I'm aware of long-term ministries in the L.A. area that are intelligent, and have treated the congregation fairly and with respect (at least from what I have witnessed). I doubt TLWF would be in the sorry condition it is today if the reigns of leadership, post-John, had rested upon them. Off the top of my head there is Walkoe, Lindy, Fisher, Gruenberg...and others, of course, that "blew out."

According to sources on the ground, even Rich Lindy has been removed from all duties and been mothballed.

kBOY Wrote:
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> According to sources on the ground, even Rich
> Lindy has been removed from all duties and been
> mothballed.

And let me guess...no pension.
It would be fascinating to go through the history of the Walk/TLWF and be able to observe the money flow. It would be enlightening, in a sick sort of way.

Many there are who have been kicked to the curb after decades of dedicated service without any corresponding support. “Our way or the highway to nowhere.”

kBOY Wrote:
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> Many there are who have been kicked to the curb
> after decades of dedicated service without any
> corresponding support. “Our way or the highway
> to nowhere.”


Yet, while in TLWF, these same people would get rebuked for revealing any insecurity...not feeling the love from 'Mom and Dad.' The insecurity was actually based on the seeing the reality that they are entirely dispensable.
Remember the series of messages, post-John, on how insecurity was the new expression of Satan?...which was bizarre since John brought Satan down with his death, and yet somehow Satan was still able to poison the fellowship with insecurity.
Anyway, my head is starting to spin, so I will now finish this comment, and make a blueberry/turmeric/walnut bullet drink...which very well could have originated from Satan, yet manages to make me feel better.

This is the River Denial many find themselves floating down while still keeping their head above water. They have already witnessed the dangerous rapids that many have not survived. With fatigue setting in, along with diminishing supplies and uncharted waters, their degree of uncertainty can only build.

With lifejackets firmly fastened and a death-grips on the paddles, they can only hope a steep waterfall does not lie ahead.

For many, that steep waterfall will be the closing down and selling off of Shiloh. It's coming.

The demise of Shiloh would be a fatal blow, devastating to the psyche of the fellowship. It would not be something I would find pleasure in...because I know how many 'good' people have sacrificed to build and maintain the place--and what it means to their lives.

The selling off of Shiloh would be akin to the tearing down of the Berlin Wall.

I believe one of the best things we have to offer those still in TLWF is hope for the future – especially as things begin to crumble. That hope is not in anything that we might say, but in Him. Nothing can make Him unfaithful or cause Him to stop loving us. Granted, leaving TLWF was the most difficult thing I had ever faced in my life to that point. It also became the most liberating – especially as I began to read for myself and put into practice the teachings of Jesus. It certainly was not easy. Easy would be becoming bitter and just shutting down anything that had to do with God – even though I knew mentally the abuse I experienced in TLWF was not God. There is no question that it is very difficult for a wounded heart to trust again – even the One who is perfect, much less humans. Fortunately, where there is no way, He makes a way – and the good news for all of us is that it’s not based on our ability, but on Him.

Many of us took detours into the world that made our time in TLWF appear in contrast to seem as though we were receiving some measure of life. Even ______ (pick your least favorite food) tastes good compared to sh*t, if you have never tasted anything else. TLWF is simply not a true reflection of God. The leadership only has their personal interests in mind, not God’s, and when followers can no longer be used, they are discarded. Jesus, on the other hand came to serve, not be served, and to lay down his life. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick, he will not snuff out.” I’ve come to know many great men and women whose voices are heard around the world – yet they are humble servants. I never saw that in TLWF – even with John. It was grandiose talk and no character to match. A knowledge of Christ doesn’t come by mowing your leader’s grass but by taking care of the ‘least of these’. As some have noted, the teaching of TLWF is almost boring, it is so lacking in substance. You can’t give to the world something you don’t have and is not working for you. There is a reason you have to hide, instead of being salt and light.

A side note to “kingdom businesses” – I worked for Mike Wood at Wood Electric, and he was an honorable man when it came to wages. We were paid more than other electrical contracting businesses in our area – he certainly did not learn that from TLWF. I knew many who illegally made less than minimum wage in “Kingdom businesses”. Fortunately, God was more interested that we obey the "Door Opener" and "Lamp" than we obey the law. G&M ended up with some of the resources that came off the backs of those people. A godly leader would share with those who sacrificed, not take advantage of them for personal gain – even if they are just the “little people”. Most of the businesses were so poorly run, they did not even survive – even with the “extra help”. As a current business owner, I would now call many of those businesses corrupt, instead of sticking my head in the sand and pretending it was God. The God I would be fearful of is the one that says, ‘So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me, ‘says the Lord Almighty.” In hindsight, my view of TLWF would include every one of those things. The least of my concerns is the type of judgement that comes from some bizarre form of “intercession”. The only ones it hurt were those doing the judging. It should be obvious - it was John, not Martha, that died – not that the facts should matter.