Gopher

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Posts by Gopher

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  10

  Mickey Spillane update

  by Gopher in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  83-year-old author mickey spillane continues to profess to be a jehovah's witness.

  does anybody find this a bit intriguing?

  his fiction (including that of detective "mike hammer") has been a staple of american culture for decades.. here's the key quote from the article.

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  Gopher

  Hi all,

  83-year-old author Mickey Spillane continues to profess to be a Jehovah's Witness. Does anybody find this a bit intriguing? His fiction (including that of detective "Mike Hammer") has been a staple of American culture for decades.

  Here's the key quote from the article.

  Spillane was long associated with his hard-living character, an image sealed by his manly Miller beer ads in the 1970s and '80s. But the author now says he was never much of a drinker and was careful about women, stating with pride that he had a date with Hedy Lamarr and nothing happened.

  The guy who brought broads and blood to the reading masses is actually a Jehovah's Witness, a fundamentalist sect that preaches the imminent end of the world.

  ``There's nothing phony about them. Everything they say is true,'' says Spillane, a one-time ``nominal'' Protestant converted years ago by a Jehovah's Witness who knocked on his door.

  Here is the link to the entire news story:

  * http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010613/en/wkd_mickey_spillane_2.html

  GopherIt is not best that we all should think alike, it is differences of opinion that make horse races.
  Mark Twain (1835-1910)
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  2

  Who's soliciting who?

  by orbison in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yet another letter to the editor in our local paper in a town with pop of 100,000 just outside of vancouver bc.

  i would like to point out something that really is not pleasant about our town.. why is it that we spend time chasing pawn shops and hookers out of the downtown area, yet we let the jehova wittnesses harrass us every time we walk down the street?.

  i have been in this townh for eight years now and never had a pawn shop worker or a hooker approach me when i walk downtown in the morning.

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  Gopher

  Hi idiot, I don't think you're an idiot BTW

  I think the letter-writer was saying that he/she doesn't want to be bothered by ANYBODY, be it a hooker, a pawn shop worker or a J-dub.

  I don't think the letter-writer meant to say they preferred hookers to J-dubs.

  I agree that encountering a JW walking the street is more family-friendly than encountering a hooker. Could it be though, that the letter-writer encountered some persistent Witnesses who wouldn't leave them alone??? Usually all you have to say is "I'm really not interested" and the Witness will go away.

  GopherIt is not best that we all should think alike, it is differences of opinion that make horse races.
  Mark Twain (1835-1910)
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  12

  new Poster--Finding out I'm Adopted

  by WhatNow in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm a "long time listener", "first time caller".

  i've been eavesdropping on this site for a couple of months now, trying to detach from my beliefs engrained in me for forty years (since birth).

  i've finally got the time and the ambition to share my story with you all, since you've so gratiously shared your story with me (electronically).. i'm a 4th generation jw, or perhaps i should say "i was a ..." (old habits die hard).

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  Gopher

  WhatNow,

  What a beautiful and well-thought-out post. And (as you said in chat) your story is all too familiar!I too have felt the wrath of pre-judged "Theocratic Justice" against me & I totally agree that this is not from any loving Father in heaven.

  I hope you find solace in your re-connection with God & Jesus as they REALLY are, and not as presented to you by an organization. And you are right, there's no need to jump into another organized religion in order to stay connected with our Creator.

  Best wishes for you & the kids (and your BF too) as you embark, slowly but courageously, on your path to freedom.

  I hope to see you out here more & read more of your posts. I enjoyed the insight, humor and skill of your writing.

  GopherIt is not best that we all should think alike, it is differences of opinion that make horse races.
  Mark Twain (1835-1910)
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  36

  I Find it all interesting!

  by glode in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  before i startm let mejust apologizein advance ifmy spacekey doesnt work properly!

  !damn keyboard!

  anyways, i have been lookingthru theposts here for several weeks, i findmany of theopinions well thought out.

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  Gopher

  Glode,

  Welcome to the discussion group. I'm glad you find it interesting, as your title says. I hope you hang around a while longer, there's a lot more to learn!

  Your experience indicates that certain standards are not applied equally across the organization. (1) Staying late at your girl friend's house, that would get you called into the conference room in many congregations. (2) Your GF played on her high school teams. If you read the brochure "School and JW's", I believe that's the one that specifically outlines the fact that JW's don't participate in extra-curricular activities. (Their real reason, it takes away from your time for study & ministry. (3) You attend R rated movies, which if you are in the USA, means no children can attend these unchaperoned. However, at age 20 you are expected to be "reaching out" for the position/privilege/whatever of Ministerial Servant. Another however: where I came from, if you were seen attending R rated movies, it would call your qualifications into question.

  About the doctrinal changes and "thinking for yourself": You surely understand that if you express doubts about what the WT Society teaches as the "current truth", you will be viewed with suspicion, possibly questioned for apostasy. (Again, things may be more liberal where you are, but I am speaking of the majority of places). I'm glad you say you "think for yourself", and view unprovable teachings as only opinion. But that is at odds with the loyalty expected by the organization. They have clearly stated that loyal JW's accept the WHOLE RANGE of teachings that are unique to the JW's.

  Because of some of the above inflexibilities & inconsistencies, along with "bad experiences" you alluded to, many reasonable people who were once loyal to the WT Society have concluded (1) it is not the solid foundation of truth it claims to be (because that "truth" keeps going back and forth), and (2) the love Jesus said would mark true Christians, real unconditional love, is unfortunately not the mark of JW's. They keep their people in check by means of "fear", fear of marking, shunning and disfellowshipping. As stated in the Greek Scriptures "There is no fear in LOVE, for perfect LOVE throws fear outside".

  Some things to think about. I enjoyed your post.

  GopherIt is not best that we all should think alike, it is differences of opinion that make horse races.
  Mark Twain (1835-1910)
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  7

  Creed

  by joelbear in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone else here love this group as much as me.

  they are a rock band whose lyrics tend toward christian.

  i have fallen in love with their music.. hugs.

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  Gopher

  Joelbear,

  I hadn't been familiar with Creed before their smash hit "With Arms Wide Open". That song about a man's unconditional love for his new child sure struck a chord with me, it's exactly and I do mean, exactly, how I feel about my 2-1/2 year old daughter (who now lives with her mom). I would do anything for her, and that song nearly makes me cry!

  This song made me more interested in this group and their other music.

  Gopher, enjoying the fresh air
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  51

  CyberSex

  by DreamMaster in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  cybersex: real or fantasy!.

  i would like to tell you good people a story and when i'm finished i would appreciate your honest opinion as i know you wouldn't give me anything less.

  my wife and i have been fighting about a situation which recently arose in our home.

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  Gopher

  DM,

  I'm with TW on this one. It sounds very real. Do you have dependent children? The reason I ask is that it sounds like like your wife has driven a stake through the heart of your marriage, sad to say. It may be time to move on (I know you didn't want to hear that). I'm familiar with the dynamics of this, as it happened to someone very close to me.

  The trust is gone. She knew you were onto her when she changed the password. She made excuses when confronted, rather than even beginning to acknowledge the harm she has done, let alone be open to taking steps to make things better.

  You deserve better. So sorry.

  Gopher, enjoying the fresh air
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  5

  Hello, I'm Back and I want a new friend!!!!!!!

  by discombobulatedgirl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i havn't posted in awhile so i thought i ould post because i want to make ne friends and plus the chat room is empty and that is weird.

  i'm good.

  lots of school work and stuff since i only have 7 days of school lets for the year.

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  Gopher

  Hi D'Girl,

  (1) If chat is empty, do what I do: Log in to chat anyway, and wait a few minutes. Almost always, one person will come on, and then perhaps another 2 people. (This depends on time of day.) Of course, if you are looking for lots of company on Saturday night, you MAY not get it, since people are often out enjoying their weekend then.

  (2) If the above doesn't work, feel free to write e-mail notes to friends you've already made here (like me). Rest assured, nearly everyone would appreciate the "personal touch" of getting such a note, and many would try to respond to you (if they have time).

  Gopher, enjoying the fresh air
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  15

  Do You Remember...

  by Undecided in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just got home from a dinner sponsored by the senior citizens counsel, an organization funded by the taxes of our city and county.

  they have many programs to benefit the senior people in our area.

  i hate to admit it but i qualify.

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  Gopher

  Ken,

  I know the feeling so well, that everyone outside the Borg was living on borrowed time, doomed, and evil. How often did we have 1 Corinthians 15:33 pounded into our skulls, "Bad associations spoil useful habits", (bad associates being defined as all who didn't share our exact "hope")???

  I have developed a walking impairment over the past year, causing me to use a cane. I found so many people who go WAY out of their way to be so helpful. (This runs contrary to the Borg's teaching that most folks outside the JW comprise the essence of cruelty.)

  Additionally, since leaving the Borg I have gained my DA'd sister & her 'worldly' family, and they are so wonderful.

  It felt strange, taking the risk to make new (non-JW) friends at first. But it has been SO WELL WORTH IT!

  Congratulations on your bowling award, BTW!

  Gopher, enjoying the fresh air
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  12

  Access to files?

  by Bendrr in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi everyone, i am new to this board so everyone flame me and send viruses to welcome me (or you can send money to the bendrr goes to the bahamas fund).. i have a question that may have come up before but i have been off the internet for a while and have not been to this site before at all.

  my question is regarding one's file with the cong after dissfellowshipping.

  is more information gathered after the df and added to the file?

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  Gopher

  Bendrr,

  Welcome to this board. I was tempted to flame you, but naa...

  This question has been covered out on this board before. I believe the file is sealed in the files of the congregation that performed the disfellowshipping, only to be opened when the individual seeks reinstatement. I have never heard of the file being amended, unless it is after the person becomes re-activated and then further "issues" (ahem) arise.

  I don't think you have much chance of seeing your files, IMHO.

  Welcome, and hope you post some more, and even come out into the chat room sometime!

  Gopher, enjoying the fresh air
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  53

  WHY APOSTATES THEMSELVES ARE DOOMED!!!

  by You Know in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  all mankind stands condemned before god, and yet some are more reprehensible than others are.

  as an example, christ called the original christian apostate, judas, the son of destruction.

  so too, and not surprisingly, the activities of modern day apostates are said to awaken the judgment from of old, so that "the destruction of them is not slumbering.

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  Gopher

  PMF,

  Hey good to see you back 'round here!

  LaDonna,

  Minor mathematical correction: JW's comprise only 0.1% of earth's population (as 1% would equal 60 million). I totally agree with your point that JW's are true persecutors!

  God_knows,

  You brought this thread back up just to preach?

  Your hellfire teaching will not ring true with most people out here. Who of us wants the harshness of the teachings & practices of JW's to be replaced by an angry God who condones or uses hell fire? Post away if you must, just be prepared for a wide lack of support from people who are tired of preaching & being preached at.

  Angyl02,

  Welcome to the board. You won't be dissed (except by people worth dissing themselves, LOL). I hope you post some more!

  Gopher, enjoying the fresh air