Posts by Quendi

11

An Update

by Quendi in

i've been away from the board for a while but thought i'd put my head in the doorway to say hello to all and give an update on what's going on with me.. i have been unemployed for nearly three years and finally had got to the end of my tether.

so, at the end of march, i left colorado, my home for the last thirty-one years, and returned to my family in alabama to regroup and recharge my batteries.

leaving colorado and the rockies was heartbreaking but i am grateful that i had a home to return to and didn't wind up on the streets.

Quendi

Thank you, my friends, for your encouragement and loving words of support. I know that I did the right thing to return to Alabama, especially as paulnotsaul pointed out, to take care of my mother. I believe that I will find a decent job here and so regain the independence I had lost during all the jobless years in Colorado. Once I start working again, then I can attend to other items on my agenda.

I am fascinated by the changes that have taken place during my long absence from Alabama. Many of them have been positive. Then there has been reintegrating into my family. Quite a few are older and grayer now, but there is also a new generation that has been born whom I am getting to know. That is especially true of my nephews and nieces. Being an uncle is not only a wonderful privilege, but also a very joyous one. My siblings' children are all fascinating young people and range in age from twenty-one to three.

I have been especially happy about not getting involved with the WTS again. There is a Kingdom Hall close by and I used to go to meetings there. The congregation had a very interesting history because it was the very first congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Birmingham. I knew some of the oldtimers who could recall those days and they related interesting experiences. I will miss some of the people I used to know, but there is no point in seeking them out. They would only shun me and I've got better things to do than associate with those who can no longer think for themselves.

I am excited about what lies ahead. There is a tremendous amount of things to see and do in the American South and I plan to explore as much as I can. From Civil War battlefields to antebellum homes to natural wonders and splendors, there is enough just in Alabama alone to keep me busy for years. Then there is the rest of the old Confederacy to see as well as getting to friends who live elsewhere in the East. The town that was my birthplace outside of Philadelphia is only a day's drive from Birmingham, and I want to get back there to see it one more time. I have friends who want to see me in the Washington D.C. area and New England too. So there's no reason for me to be inactive and idle.

My blog will detail my travels and other activities so feel free to check it out. Let me also wish all of you the very best in your own life journeys. I have been surprised to see this thread has had so many looks and I hope that what I have shared will be encouraging to them as well as others. Having escaped at last from the clutches of the WTS, I am free now to work out my own destiny, and with the help of friends, family and God, I will do so.

Quendi

11

An Update

by Quendi in

i've been away from the board for a while but thought i'd put my head in the doorway to say hello to all and give an update on what's going on with me.. i have been unemployed for nearly three years and finally had got to the end of my tether.

so, at the end of march, i left colorado, my home for the last thirty-one years, and returned to my family in alabama to regroup and recharge my batteries.

leaving colorado and the rockies was heartbreaking but i am grateful that i had a home to return to and didn't wind up on the streets.

Quendi

I've been away from the board for a while but thought I'd put my head in the doorway to say hello to all and give an update on what's going on with me.

I have been unemployed for nearly three years and finally had got to the end of my tether. So, at the end of March, I left Colorado, my home for the last thirty-one years, and returned to my family in Alabama to regroup and recharge my batteries. Leaving Colorado and the Rockies was heartbreaking but I am grateful that I had a home to return to and didn't wind up on the streets. Many who find themselves in my position have suffered that and I am fortunate to have escaped that situation.

My homecoming has allowed me to reassess many things as well as become the primary caregiver to my aged mother. That is proving quite a challenge in more ways than one. But she as well as practically all the rest of my family were overjoyed at my return. I am getting some long overdue medical attention and when that is done I will begin actively seeking a job. Many think it will be much easier for me to find a good job in Alabama than it was in Colorado because my college degree will mean much more here than it did there.

I have been pleasantly surprised by how easily I have adapted to life in the American South again. Being surrounded by supportive family and friends has meant a lot. But my goal is to eventually return to the West, even if it is only to retire there. That is my true home and I will be working very hard to make that a reality. There are some other things going on, though, that will mean big changes in my personal life.

I have not contacted any of the Witnesses I knew in Alabama from the past. I told my family that I had lost track of them, which was true enough, and saw no reason to hunt them down again. I want nothing to do with the WTS or its supporters. On the other hand, I have seen that religion in the "Bible Belt" can be a very, very powerful influence on the lives of the people who live here.

There are not one or two, but seven churches within a half-mile walk of my mother's house in Birmingham. Fundamentalist preachers are on all the TV and radio stations on Sundays. Many businesses are routinely closed on Sunday in Alabama despite the repeal of blue laws. When meeting new people, one is often asked what church one attends. My mother routinely tunes in to religious broadcasts. Listening to these charlatans fulminating about damnation, demons and death simply turns my stomach. As I told one of my Colorado friends recently, next to these false shepherds, the WTS sounds positively enlightened.

I have attended one church service since I returned because my brother was preaching a sermon there and I went to show my love for him as well as support. That's something I would never have done as a Witness in good standing. But that has been the only service I've attended, and I've told the family I am no longer a regular churchgoer nor will I be going to Kingdom Hall meetings ever again. I tell them that the Witnesses and I have had a falling out, and can no longer see eye-to-eye on matters of importance. My family fully supported me on my refusal to go to Witness meetings and have respected my wish not to go to church--something that was a most pleasant surprise.

The other major development has been my decision to live my life as I see fit. I am proceeding somewhat cautiously there because although I am a gay man, I have yet to come out to my family. Eventually I will but with other items taking priority now such as looking after my mother and finding a job, that can wait. I have found a gay church in Birmingham, something I definitely did not expect, and will check it out during the coming summer.

For those who might be interested, you can read more about my life here in my blog South By East. And to all of you here, thanks again for all your love, support and counsel. Although I may not be as active on JWN as I once was, you are in my thoughts. I know I can always come here for answers to questions, latest news on WTS happenings and other details religion- and Witness-related. Thanks again, and feel free to contact me anytime.

Quendi

60

Memorial partakers this year?

by punkofnice in

will there be over 12k 'partakers'(tm) this year?.

won't the wbt$ publish the amount of 'partakers'(tm) of the vinegar and crackers this year given that they stated this in qfr watchtower 15th august 2011 page 22 ????

(wow!

Quendi

bookmark

24

Prediction in "Bible Teach" book is already a false prophecy

by hamsterbait in

they warn the person actually reading the book that they should heed their warnings of armageddon, as it "will come in your lifetime".

since they now pin it on the life of anybody who reads the book, only one of those who read it needs to die to prove them wrong.. if i die it didnt come in my lifetime neither!

don t these clowns really think about some of the stuff they print?.

Quendi

bookmark

24

Memorial 2012 Date

by Quendi in

not that i have any intention of attending, but would somebody be so good as to post the date for the memorial "celebration" this year?

.

quendi.

Quendi

I have really enjoyed this discussion and want to thank everyone, particularly Sulla and shepherd, for their thoughts. Both of you have given me a lot to think about. I want to expand the discussion to include this question. Is it likely that first century Christians did not hold this ritual only once a year, but did so frequently? I ask this because at 1 Corinthians 11:26 Paul writes, "For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives."

The WTS says that the 1,970+ times the Memorial has supposedly been celebrated qualifies as "often", but I don't think the context of Paul's discussion of the Lord's Supper supports that conclusion. I think it is far more likely that Christians held this ritual frequently throughout the year. Does anyone else have some thoughts on this? Comment is certainly invited.

Quendi

24

Memorial 2012 Date

by Quendi in

not that i have any intention of attending, but would somebody be so good as to post the date for the memorial "celebration" this year?

.

quendi.

Quendi

Moshe, thanks for the clarification of your point.

Quendi

24

Memorial 2012 Date

by Quendi in

not that i have any intention of attending, but would somebody be so good as to post the date for the memorial "celebration" this year?

.

quendi.

Quendi

I have to disagree with you, Sulla, on levened bread being used during that "Last Supper". Matthew, who was present at the occasion, states explicitly, "On the first day of the unfermented cakes the disciples came to Jesus, saying: 'Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the passover?' " (Matthew 26:17) In John's account, he indicates that it is the Passover meal that was eaten because when Judas is dismissed, some of the disciples thought Jesus had ordered him to buy things needed for the festival. Remember, the Passover was not a single day's observance but a festival that covered seven days. And during that time no unleavened bread was to be eaten. Indeed, the Jews were forbidden to eat any leavened foods at all. --Leviticus 23:4-6

Consequently, when Christ and his disciples gathered for that Passover observance, the bread eaten was unleavened. That is the testimony of the gospels. Both Mark and Luke corroborate what Matthew writes about the eating of unleavened bread. (Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7) Paul calls Christ "our Passover" and says that unleavened bread was used then. (1 Corinthians 5:6-8) Now I'm not insisting on this point because I don't celebrate the Memorial at all. And I'm aware that many churches see fit to use leavened bread in their communion ceremonies. I'm only saying that I think that on the night Christ instituted this celebration it was most likely, almost certain, that unleavened bread was used.

Quendi

36

Shy JW at the door ... the pain of it

by MrMonroe in

someone tweeted today: "a jehovah's witness who is shy to people at the door.

those few words paint such a sad picture.

how many jws with little self-esteem and self-confidence, particularly born-ins who have never known anything different, are sent out into neighbourhoods to knock on the doors of strangers and speak to them, knowing the householder resents them being there?

Quendi

Yours is an interesting reply, shepherd, seeing that we have never worked together in the field service and never will. So you have no idea what my circumstances were. Just to set matters straight, I enjoyed field service because I really cared about the people I met and I earnestly believed the message I brought to their doors, presumptious assumptions and statements like yours notwithstanding. So it was never a matter of not respecting another's opinion as you said. Quite the contrary, I took everything the householders said into account and sought common ground with the people I spoke to.

As for my experience as a speaker, I never gave an instruction talk or a public talk in my more than thirty years in the organization. I only gave Bible readings and number 4 talks on the TMS, so the attention you imply that I craved came only infrequently. The natural ability I have was recognized by people other than Witnesses, people whose assessments were objective. And whether you want to admit it or not, speaking ability is a gift that some of us have in greater abundance than other people just like any other ability.

I also pioneered and enjoyed it as well. You say you hated door to door work, so no wonder you felt fear and never succeeded in getting rid of it. While I recognize your experience, it was your own, not mine. Similarly, the emotions and lack of confidence you felt and suffered were your own. As I said at the close of my experience, we should not presume to speak for others as you just now have. Your statement is flawed and colored by your experience and life as a Witness; and that has unfortunately led you to conclusions that are incorrect.

Quendi

36

Shy JW at the door ... the pain of it

by MrMonroe in

someone tweeted today: "a jehovah's witness who is shy to people at the door.

those few words paint such a sad picture.

how many jws with little self-esteem and self-confidence, particularly born-ins who have never known anything different, are sent out into neighbourhoods to knock on the doors of strangers and speak to them, knowing the householder resents them being there?

Quendi

Time for me to strike a different note on this topic. I want to say up front that my experiences and attitude don't fit the profile presented here. You see, I was one of those Witnesses who not only liked field service, but was also very, very good at it. I have the natural ability to talk to just about anybody. Sure, I was nervous at the first door, but that quickly vanished and before long I was having a great time talking to householders.

I worked all kinds of territory. I was equally at home working urban territory in California and mountainous rural territory in Colorado. I could talk to people of different ethnic extractions. Their political and religious persuasions were no barrier either. And I was quite good at engaging householders in fruitful, interesting conversations where there were real exchanges and interchanges.

So for me, field service wasn't "unnatural" or "stressful". That doesn't mean I didn't have bad experiences or days when I would rather have been doing something else. It's just that to say that all JWs hate this aspect of the religion is simply not true. Some of us actually liked it and got a great deal out of it. I was definitely one of those people.

At the same time, I worked with a great many who hated the work and were horrible at it. Some were never going to be good no matter how much training and practice they received. They don't have the natural ability for it and won't develop it no matter how hard they try. The Society tells them that holy spirit will help them, but I am a firm believer in the old adage that you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Besides, holy spirit is no more backing up the field service work than it is the building a basketball court.

The field service is like so many other aspects of life. With hard work, some can attain a level of skill and competency at it that is quite good. Some, like myself, take to it like a duck to water because we have the natural inborn ability that is enhanced by the training given in the Theocratic Ministry School and the weekly Service Meeting. You see the same thing with another aspect of Witness life: public speaking. That was another area where I excelled in large part due to natural ability. But we all know that most Witnesses are poor speakers and always will be no matter how many schools they attend or talks they give. I'm now out of the organization, but the training and experience I got while a Witness in public speaking and teaching has served me well down to this day.

So while it's good to share our experience we want to avoid saying that ours is the universal one. There are exceptions, even if those exceptions are uncommon or very rare. Let's keep that in mind when we address topics like this one.

Quendi

24

Memorial 2012 Date

by Quendi in

not that i have any intention of attending, but would somebody be so good as to post the date for the memorial "celebration" this year?

.

quendi.

Quendi

The directions for celebrating the Lord's Supper are clearly given at 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, moshe. There is no need to have the bread blessed beforehand. I don't know Jewish custom with respect to celebrating Passover or eating a seder meal, but those customs would not be binding on Christians in any case. The entire "menu" is simply unleavened bread--something anybody can bake--and wine. Christ said a blessing over the bread and wine before passing them around. There is no indication that he had someone else bless them and Paul did not say that these items had to be blessed ahead of time either. Instead, he directs that any blessing said would be done at the time of the celebration and not before.

As for the necessity to have Passover matzah, again this is a Jewish custom and understanding. That would certainly not be binding on Christians. Unleavened bread was commanded to be used at Passover celebrations. No sourdough or any other kind of leavened bread was to be eaten during the meal or the entire seven days of the Passover festival for that matter. It is important to remember that this is a Christian ritual, not a Jewish one. So there is no need to follow strict Jewish belief, practice or regulation in holding the ceremony. Simple unleavened bread along with wine is all that is necessary, not kosher matzah and kosher wine. And the celebrants can ask any blessing they see fit.

Quendi