Posts by TheListener

61

If you pray, do you say 'Jehovah'...?

by wantstoleave in

just wondering of those that pray and who have left the organisation, do you still address god as jehovah?.

i think i'm currently in that awkward stage where i'm neither in or out, yet don't feel i should even address, or have the right, to talk to god (jehovah) until i decide where i sit.

so i'm wondering if it's hypocritical to pray and use his name.

TheListener

wantstoleave,

I see. I lost so very much when I left. It's never easy. Situations like yours is precisely why the WTS has disfellowshipping. They know that family is important and necessary and use that as leverage against their members.

It took me years to fade away and break free. Even now I'm not totally free. I guess what I'm saying is move at your own pace but always be thinking ahead. You deserve to be happy and to have a strong relationship with Jesus. After all he is our King, redeemer and the head of the christian body.

Good luck wantstoleave.

61

If you pray, do you say 'Jehovah'...?

by wantstoleave in

just wondering of those that pray and who have left the organisation, do you still address god as jehovah?.

i think i'm currently in that awkward stage where i'm neither in or out, yet don't feel i should even address, or have the right, to talk to god (jehovah) until i decide where i sit.

so i'm wondering if it's hypocritical to pray and use his name.

TheListener

Oh Boy do I know how you feel. I went for a long time saying something like teel did. I now use Father and My God and on occasion I use Yahweh.

I also try to remember that it's not the name that's important but my reliance on Him and my relationship with Christ.

You do have the right. Remember, God sent his son to redeem us even before we deserved it. He acted first out of his love and compassion. He wants to have a relationship with us.

As a side questions since your name is wantstoleave, what is holding you back?

7

discussion with wife

by inbetween in

recently i had a discussion with my wife..she always feels guilty for not doing enough for jehovah.. i tried to slowly show her, that we are not saved by works, that fear of armageddon should not motivate us at all , she agreed with everything, then she said something like "well, we have to know the scripures better, because one time we will not know, whom to follow, we have to know, what the scriptures tell us".

wow, i thought, there is a reasonable basis, i can built on, to slowly show her the corruption of the gb, but i have to be careful, baby-steps, i really had to hold back from just unloading everything i learned the past few months (which btw, just confirmed my own doubts i had for years).

next, on appropriate time, i will point out more stupitidy and controling issues, like in the new wt (about prayer and married couple) or the rules in the gods love book.....but i have to be careful, because she is were i was just a while ago, being loyal to gods org.... .

TheListener

inbetween,

You did a great thing and I congratulate you. It's not easy having those conversations. You never know when your witness spouse is going to take a minor conversation nuclear and have it spread to all sorts of topics and parts of your life that you didn't want or expect.

I have just a couple of ideas that may help you. You could, if you don't already, start using the word grace in your conversations. Don't go overboard but use it instead of other words that you may already be using. You know it's not a word or concept that Witnesses have so hearing the word is actually quite jarring to them at first. But, hearing it from you and never hearing it at the hall may help you in the long run.

If she wants to know the scriptures better ask her if she'd like to read the Bible together. Whether you use this as a chance to plant seeds or just read the Bible as a way to strengthen your connection is up to you. You could even follow the WTS schedule since she's probably wishing she could do that already. But, when questions come up or discussion arises you should use a non-WT book or commentary for research.

The other thing I thought of while reading your post was her loyalty to the Org.. I was thinking that before you show her how controlling the GB is and how they are not God's mouthpiece that you should set up a new foundation for her. Right now the GB and Witness structure is her spiritual foundation. No matter what happens she will cling to it. However, if you start mentioning how Christ is the real foundation for christians and how he is the head of us (without getting into the trinity quicksand with her) you can begin to set up a foundation next to hers and slowly move her over to it. You may need to do some advanced study on Christ and our relationship to him but there are excellent scriptures and some helpful books that can aid you.

Good luck.

4

Annual Report??

by TheListener in

jw
friends

has anyone added up the varous km's over the past service year to determine the % of growth for the last service year?

TheListener

Wow, talk about a dud of a thread.

BTT

4

Annual Report??

by TheListener in

jw
friends

has anyone added up the varous km's over the past service year to determine the % of growth for the last service year?

TheListener

Has anyone added up the varous KM's over the past service year to determine the % of growth for the last service year?

29

important counsel about the BS changes... puke

by song19 in

i seem to be on a dubs spam list... anyhoo, i just recieved this now if you really want to read it.

hello, brothers and sisters:.

9 at that satan answered jehovah and said: "is it for nothing that jehovah's witness have feared god?

TheListener

Everyone's comments are right on.

Getting ready to meet in private homes by cancelling the meetings in private homes. oh that's goood.

Why did Wendy define the standard dub terms?

43

What was your first Computer?

by The Lone Ranger in

jw
friends

the last topic got me thinking about this.. my first computer was back in 1981, a sinclair zx81, it has 1k of memory.

then in 1982 i progressed to a clone of an apple 2 with 16k of memory which i incresed to 48k, a floopy drive for that apple cost me $600 !!!

.. in approx 1987 i got an ibm xt 640megs with a 20meg hard drive..it was like a dream .

TheListener

First VIC-20 (made by commodore)

Then Commodore 64

I loved those things. The tape drive, floppy drive and the plug-in expansion modules. whoo hoo.

6

Gleaning and Fasting, what are the Jehovah's Witness views on this?

by insearchoftruth in

my wife was wondering why some people fast as religious practices and i told her that fasting is often spoken about in the bible, both ot and nt.

what is the viewpoint of the wts on the practices of gleaning and fasting?

i am amazed about how many things these "bible students" just gloss over in their teachings and studies.....but i guess neither fasting nor gleaning gets magazines and books distributed, do they?.

TheListener

There have been articles on gleaning and tithing. Basically the jw's go with the principle of the matter and not the physical aspect of it.

Bethelites glean after meals (they run around like maniacs with tupperware and stuff to gather leftovers from the various dining tables).

They don't really discuss fasting.

8

When do folks who study with a JW generally start to tell thier friends?

by insearchoftruth in

my wife is again studying with a jw sister, and earlier this week the sister was telling her about how wonderful it is to witness for jehovah.

well since i have known my wife, she has never spoken positively about the jws to anyone.

when can i expect her to be told that she should be sharing this with others.

TheListener

Every person is different. Many swear they'll never go door to door - but they eventually do.

If your wife has spoken negatively about the witnesses to her friends then she'll have to get over her embarrassment before she lets them in on the latest news.

She may not be discussing it with you because you are going to try and reason her out of it or she may also be embarrassed and not want think about you looking down on her intelligence for studying, especially after the negative talk (not that you do look down on her - it's an irrational fear - everyone has irrational fears).

I would say that when she does start openly mentioning it and telling others - she's bought it hook line and sinker. You have until just before she starts telling others to get her out. First comes her internal decision of acceptance and then after an unknowable period of time comes her verbal affirmation of her internal decision.

33

Witchtower twists yet another scripture 2Cor 12: 8 -10 Nov 15 WT

by hamsterbait in

november 15 study edition, p24 para 5.. "regarding his "thorn in the flesh", paul made fervent pleas to jehovah (the scripture actually says the lord) read 2 cor 12: 8 - 10) god did not miraculously relieve paul of the "thorn in the flesh".

instead, god strengthened him to endure it.

jehovah's (whose???

TheListener

Leolaia,

Great post, as usual.

I didn't realize the MT and LXX varied so much on Leviticus 24:16.