Posts by Make Lemonade

26

Scared I'll Never be Happy Again

by Stumbeline in

so it's' been 8 months since i was disfellowshiped.

i moved out of my mothers house accross the country to room with a friend.

things have been going ok, it's just strange to be so far away from everything that felt familiar, even the meetings.

Make Lemonade

Welcome. You have taken a good step by reaching out. Many here can encourage you. Especially the ones who have similar experiences. You can see by the comments above that many here can and will help and support you. Please protect your physical and mental health during this difficult time you are experiencing. So many have hurt themselves by trying to gain relief from the pain thru drugs, alcohol, and whatever. In the long run these types of self-medication only add to the pain.

Explore more healthy ways to cope with what you are feeling. I have watched friends self-destruct by drugs, alcohol, crime, rave parties, etc.. On the other side of the coin I have watched friends make a recovery form all of these things, and then finally deal with the root causes. Many have benefited by professional help. The ones who find their way free from the "dark side" of life have done very well for themselves. It makes me believe you can do the same.

My wife has found employment at a hospital. She is associating with doctors, nurses, social workers, and others who are happy with their life and work. I have seen the positive atmosphere for myself. A wonderful life style outside the "borg" can been found. When we do not try, then we are not going to get results. Only when we try can you expect to find the answer. Reaching out to those who have traveled the road you are on now, will allow you to not have to repeat their mistakes. Also, they can give you a more direct route to achieve peace, joy, and happiness.

Peace to you

25

Hello

by venting in

jw
friends

just wanted to say hello.

i have alot to say, but i'm not good at typeing.

i'm still in the org.

Make Lemonade

Welcome. Will be looking forward to more about what is going on in your life. The story of how you ended up joining this forum. Also, it is worthwhile reading the advice and experiences of others. Especially when the comments help the person who is reaching out.

Hope you find peace.

36

Any ideas for my return visit?

by KateWild in

i had a really fun day today.

i went to town on first call to witness to the jws on the trolley outside the main train station in the city.

i had prepared two different presentations depending on whether or not the jws knew me.. if they knew me i planned to tell them how unjust my last jc was and that i didn't believe jehovah cared about me or anyone, and if they didin't know me i would just question them about their disfellowshipping policy.

Make Lemonade

Kate:

Yes get your life back. Job, family, etc.. However:

Look at you now. Your past posts show a "struggle" to say the least. Now you can fly your plane right into the storm all by yourself. Are you kidding me! That is awesome with sauce!

By the way, your watchtower background is being honed into an educational machine. You went toe to toe with an elder who has heard your story. "HEARD YOUR STORY" Think about that.

Think about this as well:

W96 p. 10 par. 8 (Zep. 1:12) The expression "men who are congealing upon their dregs" (a reference to wine making) refers to those who have settled down, like dregs at the bottom of a vat, and who do not want to be disturbed by any proclamation of imminent divine intervention in the affairs of mankind.

By all means keep up the good work.

10

Humans are just 6,000 years old aren't they?

by notsurewheretogo in

according to the bible humans cannot be older than 6,000 years old...... yet more evidence obviously planted by satan to mislead us has been found:.

.. .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27432234.

the ancient remains of a teenage girl discovered deep underground in mexico are providing additional insights on how the americas came to be populated.. divers found the juvenile's bones by chance in a vast, flooded limestone chamber on the yucatan peninsula.. aged 15 or 16 at death, the girl lived at least 12,000 years ago.. researchers have told science magazine her dna backs the idea that the first americans and modern native american indians share a common ancestry.. this theory argues that people from siberia settled on the land bridge dubbed beringia that linked asia and the americas some 20,000 years ago before sea levels rose.. sea levels 20,000 years ago were low enough to expose a land bridge across the bering seathese people then moved south to populate the american continents.. the genetics of modern native americans would certainly appear to link them into this story.

Make Lemonade

notsurewheretogo

I was just trying to help someone who might be going thru what I am right now. It is all about reading and research. Sorry for the confusion.

10

Humans are just 6,000 years old aren't they?

by notsurewheretogo in

according to the bible humans cannot be older than 6,000 years old...... yet more evidence obviously planted by satan to mislead us has been found:.

.. .. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27432234.

the ancient remains of a teenage girl discovered deep underground in mexico are providing additional insights on how the americas came to be populated.. divers found the juvenile's bones by chance in a vast, flooded limestone chamber on the yucatan peninsula.. aged 15 or 16 at death, the girl lived at least 12,000 years ago.. researchers have told science magazine her dna backs the idea that the first americans and modern native american indians share a common ancestry.. this theory argues that people from siberia settled on the land bridge dubbed beringia that linked asia and the americas some 20,000 years ago before sea levels rose.. sea levels 20,000 years ago were low enough to expose a land bridge across the bering seathese people then moved south to populate the american continents.. the genetics of modern native americans would certainly appear to link them into this story.

Make Lemonade

notsurewheretogo

This is an unsettling question for anyone who wants to be comfortable with their beliefs that could be challenged by the answer. My comments relate to how I deal with the disturbing feelings generated by looking into this subject.

As a witness you might have heard similar thoughts as this. "Do not think of painting all the rooms in your house at once. Think of painting one room at a time." This way of approaching big projects will over come the tendancy to procrastinate."

A sugestion on how to pace yourself on the big project of answering your question, "Humans are just 6,000 years old aren't they?"

First read what the organization taught in the Past: Photo Drama of creation, support of the "steady state" universe, criticism of the "big bang theory", criticism of religions who taught Genesis was not to be taken literally, creative days 7,000 years each.

Second look at how the subject has changed and is being taught today:Universe had a beginning, creative days are "thousands of years long", earth is 4.5 billion years old, universe is 15 billions years old,

As an active witness you can safely explore all the publications without reading "apostate" thinking. No intellectual prison to stop you from reading the publications. Think about it, you know it is the right thing to do!

Challenge: When you see historically that the watchtower has not been the intellectual leader in the area of how long humans have been on earth, will you procrastinate or continue your interest? Even at the intelectual pace of one room at a time.

If you decide to go further, it is not a bad idea to read a lot of posts that exist on this web-site. Use the search bar. If you can not do that, then go to the library. Ask the librarian for help. When you discover how much information is available do not become overwhelmed. Just focus on one area that stands out to you as having the most value. It becomes enjoyable. Like a hobby. You fit it in to your normal life and enjoy your discoveries one at a time.

64

First Post - Emotionally Torn

by scaredtospeak in

i haven't been on here long but i found this site a couple days ago and quickly realised it had a lot of posts by people going through similar experiences as me.

i read some of the answers and it helped relieve some inner anguish i've been carrying since everything i came clean to my parents about everything i've been reading about.. .

i just have been going through a rough patch right now; that might be an under or overstatement depending on your own personal experiences with this kind of stuff.

Make Lemonade

Keep reading and asking questions. Take your time to look into many areas of study. You are doing the right thing by asking questions. Also, listening to people who have and are going thru what you are. It is painful, but freedom, self-esteem, and joy are waiting for you. Those things you will cherish the rest of your life.

27

New Job

by LouBelle in

jw
friends

i was fortunate to be recommended for a sales position by a former colleague.

the company phoned me and we set up an interview.

i accepted their offer - it is nearly double what i earn at the moment.

Make Lemonade

I am happy for you. Will relate your experience to those I know who are going thru a similar struggle as yours.

3

Fundamentalist bible approach

by TheWonderofYou in

go to item f to read about the fundamentalist bible approach and its consequences.

http://www.deiverbum2005.org/interpretation/interpretation_e.pdf.

sincerely.

Make Lemonade

"The fundamentalis approach is dangerous, for it is attractive to people who look to the Bible for ready answers to the problems of life. It can deceive these people, offering them interpretations that are pious but illusory, instead of telling them that the Bible does not necessarily contain an immediate answer to each and every problem. Without saying as much in so many words, fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide. It injects into life a false certitude, for it unwittingly confuses the divine substance of the biblical message with what are in fact its human limitations."

I think this fits what the Governing Body heads up today. One could find confirmation of the above words many times in the history of Jehovah's Witnesses from 1878 to today. Blood, pedophiles, medical advice (ERA, aluminum, vacinations, organ transplants), shunning, false teachings, misrepresenting history (1914, dealings with Hitler) and more.....

Thanks for the thought provoking article

29

TTATT in a Can... finally finished!!

by ILoveTTATT in

jw
friends

ok so... how to condense all the flip-flops and doctrinal changes, and show graphically how the different doctrines changed, and when?.

ttatt in a can!!.

enjoy ;).

Make Lemonade

Thanks

26

Can we be deleted as an appointed man, or disfellowshipped without meeting in a committee?

by stuckinarut2 in

so, i am genuinely wondering if the above is possible nowdays?.

with the changes in the power structure of co's, the changes in gb directives re never questioning "jehovah's appointed channel etc", i wonder if "disciplne can be given out in absence?.

i know that several elders in our cong have little "discussions" about my apparant slackening off, and would love to take action against me... they have tried to chat with me but that has been shot down.. so i wonder if they could just make a decision without me being present for it?

Make Lemonade

The body of elders can decide to delete/remove an appointed man for reasons like these: lack of taking the lead in F.S., Family difficulties that set a bad example. Poor meeting attendance. When the C.O. visits the body states their reasons and the final decision is made.

If an appointed man has done a serious enough sin that a committee is required, then his priveledges will be taken away. For a servant to refuse to meet with the JC, well that is not tolerated. Not only would the position be removed, but the action of not meeting with the J.C. would be interpreted as not "repentant."

It has to be understood that specific details about a case would allow a more specific answer. Each case is different.