Posts by franklin J

54

A clean house is .... (you finish the statement)

by BrendaCloutier in

jw
friends

.

... the sign of a busy household... or.

franklin J

...a sign that there are no kids or dogs running around ( especially when each kid brings a friend or two home....)

5

A Paradise exists on earth today.

by Blueblades in

jw
friends

a paradise exists on earth today.

it is extending farther and farther and is being enjoyed by millions of people.

you, too, can be part of it.

franklin J

"my paradise" is what I made of it....no thanks to any Watchtower propaganda.....

9

Question about reaching out to old friends

by zamzummim in

jw
friends

hi all, i have a quick question about reaching out to old friends you used to know.

i was able to do some research on the internet and came across the name of an old friend of mine from when i was a jw.

there was actually quite a bit of information about his life and he's no longer married to the woman he was married to when we were both part of the org.

franklin J

zam,

give it a try;what have you got to lose? You might be pleasently surprised and connect with an old friend.

good luck!

Frank

35

What Was Your Behavior Like Just Before You Left "The Truth"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

.

were people shocked by your departure or was it pretty obvious you were on your way out?

I recently told her I want to buy this Alpha Romeo spider and she said I was crazy ( I promised to keep the Volvo wagon for work)....so I told her it was cheaper than an affair.....she was not amused...

18

Any experience with spirits?

by hartstrings in

.

have you ever had experience with the supernatural?.

.

franklin J

well, not that you can point a finger at...

but when my wife and I were house shopping we stumbled upon this old, decrepit run down home on an enormous overgrown piece of property. It was so bad that the realtor did not want to show it; the front door would not open; so they took us through the back.

Something about the house "spoke" to us. We were caught in its spell. We bought it; and coincidently were the 7th owners (the addressof the house is #7). We found out that just as we were closing on it, the original owner who built the house in 1934, died.

His sons ( who were in their late 70s) came to visit from Monterey California when they heard that we were restoring the house and the gardens. They said their Dad; a famous depression era artist, loved the place; the local newspapers ran articles on its restoration ( it had some famous previous owners) It has been a herculanean task of restoration but the end result was worth it. It is a great piece of architecture and a wonderful place to raise a family.

But the house has some kind of ebulent positive energy about it; it is always smiling and laughing in a most inannimate way. It is a very happy secure place; a wonderful backdrop for children; as it is their laughter that is projected on it. Very hard to explain. I sense something more is present than just my wife; kids ;cat and dog. I almost feeld like I am just passing through; a guest; a caretaker.

Sounds weird; but there is another prescence ( a positive one) there....a ghost; or residue energy; I do not know. JWs would say demons....but so far , no one has heard or seen anything out of the ordinary....

49

The Money Is Drying Up In The Organization!

by minimus in

jw
friends

my mother told me that the congregation has been pretty much begging for money for the local kingdom hall.

after the presiding overseer expressed the state of debt and severe lack on contributions, he then asked the congregation to approve a resolution to send mor money to the society!!!

i don't know how they are able to function.

franklin J

Oh Min; we must all save them.....and show them the same salvation they showed all of us....

I propose that we all raid our kids old Monopoly Games and send them all the multi colored mickey mouse money; how appropriate to match the mickey mouse teachings they gave us for so long....

"Happy trails, Watchtower; take this to the bank...."

35

What Was Your Behavior Like Just Before You Left "The Truth"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

.

were people shocked by your departure or was it pretty obvious you were on your way out?

franklin J

I went out with a big "bang".

The rumors had been circulating for months about my spirtual weakness and my parents inability to "control him".

Fact is , I left a 4 year stint as a regular pioneer to attend college to study Architecture. This was back in 1977 and it was not looked on too kindly. I drove a flashy red convertible ( pioneered with that car--a story for another thread) At 21 years old I was not married ( although dated quite often--no serious entanglements) and as the former ' theocratic youthful example" I was now leading those same kids from field service to the desire to "do something more" with their humdrum lives---like "get an education".

When I came home from studying abroad in Italy, the rumors came circling around:

1) he has had a "woman" overseas; he went abroad to sin ...I live in New York; I do not have to go abroad for that...

2) he has had a "man" overseas, he went abroad to sin ..I live in New York; I do not have to go abroad for that....but WHO have you been talking too??!!

3) he is using drugs; all those college kid use drugs; look at his red swollen eyes....I was in the swimming pool; it is chlorine making my eyes red...using drugs? Do you think I am stupid?

4) how do you know where he goes with THAT CAR...when he leaves your house he could be picking up prostitutes...Oh give me a break; its a 1970 Chevelle Malibu convertible; it happens to be RED; big deal; get over it...

5) he is having a drinking problem....yes, I drink; I am over 21 and I drink socially just like the rest of you...what is wrong with that?

These stories were so outrageous and all untrue but the one about " having been living with a woman in sin" overseas stuck; for some reason. Perhaps because it was the most plausible. Point of fact; it was not the case ( I wish I was so amourous when I was abroad! I was an uptight fading virgin JW young adult fascinated with the European culture and dealing with guilt about my attraction to Church architecture. I made a pilgremage to every great church and Cathedral in Europe. It was my epiphany.)

So I had to throw a lawsuit at the local elders to get them off my back. It worked. Never saw or heard from them again

67

The most condescending thing said to you by the (sm)elders.

by diamondblue1974 in

i wasnt the most academic of children although i had some capability but i could read quite well by the time i was 4 years old at least for my age; i have always read as a child and still read now as an adult both professionally (research) and for pleasure.

i have always been able to write too...and pretty much advanced as well as my peers did in school...perhaps i am lucky, i certainly feel like i am when illiteracy amongst adults and children is rife at present...however.. i remember when i was 16 the wts in the uk were pushing through a scheme teaching those who were not as able to read and write...and an elder in the hall made a point of coming to me and suggesting that i should actually attend the training!!

!....i explained that i could read and write well enough and didnt need to be taught basic literacy... he said that i might learn something new and should respect jehovahs order of things and show appreciation...i did decline his kind offer rather abruptly....but wtf??

franklin J

when I left regular pioneering ( after 4 years of regular pioneering...) to pursue an education for Architecture; one pompous elder came up to me and said " how is going to college going to help you in the new system" .

I ignored his question.

20

if you went back...

by zaphod in

jw
friends

what would be the thing that you had most trouble giving up.. for me, apart from thinking, it would be swearing (that's cussin' for our american friends).

i absof*ck*nglutely love effing and blinding and i'm sure that i could not stop.

not even if my life depended on it.