TheInvisibleDan

Another year to entertain once again a plastic, light-up "Mithra" for my front lawn.

Do they still have in stock any of those "Gumby-Wierwille" statues they came out with a few years ago?

I went WOW twice. Technically. The first time was in '78. I had just taken the class the month before, and got intoxicated by all the Home-WOW-mania during the Rock. The post-Rock training was an unusual experience by itself, I'll give it that. It was weird to wake up in the middle of the night in a circus tent to hear it reverberating with hundreds of people snoring on their cots at the same time. I wish I had a tape recorder for that. Of course, when I returned home, and got back into my old self, with a little space between me and the Bible cheerleaders, the excitement faded, along with the woeful weightiness of the big COMMITMENT. Soon someone called wondering why I wasn't present at "the home WOW meeting". I uttered something to the effect that I didn't want to get involved with "an organization" at this time. The leaders kept calling and calling (St*ve St**peck), and I kept avoiding their calls and hiding in my comfortable nowhere town. Damn, that should have been the end of my magical cultic experience. But no...I had to get involved again later on. That might also make an interesting poll - what's the record for people leaving the Way and going back?

Which begs the question: what would carnivorous creatures - if created and designed by the Demiurge as such - have eaten, if death was not in some way essential to their survival to begin with? Which also brings to recollection a teaching by a woman minister at one Rock of Ages (early 80s, I'm guessing), choking back her tears over the thought that Jehovah had to personally slaughter some little squirrels or chipmunks to allow for Adam and Eve to cover themselves. Looking back on that now, how surreal.

Mstar, I think I missed my calling as a Celebrity Damage Control Consultant. I could have been something of a "James Baker" for dumb celebrities. Okay, maybe Kramer in a remake of "Blackula" would be a bit much. But I bet it would do well in the direct-to-video market. :) Danny

Another way he might absolve himself to the public eye is to star in a remake of "The Jazz Singer". That also would be interesting to see as well.

Fantastic album. I just picked it up this evening. Feels a bit too long though. By the time I've reached toward the end of the album, I feel like I've experienced some serious sensory overdose. "Tomorrow Never Knows"/Within You, Without You" is well done, and "Gnik Nus" - very interesting. George Martin's "Number Nine". Danny

Perhaps one way Michael Richards might absolve himself -would be to play the lead in a future remake of "Black Like Me". That would be kind of interesting to see.

Thanks Roy, for reminding me once again! :) :) You may have saved my life tonight. Danny

Glad you're doing better Roy. And thanks also for reminding me - I gotta take my pressure meds too. I've totally spaced on that the past couple days. Danny

Hope you're feeling better Roy. You have to be in some serious pain to contemplate dialing 911. By gosh, do it if only to be on the safe side. Danny

P.S. I'll have to make certain I pack a lunch, when that happens.

Mark, Do you have any cats? And should pet-owners get their animals fixed? I can tell you from personal experience...without barring nature's course there, wow, those cats sure multiply. They take over the house, and I'm almost certain... they want to rule the world. BTW, does anyone here want a kitten? Danny

Twinky, I would love to get myself accidently locked into Wesleyan's library for an evening or two (lol). I would happily resign myself to my captivity, and find some good books to read. :) Danny

Local libraries are ideal places for getting "sucked into" - better yet, the theological sections of nearby university libraries that have them- not only for providing the opportunity for examining and/or confirming and/or refuting the beliefs and interpretations you've already held for years, but for becoming better acquainted with other interpretations as well. If you keep frequenting such places, you may not recognize yourself in about another 5-10 years. Danny

I saw Elton John in concert at New Haven sometime in the ancient early-nineties. My wife won some free tickets from some call-in radio contest. Glad we didn't pay anything for them. In between songs, he would go into hissy fits about how the record company was not paying enough attention to him and his latest album (whatever it was). The only highlight I recall of the entire concert was the dramatic opening to "Funeral for a Friend", when the band and the lights got to really flex their stuff. That alone was worth the trip to New Haven, I guess. Elton's band had a good guitarist ( Nigel something-or-other, who passed away a few years ago). Danny

Not to disrespect veterans of wars in any way, quite a few "citizens" here and everywhere had sacrificed much in their lives for selflessly pursuing and contributing toward what they believed at the time to have been a higher cause, a greater good, a "service" dedicated toward improving life for others. No, we weren't always "right", nor did everyone do such for the same noble reasons (no more than each and every person who goes into the military). I encountered a few jerks in the Way, but years later, I still am pleased to have encountered some of the best people in the world, who cannot be faulted for having done the best they could at the time, despite the limitations of a faulty and corrupt system through which we tried to achieve our ideals. Our service, our effort, our labor, our love in our hearts to God - all we attempted to accomplish for our Lord and His Kingdom - should not be under-estimated. Some people here still carry some deep battle scars, while others have even lost their lives. My hats off to you "veterans". Not everything we did was in vain. Danny

I am far from being the most punctual person in the world, but in the nature of the business where I work (a supplier of consumable goods for workers in a plant that manufactures aircraft engines), getting to work 5-10 minutes earlier each day to relieve the previous shift is essential. People have gotten fired from my workplace for being habitually late. It still happens in the real world. Danny

Thank goodness. For awhile there I thought I might have been totally deaf.

Which raises another interesting question: did the Way copyright VPW's Sunday service tapes (or any other number of teaching tapes by him)?

I think it's interesting to discuss our weird beliefs. Those which we believed in the past. And those which we entertain in the present. To contemplate the hidden "tWILIGHT zONEs" of our hearts. (lol). Danny

DMiller, Ditto on the Bullinger "How to Enjoy..." - though I may not always agree with his interpretations of what he thought to see, he nonetheless produced some very interesting observations along the way. His system is remarkable to me in that it "resurrects" the spirit of Marcion. In so many respects, Bullinger's view of Paul and his emphasis upon the "newness" of his revelation, is identical to Marcion's view. Check out the works of Clarence Larkin for some more "eye openers" to Wierwille's theological diet. This guy did a knock out job with his illustrations and dispensational charts.

May all the great bells ring for Belle in national celebration. Happy Belated Birthday, Belle. Danny

Twinky, I had a similar question about 3 years ago in regard to JCNG. The old thread can be viewed here, which was a very interesting discussion. I recall Wordwolf began a thread on Wierwille's plagiarism behind ATDAN? But I don't know about JCOP.

I think you may be right. I think Christianity sucks as a K-Tel Swiss Pocket Fisherman. Particularly if the pursuit remains one of "what God can do for us". I prefer to think the sayings of Christ as practical precepts that are still able to inspire us toward exercising real concern for one another, how we might better treat one another, and even think of one another. Of fellow human beings. In the here and now. If that was the only thing to come out of Christianity, that would be sufficient for me. How I relate to each person I come into contact with throughout the day. Did I treat that person well, good, fair, and with respect? Did I devote my energy toward helping them find what they needed? Did I do all I could to remedy a situation? Did my presence prove beneficial today in that particular spot on this weird planet? I work in a customer service job, can you tell? :) Danny