Posts by Riverwatcher

7

I need help finding something from a JW publication please...

by Riverwatcher in

i haven't posted here in such a long time!

most of you probably don't remember the details to my situation....in a nutshell, my son married into the jw cult, there is a grandchild involved and at the very least i want to always maintain a good relationship with my son, daughter in law, and grandchild.

this was my main concern from the beginning.

Riverwatcher

Hello Everyone,

I haven't posted here in such a long time! Most of you probably don't remember the details to my situation....in a nutshell, my son married into the JW cult, there is a grandchild involved and at the very least I want to always maintain a good relationship with my son, daughter in law, and grandchild. This was my main concern from the beginning. He's been married now for four years, and so far things have been going just fine in regard to our relationship, although a red flag was raised a few weeks ago, and I'm not sure how to proceed. I should also mention that the "other Grandparents" (daughter-in-laws parents) are JW.

Anyway, without going into mind numbing details...grandaughter is just over three years old, and out of the blue the other day she looks at my husband and says "you don't know Jehovah". About six months prior to this, again, out of the blue, she picks up a copy of TV guide off our coffee table, hands it to my husband and says "talk about Jehovah!" Actually, the way he tells it, it was more of a command than a request...Anyway, a few days after the "you don't know Jehovah" comment, I ask her who told her that we didn't know Jehovah, and she tells me **** and ****, her other Grandparents. I was livid!!! Although, I remained calm, and explained that we did indeed know Jehovah, because after all, Jehovah is another name for God and we know God. I tried to keep it in terms that her young mind could understand, but I'm quite sure that anyone could clearly see the steam coming out of my ears!

Ok, so where in the heck do these other Grandparents get off? The kid is THREE years old! I find it impossible to believe that the subject of our religious beliefs would just "naturally" come up in conversation, which leads me to believe (and pardon me if this sounds paranoid), but it leads me to think that the other grandparents are just planting the seeds, trying to prepare her to distance herself from us.

I once remember once browsing through this book my grandaughter had, and I can't remember the name of it, but it was talking about having friendships with other people, but if they weren't JW, you didn't want to get "too close". If I remember correctly, this was a book aimed at kids...sort of struck me as "handbook" of how to be a JW.

Please...please, please.....if anyone can tell me where I might have read this, it would be very much appreciated! I know this seems like an odd request, but there is a method to my madness, I assure you.

Thanks so very much!

18

I'm so disappointed with myself!!

by fullofdoubtnow in

jw
friends

trev and i both gave up smoking around a month ago.

we didn't tell many people, hoping that would stop those of our friends who smoke from offerring us a cigarrette.

trev has been meaning to quit for a while, and i joined him when he made the attempt to support him.

Riverwatcher

Hi Linda,

Just offering you a pat on the back because I know what you're going through.

A few years ago, I was finally able to quit using the nicotine patch. It was much easier than I thought it would be. My husband had quit about six months before that. I was only able to stay smoke free for five months, then gave in and started again. I was frustrated and stressed, and was upset about the fact that I had "found" an extra 20 pounds in those short months.

Well, here it is two years later and I'm still puffing away, although I've never smoked as much as I did when I quit. Still, it bothers me to no end. I've tried and failed many times in these past two years. But, I did find a website that I've been studying and I do find myself gearing up to quit once again. The website is www.whyquit.com. It's got a lot of information on it; real people with real stories to tell. There are numerous discussion boards you can join, but here's the catch...in order to log into the boards to post something, you have to have been nicotine free for three days. Of course, this is on the honor system, but still, I'm finding that I like this concept. It's almost like they're keeping you accountable or something. I've yet to quit, but in the meantime, I'm doing a lot of reading and learning a lot. You don't have to be nicotine free to read the discussions, just to post.

So, I just wanted to share this with you in the hopes that it may help. Good luck to you ~ and good luck to me, too!!

50

Badges for Conventions

by ThomasCovenant in

each year name badges are handed out at the kingdom halls for those attending the upcoming district convention.

i have always refused to wear one but this was not a major issue as i would say only about 50% wore them anyway.

however i noticed that as the years went by more and more 'brothers' were wearing them including during the lunch break in the city centre concerned.

Riverwatcher

Question from a non JW...

Last year, my son and DIL and Grandbaby stayed at our place on their way to the DC. I noticed that my sweet little Grandbaby had her badge on. It had her first and last name on it, and underneath that were the words "Godly Obedience". Now, I have major issues about my son and his wife and the baby even being involved in this cult, but just seeing "Godly Obedience" really turned my stomach because although I don't know much about JW's, I do know that most of the obedience isn't to God. Anyway...I'm rambling here...my question is is there some sort of different "catch phrase" on the oh-so-necessary badges every year? Does the phrase somehow reflect the main theme of the convention that year? Just curious. Thanks!

6

Regarding JW's using My Space accounts...

by Riverwatcher in

jw
friends

i haven't been around in awhile, so apologies if this topic has been brought up recently.. my daughter (not a jw) had an interesting discussion today with her brother (who is a jw).

she was on the computer and was confused because her sister in laws my space account was no longer there.

she goes to check her brothers account; it too is gone.

Riverwatcher

Yeah, I kind of figured it was something like that.

Thanks!

13

Traditional Easter Peep Fight

by Gregor in

jw
friends

just got home from a family easter get together in vancouver, wa.

had bbq chicken, ham, potato salad, etc.

we had a huge peep war that spilled into the street and got the neighbors involved.

Riverwatcher

Although I've never tried it, I hear "Peep Jousting" is jolly good fun!

Take two Peeps (the ducks work best), and two plastic cocktail swords. Stick a sword in each Peep from the back, so it's sticking out the front of the poor little unsuspecting creature. Place the Peeps on a paper plate two inches apart and microwave on high for about two minutes. First Peep to stab the other one is declared the winner.

6

Regarding JW's using My Space accounts...

by Riverwatcher in

jw
friends

i haven't been around in awhile, so apologies if this topic has been brought up recently.. my daughter (not a jw) had an interesting discussion today with her brother (who is a jw).

she was on the computer and was confused because her sister in laws my space account was no longer there.

she goes to check her brothers account; it too is gone.

Riverwatcher

I haven't been around in awhile, so apologies if this topic has been brought up recently.

My daughter (not a jw) had an interesting discussion today with her brother (who is a jw). She was on the computer and was confused because her sister in laws My Space account was no longer there. She goes to check her brothers account; it too is gone. Later in the day, she calls him just to yak (they're still very close, thankfully), and asks him why his and his wifes My Space is gone. "Oh, we just sort of....um...decided we didn't want them up anymore". Now, this struck me as very odd, because for months now, using My Space has been one of the main ways they keep in touch with each other. They post messages, pictures, etc.

So, have the powers that be started cracking down on this sort of thing? I think I recall reading that JW's don't think too highly of the internet, but sheesh...whats the harm in family keeping in touch through it? And, if it's so evil, why is there an official JW site?

Thoughts, anyone? And again...sorry if I'm being redundant with this topic.

Thanks.

3

"Legally binding" baptism?

by Riverwatcher in

i've done a bit of reading, and now find that i have a question about baptism.. recently, a poster wrote something about j/w baptism being legally binding.

when i read this, i took it in the literal sense; that somehow if one were baptised, and at a later date chose to walk away, or d/a themselves, that the org could somehow "come after" them.

my question is...does this ever really happen?

Riverwatcher

I've done a bit of reading, and now find that I have a question about baptism.

Recently, a poster wrote something about j/w baptism being legally binding. When I read this, I took it in the literal sense; that somehow if one were baptised, and at a later date chose to walk away, or d/a themselves, that the org could somehow "come after" them. My question is...does this ever really happen? And if so, what would they "do" to you? And not only that, but if someone was of the mind that the org was nothing but a load of crap and they wanted out, why in the world would the org even want to hold the at one time j/w to the "contract" of baptism?

Of course, it could be I've misunderstood this whole concept, in which case I'll appreciate being enlightened by those of you in the know.

And, sort of off topic, but I must once again say how much I appreciate this board, although at times I do find myself crying while reading some of the posts. I don't know if I'm just being overly emotional these days or not, but good grief, what some of you have been through just makes my head spin. I get especially sad when I read about shunning and my heart goes out to all of you who have had to endure this.

16

Dist. Conventions and Circuit Assemblies ~ Questions...

by Riverwatcher in

i've got some questions about district conventions and circuit assemblies.

are j/w's required to attend them?

what if they can't afford to go?

Riverwatcher

Hi Everyone,

I've got some questions about district conventions and circuit assemblies. What are they, exactly? What goes on there? Are J/W's required to attend them? What if they can't afford to go? What if their job interferes with attending? How often are they held?

A year or so ago, my j/w DIL and son and grandbaby were heading through town to attend one of these functions (not sure which one) and I said to DIL "if you want, Grandbaby can just stay with us while you guys are at the convention". The baby was barely over a year old at the time. Without missing a beat, DIL repliied "oh no...we've got all her outfits picked out". Struck me as really odd, but come to think of it, there have been numerous mentions of "what so and so wore", or comments about getting new clothes for these functions. So, whats up with that? Is it part brainwashing, with a little bit of fashion thrown in?

Please clue me in here. Thanks!

12

An avatar, maybe*

by cyd0099 in

jw
friends

finally, a hint of what i actually look like.

.

although i am neither grainy, nor b&w, and am much larger in person.

Riverwatcher

Roy Orbison, perhaps?

40

Curious as to what a wedding at the KH is like...

by Riverwatcher in

jw
friends

i don't know why this has popped into my head.

just wondering about j/w weddings.. is there music?

are there any traditions used in the ceremony?

Riverwatcher

So, how much importance is placed on a J/W couple being married in the Hall? For instance, if they were married in a civil ceremony by a Judge at one point in their life, (like if one of them wasn't a j/w at that point in time) would they be encouraged to someday be "officially" married in the Hall?