for me, i think it's that the witnesses teach they are god's spokesman.
they represent his "faithful & discreet slave"....and that they alone are expounders of the only truth and that if you disagree with anything they teach, you are considered worse than vomit.. it's unbelievable because these people are wrong so many times, it cannot be excused!.
as a witness, you must accept every viewpoint and if you (and your family) do not accept it all, hook, line and sinker, you are "apostates"!!!.
When I was my bubbly, animated self, my parents and later husband were always telling me to reign it in, tone it down. Being a happy, self-confident female was so frowned on.
But, when I was quiet, with my eyes cast down, faithfully pioneering, feeling meek, mild, submissive, victimized and totally beaten down, I was so respected and admired.
So I guess the worst part for me was not being able to be the person I was born to be. Having to take on a personality that did not fit just to fit in.
not that big of a deal, but it is kind of humorous.... my wife and i went to a local mcdonald's for lunch.
yes, i know all the bad things that are in their foods... but it's difficult to find lunch places that are 'healthy' and low-cost.. anyway, she went and sat down, and i ordered the food.
as i came round the corner with the tray filled with burger, fries and the cups for our sodas, i spotted a group of four women sitting at one of the tables.. folks... i just want to make one thing very clear.
Funny how you can spot them a mile away.
In my town everyone is usually in some form of running, jogging, cycling, yoga, etc outfit. You see someone in a tie or worse yet a very outdated skirt and everyone starts sweatin' and looking for the nearest exit.
in my last meeting to be re-instated they said for next time figure out which person from the bible i'm most like.
and be ready to tell them what i pray about and how i feel about what i did to jehovah.
being honest , speaking from the heart about jesus forgiving peter and having a hard time answering the prayer question didn't work getting hysterical and nervous-breakdownish at the end didn't help, nor did running out of the hall after saying i could never do any better.
Meadow - My heart goes out to you! Congratulations on 4 months of being sober. I have had my struggles with alcohol, I know what a terrible battle this is, as do others on this forum. 4 months is a huge accomplishment.
Keep the AA thing under your hat when you are around your committee or other witnesses in the future. The society takes a very dim view of AA.
Matthew 21 has the parable of the son that told his father he would, but did not and the 2nd son that told his father he would not but did. I love this parable! I would use it in your meeting. With a tear in your eye let them know that you feel you let Jehovah down because at your baptism you promised Jehovah you would, but unfortunatly you failed and now feel like the son who told his father he would, but then did not.
Here is to hoping 3rd time is a charm! Hopefully you can get back in and help get your kids OUT!
i realized recently that this was the start of a new service year (read: fi$cal year), so of course i figured it was possible the elders would make their usual rounds and show up uninvited.
it hadn't occurred to me that they would approach me as i was picking up my family from the meeting last night.
as i was getting my daughter situated, the chairman of my judicial committee says, "hey!
SD-7 So sorry you have to go through this. It has got to be tough to even enter the KH parking lot - don't know if I could do it.
I find it interesting that some ex JW's continue to be visited, shepherded (hounded) etc, then others walk out the door and are forgotten about almost immediately.
i posted on another thread about a couple of my experiences of meeting the governing body while i was in brooklyn.
i wanted to see if anyone else had any experiences along these same lines.
i met most of the ones that were current during the 2001-2003 years.
I met F. Franz a number of times. The most memorable was when I was 17 (summer of 82). Fred was a speaker at our district convention here in Denver. A power couple invited over a few CO and DO couples along with Fred to their home for dinner. My sister was seeing a single DO and I guess I was the chaperone. It was so encouraging to a young girl who wanted to go into missionary work. After dinner we all sang kingdom songs - I just ate it up!
I believe it was the next year (or maybe still 82), our DO friend asked me if I would pick up and deliver the Swingles from their hotel to the district convention arena everyday. I was honored, but have to say, I do not think either one of them bathed much.
well i figured i should give you all an update.
they will be dfing me soon for apostasy.
it is not a huge surprise and i am not afraid nor "shaking in my boots", however i will admit it is stressful right now.
Ray...I think your letter is powerful.
Here is my 2 cents - say more about the religion tearing you apart from your dear children. Talk about the incredible love and bond you have with them, how they are your entire world. Make the parents reading this letter shed tears for you and feel wrath for the religion.
Have not watched the video yet, will do that tonight.
Thank you for sharing with us.
gosh... i cannot believe i have been disfellowshipped for over a year!
its so surreal.
because of my ingrained belief that the jw organisation is the one and only true religion, i often think about everything that has happened quite often.
Happy Anniversary Timothy
happy labor day all!.
tell us what your plans are.
i am heading to the cu/csu game tomorrow (go cu) wish you were with us quendi.
Jeff T... Heading to the western slope to the Colorado River.
Stealth....
Instead of door to door will do some telephone witnessing instead, practice my next public talk. Oh and have some of the friends over to
study the watchtower lesson for Sunday and play Jenga.
My stomach lunged when I read that
give it women... .
today i added a new article to my blog addressing the watchtower mindset regarding woman, and particularly of married women.
pictures are telling!!!.
TD...
My impression is that a great many JW's of both genders are trapped in sexless marriages.
And the ones of us that were not in a sexless marriage wish we were. It is a total lose, lose in JW world.
happy labor day all!.
tell us what your plans are.
i am heading to the cu/csu game tomorrow (go cu) wish you were with us quendi.
BBQ sounds like fun! cleaning closets -Yikes
LongHairGal...I feel so stupid about engaging in such dumb activity too. It is so nice to be able to leave town and not worry if you will be stumbling someone because you won't be there for Saturday service or the Sunday meeting. Or worry that others may see you as a lover of pleasure.
