Posts by jean-luc picard

80

Struggling

by anniegirl76 in

jw
friends

i have been df-ed for almost 9 years.

just out of curiosity, has anyone decided to find another religion or belief after being jw?

i struggle with my feelings, my mom and brother, aunt, cousins are all jw.

jean-luc picard

Welcome aboard anniegirl.

Many of us here have suffered the same sense of loss, being cut of from the family.

I find that it does help, reading and commenting here.

Do you have any family who are not jws?

I found an uncle/ aunt and cousins who I had not seen for 30 years.

I must relate that story one day. Our first meet up was like something from a prime time TV show.

They are my closest and dearest family now. That helps alot.

Good luck, and once again welcome.

PS for the religious side, I'm like minimus

20

Went to my first ex-JW meetup last night!

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

it was awesome!

i met so many wonderful people!

i'm glad i finally got the chance to go.

jean-luc picard

Good for you sd-7.

Have a nice easter .

jlp

74

New Member - Dan Edmund - Introducing Myself - Preaching in the Philippines

by Dan Edmund in

jw
friends

hi to all the brothers and sisters and friends who are using this site.

this is just to introduce myself.

my name is dan edmund, and am a fellow witness from australia.

jean-luc picard

Hello Dan and welcome to the board. It sounds as if you have an interesting life, and are happy with your choice

I respect that. The jw couple that I respect most, told me that "even if it is not "the truth", they have had a happy life themselves in pursuing that course.

I have followed the conversation above with interest. It is true that we dont want to scare you away, saying we are largely considered " apostates" according to the WTBS precepts.

We are in fact normal friendly peolpe, who have our own point of view.

However, I think it is also good and to be up front, and not hide who we are. Jws are not always like that, in my opinion.

Anyway, Dan, most everyone here, I'm sure, wishes you and your wife every happiness in your chosen way.

jlp

89

Want to quit Bible study

by confusedstudent in

jw
friends

hi i was just looking for some advice.

i have been studying with the jw's for over a year now, and attended 2 memorials and the district/assembly conventions.

at first, and up until very recently i truly believed what i was learning was the truth.

jean-luc picard

You seem clear in your head and heart: you do not want to be a jw.

You do not have to justify yourself. As others have said. Just tell them that you are no longer interested.

They will try and " softly softly" ask why, etc etc . They are trained to deal with this kind of situation.

You must be firm.

If it is not your personality, to be firm, and you are a little afraid, maybe ask someone to be with you. They could wait in the kitchen/bedroom, intervening if the person gets too pushy.

And frankly, you do not want this person to stay your friend. Its not their fault, but they are programmed to keep coming back and trying again, always on the charge, always waiting for a moment of weakness. It would be better for you, never to see them again.

Good luck. Be strong. We are thinking of you.

very practical ideas anewme

35

News from Spain: WT in court soon for unlawful use of a photograph

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

this morning, i received the following email through my website, watchtowerdocuments.com.

i have no information other than what is stated in the email.

(the information provided in the links has been translated into english.).

jean-luc picard

It is for publishing this picture of a woman crying over her dead husband, without permission.

( half way down the page)

http://testigoscristianosdejehova.blogspot.com/2009/02/la-sociedad-watchtower-y-sus-maestrias.html

They are, however, not the only ones to use this photo. However, one would have hoped from a Christian organisation, a little more compassion and respect.

Apparentely, attention grabbing images are more important...maybe better for sales.

jlp

21

Need awesome suggestions!

by the_raisin in

jw
friends

for the last four days, every morning i take donut out for her walk, i always find jw's preaching door to door across the street.

i always cross to them, and wait with dread at what i think is inevitable: they will try to preach to me.. but it never happens.

four days, seen three diifferent groups, nothing.

jean-luc picard

Hi the raisin.

I just read up your first post. Good on you for getting out so young, and with style it would seem

Remember you said:

"became ballsy enough not give a damn about those bastards whom I was forced to face every week"

I understand about the snubbing, but I wonder if saying something would accomplish anything?

perles before swine and all.

Its really they, who have the problem, not you.

However, something that might help: when they are standing there with a smug look on their face,

just imagine them sat on the toilet.....constipated. And try not to laugh.

39

Your Age at Baptism (into JWs, not Catholics or Baptists - duh)

by undercover in

jw
friends

leavingwt mentioned on another thread the age of his wife when she was baptized.

she was a child.

how can you expect a child to make such a decision?.

jean-luc picard

15.

You had to be baptised to pioneer.

You needed to pioneer if you wanted to be accepted by you friends.

You needed to leave school as soon as possible to pioneer.

SO.....................

You needed to be baptised before leaving school.

@charlie brown jr: almost seems that we went to the same congregation.

26

...and then, something Amazing happened! (Don't view if you don't want to cry)

by Terry in

jw
friends

game winning homerun turns tragic - but then something amazing happenedwww.godvine.comafter this girl hit her first ever home run, she tore her acl running to first base.

just when tragedy was inevitable, something odd, yet amazing, happened.

watch this very touching video to see the inspirational outcome.

jean-luc picard

Thank you for the video. As you say, it is very touching.

Hey, were they jehovahs witnesses? (only kidding)

21

Did the organization become more mean spirited after the Elders were appointed?

by Giordano in

jw
friends

my wife and i walked out of the jw world when we were in our early twenties.

this was in the mid 1960's.

we had pioneered where the need was great and i held three positions in our small congregation: assistant presiding minister, ministry school servant and bible study servant (as we were called then) .

jean-luc picard

I was only a boy but I remember our Presiding Minister, a stalwart man who everyone respected.

By the end of my life sentence, elders were appointed, often by other family member elders.

It was possible to see power struggles between the different factions. I have witnessed at elders meetings

the clear sides taken between the different factions. Bodies of elders became large : 15 members becoming common. I could respect the honest heartedness of about 1/3 of them. The rest were just looking to be somebody: a big fish in a small pond.

27

My Grandma's dying...I found out by way of an impersonal text message.

by petitebrunette in

yesterday at work i received a text message from my sister that my 91 yr old grandmother is unconscious, her organs are shutting down, and they're just keeping her comfortable.

she said that they moved her to a group home, and gave me the address.

i thanked her for letting me know.

jean-luc picard

Petitebrunette,

Im sorry to hear about your grandma.

My own mother is aging and I wonder , the time come,if I will go to her funeral.

I imagine doing as willyloman suggests: a memorial of my own, by the graveside.

Sadly, another example of "brotherly love".

What did someone say?

What you are doing is shouting SO loud I cant here what your saying.

Very apt for the jw clan.