My householder and I started laughing hysterically during our talk. Imagine the congregations stares as we had to leave the stage, I am only glad I didn't pee my panties.
lostlantern
JoinedPosts by lostlantern
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46
Tell me something embarrasing about yourself
by doodle-v ini'll start... i talk to myself.
a lot.
i'll even hold full blown conversations.
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37
Jehovah baby: you were my better-half, but just an invitation to the blues.
by tetrapod.sapien inlosing jehovah was like losing a girlfriend that you loved.
you barely had time to flinch when you found out that she had been sleeping with all your friends and stealing your records to pawn off.
that you had just been another sucker on the vine.. when jehovah dumps you, you start looking at yourself longer and harder, and wondering what it was about him that you found in yourself, until all you see there in the reflection is just yourself, dancing with an imaginary hand and waistline.. when jehovah was gone, and the war was over, i realized that all the things that had made me "good", and "moral", and "hate what was bad", didn't mean anything to me anymore.
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Feelings about disfellowshipping, etc.
by lostlantern ini was reading a post on here from a young man who will be facing a judicial committee for a sin he committed.
he is asking for advice on what to do.
a lot of feelings came rushing in on me as i thought back to how my brother was unfairly treated by an elder body.
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lostlantern
I was reading a post on here from a young man who will be facing a Judicial Committee for a sin he committed. He is asking for advice on what to do. A lot of feelings came rushing in on me as I thought back to how my brother was unfairly treated by an elder body. Another thing happened this weak with friends and their experience with the elders was extremely "raw". I can understand how we must keep ourselves clean, guard against bad association but when did this turn into the legalistic all powerful judge and jury we now have? When did it become ok for 3 imperfect men to sit and pass judgement for Jehovah? Why did it ever become ok in our heads that we would allow others to make these decisions regarding our own conscience?
An Elder gave this counsel to someone on the board:
"My response having served on many JC is - be honest & open. The elders aim is to "gain you" as a brother - not vindictively dis fellowship you. DF is absolutely a final option. Tell the facts & how you feel. Pray to Jehovah. The passage of time isn't necessarily a factor - it is a positive matter that you want to get the matter sorted out."I am intrigued by this statement, in my heart I wish that I still believed those words to be true. I was born and raised in the truth, I am a 3rd generation witness. I pioneered straight out of high school. I was devout and hard lined in the truth, absolutely sure of what I believed. I was raised to believe that when we sin the arrangement set forth is for our own good. We can tell the brother's our sins and if repentant we will be shown love and mercy. My father is a Ministerial servant and he raised us to believe that the elders/organization would be our crag, they would shelter us in times of need and despair. WE would be taken care of the way a lost sheep is cradled, prayed over and brought back to the flock. Oil would be poured over our wounds. The key is to be repentant. This is not the reality that exists. I will give you an example:
My brother was guilty of sexual misdeeds with a young sister. He was overtaken with guilt and sadness. He approached my father and confessed, crying in my father's arms. He was still a teenager, graduated for High School, the sister still in High School. My father of course advised him to go to the elders, be honest and open. We all advised him of this and lovingly told him that due to his repentance he would be treated fairly. Not to worry about disfellowshipping because it was used for those who are unrepentant, greedy, those who didn't want to change their actions. My brother was so distraught he was at the point of suicide, I had to take him to the emergency room and have him admitted to a "mental hospital". After he was dismissed by the therapist and put on medications the brothers insisted on his meeting. Long story short, after much pain and heartbreak they said that they found him to be repentant but that he was to be disfellowshipped anyway. They also said that he could count on being out for as long as he sinned, pay back his due to Jehovah. Can you imagine the disbelief my family felt when faced with this. We were so dumbfounded, we would have initially agreed with your statement above had we not witnessed firsthand the sad truth. A part of me died that day and it never came back. My brother was so crushed, his mental state was so fragile and weak that he fell apart. He did everything but kill himself. That is damage that can never be undone. This experience taught me one thing, never ever trust the elders. Never go to them in times of anguish with sin, pray to Jehovah for forgiveness and repent to him alone. If this were the only time that such a thing had happened it wouldn't seem to be so bad but unfortunately others in my area have experienced the same thing. Or their is the other extreme, and elders child is guilty of the same thing but lacks the same repentance. In this instance most are given a free pass. This was my brothers first offense and this event has shaped the last 3 years of his life. He is finally doing well in life but will never come back to the "truth".I say it again how can we endorse such a system that has so much control on others futures and families? How can we give 3 imperfect men the ability to judge in the place of God? WE can not read hearts, why do we give ourselves so much importance and power? Don't even mention the appeal process because the falsity of that was made evident as well. How can you expect justice from 3 new men when they don't rehear the case, they consult with the original three brothers and uphold their decision? It seems to be a good 'ol boys club. I am frustrated by all of this. It saddens my heart to see such injustice and now I am enraged by those who say "wait on Jehovah, they will get theirs", "Jehovah will fix it", "we have to keep our faith, this is a test. Don't allow others to make you fall way". What about all of those who didn't have a choice and suffered unfairly, what about them?
sometimes I just want to scream.
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Another Newbie
by TooBad TooSad ini have been reading and enjoying the posts here for over 2 years.
i have been a witness for over 30 years.
i am going to the meetings just to keep peace in the family.
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Do you have a pet next to you?
by moshe ini am relaxing in my lay-z-boy recliner, online with a laptop.
our dog , sparky, is lying right next to me.
he is a 12lb silky terrier- he looks like an overgrown yorkie .
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lostlantern
I have two beautiful babies that bring sunshine to each day. One lays at my feet and one in my lap.
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Raymond Franz
by KW13 inraymond franz was a member of the governing body and was a jw for many years till he left.. he wrote a book which provides a great insight into jw's but what is really good about it is he isn't bitter when he comes across and so far i am really enjoying the read.. also in there are copies of letters sent from him to the society or the other way around and i recommend anyone who can find it should read it!.
http://www.watchtowerinformationservice.org/cocbr.htm.
i am only just into it and i am hooked.
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lostlantern
My husband finally convinced me to read it as well. It was a really hard step for me to take, but a good one. I am left frustrated because the veil is lifting and the truth isn't at all what I thought it to be. I want to share it with my parents and brothers but I can't lose them, family is a strong tie.
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Hubby's home!
by MsMcDucket inmy husband is back home.
his hemoglobin is at 11. i will have to keep monitoring his stools for blood, and he will have to go back in for lab draws for blood counts.
but, he's doing well; and he's happy to be home.. thanks again to everyone for your kind thoughts and messages!.
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My husband had a heart attack
by MsMcDucket inhello all, the last 24+ hours, i've been at the hospital.
i took my husband in because he was having chest pains.
come to find out his cardiac enzymes were elevated and his ekg was abnormal.
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lostlantern
I am sorry to hear about your husband. My father was in the same situation, he too was in the VA. He received great care and has done really well. I know what you are going through and will keep you in my prayers.
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What's your favourite food?
by Spectrum ini've got lots but the one i'ed like right now is... .
curried goat or fish west indian style with basmati rice or lentil filled roti bread.
has anybody ever had lentil filled roti?
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To Those Who Still Go To Meetings, Do You Sense Anything Different?
by minimus inare people excited by anything in the organization?
are they tired?
mostly missing?
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lostlantern
I am no longer regular at the meetings but at the last circuit assembly only one person was baptised. It struck me as very odd, I have never seen so few baptised. My parents were falling off of the wagon but are alive and kicking strong again. I do get the sense through their comments though that there are problems with the young ones. Not only in their hall but in the whole circuit.
I did attend all of the 2005 Assemblies and Convention and for the first time nothing struck me as encouraging. In fact I think the baptism talks are real downers. When we were young they were more "warm and fuzzy", now they are very formal and legalistic. If by chance I do go to a meeting it only makes me depressed because everyone wants to know what happened to my husband, yada, yada, yada. I decided that I couldn't take the feeling of "worthlessness" I walk away with.