Posts by Gopher

57

My Story******Short Version!

by think41self in

i was raised a poor white child in the deep south...ok, florida, where i still am.

i was the typical slightly self righteous witness, miss goody goody, left school at 16 to pioneer, which i did for 4 years, met a guy and married him.

he had 2 kids from a previous marriage and we had 2 kids of our own.

Gopher

Think41,

Thank you for sharing your story. It's good to know your background (in addition to the chat room friendship).

I am glad you found a way to build a productive, stable life in spite of "the cards that life dealt you". And the 3 kids you and Doug are raising are a great contribution from you to humanity. God bless you for that!

I noticed that the 2 mentions of Jehovah were in the negative case, due to what was happening at the time. The first was the empty feeling of lacking his blessing, despite doing everything right during the time of your first marriage. Could this empty feeling have been because at this point, despite your best intentions, you were merely serving men? The routine you mentioned (meetings, service, book study at one's house) is a treadmill of control set up by the WTS. What joy could possibly come from that?

And the 2nd mention was the feeling you shared (shortly after meeting Doug) that Jehovah wasn't listening (to your prayers, evidently, to keep your former dysfunctional families together). Yet how could Jehovah have saved those situations? (And onto the scene come your local elders, of course punishing the victims here, you & Doug).

Could it be that God brought you two together at work, and that he wanted to see you succeed outside of the realm of the harmful man-made belief system you were in? (Like you said, part of the religion is that "nothing you do is ever good enough", sigh! how true!)

Thanks for coming on board, it's so good to know you!

Gopher, enjoying the fresh air

23

The JDubs and Amway--a match made in hell......

by LDH in

jw
friends

there are many perceptive posters here who have picked up on the mlm amway/jdub connection.. however, there are some who are not familiar with what we are talking about.

i thought for them it would be nice to list some similarities between the two organizations.. btw, amway has a new line of business, they're calling it quixtar.

so if you get approached for this, be aware it's just amway.

Gopher

Lisa,

Yes these multi-level-marketing organizations are a real trip! Actually, a real menace.

My wife became involved with a long-distance-phone marketing pyramid. It wasted hundreds of our dollars, and took her away from the family to conferences every 3 months. Being an active JW at the time, when she approached someone out in the public, it was a conflict between "should I talk about the Kingdom" and "should I talk about cheap long-distance service", LOL.

We couldn't afford the commitment, and made very little profit although the organizers seemed to promise that "we could be set up for life" if we followed the program.

One of her higher-ups in the chain told her attendance at a conference was more important than paying the rent! So guess what, we got a month behind in the rent, and I was hauled (totally unnecessarily) into court to make arrangements to catch up on payments.

Ugh.

Caveat emptor

Gopher

15

ignorance is bliss

by teejay in

jw
friends

i saw kevin yesterday.. we met almost twenty years ago.

he's not overly blessed with a .

he had a life free from the pain of ever knowing that had been played for a .

Gopher

Teejay,

You asked,

Sometimes I wonder about us ex-JWs that post here (me included). Why are we still here? Why do we post so much? These two questions can be asked of those who never post but visit the site regularly to read what others write. Why do we do this? Is this type of behavior normal or ab-?

I don't believe we can give one answer that fits all posters here. I can say this is a great place for learning and sharing different viewpoints, and gaining support to see that one isn't a horrible person just for leaving the JW organization, and there indeed can be satisfaction on the outside!

Some people come out here and behave abnormally, that goes without saying. But others come out here to share, and to help others. I think that not only is normal, but WONDERFUL! This place has helped me "get on with my life", while facing up to the realities of the outside world that have been alluded to earlier in this thread.

Joelbear, you said:

In my experience, I did not know many witnesses, if any, who had found true inner satisfaction. But perhaps I was just projecting my own unsatisfacton onto them.

Your experience rings true with most posters on this board. I don't think this was just your "projecting" an idea. The unsettled feeling was really there, just submerged because people want to cling to the organization, the people, and the faint hope it offers.

Gopher

4

name and shame ????

by FlabbyCabby in

jw
friends

first of all i would like to congratulate everyone who takes time out to enlighten the rest of us regarding hypocritical jw's.we all know someone who is not quite the person they portray themselves to be at the meetings, that "wolf in sheeps clothing" so to speak.this brings me to my point:-.

is there any reason why we cannot name these individuals?.

i would love to tell all my ex-congregationial associates about mr ........ and mrs ........,but i am not in a position to, or am i??.

Gopher

FC,

Welcome to the board. I hope you enjoy posting and reading here.

The hypocrisy of JW's is overwhelming, saddening, and shocking. Many of us had been sold on the idea of a "loving, clean" brotherhood and found that this was rarely the case, certainly not more so than many other places.

And the leaders of the organization, both the early ones and the recent ones have been named and exposed, and deservedly so! Their actions have affected millions, and not for the better.

When it comes down to a personal vendetta against average, but still hypocritical JW's, it would be a waste of time. Why come down to their level? Wasn't the 'gossiping' and backbiting that occurred inside the organization reason enough to leave?

On the outside we need to rise above that, and get on with our lives! People who act like asses on the inside (who have hurt us) will eventually get their come-uppance! Just watch them dig their own holes and fall into it!

One main point of discussion boards like this is to show that there is a BETTER life outside the organization.

So avoid attacking. You'll be happier. Sorry to drag out an old saying, but here goes, "You attract more flies with honey than with vinegar".

Gopher

25

True Prophecy

by littleone in

"for no matter how many the promises of god are, they have become yes by means of him.

therefore also through him is the "amen" [said] to god for glory through us.

"-2 cor 1:20.

Gopher

Aaron and James,

Thank you for your posts. It seems we're all on the same track: Jesus is the key to every hope & promise in God's purpose.

Gopher

13

The Firm and The WTS

by bj in

jw
friends

i would like to share with you the following comparison that is based from the book the firm by john grisham:.

the main character is mitchell mcdeere, a young advocate who was recruited by a small, but well-respected law firm.

they promised him a colourful future if he abide with their codes.

Gopher

Hey Patio,

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I don't have much to add. Thirdson and slipnslide pretty much said it all. Too late for me, I got DF'd. I moved across town, and have received no 'shepherding' visits.

Wishing you the best. Lay low, stay cool.

Gopher

13

The Firm and The WTS

by bj in

jw
friends

i would like to share with you the following comparison that is based from the book the firm by john grisham:.

the main character is mitchell mcdeere, a young advocate who was recruited by a small, but well-respected law firm.

they promised him a colourful future if he abide with their codes.

Gopher

Hi BJ,

Thanks for the interesting post, and welcome to the board (not the Borg, LOL).

Judging from the last line of your post, you have an interesting story to tell. Maybe you'd like to share bits and pieces of it as time goes on. This forum (as you obviously know) is an excellent place to vent and gain support, empathy, encouragement or just a listening ear (and not the judgmental 'listening ear' you'd expect from your local congregation).

Look forward to hearing more from you, bj.

Gopher

25

True Prophecy

by littleone in

"for no matter how many the promises of god are, they have become yes by means of him.

therefore also through him is the "amen" [said] to god for glory through us.

"-2 cor 1:20.

Gopher

Hi Aaron,

You make an interesting argument that Christians are to be witnesses for Jesus.

I wonder, since one who brings honor to the Son brings honor to his Father, and you cannot approach the Father and ignore the Son.....isn't it really a matter of "semantics"? If you accurately bear witness to one, you thusly include a favorable witness about the other?

Any organization that improperly ignores either the Father or the Son has neither.

Regards,
Gopher

25

Wisdom Personified

by ozziepost in

the next time a householder says to you: everyone has his own interpretation of the bible, how will you respond?

perhaps you will use the suggestion from the reasoning book (page 65) you might reply: and obviously not all of them are right.

you might add: twisting the scriptures to fit our own ideas can result in lasting harm .

Gopher

Aaron,

You've got me thinking now. I had always thought that the wisdom discussed in the first seven chapters of Proverbs involved general wisdom from God rather than referring to Jesus. I guess reasonable arguments could be made either way.

Thanks for pointing out that the actual sayings of King Solomon start at chapter 10 verse 1. I had seen that before, but skipped right over it!

Regards,
Gopher

6

Pictures?

by philo in

jw
friends

last time i put a picture on a board, it was on old h2o.

that time i think i fluked it - somehow it finally worked.. can anybody please advise me on the easiest way to do it.

is there any alternative to setting up my own site?.

Gopher

Philo,

Once you put a picture on your profile, it goes to ALL threads where you posted, even old ones. Just in case you didn't know.

BTW I think Simon may be able to get your owl sized down so that it displays in your profile.

Gopher