"the Way:Living in Wonderland"

[Dilva]

YIKES!! Reading all this hype by VP, I was just imagining what he would've been like if he'd lived long enough to participate in infomercials?????

A farm-boy version of Tony Robbins!

[Ham]

*shudder*

[templelady]

VPW:(-->dressed in his suit) It's the greatness of the word! the greatness of the word!

SWEET YOUNG THING: (gazing at VPW adoringly) And you mean All these books come with our special viewer deal!

VPW: that's right, I wrote these myself after GOd showed me the greatness of his word

SYT: So all our viewers today have to do is call our special toll free number [10.99 after the first 30 seconds] 1-800-244-7226 [figure out the words this Spells for extra points] and register today.....

[GeorgeStGeorge]

quote:

Originally posted by WordWolf:

No pun intended, but please ENLIGHTEN us-I'd like to hear more.

At least tell me the configuration of klieg lights.

Do they stack vertically in a narrow column?

There were four (or maybe five -- it's been over forty years) lights in a linear array. They were usually horizontal, but I think the line could be rotated. Each light was as bright as a sun lamp -- maybe 500 W, so it's posible we had about 2000 W shining in our living room.

I was joking, of course, about the ice cubes; but each of us really did squint for a while until our eyes adjusted.

George

[A la prochaine]

WW,

quote:

The women cleaned the table and all the men yakked

OK...couldn't pass this one up!!! Wonder if his respect for Jim, Steve and Ted went up 99% when he saw this!! gag!!

This whole books drips of ME MYSELF AND I!!! It's absolutely PATHETIC!!!

quote:

The most interesting thing was how they all fought over the Word-

Steve and Ted and Jim.

They'd argue.

I'd let them, then I'd give then the Word. Then they'd argue some

more, then I'd go on to another verse.

It's all there... my oh my oh my!! Pass the barf bag PLEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASE!!!

[A la prochaine]

WW,

I couldn't resist...

quote:

And I liked especially the tenderness among them. You see,

they themselves had previously been on sex and dope, so they didn't

find fault with everything all the time. They'd hug and kiss each

other and that I liked. They were always affectionate. I saw a lot

that I liked there."

Egads....heeeeeeeellllpp!!!!!

quote:

You see,

they themselves had previously been on sex and dope, so they didn't

find fault with everything all the time

What does this mean exactly? What is VP insinuating here? Was he possibly saying that he believed these young people to be 'liberal' with their ideas of sex and perhaps extra-marital sex was acceptable to them????

MY GOD...I think I need a tranquilizer :(-->

[Bramble]

The not finding fault part--that ended, big time!

[dmiller]

quote:

1-800-244-7226 [figure out the words this Spells for extra points] and register today.....

Mo -- could it be (ahem! -- cough!!!)

1-800-BIG-SCAM??? -->

:D--> :D-->

David

[WordWolf]

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeStGeorge:

quote:

Originally posted by WordWolf:

No pun intended, but please ENLIGHTEN us-I'd like to hear more.

At least tell me the configuration of klieg lights.

Do they stack vertically in a narrow column?

There were four (or maybe five -- it's been over forty years) lights in a linear array. They were usually horizontal, but I think the line could be rotated. Each light was as bright as a sun lamp -- maybe 500 W, so it's posible we had about 2000 W shining in our living room.

I was joking, of course, about the ice cubes; but each of us really did squint for a while until our eyes adjusted.

George

Please DON'T joke and make it look like you're confirming his claims-that's a BAD thing.

So, a really bright set of klieg lights is 2000 W, eh?

Then, doubling that would have been totally unnecessary in order to film (4000 W.)

And multiplying by FOUR (8000 W) sounds like a wild exaggeration.

What was the deal with "and I would be blinded for life if I went back the next day.

So I went back the next 2 days and didnt become blinded for life",

anyway?

Anyone?

=========

ALP,

I separated out that thing about the women because I thought it was characteristic.

Notice how he only described them cooking and cleaning?

And the guys argued until vpw sorted them out, repeatedly.

We'll be getting back to the affection thing later, I have a special surprise when we

catch up to it. I'd really like to try to make an effort to address them in semi-order

so we don't leave anything out.

[WordWolf]

quote:

Originally posted by WordWolf:

Who'd like to take the first shot at our first post, seen here?

quote:

page 29, we get our first description of "the class".

quote:

"It's called Power for Abundant Living," Tim continues.

"It's the class that changed my life. It's a foundational class,

giving you the keys to understanding God's Word. Thirty-three hours

of straight teaching, but they do it over three weeks here, so you

go four evenings a week, for three hours each time. It's fantastic

because when you've had it, you'll be able to understand what God

wants us to know. I was looking for God everywhere and missing Him

everywhere, 'til I took that class. Nowhere else can you get this

knowledge of how to read and understand God's Word. And the thing

you just can't deny about it is that it works. Apply the principles

and you get the results in your life."

[hiway29]

I re read 'Living in Love" not too long ago, and also found it incredibly revealing in light of all we know now. I also kick myself for not being able to see through the transparent bs back then.

That book was released in '72. Let's face it, many of us thought VP 'heroic' for enduring the harsh lights, and bought into his 'quest' for spiritual understanding. It does seem that few were ever comfortable with the snow at the gas pumps. Better to just keep your yap shut rather than invite the abuse that would result from daring to question such a sacrosanct event. Better to ignore his demeaning comments about women also.

I do wonder what's up with Elena Whiteside these days though?

[A la prochaine]

WW,

Don't know if I'm doing this in order...but I was thinking of this post today.

quote:

quote:

"Do you know that three times in those early years people

tried to kill me?" he remarks suddenly, facing me squarely. I wait,

hoping for details, but Doctor relaxes his shoulders in a barely

noticeable gesture, and then launches into a new theme.

Anybody ever get the details on this? Who was it? Angry husband? Cast iron skillet bearing wife?

Or is it some kind of ellipsis

All I can say is that it reeks of 'LOOK AT ME - I'M THE Man of God ... and look at how the Devil is trying to destroy me. I have suffered so much for the Word. What have you suffered? NOTHING!!! (you peon YOU!)

I HAVE done all the research, I HAVE given it to you. My blood, MY sweat and MY tears...I give it to YOU!!

Wow...what service, what doulos, what a MAN!

I am nearly weak from disgust! :(-->

[Ham]

quote:

they themselves had previously been on sex and dope

he even plagiarized that little scenario..

[templelady]

Yes sirree FOlks we have a winner!!!

dmiller won our "guess the words contest

Congratulations dmiller

YOu now get a 10 point credit which earns you one of the following prizes :

2 lbs of kindling and a green book of matches to celebrate your very own "Uncle HArry" day

or

one 10 oz ball of cotton string and a genuine 6" plastic ruler so you can make sure your furniture is in perfect alignment

Please select your free prize and remit $ 199.00 for postage and handling

Your prize will be sent by slow boat via china

COngratulations once again dmiller for winning our contest

[A la prochaine]

Templelady,

HAHAHA!!!

Nice to have a chuckle so early in the morning!

Thank you!

Mr. Music Man,

I'm so proud of you!

[A la prochaine]

quote:

It's the class that changed my life

NO KIDDING!!! -->

In ways I never planned to change ~ like my place of residence ~ 14 times in 7 years! :(-->

oh.. just thought of a few more things I never planned on changing...

my career plans

my schooling years

my relationship with my friends, family, etc.

my ability to NOT go door to door

my NOT wanting to badger people about bible topics

my becoming exclusionary to all musics except stuff put out by TWI (oh don't get me going on that one )

basically ~ my whole freakin' life in general! -->

ok...enough of this or I might just go and jump off the nearest pile of concordances!

Edited September 6, 2005 by baboo

[Ham]

quote:

Nowhere else can you get this

knowledge of how to read and understand God's Word.

Therefore it makes perfect sense why they ABANDONED it.

Maybe even self-righteous hucksters may eventually say "enough is enough"..

Oughta sell the brooklyn bridge only so many times. After all, there are LOADS of other bridges in the world just begging to be sold.. lots newer, too.

[A la prochaine]

quote:

And the thing

you just can't deny about it is that it works.

-->OH GOD!!! Don't get me started!

Works for them basically!

[Ham]

Interesting what this little "historical" reference leaves OUT- the division, the mad groping for power.. the adultery.

Just like the fairy tale, I guess they lived "happily" ever after..

[A la prochaine]

quote:

the mad groping for power

Mr. Hammie,

What a visual! :P--> :D--> :P-->

[Ham]

A good pun, and I didn't evey try! :D-->

[A la prochaine]

Mr. Hammie,

And you didn't even try !!!!

Genius, pure genius! :D-->

[WordWolf]

quote:

page 29, we get our first description of "the class".

quote:

"It's called Power for Abundant Living," Tim continues.

"It's the class that changed my life. It's a foundational class,

giving you the keys to understanding God's Word. Thirty-three hours

of straight teaching, but they do it over three weeks here, so you

go four evenings a week, for three hours each time. It's fantastic

because when you've had it, you'll be able to understand what God

wants us to know. I was looking for God everywhere and missing Him

everywhere, 'til I took that class. Nowhere else can you get this

knowledge of how to read and understand God's Word. And the thing

you just can't deny about it is that it works. Apply the principles

and you get the results in your life."

"It's the class that changed my life."

"I was looking for God everywhere and missing Him everywhere, 'til I took

that class. Nowhere else can you get this knowledge of how to read and

understand God's Word."

"And the thing you just can't deny about it is that it works. Apply the

principles and you get the results in your life."

ALP seems to have objected how completely her life was changed.

"Like my place of residence-14 times in 7 years!"

"My career plans

my schooling years

my relationship with my friends, family, etc.

my ability to NOT go door to door

my NOT wanting to badger people about Bible topics

my becoming exclusionary to all musics except stuff put out by TWI

my whole freakin' life in general"

So the "changes" were not necessarily all POSITIVE ones....

I'm sure that if the same students had looked where BG Leonard was teaching,

or were pointed in his direction, they would have gotten the answers they

needed. The early classes were nothing BUT Leonard's class with Leonard's

name crossed out and vpw's name written in in crayon. "No where else?"

Well, if that wasn't what they were told, they might have been able to

progress beyond the abilities of one teacher (and all his faults, like

committing felonies and stuff.)

Does it work?

Well, we discussed how the "law of believing" as stated, is no law.

At best, it is a rule of thumb. At worst, it is a tool used to batter someone

over the head when they are ALREADY suffering.

"Bad things happen to you? Your believing was insufficient-it's your fault!"

Not exactly the act of a godly person-it's the act of a miserable

comforter.

The combination of "it's all truth" and "it's the ONLY place to get truth"

places an unhealthy dependence upon the organization.

Obvious in hindsight, no?

[WordWolf]

quote:

Originally posted by WordWolf:

We hear denominations described on page 30.

quote:

"You see, denominations are man-made," Tim begins. "Here we learn

what God says and we do things according to His Word. This is the closest

thing you'll find to the first century Church anywhere in the world. The

Church in the Bible is the body of people who believe. It's not a building

or a denomination, but the people who believe and act on the Word of God.

In the first century these people met in private houses, and it was there

in those small fellowships of believers that the needs of people were

really met on a one-to-one basis. The Church was highly personal. They

broke bread together, they prayed together, they tithed their money and

everything they didn't need, and they praised God from house to house.

You can read all about it in the book of Acts. Each fellowship had an

elder, a leader, someone in charge. Now these elders in an area would get

together and believe God to choose one of them to be spiritually

responsible." Tim pauses momentarily to find the exact words.

"That's how we are organized. You see, we are not a denomination. There's

no membership because the life and growth of this ministry is in the twigs.

That's what we call these small fellowships in private homes: twig

fellowships. Any one who wants to learn or hear or share the Word of God

can come to a twig meeting. We gather around the Word of God. Wherever

two or three are gathered together, Jesus Christ said He would be in their

midst."

Same discussion, page-33.

quote:

"But there is no membership. It's all your free will. There's no

coercion. People come together because they love the Word and they love

to come together and share and learn and build up one another and

rejoice in what God has done for us.

page 34, same discussion, has something I especially thought was worth

noting.

quote:

"But what The Doctor teaches in that class in 33 hours I couldn't

teach you in 33 hours. He's been doing research and teaching for 30 years

now and he's a terrific teacher. That class will give you the foundation,

the keys to understanding God's Word. It'll really blow your mind. The

depth of that class is just tremendous.

Anyone want to address these?

[WordWolf]

quote:

Originally posted by Dot Matrix:

quote:

"It's called Power for Abundant Living," Tim continues.

"It's the class that changed my life. It's a foundational class,

giving you the keys to understanding God's Word. Thirty-three hours

of straight teaching, but they do it over three weeks here, so you

go four evenings a week, for three hours each time. It's fantastic

because when you've had it, you'll be able to understand what God

wants us to know. I was looking for God everywhere and missing Him

everywhere, 'til I took that class. Nowhere else can you get this

knowledge of how to read and understand God's Word. And the thing

you just can't deny about it is that it works. Apply the principles

and you get the results in your life."

Here is the thing, although I know what I know now, that is exactly how I felt at the time. It was the closer look that exposed the monsters in the man to me. Taking the class -- well at the time, it was the best thing ever.

I took it in 1972.

What the "class" did for me and what the "man" did to me were very different. But then I contend that the class was a good thing put together by BG Leonard, then hijacked by VP, he could not improve on the class in his life because it wasn't "his life."

To me it was a way for him to start a ministry on another man's work... Be hailed as king, visited by poor girls he tried to convert into chamber maids, .... blaa blaa blaa.

And yes, I knew him personally. I think I had to, in order to break the spell, or I might still be a lemming.