so after my once a year visit with my parents it dawns on me that my dad, after 30 years in the "truth" has never been an elder.
but yet my brother has.
so i'm thinking to myself i wonder if he was never an elder because one or more of his children has been disfellowshipped for all or part of the last 22 years.
The actions of grown children are not used in deciding a person's congregational privileges. I am DFed and my brother has been inactive his whole life (he was DFed when he was 18 and RIed when he was 21.
My father has been an elder for at least the past 15 years.
Joel
i can't believe it's all a sham!
remember before i was baptized, i wondered onto a hostile site and felt a sickening dread, when i confronted the sister who studied with me she reassured me that i shouldn't worry, all the stuff on those sites are written by bitter outcasts who have nothing constructive to offer, "after all", she said, ""did you ever read anything upbuilding there?
" well, here i am baptized, back on the net 4 years later and wham!!
Hey guys,
I don't think any of you are addressing Decided's main point.
I think Decided has a valid point in saying that its easy to sit and try to tear down something we no longer believe in, but what alternative do we offer?
Decided states a specific goal of becoming closer to God. I think that is a good goal, no matter what definition of God one may have.
I agree that all of us should contemplate more positive issues and discuss those here more.
I agree that we should try to upbuild each other with positive experiences, thoughts and directions our lives have taken.
Good post Decided. You really got me thinking.
hugs
Joel
its been a while since i read stephen r. covey's _the 7 habits of highly effective people_ and i do not feel like looking up the section i am getting ready to mention.
but i think i recall covey talking about the unhealthy habit of becoming overly engrossed in one activity or pursuit.. it seems that there are individuals using this medium of communication whose life's aim is to "help" jws out of the "borg" or 'bring down the tower.
if it tricks your trigger, i guess there is nothing anyone can do to prevent you from "helping" jws out of the "borg.
Commie Chris,
Thank you for pointing me in the direction of Social Ecology. I never realized there was a set of study organized in this fashion. I am currently majoring in Math and minoring Sociology. My goal is to eventually get a research position at a University. I have been in Banking for 25 years and I hate it. Soon I will be economically capable of making a change.
Please come to my web page and read my Lifeism page. I would enjoy having your thoughts on my admittedly simplistic approach.
www.joelbear.com Click on Lifeism.
Thanks for some great posts.
hugs
Joel
dear ex-jws,.
i am writing this letter to formally thank you for all the encouragment you have given me via this medium of communication.
without your help, i might have been another casualty of satan.
Duns,
Satire is indeed sometimes an effective tool in teaching. I don't consider this post satire, I consider it sarcasm. I read it as a way for you to pick at people you already know are irritated by your point of view. I don't see how this strategy will win others to your point of view.
I see it more as an act of frustration that you are not winning people to your side. Of course, you never know how many people you are affecting who never respond to your posts. I read almost everything you post. I don't understand a good bit of it even though I consider myself a fairly intelligent person.
I was fascinated by your ideas on how Christians perceive god's presence. I had given it a good bit of thought and meditation.
I am disappointed that a good intelligent Jehovah's Witness and believer just decided to lower themself to juvenile nyah nyah games.
peace
Joel
dearest mum and others,.
an elder approached me after the meeting on sunday and said he wanted to ask me a question.
his query dealt with john 1:1. .
Actions speak louder than words.
I think someone once said.
dear ex-jws,.
i am writing this letter to formally thank you for all the encouragment you have given me via this medium of communication.
without your help, i might have been another casualty of satan.
I have to admit. I expected more than this childish reverse psychological drivel out of Duns.
Duns, you were much more interesting and thought provoking when you were seriously arguing your side of the equation. Sorry to see you gave up.
peace
Joel
dearest mum and others,.
an elder approached me after the meeting on sunday and said he wanted to ask me a question.
his query dealt with john 1:1. .
Do yall think we will ever actually have a nice humble Jehovah's Witness ever visit this site?
Do they exist any more?
wondering hugs
Joel
its been a while since i read stephen r. covey's _the 7 habits of highly effective people_ and i do not feel like looking up the section i am getting ready to mention.
but i think i recall covey talking about the unhealthy habit of becoming overly engrossed in one activity or pursuit.. it seems that there are individuals using this medium of communication whose life's aim is to "help" jws out of the "borg" or 'bring down the tower.
if it tricks your trigger, i guess there is nothing anyone can do to prevent you from "helping" jws out of the "borg.
Duns says:
what do they have to offer in return? Nothing, except believe what you want to or drink yourself half silly everyday and conduct a life governed by hedonic utility that is devoid of God.
Joel says:
I don't think I have ever told someone to stop being a Jehovah's Witness or to not become one. I have shared my experiences and thoughts. People's spirituality is up to them. I try to be very careful not to influence or coerce. I kind of view it like the Prime Directive on Star Trek except they never followed it themselves on the show or there would have been no show.
I want people to be happy. If being a Jehovah's Witness makes them truly happy, who am I to question that. I was not happy as a Jehovah's Witness so I left. I think truth should make someone happy.
I don't think Jehovah's Witnesses have the whole truth. I do believe they teach truths. I don't believe that "the truth" lies in one place. I think it must be gathered from many different sources.
hugs
Joel
joel, i want you to know i can think of no other poster who shows as much humanity, as much compassion and insight as you, particularly when it comes to the human condition.. thank you for sharing yourself and your journey so openly; i'm grateful for that.
you obviously have picked up many helpful tools in your recovery toolkit, and when you not only share them with us but show how to use them, how they can benefit us, we are the richer.. i need not say more, than that you are loved very much.. maximus.
who once in a while learns from joel a leeeetle more than he needed to, but what else is new?
Hi all,
Thanks for the kind words. They are very much appreciated. I hope I can make any and all of you feel better any time you might be down.
I was glad to see that Friday finally admitted he is really not an active Jehovah's Witness. I'm sure there is a lot more to his story
than he is willing to share here, including some personal hurt that has happened to him to make him so sad and angry and it is probably tied in with why he has stopped attending meetings and I would assume also not going in field service.
I believe strongly that everyone has a story, even Friday and You Know and Fred. They act the way they do for a reason. Every effect has a cause. We may never know fully why they act the way they do. I do sincerely wish Friday peace.
I suggest that we all try to remember that these people too have a history, problems, hurts and pains to deal with and try to remember that when we read their posts and when we respond to them. Who knows what mental, physical and emotional problems Friday, Fred, You Know and many others here are battling on a day to day basis. Maybe venting here is a coping mechanism for them. Maybe it makes the rest of their life a little more bearable. If so, I can live with being ranted at a bit.
I lose my temper from time to time myself and usually regret it.
Joel
just for fun!!!.
excluding your spouse/significant other and children (they would be with you) who would you like to be stranded on a deserted island with?.
i think billy crystal and robin williams would have to top my list, i think they are 2 of the funniest men out there and i would definitely want to laugh.
Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright)
Jimmy Buffett
Kurt Vonnegutt
Isaac Asimov
Bill Murray
Sean Astin (the cutest cub ever)
Was I only supposed to pick one?
