fiddler

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Posts by fiddler

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  73

  This weeks service meeting! More craziness.....

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so this weeks service meeting is so full of "crazy".

  a whole 15 min part devoted to trying to indoctrinate everyone on how to "explain our beliefs on 1914".

  then another 15 min part called "a tool to help us explain our beliefs about 1914".

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  fiddler

  I remember trying to 'do the math' on the 1914 thing and it seems to me that the date also hung on an interpretation of humankind only being in existence since 4026 BCE, the 6,000 year thing but maybe that was just the one to explain 1975. I'm so confused
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  40

  What is the perfect product to sell to a JW?

  by usualusername in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what is the perfect product to sell to a jw?.

  cheap?.

  exclusive?.

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  fiddler

  Theredeemer....I was going to post about the miracle footbaths but you beat me on that! My JW daughter is doing that along with the ionized alkaline water scam. it's kinda like the 'water of life' preview 😄
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  27

  New explanation of Gog of Magog: Two Gogs?

  by leaving_quietly in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just finished watching the recording of the talk at the annual meeting that re-explains gog of magog.

  i caught something not previously talked about, that i can recall.. gog of magog is thought to be a coalition of nations that attach god's people during the great tribulation.

  this is from ezekiel 38 & 39.. gog and magog in revelation 20 represents those with the same attitude as gog of magog.. thus, the new teaching (maybe not new, but i'll have to research this) is that gog in ezekiel is not the same as gog in revelation 20. two different gogs, happening about a thousand years apart.. .

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  fiddler

  This sounds more like the GB themselves!

  just saying......

  Satan exalts himself to the position of supremacy like unto that of the Most High, Jehovah. Gog, the chief officer of Satan, takes the place similar to that occupied by Jesus Christ, the Prince or Ruler or King of the great THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
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  87

  A question for my friends in the USA about cowboys.

  by punkofnice in

  1. social
  2. current

  as a kid growing up in the uk we used to play 'cowboys and indians' and watch high chaparal and bonanza along with other cowboy films.

  later, in the 70's kung fu would be shown with caine going through the 'old west'.

  we even had a chocolate bar that was marketed with a 'cowboy' theme...milky bar.. as far as i know the 'wild west' as shown on tvdidn't actually exist.. are there people that believe it did?.

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  fiddler

  When I went to Montana a few years ago with a couple of exJW's I met online to meet up with another exJW I pretty much felt like I was in 'Cowbow land'. There was like a farm with 100's of acres of land with cattle grazing separating it from the next farm.... It was beautiful to see so much open country. Coming from the West Coast Montana seemed like going back to a different era.

  Where I grew up, Arizona, old Tucson always had reenactments of the Wyatt Earp OK Corral thing. That did pretty much happen during a pretty violent old West time period. When people began expanding outwards from the East Coast to the West there was not a lot of law and order. It would have been a very hard time to live in I think.

  The infringement upon native American tribal territories was filled with guns and blood. I would equate it with England's infringement upon the Welsh and Scots and Irish. Pagan Celts and pagan Indians.......same dif to the powers that were.

  Cattle are moved today not by cattle drives but by big cattle trucks (lories)...not so glamorous but then, I don't think cattle drives were particularly glamorous. The Midwest is where the big cattle ranches are. For a funny take on American cattle drives you should listen to Garrison Keilors Prairy Home Companion. It's a radio show (yes! there are a few still in existence!!) On it there is a skit with two 'cowboys' and it's always quite funny to listen to. Maybe if you google Prairy Home Companion, cowboys http://youtu.be/K9c-7WLngIg?list=PLC9DA5CEFECE613B8
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  46

  A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION to those on J.W.NET...

  by new hope and happiness in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what is important to you and why?.

  maybe i should begin with a few suggestions:-.

  love,.

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  fiddler

  The first most important thing for me was being able to appreciate other people's thoughts and beliefs and actually learning from the diversity of thoughts and beliefs as opposed to thinking I had the only 'truth'.

  Music is my life and knowing that it is perfectly acceptable to live breath and eat music instead of being told it is 'just a hobby' to be persued later in the fantasy land 'new system'.

  Realizing that each day, each hour and each and ever minute of the day is a gift to be used as best as we can and to live in the moment and not for a fantasy (again....fantasy new system). I appreciate each day I awaken anew!

  My children, all grown, are so very important to me and with a new grandchild due in November the family tree enlarges and is even more precious.

  Other things like a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a nature hike, a bike ride on a great bike trail, my beloved doggie, taking aforementioned doggie on walks in the neighborhood and appreciating the yards and gardens and holiday decorations of my neighbors and the smiles and greetings of other walkers.

  Last but not least, MY STUDENTS! In passing along my love for the violin and hearing both the young students and older ones finding joy in this instrument makes me feel like I am fulfilling my major purpose in life........passing along the gift of music.....and so my second comment ties in with my ending comment. I am also finding a lot of joy playing in a community symphony. It challenges my aging brain and after rehearsals a lot of us meet up at a pub for good drink, food and company! It's all good!
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  10

  The Resurrection Hope - Does It Help or Slow Down Grieving?

  by usualusername in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think the resurrection hope really really messes up people.. .

  at some funerals i have not seen a tear shed.. .

  could grieving be interpreted as a lack of faith?.

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  fiddler

  I was only 2 years out when my husband died so my experience of grieving was a mixed bag. I had taken on a sort of 'reincarnation' view at the time but also admitted to just not knowing. We had a remembrance evening for him where 1/2 the people that came were Jdub (my kids were still in) and the other half were his non Jdub family and friends from work. I let the witnesses have a little Bible talk in the theater (it was held in the community room of my apartment complex) and my MIL brought memorabilia from his childhood like his Eagle Scout awards and pictures that were set up on tables. I did what he and I had already discussed...I played music with some of my musician friends. We did everything from old time gospel (MIL appreciated that) to Christmas even. It was late November and there was a beautiful Christmas tree there. I'm quite sure it just shocked the Jdubs who were there but I didn't care at the time. Don't know if I'd do it different now...

  I do know that the so called resurrection 'hope' was no hope to me. My husband certainly would not have wanted to be resurected to a world filled with the people who treated him like a failure in life.
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  42

  My best friend died yesterday

  by TimeBandit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  sometimes people make special connections to animals.

  sometimes they bond very deeply and are real friends.

  yesterday was the end of such a friendship that lasted ten wonderful years.

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  fiddler

  Time Bandit, I am a consumaye dog lover. They can teach humanity a thing or two about love and loyalty. Last January I was blessed to have a 5 year old Shar-Pei/Red Healer mix. I have since looked at the life expectancy of both breeds and think maybe another 5 years....

  No, not what I really want to think about now. I had a beloved little Dachshound mix that grew up with my children and she died at 14 years...

  they are FAMILY! It's never easy losing them. I still have this little story printed out with Sascha (Dachshound) pictured beside it. It is about making that final call and your good and loyal dog thanking you for making that call. I don't know how to link things on this site to post that story but suffice it to say, you did the most loving thing. Peace be with you and know that you did the right thing.
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  30

  Female Perspective about WTS, marital relationship & control

  by Muddy Waters in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  despite my user name, am female.

  i was not born-in, began studying when i was around 20, am 50 damn years old now and have spent almost the last 30 years in that stupid religion.

  but here are some observations, make of them what you will.

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  fiddler

  You just described my marriage but unfortunately my tantrum turned into some self destructive behavior for a couple of years (in which time I too woke up) The sad part about it is that my husband got sick and died right when we both could have really started living.

  Still, I'm always happy to hear success stories like yours. Enjoy your lives together! You can't go back.
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  16

  Discussion with 2 Elders about IS

  by Da.Furious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  some will notice i was really busy during the weekend, thats true as some jws will say i was in a spiritual paradise surrounded by brothers.. my view of a paradise is everybody living in harmony and happy, my weekend experience was more like unhappy people and complaining about almost everything, not to mentioned the quite discussion in the corners (i.e.

  gossips).. anyway, during on the discussions, the is (islamic state) topic was started.

  it all started when on the elders said that he prefers to talk to muslims in the ministry since they are more open minded and accept our teaching.. i dont come from a muslim background but lived among them enough to understand what they believe.

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  fiddler

  Da.Furious, maybe if you see that elder again you can still ask the question 'what's the difference?' Way back when I was newly out my father said something that I bit my lip on and later kicked myself for not saying anything. A few years later I pointedly 'resurected' the topic and asked the hard questions. It didn't change his mind on anything but I felt better for standing up rather than bowing down to their intimidation.
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  43

  How old were you when baptized?

  by Coded Logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was baptized at the age of 11. like most of us, my commitment wasnt to honor god but rather i was gang pressed into the service of the wtbts.

  and, at such a young age, it was impossible for me to appreciate the enormity of my actions.

  honestly, how could i possibly have known any better?

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  fiddler

  I got baptized at 16 in 1973 along with my new step mother who was 8 years older than me. My father stood in the back of the hall because he was disfellowshipped for marrying the 24 year old step mother a day after his divorce from my mom was granted. He got reinstated within the year and I stood by him through all that. When he was sick with cancer back in 2012 he and my stepmother shunned me like I was poisen and wouldn't let me see him once. He died never speaking a word to me because I dared to leave the religion I basically was born in and got baptized in as a Kid.