Posts by compound complex

My impoverished family loved and cherished the sea, stretching outward beyond infinity; but it was I, more than the others, who took to the ever dreary landscape. In a most peculiar manner, the dank surroundings soothed and enveloped me in crawling mists that were more welcomed to me than the evaporating rays of a cavorting summer sun.

I, however, am no longer that pensive lad who found comfort in the dark and cold, deep blue sea. Today, a man in the physical sense, I no longer possess that childlike fascination with my former abode. I reside in The City. Luxuries absent during youth abound, satisfying beyond mere need. The sterile vista I gaze upon is that of steel, stone, glass; its combination in regal, imposing edifices commands my admiring view yet scarcely my heart.

Yesterday's child has vanished from all remembrance . . .

9

Do You Love the Sea and Mountains?

by compound complex in

jw
friends

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compound complex

9

Missing the Memorial first time in 34 years

by oppostate in

my wife has left to pick someone else's bible study half an hours drive north of us to bring them to the kh 20 minutes south of us, and pick up two other people on the way.. this is the first memorial in 34 years that i won't be at the kh to "celebrate".. if i want to "remember" jesus christ sacrifice and his command to keep doing so, i'm doing so on my own terms.

not controlled by a despotic, oligarchical gobo which directs most attending folks to be there but to "skip" the very thing jesus command explicitly mentions to do.

i'm also convinced that it doesn't have to be exactly on the same lunar month evening as the jewish passover, but that "whenever" it is commemorated by someone, with faith in christ, and belief in his promises it would be best to do it not for show or for the sake of appearances but sincerely out of one's feeling of "communion".. if you are a christian believer are you going to the memorial this year?

compound complex

My first voluntarily missed in 50 years.

Mind blowing . . .

51

To those taking a stand and not attending the Memorial tonight

by doubtfull1799 in

i salute you.

many of you, like me, are probably under enormous emotional pressure, whether from a lingering false sense of guilt from your indoctrination, whether from "invitations," and assumptions that you'll naturally be coming, or whether from outright emotional blackmail, even begging and pleading.

i am thinking of you whoever you are, all of you, even though i don't know you in person.

compound complex

As mentioned earlier, no one of JW kith or kin invited me. This is my first Memorial not making a showing. An initial twinge of guilt, not being a so-called self-starter.

Then, yesterday morning, I got the flu and was too sick to do anything, and certainly not able to drive.

A good night, otherwise, but there was not the delicious repast that Blondie and Irreverent enjoyed.

51

To those taking a stand and not attending the Memorial tonight

by doubtfull1799 in

i salute you.

many of you, like me, are probably under enormous emotional pressure, whether from a lingering false sense of guilt from your indoctrination, whether from "invitations," and assumptions that you'll naturally be coming, or whether from outright emotional blackmail, even begging and pleading.

i am thinking of you whoever you are, all of you, even though i don't know you in person.

compound complex

"The only thing that can be done in the cases of individuals like this is to view them as immature and therefore not capable of taking on certain responsibilities, hence refusing to make certain assignments of service to such ones." -- ThomasCovenant/TheWonderofYou

I can't back it up with a reference, but I did read elsewhere (in a different WT publication) that a mature Christian does not suddenly become an immature believer simply by virtue of his using bad judgment (per WT).

His background, experience, and overall spiritual acumen don't simply up and go away. He made a mistake and, it is hoped, recovers from his error.

Obviously, there is little consistency from one publication to another. Or, is it new light?

51

To those taking a stand and not attending the Memorial tonight

by doubtfull1799 in

i salute you.

many of you, like me, are probably under enormous emotional pressure, whether from a lingering false sense of guilt from your indoctrination, whether from "invitations," and assumptions that you'll naturally be coming, or whether from outright emotional blackmail, even begging and pleading.

i am thinking of you whoever you are, all of you, even though i don't know you in person.

compound complex

There have been no invitations this year to the Memorial; the last meeting I attended was the Memorial, 2016. I went to bookend services and visited with dear friends of some 40 years, many of whom were tiny children when we first met. Now, they have their own kids.

Being the jolly guy I am, I made a point to chat up those who initially shunned me. Not on this night, no siree, Bob!

BUT, three different invitations to Easter Sunday family gatherings from people who REALLY do care about me.

I'm beginning to see life and people in a truer light . . .

21

Animals, Blood, Food, and JW Beliefs

by dubstepped in

i'm just thinking aloud here.

i watched a show yesterday and they were talking about how the largest mammals of the sea (whales) fed on such small creatures (plankton) rather than eating some other large creatures.

anyway, it got me thinking about how as jws we thought that in paradise animals would all be herbivores, that they would no longer eat other animals.

compound complex

These are the images that say the so-called thousand words. No wonder the Paradise promised is so deeply embedded into the conscious and subconscious hearts and minds of Jehovah's Witnesses, et al.

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5993135630974976/jws-american-religion-dress-language-etc-joel-elliot

10

Getting older, losing loved ones

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

just reading a posting about relive a day for one year of your live... .

getting older, i am so sad thinking about years ago and missing my family members.

am i the only one believing they would never die?.

compound complex

Hi, Gorby:

We relate, feeling sad along with you.

I am your parents' age and now wish my parents were here so that I could tell them I love and appreciate them. Likewise, those of us who are estranged from JW family -- will we ever get to see them, talk with them, hug them before we ourselves die?

My family believe what I taught them; I was the first JW in my family. Their thought is if we inactive, lost sheep die before Armaggedon, Jehovah may, in his mercy, resurrect us into the New World.

I want to be with my family NOW!