Welcome. You sound like a totally awesome man and father. Your girl is lucky to have you as a father. I hope you keep and develop a strong relationship with her (and her mother).
Skeeter
skeeter1
JoinedPosts by skeeter1
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34
yet another newbie..
by ragnarok75 ini've been lurking here for some time and now that i've registered here's a little bit about myself... i'm in northern europe (so english is not my own language,but i have indeed studied it for more than 18 months) and i was born into this hateful cult in the "momentuous" year of -75.good that my parents stayed alive till then!.
as far back as i can remember i had doubts both about the doctrines and the whole existence of god.however,i instinctively knew that these doubts are not to be mentioned.so i learned to be a fake at an early age.though having read many other stories here i realise how easy i got it.i now understand that we lived in a rather liberal area and also my family was quite liberal eventhough my dad was an elder since mid -80 and mom was really "strong in the truth".i never brought up the religion at school or with friends and was never bullied or anything.it helped that i was good at sports,especially football (soccer for americans) and football is also the source of my biggest hurt in childhood.i know it may sound very trivial,but the fact that i wasn't allowed to join a football team felt just so unjust and painfull and it lasted all through my childhood.whenever we had a new gym teacher,the first thing he asked me was which team do i play for.i was too embarrased to tell the truth and i just gave the impression that i only wanted to play for fun and not join any team.oh,how badly i wanted to!.
somehow i managed to silence all those doubts and got babtised as a young man.very soon after the babtism i knew that it didn't have the hoped for effect of making me more spiritual and meetings and field service still felt an absolute bore.now began the long years of just "going through the motions".all my family (parents,many brothers and sisters,uncles and aunts,nieces and nephews) and most of my friends were in.i never reached out and attended only one or two meetings a week and penned my hours.i kind of liked my congregation (also,the seats at our kh were really comfy,so i often slept through the meetings) and made some very good friends.friends that - as you all can guess- didn't turn out to be so good in the end,but with whom i nonetheless had some good times and felt a strong connection to.. for a long time nothing happened that would've disrupted my rather non-eventfull life as a lacklustre jdub with at least another foot in the "world".i'd done many things that would've gotten me d'fed,but i never had any intentions of going to the elders about it and i had no pangs of conscience about it either.it was just a matter of convenience..i liked my witness friends,wanted to hold on to them and not to lose my family.. however..there was this girl... a (worldly,of course) girl that i had absolutely fell for and had a brief romance with many years ago.now she was back in my life.i must omit the proceeding turns of events for the sake of anonymity,but the end result is that i'm a proud father of a lovely baby girl.well,not so much baby anymore as she starts school soon.i love her so much and it gives me great satisfaction that she is growing free from any influence of vicious cults or of any gods for that matter.we live now in different countries but i see her often and there's always skype.. her birth also acted as a catalyst for the change in relationship between me and the society.i decided that i wanted to share the joy of her birth and existence with my family,eventhough i also knew that that would mean i'd have to go the elders too.if i didn't,they would,and that would result in automatic disfellowshippping.. a jc was duly formed and i had decided that i'm not going to go there and tell them that i regret her,as having her is the best thing that's ever happeded to me.
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New Member-Active Elder
by Promitheas ini'm a new member & i'd like to say hi to everyone, intoducing myself.. i am a 3rd generation born-in at mid 50's & an active elder.. english is not my mother language, so pls ignore any grammatical errors.
i live in a small country in europe.. i'd like to thank you for all information posted.
some of them have rally helped me to understand and examine again my beliefs.. last new light concerning f&ds=gb has verified the idea that they are popes in the position op pope.. i still believe in god & in his son jesus christ but not in the gb..
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skeeter1
Welcome. I feel like I should make you fried chicken, biscuits, and sweet tea. A real Southern meal for the new European elder.
A Higher Being. As we struggle to understand a higher being, we should have the right to change our understanding. Welcome to your journey. Here to listen.
What is the age makeup of your congregation? Is it mainly elderly people? Who is leaving the religion, and why? WHo is coming to the religion, and why? Are you seeing more leaving them coming?
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Can Publishers buy "Scratch Off" tickets?
by skeeter1 insee title?
someone i know has gloated that he bought $15 of scratch off tickets, and won $35.
i thought one could not gamble, and it would include scratch off tickets..
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skeeter1
I found a way to make sense of it all.
A teenage boy can't play football in high school because it is competition and takes time away from service activities. The KH can have a baseball game at a picnic, especially if there is no score taken. And, brothers can get together to watch professional football and even have a Super Bowl party. So, it makes sense to allow 'petty' wagering on sports between JWs. It is just a competition of the mind, and it helps the Super Bowl party be more fun and interesting. After all, it's the rare party JW MEN can have. (Other JW parties are geared more for women - baby showers, weddings).
But, lottery monies go to the Government to finance wars. So, one should not do any lottery activity, including a scratch off ticket.
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10
Can Publishers buy "Scratch Off" tickets?
by skeeter1 insee title?
someone i know has gloated that he bought $15 of scratch off tickets, and won $35.
i thought one could not gamble, and it would include scratch off tickets..
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skeeter1
Thanks and I look forward to hearing your thoughts -
10
Can Publishers buy "Scratch Off" tickets?
by skeeter1 insee title?
someone i know has gloated that he bought $15 of scratch off tickets, and won $35.
i thought one could not gamble, and it would include scratch off tickets..
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skeeter1
We need an elder to write the Service Department for clarification. I'm totally confused now.
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JWs are sure fun to watch
by skeeter1 ini have only 3 jw relatives.
they are fun to watch.
i just observe them now, and never make comment on jw things.
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skeeter1
"JW2 must have been hounding JW3 to go to this past Sunday's meeting. For, when JW3 was obviously not going, JW2 did that "snarl" (like Satan won). "
So, if a friend missed a meeting or appointment, NORMAL people do not snarl.
Man #1: So, how was that baseball game you had tickets to?
Man #2: Oh, I couldn't go. Kids were sick.
Man #3: Oh, (no expression) (or) Did you scalp the tickets?
Woman #1: So, did you have fun at the gym?
Woman #2: No, I couldn't go. I was too tired.
Woman #3: Oh (no expression).
BUT, when the exchange happens between two JWs - it's all about a judgment of faith, snideness.
JW #1: I missed seeing you at the meting.
JW #2: I couldn't go. I was tired and kids were sick.
JW #3: OHHHHHHHH (JW #2 is getting weak, Satan's taking ahold).
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JWs are sure fun to watch
by skeeter1 ini have only 3 jw relatives.
they are fun to watch.
i just observe them now, and never make comment on jw things.
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skeeter1
I have ONLY 3 JW relatives. They are fun to watch. I just observe them now, and never make comment on JW things. They were all here this weekend, going in and out.
They all associate with me, becuase I was never baptised. They "ignore" my religious views; which I have been about as vocal as they come. I've basically told them all, to their faces at various points, that it's a cult, mind control, don't believe in the Bible, flip flops, and laughed my fanny off at the religion. Even though I have totally different views, they will not shun me.
Oldest JW tries very hard to be humble, pioneer, read, study for lessons, follow rules, etc. Will only date with a chaperone. Would never dance with anyone but a spouse. But, the elders give #1 a hard time, as JW1 is eccentric and probably suffers from OCD. JW1 gets mad at them, like when a study needs financial help and the elders will not help out . . . or the WTS wants JW1 to house building volunteers, but will not recommend JW1 stay at other JW houses when traveling. But, throughout it all, JW1 stays faithful. JW1 complains that JW2 doesn't go out in service enough. JW1 thinks I'm going to make it into Paradise. I just didn't have the heart to say, "Hell no, I don't want to spend eternity with JWs" So, I just stayed silent.
JW2 is a "born again" JW. Having reached middle age, no marraige (not even dating), no kids, . . . . went full blown JW. Goes out in service, the bare minimum though. (But, made a point to mention to me that she was recently out in service...). JW2 has the full blown demon-possession fear going on inside her mind. Was absolutely afraid of one Christmas ornament I left out. Saw it, and ran from the room. JW2 MAKES ABSOLUTELY SURE TO TOUT AT LEAST 1 pro-JW quip whilst in my midst. I can just see that she's trying to "beat Satan" (me) away in a show to prove to me (Satan) that she is strong in her devotion for Jehovah's ocean. JW2 absolutely HATES things I do (like birthday parties, Christmas). Makes snide remarks to other relatives, which all gets back to me. JW2 proudly does alot of 'bad' things that she actually admits to me. Again, I am chuckling in silent. JW2 competes in competitions. JW2 buys "scratch off" tickets, and likes to associate with a super "worldly" friend (like goes on vacations together, etc.) But, it's the snideness of JW2 that I really can't stand. . . .and I try to remember that that is the cult-personality coming out. The real JW2, underneath it all, is a gem of a person. But, the cult has screwed it all up. Now, JW2's main mission in life is to recruit JW3.
JW3 is one of those "lifer" studies. JW2 must have been hounding JW3 to go to this past Sunday's meeting. For, when JW3 was obviously not going, JW2 did that "snarl" (like Satan won). OMG - too funny. JW2 has JWs "dropping in" on JW3 to make sure JW3 doesn't forget important meetings. Oh, this group does the "we missed you at hte meeting, are you going tomorrow". OMG, it's so fake. This group of "Friends" is only there for JW3 to get service hours in. JW3 totally "clings" to the "Truth." If backed into a corner, JW3 will defend. But, JW3 goes to a meeting about once every 2 months. In the meantime, JW3 loves to go to big & small casinos (for the spouse's benefit, of course), nightclubs, birthday parties, dressing up for Hallowing, likes everyone (including gay/lesbian) people, and can be considered a very logical person. Worldly relatives who know JW2, think very highly. Oh, but JW3 doesn't tell JW2 any of the extra-Kingdumb Hall activities.
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And so, I sit quietly and watch this small group deal with the cult to which they are entrapped. JWs are sure fun to watch.
Thank you for allowing me an outlet.
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10
Can Publishers buy "Scratch Off" tickets?
by skeeter1 insee title?
someone i know has gloated that he bought $15 of scratch off tickets, and won $35.
i thought one could not gamble, and it would include scratch off tickets..
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skeeter1
See title? Someone I know has gloated that he bought $15 of scratch off tickets, and won $35. I thought one could not gamble, and it would include scratch off tickets.
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New Member / MS still in...
by Comatose infeels real strange typing this.
i was what you all call born in.
i was happy growing up.
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skeeter1
Welcome.
I concluded that the God of Abraham is nuts. It rubs off on those who follow Him. You are on your way to your spiritual journey.
Skeeter
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The Elephant in the Room
by skeeter1 inwith a name like skeeter, i have plenty of relatives that could be on a day-time paternity talk show.
i talked with some this week.
their lack of want to improve their situation drives me nuts.. 18 years ago, relative betty gets pregnant as a teenager, had a baby (we'll call her mary), very quickly abandoned mary to grandma, came back pregnant with another child 5 years later, grandma pays alot of betty's & mary's bills, grandma used to say that betty was jealous of mary (mary is pretty, thin, and can do well in school.
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skeeter1
Perfect1: They wouldn't hear of adoption (or abortion) of the baby. They "love their babies...." The grandparents were hinting that I adopt the baby for the first year, but I totally know that she'll just breed more & more & more.
Defiant: Yep, this crowd also lived in the dirtiest trailor park in the town. That's part of why grandma bought a house. But, I hear the house isn't too clean. I know that there is alot of welfare, social security, disability, and WIC goign into this house, and free medical & free cell phones too.
jgnat & whathappend: Denial and enablers. Yes, that's definately a center part of the problem.
all: Thanks for the hugs. It drives me absolutely nutty to see a group of people watch a train wreck in the making and not taking action. Can I change denial or enablers?
