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Lovely day on Friday/ blue skies/ warm weather/ and just enough wind for the 9 Tall Ships to sail into the Duluth Harbor (the world's furthest inland seaport), to bedazzle the locals with their history and memories of "days gone by". We had nine "Tall Ships" sail into port yesterday. The population here has swelled considerably with many, many, many folks coming in from all around to take a look at/ tour/ and get to sail on/ these magnificent vessels. The Bounty is the most popular of them all, since it was in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean". Here's some pics of the ships as they sailed into the Harbor here. Thought y'all might enjoy this. Hanging out on Lake Superior. The HMS Bounty: The Pride of Baltimore II. Coming through the Canal into the Harbor: The Barque Europa: The US Brig Niagra: The Bounty docked at the wharf:

When I first got in the way ministry, God did some really great things for me. Over the years, those things seemed fewer and farther between. And then I would hear stories of new people coming to the ministry and all the great things God was doing for them. So I would wonder, why doesn't God do things like that for those of us who have been in the ministry for a long time? And sometimes I would even try to justify it by thinking that we had fewer needs than a new person, who really needed a lot of deliverance. But that's kind of hard to justify at HQ when all around you the staff are getting older and older and getting cancer and all kinds of other diseases, and no one's getting healed without doctors and surgeries and all that. So now I'm reading a book called Toxic Faith that was recommended to me by Twinky when I posted this thread How do you get over it? (Thanks, Twinky!). It has a great explanation for this: In a toxic-faith system, the organization takes the place of God. That explains a lot--like why God seems to do so much for people who were new to the way but very little for those who had been around for a number of years.

This is a great thread. It's so true we were taught to take God out of the picture. I remember many prayers where people told God what they wanted him to bless and do. There was no asking God to reveal HIS WILL to them. It's almost scarey to think about how much trust and reverence was given to the ministry. I think there's something to being vulnerable to God and allowing Him to show you what HE wants you to see. Remember Mary saying "Be it unto me according to THY will." Remember Jesus saying "Not my will, but YOUR will be done." I am no longer a servant to a ministry. I'm freed from bondage of the ministry, and I'm still figuring things out. There's a freedom in being OK with not having all the answers. We don't need to IMHO.

i'm sorry -- kind of skipped over some posts i just know at one time i was thinking about the kitchen,or ohmygod the living room, and now i'm thing about the outhouse :);):) :(

God first thanks everybody when you read a book in different Language than was wrote in things just happen with love and a holy kiss Roy

Its Peta Wilson who played Nikita from the tv series "La Femme Nikita." She's not looking too good these days though ...

the avatar.. what in the h is it? maybe I'm out of touch or something.. doesn't relate to any images I've seen in the last twenty years..

Judas Priest - Run for the Hills - you're Breakin' the Law!!! I would have skipped a session to go see them too...

Chas - LOL!!!!! Actually, alas, I cannot show you my Girl Scout card because I got thrown out. Yes I did. I did earn quite a few merit badges though :) Teachme, I was at the fellowship where that pic of Kris was taken and put on the cover of Life. I was with two of my high school friends, we were in Tim Bishop's living room and the photographer was snapping away while Steve Heefner was teaching. I was sitting just 2 or 3 people away from Kris. We all thought we'd be in Life Magazine!!!! You must realize, that back then, being in Life is like an appearance on American Idol today - it was a huge deal. It was America's magazine. Imagine everyone's disappointment when none of us except Kris were in the pics. I think there were a couple of other shots from the living room twig, but none of most of the fellowship. Also, remember, those "little" twigs routinely had 30 or more kids crammed in the living room, so there was lots to photograph. I keep meaning to respond to your doctrinal thread, I will. Its just been busy. Oh, yes, my avatar scares the guys and keeps them in line down in the basement in the political forum :)

Erkjohn, is there a problem?

"Toxic Faith" is good to read, too. I never read a Bible for many years. And then couldn't pick up a KJV. I liked The Message because it's so radically different. I read all sorts of versions now. Enjoy your friends and family, who love and support you despite your Way-weirdness. Don't "judge" them for what they do and think all their actions are devil-spirit inspired. (You'll get yourself really confused.) Read a lot here, and think about the discussions. You will be very surprised at the range of views. Shocked, maybe, about how far some of us have "strayed from the truth." ...No, we haven't, we're just trying to make sense of things. Be patient with yourself. God loves YOU. He will never leave or abandon you. Jesus loves YOU (you might have some difficulty with coming to terms with "Jesus" since he was hardly mentioned in TWI) and he won't abandon you either. Be angry. Be joyful. Be thankful. Be yourself. Be your real self.