Posts by garyneal

6

Elders Wives

by xelder in

i am sure that we individually are responsible for decisions and actions we take.

we reap what we sow, and ultimately must face the personal responsibility.

however, other factors do contribute.. i am a 5th generation jw, and my wife is a 4th generation jw.

Thanks for sharing this. As someone who believes in God and someone who wanted respect and appreciation from others, I recall how I wanted Jehovah's Witnesses to see me as someone who is a 'good person' in their eyes. I studied with them for years and even agreed with a lot of their assertions. I was even beginning to see how the holidays should be considered bad and therefore avoided. However, I never really felt that this religion was all it claimed in being 'THE TRUTH.'

When my wife decided to go full throttle and become a witness, I was scared that I may have been following a wrong crowd all my life. That's when I began looking into what the Bible says and studying this religion more closely. Needless to say, I did an about face and stopped my studying and began going to the meetings less and less.

I tried sharing with her my findings but I wasn't expecting the cult wall to erect around her and needless to say things got rough. I've backed off now, knowing that people do what they do for whatever reasons and that it is not really right for me to judge. I support her where I can, even attend a meeting with her every now and then, but I made it clear that I cannot in good concious become a witness.

Hopefully, she will one day wake up. In the meantime, I just focus on my spiritual walk and be as good a husband and father that I can be.

22

Do you feel pity when you see JWs working hard for Jehovah?

by african GB Member in

jw
friends

does knowing that jws are not god-chosen organisation they claim to be break your heart when you see them do fs in extreme conditions, like during a hot summer day or in snow?.

garyneal

I certainly felt sorry for my wife this morning. My daughter has swim classes on Saturday mornings at the same time as her field service hours. Today, however, I was fully expecting my wife to go to the swim lesson with our daughter today instead of going in field service. We had an agreement that we 'take turns' swimming with our daughter during her swim lessons and I swam with her last Saturday.

Plus, with all of the snow, they had been cancelling meetings on Sundays and FS on Saturdays, so surely she felt like she would be able to go to the swimming lessons today for it was snowing outside. No such luck for my wife, though, as they decided to go ahead with the FS today.

Getting dress, I can tell she was feeling down so I began inquiring about how she was doing? I asked her if she could perhaps go out in service tomorrow (Sunday) but she felt like she had to do it today. I felt sorry for her because she felt like she had to do this alone. I told her that even if I were to ask to participate, I would not be allowed do to their whole 'interfaith' thing and me not agreeing 100% with all their doctrines. The fact that I believe in God and put my trust in Jesus is not enough for them.

She went to service and my daughter and I had a good time swimming, her learning to dunk her head, swim to objects, and jump in the water.

I feel like my wife is missing out on my daughter's childhood because of her religion.

5

Should Christians Consider Alternative Medicine?

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

thought i would share this with the board.. purps.

question: "should a christian consider alternative medicine?".

answer: there are many different forms of alternative medicine available today.

garyneal

When you read their site they are even more looney than the WBTS.

Maybe so but I would trust their answers before I would trust the WTS even though I have not always agreed 100% with them (which BTW is allowed).

Perhaps you might be interested in reading what they have to say about the cults and about Jehovah's Witnesses.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Jehovahs-Witnesses.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/cult-evangelism.html

10

Non-beleiving partners, are you getting your JW partner something for Valentine's?

by garyneal in

i figured that although my wife is busy getting herself ready for baptism, answering the pre-baptismal questions and all, i would still get her something for valentine's day.

i wanted to give it to her at work and give her some 'bragging rights' with her female co-workers but it did not work out.

any others like me planning to do the same for their jw partner?.

garyneal

oompa,

I asked this question because this is still fairly new to me. For all the years prior, she was perfectly okay with and even encouraged our celebrating the holidays. I guess she got tired of working so hard, feeling like she is going to die by celebrating them, and I was taking them for granted. So now she is going back to the bOrg and shunning the holidays thinking that this will get her to paradise.

She seems to appreciate it but if ever came the time when she did not I will just do for myself and my daughter. Got to make sure she does not get sucked in as best as I can.

10

Non-beleiving partners, are you getting your JW partner something for Valentine's?

by garyneal in

i figured that although my wife is busy getting herself ready for baptism, answering the pre-baptismal questions and all, i would still get her something for valentine's day.

i wanted to give it to her at work and give her some 'bragging rights' with her female co-workers but it did not work out.

any others like me planning to do the same for their jw partner?.

garyneal

Think About It:

My wife has not been in too much of the mood for THAT gift since she found out she was pregnant.

10

Non-beleiving partners, are you getting your JW partner something for Valentine's?

by garyneal in

i figured that although my wife is busy getting herself ready for baptism, answering the pre-baptismal questions and all, i would still get her something for valentine's day.

i wanted to give it to her at work and give her some 'bragging rights' with her female co-workers but it did not work out.

any others like me planning to do the same for their jw partner?.

garyneal

blondie:

Makes sense, by avoiding the 14th actively, you're acknowledging it. I make no apologies for who I am and what I believe.

10

Non-beleiving partners, are you getting your JW partner something for Valentine's?

by garyneal in

i figured that although my wife is busy getting herself ready for baptism, answering the pre-baptismal questions and all, i would still get her something for valentine's day.

i wanted to give it to her at work and give her some 'bragging rights' with her female co-workers but it did not work out.

any others like me planning to do the same for their jw partner?.

garyneal

TD:

Agreed.

I was not for sure if I was going to get my wife anything or not, but I decided to try it anyway as for all of the years prior she expected it. I put a bit of thought but not a lot of money in this one. She loved it.

capediem:

I agree, if the witness will not appreciate it, spend it on someone who will, YOURSELF!

10

Non-beleiving partners, are you getting your JW partner something for Valentine's?

by garyneal in

i figured that although my wife is busy getting herself ready for baptism, answering the pre-baptismal questions and all, i would still get her something for valentine's day.

i wanted to give it to her at work and give her some 'bragging rights' with her female co-workers but it did not work out.

any others like me planning to do the same for their jw partner?.

garyneal

I figured that although my wife is busy getting herself ready for baptism, answering the pre-baptismal questions and all, I would still get her something for Valentine's Day. I wanted to give it to her at work and give her some 'bragging rights' with her female co-workers but it did not work out. (Maybe next year.)

Any others like me planning to do the same for their JW partner?

38

Apparently, I'm Not Alone in My Vision...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

... of what spirit beings look like.

to the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you all have peace!.

i was recently describing to a dear curious one what spirit beings look like.

garyneal

Shelby,

All I can say is wow. I would have to agree with Lou Belle and make sure you are not straying too far from Christ. Some points I would like to make:

Charles Taze Russell thought he was being divinely led. Yet, he was into pyramidology, astrology and is viewed (either by himself or by others) as the Laodicean messenger.
You mentioned Joseph Smith and yet we all know his visions were not inspired by God.
Sylvia Brown also believes she has a special connection with the Heavenly realm. That chick can answer any question concerning the meaning of life, where we are from, and where we are going. By the way, she claims to be a Gnostic Christian.
Johanes Greber wrote the new testament translation with the assistance of his spiritistic wife.

All these people believe they are divinely inspired. How do we know they weren't? How do we know if they were? Sylvia Brown speaks of nothing but love and has a large following but yet she is not considered a true Christian, why is that?

32

Okkkkk...you MESS with my kids and you MESS WITH ME JWs!!!

by WuzLovesDubs in

i have soooo had it with these assholes...sooooo had it!!

my daughter who is 19 is pre-engaged to a wonderful 20 year old guy who treats her like a princess.

he lives with us to both help me with the rent and for them to save some money for their future.

garyneal

Okay, at first I was under the impression that some JW's really messed with your kids in a harmful way because of the title. Now I think that it was not really as bad as the title makes it out to be.

You let kids sleep in the same room and same bed? My mom allowed that briefly for my girlfriend and I a number of years back (years before I met my wife) and looking back all I can say is, "What was she thinking?" I love my mom dearly, but I can never see myself allowing my son or daughter to share a bed in my household with his or her significant other. Sorry, but I plan to be a real prude on this one. There are standards.

As for the elder, his house, his rules. My mother-in-law would not come stay in our house back when my wife and I were engaged but not yet married. It sounds prudish to the so called enlightened people of today but personally I found it something I respected of her when I later found out.

Now I understand everyone has his or her own standards of decency and sometimes the rules are not so hard and fast. Remember the TV show Rosanne? I recall Darlene's boyfriend lived with the family under the same roof with Darlene for a while. This happened, obviously, because the boyfriend's mother was totally no good and Rosanne had little other choice (though if she certainly did not want it this way). If you are okay with your daughter sleeping with her boyfriend under your roof that is your business, at least they are both over 18.

All I am saying is you can't get too mad at the elder for just simply upholding his standards.