TheListener

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Posts by TheListener

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  89

  I am having some reservations about Barbara Anderson

  by JWoods in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  recently, there was a very nice thread in which one of our posters apologized for having the temerity to challenge barbara anderson.. i thought it was very nice to see that they made up and put the personal stuff aside.. however, i felt the need to call it like i really feel it - i was very put off by the barbara anderson reply in which she plugged her new promotional meeting.

  it brought back memories of that horrid little affair from a couple of years back when she kept posting up "the greatest new thing about blood which will bring down the watchtower society is just around the corner -- and i could tell you but then i would have to kill you, etc."..

  just like another jehovah's witnesses prophecy about the coming of the lord in our time.. i am beginning to wonder if perhaps the siren song of self-promotion is getting a little too strong for real life.. ok. i said it.. james - and saying it was not the easiest thing that i have ever done.

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  TheListener

  Thank you Barbara. I appreciate what you've done and continue to do.
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  19

  Two Babylons...

  by on the rocks in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we had this book in our congregation....some ppl used to make a ref to this book....any idea wats the connection of this book with the wts..

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  TheListener

  A good refutation of the book was written by Ralph Woodrow. It's called The Babylon Connection? and its ISBN is: 0916938174

  Check it out on Amazon.
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  183

  Hubby is Researching 607...

  by cognac in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  would you say that's the beginning of the end?

  hubby's researching if the beginning date can be proven from the bible its starting date is 607. clearly, he won't find the answer.... here's hoping he will see the light... .

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  TheListener

  The first issue I researched was 607.

  When I was a witness I sounded a lot like Scholar and in fact it was his posts (with others) that allowed me to see my own stupidity in a mirror.

  I've said this before, but thank you Scholar. If it wasn't for you and others like you I may have never gotten free.
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  20

  Crazy GB Rants from Bethel- All former B-lites please participate

  by lrkr in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just remember a few crazy gb rants- the topic on no smooching during the prayer got me to remembering a few:.

  losch- morning worship- roommates should pray together (inferred kneeling on the floor together).

  losch- morning worship- women have a natural craving for men that has to be managed and controlled by men.

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  TheListener

  Remember how the GB and heavies used to talk a lot about roommates not wrestling? They hit that very heavy in entrance school. Apparently wrestling leads to fornication and that is not appropriate for Bethelites.

  Perhaps wrestling wasn't the real problem, maybe it was that the roommates were oiling each other up first.
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  20

  Crazy GB Rants from Bethel- All former B-lites please participate

  by lrkr in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just remember a few crazy gb rants- the topic on no smooching during the prayer got me to remembering a few:.

  losch- morning worship- roommates should pray together (inferred kneeling on the floor together).

  losch- morning worship- women have a natural craving for men that has to be managed and controlled by men.

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  TheListener

  I remember Fred Franz's prayers and how they went on and on and on and on...

  and

  How Couch always talked about homosexuality and elongated the word like hooooomoooooosexxxxxxuaaaaaaaals. He was always talking about going to Manhattan and even mentioned the club CBGBs a couple of times. He talked about not touching the door knobs that the hooooomoooooosexxxxxxxxuaaaaaaaals use.

  and

  Gangas always having to ask questions. I think it was to help his memory.
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  62

  What/Who are the Saints?

  by PSacramento in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  according to the ot:.

  saints :gadowsh meaning holy one and referes to those that have kept themselves free of difelment, idolatry, and other unlcean and profane things or the word gaddiysh which means those who are sacred to the most high, but can also man gods or deities.. in the nt:.

  saint: hagios, meaning someone(something) revered, worthy of veneration, someone whos services god employs.. both meaning show that the individul is special and unique in god's eyes, yet there is no mention of any saint by name, the term always being use din the plural.. paul often addresses his letters to "the saints" of whatever church he was writing too and mentions "the saints" in general.. .

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  TheListener

  Ephesians 1

  1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

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  Colossians 1:2

  2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse

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  Do these verses imply or mean that the congregation is made up of saints and non-saints? If they are not a saint but are called faithful what does that imply?

  I'll say this: to my witness wife it implies two groups of christians (anointed and great crowd). I know that even the WTS doesn't teach that there were two groups in the first century but apparently that doesn't matter.
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  42

  On my way out of the "organization" and feeling very lost...

  by 2pink in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  firstly, thank god i found this forum!

  i've spent the better part of today while my kids were in school reading many threads.. some background...i am in my mid 30s, married, 2 kids.

  i was born and raised a jw...came from "good" stock...elders, pioneers, etc.

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  TheListener

  Welcome 2Pink.

  I'm glad you found the board. Please continue to read read read. Even if your husband won't read things himself (at first) if he listens to you then you are still making headway and much more successful that many of us on the board.

  Confusion, irritation, anger, depression, amazement and joy are all part of the exiting process.

  Good luck on your journey.
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  61

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

  by wantstoleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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.

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  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.
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  61

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

  by wantstoleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  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.

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  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?
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  7

  discussion with wife

  by inbetween in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  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.... .

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  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.