Posts by joelbear

15

New Theocratic Ministry School

by DB in

jw
friends

i missed one day of the 2001 district convention.

i heard from someone seated nearby that, beginning in 2003, the theocratic ministry school will be newly formatted.

does anyone here know what that new format will be?

joelbear

Talks are 5 minutes now?????????????

When I was a kid they were 6 minutes.

And we had to give them while standing in the snow.

BOTH WAYS

grumbling hugs

Joel

23

no conclusions, just thoughts.. should we disfellowship all of our friends and family who are jehovah's witnesses in order to protect ourselves and in order to wake them up to see how dangerous a path they are on?.

would like to see a discussion of this.. thanks.

joel

joelbear

No Conclusions, just thoughts.

Should we disfellowship all of our friends and family who are Jehovah's Witnesses in order to protect ourselves and in order to wake them up to see how dangerous a path they are on?

Would like to see a discussion of this.

thanks

Joel

32

funny old life isnt it....

by Deacon in

jw
friends

i was just looking out the window, as it would happen a middle aged woman, or perhaps a young woman worn out with her life walked past.

she stopped on the edge of the mall where my wifes office is, and sat on a bench outside the window.

on close look, she couldnt have been more than late 30's, but probably only 35.. she sat for a while just looking at the ground in front of her, her face just exhibiting that blank look of the world weary.

joelbear

Out,

You are quite right. I did post about missing the ideal. Thanks for reminding me about that.

I definitely miss believing in the ideal.

I have come to the conclusion that:

Perfection is a myth
Justice is a myth

Actually, as I come to grips with these conclusions and begin to see reality, I am less judgmental of others and of myself.

I think possibly have realistic expectations about life can actually help you achieve more.

hugs

Joel

15

New Theocratic Ministry School

by DB in

jw
friends

i missed one day of the 2001 district convention.

i heard from someone seated nearby that, beginning in 2003, the theocratic ministry school will be newly formatted.

does anyone here know what that new format will be?

joelbear

Wow.

Written reviews were the most fun nights of all. Except for my mom making me study for them.

hugs

Joel

5

Kingdom Halls online

by GinnyTosken in

jw
friends

up late and feeling a little silly, i decided to do a search online for "kingdom hall.

" given the society's stance about the dangers of the evil internet, i was a bit surprised to find so many online.. at my favorite site, a kingdom melody in midi format plays when you enter.

if you click on "kingdom hall picture," a seductive, jazzy song plays.

joelbear

The meeting times indicate the meetings are shorter now? HEY, what gives. If I had to sit still for 2 hours so should they.

pouting huts

Joel

20

Do they try too hard to be 'normal?'

by LDH in

jw
friends

it has occurred to me recently, that a lot of the behavior of jws in good standing is done to trick themselves and others into thinking they're normal.

when in fact, they're not.. example:.

when a young jw man goes to a 'gathering' he will drink one beer loudly and proclaim how good cold beer is!

joelbear

Java,

very interesting story. I think that is a good tactic. I was recently approached by a young lady where I work who had been offered a study by Jehovahs Witnesses. She knew that I had been associated with them.

I very calmly went through the facts about being a witness, both positive and negative.

She decided to stay with the church she was attending.

hugs

Joel

10

JUSTICE #1 - Loving Marriage Counselors

by Amazing in

jw
friends

"wise and loving marriage counselors - preserving the sanctity of god's marital arrangement.

[note: i made some editorial adjustments, grammatical improvements, and formatting changes from the original post, but it is essentially unchanged.].

we had a couple in our kingdom hall who were engaged to be married.

joelbear

Very simply put,

It is not for man to judge other men. These seems like such an easy concept and one widely proved true both in the Bible and in every day life.

Thanks for sharing the story.

hugs

Joel

20

Do they try too hard to be 'normal?'

by LDH in

jw
friends

it has occurred to me recently, that a lot of the behavior of jws in good standing is done to trick themselves and others into thinking they're normal.

when in fact, they're not.. example:.

when a young jw man goes to a 'gathering' he will drink one beer loudly and proclaim how good cold beer is!

joelbear

LOL,

After reading jurs post. I think Lisa and Jurs may be right and I'm wrong.

I used to go out in service with this absolutely wacked out sister. She was a freak. She would argue with people to the point that people would slam doors or follow us out of their yards. A true nut case.

Once, a few of us young pioneers planned a trip to Disneyworld and she freaked out because she thought disney was demonized because of the stories about fairies (peter pan) witches (snow white) and of course the evilest of them all Mary Poppins.

No one else would go out in service with her. I must have been crazy to. I am surprised we were never shot.

I'll never forget when I was a senior in high school I had already started changing my mind about the witnesses and I was editor of the high school year book. Me and a girl on the staff road in the homecoming parade to promote the yearbook. I saw this sister watching the parade go by, just standing there, staring at me with this reallllllly!!!!!! weird grin on her face, like she was casting judgement on me. Like when I saw her, she knew I had gotten caught at something bad.

MY GOD!!!! They are freaks. HELLLPPPPPP!!!!!!

MOMMYYYYY!!!!

hugs

Joel

20

Do they try too hard to be 'normal?'

by LDH in

jw
friends

it has occurred to me recently, that a lot of the behavior of jws in good standing is done to trick themselves and others into thinking they're normal.

when in fact, they're not.. example:.

when a young jw man goes to a 'gathering' he will drink one beer loudly and proclaim how good cold beer is!

joelbear

Hi Lisa,

I don't mind being disagreed with. Discussion is interesting and the only way I learn anything.

You miss my point slightly.

I agree with you that all of the activities you listed: no celebrations, putting off life, expecting god to fix everything, etc. are not healthy activities.

However normal people engage in many unhealthy activities. My point is that Jehovah's Witnesses have basically the same needs as everyone else. Their methods for providing emotional needs for themselves are at best self defeating and at worst self destructing.

hugs

Joel

22

I'm going to be a father!

by dedalus in

jw
friends

i've been a sorry excuse of a poster lately, so i'm not really in tune with what's going on with the board, but i still know enough people here to make an announcement: foxy, my fiancee, is pregnant!.

so it happened a couple of years before we were planning it, before we could even get married, before i've finished my postgraduate degree -- but so what?

we're financially sturdy enough to pull it off, i'll be able to complete the degree and get a good job, and no amount of financial anxiety seems to offset the excitement i feel to be having a child.

joelbear

Congratulations,

Mitch and I have been trying for years but with no success.

hugs

Joel