Hello Sharpenlist,
    Speaking of the "spiritual woman,' does anyone in ex-boo land remember
ST calling an important, secretive meeting in the middle of the night during
the MTC days? (some time in the summer of '77).  Ooh sounds like an
undercover story, but tis the truth!  AND to top it off, guess what topic he
chose?  That's right...none other than the 'spiritual woman."  You see,
somehow this "spiritual woman" was supposed to be God's wife.  Anyone
following me here?  He even made mention, (no kiddin'), of some type of
sexual union between the two.  (won't go into detail here, sure you can read
between the lines).  Joggin' anyone's memory yet?  I suppose the reason to
call the meeting in the middle of the night (ooh), was to heighten the
intensity.  After all, ST didn't have to worry.  HE didn't have to wake up
at 7 a.m. the next morning to go to work.  Nah, the king could sleep till 12
noon, if he so desired.  Don't muzzle that there ox while he be treadin' out
that there grain, y'all.  Yeah, and the docile members didn't mind being
ignited with a powerful boost of exquisite "spiritual" teaching.  When he
finished the meeting, he strictly charged us not to tell other Christians
about this "heavy revelation." (my words).  This new and special knowledge
was revealed only to us and no one else.  ST said 'church Christians'
wouldn't be able to handle it.  Yeah, and Betty Crocker makes lawn mowers!
He didn't want those other ignorant, blind, self-indulgent Christians to
know cuz they would think ST was a crack pot, nut case, weirdo, false
teacher.  Sorry, started to get on a roll.  ST shut out all our healthy
options to leave his guru group to make us sequestered followers.  The next
morning when the tired but faithful Cobuites looked in the mirror and saw a
blue-circled, blood-shot eyed mug staring back at them, all they could think
of was...That meeting was sure worth it just so's I can work REAL hard today
at my job in the world, or if especially blessed, Christian Brothers Carpet
Cleaning.  All for the starving children in Haiti!
     Speaking of remembering phrases, does anyone recall the term, "eve
spirit?"  And why wasn't there an "Adam spirit?"  Oh, and I'm just an "inch
away" from ...(name the sin).  That one, I'm convinced was to keep us in his
(ST) clutches.  Yep, I'm just an "inch away" from shootin' up a bag of
heroin right now.  If someone comes to my door with horse, won't be able to
resist.  Why I'll just grab a needle anywheres I can find one just so's I
can boot it, man.  Oh yeah, and I'm just an "inch away" from robbing the
local bank.  Just gotta go and buy me a gun first.  No problem there.  AND
I'm just an "inch away" from being a prostitute.  Just gotta find me the
right trick who'll pay enough.  Why we sicko sheep in Cobu were just an
"inch away" from every imaginable sin, (and unimaginable too), that can be
conceived of on the face of the earth!  So we needed the "master ST's"
teachings to keep us in line.  The shepherd makes the walls high so the
rebellious sheep can't leave the fold, remember THAT one, ex-boos?  And the
phrases just keep comin.'  And the beat goes on and on and on...
Darlene
P.S.  So much said for trying to over spiritualize things.  It can get you
into sticky places that you won't be able to get out of, if ya know what I
mean.