oldiesman

If twi-2 really did change the m&a policy, I believe I know a way to find out. For anyone who was marked and avoided: simply call the way bookstore and ask to purchase something. If you are allowed to purchase, then they changed their m&a policy. Because it has been a policy from the early 90's, that those of us (not just m&a but everyone) who no longer fellowshipped with twi-2 couldn't purchase from the bookstore, period. But, a couple of years ago, they changed the policy to allow everyone to purchase except "marked and avoided" folks. So simply, if anyone who previously was marked and avoided can purchase NOW, then they changed the m&a policy. Does that make sense?

If Mike is practicing idolatry because he believes PFAL to be God-Breathed (which would probably be a form of bibliolatry), then all peoples who believe the Bible is God-Breathed, are practicing idolatry, or bibliolatry. Same goes for Jews and the Torah. Koran. Book of Mormon. Or any "holy" book one believes to be the truth. Or maybe even any "book" one believes to be the truth.

I am not responding because I do not wish to derail this any further.

Sorry for the derailment.

I still disagree with you. I still believe that the decision to stand with Craig, in the movement of the Word, was the right one for that day and time. The Word was still being preached to the extent it was being preach when VP was around, .. all the programs were still in place. All the possibilities for folks who wanted to hear the Word we had heard and approved of for so long was there ... the human "potential" was there to keep on preaching, keep on moving the Word. Here is an excerpt from Craig's letter:

Right on, Oakspear! Yea Oakspear...yea Oakspear... Here is an excerpt from Craig's Loyalty Letter I of March, 1989:

Hi Linda, thanks for your input. If you say Craig was a control freak in the 80's, I'm not going to argue with you, you were there. My viewpoint comes from being out on the field in NY where I wasn't exposed to his daily behavior, mannerisms, words, etc., ... coupled with getting information (or lack thereof) from folks who stood with the Sultan of Aloofness. So therefore, I retract my statement "He wasn't an evil control freak at that time...in fact for 3 year prior, he was anything but". As for the rest of my opinion in that paragraph/post, I think it's accurate.

Oh well, we just disagree.

Well I definitely disagree with that assessment! :) The twi tree may be on its last limb, but the Word that was once shared from our former group is still being spread. The Word still lives.

I disagree. At that point in history, Craig hadn't manifested the evil of later years. And the vagueness of the information out there was a factor too. He wasn't an evil control freak at that time...in fact for 3 year prior, he was anything but. Things were fine for awhile after the letter, but got worse from 1993 and beyond. And you know the rest of the story...

It is not unbiblical unethical or stupid for an employer to ask for loyalty from his employees. In fact it is downright proper. I can just imagine if my boss asked for my loyalty, and I respond, "no, I stand with God". Golly, no wonder why folks got sacked forthwith...

I got involved with TWI-1 to learn more about God, come to a knowledge of the truth, and do the will of God. Those were my sole attractions. I can see why it would be a big waste of time and money, if folks got involved for other reasons.

Well that was because when Craig was asking his employees and others to stand with and support him, a lot of the ones who didn't want to stand with him, said "I stand with God". So Craig said, "don't give me any of that standing with God crap." It was really a bogus excuse. You are standing with God? Fine...let God mail you your paycheck! Fact is, we were all, all of us, standing with some man, be it Craig, Chris, John, Vince or whoever. So Craig's statement made sense, to me.

Somewhat For those who have not seen The Exorcism of Emily Rose, I watched it last week and it was good. It's a very interesting story in a courtroom setting. Here is a review from americancatholic.org:

Here is a quote that suggests Moslems, like Jews, or anyone else for that matter who strives to "lead a good life", does not need to believe in Christ to be saved.

Here is a quote that would suggest that one endangers their eternal salvation, by not voting! :(

So then Ramona was just weak... She wasn't evil, as well?

Here is another quote, regarding salvation of the Jewish people. It appears the official position of the Catholic Church is that Jews do not have to believe in Christ to be saved. Here is the quote:

If you are going to blame Tom's death squarely on Craig's shoulders, I would have to disagree. I believe Craig shares some responsibility, Ramona shares some responsibility, and Tom shares some responsibility.

I believe we can say we have a "father in the Word" if we want, and it doesn't mean that is idolatry, unless we put that "father" above "our Heavenly Father". Just like we can love and worship Jesus Christ... as long as we do not worship him above God... God is Supreme.

Yeah. VP taught years ago that the only way you can die is to quit believing. I still have the cassette tape, from the early 70's. It is from Hebrews (these all died in faith)...or something like that. The whole idea was that Christ died for all of our sins and sicknesses, up to the last one..which is death itself. Therefore, when one quits believing ... they die... I don't know if this teaching was revised in the later years.

At times they were, at times they were not. I suppose one may argue that the way to identify whether a twi corporate decision was a godly spiritual one, as opposed to a carnal one, was what kind of fruit it produced.

Wordwolf's Catholic threads are interesting reading. I would like to retract my previous statement, that only through observance of Roman Catholic sacraments maybe one can be saved. It appears they changed that, and now one does not have to be a Catholic to maybe be saved. Still, Catholic teaching is clear that salvation comes only by way of good works and sacraments, and even then, there are no guarantees. God's grace and faith in Jesus Christ alone, doesn't seal it. I haven't read nearly everything yet, but here is just one quote from the first website Wordwolf supplied:

That is understandable, since a Corporation cannot have holy spirit... (As far as I know) :P P.S. If anyone knows of any corporate entity in the world that has the holy spirit...please let me know, I'd like to join. :D

I've ridden the 883 Sportster... very nice bike