Posts by Dogpatch

70

my dad died

by termite 35 in

jw
friends

dear everyone, my dad died suddenly and unexpectedly at the weekend.he did'nt turn up for a family dinner and my husband and i went to see if he was ok.he was dead.collapsed in his home.i can't stop shaking and i feel really sick.i've lost my mum and now my dad too.i wish i could sleep for months and wake when the pain has finished with me.

it hurts so much .sorry to bring everyone down-but i'm stressed at having to sort out his arrangements due to the autopsy and funeral etc and the house and my feelings.

; i just wanted to tell you all as my husband's gone for a walk and the children are asleep and i'm feeling scared about viewing his body, but i know i'll have to and i feel guilty for feeling like that.stupid thoughts racing through my mind at the moment-need to 'hear' a friendly voice .

Dogpatch

My prayers and thoughts are with you termite.

hugs,

Randy Watters

20

" Declaration of Facts ".files

by MacHislopp in

jw
friends

as it is possible that visitors to jwd are still ignorant about certain events here is .

some material concerning the :

3 jehovah's witnesses in the divine purpose (the watchtower bible & tract society, 1959) p. 130; jehovah's witnesses-proclaimer's of god's kingdom (the watchtower bible & tract society, 1993) p. 693-94

Dogpatch

I have put up some of Kent's files on the Nazis and the Watchtower at:

http://www.randytv.com/Hitler/watchtower_hitler.htm

Randy

Net Soup!

http://www.freeminds.org

9

what a difference a year makes

by blindfool in

jw
friends

i'm a month away from my 1 year anniversary with jw.com!

this time last year i was working at a job i hated, arguing with my wife all the time about the wt, and just not sure what i could do about it.

i recieved some good advice from randy waters of freeminds.org (he probably doesn't even remember it) right about this time last year.

Dogpatch

I'm really glad things are going so well, my friend. A year makes a big difference. My last year of Bethel was like that: started out scary and exciting (with all the GB fools acting like children, banning everyone that dare question them), then I commenced studying Romans and Galatians with other Bethelites and slowly my eyes were opened. That gave me the strength and wisdom to understand the Bible the way it was meant to be read, and I began to feel independently comfortable, not needing the organization. Then I got up strength enough to leave, knowing I had no guilty conscience or qualms about what I was doing. Just to make sure, when I got back to Calif. I let htem reapooint me as an elder, but after a few months it was a farce and I surprised the other olders with a letter of resignation and an expression of outrage at what they had done. Big change for a little over a year! 22 years later I still change, but life is better. That's the wasy it should be.

Randy Watters

My letter of indignation to the GB circa 1981, a year before Ray's book came out:

http://www.freeminds.org/history/whathapp.htm

9

JW Policy Being Challenged in Court

by DevonMcBride in

jw
friends

http://www.kvbc.com/global/story.asp?s=1078253&nav=15mucbsd

jehovah's witness policy being challenged in court

email to a friend

Dogpatch

also Check out the 3 minute video also by clicking on "more" at the bottom of the page!

Go Bill!

Randy Watters

Net Soup

http://www.freeminds.org

12

Russel's burial cemetery address in PA

by Faraon in

jw
friends

i will be traveling to new york city tomorrow.. i wanted to film the mason cemetery where russel is buried in pennsilvania.

i have a film of his pyramidal tumb, but wanted to film it myself with our daughters included in it.. unfortunately it does not show the address.. does anyone know the exact address?.

will send a copy of the film.. thanks for your efforts beforehand.

Dogpatch

Thanks folks,

I just updated it on my page for better directions.

Randy Watters

Net Soup!

http://www.freeminds.org

7

30 Years of Service then saved by grace

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

saved by grace after 30 years of service

brian cole

from http://www.exjws.net/pioneers/briancole.htm.

Dogpatch

Saved by Grace after 30 Years of Service

by Brian Cole

from http://www.exjws.net/pioneers/briancole.htm

I was a Jehovahs Witness for 30 years from ages 16 to 46.

My mother became a member before I was born. I cant remember a time when we didnt attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall.

Growing up in north Portland, my Aunt Gertie Tolles (now Mixer) and my cousins, Pammy Hearn, Patti Wong, Janice Calhoun and Charlene Cook lived nearby in St. Johns. We grew up together, but when I finished grade school in 1968, we (mom, my older brother Jeff and I) moved from Portland.

From then until last year, my contacts with my aunt and cousins were sporadic. However, I never forgot the powerful faith of my aunt. I didnt know much, or understand, her faith at that time.

But Ive always had great respect for my aunt and cousins. I never saw a hint of hypocrisy in any of them. This memory would turn out to be crucial years later, when I would seek out my aunt for spiritual advice.

Not long after graduating from high school, I was invited to serve at the Watchtower headquarters in Brooklyn, NY. I lived and worked there from 1974 to 1979.

Thereafter, I moved to Klamath Falls and began work as a field minister eventually becoming a pioneer, that is, spending about 20 hours a week in a public outreach work: mostly house-to-house canvassing and conducting Bible classes.

For more than 20 years, I also served as an elder, a minister which involved public teaching, congregation oversight, and confidential consultations with those facing problems in their lives.

And, from 1987 to 1989, I was a circuit overseer, a full-time traveling representative of the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses. During that time, I supervised 21 congregations in Northern Minnesota.

However, I had to come back to Oregon because of a severe health problem. I finally started to get better in March 1990, and was able to resume my work as a minister in the local community.

Because of all the help, training and mentorship I received over the years I gave talks at our large summer conventions from 1984 to 2001 (except in 1990, when I was ill).

I started working as a writer in 1990, which eventually became the primary income source for my wife and me. (Lynn and I were married on April 11, 1992.) Ive worked as a newspaper reporter for about the last five years.

However, I was offered a higher-paying job as a technical writer for a software start-up company which has a technical center here in Klamath Falls. After working there for 14 months, I was laid off in March of this year. I went back to working at the daily newspaper.

But while I was a technical writer, I was on the Internet all day. Frequently, I would scan media and other Web sites including freeminds.org for a few minutes at a time, and would then get back to my work.

One day in the fall of 2001, I decided to see if my aunts church had a Web site. I entered Apostolic Faith and Portland into the Google Web directory. I came upon the Apostolic Faith Churchs Web site and began to look it over.

At about the same time, I was reading material on Web sites that were critical of Jehovahs Witnesses. Ive never been favorably impressed with Web sites sponsored by hysterical, even paranoid, ex-Jehovahs Witnesses.

But I did have questions, and doubts, about some of the things I had believed and taught for so many years. Now, I wanted to put them to the test: Is what I have believed all these years really the truth? The only truth?

I had to know.

Meanwhile, something far more important was stirring inside me. I read, and re-read about Salvation, Sanctification and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost on the Apostolic Faith Church Web site. I was attracted to these basic Bible teachings experiences I had never had, nor what I ever thought I could experience.

I wrote a letter to my aunt, asking her to tell me about salvation and Jesus Christ. My somewhat hesitant questions to her were my first step toward the Lord.

Later, during my period of correspondence with headquarters staff member Sam Ajayi, he wrote me that he was certain the Lord was drawing me. Very definitely, he wrote.

He was right.

I also made inquiries of other Christian research Web sites. To me, some of them came off as condescending. But Sam never did. His humble and clear answers to my Bible questions were appealing. We became friends and eventually, brothers over the early months of 2002.

But even though I was beginning to see cracks in the belief system I had espoused for three decades, I was struggling against the plain, simple truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If I was to adopt a different faith after all these years, it would greatly affect me, but of greater concern to me, many others especially my wife. I would have to break away from the legalistic structure I had lived with, and advocated my entire adult life.

First, I would be excommunicated, disfellowshipped, or would be considered one who disassociated himself from the congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses. I would lose virtually every friend, as I would be shunned by all Jehovahs Witnesses.

The apostolic injunctions: Dont invite him in your homes; not even eating with such a man; and never say a greeting to him are taken to an extreme degree by Jehovahs Witnesses.

Worst of all, this would deeply hurt my wife of 10 years, whom I love very much. Weve always had our faith in common, but that would change. This would be the hardest part of this whole scenario: breaking my wifes heart.

Since I have had some measure of prominence for some years, it would also affect thousands of Jehovahs Witnesses in Southern Oregon and many other places, including in Minnesota and Brooklyn.

But I now know that the Lord continued to lead me; he never let go of my hand. I could not escape the powerful testimony of the Scriptures. I could not shake off the simple beauty of the Gospel.

I finally made my pilgrimage to the Portland sanctuary in late May of this year. I stayed with my aunt and Dick at their Milwaukie home. I attended church services on the Friday evening of my visit.

After the service I came to the prayer altar, and spent about two hours pouring out my heart to God. I wanted Jesus to accept my repentance and by His grace, justify me so that I could be saved.

Sam, Aunt Gertie, and so many others I did not even know, were there, too. They were all fervently praying for me. When it got to be about 10:30 p.m. I was getting tired. Brother Dwight Baltzell suggested that I get some rest. Aunt Gertie said: If you get saved in the middle of the night, wake me up.

I returned to the altar after the Sunday morning service. I spent another hour on my knees, with all the others, and more now, praying with me. But I did not yet experience the New Birth I so much wanted.

I now feel that the Lord was teaching me how to pray. How to really pray! Never before had I prayed so much, so ardently. After lunch at my Janices house, I went back to Aunt Gerties and took a nap. When I got up, it was time to attend the evening service.

When I walked into the Sanctuary that night, I didnt feel well. But I enjoyed the music and singing. And was deeply affected by the testimonies I heard. First, Sister Sandy told the group that she had felt the Lord lead her to pray for this man the preceding Friday, someone she didnt even know. I knew she was talking about me.

Then, my 15-year-old niece, Melissa Hearn, related how the Lord had saved her the previous Friday night. (After she was saved that night, she came over to me, held my arm and repeatedly told me that I just needed to believe from the heart. Since then, Ive called her my Salvation Coach.)

Next, I was riveted by the message that was delivered. But when it came time to return to the altar, I hesitated. Frankly, I felt discouraged. I felt I had given my all, and didnt think another round of prayer would make a difference.

My aunt, however, moved toward the aisle and sort of motioned me to follow. I did. I once again got down on my knees, this time offer praise and thanks. Suddenly, I was overcome. I cried harder than any other time I can remember. Jesus had come into my heart.

Of course, Satan wanted me to think that it was a coincidence. But, I wasnt sad. I had no reason to cry. But I experienced an explosion of emotion. Someone later told me: God knows the language of tears.

Several of the saints around me at that time, seemed to all sigh in relief. They knew what I was feeling. Jesus had come into my heart.

No doubt about it, by the great mercy and grace of the Lord, I had been saved! Now, I am safe in the Lamb.

But as the Apostle Paul wrote at Romans 3:27-31, I had nothing to boast of. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (vr. 27)

It was Jesus who made me righteous in the eyes of God. He did for me what I could never do for myself. Boasting was excluded. It was the Lord who did this, by His grace.

Since then, I have tried to thank all the saints I meet, because they all prayed for me. In both the Portland and Medford sanctuaries, I cant begin to know how many people told me: Oh, yes. Ive prayed for you.

By the grace of God, I have been able to give brief testimonials at the Portland Camp Meeting, and in my home church in Medford. I wanted to thank all of the dear brothers and sisters whose prayers had great power in my behalf.

The Lord has answered so many of my prayers, and given me so many provisions. He has made it possible for me to witness to others, and to travel from Klamath Falls to Medford on Sundays to attend the nearest church.

A year ago, I never could have imagined I would be where I am today! I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 7:25)

Brian Cole

35

WT 2001 CD-ROM

by zev in

jw
friends

does anyone know, if the new 2001 cd-rom from the wts has been released yet?.

.

zev

Dogpatch

I have some of the original (not copies) Watchtower CD-roms (originals) for sale 1993 up to 1999. If interested, email me at [email protected].

Randy Watters

Net Soup!

http://www.freeminds.org

25

Greg Stafford --- Update

by ExpandedMind in

jw
friends

good morning!

i found this post on channel c and thought i'd share it with those of you who are interested.

happy new year to all of you!

Dogpatch

I remember a former Circuit Overseer by the name of Fred Fredean who was asked to come to Bethel, and was assigned to the pressroom to work with Tom Cabeen, myself and others who eventually left Bethel because were we studying the Bible privately and realizing that the Governing Body was not teaching the truth about the Bible, salvation and freedom.

From the first, Fred was a whiner about the Society. Every day he would bitch and moan about some policy or hardhead in charge. The as a light switch turns on the light and the fearful scramble, Fred suddenly became a "yes" man to everything the Society did, turning in apostates, etc.

Sounds like Hal Flemings is the hard-core good ol' boy type as well. So sad. You go, Greg!

Randy Watters

Net Soup!

http://www.freeminds.org

5

Another good letter of disassociation

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

another good letter of disassociation:.

go louise!.

december 21, 2002. .

Dogpatch

Another good letter of disassociation:

Go Louise!

December 21, 2002

To The Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses,

Oh, how I loved Jehovah, still do, in fact, but how I loved His organization. How I looked forward to those Watchtowers as letters from Jehovah.

And Oh, how you broke me, beat me, destroyed me, ruined us financially, and tore my heart right down the middle.

If you are sincere, you will read the rest of this letter. I wrote to you a few years ago, when I still felt that Jehovahs Witnesses were Gods earthly organization, and I asked you scriptural questions, with respect and love, the same questions I had asked elders over and over, all of whom said they did not have time to give me spiritual help. You did not deign to reply to my heartfelt appeal to you to please, please help me to keep on believing that you were Gods Channel.

You must be aware, of the many ways in which the doctrines of Jehovahs Witnesses are unscriptural, others have written you, and from the fact that you would not reply to a very longstanding, dedicated witness appeal to you for help, I see that you do not care in the least.

Do you know that my doubts started as early as 1974? But that my mind was so controlled from being raised in the truth, that while reading the Bible in French, looking up words in the dictionary, instead of through Watchtower glasses in my native English, when I came to realize the position of Jesus Christ and his invitation to me, I got on my knees and begged forgiveness for my apostasy. And this started conflict which lasted 25 years, including 15 years of continual suicide attempts and hospitalizations caused by my doubts, which made me feel like a Judas. You must realize how terrible it is, and the absolute authority you have over the minds of others, when a person reads in the Bible and discovers its true message, that they feel that they are at fault, causing them extreme emotional upheaval and devastating guilt.

But Jesus never left me. For the two minutes while I realized Jesus position, invitation, and hope He offered, I felt joy indescribable, and loved Him. And He stayed, never leaving or forsaking me throughout all the agony of clearing my mind of the control of humans. I did speak to a Circuit Overseer about it, since I felt that I must partake of the emblems at the Memorial, but could not reconcile this with my gut feeling that I was not a member of some elite group, but an ordinary Christian, and the Circuit Overseer instructed me not to partake. I sat through every succeeding Memorial in agony, praying that I would not take the emblems by accident, since the absolute knowledge that I should take them was unmistakable.

And this is the thing I hold you responsible for, more than for ruining our lives with your constant false prophecies, for which you were not even honest enough to take responsibility, instead blaming your obedient slaves, even in some cases, such in the Awake magazine, implying that the Creator had changed His mind, more for the constantly changing present truth (a phrase which conflicts with scripture the truth of the Lord endures forever Ps.117:2; Thy word is true from the beginning, and every one of Thy righteous judgements endureth forever. Ps. 119:160); more than for the constant exhortations to do more than I was ever able to do; more than for covering up and protecting the perpetrator of a rape against me who was not even a witness, just a doctor recommended by the congregation, blaming me for it, causing a lifetime of agony; more than all these things, I blame you for trying to take Jesus Christ away from me as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only way to the Father, the only mediator between God and man. Because without Jesus, there is no hope for anyone on this earth, and you claim to keep Him to yourselves, and put yourself in His place as mediator for others, a doctrine completely in harmony with scriptural descriptions of false prophets and false Christs.

I pray for you, that you will get on your knees and repent, really think of the untold agony you have caused so many people, and the ruin of so many lives, the hardship of those who believed your false prophecies and put all their energies into working for you (thinking they were working for Jehovah), think of people like me, crazed with guilt for having believed the Bible instead of you, down by the river, crying tears and sobbing great hurting sobs, taking pills so that once I got into the river I would not have the strength to get back out, wanting death because of thinking I was Judas, all because of your teachings. Being pulled out of the river miraculously when a second before there seemed to be not a person in sight, being saved miraculously 15 times from attempted suicide, all caused by you and your insistence that people believe what you say or be damned. And while you are repenting, think of the loneliness you have caused sincere ones who have had to leave, because their conscience would not allow them to preach falsehoods any more, when their own flesh and blood and dear friends called them more wicked than Satan and cut them out of their lives. Think to yourself Who do I think I am to have this much power? And what group of people in the Bible had that kind of power? Certainly not the humble Christians. They were the ones who so suffered from the attitudes which parallel those you teach. Put yourself in the place of the people you have ruined, and cry out for forgiveness, and go sell all your belongings, and give to the poor, and come be a follower of Jesus. And while youre giving out those immense riches youve amassed, think of the ones who have gone through starvation for having followed your advice.

Jesus will forgive you. He invites you. I, a person ruined according to the world, suffering disabling health problems caused by my zeal to not only be whole-hearted in Jehovahs service but also be the wife of Proverbs 31, constantly thrown at sisters at assemblies, am now rich. I have no money, but I belong to Christ. The Bible is opening up to me, and every day, I learn a great and unsearachable thing Jer. 33:3. And that makes me rich. With the riches you tried to take away from me, and have succeeded in taking away from so many victims, among your other crimes.

So I do not ask for your sympathy. I feel sorry for you. Either you are completely mind-controlled, or you are like Satan, knowing deceivers. I pray for you, that my Abba Father will have mercy on you, and you will accept Jesus, as the only truth, the only way to God.

Its strange how prayers are answered. After the elders told me not to come back to the Kingdom Hall because it made me weep (compassion certainly not in evidence), I prayed every night on my knees for the truth, and every time I prayed, John 14:6 came into my mind, until finally, I realized, Jesus is the truth. His person, his teachings, his life, his sacrifice. And then the Bible came together and I saw, when he opened my blind eyes, the harmonious simple message it is, all about Jesus Christ from beginning to end. A message everlasting, (not present truth), so beautiful.

I have left the step I am now taking for a long time, because I could never give up hope, because I love the brotherhood, and then just because I didnt realize the need the get out from among them, and quit touching the unclean thing. I do now realize that necessity, and therefore wish to disassociate myself from the organization of Jehovahs Witnesses.

I weep no more, you brothers at the Kingdom Hall who were so cruel to me in my great need. I no longer long to be part of Jehovahs Witnesses, or to kill myself because I am not. I am a member of the family of God, His child, having had the Spirit bear witness with my spirit, that I am a child of God. I pray the same experience for you brothers.

With love for you as people who my Lord died for, who can repent as long as you have life, and with hope that you will,

Louise Plaskett

CANADA

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