Posts by PoppyR

41

Here's the reason for the 3% jump in publishers for the past year

by sir82 in

jw
friends

it is immigration that explains the vast majority of the increase.. who is it that immigrates?

the poorest of the poor, the desperate ones that would be dead from starvation or execution by gangs/guerillas within 5 years anyway.

these were not the ones being converted in their home countries - when you have to work 14-18 hours a day, 7 days a week just to feed your family, there is no time to "study", attend meetings, go out in field servce, etc.. so, they go to their new country.

PoppyR

I dont think it's the whole picture but definitely a glimmer of it.

In the UK we have a huge immigrant population, I have a friend who is a qualified teacher and earns so little in his home country (Hungary) that he can work here on the minimum wage doing manual work and support himself and send money home too. It's mostly European such as Polish, Russian and Albanian.

We have publishers learning Albanian and I heard the other day one of them, (not even a pioneer) has 15 studies.

Imagine the picture painted though, you arrive in a strange country, are not altogether welcomed by it's people and suddenly you can join a group of happy, friendly people speaking your language.

Dont discount the baby boom though, remember the WT is far behind, when I had my children (14 years ago) it was much frowned on, now more and more couples are realising the end is nowhere close and are starting families late in life. This would account for publishers just coming up now.

Poppy

111

New Yearbook stats for 2007 now out!

by Dogpatch in

the report is out!.

http://www.watchtowernews.org/2007report.pdf.

cooking the books with 3% increase??.

PoppyR

I cant get away from the fact I'm very disappointed with this report!! I KNOW the figures are probably cooked etc etc, but ultimately the JWs will use it to crow over for the next year. And I may be naive, but I dont think they're cooked any more than normal, it's just been a good year for them.

Looking back on my statistics chart it's a similar year to 1998, even right up to the average hours being up on the previous years. No doubt we will have a downslide next year, I'll put money on it.

The point that has stuck with me and I will use mercilessly? Is the one about how many more people were born this year, and how many more witnesses, translate that to each year so many more million will have to die because God 'waited' as he wanted to allow enough time for more to be saved..

Poppy

21

Can I be DF'd

by Robert7 in

jw
friends

so the reality is, .

- i am in 'good standing'.

- i am questioning/doubting the validity of the bible.

PoppyR

Yes you can.

I think the question is will you?

I am in a very similar situation to you, although probably 2 years on, I faded quietly, kept my head down, and now think everyone presumes I am no longer a witness so I dont even get the 6 monthly calls (does anyone get those?)

So I have avoided being DFed.. but like Besty said, at what cost? I still have to hide what I am, and to be honest most of my family think of me as an apostate anyway, I am now thankfully at the stage where I dont care either way.

But the answer is yes you can, and if it really worries you, you need to keep your head down, if it doesn't, then that's a good place to be.

Poppy

10

Free to Re-Marry

by Grouper in

jw
friends

if one confesses adultry to their spouse, does one also have to confess it to the elders in order for the spouse to be free to re-marry?

watchtower refrences would be appreciated.. a friend recently confessed adultry to his wife but she wants him (he hasn't gone to meeting in years) to confess to the elders or write a letter about the deed, she says she needs it inorder for her to be free to re-marry.

is this true?.

PoppyR

I've been in this situation and the answer is NO!

Basically the WTS writes if you spent the night with someone in the same house, unchaperoned, that your spouse is free to remarry. read into this what you will, you dont have to have sex, you dont have to admit to sex, your spouse (or ex) just has to know this has happened.

I 'arranged' a holiday with friends where I shared a room with my partner, I made sure my ex knew about this, NO sex was ever discussed and I would not discuss it with him, but he now considers himself free. I think this is the kind way to behave all around.

I will check out references for you.

Poppy

38

Faith vs. Reason- Watchtower "apostate" quote+refutation by atheist author

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

please read.

it mentions the watchtower and has some interesting things to say about it.. thoughts in captivity.

faith versus reason in religion.

PoppyR

I am currently reading 'the God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins, although It is necessary to use a dictionary as well as he is so verbose! I think I have a good vocabulary but I also know people who have given up on reading it because it's just too much like hard work.

Anyway, I am really enjoying it, still not a total atheist, but his points about organised religion are very good and very through provoking. He also talks about 'the flying spaghetti monster' which made me laugh as I thought that was a product of someone witty here on JWD.

Highly recommended.

110

Well, The Elders & Circuit Overseer Came By Tonight To See If We Are Celeb.

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

hello dear friends.... well..the saga continues!!

as many of you know last new years the jws attacked our "frosty" and egged our home.

" the co said, "so you are both not willing to meet with the elders..?".

PoppyR

So, dear friends, this is it. The end of a long era. I was born into the Organization, and now some 40+ years later, I'm out. No regrets, no looking back. I have some good memories and some not-so-good memories. I still love Mom and Dad and my Brother, but it will never be the same now. I've got a whole life ahead of me to love my God, Jehovah, my wife and daughter, her family, and to love my neighbor

This paragraph is sad, but comforting, when I get down about my family (or lack of!) which is more accentuated at this time of year, I honestly take GREAT comfort from this board and knowing that so many are experiencing the same kind of heartache.

Great Original Post, and you guys are so lucky to have each other!

Poppy x

18

My first ever birthday party!!!!

by iveseenthelight in

jw
friends

tomorrow i am having my first borthday party .

i intend to get very very drunks and dance until my feet are painfully swollen!

.

PoppyR

Ah belated happy birthday!

I still remember my first! (I've had 3 now) The girls at work bought a cake with a number 1 candle on it.. it was all quite emotional.

Birthdays and Christmas hold an extra special place for us now. Congratulations on getting out and just starting to make up for all the fun you have missed!

Poppy

34

Tell me your problems, I'll tell you mine..................................

by Warlock in

jw
friends

since everyone is venting about their problems, and rightfully so, i decided to start this vent thread.

i'll start:.

as i told mary, i spent $1100.00 to have a car in my household repaired.

PoppyR

and got the ole "wet sock

This made me laugh out loud... I have dogs now, but previously when I owned cats my least favourite moment was treading barefoot in something they'd barfed up

((((((Warlock)))))) not underestimating your problems I know what it's like to struggle financially and sometimes it can blot out the sun..

But.. As to problems.. yeah, we've all got em, and I'm sure the people on this thread who say they've got none, have got the same amount as me, it's all about perspective.

So how about, you tell me what's good in your life? I'll tell you what's good in mine?

Poppy x

17

I can laugh about it today, but....

by delilah in

jw
friends

yesterday was a crazy day!!

i woke up with a wicked migraine, took my meds, and went to work.

at noon, i took my husband to work and it was snowing like crazy...so i drove slowly...as i turned the corner, in the country, my car started to slide, and we did a complete circle, coming very close to hitting a hydro pole.

PoppyR

I never buy a car now that I can lock without the key! That way I cant lock my keys in.

Worst story, I once locked my keys in the car in the ignition, with one of my babies sleeping away peacefully in his car seat!! I was hysterical, I dont know why, cos he slept through the WHOLE thing. After about half an hour a kindly soul 'jimmied' the door for me, rather worryingly easy, and I have never been so glad to squeeze my baby.

So moral of the story, now I cant physically lock my keys in my car as I need them in my hand to work the remote!

Poppy

32

Small dog owners...please take note

by restrangled in

jw
friends

we just had a horrible episode in our back yard.

as most of you know i have two warlock dobermans.

they are very large and powerful.

PoppyR

Funny you mention 'the dog whisperer', I was just writing about that to shell69.

I love his shows, but sometimes do finish watching and think.. yes he corrected that problem, but how!!

I saw a great one last week where the dog was so nervous it would not even allow the owner to pet it, and he basicly just sat in the pen with it but totally ignored it. By the end of the show they were walking it and everything!

In the UK, we have a woman called Victoria Stillwell on a show 'Its me or the dog', who is very scary and always says there are no bad dogs, just bad owners..lol. But again.. by the end of the show the dog is behaving itself.

Poppy