waysider

Motherof2----I suspect your relatives have been in TWI for a long time and seen many changes regarding the subject of healing. Initially, at least when I got involved in'71(?), There was not so much emphasis placed on what you had done wrong (though the idea was already present), but on seeing God as some sort of magician. In the first twig I attended there was a person who was missing a limb. What a victory it would be if only we and the person could believe for a new limb to sprout forth! There was a person in a neighboring fellowship who was a quadraplegic. No problem! Our magic formula of believing and confessing would surely right this situation. A friend of mine developed a very serious and acute medical condition. Leadership (at HQ level) scorned his fears and ridiculed his desire to deal with the situation medically. Consequenty, he died in short order. Of course, it was really his own fault for not being able to believe.( I'm hoping you see the sarcasm in that last sentence.) I could cited even more examples including one that involved me personally but I think I have made my point. If your relatives have been around since those days, that kind of thinking is probably deeply embedded in their core beliefs. As a parent, you have to do what is best for your child and that includes seeking professional medical help. If they are so concerned that God must deal out the healing let them know that you would welcome their prayers as a supplement. Be prepared though to hear them tell you the "burden of believing" falls on the parent. It used to be that some OT scripture was used to supposedly "prove" this. Prayer can work wonders but not when it is bridled by the conviction that nothing else should interfer. Children are a blessing. We must do whatever it takes to protect and nuture them whether it be medical,spiritual or a combination of both. (Just my opinion)

There I was looking at post #88 when suddenly I could not believe my eyes. CKMc. ,in his own words, disputed the teachings of VPW. Who would have thought it could happen. There on post # 88, CK ,when referring to speaking in tongues , said he felt that SIT daily as a prerequisite to revelation was (and I am using his terminology) A CROCK! And yet on page 10 of the advanced class syllabus, DocVic himself says that key # 3 to walking in the spirit (receiving revelation, in this context) is SIT on a daily basis . It doesn't say this is a suggestion or a good idea, it says that this is a prerequisite. CK, I have to say I agree with you on this one. It is ,to use your description, a CROCK!

You have a valid point,Roy though in my post there was no "s" at the end of the word "friend".

dmiller------- I can't get everything on this old clunker but I saw the visual of what you were referring to. Come to think of it, I have heard this on our local PBS radio station which has an Americana and roots show. Pretty cool stuff as I recall. I dig the sound of mando. though probably not the same stuff as you . I really enjoy Rich DelGrosso and Sam Bush.(not what you would call bluegrass) Didn't someone do something similar with The Stones or Beatles or whatever done in a bluegrass style?

Maybe they could encourage both of the current members to witness to their friend.

Or The James Gang. :) HMMM!-------Wonder what "Funk #49" would sound like on mandolin?

"why have all those clothes for a three hour tour?" A. You just never know when the network is going to pick up your pilot. Gilligan's Island.

Thanks, Mr. Miller. Geeze! They sure were young. Sigh.

I'm thinking a Google search for him might produce some mixed results.

WG Breaking news! Researchers have just discovered that diabetes is caused by over consumption of Swiss chard and oat grotes(remember those?--------shudder!) In addition, the condition may be aggravated by attending seemingly endless boring meetings. :)

Nika-----It's all here somewhere but for a quick and brief answer to Q.#1, you can quickly find that info with a Google search of The First W@y Corps (pictures and all.) As to Q.#2, I'm not sure I would really call it a corps per se. It was really a couple or few people who made a pilgramage of sorts to HQ and somewhat declared themselves to be disciples. It was seat of the pants and any semblance of a "program" was impromptu. There is also more info. on this somewhere here at GS. I'm not so sure I would say they were "disbanded" but rather "reinvented" and replaced with the new and improved model.

Oldies---------I have no desire to call you names,argue with you or provide evidence. I saw exactly this type of thing happen in the late'70's or early '80's. These were people I knew and cared about. This came directly from HQ via verbal communique. At the time, there was rationalization given but in retrospect it was nothing but a smokescreen. If you weren't exposed to it, that's one more thing you can be thankful for. I have posted on it before . I have no desire to debate the issue or re-post what I've already said.

CK says"I think I'm the oldest one posting here." Think again,"young lady"! Now march straight to the chalkboard and write: "I am NOT the oldest" "I am NOT the oldest"--------------500 times! :)

TWI was/is a cult. God quite simply does not "punish" people because they have chosen by free will not to support (either financially or by physical participation) the activities of any given cult. Heck, for all I know, maybe God hands out "atta boys!' for REFUSING to support such activity in his name. That does not negate the blessings that God can give for true giving out of your heart. If it's in your heart to shovel your neighbors' walkway or offer a word of encouragement to someone who has had a bad experience, I say by all means "go for it".You see, when you start to see that what you were involved with was nothing more,nothing less than a common cult, it really helps to put your actual obligation to them into perspective. Some people,sadly, just can't accept that they were hoodwinked by common charlatans. That too is their choice and I'm certain God loves them anyway. Real giving is out of genuine desire to do so and doesn't place restrictions on "what" or "how much" or even "when". "Why",on the other hand, plays the all important lead role.

Dot Who can really say?-----Maybe those fun times actually added by reducing the effects of stress. I'll be praying for you and so will my grandson Cletus(that's his name). :)

Thanks Mr. Strange They both sound worthwhile. I'll be on the "lookout" for both. Now if I could only get them to put Austin City Limits on at some time other than the middle of the night--------------.

OK, I'll admit I don't always agree with everyone posting and I'm pretty sure they could say the same of me. But "stone cold hearts"? "Hate and destroy all thoughts of good"? That sounds a tad extreme not to mention a little too overly generalized in my opinion. And like Todd Snider says in his song by the same name,I think I'm an "Alright Guy".

Kathy-----The "hippy" guy in those videos is a very young Paul Oscher. He actually lived in Muddys' basement along with Otis Spann. He played in the band for 4 or 5 years. Muddy taught him to play guitar and bottleneck and he learned piano from Otis. He didn't need any instruction in the harp dept. Today, he does a solo act where he plays guitar and slide while blowing harp from a rack(neck mounted holder.) He has a very rich voice but ,unfortunately,(for us anyway) he doesn't get east of the big river too often. The harp man on the other video is George Smith. That tape doesn't even come close to showing what he was all about. He is the undisputed Godfather of that fat sound he taught to guys like Wm. Clarke,Rod Piazza, Kim Wilson and the list goes on and on. If anyone every said an unkind word about him, I don't think it has found its' way into print.

Here is my take on the last few posts:(paraphrasing) Oldies said he believed VPW and TWI were truthful in what was said and done. WordWolf said he did not accept that statement to be accurate. TempleLady said let God sort it out. ( I took that to be God would be the judge of what was true or false.) I can see how confusion could enter into the meaning of what was posted but I don't think anyone was suggesting blind obedience because God would sort it all out eventually. That's my 2 cents-------fire away (ducking)

Hey Kids! Amaze and dazzle your friends with useless(but fun) trivia! I heard an interview today with Bruce Iglauer, founder of Alligator Records, on XM Bluesville. It seems that when Lonnie Mack purchased his new Flying Vee back in the age of dinosaurs (serial # 7, which he still plays today), he decided to outfit it with a Bigsby Tremelo Arm. He used it to record his now legendary tune"Wham"( our younger posters may be more familiar with the cover by SRV). Hence, the term "whammy bar" was born. That and $1.23 will get you--------Well, there must be SOMETHING it will get you! Chatty-----It sounds like lot's o' fun . BTW. Muddy Waters used to do a tune called something like "Goin' Back To Florida(Where The Sun Shines Everyday)"

HMMM!--------Think I'll have to pass on this one lest anyone mistake the title for a quote by myself.

Linda Z-------I agree with you 100% about Cleveland in the early '70's. We had some really great people, fellowshipping because that's what they wanted to do. As I'm sure you know, several have departed this life. It would be hard to imagine an area that size sustaining a branch today and yet we had not one but two. There was a genuine concern for each others welfare and we had lots of good times without the blessings or interference of HQ.There weren't very many children back then except for yours, Michelles', Jim and Jackies' and a few others that escape me at the moment. Heck, we weren't too much more than kids ourselves. When I left in '75,,It was like I had crossed into some kind of twilight zone. Suddenly I saw a whole other aspect of the ministry that I had never seen before. Still, I wasn't aware that what I was seeing was as widespread as it proved to be. Much like you, I really drifted away gradually more so than having a decisive moment I can point to as my exit. I thought a lot of the "off the Word" stuff I was seeing was isolated and never imagined it permiated so deeply into TWI. I am thankful we were both there to see the good times but somewhat saddened by what was to follow. I think that rather than comparing length of stay to good or bad memories, it might be more accurate to compare how far ones' quest for growth took them from the point of origin, not geographically, but more in terms of involvement in the operation of the organization.

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Here are 2 words I would like to throw into the mix:Brain Washing. Oh,sorry,Brainwashing is only one word. Never mind, back to the discussion of why memories often vary.

Chatster------Sounds like you've got your "Mojo Workin".