The main problem with all the TWI leadership's "center of God's will" argument is that it is really used interchangeably with "the center of Rosie's will", or whatever leader is using that phrase to impose their will upon the unsuspecting victim. It really means "doing exactly what that leader wants you to do".
Yet when you examine their lives with that kind of scrutiny it is so far from holding up. I mean I guess maintaining a harem besides one's wife would be "towards the edge of God's will"????? Or how about marking and avoiding or placing on probation anyone that disagrees with you consistently? Spending $20K/yr of ABS on liability insurance for your top officers? I could go on. Jesus Christ taught us to know people by their fruit.
Yes, absolutely the "center of God's Will" is nothing more or less than language of control. Because they equate themselves to God. And don't even measure up to an average Christian in how they treat people. Or for that matter an average Muslim or Buddhist.
Anyway, where did this phrase come from? (So who's it plagiarized from, then?)
The word "centre" isn't even in KJV. It occurs in other versions, and, where relating to people, is almost always where an accused person is standing in the centre of a ring of accusers (eg, woman in adultery).
Young's Literal Translation gives this:
Into the centre is the lot cast, And from Jehovah [is] all its judgment!
...the penny drops...they wanted us in a place they could accuse us...
No, in case they should feel like beaming in on me again.
(well actually they'd never get away with it a second time)
Tell you what, I never felt so guilty/under condemnation as I did at that place - the more I tried to do what was required, the more oppression I got from on high. I must really have been in the center of ... somebody's will ... but not God's I don't think. Somebody's will to "doormatize" me.
Or maybe, using TWI-speak ... center of which God's will ...?
No, in case they should feel like beaming in on me again.
(well actually they'd never get away with it a second time)
Tell you what, I never felt so guilty/under condemnation as I did at that place - the more I tried to do what was required, the more oppression I got from on high. I must really have been in the center of ... somebody's will ... but not God's I don't think. Somebody's will to "doormatize" me.
Or maybe, using TWI-speak ... center of which God's will ...?
This saying seems to date from after I left.
It just seems to beg for the standard response...
(Don't you want to conform to what the way international teaches?)
"Don't you want to live in the center of God's will?"
" 'Center of God's will'? CHAPTER AND VERSE, PLEASE."
Anyway, where did this phrase come from? (So who's it plagiarized from, then?)
A JAL-ism, maybe?
"Center of God's will" sounds to me like a sort of re-vamp of the "good and best" thing we used to self-righteously proclaim. You remember, "giving to the Red Cross is good, but is it really the best?" So, nowadays if someone isn't standing with TWI, the strategy is not to say what they are doing is bad, or that they're copped out, or even that God isn't blessing them. The question is, "Are they in the center of God's Will, like the 'elite ones' in The Way International"?
Then we go our Corps meeting or something and talk about how we are the few who are living at "the center of God's Will." The future of this country and of the Kingdom of God rests on us. Then we all inhale deeply, the lights fade on the podium. The curtain opens as the guitar loudly bangs a major chord while the symbols crash. People in the audience weep as they thank God that they have been favored to be one of those, "in the center of God's Will".
The songs ends, with sustained, perfect 5-part harmony while people in the audience have begun to hold hands and a loud voice comes from the stage and says, "God bless, I love you, you are the best!" On we go, back to our rooms and trailers with a new dawn in our hearts because we are at the, "center of God's will".
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waysider
I think, in essence, it's really a catch phrase describing one's level of commitment to The Way.
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OldSkool
Well that makes sense. It would seem like a method of control to string a person deeper into subservience to the way international.
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Bolshevik
The Word of God is da Will of God.
Therefore . . .
The Center of God's Will is the book of Psalms . . .
Psalms are songs? . . .
Sooooo. . . The Center of God's Will is Way Productions . . .
The center of which is . . . Ted Ph!Ll!ps ?
Be Ted, Oldskool, unlock your inner Ted . . .
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waysider
Well, if you want to please God and serve His people, you need to strive to be at the center of God's will. <_<
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OldSkool
So, I can be left of center?...
Ya, gonna go unlock my inner-Ted now....lol...
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Steve Lortz
You just don't wanna be... LEFT BEHIND!
Love,
Steve
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waysider
Take the time to journey to the center of your mind.
edit:
This is a two-fer. You get "center" and "Ted" all wrapped up in one package.
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chockfull
Irrefutable logic.
Thus, I too, am ready for Ted.
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Gen-2
Mr Owl,... How many licks does it take to get to the chewey Center of God's Will?
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OldSkool
mmmm....1....2.....3.....4......
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chockfull
The main problem with all the TWI leadership's "center of God's will" argument is that it is really used interchangeably with "the center of Rosie's will", or whatever leader is using that phrase to impose their will upon the unsuspecting victim. It really means "doing exactly what that leader wants you to do".
Yet when you examine their lives with that kind of scrutiny it is so far from holding up. I mean I guess maintaining a harem besides one's wife would be "towards the edge of God's will"????? Or how about marking and avoiding or placing on probation anyone that disagrees with you consistently? Spending $20K/yr of ABS on liability insurance for your top officers? I could go on. Jesus Christ taught us to know people by their fruit.
Yes, absolutely the "center of God's Will" is nothing more or less than language of control. Because they equate themselves to God. And don't even measure up to an average Christian in how they treat people. Or for that matter an average Muslim or Buddhist.
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Twinky
Anyway, where did this phrase come from? (So who's it plagiarized from, then?)
The word "centre" isn't even in KJV. It occurs in other versions, and, where relating to people, is almost always where an accused person is standing in the centre of a ring of accusers (eg, woman in adultery).
Young's Literal Translation gives this:
...the penny drops...they wanted us in a place they could accuse us...
(runs for cover)
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waysider
Runs for cover? Why? For tellin' it like it is?
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Twinky
No, in case they should feel like beaming in on me again.
(well actually they'd never get away with it a second time)
Tell you what, I never felt so guilty/under condemnation as I did at that place - the more I tried to do what was required, the more oppression I got from on high. I must really have been in the center of ... somebody's will ... but not God's I don't think. Somebody's will to "doormatize" me.
Or maybe, using TWI-speak ... center of which God's will ...?
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WordWolf
This saying seems to date from after I left.
It just seems to beg for the standard response...
(Don't you want to conform to what the way international teaches?)
"Don't you want to live in the center of God's will?"
" 'Center of God's will'? CHAPTER AND VERSE, PLEASE."
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Ham
maybe this is a scary thought..
I've ALWAYS been in the center of God's Will..
it never had anything to do with a second or third rate cult..
well.. my opinion anyway..
even as some might say.. as dysfunctional as I may or may not be..
what does that say about the supposed god's will, hmm?
I hope He has a sense of humor..
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Ham
Maybe what it was I was trying to say..
I've always been in the center of gawd's will
no matter how screwed up it was..
heh.. that's probably worse than the last post..
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OldSkool
Either way you're cracking me up and on a roll!
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Ham
Maybe Arnold was right..
before he was a loyal republican, anyway..
it was a memorable quate about the gods..
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Ham
If they aren't going to help us..
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OldSkool
then to h3ll with them!
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Ham
heh.. if I remember correctly.. "tell them to stay the h*ll out of the way.."
the "battle" has turned so.. civilized..
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Ham
sorry if it "ruins" anybody's "trip"..
we seem to be played one against another.. one lifetime after another..
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Broken Arrow
A JAL-ism, maybe?
"Center of God's will" sounds to me like a sort of re-vamp of the "good and best" thing we used to self-righteously proclaim. You remember, "giving to the Red Cross is good, but is it really the best?" So, nowadays if someone isn't standing with TWI, the strategy is not to say what they are doing is bad, or that they're copped out, or even that God isn't blessing them. The question is, "Are they in the center of God's Will, like the 'elite ones' in The Way International"?
Then we go our Corps meeting or something and talk about how we are the few who are living at "the center of God's Will." The future of this country and of the Kingdom of God rests on us. Then we all inhale deeply, the lights fade on the podium. The curtain opens as the guitar loudly bangs a major chord while the symbols crash. People in the audience weep as they thank God that they have been favored to be one of those, "in the center of God's Will".
The songs ends, with sustained, perfect 5-part harmony while people in the audience have begun to hold hands and a loud voice comes from the stage and says, "God bless, I love you, you are the best!" On we go, back to our rooms and trailers with a new dawn in our hearts because we are at the, "center of God's will".
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