Twinky

Let's just back up a bit here. What would Jesus do? Did he yell and scream at his disciples? It doesn't seem so. He did reprove them, sometimes sternly - but lovingly. He didn't belittle them, tear them down. He certainly didn't aggrandize himself. How did he treat others - hangers-on? He taught them kindly, using words and expressions, graphic examples, what was around him, that they could relate to. Have another look at the sermon on the mount (for example). What would Paul do? He was skilled in argument. He argued with the best. Not arguing rudely, aggressively, or belittlingly. He argued persuasively about "the unknown God" in many locations. In fellowships, he taught at length, in detail. He didn't bellow at those who were listening. Even when some sleepyhead fell out of the window, Paul didn't bellow at anyone for their lack of believing, or lack of attention / falling asleep. Those are the models that should be followed. Therefore, our handling of others, whether in "sermons" or "teachings" or just everyday matters, should be with goodness, forbearance and longsuffering. Not with screaming, yelling, foul language, and belittling, which fits more into this category: Compare and contrast.

Took me quite a while to get used to how "gracious" people were ... kind, generous, willing to help, "let-you-get-on-with-it" kinda easy living. Too many kindnesses to even begin to quantify. I was so suspicious - thought they were all out to "trick" me. What a numbskull I was! ...Embarrassing to reflect on what shameful, evil, thinking we had been taught... Be kind. You never know what weird stuff people are dealing with in their minds. Even if they look and act "normal."

Long time before I could read a Bible of any type. When I finally got to opening one - it wasn't KJV which had become totally incomprehensible to me - but The Message. About as far apart as you can get. But readable, startlingly different in its paraphases, and got me thinking again. Now I most regularly read Holman Christian Bible, which I rather like - but other versions come to hand sometimes, when I prefer a change. If we'd been encouraged to read other versions in the first place, a lot of TWI "teaching" would have been dispensible because it would have been easier to comprehend what was written plainly, instead of wrestling with 15th century English as well as the meaning of the message being conveyed. But hey, that would have denied too much scope for "teaching" and "literals according to usage."

I wonder if Pond knows this place is still open? She hasn't been at the Cafe since Feb 24. Does she go to exwayvision or the Facebook page? Hello, hello? Calling Pond!

Waysider! Where do you get all these amazing photos from? Whatever the topic, you seem to be able to find something a propos.

Well, you folks with the wild ideas. Thought I'd give you an update. I am currently doing people's gardens and housecleaning. I just love working in gardens. The gardens is a bit iffy because it's not feasible when it's raining, and it's rained a little bit lately. However, lovely when the sun is out. Come winter, there won't be so much work. Certainly not the same amount, weekly. So I don't want to build too much dependency on that. Not my only or core business. I have also done some "spring cleaning" for a couple of people and they are delighted with the results. Both of these will lead to regular work, one once a week and the other about once a month. I happened to mention that I was setting up doing more or less anything to an acquaintance from church. His eyes lit up - turns out he runs a (high class) letting agency in town. He has regular cleaners but is always on the lookout in case the regulars can't do something. He gave me a job - it was to clean a range with double oven and 6 burners. It took quite a few hours but he was delighted with the end result so maybe more work will come that way. There have been some referrals and I did a leaflet drop earlier this week and got two enquiries that evening and did the work for the clients today. So work is building up and it's looking "survivable." Not sure that this is what I want to do long-term, but it gives me a base to move out from. I work more or less when I choose to, and it all fits with the other activities I like to do. There is still time to do the voluntary work that I do one day a week, together with any team meetings or training related to that work. I'd like to keep the voluntary work up, because that is giving me an "in" to advice work and/or debt management work that I'd like to do. I do get interviews for those kind of roles, but always seem to be a runner up. I have had 3 interviews in the last 7 days for jobs that I'd like - well, two of them would have been perfect for me - the third I could do but it didn't hold the same excitement - with "the usual result." In other words, nobody wants me on their payroll. Still can't work out if it's genuinely that there are better candidates (sometimes, I know others really are more suitable) - or whether it is something about me. There are so many people chasing so few jobs. Maybe I'm just too old. Y'know, the wrong side of 25. (That's only just a joke.) (Not the "25" bit - but sometimes I wonder if, despite there not allowed to be age discrimination in the job market - there actually is age discrimination.) Anyway it's definitely better to be more in control of myself, my finances and my job prospects - not to mention my state of mind - in doing "Whatever" than in applying for zillions of jobs and never hearing back, or being rejected after interview.

They don't leave because the word is at steak and they want some peas. Oops, sorry, wrong thread... LOL

My mouth's watering already. Good to see ya, DWBH. Are you sure that was "peace" you were talking about ... not ... peas ... with that steak? Peas Peace :)

Very tasty, Froggy, thanks. Let's dine together again sometime.

Are you sure he didn't say, the integrity of the world is always at steak? Waiter, mine's medium rare, please!

Thanks, Excie.

Way off relevance, Johniam. Integrity...just is. I don't agree there has to be another party. It's a state of mind and behavior from which others may benefit. As to That's also nothing to do with it, but if you want to take it as simply meaning "steal" - Vic stole the Word from us by planting some counterfeit (very close to the original, doncha know?) in our minds. Most of us here are still trying to work out which bits are real and which bits are counterfeit. As to what the phrase means... :wacko: whatever Vic wanted it to mean, really. The conman has defined the terms, given us a catchy little phrase - to stop us thinking what it means. He had no integrity. His state of mind and his behavior was seriously compromised. Which may or may not (and I know that you, Johniam, don't agree) compromise what he says "the Word" says. Vic was the one who stole, killed and destroyed the Word for many people here. There are some who have been so disgusted (or worse) by what he "taught" that they have turned their backs on Christianity and follow other religions - or none. Remind me again - on whose behalf was Vic working?

Just to say, this is an interesting and entertaining discussion that I'm following even though not posting. My contribution then: Remember it's all about heart (relationship). Don't magnify the words above the relationship. We see as through a glass darkly - one day we shall know it and understand it all. Till then - do what you know to do. Don't stress over the small stuff. I think one of the biggest lies from TWI is that (if you like) the diary notes and "to do list" became more important than the One whose diary notes and "to do list" they are.

None so blind as those that will not see.

Part of it was tied up with the teaching that it was "only words," and real swearing was taking the Lord's name in vain. I learned some very interesting swear words that I'd never heard before...from "teachings" by LCM. As if developing a foul mouth really endears us to the people we are trying to win to Christ. Yeah, right. Part of our "freedom in Christ," doncha know, to be able to come out with words that are culturally offensive. Though while I recall LCM f'ing and blinding at the Corps - I don't recall that anyone would speak to him in the same tone - oh no - had to be respectful to the man-o-Gawd. Double standards...

Explain Mrs W's poodle, please. Or post the relevant bit??

I like men with neatly-trimmed beards. Problem solved. Nobody needs to shave. Not even squirrels.

Wasn't that also mentioned in PFAL? That man was to eat of it, but not just at that time? But "jumped the gun"? But ... "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." Now as regards that expression: Meaning The rash or inexperienced will attempt things that wiser people are more cautious of. Origin 'Fool' is now a more derogatory insult than it was when this proverb was coined, in the early 18th century. At that time a fool wasn't a simpleton, lacking in intelligence, simply someone who had behaved foolishly. 'Fools rush in...' has a precise derivation, in that it is a quotation from the English poet Alexander Pope's An essay on criticism, 1709: Such shameless Bards we have; and yet 'tis true, There are as mad, abandon'd Criticks too. The Bookful Blockhead, ignorantly read, With Loads of Learned Lumber in his Head, With his own Tongue still edifies his Ears, And always List'ning to Himself appears. All Books he reads, and all he reads assails, From Dryden's Fables down to Durfey's Tales. With him, most Authors steal their Works, or buy; Garth did not write his own Dispensary. Name a new Play, and he's the Poet's Friend, Nay show'd his Faults - but when wou'd Poets mend? No Place so Sacred from such Fops is barr'd, Nor is Paul's Church more safe than Paul's Church-yard: Nay, fly to Altars; there they'll talk you dead; For Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread. The 'fools' that Pope targetted there were the literary critics of the day. Which actually fits quite well with what we learned from PFAL. A supposed expert (VPW) sets himself up - as expert, The Teacher - but "The Bookful Blockhead, ignorantly read,/ With Loads of Learned Lumber in his Head,/ With his own Tongue still edifies his Ears,/ And always List'ning to Himself appears./ All Books he reads, and all he reads assails..." DocVic assailed and assaulted and wrested everything he read. It's difficult to work out what's straight and what's twisted with him. I read the Adam & Eve and serpent story as allegorical now. We all have our own snakes, "apples" - temptations and choices - that we need to address on a daily, hourly, basis. There is a cost, sometimes very heavy cost, to making a choice in defiance of what we know to be right, taking into account all that we know or should know. The snake as a "shining one" - a minister of light - and haven't we all met those! Is perhaps this Genesis account one about not following false prophets, ministers disguised as "shining ones"? 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Maybe part of the choice we face daily is to avoid following false prophets, whatever form they take - in the church or simply following the media line.

Just when you think it can't get any more gross...yeuk, OperaBuff. And you and the two girls stuck it out - oops, I mean, stayed there - for the whole year...?! (Paw, why can't there be a "vomit" icon?) What's the betting that there won't be "sexual safety" "rules" in the new WoW program? Or are the new recruits too pure to think of such things?

Welcome, PatAnswer! You might (since you've been a lurker for a while) have seen other threads on critical thinking. Many of us here feel as you do. It's very liberating to be able to use your God-given brain for ... thinking!! Think on, and expect some suprises.

I have a genuine degree in a very difficult and challenging subject that requires a lot of careful thinking. Plus further professional training, on top of that, and a sort of professional apprenticeship for two years (so an intense six years training) in highly respectable profession. I come to TWI. They think they have a feather in the cap for this smartie. Trouble is, a degree teaches you to think. Think of good ways to do things. Ask questions like, Why? When you see something that you don't understand or which doesn't seem logical - you ask - "Why? Not to be argumentative, but to understand better. And thinking is not what was encouraged in TWI. So many times I got: You are leaning to your own understanding. You are not meek to the Word. You do not follow instructions. You do not submit. They made me feel - ashamed (!) for having studied, qualified, got my professional stuff under my belt. Ashamed that I could think things through - but it didn't agree with some of what they taught. Ashamed of the brain that God has given me. Ashamed of the uniqueness that God has given me. Ashamed of wanting to help people. Because what I qualified in could really help people in the here and now. And from that, those people could have been led into dealing with their spiritual needs. I trained in that profession because I wanted to help people - not to make megabucks. They stole that. They stole my critical thinking ability. They stole my self-confidence. And it was all because of jealousy. Jealous that worldly skills could do something that their bullying self-aggrandising "training" could not achieve. Thank God that he can make a "plan B" in our lives, to try to get us back to where He wanted us in the first place. Or some other place that we can carry out the works that He has before ordained that we should do.

Haven't had too much attrition among age groups similar to my age - but older and much older ones...and younger ones... Most posters here are in the 50-59 age group. What, did that generation come out of the womb with some special dose of gullibility?

Yep, we Brits are glad to be free of our wayward child...! (tongue in cheek) Hope you guys all have a good day of family and community fun. I remember flying into Denver to stay with some believers - arrived early evening of 4 July - nobody was home - everyone was BBQing in the park! And bless 'em, these people still made space for me, a stranger. I went to the American Museum in my city today. A free "open day." Yesterday they had events, re-enactments, bands, heaps going on. A real party. Okay. Barbecue on!!

A different topic, Kit. Abortion. Perhaps a painful one, too, for some people here. Soulie: not a nice couple. Druggies...how to deal with them...that's another topic, too. So much interweaving on crime and punishment. A quick end to things is good. Whatever that end is. If the woman Melinda had had treatment for her addiction to prescription drugs, none of that crime incident would have happened. Six lives needlessly damaged, snuffed out. Not to mention the families of each of those six. Her choice to seek proper treatment, though.

Heer in the UK the trial has just concluded with the conviction of an ugly male who preyed on young girls. He was already serving life for murder of some other girls; yesterday he was convicted of murdering Millie Dowler, a young teenager (13 years old) who disappeared without trace and her remains were found 6 months later. It seems that the murderer has a penchant for young teenage girls (apparently known as hebephilia, which is nothing to do with liking Hebes, rather nice plants). Joking aside, this man doesn't have a handle on reality, treats others with utter disdain, and has preyed on many young women, murdering some. The day before he snatched Millie, he tried to snatch another young teenager but luckily for her, she managed to get away. The evidence regarding Millie is circumstantial, but incontrovertibly against him. He now has another whole-life tariff. He will never be released. And that's very good for all young teenage girls. It's good for society, that he is forever locked away. Is it good for him? He still denies it. Should he be executed? We don't have capital punishment in the UK, so it's not an option. Right now, there aren't many people who would be sad if he were dead. As a kiddy-fiddler in prison, he might not last long anyway. Those men are kept in a separate prison or at least separate wing of a prison, for their own safety. Huh. Levi Bellfield - serial predator Millie Dowler - teenage victim