I get to see the lives changed by being part of the parade by the band members, the amazing creativity by float builders and the kids that decorate the floats, to the parents of football team members who are honored at special events for raising such outstanding young men.
And then you read the absolute idiocy of Bob Theil and his quarterly and yearly football hissy-fits you quickly realized how trite and insignificant these splinter group leaders are. They are like the bottom feeders of society as they find everything imaginable wrong around them as they become obsessed with the evil they seek to highlight in such orgasmic ecstasy. In their deluded quest to find evil in everything around them, they have ultimately let that evil fill their hearts with sheer idiocy. These men are incapable of seeing the beauty and the amazing lives of people who surround them. Their eyes are so blinded by their narcissism that they can no longer look beyond their prayer rocks, manicured gardens, sad little storefronts, or can't stop bragging endlessly about dreams and double blessings.
As those who have left Armstrongism, especially those family members of splinter cult leaders, all know how free and wonderful life is outside Armstrongism.
Enjoy life in 2020. Enjoy the beauty of those around you and in the world. It is amazing!
This is what it's all about, Gary. We've all just got to get out and experience life, and do constructive things with other people, rather than be cloistered all the time within a myopic little cultic group like we were in the past. Leave a mark, and impact our surrounding communities with goodness.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, what qualifies us for greater things in the future is the experience we get now. Of course, there are opportunities for this within church groups, but a person with initiative is going to find more opportunities within the greater community of mankind. The cliques in a church group can't prevent members from seizing opportunities for growth that occur outside the church, and they are very plentiful.
Nice Pix. Never have seen such an insider view as you shared.
BB
"Nice Pix. Never have seen such an insider view as you shared."
ReplyDeleteYeah,
"Banned" is like the privilige of "vip backstage tickets" for the rose parade and the acog experience.
nck
I wouldn't call Thiel a bottom feeder.
ReplyDeleteA bottom feeder is part of the food chain. There is a lower part of the food chain and that is not seen or even considered.
It is a parasite, feeding off another parasite, which is attached to the bottom feeder, feeding off it. This small parasite stays alive by feeding on another parasite that is feeding of the bottom feeder.
Looking at the size of the ccog, I see this as a correct analogy.
Growing up in Worldwide during the 70's & 80's in Alabama, our ministers always would be irritated that attendance would be drop or members would attend the 10 am service instead of their "designated " afternoon service where they could go home and watch the football game later that day. I remember one night they had a square dance which was poorly attended which happened to coincide with a nationally televised Alabama-LSU game. The following sabbath we were lambasted for 2+ hours about not being committed to the work .
ReplyDeleteYou mean they'd rather watch a football game than "swing their partner" at the square dance? Oh dear, oh my
DeleteIt has always been something I admired in you Gary with your years of involvement in the Rose Parade. You do such an amazing job with the things they give you to accomplish to make the Parade the success it always is. Lots of incredible work I know.
ReplyDeleteLive outside WCG is sweet and real. Life is short even when long because I think no matter, it all seems 15 minutes ago for everything clear back to childhood.
And too, you're probably one of the Premier Florists in Pasadena! Your arrangements for all the events you have at your church are always amazing.
I enjoyed getting together at lunch in LA when I passed through from Oregon to SC. And thanks for maneuvering me through LA for my personal document needs when there. You made what I dreaded easy!
Great behind the scenes pics as always
The pettiness of the WCG/Splinter "God" proved suffocating and an attack on living the bestl ife one can with the time allotted. I love not having to think about all that anymore or deal with the life sucking reality it imposed.
Whatever it all being "a helper of my joy" and "coming to give life and that more abundantly..." meant in the WCG context, it escaped me completely. Joy and abundance never appeared on the radar or rarely.
BANNED WROTE- ":Bob Theil and his quarterly and yearly football hissy-fits"
ReplyDeleteMY COMMENT: I thing the more accurate statement for Thiel would be..." SISSY SHIT"!
Something the ACOG members would love to hear their leaders say, but never will: "Brethren, I've put up a suggestion box, and sincerely hope you will use it! Please keep all of your suggestions anonymous."
ReplyDeleteBB