Posts by Lunatic Faith

7

untitled

by Lunatic Faith in

jw
friends

from the feb 15,2011 study article "gaining god's approval leads to everlasting life".

this is because jehovah.

22:29) jehovah.

Lunatic Faith

From the Feb 15,2011 study article "Gaining God's Approval Leads to Everlasting Life"

8 Gaining God’s approval involves the proper
exercise of our free will. This is because Jehovah
does not coerce anyone into serving him. In Isaiah’s
time, He asked: “Whom shall I send, and
who will go for us?” By recognizing the prophet’s
right to decide, Jehovah dignified him. Imagine
Isaiah’s satisfaction in responding: “Here I am!
Send me.”—Isa. 6:8.

9 Humans are free to serve God or not to
do so. Jehovah wants us to serve him willingly.
(Read Joshua 24:15.) Any who begrudge God
their worship cannot be pleasing to him; nor does
he accept the devotion of those whose true intent
is only to please other humans. (Col. 3:22) If we
rendered sacred service “hesitantly” by allowing
worldly interests to interfere with our worship, we
would not win God’s approval. (Ex. 22:29) Jehovah
knows that serving him whole-souled is good
for us. Moses urged the Israelites to choose life
‘by loving Jehovah their God, by listening to his
voice and by sticking to him.’—Deut. 30:19, 20.

This reminded me of a conversation I had with the ex-elder who sat on my judicial committee 17 years ago when I was reproved for Loose Conduct(now I wish I had just gone all the way;). Anyway, I was giving him a massage a couple months ago and he said something about how our organization "is all about free-will". I looked at him and said, "Really, Doug? Is it really about free-will? If you choose to believe something differently, do they really let you?" He looked me right in the eye and said, "No. They sure don't." This opened up a very long convo where he admitted a ton of doubts and concerns and fears. I told him I would always be there to talk if he needed me. I haven't heard from him since. I wonder if he felt guilty for opening up so much. But I tell you what, that was empowering to see how widespread the doubts really are.

24

God Seemed to Write This For Those Disfewllowshipped but Love Him

by Perry in

if you ever felt that you really did love god, but no matter what you did, ended up on the outs with your family and with the watchtower anyway..... these words have comforted me.. .

66. thus saith the lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me?

and where is the place of my rest?

Lunatic Faith

Hmmm, that's nice. Thank you. I have read those words many times and never applied them the way you suggest, but I think they make better sense your way:)

26

Convention

by PYRAMIDSCHEME in

i am off to convention tomorrow.

for the first time in my life i don't want to go...but i have to, this sucks..

Lunatic Faith

No, TM. Its too late. I read all his posts while he slept. this was the most shocking one...except for maybe how long he has actually been on this site.

43

Called to be Free - Dissolution of the Worldwide Church of God

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

[the time links work on my website, not good here].

called to be free - dissolution of the worldwide church of god.

[note: this presentation is over an hour long and is very well done, but i have marked key time slots from the video so if you are in a hurry you can watch the key highlites.].

Lunatic Faith

Thanks for sharing! I thoroughly enjoyed the video. I even found the original on youtube and shared it on my facebook account. Let's see how much damage I can do.

26

Convention

by PYRAMIDSCHEME in

i am off to convention tomorrow.

for the first time in my life i don't want to go...but i have to, this sucks..

Lunatic Faith

OMFG! No wonder you looked confused every time I commented on something said from the stage. You had no clue what was going on! You Pagan!!

45

The official "how did they react to the new light" thread

by PYRAMIDSCHEME in

jw
friends

for those that went to meeting what was the general response to this "new understanding" of "this generation"?

at my hall i don't think anyone really got it or cared.

swallowed hook, line and sinker.

Lunatic Faith

I remember in 1995, I was pioneering and an older sister was devastated by the news. She said, "Well, that means Armageddon could be 20 years away!" I assured her the date hadn't changed, it was not 20 years away. I couldn't see what the big deal was, I was fully immersed. Now, I understand. I spoke with an older brother right after the Watchtower study last spring. He used to be an elder. I asked him what he thought of the new understanding. He shook his head and with apparent disgust, said, "I don't understand any of it." I thought he spoke volumes with those words.

27

Forget what they say, most JWs do not believe the end is near...

by drew sagan in

i was a baptized jw for 7 years.

during that time i repeatedly vocalized my belief that "the end is near.

" however, what did this cost me?

Lunatic Faith

I disagree. I think most do believe it or else they wouldn't live their lives as they do. The ones who avoid higher education, or investments, or sell everything to serve where the need is great. Everyone I knew believed it was within a few years away. They still say it, because to believe anything different is too faith-shattering to comprehend. In my opinion...

44

If you could play any instrument what would it be?

by restrangled in

jw
friends

i have played the piano my entire life and never learned another....i so wish i could play the guitar.

i would trade my piano in a minute for a good guitar and lessons.. how about you?.

Lunatic Faith

I would love to play the piano. I have taken lessons at various times but always stopped because spiritual pursuits took up so much time. I always figured I could learn to play in the new system. Now I need to get back to it...

34

did you feel guilty ,when ignoring disfellowshipped ones ?

by looloo in

jw
friends

i was having an affair with a pioneer at the time and a girl who was disfellowshipped was in the loo at the hall (she actually had not done aything scriptually wrong (but the elders thought she had ) i tried to smile at her as i felt i was not in a position to judge anyone as guilt was destroying me but she just looked down at the floor , 14 years later we are good friends and both "free".

when you were "in" and ignored disfellowshipped did you ever think "im not in a position to judge anyone " ?.

Lunatic Faith

I couldn't do it. I may not talk to someone but I always acknowledged their existance and smiled. I moved to a new cong. and noticed an old man who sat in the back all the time. I asked someone about him and they said he was DF'd. He looked so lonely, I made it a point to smile at him and look him in the eyes at every meeting. Once he got reinstated, the first thing he did was come up to me and take my hand in his and thank me for always smilling at him. Unfortunately, I noticed people still didn't talk to him very much after he was reinstated. Now I worry about him, because I am not there.

14

Were you a JW that "bend" the rules?

by Mr. Monday Night in

jw
friends

i knew a few jws (including some of my family members) who would go clubbing, concerts, play sports ,watch rated r movies and go to party's with "worldy" people.

at the same time, managed to live life in the "truth" (such as field service, give talks, hold the mic during the wt study, etc.).

were you one or knew a jw who was like that.

Lunatic Faith

I really tried to be perfect, but would notice others with more prestige who didn't try so hard. So I let a few things slip: I would read questionable books, go clubbing or to concerts(always with other JW's). Once I realized it wasn't the truth, the first thing I tried was marijuana.