If anyone can tell me how to make actual links that would be great...
Metamorphosis
JoinedPosts by Metamorphosis
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40
Need Everybody's Help!!
by Metamorphosis inok - i've placed myself in a make or break situation.
i don't post a lot so you may not be familiar with me, but feel free to read my initial post on my situation.
a little has changed - i've now not turned in a service report the last two months (june and july) - first time in 25+ years, it feels great!
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40
Need Everybody's Help!!
by Metamorphosis inok - i've placed myself in a make or break situation.
i don't post a lot so you may not be familiar with me, but feel free to read my initial post on my situation.
a little has changed - i've now not turned in a service report the last two months (june and july) - first time in 25+ years, it feels great!
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Metamorphosis
Ok - I've placed myself in a make or break situation. I don't post a lot so you may not be familiar with me, but feel free to read my initial post on my situation. A little has changed - i've now not turned in a service report the last two months (June and July) - first time in 25+ years, it feels great! Whether you are still Christian or atheist I need everybody's help in what I now have the challenge to do...keep reading!
To get to the point, the wife and I have been discussing whether or not to have our first child. We're both in our early thirties - so it's probably now or never and a very serious discussion. Obviously due to my weak meeting attendance (mostly sunday only), lack of meeting with the field service group, stepping down as a MS, and various comments I place now and then one of her questions was - How would you want to raise the child religiously? Stammering for time I reply 'What do you mean?'.
Her reply basically is would you want to raise them as a JW? And before i can say anything she says - think how we turned out, pretty good right? i mean we are moral, don't smoke, lead good lives etc... So this gives me a quick easy answer - YES I would want to raise them like that - to be moral, and good, and lead Christian lives. She says - i wish you would talk to me about how you feel. Being this involves whether we will have a child - i feel i owe it to her at this point, being the ONLY reason i pretty much have been avoiding wanting one is because I don't want to bring him/her up believing their salvation is dependent on this organization. So my answer: I WILL. Give me a few weeks to get my thoughts in order and I'll tell you how i feel.
Sooo...you see where i am. I do want to lay it out for her. Bringing up one topic will not work - it's not enough to overcome her 30+ years. I feel the only way is to hit her fast and hard like it hit me. So i've been working the last 2 weeks on a document i'm going to sit down with her and let her read. i feel she will read it as she really wants to know what is going on in my head. I started with over 150 Word pages gathered from this site and the many others i respect. i've condensed it down to around 50...LOL. i know i still have some work to do on it to polish it up, make it clearer, more smooth-flowing (i'm trying to think back to my public talk days :D ).
But here is where I need you!! Please everybody that has the time review the link of the document and give me all criticism constructive and otherwise. Let me know your thoughts - what i should remove, what i should add, what i should re-word.
This is my one in a million shot to let her see the real Truth. if this works my life will be officially on track. if it doesn't i'm not sure what will happen - but i'm at the point i'm willing to take the chance. i love my wife and want to have a child with her. if nothing else i need her to respect my viewpoint and be open-minded.
all and any help is greatly appreciated - now for the link (i hope - i don't know much about posting this kind of stuff):
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25
Jehovah's Witnesses Who "Get" It
by minimus ini think there are many that understand that alot of things are bullsh*t. i think they know that the "truth" is not everything it's cracked up to be.
they recognize that many directions should simply be ignored.
just don't talk about it.
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Metamorphosis
5. It takes a deep depression, tragedy or personal emergency to push an active JW into CONSCIOUSLY examining the UNTRUTH of the "Truth"
Not always. Though maybe my case is not the norm. I simply stumbled across the 607 date issue and from there it was just about discovering what else I needed to know, even after 31 years. Once I had all the information it was pretty easy to mentally disconnect. Sometimes it just takes exposure to the facts, and logic takes over. That's why it's important that we all present this information in as many avenues as possible - and make sure and keep it palatable at first as well. Presentation can make all the difference as seen by how well the WTBTS gets people sucked in to believing their stuff.
Morph (truth trumps "the Truth")
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Jehovah's Witnesses Who "Get" It
by minimus ini think there are many that understand that alot of things are bullsh*t. i think they know that the "truth" is not everything it's cracked up to be.
they recognize that many directions should simply be ignored.
just don't talk about it.
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Metamorphosis
I'm also still technically in due to my wife ... family pressures. However there is a huge difference between being 'in' and still supporting the view, or even still hoping they are right and refusing to search for answers, and re-creating your mindset to embrace a new set of facts. I have done nothing to allow them to DF/DA, but I believe it's obvious to those around I don't 'support' the WTBTS's views anymore. Even if others cannot be this obvious I pray and hope that at least mentally they can free themselves and see the beauty that awaits.
Morph (seeing things with a brighter light than ever)
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so I told her that I'm in love with her....
by jaredg inbut she didn't reciprocate.
she held me tight and kissed me softly.
her body language says that she loves me and she's told me she cares for me very much, but she didn't say those magic words.
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Metamorphosis
I first told my wife I loved her while we were dating - she basically said thanks, I can't say it back yet, i don't know. A month later she returned the words and we just celebrated our 10th anniversary. Keep hoping.
Morph (still showing the love)
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25
Jehovah's Witnesses Who "Get" It
by minimus ini think there are many that understand that alot of things are bullsh*t. i think they know that the "truth" is not everything it's cracked up to be.
they recognize that many directions should simply be ignored.
just don't talk about it.
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Metamorphosis
That's exactly the truth - why you hear 'the light gets brighter' or 'where else would we go' so much. They've been taught all their lives that there is no other option. And even if you're thinking something isn't right you're constantly enforced with the idea that the end is right around the corner - so people fool themselves that well IF it IS right around the corner I would hate to start showing weakness now and miss out on everlasting life. It's so engrained in them that if they just hold on a little longer - you hear it every meeting (along w/ trust the F&DSC) - everything will be all right.
I compare it to a baby that's sometimes afraid to walk because he is so comfortable crawling and keeps falling on his butt - but once he gets the hang of it he realizes he's so much better off. Too many people are just in a comfort zone and while they may see some issues they're afraid to start walking. it's scary at first. Doesn't help they are re-inforced with the idea - so many people are walking, and since just a few get on the road to life, then walking must be a bad thing.
Morph - (finally learning to walk)
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Metamorphosis
The Answer
walking backwards,
a stranger to myself
looking for a face to put on,
a life to live
i swim to an island
to collect my thoughts
sipping coconut milk
atop a coral reef,
waves break the silence
i talk with the hermit
who lives in the mountain
he tells me, “you have not failed
if you have not stopped trying”
i only wonder why he lives alone
in desperation
i try to create the answers i seek
life laughs at my foolishness
and i laugh back,
even if it does have a hollow ring
a wandering minstrel tells me
the answers he’s found
it only leaves me with more questions
following a two lane road
to an unknown destination
more concerned about where i’m going
than where i am
“it’s not nice to stare”
says the funny looking man
and i wonder if he’s at peace with himself
does he wonder the same about me
i could have told him i’m not
but his steel gray eyes
did not seem to hold any compassion
conflicting emotions still battle inside
as i remain silent on the surface
it’s always quiet before the storm they say
a mosquito lands on my arm
and as i watch him swell
at the taste of my blood
i wonder how it is to live
on the life of others
no matter, the mosquito is now dead
his life and mine
a smear on the back of my newspaper
does the answer i seek exist
or is it the searching for the answer
that in essence
is the answer itself -
2
Whew, what a relief!
by Metamorphosis into spend some time here at jwd after all day at the first day of the dc.
had to refresh my mind on what quality advice and info is .
it was actually kinda weird seeing so much focus on jesus which is quite 'not the norm'!
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Metamorphosis
To spend some time here at JWD after all day at the first day of the DC. Had to refresh my mind on what quality advice and info is
It was actually kinda weird seeing so much focus on Jesus which is quite 'not the norm'! But there were still too many experiences of people giving up everything to devote their lives because the end is so near, little kids being applauded for spending their day in the principal's office instead of attending the veteran's day program (I mean w/o the veteran's would they even HAVE freedom of religion?)
and i definately agree w/ the posters who have remarked on the last talk of the day - show faith and complete trust in the FDS because Jah and Jesus do? and their proof for that is what? that they throw out tons of rehashed literature each year?
good thing was i got galations, colossians, and most of revelation re-read. the literal 144,000 understanding in revelation really makes zero sense at all when reading the entire chapters, but that is a topic for another day.
just had to post and say thank you for the valuable insights you provide and the strength you give even when you don't realize it.
Morph - 'dreading the next two days'
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Former or Current Elders, MS, Pioneers.......Did you enjoy these positions?
by R.F. indid you ever enjoy serving in this way or did you view it more as, "it's the thing that's encouraged, so that's what i'll do"?.
im currently a ms and pioneer(will shed this one immediately) and before i ever were appointed these, i always wanted to.
i thought it was a pretty cool thing for someone my age to be instructing the congo, and to have so many look up to you.
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Metamorphosis
I was a MS for 5 or so years. I stepped down when I started doing research and finding real answers. However before that I was involved w/ public talks, some assembly parts etc.
The part I did enjoy was encouraging people spiritually and instructing. I miss that to this day. No ego trip, nothing vain, I could care less if anyone said anything to me. But if I felt I truly made someone feel they had learned something or had found something encouraging to hold onto - I felt I may had made a difference. That's why i still try to go out and just discuss the Bible one on one w/ people today.
The last year I was a MS I would be very careful about what I said from the platform - I wanted to make sure and not say anything I no longer agreed with. But it got too hard to do w/ public talks and instruction talks so I walked.
Don't be afraid to resign your privileges RF. You have to stand up for what you know is right. I eventually came to the conclusion not only was it hard to watch what I said - but I didn't want people to feel I supported the org wholeheartedly anymore either. Maybe if they realize someone like me who had responsibilities is questioning things - they'll question themselves as well.
As always - best wishes on your journey.
Morph - 'take your microphone and shove it '
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Jamica JW's Spend $1 million Cleaning up Stadium
by kwr inus$35m trelawny stadium not being maintained.
jehovah's witnesses forced to spend $1m on clean-up after renting facilitykeril wright, business observer staff reporter.
wednesday, july 04, 2007. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/business/html/20070703t230000-0500_124968_obs_us___m_trelawny_stadium_not_being_maintained.asp.
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Metamorphosis
but of course the society is too cheap to pay for professional cleanup - instead making 2000 Witnesses feel guilty if they didn't go in and help swing machetes for free. the amount of free labor they get in the name of 'supporting the org' has always ticked me off... and of course those same Witnesses will be asked to make donations during the convention they attend
Morph - 'you want my arm and leg too?'