Posts by Crisis of Conscience

150

Most Ridiculous Thing You've Ever Been Counseled On

by MrFreeze in

i'm sure topics like this have already come up but they tend to get hilarious with the absolute absurdity that goes on in the kh.

i was once counseled for not shaving after two days.

i was also counseled by a sister for eating lucky charms cereal.

Crisis of Conscience

"Hugging" my wife during a prayer (Bull ((((COUGH, COUGH))))) Sorry had something in my throat. Must have been a curse word)

Writing or making changes on the information board. (I feel that damn cough coming on again!!)

30

If still "in", how do you feel when praying in front of a group despite being in doubt of your beliefs?

by Crisis of Conscience in

jw
friends

it happened to me this weekend.

i'm curently "active" and had some long time friends from a different congregation over for dinner.. we went through the formality of praying before the meal.

normally or rather lately i've been passing it off to someone else.

I was away recently and was asked to pray before a small group. I couldn't really say no since there were only 2 other brothers and they had had their turn already with the other meals. Boy did it feel weird. And I really felt inside, "This really doesn't mean anything. If they only knew."

Oh well. Life goes on and so do I - undercover. Until the day.

CoC

27

"Armageddon is Weeks Away" Phrase...Is WT pushing this phrase more recently?

by mentallyfree31 in

i'm wondering if this phrase is perhaps being pushed recently in letters to the elders or circuit overseers.

i have heard it a time or two here in the last few days on the forum - specifically from a bethelite.. also, the last conversation i had with my presiding overseer about 5 weeks ago, he used this exaxt phrase: "i believe armageddon is only weeks away".. i know its been right around the corner for 130 years, but it seems this exact phrase seems to be floating around a lot lately.. what are your thoughts?

jw's usually don't think for themselves - they just repeat what those above them say.

Crisis of Conscience

I heard they pin pointed the day of the week. Yes it is actually going to occur on a Wednesday, plus or minus up to 3 days.

LOL

260

Who Are Your Past Circuit Overseers? It's a small world..

by mentallyfree31 in

who were your past circuit overseers?

i'm sure a lot of us actually know mutual people, as the co's relocate all over the country.. here's a few from the southeast us: (let me know if you recognize any names and post yours too please...).

ellwood johnson (new york/philadelphia area for several years also).

Crisis of Conscience

EndofMysteries Wow you have Hanz and Frager too, wonder if we ever crossed paths ;0

Were you in the tristate area in the Northeast?

260

Who Are Your Past Circuit Overseers? It's a small world..

by mentallyfree31 in

who were your past circuit overseers?

i'm sure a lot of us actually know mutual people, as the co's relocate all over the country.. here's a few from the southeast us: (let me know if you recognize any names and post yours too please...).

ellwood johnson (new york/philadelphia area for several years also).

Crisis of Conscience

East Coast - Don't remember a lot of 1st names and some were/are DO's

Conti, Anthony Decinti, Filisbino, Frank Hanz, Frager, Bartell, Everett Rodrigues, Bargeron, Frank Furtado, Cook, Christos Ismalitis, Thompson/Thomas (Don't remember)

I'll edit this if anyone else comes to mind

46

Roll call - How many here fake being a "good Jehovah's Witness"....like me!

by Witness 007 in

there is no truth...i know that.

to please my mum while she's alive and wife i go to meetings and the 3 day convention coming up.

i would rather go to the dentist.

Crisis of Conscience

Count me in. ATM I feel pretty comfortable with the way things are going. I have actually been able to relieve a lot of stress (as crazy as that sounds).

I think the reason why is because while I'm not at the meetings, I do whatever I want. If I want to waste hours on TV, videogames, movies, etc., I do it. I don't keep up with the magazines, the text, the Bible reading, or anything else anymore. So most of the 168 hours of the week are mine. And hopefully I will reach the point soon where more, if not all, will be mine.

I must say, it feels really good to do what I enjoy. The next goal is to sleep in on Saturday's. I already do it on Sunday. And I love it!!

38

Gratitude from a long time lurker!

by Thetis in

i cannot begin to tell you how grateful i am to you!

you reassured me while i was one of the walking wounded.

you know that line from the movie "shadowlands", when the student says to c.s.

Crisis of Conscience

Welcome! I can say that in my case being here is indeed therapy, a form of release. I don't post a whole lot, but I read as much as I can. And because of it, I have been able to deal with a lot of anxiety that has come to me by being a witness, IMO.

Enjoyed your expressions and look forward to hearing more from you!

11

How many times have you read a post here and thought, "Wow, I thought only I felt that way about (insert spiritual/JW activity here)!"

by Crisis of Conscience in

i was inspired by a few different things people said.. one dealt with if you pray(ed) regularly with your husband/wife.

a few people described how awkward they felt in doing it.

i felt like that for the longest time!

Crisis of Conscience

I was inspired by a few different things people said.

One dealt with if you pray(ed) regularly with your husband/wife. A few people described how awkward they felt in doing it. I felt like that for the longest time! It just never felt right. Who could I tell though besides my wife?

But as a witness we are taught that after time you begin to enjoy certain things or that maybe they become easier. (I'm still waiting.)

The other thing is the ministry. I'm generally a confident person. But I never felt/feel confident while in the ministry. I wouldn't want to be bothered at home. And I hate being pushed to take something I don't want. So who am I to think that someone else likes it and wants it? I just can't get with that.

Anyway, please share some of the things that you used to feel were only your thoughts and through JWN finally discovered you were human in thinking it and not alone.

23

My experience

by MrFreeze in

my experience is in no way remarkeable but i felt like sharing it anyway.

i was raised a jw.

my mom became one the year i was born.

Crisis of Conscience

Welcome MrFreeze!

As I keep reading different peoples experiences, I can't help but think to myself, "Wow! I thought I was the only one that felt that way! I guess not."

So thank you for allowing me to put another check mark next to the "Yes-I-am-normal-despite-what-we-are-led-to-believe-as-witnesses" list.

I'm thankful for no longer feeling alone. OOh this sounds like an idea for a new thread!

14

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-16-10 WT Study (LIVE UP DEDICATION)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 05-16-10 wt study (march 15, 2010, pages 14-18)(live up dedication).

review comments will be in red or headed by comments.

wt material from today's wt will be in black.

Crisis of Conscience

Q 8. Why is it vital for you to ask Jehovah for his spirit?

8. It is not a matter of simply studying the Scriptures and meditating. You need to keep asking for Jehovah's help and guidance. He can "do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive." (Eph. 3:20; Luke 11:13) How would you answer, though, if someone inquired, "Why should I continue to ask if God already knows 'what things I am needing before ever I ask him'?" (Matt. 6:8) Well, for one thing, by praying for holy spirit, you acknowledge your reliance on Jehovah. For example, if someone came to you for aid, you would do whatever you could to help him, one reason being that he asked you to assist him, showing trust in you. (Compare Proverbs 3:27.) Likewise, Jehovah finds pleasure in your asking him for his spirit, and he will give it to you.--Prov. 15:8.

COMMENTSDoes a normal parent make their child ask many, many times before they will give them what they ask for?

Thank you very much for this Blondie.

I've thought a lot about this recently. So much that I can only describe it the same way I did in another post.

And I've been wondering why we have to ask God for things so much, repeatedly. I mean if he can read the heart and knows what we need before we do, how many times do I have to ask?

I like to illustrate it like this: Someone has a snakebite and needs an antidote, which you have in your possession. You can readily perceive this person needs help, perhaps without him saying a thing. But yet you expect him to keep asking you for the antidote, even begging you. And you respond that you realize what he needs but then proceed to say to please ask you again.

Why would any loving human do that? That's how I been feeling about God and seemingly unanswered prayers. It's been awhile too but I'm really starting to realize it now.

And then this sentence in the paragraph still leads to circular reasoning in my mind:

Well, for one thing, by praying for holy spirit, you acknowledge your reliance on Jehovah.

Well if He already knows what I need, wouldn't He also be able to tell whether I confide/rely on Him or not?

Sigh.........Must this really be so complicated?