shopaholic

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Posts by shopaholic

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  80

  Missionaries to vacate all missionary homes

  by seenitall in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  latest news from a source (missionary in foreign land):.

  no more missionary homes anywhere in the world.. all missionaries presently in missionary homes must vacate.

  must get housing on your own / from the locals.. circuit and district overseers have moved into many of these former missionary homes.. reasons: liability, cost savings, real estate to be sold or used for other purposes.. needless to say, many of these longtime servants are very unsettled.

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  shopaholic

  There may some truth to this. I simply thought it was a coincidence that several Gilead missionary couples I knew all returned to the States within the past 6 months. They all gave legit reasons like sick parents, one of them was sick, needed to spiritually help their own family members or dealing with some issue or another.

  About two years ago letters were sent to all non-Gilead missionaries (aka need-greaters that went through the branch) that all branches would no longer sponsor (in name only as you pay all fees unless you attended Gilead) missionary visas. I know about 50 need-greaters that returned back to their home country when their visas expired over the past couple of years.
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  45

  New Watchtower video on "real friends"

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5schopnecog.

  it's difficult to imagine how this video could be more disingenuous and hypocritical.

  cedars.

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  shopaholic

  Wow, that vid was so cool I think I'll go back!

  They're obviously working with a marketing firm. Was there not a mention of God or Jehovah in the vid?

  Many JWs will think this is very slick and get an increased sense of pride after watching it. It will work as intended.
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  10

  What do witnesses say to you that it is a sign of great tribulation coming?

  by Iamallcool in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i was little, some older brother told me there will be a very important annoucement from bethel.

  he said it might be start of the great tribulation.

  i got so worried.

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  shopaholic

  1. There was a Kingdom News campaign they did about 2 years ago that supposedly had a stinging message for Christendom that was suppose to trigger the great tribulation. The end would be here within a year. They couldn't comprehend why that didn't make sense even according to their own doctrine.

  2. Many thought 9/11 was the start of Armageddon itself. They were disappointed that the tragedy didn't continue.

  3. Clinton's presidency. I remember older JWs saying "This is it. The end will come while Clinton is in office!" It was suppose to be a sure thing when he was re-elected. Supposedly there was a "great cooling off" in the States at that time, a lot of talk about "peace and security" and folks were busy being merry and taking no note.
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  19

  December WT - Yet more anti education drivel...

  by konceptual99 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  new public wt online.... yet more don't get educated drivel.... http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20131201/serve-god-as-career/.

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  shopaholic

  They long for the day to see Eva?! I don't think Eva longs for the day to see that her best friend married her husband.

  Back on topic....the article isn't clear if he graduated or not. I assume he didn't. I hope not too many are guilt-tripped by this article.
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  50

  Gorby's father collapses at home after new light watchtower study

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  friends,.

  sunday my father, a strong believing witness, former elder and still a ms, collapses at home after the new light watchtower study.. the cause was extreme stress.

  i asked him about his worries.

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  shopaholic

  This is going to be rough for so many Witnesses. Glad you're there to help your Dad through it. Hopefully, he will start to take more time for himself.

  This article is definitely causing some witnesses to think about their faith.
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  41

  Blondie's Coments You Will Not Hear at the 09-02-2013 WTS Study (when)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  united nations http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm.

  sheep and the goats affect our.

  coming great tribulation.

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  shopaholic

  "We thought", "we perceived", "we discerned", "our understanding"...and they were wrong. What proved them wrong? Not a new discovery or mystery revealed but TIME.

  It's scary that followers of the Jehovah Witness faith hand their lives over to men they don't know who profess to be inspired by God. Did God think, perceive, discern and understand these teachings too? Is God included in the "we"? If so, that raises it own set of questions.

  But we know the leaders of the religion, their Governing Body, are leaning upon their own understanding which is influenced by wanting to maintain membership and saving face.

  Unfortunately, most JWs will simply accept the Watchtower study article as given facts with nothing more to be considered.
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  30

  Awake and Watchtower - Top 10 Most Popular Magazines of 2013

  by jw07 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the washtowel and asleep magazines made the list.

  an over-zealous dub just posted this link to my facebook wall.

  http://www.clicktop10.com/2013/07/top-10-most-popular-magazines-of-2013/.

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  shopaholic

  What Outlaw said. Any site that lists the Watchtower and Awake as the most circulated magazine bases this only on the number of magazines that are printed and it is assumed that all copies are distributed.

  If you look at more reputable sources, AARP tops the list and the JW magazines don't even make the cut.

  There are witnesses with trunk loads and basements filled with boxes of magazines that eventually end up in the dumpster.
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  23

  Using the name Jehovah when praying

  by Ding in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know of number of jws who believe that if anyone doesn't address god as jehovah when praying that the prayer really goes to satan... especially if you pray to someone else (jesus, for example).. i haven't been able to find that specific teaching in wt literature.

  they do say that we are to pray only to jehovah, but i haven't been able to locate a publication that says the prayer really goes to satan if you don't.. is there such a reference?.

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  shopaholic

  The thought is that there are so many gods, if you don't use his name how does he know its directed to him. The head of all other gods is Satan, so indirectly you might unintentionally pray to Satan. I believe this was taught in the Knowledge book.

  I never used that line of reasoning because if God can read/hear the prayers in your hearts and even understand the mumblings of the crushed, then he should know when you are praying to him.
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  29

  If you're happy and THEY know it all HELL breaks loose!!!!!

  by SophieG in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi guys...is it me...i am beginning to wonder: is a happy ex-jw a target?

  i have had a few run ins this week on fb with random jws trying to check me for things that have absolutely nothing to do with the org.

  (please dont ask me why they have not un-friended me!

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  shopaholic

  Jehovah's Witnesses have told me many times that my happiness is from Satan trying to keep me from the truth. Any happiness I have now is temporary and happiness held by people in the world is due to dependence on drugs. If worldly folks are not on drugs then they are faking their happiness to lure me in.

  When I was still a JW, I was often told that if a person is happy all the time they are not doing enough for Jehovah. If you're doing enough you will experience some type of persecution.

  The witnesses are a delusional bunch.
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  32

  Regrets for knowing the TATT? Strange feeling overcoming...

  by BluePill2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  today is a strange day.. i have been out of the borg for a while now.

  some years have passed and i thoroughly enjoy the freedom, not having to bend my mind and rape my soul to force myself to do and say things that i don't feel or believe.

  i started my own business, got a wonderful girlfriend and made some friends (that are not monsters like the wt$ likes to portray others).. my parents, siblings, brothers-in-law, cousins, aunts, uncles, ex-wife, "friends" and my daughter, have cut their contact to me.

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  shopaholic

  BP2, unfortunately this religion will continue to have a hold on many of us that still have family that are believers. Even on the bad days, trust that you've made the right decision. Also, exiting this religion is not something everyone can do alone. It can be very therapeutic to meet other exJWs. To look someone in the eye that understands your experience reminds you that you will be okay. If you have the circumstance, professional counseling can help you work through raging emotions.

  A gun to the temple is not the solution but taking a walk sounds like a great idea.

  Regarding your daughter, you have a PM.

  Shop.