Ham

Other threads seem to bring this up- the apparent merits or lack therof of "mr" vic's little gem of a ministry.. Personally, I did the "thing" long before PFAL. It may not be exactly scientific, but- here's the survey.

I don't think that's too far off the beaten track.. May be helpful for those who "just got here". Really. You're not gonna be a greasespot by midnight or anything.. All those tirades mean NOTHING. Like voodoo, the only way they can effect you is if you believe them. Sure, the world isn't paradise on earth or anything, but even the "devils" are friendlier than the leadership I left behind in TWI. Case in point: Same argument. "Stay, and put up with our junk for getting a few blessings, or just go out with 'them'" Personally, I'd listen to paganistic, atheistic diatribe over that junk any day of the week.. its gotta be bad when the "unbelievers" make more sense.

Yep. Sounds like the Curse of loy.. "Won't take my word for it? Just GO out there, just go and look. There is NOTHING godly or worthwhile, and things out there are just so darn EVIL... the WHOLE WORLD STINKS. Go ahead and GO. But don't say I didn't warn you about all the devils, beasts, and wild animals that await you.. " That little tirade made MOST people afraid to go and even look.. I can outline evil for you fellow. Almost ten years out of this stinking, opressive outfit, and the effects are just now starting to wear off.

In a strange sort of way, I wish this character came to twig. He would've REALLY fixed the kool aid..

Oh yeah. Even in the "good old days", I remember what uncle H. (not OUR uncle Hairy) said- something to the effect of all vic had to say was "thus sayeth da Lard" and they would sweep all common sense aside.. cast all logic to the wind, and follow him like he was the almighty or something.. loy played that little card too, to promote whatever latest fiasco he was trying to hatch. Corps going full time. cancelling the WOW program, and ROA. the homo purge. the "useless people" purge get out of debt, of ANY kind, or get a goin.. "God told ME this is what we've gotta do.." I for one, had respect enough at one time for the SOB to believe him. I still think the "blessings" were largely an illusion. We got in that little pressure cooker, and it was nice, warm and cozy for a WHILE..

Rascal, that is a pretty accurate assessment of conditions here, as early as 1996.. We saw the WORST- the most unscrupulous, uncompassionate, hateful, unforgiving.. honest only if it could make them a buck.. And guess what- they are STILL in charge. Hey, a couple I know even got promoted for it.. "well done, thou good (?) and faithful (?) servant (???!!!).. "here ya go. You did a wonderful job wrecking an entire limb. Maybe its time for you to step up to the plate and see what you can do for an entire REGION..."

Yep. Reminds me of an old story I heard- grandpa fell asleep on the couch. The grandkids went to the fridge, got out the Limburger cheese, and applied it to his mustache. Grandpa awoke with a snort, "God, it stinks in here.." Out of the house he goes, and says, "holy smokes, the WHOLE WORLD stinks.."

According to an unnamed, unfaced, heavily disguised, and not so obviously non fraudulant trenchcoat wearing source, and wearing groucho glasses too, this report is true. Really. Computers everywhere have gone berserk, as if they have a mind of their own. Pictures of Paw began appearing on all of der vey's computer monitors, taunting them.. Mysteriously, all the computers in finance determined how much was donated by each "follower" for the last thirty years,and forthwith issued refund checks. Rosie's computer dialed up, and anomynously made an appointment for her for a session with a beauty parlor and plastic surgeon. Staff computers were observed with their monitors spinning, not looking unlike Linda Blair's head in "The Exorcist". No matter what the "research department" typed, all the printers would print was "I won't print THAT for love nor money; you're a friggin liar. " L*nd*r apparently had to requistion another monitor, after putting the original one "out of its misery".

Yep. The eyes of strange, eerie things very likely are on them.. L*nder, Don't let it worry you too much. Just keep your hand on that beretta. But I'd be careful where you aim it- don't wanna shoot the "wrong thing" off you know..

Well, my posts very likely, and soon- will reach the 3000 mark. "Thinks Gore won the election"- ptooie. Paw, we're gonna HAVE to do something about THAT.

Heh heh. Well, the group came on the scene before I was the twinkle in some moglets PFAL eye.. Nope. the accessory. And boy do they make those dern things fly.. Whoops, must've gotten the wrong kind of mushroom at the store..

"Now, you have a choice. You can just take that money out of the basket, and give it back to the kid, or, ..."

Ha ha ha ha ha.. Juan, I wouldn't DREAM of "messing with you", heh heh.

Well, just a "little" thought.. The WHOLE STINKING WORLD is "overrun" by "them". Pagans, Atheists, Spiritualists, Devil worshippers, Muslims, Catholics, you name it. And I don't think they are going to relinquish their tiny bit of real estate- on your terms. I think you are out numbered, fella.. "Good luck" :)-->

As for this thread though.. with above post in mind, it makes me wonder how in the world W*yn* and J*hn and crew ended up being really nice guys, after going through the snake-pit of TWI. Miracles DO occur..

And among the worst- ex TWI LEADERSHIP. Either they were heaven, or they were hell.. It EXASPERATES them to see their "precious" being so "mistreated".. There's only one way this leads me- just makes me want to spit on the memory of the thing, or worse.

Some, seemingly so. Others were not so "lucky"- they were left behind to be beat into submission..

No, I bring it up as an attempt at a little MILD sarcasm.

Simple. We DO hear from them on this board, and I admire them- but they were a SMALL minority. The few with enough brains left over after mind numbing classes and seminars.. The few that couldn't be be arm twisted and worse, despite laying on them every motivational technique known to man.. Hooray for them. Unfortunately, all of us weren't that smart. Or that strong. Ah yes.. the THOUSANDS of people that got born again, and ACTUALLY spoke in tongues. Just a drop in the bucket.

Allan, maybe you don't see it, but now you're having whole conversations with "the mistress of darkness". Cripe- you're at least on the third or fourth "step down". One foot in the "hot place" and the other on a banana peel.. :)-->

Perhaps they "used" just enough of God's goodness to keep people hanging on year after year, week after week- giving first ten, then fifteen, then more percent of their hard earned pay.. They carefully measured and doled it out- as if THEY owned it. They threatened to cut it off if you did not comply with their every whim.. I think it was a slowly crafted illusion that kept us there. In my last couple of years, even the unsuspecting, unwary new folks saw it, a mile away. No new growth. No new faces in "twig"..

There is another alternative- the "blessings" were a carefully crafted illusion. Sure, the teachings made me feel warm, fuzzy and happy (well, maybe before loy-butt got more of his hands in the pudding..) but in a practical sense, how much difference did involvement REALLY make? Yeah, yeah- I know a few greek words now, I know where all the books of the bible are, I made a few friends- but couldn't I have gotten the same "benefits" ELSEWHERE, and at far less cost? I have seen people far more "blessed" after camping in the woods for a week, or spending time with a hobby.. Personally, I am beginning to think that it may be easier to leave God as the prime mover out of the experience altogether. Maybe there is a little bit of God's goodness EVERYWHERE, and somehow, TWI could not entirely claim exemption from that fact.

Catcup, I agree, and really give them credit for this. Plus they don't criticize folks, at least that I am aware of, of lack of full participation, or any such nonsense. People are seemingly able to come and go as they please, and are actually encouraged to study outside sources. It is quite a different "animal" than the TWI that we came out of, especially in a practical sense. But it is still relatively young, as organizations go. Time will tell..

Ah, the memories..

Cool Waters, your humor is honestly appreciated. No, I am not married, now. I was for twenty five years.. Anyway, I was married when "wings" just started coming in fashion, heh heh. All that tithing paid off..