We all know how the LW messages often take scriptural references out of context and extrapolate them to create their own special doctrines. Since the recent conversations recently have mentioned the LW unequal yoke doctrine, I would like to point out that the NT scripture "Be not unequally yoked....." marriage is not even under discussion in the context (2 Corin 6:14). That's right
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- "Of course, they (Marilyn, John, Gary etc.) would claim God dealt with them personally all the time, and they were completely subject to His will. Or perhaps they, as Christ, were dealing with each other in the same unsympathetic way they did with people. Seems dubious, since it is an obvious conflict of interest.&
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

larry bobo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > However, I would say that I didn’t care as much > as I do now about single moms and kids when I was > in TLWF – I was busy serving the leadership. > You would think that with a woman leading the > group, it would be a primary emphasis. Who do > you think was actually behind determining if
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Could G-man have tagged along with the students to > Israel. > > > It doesn't look like there are very many Shiloh U students or enough to even pay the instructors and build the library. How do they manage that? p.s. Oops... I misspelled riff raff as rift-raft in my above post. I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Invisible Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- >> I believe that when we come to love God and to > love one another the way God hopes we will ( since > He does not force Himself on anyone and He has > given to man a free will ) and makes known that > those who seek Him will find Him - and that when > we find Him - we will be changed and we wil
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Nickle said people don't always know how to help. I once received a harsh rebuke from a friend for "flaunting what I perceived were blessings in my life....and something about if only my friend would get their s**t together...." I was told to read Job. Ugh...it's too long. So I read a few synopsis of Job's three friends. It has been a guide for me because you never know w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Psychology 101-people (including posters) get a boost to their self esteem when they brag. Usually though there is something much darker going on in their lives. I too appreciate the honesty from slandjt, filty apron, Invisible and NickleandDimed. I think one benefit of surviving the cult is an enhanced bs sniffer and hypocrisy sniffer. It seems to me if one is truly restored by God, there would
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

CA-I'm a little worried about how fast you are letting go of your stats obsession. Las Vegas is Babylon. Resist! I'm not one to judge though. Ancestry.com is my current obsession.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > kBOY Wrote: > > > "It’s Time For Us To Walk On Water!" > > By Silas Esteves May 11th, 2017 > > > > > > > > 5/time-us-walk-water/ > > > "Today, we trust that we can walk on water > because > > we are enabled by the blood of J
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

howmidoing Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Mostly everyone one on this forum is from the JRS > days and less the G&M days, am I right? I think what filthy posted about being in both days may be about 50% of the current posters. The remaining from the JRS days. Doesn't seem there are many current posters who were only in the G&M days.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Sagehen and kbyrn- thanks for telling us about your journey and your insights. I asked Sagehen to talk about what she remembered from riding in the van cause I used to hear stories from van riders that JRS sometimes would talk about exotic things like UFO's etc. Things not fit for the pulpit. Most of the time though the van must have been just business as usual. Do you guys remember l
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Sagehen-Yeah, it is good to get it out. That misapplied Jezebel label that was tossed around and used by the members was very hurtful to women. I remember once walking into the one of the communal homes and two guys were sitting in front of the TV rebuking the Jezebel spirit on the female TV news anchor. I threw a couch pillow at them. Your husband's discernment was amazing and it was good
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > kBOY Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > 40yearsin2016: > > > > I have openly confessed to being in a cult to > > dozens of people over the years, some of whom I > > barely knew. It would always somehow come up as > a > >
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kbyrne-Early on in the Walk, JRS really looked after those who were under him and loyal to him and he made them feel good and met their personal needs. When I look back on the early to mid 70's, the Valley Church didn't seem that cultish. It was quite large and submission/obedience to the ministries of all aspects of ones life described in First Principles and divorcing your parents was
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Kbyrne-yes the same dramas and scandals happen in other churches too. Why though are some of the LW ones so life destroying? Wow Fred and JRS's sister still alive in 2014. I recall her receiving ministry in the Valley (maybe it was during the chaos time) and she broke down. I don't recall the details other than it seemed JRS forgave her, she appeared submissive and all was well. Reporte
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

BenTHare Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This Weeks - > dumping > I remember when I started unloading almost 9 years > of "This Weeks". I was beginning to come to grips > with the Walk and my life. They were not going > together very well. At first, it felt like a > betrayal, but shortly thereafter, > LIBERATION I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Too funny k-Boy. I bet their kids were embarrassed. My mom used to dumpster dive. She would bring home old magazines the neighbors had tossed. We had a few MD's in the neighborhood and she said she did it for the medical journals. I was so embarrassed. NickleandDimed-I also don't fully understand what was going on at Shiloh other than BenThar said it was chaos. 40 yearsin 2016 once p
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kbyrne said never heard of anyone dying on a mattress. That came from my friend who said years after JRS passed, someone committed suicide at Shiloh and the leadership covered it up. This information is probably 3rd hand so maybe the bit about the suicide is questionable, but a cover up is totally believable. I think I am over any nostalgia I may have had about Shiloh. I recall a fellow from C
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Anyone got any good stories from the mattress > rooms at Shiloh? I heard someone died on one of mattresses and they never replaced it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > kbyrne Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > > > > For 30 plus years I've been hauling around a > box > > full of TLW stuff. I decided to open it up the > > other day. I haven't looked at it in years. It > > was mostly This Weeks (incl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

filthy apron Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I was 12 when John died, was 20 when I was > ex-communicated. So I guess that puts me right in > the middle. My family and I lived in Shiloh during > the Victory seige, I went to the Centers of > Learning at Shiloh (which was there contrary to > what the "leadership" can recall) I don&
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Southgate has had ample opportunity to provide evidence for his views. I applaud NickleandDimed for being willing to report Southgate to the rrmoderator. I wish I had done that (informed the rrmoderator) when pbxguy and LampSchamp ripped into Apostle Dog for expressing his views. Geez the guy had just lost his wife to cancer. BTW, Apostle Dog was an active poster and contributed to the forum for
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > NickleandDimed Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > SouthGate Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > > > > > > > Enough of the bruised reed crap. Time to > Lift &
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Gee Larry- I didn't know Ted Haggard was the founder of your church. lol Good to hear from you Sagehen. Continue to chime in. I recall you said you were in the Wyoming church in the 70's. Was that the Jackson Hole church or was the pastor's last name Jackson? I recall some one at Shiloh sharing that the pastor drank and was verbally abusive toward the women. Slandjt-I think m
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I think now is a good time to offer my bruised reed manifesto. Ha It's not meant to offend or convert any one. It sums up what I went through post the LW. Please, no comments from scoffers. "A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice." Isaiah 42:1-3 God won't throw out a flame ready to expi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Invisible-I appreciate your 4/29/17 post. I always feel less angry after reading your insights and the way you see things that happened. Like you I had nothing when I joined and left with nothing. Although after I left my circumstances changed so that I didn't have to worry about money. Maybe that's why all the hours I gave and racking up a credit card debt to survive doesn't chap
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

rond Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Any thoughts on that in this forum? Does all the > delay distill down to verses like "“But of that > day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of > heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone?" > Matthew 24:36. That's pretty vague, as far as > predictions go. I'm just wonder
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Invisible-I enjoy reading your personal thoughts (4/28/17 post) because it causes me to reflect. You mentioned something missing in John's life. John taught that the nature of the kingdom of God is very different from what the Jews expected. My take away from John is the kingdom is brought about in a very different manner than John thought it would be. CA and Nickle....Devil in a blu
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Good detective work, CA. I can only imagine the Lord spoke audibly to John Robert Stevens, "Pick Marvin Michelson. He's a genius."
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

2016 great post and valuable info. Yes it is funny what you remember. I don't think Martha got all the 5 or 6 homes JRS owned in Calif. But I do recall JRS mentioning his concern that she might get the home in Northridge. I think it would have been the communal home for married couples. It wasn't a mansion but large. Also interesting to me and smart that your church had a board and loca
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families