Watered Garden

Doojable, I tried to PM you and it says your PM is disabled. Everything okay? WG

Is that Bruegel's version of the last supper? If this were the last year of my life (as well it may be for all I know), I'd try to be a little kinder, a little more patient, a little more understanding. I wouldn't worry so much about the dust on the top shelves. I'd read the books on the lower shelves. If this were the last year of my life, I would spent less time grumbling under my breath and more time saying "I love you" out loud. If this were the last year of my life, I would decide once and for all whether I believe God loves me and sent His Son to die for me, as worthless as I sometimes am. If this were the last year of my life, I'd finish the grandmother's book I bought for my grandson and almost never write in. If this were the last year of my life, I would spend a little bit of time doing the things I like to do, walking on the beach at Sanibel Island, standing on the front porch during a thunderstorm, writing essays about things I think are important. If this were the last year of my life, I would spend a lot of time doing the things for others I wouldn't get to do 366 days from today. WG

Please accept my deepest sympathy and prayers for the entire family of !'s. WG

Didn't Dr. Higgins die in a fire or something? WG

I have a set of Vita Craft waterless cookware we bought in 1978. It came with a lifetime guarantee on the pans themselves, and free replacement of handles for life. It included two saucepans, two skillets, a Dutch oven with an extended lid, which can also serve as a deep dish skillet with the normal large skillet on top of it. Also we got a piece that makes the top of a double boiler thing when you set it in the 2 qt. sauce pan. The lids provide a seal which cooks the food. It saves energy and nutrients. We also got some knives with it and a cookbook which I can't find. It is 5-ply, 2 layers of stainless steel, 1 layer of heavy aluminum, and 2 more layers of steel. So you are cooking on stainless steel but have the heavy duty aluminum to rely on for heat retention. After 29 years it's still just fine, though I've had to send a pan or two off to be re-handled. It was made in the USA, Shawnee, Kansas in fact, and I would recommend it to anyone. WG

Joyce Meyer Ministries' complete financial records are posted on their website, including the truth about the alleged "$23,000 commode." I think the senatorial socialist doctrine that anyone with money must be investigated, castigated, and condemned is absolute BS, unconstitutional, and a waste of my federal income tax. WG

I have type 1 diabetes, which means that the islet cells in my pancreas have been destroyed by my own immune system. Is restoration available for that type of diabetes? I basically agree with a lot of what you say. Barking dog and mischief making grandson prevent further posting right now. WG

Dear God, If there are dogs in heaven, please tell Maxx I miss him. WG

A friend of mine long ago had a black cocker spaniel named Zachariah Nephesh Kai. A cousin of my husband's had an Irish setter named Caesar Red Salad. He called him Salad. Our recently deceased cocker spaniel was named Michael's Smart Maxwell and called Maxx. Our first child was half yellow lab and half Irish setter and named Brandy, but he answered to just about anything, including Boo-Boo, Beast, Beastie Paws, and just Paws. He had the biggest feet we'd ever seen on a puppy. He grew to be 90 lb., taller than a lab, much smarter than an Irish setter. Our present elderly lab is named Sophie, but we call her the queen. WG

Thanks Socks!!! And Merry Christmas to you, too! I certainly am not whining about my diabetes, nor blaming God, nor myself, nor even LCM. Part of my motivation is that we are going to be small group leaders through our church, and I am excited and not without trepidation. The church we attend is somewhat ambivalent about healing, not saying healing is dead, but not promoting healing either. Mr. Garden had a very honest conversation with the senior pastor once, and told him he would NEVER pray for someone to get healed "if it be Thy will." When we attended the parent church of this church, we were in a small group, and I came to a meeting very stressed and unhappy and with a screaming headache. The group leader immediately noticed, jumped up, put his hands on my shoulders and I was prayed for there and then. And God does still answer prayer, lots of peace and no more headache! That was a few years back, but that man and his wife are our examples of small group leaders. Of course, thinking about what kind of a Mrs. Small Group Leader I want to be called this incident to my remembrance. And then I wondered why TWI stopped doing it. I would love to see our small group grow in faith like that. Mr. Garden is a wonderful man who holds fast to that which is good. I'm excited about this new turn of events in our lives and looking forward to the experience. Thanks so much to all of you who have answered. I'm still working out in my mind what I want to do about my own condition. Right now, I'm in really good shape, have lost about 12 lb. and just got a new insulin pump that does everything except perk the morning coffee! Merry Christmas to all! WG And of course, bless his heart, LCM never thought to look in the mirror and say "I have met the enemy and it is I." (All of us need to do that sometimes, don't we?"

Waysider, I remember whose twig you last attended, I think you told me awhile back, and those folks were definitely more in tune with God than with LCM. Mr. Garden and I were discussing this over dinner at a restaurant tonight. We are going to be small group leaders for our church. If someone needs to be prayed for for healing, I don't think we're gonna stop and ask anyone's opinion other than God's. The pastor said tonight that the miracles Jesus performed, the healings and raising people from the dead were simply to verify that He was the Messiah, the son of God. I disagree with that. I think there's more to it. I think that Jesus revealed the nature and character of God. I think if God smites and scourges His people for their imperfections, Jesus would have given Peter boils or hemorrhoids or something, just for being the bumptious, outspoken ADHD guy he was. But Jesus never caused people to be sick; he healed them. He did give some moneychangers a whuppin' that time, but that was a one time occurrence for a very good reason. However, I am aware that the doctrine that God is in control, all things come from God, and therefore if you sick or diseased, it is God who gave you the sickness, and you should be thankful, is indeed a very popular and well received doctrine. It's unfortunate, too. WG

Outfield, thanks for the prayers! I do get along rather well, and have just started a new insulin pump. But it's frustrating as heck when people assume, let alone the people "out there" who teach, that God had anything to do with it. Potato, I agree! I worked in a cancer hospital and my boss treated little kids with cancer. It was a heartbreaker, and more than once I told God "You got some 'splaining to do!" However, I also believe the fall of man was so great a sin as to gradually, over the centuries and millenia, poison the very earth, so that it does not produce healthy nutrients for man or beast as God originally intended it to do. As far as "anemic believing" I think LCM did a poor job of inspiring people to experience anything other than absolute terror of being evicted from the household of God, thus bringing destruction and death upon themselves and their loved ones. LCM seems to have been a very angry and frustrated man, who blamed others for his own shortcomings. Reminds me of the old Pogo comic where the characters says "We have met the enemy, and it is us!" Look, everyone dies. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later. Why not comfort the survivors by preaching the hope of Christi's return, that the decedent's next awareness will be of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and eternity with Him? Oh and the genes? My dad and his older brother were diabetic, and there were a few type 2 diabetics scattered among my mother's cousins. But I actually read a commentary that to blame sickness and disease on genetic factors is sin; God is making you sick, God is scourging you and that's that. What sin did you commit to bring this upon yourself? It almost sounds like LCM was teaching that same sort of falsehood. Did he ever catch a cold, get an upset tummy, need a medication for a chronic physical problem? (Not that I want to violate HIPPA rules here, but just wondering if the dear boy was physically perfect hissownself). WG

When I first got involved in TWI, in 1973, prayer for healing was pretty routine. And it worked. We saw signs, miracles, and wonders. As late as 1982-83, I myself prayed for healing of a disease called sarcoidosis, sitting in the House of His Healing Presence until I knew I was healed. Later, the x-rays proved God had indeed healed me of this disease. It was routine operating procedure to pray for someone at twig; I would even ask after a teaching if anyone had anything they needed prayer for, and have more than once placed my hands on someone's shoulders and asked God to heal them. The medical WOWs did the same thing. Healing was taught as part of our ministering to others, and we taught to go to God first. We taught III John 2, we taught "I am the Lord that healeth thee," we taught it was God's good pleasure to see us healthy. In 1994, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes. I was soundly condemned and made to feel ashamed. Obviously I had sinned or God would not have removed His hand of protection from my life and allowed me to be scourged with this disease. This is now a very popular doctrine among non-TWI folk; either you sinned and God is punishing you, or you need to grow in faith and God is testing you. Nary a word have I heard for many many years about Satan bringing disease and sickness as in John 10:10, "the thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy." (See "Secrets of the Vine" in the open forum). Was there some great "revelation" given you WC in the early 1990's that stated prayer for healing was no longer necessary? I was visited in the hospital in St. Mary's by many people, most of whom were WC grads. Not a one offered to pray for me or with me, let alone minister healing. I was pretty much out there on a limb by myself. I still feel that way quite often and wonder if I am indeed cursed by God or being scourged for some sin I can't remember (there are so many of them). Surely if God is disciplining me He would at least be nice enough to tell me what I did to deserve the excruciating pain and shame I sometime feel in my heart., not to mention that if this is of God, I don't understand why. I mean, I told my son and I tell my grandson when he was/is being disciplined where he blew it and what he needs to do the next time to be right, not wrong. When people ask me if I understand why I am diabetic, I tell them I was born wearing the wrong set of genes. I can tell some people think this is the wrong answer. Bottom line: When did TWI stop teaching healing? WG

I think the term "Ho Ho" originated because that was the time of year when in residence WC were relocated from one campus to another, household holiday relocation being abbreviated to ho ho relo. I think it's pathetic that people felt the need to apologize for putting a tree and giving their children presents. I think it was part of a trend that ended up with the ministry centered on the MOG rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. After LCM established his kingdom, a lot more things went the way of the dodo; ROA, prayers for healing, etc. But Christmas was out long before that. WG

I'm sooo happy for you! WG

I just wanted to second what Waysider said. I was there, too, for most of the FLO crap. He was "blessed" with an extra year. Lots of personal attacks, being stood up in front of a group and yelled at by a puffed up little pipsqueak. Sucked like an open chest wound. WG

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...... I was working in an old office building that housed doctors offices/clinics at Indiana University Medical Center. My office was a tiny cubby with a window, an ancient desk, and a sink that made me think it was originally intended to be an exam room. One morning I came to work, placed my sack lunch on my desk, next to a ripe, juicy tomato from my parents' garden. Someone called my name, and I exited my office, only to return in about five minutes to find a little bite chomped out of my tomato. "Uh, I think there's been a mouse in here." I stated. I was told what number to call for maintenance to come out and trap the little tomato thief. I threw the tomato away, stashed my lunch in a safer location and went to work pulling charts, etc. My boss, a physician, came in with someone he wanted to talk to privately in his office, notified me not to disturb them, and closed his office door. Fine. I turned on my IBM selectric typewriter, the kind with the ball that bounces around typing letters. I started to type, but the little ball won't move. I poked it with a finger to see what's wrong, and A MOUSE JUMPED OUT OF MY TYPEWRITER, WANDERED ACROSS THE DESK, AND HID UNDER A BOOKHOLDER AT THE BACK OF THE DESK! I don't remember how I got out of the office. I do remember running down the hall screaming for my boss, who, all semblance of a private conference gone, went into my office and stomped the mouse to death. Poor man hated mice and could hardly stand the thought of them, but he rescued his secretary just the same. Must've wanted those letters typed really bad that morning! WG

Just for the record, I want everyone to know I am NOT posting to back up White Dove, who is obviously an expert and twisting what others say to make it seem as if they are. The point was, a lot of people believe truths. Even the Declaration of Independence says "We hold these truths to be self-evident....." I think WD is just doing this to be ornery and doesn't give a rat's nose about right, wrong, truth, fact, or anything in between. I even seem to recall in PFAL VPW talked about fact vs. truth. I also remember in WOW training in 1974 HA stating that the human body requires a maximum, not a minimum mind you but a maximum of 4 hours sleep out of every 24 hour period. Hence the 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM sleep schedule. I do remember at least part of that meeting, Waysider. I also remember being very sleepy. I also remember more than one FLO who took an afternoon nap. I even remember the distinguished individual who reproved us for sleeping when we should be awake and speaking in tongues OVER-sleeping one morning and missing half of the 5:30 AM morning fellowship. Sometimes in FLO the best time to sleep was in one of the classes, the Figures of Speech class for example, that we had to suffer through on weekends. So: Fact - the human body needs 7-9 hours of sleep in every 24 hour period to maintain health. So says the AMA. Truth: the human body requires 4 hours sleep out of every 24 hour period and if you are a faithful believer, SIT-ing faithfully will make up the difference between that and the amount of sleep the world says you need. So say HA and the FLO coordinator. Now which of these two options does a faithful follower of TWI adhere to: The World? Or the Word according to the MOGs? I think those of us who lived through the whole freakin' mess know the answer to that. WG

Oh, honey...I'm so sorry. WG

Nero, if it helps any I went through the same experience with a beloved aunt who suffered a massive stroke at age 87. The doctor was sooo reluctant to even provide pain relief. She did die, after about six days, but I made damn sure it wasn't in a nursing home. It was in my living room, surrounded by flowers, music, and love. Just myself and a hospice nurse were present, and I ran the hospice nurse's life every minute she was there. (I can be a little terror when I want to.) It sounds to me, however, like your dad is making some small but significant improvements. Doctors as a general rule don't know much at all about the human brain, what it can recover from and what it cannot. Younger victims are frequently treated more aggressively than older patients. It's unfortunate, and just plain wrong, but true. Especially in America, our elders are not valued as they should be. Your dad's on my prayer list that he will soon sit up and tell the doctors what to do with themselves! WG

Welcome! Hope you enjoy your stay! The mocha latte' is on the house! WG

WD, there are NO objective FACTS to prove that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified, dead, buried and on the third day arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven from whence he shall return to judge the quick and the dead. No FACTS. Just TRUTH, at least to me, a Christian. Just because I wasn't there with a Nikon in hand, doesn't mean it didn't happen. So there you go.....there were a lot of people around in that day who never personally saw Jesus Christ step out of that tomb, alive and well. No one in this day saw it happen. Yet there have been millions of people, including VPW, who believed and do believe it. I'm not trying to promote my beliefs over anyone else's here. This is the only example I can think of. Maybe it doesn't quite fit, I don't know. But what I'm trying to convey to you is that you are insisting on solid, objective, easily recognized facts when sometimes it's just not available. Do you believe Neil Armstrong walked on the moon? How can you be sure? Because you saw the video camera? Maybe that was faked. Maybe the earth is flat - have you ever personally sailed around the world? One's man's reality can easily be another man's joke. You ever think about live and let live? I mean, I have friends from all walks of life. When I worked in a huge teaching hospital, at least half the employees there were from other countries and were Muslim or Hindu, or whatever. We all respected each other and tried to get along. While you are entitled to your opinion indeed, others are entitled to theirs. My suggestion, if you continue to be so nasty to the hurting, would be everyone you've hurt and offended put you on ignore. I personally don't read all your posts any more. They are just too irritating. WG

I heard the one about chicken too. I remember being reproved by a 9 year old and his 7 year old brother because I didn't fold my bath towels the right way or put the fitted sheet on my bed the right way. WG

I guess some men just have low expectations. Either that or they have such hatred and contempt for women they just want to get a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" and go to the local tavern for any meaningful conversations, with other men of course, since wifey is only good for cookin', cleanin, and screwin', and doesn't have a brain to think with in her pretty little head. Look, I'm not into the womens' liberation movement and never really was, however, I think the Betty Frieden's and Gloria Steinem's came about because of the attitude toward women "The Total Woman" and similar books, not to mention misinterpretation of the scriptures, encourages men to have. As I said before, this kind of crap works real well if the woman isn't very bright. If Mr. Garden thought I was too stupid to have a decent conversation, to listen, to suggest, to care about him more than anything except God, he wouldn't have married me and stayed married for over 30 years. He values my opinion and I value his. And respect, to my understanding, automatically precludes manipulation. WG

Exxie, He's one in a kazillion, and every day I thank God for him. WG