Onion Wrote:

> I was on a date with a guy I had known (and had a crush on)
> in High School. As we sat in his car in my
> driveway, we got started talking about serious
> topics and somehow this church my mom had started
> going to came up. When my friend Dave heard the
> name John Robert Stevens he almost split a gut.
> This guy was a Viet Nam vet from one of the famous
> outfits that so many were lost to, very tough and
> he was freaked out and warned me - do not go near
> that man.

Interesting. My father-in-law ('Pops Jekel') was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and participated in the first major battle depicted in the movie 'We Were Soldiers.' In the late the 70's, according to my wife, he attended a living word 'kill the nephilim' service. His only comment: 'It gave me a headache.' Given the fact that he likely had PTSD, the 'pep rally in the lunatic asylum' didn't sit well with him. Just a theory.

JesusJesusJesus Wrote:

> I figured the Polar Vortex was nothing compared to
> an especially long service or intense personal
> ministry from a DR. :)

On a more serious note, one of my bigger regrets in life was skipping a Sunday feast service. I definitely paid for it.

Even after all these years of marriage, my wife still tends to take my requests literally. Anyway, I'm going to have to let her know soon that I don't really want an oversized Hawaiian shirt & gold chain necklace for Valentine's Day (I have so many already). Also, I will continue mowing our lawn. She doesn't have to do it, even this once.

#rockymarriage
#relateandcommunicate

Quote

Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Posted by: changedagain ()
Date: February 10, 2019 09:34AM

Interesting. My father-in-law ('Pops Jekel') was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and participated in the first major battle depicted in the movie 'We Were Soldiers.' In the late the 70's, according to my wife, he attended a living word 'kill the nephilim' service. His only comment: 'It gave me a headache.' Given the fact that he likely had PTSD, the 'pep rally in the lunatic asylum' didn't sit well with him. Just a theory.

My mother-in-law heard a JRS tape long ago. Her only comment? "He sounds like an old drunk." Amazing perception, which, unfortunately, we ignored. *Sigh*

Quote
Onion
I was remembering a funny story today and thought I would share. I first heard the rumors about JRS' lascivious behavior and reputation for womanizing in the mid to late 60's. I had met JRS once or twice but had not yet considered being a Christian and going to the church. I was on a date with a guy I had known (and had a crush on) in High School. As we sat in his car in my driveway, we got started talking about serious topics and somehow this church my mom had started going to came up. When my friend Dave heard the name John Robert Stevens he almost split a gut. This guy was a Viet Nam vet from one of the famous outfits that so many were lost to, very tough and he was freaked out and warned me - do not go near that man. My reaction? Being the deep thinker I was at the ripe age of 18-19, I thought it was hilarious. JRS was this OLD guy who wasn't even cute! So I went into the house and woke my mom up and said "You won't believe what I just heard."

What's the story about the guy waiting for God to rescue him from the flood? He dies and asks why and God says, well I sent you a boat, I sent you a helicopter.... etc. etc. Oy if I had only listened.

I once took a long-time Christian friend to a Bless In in the late sixties. She wasn't too impressed with the whole hoopla. She mentioned that there was something strange about the way that Bro. Stevens looked at her. Looks like God gave us both warnings, Onion. Our listeners must have already been damaged.

John brought so many messages about how the religious leaders never recognized Christ because he didn't fit the concept they had from reading the scriptures. I recall one significant message from the 70's, which became a This Week, entitled (I think) "Will You Find God Unacceptable?" We were being groomed to not trust common sense, or anything originating from reason and logic ('carnal mind' often being associated with those processes). Instead we were told to have a "revelation." Of course, this was followed by the admonition that revelation only comes from obedience. So it's no mystery while our "revelation" just happened to mesh with what was acceptable. Once a person is completely obedient to authority, they tend to think like the person they are obedient to.

p.s. just writing this has given me the urge (which I am resisting) to bind the Nephilim and/or anyone who has ever disagreed with John.

I will always treasure my personal spiritual experiences as something valuable in my life.And those wonderful experiences is part of what makes it so hard to separate the good from the really wrong that did go on behind the scenes.
We had good people who loved God in this movement. Then again we had people who used the Lord;s name in vain for their own gain.

Yes, there was so much love there between the people we were close to. Yes, many of us sought god, prayed and searched the Holy Word on an individual basis- or more would have left earlier than they did, I think.

Many good people had no idea what was going on with the tithed donations,in side rooms before and after service. Most good people had no idea what was really going on in some of the "kingdom businesses" or some of the school with some of the teachers and children, either. For those who did not see it first hand, I suppose it would be hard to understand that there are 2 very different worlds with in this church organization as a whole.

Yes, I felt the love. Up to a point I personally grew in my spiritual relationship with a higher- power that was different from what may or may not have been interpreted as preached. So many got different "revelations" from the next guy. We as individuals are responsible for our own relationship with God-and that personal responsibility was variable from one person to another. While large groups of people followed and "felt " something, I personally weighed the APOS directives with my knowledge of the bible and common sense, so I can only speak for myself. I never relied on JRS or the leaders to fully lead the way- yet the group as a whole did. An a portion of the group were there to only take advantage of what "perks" were offered as they play the game of looking spiritual.( Some of those "perks" were to hide from law.People who screwed up were moved around a lot to avoid being extradited. You can google the facts on how religious organizations attract predictors.it is pretty sick that we cna't turs everyone who cries "lord, lord."

For those who 'felt" something real and grew to be closer to God, that is wonderful. But, that is something separate from the abuse of funds; abuse of children and the manipulations to cover these abuses among a great deal of people who turned a blind eye Perhaps they just did not have the knowledge base to recognize the signes and symptoms of abuse- or they just wanted to focus on the adrenaline and endorphin rush that big meeting can provide. I don;t know. Neither you nor I can judge what is in another heart for god except by their actions. I can tell you from personal knowledge that CLW organization was not all about the love of god behind the scenes

Acesandates, thank you for sharing,and defending your personal experience. But, I wonder if this is the right group for you or not.

Those of us who are here are trying to support each other who knew/ know first hand the illegal, immoral, unethical, criminal, even heinous activity that did go on among some of the group. We have a lot of sorting out to do so we can help each move forward.

Acesandtes, if you missed that abuse and only felt that you benefited from the "walk" , you are fortunate and perhaps are not in need of healing. I would suggest, in my opinion, that if that is the case and you are not open nor interested in learning about the 'secrets" in "walk" I can only imagine how upsetting it is to read what we know is the truth that no everyone saw. In my mind learning about the secrets in this cult is worse than a kid finding out there is not Santa Claus. The child wants to not give up that magical fantasy.

Then again, I have to wonder if you Acesandates, if you are trolling because your statements just don't line up with what I think this forum is about.

changedagain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> John brought so many messages about how the
> religious leaders never recognized Christ because
> he didn't fit the concept they had from reading
> the scriptures. I recall one significant message
> from the 70's, which became a This Week, entitled
> (I think) "Will You Find God Unacceptable?" We
> were being groomed to not trust common sense, or
> anything originating from reason and logic
> ('carnal mind' often being associated with those
> processes). Instead we were told to have a
> "revelation." Of course, this was followed by the
> admonition that revelation only comes from
> obedience. So it's no mystery while our
> "revelation" just happened to mesh with what was
> acceptable. Once a person is completely obedient
> to authority, they tend to think like the person
> they are obedient to.
>
> p.s. just writing this has given me the urge
> (which I am resisting) to bind the Nephilim and/or
> anyone who has ever disagreed with John.

Can we bind something? LOL!

JRS was pro at loading statements.

I took the liberty of finding a link to give an example. Does this seem to fit the kind of things JRS wrote int eh This weeks? or do you have a better label? ( I'll say it again- there was not much really spiritual except this terminology)

[examples.yourdictionary.com]

changedagain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Onion Wrote:
>
> > I was on a date with a guy I had known (and had
> a crush on)
> > in High School. As we sat in his car in my
> > driveway, we got started talking about serious
> > topics and somehow this church my mom had
> started
> > going to came up. When my friend Dave heard
> the
> > name John Robert Stevens he almost split a gut.
> > This guy was a Viet Nam vet from one of the
> famous
> > outfits that so many were lost to, very tough
> and
> > he was freaked out and warned me - do not go
> near
> > that man.
>
> Interesting. My father-in-law ('Pops Jekel') was a
> helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and participated in
> the first major battle depicted in the movie 'We
> Were Soldiers.' In the late the 70's, according to
> my wife, he attended a living word 'kill the
> nephilim' service. His only comment: 'It gave me
> a headache.' Given the fact that he likely had
> PTSD, the 'pep rally in the lunatic asylum' didn't
> sit well with him. Just a theory.

"Lunatic pep rally". wow how unsettling is must have been to that vet in those days. Interesting timing that you posted this. I had been thinking and having lot so flash blacks lately. One of my continuing flash backs is how in intersessions I felt like I was caught up in a Viet Nam protest that turned in in a riot in Iowa City in '72. I've been reading up on the the dynamics of riots and found some very disturbingly similar aspects with in the violent intersessions- A Kill the Neph service was definitely not a great introduction into the walk for a Vet.

I have often wondered about the possibility of who were the "crisis actors in the violent intersessions. Normal bystanders don't go crazy unless someone provokes the situation.
In the riot my friend and I accidentally got swept up in we was pushed by the crowd into national guard who we wearing full riot gear. We panicked as we were shoved into billy clubs that weer across the guards chests. ( We were just walking home form the library when people came out of now where it seemed.)

Some Viet Nam vet class mates spotted us. They said that they "were there for cause" but now they had to get us girls out of there.

There 4 or 5 Vets were like guardian angles who literally did the impossible by escorting us against the flow off this bridge and into a gay bar. Seconds after we were shoved into this bar the crowd starred running back off the bridge.We did not know what was happening but we were safe. The national guard had set off tear gas and the our vet friends KNEW it was planned for something to "provoke" the guard throwing tear gas. At that time the vets told me that riots were orchestrated - I did not understand.

I could never stay in a wild intersession because I felt like I was trapped on that bridge face to face with full riot gear guardsman and I had to escape. I was certain at the time that someone set it up to get so wild and it was not Jesus Christ nor the holy Spirit, with all due respect.

Here's a link on riots for your reading enjoyment. [people.howstuffworks.com]

Any thoughts on the pep rally in an asylum theory or my riot theory in relationship to the our of the ordinary not so peaceful prayer of the intersessions?

Who actually threw the "first rock"? JRS I suppose was watching from above? I have to question if god was moving by his spirit. ( I always had to go the bathroom-to avoid the 'riot flash back" discomfort, so from my perspective I was not one of being caught up in the antics of the violent intersession. I just heard what the bro were doing in the wings. In hind sight - I had "guardian angel"s again to protect me or I may have much different feeling about the cult..I missed out on the endorphins rush ( the hormone release you feel when your are at a ig sporting event.)

I can no longer recall the words I heard over and over out of the mouths of the bro who were NOT in the intersession either to kill the neph or loose the Apostle. Maybe they failed to loose the apostle not us people. . But the jest of it was about how to get the people to do this or that.Previous to Shiloh it was what music to play to get the people to put more int he offering plate. - not joke - that is common in the main stream churches as well.

This is no proof of any wrong doing, I guess. just creepy as hell, I think.
Any one have a word of wisdom on this theory? And please cover your head, ladies, before you submit your answers through your husband ..lol

Prettyboy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JJJ, looking forward to meeting you. el paso
> cuisine on me plus i've a small assortment of
> vintage hawaiian shirts to brighten your spirits
> during tundra time.

When we get some local support / therapy groups going, can you supply us with discounted Hawaiian shirts so we know who has the right spirit?