Belle

My parents never got involved, my little brother never very involved with the "real" TWI... we were initially witnessed to by followers of an "offshoot". My parents were always very cordial and, as their manner is, always found good in the people I revered and was involved with... they tolerated and feigned interest in what I was learning and those I was close to, but always wary and suspicious and very, very concerned. They never wanted to do anything to jeopardize our relationship as they saw what was happened with my ex's family (he totally cut them off after our wedding at leadership's "suggestion"). After the divorce and my leaving TWI, my Daddy paid for everyone to fly in for a family vacation, family photos and the whole she-bang..... my leaving TWI and the divorce was never mentioned or brought up, but it was obvious that it was the reason for this "celebration". To this day I am ever so thankful that they never once played the "I told you so" card or rubbed it in my face and I think their loving, silent, support for me, who I am and whatever decisions I made in my life .... along with their stellar examples of "what it is to truly live in love" is what kept our relationships so sweet and made it easier for me to leave both my ex and the group.... not that any of it was easy, mind you. IMO, I have one friggin' awesome, loving family. I really put them through some sh!t. Not once did they get in my face and not once did I question their love and support for me.

Because Jackson’s body was 95% plastic, he will be melted down and turned into legos, this way kids can play with him for a change.

I don't know anything about it but it popped up in my Google alerts this am: http://tinyurl.com/lz9sy5 The Way International v. Trimm et al Plaintiff: The Way International Defendant: James Trimm and Society for the Advancement of Nazarene Judaism Case Number: 4:2009cv00338 Filed: June 12, 2009 Court: Texas Northern District Court Office: Fort Worth Office [ Court Info ] County: Tarrant Presiding Judge: Judge John McBryde Nature of Suit: Intellectual Property - Copyrights Cause: 17:101 Copyright Infringement Jurisdiction: Federal Question Jury Demanded By: Plaintiff

From Fox News:

Happiest of Birthdays, Beautiful One!

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS, MY FRIEND!! HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO ENJOY SOME BLUES AND BBQ TOGETHER SOME TIME!

Nevermind my post and link... read Dmiller's....

It's on the front page and has been metioned in the forums numerous times. I think getting screwed through PFAL and TWI has ruined people from really appreciating how much it costs (mentally, physically and MONETARILY) to provide help to people. I understand the knee jerk reaction to not wanting to pay for anything, but the truth is, Paw deserves some help paying for keeping the doors open for us and I'm a bit biased having learned of the trouble and cost first hand. Here's a link to the place on the home page of the Cafe: http://tinyurl.com/r6yyys. Funny how the folks who complain the most about how awful this place is - post the most and pay the least for the privilege of complaining about it. <_< Nevermind those who have been helped the most from having a place to hea. Am I biased? YES! I know how much of Paw's personal life and finances he has given to us. And, NO, "many of us" do (and have) known about it and have not contributed a single penny.

Different things work for different folks and some folks can not afford personal one-on-one therapy. Some people are afraid of one-on-one and others are skeptical of forums like the cafe, or don't have anything as constructive and helpful as we have here at GSpot. I can understand having a passion to help folks in whatever way you can and think this is a great way to help those who otherwise may not get any help at all. I also understand so many questions and doubts, but chock some of it up to our knee jerk reaction due to our experience in TWI. Were I still in TWI with no WayDale or GSpot, this webinar is exactly what I would have seen as a blessing. I would have claimed to have to "work late" and asked John if I could mail him a money order to hide the expense from my ex. I would have been extremely thankful for someone like John putting this together. Heck, it took me months to figure out how to order Juedes side-by-side plagiarism booklets from his site without my ex finding out.... and they only cost $1! It's great to check people out and take every precaution but that also has to be tempered with giving people the benefit of the doubt. I don't know where that line is, but people signing up for this aren't committing to anything other than a little time and $25. We've gotten somewhat spoiled at how easy it is to connect with people who have been through what we have here at the cafe even though it costs Paw quite a bit and not just monetarily. He spends quite a bit out of his own pocket to keep the doors open for us and does have a Paypal link, but I'd guess most people who have benefitted from this place have not given him one red cent despite the benefits. (I'm lax on mine, actually )

@Bow! Yeah, ex, they have a map, but the directions might be cryptic for them thar big city folk: Turn right at Mary Lou's grandma's house and follow it to the horse tied to the gumball tree, then turn left. Go past where Bubba's garage used to be and turn right after ya get to the creek. Follow that to Billy Ray & Bobby Sue's.....

The verse For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. was thrown at me every time I endeavored to think, speak and act for myself. Anything not in line with what TWI taught and the leadershi+ wanted was considered rebellion and we know what happened to those who rebelled.... <_< I first heard the term "authentic self" when I read Steve Hassan's, "Releasing the Bonds: Enabling People to Think for Themselves" although I realized that was what was happening to me once I realized that TWI was actually the deceitful, evil, fake church that I had often wondered about in the back of my mind. Yeah, I questioned things and stirred the waters at times, especially before I got married - I was a very inconsistent and unreliable TWIt until I got married. If I hadn't gotten married, I think I would have told them to eat sh!+ much, much earlier than I did. Once I was married - married to a very obedient, subservient sold out kool-aid drinker - I did everything I could to stay in their good graces to save my marriage and stay out of trouble. I think, too, I really, really wanted TWI to be what I initially thought it was. Once I could no longer deny that it wasn't, I lived a double life trying desperately to reconcile the two schools of thought: Leadership is always right and must always be obeyed vs. this is total and utter crap and I'm tired of having every minutia of my life scrutinized, judged and controlled. After being "allowed" to "take a break" and getting into therapy against my ex's wishes I started feeling more like "me" - the "real me" is how I described it. Steve Hassan's book just put a label on it - "authentic self" and I rather like that term. It's who I am when I'm not having to censor my thoughts and actions for other people.... not just TWI, but also certain friends, co-workers, etc....

Dot, are y'all planning a vacation or just some place to meet for some other reason? Mississippi is a sleepy little place where the favorite past time is college sports, sitting on the porch drinking sweet tea, bbq and blues. If you are actually looking for exciting things to do then one of you will need to drive further. There are *some* things to do in Tupelo besides just visiting Elvis's birthplace, but it's no NYC.

Google Maps is your friend.... and free! Tupelo looks like the best place half way and you can see the birth place of Elvis while you're there! Try this link: http://tinyurl.com/pzkqof

By request: JT, it is still in place. :( People have been beaten down so much that they don't have to yell about it anymore, but it is still there.

I guess I understand the need to remind people to practice good hygiene and proper behavior to stay well. :unsure: Maybe, but, it really does seem like this has been blown out of proportion. Like George said, many, many people die from the flu every year. Why such a big deal now? A friend sent me this link from some 1976 PSA's about swine flu:

Happiest of Birthdays, Roy!!

I think the flavor question is specifically biased to determine how many respondents are women.... CHOCOLATE!!

I think, like any politician, those positions are determined by power and demotions come from causing waves. Just like the TV show "Survivor", those who "win" aren't necessarily the best leaders, but the best at manipulation, lies and getting rid of the truly talented leaders. Rosie, Moneyhands, etc.... are masters of their trade, not necessarily good leaders.

I reckon TWI lives on in viral video infamy based on this interview:

Good to "see" you, Zixar! Hope life has been, and continues, to treat you well. :)

Cynic, which one are you in that pic? How kewl, Oak! It's so much fun to get old surprises like that, isn't it?

(((((PAW))))) :love3: HEARTY CONGRATS!!! Way to go! I'm so proud of and happy for you!! I am also eternally grateful to you for all you do. The Cafe has been a saving grace for me and many folks. I pray that there are more and more people who will come to the cafe for the healing, community and growth that is possible here.

A search here on "moneyhands" will give you quite a bit of info...... otherwise, feel free to contact me regarding my personal experience with them.... although, that is over four years old.

Did you do this, Cheranne? It is awesome! Some of those books I haven't heard of but plan to look into. THANKS!!

mchud, are you sure you typed the address in correctly? I don't think they would do something like that on purpose. It's possible there was a typo. Angela's website is listed under their picture, too. You could contact her through that website. Yes, most newspapers sell every picture they publish. 401Ks were not verboten when I was in TWI. craiggers did rant about people playing the stock market, but they did say that it was okay to invest in companies that you, personally, like and believe in. At least, moneyhands did. I was never told NOT to invest in my 401K. I do realize that things were different earlier on in TWI. The article does state that they often give more than 10% to TWI and I suspect they actually give a MINIMUM of 15% per the standard of the day when I left.