from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2587707.stm
in pictures: world trade center plans .
seven new plans for the site of the world trade center, destroyed in the 11 september terror attacks, have been unveiled in new york.
They may as well just erect a huge billboard with a big bullseye on it. Afterall, as soon as the towers are up again, they could become a prime target for nutters to pull down again.
Or maybe a big billboard with a fist showing the middle finger salute ?
Or maybe just a statue of Bush Jr waving his arse towards Mecca ? Hmmm..... quite like that one.
just popped back in to tell you some gossip.
yesterday a freind to the exjw community decided to drop a couple of our little cards "the tuth about the wt" in appropriate places, anyway an angry jw saw it and smashed the windows of the freind...and got caught on camera doing it....baaawl...its all in the hands of the solicitors.
the angry jw then phoned the helpline number on the card with this really makes sense message "i just want to call you an apostate, thats all i want to call you.
I knew Brmmie would post again. The goodbye the other day was a secret search for - "who loves me most & misses me most"
You are an addict fellow midland'er - face it.
in today's copy of the scotsman there's an article on people that don't celebrate christmas for a variety of reasons and sure enough a witness family are featured.
they are spending christmas day on the beach in the canary islands and after pointing out the fact that the 25th is christ's birthday go on to say.
"it would be churlish to say that our children are not affected by peer pressure about christmas, but we feel bigger issues are at stake - independant thought and standing up for what you believe in.
Personally, I found it before being a JW and find it now that I am not a JW far more demanding not to celebrate Christmas.
It is easier to have a tag like - "I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and do not celebrate Christmas", than not to have a tag. People in general require far more information when you step outside of the pigeon-hole as to why you have objections.
I do remember looking on with a slacked-jaw at some of my brothers & sisters in the truth who failed to completely avoid the celebration. One sister insisted on a turkey meal and an afternoons rest and friends round on Christmas day. Weird behaviour I thought. Although I knew many JWs who were extreme and would not observe any part of the celebration, avoiding it like the plague.
People are diverse and have their own ways of coping.
It is not easy to avoid Christmas if you live in the west. Lets face it!
elders in my area are sifting within the congregations,.
london england .
e.g whom they consider to be rebeliouse /bad association/not even going to the persons homes announcements made because they can.
Sounds like a pile of poo to me
where is valis ????
i haven't seen any post from him in the last 4 or 5 days... i sent him an e-mail and he hasn't answered yet... anyone knows ?
gone skiing or something ?edited by - celia on 17 december 2002 18:46:58.
He did post the other day in the Adult section ... go take a look.
is anyone on disability for a mood disorder ( depression/bipolar etc.
and if so, how are you making meet?.
cyn
I used to claim benefit a few years ago in the UK for depression/related problems and yep, life gets tight. The only way I could cope on my own was to reach out to others on occasion who could help me with washing clothes, general maintenance of my flat etc .... its the only way.
If you can build a small community of friends around you, then help will always be at hand.
If you struggle to make friends at the moment, try joining a support group for your particular problem, friends will appear eventually and the important support network will fall into place if you reach out (as hard as that can be at times).
Been there, done it, come out the other side. Hope you do as well Lauralisa
i remember just a few short years back at my old congregation, there were a few younger brothers and sisters joining gyms and going to work out.
well, i guess the elders found out that everyone's free time wasn't being spent pioneering, so a talk (down to) was given one sunday on "not letting worldy pursuits take your eyes off the prize" or some shit like that.
the whole talk was about how we should devote all time to the wts and field service, and that going to or belong to a gym was just a worldly pursuit and that it was just making or bodies "showy".
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... tits
i have often wondered if many people would be better off if they stayed witnesses.
some people i have known have really gone off the deep end after they left the watchtower.
most all of my family have left now (not due to me as i was cut off from them for years) and many others i know who have left are now bitter atheists or have become pagans and worship stones or new ageers playing with crystals.
I knew you would get burnt for that crystal comment I know a few people who "play with crystals" and while I don't share their faith in these things, they are very nice, moral individuals and have a good knowledge of the earth ...so respect where it is due.
I do agree with you though. It is unavoidable if you are a true Christian, to ignore many of the WTBS teachings. Afterall, the moral teachings are pretty sound in most instances if you follow the Christian way. I think many when leaving go anti-everything for a while and really lay in to former beliefs in a way to justify moving away from them. After a while most settle down and form healthier patterns again. Like me for instance.
... and yes, for some, it is better that they stay a Witness, because they have no alternative aside from self-destruction. This I know to be true in one brother's case. If he doesn't tow the WTBS party line, he turns to drugs and self abuse and will not listen to reason. He was bought up in "the truth" - its all he knows - he can't move away from it mentally. So for him, I'd rather see him carrying his ministry bag, than snorting a line of Coke.
.
does being raised as a witness encourage the development of certain personality traits, good or bad?
-jedited by - happysunshine on 14 december 2002 5:7:5.
I am sorry about the formating of the following text - the browser screwed up and it was a copy and paste job
From the outside, some members "raised in the truth" seem to suffer from a lack of empathy for others,
especially those outside the faith. They can seem quite detached and distant mentally speaking and emotionally stunted.
I wouldn't like to say this absolutely, as I only have limited experience here and it is my own opinion of course. Part of the conditioning not to be tainted by the
world I suppose and all that results in as far as development is concerned A definite lack of coping ability. I know a nice couple who are still JWs
who are both incapable of supporting themselves. The husband is depressed and lacks control over his life and the wife suffers from "ME"
- although I would say its more stress related with both of them myself. They are fine locked within their rituals - meetings, bit of door to door, a book study here and there. Place them outside this sphere and they fall to pieces.
The husband has admitted to me that he just doesn't get on with people.
He broke down at an interview and that was the sum total of his job search, he now won't take risks in life and learn to harden his shell to events.
Even though I write these words I can appreciate how I have been affected in this way,
I too have coping problems, amplified in part by my journey through "the truth"
Its tragic, but a reality. If the truth really is the truth,
then the Holy Spirit is not doing its job with the faithful, that's all I have to say.
gluhwein (mulled wine) .... a pungent, rich, spicy wine, traditional in germany and rather tasty.. as follows:.
1 bottle of red wine.
3/4 cup of water.
Gluhwein (mulled wine) .... a pungent, rich, spicy wine, traditional in Germany and rather tasty.
As follows:
1 bottle Of Red Wine
3/4 cup of water
1/3 cup of brown sugar
6 whole cloves
1 stick of cinnamon
1/2 peel of one lemon + juice
Boil all of the ingrediants together - apart from the wine!!! - reducing by half. Strain to get rid of the bits and then add the wine. Gently warm through, do not boil (you will kill the alcohol).
Serve hot and enjoy ;)
I have a steaming pan on as I type. I'm off to sample ..... yum!
