An SUV full of JW's pulled into my country home driveway and a woman and her pre-teen son came to the door. I greeted them with a warm smile, wondering to myself if they knew who I was. I doubt they did as they presented me with the single sheet invitation to the Little Rock district assembly to be held July 14-16.
I thoughtfully looked it over, wondering as I did, what I could say to stimulate her thinking.
"Thanks for the invitation but you should know that I used to study with your people some years ago. I was troubled during that study as I learned that your organization has a history of attempting to predict dates for certain events they think will take place. I may be leaving out a few dates since you caught me off-guard but I seem to remember 1874, 1914, 1919, 1925, 1942, and 1975."
Her young companion's eyes were wide open as I slowly used my fingers to tally them out loud. While trying to continue her smile and appear unshaken she came back with, "I've heard of that 1975 date but that's the only one."
I concluded, "I'll concede that your group is not very proud of those other dates as well and they know it would only serve to discourage you by disclosing them. I'm not making this up and I encourage you to search for yourself in their older literature but it'll take some time and effort. You can find some of their books and magazines on eBay and other places. You can also search the Internet for the phrase "Jehovah's Witnesses" along with the word "dates" where you can see copies of such books and magazines on your own computer screen. But thanks for stopping by."
I was truthful about everything including having studied with her organization. Doesn't the year 1955 count? I was baptized (she never asked) in 1956.
Fats
Fatfreek
JoinedPosts by Fatfreek
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13
They finally made it to my door
by Fatfreek inan suv full of jw's pulled into my country home driveway and a woman and her pre-teen son came to the door.
i greeted them with a warm smile, wondering to myself if they knew who i was.
i doubt they did as they presented me with the single sheet invitation to the little rock district assembly to be held july 14-16. .
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Fatfreek
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28
I cannot beleive i am an " apostate"
by sspo inmy hell is just beginning, 26 years of marriage, almost divorced last year until we finally decided to get back and give it another try this year.
now i'll have to meet with the elders and tell them about my spirituality and doubts about the wts, 1914, 1995 generation change,malawy/mexico,and on and on and my wife will be there.
i do feel sorry for my wife because she has already lost 13 members of her family, "apostasy" and some just left the truth and even though some are not disfellowshipped she won't talk to them, now her husband, is going thru the same thing, she cannot accept it because out of 31 y. in the truth i was an elder and how could that happen.
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Fatfreek
Cyberguy hit it on the head for me:
I would suggest the “depression” defense, along with getting older in life with its many health problems, and that you don’t want to further your depression by such a meeting.
If I had to do it over I'd be tempted to take the "fading" approach so many here have done. Of course, I had kids then and my regret was that they stayed with their mom which gave me no opportunity to work from "the inside". The moment you leave, you are on the outside and they are required to shun you and avoid that influence you could impart if you were close.
Oh, yes, there's the honesty thing. I say, take the approach of the WT that all is fair in theocratic warfare. Fudge a little if and when you meet with that JC. They lie when it's in their best interests.
My two pennies.
Fats
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slip of the tongue of elder
by DannyBloem in.
this morning the speaker was late and they had to change the wachtower study with the public talk.. the young elder introducing this, was maybe a bit nervous of this happening (although it is certainly not the first time this year), and told that the public intercourse of the wachttower study would be held first, instead of the public discourse.
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Fatfreek
One elder in a public talk mentioned the "Blue Bonnet Plague" at least three times. All heads in the audience turned each time he said it.
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My Thoughts About The "Deliverance Is At Hand" D.C.
by enlightenedcynic injust finished attending the dc.
i am exhausted and i only went one day.
my wife fell ill thursday night and she could not attend the friday or saturday session, and me being the loving husband that i am, i stayed home and took care of her and the kids(humongous smile)!!!!
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Fatfreek
EnlightenedCynic,
Your description of the details made me cringe. It was 1977 when I attended my last one. You made me appreciate where I am -- not there.
Excellent recap and thanks for taking the time to share.
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I made a proposition to my dad - the ex-elder
by divejunkie inmy dad is visiting us this month...so we get to talking .
every chance i get i drop a "little" bomb about the wts - nothing big to cause an argument but powerful enough to make him think and not have an answer.
anyway, he is the ultimate "pack rat".
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Fatfreek
Thanks, Jgnat.
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7
I made a proposition to my dad - the ex-elder
by divejunkie inmy dad is visiting us this month...so we get to talking .
every chance i get i drop a "little" bomb about the wts - nothing big to cause an argument but powerful enough to make him think and not have an answer.
anyway, he is the ultimate "pack rat".
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Fatfreek
The "apology" for 1975, for instance,
Where can we find that, Jgnat? What does it say?
Fats
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4 JW's KILLED by TRAIN out in SERVICE
by DannyHaszard intrain crash victims spreading word about jehovah's witness faith
fifty-six-year-old annie johnson of somerville, 54-year-old rosa jones ... waff
2 hours ago
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Fatfreek
Hey guys and gals, please go easy on DaCheech. Yes, he spun it one way. But he was honest and put his own disclaimer up front -- one some of you chose to ignore and rub in. Why didn't you add a little salt along the way?
Remember, the Society, at times, does its own share of spinning when such tragedies happen -- only the other way. I recall (please help me out here) a national tragedy in South America many years ago. It could have been an earthquake, floods, a busload of kids tumbling into some ravine.
An article in Awake (I think) did some arithmetic showing how the ratio of non-jw casualties was higher than jw casualties. I thought at the time this was completely rude and insensitive to people who may have had loved ones among the casualty list. All this while totally ignoring their preached stance of "time and unforeseen occurrence".
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43
What is the power the Internet has against the WTS, and how best to use it?
by jwfacts init has been discussed that the internet is bringing the wts to its knees far quicker than ever hoped for several reasons:rapid access to research of old publications through databasesanonymous nature of finding informationease of which a person can stumble accross information.
another powerful reason is interactivity with other people.
the ability to rapidly see many ideas on a board like this, ask questions and get answers allows personalisation to the individual needs of every truthseeker.
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Fatfreek
Hey, Rabbit. That's the Fest I was referring to, the one Little Toe inspired. It'll be my utmost pleasure to shake your hand.
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What is the power the Internet has against the WTS, and how best to use it?
by jwfacts init has been discussed that the internet is bringing the wts to its knees far quicker than ever hoped for several reasons:rapid access to research of old publications through databasesanonymous nature of finding informationease of which a person can stumble accross information.
another powerful reason is interactivity with other people.
the ability to rapidly see many ideas on a board like this, ask questions and get answers allows personalisation to the individual needs of every truthseeker.
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Fatfreek
This is a great thread. There are so many good suggestions here. Yes, there are pros and cons but that is where we can shine in contrast to the WTS.
First, LadyLee, thanks for setting me straight. I assure you that there were no ulterior motive in my questions. Second, I've been enjoying your life chapters (another thread) very much. That certainly takes a bunch of courage on your part.
Back on topic, SlimBoyFat, your mention of the larger apostate gatherings caught my eye. I've never been to one and frankly, I think I'll pass if one comes along again. My next gathering will be my first and if it pans out will be in Dallas at the end of July. I'm looking forward to the more informal atmosphere that it seems to offer, a gathering in some park or by a lake where children can scream and adults can hoist a can of beer if they want. I'm not one for the drone of the formal one-speaker-speaks and the lemmings listen. Most of us are out and that is the wonderful and common ingredient. But we may not all think alike with some leaning towards atheism, agnosticism, mainstream Christianity -- whatever. And that's okay. It's the common ingredient that links us and that's what appeals to me when I get to meet up with those in the same sandals.
Fats
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43
What is the power the Internet has against the WTS, and how best to use it?
by jwfacts init has been discussed that the internet is bringing the wts to its knees far quicker than ever hoped for several reasons:rapid access to research of old publications through databasesanonymous nature of finding informationease of which a person can stumble accross information.
another powerful reason is interactivity with other people.
the ability to rapidly see many ideas on a board like this, ask questions and get answers allows personalisation to the individual needs of every truthseeker.
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Fatfreek
SlimBoyFat
I just read your earlier 2004 post and find this puzzler at the bottom of it:
25-Oct-05 11:34 by slimboyfat: Correct formatting
25-Oct-05 11:40 by Lady Lee: Correct formatting
25-Oct-05 11:42 by slimboyfat: Correct formatting
25-Oct-05 11:46 by slimboyfat: Correct formatting
My question to you is, why was Lady Lee somehow involved in the formatting of that original message? Does she live in the same household by chance? Is it possible that you are also Lady Lee? Was Lady Lee a moderator at that time, assisting you?
Fats