YIdon'tgotochurch

I've had a few different names in here. I can't remember them. It really doesn't matter now. In fact, it didn't matter at the time I changed my names because no one knew who I was and I rarely made any waves with my posts. Then in 2006, I forgot my password and had problems getting logged on. So, I changed my name to "YIdon'tgotochurch". Few people ever saw my complete name...especially in the chat rooms. So, people just called me "Y" or "YID". I got a kick out of that. After having this name for over a year, I'm going to follow a suggestion someone made and shorten it to 'YID'. I have nothing against people of the Jewish persuasion, but I'm not a Jew. I sure hope none of you think I speak or type Yiddish because your'e going to be sorely disappointed.

Somehow, I got 80% right. Math and science were never my better subjects. I hated most of my classes including English and History until I got into the Army. I remember in my 30's, I had a little carpet cleaning business and a project came up to clean carpet in a church. I had to figure out the area of a choir room. It was round. I hadn't ever used pi in a practical application and had to get help from a friend. The experience suddenly gave me an intense appreciation for math. I found myself enjoying the subject. I purchased a workbook and tried to re-aquaint myself with the subject. In the first few pages, there was a drill to determine the level of expertise. There were 100 addition problems progressively getting more difficult as you progressed through the test. It started with single digits and progressed to 9 digits on several rows. The time allowed was 5 minutes. I failed miserably. Don't expect I'll get any calls from NASA. I guess that's why I enjoyed the Bible so much over the years. Except for 4 crucified, there's not a lot of math to deal with.

ONCE AGAIN, Y I don't go to church..... Lord knows I've tried. I'd like to simply find people with a passion for the Bible that I have. I often quote Psalms 138:2b "For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." To find people with that same goal, "to magnify God's Word above opinion and ego" is the ultimate goal I have learned to look for.

Several songs motivate me. Some motivate me to be a better musician... others just motivate me to stand as a citizen of the U.S. of A. With 4th of July quickly approaching, I'm planning to go to Corpus Christi, TX. Around 7:pm the CC Symphony will be assembled on the deck of the retired naval carrier, the USS Lexington. Thousands will gather at the shoreline of the bay. A barge will be all set up a few hundred yards out in the bay. The symphony will start playing the Stars and Stripes Forever, and one of the radio stations will broadcast it. Thousands of radios on the boardwalk and the Shoreline Drive medium will turn their radios up. The fireworks will start firing off in the distance for the next 20 minutes or so, then everything qets quiet and the overture begins in the softest sweetness imaginable way. As the music begins to build to a crescendo, the fireworks will start again. If I knew how to down load it...............You'd be able to hear the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovosky. I was in the Army and played French Horn in the Army Band. I got involved with TWI in 1975 just as we were practicing music for the bi-centennial. Even today, listening to it and knowing the real work involved in performing it is as moving to me as most of the ministry songs I still sing while working around the house. If you can get a copy of it with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the words will grip your throat. The copy I have doesn't have the Choir on it and I am desparately seeking the production of it. As I recall there is a part where the lyrics say: "Oh Lord God Hear! OUR PRAYER! ! ! ! " It is a gut wrenching plea that I think IMHO our country quit making years ago. And when it is sung in context of the music....I am more motivated and more emotional about the performance of this song than any Christmas songs. In fact, 4th of July has come to mean more to me than Christmas. I would go so far as to say that what Christmas means to most people, the 4th means to me.

Good friends are: Hard to find Harder to bid farwell Impossible to forget! ! ! !

I'm with WordWolf on this one! ! ! ! ! ! ! Interesting view. I reserve the right to completely disagree, of course.

As I understand it.........which in of itself is questionable..... The 4 Gospels were included in the New Testament simply because they were written after the events of Jesus Christ life, death and ressurrection, just as you said "Most of the Gospels and epistles were all written around the same time, often by some of the same men." Chronologically, they are still in the right place in the order of the cannon. IMHO the people who cannonized the Bible, simply put the term, "NEW TESTAMENT" in the wrong place. As a unit, they close out the Old Testament and include prophecies to be fulfilled in the time period coverd by the book of Revelation. The time period between Acts and Revelation is an insertion of the age of Grace. Romans is addressed, " To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:7) The "beloved of God" would contexturally be considered the believers "born again". Since it wasn't possible to be born again until Acts chapter 2, the Gospels would naturally be for our learning. I should know better than to embark on any doctrinal discussions here. Seems I always step on toes in this topic.

You can tell you are having a TWI wedding because: Your'e drinkin' buddies with the clergy Your wedding party goes to your Bible studies (twig) The ceremony is performed in someone's living room. The reception is in the same living room. The only people invited are people from the area or branch. Your blood relatives are not invited. The only beverage is Kool Aid. The bride and groom are the only ones with champaign. Your honeymoon is back at your apartment or at a root location in a tent. The whole event is done with less than $200.00. I almost forgot! ! ! Another way you can tell you're at a TWI wedding: Everyone is wearing nametags.

I seem to remember Isaiah 65:17 in this context Isaish 65:17; For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered nor come to mind In this context, Romans 8:1 would be a quick referal regarding our administration. I'm sure there's a lot more.

What a treat! ! ! ! ! ! ! I would have loved to have been there for that. I was in the 10th Corps when Sxra was graduating from the 8th. She was always as gracious as her mom. I only met Kevin once, he impressed me as being extremely humble. I think we should have a huge reunion in Texas! ! ! A dude ranch would be a blast! ! ! See if JP would like to come out. I have a P.A. system, would could put a little country band together and dance on a Saturday night under the Texas stars. Oh! What a treat that would be. I could help coordinate it if anyone is interested. P.S. At a Dude Ranch, there are cabins and such so no one has to bring a tent.

Mark: Agreed, when women bathe in the stuff it's as bad as cigarette smoke. Combine the 2 and it can be even worse. You said: "Stuff gives me a headache...makes my eyes water and makes me sneeze." But if a woman's wearing the right perfume lightly donned on her wrists and on the pulse areas of her kneck....I get a............different response. Edited for content

Every New Year's Eve, the song "What a Wonderful World" is played with slow-mo's and stills. I have been impressed with that every year I see it. Louie Armstrong sings it. Maybe in the beginning you could do some of those other songs suggested but end with this one. Especially the end of the song when it ends with that "Yeah, yeah". Perfect ending! ! ! ! !

I liked the quote regarding the 2nd hand smoke statistics Now, if they could prove it, I'd be even more impressed. Evidently, the EPA has broken down the elements to discover the cancerous bi-products in smoking. GRANTED! ! ! ! Smoking is caustic and brutal on lungs. I fully agree with that. It would be smart for everyone to stop smoking. I also know the link to smoking and cancer is very obvious. But good grief! ! ! The quote from your post: A study found that nonsmokers exposed to environmental smoke were 25 percent more likely to have coronary heart diseases compared to nonsmokers not exposed to smoke.5 That is about as vague as a horoscope............(You'll have a great day today, but watch out for transportation issues)..................Does this mean the other 11 zodiacial wonders out there don't even have to think about red lights????????????????????........................ What study? Who did the study? How was it controlled? What kind of environmental smoke? Where these bar maids? Factory workers? Miners? How many stay at home moms with smoking husbands were found to have lung diseases? (For this one, I'd love to see the stats) Every year thousands of men die from prostrate cancer and even more women die of breast cancer. My studies in this are conclusive. These cancers are from a low or non-existant sexual activity. Now, watch that be on 20/20 in a few months. I would venture a guess that most of the people yelling about 2nd hand smoke have most everything in their lives going well and this and global warming are the only things they can complain about.

Souix, You must be right! ! ! That's why I chew Skoal Mint. I started smoking somewhere around 7-9 yrs old. Smoked for 20 years. When I finally quit, I started dippin'. I also had started doin' that around 9 yrs old. But quit while in the Army circa 1974 @ 18 yrs old. In the 10th Corps, I smoked like a house-a-fire. Didn't make through the interim year and had to re-apply to go back in for the 14th Corps. Apprentice yr, I quit smoking on a regular basis. Decided I'd become an occassional smoker. Got down to about 2 paks a year. Went back to Copenhagen.... preferred breathing over not. First year in residence, I was the one walking around on campus with a leather pouch attached to my belt to hold the can of Copenhagen (much more easy on the Jeans and suit pants if you don't put that huge can in your pocket; after a while there is a huge ring where you put the can in your pants. During the interim year, got the word no one in the Corps would smoke in residence. That was ok with me. Listened very close to see if Copenhagen was ever mentioned. After the Rock, we were tearing down the ROA equiptment. About a week into it, we had a campfire out in the woods. Some guys wife (she hated the idea that her husband dipped) stood up and asked if there was a 'no smoking' rule, what about Copenhagen? About a dozen of us at the fire almost got up and went over to string her up by her heels.... her husband would have led the way. Can you imagine the first mob riot in the Corps? The ruling came down.... NO TOBACCO of any kind! ! ! ! ! ! So, I became a covert dipper. Got careless a few times, but always managed to avoid detection. While at HQ, I'd run into New Knoxville after SNS, before the after meetings. At Emporia, I'd run accross the street to the pharmacy and grab a can. I remember there was a rotation for each twig to take bless patrol during lunch. I almost always got Emporia Hall so when I saw the first person come out of the dinning hall, I could dart over to the pharmacy before they reached Emporia. The beauty of Skoal or Copenhagen is people don't die from second-hand spittle. I mean really! ! ! When that's in your mouth and a girl knows it, she ain't gonna kiss ya. And even if you are picking a fight, you are aiming for the guy's eyes. So, the only one taking a chance on it, is the individual dipping the stuff I mean 'snuff'.... I admire your concern for your health and well-being of others. But while I was smoking the only thing more rude than a smoker was an arrogant non-smoker dictating my rights. I think that's 'snuff sed

What's a thread? What's a light bulb? Sudo, I think you should be on Letterman.

On their site they said, "A custom floor plan evolves from many ideas and a number of conversations, from doodling on the back of an envelope to more formal schematics and "blue-prints." The turn key cost of our Studio Barn is between $150-$185 per square foot, not including the cost of the land and site work. Please note that garage space square footage is counted at 25%; with living space counted at 100%. A 28 x 40 Studio Barn costs between $240,000-$275,000 fully finished. On this page, our planners have put together information that can help you create your initial floor plan. The information is general but comes from over thirty years of designing and building Yankee Barn homes. Let's see here? 28X40 is only 1120 sq ft. My last home had 2576 sq./ft and cost $156,000.00 to build. I don't get the cost difference. Sounds too expensive all around. Granted, you'll have up stairs and down stairs available to bring the total to 2280 sq./ft. But it sounds too pricy for me. Especially in Texas.

I'm thankful you shared so much of your experience and your heart. I personally could care less if TWIGB ever read my posts. II Timothy 2:15 is still the truth and I don't have to stand approved to them or anyone else. Admitting being in a cult; confronting the cult; leaving the cult; is extremely hard. It's a fight for your life and your right to decide your own life and means of fellowship with God. That you made such decisions and then exposed your experience here in the cafe is commendable. Your family should be proud of you.

How ironic to come across this thread.......... My wife and I were married in '86, right after POP was released at Corps Week. We have gone through an incredible amount of grief over the ministry, my health (I'm the one with all the brain surgeries in my past) and now, after 20 years... we will be divorced this June. Last Fall, she approached me with her delima. She was over stressed and it was starting to affect her health. After visits to a few doctors and counselors, she arrived at the conclusion it was our marriage and my inability to remember things in the financial realm that had her the most stressed. After my 3rd surgery, she had to take over the finances in the home. She has been very good at it. She raised our credit rating to an outstanding level simply by never being late on a bill. I can't even balance a check book. No doubt, that would stress out anyone. I rarely know the date unless someone tells me and then I won't remember the next day. After months of deliberation, she approached me in October and said, "I figure I've got about 25 years left. And I just don't think I want to spend them married to you." I grinned and said, "OK." She met with lawyers in December and served me papers in February We aren't bitter. In fact, as serious as this is, I'm still making her laugh about it. She is even allowing me to stay in the house until I'm ready to move. It has taken a lot of work to set myself up to be able to survive financially without her. We are going through an incredibly friendly divorce. I'm disappointed things are at this point.... but I fully understand that for her, its about survival. If I were her, I would leave me, too. We seem to still like each other which is great imho. Go out on top and always leave 'em laughing.

Contrary to popular opinion as stated by the Cafe, my birthday isn't until the 21st. Perhaps I wixed up my mords. I do stutter when I type. But I don't recall that error. I'll be 51. I typically grin and tell people I'm 96 years old and they respond in kind that I look great for that age. I tell them they should have seen me when I was 17 yrs old! ! ! I was a catch! ! ! If I drank a few beers, I could knock the bark off the tree in the back yard. Now, I'm dribbling. When my birthday actually takes place, I think I'll celebrate or something. After 3 brain surgeries, I should celebrate or something. Good greif! ! ! I survived to 51 years old. Had I been diagnosed with the same tumor 10 years ealier, I probably wouldn't have survived the first one in 1990.

Catagorically, the Bible is the real thing to me (within the fundementals of what I understand). Everything else is idealistic. But then, eveyone knows: I'm in a perpectual state of dormant mental awareness! ! ! !

And now, coming to a theatre near you. You saw her in the news. You saw her in the magazines. Now Hollywood brings her back to life in the latest full length biography of: "The Second Marilyn" Sorry, I agree with doojable. The media always has to have something to distract us from what is really going on somewhere else (usually in Washington is my conclusion) On a more personal level, I never could see what her life had to do with me. She didn't make anything, she didn't produce anything but an illigitiment (no spell check used) child. She didn't stand for any of the things that would impress me. I never thought of her as any kind of sex symbol. I did like her eyes though. Other than that, I always considered her a distraction from reality. Granted, it is tragic for her death to put her kid through so much crap. But ANS is now history and it's disappointing that anyone would allow themselves to die in such a way. I feel no remorse nor responsibility nor do I feel sorry for her. But I do feel bad for her kid. I'm sure 20/20 will have a complete story about her kid in another year or so. Especially at an older age. I doubt I'll watch it. Will you?

The trailer seems good. No doubt IMHO it would have to do with some secret sect. The trailer is entising. I might have to see that movie. There will have to be some truth involved to make it marketable to the masses and believable to some. Maybe having access to my computer is the secret to their success. Good grief. That is so ludicrous.

I was reading the post regarding "Why we went into the Corps" I seem to remember a very strong motivation was the Way Tree class taught by Donnie Fugat. By the time I finished that class, I was ready to go full time ministry. In that class, I seem to recall something about getting your need met by the ABS. Basically, I thought of it like Amway. Kind of a pyramid deal. When I first got involved it 1975. It was all about 'The Word over the USA'. The vision was pretty good. The theme for that ministry year was "Go, Stand, Speak". One of the best themes in the history of the Way imho. The Way Tree class gave me a vision of being able to help people without living in extreme poverty. As I recall, the idea was if you put a class of 6 together, you could be a twig leader. When you had a hundred grads or 10 Twigs, you would be a branch leader. With 500, you became a Limb Leader...at that point you go full time ministry. Good grief, there could be two or three limbs in one city. The numbers might be wrong, but you get the idea. Granted there were a lot of changes occurring at the same time I was taking the class. Within a few years, to be a good twig leader you had to be a corpse grad. Never mind about witnessing. IMHO, it is possible the ministry could have overcome a small portion of the corruption had they stuck with the Way Tree stuff. There would have still been a great need for accountability. But if your ABS was paying rent, the likelyhood of being verbally or physically abused, might have been minimized. As I understand the history, one of the main reasons for the pulling of the way tree class was that it lended to greed. That is understandable. But a few people getting booted for that would probably keep the rest in line. No doubt this will stir up some shxt in the cafe... but I'm just a coffee drinker passing through. Pass me a donut.

I have a friend that is a REAL friend. We met while in diapers. Went to school together. Joined the local volunteer fire department together and had a country band for 3 years in high school. We had lots of disagreements in school but always managed to get past them. After graduating, I went into the Army. A year later, I got in the Word. I saw him about 6 months later and didn't witness to him. I didn't want to lose a friend. Two years later, I stayed at his home on the way from Dallas to Corpus Christi. He was in a small town called Luling. I had heard he had 'gotten religion' and didn't want to get into a fight over the doctrinal issues. While at his home, we pulled out the guitars and started playing the old country songs we grew up on. We took turns singing and I watched him almost grimmace at some of the beer drinkin' songs. At one point, when it was his turn, he sang something like Amazing Grace and I chimed right in. Then I did, 'In the Garden' and that broke the ice. He said, " I didn't know you knew those kind of songs!" Encouraged, I pulled out my sing along the way and we played for another hour. During the course of the songs, we started talking about the Bible and we got deeper and deeper into the discussion. He mentioned 'the gift of the Holy Ghost' and the door opened. About 30 minutes later, I led him into tongues. He was so grateful, you would have thought I save his life in a house fire. He and I left TWI about the same time and we are still close friends. We talk about EVERYTHING from music to business, sex and Hollywood, politics and economics. We are still as different now as when we went to High School. But, we can talk about anything and we would do just about anything for one another and the trust we have is stronger than I ever had with anyone. I admire his wit and discretion, he thinks I have honesty and enthusiasm. There are things about one another that we see and don't necessarily like, but our loyalty doesn't allow the differences to interrupt our communication. Throughout the 25 some odd years in TWI we might go a few years with no contact. Then out of nowhere, I'd track him down. Once, while at Gunnison for the summer in the 14th Corps, he and a girlfriend arrived for a Family Camp. He had no idea I was there, and I had no knowledge of his arrival. We just happened to bump into each other about an hour after he arrived. The reunion was magnificent. While a youngster, my dad defined a freind as someone who knew the worse about you but only saw the good in you. A few of you, like George St. George and others know him. It's Casey B.