Kevlar2000

((((Excathedra))))

I'm so sorry for your pain. My thoughts and prayers are for you and your family.

:(-->

why, thank you Linda Z. I try to post only if I can post my opinion intelligently, and usually by that time, the thread's deader than disco.

quote:

Oh you men. Always obsessed with size.

I think mine shrank. But then, I just got out of the pool. :D-->

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Originally posted by Raf:

That's like using the movie "Airplane!" to prove that automatic pilots are made of vinyl.

Well, there goes another bunch of lifetime beliefs out the window! :)-->

Patriot,

I also welcome you to these forums!

I imagine your questions are rhetorical, as it seems you already know or suspect the answers to them.

The Way's version of The Word is simply that...their version.

The Word isn't over the World, inasmuch as the Way's version is not known to be available in every community on the planet. Honestly, The Way International is barely known in the communities where they are.

TWI folks are not sharp - at least, the ones who continue to embrace the organization's doctrine of "like-minded" unquestioning adherance to their "teachings". They reject the day-by-day lordship of Jesus Christ and substitute arrogant, head-puffing Word-knowledge in its place.

IMHO, this is the result of decades-long careful indoctrination, which results in the "black-is-white, up-is-down, we're-right-and-everybody-else-is wrong" mentality which many of us are endeavoring to discard.

Congratulations, Belle! You really have come a long way in just one year!

It's unfortunate that The Way's unholy reach extended into forbidding relationships with family members incurring their religious disapproval. It's another area of life that should have fallen squarely into the category of "None of their damn business!"

Have fun celebrating your family and your freedom!

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The American dream is not to own your own house or business.

Says who? I don't remember that from The Word ©. In fact, I don't remember God or Jesus talking much about America at all! Hmmmmmm...

I really shouldn't even comment on this, because their convoluted position on the subject is idiotic. At best.

The most I could or would say about this is, What you have or don't have is absolutely none of their business. Ever. Even if they're paying your salary. Once you're paid, it belongs to you. Not them.

The whole "stick-my-nose-where-it-doesn't-belong" thing really chaps my bell bottoms. It's just really designed to put "disciples" into a permanent state of dependent adolescence. "Mommy and Daddy, can I please spend MY money on something I need, pretty please?"

Unbelievabull!

Yeah, I'm eagerly awaiting the new Harry Potter book, too.

For some light summer reading, you might try "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" by Christopher Moore. It's a well-written fictionalized account of Joshua's (aka Jesus') young life, speculating on those years in which the Bible is mostly silent.

For fun, you might count the number of times you catch yourself going, "That's off (the Word)" while reading it. :)--> Then read it again just for the fun of it.

(I was going to suggest you make a drinking game out of it, but that's so off...Whoops! *chug* )

You might also try some of his other books, which are listed on his web site HERE

I agree; it would appear the WayGB sharks watching this site smelled chum in the water with this group and went in for the kill.

And if anyone doesn't think the Way International â„¢ is very protective of its exclusive use of the words "The Way" should talk to pjroberge about his legal battles with them.

Nice one, you guys. Makes me think of the phrase, "seeking whom they may devour".

You're certainly making a name for yourselves in the Christian community. Word over the World â„¢ indeed!

Hope you're enjoying your day, wingnut!

Aw, why don't you Way Int'l sharks leave these folks alone?

'Cuz they're just so cute and adorable, you just wanna pinch their cheeks and give them some home-baked cookies and milk! :)-->

Although, I gotta say...

"Jesus is the rizzle for the sizzle"? Oy vey!

And, since they don't know who will be leaving (or M & A) from day to day, they wouldn't want to have anyone in their permanent photo collection who might be considered "possessed" or an "old wineskin".

Or simply, a future embarrassment to "the ministry".

Or, maybe this is just a weird foretelling of the future population at HQ - None!

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...I can just hear some waybrained person saying, "They're not 'leaders'...

They should probably stop right there. ;)-->

The only thing that really scares me about my kid is she might "discover" the Way International and decide to hook up with them.

Now that's truly a frightening thought.

God, I hope she has more sense than her old man did.

Much happiness to you on your birthday, Excathedra! Big birthday grins! :D-->

We went to a baseball game yesterday, and while watching the game, my daughter told me,"When I was at a sleepover, we discussed who had the weirdest dad. We all agreed you were the weirdest!"

Kinda brought a tear to my eye. It's nice to be number one at something important like that. :D-->

"Seems even the SATW songs became boring and unexciting. What a lame bunch."

Lindy, I remember singing that song (with the "hallelujahs" and "YEE-HAs") back in the dark, dim days of the early '70s. But of course, that was back when we didn't care what anybody thought of our singing. Just goes to show: The Way International, stifling initiative wherever it goes.

"M@tthew H@rmon did go on a rampage for a while having us tell the people in our fellowships who couldn't sing well to either sing very quietly or to lip sync to the songs."

Belle, that is horrible! They really went overboard with the control thing.

One of my WOW brothers was "tone-challenged" :)-->, but I loved hearing him sing. Besides his obvious enthusiasm, he had a way of creating an accidental dissonant harmony very much in keeping with 20th century composers. Not your typical "Thank you, Dorothy, Thank you Rhoooooda" renditions.

Man, they oughta be glad anyone shows up for their boring meetings, without criticizing their singing. They just don't get it!

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Originally posted by Belle:

Craig was really good at reminding us that HE was the MOGFART at every opportunity to speak.

Did Craig ever come right out and say, "I am the MOGFODAT?" In public? In private? Or was it more alluded to?

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Originally posted by houseisarockin:

Belle, I don't know what GMIR is either...

GMIR was an attempt by the Way Magazine to publish actual research articles (as opposed to just presenting doctrine and dogma disguised as "teachings"). The title came "from Aramaic gmr– 'to perfect', presenting the necessary documentation to get back the original, God-inspired Word, by believing on 2 Tim. 2:15 (The Way Magazine, May-June 1982)." The Forgery of Matthew

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Originally posted by JustThinking:

Any idea what they did? Do they still go out "confronting the world with Our, oops, I mean God's Word?" --> Or have the finally admitted they just want your cash for a class?

Nah, don't know, don't care - just wanna be rid of the Way stink in this state once and for all.

I would be surprised if anybody new would really commit to the Way from this effort...

Yeah, I fell for this stuff once upon a time, but it really was a different organization way back when.

I should have left the first time I heard someone maligned and officially "marked and avoided" at a Twig Co-ordinator's meeting. They were not mentioned by name, but the details were explicit enough that we knew exactly to whom this referred. This person was a close friend, and, to my everlasting shame, I didn't jump up and say, "This is BULL$(-)!T"

I was just still too married to the idea that the leaders in the Way were operating "all nine all the time", and they must have been shown something by God that I either wasn't priveleged to know, or wasn't spiritually "sharp" enough to handle.

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Originally posted by Oakspear:

Yay! No Way Disciples in Nebraska again!

We'll be happy to send the one(s) from Maryland to you, if you'd like. ;)-->

I don't remember hearing anything about Wierwille's illness, and was rather shocked and surprised when he died. And, of course, we were not told he had cancer. I didn't even know he had lost an eye to it.

But The Way had a habit of "not preaching negatives" - even when it was the truth.

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Originally posted by Rejoice:

Do you consider anyone who joins an offshoot of TWI [who continue with some or most of VP's teachings] as returning back?

Many who leave do so because they are tired of being manipulated and micromananged, not because they have any serious problems with the doctrine.

I think many who leave will still want to "re-create" their early Way fellowship experience with like-minded people who cared (or at least seemed to care) about you, and who won't be a pain-in-the-@$$. This is what they're "going back" to, and as far as I'm concerned, it's "whatever floats your boat".

Myself, I like the diversity of opinions you get here at Greasespot, and the attempts to "think outside the Waybox." It makes you think about why you believe the way you do, and is more satisfying to me then having doctrine and dogma handed down from someone in the middle of a former cornfield.

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As for LCM being gone, current leadership in TWI adored him and copied his mannerisms, attitudes and style. Some even copied his hobbies, hairstyle and goattee.

I wonder what mannerisms are being copied from the current president? -->