Posts by Billygoat

92

How Did Watching Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" Make You Feel?

by Ianone in

although i am not a catholic i found this movie to be the most powerful and uplifting thing i have ever watched.

for those of you who watched it, how did it make you feel?

Billygoat

I have yet to watch the movie. Growing up in a household where us kids were beaten on a regular basis, I have a very tender issue with violence. I literally get sick when I watch it. One of these days I'll have the courage to do so.

This is the problem I have with Judas, by the way, especially in the gospel of John. Judas is portrayed as Satans tool, literally posessed by the devil. But if it hadn`t been for Judas, and if it hadn`t been for the jews, there would have been no christianity. Most of the "blame" (although I think it`s wrong to talk about this in terms of "blame" and "responsibility"), should be put on Jesus himself. He provoced them all. Had they accepted him as the Messiah, would there even had been a christianity?

hellrider,

If you haven't seen "Last Temptation of Christ", consider renting it on DVD. THAT was a life changing movie for me! It portrayed the Gospel and especially Judas in a very different perspective. The director and producer took a lot of artistic liberties with the Gospel, but it definitely made you realize what Christ did and how nothing is by accident, especially Judas' role in Christ's slaying. It showed him as being PART of The Plan and he agonized over it, but Christ explained that he had to do it for the benefit of mankind. Since seeing that movie, I have an appreciation for Judas' part in the the whole story of my Christ's Life. Just like today, I have an appreciation for all the crap my parents and the JWs put me through. (Thanks Megadude for nudging me to watch that film!)

Andi

42

hey guys............for those who remember me...........

by Jesika in

jw
friends

hey ........been a while since i have been online...........how i miss being on the net......just havent been able......but good to see some of you still here.........and i miss talking to you.. just wanted to say hi!!!!

and that you are in my thoughts all the time.. love you,.

jes.

Billygoat

(((((Jes))))) There is an apostofest this Saturday! Please come!

15

Ten Rules for Dating My Daughter

by Big Dog in

i thought this was funny, pretty much sums up my attitude.. ten rules for dating my daughter!.

rule one: if you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

rule two: you do not touch my daughter in front of me.

Billygoat

Daughters of the dating age, a curse unto fathers. Its just so bad because we know exactly what the little rats are up to.

*with fingers in ears* LALALALALALALALALAL!

53

thinking positively - what is the best thing that happened to you or ...

by Crumpet in

jw
friends

.

that you accomplished in the last 24 hours?.

i ask becase i just keep reading lots of gripey posts (with good reason for sure, but i wanted to hear positive stuff no matter how mediocre or ordinary it might sound).. so tell me what was your highspot?

Billygoat

Billygoat - I liked your comment but I am searching for something more specific that made you smile just once, that made you glad to be breathing and alive?

Ah, Crumpet...sorry there dear. I'm a bit slow before my 2:00 sugar craving hits me. Actually, it started off the moment I woke up. I posted about it in another thread, but I'll put it here too:

This morning, I awoke to a big sunbeam coming through my window and it was landing directly and very brightly in my face. I remember my first thought was, "Good morning Lord." And smiling and turning over to get out of the sun. But a few moments later, the sun rose some more and the sunbeam landed on my face again. I actually giggled into my pillow because I felt like He was nudging me...not letting me sleep in. But it was sweet and gentle...like a kind Father would wake up a toddler.

10

What the doctor said about the JWs and blood

by MegaDude in

jw
friends

i work as a court reporter and wrote a doctor's deposition this evening at a very large hospital in dallas, texas, who is working on a clinical trial involving a drug that jehovah's witnesses use to help stop bleeding.

he mentioned the jws twice as he is involved in three different clinical trials using this drug which is a strong coagulant.

during a recess i asked him if he worked with a lot of jws and he said, "oh, yes.

Billygoat

Megadude,

Honestly, I am surprised to hear this. I am relieved, but surprised nonetheless. I would like to think that my parents and siblings would be willing to think for themselves when it comes to private matters as such. I was 19 when I was DFed and so entrenched, that I had a hard time for years thinking for myself in a healthy manner.

Little Toe,

Now I'm not suggesting by that that God doesn't hear prayers because they aren't addressed just right. I'm only suggesting that the idea of a relationship with their God isn't actually something the average JW thinks too much about. If they "pray using the right name, surely it get's there" and that's relationship enough if I'm "doing what the WTS tells me I need to do", seems to be the general consensus, and once that door is shut by the WTS because of some infraction, there is simply little left.
I'm not trying to paint a rule here, as it's just a general observation and people are as individual as their fingerprints...

I know for sure I didn't have a close relationship with God when I was a JW. He was a big something in the sky that would spy on me and try to catch me doing bad things. And when I said a swear word that morning, I would make bad tips at work that night for punishment. Seriously. That is how I thought He worked. But when I did great, wonderful things all day long, I would look for the blessings and find nothing. It was a very one way relationship IMO.

Thank God for the release from THAT bondage, eh?

Today, I am closer to God than ever before. It's a fun, sweet, comforting, and serious and yet sometimes silly relationship. During my day, I pray while I work and drive and cook and all the other daily things I do. I see Him in the nature and people around me. I allow myself to listen and experience everything and everyone as much as possible...believing that His essence is in those little moments in my life.

This morning, I awoke to a big sunbeam coming through my window and it was landing directly and very brightly in my face. I remember my first thought was, "Good morning Lord." And smiling and turning over to get out of the sun. But a few moments later, the sun rose some more and the sunbeam landed on my face again. I actually giggled into my pillow because I felt like He was nudging me...not letting me sleep in. But it was sweet and gentle...like a kind Father would wake up a toddler.

*happy sigh and shrug*

Just a little sliver of my life to share with you that's totally random and off topic, but thanks anyway. I guess the point of it was to share how personal my relationship with the Lord is today. And that in True Love, you really enjoy each other's company.

Andi

53

thinking positively - what is the best thing that happened to you or ...

by Crumpet in

jw
friends

.

that you accomplished in the last 24 hours?.

i ask becase i just keep reading lots of gripey posts (with good reason for sure, but i wanted to hear positive stuff no matter how mediocre or ordinary it might sound).. so tell me what was your highspot?

Billygoat

The best thing to happen to me in the last 24 hours?

That I'm alive and still breathing. And I'm so incredibly grateful for it! There is too much life to live to die.

30

No topic so I will just ramble

by joelbear in

jw
friends

i have finished 15 pieces in my pottery class so far.

i start my next 10 classes next monday night.. i have almost finished designing a board game.

i am going to build the prototype this weekend.. i have a shop at cafepress.com/joelbear.

Billygoat

What a lovely thread Joel!

My ramble:

This past weekend, Mozz and I went camping for our third year anniversary. The weather was beautiful and it was positively the best camping trip I've ever been on. We cooked sausage and eggs by the campfire for breakfast. We toasted marshmallows and made s'mores. We took hikes, enjoyed sunrises and sunsets, ate lunch by the water, made love in our tent. I had a bit of a spiritual re-awakening. And that is realizing how little I am in this big world. It is that littleness that makes my life so incredibly grand. I can make such a beautiful impact on those around me and actually make their lives better. What an amazing concept! That I can make other people's lives better! Mozz and I bonded incredibly close emotionally and spiritually. Three years into this marriage and it just keeps getting better!!!

We decided that maybe next summer might be a good time to start a family.

I just ate three chocolate cookies for lunch.

It's a beautiful day outside and I resent that I have to be inside doing invoicing.

My boss just gave me a good-bye hug on her way out the door and now I can smell her perfume lingering on me. For some reason it's comforting.

My boss is also helping me redecorate my house. We're picking out new fabric to reupholster my living room set and I can't wait to see the final product!

My house is a mess and Neil's best friend is coming over tonight. And I don't care that the house is a mess. He's a good friend and will still love us.

Mozz and I decided to wake up early at least three times a week and do a spiritual devotional together. So we're being pretty good about it and then praying together. All of this snuggled in bed with our kitties purring next to us. It's the best way to wake up in the morning. This morning was one of those mornings.

I'm feeling very positive about my life right now. I feel strong. Like no matter what Life hands to me, I will be able to muscle through it. Maybe not gracefully, but I will be able to do it successfully and come out better and stronger in the end.

Life is good.

Andi

19

JW MURDERS WIFE FOR LEAVING the 'TRUTH'

by DannyHaszard in

jehovah's witness shoots wife, self

new york daily news, ny - 8 minutes ago .

... my mother!

Billygoat

Gerard,

Because "traditional" or uneducated Latinos have a very high and unrealistic standard of manhood. So they expect and demand full sumbission from their wife. Even if separated, if the wife has a relationship with another man, the stranged husband takes it as the ultimate insult and sometimes conclude that violence is their only way to restore their dignity or manhood. The thought of "their woman" in bed with another man is heart breaking but for them is simply unbearable. Alcohol makes uneducated Latinos very dangerous to a non-submissive wife or even ex-wife

I can tell you right now, that I've witnessed men act like this and they were NOT Latino. Kinda harsh to sweep a broad brush with Latinos, dontcha think? Andi

31

How many here were mistreated by their "elder" fathers?

by hubert in

jw
friends

i am starting to notice some posts about ex-j.w.

's being mistreated, abused, by their fathers who were elders.. i wonder if this is quite common?.

hubert

Billygoat

It was so bad that night, that I called the elders myself. They said they couldn't get involved...it was family matters. Never again did I go to them for any help...

I did this once. We were very close to our bookstudy conductor in Hawaii. He really was a wonderful man, to this day I really respect and miss him. I met him at a diner, close to my high school, to tell him about my father's behavior. B.K. told me that he couldn't really do anything, but pray for me. Since it was a family matter and since my father wasn't breaking any laws, that he couldn't do anything.

Never again did I go to the brothers for help either. Bastards. They're quick to get involved when there is some little sexual tidbit to wrap their ears around, but they can't help when it's obvious a housefull of children are getting beaten with belts when they're naked??? *shaking head* God's people my @$$!

Sorry. Remembering that really pisses me off!

17

afraid it will turn into dubby land

by carla in

jw
friends

i have a thing coming up in which i am afraid it will turn into a dubby fest.

i am so dreading it.

it is a public venue.i only know a few faces from the hell.

Billygoat

LOL, I learned this technique with my in-laws and now I use it with my JW mother (the abrupt changing of the subject technique). Works well. You come off like a kid with ADHD who just ate an entire cake and drank a pot of coffee, but it works. It is so confusing to others, they can't keep up. Of course you need to use discretion when using the shock technique, but it is sooo much fun. :)

rebel, you are absolutely too much! I love it! I think I'll use the tampon comment next time I need an escape.