Ham

Rascal, quite true. My poor ex.. I harbor no bad feelings or anything either.. I think she woke up one morning to find that she was married to a 48 year old hippie. I on the other hand, woke up to find I was married to an approximately the same age "redneck", heh heh.. I thought it was kind of "cool". But she didn't. Can't blame her, either. Our personalities are SO different. And a lot of that personality was rather suppressed during da vey years.

Funny how some people think they can change the other. Even with counseling, dating, talking, getting to know each other- I think most in da ministry had no idea who or what they married to begin with. Wait twenty years or so. I don't think people can keep their authentic self in a box for twenty+ years, in the guise of renewing the mind, or other such religious hogwash. Something's gotta give eventually.

I am not trying discredit the concept of the renewing of the mind. I just think we got it wrong- used "renew your mind" to confine the mind and logical thinking at times, in self and others.

But I wasn't corpse. I bet what they filled out gave them a hand cramp for a week!

Funny how it was touted as such a "bargain". Just think, get 80 to 90 percent of your questions answered, only fifty bucks or so. I think we really paid later.

It's a mystery how some of us have money after all the crap..

I'm kind of suprised that they didn't make you fill out something that looked like a 1040 long form.

Kinda reminds me of the commercial where the pirates are coming to attack. "What's in YOUR wallet?"

Skyrider, I started to think this stuff when they started telling us to check the applicant's teeth..

And look at the location. The location says a lot. Just where you want da club, not in a easy to find metropolitan area. Has to be in the middle of a cornfield in the "wilds" of northern Ohio. Only distiguishable landmark is a fish shaped sign on the corner of Wierville road and "highway" 29. Not too many going to find it unless they REALLY want to..

Maybe they are looking to attract the right kind of personality, kind of like a country club. Perhaps they think that "anybody who's anybody" is willing to put up with this kind of snubbing, fork out unreasonable fees, put up with their bad manners, and keep coming back for more, just for a chance to be part of "da club".

And for Rosie, I think she would need quite a healthy dose of pixie dust. Probably immune though..

Looks like I hit the right kind of nerve with this one! George, I think you may get the grand prize- "probate attourney" heh heh.

Uncle H, Scott may be a good choice, but I think he remind him too much of ole Loy. Even they had to say enough is enough..

Who knows DMiller, maybe the IRS may be in charge of the outfit in the not-too -distant future anyway..

Now, Donald Rumsfeld! There's an idea..

Linda, sadly, that really is what they need. Even if they could find somebody of that caliber of niceness, he probably wouldn't last a week.

I would agree. For things to be any better, it would have to involve more than "we let our people have a little fun, now".

That may be part of their "problem". I think they realize what kind of effort it would take to make it any better, and feel it is just not worth it.

Kinda shows the true priorities in life.. at least for them.

Serious answers are also welcome.

This may not go too far, or belongs in the just plain silly column, but- who do you think should be in charge?

I for one would nominate Moe Howard. He would have the dedication and skills to keep the other BODS in line, but likely would not be smart enough to bother anybody else. Too busy poking the other BOT's eyes to be a nuisance to anybody else.

Any other nominees?

I remember a couple of little "meetings"- real cute ones. It was explained to us what we were supposed to even say to specific mark and avoid people. NEVER talk about "da Verd", or what was coming out of headquarters. I was told that the person(s) were "instructed" to "leave us alone". And if they really wanted to "hear da verd" they needed to talk to the almighty limb coordinator.

This was from the same guy that said he later believed he was following a mad man.

Yep. I think the big "rev" title, at least in very recent years, says everything, makes all the difference. Takes an otherwise unqualified huckster and turns him into a monster. I just wonder what it really cost him.

Sad in a way. If they put him out, he probably has nowhere to go. No friends, they were disposed of long ago. Family? probably doesn't have the guts to go reconcile with them. If he treated his family like folks around here, he has no family that would claim him.

Like the other good Nazi's- "I was just following orders". Who knows, maybe they are "grooming" him for a BOD position!

I know two personally or at least did at one time. But they sure won't talk to me, about anything. Haven't heard from them for YEARS. I know how they were raked over the coals, and still think its da verd of the lord to stay with the outfit. One of their kids left town under what I would consider mysterious circumstances. Probably marked and avoided him. They do not run any kind of fellowship- obviously they are not "active" corpses. But at least they get to keep their rings and certificates. I wonder what that cost..

I don't think much has changed.

Uncle H., The thing that almost astounds me, the BOD and staffers must know this. Why continue the madness? Somehow I did not think being nuts was that communicable.

Or it could just be saying a lot about the staff he surrounded himself with, just like him.

Cripe, it looks like they are going to follow him to their graves.

Ala, probably the same smell- suprised New Knoxville hasn't brought suit against Auglaize county, any new cults must be built down wind.

Hey Mr. 123.. no kidding. I think the problem was the he could not work "with" anybody. Or did not have the skills to do so. Of course that was not his job. His job was to dictate mandates, "do it, or die".

I don't know if anybody here has any fond memories of the guy.. he was somebodies baby once I suppose. But by the time they got through with him, you'd a thought he'd huffed a little too much paint thinner.

How in the world are you gonna be able to work with somebody like that, given that the are given almost the power of "the almighty" over you?

Makes me wonder what he's gonna do when he's off the payroll. Not many forced labor camps in the U.S. that he could run, and Nazi germany is no more. Maybe he could start his own cult. Might be tough going for a character with the charisma of a doorknob.

So many, many pages.. couldn't find it, but, what about "the more than abundant life"? Cripe, the meaning of that one seemed to flop around like a live fish out of water.

Sometimes it meant physical and financial abundance. When that failed, it really meant spiritually abundant. When that failed, it meant plento-o-humble and obedient.

I sure wish some of you guys had some kind of legal remedy.

Oh yes, Belle- the vocabulary restrictions. Of course nothing in writing. I had fun with that one once. The old branch guy here, I forget what the context was, somebody scared about something. I used the word "spooked" on purpose. He almost turned white..

Thanks Belle.. John R*ynolds. I thought the choice HAD to be wrong, he did seem to be too nice of a guy for the job. At least he is better off now, has to be. But his replacement, I never knew anything about that guy. Jean? Can't imagine all the benefits, all the accountability to the WOG, and you get to live in a trailer, too. Better than lining in Rosies basement, I suppose.

Dunno. My impression was Loy thought they were lower than the low for not "living up to da corpses commitment", and just could not take away their certificates and rings and stuff.

The ole "Limb Leader" here ended up making a statement shortly after he left. "We have been serving a mad man". That probably says it all..