YoursChelbie

Joined

• started 92 topics
• posted 951 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by YoursChelbie

• 
  22

  Theocratic Warfare at my house part 3, the end

  by freeman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thank you all who responded to my earlier post, i am pleased to say there has been a major development.

  just twenty minutes ago i was sitting at the piano and my wife comes up to me and says, "i talked to the brothers, you were absolutely right, i apologize, he (my minor son) will never go to the meetings again".

  i sat there in stunned shock both happy and sad at the same time.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  This is really interesting to me because I'm in the opposite situation.

  My husband is totally set on following this religion. I stopped going out in the door to door work and all the meetings about two years ago. At first, he would say that he wanted to take our two children along. But after a while, he stopped asking that they go with him.

  I did feel that this was a major victory. You can teach your children how to be balanced and non-judgemental much more effectively when they aren't constantly bombarded with propaganda.

  Your wife thinks that "God is testing her" and that if she is a good wife she will "win you over" into her religion. That's what wives are taught when they are married to an "unbeliever." It's a definite strain on the relationship. I have come to a point were I don't love him anymore. There is no questioning that this religion breaks familes up. Hang in there and maybe you'll win her over to reason.

  YC

  Edited by - YoursChelbie on 2 August 2002 21:7:55
• 
  5

  Downloadable Book of EX-JW

  by YoursChelbie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to everybody who liked the idea of an ex-jw yearbook: .

  stories will be available for download as soon as the web site is completed.

  i understand that some may need to use substitute names to protect their identity and these wishes will be respected.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  SYN,

  Thanks for clarifying for us:

  Everybody-- use the questions just as a guide.

  I'm shy, My responses were not that wild.
• 
  5

  Downloadable Book of EX-JW

  by YoursChelbie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to everybody who liked the idea of an ex-jw yearbook: .

  stories will be available for download as soon as the web site is completed.

  i understand that some may need to use substitute names to protect their identity and these wishes will be respected.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  OK, I'm using the questions as a guide, but that's just my style. Feel free to write your story any way you're comfortable.

  I was a member for about 13 years.

  While still in, I felt that I had found God's Only acceptable organization and that if I left I would be leaving God.

  After a few years as a member, a gut-feeling told me that the elders could not be led by Holy Spirit. The meetings became a lesson in haughtyness and I felt I needed to get out.

  When I saw people who were very good and actually had higher morals than some members, I thought "There's no way God will destroy everyone not a Baptized Jehovah's Witness."

  The person who helped me the most was my mom who is not a Jehovah's Witness. She heard me out and never once judged me.

  I wish that the lessons I learned would not have taken so long. I know now that we are all accountable to our own selves for the way we live our lives.

  I would tell people that: If a religion tells you were to work, how to handle your medical decisions, who to marry and what you should be doing every day of the week, get out. That's over-control! Each person needs to make their own decisions and not feel that they have to exclude important people from their life just because they have a different set of religious beliefs. Also, God's gift is life, you can't earn it. I honestly believe that.

  YoursChelbie

  Edited by - YoursChelbie on 2 August 2002 18:34:1
• 
  5

  Downloadable Book of EX-JW

  by YoursChelbie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to everybody who liked the idea of an ex-jw yearbook: .

  stories will be available for download as soon as the web site is completed.

  i understand that some may need to use substitute names to protect their identity and these wishes will be respected.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  To everybody who liked the idea of an EX-JW yearbook:

  Stories will be available for download as soon as the Web site is completed.

  I understand that some may need to use substitute names to protect their identity and these wishes will be respected.

  Those who already have a web-site that represents your story of survival from the WTS, please provide a link for it in you e-mail response.

  You might want to use these questions as a guide. Thanks again for your help with this project.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Questions to Help You Tell Your Story~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  How many years were you a member of the JW's?

  How did you feel during the time you were an active member?

  What events caused you to re-think your membership?

  What lead you to finally leave the member ranks?

  Who's help did you receive while you were in the process leaving?

  How do you feel now about the time you spent in the cult and about finally being out?

  What would you like to tell others who are unaware of what life is like in a high-control group or Cult?

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Thank You!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Please send your stories via E-mail to:

  [email protected]

  Your help is very much appreciated.

  YoursChelbie

  The purpose of this collection of life stories is to bring insight and public awareness about life inside a cult or high control group. By reading of other's experiences, those who are still inside will hopefully find the courage to get out and reclaim their lives.

  Edited by - YoursChelbie on 3 August 2002 19:48:56
• 
  8

  Starting to feel good

  by truthseeker1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  its been a few weeks since i went to a meeting.

  it feels strange not having a whole bunch to do every night, but i am liking it.

  it is starting to feel normal again.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  Hi truthseeker,

  I have only been "away from it all" for about two years.

  My experience can be summarized like this:

  "You can take Chelbie out of the WTS, but you can't take the WTS out of Chelbie" meaning that

  a lot of the mental programming can't be undone by a snap of your fingers. I still feel like an

  explorer in a foreign soil. You will feel more comfortable with yourself in time. It's not like you are going to go out tomorrow and get a bunch of satanic tatoos or start doing immoral stuff ---because if that isn't you then it isn't you. That's OK-- be true to your principles. Take your time and enjoy your free evenings without boring meetings!

  YoursChelbie

  Edited by - YoursChelbie on 2 August 2002 3:10:2
• 
  23

  Grieving

  by Swan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's been about two weeks since i came here.

  i've been having a lot of depression and nightmares concerning my family and the jws.

  ghastly visions of bloody mayhem and mutilation, not only of me, but also my husband and my little dog.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  Slowly I began to find evidence that they weren't right. But I resisted coming here, to these "apostate" web sites. I was afraid of your judgment, for one thing. I couldn't take rejection like that again. I was also afraid that if my family found out that I came here, it would ruin any chance that I had of ever contacting them again.

  Tammy, these feelings can really paralyze you if you let them. You've come so far already. Other people's judgements amounts to nothing. For so long I had to de-program myself not to fear the elder's judgements (you know how they claim that if you don't listen to them, you're disregarding "God's arrangement") But as time went on, I realized that there is no way they have God's Holy Spirit, so their opinion of me doesn't matter. They don't know my heart! And as far as being forced to go to meetings, just remember Jesus never read a Watchtower magazine the entire time he walked this earth-- Those magazines are rubbish! God's Gift is everlasting life. I have always believed that. So no one can earn life--it's impossible to earn a gift. I trust that God doesn't keep a score card nor does He say to himself, "OK, whoever goes to the most meetings is going to live forever."

  So, my dear friend, I wish peaceful, restful sleep to you. You are very valuable! It's how you live your life everyday that makes the difference to God, not how many hours go out or how many books you place.

  (((((((((((Hugs to you, Beautiful Swan)))))))))))

  YoursChelbie

  Edited by - YoursChelbie on 2 August 2002 2:48:0
• 
  24

  I DISTRIBUTED 1,000 FLYERS!

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm tired as hell today.

  yesterday, i typed up a flyer saying how jehovah's witnesses' protect pedophiles, and how many who have spoken out trying to protect children from wt policy have been excommunicated from the church.

  i didn't want to make it too long, but i ended by saying "how would you feel if on saturday morning, a knock comes to the door and your 6 year old runs to open it.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  Mary,

  You're flyer is a super idea! I copied the text to my MS Word program. A few words had the red underline because of being misspelled. I hope it's OK-- I fixed it for you!

  If anybody wants one, I can e-mail the revised text as an attachment in MS Word format--ready for PRINTING! It comes out as exactly two pages of text (front and back) Of course if you like the font smaller, it may fit into one page.

  Thanks Mary!

  I'm going to KinKos tomorrow morning and then I'm off "Street Witnessing" all day. That should bring back so many memories...

  YC

  P.S. I have a couple of questions, Mary coud you e-mail me?

  Edited by - YoursChelbie on 1 August 2002 23:49:1
• 
  24

  I DISTRIBUTED 1,000 FLYERS!

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm tired as hell today.

  yesterday, i typed up a flyer saying how jehovah's witnesses' protect pedophiles, and how many who have spoken out trying to protect children from wt policy have been excommunicated from the church.

  i didn't want to make it too long, but i ended by saying "how would you feel if on saturday morning, a knock comes to the door and your 6 year old runs to open it.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  Flyers are a great idea, any more suggestions of easy to print flyers?

  YC
• 
  8

  declare war on the WT!

  by knighthawk1981 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  being that not many of us will be able to make it into new york in sept to protest...i have a better idea...i say we protest at local kingdom halls on that same day of the ny protest!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  Hi,

  I believe that Sept. 27 falls on a Friday. Having a peaceful demonstration may not work too well since there may not be a meeting in every KH on that day.

  Just a thought.

  YoursChelbie

  Edited by - YoursChelbie on 1 August 2002 8:42:53
• 
  42

  Joe Anderson Disfellowshipped

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  8-1-02, addition to 7-31-02 press release .

  joe anderson-disfellowshipped!

  jehovahs witness child advocate.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  YoursChelbie

  Somehow this doesn't surprise me.

  The WTS is losing credibility by treating members like this.

  This is sick, and I challenge other elders to stand up for what is right. The WTS and the Governing Body have twisted Bible rules. No one can contradict them without having their name defamed.

  This is not God's Christian Organization. Pure and simple.

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=33244&site=3

  YoursChelibe