Posts by hillbilly

11

Is There Anything Left To Say?

by JH in

jw
friends

since nearly 3 years, this site exists.

do you think that every possible topic has been covered?

do you have a hard time finding new topics to talk about, or is it easy for you to think about a new topic every day?.

hillbilly

The topics may be limited but the people who share them in this forum are diverse and an ever- growing population. I am always encouraged by the number of "newbies' who come in asking about the UN scandal or the Rutherford era. Same old topics? You bettcha- and new minds looking for the facts. For those with newley opened minds there will aways be something left to say.

As long as good people continue to leave the Watchtower cult this Forum ( or whatever this evolves into) will aways have something left to say.

As long as people need support after leaving the Watchtower we will always have something to say. Same problems- different people. I think it great that so many elect to stick around here to help, encourage and share with new ones. Emotional health in our post Watchtower lifes is possible for many and the therapy found here is a very worthy tool to use i seeking it.

New freinds found. Online pals are great. And this forum provides a medium for many to connect with people who understand each other. JW's are a small culture, Ex JW's are an even smaller group. As long as we bond in here with new freinds there will always be something left to say.

HB

49

Death Penalty

by Yerusalyim in

jw
friends

i can't believe no one has commented on this yet.

illinois governor george ryan cleared out death row.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,75170,00.html

hillbilly

Yeru-- to condense the "official" WT stance on capital punishnent the Wt allows "Ceasar" to do what he wishes. They have written many pages over the years that rationalize in favor ( at least in principle) of death penalities, basing the articles on old Hebrew situations and other scripures. However, they always come short of endorsing the govements policy for neutrality reasons.

When you get members to speak about their veiws ---- I found that JW's are right across the board, opinions ranging from the far left to somewhat right of Atilla the Hun on the death penalty. I feel that if all appeals have been heard, the state ( people) have the right to pull the string and execute killers and rapists.

IL's politics are run by the Chicago boys. They have some of the tighest gun control policies in the the US. For years Illinois had no "Death penalty" in place at all. For a while the conservatives from downstate got control and made captial punishment the law in IL.

Ryan simply thumbed his nose at the people of Illinois. Did he release the men? or just reduce their sentences?

Within a week the department will start moving prisoners out of the state's two "condemned units" and into the general population of maximum-security prisons, Molina said.
All but three of those inmates now face life in prison without the possibility of parole, Ryan said. The three will get shorter sentences and could eventually be released from prison, though none will be out immediately.

30

Does anyone else get S.A.D.?

by Aztec in

jw
friends

also known as seasonally affected disorder.

i have been kind of "down" since october.

the lack of sunshine always gets me.. ~aztec

hillbilly

SAD, never diagonosed with it, but I feel the symptoms. I tend to wake up on my own at sunrise so it is real hard for me to wake up in mid winter. I live far enough north that sunrise is nearly 8'ish right before the eqinox. The sun is way down at 5 pm too

My job used to keep me outdoors all day and that helps.... now I am inside and many days I get to work in the dark and leave in the dark. I make a point to get outsided and walk around, see a little daylight and that really helps. Days that require daylight travel or outdoor tasks- I really feel good.

I am curious about one thing-- in mid winter I get up right away on 6-8 hours of sleep, as long as the clock rings before 5 am. If i set the clock at 6:30 or 7 I become a "snooze" button addict- just can't get up. Why?

32

Military Service Anyone?

by email in

jw
friends

anyone here ever wanted or had the desire to serve in the military while you were a jw in good standing?

would you do it now if you were younger and within the ages that they require for new recruits?.

are you willing to give your life for your country and what you believe in?

hillbilly

I took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Apptitude Battery) test to get out of classes for 3 hours in High school. Scored way up there, percentile wise.

By graduation time I was getting weekly calls from all branches asking me to enlist. Then one day I got a registered letter from the Navy. The Navy was willing to provide a 4 year college scholarship. I would be commisioned as an Naval or USMC officer at graduation... (there was a little fine print-but ya'all got the big picture?) A day or so after the letter I got a phone call too.

I really did'nt talk about this with the folks (or anyone else) as I knew what they would say, being in an Elder level family. But I had to think about it, and I did for a week or so. I actually called to find out what the vision standard was for aviation and if my natural eyesight was better I probably would have gone for it. I couldnt make the cut for aviation, so I did the "right" 'dub thing and turned it down.

When I look back I regret it. Four years of college for an eight year military commitment. If I would have taken the offer I could be retired today. 20 years of service - drawing the pension of a Lt. Commander or maybe Commander, plus the background and experience to work a good civilian job for another 20 years. I guess I cant complain cause I hve had a good life- maybe I made a good decision for the "wrong" ( active witness) reason.

I was a bit of a "closet " patriot too. If drafted, I think I would have served intead of fighting for an exemption. I never cared to pioneer, etc. so I would have had a hard time getting a ministers exemption and I never warmed up to the idea of prison so I would have gone to military service if drafted.

72

UK Gun Laws: Possession = 5 Years Imprisonment.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

following the deaths by shooting of 2 teenage girls last week, the uk government is speeding through even tighter gun controls than ever before.. already, high court judges have been told to impose a minimum 5 year jail sentence to anyone found in possesssion of a hand-gun in a public place.

also, consideration is being given to outlawing replica firearms as well as air powered weapons.

much is being made of the violent lyrics sometimes contained in rap - music which appears to often endorse gun culture.. see:http://news.bbc.co.uk/ for full story.. englishman..

hillbilly

Florida uses a phone in background check system and a 3 day wait for handgun purchases. I knew several gun shops in the West Palm area that "kept the guy in the shop talking" while the police were enroute to pick him up for outstanding warrants, etc. Sane legislation is out there, and and armed citizen is a good thing.

A county near me just lost funding for the sherriffs office and laid of most of its road patrol deputies this year. Exactly who will protect those people? Extreme case? Yes-- but having a police man onsite when you need him is a rare event. American's will always value the CHOICE we have to defend our homes on our terms. No one says you must own a gun and refuse to be a "Criminal" for choosing to defend my family and home if I need to.

72

UK Gun Laws: Possession = 5 Years Imprisonment.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

following the deaths by shooting of 2 teenage girls last week, the uk government is speeding through even tighter gun controls than ever before.. already, high court judges have been told to impose a minimum 5 year jail sentence to anyone found in possesssion of a hand-gun in a public place.

also, consideration is being given to outlawing replica firearms as well as air powered weapons.

much is being made of the violent lyrics sometimes contained in rap - music which appears to often endorse gun culture.. see:http://news.bbc.co.uk/ for full story.. englishman..

hillbilly

I read a comparison piece that compared violent crimes against persons stats a few years back. I wish I still had it for reference.

Chicago (Cook County, IL) v. E. Chicago, Gary and Hammond area, IN. The article noted that the areas have virtually identical demographics ( not to mention border each other in what could be considered the Metro Chicago area) had a siginifigant difference in crimes against persons , like murder, assault and battery, etc.

The thing that jumped out in this comparison is that Chicago ( Cook County) makes it virtually impossible for a civilian to possess a handgun. In Indiana the law allows for citizens to possess handguns with relativly little goverment intervention.

The Indiana suburbs had lower crime statistics in all crimes against people categories. Florida stats went down in the 80's when the new Concealed weapons law came into effect. "Bad Guys" behave better when a percentage of honest people are possibly armed.

The US Consitution allows the people to own and bear arms. A tyrannical goverment fears an armed population. Figure it out.

Why doesnt the liberal anti gun group ever mention the mass shooting and other gun crimes that occur in the European nations with the stictest gun laws?-- Just asking?

31

What Excuses Did You Make For Being A Lousy JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

when the elders or other "mature ones" tried to assist you, they would ask questions like, "what's wrong?

why weren't you at the meeting?

or service?.......what good excuses did you give, when asked these types of questions?

hillbilly

and I quote, ".........ah, sorry Brothers, I'm lousy at this JW stuff." -HB

Hill ( I have an eye problem, I really can't see myself in Service Saturday class)

2

Talk some SENSE into this "one" alrea...

by LovesDubs in

jw
friends

i just had to repost this...didnt we all think this delusionally??

"mcpatrick" said: (in reply to a post) http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=43858&site=3&page=1.

"just my two cents here for what it's worth.

hillbilly

hehehe-- sounds like he got his mind wrapped around the idea of going back....... he won't make it past the second song and if he does he will find out a few things.

The Elders (and others) will keep him at arms length until he "studys" for a while. People in a "comeback mode" get a little covert scrutiny- it's not the "open arms" you would hope to get from a loving father. (read the Gospel accounts of the Prodigal Son)

I checked out the locals a few weeks ago after years on non- attendence. It's weird, you know what they are going to say, and I really didn' related to it. I know meetings tend to be "themed" a bit, but I sat in a room full of "Christians" for two hours and never heard the words "GRACE or SALVATION" spoken the whole time I was there.

. I'm not proud of it, but I will say that I have been inactive for quite a few years now. In this period there has been absolutely no pressure from anyone to return or anything of the sort. And after all these years it can't be said that I am just a JW because I am being pushed or haven't got the time to stop and look around.

Yep-- and after the love bomb they (elders) will be asking you some very pointed and invasive questions about what you think and feel about the WTBS and the FDS. And they will ask why, If you beleived it, did you elect to stay away. Listen closely to what they say to you during your return trip to them. Let them "sell you" and listen closely, you will be amazed at how your actions and pain are Your fault ........ I could go on forever......

44

Anti-Apostacy Apostacy In Minnesota?

by Valis in

jw
friends

just a reminder to the minnesota flock.

just because i am not there to oversee the festivities does not mean i don't remember what happened the last time i visited greater north.

i would hate to think that there are divisions among the flock that would not allow for partaking of spiritual food.

hillbilly

I had my tele-conference a few moments ago. The kids like to check in with "old dad" and I really think it's cool to be remembered by such a fun, young group.

I got passed around to--- EYE, SCOOTERGIRL, XW, JOANNADANDY, NOT INTERESTED and HANNABLE I think they were having a good time in a BAR of all places. (must be a magazine route)

-- HB ( I sleep in my la-z-boy on saturday nite class)

9

another molester exposed

by zev in

.

here in nearby seekonk massachusetts.. http://turnto10.feedroom.com/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=d9840e6d1cf25e563db23b0d9d8031564ba14866.

must use explorer and windows media player.. i personally knew this one.

hillbilly

I have to think that the Media will "find" JW stories on a very regular basis. Last years media exlporations were good, now the "working press" has the scent and I feel they will become a pack of hounds.

I seem to think we will see a fresh case some where in North America come to light every month. Ms. Norris and the other Attys. smell a rat and moral among JW's is at a low ebb... We have all the factors for some major "heat" on the WTBTS.

We know that they are out there------- let's go get em.

-HB

(hopes to see J R BROWN choppin' cotton in West Tennesse myself class)