ex10

I just went through what I have left of my way corps files. I didn't find a copy of my "autobiography," which I don't care about anyway. It was pretty innocuous. But I do have my journals from 1978 (when I went WOW for the 1st time) to 1986, when I got disgusted and left the cult, that cover my "Way time." Pretty interesting stuff. I have meetings, times, dates, what was said when by whom, documented. HMMMMM..... I never cared about this stuff before, but now it's seems somehow, relevant.

I told him about it, George, in a pm. By the way, I can't wait to catch up with you and Lucy. Too bad you guys live the other side of Houston world. I have to confess, Lucy is my favorite BBQ friend. I love her, and of course, you too! But I know why you call her "the countess." She so rocks.....

Ok, to be fair. When I was in college (before the Way Corps, at a bonafide state university) and took some Psych classes, I had an assignment to write a paper entitled "Who Am I?" It wasn't a freshman Psych class, it was upper level, but I honestly can't remember what year Psych class it was. I wrote the paper, still have a copy of it as a matter of fact. So, point being, when I went into the Way Corps and was asked to write an "Autobiography," it wasn't a red flag, or any such thing. Just routine, did it, (after all, I had done it once before) and all was well. Call me naive, but it just seemed like an excercise in self awareness that might be neccessary for a leadership training program? I know people have speculated much on who read the papers, their motives, etc. But it seems to me, that if everyone in the Way Corps had to write them, as we did in the 10th, and I know the 8th as well, that it would be way too much work for whoever was designated the task to go through them, and read them all. And then with evil intent in mind? It's a stretch to me, to think somebody read them looking for victims. But whatever, I've been shocked before. :mellow:

Don't be shy, my dearest. You are among my fondest memories. :wub:

Hey, I knew you, Jim Wood. You were my Wow brother. Hope you and yours are well. Are you still in Dallas? Catch me up.

Hi back to you, Mo. Glad to hear you are well and enjoying your life!

wait stop holdit. I'm trying to catch up and I saw Sam Cooke and listened and Don't .........you forgot the best by Sam. Where is "Bring It On Home To Me?" Ya'll are going too fast.

Ok, not to sidetrack anybody, but what year did the PV thing happen?

Thanks, Don't for the thoughtful response to my post. I suppose it's hard for me to comprehend the seduction of VP. I never felt like I was "special" or getting preferential treatment while I was in The Way. But looking back in hindsight, I do see instances of being the "exception" to the rules. Every so often during my in-rez years, I would get accused of being VP's "pet." Of course, I highly resented the accusations at the time, and really didn't see the special little "benefits" I was afforded. Neither was I aware of the dulpicitous morality. And I suppose my brother and I both marrying into families who were very supportive of our involvement, and who also were known as being generous and hospitable and "faithful to the ministry," just reinforced the double standard. The interesting thing is, when news broke in the mid 80's of the rampant abuses of people, power and position, we all left en masse, as did many other families. I suppose we had the advantage of comparing notes, and discussing things with an older generation whose lives were not totally wrapped up in which church or ("ministry") we supported. I guess that's why we pretty easily quit twig and went to church, all in one breath, more or less. :o Funny though, how all these years later, wierd doctrinal leftovers from The Way rear their ugly heads, in conversation. But I suppose it's not that different than the Catholic teaching that was inbred in all of us from our Catholic educations. Those things sometimes come up as well. Thanks for the insight, Don't. I know we have discussed these things before, but I thought it might be beneficial to do so here, in front of Jesus and everybody. By the way, this year's BBQ is definitely on. Is it too early to advertize? ;)

If I may but in here, I know I probably don't belong, as I was never an important somebody in The Way. I never had an "important position" but I did spend time with VP, and he wasn't always as is described here. I appreciate what my friend Don't is saying and others, but I had a different experience. The thing is, VP was not a total monster. If he hadda been, he wouldn't have fooled some really talented, smart people. Is there room in the discussion here for other stuff? There is/was a reason VP fooled people. Don't, you were fooled for a long time. Why? Pardon my poignancy.

Just a small addendum to what don't said about corps week. It started in '78 although it wasn't yet called corps week. All the graduating 6th, as well as "corps grads on the field" came a few days early to HQ. My recollection as a lowly staff member at the time, is that it was mass chaos, and we were not prepared for the influx. I know, I worked housekeeping just for the blessed event, and was in charge of the OSC bathrooms. :blink: and the laundry room. Not to mention, I lived in Unit 26, (mostly reserved for "guest housing") and was unceremoniously locked out of my bedroom with my stuff dumped in the hallway, as I wasn't corps. Never mind that I had worked and lived there and it was my 'assigned staff housing". I never did find my pillow. Ah, yes, fond memories......

Bow, Baking soda neutralizes the smell of pet stains (and kid throw up as well). The problem with it is, it can remove the color from carpet if you're not careful. My advice is to experiment a little, mix some baking soda and water, more baking soda than water, and test the color thing in your closet and somewhere where it won't matter. Need anymore details, call me dearest. :B)

I think it's very cool that a Christian worship song was chosen to be aired not once but twice on American Idol. Evidently, from what I've heard, the songs were chosen by the contestants as inspiration. It's comforting and exhilerating to me to think that a song exalting Jesus as Lord was chosen as "inspiration." It's like the song just spontaneously combusted out of American Idol. What a delight and a surprise. :o I really enjoy these kinds of surprises in life.

Well, I must confess to enjoying the derail of this thread, once I got over the shock and surprise, that is. :lol: Speaking of those moments when a song grabs ya and wraps its fingers around your heart and stirs your very innerds..... September of 2005 I found myself in my Mom's minivan shortly before sunrise. We were loaded down with snacks, water, teenage kids, and family pets. We were evacuating our beloved city cause a hurricane named Rita was barreling towards the TX coast. And we'd seen with our own eyes what Katrina had done 3 weeks before. Anyway, THERE WE WERE, sitting still on Hwy 59 heading NE towards the lake house in Arkansas, bleery eyed and hot after traveling about 35 miles in 8 hours. The highway heading out of town was jammed with cars, trucks, RV's, buses, you name it. It was hot and muggy so everybody had their car windows down. The sun was just starting to come up. We had the Christian radio station on in the car, as did most everybody around us because the dj's were really on top of reporting the traffic situation among other stuff that was happenin. As it got light enough to see the horizon in front of us, we were awestruck. It was a sea of cars, many of which were pulled over in the median or on the shoulder of the road, with parents and kids draped across their cars, sitting in the back of their trucks. Seems lotza folks ran out of gas and just stopped where they were. There was a van right beside us, I mean I could reach out and touch it practically, and I counted one MOM and 8 kids, 2 of which were in car seats. Just as I was surveying the unbelievable scene all around us, a Chris Tomlin song came on the radio. It was How Great is Our God. (Every radio on the road was playing this song, no kidding.) As the song started, all the kids in the van next to us started to sing along, and I saw the MOM burst into tears. Of course that did it for me and my Mom, and we joined her. :) There was something incredibly moving about hearing a vanful of kids singing their hearts out prasing God in the midst of the chaos. Unforgettable.

Ok, wait, I'm confused. We're talking about a Christian worship song being performed on American Idol. That is the topic of this thread. And some of you are debating whether or not the song is Christian? Am I getting this right? And Whitedove, you are disputing the validity of exalting Jesus as Lord? I thought we had this conversation like 10 or 15 years ago? no? And Jen o, you think singing the song is some kind of conspiracy against Christianity? Excuse my simplemindedness, but, I just thought it was cool a neat praise and worship song made American Idol. Egads, I guess I should I know better. Sigh.

Well, I was a bit surprised that "Shout to the Lord," would be a choice to be performed not once, but twice during "Inspirational" week. To me, since the words of the song are taken from Psalms, and the melody is nice and so easy to sing along with, and is usally preformed at church venues with the congregation singing along, it surprised me. Since they changed the first words to "My shepherd", instead of "My Jesus" the first night, but sang the song as written the second night, I wondered why the words weren't changed again the second time around. I love the song though, as a simple expression of worship to the only one deserving of such. It was just a little bit of a surprise, and a delight, to hear the song "out of context." I can't imagine what anyone would find "creepy" about it Whitedove. But that's just me. Like Excathedra, the song sometimes brings tears to my eyes because of the heartful praise expressed.

My daughter called me this morning from TX A&M and asked me if I saw American Idol the last 2 nights. "Uh, no", I replied. Says she, "Mom, they sang Shout to the Lord, both nights." I'm like WHAT? She says, yeah, check it out on UTube. So I did, and they did. If I was more technologically skilled, I would put it here. But alas, you'll have to check it out yourselves, I guess. I'm amazed, that one of the most popular church songs ends up on American Idol? It happened in America.....just last night. WOW! Any thoughts?

George, you ask a great question. All I can speak to is my own experience. I worked the "Teacher's Room" at the BRC and at Emporia and Rome City, and yeah, come to think of it, Gunnison too. What that means is, during "corps night" or other public teachings, (yeah, come to think of it a couple of "Days in the Word," and the Advanced Class '79, ok, add a couple of ROAs) , he was always well prepared. Whether or not that constitutes "working the Word," I really can't say. But what I can say, is that he was usually pretty well acquainted with the topic he was teaching on. He had copious notes, and in discussions of some subjects afterwards, he knew what the "traditional thinking " was on a topic, and what his belief and standpoint was. And yeah, he knew alot of verses of scripture, speaking extemporaneously. He had to get that ability from somewhere. Whether he just read other's works, or studied himself, I can't say. Socks knows how he was, too. As much as people talk about what a slouch he was, he was good enough to fool alot of folks. Maybe not "biblical scholars" but the average "minister" or " lay person," he could definitely hold his own. I know this still doesn't answer your question, but, hey, I tried. ;)

30 years ago I was on Spring Break of my junior year in college. I drove to New Knoxville Ohio with a group of friends to visit some friends working there on staff. While I was there, I was offered a "summer job." I accepted the proposition, not realizing how much that "summer job" would change my life. :o Ah, memories.

Well congrats on the completion of your book from me too! I can only imagine how it must feel to wait with bated breath for the reviews. The most recent book I've read is Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs. So I spose this book of yours will be a good followup. ;)

Dear Twinky, You are in my prayers as well. and Happy Birthday!

One verse comes to mind for me. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Romans 14:12-14 (in Context) Romans 14 (Whole Chapter) Good grief. VPW was a stumblingblock for me. Instead of an example. That's why I copped out on my "corps committment." Actually, it wasn't just VPW, it was a whole bunch of people who were supposed to be an "example." Why do we need to justify the choices of our conscience?

Ok, it seems obvious to me, from reading this thread anyway, that the way corps program "evolved" over time. The problem was, the rules were changed as things rolled along, without consulting the "volunteers." Typical "bait and switch," that the cult was so skilled at.

Dear Shell, You are the bestest friend I've never met. Your life and heart has touched mine in ways that can't be measured. You are a treasure, more precious than words can express. Hope you are surrounded by warmth and cuddles that you so richly deserve.

Welcome to the cafe, man, I don't believe we have met before. Mind if I have a seat at your table? My response to your post is that I don't think our former religion is indicative of anything remotely Christian. I would be hesitant to judge a "religion" that a billion people on the planet embrace, through cult colored glasses. Frappacino?