Jim

I remember that smell and started to write it down. I though it was printer's ink from the printshop.

Chicory Millet Tents, large and small The names Coulter, Martindale, Victor, Townsend and Tick U-Matic video cassettes 60Hz hum in a soundtrack A sloppy stage setup Rain at an outdoor event ID wristbands Ohio briefcases

There's nothing GSers like better than a long, ugly TWI tale...

I don't know. I suspect the rule was put in place because people getting drunk cost TWI money and embarassement. Certainly there were some clergy that did have a drinking problem. OTOH, VPW probably did his best "work" after a couple of shots.

I contacted D. Smith via email and he no longer wants assistance.

This abuse of guns and people thing makes me somewhat ill. I will be the first to admit that I like guns. I've owned them since I was a 12 year old. I qualified with all manner of US and German light weapons in the Army, up to and including 30 caliber machine guns. I have several big noisy guns in my bedroom and a few small ones too. Since I've become a father 21 years ago I've rarely fired them. I hope to change that soon as my wife and two of my employees have shown a strong interest in target shooting. That said, guns are utterly unforgiving. You can't undo a fired bullet. To threaten a person with a firearm, either bluffing or serious, is absolutely despicable behavior. Let's be really clear. Threatening a person with a firearm is a *felony* and to my thinking should result in some serious prison time. To threaten a person with a firearm in the name of Christianity is the worst kind of hypocrisy and ignorance. This is just stunningly bad behavior.

LOL, thanks.

Must be true. It was about the age at which I walked away from TWI.

Sorry, I only watch SNL.

Lame attempt at a joke deleted.

You've certainly hit on something there... Lots of similarities, I have a couple employees that are compulsive roleplaying gamers. Living in their own little worlds with negotiated rules, laws and characters. Not a lot of difference between that and making up your own religious organization.

That's what makes them so dangerous. I think they actually believe they are doing God's will.

"We are all just prisoners here, Of our own device" And in the master's chambers They gathered for the feast, They stabbed it with their steely knives, But they just can't kill the beast Last thing I remember, I was running for the door, I had to find the passage back to the place I was before, "Relax," said the night man, "We are programmed to receive, You can check out anytime you like... but you can never leave"

Why does this remind me of David Bailey?

VF. Brings back some old memories. 1975 or so. Richmond Auditorium in California. I'm "new in the Word" and still believed everything I heard. Me, my branch leader and a bunch of others are getting the auditorium ready for a visit from VPW. We've worked all night, doing the best we can and VF breezes in. VF is abusive and abrasive to everyone present. I'm stunned. I actually believed VP when he said that "we love people and we use things". VF was *definitely* into *using* people. In retrospect, it was a good wakeup call for me, although it took several years and an enlistment on staff before I could really see the light. Yup, yup, yup....

You made my day. Do you think they will have an ROA 2009?

It's almost starting to look like the Mormons. Here's a cut-and-paste from watchman.org As Gordon Fraser explains, "With the death of Joseph Smith, the entire church was thrust into a state of chaos, with a dozen potential leaders contending for the mantle of the Prophet" (Sects of the Latter-day Saints, p. 16). Many of these leaders would eventually begin their own churches, each claiming to be the only true church, as originally founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. Some of these leaders included Brigham Young, who would lead many of Smith's followers from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah to begin The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormons). James J. Strang would travel to Beaver Island, Michigan and have himself declared King by his followers. Sidney Rigdon, an early associate of Joseph Smith's, called his group the Church of Christ, which was the original name given the church by Joseph Smith. William Bickerton began The Church of Jesus Christ (or Church of Christ, Bickertonites) after a brief association with Rigdon. Another important leader was Grandville Hedrick who began The Church of Christ, Temple Lot (Divergent Paths of the Restoration, pp. 31, 37, 40-41, 76 and 89). Other early followers of Joseph Smith were Jason Briggs, Zenos Gurley and William Marks. These three men are most often credited with organizing the group that would eventually be called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This small remnant of believers in Joseph Smith formed because they did not accept his 1843 revelation that implemented polygamy.

Do you suppose Chris Geer wants to be his driver?

I look forward to an update after a couple more....

Yawn, sure... Is any of Martindale's spawn second in command? Do you get in trouble if you show up with metal clothes hangers? Is all your "unstructured time" spent writing beg letters to your sponsors? Does he have a motorcoach and a Harley? Will the first Corps be zero or one?

For Johnny Lingo and any other sailors out there. Heave Away from the 1957 version of Moby Dick.

Anybody remember that one? First of all, an apology to anyone who suffered from migraines and that I suspected had a devil spirit. I was young and stupid. Secondly, it was a big surprise to find out that in my old age, I could get a migraine headache. All I have to do is eat more than a little bit of cheese or more than a little bit of chocolate, or drink too much port wine. Hmm, wonder how the devil spirit gets in?

Agreed.

There will be no apologies. Anyone with heart enough to apologize has already left. Besides, the last thing they need is to open that can of worms again. They're going through the motions just to be sure they look like an active organization, especially in the eyes of the IRS. So tell me this. If I show up some Sunday evening and try to attend the SNS, would I be welcomed or be told to get off the property or be arrested?

Questioning leadership. Missing twig meetings Missing branch meeting Missing limb meetings Missing the ROA Not having an attitude of gratitude Questioning leadership