Rocky

Though there is some humor in Ms. Kidd's book, that's not the thrust. It's really about the protagonist, Ana, a young woman wanting to find her voice in the world at that time.

Meticulous anthropological and cultural research . To write a compelling novel about the subject, she would have to have deep and extensive background knowledge about the era and the cultural geography. Frankly, I find the story quite compelling. Kidd isn't proselytizing for or against Christianity. But she did imagine Jesus's humanity in greater depth and detail probably than anyone else in our contemporary times. Even if Jesus was/is both God and man, how much does anyone, even JW's or wayfers actually imagine his interaction with people except on the surface? That, anyway, is why I find the book fascinating. It's out there for people -- who might be interested -- to read. The author treats Jesus and his family (sibs/parents) with reverence. I first became aware of the book when I saw a friend put it on a list of what she wanted to read. I made a mental note to look out for if/when she wrote a review in the event she actually read it. She did, on goodreads.com, and gave it five stars. So I read some reviews and requested it from my local public library. I picked it up on Friday. Thanks, Twinky, for posing the question.

Put another way, magical thinking.

Since Jesus Christ is not God, and since we don't know anything about his life entailed during his 20s, what do you think about the recent story by Sue Monk Kidd, The Book of Longings? Here's what Amazon's page for selling the book says about it, In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers. Here's also a youtube discussion with the author, I've got a copy of the Large Print edition from my local public library and have read the first 40-some pages of it so far. I find The Book of Longings fascinating.

Whoop-dee frickin' doo!

Looks like it was the old "extratropical transition" trick... missed it by... that much. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Paulette Paulette developed from a tropical wave on September 7. Due to relatively favorable conditions, Paulette gradually strengthened into a strong tropical storm, though an increase in wind shear caused it to weaken. Wind shear continued to increase to the south of the system, but despite the shear, Paulette unexpectedly strengthened back into a strong tropical storm on September 11, with deep convection located just north of the center. A dry air inclusion caused the cyclone's structure to become disheveled on September 12, though Paulette quickly recovered and strengthened into a hurricane at 03:00 UTC on September 13. Paulette then developed a closed eyewall and a clear eye as it steadily strengthened and moved towards Bermuda. Early on September 14th, Paulette made landfall in northeastern Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane while making a sharp turn to the north. It then further strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane as it moved away from the island, reaching its peak intensity on September 14 with of 105 mph (165 km/h) winds and a pressure of 965 mbar (28.50 inHg). On the evening of September 15, it began to weaken and undergo extratropical transition, which it completed on September 16.

Yes

Just to the east of that cone (Fri night to Sat night) sits the Azores Islands. Some 45 years ago or so, I endured a few hurricanes... with horizontal rain and one storm wherein we got 8 inches of rain in two hours in early October one year. I was there for about three years. I hope this storm dissipates soon and doesn't damage anything in the Azores.

A new look for GSC too? Have to keep up with the Zuckerbergs?

Thank you very much, Socks, for sharing your insight. Indeed, I see the human nature of Christian pastors/teachers wanting to reach the entire world. And that's how I view it, as human nature. But your point about the intimate nature of Jesus' work is wonderful. Hopefully many more Christians will have their eyes opened up to that insight. Peace n love back at you. Selah.

You want to meet people in person who can relate to your experience? Are you in California?

Jared Byas' book (Love Matters More) seems to go directly to the heart of why Wierwille was a charlatan.

Yes, that's it. Thanks WW. Here's a related reference from Goodreads: "This is all I have known for certain, that God is love. Even if I have been mistaken on this of that point, God is nevertheless love. If I have made a mistake it will be plain enough; so I repent- and God is love. He is love, not he has love, nor, he will be love, oh no, even that future was too slow for me, he is love. Oh, how wonderful. Sometimes, perhaps my repentance does not come at once, and so there is a future. But God keeps no person waiting, he is love. Like spring-water which keeps the same temperature summer and winter- so is God's love. His love is a spring that never runs dry." And a related book, Love Matters More: How Fighting to be Right keeps us from Loving like Jesus.

The only time I ever recall hearing anything about this theologian/philosopher was on the game show Jeopardy. I found a review on Goodreads of Provocations: Spiritual writings of Kierkegaard that stirred me. Soren Kierkegaard's radical idea: what would happen if someone were to introduce Christianity to.... Christians? He doesn't actually state it as such but that is the essential thrust of the writings collected in this volume. His work is an antidote to a factory assembly line version of Christianity; a reminder that spirituality is not outwardly conforming to a certain manner of life (ritual) or inwardly acquiescing to a certain set of intellectual propositions (theology) but is instead a lived out experience (faith). "There are many people who reach their conclusions about life like schoolboys; they cheat their master by copying the answer out of a book without having worked out the sum for themselves." - Soren Kierkegaard The title for this collection was very aptly chosen. I have a friend who once shared with me that she takes a certain amount of pleasure in poking egos with a stick. I'm going to commandeer her phrase because it is such a perfect description of what this book does - it pokes the ego with a stick. “Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are.” - Søren Kierkegaard Another reviewer stated it far more pithily than me: the purpose is to inform in order to transform. ***** It occurs to me (Rocky) that Wierwille was one of those people described above who cheat their master by copying the answer out of a book without having worked it out for himself... even though VPW made plenty of claims to the contrary. If you've studied any Kierkegaard writings, please share your impressions of his ideas. Thanks

One of my favorite books. My favorite word.

Still can.

I hope damage is minimal in Houston. Good luck, George.

Do you remember veepee introducing the concept in PFLAP that the label on the can may say one thing, but inside the can is something else? This IS it. Twi consciously taught abusiveness as a culture. Undershepherding developed abusers. Ultimately for me, it (I) caused my post-twi marriage to fail because of it.

Dare I say, it was Wierwille's failure of both imagination and a massive failure due to his narcissism which stunted the "auxano" growth that the dancing president talked about before he got side tracked by the sexual abuse Wierwille told him he needed to practice. That narcissism appears to have totally displaced the agape love we read about in the Bible.

I just saw this today on Amazon. In this award-winning memoir, Alexandra Amor shines a light on cults so that others might learn from her heartbreaking experience. Amor gracefully and sensitively explains how ordinary and intelligent people get seduced into joining cults, why they stay despite the emotional and psychological abuse, and what the long process of recovery looks like once someone leaves a cult. I haven't read it, but the narrative sounds intriguing.

Reaping the consequence of refusing to learn lessons of life from anything outside the tiny little box of their orthodox interpretation of Wierwille writings and practices, conspicuously labeled within the cult system as The Word of God. But many of those practices were nothing more than self-justifying sins of the flesh. And I'm not suggesting that was only limited to Wierwille's and Martindale's openly secret practice of adultery. The financial practices governing the Way's labor force was rotten too. With blinders on the Boards of Trustees, they appeared to learn nothing of consequence over the last 40-50 years except for how to screw people financially. But I digress.

YAY!

What a con job!