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freedom96
JoinedPosts by freedom96
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17
19th Wedding Anniversary!
by TR2 inon this day, 19 years ago, my lovely wife and i were married at assumption catholic church in spokane, washington, usa.. she put up with me, when a month later i got involved with 'hovahs.
she stuck with me for the next ten years through my 'hovahness.
her family, my family, accepted me back without question when i dumped the wts, and shed the fake, thin veneer of being a 'hovah.
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9
Kingdom Hall personalities
by freedom96 injust as people have different personalities, i believe that individual congregations also had their own personality.. the hall i went to while growing up, was just awful.
the po of the hall was known in the entire area, and was just a tyrant.
there were no grey areas.
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freedom96
Just as people have different personalities, I believe that individual congregations also had their own personality.
The hall I went to while growing up, was just awful. The PO of the hall was known in the entire area, and was just a tyrant. You didn't get away with anything at all. There were no grey areas. Everyone was taught to be cautious of the other, for fear of bad association even between witnesses. No dancing, not too many get togethers, etc. Anything that was taught by the WTS was taken to the extreme.
Now, just on the other side of town, was another Kingdom Hall. This one actually had two built together, and had about 5 congregations between them. If you went to this hall, it was actually pleasant in comparision. The elders seemed to actually care, and you felt that you could have actual friendships. Oh sure, the teaching was the same, but everything had a lighter tone to it. Going out in service was much more tolerable (they went for donut breaks), the meetings were even easier to attend. The kids had more friends, and got together much more often. I cannot even begin to spell out the differences.
Both were full of witnesses, and had the same teachings, but one was tolerable, the other not. I never attended the "fun" hall, as I left the area. I moved about 600 miles away, and found a hall, that though it was not as bad as the one I grew up in, it was not enjoyable. Moved again, about 1,000 miles away, and again, found a hall not as bad as the original one, but more like what I think most halls are like.
Had I stayed in the area that I grew up in, I know for sure I would have moved into the "fun" hall. I wonder how long I would had stayed. It scares me to think, that being it was so easy going, would I had stayed a witness for years more? It was easy going enough there that I don't think I would have tried too hard to look elsewhere. Lots of friends, I could have worked with some of the brothers there. There would not have had much chance to consider leaving. Kind of like a little shelter, where everything is ok.
So much for the "unity" that there is. Perhaps the hall I grew up in was the one extreme of strictness, and the other hall was extreme in its ability to be relaxed and loving. Maybe most halls are in the middle, just following the stupid rules and teachings that the WTS puts out there.
A question I have is: Would it had been harder for you to leave had the congregation been more friendly, loving, accepting? What would have been the final straw? Did you notice big differences in the halls you attended? Would you have lasted longer in one hall over another?
For me, it was seeing a lack of love, lack of unity to start with. I faded away, then learned what I now know.
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15
Snitchers?
by Brumm ini read a few apostate books during my research as a jw...after confessing in private to a best friend that i'd read them i got snitched on and they ran and told the elders....prats!
this led to a judicial and a 6 month probation, wasnt allowed to do carpark duty (sobs) or michrophone duty (baawl) for 6 months nor could i answer up at meetings which led to tongue wagging, could go on doors though... a bit strict huh.. also know of a 6 year old who handed in her dad for speaking to apostates!
was you snitched on?
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freedom96
I would never snitch. My ex-wife however, after being divorced for years, still tries to snitch on me, though I have been inactive for years. She would love nothing more than to try to get be df'd. Great Christian attitude huh?
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31
Going door to door in extreme weather
by JH inthis morning as i got up, it was 0 f outside.
this morning at 9 o'clock as usual the same witnesses will go door to door at this temperature.
i already saw them going door to door at -25 f. i wonder what it would take for them to say it is too cold or too hot to go out in the field service?
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freedom96
It didn't snow where I grew up, but it sure could get very cold and stormy. There was nothing that kept us from going out in service. Growing up, I cannot think of any time EVER of not going out that weekend morning.
We would go door to door with umbrellas, and the wind would make the rain go sideways, so the umbrella really was useless, and we expected the householder to listen to us???
The hall I went to was very extreme; I had seen others that were not as bad. It was usually my elder dad who made us go and give a good example. Sometimes if the weather got too extreme, he would limit it to not-at-homes or return visits.
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16
Being Sound In Mind Means You Stay Away From World
by minimus ina new public talk reviews what being sound in mind refers to.
the speaker mentioned that in order to please jehovah and show that you have "soundness of mind", you should not associate with anyone that is not in the "truth", to the extent possible.
he re-read that comment a second time for emphasis.
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freedom96
Who knows, perhaps the more strict they are, more will see the WTS for what it really is, and run.
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9
My First Week As a Cab Driver
by gilwarrior inso far it has been going ok. my shift is from 3am to 3pm.
it has been hard waking up early in the morning, but i am getting the hang of it.
) i told him that i didn't know.
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freedom96
So are you having any success at all? Anything going on, making any money? I have a couple of friends that live there, and they say getting a job is fairly easy. They say simply don't give up, and that there are so many drunks and gamblers that live there, they just want someone to show up and work.
Keep plugging away. You will make it if you keep trying. Vegas is attitude, and show. Even if your personality is not one to be outgoing, change. It will make all the difference on how you do financially. You will be happier too.
Good luck!!
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9
Skills for success
by larc inwhat do you think are the key ingedients for becoming a successful person?
i know that the definition of success varies from person to person.
for one person, it might be having a job that they really enjoy.
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freedom96
I agree with much listed above. I believe you must have a dream. For those who believe the bible, there is a verse that flat out says: "Man without a vision shall perish."
I believe there should be short term goals, as well as long term goals. I think one should have a place to look for for guidance. If it is marital success, then finding someone with a great marriage and asking for advice is the way to go. If it is material success, then finding those who have made money and asking them how they did it, and learning from them.
I believe that as one goal is set, to reach out for another. I believe one must keep going forward, having something to reach for. Always reaching for more, being a better person, etc.
There are tons of success based books that are a great read.
One that I learned was that of serving others. I have noticed in my personal life, that those people who serve others needs first, have the most blessings. Those who are takers, self centered, etc don't have quite as much.
I think association is crucial. I do not take any of my friends for granted, whether or not they are successful or not. But, I do get myself around those who have what I want as often as possible. Whether it is financial success, marriage, people skills, etc, I can learn a lot from them.
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13
What should I say?
by santacruzchick into refresh your memories, i was raised as a jw, as of the last few yrs my mom has been inactive (she's the only jw in the family).
i was never baptized talking and talking and talking, i felt insulted because i already knew everything we were going over.
however....winter break is begins next week, so i'm going home for about a month.
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freedom96
Many great suggestions listed above. I would encourage you to keep it simple; something to the effect that you are not ready right now, life is busy, but if you change your mind, she will be the first to find out.
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8
4 color magazines
by freedom96 indo you remember when the magazines first came out in full color?
wow, everyone was soooo excited.
i remember a family in the hall that had two kids back at bethel, and they got a sneak copy.
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freedom96
Good one Michael!
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19
I'm so excited!!!
by Vee ini've just found out that my application for volunteering in ghana has been accepted!!
i can't tell you how much i'm really looking forward to this challenge.. i've recently moved to london in the hope that i would be able to pick up some project work in the 3rd world country.
i registered with www.workingabroad.com who fitted out my profile with 80 prospects of ngo's i could apply with, and was successful with applications in mexico, india and ghana.
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freedom96
I am happy for you! I respect those who go the extra mile to accomplish anything productive that most people just won't do.
Look forward to hearing how it goes when you get back.