tonto

My co-worker calls it "voluntold"...which pretty much sums it up. I'm all for genuine volunteering, but I understand resistance to being told what to do by someone in authority, especially considering our collective experience in twi-dum. Our manager voluntold our department to sign up for something almost a year ago, which I have resisted by simply "forgetting". I don't know what you can do legally...but a highly contagious "stomach virus" is always good in a pinch.

"He may have said it elsewhere, as well; but he did say it at the Advanced Class in Athens, OH. (I was there.)" Thanks, George...so that's where I heard it! I was there as well. And geisha, there are oh-so-many phrases that are barf-worthy, aren't there? Instead of "Lifelines" there should be a booklet of vp quotes titled "Lecherous Lines". Really, you guys...let me know if any of you get hooked on "Big Love"...I ended up buying the series so I could get T-Bone hooked on it too.

My take on it is that he was a dirty old man who convinced himself his pee-nis was like a golden caduceus...delivering spiritual healing to the masses. I can't place where I heard him say this, but I remember he said of the unbeliever's pee-nis that it was unworthy of a woman of god's v&%i*a, and that she should have a real man of god...and I remember that creepy beaming smile when he said it. Was it in CF&S or at Rome City campus or in some meeting? Not sure of the location, but I know he said it. While I'm at it, if you guys haven't seen it, HBO's Big Love is a wonderfully entertaining series that deals with polygamy and religious fervor and the like.

Chas, an upper respiratory infection involves the larynx (voice box) and above...the lower is the trachea and lungs. Sorry to hear you and so many Spotters are under the weather...me and my house have been fine so far. No H1N1 vaccine available (hate that word) yet for any of us 'cause we're not deemed high-risk. Under our roof, two out of the three of us have had our regular flu shots...number three is due to get his this week, I think.

Waysider, that didn't happen to us (T-Bone was making a joke) but it's about par for the twi-sted thinking cult. You know things are screwed up when the corp's 3rd aide beyotch of a nurse yells at you for "putting poisions" in your four-year-old child by giving him doctor-prescribed antibiotics for a raging ear infection instead of putting a clove of garlic (!) in his ear. He got the antibiotics, he's fine, she can go-to-he!!

I remember that we weren't to abbreviate the name, waysider. Out in T, I also remember that horrible song. The Word over the world aud-i-tor-or-i-um. The tour was to drum up money for the behemoth. We didn't have a thousand dollars to our name, much less to give...wasn't that how much it took to get your name in the book? I know we gave more than we could afford. The visions you guys had...I believe were real. I had doubts and questions about lots of things, but had turned my brain off years before and just attributed them to "devilish" doubts. Probably even a vision of vp hugging satan himself wouldn't have woken me up.

"IMO, it's important to keep in mind that just because people start a spin-off of TWI does not imply they are bad people. What I do think it does show or seem to indicate is that are still convinced they were taught "the accuracy of the Bible" by VPW. To me that fact is important to know when considering how to evaluate a spin-off or whether or not to "join" it." Amen and amen, Penworks. Didn't mean to imply that any spin-off is worthy of joining...just that there is a difference between a Chris G**r and a Bob Li^dF#lt...CG being fully aware of the evil vp did, and BL being perhaps willfully ignorant. I believe they're both wrong for adhering to vp's version of the bible. It's just that I think CG would deserve a big "X" on the ol' sin chart... The thought of anyone previously associated with twi getting money from the "god business" turns my stomach.

Anyone else see this movie "Join Us"? I just happened upon it Monday night...it's a documentary about people who left a cult run by Raimund Melz...yet another money-grubbing manipulative controlling preacher child-abusing bastu^d. I looked to see if it's playing again but it only ran that night plus the in wee hours Tuesday morning. I'll try to post a link to it and to the forums concerning it: http://www.joinusthemovie.com/ http://www.factnet.o...ges/3/1647.html What a shame there are so many of these creeps out there taking advantage of people.

We were concerned about it for maybe a month or two but instead of sending the bucks to HQ we sporadically gave to people who were leaving or had left. One of the many things twi stole from people is the joy of giving...genuine spontanious giving...not some percentage owed to God in the form of a "biblical research and teaching ministry". HA! Hard to believe we fell for that bunk, and even harder to believe there are folks still forkin' it over to the douchebag hags.

"Another one: San Diego Biblical Studies Fellowship" We happened to be in the corps with this guy and his family and for what it's worth, he/they were good-hearted people who weren't on the take. They seemed to really want to help other people. We haven't communicated with them in over 20 years, so who knows how they've changed and whether or not they ever sat down and took a hard look at vp & co. Either way, it's still hard to believe that there are so many groups out there still doing this.

"Why did you (who followed him down the rabbit hole into WoWland, Corpse, Lightbearers, and FL) not heed his warning? " "My my my - what people were willing to do to avoid conflict." Hello Tzaia, I don't know you from Adam but it sure is easy to picture you asking/saying the above while wagging your finger and tsk, tsk-ing us. Hopefully that's not how you intend to "sound". How exactly were we supposed to heed that one particular warning and cherry-pick our way through the rest of what fell out of his mouth? Avoiding conflict? Maybe you never witnessed him shred someone to pieces for not doing exactly what he said...I don't know. Glad you were so enlightened that you didn't get used. I'll admit it...I was young and naive and stupidly followed a con man. Oh, and anytime I tried to point out obvious wrong I was "torn a new one", so I figured there must be something wrong with me and my judgement. That pretty much sealed the deal...since I couldn't trust my own thoughts, I turned my brain off and followed the leader. After the post-POP fallout when hubs and I left it was as if scales fell from our eyes. I fully expected everyone we knew...especially those in our corps...to see things clearly and leave the way, but it didn't happen. When I first came to the cafe I had the attitude that if little old me was smart enough to leave when I did, what in the heck was wrong with those who stuck around...somehow feeling superior to people who didn't do things the way I did. I finally realized that walking away from twi is like stopping smoking. Until you're really ready to quit, you might as well just light another Kool shorty watch your money and life go up in smoke.

Thanks Waysider...I wasn't sure if I was remembering correctly or not...it's nice to come here and straighten out the cobwebs. Hey, can you fix us some blueberry pancakes and link sausages? I know it's afternoon, but your breakfast menu always sounds so good.

I was 15 and dating an older "college man" (he was 18) , one of the guys from our church youth group. We were hanging out with another couple from church who were his age, and although I remember us all watching it on TV, I think I was too distracted by our age difference and trying to look cool to really pay proper attention. I do, however, remember later that night, standing in my backyard looking up at the moon in wonder.

Wait a minute...didn't "they" put bumper stickers on our cars while we were parked out in the pastures of Lima or Shelby Co. back in 1974 or '75? I'm experiencing a fuzzy memory...something about one of the people I knew being upset that the sticker was placed there without permission, and me not comprehending how someone wouldn't want it. I know...what a maroon.

As far as discussing my corps experience, I voted for three different reactions because it all depends on who I'm talking to and which part I'm recalling. Some things I'm comfortable discussing, some things are painful and some I'd change the subject. Just 'splainin' my votes.

"Didn't Red Buttons used to say something very similar in one of his comedy routines?" Waysider, I don't remember. I was more of a Red Skelton man myself. Dooj, you must have been inspired (in-spirit-action) to have clicked on the photo...I was unaware it did anything.

Ahhh...if only we had followed Jambi instead of Wierwille!

Ah, I beg to diffa Groucho..."Mekka-lekka hi mekka hiney ho!" is a quote from the genie Jambi on Pee Wee's Playhouse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambi_(Pee-wee's_Playhouse)">My link

What? No Kool shorties or jaunty neckerchiefs? Dang...I need more to tempt me, RR.

I voted that it is still viable, but I can't even begin to imagine how the running of this place has impacted your life. Shoot, we have had to "put down the mouse and step away from the computer" because this place was getting to be an addiction for us...and we didn't even have the headaches of moderating, much less the nightmare of nasty emails and such. Good grief Paw, do what you need to do for yourself (and I am so happy that you and Shellon have made a "love connection). By the way, we were both so happy to meet you and see you at the two bbq's...what a genuine pleasure to get to "hang" with you and DW and the gang. Our door is always open, so if you ever travel this way we'd love to have you visit us. Big kisses and hugs to you, and I wish you peace and happiness.