waysider

Here's a strange twist for you. About a month ago, I opened a hand addressed, first class postage, envelope that was addressed to me. Inside was a handwritten letter addressed to me. I am looking at it as I post. Here is some of the first paragraph: " I am engaged in a volunteer Christian ministry that is being done in 235 countries. We were unable to speak with you personally, but I would like to share an encouraging thought with you." It goes on to talk about paradise on Earth and quotes IS.55:11 and Psalms 37:29. Enclosed were two tracts. One was titled All Suffering Soon to End and the other was Would You Like To Know More About The Bible?. I have to give this one an A+ for novelty. Not only did the person have to buy the tracts, but she spent the cost of a first class stamp to send it to me.

Heavens no! Have another cup.

TGIF I don't think you were the least bit mean. I wish someone had done the same for me when I was doing door-to-door, though I'm pretty sure I would have just "shaken the dust off my feet". Scale of 1-10?---------zero.

If I understand this correctly, Bolshevik is stating that TWI teaches/ taught that the resurrection was contingent upon Jesus Christ operating the "law of believing".( although it is not called that in the scriptures.) Yes, I have heard this, too, though it was not recently. In fact, I have not heard anything they have taught recently. This was, in fact, taught by Dr. Wierwille. He said Jesus was able to go to the cross and give up the ghost because he was completely convinced of what the outcome would be. In fact, he said it was this certainty of his "convictions" that helped him endure what he was subjected to and that if he had faltered in his "convictions", the resurrection could not have happened.( actually, I think he said "if he had faltered for even a moment.") "But", he said, "Jesus was able to believe in the outcome because of his connection to God." That is not an exact quote. I don't recall where or when I heard him teach this It might be on an SNS tape. There are some hints at this very same thing in the PFAL class. (Not in the session dealing with "believing".) In summation, I would have to agree that VPW taught that "believing" played a pivotal role in the resurrection. He taught that any time someone was raised from the dead in the Bible, "believing" was the key facilitative ingredient. He also pointed out that in the other incidents of people being raised from the dead, it was someone other than the person who had to do the believing. This, he said, separated Christ's resurrection from all the others because it was Christ himself who believed for his own resurrection and that it was the only one that did not involve the "believing" of a third party. Actually, now that I think about it, VPW made quite a big deal of how in every incident involving being raised from the dead, you could look at it and see who the third party was but not so in the case of Christ's resurrection.

It was a dark and dreary night and the Captain said to Pedro-------------------------

Ya know It's really a shame old man Ripley wasn't introduced to these multiple types of believing. Instead of just "Ripley's Believe It Or Not", he could have had volumes 1 through 5.

When I signed on to go into fellowlaborers, it was presented as a program that would study the Book Of Acts, both academically and through everyday application. The stated purpose of the program was to prepare us as leaders so we could go back to our home areas and be more effective leaders. What is it in that representation of the program that would lead one to "expect" they would be subjected to bullying "from time to time" and suggest that it may be one's own fault that it happened due to improper attitude? My first year there, I don't remember very much unwarranted criticism or bullying, just a lot of anal retentive labor projects and very little personal time. That was when Howie was in charge. Howie was very "laid back" and seemed to have a genuine concern for people. Still, not much academic material was delivered. My second year, the program changed completely.( New limb leader/FLO coordinator)It became a seemingly non stop series of bullying and belittlement.(virtually NO academic material delivered.) The product that was delivered did not even resemble the product that was advertised. That had nothing to do with my personal expectations or attitude. I "expected" it would be a great period of personal growth for me. My "attitude" was one of meekness and willingness to learn. Thus, to say that I went into it "knowing" what was to unfold over the next two years is inaccurate at best. If anything, one would expect that such a training program would teach us how to be loving servants through day-to-day exemplification. I did learn a lot of valuable lessons about human behavior. That is to be expected of any young person put in a similar circumstance, regardless of the religion or cause being represented. However, as far as being an accurate representation of the product that was presented, I would have to say it fell amazingly short.(Their fault, not mine.) Summary: To say we went into these programs knowing what to expect is simply not at all accurate.

When I was a kid, I remember going to"old-country" style wakes. After the funeral service and the interment at the cemetery, people would gather somewhere to have what I can only best describe as a party. There was lots and lots of good food(usually prepared by the attendees), music, laughter and reminiscing. It was not a time of sadness. It was a time of remembering and celebrating the joys that person had brought to the lives of the attendees. It was a time to move on past the solemness of the interment. I don't know if that's what this refers to but it reminded me of those "wakes" of days long ago.

Yes, that's a very good point, Groucho. I agree.

I visit and post(but mostly lurk) on a board called Harp-L. It is a discussion forum for all things relating to harmonicas. Some of the greatest harmonica players and technicians in the world participate on this site. A lot of the people know each other in the "real" world so the conversation is usually quite cordial and informative. The site is free, but not devoid of pictures and audio since many times people will post links to related information. The point is, whether you are interested in harmonicas or skateboards or transmission repair, there is something out there in cyber space that can address your interests.

IMO Forgiveness is for the benefit of the one doing the forgiving, not the one being forgiven. Still, a good old fashioned "I'm Sorry", wouldn't hurt and would make it a lot easier to set the process in motion. Of course, saying "I'm sorry." implies that one has done something wrong and I am not sure they I have ever heard anyone in TWI do that in a heartfelt manner. (Which is quite different from a court oriented statement.)

Thank you, Mark, for posting this. I will not be anywhere near these locations so I will not be able to attend. I remember, in my early TWI days, reading some of Rev. Wade's writings and feeling like I had gained a good deal of benefit from doing so. It was both thoughtful and kind of you to bring this to the attention of GSC participants and readers. I hope some who see your post are able to attend. I highly doubt they will be disappointed.

I might consider forgiving them if they would first say something like----"I'm Sorry!"

This is kinda off topic but here goes. Along time ago, in a galaxy that's real, real close, I worked for a temp. labor service. It seems that "real" jobs conflicted with class schedules and twig schedules and-----Awww, you get the picture. So, anyway, I go to pick up my first weekly payout(cash only) and the the guy behind the bullet proof glass hands me a pay statement that shows a fee to the union , a fee to the company, etc., etc. My total pay after all the deductions was something like a buck two eighty. The guy looks me straight in the eye, smiles and says, " Have a nice weekend. Well, maybe I was tired or maybe I was frustrated but it just struck me as being completely hysterical that this guy would wish me a "nice weekend" when he was fully aware that I had just worked my butt off for 40 hours and was walking away with only a buck two eighty to show for it. I just couldn't stop laughing so I took my money and left. I guess that was something he said to everybody without thinking about the context. I don't let it bother me when someone says "GD this!" or "JC that" or "OH MY God!". But when they say "Have a nice weekend", look out, buddy 'cause I've got my buck two eighty and I'm roarin' to clown!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5...78&q=george

"It don't make me no never mind." ( Can I say that here?)

Doc Watson and Jack Lawrence

More Rock and Jimmy

The later, great, Rock Bottom with Jimmy Griswold

When your co-worker complains that they have taken 4 aspirin and their headache still won't go away, just smile politely and say, "That's why I use heroin."

Some Scotty Bratcher for ChattyKathy

Too high tech. for me. I prefer a Sharpie and a steady hand.

Jonny I couldn't figger the difference between skit and sketch either so's I asked my grandson Cleophus(he's the ornery one). "Geeze, Grandpa Waysider", he said, "skit is what ya say to an old dog what's got more fleas than the number of geetar pickin' wannabes in Nashville." "You know--- Skit, you old varmint!" "'course, sometimes people say that to the geetar pickin' wannabes too." "And that's where the sketch comes in. Ya see, iffen ya sketch a pitcher of a mangy old hound and then sketch one of a geetar pickin' wannabe, the difference becomes quite oblivious." Hope that wasn't too sketchy but I'm runnin' outa time and I gotta skit. (Just makes ya wonder where these young 'uns hear this stuff.)

SHHHHH! Keep it under your hat! Can moose wear hats? I'm just askin'.

" How much money do you make in one year?" Well, now, that's all relative to how many mechanical difficulties I encounter with the printing press. ;)