waysider

In the early 1970s, there was a two or three page tutorial of sorts, sent out by HQ, that had instructions for running branch meetings and such. It was filled with priceless gems of wisdom, things like "Don't pick your seat.".hahaha! I'm not kidding. You can't make that kind of stuff up. I wish I still had a copy. I'd use it to *pick my seat*.

Long ago, on a far away planet, I played in bands and worked for theatrical companies. So, I do understand the importance of proper staging and setup. This stuff, though, was just Wackoville. It served no real purpose other than to exert control over the participants. To think it was some kind of exercise in developing "spiritual awareness" is ludicrous and delusional.

He got the context stuff from Bullinger. He either didn't understand it or ignored its meaning in favor of his own interpretation. Otherwise, he never would have taught John 10:10 out of context in session one, thus distorting its intended message.

Passed down to the next available trash hauler, in my opinion. What to eat, what to drink, what your poop is supposed to look like.... What the hell was wrong with us that we thought there was something profound in all this junk?

I see people on facebook, etc. talking about the importance of keeping alive, not just the contents of PFAL, but, the various practices we followed, such as what we ate, what we drank, what we sang, the cleanse.....whatever . Moon Pies for everyone!

Mum's the word. You secret's safe with me. (Kinda like that vow I took to never talk about "the secret initiation into the inner sanctum"....OOPS!)

I wonder why he didn't just make prearrangements with Digger O'Dell. Why, if I were a betting man......

Heh! Yeah, I know. Flat grass is not really the issue. Just trying to toss in a bit of levity. This "participation" device was a common way for them to advance the indoctrination process. It starts with a harmless request to help with refreshments at the next branch meeting. The next thing you know, it's all your fault the chairs weren't strung to absolute perfection at the next class. No problem, though, just be sure to speak in tongues more, renew your mind and set your sights on the Advanced Class. (Keep Abundantly Sharing in the meanwhile.)

Apparently, because of their rural isolation, news has not yet reached them that a new tool has been developed to address this type of situation. It's called a rake!

..how come graves had to be dug by hand? For a bunch of people who claimed to excel at rural living, they don't seem to have been too bright. It's a common procedure to lay down sheets of thick plywood and drive your backhoe across them to preserve the turf. Oh, wait, I forgot. Plywood costs money. Never mind.

Fire and Rain...JT Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, you know that I love you.

You Keep Me Hangin' On I was feelin' so bad, I asked my family Dr. just what I had.

It's on the house.

I've been hearing a lot of George Harrison lately on Deep Tracks (XM/Sirius). I don't think I ever realized before what a talented guy he was.

You are correct. Those are all lines from the same song...Some Kind of Wonderful (GFR)

I don't need a whole lots of money, I don't need no big fine car.

The Story In Your Eyes

Though I remember the incident quite well, I don't recall ever hearing it called by any specific name. It was a weekend kind of deal, at limb HQ, when I was in FellowLaborers. (1975-1978) It was run by an outside source. I think Jam3Y L@u!s had a hand in it, if I remember correctly. It was one of those things where they parade you in front of the whole group and subject you to public ridicule and degradation. You couldn't really get up and walk out because it was a required part of the program and we were out in the middle of Podunk, Ohio, ya know? They just kind of sprung it on us at the last minute. They verbally chopped me up into little pieces, in front of everyone (50+ people) because I said "I suppose" instead of "I know that I know." Whatever. What bothered me the most, though, was that one of our FLO sisters "snapped" as a result of it. She became an entirely different person for the rest of the time we were in the program. If you are experiencing suicidal tendencies, that sort of thing is a horrendously bad idea.

They're gonna put me in the movies...

96 Tears They came through my town about 5 or 6 years ago. Friends of mine who went to the show said it was one of the best shows they had seen...EVER!

I didn't go through Momentus. I went through something very similar, courtesy of The Way. I don't remember what it was called or if it even had a formal name. Maybe it was a precursor of Momentus, I don't know. I can't speak to how it affected the other participants but I can tell you how it affected me. It left me profoundly depressed, with an unshakable sense of hopelessness. If I had been predisposed to suicidal thoughts, I'm quite sure it might have put me over the edge.

Anyone with a conscience would have taken a step back and reevaluated the situation, looked for ways to better administer the various programs. Not Wierwille. He didn't give a rat's azz whether you lived or died as long as he got what he wanted. He showed his true colors in the way he dealt with the death of of Gary D#nH**f.

It makes me wonder..... If The Way had waited a few decades to thrust itself upon our society, amidst the current culture, what would it look like? Maybe it would look like THIS. (*Any volunteer may be dismissed at any time and/or program cancelled at sole discretion of those charged with oversight.*)