Free Soul

I haven't visited the cafe in a very long time, but with it's closing coming soon I feel compelled to state what has gelled in my brain over the last few yrs. First of all, I'm so thankful for this site & all the people who have shared so that the truth about the Way Travesty is known. Having said that, I chose this particular thread bec. I want to be very clear - not only was vpw no sort of "father in the word", but I do not believe he was born again at all. Some may say that we can't know what was in his heart, but for him to carry out the deception, the crimes against our sisters, the day-after-day con job with absolute malice & forethought demonstrates a person of body & soul only. These were not the actions of a born-again believer bearing fruit. In retrospect, his "speaking in tongues" was not genuine, either. People benefitted from hearing the Bible because it is God's Word, not because of that arrogant blowhard. There's nothing like REAL Bible teaching to put it all in perspective, & I've gotten my mind & heart healed by listening to podcasts from the Village Church. The series on Ultimate Authority is amazing. Would that we had had a teacher who was humble, & truly loved God & His people! If anyone disagrees w/my assessment of vpw, that's cool. I'm just speakin' my piece while I still can. It's been a good run, Greasespot :)

My faves are Bill Blass, or Rapture by Victoria's Secret. But that's only because I can't find a perfume that smells like Home Depot......

I figure, if the rain falls on the just and the unjust, then stressing over why things happen is pointless. We are fallen people living in a fallen world, and .... happens!

Teacher supply catalogs are a good source, too.

Katy, if your friend is someone you are dating or considering dating, then cut your losses now & hang out with people who don't try to tell you you're wrong all the time.

A moment of silence, please, for the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn.........love him.

The short answer to this question is, we can't; not until Christ returns.

Mr. Hammeroni, you are SO right about the parents influence - I've had students that persisted in saying such things as "it just don't matter" or "I shoulda went", etc. Then I meet the parents & find out they speak the exact same way. It's all modeling, & the parents are around the child a lot longer than the teachers are. So I tell the kids, you can sound like a hick or you can sound like an educated person; your choice. I say it in a friendly way, & let them know what I expect in the classroom. As to Belle's question, I think it's like unsolicited advice of any kind.

Been getting into Son Volt lately.....

Who is the singer? He doesn't look familiar. I like the song - thanks for sharing it!

My last ex was 8 yrs. younger. It depends on if he's looking for an equal partner, or a sugar mama. Bottom line - do NOT support able-bodied men!

I've used a C-PAP for just over 4 yrs. now, & am very used to it. At first I used the nose pillows, but didn't like stuff stuck in my nose, so went to the mask. One thing that helped a lot is a specially designed pillow for C-PAP wearers that are stomach-sleepers, which I am; I don't remember now who I ordered it from, but you could google it. I paid about $60 for the pillow & pillowcase & it is so worth it. Your head can be on the middle of the pillow & the mask will be over the edge instead of crammed up in your face by a standard pillow. Happy sleeping!

This is an enlightening thread - thank you. Linking conscience and logic together reminds me of similarly linking grace and truth together; too much grace without truth is licentiousness, and too much truth (or what is being sold as truth) without grace is legalism. In balance, it is good. The Love and Logic materials used as discipline guidelines in many schools is a modern-day version of that balance. Is our conscience the still, small voice of God? If so, we had it all along, but let it be drowned out.

Nope, not any more. I wish I could start from scratch.

The hardened heart brought about by continual sin sure as he** did spread outwardly, & we were all affected by it to one degree or another; what we thought was "taking a stand" was really arrogance mixed with fear of the higher ups. Just out of curiosity, did anyone ever stand up in a major meeting & say "Hey, this is really fu**ed up!" Did anyone ever have a moment of clarity like that? I'm not saying I would have - I was just as blinded as anyone.

Yes, Ex, that's a great one, too.

Way to go, Man! May I humbly suggest you take the time to read Toxic Faith - it was very helpful to me. Another good one is More Jesus, Less Religion. Happy reading!

I find it interesting that the instigator who started this thread has not been heard from since the first & only posting. I envision this person sitting back & laughing at the flurry of posts, saying "well, my work here is done!" Baiting people is not cool.

Thanks, Satori - I will definitely spend time here.

Oh yeah, I lived out this insanity 3 times, although I will say husband 1 was already in place when we took PFA-hell. It's unfortunate that he just couldn't seem to grasp that he had to actually WORK hard to take care of his family. Husbands 2 & 3, interestingly, had an aversion to work, as well. I realized that if you are a college-educated female with a decent-paying career, then you are a magnet for "believers" who think they are too spiritual to work. They'd rather be at home "working the Word", or maybe, just maybe occasionally go wash windows to look like they're helping out. Of course, this was my experience - but I did read in the paper about a year ago that there are more men looking for "sugar mamas" than ever, so maybe it wasn't just a twi phenomenon. In any event, I'm done with all that & can support myself just fine. Being in the same corrupt organization, taking the same error-laden classes, getting incompetent "counseling", ad nauseum, did nothing to enhance the relationships or guarantee the marriages. By the way, #1 is remarried & mooching off his wealthy wife, #2 is dead, & #3 lives with dear old mom. Sucks to be them!

Actually, I found the history lesson fascinating, compelling and repulsive. It makes me question, as so many things do, the wisdom of the creation of man.

If you mean snake oil salesman, then yeah, he had it wrapped up real good & we bought it.

Yes, I believed. I also believed that what our leadership did was good & without ulterior motive. It seemed solid and real. Weirwille betrayed us, & he did it with malice & forethought.

YES!!!!!! This is all I've ever wanted to know! Better yet, why was he created AT ALL????????

Well said, T-Bone!