franklin J

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Posts by franklin J

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  59

  .A question for the guys about VASECTOMIES!!!

  by nicolaou in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  would you recommend it?.

  i've got an appointment to see my doctor in less than an hour for some pre-op discussion.

  i guess they want to make sure that i am sure!.

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  franklin J

  Hey Nic,

  I had it done 3 years ago. My wife and I decided that after 3 kids ( and 2 miscarriages) our child bearing years were behind us; it seemed like the responsible thing to do. I had the exam to see if I was " a candidate". I also signed the forms.

  The procedure lasts about 10 minutes; mine was TOTALLY painless, required 2 stitches ( dissolving) and had no after effects. I was back in action the next day.

  It was a little embarrassing to be spread eagled on the table while the female doctors assistant " handled things" , the doctor performing the procedure was male.. It was even more embarrassing 1 month later to bring a sperm sample to the lab to assure that the procedure worked, prior to having any unprotected sex.

  It was the best thing I ever did; to this day the hydraulics work as good as ever; but it is a personal decision. Some guys just do not want to do it; and that is OK.

  Frank
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  23

  Do you ever discuss having been....

  by SpunkyChick in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  a jw to new friends?

  what's their reactions?

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  franklin J

  If the topic of conversation arises, yes. I am as honest and factual as I can be. And I make a point of saying that although I was raised a JW, I am not practicing it anymore. Most people are mildly interested, as long as they know you are not going to preach to them.

  Considering the very different upbringing I had as a JW, my wife ( who is Catholic) says she married me "as is".
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  74

  oK IM handicapprd

  by jst2laws in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, i'm handicapped tonite.

  i shot though my lrft hand with a nail gun today.

  yeah, that ws me on top of thr ladder.. .

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  franklin J

  ...hope you can still catch your plane to NY tomorrow!
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  32

  Is anything sacred to you anymore?

  by Xena in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  i was looking up sacrilege tonight because of picture that i saw posted and it got me to wondering what i actually considered sacred anymore..if anything...something i am still trying to work out...so i wondered if anyone else had thought about it.

  what if anything do you consider sacred?

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  franklin J

  religiously, no.

  My children have taken center stage as the driving force in my life.
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  12

  To where shall I go?

  by hooberus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a question that many jws seem to have when they are contemplating leaving the wt society.

  the society's answer is that there is nowhere else to go.

  what is a doubting jw to do?.

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  franklin J

  welcome Hooberus

  Based on my experiences; it is a very individual, personal matter. What works for some may not work for others. Fortunatly, once we leave the JW mindset and way of life, we realize that it really is a free country (world) where we can think and make our own decisions as to what is right and wrong for each one of us. Ultimately, our life is what we choose to make it.

  frank
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  16

  Who do I thank?

  by franklin J in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  yesterday, i watched my 9 year old son--healthy, beautiful, full of promise--play soccer with his team, as i do every week.

  he is a very happy secure child.

  of course, as the proud father i was beaming.

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  franklin J

  Yesterday, I watched my 9 year old son--healthy, beautiful, full of promise--play soccer with his team, as I do every week. He is a very happy secure child. Of course, as the proud father I was beaming. I thought to myself " Thank you God". It was a very impersonal, but sincere, "thank you"--to whom--I do not know.

  I want to thank someone for my good fortune ( since I left JW) and like the Romans who built the Pantheon in Rome ( Temple devoted to all deities--just in case they missed one) I find myself offering a general "thank you"...to...whoever is listening. I do not know if this need "to thank" is a human response to be grateful, or if it is a last vestige of JW teaching--a ghost caught in the machinery of my mind. ( it is not directed to the name "Jehovah"; as that thought process was discontinued many years ago. But the concept of God; Creator; giver of life; etc.)

  Somehow, this is all OK for me; I do not have the need to look any further religiously. I still say " thank you". And I am at peace with that simple phrase and concept.

  Anyone else have similar feelings?

  Frank
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  30

  Anyone Remember the Skating Parties From the 70's ?

  by Perry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here in the usa during the late 70's, witnesses would rent an entire skating rink and hundreds of kids would show up.

  it was great fun and a chance to socialize without quoting scriptures.

  it seems like just because some were engaging in fornication and smoking in the parking lots that the society put a stop to it.

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  franklin J

  LOL--thanks for the memories.

  In the mid 70s all the kids in my congregation used to get together with several congregations to the Levittown rink on Long Island. But we did not rent the rink; we just skated. It was fun, and I wonder what has happend to all the JWs friends I had, grown now, and obviously doing something with their lives
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  64

  Have You Had Any "Blessings" Since You've Left The Truth?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends
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  franklin J

  too numerous to mention.

  Top of list would be my wife and three kids; the icing on the cake, so to speak. Never would have even looked her way if I was still a good JW boy ( and really, what would she have wanted with a geeky pioneer anyway?)

  Frank
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  24

  What is your agenda?

  by Phantom Stranger in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  (this is not short.

  please be warned.

  it?s said that there are three ways of listening.

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  franklin J

  hey Phantom,

  Excellent post.

  this really made me think, and I am not ashamed to say that I had to reread it several times to really catch the underlying meaning.

  Yes, Phantom, Ido agree with it. I have come to the same conclusions-albeit through a different channel-that directs my life and actions. "Positeve thought" and "giviing the benefit of the doubt" or what ever you want to call it- "paying it forward" ; "turning a lemon into lemonade"; etc, has brought me results in life. Some might attribute this to the "Golden Rule" ("do onto others") and give the character of Christ the credit for this. However, ancient history, with Hammurabi's code ( ancient Mesopatamia),had a similar teaching. It did not, I think, originate with Christ.

  This post was a particularly good topic for this very specific forum.

  the Greek philosophists, I believe, ultimately came to the same conclusion ( well with some things, anyway). I have not read Pirsigs book, but after reading your excerpt, think it might be an interesting read.

  I always enjoy your postings; always an intelligent , rational reply. And my invitation to drinks is always open--when in NY give me a shout.

  hope all is well

  Frank
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  25

  What Was Your Biggest Gripe About The Elders???

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after reading some of the pain that you've gone through, in many cases, the elders weren't there at all for you.

  i'm wondering what your biggest complaint about the elders is.

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  franklin J

  LOL @ Elsewhere...bookbag envy!

  Arrogance.

  I remember the ARROGANCE of the elders; and their presumptuous and pretentious attitude ( very Jehovahs Witness) that THEY had all the answers.