Grace Valerie Claire
-
Posts
2,648 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
20
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
Gallery
Posts posted by Grace Valerie Claire
-
-
On 6/29/2020 at 1:39 AM, Rocky said:
A local high school English teacher and I connected on FB a few days ago. I didn't tell her about Wierwille's obsession with a book called the Myth of the Six Million. But had I mentioned it, she would have known what I was referring to.
She recommended a book to me, Night by Elie Wiesel. It's the record of a witness. Mr. Wiesel was a child when he was taken to a concentration camp with his family.
This is not a discussion of politics then or now. My intent is simply to call attention to an original witness account of a significant era in 20th Century history.
It is available as a pdf file for no charge at the link above.
If you believe that history repeats itself, or at least rhymes, this book may interest you.
After I finish reading it, I might post a synopsis here.Rocky, wow!! I read that book several years ago. What a great book, but it isn't an easy read. EW won the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1988(?). His books often portray his time spent in concentration camps, during WWII. I don't think I could have ever forgiven my captors, for all the horrendous things, they did to me, let alone what they did to my family. I think VPW, was a coward, for dodging the draft during WWII. My father served in the Army, during that war. And then, VPW had the nerve, to teach that the Holocaust never happened!! Boy, was I upset, when I heard his teaching on this in the AC in 1985!! Not only, was he a coward, but he was also Anti-Semitic. Six Million died because most of them were Jewish. I think he denied the Holocaust, because his family was German. He claimed he didn't fight in the war, because he didn't want to fight the Fatherland. Bulls--t!! He was a coward, and knew it. The military is a hard life, but VPW wanted to take the easy, and safe way out, by staying out of the war. When I found out that he was a Draft-Dodger, I lost what little respect, I ever had for him. And when, he claimed the Holocaust, never happened, I stopped listening to whatever he said.
-
1
-
-
Just now, Grace Valerie Claire said:
Covid., whew!! It's a good thing, I don't drink coffee!! I'm afraid, I might have gone all over the place, after reading your post! Remember when VPW claimed there was a snow storm in August (?), at the gas station in Ohio? Horse Hockey!! I knew he lied about that. I have seen hale in summer. It doesn't last long, but iDant can be destructive; like VPW. Thanks again Twinky, for making me laugh!!
Dang, I meant to write Twinky!!
-
On 7/31/2020 at 5:31 AM, Twinky said:
Never heard this one, Allan.
But if it's something promoted by VPW, I wonder if the "African" arrived during a snowstorm at a gas station in Ohio?
Covid., whew!! It's a good thing, I don't drink coffee!! I'm afraid, I might have gone all over the place, after reading your post! Remember when VPW claimed there was a snow storm in August (?), at the gas station in Ohio? Horse Hockey!! I knew he lied about that. I have seen hale in summer. It doesn't last long, but it can be destructive; like VPW. Thanks again Twinky, for making me laugh!!
-
On 8/15/2020 at 3:27 PM, Twinky said:
A day of celebration in the UK and commonwealth, of the end of hostilities in the east. It's not a public holiday, but there are always commemorations, parades, and the laying of wreaths. There are different celebrations in the US.
Extract from Wikipedia about VJ Day
Victory over Japan Day (also known as V-J Day, Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day[1]) is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. The term has been applied to both of the days on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made – August 15, 1945, in Japan, and because of time zone differences, August 14, 1945 (when it was announced in the United States and the rest of the Americas and Eastern Pacific Islands) – as well as to September 2, 1945, when the surrender document was signed, officially ending World War II.
August 15 is the official V-J Day for the United Kingdom, while the official US commemoration is September 2.[2] The name, V-J Day, had been selected by the Allies after they named V-E Day for the victory in Europe.
On September 2, 1945, a formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo Bay, Japan, aboard the battleship USS Missouri. In Japan, August 15 usually is known as the "memorial day for the end of the war"
Extract from Wikipedia about "Victory Day" (USA)
Victory Day is a holiday observed in the United States state of Rhode Island with state offices closed on the second Monday of August. Furthermore, in 2017, WPRI-TV claimed that Arkansas and Rhode Island were the only two states to ever celebrate the holiday, though Arkansas's name for the holiday was "World War II Memorial Day."[1]
Originally, the official name was "Victory over Japan Day" and "V-J Day", as proclaimed by then President Harry S. Truman and was officially observed on September 2 nationwide. At some point, the name was changed to "Victory Day" in light of the modern post-war Japan emerging in economic importance. Further name changes were attempted later, but were unsuccessful, at which point, the name "Victory Day" remained the official name.
The holiday celebrates the conclusion of World War II and is related to Victory over Japan Day in the United Kingdom. Rhode Island retains the holiday in tribute to the disproportionate number of sailors it sent and lost in the Pacific front.[3] In 2015, the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama honored 500 veterans on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.[4
Whatever day you choose, do remember the "Forgotten Army" and the huge cost in lives for the men who were captured and held in the east, notably Burma (Bridge over river Kwai country), where conditions were worse than atrocious. It's 75 years ago now, before most (all?) of us were born. We still benefit from what they did. And remember the families of men lost, killed, maimed or otherwise damaged, are still around: women who lost spouses, children who lost fathers.
War is a horrible thing.
Twinky, General William T. Sherman said, "War is Hell." I feel like the US is at war with itself. I pray 2021, brings us a better President, and a safe vaccine for covid.
-
1
-
-
On 8/30/2020 at 5:42 PM, Rocky said:
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.
Rocky, I have never read SK, but I thank you for your wonderful post!! When the libraries open up again, in DC, I will have to read him.
-
1
-
-
On 8/12/2020 at 12:39 PM, Raf said:
Might as well put all the cones and whatnot in one place instead of a thread for every storm.
I will be focusing on Atlantic storms, given that Pacific storms don't really affect GSC participants much.I also want to apologize for focusing in the past on storms that are headed for Florida and then losing interest once I'm out of the cone. I usually expect others to jump in once that's done, but that doesn't seem to happen a lot.
So anyway, let us begin with...
Raf, what a year 2020 has been for some people. Covid, hurricanes, dirty politics, ect. I think we should cancel the rest of the year, and move forward to 2021. I know this is not possible, but I think 2020 may go down, as the worse year in American History, since 1968. For everyone living in hurricane prone areas, I wish for you, and your loved ones to be safe. I have several siblings who live in Florida, and I pray for them to be safe also.
-
On 2/22/2016 at 5:02 PM, modcat5 said:
This forum is to discuss offshoot ministries whose histories can reasonably be tied to The Way International.
If discussions about any particular ministry generate enough threads, they will get their own subforum.
Discussions about Chris Geer in the USA will be directed here. Discussions about Geer during the time period in the 1980s and 1990s will be directed to About the Way in Europe, now a subforum under About the Way.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.
Please bear in mind that not everyone involved in TWI can properly be labeled a "public figure," so please be careful naming names, ESPECIALLY if you're going to accuse someone of... anything. Just be nice.
Saying Vince Finnegan switched his doctrine on the end times is fair game. Saying he beat my dog might result in a libel suit (note: This was cited as an example. Vince Finnegan did not beat my dog. Or anything else. Vince Finnegan did not MEET my dog).
The moderators reserve the right to change any real names to avoid slander or libel.
MC5, do you have any idea of what, and where CG is these days? I believe he was some place in Maine, selling some program, but I haven't heard much about him lately. I don't know the man, but I think people here at the GSC, have various opinions about him. Thanks, for answering my questions, if you can.
-
2 hours ago, Mark Sanguinetti said:
John Lynn's wife saw that personal prophecy was not biblical and was only promoted to gain control of people. Yes, John made a mistake and got a divorce with her after ignoring her message. Yes, we all make mistakes. No one is perfect on the planet. But someone after reading his ex-wife's views on "Personal Prophecy" saw that she was truthful and factual. This person called up John Lynn and communicated with John while explaining that his ex wife was truthful and factual. He got John to connect again with his former wife and now they are back together again. I wonder who this person is? Perhaps someone named Mark Sangui. Perhaps it might be challenging for me to spell his last name because it is very long and even 11 letters. Hopefully I at least was able to pass 3rd grade math.
Regarding teachings when John Lynn worked with John Schoenheit and Mark Graeser, the three of them were able to write a very good biblical study book, named "One God & One Lord". After reading this book about two years ago, I give this book a grade of "A". When I was on vacation in the Philippines, I even shared some of this book's content to my friends there and they agreed and liked this book's content also. Christian people in the Philippines are mostly Catholic.
Mark, good for John and his wife getting back together again. I pray this time, the marriage will be successful.
-
On 4/12/2020 at 1:55 PM, Stayed Too Long said:
One thing the offshoots seem to avoid, which TWI made front and center, and why GSC is so necessary, is the condemnation we were made to feel if we would “copt out of the word.” Hammered in our heads was we would lose all rewards, or die, if we left TWI. Martindale’s favorite blather was, “you will be a grease spot by midnight,” if you dare believe TWI was wrong and move on.
You were cut off from any and all friendships you had made while associated with TWI. Many were “marked and avoid” to add additional shame and ridicule.The offshoots teach pretty much what TWI taught, but I haven’t heard any of their followers finding it hard to leave. Apparently they learned this was not a good stratagy.
I have been gone along time and glad to find GSC is still here.
STL, great post!! I remember years ago, there was a huge amount of condemnation, if people left TWI, for any reason. I left TWI behind, when I was stationed overseas in 1988. When I came back to the US in 1990, I had zero interest in being involved in TWI again. Years later, I joined a church in Bethesda, MD. What a revelation it was to me!! For years, and years, I had been taught by TWI, that attending a church was a waste of time, for a variety of reasons. For example, they supposedly didn't know The Word, nor did they practice it. Horse Shucks!! The Methodist Church, I attended was warm, welcoming, and quite loving, more so than any Twig I ever attended. Plus, the music was great!! When, I needed help, people in the church helped me. No one in TWI, ever helped me with anything. I loved that church, and attended it for years. However, circumstances changed, and I had to leave it. However, that church will always hold a special place in my heart. TWI taught me The Word, but I saw how often they didn't practice it. I have never regretted leaving TWI decades ago.
-
1
-
-
44 minutes ago, annio said:
I appreciate your coming alongside Grace and sharing. <3 Am very glad you are recovering, and YES, it is a LIFETIME process for many of us. Often only those who have experienced it can truly understand, eh? Best to you!
Annio, thanks so much!! However, I have tried to discuss this issue with my family, and they don't want to talk about it. For decades, incest, and sexual assault was something that families didn't talk about. I used to be embarrassed to discuss it with anyone, especially a man. However years ago, I finally told my VA Counselor about it. For me, that was the beginning of my healing. My oldest brother was one of the men, involved, and to this day, he denies it. I know what happened; he was , and is a sick puppy. My life has gotten better, and today, my life is good!! God is merciful!! However, my brother's life hasn't been all that great; he suffers from various mental, and physical problems. He lives in a Hell of his own making, and I am thankful he lives far away from me!! Annio, please do yourself a huge favor; get professional help for your abuse. I did, and it has been a blessing. I wish you well, on your road to recovery.
-
1
-
-
15 hours ago, T-Bone said:
God bless you Grace! I believe your courage and empathy is a big deal - and a blessing - not only to the folks here at Grease Spot but also to anyone else who crosses your path.
T-Bone, what a lovely thing to say to me!! You make me blush!!
-
On 9/5/2019 at 2:37 PM, annio said:
Can't find a previous topic on vpw et al's ego problems, so am starting this:
Just heard about Any Stanley's "Laws of Applause"- If a (Christian) leader starts buying into the deceit that it is all about him/her and should be, then three things can happen:
- The exceptional (performance, revelation, etc) that is applauded becomes expected, [and pressure mounts for more membership, new revelations, etc.]
- Admiration/applause can lead to the leader's sense of entitlement/ [access to ppls' money, power, bodies, etc.]
- The honoring/applause can become addictive, [and he/she need more and more...]
What's in brackets is my own explaining... So these apply, right??? Hell yeah, to vpw, lcm, et al. Just thought I would share...
Annio, thanks for the post.
-
On 9/13/2019 at 8:51 PM, JavaJane said:
We bought our first house a couple months ago. In debt for $185,000 plus interest. Happier than happy to be in our own home finally. It only took me until the age of 46.
But... we were going through boxes and came across one marked "wedding" and unexpectedly found a bunch of Sunday Night Service and Sunday Teaching Sevice audio tapes and VHS. Most are from the early 2000s before we left, but there is one from 1985 called The Hope. How we got that one is a funny story.
Before my husband and I left HQ from being on staff (2005), a bunch of younger gentlemen (twenty somethings) on the grounds crew got their hands on a bunch of old teaching tapes from VPW and LCM from the time before Rosalie came on. And the tapes were not bore you to tears teachings. (They were totally full of terrible doctrine and swearing, but heck if they were BORING!) Well... there was a culling of the teachings happening and teachings that were not Rosalie-approved (or were extra) were being thrown away from the archives. So these guys just loaded up on contraband teaching tapes from the days when TWI still had some spunk to it.
****so rebellious!****
I think that is where the 1985 The Hope tape came into our possession. I never listened to it. I hate listening to recorded teachings. Plus, I had a wedding to plan and was sleep deprived from working as a housekeeper.
I will open that box again and see what else is inside later on. Thankfully I no longer feel like I have discovered a demon when I find stuff like that anymore. The husband said, "WHOa! We gotta keep that so we can prove we were in a cult later!"
We did throw all the holiday pictures from the BOD in the garbage, though.
JJ, I think that might be the last teaching VPW ever did. I saw it once, and it was obvious, he was very, very sick. His eyes were off; I think he had a major eye problem(?)
-
On 9/1/2019 at 5:57 PM, annio said:
Very helpful Twinky!! Thank you!
And I modified your last paragraph a little so I could put it in my own words- hope OK! "...we ALL need grace in this life. Real grace and loving kindness, I mean. Not pretend/false grace to match the critical controlling spirit's words and actions, and the power/sexual abuse of women (and men), and the definitely pretend/false faults and failings.
And personal- I failed in the way corps, SO WHAT??? I broke down under the pressures, OF COURSE!! I did my level best but it wasn't good enough - well YES, I was recovering from previous and current trauma!
And now, my recovery is happening in amazing ways! Jesus was there all along! The "God who sees" never abandoned, and there are folks as here at GSC, who are caring and sharing wonderfully!
Best to all!!
Annio, I was sexually assaulted by two of the men in my family, over 50 years ago. I have spent my entire life recovering from it. Thank God for therapists, and medication. Both of them are helping me in my process of recovering.
-
1
-
1
-
-
On 11/2/2019 at 8:09 AM, Twinky said:
Next stop (at least in the UK): Remembrance Sunday - the nearest Sunday to the 11th day of the 11th month. Commonly called "Poppy Day."
Remembrance Day itself is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of First World War on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month." Mostly observed as such in Commonwealth countries.On the Sunday, there will be parades at all UK churches, with Scouts, Guides, etc and the British Legion (ex-service personnel) with flags and wreaths. Prayers and thanks for the dead in action. There's a startling 2-min silence at 11am, broken by a bugler playing the last post. In our village, most of the traffic (at least past the church) also stops (a voluntary action).
I think the emphasis is a little different from the US Veterans' Day.
It's good to remember and honour the sacrifices of those who have died in honorable combat.
Twinky, here in the US, 11/11 is Veterans Day. Veterans Day is for the living Veterans, and Memorial Day is for deceased Veterans.
-
On 11/12/2019 at 9:26 AM, Watered Garden said:
We were in residence in early 1993 (family division of the horror that was WC). During that time there was an incident where a helicopter carrying U.S. military was shot down and survivors tortured and their bodies dragged through the streets of Mogadishu(?) And hanged from bridges. I knew nothing about it until the motion picture "Black Hawk Down" was released.
What offends me about all the silence is that prayer is a powerful weapon and we should have been praying for these situations. As I recall the 9/11 attacks were minimized as well.
WG, I remember 911 quite well; I was here in DC when it happened. It was a scary time to live, or work in the area.
-
On 11/19/2019 at 11:59 PM, penguin2 said:
Yikes! An app!!! And faithful followers leaving perfect fives on their reviews.....
2, most of them are probably lies.
-
On 11/19/2019 at 6:35 PM, Twinky said:
I had a quick look through their site. Boring as heck. Songs uninspiring, and the performers as wooden as fence posts.
I did notice something else about the site, though, that brings them into modern age: a Give button - for those who want "to give toward the movement of God’s Word to the entire world." And there's even an associated email address = "giving@..." None being given by me, I hasten to add: they've had much more than appropriate over the years I was with them.
They do have a section where people can "follow" them (108 followers), which might be a way of catching up with some folks' whereabouts.
Twinky, I knew they would want money. Nuts to them!! I gave them a lot of money, when I was involved. If I wanted to waste my money, I would play the Lottery, or gamble.
-
On 11/19/2019 at 5:15 PM, JavaJane said:
Sometimes I just go on the old twi website to remind myself of how thankful I am to be out. Took a little look see today and saw they now have an app. Judging from the dates on the 83 100% 5 star reviews on the Google Play store, it hasn't been out for more than a month.
Lordy, lordy - can you imagine the notifications?
Sorta feeling a little gaggy now.
Feel free to go check out the app on the apple store or google play and leave a review.
JJ, no thank you!! For perhaps the first time in my life, I am glad I am not "tech savvy. " I am afraid I would leave a nasty review, and then be mad at myself for doing it. I think I will stay, far, far away from TWI.
-
On 1/1/2020 at 1:42 PM, Zanezim said:
Thanks everybody for all the responses. We all indeed have something in common here.
Z, I think many of us have some things in common. I agree with many of the posts, but some I don't. I try to be polite, and respectful, even to those I disagree with. However, I am drawn to the GSC, by the posts themselves. Some of the people who post here, are professional writers, or writers who have a lot of writing experience. Some of us had good experiences with TWI, some had horrible ones, and others like myself, had a combination of both. I quietly left in 1988, after being in for 10 years, but I do have some wonderful memories of my time in TWI. But, I also have some unpleasant memories of my time in TWI. Looking back, I wish I had left much sooner than I did, but I was young, and foolishly believed TWI would get it's act together, and start standing on The Word. Obviously that never happened, or I would still be involved. But, God got me in, and He got me out. For that, I am thankful.
-
On 4/18/2020 at 9:30 PM, waysider said:
Modeling your lifestyle behavior after VPW is like seeking dietary advise from Jeffry Dahmer.
Way, great post!! You made me laugh!
-
On 2/6/2020 at 3:39 PM, skyrider said:
There are so many things wierwille and/or twi taught WRONG about "The Way Tree"........and the "Household of God."
Yet, those of us here at Greasespot Café have pointed out the wrong doctrine.
*******
*******
*******
*******
Sky, excuse me! Wrong post!
-
On 11/16/2019 at 4:48 PM, Rocky said:
Where were you when Jonestown went down, 41 years ago? I was in Emporia, Kansas at what was then the Way College of Emporia.
I was obviously vulnerable to cultic and fundamentalist influences as a young adult.On 11/16/2019 at 4:48 PM, Rocky said:Where were you when Jonestown went down, 41 years ago? I was in Emporia, Kansas at what was then the Way College of Emporia.
I was obviously vulnerable to cultic and fundamentalist influences as a young adult.Rocky, I was a WOW in Joliet, Illinois.
-
On 3/8/2020 at 11:52 PM, WordWolf said:
The question came up as to why none of the princes was chosen. The answer is obvious when you look at it from Rozilla's point of view. She wants to remain in charge, but have someone else sit in the chair and be visible, while she controls them. She also wants that person to be effective. So, the current guy wasn't as effective as she wanted, so he gets replaced. She has to replace him with someone who will do as he is told and has no influence of his own. If she's scared of the current princes, she's worried they'd overthrow her completely once she was in power. So, she has to go find someone with no power base at hq and try to pull their strings.
No, this isn't a Christian approach, but it is HER approach.
WW, RR is 81(?). I have no idea how many years, she has to live, but she is an old lady. I don't know VE, but he is probably much younger than her. I am a lot younger than RR, and I can't do today, what I did twenty years ago easily. Old age catches up with all of us, if we live long enough. If I was 80+ years old, I would sit my butt down, and enjoy whatever time I have left.
Constitutional rights to Greasespot.
in Open
Posted
WW, I really enjoy the various POVs expressed here at the GSC. Some people loved TWI, some hated it, and some like me, had wonderful, and horrible times in it. I am often amazed at all the different experiences people had with TWI, all those years ago. Some people agree with my posts, some don't, but I enjoy having a forum, in which to learn, and express my feelings about TWI. Some of the posts here, make me laugh, some make me think, and some have made me cry. But, GSC is unique, in that so many POVs are allowed to express themselves. Thanks to all, who keep this forum up, and running!!