Twinky

Okay, I think we're singing from the same songsheet.

You know some of you are being unnecessarily cruel here. It's quite clear that some of the smaller "offshoots" are run by what appear to be still Waybrained (probably) Corps. But on the other hand, a number of them may well be run by Corps who left of their own volition, or were kicked out, and they have taken the time to reassess what was taught and to evaluate the whole shebang. It doesn't mean they are regurgitating PFAL. And it doesn't mean they are demanding "tithes" from people attending their fellowships. Just because they don't fit into some "established" church doesn't automatically mean that they are mini-TWIs. There's rubbish that's taught and abuse that occurs in mainstream churches, too. Most people entered the Corps because they really did love God and love to help people. Many still do. And because they choose to have people over to fellowship at their homes doesn't mean they are promoting TWI rubbish. (Not everything in PFAL is rubbish; if it had been, none of us would have been sucked in!) Maybe they have learned a lot about compassion, what not to do and about real practical application of the Bible. Maybe they have learned what it is to be isolated from other Christians and in fact they work to promote exploration of other Christian beliefs. ...Perhaps it depends on how high up the "Way tree" they climbed. I'm sure we all knew some decent folks and would gladly spend time with them and would consider they had something they could teach and share. We all also knew some bad folks who it would be wise to run a mile from.

Interesting site, Mark. Also interesting to note that in the Preface, he doesn't mention TWI. Only in the Lexicon. Is Paul Y0unan some exWayfer? Note, he makes it freely available.

Won't be able to watch along with you, Tonto, but ... there is nothing new under the sun ... funny how the OT is for our learning yet none of these horrible abusers of God's people ever seem to learn from 1 Sam 2:22, 3:11-4:18. And just one or two similar places...

Don't think these splinter groups are confined to the US, either. It's world wide. (with apologies)

Innies, your abundant sharing at work.

My mum is not at all techno-savvy. However, I did introduce her to the internet and she started to get interested. Not good, but she could cope. She got a supplier, Tiscali. Then after some months, the internet service went down. She has complained and complained and complained...she has had no service now for over six months. She has to ring on their premium number and they will get back to her - but never do. They still keep billing her, however. In disgust she has transferred to TalkTalk (but both Tiscali and TT are in the same Carphone Warehouse stable). She STILL hasn't got service. She has been in touch with the Ombudsman and he threatened Tiscali and they did give her a bit of a refund and did provide the MAC quite promptly once he got in touch with them. I had problems with Tiscali myself and had to ring their premium number and go through the usual name, address, DoB, phone no, and shedloads of other information that I don't want to give - only to be given short-term help. I had to ring three times before the problem got fixed. They have these premium lines and long-winded conversations, so that they can make money off punters. Then they phone you back a few days later, wanting you to complete a customer satisfaction survey. Huh. Always ask for the next highest level / supervisor. Demand a name and write down details. I have never bothered with Tiscali's email address for me. Have had my Hotmail address for a very long time. Why should I change that for some giveaway that I never wanted in the first place? They only want me to have a Tiscali address because they are too lazy to send me a physical phone bill. Right. Let's listen to our customers...then completely ignore them.

120 cats?! Anyone can have a cat theater at home? I want to hire this man to come and tame my girlies!!! Two years on and I still can't pick one of them up (but she likes me touching her now). Ever heard the expression, "like herding cats" for an impossible task?

I just felt minded to resurrect this old thread again. I don't always read these but I do get the email version of the booklets, which offers other things and goes into a bit more commentary. Today's reading is from Exodus 19:1-6,16-25. The commentary gies this as one of its points to ponder: God's grace The grace of God rescues Israel from Egypt and brings them into relationship with him (v 4), just as it does for Christians (see Ephesians 2:8,9). But the privilege of grace carries the responsibility of obedience to God expressed in his covenant (v 5). Man! Sometimes you just need to hear or see that, and note the difference between the TWI version of "grace" and what living in grace really is. (Or maybe I've just read lately too many threads about the abusiveness of TWI and that's why it hits home?)

Cool post, Jeff. Though the language you use is probably the sort of language that would have been heard coming from that man's mouth. In keeping with your original post, I'm not sure if the splinter group leaders find it necessary to use such vile language in teaching their people.

Interesting, many versions put the "ever learning" bit along with the "silly women" bit - it's the women who are ever learning. But hey it's all about how you punctuate the sentence, huh? Nonetheless the context is the "terrible times in the last days" (NIV) Paul, the author of 2 Timothy, continues: This is the example Paul and his fellow apostles/companions set - wasn't he a saddle-maker? Note, it does not say he/they labored in the gospel. They worked. Physically. At their trades. To earn their money to pay for their necessities. At a later stage, Paul welcomes gifts of money and other things, but does not demand them. But there's the example - to make ourselves a model for you to follow. Now, if any of these TWI splinter groups has the following that Paul had, and has undergone the hardships that Paul did, then they can talk about how much they have a "right" to be supported by the believers...which "right" even Paul doesn't claim, but just accepts the gifts that are sent to him. (wish I could get the editing/typeface right and it doesn't go all too small to read sometimes!)

(((((Leafy))))) sneaking out like that... You made the right decision. What a bizarre way to feel you needed to act on that decision.

Field Corps were expected to expect an assignment on staff every few years. To keep them fresh on the Word. We're not talking a one-year assignment, either. Not enough to listen to Corps Night over hookups, on tape, or however, nor to be involved with twigs, branches, limbs on a constant basis. Most "church" leaders will go away on retreat/to synod/to conference/to some other type of clergy meeting, for maybe a week max, Monday to Friday. But only for a week. They don't need to go back to their training institution for prolonged re-training.

"Grow a pair!" Said innocently: "Oh, our yard is too small for that. We already have two apple trees and some fruit bushes. No room for a pear tree."

And how long before TWI decides to sue them for stealing the name?

Didn't make it across the pond. Not quite Brit humor.

Who are these people? Anybody of note?? (shrug)

http://www.snh.org.uk/ukredsquirrelgroup/popInfo.asp

Nice thread! Those trips down Memory Lane aren't always quite as rosy as we remembered (wince). Shellon, good on you for having the guts to apologize. And good on all those people who took your phone calls, and accepted the apologies. You must have some great family and friends. Growth and healing to our hearts is always possible.

A Corps person could marry a non-Corps person and initially that was okay. Later it became that the non-Corps person was encouraged to participate in Corps training. The Corps partner might be on staff, and the non-Corps spouse participated in the program. Then, both had to go in residence together, with the older Corps spouse required to participate fully. No special privileges, no proper job (to the extent that staff jobs were proper jobs). It became a requirement. If both didn't participate, obviously neither was really cut out to be Corps. It was all about re-training, beating down further, to fit into the Martindale model. Can't have older Corps out there who might still be able to think!!

Ah. Visionary spiders. Or spiders in visions, at least. Now that's a different thing.

I gave a lot of my overgrown courgettes away - just too many to cope with. Someone who took away three gave me this recipe. It is, apparently, a very nice summer soup. Not tried it yet. Courgette soup. You can leave the potatoes out if you like as they're not essential. Ingredients: 2 lb courgettes 4 medium potatoes 2 medium onions 4 pints veg stock salt and pepper to taste Method: Slice courgettes, peel and cube potatoes, peel and chop onions. Add all ingredients into a very large pan and simmer for about 20-25 mins or until the veg are tender. Put into a liquidiser and puree.

I guess there might be, Thomas, but when you're in rez and it is an exciting expedition to go to New Knoxville (a place I only went once) or St Mary's (might have made it there twice), mountains elsewhere don't feature highly in one's memory. That's why trips like Lightbearers were so enjoyable (if that's the right word).

Hey folks, just ease up on Waylaid. He's said sorry, he's backing off. Now, you lot, stop scaring him off. Pack up ganging up on him. He's here because he's interested. Wherever his head is at, he can move on (if he wants) with help from the crowd here. If people jump on him at an early stage, he's not likely to want to find out more, is he? You will see Waylaid joined in 2007. Has it taken nearly two years to pluck up courage to post here? Or is he just an irregular looker-in? Have a bunfight with him when he's got to know y'all a bit better.

My favourite thing...pottering in the garden. I lifted my onions last week so there is a big bare patch. I turned my compost bin (no small task, digging it out and moving it elsewhere - a compost turner sounds a very good idea!), tossed some of the compost on the bare patch. Forked it in this evening., and the place where the bin had been. There was this floppy looking potato top so I pulled at it and found to my surprise that there were a load of decent sized white potatoes under it. I lifted that and another potato. Both of these are self-setters from chits, well just peelings, in what was obviously poorly composted stuff from last year. I sowed some salad vegs where the compost bin had been; if they do anything so much the better - my salad crops this year are practically non-existent. I have given away lots of my courgettes, which had turned into small marrows. People have taken them away to make chutney and - soup! So tonight I ate all home-grown: some delicious potatoes, tasting sweetly of the earth they were in half an hour before some mangetout peas, tasting sweet one onion, with a crisp super-oniony flavour, sauteed in a little olive oil together with: one courgette, quite large but not quite a marrow, crisp and pleasant, lightly sauteed followed by a little plum nectar from when I boiled up those tiny plums last week (I froze the main plum mix to make a crumble later; but there was a little juice left). Mmmmmmmm........