penguin

My first job (besides babysitting) was at 16. I worked at a movie theatre with my friends and my friends mom was manager. We all had a blast! I worked there for 2 years until I moved, which was right after high school graduation. Then in college worked as a cashier/pharmacy tech at a Revco/Rite Aid.

I'm sorry they are so confused. I will be praying for clarity of mind for your doctors and for peace for you! Much love heading your way. :wub: :wub:

Hi all! This penguin is going to go on a cruise From New Orleans to Cozumel Mexico--it is a 4 day cruise, with one day at Cozumel itself. If any of you have ever been on a cruise, or to New Orleans or to Cozumel and there are certain things to do or see or know, please let me know! I have never been on a cruise and never left the continental USA. (Also not been to New Orleans-we are going to stay at the Royal Sonesta Hotel for one night before the cruise ship leaves.) Also will be our first REAL vacation/honeymoon. Thanks!

Awesome post Dot. It takes a lot of courage to leave twi--but even more to lay out your story so others can see a glimpse of hope. I am so embarrassed by all those years that I thought twi was "IT." I have a closer relationship to God and Jesus Christ than I ever had in twi--and it is because of getting involved in a local church and talking to others here.

Have a happy birthday!

I always liked penguins as a tween/teen--especially Opus. But Opus was never overjoyed by something. So I found my happy, free, dancing penguin and it seemed to fit once leaving twi. Before I was depressed and stressed-now I am thankful and joyful!

Another spot said:" Do you know why I started this thread? Bet not. Once I understood I had bought into false doctrine, hook, line, and sinker, I felt really dumb. I felt a fantastic amount of condemnation. I knew I had sinned, sometimes greatly, because of my false beliefs. Then recently it sunk in that God worked in my life during twi. He also has worked in my life since then, in spite of my uncertainty on doctrinal issues. Then I understood it never had to do with knowledge, but my faith in Him. And lots of grace. And mercy. Knowledge is nice. I hope to clear up and eliminate the chaff out of my brain some day. I am saying it was still rooted in my brain that God approved or didn’t approve of me because of my knowledge and according to whether it was right or not. I now see that was never it. I can now forgive myself. Now I can heal." I can relate! It has taken me at least 2 years to no longer feel ashamed all the time. I was so confused at first that I just handed all of my so called "biblical understanding and knowledge" to God and said--I don't know what is what any more. I have spent most of these last 2 years praying--and only recently begun to study my Bible again.

When you can actually plan what YOU WANT to do at Thanksgiving (instead of an AC Speshul) and save vacation days for actual VACATIONS! Hubby and I are going to get to go on our 1st vacation EVER--we didn't even get honeymoon cuz we got married in WC weddings, then did WC week/ROA and went on staff

Awesome Imagine! I read Breaking Free by Beth Moore when I first left twi--it helped so much. I still refer back to it. Which other ones have you read or studied?

Bolshevik, Interesting that an innie handed you that book. You should go out and get either Rescued (fiction book) or Driven by Eternity (nonfiction-Christian living)for them by the same author. Both talk about things that would challenge their twi beliefs! (Both rocked my world so to speak and I have been gone almost 2 years!)

Ok Well this penguin is not very good in the kitchen. My family doesn't starve--but.... Anyway. What pans would you recommend-maybe the low end of "snooty?"

We did that as WOWS and I heard it taught before. Then as numbers dwindled even regular twigs were supposed to go out witnessing if no on showed. Embarrassing- trying to get new people to come to fellowship when it was so boring you couldn't get anyone who drank the koolaid to show!

Bolshevik, I do appreciate the info from twi point of view. I just was surprised that it was so high!

(((MO)) Praying here too for quick healing and continued restored strength--sounds like you are one determined lady!!

Well they are probably still counting people that used to fellowship. I know 2 years ago in our branch there were at least 5 (if not more) people that no longer attended anything but were still listed in our official branch count. Maybe they are counting pets now too?

I thought I was getting rid of a lot of waybrain--but have recently been reminded of all the protocol stuff. I go to a church now. Twice within the last month I have been seated in a room when the senior pastor has walked in--and I had to fight the urge to stand up! (This pastor doesn't even LIKE to be called pastor. He goes by PJ for Pastor John as a compromise. He acts more like a genuine pastor than anyone I have ever known)

I agree! It must be a relative to the poor Christmas tree in the Charlie Brown special. Remember it couldn't even handle one ornament without bending over?

My kiddo was in from an infant. By the time kiddo was 4 years old she had the arrogant mindset of any innie. She had heard adults talk about how people were that went to church and believed certain things. How did I know? SHe could spout off just as good as all the adults, with the little attitude of how stupid all these people were. We are still working on the attitude.

The thing that has struck me odd for several years is that 2 fellowships are now considered a branch???!!! How many ex WC here got dropped for not being able to coordinate a branch? Now look at how they (twi) has dropped their "high" standard Oh well--Thank God we are outta there!

Well, darn I guess since he still volunteers, he is still involved with twi. (But it doesn't say he is a leader or coordinator--so that is interesting. When he first went to Louisiana he was Limb Coord.

I read someone's point in a book a while back that I thought was sort of interesting. The Author pointed out that he didn't feel that the above story was a parable--but it was more of an actual event. He said that based on the fact that Jesus never used actual names in any of his parables and the point of the story was actually explained without anyone asking Jesus too. Now I also had another ex twi point out that the Transfiguration says Elijah and Moses appeared to Jesus Christ. The bible didn't say an angel impersonating them did that. If they were dead--how could they show up and talk to Jesus? Conclude what you want since I haven't changed my original beliefs.

[quote]It is a miracle that so many of us came out of TWI and were able to reestablish a relationship with Christ and Heavenly Father. There should be far more of us who threw up our hands in disgust and walked away from Christianity etal after years of these pernicious teachings. Clearly Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost were busy looking out for us, and waiting for us to break free, so that we could return to a relationship with them free of TWI insanity. I agree! It is amazing-I know I had a hard time returning to Father because I felt so used and abused. I knew I had to fight through it and try to seek Him again or I may have strayed for good. Patriot!!! I remember that!!! But we were never told why that guy was kicked off and why all of his stuff was getting burned!!!! EEWW!

Preacher, Be thankful you didn't take the Way of Abundance and Power class when the corpse got to "teach" it (ie READ from the syllabus) live! oh yawn!!!!Was it boring! I escaped before they redid the class but heard the teachers who videoed it teach before and am sure it was still quite the snoozer. I have discovered that are many better ways to teach people about God, Jesus Christ and the Bible than the PFAL class! All of these ways actually require more contemplation and thought--PFAL is set up to try to do the thinking for you.

Hey Anyone know what happened with the Robins in North St Louis? Also wondering about Mark and Dave Thompson

We were taught in twi that doing Rm 10:9-10 guaranteed us a ticket to heaven when JC returns. I have been re-thinking this concept lately. Now I think that Rm 10: 9-10 is more like just the beginning of our journey. I have read some of John Bevere's works--especially his fiction book Rescued, which has added more thoughts and musings to this old bird's head. In my mind I pictured myself at the bema--which in Greek was where an athlete stood to find out if he REALLY won the event or not--they would pronounce whether or not the athlete had disqualified himself in any way and IF he hadn't, then he would receive the prize. Bema was also where the defendant and plantiff (in our terminology) would stand when involved in a court case. Anyways--I thought about standing before my Lord and Savior who was crucified for me....and wanting to be able to show my faithfulness and thankfulness to JC and God by my actions throughout my lifetime. Now I am currently exploring the concept of what I guess some would call covenant theology? That our new birth is a covenant or contract with God which entails specific terms being required in order for the contract to not be void. Anyone else had similiar thoughts or know more about this covenant theology thing?