Happyasaclam

Something I wish someone had suggested to me ... Ask the regular folks at fellowship, "what happens when someone decides to leave?" Can someone be a part of this outfit and leave without being shamed? I joined the group as a college student, sharp, top of my class, and I'd say with good intentions to make a positive impact with my life. I wasn't hurting anyone, wasn't down on myself, wasn't wasting away or on the verge of suicide. And I certainly wasn't wallowing in vomit. When I left, people were told that I returned to said "vomit" and was worthless. What was the difference in between? 27 years of involvement in The Way. If I was horrible, to be avoided at all costs, a imbecile without purpose ... where did I formulate those traits? If a good decent person cannot leave The Way without being a horrible person, it isn't a worthy organization.

I clearly remember LCM on a Corps Night stating that things had become financially strained from HQ because of the full-time Way Corps status "revelation." But that this was NOT because we (as a ministry) were not "living within our means" ... Oh no! It wasn't that. It was the TAXES! Yes ... the payroll TAXES. That was the problem. As if these were a mysterious surprise that no-one could have anticipated ... a trick of the adversary. In fact, anyone in business understands the tax-cost of employees. It's not a mystery but federal code, set in stone and as obvious as the time of day. If you have employees, you pay these or the government shuts. you. down... and fast. And the percentages are clear and understandable with an 8th grade education. The pay deadlines are clear. Nothing mysterious or vague. Someone did not do their homework ... their arithmetic. So staff were "asked" (ie required) to take another 10% cut in pay - off their already determined need-basis.

Hello - I know Grant. He lives in the Boise, ID area. You can find him via searches or PM me here. And, nope, he is not related to Hank, although that was always a common assumption. Clam

Dot, Is there a way to post an audio link? I'd love to hear this song. I get my strength, order, center from music ALL the time! Actually, if I could only have one of my 5 senses, I'd take my hearing ANY day! What motivates or calms me? Oh my ... that would be a topic! If I just need to get off my hiney and get moving I love the sound track to the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. There is a "suite" on that production that describes the "Old West" and I love it. It has a little Copland, "Orange Blossom Special," and a theme that is as moving as Bonanza. That's just for starters. Clam

I loved looking at the pictures again. I have nightmares about returning there - I left something that I really wish I had - a carefully notated book of all the Way songs - complete with chording and tablature for accompanying on the piano. In my dreams, I sneek into the campus through the unsecured sliding door to the walk-in freezer from Allen's Alley (a little known security weakness that actually existed while we were there. Mostly, staff kids knew about it.) Then I make my way through the West Wing to the chapel, to the piano bench where my binder was left. We were summarily dismissed and it would not have been so bad except that my heart breaks when I remember how my middle-school age son cried for miles and miles as we drove away. In a matter of minutes, his entire life was upended, no way to effect closure with friends, his world, his classmates, his teachers, he just disappeared. It was so hurtful and evil ... But the campus was beautiful and not to blame. I would love to go there again some day ... and sneak into the kitchen through the freezer door, to the West Wing, to the Chapel, to the piano bench ... I am sure someone threw away my binder that took me hours, days, weeks and months to develop ... but I would like to look in the piano bench, just in case. Clam

Two days! Bowtwi - that must have been a record! I would love to hear the story. We made the head lice check - not that it helped. Within a few days we had to decontaminate our entire earthly possessions due to ... yes ... head lice. Evidently, our son's roommate was diagnosed. I was given about 2 hours notice to strip, wash, and bleach our entire household's inventory of bedding, clothing and outerware ... remake all our beds, and "report back" that all had been done ... and that we were all properly head washed and medicated. When I suggested that I would not make it to the evening meal on time ... well ... you can imagine the response. BELIEVE GOD! We were Family22, so I probably did not know you. Although a couple in our Corps also did leave within a few days - evidently because they decided to quit smoking while pulling into the driveway of the Indiana Campus! HAHAHA! Don't know about Mark and Joanne, but their family was in our Corps - David and Karen. Good people. They were released - medical reasons.

Then there is "throughly" ... or is it "thoroughly"? I know, that is not actually a preposition. I think they are both adverbs actually. But I can totally see God scratching his metaphorical head at TWI's issue with this one! Clam

Satori, I LOVE you!

The legend of Coco lives on You can still hear her cries by the pond, Though she swam like a brick and was rescued by Tic The flutterbutt somehow was gone.

Quick! Someone call Dateline!

Here is a family favorite. Even my kids enjoyed this salad made with these "seeds." Quinoa Salad: 3 cups cooked Quinoa 3 chicken breasts, cubed One-half green pepper, coarsely chopped One whole red pepper, coarsely chopped 2 green onions, finely chopped Dressing: One third cup olive oil One fourth cup lemon juice Two teaspoons Spike One quarter teaspoon garlic powder Mix all ingredients together in a big bowl. Add lemon or Spike to taste.

So, when you can't watch 24 during its regularly scheduled broadcast, and you record it on your DVR - do you fast forward past the commercials??? Wouldn't that screw up the whole thing? Afterall, how would the characters take care of all the things they need to that would not really pertain to the story - like drink a glass of water and eat a sandwich, etc. Clam

"Ill-considered emotional outbursts became doctrines and policy!" Wow - that does say it, in a nutshell. All of a sudden, we could not bring flowers from our garden to the LC's table. BUT, we were expected to come regularly to clean and work at their house and yard. What's up with that?Wasn't that a gift too? Except that when I came to clean her house, I could barely do anything because of the lack of cleaning supplies. It was ridiculous. It got to where I snuck in my own rags and cleansers. I remember that after the gift ban, the card giving competition got real crazy. So, the gift ban didn't really change anything, it just morphed into another form of adulation. One night, we were called to arrange baby sitting last minute and make a command appearance at the LC home ... an important meeting. It turned out to be an a*** reaming because as a group of believers, we had not sent written "thank-yous" to them often enough. We were not showing our respect properly. And I stayed with this outfit another 2 years!

"What do you think? Has anyone had roasted garlic? Do you think a whole head of garlic, even left whole, in a stew that serves 6 is too much?" Vegan, We roast garlic often. We bought a special dish (terra cotta thingy at Bed Bath and Beyond) but you can do it in simply foil, or a small oven proof dish. You'll need a firm head but not the giant type. Slice off the tips of all the little cloves while keeping the head in tact, brush a little olive oil on and season. We use salt, pepper, and some Italian seasonings, but you can experiment. Roast (bake) at 350 or so for 20 to 30 minutes. The cloves come out creamy and you can spread them with a butter knife on italian bread or just eat them like that. You can put them in your stew right from the oven, I suppose. The recipe you mention sounds like it calls for the whole head to be stewed in tact - that sounds similar although I haven't tried it on the stove top. I imagine the cloves would pop out creamy like roasting. Yumm!

Yes, Out There, I clearly remember a phone hookup in Indiana (it would have been in early 1997 as best I can remember) where he described himself doing just this. I WISH I had recorded the day and the event of the hook-up, but it must have been a Corps hookup, one of those Wednesday morning events we did for awhile. After the meeting, I looked at my husband and asked him if he thought that was a bit crazy - but as in Jonestown, we were not to question anything. I had to be careful to even suggest to my husband that I thought anything was in any way a little "off." But, LCM described what I would think any professional mental health expert would say was a psychotic event - unapproachable, distressed, "spiritually" spent, ... and that these times would break as quickly as they had come on. He would then be fine, drained, but ready to go on with normal daily activities. His physical surroundings during these times he described as being spent alone, with instructions not to be disturbed, no food, conversation, distractions, light, noise, company of any type. I sware I remember him saying that he just spiritually KNEW afterwards that Michael had won that battle, and he IMPLIED (if not directly stated) that his intervention allowed the victory. A little hyperbolic, perhaps.

I, too, watched with my jaw dropped. I new this story and had defended my involvement in TWI against people who tried to draw the comparison at the time. We would NEVER die for the ministry ... we were told that was wrong. We needed to LIVE for it. Then in 1997 I heard the co-campus coordinator of Indiana state, from the head-table so it is probably still on some tape, that we should be willing to die for this ministry. It gave me the creeps ... because at the time I knew that LCM seemed to be going south mentally - screaming his lungs out over little chocolate gifts our parents might send us for valentines' day, etc., how he'd spend days in a darkened room, sweating it out while he stood in the "gap" for the world, and then would emerge drained after the spiritual battle had been won, because of our (his) intercession. I, too, think we were on the verge. I don't get the sense that those still "in" are in that danger today, though.

Well, since we all seem to be about music lately, I could use some IPOD suggestions. I am training for a half and my current selection runs out after about 45 minutes. I am not that fast! I am oldish (50 +) so something that would please a pentagenerian would be helpful. It doesn't HAVE to be in a major key, but that helps. At least 130 beats per minute. Thanks!

Hello "Son of the Master," I figure that I must know you at some level. Got into the ministry in Sacramento about the same time. Were you a "college WOW"? I learned a lot from Tim Bishop, the Seeds, and Bay Area believers also. I remember Chico as being the "party town." Don't know if things have changed ... "coolbreeze" sounds like a compliment to me! Clam

Ummm ... Weak in the knees cologne ... walking on air classical music ... Whaaaats up??? Anyway, my library of classical is heavy on the side of piano - my favorite instrument. So my suggestions are mostly Chopin. If you want something that will be romantic and continuous, get a CD of his nocturnes. His preludes, waltzes and etudes are good too, but can get a little bit edgy. Some of my all time favorite, romantic era piano pieces are both of his piano concertos' middle movements (Romance:Larghetto from Concerto No.1, and Larghetto from Concerto No. 2). They are both about 10 minutes long and give goose bumps. You might recognize the music from movie scores. Speaking of which, your local music store will sell compilations of "ligh classical," "romantic classical," etc. which would give you continuous soft, light music. One I bought was called "Movie Adagios." It contains Elivira Madigan, Cavalleria Rusticana, The "Rachy 2" famous 2nd movement, Clair de lune, etc. ... it is really over the top in heavy light classical (an oxymoron???). Enjoy. Clam

Laura, Buen venido! Espero que te gusta una cafe Yankee! El ministerio de “The Way” (o se dice El Camino en Argentino) ha sido en decadencia hasta muchos anos, especialmente desde 2000. Si, el exodo continua hasta hoy, aunque pienso que ha logrado una forma de estabilidad recien, quisa. Si hay crecimiento, es por causa de los hijos y nietos de miembros que han quedado. Con respecto a Martindale … bueno me parece que es un “desaparacido” (que quiere decir otra cosa en tu pais), y no tiene mucho merito con este movimiento ahora. Pero, que se yo … ha vivido una vida en secreto por la majoria de sus dias – especialmente cuano fue el presidente de El Camino. Chau –

This will date me, but I read it in a "Grapevine" publication in California - during the EARLY TWI days. I think it was a poem and not a song lyric. I don't know the author. I THINK it was titled "Identification," but that title is pretty iffy and would really not give the poem justice. But the subject was about seeing God's handiwork in everyday situations. I remember some lines; "I saw His great compassion in a young boy's tender eyes, as he nursed a fallen sparrow and restored it to it's skies." "I knew from noon day's splendor His contenance was bright and from night's golden galexies caught whispers 'He is light.'" "These golden threads I gathered and wound on spindles fair, for matching with the garment I know that He would wear." " One day I felt His garment my ragged self embrace. I stooped to kiss His hemline and I met Him face to face." There's lines about a spider's web of lace, a mother crying from wounds her son inflicted, etc. etc. Obviously, I have a vague memory, but I loved the poem then and would love to read it again. Thanks - Clammy

Tom I am sure you are not the ONLY person who has not watched an episode, but if you start ... well ... you would probably be a rare creature if you only watched ONE. You see, that's the problem. They are like Granny Goose potato chips - nobody can eat just one. (Or was that provocative and well-seasoned?) My problem is that I watched one episode. And it really doesn't matter if you start mid-season (I think I did a few seasons ago when my sister was visiting), each hour is designed to reel you in. They are a little over the top, rather graphically violent, and end with a cliff hanger on steroids. Most folks I know start watching because of someone else. So, my advise - don't start. Now, I'm hooked and have to figure out how to catch two more hours tonight. Oh well. Except for favorite sporting events, this is the only TV I watch lately. Raf, I can't remember a Fayed from earlier seasons either. But, frankly, they all seem to blend in together. I am having a bit of a hard time with Ally McBeal's former bumbling boss being the coniving mole around what would otherwise be a President above reproach. Why do the best Presidents have the worst advisors? And, I was just kidding about your almost daughters. I have one that age and the TV was on in my house too. Ickes, by the way! Are you heading into some challenging times, or what??!! Clam

Raf, Evidently, sometime in the past, Jack had been present in an "interrogation," where this guy's brother wound up dead. The implication was that Jack tortured him to death and Fayad wanted to return the favor. Hence the graphic question and answer session. My question to you is ... why on earth were you watching "24" with two (I'm assuming young) almost daughters in close proximity??? Of course, answers are optional here because I can't use the ice pick and you need to keep your fingers in order to use the keyboard to answer.

Well, so much for Chinese. I guess tomorrow night we will have to have chicken necks, in honor of Jack!

Had to bring this back up. It's TONIGHT! We are having Chinese food at our season premier party. How about you!? Clam PS - any guesses? I think a year or so has passed and a new worse-than-ever terror attack is eminent. Only Jack can save the planet and CTI works its magic to save HIM. I just can't image a worse-than-ever terror attack that beats an all-out thermonuclear war or globe-engulfing plague.