dawayback

yes, Justthinking, I am a parent, and if my opinion matters at all, I think I am a pretty damn good one. Yes, my children have had problems in the past but all in line with, "what kind of stupid thing can my kid do today?". All in all, good kids, oldest daughter is married and moved away, still stays in touch almost daily and loves her parents dearly, my only other is a teenager. Let me tell you of one of his "stupid moments". One day after he gets home from school we are sitting in the living room discussing how his day was and a Deputy shows up at the door looking for him. Of course he says he has no idea why the deputy is there and the deputy tells me he was observed tipping over a port-a-potty that was set up by the childrens soccer field on his way home from school. When confronted he tells me he did it on a dare from a friend and that there was no one in there. After admitting his guilt the officer tells him he is going to have to go back and clean up the mess. Of course he asks me for help and I am like, "no way man" you made the mess, you clean it up. Needless to say by the time he gets back there to clean it up the soccer field is full of kids soccer league, and the stands are all full of parents watching. He was so embarrassed. I couldn't have planned that lesson had I tried.

Thanks Vickles and Dot, appreciate your support and that is a cool Picture.

Yes, I was in South Dakota, can't really be too specific without revealing myself, you know, not the most populated State in the Union, as far as the Ministry went.

If anyone is really interested I could give some information on anyone in Wisconsin from about 87' through 97'

What a HOOT! You are all too funny! I haven't had this much good reading since I don't know when. It seems that when it came to sex, my daughter was most comfortable discussing things with me, while my son seems most comfortable discussing things with his mother. That is not to say that those roles weren't reversed at times, but that was the way it was for the most part. That is what worked for us, I guess the best answer is that you have to find the way that works the best, because it does have to be discussed at some point.

Thanks Dot, for welcoming me and I hope to be a beacon of light in a dark and troubling time. Just kidding, my light isn't any brighter than anyone else's and for all practical purposes is probably jaded from past experiences and affiiations. matter of fact, where the hell is the switch, I don't know if it is on or off and if I can't find the switch how am I supposed to know?

Excathedra, I understand, and I am wondering, like so much of everything we learned in the ministry was wrong? Not saying it was, but so much of the good habits I have, I had before I got into the ministry, and supposedly they were wrong, or at least the motivation behind them was wrong, or whatever... I guess what I am trying to say is this, there doesn't seem to be any real clear cut answers out there, but this much I do know, my heart was right in trying to help people, it was never about power, God knows, my life is just as much a mess as anyones, but there has to be a time or a way to help people that satisfies my need for helping someone, yet still doesn't leave someone else's life or mine in a mess.

To some of you others, controversy seems to be the direction of your life and your still headed that way. It is kind of like a train though, by following the tracks, you can't exactly tell which way it is going and if you have guessed wrong, you are in for a serious collision at some point. Socks, what is a guy to say? how do you top that? Is that the reason for your name? Is that where you store it?

Gee, not exactly sure what kind of debate I have started here but it certainly remains worth reading. Excathedra, Thanks, not exactly sure why yet, but I feel that thanks are in order for you. At least you have the ability to make a statement without turning it into a controversy. Heaven knows we have had enough of that in our time.

Zixar, I think you may be correct, I better grab a blankie and pillow too. Oh Yeah, bring a snickers too, we could be here awhile.

Thank you to all of you that replied, I deeply appreciate it. Maybe there are some issues that I should clear up. First, I wasn't "in" when VPW was around and never had an opportunity to meet him and I certainly do not have the years of background that some of you seem to have. But... I was a Branch Coordinator at one time, and the part I remember most was the fact that I was so terribly busy all the time, working a full time job and then Branch responsibilities at least 40 to 50 hours a week. Seems like every evening was either wrapped up in meetings, fellowships or preparations for either of the two, as well as every weekend, holiday and vacations, which were always spent at the Rock. I don't miss being that busy, although I seem to stay pretty busy still. One thing I can tell you for sure right now is that I can stay busy enough at work now that I don't really need homework assignments or research projects.

Wow, that has been a lot of great reading, great learning experience. Yes, I am a male in my mid 40's and I find all of the responsibility for the indescretions with teenyboppers to be totally without excuse. Not acceptable. Not right. Wrong on every count, no matter how you try to justify it. Likewise, with the indescretions with any age individual in any situation outside of consensual sex between two single individuals on equal levels of responsibility. Not sure if that makes sense but for what it is worth, just my thoughts

I have a few questions that I would like some sincere answers to. First and foremost, I have not read all the testimonies of the terrible indescretions that have taken place. Fact of the matter is, I would like to but I am not sure exactly where to find them. Secondly, I am not sure if this is a question yet or just a statement I am going to make. I got involved in 86 and so I don't have the history that so many of you have, was never WC or anything like that, was only in 10 years and walked away before anyone could fabricate anything about me. I had every intention of being able to help people, and believe to this day that I did help alot of people. I remember some very sweet times in small fellowships and stuff like that, lot of small local events that were wonderfully fun, and decent. I guess the question is this. Which part of it was real and which part of it was all imagination? I would also like to state that I have no desire to go back, don't really know the way back and for all practical purposes don't even care. Was happy to be there, happy to be gone. I work weird shift so don't really have an opportunity to get on here when everyone else is on, everytime I do get on and go to the chat room, it is empty. My handle (dawayback) refers to dawayback end of the back forty, deep in the forest. That is where I seem to exist as far as this ministry stuff goes, but at times would love to contact some of the people that I had interactions with (that is interactions, not intercourse). Maybe this isn't even the right greasespot for that, but I am willing to be educated if someone is willing to provide a little instruction. Not sure when I will have an opportunity to check this again as this is a big weekend coming up regarding something I am still faithful to. Go Pack, hope for a big win in PHI this weekend. dawayback

Well, to be totally frank, I was frank about being frank, although I am no Frank, but I know a Frank, but I don't know if he is a foot-long or not, or even care, he is quite frankly a real hot dog.

Speaking frankly, the thought of sex does seem to be distracting at times, but not thoughts of franks, or frank or frankly just sex. Hence this discussion may result in some frank comments about sex or some sex comments about frank, but honestly, in my mind Frank and sex do not run in the same thought processes.