Posts by Andrea Wideman

5

Sex Offenders & Halloween in NY/NJ

by rebel8 in

heard this on the news and thought this was pretty awesome.

apparently in 1 ny county, sex offenders are being ordered to attend a 4-hr seminar halloween night and those who don't show up will be visited at home by law enforcement.

in new jersey, they have been ordered to be inside their homes by 7 pm halloween and are not allowed to answer their doors.

Andrea Wideman

Awesome 1st step!!! I wish they did that here!

52

1st step?

by daniel-p in

jw
friends

i am forcing myself to do this - i feel nauseated, depressed... my hands are shaking.

i know many of you see this and laugh.

but for those of you who arn't, you know how hard it is for me to do this.

Andrea Wideman

Daniel
Welcome to the board. You have made a very brave choice in seeking answers. I wish you well on your journey.
Andrea

38

Does anyone know of a good church I could go to?

by Andrea Wideman in

after being a catholic and a jw i am really gun shy about organized religions.

i identify myself simply as a christian.

i am looking for a church to go to for fellowship.

Andrea Wideman

I would like to thank everyone that replied to my post.
Andrea

28

Introducing myself proper-like

by Sheepish in

i guess i should do this in some beginning way, i am new here and still learning my way around the site.. i was raised in a divided household, and my mom taught us in secret.

when my dad found out the insuing religious wars pretty much marked me for life.

but i was imprinted with the wt.

Welcome
It was really great reading your post. I too know what is is like to be shunned. My mother-in-law is a JW and she won't talk to me anymore. Just watch Grandma around the kids since JW's think nothing of going behind the parents's back to preach to kids even when they are asked to respect the beliefs that the kids are being raised with.
I hope to read more from you soon.
Andrea

28

Mrs. ITIS/FreedomLover - How I "saw the light!" ha ha ha

by freedomlover in

okay, first thank you to the greastest degree for the warm welcome and insight you all have given itis and me since i've started visiting your very apostate site.

my life as a jw.

it starts with my maternal grandmother.

Andrea Wideman

Welcome FreedomLover
I know how hard it is to hear a husband or anyone tell you that you had been lied to. Joel, my husband, did that for me. He too is a straightshooter and instead of planting seeds just came right out and said that we have to talk. He told me that I wouldn't like what he said and that he was very sorry that he ever got me involved. It was really difficult to listen to him about the JW's but I did since we have a great relationship. It took a couple of days of discussion, when the kids were in school, but in the end I had to agree with him. I couldn't keep identifying myself as a liar and certainly couldn't do that to my kids. Who were one of the reasons I stopped being Catholic. So I rapidly wrote my letter of DA and mailed it off. After 11 years of being a JW the first few days of freedom were the roughest. All those rules I had to remember to stop following. Now I am free and happy but still searching for a real church that is loving. Also a place of worship where I don't have to be afraid of being judged. I pray that your next ten years of marriage are happier than the past ten and that you both keep up the good communication. I eagerly look forward to reading more of your posts.
Andrea

33

I'm just numb! :-( I need to vent!

by caz in

i have just witnessed for myself one of the most hypocritical scenes ever before in my life!

my sister's ex husband, ( father to 3 boys, 12, 15, 20 years) commited suicide a few days ago.

he has been a jehova's witness all of his life and and also suffered from bi polar disorder for most of it also, particularly bad in the past 3 years.

Andrea Wideman

I am so sorry to hear of you and your family's loss. That was just shameful behaviour on the part of the JW's.
Andrea

38

Does anyone know of a good church I could go to?

by Andrea Wideman in

after being a catholic and a jw i am really gun shy about organized religions.

i identify myself simply as a christian.

i am looking for a church to go to for fellowship.

Andrea Wideman

After leaving the Catholics where the attitude is that you go to hell if you miss mass and the JW's where if you miss a meeting you get interrogated by the other JW's. I am a little anxious about any long term plans. Right now I am thinking Christmas but in the back of my mind I am also looking for a permanent safe haven where I can worship God with love and joy in my heart. Not fear of retribution.
As for Joel's suggestion about finding a choir to join around here the only one's available are for men. Plus I want to enjoy the whole service experience the singing and the praying. I want to introduce my kids to a healthier way of worshipping God. I do understand Joel's point about not needing a church and if I can't find one that I feel truly happing going to then I just won't go. What would have been the point in my leaving both the Catholics and the JW's if I am just going to enslave myself to another unhappy organized religious experience. I would rather be free and pray to God and Jesus without a church than to ever sit and listen to someone preaching hate, bigotry, or self righteousness again.
Andrea

38

Does anyone know of a good church I could go to?

by Andrea Wideman in

after being a catholic and a jw i am really gun shy about organized religions.

i identify myself simply as a christian.

i am looking for a church to go to for fellowship.

Andrea Wideman

It isn't that I feel a need to belong to a church but once in a while it might be nice to go as a family there. I would like to have a church to go to on Christmas this year. The first Christmas I am celebrating in 11 yrs and our kids first one that they will remember. I want them to feel the happiness that comes from a beautiful service and also the joy of singing praise to God. I love to sing especially in a large group of people. I suspect that part of why I want to find a church is so when I get the urge to praise God in song I don't seem like a crazy person. I hope this answers your question Joel.
Andrea

23

Just sayin Howdy

by forsharry in

i saw that other people had done this and i figured it would be a good way to introduce myself.

i've been reading many of the threads and let me tell you that it's comforting to read that others feel the same way i have felt about being in the organization.

i'm not sure how much i can contribute as far as delectible tidbits of information, but i have replied to a couple of threads to, if nothing else, interject some 'humor' into things.

Andrea Wideman

Welcome Forsharry
This is a place of safety and unconditional love. I hope to read more of your posts.
Andrea

38

Does anyone know of a good church I could go to?

by Andrea Wideman in

after being a catholic and a jw i am really gun shy about organized religions.

i identify myself simply as a christian.

i am looking for a church to go to for fellowship.

Andrea Wideman

I did research the local Unitarian churches in the area and they didn't seem to focus on God or Jesus at all. Thank you for the input and I am so glad that you found a church that you really like.