Posts by Sheepish

34

The Grasshopper 'IN' The Shoe Box

by Golf in

i came across this story and it had to do with people who yell, scream and bitch about everything in life, and they can't and don't 'do' anything about it.

this fisherman (dave)picked up a newly fisherman (paul)in his community one early morning, and on route to their destination, which was some distance, paul noticed a shoe box on the front seat.

he also heard lots of noises in the shoe box.

Sheepish

I think this is a great analogy.( I may have to try it sometime to prove it to myself!) It reminds me of the one about how they chain baby elephants to a short chain, and when they get bigger they don't need the chain for them anymore, they still act as though they are chained. I think we all have programs running in us that started like that.

And, Golf I agree with your wife.Forgive!

How does one forgive? I think like one loves-by choice. First you decide to, you speak it aloud, then you act in line with your decision.You may still have hurt feelings, anger whatever, but those will fade. Especially if you have really made the decision and stick to it, and don't keep re-hashing your grievences over and over again in your brain. You let it be, you begin to feel at peace and the hold it had over you dissolves. I don't think it means you have to put yourself at that person's or (organization's!) mercy again, especially if they haven't changed. You just acknowlege who or what they are and steer clear if you can.

Question: if there's "no spoon" how does one eat cereal?

16

WT's Strong Hold on the In-active

by sandy in

ok, this past friday i organized a meetup for ex-witnesses in my local area.

i invited my brother who was never baptized (was almost baptized at 13 but one of the elders asked him to wait till he studied throught he second book).

after the elder asked him to wait he never attended the meetings again with the exception of memorials and some assemblies.

Sheepish

Yeah, growing up my unbeliveing Dad had "40 Years a Watchtower Slave" and I had the same cold ooky feelings just seeing it. I once picked it up and flipped through it, and it just felt so spooky.

I have a brother-in-law who became a witness for his wife, then left after the kids got abused at a book study and other stuff, but still won't talk about it. He says he knows he's going to die at Armagedon-just can't be that good, and he is living life like he wants, except that cloud it leaves over you. I keep praying one day he and my sister will hear something that will help them get free. Appparently it can't come from me.

62

I don't know if this is the right place for but please someone help me out.

by rohrix in

first and foremost let me describe my situation.

i am a senior in high school.

i've had a very rough past and alot of people have wronged me in many ways.

Sheepish

Oops, meant to add Lady Lee and DevonMcbride's posts as well. Although there is lots of good info and comments made, the three posts I mentioned would be great written up as a "Counter tract", it sure would give you pause to think before even getting into the theology part...I may just copy those posts and hand them out to people I meet who are considering getting involved!

62

I don't know if this is the right place for but please someone help me out.

by rohrix in

first and foremost let me describe my situation.

i am a senior in high school.

i've had a very rough past and alot of people have wronged me in many ways.

Sheepish

Ms Whip-well said!

33

New here.

by On the Fence in

this is my first time posting, although i've read for a while.

i've been a (bad example of) a witness now for about 15 years.

in all those 15 years, i did not at any time have a good friend within the congo.

Sheepish

WElcome! I'm kinda new here too, but I've been out for a while. There are some here that have pursued a relationship with God. After you exit the JWs you learn to look for some of the same tricks they use, in other churches you visit. Jesus and his apostles did not count time! They did not build church buildings...your eyes will open when you start reading the Bible without the veil of the societies teachings!

Glad you're here!

69

Secret Santa Wish List 2005

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

if you haven't signed up yet there are only a couple of weeks left secret santa 2005. .

for all of you who are on the secret santa gift exchange.

give people an idea of what you like.

Sheepish

I collect miniatures that have some meaning (like something from where you are or what you're into), I also collect flamegos (long story) and dragonflys. I love to read...(ex jw books are great) I play mandolin & flute among other things... I'm into music...a compilation of what you like best would be ultra cool. Hmmm. Or a tree ornament from where you are...Oh, I also have a silver charm bracelet, with strange things from all my travels and a few state charms...but I also like handmade stuff. My favorite color is purple, followed closely by turquoise & hot pink. I am known for wearing large earrings (funky or different)...I have lots, but I am always on the scout for more. Hope that gives you some idea to work with....

53

They saw my Xmas tree! What do I say?

by Rayvin in

jw
friends

this is what i am worried will be going through my mind in less then a month.

i have always wanted a big christmas tree but since i was a full fledged jw till 5 yrs ago i never had one.

i just last year was able to get a small table top tree for christmas.

Sheepish

I add my welcome Truckerann!

35

Emotional Baggage.............

by AK - Jeff in

wifey and i left the dubland fantasy two years back, after a lifetime of that religion.

we know we have made the right choice.. i thought i was over all the 'stages' of this exit.

this past week i have been feeling great anger over the loss of my 'friends', and the great injustice of the 'shunning' policies.

Sheepish

I will add my sympathies...it really hurts, but you can learn and grow every cycle (well put), and it does get better if you work at it. I agree with CHL & Ladylee and others who have said, try to understand where they are coming from. I would add, try to get far above it and see it "objectively" sometimes. We get so bogged down in the hurt and emotion of a thing, we get lost in the pain. Seeing it from their side helps you know it's not "personal" really. They just feel (right or wrong) that they answer to a higher power than you. It should be comforting to know that the only thing they believe is more important to them than you, is God Himself! Hopefully there will come a time when the pain will not be there, just a sadness or pity for what they are all still missing. I strongly believe you shouldn't let them, by the pain they have caused you, drive you to bitterness and unforgiveness (and a slew of other negative emotions), it doesn't hurt them, it only ultimately hurts you.

29

DFed, more positive or negative?

by Sheepish in

just musing.... from the vantage point of being "out", it seems to me that being dfed would be really, really painful, but ultimately a good thing.

(i was shunned by my family when i finally left though, so i know a little of what a dfed person goes through, although i didn't put myself through going back to meetings and being shunned) .

i was publicly reproved, and was not allowed to answer in meetings, but i was not shunned.

Sheepish

Just musing...

From the vantage point of being "out", it seems to me that being DFed would be really, really painful, but ultimately a good thing.(I was shunned by my family when I finally left though, so I know a little of what a Dfed person goes through, although I didn't put myself through going back to meetings and being shunned)

I was Publicly Reproved, and was not allowed to answer in meetings, but I was not shunned. This was in the "enlightened time" when they didn't announce what a person did, so I am sure everyone was very very curious. But it removed me enough from reciting answers verbatim from the literature, and then without the pressure of studying ahead of time, suddenly I had lots more time to think! I could look at things objectively.For this reason, I think that DFing is a great thing, and I hope they never stop it so more people can have a shot at leaving...

What do you think?

45

Anybody here who still has faith in God and belief in the Bible?

by Sheepish in

there seems to be a lot of folks here who are bitter and want nothing to do with organized religion (understandable!

) or the belief in a god who cares about us, and has a "plan".or even anyone who has actually read and studied the bible, and understands what's going on it it.

so many just take stuff out of context looking for "mistakes" and loopholes.

Sheepish

Just off the top of my head I would venture, it's absolutely wrong to have sex with or abuse a child. What this convo leads to is, the concept of right and wrong that we have as humans, and who gets to decide which is which. Then that leads to whether you believe in God and whether He has the right to determine, or if you don't, and make those choices for yourself, or accept whatever society you live in to determine them. I think you know what I believe, what do you think?(Not what do you think about what I think, just what do you think?)