by grace

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Posts by by grace

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  33

  letter from congregation

  by by grace in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi all, i've been gone for a little while, but i'm back and i wanted to get some opinions.

  back in april i told you guys that i sent out my da letter to the congregation, our family, and some of our witness friends.

  well, we got a letter in response from two elders by certified mail.

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  by grace

  Does anyone know why I can only access this thread under active topics, and it doesn't show up at all under the Friends thread????

  I seem to have problems with this website.
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  33

  letter from congregation

  by by grace in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi all, i've been gone for a little while, but i'm back and i wanted to get some opinions.

  back in april i told you guys that i sent out my da letter to the congregation, our family, and some of our witness friends.

  well, we got a letter in response from two elders by certified mail.

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  by grace

  I swear I've read that 2nd paragraph (of the letter you received) in literature somewhere. Couldn't find it on their official site, but I swear it's a direct quote out of some literature...possibly a brochure. Someone said the same thing on the VH1 forum in the same manner (not putting it in quotes or citing a piece of literature it came from).

  I figured when I read it that it was a quote from somewhere, nothing is done by the individual, once the b0rg always the b0rg. Yes?
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  39

  Does being a JW make a person physically sick?

  by Gill in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  definitely mentally and more than likely physically.. i have read on a few posts and freeminds about an increase of mental illness amoungst jws of between 2 and 40 % and it seems understandable considering the amount of stress being in the borg puts on people.. but what about physically?.

  what are your experiences since leaving the borg?.

  do you feel well and fitter than ever before?.

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  by grace

  Gill,

  I can say from experience, definitely YES.

  Over my ten years, I had tons of migraines, back aches, pain in my neck and shoulder. I saw doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist. I was depressed, and it got worse and worse. I gained weight whereas before I was as skinny as a rail. Finally, it got to the point that my body attacked itself. I was told in November that I had severe hyperthyroid (Grave's disease). They put me on medicine, but I had a severe allergic reaction to it. I went off the medication.

  Then at the end of April this year I DA'd myself. I have felt so much better since then. More energy, less pain. My homeopath says I would probably see the difference in my thyroid if I had it retested. I'm going to wait a while and then go have it retested. I'm giving myself some time to recover. Won't that be something to have an auto-immune disease reverse itself because of leaving the b0rg??? I'll let you know.

  The psychological stress that was caused by the thoughts of all of my family and the whole world being destroyed at Armageddon, and the belief that everyone else was misled by their religion, and the feeling of being so isolated since everyone else is bad association, not to mention all of the pressure to perform......studying, meetings, conventions, assemblies, witnessing. Feeling that you aren't measuring up as you should in the door to door work. It all took its toll, for SURE.

  I know of other sisters and brothers who were going through similar circumstances. They felt they had chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, etc.

  So, I'd say, yes, being a JW does make some people physically SICK. The mind and the body work together. If the mind is tortured, it makes the body sick to preserve itself.

  Happy Healing, by grace
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  33

  letter from congregation

  by by grace in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi all, i've been gone for a little while, but i'm back and i wanted to get some opinions.

  back in april i told you guys that i sent out my da letter to the congregation, our family, and some of our witness friends.

  well, we got a letter in response from two elders by certified mail.

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  by grace

  Hi all, I've been gone for a little while, but I'm back and I wanted to get some opinions. Back in April I told you guys that I sent out my DA letter to the congregation, our family, and some of our witness friends. Well, we got a letter in response from two elders by certified mail. I'll share it with you, and you tell me what you think, OK????

  Here it is:

  We wish to extend again an offer to meet with you in order to discuss the issues you raised in your April 25, 2005 letter with various members of the XXXXXXX Congregation. All of us are saddened by your decision to separate from the congregation. No one is elated over it except those who are not Christian Witnesses of Jehovah.

  Jehovah's Witnesses and the members of the Watchtower Society love people---all people. Indeed, that is evident in their persistent global outreach with the message of God's kingdom under the Lord Jesus Christ. Who else is demonstrating a love for all humanity at that level? But like the Early Christians, the Witnesses suffer a public image problem. One university history text reports this about the Early Christians: "...the exclusiveness of Christianity, its unwillingness to admit that there might be truth in other religions, had irritated tolerant Romans." (Joseph R. Strayer, hans W. Gatzke, E. Harris Harbison; The Course of Civilization, Volume One [1961], page 146). When Jesus said: "...This is why I have said to you, No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father," the religious Jews took that as arrogance, presumptuousness and untrue. (John 6:65). Such thinking is not popular even now. We are certain you recall Jesus' words to the religious Jews at Matthew 23. Notwithstanding, Jesus died for all who would put faith in his sacrifice and subject themselves to his direction. (John 3:16). Many accept Christ as their savior, but on their terms. Their fate is unmistakenably described in the Bible. (Matthew 7:21-27).

  A host of scriptures spell out clearly how members of the congregation are to behave toward those who depart; we are certain you are familiar with these Bible passages. Despite our love for both of you, our love for Jehovah is greater and it determines how we must behave towards you. The time that has elapsed since you mailed out your letter of resignation and our communique to you shows that we are not anxious to lose you.

  XXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX, we respectfully request that you please respond to us by May 31, 2005.

  Your brothers,

  So, what do you guys think I should say back???????????

  I appreciate your input!!

  Love, by grace
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  18

  A relationship with God or the organization ?

  by vitty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been thinking about this for a while, so here goes.

  when i was in the "truth" i truly believed in god, i prayed and tried to do what was right ( wt style) then when i started reading stuff and the experiences on here it didnt take very long before i knew the "truth" wasnt true after all.. so after 20 years as an adult that i spent in, it litrually took a few hours to come out.. ive asked myself how and why did this happen?

  and so quickly.. at first i felt i still believed in jehovah, but if the wt was wrong, where did that leave me.

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  by grace

  I think I developed a relationship with God, a truly solid one, while I was a jw because of all the bible reading. Trouble was, my relationship also included the wts, so, I think a transition period is being felt now with the removal of the wts from my relationship with God.

  Now, it's a much better, much more real relationship, because I can be the real me and God does not include the wts, so he is more real now too. No more lies or pretending. So, I'd say my relationship has changed for the better. I'd have to say that Jehovah himself pulled me out of that b0rg (i just love that-so applicable!), so I see it as an answer to my many many sincere prayers to help me and lead me. I can feel a difference, not only spiritually and emotionally, but even physically. The REAL "truth" really is refreshing and it is a light load.
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  25

  Do You Think Pink?

  by prophecor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why are men petrified of the color pink?

  would you, as a man, ever wear anything pink, say a pink polo shirt, with a pair of faded blue jeans?

  although a bit out of the ordinary for most men, the artist in me ask, what is it with the very sexist colour of pink?

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  by grace

  My husband had a neon pink t-shirt he used to like from a Bar & Grill.....I liked it. He also had a pink "meeting" shirt and he looked good in it, but not all guys can do it and looooooooooook goooooooooooooooood.
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  22

  Why isn't the WTS more direct in regards to "apostate" web sites?????????

  by integ in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wonder why the wts does not specifically tell its hapless adherents to not go to apostate websites?

  references as to what to beware of on the internet seem to be painted with broad strokes.

  always first is pornography, then chat rooms.

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  by grace

  An example of the bastards' scripture twisting is in red letters above. John was speaking about anyone who does not bring the Good News about Christ.

  Thank you, Honesty, for pointing that out! So true!!!! Boy, they do know how to manipulate those scriptures, don't they?
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  31

  A very lonely life.

  by Harpy in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  how do i stop having a lonely life?

  i am 33 years old and have never had a relationship with anyone.

  i have never dated..and as much as i would like to blame the jws, truth is i have never been asked out by anyone..ever.. i am a bit large, but i am not too fat or ugly and i think i am a good person, so why can't i find someone??

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  by grace

  Another thing I find rewarding is helping others. It makes you and them feel good: I don't think JWs are encouraged to do much charity work they are too busy preaching to be bothered with making the world we live in (not Paradise on Earth) a better place that they miss the bus to being happy here on earth.

  Marcos, I agree with your comment. After all, Jesus did say there is more happiness in giving then receiving.

  Harpy, you're getting a lot of great advice, some crazy/funny advice too, but surely there are some things mentioned here that you know you can do that will help you.

  Lots of love, by grace
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  10

  Dr. Phil's show on Cults....

  by Will Power in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  this is due to air on tuesday.

  did any one write in?.

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  by grace

  Will,

  I saw the little blurb at the bottom of the screen, and I thought, man......we should all write in!! What an expose' that would be. Imagine! Looking forward to the show.
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  54

  A clean house is .... (you finish the statement)

  by BrendaCloutier in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  ... the sign of a busy household... or.

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  by grace

  I got it! I got it! It's a brand new experience for me, so it's fresh!!!!

  A clean house is........when you don't have any Watchtower Society publications in the house!!! lol