Abigail

James, I work in the legal field. In litigation. People lie during depositions. Those depositions are then used to impeach the person during trial. It happens quite frequently. If TWI's attorneys caught you in a lie, it would be very poor strategy to let you know about it prior to trial. The problem with taking their case against you to trial is that legally they had a thin case regardless of whether or not you lied during your deposition. Their case was premised on copyright infringement of a religious nature regarding the Bible. It was going to be a hard case to win. Moreover, TWI did exactly what you did. They gathered information from numerous source and published books based upon that information, without giving proper credit to their sources. So Clay is right. Taking you to trial would have forced them to risk exposing themselves for the same exact fraudulant activities they accused you of. Of course, I would imagine your due to your relationship with Michael Rood, you already know this.

Exactly, Waysider! I wanted to try to point it out and explain it, but I couldn't find a way to do so without getting into lenghtly explanations on Judaism. YOu did an excellent job of explaining it!!

Mainstream Judaism, both Orthodox and Conservative, require graduation from a 4 year Jewish seminary. Chabad and Hassidics have their own qualifications which require intense study as well.

yeah, uh, sure. I've never seen a witness lie during a deposition! DOH!!!

Here you can find an article "Dr." (or is it Rabbi???) Trimm wrote on Kabbalah. You should know that there is only one Jewish group that makes authentic(imo, which is based on years of research) information on the Kabbalah pubic, and that is chabad.org. A group that James denounced yesterday in the doctrinal forum because they do not believe in his Messiah. Yup, the old hukster, VPW himself, could have taken lessons from this guy in how to cobble together your own religion by stealing information from already established ones.

And here you can find an article "Dr." Trimm wrote on Kabbalah. You should know that there is only one Jewish group that makes authentic information on the Kabbalah pubic and that is chabad.org. A group that James denounced yesterday in the doctrinal forum because they do not believe in his Messiah. Yup, the old hukster, VPW himself, could have taken lessons from this guy in how to cobble together your own religion by stealing information from already established ones.

Perhaps your friend would like to speak on your behalf for himself? Otherwise you are simply asking us to take your word for, which at this point I'm not inclined to do. Then again, as you will see when you read my response to your other thread, in addition to accusations of having a false diploma, you are also accused of pretending to be a Rabbi. Hmmmm, like I said, you have more negative press than even TWI has. Good luck to you.

HERE IS more information on his involvement with the Mormon group: "I subscribe to several e-mail discussion groups headed by James Trimm, a Messianic Christian who's pseudonym is "Rabbi Yosef ben Yehudah." He *isn't* a Mormon but finds an amazing amount of authentic "Jewishness" in the Book of Mormon text that point to its authenticity." James, how did you manage to obtain the title Rabbi? Oh yes, that information is FOUND HERE "The web page for Rabbi Yosef reveals that Trimm was promoting himself as having a doctorate in Rabbinical studies, and also embraced the Book of Mormon as an authentic Jewish book, which was based on valid Jewish sources, making it equivalent in truth to the Bible" Oh and to make sure I keep this in proper perspective with About the Way, here is a statement of beliefs - - see if it sounds familiar: "We believe that Nazarene Judaism is the only expression of the one true faith. We do not accept any other religion as a non-Jewish cultural expression of the one true faith."

This Link has some information in that regard, James. Here is an interesting quote: "In email correspondence spanning May 22- June 4, 2003 and a telephone conversation with Phillip Arnn, Senior Researcher for the counter cult organization, Watchman Fellowship, Phillip made the following statements about James Trimm, his doctorate, and on line transcript. "To my knowledge, James does not have a doctorate. He was given an honorary degree by a church. It was something like the Apostolic Catholic Church. James did not go to college. His Hebrew and Aramaic are self taught. He told me he had not been able to afford college. And he told me when this church gave him the doctorate." "To my knowledge, James never took those courses. He told me De Cordova was giving him an honorary doctorate. I was in fairly close contact with James from '93 thru '95."

OldSkool, I think this is very fitting for About The Way. If you take the time to research James you will see his tactics are not so very different from the ones we saw in TWI. The lying, thieving, manipulating, even adultery. Oh and the wordsmithing to make himself sound scholarly - it really is straining at gnats, just like we experienced in TWI. In some ways, he is even better at it than Martindale was. But, like many who are corrupt, his need for control and his greed eventually get the better of him. Hence, the people he hand picked as leaders in his own religious sect kicked him out. Check out the links, read the ones Geisha posted in the other thread. What you will begin to see is a pattern. He researches his mark, he did it with the Messianic Jews who eventually kicked him out. He did it with the Mormons. Now he is here researching TWI. Check out some of the threads in doctrinal if you want to see more. Interestingly, I confronted him on an error wherein he essentially stated that all are required to attend the synogogue weekly for the reading of the Torah. When I pointed out that even the Jewish people are under no such obligation and that synogogues and even the Temple did not exist when the Mosaic Laws were given, he decided he no longer wished to participate in the doctrinal forum. He is here to peddle his wares. He will research his mark, but when he is proven to be the con man he is, he will leave. Those are my opinions. Take em or leave em, it is really up to you. But, forewarned is forearmed.

As I said elsewhere, HERE you can find a document from the group he splintered off from, when he left to start his own little cult. Actually, if one reads this letter in the context of James opening post in this thread it would appear he was difellowshipped from one group, started his own group and was eventually disfellowshipped from that group as well. So, he has moved on to starting yet another group. LCM could learn from this guy! It is interesting to me, that the Messianic Jewish movement is considered to be something of a fringe group anyway, and even they have disavowed Trimm. His group is considered a fringe group even by the fringe groups! Here are a few excepts from the link: "But he is misleading the public because he doesn't want you to realize that the men he hand picked and chose to be the elders he would be responsible to in ministry removed him from his position." In other words, even the people he hand picked could no longer tolerate him. Gee, sounds familiar. Part of the dispute, if I am understanding the docment correctly, stemmed from the fact that people paid James to send them materials and then he failed to follow through with the delivery. "James not delivering ministry materials to people that had already sent him their money." and " . . . and the Beit Din unanimously asked James Trimm to step down from the Beit Din until he had shipped all materials. Turning down help when so many people where being refused what they requested was notacceptable to us, and we took action. With the threat of removing James from office, James accepted that help and worked out an agreeable approach to do so." Again, this may sound familiar to some: "In August 2006 three new members were admitted to the INBD from the UoNYC. One quit shortly thereafter. Another quit in September of 2007 when James Trimm attempted to wrest control of the UNJS from its rightful council and admitted to the Beit Din of infidelity towards his wife." Also interesting: "on Sept 19th, James Trimm files papers declaring the right to use the name "International Nazarene Beit Din" as a business name in Tarrant County Texas SEVERAL DAYS AFTER the International Nazarene Beit Din had removed him from office, a highly dishonest move." Hmmm is this not similar to the allegations TWI made against him? And keep in mind, TWI settled. Do we know the terms of that settlement? Because a settlment, in and of itself, does not give indication of guilt or innocence. Often, parties settle because it is cheaper than putting on a trial. Remember TWI settled in the Allen case, they would have lost. In this case, Trimm settled with TWI, why? What were the terms?

And why, exactly, are you so interested in 'analyzing' VPW? Why are you (who had no real standing with TWI) so interested in picking apart a dead man you never knew or followed??

Thanks WordWolf. I have great respect for my Christian friends here and learn much from them. While I may not believe Jesus was the Messiah, I do believe he was a very wise Rabbi and give high esteem to much of what he taught. And that, btw, comes from my studying and understanding of Judaism, which gave me a deeper insight into the words that have been recorded from his teachings. There is a difference between having a respectful doctrinal discussion/debate and trying to recruit one to another cult. That is my beef with James. He does not so much engage in discourse, but in preaching and teaching. In addition, what he posts really comes down to wordsmithing and straining at gnats. I think most of us here had enough of that in TWI. He would probably fair better on a college campus (as VPW so well understood) except he is going to find it very difficult to find college kids who are willing to adhere to his strict laws.

James said: "If you are not going to Synagogue on Shabbat and hearing the Torah read and taught, Acts 15 has no application to you." WordWolf said: "Well, since you're determined to end your understanding there and INSIST that Christians are supposed to follow all the Law of Moses, I see I'm going to have to be more obvious." What is obvious to me, WordWolf, is that James would put Christians under laws that do not even exist for Jews. There is no law requiring Jews to attend the synogogue every week! Indeed, there were no synogogues, nor was there even a temple when the laws of Moses were given.

A lot like us, except that we didn't start a splinter group, we don't recruit followers, and we don't ask for tithes and donations. Just a few minor details.

Information about his false degree can be found HERE There are other websites that deal with this claim as well. HERE you can find a document from the group he splintered off from, when he left to start his own little cult. It is interesting to me, that the Messianic Jewish movement is considered to be something of a fringe group anyway, and even they have all disavowed Trimm. His group is considered a fringe group even by the fringe groups!

And there it is. James would put you under laws that even God didn't put you under. Fail to follow his way and you become marked and avoided. Any of this sound familiar? Oh and if you have looked at his website/blog/whatever it is, on the very front page he asks for Tithes. And there you have the real root of his mission - a money grab.

So James would put you under laws that God never intended everyone was to live under? Judaism teaches that the gentiles were to follow the Noadic laws. The Mosaic laws were given specifically to the Jews, who made a specific covenant with God to follow them.

James, there are more websites proclaiming you to be a fraud than even TWI has. Go find someone else's playground. I would warn those of you who are kind hearted enough to want to assist in educating this person about TWI. He will take what he learns and use it in his attempts to manipulate you. A simple GOOGLE SEARCH and you can learn about his false Ph.d and many of his deceptive practices. For someone to have this many negative websites designed specifically to expose him . . . well, like I said, he has more negative press than even TWI has. FWIW, one of the websites discusses how he at one time purported to have involvement with the Mormons so he could recruit among them as well. And then there is the allged Jewish upbringing, and . . . . you tell him of TWI, you give him amunition.

James, there are more websites proclaiming you to be a fraud than even TWI has. Go find someone else's playground.

Composer, I posted my previous response without reading your entire last post. Frankly, you were so completely off the mark with your Noah remark that my gut response was that the rest of your post wasn't worth taking the time to read. But, I came back and read it anyway. Pretty damned funny, you telling me all about what the Jews believe, because I AM Jewish. And I have to say, I find it quite offensive that you would use my religion (which you don't seem to be a follwer of)to insult and antagonize those of another faith. That is most definitely NOT the Jewish way. So, while you can quote scripture and you can quote other sources, you plainly do not understand the meaning of the words you are quoting. In the process, by the way, you completely changed the subject. You started this thread by quoting the Bible and claiming because you didn't know anyone who followed that particular passage of scripture, these people were imperfect and therefore false Christians. It is your premise that is false (as I already showed you), not the Christians you are attempting to disparage.

Composer, first of all you are barking up the wrong tree, I am not a Christian. Second of all, you clearly do not understand much of the story book you keep quoting from. Noah was righteous yes, but perfect he was most certainly not.

Exactly my point, James. The problem for you is going to be that these people have already been sucked in by one false prophet, they aren't going to be so easily fooled again. Your intentions ring loud and clear in your lengthy posts. You wish to preach and teach and win followers to your way. Your responses likewise indicate you have no interest in discussing and learning from others because you already believe you know more than anyone else here.

Composer, as I understand Christianity the idea is that the only man who could be perfect was Jesus. If the rest of humanity was capable of perfection, there never would have been a need for a savior. So, I guess I am not following your logic (or lack thereof) or what it is you think you have scored with this post.