Being embarassed because I always had to be the outsider at holidays, school assemblies, no extra curricular school activities, etc. I just wanted to be normal and live a normal life.
Posts by Dawn
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47Things That Youths Hate About Being A JW:
by Englishman in.
1. everyone in the congregation knows that you're still a virgin.. englishman.
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40
Odd announcements at meetings/conventions
by POs Son in.
ok, here is one to enjoy:
what odd, silly, embarassing, inappropriate or just plain weird announcements have you heard at meetings, conventions and assemblies?
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Dawn
Apparently he was completely oblivious to the fact that he had just cursed out the entire congregation.
Or was he???
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23
Take my challenge
by pleaseer2001 ina question was asked of me last night.
what made you find the forum?
which stopped me in my tracks and opened my mind to ask myself that question.
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Dawn
Great post.
I found this site when I was researching beliefs of JW's. I was looking for the truth - and I believed (and still believe) that the truth will always be the truth and should be able to withstand any amount of research or criticism. So after being raised a JW - and having been DF'd - I was at a fork in the road where I thought about going back to the JWs but wanted to really research it all.
I'm glad I found this site - it helped me realize what I knew deep down inside - it wasn't the truth - it was a highly controlled legalistic religion following men.
I'm still searching for the truth - have found some of it - but I think the life long journey will be a continual search - and that's good. Being free to continue in the search is what it's all about.
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37
What was your favorite thing about service?
by Dustin ini used to love break time.
especially if it was afternoon service, and we stopped at taco bell.
i used to be damn good at eating tacos in the car without spilling anything.
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Dawn
Funny how almost everyone hated FS. And what's good about it? Being forced to give a prepared speel about some topic that you really aren't that sure about anyways? Always hoping not to run into someone who REALLY knows their bible because you can't answer the tough questions.
I hated FS but aux pioneered often because I thought it was what God wanted.
Now that I'm out and go to a basic Christian Church I have discovered that I really do enjoy witnessing - only I do it when the time is right and it just comes from the heart. People are much more receptive to that also - because you're not forcing yourself on them, just sharing something from your own life - just being you - and not judging.
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56
DO YOU KNOW THE KINGDOM SONG WORDS?????????????
by vitty inafter being in the org for 20 years, being regular at every meeting.
i must have sung the songs hundreds of times, but i cant sing the first line of any song off by heart..
i asked my husband, kids if they could, they also cant.. can you?.
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Dawn
ugh.... now I have those songs stuck in my head! Damn you!
The KH songs never moved me - always so old fashioned and legalistic lyrics - sung with no emotions. Gag.
Too bad they don't have new music from time to time with real feelings, written from the heart. I LOVE Chris Rice's song "Untitled Hymn" - I have posted a short part of the song below but it just doesn't do justice without hearing it with the music:
Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!
Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!and the last chorus...
And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!Now THAT'S a worship song!
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Dawn
I like small gifts with thought. I love wine - and one year my husband bought me a bottle of wine and had it engraved with a heart and the year. It was so cool!
Mostly we go to dinner, enjoy a glass of wine or two, and exchange cards. I like being relaxed about it and just celebrating that I have someone to share that special day with.
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7
obedience
by sugarbritches inhi- i would like to know if anyone has any good scriptures that i could hit someone with when they say that they have to do whatever the elders tell them- even if they feel the elders are wrong and in error- they say the scriptures tell us to be obedient to those taking the lead.
they say we are to follow the elders instructions and if they are in error- jehovah will make it right.
i feel we should never blindly follow anyone.
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Dawn
I guess common sense would ultimately speak to this topic. We each answer to God for our actions - Eve tried to blame Adam and look where that ended up . I don't think God would accept an excuse such as "well - they told us to and I did it even though I felt it was wrong because they are the elders". But the bible is pretty clear that we will be forgiven for all sins if we accept Jesus as our savior and ask for forgivness.
So for me - I guess I would say that common sense says - do what YOU believe is right based on the bible - and then leave the rest in God's hands knowing that you're forgiven.
After all - if you follow the counsel of men knowing that it may be wrong - then aren't you worshiping men instead of God?
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5
Great News!!!
by Dawn inmy father-in-law has been very ill - has a bad heart valve.
i am really close to my in-laws as they have pretty much adopted me as their daughter.
i lost my dad a few years ago and my father-in-law is like my father to me.
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Dawn
Thank you all for your kind words. I found it somewhat comforting - in a way only you all would understand - to know that there would be no JW's around this time.
When my father was in for open heart surgery he was an elder and I was DF'd - although my father never shunned me and I took care of him and my mother. So I was there at the hospital for the whole week, surrounded by JW's, some of who would be courteous enough to say hello - but most of whom would leave the room with my mom so they could comfort her without being in the "presence of a wicked one" so to speak. I was so sad, so scared, and so isolated. It was a relief when my husband was there because at least I had someone around who was just there to be supportive and didn't give a $hit about what my beliefs were.
When my brother was murdered his congregation was much nicer, but they still made it a point to let me know that they were being supportive only because I was his sister and was there to take care of his things and arrange to have his body sent home (gee thanks ). Although - I have to say that his best friend (an elder) was truly a good christian - he never once treated me like an outsider and told me before I left that he thought I was a good person and respected me and that I could call on him any time.
This time around my husband's family and our friends were all together to support each other - it didn't matter who was christian, who was athiest, who believed what - we were just there for each other and for my father-in-law. Although it was very scary and a lot of tears have been shed over the past week - it was comforting to feel like I was one of the family and not an "outsider".
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12
Counsel - How many times
by CaptK inwhen you was a jw how many times did you recieve counsel or critisim from the elders.
i can't think of how many times when i gave talks ( 5 min) #4 that i would get counsel.
or going in service you should of said this or use this scripture.
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Dawn
A better question is "When did you not get councel".
Exactly!
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5
Great News!!!
by Dawn inmy father-in-law has been very ill - has a bad heart valve.
i am really close to my in-laws as they have pretty much adopted me as their daughter.
i lost my dad a few years ago and my father-in-law is like my father to me.
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Dawn
My father-in-law has been very ill - has a bad heart valve. I am really close to my in-laws as they have pretty much adopted me as their daughter. I lost my dad a few years ago and my father-in-law is like my father to me. My brothers are JW's and don't talk to me - and my mother (also a JW) has only limited contact with me - so my husband's family is all I have.
He went in for open heart surgery this morning to have a heart valve replaced - this was supposedly the first of two and possibly three open heart surgeries he would have to have. Not only has he made it so far with flying colors - but the surgeon said they were able to repair EVERYTHING in this one surgery and he won't have to have any more. He was off the ventilator within 2 hours. He had a four hour surgery staring at 7:30am this morning and was up, sitting in a chair, and talking to us at 3:00pm today. I am SOO SOO SOOO GREATFUL!.
They will keep him for a few days as he's not out of the danger zone yet - but the Dr. says he's bouncing back so fast that they probably won't even keep him the normal 7 days - he may get to come home in 4.
After loosing my own father to a heart attack, then my brother to a murder both in the last few years - this is just such a great relief. It looks like I will have my adopted dad/father-in-law around for a long time to come.
Just had to share my great news - we are all so relieved here tonight!