Posts by Jim

27

Remembering Halloween As A JW Kid . . .

by Corvin in

jw
friends

i remember my mom and my aunt making us kids open the door to the trick-or-treators and instead of giving them candy, we had to put wt and awake!

magazines (back issues) in their bags.

how embarrassing.. anyone else have the same experience?.

Jim_TX

Well... we never celebrated Halloween. But I remember a local grocer here used to issue a special grocery bag around Halloween with a 'mask' of the grocery store chain on it - it was, I suppose something that looked like the fore-runner to the universal 'Happy Face' - only it was 'Handy Andy'. Yup - you had to cut out the mask, and then put string through some holes. Pretty cool, I thought.

I always wanted one of those bags - to cut out the mask - but was over-ruled by my mom who used those paper bags for garbage or whatever - and didn't want me cutting them up.

*sigh*

I also remember sitting at home in the dark - and hoping that those trick or treaters would just pass on by. Back then - they didn't necessarily walk past unlit homes, and sometimes there would be the loud knock knock followed by the 'trick or treat'.

What I really think was funny though were those years when Halloween fell on a book study night - or Thursday evening. hahahahahaha

We'd be sitting in a private home and get 'the knock'. Depending on who was the 'conductor'... well... I don't remember any specifics - it was years ago - but I think that they pretty much went to the door and explained to the poor confused kiddos some religious bunk.

The KH 'knocks' were also hilarious.

Regards,

Jim TX

P.S. I guess - in retrospect... it's a non-JWs revenge... sorta like door-to-door in reverse, eh? It gives a JW an opportunity to see what it feels like to dread someone coming to the door and knocking. hahahahaha

15

Why do they shun only the DF/DA?

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

i've been musing to myself - just wondering about the position of those who get df or who da - they are given the shunning treatment whenever they come across those good old christian dubs.. but those ex-dubs who simply fadeaway can come and go.

semingly they are ignored.. both "types" (classes?????

are non-active dubs, yet the treatment is reserved for just some.. seems strange.. or is it just me in upside down land?.

Jim_TX

I think that this is an interesting question.

I also think that it may depend on the local congregation/elders - as to how one is viewed.

I was a 'fader'. I was never 'shunned' perse... but then again, I was pretty much below the radar, and I think they may have not known how to 'handle' someone like me.

I think that their 'official' position might be along the lines that someone who is a 'fader' - or 'inactive' (by their terms) - might still possibly return to their religion.

Someone who is DFed or DAed... well... their rules are screwy. (What really is screwy is that they will shun an ex-JW - but will gladly talk to an ax murderer.)

Anyway - there were many occassions when I accompanied the wifey to gatherings - mainly to support my young daughter - and also to make sure that things didn't get out of hand. (I'm more 'strict' than most JWs - hahahahahaha)

There was one 'party' where I almost said something, too. The adults were drinking booze like it was going outta style - and no 'designated drivers'. Actually, it was my wifes' sister and her husband who brought the large cooler full of beer - and there wasn't more than 10 seconds that went by that they didn't have a can in their hand.

They also 'bribed' one of the elders - by giving him a can or two.

I don't drink beer - and have nothing against those who do - but... when you are tanking up on beer - and then have to drive many miles to get home - on an interstate freeway (speeds up to 70 mph) - and have a youngster who is only 6 or 7 years old in the car... well - you get the idea.

Anyway - like I already said - their 'rules' are screwy.

Regards,

Jim TX

7

I told someone that the JWs were a cult

by Jim_TX in

don't know how to start this... the other day, i was at work talking to the fellas there.. somehow they mentioned 'cults' - and i blurted out something like "jehovah's witnesses are also a cult.".

they quickly said "don't let p**** hear you say that.

he's a jehovah's witness.".

Jim_TX

Yeah. A lot has happened in those 104 years.

Jim TX

7

I told someone that the JWs were a cult

by Jim_TX in

don't know how to start this... the other day, i was at work talking to the fellas there.. somehow they mentioned 'cults' - and i blurted out something like "jehovah's witnesses are also a cult.".

they quickly said "don't let p**** hear you say that.

he's a jehovah's witness.".

Jim_TX

Don't know how to start this... the other day, I was at work talking to the fellas there.

Somehow they mentioned 'cults' - and I blurted out something like "Jehovah's Witnesses are also a cult."

They quickly said "Don't let P**** hear you say that. He's a Jehovah's Witness."

I said, "Yeah. I know."

The first fella disappeared - or went home - and I continued to talk to my boss. I told him a bit about how they are... and HE mentioned, "Yeah... I don't know what they do - but P**** seems to be under a lot of pressure - or something - at various times of the year. His mind isn't here... he's elsewhere."

(Words like that)

I also told Richard that I used to be a JW. He seemed kinda surprised about that. I told him that was why I could say what I did about them.

He mentioned something about seeing them in the neighborhood on bikes... I laughed and corrected him. "Those are Mormons. Same difference, though."

He then said something that I thought was hilarious. (To understand this - you need to know that he is British.)

"That's why I am glad that I belong to the Church of England. You only have to go three times." He said.

Well... I am slow, and was mentally going through the - three times per... week? month? year? - then it hit me - per lifetime!!! I started laughing!

Then I tried to figure out WHEN those three times were... hmmm... birth... marriage... Oh! and death!

"Yeah, he continued. And you only have to participate at one of them - when you get married."

Richard is a funny guy!

Regards,

Jim TX

20

For Atheists only

by Kaethra in

jw
friends

it's not for atheists only...i just hoped i'd get their attention.

my oldest brother is about 10 years older than me.

he married a girl that i adored.

Jim_TX

Kaethra,

I do not know what you could say, but... would it be possible to offer to help out in the days and weeks that come?

Both she and your brother may need someone there to help out - perhaps cooking a meal or two for them... or other small things to show your concern?

(Hey! I'm not very good at this either! - plus, I'm a guy. *weak grin*)

For what it's worth... my mom died of cancer this past spring. I didn't know that she had it - until I got a phone call early one Sunday morning from my sister, who told me that my mom had passed.

"We thought we had longer." was her remark. "We always do." was my reply.

Just be there for her.

Regards,

Jim TX

98

No Trespassing!! Breaking news for local JW's.

by Mulan in

jw
friends

this week at the book study, at all congregations in the u.s., a letter was read saying if you go to a house or property with a "no trespassing" sign, you must not enter, or knock on the door.

you have to leave immediately.

a sign saying "no solicitors" is too ambiguous, and they are to use their own judgment, and don't have to knock.

Jim_TX

Scully wrote...

"...nobody will be able to dispute the faked hours, as there are no eye witnesses to the fakery."

Does the 'two witness' rule apply to this also?

hahahahahahaha

Jim TX

23

"AND NOW IT BEGINS . . . "

by Corvin in

jw
friends

today, right around the time i was expecting nancy home from school, on this her second day back, the doorbell rings.

guess who?.

i will simply cut and paste the entry i made into the now very detailed log i am keeping since nancy's suicide attempt.

Jim_TX

Corvin - it looks like you have it under control... but like someone else has suggested, get your lawyer to help you write up a letter.

In that letter use all sorts of good legal words that let them know that you _will_ sue them if they continue to violate the court orders.

After you have the letter written - send it to the local congregation that that gal came from - AND send a copy to the headquarters in New York (make sure that you indicate a carbon was sent to N.Y. on the one that you send locally.)

Since each congregation is 'on their own' when it comes to fighting court battles... they will avoid you like the plague - AND will be directed to do so from New York.

Great progress Corvin - keep it up.

Regards,

Jim TX

14