waysider

"And the waaaaaalls---------came tumblin' down Joshuaaaaa---------- marched seven times around". Ooops, sorry. I'm just in a musical mood this evening.

Dooj I second that emotion. edited for double post. Ironic,no?

In Cleveland, in the early 1970s, we had both. (twigs and large meetings.) Twigs were often impromptu but had regularly scheduled times through the week. Branch meetings were held every Sunday night. We rented out a large meeting room. Actually, the branch meetings encompassed two branches, Cleveland and Lorain. Simple geography was the primary reason there were two branches instead of one. Cleveland was at the center and Lorain was maybe 20 or 30 miles west. There was also a third area that was about 20 miles east but it never really grew beyond a couple twigs. HQ was always on us to try to get people to let us use facilities for free for classes and branch meetings. Usage payments came from New Knoxville. At that point in time, TWI did not own property other than New Knockwurst. When "newbies" inquired why we did not have permanent facilities, we were instructed to tell them it was because it enabled us to be "dynamic" and go were God instructed us to go. <_<

When I got witnessed to in Cleveland, the spring of 1972, the group of high school kids who witnessed to me talked about "twig". I had no idea what the term meant. At the time, I thought it was perhaps an acronym( like SCUBA is an acronym for "self contained underwater breathing apparatus") Soooooo, the Way Tree already existed at that point in time.( spring, 1972) Also, there was a state news letter called The Buckeye Cambium. In botany, the cambium is a thin growth layer between the bark and the wood. Annual growth rings are a result of cambium activity. The cambium is what causes a tree trunk to increase in diameter. I'm not sure, but I think the limb leader at that time(E@rl B^rt0n) came up with the idea of naming the news letter. It was a pretty good name, in my opinion. International HQ said the name would have to be changed because "growth comes from the root". It was then changed to The Grapevine,(As if that was more botanically accurate )

Maybe WasWay will chime in on this one. A band from his hometown covered it and had a big regional hit with it. Can you condemn a man If your faith he doesn't hold? Say the color of his skin Is the color of his soul? Hint: The band that did this tune originally, spawned some "monstah" guitar players (Yes, that's plural)

HaHa! Kinda reminds me of a prank we used to pull in my teenage years. If three guys were talking, one would casually position himself to the right as another would slowly position himself on the left. When the third, unsuspecting guy was clearly positioned in the center, they would yell: >"Left ball" >"Right ball" "WHO"S THAT (&%$#) IN THE MIDDLE!" ---------------------------------------- Well, OK, maybe it's funnier when your 15.

Hello, It's Me--------Todd Rundgren

The 'needs and wants" thing never made sense to me. You could probably go round and round about what it actually means or about what it was that was actually taught. In my opinion, what is crucial is how the general populace of The Way perceived the concept. In the almost 20 years that I was involved, it was perceived by the people I was in association with, that it meant that your needs and wants had to be in parallel agreement with each other. The idea of them being in agreement with The Word was a foregone conclusion because it was "out of fellowship" to want things that were "off the Word" . Likewise, it was assumed you did not really need anything that was not encompassed in the promises of God. When you stop to think about it, it's really the only way you can legitimize the "red drape" incident. She didn't actually "need" red drapes BUT she did need drapes.(all your needs according to his riches-----) She wanted red ones. (all the desires of your heart---) This was supposed to somehow prove that if your needs and wants were parallel with each other( remember that the "according to The Word" thing is understood.) that your request would surely come to pass as long as you were able to "believe" for it. It's really no different than the "visualization" technique that can be found in any number of "positive thinking" schools of thought. The only thing that sets it apart is the idea that you are supposed to make sure it is covered in "the promises of God" and that it does not contradict the moral principles set forth in the Bible. It still does not make sense. IMO

edited to move to "Cleanliness" thread.

I think if one is going to define and understand Christian leadership , one must first define and understand leadership (Christian or otherwise)

Bolshevik I see your point about the designer not being from the "good old days". It makes sense. Is it possible, though, that someone who was around during the "good old days" made the connection when they saw the photos and jumped on an opportunity to use them in this manner? I don't know. I could be wrong. It just seems too spooky to be a total coincidence.

Perhaps we are using the word "unusual" to mean doctrines that, not only contradict mainstream Christianity, but also contradict what is actually written. Such things as "4 crucified". "6 denials", "faith vs believing", and so on fit both criteria.

Spring of 1972 is when I got witnessed to. I remember thinking,"What the heck is a "twig"? We had quite a few Kansas people in our area. Jim Mull!nz ran the class I was in. (There is a whole story I could tell about that.) The year before that, there were (what would become known as) WOWs in the area. Things were definitely "unconventional" to say the least. So, I guess what I'm saying is that the doctrines were already unusual when I got in the Word in '72.

"I sure am blessed you made it to twig again 'cause we sure love ya." (Hey! this believing crap really works! I've been "believing" all day you would show up.)

HA! Tonight's the night!!! (For Sputnik, that is.) 50 years ago tonight. I think I'll go outside tonight and look up at the sky just for "shirts and girdles". Probably won't see many neighbors this time, though. Kinda makes me wonder what is happening in the world today that people will be discussing 50 years from now like we've been discussing Sputnik. Do you think you realize it when you are "living in a moment"? In other words, if you were present that momentous day when Dr. King gave his "I have a dream" speech, did you feel you were part of history in the making, or does that realization only appear in retrospect? Just a thought.

"Horn-Of-Plenty"

"Banjo players tan"?????

"That's Riiiiigghhtt!!" Euphemistic translation: "'cause I said so!!-----so there! Or how about "Spiritually angry"? Means the same thing as'p!zzed off" except it's, uhmmm, "spiritual", dontcha know?

Would it seem too imposing of me to ask for some sort of reference for this statement?

As requested:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-MVOAeQ_1w

I don't remember much about physics. (not sure why, it was only 40 years ago ) It seems to me, though, that the thread size is not relevant as it is the bolt head that presses the cylinder head tightly against the block. Seems to me that, no matter where on the under-surface of the bolt head you measured the pressure, the pressure would be the same, regardless of the diameter of the bolt head. Hey, now! go easy on me! When I studied this stuff, the wheel was still a modern marvel! How about some of our younger "science guys" like P-Mosh and Bolshevik?

I still think it's designed to try to make us "old timers" feel nostalgic for "the good old days", the ladies in their schoolmarm garb(Dorothy and Rhoda), the men with their neck scarves(VP). And who can blame them? If you can't drum up any new customers, why not revisit previous ones? Car dealers do it on a regular basis. The problem with that strategy is that, anyone old enough to associate this with past memories is here at GreaseSpot, long since moved on or, well, "awaiting the return". Sorry, TWI, It does bring back memories but they are not all warm and fuzzy.

I heard a song not too long ago by a guy named James Harmon. The song was called Piecework Politicians. "We need piecework politicians Working strictly on commission.-------" I like the song a lot so please don't misunderstand me, but maybe I should write a song and call it "Piecework Christians". When you work in a factory, the more pieces of product(fruit) you produce, the more pay you will earn. It can be a good concept, really,( if you don't try to extend it beyond the factory and into spiritual matters.) When my Mom used to teach twigs, she used to say that "God loves you for who you are, right here and now, not for what you could be sometime in the future and in spite of what you've done in the past." I guess you could find a scripture to support that statement if you wanted to. I don't personally feel the need to.