waysider

Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille "I see my life far beyond today and tomorrow. I see my life from generation to generation causing the mystery to be lived." I think that's a typo. He really said "causing the misery to be lived."

I probably clapped back then. Today??? Not so much.

Ahhhhh----The horn of plenty story. I've told it before but I'll tell it again for the newer posters. In the early days of The Way, they used to use standard collection plates like every other church. One evening, they were having a meeting at a funeral home or some similar type of facility. When the time drew near to taking up the collection, it was discovered the plates had been left behind at some other place. "Uncle Harry" (he wasn't MY uncle!) looked around and spotted some floral arrangements in cornucopias. (Or would that be cornucopii?) Anyhow, he took the flowers out and used the horns in lieu of the collection plates. And that's how it got started, according to VP Wierwille.

It was at ROA, 1973 or '74. A big storm rolled through and took out the power. After some repairs had been made, VP took to the main stage as if he had just arm wrestled the devil, stepped up to the mic and said, emphatically, "I'm still here!" The audience ate it up. It became the focal point of one of the ROA albums that they released.

I remember that from PFAL. VPP says that if a man says he'll be dead this time next year bah, blah, blah.

What makes it almost comically ironic is that the whole dechomai/lambano concept has been debunked

I think it was the same year that the "I'm still here." incident took place.

It's certainly not unique to The Way. One of the hallmark characteristics of any cult is that they want to control the way you live your life on a minute by minute basis.

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It's been rumored that Jimmy Hoffa is "in concretion". Does that mean he's a spirit?

I think Wierwille used this record to fabricate a mystique regarding the difference between "error in judgment" and "error in heart". Why? Because it gave him an easy rationalization for his own personal shortcomings.

This concept of "upholding your commitment", no matter what, was a staple of Way theology. Before I became involved with The Way, I broke lots of commitments. Sometimes it's the wisest thing to do. Like when you've made a commitment to something that is impossible or detrimental. But The Way taught us that breaking a commitment, no matter what it was, was a sign of weakness. And so, they used that as a handy, dandy way to control us. Then, you throw in the gravity of the salt covenant and you're really under their thumb. I think my mind, more than once or twice, was talked out of leaving Fellow Laborers, simply because I felt bound to fulfill my "commitment". Big mistake.

Firewalking

I still have both of Pillai's books. In retrospect, I think a lot of it was pure conjecture. Fish stories, so to speak. Pillai was supposedly qualified as an expert on the topic by the sheer virtue of his birthplace. I think I still have a syllabus, also, from the class that was offered by The Way. Maybe I'll use it to line the bird cage some day.

The DaVictor Code-----Guaranteed to keep you in suspense----wondering how much longer the charade can go on.

Trapping is your best bet. Be advised, though, that some places prohibit the relocation of raccoons. In these instances, it's required, by law, that the animal be destroyed. This is because they are well known as rabies carriers. They are very dangerous. It might be best to enlist the help of a professional.

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waysider's Family Crest

It extends back, at the very least, to PLAF (The Wonder Class) where VPP, with his pseudo sense of humility, assured us we could "Write The Teacher" if ever there was anything we didn't understand.

When I was still in, I never paid much attention to name tags in regards to any sort of pecking order. Maybe they just weren't emphasized as much then. Or maybe I was oblivious. I don't know. edit: I always hated wearing name tags. Not because of anything heavy or symbolic. I just felt like they were a physical inconvenience. We had to wear them in Fellow Laborers. My goodness, we lived with the same 50 people, 24/7/365. Didn't we know who was who?

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Dude, the ship sailed long before Martindork found his way to the loading dock.

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OK, then I guess I'll have to be the one to tell you what she said. HERE