Belle

:unsure: I can tie a cherry stem into a knot with my tongue.

:( I graduated from high school in 1986. Those sites are so sad to look at. I'm so glad that folks are remembering and documenting this disaster. MSNBC also has a look at the children affected by Chernobyl - Photo Essay

Awwww, Galen, it was just the name that sparked the memory. :P I normally think of you as the genteel sailor and family man who was very lucky to be able to help so many folks despite all TWI's efforts to the contrary (even if I personally disagree with some of your doctrinal beliefs).

Kat did okay. Paris did okay. Elliott did okay, but I seem to be the only one who thinks so. Maybe it was just the song for me, I dunno. I liked Kellie, but I always have...must be a southern thang. ;) I thought Taylor and Chris kicked bu++, so, Cool, I think I might have cancelled out some of your votes last night. :blink: I think Paris or Kellie are the next to go.

May I remind folks of the "ignore" feature that we have? It's very simple and simply amazing what it can do for one's blood pressure. :) If the miscreant has no one to argue with, perhaps he will go away or learn how to be civilized. At the very least, it defeats his purpose for being here. I can only imagine that he has to come on here and attempt to bully people because his wife and kids must want nothing to do with him.

You are priceless, T-Bone!! ROFLMAO!!! I love 'em all!!!! But "exceedingly abundantly above all the b.s." is still my favorite!

So, what IS going on rickyg? Have you had the new class yet?

George – Have you kept or dismissed most TWI doctrine? Did you seek out a church based on doctrine alone? Thanks for answering. :) Bliss – It’s scary to think that maybe we’re falling into the same trap all over again, isn’t it? The church, being very different from TWI, would probably think it silly for anyone to leave or move just because of a man – that alone will help with some of the anguish, I would think. I understand feeling the need to be around others. I really like it when I go to church, but sometimes I have to drag myself there. “Committing” to being a member is a very sore subject for me in my own mind….no one has even asked me about joining. It’s an internal battle. WayferNot – Best reason I can think of to move! :) Do you visit churches often or just every so often? What makes you decide to go when you do? Mo – Very interesting and touching experiences you’ve had! Thanks for sharing them. You’re definitely a better person than I. I know that if certain posters on here invited me to their church I’d just laugh in their face and I sure as he11 couldn’t see myself bending over backwards to serve them. You continue to amaze and inspire me! Cool – Comforting going back to the way we were raised, isn’t it? Thanks. Groucho – I hear ya. I’ve learned more from folks here than I learned the whole time I was in TWI. I also learned better how to find answers and to not be afraid to ask questions. It’s that pull and desire to stay as far away from “organized” religion that causes so much consternation for me. ex10 - I agree. That’s part of what I like about this church…they do offer so many things long those lines that include “hands on” and “face to face” interaction with people who really need help regardless of what church or religion they follow.

Galen, I can't help but think of that bathroom "dangling" thread you started when I read your new name.

Bliss, Have you seen Goey's research on Ordination? It's awesome. Or the discussion JBarrax started on the errors in PFAL? He started out trying to defend PFAL and the thread is a great discussion and a transformation of Jerry to seeing PFAL for what it is. There could be some great discussions launched from the information in that thread. JBarrax said earlier on a PFAL Class thread: This is a link to his compilation of the studies: Biblical Analysis of PFAL And a post he made regarding it: PFAL Review You'll even recognize some names from here on there .... all the way back to 2000! :D

I love these!!! Thanks, Mo! Just call me Sloopy Frickenhump

Sure they can....just like the generations before them tried to do. I think it's a futile battle for a pseudo-ministry built on sand, lies, deceit, abuse and another man's work - but, hey, more power to 'em! That's why I haven't been to myspace..... I remember all to well how they think....I was there once, ya know?

ricky, I gave the latest example in my first post and SunnyFla responded further down with venom. I'm not going to go through the archives to find others for you - there's a search button at the top of the page if you want to look for them. There's nothing wrong with sharing one's opinion and I never said that and I don't recall complaining about you saying anything along those lines. Furthermore, I don't recall ever complaining about your opinion or sharing it. I may have disagreed with your opinion, but that's a totally different subject. If you do insult or hurt people I will report your post to the moderators, but as GSpot is pretty lenient about letting people say whatever they want, I will just eventually ignore you as I do other posters who aren't worth my time. :) I didn't refer to innies at any point in time that I can see in this thread - it certainly wasn't started out referring to innies at all...."new posters" yes, but not "innies". I think you're trying to make this thread about something it isn't.

I thought Simon and Garfunnkel told folks to beware of the brown acid, T-Bone. :blink: Oh wait, that was in Central Park...nebbermind.....

It's not off topic, rick, it's been discussed on here...just look back a few posts; I don't have time to quote them for you. Good try, though. I posted it to show the hypocrisy of TWI and what they're teaching these kids. They teach them to be responsible for their mistakes and when they "miss it" - they probably still even make them apologize to leadership for the smallest infraction, but they won't stoop to do it themselves even when they're caught red-handed. I'm not holding the kids accountable - I wonder whey they don't hold their leadership accountable! Those kids have pretty low standards, imo, for blindly following a group of folks who have proven themselves to be unworthy of serving as pastors, ministers and examples to God's kids. They appear to be bright, articulate and good kids - I just hope they realize what kind of monster they're giving their youth and time to before it's too late. :(

Anyone remember this? I didn't - it is in some old archive files....

Well, ricky, martindale DID teach, as Abigail said, that those in TWI are the precious remnant, the modern day Jews. That bloodline was done away with there is now those who are of the "functioning household of God" and those "others" who live in the egg sucking world but call themselves Christians and the "empties floating by" because they don't have holy spirit. It's in the syllabus for one or more of the classes; I'll see if I can find specific reference for you.

I write like I talk and can often be seen speaking as I'm typing. Gives all the folks in this cube farm something to smile about as they pass my cube. :P People who know me very well say they can "hear" me speaking my post because I write so much like I talk. I never put anything in print that I wouldn't say to someone's face. You never know when/if you might meet them in person and, besides that, it's just crude. People in cyberspace deserve the same respect, courtesy and treatment as they do in real life. And, yeah, when I'm mad - I still type like I talk and it's still what I'd say in person....ask my 6'4" neighbor whose dog kept waking me up at 3am. I try to be mature and I don't always succeed, but I don't always succed in real life either. It's still me, though. Ya know, Oak, I remember working on the telephone and how rude folks would be on the phone. You did too, didn't you? They'll say things to us over the telephone that they would never say to a person's face - whether they knew them or not. I think it just gets worse in the totally ethereal environment of the world wide web.

Thanks, y'all. Bramble, I have a few friends I do the coffee and chit chat kind of thing with. We don't start out with that intent, but usually end up in some deep discussion where we all come away feeling better. I like those smaller groups, too. But I also like some of the things a "church" can offer that you don't get in the small circles or by yourself. Not everyone needs or wants that, and I totally get that. I don't even want it most of the time, but when I do, this church is where I go. WateredGarden, sounds like a wonderful church! I'm very happy for you!! :) The people make all the difference in the world, imo. Thanks for sharing, y'all.

Thanks, Sprawled Out, I see what you're saying and, in the context of CW's post, I agree. It's these folks who come on here knowing absolutely nothing about us and feel righteous and indignant to tell us what's wrong with us when they haven't a clue that get my blood boiling. They're the ones who need to just get over themselves, imo.

So, what is it? What makes someone want to get involved with a church or a group? Having had the experiences with TWI that you did....what is your criteria now? Despite the arrogance, lack of compassion and simple kindness that some poster show on the boards here, would you go to church or fellowship with them because their group, "had the Word" or still taught things you believed in and believe to be important? Despite the views of some of the Biblical things you learned in TWI, would you go to a church where the people were genuine, loving, kind and took care of one another even if they taught a few things differently? Do you decide to have nothing to do with any organized religion and just "do your own thing"? I know there are some who have given up on God and any kind of religion whatsoever, some have gone back to what they grew up in and others have gone a totally different route. When I read posts from some of the more obnoxious and hateful people, I think, "if you were at the only place on earth with "the truth" then I would just rather die without it. I certainly want nothing to do with any god you worship." The church I currently attend, I'm considering joining, but part of me is extremely hesitant to become an "official" member of anything. ( I know TWI said we weren't members, but that's really just semantics...we were members...members "in particular" - functioning household members - according to the teachings.) I really like these people and they've been nothing but kind and understanding. No one has pushed me to do anything or give anything. They have a lot of different things that they offer and ways that they help in the community - I like that. It's like they really do practice what they preach.....doing good unto all men. The doctrinal straining at gnats and nit-picking what each Greek word means just isn't all that important to me anymore. I think God, if He really is there, would never make it so complicated to know Him. What about you? What do you look for? What have you decided is best for you?

Sorry, Sprawled Out - I'm not mad. I genuinely want to know what folks mean when they talk about getting over "it". It seems so easy to say, but I can't find anyone who can tell me how to know when you're "over it". It's kind of like someone said before - TWI would tell us to "renew our mind" and that just meant "quitcher b1tchin' and do what we told you to do." If you were doing that with the stepford smile on your face, then your mind was "renewed". I was mad when I read SunnyFla's post and I'm upset that she has only come on to attack instead of really discuss what she meant by her statements....*shrug*, but that just tells me she wasn't sincere. You posted honestly, at least I hope so, that's why I'm asking....when you tell people to "get over it" what kind of response are you expecting? When and how do you determine that they've done what you said to do and why do you tell people to "get over it"? Sincerely curious. :)

Sprawled Out, How do you know when someone's gotten "over it"? What if you're wrong? What does it mean anyway? Does it mean never speaking or thinking of the past? Does it mean pretending that it never happened? Does it mean no longer hurting? Who decides when someone has "gotten over it"? What's the criteria for that? Why does someone who doesn't know you even care if you've "gotten over it"? How do they feel that it's okay to tell me to "get over it"" What makes it their business anyway?

Give 'em time, Miz Marple. Sometimes it takes a bit for folks to get to a thread, especially if "life" and the boards are busy. You may get an eye full. :) vee pee was long gone by the time I got involved in '93, so I can't help ya. I think it's hilarious when I hear stories like this, though...it really is a small world, isn't it? I met a guy at the airport once who's brother-in-law had been involved with TWI. The guy was dodging around the conversation once he heard I knew about TWI and sighed a huge sigh of relief when I asked him if he knew TWI was a cult. He wasn't sure if I was "in" or not and didn't want to offend me or see me go off on some tirade like his b-i-l was prone to do. Evan, How was it surreal? Is there anything you can add to that? Just curious....not that I'm at all surprised it was surreal. :P