OldSkool

As we all know each year a new theme is released in October at the anniversary. Now this theme and the resulting STS / Way Magazine is Rosalie's baby. Each year the theme is billed as where we will be led in the word or where God would have us to go or whatever - we all get the point! But, here is the theme's dirty little secret and I will say it the way I will because I know how the directors are. Each year that theme is leveraged to address the biggest problems the directors identify from reports the way of the usa gives them and what they conclude from their isolated pontification sessions. In fact, reverse the theme and you will get the true intent of that they think the incapables need to learn. For example: This year's theme is "Making god our Sufficiency." Translate that as the economy is bad, people are out of work, the way ministry is losing people each year making the resulting abundant sharing lower and/or participation in witnessing and other ministry classes and events are low. Because if God is your sufficiency you would put the way international first, give till it hurts, and move the word!

Two things: 1) Law of believing puts all the responsibility / burden to "operate" the promises / power of God on the person. No reliance on God because he has already given us everything in Christ. So if something is a-miss - it can't be God or his "matchless" Word because they are perfect. Mathematics according to Wierwille makes the weakest link the person, who is quite imperfect. Therefore, an increase in believing is always needed. 2) Perhaps this should be number one? Either way. The trustees / current directors isolate themselves from the populace. They live in a bubble. They like it that way and they keep it that way on purpose. Layer upon layer of protocol and confidentiality insulate them almost entirely. Also, they confer almost exclusively with themselves - the present day director group (sham that it is ) gathers no meaningful input from cabinet, region or country coordinators. They attend meeting after meeting, week after week, amongst themselves. They have their salaries paid, housing provided, food right at their fingertips, and even though they work long hours, they are completely in control of their little insignificant world. All of HQ revolves around them. I cannot overstate it. Then they turn an about face, from their smug little perspectives and dare to pontificate amongst themselves why something is the way it is, or why people are not doing such and such when they should be. From my experience their attitude towards others outside their group is one of superiority and any efforts they make towards others is reaching downward to help the incapable. In essence they are totally removed from real life in today's society. They haven't a clue. Yet they deem themselves spiritually responsible for God's people and, therefore, rule "god's ministry" supposedly with other's best interest in mind. The result? Burden upon burden piled upon those down the pyramid. The lowly branch coordinator is encumbered with a full time job, a family and kids - usually, and 30+ hours of ministry work. When classes run that 30+ hours usually becomes 60 hours. But hey all those reports they have send to the limb coordinator are REALLY important.

Oh, ok....

Oh those?...they were all used as illustrations in classes...ya that's it - illustrations.... :P

Welcome Polynesian! Speak on it!

And I though Vicster and Howie didn't like to gamble...

I am always appalled when I hear things like this were said to people. Even though my own mother had her fellowship coordinator say something equally as evil and ludicrous to her.

Thanks for the corrections Twinky - I will edit the original post to reflect the strike-troughs!

Ok, I went through a several year "unwind" before making the decision to leave the way international. Granted, I was inadvertently nudged towards the door by Rozilla, but I was looking at the door for many years. Anyways, I spent lots of time lurking on GreaseSpot Cafe where I learned more about the sordid history and clandestine ways practiced in the way international that I ever cared to read. I will admit that for several of those years I thought "these people need to get over it." I also thought that there were a lot of lies on here even though there were several people corroborating each other's testimonies. And of course in the end I chalked it up to the adversary. Lot's of lying spuuurrts on dat der greeese spat! Well, after posting some of the details of my own mis-treatment, and seeing first hand the hypocritical ways the board of directors live while expecting blind obedience from all followers I have something to say to the lurking followers of the way international: "In the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established." You have multiple people from many parts of the country world posting the same accounts spanning a several decade time horizon. The ugly truth is right in front of your face. I think we have exceeded the 2 or 3 witness requirements set by Jesus Christ. Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 17. Reiterated in Gospels and Pauline (church) epistles.

Prognosis: grim.

Along those lines, perhaps the herd recognizes that too.

Oh, thanks for the clarification.

It makes me wonder that perhaps all the little cliches and useless mantras, like "I'm believing you are...." are needed to keep a person numb. Perhaps, when I was still involved with the way international and made an effort to not use the cliches, it was the beginning of my eventual departure? Not to say that it's a formula but for me I think it may be significant.

Chock, it's interesting when one considers the scriptures that have been twisted to support the law of believing. As an example, Proverbs 23:7 - "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." Now I spent years as if it said, as a man thinks in his heart so shall it be! To me it simply means that what mental states a person develops will be reflected in how the person behaves. So is he. Anyways, not to get off on a doctrinal dissertation. To me, it is an example of how the law of believing garbage taught by the way international causes delusion in a person. It makes it so to support the doctrine an alter reality must be maintained. Life must be filtered through the law of believing.

I made myself quit saying "bless you " several years before I left. It really got on my nerves. Perhaps someone knows where that came from? The over use of "believing" is something I noted years ago when I was still a wayfer. Some years back the transmission on my car went out and I had it towed to a mechanic. Another innie gave me a ride to the mechanic and I was ranting a bit. I remember him looking at me and saying in a rather well meaning manner "well, let's just believe that it's alright." I remember thinking - "Alright?...believe?....it's already damaged and all the believing in the world is not going to change that." Ok, so my point? I think the law of believing garbage cripples people's ability to cope. To me, when dealing with crisis, or other lesser problems, one of the first things I need is an accurate assessment. That means I have to acknowledge whats wrong whether it's positive or not. But if I truly believe that confession of belief yields receipt of confession then I must always be extra careful to not acknowledge the negatives lest I bring those instead or somehow validate those negatives giving them an existence. In retrospect the law of believing was one of the more damaging aspects of the way international. The law of believing fosters a very strong sense of denial in a person. In my opinion, that alter reality that is slowly built into a person's views is very unhealthy.

That's wonderful!

Has around 40 homes listed now. Cool.

You really gotta watch that new light from LCM -

I was just thinking what a trite, meaningless, asinine way it is to talk to one another like you hear so much in the way international. Wayfer A says to Wayfer B - "We're believing that you guys are doing wonderfully tremendous!" I guess once the "law of believing" dogma is dismantled the absurd shallowness of this rubs my rhubarb. A persons beliefs do not contain inherent power that one is able to focus on command. Secondly, I really doubt that most of the goobs who said this to me were really off someplace concentrating their "believing" on me.

I don't think so but don't quote me on that. I do remember LCM talking about HA telling him they couldn't keep on going like they were. But who knows what really happens out in da cornfields.

Not sure. I don't think so unless he was re-hired. LCM made Don Wierwille retire at 19 years instead of 20 like Don had his heart set. LCM did it to be a vindictive a$$.

Ya, but dis you score?.... ...ok, that was in bad taste....

It is sad because they are so caustic and polarizing with what they believe. Whether it's true or not.

Ok, must be why they loved having all the "free love" hippies around.

I wish I had never met the Directors, much less worked for them.