Posts by Flowerpetal

Apple:
My impression is that Jehovah's Witnesses had much to do with the writing of that obituary. It sounds too much like an "experience" that one would hear at an assembly or Kingdom Hall. It would be interesting to hear comments from her neighbors and relatives who were not in the organization.
It's sad that she died at such an relatively early age. As already expressed, I hope she found fulfillment in her active life as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Having been in the organization for that length of time, I wonder if she ever had doubts and questions about the Watchtower Society?

I know you don't know me from Adam so you can believe me or not, but like I said, I knew this sister, and I knew her husband before he married her. The whole obit sounds like his personality and that he wrote it. When I lived in Buffalo, I saw her drawings. At the time I lived there, right after she was married, she started free-lancing for the department stores, putting her sketches of articles of clothing in the newspapers. I'm not surprised she went on to better things in her work. Her art was part of her personality. If she were ever deprived of being able to express herself thru her drawings, sense of fashion, etc. I know she would have been terrible depressed.

Since I have been away from Buffalo for a very long time, I wouldn't know if she ever had doubts about the society, but she did tell me one time, that she believed that space travel would probably be something that would be accomplished after mankind was perfected. Also she confided that to me, and asked me not to say anything beyond my family. Maybe she recognized that not all JWs had that broadness of mind to even imagine space travel. I know some who thought in the paradise earth, all would go back to the horse and buggy days. They would have been appalled that a JW was entertaining the thought of space travel.

21

I'm leaving....

by funkyderek in

jw
friends

...but only for three weeks.

(yeah, i know, i didn't fool anybody!).

i'm going to brazil with my girlfriend on monday.

Flowerpetal

Hopefully one day I'll get there to visit--always wanted to..

101

Elders - Law Enforcers or Loving

by Jim Dee in

jw
friends

they don't care

they enforce the rules without compassion, dogma without dignity and punish with glee - it keeps the others in line.

they have total control without guideline or being accountable to anyone.

Flowerpetal

One last point I want to make is that elder body conduct can vary markedly from community to community. I have known many elders who were at least tolerable, but many in my experience have been incompetent at best, tyrannical at worst.

I agree with your first statement--and maybe that's why congregations are the same way. I have heard the expression that each congregation has it's own personality, and I have visited enough congregations to see that this is true.

In my experience, while I have known elders who were tyrannical and heard stories about them, and even experienced one while visiting a congregation, and he was conducting the WT study...just arbitrarily calling on people even though their hands weren't raised, the majority of elders in the congregations I was in, were tolerable and not tyrannical.

The cong. I'm in now, the elders really are striving to be Christlike shepherds. Maybe because some (3) have had problems in their own families and they can empathize with others who have had problems. I can only speak on what I see..I am not one to run to the elders for every little concern that I have; therefore I feel I have the freedom to live my life without their interference. I have always put people who run to the elders for everything, like people who run to the doctor for everything. My parents didn't live their lives that way and I don't live my life that way.

I am trying to do a slow fade from the org. not because of the elders, but because of my realization that I have been questioning teachings and beliefs, in my own mind for a loooong time. Somehow, something has always held me back, (my conscience maybe?) from believing that every word dripping from their mouths are to be obeyed as if they were spirit-inspired. Elders are just men, no better than any other man; no better than my dad, who was not a witness. Maybe some of my dad's attitude rubbed off on me. They would come to visit him and try to get him interested in coming to the meetings, and try to witness to him. He knew what they were trying to do and he didn't take the bait. He would share with me what he thought of them so maybe because of him, I was able to see these men as just men. Anyway, however I do the fade, it will be very hard because I know the elders in my cong. would be concerned in a genuine way.

8

Interesting Witness Obituary

by apple829 in

jw
friends

.

Flowerpetal

I understand where you're coming from, apple. Knowing her husband as well, it sounds like he wrote this obit. and I'm not surprised that he made it lengthy.

5

Simply Irresistable no More...Palmer Dead

by SpiceItUp in

http://www.cnn.com/2003/showbiz/music/09/26/britain.palmer/index.html

singer robert palmer dies at 54

friday, september 26, 2003 posted: 8:36 am edt (1236 gmt).

Flowerpetal

I loved "Simply Irresistable" and "Addicted to Love" They were great driving in heavy traffic kinds of music. Sorry that he's gone!

8

Interesting Witness Obituary

by apple829 in

jw
friends

.

Flowerpetal

Oh my God!! I knew this person when I lived in Buffalo!! We were in the same congregation for a while.

From what I heard her two stepsons had left JWs years ago.

31

Sorry that I am a bit grumpy :(

by caspian in

jw
friends

i took a specialised law exam yesterday, and i should really have been revising hard this past month, but because of what happened with my dad, i didn't.

even though i won't get the results till next week i know that i have failed , and the company that i work have never had anyone fail this exam before.

so i am a bit cheesed off.

Flowerpetal

Texans in Heaven

Gabriel came to the Lord and said, "I have to talk to you. We have some Texans up here in Heaven who are causing problems. They're swinging on the pearly gates, my horn is missing, barbecue sauce is all over their robes, their dogs are riding in the chariots, and they're wearing baseball caps and cowboy hats instead of their halos. They refuse to keep the stairway to Heaven clean. There are watermelon seeds and pig feet bones all over the place. Some of them are walking around with just one wing."

The Lord said, "I made them special, Gabriel. Heaven is Home to all my children. If you really want to know about real problems, let's call the Devil."

The Devil answered the phone, " Hello? Damn, hold on a minute."

The Devil returned to the phone, "O.K., I'm back. What can I do foryou?"

The Lord replied, "I just want to know what kind of problems you're having down there."

The Devil said, "Hold on again. I need to check on something."

After about 5 minutes the Devil returned to the phone and said, "I'm back. Now what was the question?"

The Lord said, "What kind of problems are you having down there?"

The Devil said, "Man, I don't believe this....Hold on, Lord."

This time the Devil was gone 15 minutes. The Devil returned and said ,"I'm sorry Lord, I can't talk right now. Them damn Texans done put out the fire and are trying to install air conditioning.

12

Back on the board

by rwagoner in

jw
friends

hi everyone.... just a quick hello to say that i am back on the board after taking a little break.

i hope everyone is doing ok and i can't wait to get back to all of the apost-o-fun !

rgw.

Flowerpetal

Nice to meet you!

14

She works hard for the money

by Sadie5 in

jw
friends

well folks, i am officially a "wal-mart associate".

my job is answering the phone and straighting up the racks in ladies clothing.

i work afternoon-evening, and it hasn't been too bad.. i had to watch several tapes of sam walton cheering on his associates as well as other tapes about proctecting your back, carding for tobacco and so on.

Flowerpetal

Sadie:

The break room and other employee areas are filled with quotes of Mr. Sam's. the biggest portion of our handbook is about Mr. Sam. I do admit I've always admired the guy, he was an ordinary guy that built a retail empire. I just think he is almost idolized now.

From what I have heard, the same attitude was displayed toward Mary K.