Posts by Gopher

31

Do You Fear Death?

by think41self in

jw
friends

i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

do you fear death?

what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

Gopher

Think41,

I think it is natural to be curious, wary about the unknown realm. Inside of us, we all naturally want to live forever (at least speaking for myself). The fact that we don't do so now is distressing.

However, the idea of being controlled by any group as to "what" to do to mitigate that fear, and the teaching that we are all at the mercy of their God whose rage flares up easily, only seems to increase fear.

My greatest fear is that I won't live up to my fullest potential right now, in the life that I am able to control to some extent. I want to do something meaningful, to have made a difference.

As far as the future goes, like Slipmaster says, it's really up to God. There's a certain peace in just leaving the future to Him.

Gopher

11

JW's in South Park

by SlayerLayer in

jw
friends

hey guys,.

yes i have too much time on my hands today, and created this website just for your entertainment.

please check it out and let me know what you think.

Gopher

Slayer,

I haven't seen "South Park" before, but maybe now I'll look at it. I enjoyed your first episode! I'd love to see the boys tour Bethel, or maybe follow Fred Hall around in field service.

Gopher

4

Picture of 1935 Convention

by Undecided in

jw
friends

i'm not sure if this picture will work or not.

i scanned it from a little 31/2 x 5. .

anyway the picture was taken at the 1935 convention where rutherford created the new light about the other sheep.. my dad and mother are in the center, my aunt at my dads left, and my grandma at the end to the right of the picture.. i have forgotten where the convention was, anyone remember?.

Gopher

Slipnslide, I think the Cedar Point, Ohio conventions were in 1919 and 1922.

Undecided, if memory serves me correctly, the picture in your possession originated at a convention in Washington, D.C.

Gopher

10

Discrimination lawsuit?

by SlayerLayer in

jw
friends

there is a local staircase company owned by on filthy rich jw.

they have a billboard advertising "experienced stair builders or installers needed--aplly within" i have experience.

i should go in with a tape recorder and apply.

Gopher

Hey Slayer,

I don't think that companies can legally ask you discriminatory questions about your religion, national background, sexual affectional preference, etc.

What you propose to do would make an interesting test case.

Ideally, people would be able to perform "business" and only consider the work-related aspects of any relationship, and forget all the rest of the stuff that doesn't matter. But we are dealing with J-dubs here, so you know how it goes.

Gopher

5

WHY ?

by Prisca in

why do we say something is out of whack?

what's a whack?.

if a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?.

Gopher

If a fiddle and a violin are the same, and if you can "fiddle around", why can't you "violin around" (more formally)?

If someone who is very upset is "disgruntled", then if you're happy are you "gruntled"?

Grunt, grunt.

Gopher

8

what directions fate can point us in

by Nefabrummion in

greeting.

i,m new here but i think this is a great webb page to let other brothers & sisters interact.

i,m 23 yrs old and was raised in the truth; so i;ve never been involved in any other religion.

Gopher

Nefab, (the rest is too long)

Glad to meet you, and glad you put your story out here. You'll find support and friendship out here, hope you can hang around here a while.

So sorry to hear about your father & your brother. What a tragic, down-heartening experience for you to have so young in life! And compound that with the cold-shoulder treatment you've been getting from your congregation & sisters in your time of need! Such an experience in times of need has happened to many of us on this board, you are not alone.

At least you have your mother, and the unconditional love of your son!

You said

I still want to call on the name of jehovah but now i am unworthy to even speak of our lord.

Just remember, people may have distanced themselves from you, but God never did! He is the hearer of prayer, still, even for someone who is going through hard times and has made mistakes like you. (Psalms 65:2)

You are still precious to him as a person, and you are still important to anyone who has a heart. You have wonderful opportunity to show your goodness, first of all to your son. You don't need an organization hovering over you in order to worship God and follow his Son. Sometimes the organization even hinders your relationship with God.

As time goes on you'll recover from all this, and I bet you'll be able to make new friends (out here on this forum and in your personal life) who will like/love you for WHO YOU ARE, and not judge you based on your imperfections.

Best wishes and hope to hear more from you!

Gopher

(Editted for spelling)

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

Hey Littleone,

ROFL at your application of Judges chapter 7! I never thought of it that way, people "lapping up" whatever spiritual sludge is served up without even thinking! I am glad to be out here and free, able to critically think about matters, as most members of this board now do.

Also I'm glad you're not dogmatic in the matter of exactly who prophecy comes through. If we're flexible and open to new understanding, it may come from a source we never expected! As Jesus said, wisdom can even come from children.

Thanks again for the thoughtful post. (Someone elsewhere said thoughtful posts on this board are being ignored, so I thought I'd at least give this one a fair shake!)

Gopher

9

Jehovah Creates Apostates

by metatron in

jw
friends

according to the bible, jehovah himself "raised up" resisters.

of the corrupt rulership of the elderly king, solomon.. --- you can read about it at 1kings 11:14,23-39.. the term apostasy comes from "to stand away from, rebellion",.

so "resister" can easily act as a synonym for apostate, here.. also, jehovah created dis-unity among israel by deliberately.

Gopher

You have an interesting "take" on things, comparing the governing body to Solomon. Expanding on your theme of "uncaring", all that the weary everyday JW's hear is "do more, do more!" even though their recruiting efforts are generally meeting with less success than ever, in terms of "hours in the ministry" per "newly baptized" ones. The next generation of leadership, succeeding the Governing Body, may prove to be like Rehoboam, attempting only to tighten their grip on power, with disastrous results to come.

Gopher

17

new here

by jurs in

i've been a witness for 6 years.

when a sweet pioneer sister came to my door and i started studying i never thought i would become a witness.

21/2 years of studying i did get baptized.

Gopher

Jurs,

Welcome to the board! Stretch your wings here, enjoy the freedom!

You ask some good questions in your first post about things that are disallowed. As you probably realize, a lot of these beliefs are based on what imperfect men have decided the doctrine "should" be, rather than on the Bible.

As Neyank says, you'll certainly be branded as an outcast if you write any letter stating your different views. Such differences cannot be tolerated in a society where absolute, lockstep unity is a requirement. (Remember, "happy Christian unity" is the most important thing, whether or not the united view makes sense.....)

Rather than disassociating, you might consider what "Waiting" has done, simply to fade away, to go away by choice rather than by official congregation sanction. There's pros and cons to disassociating, just something to think about. If you fade away, certainly any friends you have in the organization will begin to notice and may either (1) isolate themselves from you or (2) try to bring you "back to your senses", as they say. After all, JW friendship is highly conditional, based on how "spiritual" you currently appear to be.

Well best wishes for you. Please hang around here, and let us know how things are going. Personally, I have found more unconditional acceptance out here in 2 months than I did back in the "organization" in many years.....

Gopher

18

I'm really feeling unwelcome

by d0rkyd00d in

jw
friends

just wanted to fit in.

:p. "no cool quote yet.

but i'll think of one soon.

Gopher

Dorky,

Now that's a MUCH better exit!

Obligatory response: You were one of my favorite posters, er, maybe this is an emotional over-reaction, er, don't be so thin-skinned, er, best wishes. Oh, heck, don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!

Tee hee.