If a great tribulation occurs I hope that I will continue to act in a humane, honest, merciful and godly manner towards my neighbors and loved ones as I am today.
If I am struck down in the process of surviving and helping others, then so be it.
Let it be known that I loved God and the earth and my fellow man.
Enjoy.
Posts by anewme
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259What will you do when the Great Tribulation Begins?
by Malkiel ini've always wanted to ask this question to those that have decided to leave the organization.. what will you do when the great tribulation begins?.
right now folks, a lot is happening in the political world.. gordon brown (prime miniter of england) last week gave a speech to the un stating that it is time for the un to step in and solve the world's problems, (specifically mentioning the economy and hunger crisis worldwide.).
barrack obama is shaping up to be the next president, a fellow who sure knows how to persuade and lead great crowds.
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anewme
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How do I get over my Family treating me Like an Outcast
by moonpie inhello, i've been disfellowshipped for almost six years and it's still hard not being able to communicate with them.
i talk to my mom once a week, but my dad won't pick up the phone to talk to me.
i have 3 brothers and 6 sisters.
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anewme
Dear Moonpie, we are sorry about your loss honey. But we too have suffered the loss of our friends and family too and oila! WE ARE STILL HERE! AND MANY HAVE FOUND HAPPINESS TOO!
The trick is to de-sensitize yourself to the loss. Sure, it is unnatural to have your family and friends turn their back on you just because you decide to not attend their church anymore.
But that is their choice and there is nothing you can do about that.
Your efforts now must be to go on. You must turn your attention to the future and to a bright happy future at that!
You must make new acquaintances and new associations and form a new family of intimate friends.
You can hope that your family will change their minds and join you in the future, but that is all you can do.
Why not start to make some new friends here on JWD!!
Anewme -
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Emotional Reactions to the Loss of the Book Study
by DT ini think the loss of the book study will hit some like a death of a friend.
it will mark the end of an era.
it will forever change the religion of jehovah's witnesses and i believe the change is completely irreversible.. of course, most witnesses will be delighted by this.
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anewme
No, the truth is, it is a loss.
But it might seem like a needed break to some.
But back in the early 70s, when we were awaiting the Great Tribulation, the Book Study was held as
THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT MEETING!
We were told that it was through the book study arrangement our lives would be saved!
Honestly, we were educated to believe that the elder in charge of our book study would become the
representative of the Society for our group and through angelic direction he would look out for us and guide us through the dark night of Jehovah's anger against mankind.
Following his spirit guided direction we would survive into the New World.
Whatever he said it was Jehovah's word to us. If he told us to go right, we should go right. If he told us to go left, we should go left. If he told us to hide, we should hide.
The book study conductor believed he was in charge or rather the spiritual caretaker of his book study members.
That is why some of us wives were so supportive of the arrangement in our homes and why we worked very hard to get the house clean and the supper dishes done and put away before the brethren arrived. It was told to us that it was a privilege for our husbands to be book study conductors. And it was hinted at that there would be a New System reward for all our hard work and sacrifice.
Wow! I hope somebody is keeping a record on file of all the years the sisters cleaned toilets and vacuumed and dusted before the book studies in their homes. I hope the records dont get lost or forgotten. Somebody has got to tell Jehovah in the New System so those sisters get their rewards! And what about the brothers being made princes or something? Well Im sure the angels will tell Jehovah. They have good memories, dont they?
it was an opportunity for friendship and a family feeling than is offered at the other meetings.
The smaller group was a better arrangement for keeping track of people whether they were sick or M.I.A.
Personally, even though I was sick of having it in my home, I mourn the loss of the intimate Book Study arrangement.
It was an opportunity to talk about the New System or to talk about current events in light of the Bible without the time constraints like the Watchtower Study (where you got a stern look from the podium if you dared say anything outside of the paragraph in your comments)
Honest to God, if I was introduced to the JWs today without the informal Book Study arrangement, where you got to meet real JWs and talk to them heart to heart, I would not join the JWs and disown my own worldly family like I did and take the heat I did.
Back in the 70s the JWs were on fire and exciting! Believe me, the world in the early 70s was acting like it was going mad! The JWs were an oasis of hope for many back then. -
135
CONFIRMED Book Study amalgamated with the TMS and SM
by yesidid in.
old timers on the board may remember that i was the first to mention the november 06 blood insert in the km.. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/121104/1.ashx.
the same very, very reliable source has confirmed that the book study will be amalgamated with the tms and sm.. this same source recently had a long and private conversation with a gb member.
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anewme
I am happy for them if it eases up on the stressful theocratic schedule they endure.
But sad for me that I endured the book study in my home for 20 years.
I worked very hard to get the home ready for 20-25 people every Thursday evening Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. I even mowed the big lawns out front and back and made cookies and refreshments.
ALL FOR WHAT?????
It wasnt until about the year I left I became aware how truly tired people were to come to our house.
My home was humble and my husband and I were not the socialites of the hall.
The teens asked their parents if they could move to another book study to be with their friends.
At one point it seemed we had all the misfits in our book study. I looked around the room at one point and saw Sis. Too Blind To Drive who still drove and brought her bible study from the rest home.
There was the single sister with her three teenage daughters who you could tell were hell bent on leaving the JWs as soon as they could either get a drivers license or get prego.
We had the odd single brothers in their 40s who were only interested in virgin sisters who were 16-18 years of age. And then there was me, a true weirdo looking back, who felt obliged to always entertain the "friends" with funny but stupid pet tricks my parrot, cockatiel or dog learned that week. (Many of the "friends" would excuse themselves citing allergies as the reason they had to leave early afterwards)
I admit we were a freak show book study.
My dog would sneak in underneath the lamp table and lick his balls during the study, drawing away attention from my husband trying to conduct the Rev Book for the third time.
And when I moved out in 2001 I found lots of gum stuck underneath my lamp table by the sofa. (Those darn teenagers) It was dismaying to come to the realization that all that effort was for nothing in the end.
I was in that org for 35 years and not one friend or family member has tried to contact me since my leaving. That is how much they care for their own necks and skins. The Watchtower and its teachings
makes them that way.
I say GOOD RIDDANCE TO THE OLD BOOK STUDY ARRANGEMENT!!!!!
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AWAY WITH AFTER 1975 AND THE BOTCHED END OF THE WORLD SCAM!!!!
Because before 1975 the book study was very exciting! We would stay up way past 10pm and have
tea and talk about the future in the New System soon to come and how we would have to endure
much torture and some deprivation beforehand to inherit the promise. -
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How important are looks to you?
by Layla33 ini am just curious how much looks and superficial things plays a part in your decisions in life.
i work with a young lady, she could be my daughter, well if i was young and out there early, and she's fresh out of college, from a sorority and let's everyone know this.
anyway, she will only talk with, be friendly with the very good looking people in the office.
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anewme
Beautiful people are fun to look at. But after that often their personalities can start to detract from their beauty when you get to know them.
On the other hand, plain, homely people usually start to look better to you when you get to know them and see their inner beauty, charm and sex appeal.
Beautiful people start out as a big 10 and then start to fall in the grading scale.
Ugly people start out as 2s 4s and 6s then begin to climb as you get to know them.
Good looking people are just that, good to look at!
But ugly people can become beautiful too! A good personality means the most in the long run.
Honestly I am quite fond of that ape man in the Geico commercials! He is so darling! And looks like fun!
I would date him no problem! -
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God dammit!!! I hate this cult!
by bluesbreaker59 inso my girlfriend and i are getting very serious, and i've bought her engagement ring, should be done being built sometime in may.
then at some point later, i'm going to ask her to marry me.
she was with me and picked out her ring, so she knows its coming.
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anewme
On second thought you could take Hortensia's advice and minimize the insult and just say "Well you will be missed Dad" and as advised just go on with your plans.
That way you make no dire predictions for the future. You actually do not invest alot of emotion into the whole shunning scene at all.
I think it would be smart to memorize a couple of great responses to the questions about your family's absence that makes you look good, generous and above it all. -
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God dammit!!! I hate this cult!
by bluesbreaker59 inso my girlfriend and i are getting very serious, and i've bought her engagement ring, should be done being built sometime in may.
then at some point later, i'm going to ask her to marry me.
she was with me and picked out her ring, so she knows its coming.
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anewme
If you truly want to be "Happy Ever After" then you need to develop a stronger sense of self and self-love and confidence in your own heart's wisdom. As someone else said, do not look so much to others for approval.
It is normal to grieve when close family members withdraw their support. But remember THEY are the ones doing the withdrawing. You on the other hand are extending the loving invitation to be a part of your life in the future by attending your important day.
You might even calmly inform your father of your earnest feelings of deep hurt by his plans not to attend and also inform him of your firm decision to remove him from your life for his insult to you and your new wife. Tell him it means that much to you. It will be his decision then.
After that, return your attention to your own life and happy plans for the future!
To pine away for those people who show you little respect, regard or love is to make a huge mistake in life.
Anewme -
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3 a.m. - my wife is in tears! What do I do?
by The Scotsman inwell my situation has developed a bit, any advice appreciated.. their has been a gradual building up of pressure ever since i stood down as an elder about 6 months ago.. i have been telling my wife about my doubts but have continued to attend "some" meetings.. as time has progressed i have become more open with my criticism of the org.. i mentioned the un scandal, molestation trials, false prophecy ect etc.. interestingly she does not deny these facts and yet still wants to continue as a jw.. i told her that god is not happy with people knowingly being part of a false prophet (deut 18 - etc) - starting to lay the groundwork for my exit.. she appreciates the difficult situation doubters are in - they cannot openly express their feelings for fear of jcs.. anyway, a few weeks ago we moved house which meant changing congregation.. but i felt it would be best if i did not attend meetings " at all" at the new cong so my fade could be easier.. but i could not have predicted my wifes response - when i told her it was an explosion of emotion, i mean real heartbreaker stuff.. she seems depressed at the prospect, perhaps the reality is finally hitting home.. last night, about 3a.m.
i noticed that she was not in bed.
i went downstairs and she was sobbing away to herself.. "i can't go to that hall myself!
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anewme
A lot of people attend the meetings by themselves.
Believe me, if your wife is shy to attend by herself but misses the meetings enough, she will find a way to get there and attend and she will make the adjustment.
She is crying for the loss of the familiar. That is natural. This change is calling on her to make new friends and show her loyalty to the religion. This is a test of her faith in the whole thing.
She may decide her faith is not that strong in her life and quit the effort to go. She may go for a while and decide the same thing.
I say, stick to your plan and do not go to the meetings in your new town and let her decide if she wants to start up the whole obligatory slavedom life style again.
You could point out that it might be nice to take a Spring break from the meetings to get the new house and garden in shape and spend time together before she must re-join the Ministry School and go out in service on the weekends and attend the meetings by herself.
You might also be wise to check out some local groups, clubs and associations in your community that the two of you could become involved with. My husband and I found a coffee shop which on Friday eves hosts live acoustic players and singers. We now have made some local friends through that group.
Having replacement friends helps alot to get over the loss of old JW friends.
work out a new arrangement peaceably and lovingly.
Anewme -
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Missed college when you were younger? Here's a good solution!
by Awakened at Gilead inat my age i didn't want to spend the next 4-10 years going to college classes after work.
i have mentioned this in a few popsts but wanted to share this on a new thread so that everyone can find out how easy and cheap it can be to go to college.. i am studying online with cuny (city university of ny).
tuition is $2165 per semester if you take 4 or more classes.
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anewme
I enrolled in the Boston Reed pharmacy course through my local community college.
They say the medical field will continue to grow in the next 20 years and skilled
certificated technicians will be needed all over the country.
I am working full time in retail now but this Boston Reed medical course
is after hours and the duration is less than a year.
By next year I will be working in a pharmacy.
Anewme -
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Need a guys opinion and ladies feel free to chime in!
by TweetieBird ini have a "friend" and i say that loosely because i don't think that she is a good friend.
she only calls me when my husband is in town to do stuff with her, i.e.
go to lunch, etc.
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anewme
You dont just need a guys opinion, you need a wise opinion.
Your so called friend is bad news for you and your husband.
She is a known adulterer and until she settles down with her own husband
all husbands are possible conquests.
Conquest may be what she is after. She is proving to herself that she
can conquer any man she sets her heart upon, married or not.
Right now she is lacking in morals, decency and boundaries. She is in spiritual want.
She may be packing a mean STD too that is making the rounds in the immoral world.
You dont want that to find its way in your marriage.
I dont think you have to be mean to her. Just drop her! And tell your husband under no circumstances is he
to take her calls, or see her again. Tell her if you must that you and your husband wish to spend more time together these days and you are cutting down on outside social activities with friends.
When you think of all that you have built with your husband it would be a shame to have it all ruined by some passing person in your life.