Balsam

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Posts by Balsam

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  77

  Fell off the wagon today

  by 5thGeneration in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  one year sober.

  got bombed today.

  really upset at myself.

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  Balsam

  Don't give up the battle, know it isn't easy but tomorrow is a new day be determined.
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  18

  Are there dangers in being 'spiritual but not religious'? - CNN Article

  by Mr. Monday Night in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello friends -.

  i would like to share a news article from cnn i thought was interesting.

  i'm 'spritual but not religious' person who still believes in god almighty and jesus as his son.

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  Balsam

  I felt the article had some valid points. Without a spiritual community and being just you and God would you be moved to reach out to those in need? I know the Presbyterian Church I attend, the faith community is always looking out to community and saying how can I make it better. Our church currently has a community garden that we share with all our neighbors who live around the church. Would I be moved to reach out to those in need without the spiritual community, I think I would feel hesitant doing it alone.
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  36

  My personal thoughts on Ray Franz

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the death of ray franz hit me harder than i would have thought.. i had to reflect for awhile....alone......and quietly.. .

  after all, fine people die every day and some of them are indispensable, yet, we go on....don't we?.

  but, ray franz was something that can only be described in the phrase sui generis (one of a kind).. my task was to ask myself what it was that made ray so singular, potent and admirable without a trace of scandal or ill will attached to his memory.. .

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  Balsam

  All of us who read his books were set free from the control the WTS held over us. Thank goodness Ray had the courage to write those books, without him our walk out of the JW's would have been much harder. I remember before his books all ex-jws had to read was William J Schnell book about being "30 years a Watchtower Slave" book. Sadly I never read it when I was in because it was considered so apostate. I read that one after I'd read Raymond Franz books. He will be greatly missed and always appreciated.

  Ruth
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  13

  FED UP WITH IT ALL !

  by billie jean in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi, i haven't used this for a long time, due to the feeling of not needing to.

  i've been getting on with life, fine, for some time now.

  so been out 10 years, parents and other family still in.. well i guess i'm just asking how you cope, really, my family are becoming worse with me, and my son, (who has autism), little by little, and just the general putting the jw life before everything else, including me, my child, life in general, simple things and keeping us at arms length, it's really hard, as i have a relative trying to dig dirt on me, spreading it round the family in order to try and cause more upset for me.. so just a simple question, on how you've all coped in this situation.. thanks .

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  Balsam

  So long as your not disf'ed or disassociated the JW's will never leave you alone. I've seen them dog and spy on witnesses that haven't gone to meetings or service in 10 years. Their self-righteous idea of themselves prevent them from caring about you or keeping you in the fold. Sorry for the trouble but that is how it works. I was disf'ed 9 years ago and no longer have any contact with any of them. I did manage to get my two sons out of it, their disf'ed too.

  Leaving our loved ones is the hardest thing you'll ever do, and learning that your loved ones love you less than you love them is heartbreaking. That is what cults do to families.

  Ruth
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  23

  Press Covering the Death of Ray Franz

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the associated press is sending out on the news wire the information about the death of ray franz.

  this story will be picked up across the world by all major newpapers, tv and radio.. fyi, there will be a tribute to raymond franz, saturday, june 12th, at 7 p.m. est on the phone conferencing dialogue program.

  call.

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  Balsam

  Thanks Barbara & Joe for keeping us informed. Ray was the greatest whistle blower on the Watchtower Society we've ever known and his books were key to finding Christian freedom. He will be missed.

  Ruth Baker
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  22

  No Memorial For Ray Franz.

  by Blue Grass in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've read on multiple threads that ray will not have a memorial service per his request and that he will be cremated.

  on one hand this is good because it's confirms his sincerity and humility and shows he doesn't seek praise or attention.

  it's more evidence that his books were written honestly and weren't written out of spite or for just monetary gain.

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  Balsam

  Well it is easy to think of what we want or need but it is what Ray and his wife Cynthia wanted that's important. Funeral memorials or services are for the family. I think he made a wise decision in doing it his way. He was a very humble, kind, and thoughtful man.

  Ruth
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  49

  Apostate Signs At Conventions...Has Anybody Left Because Of That?

  by mentallyfree31 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just wondering how much good that does when ex-jws hold up signs at conventions.

  do you know of anybody that saw something on a sign and did research and subsequently left the organization?.

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  Balsam

  I can remember being very curious about protesters even as a new witness. I always thought if it is the truth how could anyone protest it, that I might not be in the truth bothered me. I only saw a few conventions where there were protestors.
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  54

  Ray Franz Passed Away Today

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just received word that ray franz passed away today at 1:37 pm eastern daylight time.

  the cause of death is stated as head trauma, likely due to falling to the ground, and a stroke could have also been part of the cause or a result of the fall.

  he died at emory university hospital in atlanta about 17 minutes after being taken off life support.

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  Balsam

  He was a great man and impacted all of us who read his book. I hope his book will continue to be published for all the folks still needing to read it. Condolences to his wife and close friends.

  Ruth Baker
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  147

  Did You Personally Know Any JWs That Were Sexually Molested By Other JWs?

  by minimus in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i knew of a handful (which is too many) that were molested by a jehovah's witness.

  it was not typical in my experience.

  what about you???.

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  Balsam

  While I was in the witnesses for 30 years I knew of two JW men who molested and had raped with their girl children. One man was an Elder for many years and molested his granddaughter. When I learned about this elder I couldn't understand why his daughter would even allow her daughter near her father knowing he raped her & her sister as a children. The other JW man molested all of his daughters and encouraged all their brothers to force sex on them also. All 4 of the daughters were so emotionally traumatized they suffered terribly.
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  32

  Circuit Overseer's Callous Remark

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was just thinking about a co's closing remarks one sunday after the watchtower study.

  he stated that he had heard that ray franz was dead.

  he didn't call him by name, of course.

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  Balsam

  I hope the CO's tongue rots out of his mouth that lousy creep.