TheInvisibleDan

So, sorry to detour the board for a question... but I have been out for 7+ years, busily making life for myself, and just recently found this board. I only know of CES peripherally -- JL founded the org after breaking away from TWI... yada.. yada...yada.

I don't think they are in my neck of the woods (DC area) but am not sure.

How big is this organization? Are a lot of former TWI'ers actively participating?

Thanks in advance.... :)

"Hey! Are you guys playing cards?"

Welcome Inkjet!

Ah, bongos! We really are going for that weird, twangy retro thing.

But I'm sorry, Tom, you've been outsourced -

this new digital whatchmacallit even has the bongos built into it.

You don't want to hear my old "Dragnet" mix -

it literally sounds like something performed by the Manson Family.

Socks,

I'de love to hear your arrangement of "The Flintstones" - messing around with the themes to "The Munsters" and "Dragnet" has always been a guilty pleasure of mine (lol).

Danny

BTW, a correction to my earlier post - when I mentioned I picked up a new Vox ADVT 30 "Valvomatic" amp I actually meant "Valvotronix" (lol) - can't keep up with these new fangled gear names. It's turning out to a great "combo amp" so far. Love all the "modeling amp" and f/x built in. For a small amp it's plenty loud enough for practicing and recording. Not to mention how nice it is to be able to carry it with one hand.

Solid state amps have certainly come a long way.

Danny

I had an opportunity to pick up an Epiphone Viola Bass at a really good price so I grabbed it. I know it "ain't no Hofner" but I really like it. It has a short scale(30.5) and a 1.65 nut. It's semi hollow body so it is very light and I can sit and play it without having to plug in. It came with flat wound strings and when I plugged it in, I really liked the warm tone it has. It's much more inviting than my Squire P-Bass. Blues harp is still where my heart is at but I suspect I'll find myself hoisting this new(to me) bass over my shoulder frequently. If I ever get to a point where I can post pics, I'll post it along with a shot of my buddys' Micro Frets Spacetone. It's a green sort of sunburst color. I think it was called Martian Sunrise or something like that. They are also very light weight. Funny how you don't think about weight and neck size so much until the years start adding up and work starts to take its toll on the hands and wrists.

Waysider,

I had tried an Epiphone viola bass at "Guitar Center", which turned out to be the highlight of my recent visit there. They're very interesting looking and sounding guitars.

I've been considering the Rogue model (along with an order of Labella or Pyramid flatwound strings). It would be nice to at least have a bass on hand for recording.

And I like the idea of a more acoustic bass tone.

Danny

After some recent visits to my nearest "Sam Ash" and "Guitar Center" (where I recently acquired a 30 watt Vox "Valvomatic" amp and a compact digital eight

track recorder) - I was particularly discouraged over the quality of various high-priced guitars at Guitar Center - their $2000 Gretsch Country Gentleman was an absolute joke-

I determined all the more to redo my old homemade electric guitar. I've decided to transform it into a "Les Gretschenbacker". I picked up some new gold hardware including a Bigsby, made a brass control plate, and acquired a new ebony fingerboard for redoing the neck. I've got my work cut out for me in the weeks ahead. :)

I'll post some pics when completed.

Danny

Perhaps Jesus (or the writer/editor) wasn't very informed about birds.

I find the possessive "your heavenly father" to be quite curious as well.

Robes,

I'm so sorry to hear about this.

I've enjoyed Wyoman's posts over the years.

My deepest sympathies to you and your family,

and much strength to you through this sad time.

Danny

Danny,

Sure wish I'd listened to my gut many times back then. I was so confused on the difference between...heart, head, God, man...Thanks! :unsure:

OnefineCustom -

Me too.

Though I realize now my 'gut' was shouting toward the end of my time with "the old

gigantic cult" (lol). It's interesting to see others here having gone through and going through

the same "red flags" popping up in the back of their minds.

Danny

We cannot, CANNOT, CANNOT rely on our own hearts as any kind of standard for truth.

Steve,

Outside the argument pertaining to corrupt leaders running a group, I don't entirely agree with this. It's a different matter when considering the followers in a group. The problems and abuses arising from our involvement with cults old and new - at least so far as I see it - stems from the fact of people NOT relying on their own hearts, their "gut", their minds. Shortly after leaving the Way ages ago, I realized that one of the reasons we became so screwed up and screwed over was because we were taught essentially to be afraid of our own minds, fear our own hearts. We were taught to:

Trust God.

Trust the Book.

Trust the teachings.

Trust the tapes.

Trust the leaders holding the Book.

Trust the leaders beneath them.

But dammit, DON'T listen to your own self.

People leaving cults and religions need to believe in themselves

for a change. To trust themselves. To toss aside all the religious "white noise"

if only for a while, if only to discover who they actually are, as opposed to

wasting their lives kissing the a$$es of both gods and men.

Danny

For years there has been a fairly widespread perception among quite a few people involved with STF that Karen Anne has been exerting an undue and negative influence on Mark, and others. Some have felt she is “running the ministry” via her prophecies, Many times I have vehemently (and, I firmly believe, rightly) defended her. Having been integrally involved in every major ministry decision from 1987-2000 and somewhat involved in many others from 2000-2005, I know that she has not “run the ministry.” That being said, I have of late been surprised to learn that the perception of her negative influence is far more pervasive than I realized , and, having been made aware of numerous incidents in which she has exerted undue and harmful influence, I no longer believe that this perception is groundless.

In my opinion, a key factor in all of this is that while God wants to make our weaknesses into strengths, the enemy wants to make our strengths into weaknesses. Karen Anne Graeser has often spoken prophetically into my life and been right on the money, to my great benefit.

http://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/index.php?showtopic=12513

Steve Lortz is back!

Is he the One?

(lol)

Welcome back Steve.

Danny

No, that's "E-li! E-li! Oooooh!"

I vote for neither "lord" nor "apostle" for VP's titular adornment -

he would rather have preferred "Fuhrer"

because (according to him) "Hitler was a hero, doncha know?"

Feels kind of funny responding to old comedy threads.

Just a few thoughts on CES’s “prophetic” ideas, which came to mind over the course of reading this thread.

It’s as if the leaders of CES had been gravitating toward becoming modern day Montanists (an ancient “follow the spirit” movement led by a guy named Montanus and his two prophetesses) .

Just as other “heretics” of old had been observed doing; like Simon Magus, who many here are already acquainted through Acts ch.8, which however doesn’t tell us everything about Simon.

For additional info, one needs to explore the writings of the Church Fathers, such as Tertullian and Epiphanius.

Simon attained the title of “God”, apparently in no small part by virtue of his prophetess, who accompanied him everywhere in his preaching. “Doncha know”, Simon had to maintain his connection to God, so “the Prophetess” went with him. Likewise Apelles, a former Marcionite, left that Church and started his own thing, being led about -- by a prophetess.

It’s interesting to see this still in practice today.

The prophetesses accompanying both Simon and Apelles were also said to have been regarded by both men (or as far as we know, their opponents) as no less the reincarnation of Helen of Troy - on whose account the city of Troy became demolished.

Danny

Moryan,

Simply talk to her.

Ask her - challenge her -if she would still love you - respect you - if you followed a different set of beliefs from what she believes, and vice versa.

Establish right now with her whether or not she would exercise as much tolerance and respect toward what you choose to believe as you would toward her.

People of different faiths do marry . These arrangements can work, but only where there is the commitment between the partners to exercise mutual toleration and respect for one another with personal/religious/mystical beliefs.

If she says she will exercise this same toleration toward you (you might ask her), will her group?

And if they don't...? - is the hypothesis you both must pose to her, and both need to consider.

Best luck to you.

Danny

There is a paper going around from the Graeser's and Resner's as to why Mark should not step down as President before the Board of Director's meeting / their position paper.

I don't have a copy of it but I know it starts off with:

We (the majority) of the Ordained community of Spirit & Truth.....

Just so anyone knows that might get this e-mail / letter, the "majority" spoken of there is:

Mark Graeser

Karen Graeser

Tom Resner

Susan Resner (a VERY close friend of Karen Ann)

Nancy Berwid (another VERY close friend of Karen Ann)

That makes 5 of the ordained community.

The other folks are:

John Schoenheit

Dan Gallagher

Gary Theisen

Karen Theisen

So it's the same basic Board of Directors split of 4 / 2. They (Mark Graeser and Tom Resner) just add in their wifes and dear friend Nancy so they can say the "majority of the ordained community of Spirit & Truth."

Bless ya!

Jeff

IMHO, the whole damn lot of them ought to "step down" and let such folks here such as Jeff, Billy D, and Captain Crunch take the helm.

Danny

Please forbear my earlier "jesting", which indeed appears all the more trite by comparison to a situation far worst than even I could have imagined.

Man, those letters...ooo-eee-oooo.

Danny

I mean, can we really imagine clicking on the STFI link to be met with:

THIS WEBPAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

We have recently encountered false prophets and dreamers in our midst.

Please excuse the inconvenience, while we root them out.

You're impotent to us.

God Bless You.

Standing erect with you,

The new STFI STAFF

STFI. Ugh. Sounds like a brand name to a spamming pharmacutical.

DMiller,

Hopefully "Captain Crunch" might provide additional info, but seriously, if such sorts of things were afoot, would you really expect STFI to air those things on the opening page of their website?

Danny

I can't imagine any group dubbing itself "STFI" being bound toward a happy ending...

I guess this could go in About the Way as well but here is probably better....

Latest in the polygamist leader Warren Jeffs ordeal. here

from the letter:

Pretty spooky stuff.

Kind of reminds me of the small town of the final scene in the movie "Frailty" for some odd reason.

Danny

Free Beer!

That's not a bad idea.

:)

We WERE in a cult.

How awakening, humbling and embarrassing.

Don't beat yourself too much over it. Even the Beatles dabbled in the cult of Maharishi (no relation) in their day. Bob Dylan went through his born-again phase before catching onto the greed and corruption of whatever group he was involved with at the time. Cripes! Consider how cultic our country has been for the past 6 years under the Bush Administration.

BTW, DMiller, Musiciansfriend is offering "blem" models of the Rick 330 for about $700.

Would love one with the fireglow finish.

But alas, for now, I need to sink some $$$ into the guitars I already have (lol).

Socks, do you think the Tunamatic-like bridges such as those for the Ricks in your links

would be better for intonation than the original roller bridge on my old axe?

The roller bridge on my old guitar appears to be in good shape still; in fact I adjusted the roller saddles

the other day, which seemed to improve the intonation a bit more.

Project guitars, gotta love 'em.

Danny