Linda Z

I can give a clear example of what I believe Oak is saying. RFR, when I was on staff, manipulated/guilted me to stay in a staff position I despeately wanted to leave. Then, as soon as Corps Week rolled around, she unilaterally changed my assignment behind my back, lied to others about me, then lied to me about what she had done. When confronted, she said, "Why Leeunduh, ahm so sorry ah hurt ya feelin's." Duh. My feelings weren't hurt. I was pi$$ed because I'd been lied about and lied to and squeezed into a position I didn't want to be in. Hers was no apology. In essence, what she was saying was that the problem was mine. That I was too sensitive or had misunderstood or whatever. She took absolutely no responsibility for her wrongdoing. It was a pseudo-apology, at best. Edited to restore pi$$ed.

Now, that's just creepy. Whoever is bringing forth these so-called "prophecies" certainly seeem/seems to be obsessing about demons and and enamored with sc-ifi-type imagery. Good Lord, back in my naive youth, when I was with a group that was into "personal prophecy," as goofy as it was, it never involved crap like this. There was a lot of edification and some specific guidance, like "It's time to leave town. Go north." That was damaging enough, but I have no words for this stuff. I agree heartily with Socks. Step away from the splinter group. I can't even begin to guess what scriptural basis the leaders of this group think they have for this stuff, but I think it's nuts.

NIKA, you have a beautiful, gracious heart. These people need prayer, indeed. They're still my brothers and sisters, and though I've never had 10 seconds worth of involvement with CES or their spin-off STFI, I defend their right to pursue God however they see fit. Doesn't mean I agree with the path they've chosen, but it's their choice. I must say, though, that I've seen this "personal prophecy" stuff wreak havoc on another ministry, many years ago, before I ever heard of twi. The result...a lot of good people who had a genuine, godly, loving minsitry ended up getting ripped apart. PEOPLE ARE NOT 100% RELIABLE CONDUITS FOR MESSAGES FROM GOD TO OTHER PEOPLE. PERIOD. IMO, functioning as if they are puts you on very shaky ground. It's foolish, it can be dangerous, and it ends up being hurtful. At least that was my experience. This looks the same to me. If I were JAL and JS, I'd leave STFI to Mark and Karen Ann and the other couple and get away from all this heavy emphasis on prophecies and dreams. Of course, I'm not JAL and JS, but I hope they'll have the wisdom to do that. Then, if the other four want to play with that stuff, it's on their own heads. Thus saith LZ (who doesn't claim to be a prophetess--only to have pretty good sense).

Oops, sorry Suda. I missed a page!

Untamed Heart Christian Slater Heathers

Bravo, David! Fiddle music is such happy music. Makes me wanna dance. Where's NIKA??? I'm impressed when anyone can play so many instruments. You've got music in your soul, and that's a good thing. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Yes, I fully expected to hear some fiddlin'...go for it!

I'm reminded of the verse about bringing every thought captive...to Christ, not to man-made rules and regs. I still believe that we do the controlling--it's just the standard that has changed.

Well, I had a longish stay (17 years) and mostly good memories. But I think when and where you were in are factors, too. I was around from 72 to 86 (gung ho), then from 86 to 89 I was "in" but gradually fading out of the picture. From 72 to 78 I was in Cleveland, and with one exception (a young punk Corps kid who rolled in and tried to tell a bunch of longstanding believers what to do), we had good leadership. No one was trying to run anyone's life, and the hard-sell for going WOW or Corps wasn't prevalent. During those years, twi was, for me, the people in the Twigs and branches. HQ was some remote place that had little to do with my life. Even though I lived in Ohio, I never even went there until five years after I took PFAL. The bad memories, for me, began to form when I went on staff at HQ in 1982. Ironic, since it was supposed to be like Mecca, and hugely disappointing, since I really wanted more than anything to work there and serve God's people and "the ministry." I'd only had a couple bad experiences in the Family Corps. It was a difficult program to do with kids, and they made a huge mistake when they put GB in charge of the kids our last year in rez, but mostly I enjoyed the heck out of it. So, when all is said and done, it was the "Root" that stuck in my craw. It was there I began to see the dichotomy between what was taught and what was done. I was oblivious to the sex stuff, but I saw other things that opened my eyes to the less-than-perfection of twi.

Johniam, as Tom Strange said, life's too short. It can't hurt to be the first one to reach out. Recently a good friend of mine died at age 64. I had meant to call him and go visit him, as he'd asked me to. Now I can never go back and undo that ommission. God forbid that anything should happen to your brother, but the worst regrets, IMO, are for things we should have done and didn't. Not trying to be melodramatic here, but life really is too short. It sounds like you really love your brother. I hope you won't let pride or stubbornness stand in your way of what's in your heart to do (or you wouldn't have asked).

FWIW, I don't find the two videos offensive for their foul language. I think they're interesting social commentaries. The content of the little girl's video made me uncomfortable, because I hate to see a child so close-minded at such a tender age--regardless of whether said child is spouting twi-speak or spouting anti-God diatribes. For pity's sake, she's a CHILD. The language may be dubbed, or the kid may just be reciting words she was told to, but the effect, to me, was chilling. She should be out playing! The uncle doesn't bother me as much. He looks to me like he could be Indian, so I can understand feeling that way. Let's face it. Christians haven't always been the best representatives of Christ over the years, and there is some truth in what he says. It's sad to see the effect on this man of people's committing evil acts in the name of God. If my opinion counts, I say leave the thread here (it's not political) and let it be. And another thing...if the F word bothered wayfers, none would still be in from the LCM days! :D

That's cool, David! I still like this one better (http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_christmas_lights.htm) but I think it's just for the music.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Chas, I used to tend bar at a Polish tavern. There was an old man who made horseradish every year and came by and sold it at the tavern. It would curl your toes...loved it! I'm with you. I don't like the kind that's diluted with mayonaisse or anything else. Just give me the straight stuff.

His mind works like no other person's on this planet. Love him!

Twinky, my dad and uncle used horseradish on their roast beef, but I never tasted it until I was older. Trust me, I'm not knockin' my Brit food heritage. I like simple foods, and I've learned to use lots of spices that my mom and grandmothers never did. I first heard about Bubble 'n Squeak on one of Jamie Oliver's cooking shows (I love that guy!). I've made it a couple times...I used brussel sprouts rather than cabbage. That hog's head cheese just might be the grossest looking "food" I've ever seen. Looks like a big white worm stuck right in the middle of it. Ewwwwww, coolchef, how could you stand it?? Speaking of gross, the first time I visited the Indiana campus of twi, it was for some weekend event that incluced a big picnic. One of the things they served was beef tongue. I hear from afficianados of the stuff that it's a delicacy. Well. Not when the cook knows no better than to leave the darn tastebuds on the tongue. Ewwwww again. And no pickled pigs' feet. Whose idea was that, anyway?

Thank you, exsie. Absolution...that's it. I couldn't think of it for the life of me.

Jonny, what in the world is wrong with you?

My husband was working late that night, my baby was sleeping, and I was sitting up in bed alone watching TV when Bobby was shot. Our house was not far from the Ambassador Hotel in L.A. I can picture the dim blue light of the TV in our bedroom and the gut-wrenching feeling I had when I saw all the commotion and the looks of horror on the faces of the people in the hotel. I'll have to see it to see if the sentimentality outstrips the feeling of the time. Bobby seemed like the last hope to me and my friends in 1968. He struck me as the open-faced, pure-hearted, uncorrupt Kennedy brother. Even my staunch Republican friend at work campaigned for Bobby.

No parents were ever more mean (or more naive) than those of (may he rest in peace) Harry Cox. What a cross to bear for a young guy growing up. I would have changed my name. Back to the topic... We had holly growing wild in Washington when I lived there. I loved it! I love its shiny leaves. Back to the derail: I used to have a gynecologist named Dr. Butt. When he got me all doped up for surgery, I told him he needed to change his specialty. He didn't laugh...prolly heard it a zillion times before, but the nurses did. Re-rail... This thread reminds me of a song I learned in high school choir...the holly and the ivy...la la la la la la, of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly la da da. Wow. Flashback! But I think LAE is right...I think it is a bush, not a tree.

My dearest sister exsie: I forgive you. Go and sin no more. Actually, even my pet peeves don't bother me that much. It really only bugs me when someone is arguing and I can't tell who they're arguing with and have to scroll back to get the context. "In the context" and "used before," ya know. I love you exsie. You can quote without attribution any time you like. I'm giving you one of those things they give Catholics...sorta like a get outa jail free card...I forget what it's called.

Eagle, and what were you smokin'? Heheheh just kidding. Might they have just paid for a commercial on the Lima station? And the Singing Ladies? Holy Cow, that'll reel 'em in, won't it?? ROFL I can tell RR is still in charge. She probably thinks that's cutting edge in the music biz.

Good to see you, too, HCW!

cman, I agree with you that it's helped lots of people. No doubt about it. And I'm sure it can help you, too. I'm rooting for you, big time. I know sometimes people attach a bad connotation to the term "crutch," but I don't understand why. I had no shame in using nicotine patches as a crutch when I was quitting smoking. And there was nothing wrong with my using a crutch when my Acchilles tendon got injured--I couldn't walk without that crutch. Is it because it's associated with weakness in some people's minds? Because I think it takes courage and strength to face the fact that you need help--in any area of life. Nothing weak about it!

Potato, I get confused in these threads, too, when people don't bother to say whom they're quoting. It's one of my pet peeves. Johniam, that obeying leadership crap started way before the reign of the big forehead. I don't know how many times I heard VPW say "the man of God's suggestion was tantamount to a command," and it was abundantly clear he was referring to himself. I was as Waybrained as the next girl, but even I bristled at that at the time.