Posts by Gopher

19

Ex-JW from Minnesota

by Adonai438 in

i've been reading a lot of stories posted here and have to say i'm glad to know there are so many ex-jw's!.

so, jehovah's witnesses sounded pretty good to me-- it never occured to me that a religion could be wrong.

was i not good enough for god?

Welcome here. I too am from Minnesota. I took a different route out of the so-called "truth" than you did. I was raised in it and stayed well into adulthood, before getting bounced around and then discovering it isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be! There's a lot of differing backgrounds out here, but most all agree, it's good to be free!

You invited people to e-mail you, but your e-mail address is restricted at this time. Not that that's bad or anything, just noticed!

Look forward to hear you weighing in on different topics that confront this board!

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

43

Depression is a way of life for JW's

by butalbee in

the more i studied, the more i got sucked into being a witness, the more depressed i've become.

i don't want to do anything anymore, i mean what is the sense: the end of days is upon us!

the more i became involved with witnesses, the more i felt that i was loosing a part of myself.

Gopher

Why fight the inevitable? Why try to make a man-made organization work?

The situation among JW's is now very much like Isaiah 1:5,6 says:

Where else will YOU be struck, in that YOU add more revolt? The whole head is in a sick condition, and the whole heart is feeble. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no sound spot in it....

This is why many JW's suffer from depression. There can be no dancing around the issue -- they have attached themselves to a sick body!

If there are joyful JW's, it is IN SPITE of being a Witness, surely not BECAUSE of belonging.

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

edited to correct the spelling

11

Tooting the horn

by Norm in

jw
friends

*** w94 9/1 19 beware of boasting ***.

*** w94 9/1 20 beware of boasting ***.

*w88 1/1 20 - of all those who claim to be christian, only jehovah's witnesses take the preaching of the good news seriously.

Gopher

Here's what it may be,

The JW's feel that by boasting about their organization, they're really directing attention to Jehovah himself (through the organization).

It reminds me of the Catholic "idolatry" they condemn. The Catholics say that by giving attention to the images inside their churches, they're indirectly or directly giving glory to God.

It's the same thing. The JW organization is being idolized, drawing attention AWAY from God. How odd that they can't see it.

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

4

Hello hello hello, whats all this then?

by radar in

i have been away for a few days and what do i find...division?

personality clashes!

personal attacks!

Gopher

I belong to RADAR.

No change that. I belong to MARGARET "Hot Lips" HOULIHAN.

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

7

Bitter A's Fan

by clash_city_rockers in

i'm still bitter about that sell out jason giambi going to the yanks.. i might be tempted to take the batteries out of my walkman next a's home game against n.y. and chuck them at him...just kidding but still bitter...... did you know that jose canseco used to be married to a witness girl?.

go raiders,.

jr

Gopher

Hi JR,

Those are my initials too!!

Anyhow, you could feel somewhat good knowing that your team is not about to be cut out of the major leagues! They are threatening the Twins and Expos with "contraction", although that won't solve baseball's economic problems.

Of course, the notion that these cities don't deserve teams is ludicrous. The Twins won World Series in 1987 and 1991, and in '92 (I believe that was the year) they were the VERY FIRST major league franchise to attract 3 million fans in a season!

And the Montreal Expos had the best record in baseball in 1994, with Pedro Martinez and many other talented players. Then came the stupid strike, and no world series (which the Expos probably would have won). In 1995, the Expos were economically forced to shed their expensive players, and the fans never came back in Montreal.

At least in Oakland you have a rich baseball heritage (think the 1972-73-74 World series, and also the teams of Canseco and McGwire from 1988-90, and also your teams there from the last two years). And you have a smart general manager in Billy Beane, who will make the best out of the situation.

I'd rather be a baseball fan there in Oakland than in Minnesota, Montreal or Florida.

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

24

He passed away last night.

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

i was in a bookstore trying to forget the day when my father called me and told me that my grandfather had died.

he had passed only five minutes after we had left.. someone else was wondering what happens when we die.

well, i was reading the chronicles on narnia (something i do when i'm feeling a little lost), and something at the end of the last battle caught me eye.. "the term is over: the holidays have begun.

Gopher

Ashi,

So sorry to hear of this sad passing. May the comfort from here and your real-life relatives and associates provide a measure of comfort during this difficult time.

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

4

What could have been in the new system .

by sleepy in

jw
friends

what could have been in the new system , ah the things we won't see.. i'm gutted i was looking forward to seeing all those perfect ladies.. with no clothes on!

Gopher

Yeah Ben,

I remember them applying the scripture where Jesus was teaching about the resurrection, and said "those who are resurrected are as angels and marry no more" (or something to that effect).

So read between the lines: those of the "Great Crowd" surviving Armageddon could live normal, child-bearing lives, whereas the resurrected "class" wouldn't marry. Perhaps they would be resurrected without hormones????

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

31

Tooting my own horn

by WildHorses in

jw
friends

ok, since i have to be 39 years old.

i want to hear lots and lots of happy birthdays.. you can send money too if you want.

lol a cool million will do.

Gopher

Lilacs,

Glad you tooted!! (Get the air freshener)

And oh, happy birthday too! December babies are the best! Just ask me and NancyJeanne.

But you're still 2 years behind me, and not catching up!! C'mon, now.

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

30

Ginger or Mary Anne?

by crownboy in

jw
friends

no doubt one of the most ask questions ever.

no matter what age you are (in my case fairly young), you've seen gilligan's island, and heard the inevitable argument (especially amoung men), who do you prefer better: ginger or mary anne.. well, i decided to bring the debate here to jw.com, see if there's an (ex) jw consensus on the issue.. my personal favourite is mary anne, by the way.

they were both very attractive, but mary anne's personalty was more down to earth (or naive) to me, and i find that more desirable.

Gopher

Mary Anne -- hands everywhere!!

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

28

Why the WTS love to name call! Awake June 22

by ISP in

jw
friends

ever been called an apostate?

other such name or label?

well you should know why and how such names are used and why they are used purposefully by the wts.. awake june 22 ,2000 page 6. some people insult those who disagree with them by questioning character or motives instead of focusing on the facts.

Gopher

ISP,

Oh -- but it's ScRiPtUrAl when the JW's slap a shameful label on a group! Obviously, they're God's organization and have the right to judge people as such! They're much more Christian than anyone else! And don't argue!!

GopherWhy shouldn't truth be stranger than fiction? Fiction, after all, has to make sense.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)