Oakspear

I don't think that I clearly articulated it at the time, even to myself, but I was searching for something. My grades were starting to slip in school, due to my bad study habits, as well as the drinking and smoking. I was not getting an real satisfaction at church, nor through the studies of other religons. I was feeling somewhat empty. [This message was edited by Oakspear on February 16, 2003 at 14:46.] [This message was edited by Oakspear on November 02, 2003 at 14:16.]

It was Christmas 1977. Upstairs from us in our two-family house, lived my mom's sister, her husband, and her six children, my cousins. The oldest cousin and I had hung out together for awhile when in high school and college, and had some of the same friends. One of her co-workers happened to be the Twig Leader for our neighborhood. He had invited her to some Twigs at his house, they might have even been dating. I'm not sure. He had given her a Holiday card which was signed "God loves you and I do too", which my aunt showed me. She was concerned that my cousin was getting involved in something strange. (Ah Aunt P****, you were wiser than I gave you credit for!) My aunt asked me to accompany my cousin to one of the meetings. Shortly thereafter, in Jan. 1978, I attended my first Twig. The people seemed pretty cool, and I heard quite a few things right off the bat that were different than what I had been taught growing up (JC is not God, the dead not alive, holy spirit and God not the same, speaking in tongues, etc) I took this as a great opportunity to get into an argument, or at least a debate. I LOVED to argue, discuss, and debate. I was intrigued by what they had to say, and was impressed by their confidence in what they were saying. I got into a few arguments, but left on good terms with the people there. Over the next few months I began to attend twigs on a regular basis, although not every week. I still attended Catholic mass every Sunday, and still drank beer and smoked pot. At this time, I still looked at the twig as just another Christian group that had some interesting ideas, but hardly life-changing, or even that unique. We knew people at our church who spoke in tongues, and a lot of the other stuff was not that extra-ordinary when compared to eastern religons. Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is [This message was edited by Oakspear on February 16, 2003 at 14:45.] [This message was edited by Oakspear on November 02, 2003 at 14:15.]

My name is TH0MAS J J0YCE, JR, just call me T0M, or Oakspear, or Oak, it's all the same to me. My life on earth began in 1958. I was the eldest of five children, and had loving parents who are still married to each other. For the most part, life was good. Our family was staunchly Roman Catholic. There are priests in the family, including my father's brother, and I grew up very religous. Rosedale, our New York neighborhood, was overwhelmingly Catholic, mostly Irish and Italian, although we had small Episcopal, Presbetyrian, and Lutheran churches, and a Reform synagogue as well. All of us kids attended Catholic grade school in our neighborhood, back in the day when nuns wore "habits" and not civvies. I remember an incident from 5th grade. One of the non-nun teachers told us that the book of Genesis was just a myth, and not to be taken seriously as truth. I argued with the teacher and then went home and told my mom. I can't remember if she actually went down and confronted the teacher, but she made sure that I knew that I did the right thing. We believed the bible in our family! When I reached high school, instead of going to our local high school in the next neighborhood over, I went to a centrally located "Thomas A. Edison Technical and Vocational" school in another part of the city. At high school I was for the first time exposed regularly to people who were a lot different then me in terms of background, ethnic culture, values, etc. I also fell in with two groups of guys, one who liked to drink a lot of beer, and another who liked to smoke pot. I consumed large amounts of both throughout high school. Due to my voracious reading habits, as well as being exposed to different points of view (and a Jewish girlfriend) I started questioning whether the religion that I had grown up with was the one and only truth. I started visiting the other churches in my neighborhood, and began to take seriously the ideas of Buddhism and Taoism and other eastern religons. College just accelerated and magnified the process. During High School I had developed some bad study habits. My drinking and pot smoking became more of a priority than studying. But I never really received any consequences for my lack of studying. I'm one of those people who can absorb information pretty quickly and I also have a knack for taking tests - passing them with high marks even when I had not studied at all. This made me lazy and looking for shortcuts. So here I am, confused about spirituality and religion; unfocussed in my personal life and habits, and looking for shortcuts in all areas of life. Nineteen years old. Then I heard about a "Christian Fellowship" Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is [This message was edited by Oakspear on February 14, 2003 at 8:58.]

Sure, rules and laws are there for a reason, but sometimes the reason is STUPID! I'm not one to break the rules just because they are there; if you want to live among other people there has to be SOME level of order. When I was "in" twi I was pretty anal about obeying the law. I had my license revoked once for multiple speeding tickets and subsequently found a verse in I Peter about submitting to every ordinance of man. I figured that in order to obey "the Word" in this case I would have to obey the law of the land also. Since leaving twi I am not so concerned about every jot and tittle, but still try to follow the law whenever possible. Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is

Chronology Yes def59, there are MANY twi's, and probably MANY ways to break them all down - here's one man's view: Pre-Cult twi: 1942-approx. 1950: Vesper Chimes Radio "Ministry" Denominational pastorates Influence from sources later plagarized Early 50's: "Research" that would later become PFAL Plagarism of sources later incorporated into PFAL Publication of various pamphlets and monographs 1953: PFAL first taught after attending and then plagarizing BG Leonard's class Mid - Late 50's: India Trip PFAL taught in areas outside New Knoxville Proto-cult twi: 1957: VP leaves (or is thrown out of) denomination Group formally incorporated as The Way Inc. Large Board of Directors governs organization Late 50's - Mid 60's: Doctrine begins to take on unique form that will later solidify into Jesus Christ is not God, Dead not alive, etc. Board of Directors canned by VP in favor of three-man Board of Trustees Late 60's: Growth begins to accelarate More PFAL classes outside local Ohio area (Mal George and Donnie Fugit also teach class live) Class filmed and distributed Most Way doctrines now "etched in stone" with filming of PFAL Cult twi I ("Wierwille as the MOG" Regime): Early 70's: VP takes advantage of aspects of the "hippies" and "Jesus Movement" to form base of new expansion and growth All Abundant sharing brought into HQ ROA's start Way Corps initiated after one false start (zero Corps) WOW program initiated VP takes over semi-independent Way East and Way West Way Tree concept solidifies VP's control as MOG over all fellowships using PFAL Contoversial doctrines put in book form and pushed as doctrinal centerpieces (JCING, ADAN) Late 70's: Huge growth Huge classes (PFAL 77, Adv Class 79) Worldwide expansion Way Corps groups increase Replacement of non-Way Corps twig and branch leaders by Way Corps grads Early 80's: Pinnacle of VP as MOG Huge international expansion (e.g. Zaire) Way Corps training in Europe and South America WOW Festivals in Europe, Africa, Australia, South America Martindale begins to push Wierwille aside to establish personal control Interregnum (aka Fog Years): Late 80's: Wierwille dies Some top leaders question Martindale Passing of the Patriarch read Geer-Martindale power struggle Five member Board of Trustees Leaders are fired or leave "Loyalty to Loy" letter sent out Offshoots are started by ex-Way leaders Mass defections from twi So-called Galatians tapes recorded Cult twi II (Martindale really in charge): Early 90's: Martindale works to re-establish his authority Galatians tapes deseminated as "Leadership tapes" to discredit Geer, Lynn and other ex-Way leaders and offshoot founders Martindale films new PFAL Advanced Class and Defeating the Adversary Class Mark and Avoid and Probation stepped up to keep control Household/Zion concept pushed Martindale's "Rise and Expansion" book published Late 90's: Martindale's efforts at control turn nasty "Homo" purge Martindale announces that "the Word is over the world" ROA cancelled WOW program replaced by Way Disciples PFAL replaced by Way of Abundance and Power classes after two-year gap with no classes Word in Business cancelled Humiliations, purges, and control increases Advanced Class Specials every other year Cult twi III (Martindale out - Rosie in): 2000 - : Martindale purged 1/3 of Region Coordinators leave Rivenbark regime "Kinder, gentler" TWI As each new phase begins, a revionist look at previous phases is introduced. For example, During the 80's and 90's, Martindale was revered as the supreme MOG, while now his name is never mentioned. During the late 80's there were times that Chris Geer had de facto control of the Way. Two additional Trustees were added, these facts were not acknowledged in later phases. The pre-70's Way Inc. is looked back upon as the same as the current Way (household, etc.) when the structure was very different. Important early leaders who left are never mentioned again (e.g. Peter Wade) Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is [This message was edited by Oakspear on June 12, 2003 at 13:14.]

N'Yawk Siddy F---ing ay! Q. Whattaya think of Flushing, NY? A. Go ahead Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is

Yes, I was there then. If you stayed the next year, we undoubtedly know each other. I was in until August 2001. I believe all the WOWvets were in Way Homes: The Starr Street Way Home across from the fraternity house near east campus or the guys' Way Home closer to downtown with the fearless Way Corps "leader". Seeing from your profile that you are female and were in the way Corps, you had to have been the coordinator of the Starr Street Way Home. Am I correct? Didn't know you were "out" (assuming you are) Email me if you want to - oakspear@hotmail.com There is still a small Way presence in Lincoln - just one fellowship in the whole state. Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is [This message was edited by Oakspear on August 04, 2002 at 18:23.]

Dia Duit! Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is

..and the icon: I have worn Converse Chuck Taylors without interruption since I was bout 8 years old. (I HAVE taken the shoes off - I just don't like other brands) Funny how they go in and out of style. I've had several teenagers tell me how cool I am for wearing them. A local punk-rock band pointed me out at a local concert as a cool old dude who knew the best shoes to wear! Oakspear In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice...but in practice there is [This message was edited by Oakspear on August 02, 2002 at 8:39.] [This message was edited by Oakspear on August 04, 2002 at 18:54.]

We have 4 seasons here: Blizzard Flood Drought Football

As Laleo said on another thread, I finally have a handle that can be spelled and pronounced! I initially logged onto Waydale as Taoiseach in April 2000. I had seen the word used in a book I had been reading, and liked the look of it. It's a gaelic word that means "leader". It is also the title that Irish Prime Ministers use in the Republic of Ireland. It's pronounced Tay-shock. When Waydale closed, I discovered that my "local user" handle would not work at Grease Spot Cafe, so I inserted a space and logged on as Taoi seach. That caused some confusion, as people were usually reading it as Tao Search. I really didn't want a number after my handle. :P--> To confuse the WayGB, I added a second handle the next summer: Twyril III. ("Twy" rhymes with "why", "buy", "lie" - "ril" rhymes with "bill", "spill") Twyril was a character in a novel that I wrote in high school. The name derives from "twybil", a two-bladed axe. After a while I dropped the "III" and used Twyril. To further confuse the WayGB, I added ANOTHER handle, John Oakspear in the fall of 2000. I acted as if it was my real name. Oak is the sacred tree of the Celtic people, and the spear honored the warrior ethic, since I was fighting against twi at the time. I used the different handles for different things; but settled into using Twyril as my regular handle by the summer of 2001. However the WayGB figured out I was Twyril in August 2001, so I reverted to using Taoiseach, tacking Seoigh(a gaelic version of Joyce, my last name). Taoiseach Seoigh was the name I was using when I first entered the chat room. I stopped using Taoiseach when an "innie" family member figured out that I was using that handle. I dropped "John" from Oakspear a year ago this month and adopted it as my sole handle. After all this changing, I am comfortable with Oakspear! Hardly anyone misspells it, and some GSers this summer used it even when they knew my real name. It is the handle under which I have really gotten to know people here at the Cafe. I didn't publicize my real name when I first posted this, since I didn't want google searches and the like leading back here, but I have since "outed" myself: I am Thomas James Joyce, Jr. :D--> Oakspear [This message was edited by Oakspear on February 14, 2003 at 9:21.] [This message was edited by Oakspear on July 14, 2003 at 0:43.]

During the days of ROA, I never took a vacation that didn't involve some "event", other than a long weekend. The only people I knew who actually took non-Way vacations were a couple who owned their own business, as well as a partnership in a family farm, so they were not limited to acertain amount of weeks every year. Oh, and when the Corps were full time, they got to take a vacation, since going to classes and "events" was "work" for them. THAT kind of chapped my @$$ because I had to take MY vacation going to classes. Last year I took my vacation at scout camp. I had a great time with my son and his friends and the other scout dads (and moms) This year my vacation was the Oakspear 2002 North American Tour. A more enjoyable, relaxing vaction I have never had! I had 16 days off, spent 13 of them on the road visting family and GSers, and the last three just hanging out, and drinking beer. Oakspear [This message was edited by Oakspear on August 25, 2002 at 16:34.]

I saw the trailer for LOTR: The Two Towers last night. Looks good! Lot's of battles. Had a scene that looked like the seige of Helm's Deep that looked awesome! Also a scene that looked like a confrontation between Aragorn and Eowyn. (I am secretly in love with Eowyn!) Now I have to wait until December Oakspear

Thank you, Abby, for posting "your story" for us. There are a lot of good reasons for baring one's soul like this: one is the effect it will have on others. Even though you are out of the Way, it's not "over". The evil that was perpetrated still effects many who have left. There are still those who are inside who are wavering; who could very easily decide to leave because of what you posted here. Reading others' "stories" on Waydale helped get me to the point where I provoked "leadership" into kicking me out. The past is not "the past" until we decide it is; until the lingering effects are gone; until they stop doing it to others. What those b*st*rds in The Way Corporation did to marriages borders on the criminal. they found the fault lines and put pressure on the them. They would use the "waybrained" half of the marriage, the one who was deeper "in" to control the one who thought for him or herself. In your marriage, it was, you, the wife who wouldn't swallow the Way line, and was therefore a danger; in my case, it was me, the husband. The Way was and is patriarchal, no doubt about it. Women have always been devalued in The Way, no doubt about that either; but the bottom line was that PEOPLE were devalued. It was pretty degrading to conform to the Way's view of how a man should act when they were using your own wife against you. (note: this is not a disagreement with Abigail's position! I sent my thoughts to her by email before posting them here and she encouraged me to post them in this forum) What so-called leaders told people about sex was disgusting, but not all of us men bought into it. I cannot imagine forcing someone, demanding, or even BRINGING UP that verse on due benevolence, when there is no desire. And I never did, even when I was "cut off". (how enjoyable can sex be if you're doing it because someone TOLD you to do it?) Despite what King MOG spouted in the so-called Believers' Family Class, sex is not like AIR, you will not DIE without it! Really! Believe me, I know! What some women went through sexually at the hands of their husbands and at the direction of "leadership" was sick. It perverted a wonderful thing into a DUTY, into just another way to OBEY LEADERSHIP, another way to OBEY THE "WORD". Sex is NOT a way to get your spouse in a "good mood" - but a reflection and result of love and trust, not a d*mned ritual to be performed. Abigail, anamchara, thanks again for baring your soul in this forum - I for one appreciate it. Oakspear

You're only as old as (the woman) you feel Happy 50th old-timer! Oak(a still youthful 44)spear

Minority Report! I liked Spidey, but M.R. was GREAT! I thought it dragged a little in the middle, but there was lots of suspense, cool special effects, excellent concept and some nice plot twists

WOWvet in North Platte, Nebraska, 1980-81 [This message was edited by Oakspear on September 29, 2003 at 2:07.]

1. In the original post, the word "mommy" is in quotes, indicating that the writer is not claiming to be a mommy, but only to have taken on some of the characteristics or functions of a mommy. 2. I'm a father of a (small) multitude but do not see them often because of circumstances somewhat beyond my control. I did not see them on Father's Day. Happy Un-Parents Day