Rejoice

The Advanced Class....don't get me started!

You do everything you're supposed to do...home studies, all the classes, canvass for free class locations, string chairs, make the coffee, run twigs, ABS and whatever else.

Then, you sit there in the BRC, with 250 other people and sink into a deep state of depression as you realize that (seemingly) you're the only one not "getting it".

Oh Geeze...I thought it was just ME! :blink:

Wow Kit...thanks for sharing that about Manteo Mitchell!

From linked article:

"It was amazing to me that for 500 years, people didn't sense the errors," said Cohen, who wears a knitted skullcap and a gray goatee. "They just assumed that everything was fine, but in practice everything was not fine."

Ignore the 500 year time frame and you could just as well be talking about how offshoots revere the PFAL class series.

Wow...very true!! [sorry for the multiple posts...got an error about the database not functioning.]

And to think we thought we had perfected the translation years ago with all our TWI corrections.

http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-scholar-completes-mission-fix-bible-063009279.html

I'm so sorry Raf; this world is not fair more times than not.

i saw that TAKIT credit on that website. Dave said he never played drums for TAKIT but its possible he helped the drummer. he could have help mix , helped produce , etc and thats why hes credited.

Oh my gosh...why is it not possible that YOU misunderstood something. Talk about dogmatic in your stance of being argumentative or right! Once you decide something, eye witnesses [past or current] don't matter to you. Sheesh!

The original topic of the thread, I believe, is the shameful fact that each of TWI's splinters seems to have the need for a class or classes, and that they charge money for them.

There isn't anything wrong with charging money for a class. I'm currently paying through the nose for classes at the seminary where I am working on a bona fide masters degree in theology.

There is something VERY wrong with judging the quality of a person's faith by the classes they have completed, and something especially nasty about charging money for THAT!

Paul WORKED a job! and preached on the side! He didn't make a living by selling the good news. Unfortunately, too many of Wierwille's followers see "ministry" as a way of making a living.

BINGO!!!

Shiftthis; I am so sorry you had such a tortuous upbringing. The rawness for your story resonates with pain. All of us have endured things that never leave us; we just figure out how to minimize them by living better. It makes sense why you avoid those who just want a place to fall in their drunkenness rather than help to get out of it. Those specific people help to resurrect yesterday for you. I'm glad you are a survivor.

What you live in your heart reflects on your face. After oozing so much of God's kindness, I wonder what Rosalie and Donna look like today. Haven't seen them in years. I also noticed that Roz is the only one with a formal title; does that mean the rest are serfs?

Board of Directors

Rev. Rosalie F. Rivenbark, Chairman

Rev. Jean-Yves De Lisle

Rev. Robert Mc Culloch

Rev. John Rupp

Rev. Greg Shaffer

Here is a phenomenal biography of a former Olympian, who over came so much prejudice and descrimination and moved on to a very rewarding and productive life. not sure if he is part owner of this company or was a spokesman; I just loved his story.

http://super-cool-products.com/thesammysporttowels/biographydrsammylee.html

That makes no sense. They should upgrade the site privately and when the bugs are worked out go live with it. Not leave an under construction page with a few link on it. Very backwards and unprofessional.

Well, it seems the operate like TWI still...depend upon volunteer or low paid staff with marginal skills to build their 'state of the art' web page for God. The previous one was pretty static. Even Google offers more excitement and potential by utilizing a word search function. I agree...any professional web builder would update/upgrade the page in a different 'build' enviornment and when it is ready, launch it.

Everything they do is so old school, except they have learned to use YOUTUBE. Imagine what that megalomaniac VeePee would have been like if he could have watched himself on the computer screen whenever he wanted.

Many months ago, STF took down their website and left this message; "Our website is currently receiving a makeover. We will be live soon!"

How long does it take to redo a site? This is lousy for outreach of which they say is their mission...

Then there are the exceptions..

Gotta have the right name I guess..

I noticed they are promoting the L.E.A.D. program. Isn't that still part of Rosalie's TWI training for the Way Corpse? Does TWI stand is support for S.W.O.W.E.R.S. org?

Yep, a price tag and more bait and switch tactics to keep a person paying for more classes and participating in all things TWI. Classes, programs, fellowships infiniti. You never actually attain what they promise. You just need to spend a lifetime working at improving your discipline in believing and staying hot on the present truth. Oh, and give at least 10% of your money In perpetuity.

I think Scientology does this---and the class rates are SUPER high. The 'church' finances the classes up front Because they are so incredibly expensive, people work second jobs to pay them off.

hi all. since someone brought up children, i once asked THE -- not THE -- THE MAN OF GOD -- if he could recommend any books on raising children. he suggested "Hunt Close" which is a book about raising and disciplining dogs. i wrote about this years ago on here or paul allen's forums.

man...was he ever DEPRAVED!!!

didn't they sell rewards or blessing many many many years ago? was it the catholic church or some other cult?

The Catholic Church 'sold' what they called indulgences, where a person paid money for the priest to pray for the souls of their departed ones. That was because no one was sure the dead friend/relative really made it into heaven. You had to be completely sinless at the time of death. The only one who REALLY knows if they are cleaned of sin at that time is the one who died. Shortly before or right after death, the priest performs the Last Rights prayer session. It includes a prayer of absolution, to absolve/remove/forgive any remaining sin not acknowledged.

But because there is no guarantee you really made it in the gates rather than the inbetween 'holding cell' called Pergatory, the church offered parishoners the opportunity to give money to the priests who would add the departed one's name to their daily prayer list. The priest was the only one who knew these special prayers and had access to God.

Hey...being raised Catholic, now I know why TWI felt so comfortably familiar!

As I sat in prayer this morning I thought of Joey's family. It is almost three months now since his passing. Funny how it will always feel like yesterday no matter how much time goes by. Someone recently told me that when a parent lose their child, it can take 2-3 years for the rawness to subside. I'm finding that to be true, and look forward to getting to that place. My prayers for their peace are truly empathetic. ((( )))

Lynn and his previous group STFI are really big on selling rewards as they interpret them in the bible. My question to them would be, "If there were no rewards, would you drop this whole lifestyle and teachings?" If so, then it isn't your nature after all!

"Heaven is for real" was given to me by a new non twi internet friend.

What a treasure it was for me to read that. Made so much sense. Thanks for the reminder. I have so many people I have offended during my twi time, and "Heaven is for Real" is one book that might help overcome the wall of separation which my twi time built between me and family and old friends. (saving for Christimas presents)

I had the same reaction when I read it!

Who will God hate more, a 'natural man' molesting someone, or someone who is proclaiming himself to be god's personal representative who is molesting a child of God?

not only that...he told them they were serving God by serving 'The Man of God'. Just makes me want to scream!

Kit; that picture you posted of Jesus was included in the book "Heaven is for Real" about little Colton Burpo's near death experience. His father is a pastor, and spent a lot of time trying to understand what happened to his four year old son. In his library, the dad had many books with many drawings depicting what Jesus looked like. Longer hair, darker hair, longer beards, shorter beards, blue eyes, brown eyes etc.

Colton would always say, "That's not Him." But one day, dad stumbled across the works of the girl Akiane Kramarik, and when Colton saw her drawing of Jesus, Colton said, "There He is, that's Him!" That likeness is represented Jesus who Colton said held him for a time in his journey on the other side. Colton had never met the artist, and as a young boy, was too young to make up such a startling recognition...

I looked at their website for the first time in years. One page stated: "The Way is a worldwide, nondenominational Biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry headquartered in rural Ohio. "

do they still do ANYTHING internationally, or is that statement more likely implying that they still receive ABS from people living outside of the 50 states?

that salad is served today for ONE person! wow! Love Cobb salad.

i don't know -- heaven looks like the pope's house and jesus looks like a rock star ?--

if someone told me there is no after life, i would definitely feel like killing myself

when I read her web page showing those photos that Kit attached, what she said "I believe that in Heaven, each of us will be able to choose and create a sanctuary. This is the garden that I would like to create and plant."

Her art is as she gets senses and impressions. We are all unique...so some may want to create a desert oasis, some a mountain top home, others may want to exist on fluffy clouds. I love the idea of endless possibilities as unique as we are. Her painting of Jesus is drawn as her heart sees him. here is her website;

http://www.artakiane.com/store

THANK YOU KIT!!! I've just been learning about these Indigo Children. Here is her bio, from her web page. Just click to enter and then click the About top menu tab;

http://www.artakiane.com/