Posts by Vernon Williams

In answer to your questions, sorta....here is the first of two letters I wrote to "Jerry." If you like this one...I will post the second: it might assist in getting another's viewpoint:

Jerry, when we last talked, I mentioned I was the "simplest minded
Christian" you will, probably, ever meet. I had stripped my
Christianity to three bare essentials:

I believe the Story.

I trust the Promise.

I believe we should move toward and do those things that nourish us
to
the Will of God.

I figure those three are enough to fill my Life, short as it will be
in this present state, and, I will leave all the other theological
"stuff" to those brighter, more informed, and with a lot more time than

this over-worked, under-educated, hillbilly, chicken plant worker.

So, let us start with the first.

The best explanation I have come across I call "Tom Cabeen's Short
History of Christianity." (I have included Tom so he can edit it if I

deviated from his History) OK, here goes....

About two thousand years ago, in the Roman province of Judea,
there appeared a young traveling rabbi. His name was Jesus.
Now, both the occupation and the name were not uncommon. Often, a rabbi, a
teacher, would gather about him a group of disciples, taught ones, and
they would live and interact as a group. To mark this particular
"Jesus" those around him called him "Jesus the son of Joseph the
Carpenter" or " Jesus of Nazareth ."

As time went on, this Jesus began not only a program of teaching,
but, he started doing some really spectacular acts. He could heal anyone
of any disease or ailment. He could cause dead people (really, really
dead people) to come back to life. He could read other's minds and
emotions. And, he was a nice guy. His words and actions comforted
others. He was totally unique. People would come from near and far
to benefit from his words and actions.

This did not set well with everyone. Unfortunately, when one is
outstanding in being good and honest and open and wonderful, it is
compared to those that are not. This "are not" group included a lot
of very prominent people: religious, economic, and social leaders. They
became opponents of Jesus and resisted him.

A little group, twelve in all, came to be very close to Jesus. A
larger group, seventy in all, were an extended arm of Jesus ministry.

These folks worked hard and shared the message and actions of Jesus
over a large area.

A few years go by and a lot happens. One of Jesus disciples that
wrote a book about him said that if everything Jesus did and said was
written down "the world could not hold the scrolls." Jesus and His
were busy.

It was determined by the followers of Jesus that He was the "messiah"
of Jewish prophesy: a wonderfully special man. Jesus went further.
He claimed his was, also, the Son of the Living God. They put faith in
Jesus as such.

On the way to a Jewish celebration in the capital city of the region,
Jerusalem , Jesus told them this:

"Look, as a further, final proof of who and what I am the following
will take place: those jerks in Jerusalem that hate me so much will
overcome me and treat me badly and kill me. Although I have the power
to destroy them, it will happen. This is all for your sake. Three
days later, however, I will rise from the dead."

And, it happened just a Jesus foretold. This includes, of course,
his rising from the dead. We Christians call this "The Resurrection of
Christ". This event is the center of our hope...the one I am sharing
with you.

Well, as you can imagine, all this trauma and turmoil and, in the
end, joy and confirmation, had quite an effect on the minds and the
hearts of those that, personally, knew Jesus. He was someone unlike
anyone that had, did, or would ever live on earth. The followers of
Jesus, those that became "Christians," were so moved by all this that
they started telling this Story. Funny thing, the Story had the same
effect on others, those that never knew Jesus, as it had on the ones
that did. They developed a Faith and a Hope based on the person of
Jesus of Nazareth . You, too, can put Faith in this Story and benefit
as millions have since it was first told.

So, there you have it, Jerry, The Story. It is the one
I tell when I minister to a non-Christian.

Next, The Promise.

In this Journey,

V

30

Where have you turned to?

by Robert7 in

jw
friends

i am very curious, since i am myself trying to figure out where to turn to, if anywhwere.

(i am still debating if i am truly an atheist at heart and religion in general turns me off at least as of now) where have you turned to since you left the wt?

i would imagine that many people who became witnesses had spiritual needs (which is ironic why i am feeling atheist, lol) but have you gone to other churches, stopped going to church, become atheist, etc?

Vernon Williams

Robert,

I "turned" to the Early Chruch...the Church of the first three centuries and brought that "template" forward to our day and compared it to what I saw around me. Many ex JWs that become Christian do this: it narrows the choices considerably.

PM if you wantn to follow up on this....I am very late on responding due to circumstances...I still owe some folks here a PM or email. However, I will get back to you if this is of interest. Phone conversations are best....

V

14

The Watchtower's depiction of "bad people"

by B_Deserter in

i find it absolutely hillarious how "bad people" (i.e.

gang members, prisoners, thieves, etc.

) are depicted on the cover of a watchtower.

Vernon Williams

Tyrone,

A good 'ramble......," thank you,

V

12

Well, Am I just a coward or what?

by rache31 in

jw
friends

i've made mention in a couple of recent posts how some witnesses have come to my house.

i wasn't home but received a note.

in the development where i live, there are a couple of families that go to the local kh.

Vernon Williams

First step: Eclispe

Second step: World Travler

Third step: start to enjoy the Journey,

Yours,

V

8

Witnesses are Just Protestants on Crack.

by jwfacts in

... or is lsd.. i do not affiliate myself with any religious organization.

in one of the few conversations i have had with any of my family members since being disfellowshipped, my aunty said that was logical that i can not find another religion, as if i was not going to be a jw then "there certainly isn't any other religion that is better.

" to me that sort of thinking could only come from someone tripping.

Vernon Williams

The name of this thread: I have been saying that now for three years....

Funny you came up with the same thought....

V

3

Star of Bethlehem: an interesting link

by Vernon Williams in

to all,.

i was surprised to find this link still on line...enjoy..... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077385/.

v.

Vernon Williams

On the little star "screen" at the top....click on the upper right hand corner and it will take you through the presentation.

V

3

Star of Bethlehem: an interesting link

by Vernon Williams in

to all,.

i was surprised to find this link still on line...enjoy..... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077385/.

v.

Vernon Williams

To All,

I was surprised to find this link still on line...enjoy....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077385/

V

19

I was part of a strange little group...now more so...littler and stranger

by oompa in

jw
friends

have you ever wished we were more mainstream?

it was weird enough being a dub, but they were a decent sized group.

i could get laid in most halls i visited, plus there was communinty.

Vernon Williams

O,

Just got home....as usual bone tired....

Really, this group is just the tip of huge iceburg...stats say 1 mil have left the org the last ten years. Also, this is the vocal, interacting, "reaching out" section. And, in your Journey, everyone here will, as a group, help you in stabalizing and moving forward.

I see this board as a beginning for many.....you seem to be one. THIS is not the only tool in the box, however, it is multi-use to say the least. As you go along, you will pick up other tools that are more specific, more useful for the task at hand. Also, the relationships formed here serve as a tutor for the "belly to belly" (not sex.....) encounters that will start manifesting themselve post exit.

I am glad we have met here...one day it would be nice to meet you face to face...

Till then, I encourage you in this Journey,

V