what are your motives for being here?.
1. to get information.
2. to slam the wtbs at every opportunity.
GodRules,
I love the fact that you have such a loving Christ-like attitude. You know, if I were wanting to come back to the organization, it would be your sweetness that would be such a motivating factor for me.
My reasons: 1, 3, and 4
Nobody else in my life understands the amount of grieving that takes place to get over being disfellowshiped from your church, family, friends, etc.
Billygoat
i just had my navel pierced yesterday.
can i just say ow?!!
the place i chose to have it done was a little on the scary side, clean but weird!
Princess,
My navel took 3 years to heal! Not that it was an open wound the whole time, but it took that long to where I could change the jewelry without the hole closing up within 15 seconds and hurting like hell to put something new in it. So take care of it. Don't use anything on it except a mix of sea salt and warm water or a simple anti-bacterial soap. Neosporin will actually infect it (oily residue attracts dirt and fuzz). Keep it simple.
I think it's great that you did it. Show it off! I know that my tummy is NOWHERE near perfect, but I show it off anyway. My boyfriend LOVES it - thinks it super sexy. BTW - he has both of his ears pierced and wears little silver hoops. No tattoos though. I'm workin' on him!
Billygoat
i have to post tonight.
i'm feeling so alone.
stopped here at the library to post this, on my way to the book study.
troubled,
Please know that I am praying even as I write this. (((hugs)))
I have fought depression off and on for years since my DFing. I treated it several different ways. I sought counseling. I took anti-depressants. I let myself cry on the shoulders of those I knew were safe. I prayed alot.
Last year, for some reason it just went away. I finally got enough confidence. I finally understood my relationship with God wasn't tied to me through my JW parents or the WTS. I finally "got a grip" as they say. I cannot explain it. It wasn't me who "got it together". It was all by the grace of God. He continued to take care of me outside of the Tower. And I finally let Him!
You are not whining. You are grieving for a loss. A loss of hopes, dreams, beliefs. It's okay. It's human. Please know that there are MANY here that LOVE YOU and WANT the best for you! We DO understand! Come to this board and vent/cry/express as much as you want. It won't scare us off. We won't leave you.
You will continue to be in my prayers. Please email me personally, if you want to talk privately. Hang in there it DOES get better!
Lots of Christian love,
Billygoat
has anyone here ever read "reasoning from the scriptures with the jehovah's witness" by ron rhodes?
if so, what were your thoughts.
ISOCF = In Search of Christian Freedom
BG
ill be praying for you.
this thread is not about literally praying for someone (not trying to get into a discussion here about the existence of a god) so much as it is about the thought behind such words uttered by one person by another individual who the speaker knows is facing a difficult situation.
here is what happened to me while i was still trying to hang on as a jw (though i knew full-well that there were many problems with the jw faith):.
I am amazed daily at the amount of love and support I get from my "worldly" friends and acquaintances. As a JW, I was always told that worldly people just went through the motions when it came to love/support/friendship/prayers. That it was never heartfelt and after the initial comment you'd never see them again. A little ironic, huh?
Billygoat
when i was a witness:.
i used to think they were materialistic, wordly and didn't raise their kids right.. i used to tell my non-jw husband that if he didn't come to the meetings that we wouldn't be together forever.
i'd say that when he'd say something like "i'll love you forever".
Thank goodness I have changed so much since then too! I met up with a "worldly" friend of mine, who knew me when I was a JW. She was the one that took me in after I was DFed and kicked out of my parents house. I went crazy with a "worldly" lifestyle, while living with her. A few years ago, when I started attending a church - I could tell she was thinking, "Oh great! Here we go again!" But last week when I talked to her she gave me the biggest compliment. She said, "You know what? You are a much better person today than you were years ago all devout and religious in that cult." I smiled and said, "Lord, I hope so!"
Billygoat
i have seen coc posted on the internet in german, and possibly in at least one other foreign language.. coc has been out in english for 18 years.
i obviously don't know any of the particulars regarding ray's financial needs, his deal with the publisher, or the annual sales.. however, i would like to make an appeal to the various interested parties that coc be posted on the internet.
surely there are other parties interested enough, with financial resources to compensate ray equal to his annual income from the sale of coc.
I ordered mine kind of "anonymously" through Amazon.com. Nobody would have known about it. Do you think that is still scary to most JW's??? Just curious...
Billygoat
does anybody know of ..anybody that has read coc and not been affected so as to leave/question the society?
i myself haven't read it, but am curious about this.. thanks,.
looking
GodRules,
You make me laugh! Korah and Ray Franz are nowhere near the same story! You are comparing apples to watermelons.
Besides that, where in Ray Franz's book did he say he wanted authority in the GB??? I don't remember that at all. Throughout the entire reading, he wanted to live THE TRUTH. He wanted to live what the BIBLE taught. And that there were too many discrepancies between the BIBLE and the WATCHTOWER. He never said he wanted control or that he was sad to not have control. Where are you getting that?
I found the book to be extremely well written. It told of RF experience in a very non-emotional way. He stated facts and questions that he asked himself. I think more than any other emotion, Ray experienced grief and sadness over losing so many friends and family over standing up to the Bible. I don't see where in his book he was "pissed" as you said.
Billygoat - annoyed for the first time on this board
i've posted in the past under the nic, "doubting sister", but i'm no longer doubtful.
i'm totally convinced, the witnesses are just another religion like any other.
actually, i consider them a cult, but i think many religions have cultish tendencies anyhow, so i'll refrain from calling them that for now.. because of this site i've been able to see things more clearly and i'm feeling better about leaving.
Fellow pierced sister -
Welcome! Thank you for sharing your story. I am so relieved to hear that another one has broken free. I delight in your presence on this board!!! One of these days, I hope to have my JW family joining me on this board as well. One of these days...
As for your piercing - you go girlie! Mine was a very liberating experience as well. It was a total turn on for me! If any of my old JW friends were to find out, they'd be shocked. I was always so sweet and submissive. Haha!
As for holidays - celebrate them to the fullest. My first birthday was my 20th after I was DFed. It was wonderful! So was my first Halloween. I dressed up as a Playboy bunny. Christmas was even better. The love that my "worldly" friends surrounded me with was amazing! I realized that they really were celebrating the glory of Christ. Not some commercialized gift exchange day like the JW's said it was.
My friends today laugh at the fact that I take birthdays and holidays so seriously. They think I act like a big kid! Am I? Of course. When somebody is freed from living the oppressing life of a JW, she personally becomes convicted to celebrate LIFE (not just holidays) to the absolute fullest! I hope that my childish wonder about Christmas and Easter is contagious. I hope it reminds others that those days have a PURPOSE. That they are reminders of who we are to each other and what is important to our lives.
I wish you the best PA! The very, very best! Welcome to the board!
Love,
Billygoat
here i was in happy-no one is really bothering me too much-lala land, until yesterday when i had to go and open my mouth.
a pioneer sister from our hall emailed me to inquire what was preventing me from attending the meetings, and asked what was holding me back from going.
(this is about the 5th or 6th email asking this question) welllllll, i guess i just reached a point where i couldn't pretend anymore.
So proud of your courage! It comes to all of us in due time. I'm still waiting to be confronted by my family about my new church affiliation. I have noticed that since I've started posting here (about a month?) that my Mom doesn't do her little weekly phone calls to me. She won't even respond to my voice/emails. Wondering if maybe she's gotten wind that I'm here? Hmmm...
Mom, are you there? It's me Billygoat!
