This page contains entries made beginning September 01, 2003.
These names and addresses are posted to enable people to contact friends and loved ones. Please do not exploit this information for commercial purposes.
Let us not forget that most members of the Exclusive Brethren are hard-working, loving people who struggle with self thoughts and feelings as do many of us who are ex-Exclusive Brethren related.
It is the Exclusive Brethren "System" that harms many from various walks. Adherence to ways and whims of one, the current "Man of God", Elect-Vessel, "Whatever his name is today" is the main problem.
Seems to me we mostly have individual minds, emotions, practicalities, actions, reactions, etc.
Inner self peace to all! (A goal I aim for but have not yet achieved)
Cynthia
Guest: John Gibbs
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Johannesburg, South Africa
Date & Comments: October 01, 2003
Following on from what PM Clarke was saying about Exclusive Leadership enriching themselves with collection money, I think a far more serious issue is that tithes and offerings should be used for extending God’s Kingdom – missionary work, social upliftment, evangelization etc. It could therefore be argued that by enriching themselves they are robbing God.
I don’t think people realize the amount of money is involved. Before leaving the EB’s a couple of us guys just out of school were conscripted to the army for 9 months. After about 3 months we were put onto the “Levites List” as we were seen to be “a good testimony to the world.” Money started to come in from all over the world. I remember at the time working out that we were getting about 10% of what the local leaders were getting and a small fraction of what they sent to Taylor. Within 6 months I had received enough to buy a second hand car.
I was at the time disillusioned with the peebs and planned to leave straight after the army. I was told that my letter of thanks was read out at the Nostrand avenue Care Meeting. Just shows how easy it is to be a hypocrite under that system.
Guest: Jenny Dowding (McMullan)
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Gloucester - prev Belfast, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 02, 2003
I would like to post a link to a new UK web community for ex Peebs.
http://groups.msn.com/ex-peebsuksupport
This community aims to help UK (or other) ex peeps to meet others and share views, leave messages and search for old friends.
All are welcome.
Guest: Peter French
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Melbourne, Australia
Date & Comments: October 03, 2003
DANIEL JOHNS of the Southern Highlands News in New South Wales reported on Friday, 12 September 2003 the fllowing regarding the Brethren to proceed with proposal to build school.
He said:
"...A fundamentalist religious group that plans to build a boutique school in Moss Vale so it can educate its young followers will push ahead with plans despite fears from local residents.
Wingecarribee Shire councillors voted to put a DA from the Moss Vale Brethren group on hold amid strong concerns from residents living around the proposed Suttor Road site.
The Brethren group lodged an application for construction of the Greenvale Education Centre with a proposal for six classrooms and up to 24 students from years 7 to 11.
But in the 19 public objections received by council, traffic issues, noise level and a query over student numbers meant councillors opted to hold an inspection of the site before ruling on the DA.
The Moss Vale group currently has 40 children being educated in local primary schools but a spokesperson said it was crucial teenage group members were educated in a more specialised high school. The group has also refuted community concerns the site would dramatically increase traffic stress and noise levels.
"I think council have treated us very fairly and once neighbours know what this school is all about I think they'll be fine with it," the spokesperson said.
"It's important for people to know that we won't be using Thwaites Drive as an exit and kids will be dropped off and picked up only along Suttor Road.
"As for noise, well children will always make noise but I don't think it will be anything too serious." ..."
Guest: Peter
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 03, 2003
Further to recent comments on JND, an author named Dave McPherson has closely analysed JND's supposedly original doctrinal writings, and his comment is, 'Although I view Darby as a brother in Christ I'm forced to conclude that his great weakness was his clever plagiarism of others' . For those interested see the article at the end of:
www.sullivan-county.com/news/cathouse/darby.htm
, and other links, too long to list here.
It may come as a surprise to many ordinary brethren who simply accepted the doctrines about the Rapture and millennialism in general, that it has such a shaky basis in the Bible.
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 04, 2003
I was at a funeral recently when a number of ex's were there - it seemed like a lifetime away - and I was reminded how much gent's ties mattered. It wan't just the pattern but almost more importantly the quality of the knot! When there was so little worry about it seemed to matter whether you had a half Windsor knot or a full windsor knot and so on. Hey and in the 'big picture' what on earth doeas it matter! I find it difficult to believe that not wearing ties today is supported by scripture?
Guest: Laurie Twinam
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Sevenoaks, Kent, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 04, 2003
The minority of contributors to this site who have reached their allotted span of years and can remember the Brethren fifty years ago, when Jesus Christ, not a mere mortal human leader, was the undisputed Centre of each gathering, have a responsibility to witness to that fact. We saw the glory depart, and we should admit our part in the shameful failure.
But there is something to add to that. The Lord Jesus Himself is completely untouched by all that failure. He is still the Saviour of the world, the Good Shepherd of His sheep, and the Head of the true church. If we admit our sinful failures He is so ready to forgive us and grant us a fresh start, becoming once more the Centre of all our lives.. We know that all things (even our failures!) work together for good to them that love God . What a wonderful thing! The apostle Peter, of whom so many failures are recorded in Scripture, is a striking example of that.
Guest: Jo Beer
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Tasmania, Australia
Date & Comments: October 05, 2003
Exclusive brethren seem very anxious to get a lot of those who have left them back into the fold. I believe it is impossible to be a true "born again" christian and be linked with them in any way and especially to go back. They are embarassed or uncomfortable when the Lord Jesus is mentioned, or the joy of having any living relationship with God as Father, or of salvation, and continue to keep any mention of divine persons from the conversation.
Guest: Luke Hawkins
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Eastbourne, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 05, 2003
Hi greetings.
A friend, a Swiss Pastor, would like a copy of the Darby Bible in German. I remember the hymn book was published in French and German back in the sixties. Does anyone know if the JND version is or was available in German and where I might obtain one? Sola Scripture.
Regards to all Luke.
Guest: pmclarke
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Victoria, BC, Canada
Date & Comments: October 05, 2003
There are confirmed reports coming out of New Zealand of brethren ''in'' making numerous contacts with those''out'' and asking questions about what really happened at Aberdeen, information that has been supressed until now. These brethren want answers - and they aren't satisfied with the offical coverup. And, the more they find out - the more they want to know. They are openly fraternising with their relatives, visiting, holidaying, and the leadership is now has a dilemma on their hands - look the other way, or deal with it. If they ignore the situation, others will follow, if they deal with it - they will have an outright rebellion on their hands.These folks have tasted freedom - and they aren't giving it up. The whole thing could easily split wide open
Guest: Jenny Dowding (McMullan)
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Gloucester
Date & Comments: October 05, 2003
Dear Dick......... following my email last week, due to an MSN glitch, I have had to re-do my website. Th site now is called "Exclusive Brethren Survivors UK Group" and can be accessed from: http://groups.msn.com/ExclusiveBrethrenSurvivorsUKGroup/_whatsnew.msnw
Anyone who is interested in joining the group for support and information, will be warmly welcomed.
Jenny
Guest: Stephen Rodgers
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Melbourne, Australia
Date & Comments: October 06, 2003
Laurie in all humility, I was around then. If Jesus Christ was the "undisputed Centre of each gathering" as you say, then it would have been impossible for Aberdeen to happen. They were whoring after their Leaders from Darby till now.
If Jesus Christ ever turned up at there meetings, he would be tossed out, for being a friend of sinners, wine bibbers, harlots and religious rebels.His radical ideas from the sermon on the Mount, and "Judge not" would never be welcome by that lot.
NOT ONE OF THEM ever grasped the "I AM" conciousness, from which creation arose, that was resident in HIM, before Abraham was born. The only ex-Peeb I know that has grasped it, is the world respected author Douglas Harding, who is still alive today at 94.
I may add J.N. Darby never had an original idea, but he was a genius at exploiting the ideas of others, for his own intellectual gain.
Guest: Alistair Deayton
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Paisley, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 06, 2003
To the person who asked about the JND bible in German. It was available in French and German before it was in English. In fact the English JND Bible (New Translation) appeared after JND's death and much of it was translated by other people from JND's French Bible.
As the the German translation, it is known as the "Elderfled Translation" and was fairly common amongst non-EB evangelicals, OBs, etc., at the time I knew EBs in Germany around the late sixties and early seventies.
Of course, like in English there may have been more recent trasnations, but if your Swiss pastor friend looks for an Elberfeld Bible, he will have found a JND bible.
Elberfeld was a German town that became part of Wuppertal in the early twentieth century.
Guest: George Mair
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Maidenhead Berkshire, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 06, 2003
The links through Dick Wyman's site is an invaluable source for anyone resisting the Brethren's teachings or those who combat the basic "entreaties" (I prefer to use the word blackmail) of the Extremist and Exclusive Brethren.
Through Dick's site, new relationships have been created with people of whom many of us never even knew existed - but they knew our kinfolk - or we knew theirs. Dick's site is global - not just the UK.
Since the early 1960's (and particularly after the bombshell that shook the whole [EB] world in Aberdeen 1970) I have to question the reasoning behind setting up divisions amongst Ex-EB's? Can this really be in our blood? "United we stand, divided we fall" vividly springs to mind.
Whether in the UK, the US of A, Canada, Ozzie land or anywhere in-between, do we really want to distance ourselves from one another? Or do I perceive a split in the Ex-Eb's? Most probably next will be the Scots Ex Eb site, (exclusive to the Scots, and excuse the pun) then the Welsh Ex-Eb site then... no doubt it'll be the Ex-Ex-Ebs and so on...
Do we Ex-eb's really not want to share experiences - whether in the UK, the US, Oz or anywhere in-between? Or do we want to remain whingeing Pommies?
I thought that the principle of the guestbook on this site is, and remains, the principle venue through which one could pass messages to fellow survivors. Survivor from the Brethren is never a word I could have contemplated using - the word itself has negative implications - NO - I am not a survivor.
I was a pioneer.
Guest: Patrick Carlyle
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Date & Comments: October 07, 2003
Have just read www.sullivan-county.com/news/cathouse/darby.htm and the other references on that site.
So what do the expeebs really think? Some interesting philosophies about Paul also there ... heretics? ... or are we blind suckers and been completely conned?
Not wishing to 'argue', or 'debate' ... but would be interested in readers analysis of the articles referred to - we should all be strong enough to read them and state what we think, or are we scared to analyse what is true and what is fable? Frankly I don't know any more ... I will open another bottle like the peebs used to and maybe get a vision from heaven ...
Bruce Hales has brought back Alan Gadsdens son John and maybe is surrounding himself with a new version of the old 1965 guard if reports are correct. He now says his father did nothing wrong in 1965 - so that must mean by extension that JTJnr was wrong when he said that the system was evil and as a consequence Hales, Gadsden and the other heavies were outed for whatever reason.
So does this mean then that JTJnr will be at last declared anethema? ... and then by extension, when is Aberdeen to be revisited? The mind boggles at the potential developments to this one - then they have to undo the whole post Aberdeen saga or what?
It would get the numbers back up, and clearly deplete the people who write and read here ... but I and my heretic friends will still be around ... we may join the division that appears to be commencing in NZ.
So the bottom line is? ...
1. The 1965 system reinstated and all guilty then attain sainthood.
2. JTJnr declared a tool of the devil - that will get a lot of followers from here.
3. A mass of 'reinstatements' from the 1965 era and special positions of the sons of these system leaders
4. Selcted parts of what JTJnr said declared invalid
5. All Aberdeen losses reinstated back into peebhood
6. NZ becomes the centre of a global division
7. Some of us find after reading 'Sullivan' that the whole religion/faith/present dispensation thing is a money making people controlling farce -Peeb, Roman Catholic, Muslim ... all tarred with the same brush ...
Patrick
Guest: Tim Twinam
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Stowe, VT, United States
Date & Comments: October 07, 2003
Hi ...
Does anyone know whether J.N.D. actually called himself the 'Father' or 'Author' of Dispensationalism? I ask the question simply because the question of plagiarism is a storm in a teacup if all the old boy was doing was passing on information and teachings from the previous week's Prophecy Conference. 'They' were all doing it! It was the 'Topic du jour' in the mid 19th century ...
Most of these academics were contemporaries and knew each other well. They would meet for debates and exchange ideas - a plentiful series of meetings - Albury House (Surrey, UK) until 1830, Powerscourt (Dublin) during the 1830's, New York in 1868, London in 1873, Chicago in 1875, and culminating in the Bible Conference Movement and the Niagara Conferences of 1883 to 1897. The concept that JND and the early Peebs sat in a vacuum is entirely false. Latterly many (not just Peebs) distanced themselves from the increasingly unorthodox Irving, but JND remained well-respected and as we all know, his notes were later included in the massively popular (particularly in USA) Scofield Reference Bible.
It's worth noting that although much mud has been thrown at a few of these individuals (and some certainly seemed to 'stick' with Scofield and Irving), it would seem to be calumny as it relates to J.N.D. whose main crime seems to be that he was grumpy and appeared somewhat disheveled on occasions. (Just imagine his reputation if he'd had teenagers.)
It is ridiculous to blame JND for the worst excesses of the EB's. He has, after all, an irrefutable alibi. He wasn't there. He was dead.
PS - I noted the concern of 'Suppressed' regarding ties. Was he genuinely advocating that the current EB's should go get knotted?
Guest: Peter French
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Melbourne, Australia
Date & Comments: October 09, 2003
Some gleanings from those who have written to me this past month, that some of you may enjoy … [sources deleted]
1. I am not anti-Christian. I simply have an allergy to the bullying oversimplifications and the crass thought processes of much of fundamentalist Christianity. It seems to me to be a version of Christianity which lies somewhere between Enid Blyton and Mickey Mouse - a cheap substitute for real knowledge and genuine spiritual experience.
2. The peebs are contrary to Scripture on nearly every important doctrine. If you are brought up in this system, you wear blinkers, you have blind spots everywhere. In this cult, one becomes a somnolent, somnambulistic, sophomoric slumber man. Totally asleep to any other reality, dreaming that dream of separation, not knowing the Kingdom of Heaven is within, not in an assembly of brethren.
3. Darby plagiarised his bible from others for the glory of seeing his name on the cover. There is no rapture, no freewill, no eternal punishment [eternal is a mistranslation. Easily proved from Scripture itself, that is the original Scripture.] New birth is incorrectly taught, baptism, Lord's Supper, the head in heaven and the body on earth is contrary to Ephesians; atonement by blood incorrectly taught, death of Christ misunderstood. Doctrines on the assembly, divorce, building halls, order for the Service of God, leadership, eldership, treatment of women, women being silent all incorrect renderings of Scripture. The List is endless, and the explanations would need a large book.
4. Maybe someone should write a small book, in simple terms explaining peebisms. If people have the knowledge it wouldn't take long. One thing that is clear to me, is that they are so brain washed, the bible hardly comes into the teaching. Just very narrow bits to justify their doctrine. They are completely unaware of other civilisations, history or balanced arguments.
5. Actually, I believe it was JT Sr who set in place the concepts that later came back to cause a lot of the brethren's problems - he introduced the concept of ''Authoritative ministry'' which later assumed greater authority than scripture. It was under JT Sr we adopted the ''one man ministry'' concept-instead of plurality of leadership. Scripture plainly mandates individual local governance - not a "universal leadership". In addition, it was under JT SR that Sunday schools were dropped-cutting off an outreach. He also discouraged missionaries - "the day of the missionary ended with Paul"- and we began to be introspective, rather than looking out. He also began to adopt an exclusive "with us" policy - Watchman Nee, was withdrawn from because he fellowshipped with some former friends he had been with in China - and that was the "issue" that lead to his being withdrawn from. Had Watchman nee stayed - brethren might have had a whole new missionary outlook. Last but not least, JT Sr clearly introduced the use of hard liquor - brethren were either teetotal, or took a little wine, but did not indulge in whisky, etc. I don't think that JT Sr intended things to go where they eventually ended up - but it was under his tenure that the concepts were introduced and accepted. I don't think JT Sr was a bad person, and he didn't seem to exploit the power he had - but it certainly sewed the seeds for what came later. It was also in his later years of leader, that the brethren as a group began to shrink, where they had been growing especially where evangelism was a major part of their outlook.
Guest: BB
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: sydney, Australia
Date & Comments: October 13, 2003
To Patrick Carlyle Oct 07
Could you please tell me more about the division that appears to be commencing in NZ?
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: U.K, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 16, 2003
After a bombardment a letters and telephone calls and even promised visits, my parents, relatives and various PB bigwigs all of a sudden have completly ceased. This surprises me as I had agreed to meet with them and much resistance. Therefore it would appear that I have been put in a catoregory of no hope of which I am delighted, or is it that they have changed the rules again and the day of dispensation is over. I will remain annoymous as they are apparently meant to monitor this site and I don't fancy any further harassment. If only they had continued, I was on the verge on rejoining!. Now im not sure whether I put them on my christmas card list or not or should I be inviting them to my new year party. Can anybody shed any light on these current activities.
Guest: George Mair
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Maidenhead Berkshire, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 14, 2003
I am pleased to note that Peter French introduces the thought that JT Senior partook of the hard liqour. I distinctly recall being at a 3-day meeting in Edinburgh. It must have been in the early/mid 1950's. It was in the Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland - a magnificent tribute to Victorian or perhaps Edwardian architecture - a vast heavily wood-panelled chamber. I was astonished to hear from older brethren that his refreshment during the "debate", was an equal amount of water and Scotch. We youngsters had been asking why did he have two vessels from which he took an equal amount into one glass? It wasn't really a glass - it was more of a beaker! (By the way: To the unitiated, please note that only Scotch Whisky is "Whisky". Whiskey with that additional "e" is Irish, or pale imitations by American, Japanese and others!)
The reason I was so astonished was that I had been brought up to believe that any strong drink, or even table wine - other than the fortified stuff we had to endure when we were "in" fellowship - was taboo. It was sinful to partake of any drink that was stronger than tea!
This invokes the memory that once a year, and only once a year, we went out to a restuarant. Once a year, we booked a table at "The Ivy" in Glasgow - not quite the same as "The Ivy" in London perhaps - but, never-the-less, our annual lunch out! The waiters were always astonished when my father declined the wine list and ordered bottles of "the best non-alcholic cider if you please". Since I have discovered that there is no such thing as a non-alcholic cider, I always wondered what we were served! But it was our big day out, and we thought we were the bee's knees. (What IS the origin of that cliche?).
Our annual visit to the restuarant was always on Christmas Day, and we always had Roast Chicken. In the early days after the Second World War, chicken in the UK was considered a delicacy. Colonel Sanders had not yet heard of the UK.
In those days we held a 3 day fellowship meeting on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. (In Scotland in the 1940's and '50's Scottish people did not celebrate Christmas as now - most people even worked on December 25th). I kid you not!
George Mair UK
Guest: John
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Belfast, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 16, 2003
What are the differences between Taylorite EBs and Kelly-Lowe-Continental or Tunbridge Wells Brethren?
Guest: Alistair Deayton
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 16, 2003
I also remember going to fellowshiop or 3-day meetings in Edinburgh at the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall. It is now used as the temporary home of the Scottish Parliamant.
Our family also had restaurant meals at the Ivy. It must have been one of the few restaurants in Glasgow in the 1950s apart from the hotel restaurants. We would go there occaasionally for lunch on a Saturday, as my father's chemist's shop closed for a half day on a Saturday.
To John in Belfast, The Kelly, Lowe and Contiental Brethren all split from what later became the Taylorite Brethren around the 1890s in the era of F E Raven. Tunbridge Wells was a split from one of them. Later they merged to become the KLC brethren and later with Glanton to become the KLG brethren.
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Date & Comments: October 16, 2003
Re Peter French's entry on 9th Oct.
Can he (briefly) reconcile his comments in Item 5 with the doctrine of Infallibility of the Pope, and the continuing practise of the full Authority of that gentleman, which is held by the church of which he is a "practising member"?
Guest: Peter M. Clarke
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Victoria, BC, Canada
Date & Comments: October 16, 2003
One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is how we view things. What happened to the brethren didn't happen overnight; you can't just set a date and say everything was ok up untill that point. Nor can you blame one person, much as we'd like to - nobody wants to accept responsability for their own actions.
In all likelyhood, brethren began going off the track many years ago, and that began when the "with us" concept was introduced and accepted - not unique in itself - many groups still holdto that. Actually, it's just presumption and pride.
Then the focus shifted away from evangelism, until you have the sad state of affairs existing today, with many of the younger generation [under 40] not being able to give a clear "yes I do" to the question - "do you know the Lord as personal Saviour?"
Voluntarily relinquishing local governance to a central leader is very dangerous - and entirely beyond the mandate of scripture. It opens the door to the mass error and control that we've witnessed, and seen to huge cost in human suffering, to say nothing of damage to the testimony.
Today - right here in Victoria - brethren are packing up and leaving the island where there has been a meeting for over 100 years - on the whim of a leader the other side of the world. If that's not cult behaviour, I don't know what is.
Guest: Mary
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 17, 2003
In response to George Mair's question on the Bees Knees, I herewith forward the following link. I hope it works :
http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/7/messages/327.html
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
The brethren are criticised so harshly here, but no one on this site offers rehabilitation advice or support. Looks to me that either:
1-This site is run by brethren agencies as an undercover intelligence medium for would be leaver tagging, or
2-The brethren can offer more support than all the people here with so much to say.
Confused
Guest: Iain Gibb
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Grangemouth, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
To "suppressed by request" who is also Confused on October 21, I have to say you remind me of the last verse of Proverbs 17:
Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.
Do you not think it is better to check your facts before you go public? I suggest you refer to the Info page of this website regarding 'What to do if I'm still in', Survival guides, EB Railroad, feeb-forum, etc. It is not hard to find.
Regards
Iain
Guest: Debbie Cantley
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Cotswolds, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
There is too much harsh criticism of the brethren on this website, we should consider what a difficult position they are in.
What choice do they have after they have married and have children? The same concerns that troubled us and caused us to leave, must also concern those stuck in. How can our parents leave after spending a lifetime indoctrinating the EB way of life in their children, consequently forcing an unnatural and severely limited childhood upon us.
Perhaps we should consider more the choice that those still in really do have. I suggest it is almost nil. The vast majority, if not all, are kind and loving people who are lost in a cult they did not ask to join.
Guest: Jill Mytton
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Beckenham, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
As many of you already know, my research interests lie in exploring how our experiences in the exclusive brethren have affected us.
I have a student called Kim wants to explore ex cult members experience of therapy and I have suggested to her that she might like to use ex brethren for her sample. It will involve an interview with her which will be done face to face preferably though it can be done over the phone and recorded. She will be simply wanting to ask you about your experience of therapy which might or might not have been helpful.
I have said that she should only talk with people who are no longer in therapy as talkiing about it while it is still going on could affect the relationship between the therapist and the person.
If there is anyone reading this who thinks they might be able to help, then please email me and I will pass your email on to Kim. I will be supervising her dissertation as I have with other students before.
She is a very able student, and as a trainee counselling psychologist has a very keen interest in knowing how to help former members of cults.
Jill
Guest: Heather Dutra
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Seattle, United States
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
To *suppressed by request* dated October 21st, 2003 from the UK.
I'm surprised you said what you had to say. If you had read this site thoroughly you would see that there IS a group that offers support/advice.
If you cannot find it, I'll be glad to help as that is how I found it by reading everything carefully.
There, I've done my once a week posting!
Guest: Charles turner
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Bradford
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
To suppressed by request 21st October. Look at the survival guide under the 'contributions' section.
Guest: Russ McDonald
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Victoria, BC, Canada
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
To: Confused
Yes, you are deeply confused if you believe that this site is run by brethren agencies or that the poor abused and controlled brethren members could offer real, meaningful support to each other or those of us that have left. If you study the site you'll see quite a bit of help, advice and contact is available to members and non-members. This site has helped me and many others, a lot. Yes, there is anger and bitterness as a result of the savage abuses dealt by this oppressive system. But there is also kindness, love, support and help for those that seek it.
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
I am interested that people are bold enough to openly challenge some of the basic doctrines they were brought up on and I would like to encourage this broader view.
Who goes to hell I keep asking because it seems that we are in danger of Hell more on a behavioural manner than belief. In fact I am more persuaded that all are included and covered by the work of Jesus at Calvary.
The great benefit of New Birth surely is that we are set free form living under the dominion and power of sin in our present lives and interestingly Jesus speaks in John 3 of New Birth being like the wind...hearing the sound - evidence - but not knowing where it comes from or is going to.
The brethren and baptists tend to preach that effectively we are outside until we are in and that belief is required. But what about faith being dead without works and so on and so the legal beagles who go on and on about repentance, baptism and so on surely are not taking account of the all embracing nature of God's grace to us.
I would be interested in comments as we at home continue our journey which seems so far removed from the scary teachings of our childhood.
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Date & Comments: October 21, 2003
Can anyone tell me where I can purchase or obtain a "GOLDEN BELLS" hymnbook. It is a small red cover book usually used by children. I have tried several Christian Bookstores without success.
Thanks
Guest: Cecilie Palmer
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Northland, New Zealand
Date & Comments: October 23, 2003
To the person from Utah who wanted Golden Bells, go to www.abe.com - wonderful website for all manner of second hand books from all over the world. Type in "Golden Bells" and among other books of a similar title you will find several copies listed.
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 24, 2003
Golden Bells hymn/tune book is shown in the Gospel Folio Press catalogue (new books)
Their details can be found at www.gospelfolio.com.
General questions: info@gospelfolio.com
Sales questions/order: orders@gospelfolio.com
They are located in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada (near to US/Canada borders, Niagara Falls & Lake Erie).
The ISBN for Golden Bells is 1872734022
Guest: pmclarke
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Victoria, BC, Canada
Date & Comments: October 24, 2003
When we built the Tolmie Ave meeting room in Victoria , BC some 35 years ago, it had to be "in the city" because the "Lord had placed the testimony there" [in retrospect, somewhat of a presumptous thought that the "testimony" was synonimous with brethren,whereas in reality it was far from it.] We couldn't build across the street in Saanich because it wasn't "Victoria".
Now, they up and leave, does that mean there is no "testimony" in Victoria [according to them]?
I also remember there was some architect, from Austrailia I believe, who said we couldn't have windows, because of the "attack" [if we were "faithful" we were supposed to be attacked.] Presumably that was why there was a high chainlink fence installed after 1970 too, but I don't know if that was to keep the brethren in, or us out. The "attack" never materialized.
This "seige mentality" is a defining criteria of cult thinking, as is uprooting a whole community and relocating on somebody's whim.
In reality, there are many thousands of Christians in prison and beaten for no other reason but proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ right now, in Muslim countries.
Funny - brethren wouldn't sit down and even eat with those folks, much less break bread with them.
Wonder what our Lord thinks?
Guest: Tarn How
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Christchurch, New Zealand
Date & Comments: October 25, 2003
Hi comrades of pain
So good to catch-up with this site again.
Reading through it, I feel the heartbreak, confusion, arrogance, fear, that we (out here) pit opinion against opinion.
I ask, haven't we left the 'cult' for a sense of freedom and self esteem.
Can we get over the bantering.
Just, it maybe me, but I am wanting to find thoughtful topics on this site.
All I am finding here is the same toss-ups they do on the exclusive front rows.
Please let us expand into corridors that our minds need to excavate.
With love to all that have tried to end it.
I am one of you, due to the 'cult'.
Regards
freedom seeker
Guest: Gerard Rayment
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Southend, England
Date & Comments: October 25, 2003
Tarn How, I like your comments, and I've also got a feeling that somewhere in there you're making a suggestion. Do you agree that, if I quit the peebs, it is a good idea to get a life [at the same time]?
I'm still in the middle of doing major home-improvements at the moment. But, when they're finnished, we'll definitely be holding a lot of 'house-warmings'for neighbours, and some of the hundreds of friends we have found in all the areas of our lives. Expeebs included - but peeb subjects will not be the main topic of conversation. I suggest: kids, sport, holidays, holiday homes, boats, flying lessons.........or whatever you like....wild parties? drunken binges, perhaps? [even work, if that's all you can think about].
In the meantime if there's anyone out there, in the South of England, who wants to organise some kind of party, midweek [I'm always too busy at weekends], in the next six months - please let me know.
BTW how do you rate the All Blacks' chances against England?
Guest: Sarah Eastwood
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Halifax, NS, Canada
Date & Comments: October 27, 2003
I have family in England that are EB. If anyone has information on the Sharp family around London it would be greatly appreciated. We are desperate to make contact with a lady by the name of Grace Palmer from Barnet. She would probably be in her late 60's. My great grandmother was Grace Julian, (nee Sharp). and probably died in the 1950's. Her daughter's name was Kathleen and her family was shut out of the EB church probably in the 1960's or 1970's. Please contact me if you have any information to provide.
Thank you.
Guest: Phil (Canada)
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Sidney, BC, Canada
Date & Comments: October 27, 2003
The EB Visits -
What has happened to the EB visits? There does not seem to be any recent activity. Is this now a thing of the past, and have they given up on the ones who left?
There has been no comment in the "Correspondenc" section for a while.
Guest: George Mair
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Maidenhead Berkshire, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 28, 2003
"The brethren are criticised so harshly here..." suggests "confused suppressed by request".
Harsh? Separating mother from daughter? Separating father from son? Separating siblings from one another? Separating husband and wife? Running a non-believer out of town...?" I think not.
Before responding to that comment, I have analyzed the contribution, and sadly, I have to conclude that this is one person who doesn't know what it is like to be abandonded. Abandoned by his (or more likely recognizing the word usage) her flesh and blood. Not only abandoned; but their very existence denied. Not only that, but being humiliated in front of they peers. Not only humiliated, but terrorised into doing what the Brethren want. Or terrorised into doing the opposite. Terrorised into suicide. Forced into separation.
I also conclude that there is something not quite right about that contribution, and although I offered an opportunity (through Dick) for that person to contact me directly, there has been no response. Readers of this site will draw their own assumptions, which could very well be the same as a conclusion.
No, I don't think this site is being harsh to the Exclusives. But experience has taught me that I know who is.
The Exclusive Brethren are as evil as Osama Bin Laden without the armaments. The Exclusive Brethren, like all extremists, believe only their way is the right way. Sadly... families get split asunder day by day. Sounds familiar? Just watch the daily news on things happening in Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Glasgow, Brisbane and, no, I'll not list the whole lot - just wherever 2 or 3 Exclusive Brethren are gathered together...
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Petersfield, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 29, 2003
Please tell me where to go for news when this site closes.
Guest: Rod Wilkins
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Brisbane, Australia
Date & Comments: October 29, 2003
Thanks Dick for your great labour of love over the years. I've renewed a lot of old contacts and made many new friends through this site, and learned a lot about myself and my EB hang-ups from associating with people from similar backgrounds in groups such as feeb.
Some of the pontificating and proselyting in the guestbook has been a bit hard to take at times but the site has provided a great service.
Thanks again and all the best in your future family and professional life endeavours.
Guest: Philippa Davis
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 29, 2003
It has been nearly a year since i first posted a message on the web site. My father David Davis returned to the Bognor Brethren this time last year, since then I have had a very minimal amount of contact, he still sends us birthday cards and has visited my house but he doesn't eat or drink with me. I have recently started at Brighton University as Student Midwife, he thinks I should not be at Uni as it is filled with evil. I felt it important to remind him that brethren women of all women need the help of a midwife more times than most!
Guest: Peter French
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Melbourne, Australia
Date & Comments: October 29, 2003
It will be sad when this site closes:
1. Other sites that have sought to fulfill the need have never really made the grade.
2. It has been a real thorn in the side of the peebs.
3. I was under the [mis]understanding that Dick had found a 'replacement' in Bro Little ... no-one else is able?
4. It looks like the peebs have won - Dick has become a peeb again? ... he has given in to their threats? feels guilty after the 'visit'? there is legal action pending?
I am mystified ... and concerned, and not alone with those feelings...
Guest: Daniel Little
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Winnipeg, Canada
Date & Comments: October 29, 2003
I thought it would be a good idea to post on here to answer some of the questions around Dick posting yesterday on the "What's New" page that this site will be closing. Since Dick asked earlier in the year, I have been assisting and managing the guestbook and names page with input from Dick where needed. However, for reasons that Dick has mentioned, and perhaps others as well, Dick has decided he wishes to shut down the site - or more to the point - end his contribution to it.
I personally have gained a huge amount from the presence of this site - which is one of the reasons why I volunteered when Dick asked for help. Even though I don't normally make comments on the guestbook, I have still gained a lot by the discussion and through meeting ex-EBs in Winnipeg that I probably wouldn't have otherwise met.
So my commitment to this website remains steadfast. Over the next couple of weeks, I will work with Dick to determine what is the best course of action to make sure that the site remains, with, at the very least, some of the spirit of Dick's original site. In the meantime, please continue to use the guestbook and I will continue to post entries as they come in. As soon as I have more details, I will let you know.
Daniel.
Guest: Elizabeth Bunting
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Date & Comments: October 29, 2003
I am very disturbed at Dick's leaving this site or worse, this site closing down. It has been very helpful to me as one who was "read away" to use brethren-speak from a brethren meeting, though not EB's. There were many similarities and it was very unfair. This site has helped many people and we have met people whom otherwise we would not have met. Many, many thanks Dick for all your prayers, efforts and dedication in helping others. It is my hope that we have helped you in the terrible separation from your family because of the EB's. I sincerely pray that the site may continue.
Yours through grace,
Elizabeth Bunting
Guest: Patrick Carlyle
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Sydney, Australia
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
And the little boy prayed:
Dear God, I mean Mr Bruce,
Thanks for answering our prayers about that evil Mr Wireless in America and the wicked things he writes about us.
Thanks for making his hip ache, his eyes go dim, and his heart miss some beats.
Thanks for letting him know that we have more money that the evil people outside and his friends, and will fight the bastards as that drunk man used to tell us, so my father says.
Thanks for making him old and grey, and wanting to give up.
Thanks for making him close that wicked, evil corrupt, unGodly computer page he writes.
Thanks for making him REAL SCARED - because we are powerful, the only good people and one day we will rule the world.
....
Little boy - 'shut up!'
The Dick I know is made of sterner stuff ... so go back to your cult and tell them that!
Let the expeebs unite!
Guest: Graham Frost
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Peterborough, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
I would also like to thank Dick Wyman for the huge positive difference he has made to my life by starting and maintaining this site.
When I first found this website, some three years ago, I had had no contact with any family or ex-brethren for 27 years. Now, I have contact with cousins who are 'out', and I have many ex-brethren friends all over the world. This site also helped speed up the process of re-uniting my brother and I when he left the brethren two years ago.
Many great things would not have happened without this site, and I'd like to thank Dick for starting and maintaining it.
Graham Frost.
Guest: Tom Grace
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Adelaide, Australia
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
While I was sad to hear that the site may close, I join with others who have already expressed heartfelt thanks to Dick for his work in establishing and maintaining the site over the years. I have often reflected on the personal sacrifice that has been made over the years to keep the site operating. Through the site I have been able to reflect on some of the ghosts from the past. I have changed so much since I left the Brethren. Part of that has been enabled by reading the various contributions made by those who have made or are making a similar journey. Our upbringing is misunderstood by most and it is good to be able to objectively consider the past as it is viewed by others with a similar background. Thankyou Dick and may you and your family experience every thing that you are seeking as you move on in your life.
Guest: Toad
Guest E-mail:
City, Country:
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
It is not often that anybody agrees with Bro French, but this time I agree with him totally.
CT
Guest: Peter
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
This site has a unique and priceless collection of material, information and experience relating to the EBs, and it would be a shame to lose any of it.
Best wishes to Dick, and thanks for his past contribution. I hope he will agree to all the material being carried forward under new management.
Guest: pmclarke
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: victoria,bc, Canada
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
This website has made available a venue for people to tell their story, and to learn information the PB heirarchy goes to great lengths to suppress. It allows folks to make contact with other people and freely discuss their experiances. It makes public the events the PB's attempt to supress.
One of the intimidation tactics PB's use is to "shut up" or silence any dissent- so they can carry on denying history-and will go to any lengths to do so. This website has brought into broad daylight events [ie. Aberdeen] PB's would really rather deny happened.
There is no limit to what lengths they will not go to maintain their grip on the flock -scripture is negated [using the courts is a direct contravention of scripture]. Long held assembly principles are set aside at whim [ie being governed by witness]. Assembly procedure is abandoned - witnesses were withdrawn from over the telephone to deny the brethren access to the truth, instead of being heard, and provided the opportunity to judge.
I suppose I should be surprised - but when the scriptures aren't the final authority - then what is? The strong-arm tactics of the leaders?
I suggest that when a confession of faith was no longer the criteria for being recieved into fellowship - the door was open for any wind of doctrine.When many people under age 40 cannot answear the simple question "do you know the Lord as your personal saviour?" something is very very wrong.
Guest: Ted Druckenmiller
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Trenton, Missouri, United States
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
Dear all:
I came to the site after some weeks and, shall I say, dissapointed at the first thing I read on the Whats New page October 28, 2003 "This site will cease to exist in the very near future". etc.
My very greatful thanks again to you Dick and your family with whom Esther and I shared that wonderful evening back in May. We have appreciated this site, especially for the opportunity to reacquaint with a good many of our brethren who had disappeared from our contacts. Christian contacts and fellowship are essentials to our healthy spiritual growth.
As many of you know on July 25, 2002 Esther, myself and our son Garth made a tremendous move. We packed up our belongings in New Jersy and moved 1250 miles arriving on August 1st at our new home, 113 Country Club Place, Trenton, Missouri, telephone 660359 2288.
For a whole year now we have enjoyed the Green Hills of north central Missouri. Garth found a fine home and moved into it in October 2002 and has had continued self employ as an AutoCAD drafter satisfying a former client in New Jersey with 50 to 75 percent of his working time. He was requested to return to work in NJ during August and September, but was glad to return to the quiet no traffic of our 6000 inhabitant town in the Mid America farm land.
We have proved much joy and blessing from the Lord in this transition. Of real interest is that during a trip back east in April/May Esther's sister Barbara asked can you look for a home for me. She came for a visit in July and during her first week we settled on a nice 3 bed room ranch home just .3 mile up the street from us. After a superb two week vacation trip to Lake Tahoe, CA I purchased the home for Barbara and she returned to NJ to settle her affairs and prepare for the move to MO. Esther and I returned for the weekend August 23 - 25 for a wedding and family reunion of the Gerhart family in Pennsylvania. On August 25 our 47th wedding anniversary we drove off with Barbara and all her belongings in her VW for a 2 day ride to MO. After some upgrades to her home she moved in the first of October and loves Missouri, "The Show Me State."
Anyone interested in relocation, let me know. A nice three bedroom ranch can be obtained for around $100,000 to $150,000 or less with low taxes. A senior paradise.
I close with a brief reference to two fine sources of spiritual uplift and encouragement:
- Charles Stanley's monthly booklet "In Touch." Contact 1 800 333 5849.
- Bruce Wilkerson's biiklet "Daily Walk" now edited by James Gabrielsen. Contact 1 800 998 0814. By daily reading you will read your Bible once a year.
Todays message is on John 13,14,15,16 and 17. Take an hour and just think about what Jesus did on that momentous evening when with His disciples the night before He was crucified to bear atonement for my sins and the sins of all who put their trust in Him. A few gleanings from these chapters:
-John 13 v.1 Jesus loved them to the end. v.5 He washed the disciples feet and enjoined us to do the same. v.34 He gave a new commandment, "That you love one another an I have loved you."
-John 14 Another place, another way and anaother helper. v.2 "I go to prepare a place for you." v.6 "I am the way the truth and the life." v.16 "I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter)."
-John 15 It is essential to abide in Christ. v.4 "Abide in Me and I in you. The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me." v.5 "Without Me you can do nothing." v.13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." How are we doing on this? v.14 "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you." Not what an elect vessel tells me to do!
-John 16 The Spirit essential for the time of His absense. v.5 "Now I go away to Him who sent Me." v.7 "If I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." v.13 "He will guide you into all the truth." v.24 "Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full."
-Johne 17 Plea to the Father for oneness. v.11 Holy Father, keep them through Your name ... That they may be one as We are one." v.21 "That they may be one, as You Father, are in Me and I in You, that they may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." v.22 "The glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one." v.23 "I in them and You in Me; that they may be perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them and You have loved Me."
One more suggestion comes to mind: Consider a reunion cruise to Alaska with Charles Stanley July 11-18, 2004 or Chuck Swindol August 7-14, 2004. It would be a great opportunity to get reacquainted and share some fine sights of God's wonderful creation.
A bit long, but sent with lots of love to all.
Guest: Cecilie Palmer
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: New Zealand
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
What can I say, except join the chorus of thanks Dick for all you have done. Without this site I would not have made contact with so many very special people in my life, and renewed contacts with many others. I wish you and your family all the very best for the future. You have done so much for so many, and I am sure you will be blessed because of it. I trust a transition can be made so the site is not lost. Thanks so much, Dick.
Guest: Mark Gillingham
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Swindon, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
So, Dick is hanging up his gloves, and I am sure that we all wish him a long and happy retirement from this site. What it has achieved should not be underestimated.
It spawned a BBC television documentary that so put the wind up the EB leadership they turned the Separation from Evil rule on its head in the Great Charm Offensive of 2002. It's still continuing, and is the main reason that thousands of broken relationships have been tentatively restored and a few people who couldn't settle down outside of the EB's are happily back in the closed community that they so badly needed again.
This site scared the EB leadership so much that they employed 'worldlies' to monitor it and report back to them. They even threatened to sue Dick. Nothing worked. They had to change their rules, and the site went on notwithstanding!
So this mild-mannered, quiet man called Dick Wyman rattled the great, the fearsome, the one and only so-called man of God, (actually two of them during the site's existence), subsequently causing the rank and file to rush around like headless chickens apologising to the apostates!
I have this picture of Dick and The Hales dynasty arriving at the pearly gates simultaneously. (We assume that John will require a little time in purgatory getting a taste of his own medicine). St.Peter will have a chat with Dick about all the happiness and help that those midnight hours working on the website contributed to the lives of the people who benefitted from it. John and Bruce will be sent back down here to study that classic of IT literature, "Windows for Dummies." Now doesn't that give you a warm glow?
3 Cheers for Dick
Guest: Andy Lawrence
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
I note that you are thinking of closing the site down. Please don't. It is an extremely useful source book especially of historic material. Why not leave the site available Just as an archive?
Blessings!
Guest: Dinah J Hurst
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Maidenhead England, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 30, 2003
On occasions I nip into this site to see what my husband is up to! He speaks highly of Peter French, but today, far from being happy, he is seriously worried about two aspects of Peter's comments.
The first was the theory that Dick had rejoined the Brethren. George snorted: "Conspiracy theory. No way", but what really worried George is the suggestion that Dick might be involved in a legal battle about the site.
Knowing how much interest my husband has in this site, and the dozens of renewed aquantances he has made (and kept him happy toiling away at the keyboard) may I offer a suggestion: All contributors to this site pledge a fixed sum, say £10 each or equivalent, to assist Dick if that SHOULD be that case. It is only a pledge, but having read some of the contributions to this site, I conclude that anyone called upon to honour that pledge would instantly do so.
Of course, if that is not the case, then your pledge need not be fulfilled, you keeps your money and we'll all live happily ever after!
Guest: Richard Green
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Salisbury, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
The purpose of a lawsuit would be to shut the site down but the site is shutting down anyway.
Guest: Joyce Ritchie
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Brisbane, Australia
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
Thank you so much Dick for this site. Your commitment has resulted in many of us finding friends and relations that otherwise would have been impossible. I feel very sad that we may soon be deprived of what has often been to me a ray of hope in time of need. However, we will always remember what has been achieved and thank you so much for your devotion of love. On a personal note, I thank you for your support a few months back - your comments were invaluable.
Guest: Sarah Rowlands (Oliver)
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: London, England
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
There has been some good come from the existence of this site but also a lot of bad because people have abused it.
So much of what is posted on this site about the Brethren is incorrect, bitter and twisted and most of the time it's untrue.
I know there has been a lot of hurt in many cases when it comes to family relations etc; but does this really give anyone an excuse to say untrue things about such people? I don't think so.
Guest: Cynthia White
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Vancouver, WA, United States
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
Re: Probable/possible site closure
Dear Dick and Daniel,
Dick, I feel sad. Yet, I know you have expended extreme personal effort of all types to start, nuture and maintain this site since 1997. Thank you. Deciding to extract yourself from this baby must have been a difficult decision. Selfishly, I admit I feel I'm about to have a much-needed limb lopped off.
Daniel, thanks for your recent and on-going help to Dick during overwhelming times.
Hopefully, this is not my last chance for comment to this mind-saving Guest Book. I need to think carefully before I take what may be my last opportunity to address the Elect Vessel and the Exclusive Brethren in a manner that will be read and seriously digested by the entire "ExB System" including my "in" still-much-loved family. Ever a dreamer, I be!
Hey, blokes --- Dick and Dan, please let us know the absolute deadline for submissions to this site.
In the meantime, I wish to convey a message to the Peebs' hypocrytically-hired Internet monitoring consultants:
_____________________
Do not shout with glee just yet. I believe your client(s) fight has just begun. If you wish to implement a counter-marketing or propaganda campaign on behalf of your EXB client(s), I have several highly-relevant domain names for sale to the highest bidder. They may be of interest to your ghost writers/bankroll None of my domain names are yet for sale as I am working on appraisals, checking with major media entertainment and news interests, publishing houses, freelance writers etc. etc. etc.
A couple of Peeb-relevant domain names I own are prime. Fab for commerce and generation of moolah. Dot Com names!
Some are .info. Info-mace for spraying the ExB Systems' infamous doctrine. Others are .org. Closed or close depending on how used. Maybe organizational, organic or perhaps orgasmic? I also caught some .net names. "Netters?" Hmm, well, their worth depends on whether one is the fish or the fisher and how they can be best cast to hook the most.
_____________
ExPeebs, maybe with the .com's I'll settle for the tried and true. Just sell tee-shirts, baseball caps etc. stating: "I survived the Peeb Roller Coaster" etc. Oh, what fun.
Imagine the carnival scene... Drumroll; "Listen up, get with us! Hear ye! A once in a lifetime chance. Step right up. Be a Peeb. Buy in now, several choices of imprinting offered! We'll even give you your own label. Lifetime effects guaranteed!!! Wow! Not offered anywhere on TV! C'mon, step right up, this is a rapturous opportunity!"
Tonight I nabbed the primo domain names re "electvessel" Hmm, this moniker is not strictly religious-based. MOG names were pretty well gone. No surprise, MOG's days seem numbered.
Yahoo to all!
Google-eyed,
Cindy
Guest: Bradley McCallum
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Düsseldorf, Germany
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
Many thanks to Dick for the years of work, the patience and dedication, and everything that he put into this site. We will miss it, and also his uncompromisingly evenhanded editorship.
All the best to you, Dick. We have benefitted greatly from your work. You leave a legacy of reconnected friends and families, of hearts comforted, of feelings of despair assuaged. You have made a differance.
Bradley McCallum
Guest: Sheila Seesahai
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Winnipeg, Canada
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
Dick, I am sorry to hear that the Brethren are leaning on you with the threat of a lawsuit.
Thank you for your work on the site over the years, and best wishes to you and your family.
Guest: Heather Dutra
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: Seattle, WA, United States
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
Many thanks to Dick for setting up this site. I understand his wishes for closing it down in the near future. I've been so grateful in having met some of the XEB here and to have made contact with those I knew many years ago. Without this, I would not have had the chance of seeing them again in December 2003-January 2004 when I go to see my family in Queensland, Australia.
I wish you all the best to you and your family Dick.
Lastly... If any of you Nigerians are checking this PLEASE stop wasting your time sending your nonsensical pleas in asking us to deposit your non-existent funds into our bank accounts. It just goes straight into our bins. Others who have signed this Guestbook do the same thing also. It really makes us chuckle you know....
Guest: Graham Smith
Guest E-mail: *suppressed by request*
City, Country: Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
Hi to you all and Especially to Dick for a great site.
A song from The Bands Last Waltz springs to mind, sung by Bob Dylan...
May God bless and keep you always
may your feet always be swift
may you have a strong foundation when the wind is changing shift
May you build a ladder to the stars and climb on every rung
and may you stay forever young
Thanks for all your good selfless work and enjoy
your retirement you have earned it
and to the eb's If you would like to be born again repent and ask Jesus into your heart and you will be.
love to all
graham
Guest: *suppressed by request*
Guest E-mail:
City, Country: United Kingdom
Date & Comments: October 31, 2003
Hi Dick,
I am really sorry to read that you are having to give up your work maintaining the site. I can appreciate just how time consuming it must have been to do all this, but it will be sadly missed.
I have made new friends and renewed contact with friends and family I never expected to hear from again. I have also learned a great deal about the many events which over the last century changed the course of peeb history, this in particular has been very useful.
The peeb culture tore my family apart and caused endless damage to several generations. I will be forever grateful to you for the work you have done to provide so much information both on the site and by email. This has helped to heal a little bit of my never ending heartbreak caused by peeb attitudes and behaviour. SM