penguin

Thanks for everyone's input! You can keep the suggestions coming. An employer is paying for the cruise part-we need to pay for our New Orleans and whatever we do on shore in Cozumel. The cruise isn't until mid September. We have to wait for our stateroom assignment before we look at excursions versus going out on our own.

After the retreat we had the final session which was the best! I would like to hear it again. I wish I could remember the guys name. He is a minister in Pittsburgh.

Was the speaker a Joseph Garlington?

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

So may wonderful replies...

Thoughtful

Thought provoking

Funny

Clever

Perceptive

Goofy

Yeah! We get to spend an eternity together!

developmentally retarded with no where to fit in...I can relate..lol

This world is not my home, I have been held captive

btw, did I mention I am loving the Beth Moore studies I am taking?

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?

An innie recently handed me that book. Looks like a good book. But that a wayfer handed me that book made me a little, I dunno, bitter? :)

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)

2 twigs= a branch?!!!!!

Now that's one scrawney tree!

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.

I was just thinking the same thing Nate........

I just got the "news'' of the South Florida Branch Coordinators, Rich and Vera O'Nei! that are moving to HQ after 12 years of "Faithful service'' in that area!

whoooo hooooo, they must be happy.

You know, that area used to be swinging. Now, its down to 2 fellowships. (one in which they ran, and now, has no coordinator). Guess everyone bought homes.

Have fun in OHIO guys!

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.

Christ's "parable" of Lazarus and the rich man - I believe there is a literal place souls who reject God go.

When Christ descended, those in "Abraham's bosom" were ascended with him. The believer, when he dies now will be with him in heaven, yet they do not receive their "new" bodies until the gathering.

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.