besty

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Posts by besty

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  181

  OKM 09/07 (english)- Just another brick in the wall...

  by metaspy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok guys and gals, i (being the assistant to the magazine counter) have acquired the newest okm.. i have uploaded it to imagevenue.com: here.

  hopefully that works!.

  by the way drew, your translation was very close.

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  besty

  Did anybody else think the wording here was a blatant example of interchangeable use of 'Jehovah' and 'The Organisation'?
  
  "Under the guidance of his holy spirit and on the basis of his Word of truth, Jehovah <the Organisation> provides what is needed so that all of God's people may be "fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought" and remain "stabilized in the faith." (1 Cor. 1:10; Col. 2:6, 7) Surely we are grateful for Jehovah's <the Organisation's> spiritual provisions in these last days."
  
  As far as I am aware Jehovah hasn't provided anything for a few thousand years....yes/no?
  
  Besty
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  2

  Jonestown - Seductive Poison - highlight

  by besty in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've just finished reading this account by debbie layton and it is an incredibly revealing story of the inward spiral of cult membership.. i thought this section from her epilogue is worth sharing, definitely amongst ourselves but also perhaps with friends and family still 'in':.

  "i hope my book will give my daughter some answers about how i got caught and how the jonestown tragedy happened.

  i hope it will provide clues about the workings of a cult and shed light on the darkness of deceit.

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  besty

  I've just finished reading this account by Debbie Layton and it is an incredibly revealing story of the inward spiral of cult membership.

  I thought this section from her Epilogue is worth sharing, definitely amongst ourselves but also perhaps with friends and family still 'in':

  "I hope my book will give my daughter some answers about how I got caught and how the Jonestown tragedy happened. I hope it will provide clues about the workings of a cult and shed light on the darkness of deceit. There are essential warning signs early on. Our alarm signals ought to go off as soon as someone tells us their way is the only right way.

  When our thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside of the organisation are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment, and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult.

  If there is any lesson to be learned it is that an ideal can never be brought about by fear, abuse, and the threat of retribution. When family and friends are used as a weapon in order to force us to stay in an organisation, something has gone terribly wrong. If I, as a young wonan, had someone explain to me what cults are and how indoctrination works, my story might not have been the same."

  - Seductive Poison - A Jonestown Survivors Story of Life and Death in The Peoples Temple - Deborah Layton
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  55

  DO NOT CONTINUE SENDING EMAILS TO ME OR ATTEMPT TO CONTACT ME OR MY FAMILY.

  by esw1966 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  isn't it 'nice' to finally get letters from home!?????.

  this is the entire letter written to me by my sister:.

  "do not continue sending emails to me or attempt to contact me or my family.".

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  besty

  My brother (elder PO hardliner) has recently asked for emergency contact only, probably based on something like:

  Persons who make themselves 'not of our sort' by deliberately rejecting the faith and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses should appropriately be viewed and treated as are those who have been disfellowshiped for wrongdoing. -- The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, page 23.

  We have not been DF'd or DA'd - due to lack of evidence I suspect as we are definitely in the apostacamp :-)

  Complicating factor is our two young children - I am in two minds about whether to allow family access. It seems a shame for my brother to miss out on seeing his only nephews and for the boys to miss out on the compny of their only uncle, who is fundamentally a 'good' person. Decisions.decisions....
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  16

  DRUNKENESS AND ALCOHOL IN THE CONGREGATIONS

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  any takers?

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  besty

  1 - I know of a current serving PO who is borderline alcoholic and has been drunk and disorderly on holiday on a regular basis - lets call him Besty - .......no really....:-)
  
  2 - I have heard that Utah is the Prozac capital of the USA
  
  3 - and three.......b*gger - I have a had bottle of wine tonight and can't remember what point 3 is....:-/
  
  Cheers!
  
  Besty <of the happy clinker class>
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  62

  real questions from the readers

  by bigdreaux in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have really been enjoying all the parodies of questions from the readers.

  but, sometimes, it's just to easy.

  missanna was sent a watchtower from her "loving".

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  besty

  cheers droo
  
  it just bugged me that they can devote a QFR to caffeine and yet won't acknowledge that blood saves lives.
  
  can you imagine substituting the word 'caffeine' for blood on that infamous Awake! cover where they make martyrs of the children dying for the want of blood or a fraction???
  
  Cheers
  
  besty <of the double haemo-latte class>
• 
  62

  real questions from the readers

  by bigdreaux in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have really been enjoying all the parodies of questions from the readers.

  but, sometimes, it's just to easy.

  missanna was sent a watchtower from her "loving".

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  besty

  Questions From Readers

  Should a Christian avoid medical management that contains blood or blood fractions?

  The Bible does not rule out a Christian's utilising blood or products derived therefrom in a medical context. However, the Scriptures do provide principles that can help us to make wise decisions. Let us first consider why some people avoid treatment and procedures that contain blood.

  One major reason is that blood might be considered to be a life-saving product, having a healthful effect on the mind. It can also be addictive to be alive.

  A standard reference book for pharmacists states: "Prolonged, high intake of haemoglobin may produce tolerance, habituation, and psychological dependence on oxygen.

  Physical signs of withdrawal such as headaches, irritation, nervousness, anxiety, and death may occur upon abrupt discontinuation of the red fluid." The blood-withdrawal syndrome has been considered for inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, along with other drug withdrawal. Hence, it is understandable that some Christians may have concerns because they want to avoid any dependency and they desire to display self-control. —Galatians 5:23.

  Some believe that lack of blood can affect a person's health or that of an unborn child. Christians must love God 'with their whole soul,' so they do not practice anything that will shorten their life. And since they are also commanded to love their neighbor, they stay away from things that might harm an unborn child. —Luke 10:25-27.

  Are such health concerns warranted? There is controversy about a link between various diseases and caffeine consumption. Some researchers even report that blood is healthful when given to a dying person.

  In 2006, Time magazine reported: "Initial studies suggested [that lbood loss] might lead to bladder shrinkage, no blood pressure and other ills. More recent research has not only refuted most of those claims but also come up with some significant benefits. Red cells appears to have some protective effect against liver damage, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, gallstones, depression and maybe even some forms of cancer." On the circulation of blood and autologous storage a newsmagazine reported: "The key—no surprise—is moderation."

  Evidently each Christian should make a personal decision based on his understanding of the information currently available about blood and on the Bible principles that seem to be involved. For example, a Christian who is an expectant mother may choose to refrain from taking in breast milk during her pregnancy if she concludes that it could affect her unborn child with her white blood cells. If a Christian finds that being deprived of an occasional intake of blood makes him irritable or somewhat ill, he might be advised to abstain, at least temporarily, until he awaits the resurrection. (2 Peter 1:5, 6) Other Christians should respect such a decision, not pressing their view(except the HLC - they can press their view - see Changing Vulnerable Peoples Minds on Their Deathbeds pg 1 2004)

  Whatever decision you make regarding treatment containing blood,flood,mud and crud, keep in mind Paul's admonition: "Whether you are eating or drinking or taking a blood transfusion, do all things for God's glory." —1 Corinthians 10:31.
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  9

  Watchtower Society New Video "Organized To Share The Good News"

  by new_account in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  found this on youtube.com........ this is the society's new version of the old "organzation behind the name" video.... if for some reason any one wants.... part 1 - http://youtube.com/watch?v=c2fydk5tx5g.

  part 2 - http://youtube.com/watch?v=pv9d-hevnmy.

  part 3 - http://youtube.com/watch?v=qsllgd_d1xq.

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  besty

  welcome to JWD - new_account

  feel free to tell us a it more about yourself when you feel like it. We're always glad to hear new stories...

  Besty
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  13

  Wearing a suit at the beach on a desert island

  by ozziepost in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just came back home from visiting some south pacific islands.

  you know how it is - balmy winds blew through the palm trees, soft white sandy beaches, azure seas.

  then there were the natives - men with faces painted, spears in hand reminding us that it was only a generation ago that they were cannibals.. and they wore.....well, not much!.

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  besty

  I visited the Branch Office in Tel Aviv in 1989 and was impressed by the TMS Overseer conducting the meeting without a tie, and a short-sleeved cardigan with open neck shirt....such freedom....wonder if thats still going there?
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  20

  DESIGN WITHOUT A DESIGNER??? tsk-tsk.

  by karvel in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hot on the heels of behe's latest comes the aug,15 wt: what does design in nature reveal?

  they even used a nautilus for their cover.

  yikes.. cover:.

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  besty

  I'm in the middle of reading Richard Dawkins The God Delusion and he expands on funkyderek's point about natural selection at some length.
  
  Additionally he notes that creationists use other specious arguments eg. "Because science has gaps in its knowledge and can't explain everything, then our ID theory which explains everything (and nothing at the same time) must be right.
  
  I think that every ex-JW must give themselves a fair chance at being exposed to information such as Dawkins presents to at least allow for the possibility that there is no God.
  
  Cheers
  
  Besty
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  45

  Is the Watchtower Crumbling???

  by R.F. in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'll start with my congregation....... there have been about 7 disfellowshippings in my congregation alone within the last year.

  over half the congo is inactive and many more are irregular pubs.

  young people in the congo are dropping like flies.

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  besty

  R.F./Purps - why not post the KH Address and every fader in the world can ask for their record cards to be sent there if they are moving away from their local area :-)
  
  just a thought....