waysider

http://thefellowshipofgodsword.org/aboutus.htm http://thefellowshipofgodsword.org/Oct_7.html http://thefellowshipofgodsword.org/Oct_14.html

I googled the quotation and found this: http://thefellowshipofgodsword.org/

Welllll----- There is a Heritage Loaf baking "in the kitchen".

Nothing to add, really, except "congratulations" on your book. I scarcely have the energy to READ a book anymore, much less write one.

Papa Was A Rolling Stone---

Well ok then. I forgive you, Mike. (For having an "agenda".)

Man, oh, man What ever became of your idea for The Butt Sock? (aka-- The BS) I mean, the market was poised in rabid anticipation and then-------nothing. Well, who knows, maybe the World just isn't quite ready yet for any BS of that magnitude.

Thank you I think you have found a point we can mutually agree on.

And waysider is a truck stop------------- Hmmmm. Maybe I better take that Christian Sex and More Sex class again. It was given by revulsion, ya know. I don't have any scriptures to prove it. You'll just have to trust me.

Or-----I can cheer YOU up with some more "Golden Pony" stories.

Oh, my!! You have an "agenda"?

First, White Dove, I wish to call your attention to the fact that the quote you posted and represented as having originated with me, were, in fact, the words of someone else. Secondly, I never complained that people from other programs contributed to this thread. In fact, if you would take the time to read the questions a bit more thoroughly, you would see that I actually INVITED participation from other programs. Third, although you have shown that "physical training" was at one time referenced in the Way Corps literature, you have failed to demonstrate how that is relevant to the type of "toughening up" that is the focal point of this thread. The poster who prompted me(on another thread) to begin this thread, implied that I was a weakling, whining about being a victim and that I should have known ahead of time that psychological bullying was part of the process. If you don't believe that this sort of thing happened or that, if it did, it was a beneficial component of the programs, just come out and say so instead of trying to change the focus to something unrelated.

And I respectfully agree with your disagreement. LOL Directors who can bring out people's best, without bullying, are indeed a pleasure to work for. Personally, it never really bothered me too much, though. I always kind of thought of them as being "in character" when they were directing just as the actors were "in character" during rehearsal or performance. (Not a good thing to be "in character" after the show, though.)

Good points, Jeff Thank you for taking the time to respond to this thread.

White Dove The "toughen up" statement was made by another poster, on another thread(Losing The Way), in reference to an experience I had in Fellow Laborers. It was off-topic for the other thread so I started this one. (I have pointed this out already.) As I have also stated many times, I was never in the Way Corps. Therefore any agreement in the Corps promotional literature is irrelevant to my particular experience. I have also made it quite clear that "physical training" has nothing to do with the kind of "toughening up" that was being referenced in the post directed at me. In fact, our physical training in Fellow Laborers wasn't really all that difficult anyhow. That part of it was not a "toughening up" experience. We did a morning run "down the road" and back, as well as calisthenics. Old fashioned gym class sort of stuff, really. Please take a few moments and re-read this thread in context so you can understand the "bigger picture" that is being discussed. If there is still something about it that you don't understand, let me know and I will attempt to clarify my stance on the subject. And, again, I pose the question-------------What does "toughen you up" really mean ? waysider.

Happy Birthday, Garden Girl!!! Now get busy and weed that Swiss Chard!

Hello, Randy Greasespot is really a very large site. There is an abundance of information that you may or may not be aware of. I usually recommend that new arrivals start by examining some of the information that has been brought here in the form of documents and articles, such as the materials that deal with the errors in PFAL(both doctrinal and actual.) There are copies of various documents such as Dr. Wierwille's death certificate that state his cause of death as cancer. To an outsider that might seem insignificant but to someone who has been through the Advanced Class, that is of utmost relevance. There are documents that deal with the sexual scandals that led to the now infamous lawsuit. And, there's more, lots more. It would probably be beneficial to familiarize yourself with some of this information before getting too involved in the forum discussions. Now, I'm not very good at helping people navigate around this place, but there are lots of people who are and would be glad to help you find whatever you might want to search out. I hope you stick around and explore the place a bit. waysider

I'm curious, jeast, do you still write? We had a discussion about creativity here a while back but I can't remember the thread.

Ya know, when you say, "I can't understand this stuff anymore", it's kinda like saying, "I think I understand it now." :B)

I experienced both in Fellow Laborers. At the helm of the program was the limb leader in office. The limb leader determined the direction the program was to follow. The first year, the limb leader, H.Y., was a guy who was very well liked and respected. The program was tough but I always felt like he tried to be fair and compassionate. I know he has posted here and I hope he understands that a lot of my negative comments about the program are not directed at him. The second year we got a new limb leader. The program changed direction about 1000%. It was like living in a stalag. Lots of abusive treatment and all the other things you described in your post, Groucho. He was probably following orders from higher up or emulating what he, himself, had seen. I think he may have posted here, also. I really resented him for a long time for abuses I saw him inflict on others. I think the abuses I saw him inflict on others were harder to take than the ones that were directed at me. I no longer have any animosity toward him. What's done is done. So, if you are reading this, JM, I sincerely hope you know I forgive you. We all change over time. My third year was a whole other ball of wax. I'm not sure I'm ready to go there just yet.

Any classical fans here?

Excellent responses, one and all. Something that I have milled over is that perhaps the concept of "home" is larger than a geographic location. Yes, I could get back to my hometown for a visit in a matter of hours, and I do just that, occasionally. Maybe if the conditions presented themselves, I could even move back permanently. But, still, there is and will always be a missing piece to the puzzle. Perhaps it involves events as well as mere geography. In the 30+ years since I've moved away, I have missed seeing my nieces and nephews grow from infants into parenthood. I've missed graduations and weddings of family and friends. Funerals have been missed as well. I've missed the opportunity of being able to help my parents make the transition from middle age into an elderly status.---------------And the list goes on. Even if I were to walk out the door today and move back "home", it wouldn't all be there when I arrived. It's not unique to The Way, that's for sure. We live in a mobile society. But, for some of us, TWI was the reason we moved, not a job with the phone company or a desire for a particular environment. And so, I think our involvement in TWI was and is a part of the conversation. My wife's family, for example, is not from this area either. However, with one exception, they now all live nearby. They all think of this as "home". So, in a sense, they have brought the concept of "home" with them and adapted it to a different location. OK---I'm done rambling for now. Happy Easter, everyone.

Ya Know--------- All this talk about movin' and whatnot has got me thinkin' about some good news I got recently. Yeah. It seems my grandson Cletus(That's his name.) has decided not to run away and join the circus after all. It's probably just as well. His fear of heights probably would have had a severe effect on his dream of becoming a trapeze artist. His brother Cleophus(He's the ornery one.) has had a change of heart as well. After watching the scene from Fantasia where Mickey Mouse has to haul buckets of water back and forth, he reckoned life as an elephant trainer might not be all it's cracked up to be. Their sister Clara-Belle(That's short for Helen.) said to me----"Gee, Grandpa waysider, I didn't know 'old geezers' like you could get home-sick." Sheesh!! That's just plain silly. I mean, where do you 'spose she ever got the idea that I'm an "old geezer"?

Hi, Shellon I think your reference to a "support system" is a critical component to this discussion. Thank You