Kristen

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Posts by Kristen

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  28

  Make up a word for how you felt Sats 3:42 at DAs

  by joelbear in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  make up a word for how you felt saturday afternoons at 3:42 during district assemblies.

  mine is.

  aggsniffilated.

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  Kristen

  hoagiesfruitbagsandwarmshastagurgitative
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  61

  Signing Off on "The NET THANG"

  by JT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i would just like to thank everyone for the excellent posts that have appeared here on this site.

  i esp would like to thank simon for making this possible.

  i sincerely believe that the "net thang" will continue to play a role in helping jw who are sincerely searching for a confirmation that all their doubts and wondering over the years was not the result of them being spiritually weak.

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  Kristen

  JT & Lady "C",
  Take good care. :)

  Kristen
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  8

  Shunned, twice in one day

  by Mulan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is so funny.

  i giggled all the way home.

  mom had asked me to buy her some pretty stationery at the hallmark store.

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  Kristen

  "...two of her buddies shunned me, but I was warmly greeted by a disfellowshipped person."

  the irony of it all...
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  32

  University Question

  by Naeblis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for the last year or so i've been mulling over quitting everything, becominga bum, and actually going to university.

  i work with computers, and though the pay is good (hence my still doing it), i can't shake the feeling that this isn't what i'm supposed to be doing.

  i want to do something with english.

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  Kristen

  -or-
  ... you could try out one of the many free online courses at Barnes and Noble University just to see if you have the desire and/or discipline to keep up with their weekly or biweekly learning curriculum.

  Heck, just do it for personal enrichment. You don't even need to buy the books!

  http://www.barnesandnobleuniversity.com

  Kristen
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  25

  Disturbing material in May 15, 2002 Watchtower

  by spender in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in the questions from readers section, the question was: "would it be advisable for a true christian to attend a funeral or a wedding in a church?".

  to analyze this wonderful piece, i'm going to use their words, and translate them into real english.. "being in a group where everyone else is engaging in a false religious act, a christian may find it difficult to resist the pressure to join in.

  how unwise to expose oneself to such pressure!".

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  Kristen

  This article and the long-time attitude about *not* going into churches for weddings and funerals reminded me of the last two times I would ignore what was in my heart in order to give consideration to the "effect our attending a service in a religious building might have on fellow believers... ."

  The first was having to sit out in a car with the rest of my JW family while our "worldy" family members and their friends carried our Aunt in and out of a church for funeral services. What an odd and disrespectful thing it must have been to them.

  The second was missing out on my big brother's wedding. If he were alive today, I would tell him how sorry I am for not being there.

  Never again.

  Kristen
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  7

  Power?

  by lost in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just finally figured out what it was.

  power.

  i have read, heard and felt everyones posts here on what it feels like to be shunned.. if i was an ego maniac, so focused on my own everlasting, selfish survival, i could understand the 'power'.. but who of us here want to believe that?

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  Kristen

  :Our parents, our siblings, friends, who we love more than they love us?
  Or do they love us so much that they shun us?

  Welcome, lost.

  I think quite a few JWs have inner conflict over having to shun friends or loved ones—and need to convince themselves that it's a *loving* thing they are doing, when really, it seems just the opposite of love, doesn't it? It's quite unnatural and unloving to act as if a person doesn't exist when they are standing in front of you, feeling bad enough already.

  And the mixed messages:
  God is love... show loving kindness... be compassionate, be forgiving ... blah blah blah... EXCEPT to those who have erred and been given an *unworthy* label by men. And how much more difficult is it for one trying to go back and have to prove themselves to men for months or years of their repentance... only to be viewed and treated as if they didn't exist right in the Kingdom Hall. So sad.

  I find very little love at all in that.

  You are free here, lost. I hope you stick around.

  Kristen
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  22

  birthday...

  by zanex in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  its my birthday friday!

  i have a bunch of "worldly" friends that i really care about and they are all planning on taking me out but i hesitate...i just only recently within the last 2 years started taking active interest in my birthday so i only have a minimal idea of what to feel...i know i will go out and get trashed and plastered but i want to know what it feels like...i dont know if this post makes any sense haha i think i'm gonna just drink myself into a nice stupor and pass out somewhere hahaha...any tips or advice from anybody here?

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  Kristen

  Happy Birthday, Zanex!

  When I celebrated my *first time* last year, which is also my big Sis's day, I picked up a small bag of those cone-shaped party hats, some of those paper-horn blowy things, and a few balloons and greeted her at her door all decked out for my first party.

  For the first time in 29 years, I was able to celebrate *our* day and let out all the years the little kid in me couldn't. I wouldn't have done it any differently!

  Enjoy yours too!

  Kristen
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  30

  30+ years of Field Service Observations

  by Tulsi Das in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some very random thoughts based on 30+ years of field service activity.

  would especially enjoy responses by jt, alanf, amazing, & others.. why they do it.

  1. guilt.

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  Kristen

  Tulsi Das,
  I agree with your observations.

  Ironically, I find myself quite irked at the large amount of telemarketing calls and door-to-door kids (and adults)we get selling candy, newspapers, trinkets, and *secular* magazine subscriptions we don't want and didn't inquire about.

  Now on the other side of the JW door, I understand why we got the response we did. Here we were, intruding on other people's lives and personal spiritual beliefs telling them that they were wrong, and we were right. At that, a 16-year-old telling some 40-year-old householder this stuff. Sigh.

  I was really happy to pass over the homes with the "No Canvassing" signs though. But were were told to ignore the "No Soliciting" signs.

  Kristen
  ready to hang up both a NO SOLICITING and NO CANVASSING sign
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  25

  Disturbing material in May 15, 2002 Watchtower

  by spender in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  in the questions from readers section, the question was: "would it be advisable for a true christian to attend a funeral or a wedding in a church?".

  to analyze this wonderful piece, i'm going to use their words, and translate them into real english.. "being in a group where everyone else is engaging in a false religious act, a christian may find it difficult to resist the pressure to join in.

  how unwise to expose oneself to such pressure!".

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  Kristen

  I just saw this QFR too. In case anyone wants to read the whole thing I did an OCR scan to share.

  Questions From Readers

  Would it be advisable for a true Christian to attend a funeral or a wedding in a church?

  Our taking part in any form of false religion is displeasing to Jehovah and must be avoided. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17; Revelation 18:4) A church funeral is a religious service that likely involves a sermon advocating such unscriptural ideas as the immortality of the soul and a heavenly reward for all good people. It may also include such practices as making the sign of the cross and joining in prayer with the priest or minister. Prayers and other religious exercises contrary to Bible teaching may also be a part of a religious wedding ceremony held in a church or elsewhere. Being in a group where everyone else is engaging in a false religious act, a Christian may find it difficult to resist the pressure to join in. How unwise to expose oneself to such pressure!

  What if a Christian feels obligated to attend a funeral or a wedding held in a church? An un-believing husband, for example, may urge his Christian wife to be with him on such an occasion. Could she join him as a quiet observer? Out of regard for her husband's wishes, the wife may decide to go with him, being determined not to share in any religious ceremonies. On the other hand, she may decide not to go, reasoning that the emotional pressure of the circumstances could prove to be too much for her, perhaps causing her to compromise godly principles. The decision would be hers to make. She definitely would want to be settled in her heart, having a clean conscience.—1 Timothy 1:19.

  In any case, it would be to her advantage to explain to her husband that she could not conscientiously share in any religious ceremonies or join in the singing of hymns or bow her head when prayer is offered. On the basis of her explanation, he may conclude that his wife's presence could give rise to a situation that might be unpleasant to him. He may choose to go alone out of love for his wife, respect for her beliefs, or a desire to avoid any embarrassment. But if he insists that she go with him, she might go as a mere observer.

  Not to be overlooked is the effect our attend-ing a service in a religious building might have on fellow believers. Could it injure the conscience of some? Might their resistance to avoid engaging in idolatry be weakened? "Make sure of the more important things," admonishes the apostle Paul, "so that you may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ."—Philippians 1:10.

  If the occasion involves a close fleshly relative, there may be additional family pressures. In any case, a Christian must carefully weigh all the factors involved. Under certain circumstances he or she may conclude that no difficulties would arise from attending a church funeral or wedding as an observer. However, the circumstances may be such that by attending, the likely injury to one's own conscience or to that of others would outweigh the possible benefits of being present. Whatever the situation, the Christian should make sure that the decision will not interfere with his preserving a good conscience before God and men.

  28 THE WATCHTOWER • MAY 15, 2002
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  12

  What I Have Learned

  by Sunflower1982 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is my first post here, so i guess i should introduce myself j i'm a 19-year-old college student in baltimore, maryland.

  i was involved with jws on and off for about 4 years and, after being baptized for a little over a year, i stopped attending meetings.

  although my time as a jw was very brief (compared to the decades many people have spent in the organization) it is amazing how much my experience as a jw has affected my life.

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  Kristen

  Path,