waysider

I think that was the weekend we were sent to work on the newly purchased cultural center in St. Mary's.

For what it's worth, I've never blocked anyone.

Taking meds or seeking medical treatment was O.K. for Joe B. Leever in the local twig fellowship. Once you entered a program, such as Way Corps or FellowLaborers, though, the situation changed drastically. We were supposed to operate the *law of believing* to stay healthy. It's even embedded in the program principles. Admitting you needed outside help was tantamount to admitting you had spiritual weakness, maybe even being influenced by devil spirits. GASP! Nobody wants to be around that. It could rub off. It's like that guy on the bus that smells real bad. People move away. I knew people who literally DIED trying to make this nonsense work. Then they were publicly berated, posthumously, for their supposed weakness. My, what a loving bunch of folks they were. Remember when we did some kind of clean-up detail at Rome City, WG? It was when the place was first purchased. There were spas being fed by mineral springs or something and a big room where the former occupants processed medicinal herbs. There were still dried herbs in there that had been left behind when the place was vacated.We were on some kind of weekend mission or something. Maybe it was after you graduated. I'm not sure on that part.

For the sake of this discussion, it might serve our purpose best to limit the definition of God to that which is present in the sections of scripture being examined.

Well, I'm a man, so I'm probably not the best person to ask.

P.S. POOP spelled backwards is constip..........eh, nevermind

If I was a carpenter and you were a lady....... What the hell are we even talking about anymore?

My first ROA was 1972, in Sidney, at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. The tents, I think, were a carry over from a time when you either slept in a tent or under the stars. I slept under the stars, out of necessity. (BRRRR!) Those were the only 2 options unless you had a car. Most people carpooled to get there, so that wasn't a very realistic option. I'm not sure if there were any motels nearby. It wouldn't have mattered. though, as no one had money for such luxuries. Funny, now, to realize that tents were the *luxury* option.

Societies change. What is considered moral, and what is not, changes along with those societal changes. But the Bible states that God never changes. Whether we think of God as an actual entity or as a concept, there exists that stipulation to deal with. Was society so different 2,000, 3,000 years ago that people alive during that time actually accepted the things we're discussing to be moral? If they did, I have to think our understanding of their culture is so limited that it's pointless to try to find true meaning in anything of a Biblical nature.

Even some (non-human) animals are capable of exhibiting a sense of morality and compassion.

It's a hypothetical generalization, focused on the actions rather than those doing the acting, ignoring the existence or non-existrence of God.

What about this: The aforementioned actions attributed to God in the old testament, weighed against today's standards, would be considered immoral by many people.

You need to get Jesus on the main line. Tell him what you want.

I think the study of Biblical figures of speech might reflect this concept. I mean, most people know that figures of speech serve valid literary function, both in the Bible and in profane works. But, this idea that Biblical figures of speech reveal some profoundly "spiritual" insight into life and living is a bit like your aforementioned fascination with a coffee cup.

There are lots of "lifelines" still dangling out there on face-book. And you know how to make them seem attractive to some people? Put a little tag on them that says "Dr. said".

If I understand correctly, Isaiah was written approximately 2,000 years after the pyramids were built.

"Now, fellow twiggers, let's take our String Along The Way Chair books and turn to that wonderful old hymn, Wasn't That a Mighty Wind?"

Did anyone actually see *THE BIG NINE* in operation? We saw what we thought was SIT, TIP and Prophesy. That's been discussed here extensively. Beyond that... not so much.

There is about a 2,000 year gap between the building of the pyramids and the writing of Isaiah. Does that factor into any of this?

Occam's razor.

I don't think anyone ever meant it was possible to operate all 9 manifestations simultaneously and continuously. "All the time" is an idiomatic expression meaning "with great frequency". Even with that in mind, it's still a ludicrous feat to lay claim to.

"Practice believing"...What's that old saying about a chain only being as strong as its weakest link?

I think what he means is "How can you guarantee no philandering takes place?".

One of the hallmarks of a cult (any cult) is to lay claim to special knowledge that no one else has. The Way's stance on the trinity falls into that realm, as do the manifestations,"are the dead alive now?" and various other items.