may 22 1969 awake .
"if you are a young person, you need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things.
because all the evidence in fulfillment of bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years... therefore, as a young person, you will never fufill any career that this system offers.
I was a young person in 1969--4 years out of high school, "temporary pioneering" and working part time trying to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
I do have to say though that this year, 2003, has given me a new lease on life because of someone special from my young teen years; my health has improved and I look forward to an interesting future if everything turns out like I hope it does.
the most useless work a jw can do is preach!
the watchtower society said that every baptized person, whether they be male or female, child or adult, is a minister!
and the society says every minister must do a "life-saving work" and "preach the good news of the kingdom".
I like to think, Scooby, that being a good witness means speaking about what we personally have seen or heard. I think of Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well, a friendly back-and-forth discussion, while going about their daily chores, had more meaning and impact. What affected the woman more was that Jesus understood her. This means a more intense involvement with ordinary people than a magazine sales pitch.
I wholeheartedly agree!!!
the most useless work a jw can do is preach!
the watchtower society said that every baptized person, whether they be male or female, child or adult, is a minister!
and the society says every minister must do a "life-saving work" and "preach the good news of the kingdom".
No question, this time, Scoob!.....Most JW's I know of are more concerned about getting their time in than they are "saving lives". Of course, what they're doing (or not doing) is not going to save anyone's life.
I agree....and it's the society that makes them think that turning in time is the most important -- so of course that's what they are going to put as a priority.
just what is with ex-dubs these days?
wait, please amend that.
just what is with some ex-dubs these days?
Mindchild,
Please keep posting regularly. I understand and agree with this thread you started. I may not have responded to a lot of your posts, but I enjoy ALL of them.
I think the x-jws who seem to be "feral" as some used to even admit, come from many backgrounds, environments, lifestyles, attitudes, etc. which makes them the way they are and maybe they fit in the org, when they were witnesses, but now that they are out, they don't know how to handle themselves, IMHO.
as a jehovahs witness, our lives were clearly "defined".
for those of us who are no longer in the "truth", what "drives" your life now?.
for me, it is my kids ( 12, 9, 4--busy--busy--busy) ; my wife; my career; i live by my own personal value system ( tried, tested and working).. the absence of the superimposed restrictive grid of the jw lifestyle has allowed my life to blossom.
As a Jehovahs Witness, our lives were clearly "defined". for those of us who are no longer in the "Truth", what "drives" your life now? For me, it is my kids ( 12, 9, 4--busy--busy--busy) ; my wife; my career; I live by my own personal value system ( tried, tested and working).
The absence of the superimposed restrictive grid of the JW lifestyle has allowed my life to blossom. My mind now looks at life from a different perspective...a very positive view.
Curious to hear from others....
I am still a JW and this may be a bit off the subject, but I think what I believed as a witness started coming into question after I had kids. They are 6 1/2 years apart and one will soon be 25 and the other is 18. But in being an at home mom, and the majority parent in raising them, I began to see that some things that my mom made a big deal of just didn't matter and I wasn't going to put that pressure on my kids. A lot was common sense and I also didn't let other people's opinions affect me in raising my children. Therefore they are more free to choose what they want. Neither is baptized and it doesn't matter whether they ever will be or not. I'm not putting that pressure on them.
What defines my life now that they are older? Well I guess I'm starting to live by my own value system. This year has been both a sad and happy year for me--but that's the way life is. The happy part hit me like a curve ball, and it may end up in the break up of my marriage--but that remains to be seen. I'm dealing with it...
i have been away for a couple of weeks, distracted by legal, work and health issues.
it all came down at a time when i am trying to get some things done regarding the jw child abuse issues.. added to my heart disease is disbetes ... cool ... in addition to not having fats, cholestrol, caffiene, cigarettes and sodium ... now i have to cut out carbs, sugar, coke, and take more medicine.
my diet is reduced to a thin piece of clear fibre paper every other night, forty pills, and purified water.
Sorry to hear of your health woes---hope you will get the resources you need to feel better! I enjoyed reading your personal experience of how you finally left JWs.
i sent this to a friend who told me he stlll attends meeting so that he can keep a close relationship iwith god> he admits to praying a lot and said as the dubs do that it draws him closer to god.
i asked him when you see someone in the park or the street or wherever with their head bowed, and mumbling, are they talking to god and drawing closer to him.
i also askew him to explain how praying to god draws him closer to god, because god doesn't talk back with you?
Our circuit overseer told us last week, that we pray for guidance and then read the Bible for the answers--that's God talking to us. But the thing is, where in the bible are you supposed to find the answer you prayed about? Or do you just sit down, and open your Bible to a page and expect the answer there?
i worked yesterday finishing up a project which had consumed this whole past week.
so, after i cleaned up i hopped into my pick-up and drove to the beach.
long drive, about a mile!
Maverick, those are beautiful descriptions. Poetry, actually. I love to experience sensory things like what you described!
What a sight! Beautiful......
most of the time i don't even think of it.
but yesterday i wrote and checque and the date reminded me of what today is.. years ago she married an unbeliever.
when he tried to be nice and bought her flowers for her b-day she yelled at him and threw them in the garbage.. so... i won't be calling her just to get yelled at.. funny thing is though that when i was a jw she would call me on my birthday (and that of the girls) to wish us happy birthday.
LadyLee my heart goes out to you....your mom really has put you through the ringer! She must have been treated badly during her upbringing to treat you that way.
