Claudettee had a polyp on her vocal chords removed in the early 90s. THAT'S when she went the more the way of the secretary. Moved to Atlanta and tried an online cookie store and who knows what else. She is and always has been one of BellaDonna's BFFs. Bob S. OTOH, I've really enjoyed ever since Wayne Merrill had him play at some meeting we did in IL, in 1977. That's all it took, and I got him hooked up to do his first album for TWIt and he became a mainstay at the ROA. That he is STILL a wayfer, and in addition, a "product" of Bill Greene is just completely insane. Bill Greene's ONLY claim to fame was that he once appeared in a porn flick and that he was a "weatherman" on some local TV station in KY or TN before becoming the faithful moggie he is today. If i hired the best screenwriters in Hollywood or NY, I still could not script a stranger, more pathetic, more morally depraved, story of a group of miscreants and perverts than the actual, factual history of dic's pathetic cult. Truly, among all humans, the most miserable and despicable.
Claudettee had a polyp on her vocal chords removed in the early 90s. THAT'S when she went the more the way of the secretary. Moved to Atlanta and tried an online cookie store and who knows what else. She is and always has been one of BellaDonna's BFFs. Bob S. OTOH, I've really enjoyed ever since Wayne Merrill had him play at some meeting we did in IL, in 1977. That's all it took, and I got him hooked up to do his first album for TWIt and he became a mainstay at the ROA. That he is STILL a wayfer, and in addition, a "product" of Bill Greene is just completely insane. Bill Greene's ONLY claim to fame was that he once appeared in a porn flick and that he was a "weatherman" on some local TV station in KY or TN before becoming the faithful moggie he is today. If i hired the best screenwriters in Hollywood or NY, I still could not script a stranger, more pathetic, more morally depraved, story of a group of miscreants and perverts than the actual, factual history of dic's pathetic cult. Truly, among all humans, the most miserable and despicable.
Bob S used to be more like the S in Seger. Like Eminem - Michael M@rtin - from Chi-town Northern IL area bands old Acts 29 days. The Way has surgically removed their test@cles.
So with Bilbo being added to the BOD, bringing in the element of pr0n, does that mean now that the theme of the Way Board of Directors is morphing into gay pr0n? That would explain the evolution of the musical sound from the 70's LOL
This topic seems flexible. I didn't want to start a new thread, so, hopefully, this will fit in.
Couple nights ago I watched Athletes of the Spirit for the first time in at least 20 years. A week ago was LCMs 69th bday. I wondered what it would be like to see it outside of the contexts of a)1985 and all the hype, and b) after leaving twi and hearing all the criticism/ridicule here and elsewhere. Just wanted to see it as a single event independent of controversy. I thought I might stop watching after 5-15 minutes; didn't know.
I watched it in its entirety. Nothing life changing, but a few things came to mind.
1) Ken McCaw did the music. He's still got it. He currently helps other exwayfers record stuff and he did a CD in 2005 called 'Where righteousness prevails'. He must have had a lot to do with that twi recording called 'Bold and blessed' which I always liked. I thought his contribution to AOS was excellent.
2) Overall, I thought it was a good production. Some of those people were professional dancers. Even LCM did not look terribly out of place (imo). Recently, Kurt Warner was on 'Dancing with the stars'. He lasted only a few rounds, but he said that being a quarterback actually helped him with doing those dance steps. QBs have to practice footwork for when they go back in the pocket and have to decide very quickly whether to pass the ball or roll out to the left or right or even run with the ball. LCM wasn't a QB but his athletic background didn't appear to hinder him much. AOS was filmed in front of a live audience, and ONE TIME I noticed LCM dropped somebody he was moving side to side (he held this person's thigh with one hand and upper arm with the other and was trying to toss him/her a few feet over and he lost his grip on the thigh). Other than that he seemed to execute all moves successfully.
There's more but I gotta leave for fellowship. Back later.
This topic seems flexible. I didn't want to start a new thread, so, hopefully, this will fit in.
Couple nights ago I watched Athletes of the Spirit for the first time in at least 20 years. A week ago was LCMs 69th bday. I wondered what it would be like to see it outside of the contexts of a)1985 and all the hype, and b) after leaving twi and hearing all the criticism/ridicule here and elsewhere. Just wanted to see it as a single event independent of controversy. I thought I might stop watching after 5-15 minutes; didn't know.
I watched it in its entirety. Nothing life changing, but a few things came to mind.
1) Ken McCaw did the music. He's still got it. He currently helps other exwayfers record stuff and he did a CD in 2005 called 'Where righteousness prevails'. He must have had a lot to do with that twi recording called 'Bold and blessed' which I always liked. I thought his contribution to AOS was excellent.
2) Overall, I thought it was a good production. Some of those people were professional dancers. Even LCM did not look terribly out of place (imo). Recently, Kurt Warner was on 'Dancing with the stars'. He lasted only a few rounds, but he said that being a quarterback actually helped him with doing those dance steps. QBs have to practice footwork for when they go back in the pocket and have to decide very quickly whether to pass the ball or roll out to the left or right or even run with the ball. LCM wasn't a QB but his athletic background didn't appear to hinder him much. AOS was filmed in front of a live audience, and ONE TIME I noticed LCM dropped somebody he was moving side to side (he held this person's thigh with one hand and upper arm with the other and was trying to toss him/her a few feet over and he lost his grip on the thigh). Other than that he seemed to execute all moves successfully.
There's more but I gotta leave for fellowship. Back later.
OK I'm back.
3) LCM claimed that AOS was an 'allegory', which he said was an extended metaphor. We were also taught that a metaphor is a comparison by representation. Example: the communion ceremony...take, eat, this is (this (the bread) represents) my body which is broken for you. Suggesting that the Christian success alluded to in the narration of AOS was represented by the dancing/judo/karate moves. Sounds plausible, but...
4) Some of the doctrine behind AOS I don't have a problem with. OK, God, His angels, and His people are the good guys; the devil, his angels and his people are the bad guys. Check. The devil is still the god of this world and can still control a LOT of things that happen in the world. Check. It is possible for God's people, under good leadership, to make the world less evil and less dark than it could be. BUT...
5) There was no specific instruction in AOS on what was and was not good leadership and good training. It was all implied to a target audience familiar with the terminology used in AOS, AND...it ultimately didn't work.
6) IMO there is some value in the concept. Who else would make a production like that? The catholic church? Landover Baptist? It definitely gives the viewer something to think about. Who knows? A hundred years from now someone might watch it and get really inspired. Enough to start an effort that will bless a lot of people. That is, if Christ hasn't returned.
I wonder if anyone from twi today finds any value in it.
Edited by johniam so that 'previously on Johniam is horizontal, not vertical
This topic seems flexible. I didn't want to start a new thread, so, hopefully, this will fit in.
Couple nights ago I watched Athletes of the Spirit for the first time in at least 20 years. A week ago was LCMs 69th bday. I wondered what it would be like to see it outside of the contexts of a)1985 and all the hype, and b) after leaving twi and hearing all the criticism/ridicule here and elsewhere. Just wanted to see it as a single event independent of controversy. I thought I might stop watching after 5-15 minutes; didn't know.
I watched it in its entirety. Nothing life changing, but a few things came to mind.
1) Ken McCaw did the music. He's still got it. He currently helps other exwayfers record stuff and he did a CD in 2005 called 'Where righteousness prevails'. He must have had a lot to do with that twi recording called 'Bold and blessed' which I always liked. I thought his contribution to AOS was excellent.
2) Overall, I thought it was a good production. Some of those people were professional dancers. Even LCM did not look terribly out of place (imo). Recently, Kurt Warner was on 'Dancing with the stars'. He lasted only a few rounds, but he said that being a quarterback actually helped him with doing those dance steps. QBs have to practice footwork for when they go back in the pocket and have to decide very quickly whether to pass the ball or roll out to the left or right or even run with the ball. LCM wasn't a QB but his athletic background didn't appear to hinder him much. AOS was filmed in front of a live audience, and ONE TIME I noticed LCM dropped somebody he was moving side to side (he held this person's thigh with one hand and upper arm with the other and was trying to toss him/her a few feet over and he lost his grip on the thigh). Other than that he seemed to execute all moves successfully.
There's more but I gotta leave for fellowship. Back later.
OK I'm back.
3) LCM claimed that AOS was an 'allegory', which he said was an extended metaphor. We were also taught that a metaphor is a comparison by representation. Example: the communion ceremony...take, eat, this is (this (the bread) represents) my body which is broken for you. Suggesting that the Christian success alluded to in the narration of AOS was represented by the dancing/judo/karate moves. Sounds plausible, but...
4) Some of the doctrine behind AOS I don't have a problem with. OK, God, His angels, and His people are the good guys; the devil, his angels and his people are the bad guys. Check. The devil is still the god of this world and can still control a LOT of things that happen in the world. Check. It is possible for God's people, under good leadership, to make the world less evil and less dark than it could be. BUT...
5) There was no specific instruction in AOS on what was and was not good leadership and good training. It was all implied to a target audience familiar with the terminology used in AOS, AND...it ultimately didn't work.
6) IMO there is some value in the concept. Who else would make a production like that? The catholic church? Landover Baptist? It definitely gives the viewer something to think about. Who knows? A hundred years from now someone might watch it and get really inspired. Enough to start an effort that will bless a lot of people. That is, if Christ hasn't returned.
I wonder if anyone from twi today finds any value in it.
John, you have a right to express your views, but in my view, AOS was beyond boring. Five minutes after it started, I fell asleep, and didn't wake up until it ended. Perhaps other people found it inspiring; I thought the dancing was horrible.
This topic seems flexible. I didn't want to start a new thread, so, hopefully, this will fit in.
It kind of doesn't. I mean I know someone encouraged it by posting up a Dirk Diggler video and that had to remind you of LCM in tights thus inspiring you to watch Athletes of the Spirit, but I think it is a little too far of a leap for most people to make the connection. Thus a video review of Athletes doesn't exactly flow with the topic.
Billbo Greene was a local weatherman in some place like Bowling Green, KY. He was trying to break into "showbiz"/media, so he ran with a young, liberally sexual crowd. Eventually through "networking", Billy boy got a one scene part in some amateur porn video. According to him it was a "one-time deal", and he "had fun". That's about it. Occurred some time in the 70s before Billy-boy took Piffle. That's all he ever told me about it.
Hello happy people. Everyone taking their Flintstone vitamins? Stayin' frosty, my friends? Keep at it, the world needs you. My icon is gone forever I see, lost in the ether of the server moves. Till I find it, I'm using the one at left, and if you know what it means please - remember the oath of silence. I will speak of this no more.
The "WAP" class - I didn't "take" it or attend it or perhaps more accurately did not endure it. Some thoughts -
They couldn't come up with a better name for the replacement to PFAL than that? The acronym WAP is so useless. I know, that's not the biggest issue at stake but to put that burden on the beleaguered shoulders of an already tired and worn out membership was kinda mean. It does fit the Martindale personae though. Did a man ever exist with less charisma? I liked Craig well enough when I knew him but he always seemed like a talking mannequin. I'm being kind here. Anyway...
Bliss, that brochure cover looks like it's from the 70's, was some time travel involved in it being made? I don't have any innie friends so I am missing this kind of stuff. Good reason to keep it that way.
It's incredibly strange for the Way to continue to promote a filmed product taught by a person they had to fire and disavow any connection to, even for the Way. Isn't he pretty much personae-non-grata at the Way for all practical purposes? I'm sure there's some reasoning for keeping it going but it can't over come the simple reality that to even play the product requires a disclaimer. I'd love to hear how they handle that. Lemme guess - "all your questions will be answered in the Class. After. So write them down now. For later. Sign here".
I would guess it fits into their overall public relations strategy (sorry, had to clear my throat writing that, I'm back) buuuut if you look at their website there's apparently no real people with names involved, other than a few lines that refer to a "Board of Directors", which is I guess all they think the public needs to know. Even the quotes of happy customers have no name credited.
****** WAP 1, 2, 3 or whatever the titles - I was reminded that Martindale isn't the teacher of the WAP course that people would attend today, it's gone through a few revisions and is currently taught by 3 Representatives, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Smell No Evil, I guess. So it's no longer Mr. Personality doing the teaching. I guess there's a ray of light in those clouds after all, hey?
The Way is a perfect example of silo'd thinking. They're locked into a progression they feel they have to uphold so they don't look outside "the box" they're in. If they were as concerned about really reaching people and helping them as they are with avoidance and covering their asses they'd see there are some very very very obvious routes they could take to "re energize" their efforts that would still give them a layer of legal protection for past events, which is what it appears they're most concerned with. *******
Now knowing how frequently The Way loses people and members shift their status with them that may serve some purposes but it makes it look like a hack job, a phony business front, which is very common in the digital world today and is marketing -101 for the masses of online media miscreants gaming your clicks. Even the Catholic Church has a big ass photo of the current Pope mugging for the camera on the Holy See site. Sight. Web site.
One thing I do know - classes taught to people in living rooms huddled on brown metal chairs every night suck. It's a painful way to reach people but many of us endured.
There are better ways to pass on the teachings of the Bible and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It works but I feel so sad whenever I see photos of people in chairs in rooms somewhere and a guy at a table up front huddled down, "teaching". They talk, you shut up and listen, questions later.
It's not like they're trying to teach Calculus or Advanced Trigonometry or C# or Java. It can be done around a camp fire, over the phone, in a living room setting or in a coffee shop. It doesn't have to be crammed into 2 or 3 weeks, it can be done over days, weeks, months very effectively, as Christianity is a new life and a new lifestyle. Life doesn't jam into small spaces well.
Many many years ago I spent hours on the floor of my living room with friends, bibles and books strewn across the floor reading and talking and studying. We chattered like kids. Well, we were, pretty much so we did. We drank coffee like it was a sacrament. We had a great time. There was laughter, at things no one had to be cued for! No one had to tell us to be on time but sometimes I had to tell them to go home when it got late. All that metal brown chair stuff is just cruel, and needs to be kept to a minimum.
I guess it's no surprise they still hustle the old stuff though, it takes little effort and probably feels comfortable to them. "ROI". I wonder when they go to sleep at night there at the Way Nash if they hear echoes across the grounds, of years past and wonder at all, about anything....probably not.
Stay swell, my friends! Peace!
P.S. AOS? No. Absolutely not. Uh uh. Nada. Zip. Bad cha cha. Absolute travesty, took several years for everyone involved to evoke their "plausible deniability" clause. So no. Stop it. No.
P.S.S. AOS? No. Does anyone really think they got ANYthing out of it's depiction of the devil spirit realm? Anyone wanted to be just like Craig? It has about the same emotional and intellectual impact as a Celebrex commercial and the spiritual value of an Our Lady of Fatima Merry Christmas Snow Globe............ Accept no substitutes for "no". It was a washed out waste of time that didn't survive, for good reason. No - the best comparison is that it had the same impact of Craig Martindale onstage that year at the ROA, illustrating the word "kratos", where he had his "trainer", Dupe, holding a big piece of wood that he then was supposed to karate chop in half with a single slice of his all powerful hand. Except he didn't, he bruised his hand and beat on that poor board two or three times until finally even Dupe looked embarrassed. it wasn't exactly Karate Kid, put it that way. (anyone else remember that?)
This topic seems flexible. I didn't want to start a new thread, so, hopefully, this will fit in.
Couple nights ago I watched Athletes of the Spirit for the first time in at least 20 years. A week ago was LCMs 69th bday. I wondered what it would be like to see it outside of the contexts of a)1985 and all the hype, and b) after leaving twi and hearing all the criticism/ridicule here and elsewhere. Just wanted to see it as a single event independent of controversy. I thought I might stop watching after 5-15 minutes; didn't know.
I watched it in its entirety. Nothing life changing, but a few things came to mind.
1) Ken McCaw did the music. He's still got it. He currently helps other exwayfers record stuff and he did a CD in 2005 called 'Where righteousness prevails'. He must have had a lot to do with that twi recording called 'Bold and blessed' which I always liked. I thought his contribution to AOS was excellent.
2) Overall, I thought it was a good production. Some of those people were professional dancers. Even LCM did not look terribly out of place (imo). Recently, Kurt Warner was on 'Dancing with the stars'. He lasted only a few rounds, but he said that being a quarterback actually helped him with doing those dance steps. QBs have to practice footwork for when they go back in the pocket and have to decide very quickly whether to pass the ball or roll out to the left or right or even run with the ball. LCM wasn't a QB but his athletic background didn't appear to hinder him much. AOS was filmed in front of a live audience, and ONE TIME I noticed LCM dropped somebody he was moving side to side (he held this person's thigh with one hand and upper arm with the other and was trying to toss him/her a few feet over and he lost his grip on the thigh). Other than that he seemed to execute all moves successfully.
There's more but I gotta leave for fellowship. Back later.
OK I'm back.
3) LCM claimed that AOS was an 'allegory', which he said was an extended metaphor. We were also taught that a metaphor is a comparison by representation. Example: the communion ceremony...take, eat, this is (this (the bread) represents) my body which is broken for you. Suggesting that the Christian success alluded to in the narration of AOS was represented by the dancing/judo/karate moves. Sounds plausible, but...
4) Some of the doctrine behind AOS I don't have a problem with. OK, God, His angels, and His people are the good guys; the devil, his angels and his people are the bad guys. Check. The devil is still the god of this world and can still control a LOT of things that happen in the world. Check. It is possible for God's people, under good leadership, to make the world less evil and less dark than it could be. BUT...
5) There was no specific instruction in AOS on what was and was not good leadership and good training. It was all implied to a target audience familiar with the terminology used in AOS, AND...it ultimately didn't work.
6) IMO there is some value in the concept. Who else would make a production like that? The catholic church? Landover Baptist? It definitely gives the viewer something to think about. Who knows? A hundred years from now someone might watch it and get really inspired. Enough to start an effort that will bless a lot of people. That is, if Christ hasn't returned.
I wonder if anyone from twi today finds any value in it.
John, I saw AOS in Rome City, In., in July of 1985. If you liked it, that's fine; it put me to sleep better than any sleeping pill, I have ever taken. Of course, LCM talked it up; it was his baby. I know he was very proud of it. Me, I thought a lot of it was off The Word; and a huge waste of resources.
Athletes of the Spirit was corny as fuq. End of story. Even rosie n donna have disavowed all knowledge of that pos production.
On a side not a couple of my in rez way corps peers witnessed to the seed of the serpent lady from AOS in Colorado in 2002. Needless to say she didnt want to come to fellowship....lol
One thing I do know - classes taught to people in living rooms huddled on brown metal chairs every night suck. It's a painful way to reach people but many of us endured.
There are better ways to pass on the teachings of the Bible and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It works but I feel so sad whenever I see photos of people in chairs in rooms somewhere and a guy at a table up front huddled down, "teaching". They talk, you shut up and listen, questions later.
There are better ways, Socks. But those don't wear you down, leading to brainwashing and Waybrain.
One thing I do know - classes taught to people in living rooms huddled on brown metal chairs every night suck. It's a painful way to reach people but many of us endured.
There are better ways to pass on the teachings of the Bible and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It works but I feel so sad whenever I see photos of people in chairs in rooms somewhere and a guy at a table up front huddled down, "teaching". They talk, you shut up and listen, questions later.
There are better ways, Socks. But those don't wear you down, leading to brainwashing and Waybrain.
Soc, those brown chairs; how I hated them!! But you are right; they really did suck. Years ago, I took a Bible class in a church. What a difference the chairs made. The chairs were comfortable, and when the lesson ended, I got up without lower back pain. Thank God for small mercies.
One thing I do know - classes taught to people in living rooms huddled on brown metal chairs every night suck. It's a painful way to reach people but many of us endured.
There are better ways to pass on the teachings of the Bible and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It works but I feel so sad whenever I see photos of people in chairs in rooms somewhere and a guy at a table up front huddled down, "teaching". They talk, you shut up and listen, questions later.
It's not like they're trying to teach Calculus or Advanced Trigonometry or C# or Java. It can be done around a camp fire, over the phone, in a living room setting or in a coffee shop. It doesn't have to be crammed into 2 or 3 weeks, it can be done over days, weeks, months very effectively, as Christianity is a new life and a new lifestyle. Life doesn't jam into small spaces well.
Many many years ago I spent hours on the floor of my living room with friends, bibles and books strewn across the floor reading and talking and studying. We chattered like kids. Well, we were, pretty much so we did. We drank coffee like it was a sacrament. We had a great time. There was laughter, at things no one had to be cued for! No one had to tell us to be on time but sometimes I had to tell them to go home when it got late. All that metal brown chair stuff is just cruel, and needs to be kept to a minimum.
I guess it's no surprise they still hustle the old stuff though, it takes little effort and probably feels comfortable to them. "ROI". I wonder when they go to sleep at night there at the Way Nash if they hear echoes across the grounds, of years past and wonder at all, about anything....probably not.
Stay swell, my friends! Peace!
Like perhaps the Socratic method... which would work great if actual teaching was the primary goal, except that it teaches critical thinking skills.
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DontWorryBeHappy
Claudettee had a polyp on her vocal chords removed in the early 90s. THAT'S when she went the more the way of the secretary. Moved to Atlanta and tried an online cookie store and who knows what else. She is and always has been one of BellaDonna's BFFs. Bob S. OTOH, I've really enjoyed ever since Wayne Merrill had him play at some meeting we did in IL, in 1977. That's all it took, and I got him hooked up to do his first album for TWIt and he became a mainstay at the ROA. That he is STILL a wayfer, and in addition, a "product" of Bill Greene is just completely insane. Bill Greene's ONLY claim to fame was that he once appeared in a porn flick and that he was a "weatherman" on some local TV station in KY or TN before becoming the faithful moggie he is today. If i hired the best screenwriters in Hollywood or NY, I still could not script a stranger, more pathetic, more morally depraved, story of a group of miscreants and perverts than the actual, factual history of dic's pathetic cult. Truly, among all humans, the most miserable and despicable.
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chockfull
Bob S used to be more like the S in Seger. Like Eminem - Michael M@rtin - from Chi-town Northern IL area bands old Acts 29 days. The Way has surgically removed their test@cles.
So with Bilbo being added to the BOD, bringing in the element of pr0n, does that mean now that the theme of the Way Board of Directors is morphing into gay pr0n? That would explain the evolution of the musical sound from the 70's LOL
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OldSkool
Is this the future of way prod?
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DontWorryBeHappy
LOL OldSkool!
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Bolshevik
Cl@udette did make good cookies.
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OldSkool
Yes she does. I stalked the kitchens in founders hall on more than one occasion when she was making cookies.
Edited by OldSkoolLink to comment
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johniam
This topic seems flexible. I didn't want to start a new thread, so, hopefully, this will fit in.
Couple nights ago I watched Athletes of the Spirit for the first time in at least 20 years. A week ago was LCMs 69th bday. I wondered what it would be like to see it outside of the contexts of a)1985 and all the hype, and b) after leaving twi and hearing all the criticism/ridicule here and elsewhere. Just wanted to see it as a single event independent of controversy. I thought I might stop watching after 5-15 minutes; didn't know.
I watched it in its entirety. Nothing life changing, but a few things came to mind.
1) Ken McCaw did the music. He's still got it. He currently helps other exwayfers record stuff and he did a CD in 2005 called 'Where righteousness prevails'. He must have had a lot to do with that twi recording called 'Bold and blessed' which I always liked. I thought his contribution to AOS was excellent.
2) Overall, I thought it was a good production. Some of those people were professional dancers. Even LCM did not look terribly out of place (imo). Recently, Kurt Warner was on 'Dancing with the stars'. He lasted only a few rounds, but he said that being a quarterback actually helped him with doing those dance steps. QBs have to practice footwork for when they go back in the pocket and have to decide very quickly whether to pass the ball or roll out to the left or right or even run with the ball. LCM wasn't a QB but his athletic background didn't appear to hinder him much. AOS was filmed in front of a live audience, and ONE TIME I noticed LCM dropped somebody he was moving side to side (he held this person's thigh with one hand and upper arm with the other and was trying to toss him/her a few feet over and he lost his grip on the thigh). Other than that he seemed to execute all moves successfully.
There's more but I gotta leave for fellowship. Back later.
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Allan
whilst we're throwing away songs here's one from me...insert way ministry where you want !!
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johniam
Previously on Johniam....
This topic seems flexible. I didn't want to start a new thread, so, hopefully, this will fit in.
Couple nights ago I watched Athletes of the Spirit for the first time in at least 20 years. A week ago was LCMs 69th bday. I wondered what it would be like to see it outside of the contexts of a)1985 and all the hype, and b) after leaving twi and hearing all the criticism/ridicule here and elsewhere. Just wanted to see it as a single event independent of controversy. I thought I might stop watching after 5-15 minutes; didn't know.
I watched it in its entirety. Nothing life changing, but a few things came to mind.
1) Ken McCaw did the music. He's still got it. He currently helps other exwayfers record stuff and he did a CD in 2005 called 'Where righteousness prevails'. He must have had a lot to do with that twi recording called 'Bold and blessed' which I always liked. I thought his contribution to AOS was excellent.
2) Overall, I thought it was a good production. Some of those people were professional dancers. Even LCM did not look terribly out of place (imo). Recently, Kurt Warner was on 'Dancing with the stars'. He lasted only a few rounds, but he said that being a quarterback actually helped him with doing those dance steps. QBs have to practice footwork for when they go back in the pocket and have to decide very quickly whether to pass the ball or roll out to the left or right or even run with the ball. LCM wasn't a QB but his athletic background didn't appear to hinder him much. AOS was filmed in front of a live audience, and ONE TIME I noticed LCM dropped somebody he was moving side to side (he held this person's thigh with one hand and upper arm with the other and was trying to toss him/her a few feet over and he lost his grip on the thigh). Other than that he seemed to execute all moves successfully.
There's more but I gotta leave for fellowship. Back later.
OK I'm back.
3) LCM claimed that AOS was an 'allegory', which he said was an extended metaphor. We were also taught that a metaphor is a comparison by representation. Example: the communion ceremony...take, eat, this is (this (the bread) represents) my body which is broken for you. Suggesting that the Christian success alluded to in the narration of AOS was represented by the dancing/judo/karate moves. Sounds plausible, but...
4) Some of the doctrine behind AOS I don't have a problem with. OK, God, His angels, and His people are the good guys; the devil, his angels and his people are the bad guys. Check. The devil is still the god of this world and can still control a LOT of things that happen in the world. Check. It is possible for God's people, under good leadership, to make the world less evil and less dark than it could be. BUT...
5) There was no specific instruction in AOS on what was and was not good leadership and good training. It was all implied to a target audience familiar with the terminology used in AOS, AND...it ultimately didn't work.
6) IMO there is some value in the concept. Who else would make a production like that? The catholic church? Landover Baptist? It definitely gives the viewer something to think about. Who knows? A hundred years from now someone might watch it and get really inspired. Enough to start an effort that will bless a lot of people. That is, if Christ hasn't returned.
I wonder if anyone from twi today finds any value in it.
so that 'previously on Johniam is horizontal, not vertical
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bliss
@johniam in NO WAY do I find any value in AOS except some sweat equity on the part of the cast.
and @DontWorryBeHappy Billy was in a P0rn0?????? Do tell.
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Grace Valerie Claire
John, you have a right to express your views, but in my view, AOS was beyond boring. Five minutes after it started, I fell asleep, and didn't wake up until it ended. Perhaps other people found it inspiring; I thought the dancing was horrible.
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chockfull
It kind of doesn't. I mean I know someone encouraged it by posting up a Dirk Diggler video and that had to remind you of LCM in tights thus inspiring you to watch Athletes of the Spirit, but I think it is a little too far of a leap for most people to make the connection. Thus a video review of Athletes doesn't exactly flow with the topic.
LOL.
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DontWorryBeHappy
Bliss......hi!
Billbo Greene was a local weatherman in some place like Bowling Green, KY. He was trying to break into "showbiz"/media, so he ran with a young, liberally sexual crowd. Eventually through "networking", Billy boy got a one scene part in some amateur porn video. According to him it was a "one-time deal", and he "had fun". That's about it. Occurred some time in the 70s before Billy-boy took Piffle. That's all he ever told me about it.
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socks
Hello happy people. Everyone taking their Flintstone vitamins? Stayin' frosty, my friends? Keep at it, the world needs you. My icon is gone forever I see, lost in the ether of the server moves. Till I find it, I'm using the one at left, and if you know what it means please - remember the oath of silence. I will speak of this no more.
The "WAP" class - I didn't "take" it or attend it or perhaps more accurately did not endure it. Some thoughts -
They couldn't come up with a better name for the replacement to PFAL than that? The acronym WAP is so useless. I know, that's not the biggest issue at stake but to put that burden on the beleaguered shoulders of an already tired and worn out membership was kinda mean. It does fit the Martindale personae though. Did a man ever exist with less charisma? I liked Craig well enough when I knew him but he always seemed like a talking mannequin. I'm being kind here. Anyway...
Bliss, that brochure cover looks like it's from the 70's, was some time travel involved in it being made? I don't have any innie friends so I am missing this kind of stuff. Good reason to keep it that way.
It's incredibly strange for the Way to continue to promote a filmed product taught by a person they had to fire and disavow any connection to, even for the Way. Isn't he pretty much personae-non-grata at the Way for all practical purposes? I'm sure there's some reasoning for keeping it going but it can't over come the simple reality that to even play the product requires a disclaimer. I'd love to hear how they handle that. Lemme guess - "all your questions will be answered in the Class. After. So write them down now. For later. Sign here".
I would guess it fits into their overall public relations strategy (sorry, had to clear my throat writing that, I'm back) buuuut if you look at their website there's apparently no real people with names involved, other than a few lines that refer to a "Board of Directors", which is I guess all they think the public needs to know. Even the quotes of happy customers have no name credited.
****** WAP 1, 2, 3 or whatever the titles - I was reminded that Martindale isn't the teacher of the WAP course that people would attend today, it's gone through a few revisions and is currently taught by 3 Representatives, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Smell No Evil, I guess. So it's no longer Mr. Personality doing the teaching. I guess there's a ray of light in those clouds after all, hey?
The Way is a perfect example of silo'd thinking. They're locked into a progression they feel they have to uphold so they don't look outside "the box" they're in. If they were as concerned about really reaching people and helping them as they are with avoidance and covering their asses they'd see there are some very very very obvious routes they could take to "re energize" their efforts that would still give them a layer of legal protection for past events, which is what it appears they're most concerned with. *******
Now knowing how frequently The Way loses people and members shift their status with them that may serve some purposes but it makes it look like a hack job, a phony business front, which is very common in the digital world today and is marketing -101 for the masses of online media miscreants gaming your clicks. Even the Catholic Church has a big ass photo of the current Pope mugging for the camera on the Holy See site. Sight. Web site.
One thing I do know - classes taught to people in living rooms huddled on brown metal chairs every night suck. It's a painful way to reach people but many of us endured.
There are better ways to pass on the teachings of the Bible and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It works but I feel so sad whenever I see photos of people in chairs in rooms somewhere and a guy at a table up front huddled down, "teaching". They talk, you shut up and listen, questions later.
It's not like they're trying to teach Calculus or Advanced Trigonometry or C# or Java. It can be done around a camp fire, over the phone, in a living room setting or in a coffee shop. It doesn't have to be crammed into 2 or 3 weeks, it can be done over days, weeks, months very effectively, as Christianity is a new life and a new lifestyle. Life doesn't jam into small spaces well.
Many many years ago I spent hours on the floor of my living room with friends, bibles and books strewn across the floor reading and talking and studying. We chattered like kids. Well, we were, pretty much so we did. We drank coffee like it was a sacrament. We had a great time. There was laughter, at things no one had to be cued for! No one had to tell us to be on time but sometimes I had to tell them to go home when it got late. All that metal brown chair stuff is just cruel, and needs to be kept to a minimum.
I guess it's no surprise they still hustle the old stuff though, it takes little effort and probably feels comfortable to them. "ROI". I wonder when they go to sleep at night there at the Way Nash if they hear echoes across the grounds, of years past and wonder at all, about anything....probably not.
Stay swell, my friends! Peace!
P.S. AOS? No. Absolutely not. Uh uh. Nada. Zip. Bad cha cha. Absolute travesty, took several years for everyone involved to evoke their "plausible deniability" clause. So no. Stop it. No.
P.S.S. AOS? No. Does anyone really think they got ANYthing out of it's depiction of the devil spirit realm? Anyone wanted to be just like Craig? It has about the same emotional and intellectual impact as a Celebrex commercial and the spiritual value of an Our Lady of Fatima Merry Christmas Snow Globe............ Accept no substitutes for "no". It was a washed out waste of time that didn't survive, for good reason. No - the best comparison is that it had the same impact of Craig Martindale onstage that year at the ROA, illustrating the word "kratos", where he had his "trainer", Dupe, holding a big piece of wood that he then was supposed to karate chop in half with a single slice of his all powerful hand. Except he didn't, he bruised his hand and beat on that poor board two or three times until finally even Dupe looked embarrassed. it wasn't exactly Karate Kid, put it that way. (anyone else remember that?)
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Grace Valerie Claire
John, I saw AOS in Rome City, In., in July of 1985. If you liked it, that's fine; it put me to sleep better than any sleeping pill, I have ever taken. Of course, LCM talked it up; it was his baby. I know he was very proud of it. Me, I thought a lot of it was off The Word; and a huge waste of resources.
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OldSkool
Athletes of the Spirit was corny as fuq. End of story. Even rosie n donna have disavowed all knowledge of that pos production.
On a side not a couple of my in rez way corps peers witnessed to the seed of the serpent lady from AOS in Colorado in 2002. Needless to say she didnt want to come to fellowship....lol
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DontWorryBeHappy
Thanks for your annual post Socks! Always great to see ya and read ya!..............peace.
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So_crates
Socks said:
One thing I do know - classes taught to people in living rooms huddled on brown metal chairs every night suck. It's a painful way to reach people but many of us endured.
There are better ways to pass on the teachings of the Bible and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. It works but I feel so sad whenever I see photos of people in chairs in rooms somewhere and a guy at a table up front huddled down, "teaching". They talk, you shut up and listen, questions later.
There are better ways, Socks. But those don't wear you down, leading to brainwashing and Waybrain.
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Grace Valerie Claire
Soc, those brown chairs; how I hated them!! But you are right; they really did suck. Years ago, I took a Bible class in a church. What a difference the chairs made. The chairs were comfortable, and when the lesson ended, I got up without lower back pain. Thank God for small mercies.
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So_crates
What I meant was PLAF was intentionally designed to wear you down, hence the running time of each class.
After a half hour, 45 minutes your ability to think critically drops off dramatically and you start just accepting what your told
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Taxidev
The current WAP class has an assortment of teachers, not Craig.
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Rocky
Like perhaps the Socratic method... which would work great if actual teaching was the primary goal, except that it teaches critical thinking skills.
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