flipper

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Posts by flipper

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  53

  Would You Like To Know What Goes On At Elder's Meetings?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  have you ever wondered what goes on at an elder's meeting?

  after a prayer, the presiding overseer will state what the purpose of the meeting is.

  if it's a quarterly meeting, the elders will discuss the spirituality of the congregation, its spirit and any dangerous trends that may be observed.

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  flipper

  Imaginary meeting- " Brothers we are here to discuss whether or not brother or sister so and so should have a book study in their home. Uh, their son was caught watching pornographic images on the internet, it's become known the mother is watching soap operas regularly condoning immorality, and last time we could spy through their windows the father was watching Borat, such an immoral movie."

  Recommendation of elders? Move the book study to a 90 year old sisters house , it's less threatening and safer spiritually. A little exaggerated, but not much
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  78

  We are free to love

  by purplesofa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what i have noticed since pulling away from group thinking, mindsets, rules and superstitions, that i am open to a broader range of loving people.. i am not sure i can blame all this on the jw expericance.

  as children we are taught from our tribe, (family and enviroment, church, school, extended family, neighborhood..........who to love and who not to love.

  i used to believe as the witnesses taught, you have to "beat" the evil out of children.. have you ever watched a group of small children unattended?

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  flipper

  Hey Purps- Great thread. I too have found a great big world full of more decent human beings than I was led to believe when I was a witness. Lots of people in this world are loving, decent, respectful people. Especially if they haven't been tainted or prejudiced by being in any religion they are more childlike in their expectations of others and not as demanding and are able to think outside the box. It is religions that whip up prejudiced feelings in people and narrow their view of mankind in general.

  I always used to be annoyed about reading articles written by the witnesses in their magazines, commending themselves and patting themselves on the back for helping the Katrina survivors as if they were the only people on earth assisting others. Gawd, there were thousands of heroes in the Katrina disaster risking their lives to save others. But it's just another proof that the witnesses only see what they want to see, and that is their own self congradulatory pats on the back type life It's so great to be able to love people unconditionally, like you said.
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  21

  Serena Williams - Renewed JW activity & Boyfriends?

  by Seeker4 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is a paragraph from a ny times article today on tennis champion serena williams.

  her comment is in regard to how she dealt with the murder of her older sister a couple of years ago.. "i tried to develop a better relationship with god," williams, who was raised a jehovah's witness, told me over the phone.

  "you have a strong solid foundation, the bible says, you won't crack, but the man who built his house in the sand, his house went down spiritually.

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  flipper

  As it has been said, money buys you a lot of privileges as hypocritical as it seems. I wonder how many other celebrities contribute to the worldwide child molestation defense fund ? Let's see there is Prince, Williams sisters, other former sports stars, musicians, perhaps attorneys, wealthy doctors here and there. Put it all together and the Watchtower, Bible and Molestation society keeps going along quite swimmingly. Pardon the sarcasm, can't help it
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  49

  How The Organization Hooks You With "Privileges"

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  right from the beginning, you are bombarded with others telling you what a "privilege" it is to "be used" in the organization.

  especially if you're a male, it is easy to get hooked by the elder's lines.....for example, a male is given the "privilege" of "handling the microphones" if they put in enough time in the ministry and they aren't setting a bad example.

  if you're "faithful in what is least", greater privileges await you.

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  flipper

  I remember having the " privilege" of handing out magazines in the magazine room, and also the "privilege" of doing my Clark Kent imitation changing from work clothes to meeting clothes at my janitorial accounts , then rushing to the kh to get the magazines out by 7:10 p.m. Then the other astounding privilege was to go back and finish my janitorial jobs at 10:00p.m. after the meetings until 2:00 in the morning. Oh , yeah it was fun changing from meeting clothes back into work clothes at my jobs, all the while knowing everybody else went home to sleep with their families, while I burned the midnight oil for the once again" privilege "of regular pioneering and ministerial servant . Would have been a hell of a lot easier just working straight through and missing the meeting.

  But Snakes take is very accurate, they kept all of us so busy with these pretend " privileges ", we didn't have time to properly devote it to our families emotional and normal needs. Pretty weird stuff, eh? Thanks Minimus for my privilege to comment on this
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  13

  Please read if you commented on topic re:FDS/BS- meeting elders-BACKGROUND

  by AWAKE&WATCHING in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my situation is a little different than most.the only family i have in the borg are my in-laws who don't care much for me any way.

  while my husband has studied off and on for years and is currently attending most meetings, he has never felt "ready" to get baptized.. i was in the truth (gag) for 10 years, went through a bad divorce from an unbeliever and disassociated myself , i was depressed, worn out and felt guilty for not being able to keep up with the "do more" bs.

  i still believed and blamed myself.

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  flipper

  Awake & Watching- I believe I replied to your initial thread on this. First of all, I'm so sorry you are going through this stress. It can be both exhilarating and scary all at the same time . So right away you are going to feel a conflict of emotions going through this. You have to do what is right for you and your peace of mind, for sure, like others have said. Perhaps also trying to reason a bit more with your husband on things, as it sounds like he has some doubts from what you stated.

  A couple thoughts I might make you think about, with all due respect. I couldn't help but notice in your explanation that you mentioned you wanted to talk to " your friends " the elders and well you might consider them such. That being said, remember their prime concern is to keep the congregation protected , so in their eyes a friendship with you is all conditional on what you do for their organization. Believe me, having been there done that, if you want to keep your husband , be aware that the elders will do anything to " protect " him, their future publisher from any negativity coming from you. Negativity towards the org. that is. So it would seem to me, as you yourself said," You feel like you are getting your old husband back." Seems to me that the protection of your and his relationship in this should take priority over any alledged coersion they can apply to you or him.

  God knows, enough families have been divided from the clutches of this religions grasp that way too much harm has been done to many families, mine included. So just be smart , save your husband from their clutches, don't let them divide your family. Only you and your husband know where you really stand with each other, but don't let the witnesses win. Good luck, and peace to you my friend, I feel for your decisions. Mr. Flipper
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  17

  Jehovah's Witnesses in Crisis. My initial observations.

  by candidlynuts in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i recieved my copy today and have only spent an hour or so in looking it over.. i want to commend barbara anderson and those who assisted her , this is very well written and compelling.

  if you haven't ordered a copy yet, i encourage you to do so.. (forgive me if i word this badly my awake college education might show ) my initial reaction to what i've been reading is how the watchtower society lawyers, headquarters etc does not apper to be any kind of organization led by god.

  it appears to be a business trying to protect it's treasures stored upon the earth.

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  flipper

  Candidly- My wife and I anxiously await our shipment in the mail too. I have two daughters 20 and 19 in this croc of an organization and fear for my future grandchildren, the mind control with which they will be raised. Hope this opens a floodgate of Pandora's Boxes all over America and the world. Shake things up a bit
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  72

  Pet peeve-itis. Do you have it?

  by exwitless in

  1. social
  2. humour

  at the suggestion of sweetface, i decided to make a new thread about pet peeves.

  here's a few of mine:.

  1) being invited to a baby shower or bridal shower for someone whom i have never met, just so i will bring them a gift.

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  flipper

  Considering I have to commute an hour or so to work, drivers who drive 40 to 45 miles per hour on a two lane highway where you can't pass and they incessantly for no apparent reason ride their brakes when no ones in front of them. I'll survive though
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  56

  If Jehovah went to a psychiatrist, what would be his diagnoses?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we're talking about a "supreme being" who hates a lot, is violent and vindictive, fascist, any "love" is totally conditional, plays mean mind games (sacrifice your son for me)....he probably oughta be locked up!

  mrs flipper

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  flipper

  Diagnosis- Go back to the start and create everything again. Oh! hell, there is no start , how can he do that? There's no end or finish either, just perpetual foreverness! Just take two pills and call me in the morning. Preferably sleeping pills, Oh! I forgot he has been sleeping! I guess there is just no saving the guy from himself!
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  101

  Name your Top Ten or However Many you can Favorite Comedy Movies

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  started one thread serious, so thought i'd go light and easy on this one.

  so what say yee to this?

  here are mr. flippers, about in this order, but not necessarily.

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  flipper

  Well done 5go, cool pictures! Love Mel Brooks stuff, and Austin Powers too. The gal in the Mel Brooks picture aint too bad either! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  28

  A call to HQ about the settlement

  by parlay in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i called hq under this guise: i am an interested person who has two jw'svisiting me periodically.

  i think they are very nice people and we have good conversations,but recently something disturbed me.

  i was suprised that they had no knowledge of the recent lawsuit settlements and actually denied it was true.

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  flipper

  Great job Parlay- Maybe my wife and I will call and see if we get a similar response. Isn't it amazing that he said theyv'e had a lot of these phone calls already about the molestation settlements!? I bet the governing body is crapping it's pants with all that and now Barbara Anderson's new cd. Wow! How much can old Teddys heart take? lol Peace out, Mr. Flipper