Twinky

You guys are too funny! Ain't life good, to be able to talk about pets and such? And not the word as it applies to cockies. Real cute of Rascal to bring a friend home albeit in utero. Clearly making sure she has a flock to hang out with.

Hey you guys really encourage me. My cat Twinkle (no, not quite my namesake, Twinky with a y is a different cat) - anyway Twinkle has gone on holiday... She never strays, very much a homebody, lets other cats roam through her territory, dislikes larger animals, likes to be with people and to sit and watch them, loves to hunt small rodents and birds, hunts in a wood next to the house, lies in the sun on the lawn, doesn't like being in houses (even "her" own), goes nowhere near any roads ... and has been missing since Wednesday evening. Looking forward to sharing my own "happy return" storywith you... Pleased for you, Exie. Always nice to have good news to share. Amazing story! (edited coz I missed a word out)

Some o'those pavement artists got real talent. Paying their way through art school, perhaps?

Ah well, Bumpy, that's where his powers of prediction failed. Most of us here (myself among them) would say we have a better relationship with God now than we did in TWI. Not so much of a grease spot as a growth spurt. (D'ya suppose he thinks of himself as a grease spot?) (Or d'ya suppose he realizes this infamous prediction didn't come to pass?)

me me me me me if only...

Hey, would it be funny if Rosie were a lurker here and heard about this possible "coup" from the greasevine? :lol:

When the Berlin Wall came down, I do recall LCM saying that all the "Cold War" stuff was collapsing because something worse was on the way. The devil spirits had had their fun with the Communist scenario; now they were moving into different territory. He alluded to the threat from Muslims and their rise in fanaticism, and said there would be a lot of trouble from that group of people. Now that has indeed come to pass with 9/11, London tube train bombings, train bombings in Madrid, bombings of embassies in many countries, various holiday resorts favored in particular by Jewish or American holidaymakers being bombed, etc to name but a few things. Sounded good at the time, and it did come to pass. But I'm not now convinced that LCM had any special revelation on what he said; or that it was a word of prophecy; or that it was any more than generally seeing the way things were stacking up.

Here is another aspect of manner of life that VPW and LCM taught. We see all these splinter ministries, all with their own MoG, and I wonder how many have the one figurehead or spokesman for God, and how many have a board or council or committee of trusted individuals to whom the spokesman can refer/seek advice? For sure it's not "MoG by committee" but we read many records in the OT about kings who sought the advice of the elders (or maybe rejected it) (eg 1 Kgs 12). Is there not safety in a multitude of counsellors? Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. Proverbs 24:3-6 3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. 5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. NT examples: We see Paul many times with trusted believers. We also see Paul imprisoned because he declined the counsel of many trusted believers. Manner of life is more that just keeping the trousers zipped.

Someone called Darnell mentioned. This would surely not be Bob Darnell ... would it?

Catcup, thanks, nice summary. Nice creds, too. Very little about rape is about anything sexual. The penis is just another weapon (in this context), like a gun, a baseball bat, an open knife. A weapon wielded by a bully to terrify a weaker person. Sympathies to those who have suffered rape or abuse of power anywhere. Especially from TWI.

Sunesis, Ex10 - exactly! Some organizations are very hot on the "accuracy of the Word" without being even the slightest bit accurate about the heart behind the words. Words paint the picture but if the canvas of the heart is not there, there's only a blobby mess on the floor.

Nice guy, sorry to hear this news.

Females probably suffered worst, being seriously abused within their relationships by partners and by higher-ups in TWI and the side of males generally being preferred by the hierarchy. However for every broken relationship (marriage, engagement, parenting, whatever else) there are two participants and therefore two victims. Women generally tend to vocalize their hurt more, talk it over (sometimes endlessly, it seems) with other people, including talking with their fingers on keyboards. Men generally tend to keep it closer to their chests or talk in a more jocular way with their mates, including talking with their fingers on keyboards. But GSC records posts from hurt males and hurt females. It's not to do with sex of leadership or female sticking-together-ness but how each handles problems. Who after dealing with their own difficulties sticks around to help others? That might be a more female thing, but there are lots of both male and female "helpers" here - Pawtucket, for one male, in just keeping the site operating. Start a poll if you're that interested, maybe people will respond to that.

Yes, I thought that was a pretty insulting statement as well. No doubt whoever was VP at the time would have felt truly valuable to TWI (tongue in cheek). LCM said something along the lines of, "in case all the trustees..." can't remember precisely, so don't quote me, but it was along the lines of, if all the trustees got killed/taken out/unable to act, all around the same time. He had in mind travelling together in one vehicle (the plane??) and there being an accident, something like that. (Where was his "believing" for God's hand of protection, LOL?). It was so that the Ministry could carry on in the absence of the BoT. To be able to do so would presumably necessitate that the substitute/deputy would be aware of the business of the BoT and therefore would have to attend Cabinet meetings and like meetings so that they knew what was going on (if they didn't already know!).

Back to topic: I recall whilst in rez - probably at a Corps Night - or maybe it was a CN later - that LCM announced Rosie was his (what did he say?) deputy? He also said that each of the three then trustees had appointed a deputy who would assume the responsibilies of the person they were deputising. Rosie was LCM's and I remember him announcing this. They all reviewed their choice of deputy every year. There was a bit of a quiet ripple at the time (a woman?? as potential Prez??), bearing in mind the increasing repression of women that was endemic at the time. LCM kinda smugly continued, "Yes, why not?" and I seem to recall that he talked of there being neither male nor female in the spirit of God and if a woman was best suited and most capable, then it should be a woman Prez. Penguin, maybe you remember this? So when LCM got kicked out, she was all ready and waiting. Doesn't explain how she got to be chosen as deputy, however. Except that she knew of the sexual assaults. And did not expose the evil.

ZShot: Hey I did that during my degree studies! One of my lecturers was truly hopeless, couldn't answer any kind of question. I took up squash and beat out my frustrations with her on the squashball. Fortunately that semester didn't last long enough for me to become an excellent squash player.

Ugh, just discovered this thread. So sorry for the kids that underwent such wicked experiences. I had (many years later) heard there was bedhopping between adults in the FC but didn't know that included hopping in and out of the children's beds. Excuse me while I go to vomit... Train 'em up in the way they should go, comes to mind. What, were they training the kids (especially female ones) to be "special friends" for future MoGs?

Long hikes in the countryside, ideally somewhere remote. Tending my garden. Reading (more or less anything) especially thrillers or legal novels. Fondling my cat Twinkle. But those are just some of the things I like to do. Stress, what stress? Since I got my head back in order a year or so ago, life has been awesomely good. I cast all my cares on You Know Who and get on with enjoying what goes on. Life's never (never) been better. (edited to remove extraneous word)

Yeah, love it, just bought a new house and out back there is a gently sloping garden which provides two lawns, 2 or 3 shrub borders (one with 4 leylandii trees - they have a limited life span...) and a small fish pond. The top lawn (which is horizontal, not sloping) is earmarked as a vege garden and would have become so this year had the purchase completed earlier than last week. There might still be time to stick some winter crops in - brassicas, perhaps - if I can find my gardening tools in my boxes/packing. There is something so very therapeutic about working in the soil. D'you reckon it's worth asking Paw to start a Gardening forum ("In the Garden") like In the Kitchen? :)

This has gone way off topic. Go attack Oldiesman somewhere else.

Noticeable that there is no button saying "If they acknowledged their past wrongdoings and said (and meant) "Sorry" " nor one that says "If they offer genuine help with sorting out the problems that have been caused"

ExWC: Well actually the title is as it is because sometimes if things don't sound a little controversial at GSC they don't get answered. I genuinely wanted to know and am most interested in the response. I've messaged John in case he had taken offence (which was never intended), and it seems rather than take offence he is both pleased at the kind comments people have made, and amused by the ire of others. It's no bad thing to be enquiring about/checking the credentials of any "expert" and perhaps if we had been a bit more enquiring at PFAL stage, and allowed to question what was claimed, many of us wouldn't have been quite so messed up in the head at a later stage. The blatant hero-worship and blinkered view of VPW and the intolerance of contrary views or clarifying responses should have been an alert at an early stage. But if you're hungry, you will eat anything... Some here respect John; some clearly have less respect. But anyone here has the opportunity to consider what he says, to take into account what he presents in light of contrasting opinions, and to formulate an unblinkered view. :)

This thread has become a little derailed by tales of sexual abuse. I believe those tales: too widespread over too much of a timespan. As well as which, I experienced my own rather more limited taster of the same. I just wanted to know a little more about the man who has had a lot to say about TWI. John Juedes is clearly well respected by many who have posted here, people whose posts I have come to respect. John: I very much appreciate that you took the time to write a long response yourself. TWIers have heard so much from TWI criticizing other ministers/organizations/beliefs and I did not know if you were the same or someone of a different mould, out to help and not out for your own ends. Clearly from the comments on this thread, you are someone different. Thank you for your help to so many. May I buy you a drink in the Cafe?

T-Bone, post 15 Penguin - post 16 ... me too... We all ended up with so much nonsense in our heads. But some good stuff too. God is so great, he can work it out for us and show us what we need to know. If we let him really be a part of our life. Maybe you remember (LCM) saying that what you learn in the WC you will be drawing on in 10 years' time? Dunno about you, but I am drawing a lot on what I studied in rez (as opposed to what I was forcefed) and on the things I did for my dissertation or thesis or whatever they called it. Which strangely enough turned into very much a consideration that a leader should live the life and be an example - a topic that came directly from LCM himself when he demanded I study "An answer of truth in the face of accusation." It is not accusative to look at the lifestyle of someone purporting to be a leader or teacher or minister and see that it does not line up with the word; and thn to view with caution what that person teaches. They disqualify themselves. God's love and grace truly do see us through every situation. Even when we don't acknowledge him! Reading the Bible just for the sake of reading it can itself be just "works". We here (esp WC) pretty much all know enough scripture to ponder for many years and if we think on that, meditate on that, we give God space and opportunity to show us what he really means. Pondering with a genuine attitude of, "Dad, show me what this really means," is showing yourself approved, whether as a leader, minister, pastor or whatever; or just as a humble believer who wants to know. I saw something awesome in the Sermon on the Mount stuff that somebody mentioned on this thread and I'll put it together soon on a new thread.

Twinky… (Twinkletoes) arrived as a tiny kitten, so tiny he could sit on the palm of a hand. He was just on my doorstep one evening. He strolled in and out at he felt like it, visiting not just me but many neighbours, but finally settled with me and next door. When she moved into a care home, he became mine to care for, fulltime. Twinkletoes arrived a year or so after I got M&A’d. I was so messed about that I could hardly speak to people. I knew I needed something to love – an animal seemed a good idea, I simply couldn’t handle being with people (and they couldn’t handle the weirdo that I’d become) – and so his arrival was perfect timing. A Godsend, without doubt? He is now a huge sleek critter and obviously has a chunk of Siamese in him. He has the Siamese sort of build and can be quite vocal at times. He’s wary of people, but when he knows you he's very affectionate, tactile, totally endearing, occasionally skittish, loves company and follows you around. He loves being outside, is partial to sunshine and curry, and catches lots of rats. You can't make him do anything, but if you're kind he finds unique ways to let you know how much he enjoys being with you. (So he's kinda like me... but the rats are humans.) As to what that says about me…? I just wanted an anonymous sort of handle for the Café and chose the name Twinky. Then when I was sharing the black cat with Chas and it caused some confusion, I thought I’d see if a nice Twinky picture would suit instead. So maybe the avatar says that I’m willing to give place, or fit in with others - or maybe just that I like my cat. Interesting thread, this. There are some people I'd love to hear about.