penguin

Wonderful posts! I am still developing that relationship over religion...don't think it will ever end after so many years doing stuff for God instead of learning to be with Him...

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Thanks Pawtucket for having a site like this for a blinded and confused penguin to waddle in to. Thanks to all those on-line buddies that helped me open my eyes and process what I is/was involved in. Y'all gave me the info and courage to see there really was more to life than being a way lifer.

Penguin

Wow, I did Multi-Services (really enjoyed it, actually, lots of fun. And I learned to use power tools). Thankfully I never had to trap any critters - much less drown them. It was bad enough having to kill chickens.

Did that MSP stint myself.... did all types of stuff! It actually was fun. Didn't learn anything that would translate into employment....went back to what I did during college..

I dunno.

I still call it that.

Not to suggest it was actually a real ministry, but, because it's a phrase with which we can all identify.

I was calling it that--until I really thought about what it implied--that the way was THE ministry. I have resorted to calling it the way now--if I even name it. Usually it's only when talking to my hubby. I normally refer to the way as a group with a Christian veneer.

Recently, I have started trying to stop calling twi "The Ministry"... because it ISN'T the ONLY Ministry.... it isn't even a ministry (of God.) I hate even using the term "ministry" in association with twi.

I SO know it! I have been trying to break myself of that for a while now. THE ministry.....

[hmmmmmm...... Facebook...

Pengiun,... That group you mentioned with over 1200 members only has about 20 posts from fifteen people for the whole month.

There are several smaller "Way" Facebook Groups found

That largest one (that Penguin mentioned)

Followers of The Way - We Love God and His Word

started on July 12 2006 and the entire volume of their board (from 2006 to present) is about the same as a good weekend on GreaseSpot Cafe

I agree not much activity on their wall--but it seems a daily verse goes out. I do have some innie friends on FB and I see comments on the verses pop up every now and then. I was invited to join several times but I have ignored. I have moved on...

Welcome by the way--I've been gone so long from regular activity here that I don't believe we've met!

I take it that the answer to my question is no. What a difference if TWI, CFFM, and S&TF had done this. My church as done both programs and trying to do this right after Easter Sunday for the next few weeks during remainder of April and May with actual genuine Christian Love. If no one else cares to respond, this will end this thread.

My current church did/does things similar to what you describe....at least I know they call it Servant Evangelism. I have kind of shyed away from any type of witnessing thus far.....reminds me too much of twi days. I am low key in that area for now. Most I do is talking to people I work with or see every day in other places.

There's been a fair number of smaller twi groups . . . "We love God but not the Trinity" I found comical.

Yes I would find that one comical too--but sad also.

I just don't know what to say to those still involved....I have been delivered from SO much! I didn't realize how big a burden and how hot the water was OR how poisonous that koolaid was. Detox was hell!

But I couldn't just search them out with The Way I just tried I got some other church guy.

And remember on Face book you friend all your friends and their friends etcetera so what appears to be a lot of people may not be so many as you think

It is a group page--called followers of the way we love God and His word--has 1200 something members

I was looking at facebook and out of silliness looked up the Way. They are alive and well in facebook world and have a lot more members than I realized just on facebook. :(

That's a keen observation Penworks!

And I'm glad you are courageous enough to keep talking here. All I've got to say about my days as the class clown is – you ain't been slapped until you've been slapped by a nun! .. . uhm .. . we don't have any nuns here do we? :unsure:

Does it count if I wanted to be a nun when I grew up????

Guess it is one of the few things twi actually did for me-----

I was 16 and terrified! I taught on some of the promises of God related to our identity as His kids.....

heh, I didn't even remember it was the anniversary. I am indeed quite grateful that I did not have to waste any of this wonderful weekend at a boring "service".

I hadn't thought about it until I saw someone else mentioning it..... I completely forgot my WC graduation this year too...

Just read on Facebook cuz I hadn't thought of it yet......

Praise God!!!!! No super-long boring drawn out phone hookup for TWI Anniversary today!!!!!! No driving for forever to be there live!!!

It is so good to be FREE!!!!!!!!!

They got rid of hitchhiking right after 1994--at least the hitchhiking to LEAD. It interfered too much with their schedule.. Then it was gone completely and they did a map reading excercise instead.

The duo was the coolest thing about LEAD IMO

I liked it for a couple of different reasons. I liked that it made me think about things from a different perspective. I even didn't mind the Trinity aspect. (Shocking, i know)

I do agree with Kit as far as over-emphasis on grace.

Rascal,

Praying here too!

I'm waiting for certain leadership's life-style to become exposed. That will establish more practical error, and those that stay will have to once again find an excuse to stay because of their fear that there's nowhere else to go.

I loved this quote from another thread. I was actually thinking about this the other day. How many people who are still involved in twi just feel stuck because they believe the above quote--that there is nothing else out there?

I was so scared to leave 3 years ago. I really thought there was nothing else out there. I found out there was a lot more "available" and that it was better than twi!

The sad thing is that we have family and friends who haven't left because they don't think there's anything else. These friends are what twi would call weak and are kind of living on the fringe of twi world, but they won't leave.

That sweetness became SOUR the longer I stayed involved with The Way til it became a sickness

inside of my soul attempting to kill my spirit.

I can relate! Now I am trying to reawaken my spirit now that I am gone.

Our area had at least one individual in the 90's and 2000's that would pack heat at branch and/or area meetings. Always thought it odd.

I don't know--though I like the fact that the pastor at my church has an older, more seasoned pastor who he considers his own pastor. So my pastor has a pastor.

I also like the fact that I have someone who is looking out for me and my walk with the Lord--but my pastor takes being a pastor very seriously, insists on developing a friendship first, does not give advice unless asked for and then sometimes still just points you in a general direction.

So maybe it can be a good thing--but I don't know if it is required.

We may think about it--hubby isn't too keen on the idea--but he is considering the butterfly museum. I read that several of the Keys beaches have problems with fecal matter-yuck-so I'm a little hesitant to get too much in.

We have wierd arrival and departure times at both places. We get to the Keys at 7am and leave at 3pm, then arrive at Nassau the following day at noon and stay until 10pm. It means we can't catch a Keys sunset or their entertainment at night--bummer.

I think it's sacrilige to go somewhere where's there's beautiful water and not even consider snorkeling. Please tell me you are floating face down in the water to visit the fish world?

We just snorkeled Kealakekuah/Captain Cook Monument on the Big Island of Hawaii, and I'm still dreaming of the schools of colorful fish who swam around me. It was the most beautiful snorkeling even above Cozumel, Mexico. I'm having nightmares about the little bastage humahumanukanukaapua'a who charged me.

Well, here's a silly question: is there a way to keep your glasses on while snorkling? Otherwise I am blind as a bat.

Geisha, (And Hi to twinky too! :) )

When I read what Twinky had posted, I was actually thinking about the verse where the 2 become one flesh and whether that would apply and kind of unite both aspects. I think both analogies/illustrations could work for us in our day and time--the One Body and the Bride. (Not 100% sure either-just thought it was kind of interesting.)

I have begun questioning the ultra-dispensationalism that twi taught and teaches. I defintely see that there is an Old and a New Covenant in the Bible--but it seems that there are a lot of parallels between the two covenants like the first Adam and the 2nd Adam.

I have spent a lot of time reading the Gospels since having left twi and find that I was really missing out on a lot by concentrating on the Epistles only.

Have an awesome day!