believe" for wholeness. (It's on The Green Card.) They left in frustration, full of self condemnation for not being spiritual enough to "believe" for healing. This stuff was just plain wrong. We didn't see the reality of human need when it was staring us in the face.

"Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch, you know that I love you."

TROPHY MENTALITY It's what motivated them to actively pursue people who were already successful in their fields, whether it be athletics, music, medicine, finance, etc. It's really a variation of an old "tried and true" sales technique using implied endorsements. "You know, Mrs. Smith, your son's pediatrician bought TWO of these just last week." (TWI version) "There must be something to this if Joe Famous took the class"."

Taz For what it's worth, I think I understand what you are saying here. When my wife and I met 25 years ago, I was still active in TWI but most of my really extreme commitment and activity was on the wane. She took PLAF and a handful of the core (not corps) classes so that we would qualify as being equally yoked together. Can't marry an unbeliever now can we? She took TIP and even faked SIT/Interp. for at least 2 years. It still baffles her how it could continue to affect me. So, she was "in" it, albeit on the periphery, but it was never really "in" her.

In order to clarify my previous post, I should have mentioned that my encounters with this type of thinking extend as far back as 1972. Here is a snippet from Witnessing and Undershepharding, page 2. (1974) "The basic reason we witness is to help people into the classes on Power For Abundant Living----"

The answer is Love Potion #9, which was originally done by The Clovers but covered many times by groups such as The Hollies, The Searchers and The Beatles. Here's The Searchers' version. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiScTovt8ys

In order to understand this kind of thinking, you first have to realize that we, the individuals, did not always see things in the same perspective that typified the larger goals of the organization. In other words, we thought we were out there trying to help people. In reality, though, our purpose, from a corporate viewpoint, was to sell "The Class" and recruit more salesmen into our workforce. Based on that, I think I can see why this guy may have been deemed a "bad credit" risk. I saw the same type of thing happen, also. I would witness to some person who had genuine problems and get excited about how I thought "The Class" could help them. Then, I would be told to distance myself because they would probably not make good"leadership material"(ie: salesmen). Of course, there was always some sort of rationalization applied to it that seemed to make sense to me at the time. If we had looked at this thing for what it really was, a money driven sales effort, it probably wouldn't have bothered us nearly as much. Unfortunately, we saw ourselves as philanthropists, not salesmen. As always, that's just my opinion.

You mean that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth ?

Hey, everybody, it's Herbie's birthday!!

Thanks, RG!! Perfect for a Sunday morning. I can never seem to get too much Eva Cassidy.

I wonder if Crime and Punishment would each have their own segment.----???

"Why's everybody always pickin' on me?" (Note: This is the tag line, not the opener.)

Yeah, I've thought about that. But I figure, I was probably my own worst enemy. Most of my disappointment is with the organization as a whole and not so much with individuals. (Aside from the obvious VPW, LCM, etc.)

Happy Birthday !!!

Time for a "trip" in the way-back machine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHrwgvhX3ko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeR5UtvwM7w

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'----Nancy Sinatra

Here is a link that talks about it: http://www.arwentaylor.com/craigslist-job-...ns-corporation/ Be sure to click on the samples and video. The dastardly aspect of this is the false hope they give to people who are genuinely seeking. (IMO)

I think my comments were totally within the basic framework of the topic. Does it offend you when you hear mr. wierwille disparaged?