Posts by esw1966

16

Hello To Everyone! I'm new here...

by tremoka in

jw
friends

it has been a cycle of being a full fledge witness then reverting to a state of total inactivity for my family and i. we do awesome for a month or 2, then we're missing in action for another 6 months.. where i am breaking this cycle, i say no more, my husband who was raised in the 'truth', remains inactive yet devote in heart.

i respect that.

this is all he's ever known.. however, i was raised a good little mormon girl, left one church claiming to be the only true religion, i know i can do this too.

esw1966

Welcome.

I feel that beginning to ask the questions and to begin a true search for God is the best beginning. Pray to Him and don't feel as if you need to find the answers right away.

God promises that if you search for Him as for hid treasure He will let Himself be found for He is not far off from each one of us!

I feel a relationship with God is a journey and one which He directs if you have the right heart motivation. I feel He will bring you closer to Him as you allow Him to move in your life.

I sure didn't feel that I would find Him, but He brought me to Him and He has given me great joy! I feel that you will find it as well if you do not give up in finding the answers to your questions. No one else can find the answers for you, you must find them yourself.

Search for Him and He will let Himself be found!

21

Did You Know Elder & M.S. Wannabees?

by minimus in

jw
friends

weren't they sickening??

always trying to curry favor with the elders and circuit overseers.

most of those that could never quite make the grade couldn't for a reason.

esw1966

I once knew a ms who was trying SO hard to be an elder that when he was turned down he STORMED out of the book study because he was so mad about not being selected. He later became a PROUD elder.

I had a good friend whose dad was an elder, po, and he wanted to be an elder. The Circuit Overseer said that his going to square dances prevented his appointment. He had to quit going to the classes and then he was an elder. He was my buddy who disfellowshipped me. Still love the guy! Good and sincere, but lost...

54

How many ex-jws move out of town to start over?

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

i was wondering how common it is for ex-jws to relocate after leaving the borg in order to escape the bad memories of being in a cult, or to break contact with cult members.. i have wanted to move far away for as long as i can remember--even as a kid--for this purpose.

various life circumstances have delayed that--long story--but mr. rebel8 and i are thinking of moving within the next few years.

i am the one who's most interested in moving to a completely different type of place--different culture, different climate, different everything!

esw1966

I moved out of the State! It was the BEST thing for me!

I moved from Green Bay Wisconsin to Manhattan where I lived in my van on the streets for 2 months and then I moved to Bellingham, Washington which I LOVE TREMENDOUSLY!

Now I am contemplating moving 2 hours away from Green Bay to live in Madison so that I am able to see my 3 daughters who are strong witnesses.

I HATE the idea of even going back to Wisconsin. Being in Washington for a year has given me everything I needed! I despise Wisconsin for the jws that are there. I want NOTHING to do with them! But I want what is best for my kids and so I may move soon. My fear is that they will reject me for my non-witness beliefs and I will be STUCK there.

I FULLY support anyone to get away from their bad situation. You really need a new start. You will get such a fresh perspective! It will give you the chance to start anew and away from such NEGATIVITY!

33

do you?

by purplebunnyfoofoo in

jw
friends

.

believe that gods name is jehovah?

do you still use it as his name?

esw1966

God's name in the Old Testament IS Jehovah. It would be correct to call Him that. Jesus is our Savior and anything that we ask the Father in Jesus' name He will do.

I am working on the Trinity issue. I am not clear on the whole thing yet, but I am beginning to give it some credence. So, I pray to Jehovah, My Heavenly Father, and I pray in Jesus' name.

My pastor said that using God's name Jehovah is fine, that it is one of the names of God. He asked if it made things confusing to me and did it bring me closer to Him by using Jehovah as God's name. His only concern was that it could take me away from the true identity of God.

I also pray that I am confused as to the matter at the moment. I ask Him for guiding me to the right conclusion. So, I try using different terms to see what brings me closer to Him.

Hope that helps a little. I guess I am on the same journey to answering that one as you are!

17

Describe your Spirituality after Leaving JW's please

by esw1966 in

what has been your attitude toward religion after leaving jehovah's witnesses?.

did you search for religious truth?

scoff at religion?

esw1966

What has been your attitude toward religion after leaving Jehovah's Witnesses?

Did you search for religious truth? Scoff at religion?

Please describe for me your spiritual journey and it's importance to you after leaving.

Thanks!

36

X - JW or Apostate?

by In Between in

jw
friends

i thought this might be interesting.

if it's been talked about before, i apologize in advance.

what differences do you think exist between the two?

esw1966

I am an ex-JW who feels embarrassed to have been taken in by the whole JW thing for 30 years without understanding all the harm it was doing to me as a person.

I think being a JW is damaging and takes people AWAY from God. I view it as Satanic.

So, I pray for those who are stuck in it and I educate others as to the harm it causes when the conversation goes that way.

My friends and family would call me apostate. I view myself as an ex JW who cares for others.

22

Did you have a Witness approved car?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

when i was a witness, i was told that a responsible witness purchased a car that was able to be used in field service.

as an example, it would have four doors to allow easy entry for a car group of 4 to 6 people.

it was something that was not to showy, meaning it was not a lexus or something that would make it seem that witnesses were materialistic, especially when working a poor part of the community.

esw1966

Always did!

4 door Horizon was my first for pioneering. Then Buicks and Cutlass Ciera. Then when the kids came it was vans!

5

Divorced: Ex & Kids JW's, Me Born Again, WHAT DO I DO ABOUT MY KIDS

by esw1966 in

first time here.

my story is at http://spaces.msn.com/esw1966 if you are at all curious.. my question is what should i do about my kids.

i had been a jw for 30 years, got disfellowshipped, checked things out and found my jw beliefs deficient.

esw1966

Thank you for your response!

The custody issue is going through mediation which will resume this Friday. I am seeking every other weekend and every other week in the summer. I would like them every other holiday.

Yes, for your security, I DO love my children with all my heart. Also, my being born again just means that I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and that I follow His plan for me. I LOVE being non-judgmental for the first time in my life and meeting people where they are at! When I see rules in religion I start to see legalism and I stay FAR AWAY from that nowadays!

I can use any help though so thank you for your suggestions!

11

My Mother's Going Back

by serotonin_wraith in

she hasn't bothered with the jws for about 10 years, now she's having bible studies with them again.

i'm caught now between wanting her to see what a big crock of shit it is and thinking what right do i have to attack someone's beliefs if it makes them happy?

she hated the control and hypocrisy she saw there before, didn't know anything about the un or 607 info, i showed her some sites the other day and it peaked her interest.

esw1966

I was a JW for 30 years. I have just left being a JW for about a year. I was TOTALLY suckered into their belief system.

I stayed away from religion for about 6 months to deprogram myself and then I began to examine other's beliefs from my iPod. I really began to enjoy cornwallchurch.com and ctkbellingham.com . They are each a community church and non-denominational. I have really begun to respect their teachings and have come to see the LOVE that Jesus foretold would identify true religion.

I do not feel that JW's are even able to show the true definition of love. How can you love or BE loved when you are always watching others conduct to turn one another into the elders? If you are not able to express a personal opinion on a matter without being judged what love is there? If you disagree and want to leave, why is there no honorable way to leave being a JW if it is a religion of God based on LOVE.

JW's are part of a Society and not a religion that teaches salvation by Christ's ransom sacrifice. Therefore they have not been shown God's love and are not capable TO love. It is lacking from their life. People who join them have a lack of respect for themselves and feel that the only way to gain God's LOVE is to FOLLOW ALL THE RULES and then MAYBE He will LOVE them.

I would encourage her to find LOVE and JOY. The two churches I attend have websites and you can listen to their sermons. They are all Bible based and they have real LOVE for their members. I think it comes across. After hearing them, I came to find what I was looking for. For the first time in my life I have found JOY! Joy after getting disfellowshipped, divorced, estranged from my kids and I have had my prayers directly answered by God that my path is blessed by Him. I think it is God based and blessed so I will keep on with my learning. I encourage you to listen to cornwallchurch.com and ctkbellingham.com. It has helped me greatly and it has given me something to withstand the desire to go back to JW to have a relationship with our Creator.

If you have any other questions or would like more info, my msn space about the subject is at: http://spaces.msn.com/esw1966. I hope any of this is helpful to you! Ethan

5

Divorced: Ex & Kids JW's, Me Born Again, WHAT DO I DO ABOUT MY KIDS

by esw1966 in

first time here.

my story is at http://spaces.msn.com/esw1966 if you are at all curious.. my question is what should i do about my kids.

i had been a jw for 30 years, got disfellowshipped, checked things out and found my jw beliefs deficient.

esw1966

Hi! First time here. My story is at http://spaces.msn.com/esw1966 if you are at all curious.

My question is what should I do about my kids. I had been a JW for 30 years, got disfellowshipped, checked things out and found my JW beliefs deficient. Now I am born again and having the time of my life. I would like that for my kids, but I taught them to be good JW's.

I moved to Washington State in my spiritual journey. My kids live in Wisconsin. I am thinking of moving closer to them to develop a relationship with them and trying to help them to see things as they are. They don't want anything to do with that. I'm even willing to not even make religion an issue as I feel it should not be, but in the end I think it is all about religion with them and me.

Moving will cost me PLENTY! I'm getting very reluctant as I do not feel they really want to see me. They want to go out in service and live thier life. I will be an interference to that.

What is my responsibility to my kids? I am here for them. I think I have a wonderful truth to share with them. I am here to be their dad. I am disfellowshipped and basically an apostate to them and they really don't want much to do with all of that. I see my ex and them through her dragging their feet to obtain any meaningful relationship. It's been nuts to say the least.

I am trying to decide if I should move closer to them or to stay in Washington. This is the best place for me personally. It has become my paradise and my place of growth. My experiences in Wisconsin do not even make me want to be in the state.

I have looked on this as being good for the kids. I was also hopeful to set a positive example to them to help them to be able to get out of being a JW. I am worried that once I get there it will not go well and my move and sacrifice will be for naught.

What should I do for my kids sake? What have others experienced in this matter? My kids sit next to the Circuit Overseer at the assembly. They are entrenched! They are 13, 11, 8 and all girls. What is the best thing that I can do for THEM?

Any comments would be helpful. Thanks.

Ethan