Posts by Gopher

2

FAITHFUL TODAY, WHAT ABOUT TOMMORROW? POEM #2

by BERNARD in

faithful today, what about tommorrow ?.

faithful today, but what about tommorrow ?.

my relationship with jehovah can suddenly change.. i remember an associate, who had a brother and on the same day,.

Gopher

Bernard,

Hello and welcome to the board. It's very interesting that you saved some of your old writings. It's like an insight into how we all were trained to feel, how we reacted to things, when we were part of the "Witness" program.

Your poem said "my relationship with Jehovah can suddenly change", and "I myself thought I wasn't going to last". Ah yes, we were well programmed with the fear of inadequacy, that Jehovah was poised to pounce on every imperfection we display.

How free it feels to not have this form of "imagination" screwing up life now!

I hope you'll post more. It's a good insight on "where we've been" vs. "where we are now".

GopherNever bolt your door with a boiled carrot.
Irish Proverb

4

Assemblified, Apostophobic & Lubby-Dubby.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

well, tonights the night that all good dubs from this part of the uk will soon start the trek home from the cardiff assembly.

with a bit of luck, i will shortly be having a few beers with the only non-relative jw that i will even acknowledge, my old mate, the dub in the pub.

he's an elder, so the rules about not speaking with df'd people don't apply to him.. ive noticed that most jws fall into 2 distinct categories of post assembly trauma following the bounteous feast of light.. on the one hand there is the exhausted, hungry, thank-god-thats-over-for-another-year dub who is just longing to dump the kids at school, get back to work and mix with some real people for christs sake.

Gopher

Englishman,

I confess as having been in the 2nd category, the "loved up" dub. The conventions made us feel so much holier and more fortunate than the world that was about to perish. And of course THIS year's convention was the best ever (didn't we hear that every year??).

And this was the year we were going to actually apply what was said. We were going to review the notes, read extra literature, whatever it took to be better "dubs".

Like you said, "Until the magic wears off". This is similar to new year's resolutions many people make but forget within the first 10 days of the new year. After that, it's the same old same old.

GopherNever bolt your door with a boiled carrot.
Irish Proverb

10

The JW's like any other religion?

by mommy in

jw
friends

i had long talk with my mom the other day, she called me and wanted to discuss the org and the things i didn't believe in.

i will spare you most of the convo, but a few things "clicked" as i spoke to her.

maybe i have been away for so long i can't clearly remember all of the teachings, but she did agree with a few things i brought up.

Gopher

Hi Wendy,

This kind of a relationship with your JW mom must be so frustrating. As the old saying says, "you're so close, yet so far". The JW form of religion, who knows if it'll change, die out or get blown out of the water with scandal. People like us raised in the organization and now out can see the handwriting on the wall. But our parents cling to it for fear of losing something, or there's no where to go. Sad.

Your mom said the JW's are different because of their special knowledge. You skillfully deflated that theory.

What really makes the JW's different is their grandiose claim to be the most loving, cuddly, wonderful organization ever, and yet to find out that their love is so unreal, so conditional. As you pointed out, the organization callously causes real hurt with its shunning arrangement. That in my mind is what makes JW's different, their exclusiveness, their artificial walls they build between themselves and anyone they fear, including family members.

Hang in there, Wendy. You're doing your best, and you're both a good daughter and a good mommy!

GopherNever bolt your door with a boiled carrot.
Irish Proverb

25

i just had my meeting with the ELDERS !!!!

by jurs in

jw
friends

hey everyone ,.

i'm high as a kite.

it went awesome !!!!

Gopher

Jurs,

Way to go! You pulled it off!

You really focused on the main thing, the "shunning" arrangement. Now they'll be forced to uphold it. But you're free, not forced to uphold any stupid manmade law! They may be jealous of your freedom.

Thanks for posting this.

GopherNever bolt your door with a boiled carrot.
Irish Proverb

4

Dad is out of ICU!!!

by Esmeralda in

jw
friends

just a quick update for those of you who have wondered how things are going with my dad.. he finally got his ventricular drain out and came out of icu yesterday....woooo hooooooo!!!!.

we are headed out to the hospital tonight to see him and i can't wait to see him sitting up!

after three weeks that will be a welcome sight.. my mil is also steadily improving.

Gopher

Es,

Glad to hear that your dad made it through. What a relief for you and your family! Thanks for giving us the update.

This is so true:

be sure to tell your friends and family how much you love em frequently...you never know what can happen tomorrow!

Life is too short to be taken for granted. Thanks for the reminder on that point.

GopherNever bolt your door with a boiled carrot.
Irish Proverb

5

i jusr made an ass out of myself !!!!!!

by jurs in

jw
friends

hi folks,.

i've been on this expose the organization kick.

i'm so angry mainly at myself for being suckered in that i guess i'm running on emotions rather than using my head.

Gopher

Jurs,

I'm not sure you "blew it". You gave a person a chance at the honest truth, but she wasn't ready.

You say she's been studying over 5 years? It doesn't sound like she's ready to commit, one way or the other.

Maybe she'll watch how things go for you and later base her final decision on that. (You'll probably lead a normal, happy life much to the chagrin of the JW's.)

This was probably your last chance to talk to her without interference. Relax, if it's meant to be, she'll see the "truth" about the non-truth.

GopherNever bolt your door with a boiled carrot.
Irish Proverb

305

Waiting's Never-ending Joke Thread

by Seven in

happy monday!.

had no price tag.

much to her embarrassment the cashier got on the intercom and boomed out for the entire store to hear: "price check on lane thirteen, tampax, supersize.

Gopher

An American, traveling on a train in Europe, met a Cuban tobacco grower, a Russian vodka distiller and a lawyer. While they were talking business, the Cuban took out four cigars and passed them around. After lighting his own cigar, the Cuban took one drag and then threw it out the window, explaining that cigars were of no consequence in his country since there was such an abundance of them.
After dinner, the Russian passed out bottles of vodka. After taking just one swig, he threw the bottle out the window, explaining that vodka was of no consequence since, in Russia, it was so plentiful.

The American businessman sat in quiet contemplation for several minutes then arose and threw the lawyer out the window.

GopherNever bolt your door with a boiled carrot.
Irish Proverb

21

Calling all bible experts !!!

by thinker in

question:.

genesis says that on the first day god creates lightand divides the light from the dark.

then on day four he creates the sun, moon, and stars to divide the light from the dark.

Gopher

you make one batch (my Lord)... and using 'good bacteria' from that batch you make all subsequent batches.

Well, I'll be a son of a BATCH! (Of the in-way-too-deep class)

GopherThe sieve says to the needle; you have a hole in your head.
Indian Proverb

21

sister says prayer with elders !!!!!

by jurs in

jw
friends

this friday the elders are coming over to discuss my da letter.

i keep studying and thinking of what i want to say.

i'm sure they'll open with a prayer.

Gopher

Jurs,

Best wishes on your Friday visit. As far as saying your individual prayer: perhaps it would cause a small uproar with the elders, would it take away from the main arguments you plan to present?

Yes I concur that Jehovah will hear your prayers and bring you to a successful conclusion for all these things happening to you.

GopherThe sieve says to the needle; you have a hole in your head.
Indian Proverb

18

Climbing the Corporate Ladder - Why They Do It

by Black Man in

jw
friends

that the wts is nothing more than a business is painfully obvious in the way many brothers seek 'positions'.

i was always highly doubtful of the 'appointed by holy spirit' bs that we were always fed.

appointments often came down to who kissed up the most to the decision-makers.

Gopher

Black Man,

Your post accurately describes the way it is, at least here in the United States. I wonder if others from other countries would add their 2 cents in.

Jesus said, "Call nobody your leader" and "all you are brothers". The way that some seek prominence and power, and the way they look down on the average JW's once such prominence is attained, is truly stunning. They may give an appearance of humility and/or following Scriptural principle when it serves their purpose.

As you said, there are others who serve humbly and meekly. But if and when there are conflicts between the humble class of elders and those who insist on their way, (whether the conflict arises from a matter affecting the congregation or a judicial case, guess which side wins? It isn't the "reasonable, humble" side.

GopherThe sieve says to the needle; you have a hole in your head.
Indian Proverb