Here's the very short story:
Mom converted to jw when I was 5.
Baptized at 15.
Married at 19
Disfellowshipped and divorced at 24.
Reinstated at 26.
Disassociated at 31. (About 6 weeks ago)
Spent my time as a jw auxilary pioneering when I could (always hoped to be a Regular Pioneer) and being a "good Christian." Now I'm free and am a better Christian than I ever was as a jw.
Here's the long story: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/98815/1.ashx
tall penguin
tall penguin
JoinedPosts by tall penguin
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tall penguin
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16
Thank You!
by TD ini was going to post a personal note under the subject, "my daughter is reading jwd" but i decided to just say, "thanks" instead.
it can be confusing for a teen-aged child when one parent is a jw and the other is not, even in a house like mine, where both parents recognize that it would be grossly unfair to "pull" in both directions at once, forcing her to please one parent at the expense of the other.
jwd, with its huge cross-section of people and experience has been and continues to be valuable in helping her to make up her own mind.
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tall penguin
Welcome TD's daughter! You're lucky to have your Dad's support of your being here on this site. Enjoy!
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22
Elder not calling us "brother or sister" at the book study
by JH ina few months ago, i went to a couple of book studies, and i hadn't set foot there in years, but what stuck me was when the elder called people by their first names when he asked questions at the book study.. instead of saying brother rat, he just called me rat .
instead of saying brother smith, he just said gary, and so on..... .
either the elder was making it more friendly by using our first names in stead of saying brother or sister so and so, or it was a change in the way they operate.. .
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tall penguin
Our BO used to call us by our first names, until the PO said it was not appropriate. What a killjoy!
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8
Worse Case Scenario Mentality
by tall penguin ini'm finding this to be a difficult pattern of thinking to over-ride.
being raised a jw we're always on edge waiting for armageddon and so we see everything around us in light of that.
i still find myself going down that road mentally whenever i get any unexpected news in life.
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tall penguin
Thanks all. I appreciate these kinds words and encouragement. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
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8
Worse Case Scenario Mentality
by tall penguin ini'm finding this to be a difficult pattern of thinking to over-ride.
being raised a jw we're always on edge waiting for armageddon and so we see everything around us in light of that.
i still find myself going down that road mentally whenever i get any unexpected news in life.
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tall penguin
I'm finding this to be a difficult pattern of thinking to over-ride. Being raised a jw we're always on edge waiting for Armageddon and so we see everything around us in light of that.
I still find myself going down that road mentally whenever I get any unexpected news in life. My mind starts racing and going down the worst case scenario path. Before I know it, I'm all riled up and feel like I'm going to have a panic attack.
Can anyone relate to this?
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64
Do Must Dubs Have Pre-Marital Sex?
by tall penguin init's not often talked about but in my experience a lot of witnesses have sex (or something like it) during their courtship.
and most of them never go to the elders about it.
recent case in point: my dear friend got married this past summer.
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tall penguin
stillAwitness,
Just so you know, Ray Franz is still alive. His health isn't the greatest but he's still kickin'!
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21
Doesn't It Suck That You Got Scammed By The Witnesses?
by minimus inthink about everything you could have been doing while you were an active jw.
and even if you weren't a "true believer", think of all the wasted time you put into the "truth"-----for nothing!
sucks, doesn't it?
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tall penguin
Yes...it does indeed "suck" as you say. Yet I've learned a lot and I'm better for the experience.
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10
Service Meeting for Week Starting October 3, 2005
by TheListener insong 54.
5 min: local announcements.. 20 min: "help others to become 'obedient from the heart.
'" * as time permits, invite audience to comment on the cited scriptures.. 20 min: making jehovah's heart rejoice.
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tall penguin
lol
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10
Service Meeting for Week Starting October 3, 2005
by TheListener insong 54.
5 min: local announcements.. 20 min: "help others to become 'obedient from the heart.
'" * as time permits, invite audience to comment on the cited scriptures.. 20 min: making jehovah's heart rejoice.
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tall penguin
Is "obedience" the focus this year? First the "Godly Obedience" DC and now this service meeting. It's sad how it's guised as obedience to Jehovah when in reality it's obedience to a man-made organization. Very sad indeed.
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19
Does anyone feel like me???... am I obsessed.
by zagor ini don't know if something is wrong with me or with entire setup of things.
i mean every time i think about wtbs i get angry and frustrated which is beyond the reason.
and most interesting part is i'm not getting any better, looks like i'm going nuts every time somebody mention anything even remotely related to wtbs.
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tall penguin
I actually just posted last week about the anger I feel right now. I'm fresh out and know that these are normal feelings. It's just so frustrating at times because most people have no clue about what it's like to have been raised as a jw. That's why I'm happy I have jwd.
I personally am in therapy (Gestalt) and am finding it very useful. I'm learning to express my anger rather than keeping it all bottled up. It's nice to have a healthy outlet for this.
Yet the anger remains. IMHO it's righteous indignation. Abuse inflicted in the name of God is something worth being angry about!
tp