waysider

Absolutely!! And it would be likewise absurd for us to think that we were the chosen ones who were uniquely qualified for that task.

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Thank you all for your responses. The world is filled with "Mrs. Parkers", eager to help us understand what the poet really meant to say.

Dedicated to Fellow Laborers.-----

It's because most dish soaps currently contain phosphorous. Plants like that. New environmental laws are changing that because soaps containing phosphorous, when released into watersheds, promote algae growth which, in turn, strips oxygen from the water. And that's some "bad chicken".

Well, I guess my point is that, by explaining what a verse REALLY meant, it was like saying God was a failure at communicating his true meaning. We, on the other hand, were much more ably equipped to expound on the scripture's true meaning than the author himself.

Yes, you are correct. That is what he said. Maybe I watered down my explanation a bit too much to convey the point. I apologize. What a dilemma it presented. If he was right, we'd been following the ramblings of a possessed man. If he was wrong, his credibility was in the toilet. He could, therefore, have been wrong about virtually any and every thing he ever taught us. Based on his own teaching in the AC and his personal lifestyle, stop and consider how many of these puppies he would have kenneled.

The concept behind this thread was inspired by this piece I recently heard on National Public Radio. (Writer's Almanac) *********************************************************** The Effort by Billy Collins From Writer’s Almanac June 29, 2009. The Effort by Billy Collins Would anyone care to join me in flicking a few pebbles in the direction of teachers who are fond of asking the question: “What is the poet trying to say?” as if Thomas Hardy and Emily Dickinson had struggled but ultimately failed in their efforts— inarticulate wretches that they were, biting their pens and staring out the window for a clue. Yes, it seems that Whitman, Amy Lowell and the rest could only try and fail but we in Mrs. Parker’s third-period English class here at Springfield High will succeed with the help of these study questions in saying what the poor poet could not, and we will get all this done before that orgy of egg salad and tuna fish known as lunch. Tonight, however, I am the one trying to say what it is this absence means, the two of us sleeping and waking under different roofs. The image of this vase of cut flowers, not from our garden, is no help. And the same goes for the single plate, the solitary lamp, and the weather that presses its face against these new windows–the drizzle and the morning frost. So I will leave it up to Mrs. Parker, who is tapping a piece of chalk against the blackboard, and her students—a few with their hands up, others slouching with their caps on backwards— to figure out what it is I am trying to say about this place where I find myself and to do it before the noon bell rings and that whirlwind of meatloaf is unleashed. “The Effort” by Billy Collins, from Ballistics. © Random House, 2008. Taken from Writer’s Almanac June 29, 2009.

Just wanted to add that, not only were branch leaders unpaid, they were expected to "donate" 15-20% of their GROSS income to "the ministry".

I hollered----"DON'T LOOK, ETHEL!!"

It's pathetic, really. In The Way Tree class (1974), a twig was defined as "a fellowship of 3 or more members in a specific local area which meets nightly or not less than once a week." A branch was defined as " a fellowship of all twigs in a local community area which meets monthly or not less than every 3 months." A limb was defined as " a fellowship of all branches in a statewide area which meets every 6 months or not less than once a year." In the early 1970's, in Cleveland, we had branch meetings every Sunday that attracted 60, 70, 80+ attendees. Today, I would be surprised to see anything even close to that number for entire states. In fact, there are probably some states that couldn't honestly muster up a faithful twig. So, the point I'm making is that the term "branch leader" is meaningless unless it is actually seen in light of how many members exist and what sort of classes and functions are being presented. I can remember when branches would run 2 classes of 10 or 12 students simultaneously and then turn around and do it again. Today, you'd be hard pressed to find 10 or 12 people in an entire state involved as students in a foundational class. (And that's GOOD news--IMO.)

Well, we all have our "pluses and minuses" now, don't we? :P

I'll Be There---MJ

Bernadette-----Four Tops Free Post!!!

Didn't Red Buttons used to say something very similar in one of his comedy routines?

Is that story about Wierwille claiming cancer was a sign on the devil true? And that he died of cancer? Yes. In my 1971 syllabus, it is hand notated. In other words, it was not on the printed pages (pg. 20 & 21) but was introduced verbally during the live teaching of those pages in 1973. Not only did Wierwille say cancer is caused by a devil spirit,(ie: possession) he also said that such things as phobias, jealousy, alcoholism, homosexuality, murder, suicide, etc., etc. are caused by devil spirits. Wierwille, himself, was a hardcore alcoholic, documented sexual predator and ultimate victim of terminal cancer. Wierwille's official death certificate is here on GSC and clearly displays the cause of death as cancer. http://www.greasespotcafe.com/main2/waydale/waydale-editorials/v.p.-wierwilles-cancer-and-the-doctrinal-dilemma-that-his-illness-presented.....html http://www.empirenet.com/~messiah7/vp_DEATH.htm

I really did like some of the music. :o

Should I put an end to this one and offer a free post?

Are you on well water there? Those willows will seek out groundwater and draw down the immediate area of the aquafer. That might have a direct effect on the functionality of your well and related equipment. Cottonwoods and alfalfa grass will do the same. Alfalfa will send roots down 100's of feet in search of water. That's good news if you are trying to dry out a wet area and bad news if you are not.

Maybe it's not truly "circular" Perhaps it's really more of a "parabolic trajectory" that eventually reaches "escape velocity". Parabolic trajectory

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The Way really has no genuine answers to life's perplexing questions. It was all just a multi-level marketing scheme, devised to sate the desires of its demented founder. "Stuff" happens because that's how life is. This discussion reminds me of the words to a song by the late Paul deLay---"Life is just a mystery, and nothing ever goes like you planned."

I'll tell the world you belong to me, I'll tell the world, you're the soul of me, I'll tell the world you're a part of me.

I guess everybody is different. Here I am, almost 20 years after leaving and I am just now starting to really feel like I am over it. I carried a lot of guilt for a lot of years over my decision to leave because I didn't know what had really happened. I don't think I really "left" until I came here and got my eyes opened. So, yeah, I think "rewiring" is a valid analogy in my case.