Watered Garden

I have always been a HUGE fan of Sheriff Joe! I have no sympathy for scofflaws and it pains me that some of them in our fair state live better than those who have lost their jobs and homes or live in the inner city. Of course, here they would be wearing pink parkas and sweat pants in the cold tents! Hmmmm! Not a bad idea! May God bless Sheriff Joe, and may his tribe increase! WG

Back in the day, we called the ones who went in sweet and came out mean and hateful "Hard-Corps." Other than my WOW year, my first encounter with a "Hard-Corps" was the woman who came to run the college town where we lived and Mr. Garden was enrolled. She took over everyone's life. She stayed with us until she could find her own place. I could hardly stand her from the get-go and she disrupted my life. Then, when we and another couple decided to share a rented house in the country together, and we got our first dog, everything went well until she decided to grant us the honor of moving in with us! Then, it was HER house and WE were allowed the honor of living with HER! Then, she decided MY dog needed to be an outside dog. Then, WC on lightbearers started showing up to stay at HER house for a few days, letting MY dog follow them five miles into town (because SHE had decided he was an outside dog). Things got so bad that one girl on lightbearers tried to get Her Majesty into a discussion with me. I was spending most of the time crying my eyes out in our little bedroom (Mr. Garden worked nights at a restaurant to pay for college). Her majesty, who had taken over our large bedroom upstairs, calmly said she had done nothing that was wrong or improper, had nothing to apologize for, and I should be thankful she cared enough to try to straighten out my life for me. The lightbearer girl was one of the few nice ones who came through; most of them treated the non-WC who were living in HER house like servants, or better yet, acted as if we didn't exist. It was one of them who told me about the dog following them, and I urged her to make sure he was shut up in the house, in our room if need be, before they left. This was the year there was a live-class whoop-de-do that lasted two weeks one summer. We moved out and rented a different house so she could have her family members and WC friends stay with her. I was miffed we were the ones who had to move, but I suspect it was because Mr. Garden was sick of hearing me complain; he was busy with school and didn't get too involved in the household dynamics. After that The Queen moved out and we moved back to the old house with an entirely different set of people and things were much for the better, especially since no one interfered with MY dog. You might wonder if this woman ever changed. She did, in fact, marry a likable, happy-go-lucky fellow, who after several years was just like her, and she had become even more egotistically legalistic. (Because legalism, IMO, is not as much "Do it God's way or else" as it is "Do it my way or else"). I did also know sweet, wonderful, kind, honest, sincere folks who were WC, but they either left when LCM ascended to the throne, or changed into legalistic minions of his out of fear. WG

And those who did these things, twisted scripture for their own advantage, harmed the innocent, ignored the teachings of Jesus for their own selfish ends, will receive judgment that will shock and terrify them. I'm not sure I believe that some of these individuals are actually saved; their fruit is pretty rotten. WG

Thanks for a timely reminder! Personally, I don't think I'd want cocoa bean mulch to begin - being outside and smelling chocolate would force me to make a run to the nearest grocery store for a Hershey's supply! WG

Didn't know that only God knows the time or hour, huh? WG

I too look forward to the return of the Lord. I strongly suspect that the worst "reproof"if you want to call it that is reserved for those who do evil in His Name. When I think of the arrogant little SOB who told us "Your son is not your son, because he is adopted, and God does not honor adoption" I want to scream. I mean, doesn't Ephesians tell us we are all adopted, made to be sons and daughters of God? But he was so sure of himself. And I will tell you something: I was convinced in my mind that if we did not comply with him, I would die. I was already under a great deal of condemnation from being diagnosed with diabetes two years earlier, which to them was clear evidence that something was wrong with my believing. Remember these were days when LCM & those devoted to him were diligently weeding the weakness out of the rank and file, beginning with homosexuals, lesbians, or anyone they didn't like they could pin those or other things on. This continued on to include those in debt and those with chronic illnesses, and those whose children were not perfect in obedience. We were in debt, I was diabetic, and my son was in all honesty being a little jerk, not without reason. Mr. Garden stood stronger than I did, and I decided anyway I'd rather die than do what that smirking, sarcastic little creep was telling me to. My son was compared to a mad dog. "He's not a dog, he's my son, and he needs help, he doesn't need shot or abandoned." was my response. This was a human being they were talking about. V**k R**ko told us in the first few months we were there to take him up so far into the mountains no one could hear him scream and takes turns hitting him with a 2x4 until he had to submit or die. Here what I've learned: Obedience to God is not the same as obedience to people. People can be wrong, either inadvertently or deliberately. Only God is true. When I finally came to therapy in 2000, four years after we left TWI, I came to the conclusion that God and my husband were the only two entities I could ever trust. I still pretty much feel that way. Jeff, I cannot imagine if TWI had split up my marriage how I'd feel. You are stronger than you know. WG prays for you today! WG

Does anyone else remember the big scroll we all were encouraged to sign at the coronation of LCM? I think it was that we would support him in all ways or something. And I kind of very hazily remember the Ananias and Saphira thing being used there, too. But, he did not keep his commitments, which were obfuscated to begin with. So I don't feel like I broke a commitment to God when I turned my back on that devil and walked away from TWI. Rascal, I wish I could find words to speak what my heart feels for you. I am so sorry this happened to you and I pray someday you will enjoy the Bible again. I'm just starting to, but for myself with no one telling me what they think it should mean. And Jeff, whoever this guy is that wanted someone to give their own baby up for adoption, he is so far outside the will of God that he may fall off the face of the earth. I'm surprised the bastard didn't want it smothered in its sleep. What is wrong with these people? Of course we were told to "get rid of" our son, too, a rebellious, confused, adolescent, either by murder or abandonment, depending on who was screaming at us. These people have NO IDEA who they're dealing with - a clue - He's the Creator of the Universe and He really does know more than they do! WG

Was in Jax when they were. Glad to hear they are doing okay. I'm sure they wouldn't remember us, though. WG

TGN, I send you a PM from WG (so as not to derail). WG

The narrator kind of sounds like KITT in the old Knight Rider series with Michael Hasselhoff. I kept expecting the phone to rev its engine and go speeding offscreen. WG

TGN, God bless you! WG

WW/DHD, I know exactly what you mean. I think the turning point for me was not so much being diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes, but the birth of two grandsons, one of whom is in a sticky situation with my son's ex, who apparently talks trash about us to him. I realized that I won't always be around to talk to him personally, so I started filling out my Grandmother's Book, and then started putting other things in it, like the lyrics to a song I had on my bulletin board at work that says a lot about what I want for him, pictures, birthday cards, etc. I've been filling out the structured part but also want to go beyond that. How do I tell him that I only wanted the best for him, and that no matter what he does in life, I will always love him and believe in him? I told him I pray for him every day, and I do. He was delighted to hear it. But when I'm gone the way of all flesh, I want him to remember this. When there's an empty chair at the dinner table, what do I want him to remember about the woman who sat there? WG

Here in the frozen heart of Ohio we just ordered some seeds and starter boxes from Jung! I'm feeling warmer already! WG

I worked for nine years in a cancer hospital. It sounded grim at first, but honestly some of the most inspiring, happy, joyful individuals I have ever met are cancer survivors and even cancer patients. You have to learn to live every moment. Be joyful! Savor each new experienced, try something you haven't tried before. Be healed in mind and body and spirit - it's an emotional rollercoaster. Be vigilant. Keep your doctor's appointments and do what they say. Be thankful. I'm thankful for you! The cancer survivor I admire the most waded right back into the fray - as a physician specializing in cancer treatment. This individual is one of my heroes. WG

The last people I knew who were leadership were: 1) An older WC couple who were terrified of being ousted 2) A young WC couple (she had been LCM's personal assistant her interim year) who worshipped the ground LCM walked on, and the male half strove to emulate LCM in all things 3) A middle aged couple, the wife being related to DLM. Everyone else who was WC had been run off or escaped. The male half of #2 was eager to get rid of anyone who had become involved with TWI much before LCM took over, calling us "old wineskins" and saying in the same pompous manner as the forehead himself, that he just didn't think any of us had the right stuff to cross the bridge of believing into the promised land of the prevailing word. You can imagine how much fun THAT was. This was on the left coast but not in California, so not really a derail, just a northern exposure type vacation. WG

If I'd know grandchildren were so much fun, I'd a had 'em first! Congratulations! WG

Sounds delicious! I think I had that once BD (before diabetes) in North Carolina or maybe South Carolina. WG

As far as R**h W**tk(ns & wife go, I don't remember too much about them, other than they took themselves very seriously for just being 3rd year FLO, and seemed like staff at HQ. I was in their "house" for a few months and as I recall, pretty much got left alone. I was forced to take a top bunk, which thank God I never fell out of, but I'm not too sure I slept much either. And Yeah, people like that usually are only bullies when they can get away with it, and confronted with a "right back at ya" quickly melt into the floor WG

WOW! WOW! WOW! Congratulations! Carl Sandburg: "A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on." What a blessing! I'm kinda choked up here. WG

HB from WG!!!!!

I have a patch of Greek oregano that is five years old and thriving. Just dies back in the winter (Ohio-brrrr) and comes back in the summer. Basil likes full sun and a bit of rain now and then, and kept weeded. We just sow seed and let it come up. I like sweet basil, but we've also grown Thai or holy basil, chocolate basil, etc. Basil is an annual. Rosemary seems to be an annual. I keep trimming it back. I brought mine in this winter but it died around Christmas. Cilantro is an annual. Try to find a packet of seeds that says "slow to bolt" because bolt it eventually will. This means that it will start shooting upward, make skinny leaves, and produce little white flowers that will eventually become coriander seed. Give it a bit more water than the others, a bit of shade, and keep it trimmed well back for best results. Thyme - Regular old fashioned thyme is a perennial, as I think they all are to one degree or another. It makes an incredible border plant. Creeping thyme is nice as a ground cover, and I have variegated lemon thyme in between the stepping stones in the perennial bed. If you have room, you might consider tarragon, which is awesome with fish. It is a big bushy perennial and you don't have to do much to it other than cut off what you need to make it happy. IF you grow any kind of mint, use a big container and watch out for it, as it will run rampant over your garden and choke out everything else. And of course, it's a perennial and hard to get rid of once you've got it. WG

This is why I don't have any of those things. I'm getting very worried as it is that someone will access this forum and figure out who I am. WG

Yea! Thank you very much! WG

I'm clicking on a thread, getting the first post, and a list of posts at the bottom showing the author and the first line. Is this something new and wonderful? It's kinda hard to get the gist of a thread when I have to go back and forth to click on each post individually. It says "Posts in this Topic." WG

I finally got so I can use The Amplified Bible again, and I kinda like it. I keep myself amused during sermons by reading the expanded versions of verses. The reason I didn't like it for a while was that people in TWI started talking like it reads. I also noticed that some of the expanded verses were taught to me by TWI as "literally translated according to usage" and I thought this was some wonderful, original research. Phillipians 4:13 specifically is one of those. But as far as feeling guilty goes, I think it's a habit TWI built into some folks, including me. "This isn't perfect, so it must be my fault. I'm the only one in here who messes up; everyone else is perfect". WG