Expanded-Mind

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Posts by Expanded-Mind

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  18

  Need Help! JW Grandmother (may be) Going to Court for Visitation

  by Expanded-Mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am hoping someone may be able to give me some guidance on behalf of my son.

  my ex-wife, who remains a jw, is threatening to go to court to get visitation with our 5 year old grandchild.

  she had regular visits with our grandchild, but when my son (no longer a jw) and his wife (never a jw) found out that his mother was teaching their daughter the jw religion without their permission and even telling our grandchild not to tell their parents... well to say the least, that was a game-changer.

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  Expanded-Mind

  HBH ---. thanks! That's what I understand also, but it appears that if someone (my ex) wants to waste money and go to court, I guess --- sadly --- they have the freedom to do so.

  Splash --- thanks for your post! Sadly, this appear to be what is going to happen.

  Carla --- Thank you! I sent an email to this group and sent the link to my son! I appreciate it! (It appears to be different from the other one).

  Saintbertholdt --- this is pretty much what my son and his wife tried to do, hoping to build their trust in her over time, but she kept testing them. It required them to (again) deny visitation for a while. They asked if they could talk to her, but she refused (as if SHE were the custodial parent!) and said she wants 'this and that' and if they don't give it to her she's going to court. Apparently no peaceful way to talk to her. Thanks for your input!
  
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  18

  Need Help! JW Grandmother (may be) Going to Court for Visitation

  by Expanded-Mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am hoping someone may be able to give me some guidance on behalf of my son.

  my ex-wife, who remains a jw, is threatening to go to court to get visitation with our 5 year old grandchild.

  she had regular visits with our grandchild, but when my son (no longer a jw) and his wife (never a jw) found out that his mother was teaching their daughter the jw religion without their permission and even telling our grandchild not to tell their parents... well to say the least, that was a game-changer.

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  Expanded-Mind

  I am hoping someone may be able to give me some guidance on behalf of my son. My ex-wife, who remains a JW, is threatening to go to court to get visitation with our 5 year old grandchild. She had regular visits with our grandchild, but when my son (no longer a JW) and his wife (never a JW) found out that his mother was teaching their daughter the JW religion without their permission and even telling our grandchild NOT to tell their parents... well to say the least, that was a game-changer. Up until then she was seeing our grandchild regularly and then my son and his wife told her that she could only see our grandchild if one of them were present (supervised).

  His mother claims she has talked to a lawyer and is going to go to court to get unsupervised visitation, once a week and overnight!

  We all live in the Chicago suburbs. Does anyone have any helpful suggestions as to what course of action my son should take? I have emailed a group found as a link on Barbara Anderson's website called: Expert Custody Consultants and am waiting to (hopefully) hear back from them. My son and his wife do not have the finances for a custody battle, but I don't know if there are lawyers that will work with family's and take into consideration their finances.

  I apologize if this is a bit rambling.... any help or suggestions anyone can provide will be gratefully received.

  Best,

  ExpandedMind
  
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  3

  I need contact information for Ron Frye

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  during the 1980's and 90's, ron frye - former pioneer, special pioneer, circuit servant - was a leading xjw exposing the wt.

  he had excellent newsletters that went out to hundereds of former jws.

  ron frye has been ill and many of us would like to check up on him and give him lots of support.

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  Expanded-Mind

  I had the privilige to meet Ron sometime in the mid-to-late 1980's. Although we probably only had a couple of days together (it was at a BRCI conference) we had some time outside of the conference to do some activities and he was so much fun to be with... a kid at heart. I was in my early 30's and I'm guessing he was in his early 60's, but never really noticed the age difference. Such a kind man and I felt that if he had lived in the area we would have probably become great friends. It is likely, because of his personality and love for others, that many people have felt similiarly! Although it has been years since that event, and our spiritual journeys have likely gone in different directions, he will always have a special place in my heart.

  Expanded-Mind
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  12

  Rebranding JW-HQ at Brooklyn Heights - full gallery (now with pictures!)

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  see here the transformation from watchtower corporation to jw.org !.

  greetings, gorby.

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  Expanded-Mind

  Hi!

  Thanks for posting those pictures!

  Do you know if they will be covering the WATCHTOWER sign that is on the top of the building to JW.ORG? If they did that, that would be very interesting!

  ExpandedMind
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  22

  Interesting quote from July 15, 2013 Watchtower

  by Rufus T. Firefly in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the article who really is the faithful and discreet slave in the july 15, 2013, watchtower contains a curious comment.

  in paragraph 10 it is stated: "in recent decades, that slave has been closely identified with the governing body of jehovah's witnesses.".

  can anyone tell me who in recent decades has closely identified that slave with the gb?

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  Expanded-Mind

  I believe that the Watchtower Society's publications have given JWs a "mixed" message about this teaching over the past few decades. Officially, you would find that the teaching (prior to the new light in 2013) was that the Faithful & Discreet Slave (FDS) = any of Christ's brothers while still in the flesh over the past twenty centuries. And what is the FDS supposed to be doing? Giving out food in due season. The whole slave performs this, not just select members (at least according to Jesus parable).

  We have all likely heard stories that some "Anointed" brother or sister would send in to Bethel what they believe is a clearer understanding of certain Scriptures, etc. But are these suggestions given consideration? That's where the mixed message comes in. Because the Society has acknowledged in its publications that not all who were part of the Slave, dispensed spiritual food. Dispensing spiritual food was up to the Watchtower Society representatives at Bethel, which effectively = President and other officials and then a bit later these members became more formally known as the Governing Body.

  So I would say Rufus, you are correct when you write: "Can anyone tell me WHO in recent decades has closely identified that slave with the GB? I know it wasn't the GB who did so!" Officially they did not state that the FDS = the Governing Body, but woven into their messages through the publications was a mixed message --- and this is what groups of and individual JWs picked up on --- is the idea that the FDS was really only associated with the higher ups... the Governing Body.

  As for me, when I was a JW (1970 - 1984), I would have stated the official doctrine at the time. FDS = all the remaining members of Christ's Body on earth. But if I was asked if ALL the FDS dispensed spiritual food, I would likely have responded, no... that action is performed by the Watchtower Society / Governing Body alone. Again, I would be acknowledging that effectively, only the Governing Body dispensed food. So it would not be too much of a leap for JWs to just accept that the Governing Body alone is the FDS.

  ExpandedMind
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  11

  TRUTH be TOLD up on the JW news

  by Refriedtruth in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  this is the first time i have seen the documentary "truth be told" up on the google news for jehovah's witnesses comment use face book log in comment before jw trolls trash it http://brookline.patch.com/articles/five-things-truth-be-told five things: truth be toldpatch.com-truth be told - documentary screening: a new feature-length documentary - lifts the veil on the seemingly benign jehovah's witnesses religion ... truth be told - documentary screening: a new feature-length documentary - lifts the veil on the seemingly benign jehovahs witnesses religion to expose a profit-driven, isolationist culture characterized by fear, totalitarian corporate leadership, intellectual & spiritual intimidation, suspension of critical thinking, failed prophecies, doctrinal inconsistency and improper handling of physical and sexual abuse allegations within the church.show begins at 7pm.

  there will be a q&a session with director gregorio smith after the screening.

  confirmed guests include noted author, cult expert and mental health counselor steven hassan..

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  Expanded-Mind

  Here's a link to the website that is promoting this new movie:

  www.hereliesthetruth.com

  Contact them for more information... from what I learned from communicating with them, the DVD will be released this fall/winter.

  ExpandedMind
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  14

  Anyone from Chicago or surrounding area?

  by I Made Jehovah Sad in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  looking for some apostate friends to hang with!!

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  Expanded-Mind

  Hi!

  I am also from the Chicago suburbs and will be at Champs on June 29th (Hi, OTWO!). We'd love to meet you... not sure how many will be there, but it is a great group to hang with!

  Go to FB for more info: www.facebook.com/TransitioningJehovahsWitnesses

  ExpandedMind

  "The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
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  5

  Anybody on here from Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

  by Joliette in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please feel free to pm me.

  looking for more ex-jw's to connect with from milwaukee.

  if you are from the wisconsin area also that is a plus.. thanks!.

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  Expanded-Mind

  Hi!

  Sorry, the "name" is not familiar to me...

  ExpandedMind
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  5

  Anybody on here from Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

  by Joliette in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  please feel free to pm me.

  looking for more ex-jw's to connect with from milwaukee.

  if you are from the wisconsin area also that is a plus.. thanks!.

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  Expanded-Mind

  Hi!

  I'm not from Milwaukee (although I actually lived in a small town north of Milwaukee from 2006 - 2008 before I moved back to Illinois), but wanted you to know that there is a group of former Witnesses that meet fairly regularly in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. This group has had visitors from Wisconsin and Michigan, as I recall.

  You are more than welcome to join in on the next "meet up". Here is the website: Transistioning Jehovah's Witnesses:

  http://www.facebook.com/#!/transitioning.jehovahwitnesses?fref=ts

  Feel free to PM if you have any questions.

  Regards,

  ExpandedMind

  PS: Oh, and I believe there are former Witnesses in the Milwaukee area that run the 1-800-WHY-1914 phone number. It has been a really long time since I have been in contact with members of that group myself, so my memory may be cloudy! I think if you go to Randy Watters FREEMINDS website, he may have some of these persons listed.
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  3

  lost touch with JNS

  by perfect1 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am trying to track down a young woman from stockton, ca that i have lost touch with.

  i have heard she is dfed and family is shunning her, and i want to contact her, esp.

  in light if recent events.

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  Expanded-Mind

  Good luck in your search!

  ExpandedMind