Kit Sober

After the teenage years' babysitting. . . My first paycheck job was after high school graduation. (I feel so sorry for the kids who work in High School and don't have time just to hang out and be kids.) My first job was as a Santa's Helper in a department store (taking kid's pictures -- this was work?), the long-gone "White House." Then in college I lived with the mayor of Monterey, did some housekeeping stuff and cooking stuff and bookkeeping stuff, also worked as a hostess at the Colton Hall Museum on the weekends and for the Director of Public Relations as admin assistant in between and after classes. It was down hill from there because I got into twi shortly after. It's only with the job I got 6 years ago, and then the promotion-job just got today that I'm starting again to feel like the Lord is enjoying watching my life.

Mo. Your life is such an inspiration and hope-ful thing. I don't understand all these things you said, but I am praying with you and for you for major miracles.

Jeaniam: I couldn't imagine saying that to you. I would want to pop them in the kisser and say, "forgive that." I was thinking the other day that "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" is not true. Words can and do inflict serious pain. ------------------------- "Shaking the dust [of that place] off your feet," is a concept that sits in contrast to the "forgive everyone everything" I was previously expousing. Now the way I see it, there are times that you just let the person(s)' sin stay on them. Most of the time we do all we can to help each other out, we endeavor to make sure we take the beam out of our own eye before trying to take the mote out of our neighbor's eye, we forgive 70 times 7, etc. etc. etc. But, there comes a time that you have no word from the Lord, no help to give from the Holy Spirit, it comes a time when people reject who/what you are, mistreat you consciously, and Holy Spirit gives the command to "Shake the dust of that "place" off your feet, and it's a testimony against them of that place. (One place I worked I was analyzing how I "blew it" to not be able to keep the job, and my dear husband reminded me that when a close fellow-worker stole my purse and management discovered it, they did not return the purse to me. Unthinkable, really, but it happened. Fred was showing me that the Holy Spirit wanted me out of there.) This "shake the dust" understanding has happened to me at two places where I have worked, both of which have been after leaving twi. It's never happened to me at church. Shaking the dust off from your feet -- and leaving that "place", the presence of that/those person(s) -- keeps the "dirt" of their sin from getting you "dirty." I would say this situation is not one that needs our forgiveness, but the people we leave have made their decision in the eyes of the Lord. When I was in this situation, I had no more help, I was no more of benefit to help the situation. Maybe someone else could get God's help to them, but not me, not at that time. And in both situations I experienced unjust treatment. (I didn't get a "Shake the dust off your feet" thought when I left twi -- I was kicked out and just felt horribly betrayed and abandoned. Greasespot Cafe is still helping me come to grips with that trauma. Thank goodness :) ) In hope,

Michael. Happy Happy Birthday. . . In hope that you have all the cake and all the presents that you deserve :) Thankful to have been your friend, Kit Sober

Happy Birthday Bowtwi!

Congratulation!

Interesting. A few days ago I came across a couple of pictures of me before the heartache, before twi. I hung them up on the wall to remind me that there was a life before (and again). Nice to see and be reminded of the life I had before.

I googled Brazilian keratin hair treatment and found it being sold on ebay with a "buy it now" price of $115. Is this something I could do at home? ebay sale of Brazilian keratin hair treatment. Hopefully (my hair is as old as me :) )

Watchman Nee, in discussing studying the Bible recommended as a study tool to write your own "literal" translation: Using your own heart and life with the Holy Spirit -- setting yourself to communicate with Bible dictionaries, concordances, different versions, what you know of scripture, other people/authors you admire, etc. Gene Petersen did something like this and produced "The Message" version of the Bible, which started with his efforts to make the Bible understandable to the kids he was working with. Basically I guess I'm suggesting/recommending moving out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, where the Lord longs to teach you for Himself how to unlock the treasures of His Word.

Some modern translations call the gospel "good news." I believe it. Friends, a satisfied life, good food, good fun, good fellowship -- I think these all should be part of a normal Christian life. (Watchman Nee called Christianity the Normal life that reflects God's normality. I really like that.) In hope,

I agree with others whose lives were impacted for good by Dale Sides' ministry, Liberating Ministries for Christ International (LMCI). I took the Exercising Spiritual Authority class back in 1995, and it helped me to get back on my feet after being dumped by twi. Association with the LMCI folk also helped me to identify my cult mind set and to reconnect with the body of the Church at large. LMCI supports getting established with a local church.

And then there was working for D*l and N*ncy D*ncan, who made you feel special and precious, and the children, A*ron and L*ke, who were a delight. Times "working" for them are a treasure to my heart and life I wouldn't trade for anything.

When in twi, with cult mind-set, I knew that I knew that I knew, and anyone who disagreed with me was wrong. Then out of twi I began to see that other people thought things that were different than what I had believe was the only way to look at things, and I found that other opinions were valid and often true. Here at Greasespot Cafe, people are free to have opinions, and differing ones at that. So I can think and analyze and other thought processes have been opened up for me here. IMO isn't just another acronym for me, but a treasure of being able to freely express an opinion (which I wasn't able to for the 20+ years I was in twi).

. . . son Paul is preparing to audition for the US Marine Corps band. I always considered myself a most fortunate mother because I didn't need to worry about him getting hurt on the field. He was looking so cool (in my eyes) up in the bandstand.

From a friend

After 20+ twi-only years and then getting booted in 1995 => no-friends-land I truly thought I had no friends outside of twi, and did not cultivate any, including my natural family. The people I thought were "tripped out" (who left prior) I tried to be friends with, but they didn't trust me. Those still in of course didn't want me around. I did have one friend from childhood who still is my friend. I did start to go to other churches and had some fun there. It was terrific learning that Christians did exist outside of twi. WayDale / Greasespot Cafe were/are major lifelines for me. I've been able to apologize to those I offended, and a couple of come-backs of apology as well. Thanks, again Pawtucket!!!!!

Thanks, doojable. Also The Prairie Home Companion movie is nice entertainment available on dvd.

I keep in mind how many people I thought evil of because they left "The Way." And then it helps me to keep quiet my arrogant disdainful judgmental attitude towards people who were my friends and who still reside in the twi mindset. I also remember Jesus' words from the cross, "Forgive them father for they know not what they do," which pretty much covers all kinds of ill treatment towards me. (I got booted out in 1995, so I was 8 years of thinking that all those who left in the pop and loyalty times were the ones deceived.) in hope,

A friend is someone who likes you. (That is the title of a book that was belittled in twi. Now in retrospect, I think the book is accurate.) nottawayfer -- I am praying your friend gets the blinders off and gets out of twi so she can see what a treasure you (and others) still are. I have had friends who thought I was worthy of "mark and avoid" as long as they remained in twi, but the friendship was renewed once again when they got out of twi, too. As long as someone is still alive I continue to pray for them as a friend (I think that's what Jesus does) :)

Didn't know if this should be on the great music discussion or the baseball one, so here is the middle way: A conductor was putting on a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony at 8. Unfortunately, his chorus couldn't be there until 6, so he started rehearsal without them. In the middle of the rehearsal, the air conditioning broke, so they brought out huge fans to keep the orchestra cool. This worked, but the conductor's score kept blowing away, so he had to tie it down. During this, the bass section and two cellists decided that they had had enough, so they went to the tavern across the street and got really drunk. In fact, the two cellists never came back. So six-o-clock rolls around and the chorus arrived. By then the air conditioning had been fixed and they continued with the rehearsal. Finally, it was 8 and the concert began. The concert was almost finished when the air conditioning went out again, so the fans were brought out and the conductor tied his score down. It was very hard to try and turn the page while conducting, and he was about to quit, because it was the bottom of the ninth, the score was tied, the basses were loaded, there were two outs, and the fans were going wild.

With thankful tears for all of the Lord's "unknown soldiers" and the sacrifices of service they have given. So glad they will be known at the Judgment Seat of Christ :)

Happy Birthday, Church! Happy Pentecost!

A Quick Bar of Musical Amusement C, E-flat, and G go into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, but we don't serve minors." So, the E-flat leaves, and the C and the G have an open fifth between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished; the G is out flat. An F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough. A D comes into the bar and heads straight for the bathroom saying, "Excuse me. I'll just be a second." An A comes into the bar, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor. Then the bartender notices a B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and exclaims, "Get out now! You're the seventh minor I've found in this bar tonight." The E-flat, not easily deflated, comes back to the bar the next night in a 3-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says: "You're looking sharp tonight, come on in! This could be a major development." This proves to be the case, as the E-flat takes off the suit, and everything else, and is now au naturel. Eventually, the C sobers up, and realizes in horror that he's under a rest. The C is brought to trial, is found guilty of contributing to the diminution of a minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of DS without Coda at an upscale correctional facility. On appeal, however, the C is found innocent of any wrongdoing, even accidental, and that all accusations to the contrary are bassless. The bartender decides he needs a rest - and closes the bar.