one of my dear loved ones called me.
she knows i am df'd and she wanted to reach out to me.
she fell away for a few years, and when she came back i had a study with her before she became active again.
Hey Kate,
As another member posted earlier in another thread, take it slowly. We dont want to overwhelm others who are just awakening with our "zeal for the TTATT"
Just like Jeremiah who had the fire within burning him up, we too can have this fire to share the TTATT...but it could backfire if we overload them too much.
I reckon your friend needs normal everyday support, more that she needs "doctrinal destruction" at this stage.
Hope it goes well!
well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).
i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.
although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.
OK, so here goes...
I cant tell too much, as I am still very much entrenched in "the truth" (aargh). I found out a while ago that I actually have several generations prior to me who have been in the org. I dont consider myself one of those "key familes" though in anyway, but apparantly previous generations have even been in the yearbooks over the years!
I spent some years in Bethel, and as others have said, it was a memorable time, and I even had some fun experiences and made some good friends...but it was also a great way to peer behind the wizards curtain to see how things really run! Guess what?...there is no holy spirit guiding things! (ok, so have i just "blasphemed the spirit in an unforgivabale way"?)
Time moved on, I left Bethel, and life took its course. I am still 'serving' as an 'appointed' man in the cong, and and enjoy a great relationship with all ages and members of the cong. I love the people who are genuine and decent people, especially ones who are 'real' people, not ones who try to act in a super righteous way according to a scrpit they feel they have to follow!
I pride myself on being a supportive and genuinely helpful person, one who listens and takes care of others...
It is true that it is becoming harder and harder to fake the zeal and be involved with all the "kingdom" activities when I know it is all fabricated garbage that is "dispensed at the proper time"... but ties with family and friends make it so hard to act decisiveley and get on with the rest of our lives!
But I know that this life we have is precious and here to be enjoyed...so I do that as much as I can. Why waste this life waiting for an imaginary dream story that is so full of holes? And saying that doesnt mean acting in a selfish 'me first' way as the org would have us think those 'outside' do. Living life to the full can actually involve helping others and being there for others...not being engrossed in selfish 'worldly pursuits'.
One thing I must share is an amazement at how everyone in the congs cant see the irony that a god of love will provide them with 'panda patting paradise', but will kill millions with gore and blood everywhere...young and old ... in order to make it so! What a perverted sense of entitlement cong members must feel, and how self righteous it makes them feel that they alone are worthy, while the cute 1 year old baby down the street is not because his parents didnt take some magazines from us! Ah well...breathe....rant over...
So that is a bit more about me...thanks for taking the time to read. Sorry if I bored you or wasted your time.
Thanks to everyone here who posts and shares their lives on this forum! You help many , many people; both memebrs and lurkers. Keep it upbeat and positive, while purging the remnants of our pasts...
Cheers
SIAR2
weve all heard it.
a person starts studying with jehovahs witnesses and love what they are learning so much that they cant stop talking about it.
bubbling with enthusiasm, they spill everything they are learning with their friends and family...or anybody who will listen.
Wow!
So very true!!!
thanks for the restraining advice. I hadn't thought of it like that until you drew the comparison!
i have been dropping comments to ones that I think are inclined to wake up, but I notice that one is now aux pioneering, so clearly I read them wrongly! I will remember to pace myself and be oh so very careful......
great advice, that once the genie is out of th bottle it can't get put back. Or as someone said, once something is said, it can't easily be unsaid!
well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).
i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.
although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.
Wow everyone! Thanks so much for all of your replies!
it is so nice to hear from you all... I have read your input on posts over the years, but to have such a welcome and show of support is very comforting and supportive! Thanks so much... And many of you are ones I consider as foundation members with much experience!
I will post a brief run down of my story soon.... Maybe while at the meeting??!! ( how cool would that be? )
we attended several different congregations in different states, and the one common thread among them all was...if you had your study article highlighted, you were a good jw.. honestly, how often did you cover over your magazine when the attendant walked by handing out copies to visitors?.
sheesh.
would anyone believe how weird this organization really is?.
So if we are worried about what others think, then we should buy "study savers"
(in the style of a late night tv shopping network advert...)
"New 'study savers'!"
"Clear A4 sheets of thin film plastic with lines of colour all over the pages...How does it work you ask?"
"well, simply hold the film over the unmarked pages of the WT and 'wow', instantly turns an unmarked WT into a magazine that any spiritually mature person would crave to have!"
"But wait, there's more...if you order now, we will throw in the advanced student or 'reaching out' study saver...with 'added margin notes' to really show that you are a seriously studious spiritual person!"
Order yours now on...blah blah blah... jw.org....
well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).
i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.
although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.
Yes...great advice guys!
I will be careful with exact details and timing...
Im not at all free yet...(hence my forum name)...I am stuck with a life that is very very entrenched in "the truth", so I will have to play my hand carefully.
The big step though for me is that I no longer feel guilty about being honest with myself! I have allowed myself to actually be 'myself and not some drone that has been molded into the form I appear to be on the outside. I actually feel empowered in the sense that I am in control of myself and not others...at least in my thoughts for now...
Chat more soon!
Oh and 'jemba'...are you an AFL supporter or Rugby league? (only aussies will get that question!)
we attended several different congregations in different states, and the one common thread among them all was...if you had your study article highlighted, you were a good jw.. honestly, how often did you cover over your magazine when the attendant walked by handing out copies to visitors?.
sheesh.
would anyone believe how weird this organization really is?.
Oh yes...how amazing that we fell for the trap that if we were truely "spiritual" then we would have colour and pen marks all over our pages!
As if that actually helps, when the format of the studies is so repetitive and childish that a point gets read, then questioned, then answered several times each paragraph! It is like the methods teachers use on primary school kids to learn the math tables!
"1 times 2 is?..." (children all repeat it back in unison....)
If we are "full grown mature spiritual people" then we dont need to have colour on our pages to show it!
OR...is it just for an outward appearance!??? yes, isnt that what this org is all about? Outward appearances!
well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).
i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.
although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.
Thanks guys!
I didnt expect replies so quickly! That is awesome....
Yes, I will write up stuff soon!
Where is the best place to do first intros? This section?
i wanted to express appreciation to the members of this forum.
there are resources here that are deep.
like we heard from the stage, "what is your depth and breadth of bible knowledge?
Welcome ML!
I am new here too, and I feel the same way you do about the spirit of this forum and the assistance it provides many of us.
We can see that we are not alone, and that even if our stories are different, we are united in a similar path of stuggle against a powerful entity that can blind so many minds!
Keep smiling... and be proud of your actions!
Rememebr, no one has the right to affect how you feel...except yourself!
Stuckinarut2
well... as they say on talk back radio "i'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!).
i have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.. i really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum.
although i have not contibuted to discussions, i have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics.
Hi everyone!
Well... as they say on talk back radio "I'm a long time listener, first time caller"(poster in this case!)
I have been a "lurker" for several years, but never had the courage to take the step and join up...until now.
I really want to thank everyone for their insights and comments throughout the forum. Although I have not contibuted to discussions, I have benefitted very much from all of your comments and observations on all topics. Thanks so much!
I look forward to joining in discussions soon. I also would like to share my story too...its a little long, but I have had quite the journey since being 'born in' with several generations before me "in the truth" (dont you all hate that expression??!!) I have had "full time service" experience and Bethel service too..Anyway, I'll post more later if anyone is interested...
Cheers!
Stuckinarut2
