AD:
Two things are pretty clear: 1) JRS did not bring down ‘the devil behind every fire hydrant’, and, 2) Marilyn could only open up the gates of her own ‘hell’.
Regarding the ‘numbers’ game, I do not recall any great exodus over the John & Marilyn nuptials, but I will say that the ‘spiritual heyday’ for us was the 2+ years surrounding the Unfolding/Unwrapping time that came in Hawaii in 1981-82.
This was probably the funnest and freest time we ever experienced in LA, with unscripted gatherings that went on for hours with little structure, and carried the tone of just ‘sitting on the beach’ revelling in the Word with no one really ‘running the show’.
It was because of this atmosphere that ‘hordes’ of folks from the outlying churches would come into LA on the weekends, so much so that, with relocations being a part of that dynamic, eventually, ones were ‘sent out’ to plug up the holes. We happened to be sent ‘far & wide’ and were thus absent for the passing of JRS. Shortly thereafter, it seemed like all hell broke loose across the landscape.
I don’t see this transition to be quite as volatile, but there will be some shaking out that is inevitable. Since LOVE has never been the bottom-line of the fellowship, it could get pretty ugly between those with a lot at stake.
The GOOD NEWS is, that in the end, we all come to our senses, and find our WAY HOME. (Prodigal Parable)
Two things are pretty clear: 1) JRS did not bring down ‘the devil behind every fire hydrant’, and, 2) Marilyn could only open up the gates of her own ‘hell’.
Regarding the ‘numbers’ game, I do not recall any great exodus over the John & Marilyn nuptials, but I will say that the ‘spiritual heyday’ for us was the 2+ years surrounding the Unfolding/Unwrapping time that came in Hawaii in 1981-82.
This was probably the funnest and freest time we ever experienced in LA, with unscripted gatherings that went on for hours with little structure, and carried the tone of just ‘sitting on the beach’ revelling in the Word with no one really ‘running the show’.
It was because of this atmosphere that ‘hordes’ of folks from the outlying churches would come into LA on the weekends, so much so that, with relocations being a part of that dynamic, eventually, ones were ‘sent out’ to plug up the holes. We happened to be sent ‘far & wide’ and were thus absent for the passing of JRS. Shortly thereafter, it seemed like all hell broke loose across the landscape.
I don’t see this transition to be quite as volatile, but there will be some shaking out that is inevitable. Since LOVE has never been the bottom-line of the fellowship, it could get pretty ugly between those with a lot at stake.
The GOOD NEWS is, that in the end, we all come to our senses, and find our WAY HOME. (Prodigal Parable)