Kevin Fallon

3 minutes ago, waysider said:

"Opportunity"...

Them: "Sounds like you have an opportunity."

 Me: "No, what I have is a big freakin' problem."

Exactly!!

Exactly!!!

I have mostly good memories of JAL from his time with TWI in NY.  I also knew him a little while he was with CES.  Again, mostly good.  My prayers are with him as he goes through this.

My wife has had three different cancers over the past 13 years.  Hard to describe the toll it takes on individual and the family.  Especially if it is advanced (Stage 3 or better).  I personally find it hard to trust only homeopathic solutions.  God has given us medicines for a reason.  Praying for the best outcome possible.

In 1979, Advanced Class '79 ran (live, I imagine.)

WW - Thanks for this great history lesson.

Yes - AC '79 was live. It was filmed (videotaped?) so that vpw wouldn't have to teach it live again. For those of us who were there - a very interesting experience. The opening ceremonies featured an Olympic-like run of WC members bringing a torch (The Light Of The Word) up to the front steps of the venue. IIRC it was supposed to have been relayed from one of the root locales. Another torch was lit (just like the Olympics) and doves and balloons were released. During this class we were treated to LCW in tights dancing on stage as he started to push his 'Atheletes Of The Spirit' doctrine.

Yup, you're right. According to a recent 990-T tax return (on the web), they had about $65,000,000 (that's million) in assets at the end of '14. They had no business income (sales, etc.)??? But took a $1,000 deduction even though they had $0 for Charitable contributions.

http://pdfs.citizenaudit.org/2015_01_T/34-4440110_990T_201408.pdf

The 990-T form they filed is NOT their Tax Return for the entire operation. The form is used to report income from UNRELATED business to the 501( c )3 corporation. The IRS allows a specific deduction of $1,000 unless it results in a loss on the unrelated business income. The software used by the preparer would insert the deduction automatically.

I feel sure that twi operates under the assumption that all activities are related to the corporation. Therefore, book sales, merchandise, classes etc. are all part of their normal operations. Those are not shown on this form.

They must be 7 or 8 years old now (oh hello Tuxy on my lap) - you'd really think that by now they'd have got the message that I'm not going to hurt them.

It just takes time.

We have 2 cats, both of which came from the local Animal Protection League.

Boo is about 8 now, and was appropriately named. She would RUN from anyone and anything. Now, she trusts us and actually wants to be petted. If we don't pay her attention, she will come up and push her head into our hands! She still runs from strangers - just not as quickly.

BJ was a kitten that came from one of these 'weird cat lady' homes that had something like 60 cats. When he first came, he was desperate to protect his food. He would take a mouthful out of the bowl and move a few feet away. If anyone - especially the other cat - came anywhere near him he would growl. He's almost six now and he acts totally different. He's probably the most laid-back cat I have ever known. He's so nonchalant that one of the dogs often grabs the food away from him when we give him a treat - and it is no big deal. You can almost see him shrug 'oh well' and stroll away.

My wife and I left NY in 1989, and I agree with WW that things were still happening up until then.

When we moved to our new home, we tried to hook up with twigs in the area. Here, there were already some divisions among folk. More to the point, we weren't exactly welcomed with open arms, since we were coming from an area that was under V!nce F!nneg@n's influence. We were guilty by association.

We exited quietly, never really being fully aware of all the stuff happening around HQ.

But back to the original question, when we were first involved (mid '70's) we were told there was nothing to 'join'. IIRC we 'freely availed' ourselves of the fellowship of 'like-mined believers'. Up until the early '80's we had a lot of growth. The branch put on a coffee house a few times a year, and they were always great draws for new folk - lots of local TWI musical talent and a PFAL push. As things grew and more WC came into the area, the coffee houses died out and and only big gatherings were sanctioned - often with guests from the Limb or HQ. By that time - it seemed to me that the number of new folks was starting to dry up.

I can still recite John 10:10 in Spanish...

And in how many languages can you say 'Don't worry about it'? (Couldn't figure out how to type it with the appropriate accent.)

When reciting "John 10:10"

What's the first word that jumps out at you?

The first thing that pops into my head when when I hear the reference is 'The Thief' (with emphasis on 'Thief'). Even after 25 years my mind still puts the emphasis on the negative. The verse really is all about the positive that Jesus Christ came to give us something we couldn't obtain for ourselves. That was acknowledged during the first minutes of the first session of PFAL, but was quickly obscured.

So, if you feel that you have been stolen from, killed or destroyed - who is responsible? What will you do about it?

As I read some of these threads my heart breaks because I see people who have turned their backs on the Saviour because they were hurt by people who claimed to represent the Saviour.

My question is: who is the winner in that case?

The Way wants to say in effect "this is GOD'S WORD, you should like it if you like God's Word and you should"....The Way's effort to homogenize a "like mindedness" that fits all is and will always be a failure, long term. It appeals to certain needs in certain people though and for those people it works and it's great.

Socks -

I think you have nailed it as to why TWI is still in existence. The structure and doctrine appeal to certain people, and for them it works.

The problem is that the doctrine they embrace requires exclusivity. Since requiring that all 'followers' embrace and adhere to exactly the same dogma or your gone, they will gradually fade away. The splinters continue to occur because they are just slightly different. Enough so that those who reject the TWI mold but like the general shape can find a place where they are comfortable.

Since no two people are exactly alike, the logical outcome is that, eventually, TWI will be gone, but it will live on hundreds of similar small organizations.

Anybody know how the whereabouts of the Goldberg's?

Art & Valeri

Paul

Bump.

With my grandparents example.......twi's home fellowships were NOT a novel concept, or "just done in the 1st century church era."

I always used to chuckle when wierwille boasted "his" renewal concept of church in the home. hahahaha

Thank you, Skyrider!

And WHY did the songbooks never have the music included, just the words?

Since you got in when you did, you might not know that there was an earlier song book used in all the twigs. In the early '80s we were told we all had to buy NEW song books for our twigs and destroy the old ones. These new books had mostly old standard hymns and a few Way Prod songs.

It was never spoken much, but some of the folks I knew from HQ hinted that TWI was threatened with lawsuits over copyright disputes over selections in the earlier book. So the new books only had Public Domain selections or those that TWI owned.

Music was never included because most twigs did not have musicians available. If you were fortunate to have someone who could play the guitar, they likely couldn't read music.

Before the new books were released, TL's in my area were encouraged to get a copy of 'Thank You Dorothy, Thank You Rhoda' (available only on vinyl) and use that to play behind your songs. Tried it a few times - didn't work real well. We just kept singing it the way we wanted to.

Everyone who has contributed to this thread has spoken the truth about what so many of us were looking for - and why TWI was so successful for a time.

At one time, most of the people I dealt with had a genuine love for God and His people. In the '70s (before you had to be Corps to do anything) most of the people I knew really believed that we had what the world needed and wanted to share it because it would help people.

I consider myself blessed to have moved away from where I had been 'planted', and was considered 'suspect' in my new home because of where I came from. It meant close association with TWI was over, and I had to learn to move on. To my surprise, there was a whole Christian world out there! Eventually, God brought me to a place where I could love Him and serve Him through spreading the true Gospel and not PFAL. For me at least, my TWI experience can be summed up by Romans 8:28 - with the emphasis the God works all things together for good - not me. If it was up to me, I might still be 'in' - I would be so deluded that I would never see the truth staring me in the face.

My TWI experience has allowed me to be more sensitive to those situations where people can get sucked in. There are lots of good churches out there, but there are also many that are just a few steps away from becoming the next TWI.

I don't post much, but as I read the threads my heart breaks because of the hurt that so many suffered needlessly. As I read, my prayer is that the posters who are still bitter about their experiences will find the peace that God wants for them. I know you are hurting, and I know I can't relate to some of what you experienced, but I also know that God wants to heal your heart.

Prayers for you and yours during this trying time.

May God grant you peace and comfort through your friends and family.

I didn't want to say goodbye to her, not yet. But I knew it was time and the vet confirmed it. Letting her go was the only loving thing I could do for her, but damn, it sucks.

My heart goes out to you. We have had to put down two of our pets recently, and it really sucks. Loyal, faithful, loving (even cats) - and they don't ask for a whole lot. Sometimes I think it would be easier if we didn't have pets, but then I look at one of my furry charges and realize how wrong I am.

#4 - - - for the "Northland" folks , (Geo - - - You can relate to this one I'm sure, eh?)

You need a full tank so you can keep your car engine (and car heater) running at 40 below zero,

when you're shopping in the local grocery store in December, January, or February!!

Was sent WOW to ND - I can relate. But those of us with cars all bought plug-in engine heaters (usually for the lower radiator hose - but some got a heated dipstick). Pull up to the bank, turn it off and plug it in.

And some people wonder why I like NC so much.

Now, I keep gas in the tank so that I can run the A/C - hardly ever use the heater.

You're talking late 70's. The Corps had "Mobile Abundant Living" or "MAL" packs. We needed to have toilet paper, other sundries, and cars were not supposed have less than a half-tank of gas. I'm surprised they didn't have "gas tank enforcers". We also were supposed to have a destination place set aside where we could run too in case the country fell apart.

Yep - definitely late 70's. The thing that got me was that (in our area) unless you were Corps, or a BC or above, nothing was ever said. I was just a lowly TC, but I knew something was up. I even asked both the BC and AC about it - and they denied they were doing anything of the sort - while in their closet thay had bags/boxes of stuff they kept 'for emergencies' - the AC even had a rifle in there. I guess if something did happen, TC's and average joe's were expendable. Elitism at it's finest.

When I was a WOW, my FC WAS a 'gas tank enforcer'. Since it was my car, I usually had to pay for the gas - even though others (FC especially, who did not have a car) could use it. More than once I got chewed out because I had less than half a tank when the FC used it. Do you think the FC would put gas in it then? NO! Those were the days......

I was making lunch the other day, and I remembered the line 'bologna sandwiches and tea' from pfal in the '70s. Anybody else remember some specific foods or trends from their time with twi?

I live in the South, so for me, 'tea' is cold and sweet by default. However, as I recall, the reference above was to something hot with cream and sugar. Certainly not a combination that would have been palatable to me, even back then.

Other things I remember from that time period was that almost everyone was on 'the cleanse' at some point or another. Seems we all had toxins that we had to purge from our bodies so that we could be healthier 'to move the Word'. (Today, I only do this in advance of a colonoscopy.)

There were also some folks who were building 'survival kits' of food and other supplies in case there was some (undefined) cataclysmic event that was to befall the US. Anarchy would be rampant and only those believers who were prepared would survive. Was this throughout the US or just in the area where I was?

What else do you recall?

One of the singers in the early Prince band (Gail C.) did take the class, went corps..etc etc.

but there were all sorts of other rumors about other bands being involved (Foghat, Billy Joel, Kansas..In fact Kansas supposedly left in the early 70's then wrote "Carry On My Wayward Son" about leaving TWI

Gail was part of a band I did sound for in NY around '81-'82. She told some great stories about working with Prince before he hit it big. She said she believed he was Christian. Gail was a grad for at least part of the time she was with him, but left as he started to go more towards the sexy side. She was great on keys and had a unique voice. Understand she is back in MN.

Can't speak to Billy Joel, but do know that some of the guys from PDSTRO were friends with his band members. Got to go to Liberty DeVito's house once to help set up equipment with Joe & Ralph. Don't know if he or any one else ever made it to a 'function'.

... i'm talking about going back to reconnect with people you've haven't seen in years or to hook up with people you didn't know then but have since met because of here or some other ex cult place.

That pretty much describes why I'm here. I WANT to reconnect with people I haven't seen in years.

I can't change my past. My TWI experience shaped my life, and still influences it. I knew people then who impacted my life - most for better, some for worse. They are still important to me.

By having shared experiences with people, we can help each other get past any of the bad 'stuff'. Depending on when you were 'in' and when you got 'out' will have a bearing on what an individual's experiences are. Those experiences can become the common ground to build upon.

Relationships are the only thing we really have in this world.

When I got involved with TWI, everyone smoked including VPW. Later it was made mandatory to stop because of the cost. I don't think it had to do with healthy living---it was about having more money to give to "Abundant Sharing"

I remember him smoking vividly. I was looking at some old AC 79 pics I took, and one is of some folk with their heads in a cloud of cig smoke. I seem to recall a pic of VPW himself taking a puff while wearing the cap he liked to ride with. I think that was even in the mag.

In the 70's, breaks during PFAL were an opportunity for crowds to form outside the house for a smoke.

A number of the folk I knew (mostly musicians) were known to take a toke when they were not directly associated with a 'Ministry' function.

By the time I was WOW in '80, you were 'encouraged' to give up smoking. You had to buy your own butts out of your weekly allowance - at least in our 'family'. I can recall giving money to someone because she was broke and desperate.

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day !!!

AMEN!

They speak louder than words.

.... Your WOW FC declares that you must keep at least a half tank of gas in your car at all times - yet doesn't contribute to the upkeep. The FC uses the car regularly (after all - it really belongs to the Family) - so you get reamed out because the FC finds it has less than a half tank the next time it is taken.

You stand in a muddy cornfield in Ohio EVEN THOUGH you would rather visit your relatives!

Oh yeah ....

.... You are told that the crew working the 'Honey Wagon' in that cornfield are soooo spiritual because they are are helping to 'Move The Word' by pumping ****