Posts by Merry Magdalene

27

It hurts

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

it happened again.

i never thought it would.

my life got its sparkle back.

I am so glad you got the good news you longed for (((((Joe)))))...I hope for even happier outcomes for you and for her in the futureThank you for sharing your poem, your thoughts, your feelings. Whatever "we" are, you're one of us

~Merry

64

Uninvited--A Wonderful "Witness"

by Merry Magdalene in

i attended my mother's memorial at the kingdom hall saturday afternoon.

even with the jw sermon tagged on, my cousin did a lovely service for her.

there were many jws and non-jws in attendence.

Merry Magdalene

I received an e-mail last night from the relative that helped the PO uninvite me. He was very close to my mother, and she lived with him and his wife (my cousin) the last couple months before she asked me to come down and help take care of her. Here is the first paragraph:

I felt terrible about having to hurt your feelings on Saturday. I don't know how I got the job of having to tell you. Beleive me, I didn't raise the issue first. The truth is, I wanted you to go - but we are Jehovah's Witnesses, and must live by His standards, not our own - otherwise, we'd be like every other illegitimate religion out there. I will always stand with Jehovah, just like your mother.

I wrote back this morning and let him know how I felt and why, and how my brothers reacted also. I haven't heard back yet....

Thank you so much for all your comments and offers of help.

~Merry

29

10 reasons why we should embrace our muslim friends

by Pleasuredome in

jw
friends

god loves muslims!.

muslims are loved by god in the same way that he loves all people.

like all humans, muslims are created in the image of god (genesis 1:26-27).

Merry Magdalene

MISCONCEPTION #1: Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists.
This is the biggest misconception in Islam, no doubt resulting from the constant stereotyping and bashing the media gives Islam. When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRguerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the perpetrators. Yet how many times have we heard the words 'Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist. etc.' linked with violence.
Politics in so called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'.
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a 'way of life' for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock.
NOWHERE DOES ISLAM ENJOIN THE KILLING OF INNOCENTS..
The Quran says: "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors." (Quran 2:190) "If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things." (Quran 8:61) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term 'jihad' literally means 'struggle'. Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace. --http://www.beautifulislam.net/intro/misconceptions_islam.htm

47

Still in one piece but the wheelchair isn't

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

what a day.

i was out gallavanting around - buying one thing here another there and finally heading home.. the chair hit a bump and the front wheel broke off sending me flying with the chair landing on top of me.

personally i think it was a temper tantrum designed to let me know they were tired and wanted to ride me for a while.. i had just passed a man sitting on a bench waiting for the bus and he rushed right over to help.

Merry Magdalene

Oh my goodness! I'm so glad you're mostly ok and there were so many people so quick to help Not happy with those who wouldn't help though

I wish you a speedy recoveryand a new chair that won't ever do that again!

~Merry

64

Uninvited--A Wonderful "Witness"

by Merry Magdalene in

i attended my mother's memorial at the kingdom hall saturday afternoon.

even with the jw sermon tagged on, my cousin did a lovely service for her.

there were many jws and non-jws in attendence.

Merry Magdalene

p.s.

Wanted to thank you for your thoughts, Jankyn. You are so spot on.

Minister Amos: What else are you letting them dictate to you?

Well, this was about it (I hope). My mother was my last close connection with "them." I just can't seem to help being polite and timid and unwilling to make a fuss, and unwilling to cut myself off from them completely. Which I am now quite glad of in regard to my mother. But I guess I do have to expect a certain amount of unpleasantness and pain if I remain in contact with the rest of my relatives, don't I? It can be a tough choice for some of us....How much abuse am I willing to take and to what end??? Can I remain in contact with them without subjecting myself to their abuse?....hmmm...

~Merry

64

Uninvited--A Wonderful "Witness"

by Merry Magdalene in

i attended my mother's memorial at the kingdom hall saturday afternoon.

even with the jw sermon tagged on, my cousin did a lovely service for her.

there were many jws and non-jws in attendence.

Merry Magdalene

((((((((((lesterd)))))))))) I am so sorry for what you experienced I know nothing we can say or do now can make things right or take away the pain, but I hope you will find here what I have found--real friends, real love and respect, real diversity and debate, real information. Welcome!

Yes, I hope this will help others be better prepared than I was for what may happen in their own situations.

I believe I had a right and an obligation to attend my mom's memorial, and I did it out of respect for her and those who loved her. The open invitation to the gathering afterward made it sound like I had a right to be there too, but since one of my relatives (who was quite close to my mom) helped the PO break my uninvitation to me gently, I didn't have any desire to go where I wasn't entirely welcome.

I just wish there was a way to let everyone who wanted to see me there know why I didn't attend. It still doesn't feel over and done. I think I'll e-mail the above-mentioned relative and tell him how I feel and ask what he would do...

~Merry

37

Getting Hitched

by fullofdoubtnow in

jw
friends

i just want to share this with you all.. a few weeks ago, trev (dedpoet) popped the question, and of course i accepted, so we are getting married!!

we have been busy getting things started since then, hence the slight delay in posting our news.

we aren't in a particular hurry, as we have no desire to have children.

Merry Magdalene

CONGRATULATIONS

THIS IS WONDERFUL ! ! ! ! ! Best wishes...

~Merry

68

What Did You LOVE About Being a Jehovah's Witness?

by Seeker4 in

jw
friends

ok. minimus had his 'what did you hate about being a jw' thread, so i want to take a different tack on this.

i'll even start it.

i loved some of the get-togethers we had.

Merry Magdalene

Even though I never quite fit in, I loved being a welcome part of family gatherings and not being looked at with eyes full of pain and sorrow. Back then I was still more of a black sheep than a goat, because of my solitary nature and tendency toward independent thinking.

I loved travelling with my mom and meeting new "friends."

I loved the horrid dramas, except for the modern-day ones.

I loved the really old books and mags from the 20's, 30s, 40s, 50s, piled up in my grandparent's chimney-room.

I loved being doted on by elderly brothers and sisters.

But for everything I loved, there are probably 10 things I didn't love, that caused me great distress.

~Merry

52

Dallas Apostafest 2006 Photos Update

by Sparkplug in

jw
friends

i thought this would be easier.

the other thread got bogged down by the images, so i have removed the photos.

this tends to change the clarity a bit, but it is a lot easier to access and the speed is an nice.

Merry Magdalene

my ears are burningand my eyes are ogling(never mind the tongue)nice pics!

I do hope I get to see Kudra this weekend and anyone else who might tag a long (hint hint, Sparky, speaking of hints...)

btw, does anybody have a really cool personality I could borrow, just for the weekend...promise to return it in good condition...

~Merry

64

Uninvited--A Wonderful "Witness"

by Merry Magdalene in

i attended my mother's memorial at the kingdom hall saturday afternoon.

even with the jw sermon tagged on, my cousin did a lovely service for her.

there were many jws and non-jws in attendence.

Merry Magdalene

Thanks S4

I guess it just stunned me because I let my guard down and wasn't expecting it. It came in the midst of an outpouring (there's a good JW word, eh?) of love and concern from JWs as well as non-JWs, and it was this same PO who, the day before, had very sweetly said to me that he was glad I was coming to the memorial service at the KH, that I was always welcome at the KH, and that if he lived closer he would love to come visit me. He sure screwed that upLOL. But they're pretty good at absolving themselves and blaming the victims, as I believe was brought out (another JWism) on another recent thread. So on they go...tra la la...leaving in their wake...

~Merry (who, regrettably, doesn't have any relevant addresses)