fooledagainII

"Look for the need..." I was always told when witnessing. I can still remember the first time I went out 'witnessing', I was paired with a WOW Vet and sent to the local mall. He person that was very at ease with people and could get people to stop talk with him... I believe it was the third person we talked with that he really started getting into areas that was really out there... devil spirits, ectoplasm, the two kingdom, etc... I could tell that this poor guy we were witnessing to was sorry that he stopped and talked with us. When asked for a contact number, the guy literally ran away from us as if we asked him to be a human sacrifice (if only I had thought of that). Once in the field we were stopped by police (funny, I don't remember who I was paired with) for knocking on doors, we showed him our "credentials" (a card and a slogan button from TWI), he laughed for a solid minute, took them and told us to stop harassing people.

Ever tried to explain your lifestyle to someone that wasn't part of the WTI? Back in day (mid 80s), boy meets girl... girl ask something like 'what you doing tonight?'...you try to explain, leaving work early to pick up your 'way home' roommates, then help with the cleaning of a rented hall, lining up chairs, etc.. for a meeting the next day. Worse try to explain it to your boss. I remember the strange looks I would get when they discover one of those "s.i.t." signs in my home or car or whatever they happen to be displayed. They never asked about them, they just looked. Some things they did ask about (especially if you lived in a mixed men and women way home), like... "who these people?" (Alright, I'll admit I thought back then... open door to witness). Surprisingly, more than a few hung around and took the class (and then disappeared once the relationship ended) but I like to focus on those who must still think to this day, that they could do better. Ah... the many questions they had. Not so much the stuff that related to the bible but more on their concepts what is abnormal and how close I fit it. Like: 'you're grown and you have to be in by midnight?'; 'you're going to where for a week?'; 'what a grad night?'; 'how come you just don't go to regular church?'; 'did I hear your roommate say something about going to rock?'; etc. Although it was nice to date fellow 'believers', after two dates it seem you were in a relationship along free advice from anyone who ever wanted to put their two cents in. {Side note: I remember a good buddy of mind that was about get married, while he was away at AC, one of the BC's told his bride to be that he wasn't ready... when came back, she broke it off. I still feel sorry for him.}

I remember every time I was relocated on the 'field', searching the thrifts stores for that elusive "horn of plenty". I guess it would have been easier if I'd taken it with me each time but I bought into the "traveling light" thing. Those were the days... It seem all twigs had them... small ones, big ones, even odd colored ones. At area meetings there would be many of them floating around and at the end the meetings, like they had hidden GPS tracking system of them... people would know which one was theirs. I wonder what happen to my beloved "horn of plenty". Is it retired with other freed horns? Laying on some ...<gulp> 'non-believers' table with flowers stuck in it... (sorry, I teared up)... or someone in the TWI found it in another thrift store? Oh well! What did you do with your horn of plenty?

Careful you'll start a new denominational church probably called "The First Favorites are Green, Blue and White Assembly of God Church".

I remember going to the ROA in the mid 80s and hearing talk of an 'actors twig' located in NY. Was that all "talk" because I remember thinking at the time... "wow, I'd like to go to that twig."? Side Note: Did anybody have a problem with the standing naked in line to use the showers at the Rock? I felt wtf is this? What was stranger is that people seem not to mind... chatting, laughing as if this was normal. Or using the portal potties, that when people walked by they could tell it was you sitting there because of your shoes. Soon I got me RV just for privacy.

I remember hearing about celebrities that took PFAL. Do anyone know who these celebrities were? I think I heard the singing group Earth, Wind & Fire (I could be wrong). And I seem to remember some type of video with football players on it.

Did this happen to anyone else? During my advance class they had something I think called a "junk table" in one the room, on it was all kinds of devilish things like: auto writing; ectoplasm; psychic healing; etc. I remember being scared out of my mind seeing all that stuff. I didn't show it but I couldn't wait to get out there. I remembered them "warning" us not to handle any of the stuff. Something else that scarred me was that whole "roll away" process after the meals. (Some those meal... yeach! what was with the sea salt and kelp instead of pepper.)

With all the elements of TWI, power, sex, cover-up, mystery, music, etc. What do you think about a movie about TWI? Would you have play the parts? My pick for LCM would be Woody Harrison.

Did Adam and Ever ever argue on who fault it was they got kick out of Eden (after they left)? Did Adam ever exaggerate when telling his children, grandchildren, etc. on what was in the garden of eden? Was clothes a style issue back then, and so, did Adam set the trend or was it one his children? Did people get sarcasm when it was first used? Who was first to get drunk and did others realize what was happening to them? Did anyone ever get seasick on Noah's ark? What people do for fun on the ark, after the flood or during Adam's days? The first to find gold, did know it was valuable? Who was the first to get struck by lightening and did leave to tell about it? Were flies and mosquitoes in the Garden of Eden and if not, when did the notice? Who was first to cheat on his/her spouse? Who was first comedian and was they funny?

I've been thinking a lot about TWI lately. I got involved in the mid 80s and at first I thought... 'Who were these strange people?' 'What do they want?' But after only a few weeks I making them a center part of my life. Hanging out with them, inviting them over, coming over their house for fellowship. Before long a green card was signed and I sitting in PFAL, hearing things I honestly never thought of before (I must admit when I came to my first class and saw the TV and a betamax... I thought about heading for the door). At first it was great, good honest folks trying to move the word (at least the small group people I knew). But then the pressure of taking second class came. I thought why not, it had less sessions and I kind of liked the first one. But the second class part of the time met in groups to skill you in worship manifestations and I felt the pressure getting ready to manifest the spirit. Back then I couldn't wait until the group session were over. Being called on (or the waiting) always got my nerves up. After finishing that class came all the other little classes: renewed mind, DWA, W&U, CF&S, etc. Not mention the pressure getting ready to take the Advance Class test. But through it all it was nice until new leadership (branch cord.) took over. Gone were smiles and good times now replaced with reproof, reproof and critiques. I once was reproofed by leadership for color of my couch. It was the start of the end for me, whatever I did seem to be wrong or critiqued by this guy. Some things seem crazy now that this guy had a problem with: If I was going to ROA; how much I made; what time I got up (he preferred before 6am), which believers I hung out with. Man, was he controlling. Finally I had enough and parted ways with WTI in late 80s. Sometime in the early 90s, I missed some of the good times I had in the beginning; learning the word; the friendships and decided to give WTI another try. It started ok although there were some big changes. Almost everyone I knew was gone and LCM looked totally different. But my twig cord. and surrounding believers were pretty cool. Although a much smaller group believers, everything was fine for a couple of years until... I went out on the field. Each leadership was more demanding than the last. Now it seem I was "spiritually" responsible for actions of the people I witness to. It was hard enough to keep myself on the word but other people...whew. The more I stayed, the more militaristic leadership was becoming. List of who's buying SNS tapes, ABS and the big one... backbiting. Not mention having to give an answer for something that critiqued. After being sent out as a WD, and dealing with a dictator style leader. I left for home and soon WTI. Looking back I had both very good times and extremely bad times in WTI.