Posts by concerned mama

5

JWs do NOT try to be separate from the world - AND a rant on "government"..

by somebodylovesme in

if jws are trying to be separate from the world, then why do they do a lot of wordly things?

why do they watch tv?

isn't that "worldly" influence?

concerned mama

Rant away, although you are preaching to the choir here.

Your rant is a perfect example of the exasperation we normal non-JW people feel about the Witnesses.

55

More tech jobs going to cheap labor in India

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

http://www.cnn.com/2003/tech/biztech/10/04/india.jobs.reut/index.html

jobs abound in india's tech sector

bangalore, india (reuters) -- software engineer prakash just quit his job in bangalore, but he's not worried.

concerned mama

I phoned Altec Lansing customer support and they were located in Puerto Rico.

10

The Last Supper...... again.

by Nosferatu in

jw
friends

my dad is going for a biopsy next friday.

the doctor told him that there is a slight chance that if they bugger up the surgery, he'll bleed to death.

my dad is making a mountain out of a molehill again.

concerned mama

Nos,

Even if your Dad drives you nuts, you care about him. I hope his biopsy turns out fine.

13

Child Custody involving Jehovah's Witness Parent

by natalie in

has anyone had any issues w/ child custody and dealing with a jehovah's witness parent?

concerned mama

Have a look at this site, about half way down.

http://www.freeminds.org/legal/legal.htm

I hope this helps.

34

marriage = jw + jw

by HapEMelissa in

does the marriage of an active jw have to be to another active and practicing jw?

Our family is not Jehovah's Witness. My teenage daughter had a sweet JW boyfriend for 2 years, so your situation is one that our family learned a lot about. What the Watchtower puts on their website for public consumption is very different than what they say to their members. Remember, it doesn't matter if you are a great, moral person and Christian, you are considered a non-believer.

Here are some quotes and I have lots more information. Feel free to contact me at the email address in my profile.

The Watchtower - May 15, 2001

"Jehovah's direction for Christians is very clear: 'Marry only in the lord.' (1 Corinthians 7:39) Christian parents and their children may be tested in this regard. How so? Young people may wish to get married, but available partners may be lacking within the congregation. At least that is how it seems. There may be fewer available men than women in a certain locality, or their may be no one deemed suitable in the area. A young man who is not a dedicated member of the congregation may show interest in a young Christian woman (or vice versa), and there is a pressure to compromise on the standards that Jehovah has set. Under such circumstances, it would be good to reflect on the example of Abraham. One way that he maintained his fine relationship with God was by seeing to it that his son Isaac married a true worshipper of Jehovah. Isaac did the same in the case of his son Jacob. This took effort by all involved, but it pleased God and resulted in his blessing.-Genesis 28:1-4."

*** w82 3/15 p. 31 Questions from Readers ***

Finally, in the Christian Greek Scriptures God repeated the counsel: Do not marry someone who is not serving the Lord. The inspired counsel was not, ?If you find a clean, decent person, it is permissible to court and marry that individual with the hope that he or she may eventually become a Christian.? Rather, God?s Word clearly says: "Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers." (2 Corinthians 6:14) To marry someone who is not already a baptized Christian would be to disregard that serious counsel.

Because Jehovah?s Witnesses as a people view this counsel as wise and serious, they do not want to contribute to anyone?s going contrary to it. For example, if because of weakness a spiritual brother or sister began to court or date a person who is not a witness of Jehovah, the others in the congregation would hardly want to encourage that by socializing with the unbeliever. They agree with the Bible that the non-Christian is not a good associate. (1 Corinthians 15:33) But they should continue to display interest in their brother or sister. They might be able to offer tactful and encouraging admonition to help the straying Christian to avoid the sad path that Solomon followed.?Compare 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15.

But what if a Witness planned to disregard God?s advice and to marry someone who was not a baptized Witness? Unless there was some exceptional reason, brothers in the congregation would not want to solemnize such an unequal yoking. Nor would the Kingdom Hall be available for the wedding. It is available for marriages of two baptized Christians who are marrying "only in the Lord." Or it might sometimes be used by two persons who are regularly serving God as part of the congregation and who will soon be baptized. By not allowing the Kingdom Hall to be used by a Witness who plans to ?become unevenly yoked with an unbeliever,? the congregation elders can underscore the seriousness of God?s counsel to marry "only in the Lord."

I found it very helpful to read 2 JW published books, "Questions Young People Ask" and "Secrets of Family Happiness" for insight into the rules that JWs have been raised to live by and are expected to follow.

Also check out http://members.aol.com/beyondjw/inlove.htm

I guess the really hard thing to remember is that there can be a really terrific person who is JW, who you love, but if you want different things out of life, and want to live completely different lives, it will be really difficult to have happy marriage. Love is not nearly enough.

20

I still believe in God but

by azaria in

jw
friends

as before in my other posts i apologize if this post is incoherent and if i rambled on too long.

its been a few months since i last posted.

(don't question, some things are not for us to understand,that certain people are chosen-and we have to accept that.

concerned mama

Well, oh my goodness! Azaria, I was raised Christian Reformed! I remember having to sit still though long services, sometimes with guest ministers speaking in Dutch, which I do not understand at all. I have vague memories of not be allowed to do much of anything not church related on Sunday. I remember when I was young, that dancing and movies were not allowed. I remember with fondness the sense of community, and being distantly related to so many people that attended the same church.

My family left that church when I was a teenager, so I don't recall much doctrine at all. I likely wouldn't agree with all of their doctrine if I did look into it. I don't agree with it all at the Anglican Church, where I attend occasionally now, however the priest there is a fantastic speaker and extremely thought provoking and I enjoy the sermons. I think my own spirituality is based on kindness, and acceptance and forgiveness and love, and most of all it has to make sense to me.

I was recently back to a CR Church for the first time in years, for a funeral of a cousin. It was a lovely service, the hymns were familiar and the pastor (not reverend anymore) spoke elequently of the man who died and warm words of comfort to his family. As funerals go, it was great.

I couldn't rejoin the CRC. I suspect it is far too rigid for me. Because I was curious, I did find an excellent website that explained a lot of the changes in policy and doctrine, and you can look there to see if it answers any of your questions. I don't worry much about the details. There is no perfect church. I believe what feels right.

20

For those who don't want Witnesses coming to their door

by Maverick in

jw
friends

this is just some general information for outsiders, (non witnesses) who want to know how to get the witnesses to leave them alone.. .

each kingdom hall has an assigned area their members are responsible for doing the door to door preaching.

it may be the whole town or, if there are more than one congregations, the town or city will be divided up between halls.

concerned mama

You know, if they ever did come to the door, I couldn't be rude. I think I would say that one of the marks of a cult is information control, and why is the Watchtower so scared? That if the thought "the truth" is the truth, perhaps they better check it out with non-Watchtower resources to be sure.

But they never come to the door, so I can't ever say my piece.

20

For those who don't want Witnesses coming to their door

by Maverick in

jw
friends

this is just some general information for outsiders, (non witnesses) who want to know how to get the witnesses to leave them alone.. .

each kingdom hall has an assigned area their members are responsible for doing the door to door preaching.

it may be the whole town or, if there are more than one congregations, the town or city will be divided up between halls.

concerned mama

Maverick,

Thanks for the information, but I sure never need it. For the last 4 years I have actively kept an eye out for JWs out in service, and I have seen who I guessed to be JWs, only twice. The JWs NEVER come into our neigbourhood at all. I live in a nicer area where most people are well educated and higher income than average. If I polled my neighbours, the general trend would be that that JWs are weird and creepy based on the blood issue, not standing up for the national anthem (which is taken as disrespect for a country that treats us well) , not celebrating anything normal and fun like birthdays and Mother's Day, and how JWs are discouraged from mixing with the rest of us ( taken as a bit of a slap in the face). The general public is just learning of issues like shunning family members and discouragment of education, both of which make anyone I tell, aghast.

The really strange thing to me, is that of the few JWs I know personally, I like one family very much. When the JW hats are off, they are nice, warm congenial people. It makes me sad that they were born into and have chosen that way of life. If things were different, I would have loved to be friends.

The ones who are hard to discourage are the Mormons. We get lots of nice, clean cut young Mormon elders coming around. I know families who have not been extremely interested in religion check out the Mormons and other big evangelical churches, because of their excellent child and teenager programs and activities.

6

Celebrating the Holidays

by gentlesoul in

jw
friends

how many of you who were jehovahs witnesses celebrated while still in the borg ?

and now that you have left do you celebrate them ?

and do you celebrate them all or just some.

concerned mama

Just remember Christmas does not have to be too commercialized in your own home. You CHOOSE how you want to celebrate it. In a tradition started by my husband's family, we draw a name and have to make the gift. They are usually just hilarious and original and don't necessarily cost much money at all. They are made with love. With another family member we exchange a gift made to a charity in each other's name. We try to emphasize that gifts are given and exchanged not just received.

So many of you are starting to form your own traditions. Make them ones that are meaningful and joyful for you, not Walmart.

31

Another exam passed !

by Simon in

jw
friends

i've been posting my progress on my efforts to get microsoft certification which i hope wil be good for work, esp.

when we move abroad.. i passed my exam !

wohoo ... passed another exam !.

concerned mama

Congratulations, Simon. Well done!

Learning about hockey after all those programming exams will be a snap.