Posts by aojumper

45

Would you take blood now that you are not a JW and why?

by Joyzabel in

i have a friend, xjw, who is having medical problems and no matter what i seem to say to her, i can tell she has not gotten over the issue of <gasp> no blood.

since the no blood stand was so ingrained in us as jws (almost like the unforgivable sin) my friend just cant seem to let go of that thinking.

i know i get too clinical at times, so i need some help with reasons why taking blood is or is not an issue for you anymore.

aojumper

I would take blood in the case of an emergency, as a last resort. It's no secret that blood can have it's problems. even doctors prefer to do bloodless surgery, if they can. So I would choose the bloodless path unless there are no other options available

26

What Happened To All Your Friends???

by minimus in

jw
friends

to become a witness, you must leave everything behind and associate only with jw's.

did you think that you really were going to only associate with jehovah's witnesses and no one else???

---------- after you left or got df'd, did you regain your past "worldly" friendships or were they forever lost?

aojumper

I was raised a JW. I had few worldly friends. Now I have tons o' Friends, good friends and aquantneces, who like me and appreciate me for who I am, and even accept me! It's great.

Most of my friends from the borg, that are still in, well they don't contact me. This includes my cousins that I was close to.

However my friends that I came out of the Borg with or around the same time, well we are even closer, and on a very different level than than I think I will ever be with any frineds. We have come through so much and we have a sincere understanding of each other that goes so deep into our individual nature and into human nature, that it beciomes this unspeakable tight bond that I don't believe could ever be broken, no matter our differences, our situations or our choices. I wonder what it will be like when (hopefully) one of my brothers or sister gets out ...

K

35

What words does your animal understand?

by JH in

jw
friends

.

i speak to my cat in french.

she understands a few words, really.. after repeating the words and the actions at the same time, they get to understand certain words.. does your pet understand a couple of words?

aojumper

Dazedandconfused,

I think animals have a sixth sense, Especially the smarter dogs, If I think "I should take the Dogs to the bark park" but even watch my actions and piosture, My Anatolian Shepherd starts looking at me like he is reading my mind, after a couple of those thoughts he gets so riled up, (i'ts his favourite place).

Anatolians are really almost the smartest dogs around, (not just because I own one). For six thousand years the dog has been bred to watch over flocks and people and use there size to intimidate before starting a fight. I promise you, you will never feel safer than when you have an Anatolian inside you walls. Bring on the robbers and rapists my dog'll snack on ya! www.anatolianshepherd.com

My basset like nina's, understands all the food words, and "no" and "come here" are options as well. She's my husbands dog. But boy is she cute, even when she's being naughty.

K

22

It's my birthday, I am mourning my lost childhood.

by aojumper in

i am so angry right now, so hurt that my family allowed my brain to be washed and hung out to dry, and then have the nerve to tell me i am on the wrong path.

i wonder how do people let others do this to them?!

i wish i had kept the strength that i remember i had as a very young child and told them all to go to hell!

aojumper

Gopher,

That's awesome, So glad to hear you have taken the JW out of your child. I think celebrating is a normal part of a childs interaction, I think it comes naturally to us, and it is un-natural to not celebrate.

I know the awkwardness and weirdness it is to celebrate when you never have, last year we went to the Cheesecake factory and it was really strange to do the whole thing, then they sang my name wrong, and so that only added to the whole uncomfortableness. But in the end it was pretty good.

We should have online birthday parties here!!

Anyone!!

K

37

What About The Soul?

by Francois in

jw
friends

i don't recall that we've ever gotten into this issue; maybe we did and i just don't remember.

if so, it won't hurt to revisit it; if not, it's way past time that we did.. we were all trained to believe that humankind does not have a soul, but that we are souls.

this teaching came from the spiritual geniuses abiding at jw headquarters in brooklyn, likely assisted by their undefined "spirit-led" descision making activities and with help from someone's secret decoder ring with the secret compartment.. personally, i have 86-ed that particular piece of nonsense a long time ago.

aojumper

Francois,

this is a great thread, I like you take on stuff. There is a great website of a total Jesus freik that wil really gives great points to ponder, he has some ideas, that are really good to stop and reflect on www.raptureready.com

Scooby, I know what you mean about your Dog... One time I went to the barn ( I ride horses) to help the vet put a horse down. It was really hard at first as he gave her the Potasium Chloride and I watched her struggle (she was always a fighter) I almost cried but held it in. They lay her down, and she slowly stops breathing and for a couple of minutes I just went over and stroked her muzzle and choked back the tears. Then it was like an exhale...Something left that body, because she suddenly was just a shell, and it wasn't Echo anymore...

In the above website the guys speaks of what happens when you die, I forget which FAQ it is but he says he feels confident, that while his dogs have no hope of being ressurected, God will allow him to recall them for his own pleasure in heaven. once again please note that I said this is a good place for points to ponder, not to necesarily believe and hold true to.

Essie, I prefer to think of people like Hitler being tormented in Hell for eternity. as for those who don't accept Christ according to what I have been told, that's a harder one for me to accept.

Vivamus, really good point on the subject of truth. It is pompous to assume that we can simply find the truth, though as I believe in God I believe we can find a measure of it in the bible. Away from organizational interpretations.

Rocket man... I read the parable of the rich man a Lazarus, and the only scripture that comes in ties with it is in Palms 17:14 Wher it says "Oh lord save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life..." Good, but I think more research is needed. I like your point that parables are from things the Jews knew. So what ties did this have?

Actually the old testament in the Psalms and Issaih and such speaks of Fire consuming the wicked ones and such. It's very interesting.

K

22

It's my birthday, I am mourning my lost childhood.

by aojumper in

i am so angry right now, so hurt that my family allowed my brain to be washed and hung out to dry, and then have the nerve to tell me i am on the wrong path.

i wonder how do people let others do this to them?!

i wish i had kept the strength that i remember i had as a very young child and told them all to go to hell!

aojumper

You all are the best!!

Thank you so much. My sweetie of a husband took me out shopping yesterday, I got some Body Shop stuff and I almost got a puppy! But my other two dogs would be jealous.

Nina, you have put it in perspective, I need to stop and thank God for all that I do have now.

It was really strange how this inescapable feeling of sadness and anger just came over me. I think I ususally prepare for it, I know I did last year and I skipped all the muck but i thought I'd be out of it this year. Well,I know better for next year. just always prepare!

Sometimes I think I am all right and then Wham, like Hobbes on Calvin, I am underneath it before I know it.

Lyin' Eyes, you call me up when you have questions about the Holidays, I will help you, I love the Holidays, and to help you make Christmas feel good, think about all the people that you love and are out trying to find gifts for. Christmas is a time of giving, Love and hope, in the darkest part of winter. When you go and find a gift for someone, always, always stop to ponder and reflect on the times you have had, and let the happiness they bring you bring up the season. then you won't get caught up in comercialism, and so exhausted. (sigh) I love Christmas.

Once again, you all are the best, thank you so much for accepting me for who I am.

K

37

What About The Soul?

by Francois in

jw
friends

i don't recall that we've ever gotten into this issue; maybe we did and i just don't remember.

if so, it won't hurt to revisit it; if not, it's way past time that we did.. we were all trained to believe that humankind does not have a soul, but that we are souls.

this teaching came from the spiritual geniuses abiding at jw headquarters in brooklyn, likely assisted by their undefined "spirit-led" descision making activities and with help from someone's secret decoder ring with the secret compartment.. personally, i have 86-ed that particular piece of nonsense a long time ago.

aojumper

Francois,

I believe we have souls. The most I have to back this up at the top of my mind is the idea that we will go to heaven without our bodies, but with our consciousness intact. One scripture off the top of my head is 2 corinthians 5:1-10. Now here is a queestion for you... Was the New Testament written for only those who go to heaven, or for all of us? Because this scripture is one that seems as though it speaks to any and everyone... This comes from a discussion had with my JW Dad yesterday, He has so much blind faith in the Borg, it is so sad...

K

22

It's my birthday, I am mourning my lost childhood.

by aojumper in

i am so angry right now, so hurt that my family allowed my brain to be washed and hung out to dry, and then have the nerve to tell me i am on the wrong path.

i wonder how do people let others do this to them?!

i wish i had kept the strength that i remember i had as a very young child and told them all to go to hell!

aojumper

Dave, duely noted, We just bought some new lighter fluid! I have not yet smoked a joint, haven't had the time nor opportunity, but someday...

Essie's Ghost, thanks for the hug, i needed that. I do look forward to having kids and letting them have the time of their lives on their birthday, showing them how much they mean to me, and what a truly splendid gift they are. I try to show that to my little bro. even though he's still in.

Thank you all so much, Thanks Simon for this forum. it really helps

K

22

It's my birthday, I am mourning my lost childhood.

by aojumper in

i am so angry right now, so hurt that my family allowed my brain to be washed and hung out to dry, and then have the nerve to tell me i am on the wrong path.

i wonder how do people let others do this to them?!

i wish i had kept the strength that i remember i had as a very young child and told them all to go to hell!

aojumper

Thanks guys,

I am not usually feeling sorry for myself, It just get's to this day and I remember when I was six years old, and I walked out all sleepy headed that morning and turned on Sesame Street, and there was a cartoon of a little girl doing cartwheels, saying, "Six,Six, I'm six years old today" and my mother turned to me and said, "Your six today!" That was it. No appreciation for the gift that God gave her (and I was a gift ), no realization that God did and does celebrate my birth. Just... your six today...

While most children at least got to feel special one day a year, I got shoved into JWism. I think that was the last time I remember being slightly alive until I left almost 20 years later.

I have pretty much gotten on with my life, I have started a company, I have a wonderful husband, some great friends, and I love to celebrate others birthdays, and holidays, It just gets me down sometimes, when I look at my little brother who turned 13 on thursday, and all I could do was get him a balloon cause he can't feel special, he's just a JW. It kills me.

Dave, I am going on a green bible hunt, and I'm gonna start doing my laudry at a mat. That's awesome advice. thank you

K

43

Before You Actually Stopped Meetings, How Many HATED Being There?

by minimus in

jw
friends

when i listen to anything at the meetings, it is with a critical eye.

i really can't stand going, especially today.

did you feel that the meetings were grating and extremely irritating, just before you stopped going altogether?

aojumper

I, like Francois, am very angry that I let them dictate to me when and how my time should be spent, when I became of age. That I sat there, listening to the bull****, wanting to scream if I heard one more Dogmatic, JW concocted phrase come from the stage.

K