waysider

"I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a -----------------" OOPS! I guess someone beat me to that one. A tree has a special layer that exists between the bark and the wood. This layer is known as the cambium. It is via this cambium that food moves from the leaves down to the roots and nutrients move up from the roots to the fruit. The bark is a protective layer and the wood itself is actually comprised of dead cells. This is, in part, what contributes to the formation of growth rings which are akin to generational demarcations. Many years ago, the limb leader of Ohio, E@rl Bnrt0n, developed a newsletter for the state and called it The Buckeye Cambium. Now, if the way truly functioned as a tree, this would seem to be an appropriate name. Quickly, though, the name was scuttled by Int. HQ and replaced with The Grapevine. It was my understanding that an edict went out that all state newsletters must call themselves The Grapevine. To say that the way was structured like a tree is, at best, a poor analogy. Here is a link that has information regarding the significance of the cambium to the well being of a growing tree. http://www.backyardnature.net/woodtwi2.htm

Dear Self See that bunch of kids over there carrying Bibles and smiling like the Cheshire cat? Turn away from them and ---RUN LIKE THE WIND!!! Sincerely, Your voice from the future.

I left in about 1990 so I have no first-hand knowledge of what conditions exist inside "the factory" today. In retrospect, though, I have to agree that we were used like factory workers to build the organization. Many times the working conditions were not optimal, to say the least. It could have never succeeded at all without the hard work and commitment we peons put into it. I think we can at least be proud of ourselves for being devoted to what we believed, at the time, to be a worthy cause. Yes, I feel like VP used us, but he is the one who will have to answer for his own discretions. (And his laundry list is extensive.) I think it helps to feel angry we were duped. It helps to make us wiser and more wary. But eventually the anger subsides and we try to use what we learned from the experience for our own benefit and the benefit of others who are maybe still coming to grips with what happened. Anyhow, that's my $.02 on the subject.

I could read all kinds of books on childbirth, take classes, even witness and assist in the actual process. But, as a man, I can never REALLY understand what a woman goes through, not just physically but emotionally as well. So it is with cults. People can read books and learn a great deal about cults and how they work, but if they have never been "trapped under the ice", searching for a passageway to freedom, there is still a certain element that will evade their understanding.

What would you do if I sang out of tune?

Jumpin' Jack Flash-------------Rolling Stones

The Raspberries-----Cleveland Rocked!!

The Choir---------1967

Cleveland's own----Eric Carmen

I knew Paul back when we were both "young 'uns" in The Word. One of the first things I did when I got here was look through the memorials. I was both shocked and saddened to learn of his passing. Yeah, I know that's off-topic. Sorry for the derail.

Hi, Waykid I don't know what it was like to be a Way kid but maybe your posts will help me understand. Welcome to GSC

Hi, OK C Stumbling into this place is kinda like being a kid and finding out where babies come from. There is a special forum where you can post the names of people you are trying to locate. There are some "tutorials" for new arrivals, as well, that I highly recommend. I'm glad you are here and hope you find the service to your liking. waysider

The Way isn't and never was a "research" ministry, despite the billing it was given by VPW. Wierwille plagiarized almost everything he presented as having come to him directly from God. (Right down to the PLAF class and Holy Spirit book.) For further clarification of that statement, please refer to the "actual errors" and "doctrinal errors" articles as well as many other references that can be found here using the search function. So then what WAS The Way? It was a cleverly constructed multi-level-marketing scheme that used The Bible (and us) as a veneer of holiness to entice prospective customers. Yes, I know that sounds cold. Wierwille amassed a small personal fortune at the expense of sincere, dedicated followers. (Real estate, classic cars, vintage motorcycles, a private jet, a motorcoach, etc.) He lived "rent free" and had his own entourage of people who were actually willing to pay for the "honor" of being his personal servants. He "allegedly" drugged and raped many, many female followers and then tossed them aside when he was finished with them. He "allegedly" destroyed those who stood in his way whenever it was possible for him to do so. No------The Way was never a "research" ministry. It was a business designed to profit the man behind the curtain, VPW. IMO

The Moon is made of green cheese!! HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!!

Re: The Mann Act of 1910 http://wise.fau.edu/~tunick/courses/conlaw/mann.html

Love Hurts------Phil & Don

Oldies Since you've chosen that road to traverse I suppose I'll go along for the ride. In 1975, I was sent to a rural area to run classes.(PLAF/TIP/CF&S,ETC.) The majority of the students were dairy farmers. I don't know what knowledge you have of farm animals so I'll just come out and tell you, cows don't wear watches. The first couple of sessions, there were students who arrived a few minutes late. Not only that, they were wearing work clothes. It made perfect sense to me that the situation would have to be modified to accommodate their unique needs. HQ did not agree. Ironic, I think, given the farming background that permeated the lives of those at HQ. They said that students must be in their seats, wearing "respectful" clothes before the classes began. If they could not comply, they would be expelled from the class and their money would NOT be refunded. I tried as best I could to follow those guide lines. People hated me for it. I fudged. Not because it made me unpopular but because it just made sense. I learned that it's best not to be too honest with HQ. I apologize here and now to those who had to endure that silliness all those years ago. Legalism? It's been there as long as I can remember. It's not about when it started in the ministry as an organization, it's about when it started in your personal walk as it was imposed upon you.

To me, "legalism" is a one way street. It's not about what you expected of them. It's about what they expected from you. For me, it came fairly early because they didn't have many people my age to choose from in my geographic area. I think it's really more about when it started to affect an individual than when the organization itself became "legalistic". In other words, I saw it within months of taking the PLAF class(1972) but the person who sat right next to me in class might not have seen it until a couple years later because it was not imposed on them when it was imposed on me. Still, I think it was there all along waiting in the wings to make its entrance into any one individual's "walk".

Ya know If you added up all the hours the posters here have spent reading the Bible, doing word studies, taking class after class after class and generally squeezing Greek words until they turn blue, it would probably total somewhere in the gazillions. Is it possible we have missed that golden kernel of TRUTH that we pursued so diligently? Yes, it is possible. But, speaking only for myself, I would have to say "I don't think so." Why? Because I don't really believe there is some magical, mystical, "end-all" piece of wisdom waiting to be discovered. Wierwille used this elusive method like a carrot on a stick to keep us coming back for more----and more--- and more. VP was quite fond of using thinly cloaked sarcasm to belittle anyone who disagreed with him. Even as early as the PLAF class you can see evidence of this. Remember the part where he teaches about "apatheia"? (I have to paraphrase some of this stuff because it's been over 35 years since I first took the class.) He talks about how a man hears "The Word" but still chooses not to believe. "If a man chooses to be STUPID!", he says, "let him be STUPID!" Of course, what he is really implying is that if you disagree with what he is saying, "you are STUPID!" Now, you don't really want to be STUPID!, do you? For me, it is really quite simple. I believe God was telling the TRUTH when he told us He is light and that there is no darkness at all in Him. I believe He was telling the TRUTH when He declared Himself to be "love". I DON'T believe He causes misery and suffering to befall our lives, though I think it pleases Him to see us learn valuable lessons from bad situations. I'm content to try to treat my fellow man with kindness, respect and fairness. I try to glean some knowledge and wisdom from the curve balls that life hurls my way. Beyond that, it's just an exercise in philosophy as far as I'm concerned. But, hey, maybe that's just me.

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Here's one for drummerboy.

If that doesn't make your mouth water, your taste buds might be dead!

This whole conversation kinda reminds me of selling PLAF witnessing.

She's 19 Years Old--------Muddy Waters

"God is love." How much simpler can it get?