Posts by lovelylil

18

how would you respond

by besty in

i had a shepherding call a while back and expressed some doubts about the org.

one of the elders asked 'if you know what you know now, would you still have got baptised?

sensing a bit of a leading question, i ducked it by replying 'impossible to say'

lovelylil

Hi Betsy, welcome.

I agree with all the posters so far - the elders were trying to trap you. Your answer was perfect! Don't give them anything they can "use" against you.

39

Inquiry mind wants to know

by jw in

jw
friends

what years were you an active jw?.

when was the last year you attended a meeting?.

were you a true christian or did you live a double life?.

lovelylil

Here is some of my background:

I was a witness from 1993 - 2004 - wife of a MS, and pioneer for five years. Both my kids were unbaptized publishers and my whole family was very active and consider a pillar family in the hall.

I thought I was a Christian but was wrong - I agree with Mouthy on this one. Jesus is not the organization and to be a "true" Christian, you are to be a follower of Christ not of an organizational institution.

I became a Christian a few months after leaving the WT when I repented of my sins, told Jesus and Jehovah I was very sorry for the haughty self righteous and judgemental attitude I had towards everyone in the world I thought I was superior too as a Witness I asked them to forgive me and for Christ to come into my heart and show me the true way of following him and I told Jesus and Jehovah I wanted to no longer be enslaved to any man made religion, I just wanted to follow them with all my heart. If they approved of me, I asked that they give my holy spirit to show me I was accepted as a child of God, which they did, and that is when I was spirit-begotten. (some say born again)

Why did I leave? I believe Jesus called me out of false religion by slowly opening my eyes to all the false teachings, misapplying of scriptures, putting heavy burdens on the friends that the WT was doing, yet not willing to budge them with their own little finger. And, all the other injustices. Each time I responded to Jesus, he showed me a little bit more that was wrong with the Org. My eyes were opened over a one year time period and finally, I could no longer sit thru a meeting at all and listen to all the nonsense, so I walked out and never went back that was around October 2004. After leaving and knowing full well why and who helped me leave, I decided to become dedicated to christ.

Now, I am a free agent in Christ. And go to church but no church or religion will ever own me again.I make up my own mind, using my own conscience about what I feel is right or wrong according to the scriptures and since I am a free agent, I can fellowship with any other Christians no matter what their denominational beliefs as I consider them all my brothers and sisters in the faith.

49

Do I need to be Readjusted in my thinking?

by enlightenedcynic in

i am sure that the topic i am going to introduce has been discussed here many times before but i personally need to a.

) vent a little and b.

) get feedback from some logically thinking individuals.. here we go...... the kh i attend is going to renovated.

lovelylil

Auldsoul,

thanks for letting me in on that information, you are right, I forgot their 144,000 are only spiritual Isrealites baloney. I keep reading the scriptures with the proper view and although out of the Org. only 2 years, their beliefs now are totally whacked to me.

but I could swear I read WT articles before that said not to charge interest to your brothers and sisters and it applied to the other sheep. If anyone has the CD Rom, they can probably find a couple.

This makes me so mad!!!!!! It is just another wieght on the shoulders of the unsuspecting congregation members who are so blinded, they can't ever see anything wrong with their "mother".

To all you active JW lurkers out there who are not part of the 144,000 exclusive club: I hope this information is having an affect on your minds and hearts. You are worth nothing to the WT society and are totally dispensable at any time. If you are not giving enough of your time and money - your mother will boot you out of the house so fast, your head will spin. So, sad really.

Imagine being alien residents in your own church?

49

Do I need to be Readjusted in my thinking?

by enlightenedcynic in

i am sure that the topic i am going to introduce has been discussed here many times before but i personally need to a.

) vent a little and b.

) get feedback from some logically thinking individuals.. here we go...... the kh i attend is going to renovated.

lovelylil

You have every right to be upset. You are being scammed by the WT money making machine. The WT gets to keep the property which adds to its net worth, gets free labor to update it which increases its value, and the poor rank and file witnesses, have to pay for the whole thing - with interest!

Ask the brothers if they know of any worldly banks that loan you money for a purchase at interest and when you finish paying them off - keep the item you purchased with the money? And while you are at it share with them these scriptures from Jehovah's view on loaning money to "brothers" in the faith.

Deuteronomy 23:19
Do not charge your brother interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest.

Deuteronomy 23:20
You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a brother Israelite, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.

Exodus 22:25
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest

49

Luke 21:8, my discussion with an elder.

by drew sagan in

jw
friends

well everybody, it has been accomplished.

i have revealed my feelings to the elder i talked about in some of my last posts.

things didn't go so well, but i dosn't really matter now.

lovelylil

Drew,

you made some excellent points with that elder. He totally missed the main point though of those texts that when Christ comes it will be suddenly - not as the WT teaches he is here but inactive since 1914. There are some bible student groups that feel the same way, and I like to use Matthew 24 with them. Even in the end Jesus himself says that the signs you will see show he is "near", not that he is already here and invisible. Whether they teach since 1874 or 1914 - both are false. They like the witnesses just do not get this point: the the signs are markers to look for but will not tell us the exact date of Christ's arrival. What kind of test of faithfulness and watchfullness will it be if the thief tells the householder when he will break in? Remember this illustration? Christ's arrival clearly will be swift and the date unknown to anyone until it comes so that he can see if we are watching and ready.

I liked your point too that we are warned not to listen to those who say he IS here already. In that verse where it says "if they say here he is in the inner rooms..." It always reminds me of the governing body who sit in the "inner rooms" at Bethel and try to say they are given special knowledge since 1914 by Jesus that no one else has. And like you said, the WT continually says the day is any day now, they are doing it again at the conventions this year. I feel sorry for those trapped in this cycle. There are things that have to happen first prior to Christ coming, like the man of lawlessness being revealed, mentioned in Thessalonians. And the image set up for the earth to worship, mentioned in Revelation. And even these things are just markers to show the time is close at hand. Still, we have to wait patiently for the Master to return.

Anyway, sorry for going on. I loved your points. How does your wife feel about the verses you brought out? Do you think you will be called into a JC soon? I will keep you in my prayers Drew, and I thank the Lord for releasing you from the WT by his words in the bible which are the only truth, Halleluljah!

52

Convention Report - Deliverance At Hand?

by daniel-p in

jw
friends

so i just got back from the convention - yes, feel pity on me... i had to attend all three days, spend money on a crappy hotel, sleep in a crappy town, sit on my ass for 8 hours a day, and all just to hear about the same old crap you can read in any watchtower.

i didn't take notes because not only would my head have exploded from the sheer boredom and stupidity, but i would be responsible for all your heads exploding as well.

are there any highlights?

lovelylil

Daniel,

thank for that update and the good laugh at "women are so liberated they don't know what to do with themselves", well, they can contact me and I can give them plenty of ideas on what to do.

My life in the WT was so mind numbingly boring, I was depressed and on medication. That is because I had to surpress my natural desires to write, paint, play a musical instrument and all the other things I did prior to the WT, just so I could have more time for the mindless dribble of the meetings. Having two college degrees, trust me, it was not easy to sit there sometimes and listen to the sheer stupidity of it. Or, to take marriage, family or spiritual advice from some of the complete idiot elders at the kh. Sorry for the strong language but some of the elders really deserve being called idiots because the things they teach are so anti-christianity it is not funny. If they want to teach, they should make sure of all things first. Here are some things that used to make me want to scream:

We had one elder that said from the platform that women should make sure they don't irritate their hubbys too much or the hubby's may feel compelled to hit them. And here another doozie: if your hubby hits you, it may be because you are not submissive enough, so try being more submissive to him. I let my hubby know that day of the don't compel your hubby to hit you comment, Christian or not, if he even tried to do this, his face will be hitting the cast iron frying pan! Oh well, guess I am not submissive enough, huh?

Anyway, looking back I really did not know what I was getting into but am so glad I am out. I have resumed most of the activities I have done in the past and have become more spiritual and family oriented since leaving. I have a great ministry work, new church I love, and have reconected with old friends. Having the time is great to experience new things too. My life is so busy and full now and not with mindless, robotic activities that it only took about six months to not need antidepressants any more.

Thanks again, I will be laughing about the women thing all day!

11

While bible readin'

by KW13 in

jw
friends

today, i can't remember what thread someone quoted an amazing scripture.

luke 21:8 which talks about keeping away from people who claim to represent jesus and keep telling you the end is near.

it fits the witnesses perfectly and mum didn't appreciate it when i showed it her.

lovelylil

carmel,

thanks for that thought. I already read the Didache, book of Enoch, book of Jashar, book of Mary, and some others. They help to round out the bible that we have, giving lots of historical information.

11

While bible readin'

by KW13 in

jw
friends

today, i can't remember what thread someone quoted an amazing scripture.

luke 21:8 which talks about keeping away from people who claim to represent jesus and keep telling you the end is near.

it fits the witnesses perfectly and mum didn't appreciate it when i showed it her.

lovelylil

Since leaving the WT, I have found so many scriptures I never knew were in the bible. Because they take you through a guided tour of the bible and only teach you what they want to. I especially love reading the scriptures that we used to read all the time in the KH, but seeing how different the meaning is when you read them it their context. Keep up the good work, you will feel better and better the more you read the bible on your own. And it will help fully release you from any spiritual captivity of the WT.

I am so happy for you, Lilly

29

What do you love spending your money on?

by JH in

i always did love tv's and cars.

i really don't know hom many tv's i bought in my life.......15 or 20?

and cars also......i think i'm up to my 15th .

lovelylil

Books, books and more books! Followed by antiques (china & furniture), candles - I am a fanatic and burn them every day, music - my favs are italian (Boccelli), latin (hubby is from Puerto Rico, Jazz and Christian.

53

Girls......Should you have your cake and eat it? Booty call

by Spectrum in

i was talking to a female aquaintance the other day and in one breath she was telling me that it's great when she goes out salsa dancing because apart from enjoying the music she never has to buy her own drink as there is a constant stream of guys buying for her and then in another breath she was complaining that they annoy her because they are just after a bit of arse.

now i've seen the way this girl dresses on a normal day i can't imagine what she puts on when she goes out.

btw she does have great booty.

lovelylil

Spectrum and serendipity,

Yes I have to downplay my phyical assets if I want respect. I was always curvy, being of italian descent. Big on top, smaller waist, big hips. My daughter who is 13 is the same way. Most people can't believe she is so young, they constantly mistake her for a 16 year old. I have to watch what bathing suits I buy for her, even though she gets upset because she wants to wear the same styles as other kids. But, while her girlfriends look cute in some styles, she looks way too sexy because of her natural curves. If I want to look sexy thats ok, but there is a time and place for everything. And I think there is a such thing as sexy but appropriate and also the sexy sleazy look which I do not want to be mistaken for.

I remember a few times right out of college when I was working some office jobs, I would be talking to my boss or other men in the office and they would be totally staring at my chest. Now, I am not timid by nature (I am a native New Yorker though I live in MA now), and I would say as loud as I could "Hey buddy, the part talking to you is up here! (done in my NY, Italian accent) And then point to my mouth. They would usually get the point the first time, and after that make sure they were looking at my face and nothing below the neck when I talked to them!