Posts by Watkins

69

Enough favorites! What did song/band did you HATE?

by JeffT in

you know the one that made you think of fingernails on blackboards.

we all have some.

i'll check back in later with a couple of my own.

Watkins

AC/DC - I HATE them! Always loved hard rock - but AC/DC is definitely like nails on a blackboard to me. It's not so much the debil-lovin' songs, lol, but the high-pitched sceaming, screeched-till-it's-hoarse whining lead vocals. I couldn't even enjoy some of the songs I might've liked except for that lead banshee's over-riding caucophany. (I know there were 2 leads - didn't like either of 'em, but the latter is the worst) I can't even stand it when one of their songs comes on the radio and I'm starting to get into the music before I realize it's them - I change the station! I just really, really, really do NOT like 'em, ya get it? lol. A couple years ago they were on SNL - eeeewwww! Oh yeah baby, I'm TNT, dy-no-mite! Jump on this ancient, ugly, beer-bellied, bow-legged, greasy-haired, drug-damaged, tone-deaf, hunk-a-hunk-a stinky rock'n'roll legend - yeeeeyooooowwww! How that old fart could keep a straight face while singing that I'll never know. I was embarrassed for them, really, wanted to die laughing but it was so so sad. They must be ill-managed and broke or why still be at it? They looked absolutely burned-out and arthritic. They suck big time in my book. (Oh, man - I liked Survivor! lol)

#2 is a country 'n' western song - don't know who sings it, but it's about a mom praying to God about her very ill little girl, pleading for Him to let her live because if she dies: "Who will hold her hand when she crosses the streets of Heaven?" I've never heard such a ridiculous, retarded premise for a song in my life, and I even know of a little ditty entitled "There's a Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road and It Stinks to High Heaven"!!!! It's SO stupid - like there are reckless speeding cars in heaven, mowing down hapless pedestrians? A drunk driver perhaps, or joy-riding punks? Absurd!Both thumbs down.

'Afternoon Delight' - Lol, forgot about that one - it must be # 4 on my most-hated list. #3 would be anything by Michael Bolton, eeewww.

You guys are funny and this is a fun thread. Thanks, I needed that!

watkins

9

NEW FLIP FLOP Alert! My Research on New Leaven Understanding

by Metamorphosis in

earlier there was a thread stating at the annual meeting a new understanding of the leaven in matthew 13:33 was to be announced indicating it no longer would be understood to mean something corrupt but rather something righteous.

this led me to research (just using the wt cd) what the past thoughts on it had been - this is not the first reversal on the understanding - first see what the watchtower had to say in the late 1800's (as stated in the 75 watchtower):.

*** w75 10/1 pp.

Watkins

Very interesting, Leo - thank you very much for posting it.

The Society does not give Jesus credit in using a negative metaphor in a creative, ironic way.

Par for the course --- the society does not give Jesus his due credit in too many areas.

~sigh~

watkins

9

NEW FLIP FLOP Alert! My Research on New Leaven Understanding

by Metamorphosis in

earlier there was a thread stating at the annual meeting a new understanding of the leaven in matthew 13:33 was to be announced indicating it no longer would be understood to mean something corrupt but rather something righteous.

this led me to research (just using the wt cd) what the past thoughts on it had been - this is not the first reversal on the understanding - first see what the watchtower had to say in the late 1800's (as stated in the 75 watchtower):.

*** w75 10/1 pp.

Watkins

Lol, Gopher --- Isn't it a little scary how easily we can justify ANY doctrine with ANY scripture if we translate it into 'WT-speak'? We were once so misguidedly well-trained.

Sarah --- "typical/antitypical", oh man, if I never hear that phrase again it'll be too soon! Any 'old light' can be 'reasoned' into blinding 'new light' with any 2 unrelated scriptures using that method. I think their flashlights all need new Duracells!

watkins

42

What's the nicest thing someone has ever said to you?

by John Doe in

jw
friends

Watkins

You guys crack me up --- one of the reasons I like this board! And Hortensia, I'm glad I wasn't sipping something or I would've spit on the monitor --- your sense of humor is lively & refreshing!

> My husband, when we were just dating, wrote me a little love note that simply said: "You're a joy to be with." (a JOY! I still have the note for proof!) He tells me many times a day that he loves me.

> My sister once told me that she didn't understand why anyone wouldn't like me and if she didn't know me from Adam, she'd still like me & want to be my friend. (we were talking about the dubs & shunning, lol)

> My daughter told me I'm her best friend & she's glad I'm her mom.

watkins

47

The best revenge

by Junction-Guy in

jw
friends

so are you happier outside the jw's than inside?.

do you like having freedom, or are circumstances too overwhelming to appreciate it now?

is happiness in small things possible, even when we're still in the process of "getting it all together"?

Watkins

Hi J-Guy --- I take it 'junctions-wife' is not your wife? Odd choice for a username then, hmm........

Wow, so many loving, concerned & helpful comments & great quotes & thoughts! Out of about 50 of 'em, yes, I'd ignore that singular disparaging note - majority rules!

Hhmm, that elusive 'happiness'. For me, the key to being just a 'happy person', for the most part, is being satisfied. Out of a family of 4 daughters, 3 of us were/are fairly satisfied with life & are, for the most part, 'happy'. ('for the most part' because everyone's life is like a roller coaster of ups & downs --- happenstance, providence, 'unforeseen occurance' & coincidence. Everyone experiences a natural ebb & flow of low & high points.) My one sister, though, has never been satisfied, as I can see; from a small child she was jealous, self-centered & contentious. She'll be the first one to tell you she was never happy, always laying blame & guilt for her unhappiness onto others. She's still forever striving to attain it, though, as if it's a goal to pursue and achieve.

Imho it's not like a prize that you can win --- but it's a blessing that kind of overcomes you when you're satisfied with what you have and not envious of what others seem to have. (the grass is not always greener of course, & everyone has their own set of peculiar problems!) Giving of yourself is always good, in whatever form.

'The Pursuit of Happiness" is just a wild goose chase as far as I'm concerned. Maybe one key to satisfaction, then, is acceptance. Some of the things we fancifully 'wish' for ain't ever gonna happen. This ol' world is what it is ---good & bad, beautiful & savage. We have to make of it what we will, what we can. I think as JW's, we were taught to be SO dissatisfied with EVERYthing that we lost sight of small but significant joys. There is so much more to be thankful for than Overloaded with the WT's love of the Mosaic law & pressed hard with our selfworth-lessness --- our gospel was doom, gloom & destruction --- our 'happiest thoughts of God's new kingdom'! Talk about dissonance..... no balance. I'd read of other Christians' joy and wonder where mine was, what was I really lacking?

We each have to answer that question for ourselves --- insightfully, honestly, humbly. The answers will sneak up on you and will probably surprise you! Something good is no doubt right over the next hill, J-Guy, keep steadily walking.

~only the best to you on your journey~

watkins

19

Am I totally wrong?

by REBORNAGAIN in

jw
friends

i've been thinking something these past couple of days.

there are soooooooooooooo many wonderful and loving people on this earth.

even though the jdubs made us feel they were the only caring and loving people around.

Watkins

sarah smiles - I've never heard demons called 'legends' before, by Witnesses or anyone else. Are you thinking about the scriptures where Jesus drove out a demon(s) that called himself 'Legion'?

Sorry that was off-topic but I'm curious!

I think we're born, for the most part, with an incredible amount of potential. Multitudes of variables dictate a portion of the outcome, but from a certain point on, what we're inspired to do with it is as individual as we all are. It would explain why someone with severe disabilities can be a fully-functioning & beneficial part of society, while someone born with every social advantage can be nothing but a failure & drain on society --- & vise-versa. There must be a scadzillion factors & choices that form the potential outcome in each case. Mind boggling.

~only the best~

watkins

6

Gods Org. now and then...a history of sure abandonment

by oompa in

jw
friends

i have read this nice letter to the boe reposted by eclipse, and there is something briefly mentioned at the beginning of it i find interesting:.

indications are that jehovah may have removed his spirit from the organization as he did to his people in ancient times.

should people ever "cling" to those who say god is using them?...adam and eve.

Watkins

My problem with God, isnt God--- it's the a**holes that pretend to speak for Him.

Ditto. It spans all religions, while in every religion and every walk of life you'll find wonderful people, you'll also find horrible people. As we know, all the wonderful ones aren't gathered under the JW banner, nor are all the horrible ones. People are just people. Whenever you gather with others, someone can make you feel good to be a part of it, and someone can make you think twice about it. Balance is hard to find when so many are off-kilter --- makes being off-balance the norm! It's like a fun house of mirrors, minus the fun.

Think about it, oompa --- just because they claim it's the ONLY TRUE religion doesn't make it so. I'd say the proof shows otherwise. For God to remove Hs blessing, He would've first had to have bestowed it. Looking at the history, I don't think the benefaction ever happened. Wishful thinking & good intentions imho, but it went terribly wrong & they were/are too proud to ever admit it.

I pray for the hostage hearts to be freed.....

watkins

11

"Members Only" WT compared to WT & Herald of Christ's Presence

by OnTheWayOut in

the awaited "members only" wt alongside the watch tower and herald of christ's presence.. i eagerly await the english version which should be out any day.

the only things missing are the .

light and the cross.

Watkins

Definitely did away with all those crosses - notice the Herald has cross-shaped windows and the new WT one has NO windows? That's indicative of something, but not sure what. :)

I wonder about the 'idol' of the watchtower symbol. It really freaked me out to find it's on a demonic fortune-tellin' tarot card - and it looks much too similar to wtbt's. Some of the symbolism is just too wild, isn't it? Just when I think I'm pretty much past it all, something else freaks me out!

watkins

26

My meeting with the elders.. I TOTALLY WIMPED OUT

by AWAKE&WATCHING in

jw
friends

i agreed to speak to 2 elders from the congregation that i was in from when i started my bible study in 1979 to when i disassociated myself in 1990. i was in the same congregation when i got re-instated in 2001 until i got married and moved to another congregation (30 miles away) a year later.

when i left my husband in aug. of this year i had already quit going to meetings for about 4 months.

i moved back to the same town i lived in before, of course never going to the hall.. i talked to them because i wanted closure for myself and my best friend and also my husband, both of them thought if i would just have the meeting with the elders that i would be re-adjusted.

Watkins

((((((((((A&W)))))))))) I understand what you mean about knowing what you'd planned to say would fall on deaf ears. It's scary, isn't it, when you have a valid point & see that vacant stare & you fear nothing is going to be getting through? That's frustrating & seems so utterly futile. I commiserate with you, too --- we're so angry about the lies of the 'society', yet the misled brothers & sisters whom we love (speaking only from my own experience as some of you have much different experiences with elders & JW family & the experience is everything) don't deserve our anger, so our every word feels like it has to be measured & carefully stated so hopefully it'll have a chance to sink in. Plus, it's almost impossible to keep them focused on one topic of discussion.

I recently had, without warning, a tense 'chat' with elders at my door. A couple times I had the chance to ask--- "loyalty to the organisation"?; "obedience to the organisation"?, where's that in the Bible??? My questions were either diverted, unanswered, or the answer was "faithful & discreet slave". Circular reasonings, around & 'round we go with the f&ds doctrine at the hub. Totally frustrating. Felt a little ganged-up on, 2 against 1, them being well rehearsed & me being thrown quite off-guard & ill-prepared to answer the questions they asked. I was acutely aware, as JWDaughter mentioned, of their obvious 'training to intimidate and manipulate' when their reasoning fails. At least I was calm & didn't cry(lol), it didn't degrade into a heated, hurtful shouting match, nor did I lose it & blurt out the whole ugly truth, so maybe there'll be another chance to talk to them. I'm actually amazed how calm I was.........

It sounds to me like you were overwhelmed by the fultility too & isn't it just like us to blame ourselves? We beat ourselves up enough, so we have to refuse to allow them to heap their WT load of guilt on us too! No thanks! Not believing those lies is FREEing! Never will we go back to those shackles --- and that's where's you'd be if you'd really wimped-out, so take heart!

I agree with JK & others who said you wisely chose not to tangle in this particular battle & remained calm & patient(not so easy sometimes!) & respectful/respectable. I think ya done real good A&W! You survived --- did I read 2 1/2 hours? My last 'skirmish' lasted 30 minutes! You're made of strong stuff! I understand your disapointment, because I felt like I didn't have the chance to completely say what I wanted without interuption or diversion. I feel I failed to defend my non-organisational stance. On one hand I think "why should I have to defend myself to them?" & on the other hand I want &/or need to make a "fine defense for my faith". After years of being comfortable just fading, I'm thinking of writing a letter. Maybe it's time for a snapped-tight, zipped, sealed, 'locked-in-a-lockbox' kind of closure for me.

On the bright side, at least now we're better equipped with fresh reminders that'll help us build solid answers, right? The war's not over & there will be other opportunities. Oh my!, I think I've been bangin' my head on that brick wall so long it's startin' to feel s-o-o-o-o g-o-o-o-o-d!!! I guess some fights are worth the potential scars; some are not --- everyone must make their own judgement call.

~only the best~

watkins

111

A Moment of Silence For Linda

by BFD in

jw
friends

.