Posts by Sheepish

14

Local KH gets shafted

by sinis in

a while back three local halls (same building) donated their saved up money to a new hall being built in a nearby town.

appearently the new hall could not get a loan for the work.

well the other halls got together about 50k and gave it to the the new hall with the promise that they would be payed back as the donating hall needed to use the money within the next few months for repairs.

Sheepish

Is there one? That would be good to bring to the attention of those involved. The WTS money hungry? Go on!
Dams

I think there are a couple, but here's one: Deuteronomy 23:19 "Thou shalt not lend upon *usury to thy brother; usury of money, usuary of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury; unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the ln=and whither thou goest to possess it." *usury: with interest upon a loan

Even the Muslims have this one down.

19

Repentance

by Narkissos in

jw
friends

this is an oft-forgotten, ill-loved item of judeo-christian tradition.. regularly waved by threatening bible-thumpers, which doesn't help.. luther's slogan semper simul peccator et justus (always, at the same time, sinner and righteous) is remembered, but the third term of the equation (et penitens, "and repentant") is seldom mentioned.. modernity made it coward (e.g.

the one calls us forward.

and yet, no, when remorse calls out it is always late.

Sheepish

Very interesting and good points.

Repentence is being sorry for what you have done, and consciously turning and going the other way (in proof of it.) It can become an ongoing thing for some things-to form the habit as was suggested.Oftentimes one is just delivered, as it were, from the power of the sin by the confession of it.

My personal belief of what Jesus meant when he said, "Go and sin no more." Was firstly in response to the womans adultery. In reference to us, I believe it means, to consciously be aware of the choices we make, and having the choice, not to sin.

I think when you go through life, you find yourself in all sorts of situations that can get the best of you. Becoming a JW with the hope of serving God is one. When you leave, it is necessary to repent of your sins.(You are not responsible for theirs!) Some of them may be unintentional, but the Lord understands that as well. It's about feeling & being clean, at peace,and free before your God. It helps you face, perhaps understand better, and then leave behind hurtful sorrowful things. Very healing. I recommend it.

27

Life Sucks!!!!

by Tez in

aaaaaagggghhhhh!!!

thats how i feel at the mo!!!

why is it that no matter how hard you try life still sh**s on you!!!!!

Sheepish

Agreed.

4

Anyone here from Tucson or San Diego Congregations during the 70's?

by Sheepish in

just thought i'd ask!

i have been praying for certain friends and family and hope one day to see them free!

Sheepish

I woulda been in the La Jolla cong 77-78ish...I loved La Jolla too. Worked at the dry cleaners there for a while.. Didn't have a lot of money as a single, and also pioneering occasionally, but I remember going with some other young adults to a bar in PB that had a great spaghetti special, like a dollar or two a plate...and there was a tea room with an outside patio we'd frequent...

4

Anyone here from Tucson or San Diego Congregations during the 70's?

by Sheepish in

just thought i'd ask!

i have been praying for certain friends and family and hope one day to see them free!

Sheepish

Just thought I'd ask! I have been praying for certain friends and family and hope one day to see them free!

15

A brief History of Me...

by Truth.Seeker in

i was studying with jehovah's witnesses during my college years.

i found that they somehow was able to make me understand many of the meanings from the bible that i had never understood before.

i had a clearer sight of what it was to walk as a christian.

Sheepish

Appreciate you sharing so honestly.

Growing up with a witness mom I learned there is a certain skew to everything a Jehovah's Witness is taught. For instance. I was taught that people in churches went out and sinned during the week and then repented on Sunday figuring it was a free ride. I was taught that all of christendom keeps pagan holidays. I was taught only The Watchtower Society was the one God worked through. Witnesses were different cause of the love between them, and they weren't hypocrites, and they were sincere and on and on.

What I learned is that this is true for some in "Christendom", but it is also true of some Jehovah's Witnesses.They are not exempt from any of the problems the rest of the Christian community deals with.There is a great variety of groups that believe in the sacrifice of Jesus and the Bible who don't do the things I was told they all do. "The Organization" has problems with drunkeness, child abuse, pornography and self righteousness just every body else, cause they are no different. None of us is. It's only through grace we are forgiven. No amount of Bible study and service will save you. Conversely, no minumin hours will keep you from God.

I also learned that just a because I was hoping there was an organization that would answer all my questions and was the only one, and I was mistaken, that doesn't discount the Bible or Almighty God, or Jesus. I learned that Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the light, no one comes to the father but by me". So I realized Jesus is entry- not a man made organization. Once that truth sunk in, things started getting clearer for me."Jesus said there is no other name by which we may be saved" So then why was I always talking about The "Organization" The "Society" The "Watchtower Bible and Tract Society".I came to see it as The Vatican for witnesses.It was between me and God, and we know only Jesus is supposed to hold that position.

Sorry-got carried away!

Hope you find some answers as well.

14

Divided Household

by pratt1 in

i grew up in a "divided household" and i was wondering how many of you had similar experiences to mine.. 1. i was always viewed as fatherless child as a kid.

i wasn't, i had a very involved father, however he was an unbeliever.. 2. i always felt the my decisions in life ultimately meant that i was chosing one parent over the other.

going to college i chose dad over mom.

Sheepish

Religion was a constant battle in our home, which is so sad cause I think my parents would have had a good marriage without this problem . But my mom promised to raise the kid jewish, until after they were married and had kids, and she felt she had to teach us the "truth". So she did it in secret. My dad found out and of course felt betrayed.

My mother's father died when she was four, then my grandmother apparently married an acoholic. My grandmother was a JW (she died when I was four) but she was one of the old ones who picketed with sandwich signs on the streets of N.Y. Got thrown in jail and fed gruel with "mealy worms" in it. It all fed the martyrlike status. My mom "knew the truth" but didn't follow it until she married an unbeliever and had kids...bad timing!

9

Update on my post re: The suicide.

by caz in

firstly let me start by saying thankyou to all of you who replied to my post re: the suicide of my brother in law.

i was amazed to come in today and find soooo many lovely messages of condolensce!

i cannot possibly reply to all but each and everyone of you, i want you to know that your replies have made a huge impact on my sister.

Sheepish

My love, thoughts, and prayers go out to you and your family. Unfortunately this kind of insensitive, grasping behaviour is not owned by the witnesses, but it is proof they are not so different from everybody else.There would be nothing wrong with saying, "Please leave everything alone until the (immediate) family decides what is to be done."I know I am not alone in wishing I was there to help you.

69

I've been debating on whether or not to share this...but here goes

by findingmyway in

for those of you who will be disgusted that i even attended the meeting, let alone allow my son to give his first public talk tonight, please, spare me the shouting messages.

i take full responsibility for what i experienced this evening.

yet, i feel the need to share this experience that has me enraged.

Sheepish

I add my heartfelt sympathy and agree with all the advice you've been given so far, but I will add, as a warning:

Keep him away from your parents and other JWs! Especially and absolutely in regards to time alone with them! If you are not there, they will be working on him constantly.It is worth whatever you have to do to replace the babysitting aspect of the relationship.

I know this from experience. At one point my mom had my sister's kids, and would not let them get on the plane to go home, told them their parents were probably getting a divorce, (untrue) and only wanted them there longer to work on them more. Be vewy, vewy cahful Wabbit!

Also, keep reading the Bible with him, so he will not only associate it with the witnesses. Make sure you have a translation other than the bogus NWT.(There is plenty of info on what they did to it around, it you are still not convinced of it's error.) He needs to understand the freedom in it, before he grows up and rejects it all cause of the Witnesses.(For that matter, there are lots of little bible classes in different churches that have programs with stickers and patches, some like the boy scouts and eagles,like the Royal Rangers...if you ever want to look into it, I can tell you about a few--I am non-denominational by the way.Just PM me)

Lord bless you and help you heal. Whatever you were DFed for, it does not estrange you from God, only JWs! Count it a blessing in disguise!

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.

Sheepish

It constantly amazes me how we seem to have to get to the very bottom before we realize we need to change. I am so glad you are getting a second chance with your marriage.Thanks for sharing! And welcome!