Hey ExpandedMind, I believe MJ and family have donated a ton of money to the WTS and probably still do. That may answer the question of why they seem to be "untouchable" when breaking some of the rules.
CC
CC Ryder
JoinedPosts by CC Ryder
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8
Michael Jackson's Mother
by ExpandedMind ingood morning!
this past week, on fox, there was another documentary about mj.
after seeing some advertisements about the presentation that indicated that mjs mother would be on the program, i was interested in seeing what comments, if any, she would make about mj.
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War or No War --- The Dispute
by hornetsnest ini usually don't get involved in things like this, as i've long known the futility and uselessness of arguing with jello.
however, for the benefit of those looking on and wondering where the truth really lies, i figured i'd say a few things.. back2dafront made quite a spiel over on another thread about how terrible it is to serve in the armed forces, and i must say that the tears of purple koolade were just pouring down my cheeks in rivers.
he's such an abused little fellow ... personally, i'll bet my wife's been shot at more than he has.
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CC Ryder
Saddam needs to be stopped! Bottom line! The above article LoneWolf posted shows a lesson in history. If you let evil alone it will grow strong and pose a major problem later on. Someone has to take the initutive, and I'm glad I live in the country that has the balls to do something about it.
CC
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Ozzie's Weekend Poll #38
by ozziepost inanother weekend's upon us again!
doesn't time fly when you're having fun!.....
or even when you're not, eh?
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CC Ryder
For me when I heard the word "encouragment" they were usually getting ready to make sheparding calls. When the announcments came for an "encouraging" talk next sunday, I felt it was going to contain the "guilt trip" theme.
Encouragment: Guilt, propaganda, and more guilt.
CC
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First time caller, long time lurker
by Gollum infinally, guilt at just being a lurker has driven me onto the board.
not that i feel i have much to add, but did want to extend my appreciation for much of the information and insight i have received from many of the posters here.. i suppose some brief synopsis of my story should be forthcoming.
its very similar to many of stories i have read here.. was raised in the truth ,third generation on both sides.
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CC Ryder
Hey Gollum...Glad to have you posting! You do have a pleasant wit about you. I'm second generation, my Dad has been in since 1950 and is still an Elder. I know what your trying to avoid, Tinkerbell and I tried to fade too, but didn't quite escape the Gestopo and ended up DA'ing in '99. I'm not shunned by any of my family, but Tink has two Bro's and two Sis's that do. We've learned to look at it this way...If they knowingly want to trust their lives in the WTS way of life, after all the exposing information about them tells you to run the other way, then so be it..we try to act civil when running into them in public, even though we always get a cold response and sometimes no response at all. One of her Bro's takes it seriously, the other Bro keeps getting DF'ed and going back, and her two Sis's just can't break off with the great social aspect of it. They stay active but probably couldn't expain even the basics of their beliefs.
Anyway.......WELCOME!!!!!!!!
CC
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My father is dead
by cruzanheart intoday i found out that my dad committed suicide, probably on sunday sometime.
his body was found today and the plano police department called me.
i am numb and grieving, kind of relieved for a lot of reasons, and very very sad.
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CC Ryder
Nina & Tex, I am sorry to hear of your Dad's death. Please know that are e-mail is open if you ever want to talk. Tink and I have been through what you are both beginning to experience, talking to someone who's been through it really helps! You're in our thoughts and prayers.
((((((((Nina/Tex))))))))))
CC
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Have You Ever Considered Suicide? Have You Ever Thought Of Just Not Living
by minimus ini know of a few people that have expressed themselves over the years regarding suicide and their loss of joy in living.
after reading some of the horrendous things some have gone through on this board, it is more than concievable to believe that you might have considered such options.
i, personally have never had these thoughts, but some close to me have expressed that if they "could just sleep" in death, they would feel better.
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CC Ryder
I had on occasions in my previous marriage back 10 years or so. I was not happy. When I look back it was a combination of the pressure the WTS puts on you (meetings,service,study,,blah,blah) and the fact that my pioneer wife was very unbalanced and was way overboard on the whole JW thing. I felt trapped. She told me at least once a week she was not in love with me, felt like she was tormented and had not said the words "I Love You" to me for at least 8 years proir to our divorce. I knew she had romantic feelings for a MS in another cong and was seeing him secretly. I remember being so down once that it was almost over whelming enough to go through with it. At the point I was ready to do it, thoughts of my parents and sister being devistated by my death helped to snap me out of it. When we decided to get divorced I began to feel the pressure come off of me. I have never had such strong feelings and thoughts since. I have however felt "tired out" to the point of wishing I would not wake up from sleep. A new day always brings new experiences, good or bad. I try to concentrate on keeping a positive attitude, which has been working great so far.
Fast forward to present day. From my time being married to Tink and going through her Dad's suicide a month after we were married (Oct 1996), I've learned even more so the utter devistation a suicide has on those who survive the suicide. A survivor of suicide will never be the same, they are changed forever. What helped to save Tink was that I found a group of Survivors of Suicide here in Nashville and accompanied Tink for almost two years to meetings. It is the best thing for families or friends of those who completed suicide to be able to relate to others in the same situation. Many survivors feel they are Pre-dispositioned to doing the same thing their relatives did, but when you relate with others and see that your not alone in your pain, it helps you heal. At first the meetings were very tough to go to. The number of those who lost loved ones to suicide is staggering. Every week we would see two, three, sometimes four new faces who had just experienced their loved ones suicide.
We now go once or twice a year, usually around the anniversary of her Dads death or on Fathers Day. From the experience I have with Tink, I now more than ever, would never feel suicide was an answer of relieving stress and anguish all of us go through in life. If anyone contimplates suicide, they need to invision the greif they will bring to those that survive them. I know in my case that has helped me back away from doing a very perminent thing. It's perminent by removing yourself from this life, and bringing a perminent change in the lives of those who survive.
I know that some have depression so severe that if untreated they may get to the point of stopping their pain by ending their life. I wish all in this situation had the help from professionals to cope and live on. This is a very hard subject to talk about. Suicide has a great stigma attached to it. Those who have lost loved ones to suicide know what I'm refering to. It becomes a very large elephant that everyone never talks about, it just hangs there. We have written to some talk shows to see if they would consider doing a show on survivors of suicide. After many, many attempts we have never gotten a response.
This is a good thread Minimus, tough subject but a good thread.
CC
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I am shocked, disgusted and I feel violated
by berylblue ini have spent the last few days reading all the information about the wts on the internet.
i am shocked.
appalled.
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CC Ryder
Welcome BerylBlue!!...It's a little late but.....=:-)>
CC
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Please forgive me.....I didn't mean to
by Tatiana in..get anyone in trouble.
what i thought was a good idea....seemed to be a bad one.
innocently, i wanted to send each person here a valentine card.
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CC Ryder
I guess it's time I said something. I've been dealing with losing my job last week and trying to help Tink with the suicide of her friend a few weeks ago. To say the least it's been a bad Feb. Tink had told me of the e-card that you sent over the phone while I was at work. I didn't recognize the name and we both did not know you were sending it out to alot of us on the board.
I'm glad it's all cleared up. It was nice of you to send out Valentines Day wishes to everyone. I would have done a one time Happy Valentines Day post, but that's probably what every guy would do, take the easy way out...LOL. I also don't think something like that should be discussed on a public forum, it should have stayed private. I just wanted you to know that Tink is very sincere when she said that she apologizes to you and that she feels bad about how things went. We've talked about it over supper tonite and she felt very badly about reacting that way. Were all friends here, don't feel you have to handle us with kit gloves in the future.
CC
Edited by - CC Ryder on 14 February 2003 22:8:36
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I need to vent....
by CC Ryder ini've only been in and out on the boards to check and comment on some threads i was on.
tink and i have had a stressful few weeks.
my place of employment is taking a beating with the down swing of the economy.
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CC Ryder
Thanks everyone for the listings and great encouragement!!
Tink had her Brothers brother-in-law (a witness) take his own life last year and then her close friend a few weeks ago seemed to bring back the suicide of her Dad which she had been doing real well with. She felt like she took two giant steps backward, but I told her that it's just a natural reaction and not to think of it as a major set-back. She's doing better this week. Thanks again everybody, you all are good friends to have.
CC
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I'm 67 Today
by Undecided ini was born 67 years ago, it was the coldest feb 10 since that day.
i heard this on the radio.
it was about 4 miles from where i live in eden in an upstairs room in my mother's parents home.
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CC Ryder
Happy Birthday Ken!!!!
CC