it has been 15-years now since i walked away from the jws, and 12-years since my disassociation.
it is time to do some reflecting in short posts, and check my mental bearings.. the forbidden zone:.
a week or two ago i watched planet of the apes again for the 10th time.
Aw, Jim, now I'm going to have to go watch Planet of the Apes (would you believe I never have?).
I agree, we all need to develop the ability to converse civily (even politely) on a variety of topics. My rule is, if I can't find anything civil or polite to say about a subject, I avoid commenting. Now sometimes my fingers travel ahead of my brain and I violate this rule, but that's why I'm glad most forums have a "delete" button (at least for moderators LOL).
BTW, hello!!
Ruth
My father was congregation servant then elder and P.O. for many years. He always bought the wine, and my mother made the bread. We also brought the goblets and plates and tablecloth from home. We used the table that was normally used for demonstrations and TMS talks.
We took the wine home after the meeting, and the other stuff too.
I do not ever remember congregation funds being used to purchase any of it (up until the late 80s anyway when my dad stepped down as an elder).
NanaR
we all know it's not an issue if people say the lord's prayer or not, but except for the fact that jw's make it an issue.
to them it's kinda like the boogie man and to say it makes you part of christendom, ripe for destruction.. this thread is in response to another thread.i finally took some time to look into information to make a reply.. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/130602/2.ashx.
a jw commented on that thread.
Regarding repetition in prayer:
Revelation 4:8 says of the four living creatures around God's throne in the heavens: (NRSV)
"Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come."
Not only that, but the 10th and 11th verses indicate the use of responsive prayer:
"the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.""
Also, from my personal standpoint, I find that saying the "Our Father" or reading one of the Psalms (yes, they are prayers too) at the start of my prayer puts my mind and heart in communion with Holy matters. When I do this, I find that the remainder of my prayer for my own intentions is much more meaningful.
BTW, I was raised as a Witness in the 1950s. I learned the Our Father prayer at my mother's knee -- from a King James Version Bible. And when I was in 1st grade, my homeroom teacher had the entire class recite the Lord's Prayer first thing in the morning. My parents allowed me to participate so long as I did not add the part at the end that Witnesses believe was not original. In 2nd grade, my teacher had us recite Psalms 23 first thing in the morning, and I was allowed to do that also. I did not participate in the flag salute, but I DID pray in public.
I doubt that Witnesses today are permitted to do these things -- but life was different away back when. If it came directly from the Bible, it was okay no matter who was reading it or saying it.
NanaR
when i was a young and idealistic elder - the attitude that was stressed continually was this one :.
christiangreatnesscomesfromserving.
"among you, whoever wants to be great must be your servant."matt.
My father was an elder of the "servant" category. He worked himself silly and worried himself to distraction with matters of PEOPLE in the congregation and how best to SERVE them.
My father and many others of our original "body" have since died. Several others, very loving and kind men, have left the org. Maybe one of the original body is still alive and still a Witness.
As time goes by, they are losing their best, most Godly men because those men cannot abide the politics and power plays.
Ruth
it's not even april yet, and the watchtower society is revving up it's change at an alarming pace.. this year, the changes have all been big.. first, they announce that there will be two editions of the watchtower - a private edition for members only with only the study articles in and a public edition with no articles.
the 24 elders may be involved in communicating divine truths to the governing body.
the long held teaching that 1935 is the cutoff date for selection and gathering of the anointed has gone the way of the 1914 generation change in a convenient "questions from readers" article.. you cannot wear casual clothes after the convention, even if going out to eat.. .
"The long held teaching that 1935 is the cutoff date for selection and gathering of the anointed has gone the way of the 1914 Generation change in a convenient "Questions from Readers" article."
I completely missed this one. Can someone post a link or reference?
NanaR
apr km insert.
"even during leisure time , such as when going out to eat after the programme , we should dress as befits ministers... and should not wear such clothing as jeans , shorts or t-shirts.
what a witness this will give to the community.".
Baloney!! This post just caused me to remember why I now wear slacks to work (and church). I hate hate hate pantyhose and heels. I'd like to see some of those GB members dress up in hose and heels for a picnic. Also, I remember lots of comments about different attire of church members (such as some in my area where the women do not cut their hair and wear long skirts) as being just making a "show" of righteousness. Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh!! NanaR
hello everyone i hope you are all well.
there was a very strange announcement given out at the meeting last night in all congregations in a western european country .
the borg here are at a critical stage in their court room battles.
My uncles and other relatives were Witnesses during WWII. During that time it was illegal in the U.S. to speak against serving in the Armed Forces. Therefore, none of the instructions for "counseling" young men about the draft or enlistment were written and archived. Enlistment in the armed forces was said to be a matter of individual conscience.
In reality, any person who enlisted in the armed forces was immediately considered to have "disassociated" themselves from the organization.
So the conscience thing was all smoke and mirrors.
There are written rules, and there are unwritten rules. In most circumstances, the unwritten rules are the REAL ones.
NanaR
hello chumz on the board.
nothing really to do with jwism but who prefers the american 'bourbon' type such as 'wild turkey', 'jim beam' etc or who prefers a fine single malt scotch such as 'glenfiddich' or 'glenmorangie'?
i am not trying to stir up nationalism with this question but am just genuinely curious.. lfcv.
Bourbon all the way -- Makers Mark or Jack Daniels especially :-) Ezra Brooks is a less well known (and less expensive) brand that is also excellent.
Wild Turkey is good, but that 101 stuff is easy to get too much of.
I AM a Kentuckian after all (and yes I do know that Jack Daniels is a Tennessee brew but it is of the KY bourbon type).
'Round here we use the stuff for everything from marinating steaks for the grill to filling candy (in addition to mellowing my mood from time to time).
I don't know if I like Scotch, because I've never tried it. I can drink Crown Royal or Seagrams 7 in a mixed drink, but prefer bourbon straight or on the rocks.
NanaR
well gang, i have posted off and on here for several years now.
i have been to several apostafests and meetups, some i even organized.
i have met some truly wonderful people, and there has always been a sense of camraderie that i have felt.
Dave,
I wish you the best in your journey. I hope it brings you the closure that you so obviously need.
From my personal standpoint, living well and being happy is the best revenge. But everyone is different, and every story is different.
Peace,
Ruth
active witnesses see us apostates as "unfaithful people" who took an oath to serve god as jw's and we stopped and left the organization.. we on the other hand, see the watchtower as unfaithful to their past teachings because they changed so much during the years.
on top of that even what they didn't change, it's not happening.. so, who was the most unfaithful, us, or the watchtower?.
When I was baptized (back in the dark ages LOL, actually in the 1960s), there was no mention of the "organization" in the baptismal questions (only 2, asked on the day of baptism). I perceived myself to be baptized, as the scriptures say, in the "name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit". My dedication was to God -- it was NOT to any organization on earth.
I am still serving God. I have NOT been unfaithful to Him, although I have left the Witness "organization".
The organization of Jehovah's Witnesses has changed dramatically in my lifetime. I barely recognize the congregations as they are now in the context of how I was raised. Particularly, my parents always encouraged me to question everything -- even the organization. Now, merely asking the questions gets one kicked to the curb.
They have given their own rules and regulations more force and effect than the laws of God.
I had to leave them to remain faithful to Him.
Ruth
