Posts by doinmypart

26

Did your JW social life only consist of meals at a friends home?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

19 years ago

i know many here who have had good and bad jw social experiences.

some went camping, hiking etc, went to the beach.

some had no social life at all in the org and some had congregations where nothing ever happened socially.. i know of one sister, who has since left, who complained that the only thing witnesses did when they got together, was share a meal.. now, there's nothing wrong with sharing a meal.

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

At my old KH, and a number of KHs in the circuit, there were a lot of playing basketball on Friday evening, cards on Saturday evenings, and grilling at someone's house on Sunday afternoons. Every so often a CO will come around discouraging the card playing and grilling since alcoholic beverages and large groups were involved, but this never slowed it down. People down in the south love playing cards.

Skate parties took place once every two months and kids from all over the circuit and neighboring circuit would attend. And during the summer volleyball at the park, or rafting the river took place a couple of times a year.

In all there were activities to do, it just had to be limited to JWs. And many of the older JWs wouldn't agree with all of the get-togethers. The older elders and pioneers would complain to the CO, but like I mentioned earlier nothing ever changed.

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12

How long were you baptized?

by Alligator Wisdom in

jw
friends

19 years ago

and for all of you that made your way out?.

18 years this past summer.. alligator wisdom (aka brother not exerting vigorously by wts standards).

[sorry if this topic was posted before.

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

Raised in it. Baptized 21 years.

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10

Did they get rid of disfellowshipping? What?

by bluesapphire in

jw
friends

19 years ago

i need to know asap.

anyone have the scoop?

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

As Effervescent mentioned the announcement was changed. When a person is DF or DA the announcement is simply "________ is no longer a JW."

I was an elder until a couple of weeks ago and there wasn't anything new as of that time. Don't know about since then.

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20

Disfellowship Removal

by easyshi in

jw
friends

19 years ago

i am not a jw but my wife was raised as one.

we were married about 14 months ago and she wants to re-join the organization in a different location from the disfellowing location.

i believed she was kicked out 14 years ago for comitting adultery to get out of a bad marriage (her story).

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

Welcome easyhi.

You and your wife have a long road ahead of you. Here's what might happen:
The elders in her former congregation will be in contact with the elders in the new congregation she wants to attend. They will share all of the details of her "sin." A new judicial committee (jc) will be formed in the new congregation, the jc will meet with her every few months monitoring her progress. She will have to attend all meetings, sit at the back of the kingdom hall, be ignored by everyone for anywhere from six months to a couple of years depending on the elders on the jc. If her ex-husband did not want to end the marriage and was agreeable to forgiving her and staying in it, then she will probably have to wait longer to be re-instated. Do whatever you can to dissuade her from re-instating. It won't be good for either of you in the long run.

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50

Good news: No longer an elder; Bad news: Disappointed wife

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

19 years ago

my wife & i have a good relationship except when it comes to things dealing with the wts.

over the past few years we've both made concessions, and i even made some headway in getting her to think about some things.

but from time-to-time we would end up arguing about something wts-related and there would be days of tension between us.. well, a few weeks ago we were having a casual conversation about wildlife in our area, she mentioned something about jehovah ruining those who ruin the earth.

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

Serendipity & Restrangled - Thanks for the advice. I know the things that make my wife happy...rather than taking our situation for granted, I need to view each day as an opportunity to express something loving to my wife.

Tijkmo - One of the elders is a relative. I think the BOE has for the most part left things up to him to try and feel me out before the CO visit about a month from now. A couple of other elders have left voice messages. It's times like these I value caller ID. The relative-elder is the hardest one for me to avoid. I hate to avoid them at all, and even though my letter was quite clear, I know WTS directs them to meet with me. If I don't attend any meetings between now and the CO visit, they'll have no choice but to accept my letter and delete me.

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40

What's the deal with beards????

by bittersweet in

jw
friends

19 years ago

ok, so my brother in law, a former elder, decided to grow a beard a while ago.

he initially grew it because he had a small rash he was trying to cover up, but that has since gone, and he has kept the beard.

he kept the beard because it made such a fuss that he decided if he shaved it off it would be like giving in to the brothers.

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

One of the scriptures the WTS uses to prohibit tattoos is in context with not cutting the beard...Lev 19:27, 28.

Actually the prohibition is at the discretion of the local BOE per some BOE letter from a few years back. Generally speaking though even if the local BOE agrees with wearing a beard, the brother in question won't get any assembly or convention assignments from the CO & DO.

In my old congregation most of the elders hated shaving and would show up straight from work with a shadow, or following a vacation with some growth, but inevitably no one would stand up and grow a beard...too afraid of what the other elders were thinking.

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50

Good news: No longer an elder; Bad news: Disappointed wife

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

19 years ago

my wife & i have a good relationship except when it comes to things dealing with the wts.

over the past few years we've both made concessions, and i even made some headway in getting her to think about some things.

but from time-to-time we would end up arguing about something wts-related and there would be days of tension between us.. well, a few weeks ago we were having a casual conversation about wildlife in our area, she mentioned something about jehovah ruining those who ruin the earth.

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

Sass, Gill, Blondie, Vitty, Linda, Wofgirl - I will definitely try to be more loving and do more things with her. Sometimes it is hard...I guess I'm just stubborn and especially so when we're at odds. But I know you ladies are correct, thank you.

Greendawn - My wife doesn't like people (even elders) being "in our business". She doesn't stand for inquiries and won't tell them what is going on. In a way that is good for me, but it is bad for her in that she feels she doesn't have anyone to confide in anymore.

Finally-Free - I must say one of my "problems" is that I tend to get impatient and push too hard & fast. I have to do better in that regard. You're right, my wife does think I'll morph into something evil. I have to show her a balanced and good life apart from the WTS.

Dave, Ian, S4, Warlock - Thanks for the reassurance. I don't post often, but I know you guys have been through a lot. Knowing you made it through tough situations helps alot.

sir82, DoubtingBro - I kept the letter short & to the point. I told the BOE that being an elder was taking up too much of my time and I'm stepping aside effective immediately. I'm not going to fade, I just haven't gone back to another meeting. As far as reading the Bible with my wife, she doesn't want to do that. She says we don't have anything in common spiritually. There is no reasoning around it, it just isn't going to happen anytime soon.

kitten - thanks for letting me know what you and your husband went through. Like you I think my wife goes back and forth in her mind. Sometimes she's open to change, and then she starts feeling guilty and starts doing "more for Jehovah". It's funny in a sad way how so many of us have to deal with similar situations.

dmouse - The kids...that is a sore spot for both of us. I've been letting the kids (pre-teens) go with her to the meetings. She's told me regardless of what happens to us she won't forgive me if the kids don't serve Jehovah. She understands I can keep them home with me, but I believe that would be the last straw. Right now I'm trying to give her some time to get used to the idea of me not going, then later we'll see.

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50

Good news: No longer an elder; Bad news: Disappointed wife

by doinmypart in

jw
friends

19 years ago

my wife & i have a good relationship except when it comes to things dealing with the wts.

over the past few years we've both made concessions, and i even made some headway in getting her to think about some things.

but from time-to-time we would end up arguing about something wts-related and there would be days of tension between us.. well, a few weeks ago we were having a casual conversation about wildlife in our area, she mentioned something about jehovah ruining those who ruin the earth.

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

My wife & I have a good relationship except when it comes to things dealing with the WTS. Over the past few years we've both made concessions, and I even made some headway in getting her to think about some things. But from time-to-time we would end up arguing about something WTS-related and there would be days of tension between us.

Well, a few weeks ago we were having a casual conversation about wildlife in our area, she mentioned something about Jehovah ruining those who ruin the earth. I suggested we do some volunteer work in our area cleaning up a local creek that coming Saturday. She replied that she is already involved in a life-saving community service, and I said something sarcastic. She tells me she has allowed herself to drift, so she wants to get herself together and start pioneering again. From that point the argument ensued.

The next day I told her our "standoff" (for lack of a better word) wasn't working anymore and I couldn't be an elder or attend anymore meetings. She didn't say much about it, we didn't talk much that day. That evening I took my elder manual to the PO's house and was going to tell him I was done. He wasn't home so I left the book and a short resignation letter with his wife. That has been a couple of weeks ago. I haven't been to a meeting since.

My wife is upset...we talk and she's cordial, but I can tell she is upset. In hindsight I hate that I pushed too hard, my wife wouldn't agree to read/listen to anything contrary to the WTS, but I think she was doing her best given the situation. I just couldn't stomach listening to all the BS at the meetings and assemblies. I was tired of waiting for things to get better while life continued to pass me by. There are too many things I'd like to see and do. I don't regret not being an elder anymore, but I feel selfish...after all didn't my wife deserve some happiness too? She married a guy she thought would be a JW forever. I know she is torn in that she loves me, but at the same time I've been a disappointment to her. I don't know if she will stay around or leave...I've got a feeling she will leave.

I don't know what else to say. Right now I'm just taking some time to regroup, thankfully work has kept me busy. Eventually my relatives will find out I'm no longer serving, and I'm sure the elders will try getting with me. The coming weeks and months will be interesting.

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37

What are you reading - Summer 2006?

by eyeslice in

jw
friends

19 years ago

always a popular thread the what are you reading at the moment thread?.

my favourite reads for the summer of 2006:.

the history of love by nicole krauss.

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

The Time Traveler's Wife - Niffenegger...I enjoyed this book and would enjoy a sequel, if one is ever written.

Otherland, volumes 1-4 - Williams...Each volume is over 650+ pages, so the series is proving to be a lengthy read.

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20

Witnesses View - Council of Nicea (serious thread)

by Confucious in

19 years ago

.

ok.... just trying to find a better understanding here.... no stupid posts like, "...because it's the governing body.

" - please.. ok.... how do the witness justify the bible and at the same time condem catholicism et all.... i mean, the books in the bible were picked by the council of nicea - which according the the witnesses - were part of the great appostasy and sanctioned by the same group of religious leaders they condemn..

19 years ago

doinmypart 19 years ago

The WTS also applies an illustration of a dragnet. This was the topic of a talk at this year's district conventions, and it was also studied in a Watchtower article.

***
w92 6/15 p. 20 pars. 13-15 What Do the Dragnet and Fish Mean for You? ***
13
Do you think that unfaithful professors of Christianity had any part in the illustration of the dragnet? Well, there is reason to answer, yes, they did. The symbolic dragnet included Christendom. True, for ages the Catholic Church tried to keep the Bible from the common people. Nevertheless, over the centuries members of Christendom played a key role in translating, copying, and distributing God’s Word. Churches later formed or supported Bible societies, which rendered the Bible into the languages of remote lands. They also sent out medical missionaries and teachers, who made rice Christians. This gathered vast numbers of unsuitable fish, who did not have God’s approval. But at least it exposed millions of non-Christians to the Bible and to a form of Christianity, although corrupted.
14
All the while, the scattered faithful ones adhering to God’s Word exerted themselves as best they could. At any given time, they constituted God’s true anointed congregation on earth. And we may be sure that they too were catching fish, or men, many of whom God would view as fine and whom he would anoint with his spirit. (Romans 8:14-17) These fine professors of Christianity were able to bring Bible truth to many who had become rice Christians or who had gained limited Biblical knowledge from the Scriptures translated into their tongues by Christendom’s Bible societies. True, the collecting of fine fish was going on, even though most being gathered by Christendom were unsuitable from God’s standpoint.
15
So the dragnet represents an earthly instrument that professes to be God’s congregation and that gathers in fish. It has included both Christendom and the congregation of anointed Christians, the latter having continued to collect fine fish, under the invisible guidance of the angels, in line with Matthew 13:49.

*** w97 11/1 p. 12 par. 14 Christians and the World of Mankind ***
14
In his illustration of the dragnet, Jesus foretold that there would be a large territory for the preaching work. (Matthew 13:47-49) Explaining this illustration, The Watchtower of June 15, 1992, stated on page 20: "Over the centuries members of Christendom played a key role in translating, copying, and distributing God’s Word. Churches later formed or supported Bible societies, which rendered the Bible into the languages of remote lands. They also sent out medical missionaries and teachers, who made rice Christians. This gathered vast numbers of unsuitable fish, who did not have God’s approval. But at least it exposed millions of non-Christians to the Bible and to a form of Christianity, although corrupted."

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