AllTimeJeff

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Posts by AllTimeJeff

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  24

  Are there any former missionaries here?

  by Newborn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  not sure i've ever read any experiences from former missionaries here (but i'm sure there has been) .

  but it would be very interesting to know how you feel about it today.

  everything you sacrificed.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Part of it is JW tradition. That shouldn't be over thought.

  The other part is that it legitimizes JWs in many parts of the world legally.
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  7

  Lets get real and heal, and give some space to those that are trying to do both

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i didn't mean being real and trying to heal to rhyme, but essentially, that's why people come here.

  and depending on where we are, we need space.

  when you leave, one thing you will learn, quickly or otherwise, is what is reality.

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  AllTimeJeff

  I didn't mean being real and trying to heal to rhyme, but essentially, that's why people come here. And depending on where we are, we need space.

  When you leave, one thing you will learn, quickly or otherwise, is what is REALity. I feel safe in saying that no JW leaves and just joins polite society, ready made for success with no issues.

  Jobs? Dating? Money? Education? (Uh, the god/religion/faith question?) Good luck at first. You are going to stub your toe a little bit at least.

  But that's why, if you look at Internet boards like this where former JWs is concerned, that's why you see amazingly angry political and religious arguments. Is it because you already know reality? Or simply trying to work it out from the safety and anonymity of your computer screen?

  Reality is a difficult thing to looks at and acknowledge. Some were JWs for very judgmental reasons, others because they thought they could help people, or a mix of the two. Regardless, it sucks to learn that JWs are wrong. It hurts even more to realize that the world really isn't much better. There are lots of people like you, and lots of people whom you hate, or disagree with. And guess what? They aren't going away

  That's reality.

  And getting into reality, means getting into healing.

  Healing yourself is very much a process of getting to know yourself first, and growing yourself as a unique, well rounded person second.

  My suggestion, based on a little bit of experience (and hopefully, some hard earned wisdom), is to realize that reality is very colored by where you come from. Be humble and willing to listen to other opinions. Realize that you need to heal as well. Does it take years? Yes it does. But that doesn't mean you have to put off living while you heal. If you have a broken leg, you go to the doctor, put a cast on, learn how to walk on crutches while realizing that for the inconvenience of the cast and crutches, you are also healing, and looking forward to the time when the cast comes off, you can rehab the muscles, and be as strong as ever. Of course, you still work, and you still live with the temporary handicap. But in time, it heals. You heal.

  if arguing on these boards is part of the process of discovering who you are and what you stand for, and it helps you heal, then go for it. But don't just leave your life here. And don't STAY angry. Anger is useful in short spurts, if only to get you started. But like a car that only stays in first gear, anger will only get you so far before it burns you out and leave you stuck in the middle of the road.

  Theres only one life you control, and that's yours. And there will never be another you. Don't rob the world of the great person you can be. Learn who you really are, and share your gifts with all around you. Trust me, it's worth the effort.
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  13

  Just saying hello

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm still around.

  i'm waiting to post till after the election because i don't want to waste my energy arguing politics, and i know i'm still not mature enough to ignore the bullshit.

  hello to old friends.

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  AllTimeJeff

  I'm still around. I'm waiting to post till after the election because I don't want to waste my energy arguing politics, and I know I'm still not mature enough to ignore the bullshit.

  Hello to old friends.

  See y'all soon. :)
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  12

  7 Things you'd like to bring to RECOMMEND to the others

  by Terry in

  1. social
  2. humour

  7.. walter becker lyrics" hat too flat ".

  hat too flat - walter becker - youtube?

  hat too flat - walter becker.

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  AllTimeJeff

  1. The latest South Park on Lance Armstrong/Jesus

  2. Avoiding right wing bullshit

  3. Joe Scarbrough and Anderson Cooper for fair journalism

  4. Colbert rules. Still

  5. "Outwitting the Devil "by Napolean Hill

  6. Exercise 3 times a week

  7. Never ever quitting.

  In no particular order........
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  630

  SAD news about OOMPA......

  by redredrose in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  our friend, oompa, has passed away.

  just recieved the news a couple of hours ago, and have almost no details.

  it happened today or yesterday, he took his own life.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Life is worth so much more than words. In the grand scheme things, Oompa's legacy will be that, though he was in pain, he acted, and chose not to be a fraud. He left clues here and elsewhere. He was able to help his children, whom I hope will allow their father to live through them just a little.

  Oompa reminded me in some ways of my brother, men who were vulnerable because they cared so much. Hurt by a cult they didn't choose to be born into. And ultimately, left us at a time of their own choosing.

  R.I.P.
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  131

  Let's Discuss Ray Franz's Books

  by Recovery in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been repeatedly pleaded with to read the books of ray franz in my short stay on this board.

  apparently these are all the all-powerful, wt crushing arguments, that lead so many to leave jw's and become ruthless opposers of god's people.

  we can discuss any claims/statements/scriptural arguments presented in either of his books, as long as it somehow proves jehovah's witnesses are not god's people.

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  AllTimeJeff

  By now, I hope we are all used to the occasional troll who does a thread precisely like this to suck on negative energy. There are some JWs who do this. Expect more, not less.

  Does anyone read the viewer comments on news articles on sites like CNN? There are tons of sad, vindictive, and hateful cowards who never leave their house, but can't wait to bask in the anonymity of their parents basement to spew crap precisely to look for someone who takes these idiots too seriously.

  Count Recovery among that group. A coward with no life who posts garbage in his tighty wightys as bait to validate his pathetic existence.

  Comment if you want, but don't be immature and argue with this guy. He's just here to upset you.
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  131

  Let's Discuss Ray Franz's Books

  by Recovery in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been repeatedly pleaded with to read the books of ray franz in my short stay on this board.

  apparently these are all the all-powerful, wt crushing arguments, that lead so many to leave jw's and become ruthless opposers of god's people.

  we can discuss any claims/statements/scriptural arguments presented in either of his books, as long as it somehow proves jehovah's witnesses are not god's people.

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  AllTimeJeff

  As an aside, most former JWs leave because of something other than that book. Whatever.....
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  131

  Let's Discuss Ray Franz's Books

  by Recovery in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have been repeatedly pleaded with to read the books of ray franz in my short stay on this board.

  apparently these are all the all-powerful, wt crushing arguments, that lead so many to leave jw's and become ruthless opposers of god's people.

  we can discuss any claims/statements/scriptural arguments presented in either of his books, as long as it somehow proves jehovah's witnesses are not god's people.

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  AllTimeJeff

  C o C is an autobiography of a former GB member who was disfellowshipped because he disagreed with the GB. no need to debate. JWs have never tried to discount his account. They don't care, other than to demonize him by calling him an apostate.

  I left JWs after attending Gilead because I learned that the teachings of JWs have changed all to frequently, That none of their "prophecies" have come true, and that they are just another cult.

  I read C o C after I left. So I don't care to debate the book. Franz is right, for anyone who cares. But I'm not going to waste my time arguing.

  Heres a trivia question: Where is the generation that saw 1914? Six feet under. It was a lie. As Franz demonstrates in C o C.
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  66

  "No Other Magazine Comes Close" - Watchtower's new slogan...

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...and they're clearly in the mood for pushing it on youtube.. .

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lerx3gkthxk.

  what is it with all these random youtube channels, each showing polished and highly-produced videos.

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  AllTimeJeff

  They don't get it. Even if YouTube is the perfect forum for them (I.e. 'We talk, you listen'), you still expose JWs and interested ones to the rest of what is on the Internet.

  This will kill them. Do you know how easy it is to look for this video and find others? Wow! They are incredibly naive, the GB that is. Who talked them into this?

  its clear that GB 2.0 has no idea how to run a cult!
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  61

  The Decline of Elders and Ministerial Servants

  by Londo111 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i seem to remember somebody saying that since the 90's the number of elders has declined from 90000 to 60000. does anybody have any hard figures regarding this?.

  the organization is desperate for "qualified" men.

  but their standards are much too high, especially the monthly field service hour requirements tagged on to endless meetings and congregational busywork.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Jehovah's Witnesses in the last 40+ years have had two 'peak times': the run up to 1975 and the Live Forever book period of 82-95. Since then, they have peaked.

  For both times, the key to those periods of growth was that being an elder meant something, and thus, the GB was able to count on relatively strong leadership locally.

  Since '95, the changing of the Generation teaching and the rise of the information age (thank you Internet) has caused young men to look on the Internet for two things that would disqualify an elder; porn and real information.

  Cults thrive in a bubble. JWs can't legislate information control like they used to be able to. The drip like growth of JWs in Western nations demonstrates this vividly.

  Today, most JWs do take a peek about what is said on the Internet. Most know a little about the Conti case. Most new elders are stunned at the sheer amount of letters from the Service Dept on how to handle pedophiles. If you've ever had to handle a pedophile case, it will make you ill. Anyone with a small bit of humanity hate sitting on JCs. Most elders know that 1914 is a joke, and probably are running side bets on when the GB will change the Generation doctrine again.

  You add that up, and it's a disaster. Here's what I predict for the future:

  Circuit JC's, where the CO and Service Dept pick who is on them.

  A return to a small group, or even one, main elder per congregation.