BeautifulMind

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Posts by BeautifulMind

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  29

  Assemblies - Before and After Waking Up

  by Funchback in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  happy friday to all!.

  i haven't been to a meeting for maybe 10 years.

  i only know what's happening nowadays from the experiences i read here or the internet in general.. anyway, on to the topic: i started attending meetings at the age of 7. as a kid, the only thing i looked forward to at the assemblies (circuit/district) was walking around veteran's stadium (philadelphia district convention) during intermission, hanging with friends, looking at girls (as i got a little older) and trying to have enough tickets to get pizza!.

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  BeautifulMind

  Ahhhhhh...the good old days at the Vet! We used to sit all the way at the top too in the nose bleed section. It was pretty empty up there. The highlight when I was a teen was walking around with my friends at the Vet, and at the Buckingham circuit assembly being there at like 5:30 in the morning with my friends helping to make and serve breakfast and lunch. But as I got older, I could barely stay in my seat for more than 5 minutes. The talks were boring and predictable. For the final talk, I had my clap hands ready for the "friends, did you enjoy this wonderful program?!" and other such clap-ready statements. Oh, and that final prayer was a killer!! I started kicking off my heels to get ready for what seemed like an eternity prayer. So glad I don't go anymore!
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  26

  Looking back,"That was crazy, moment"

  by MarkofCane in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i got baptized later in life.

  i was around 21, i had left and went out into the world should of listen to my gut back then, but instead i disowned myself and came back into the fold.

  before i could get baptized, the elder who studied with me said i needed to get rid of everything that was contaminated by this world: music, books & clothing,everything.

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  BeautifulMind

  My husband's grandmother is a minister who lives in a different state. When we first got married she sent us a gift. So we kept the gift, but threw out the box immediately. We couldn't risk any of the demons jump out of the box and get us. We never thought about the gift itself being possessed tho. I'm literally laughing out loud at how absurd that sounds lol!! But it's true. Crazy smh...
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  10

  Super Bowl 50 Panthers versus Broncos, Getting ready for the big party

  by StoneWall in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  any others going to super bowl party in a few hours?who's your pick to win the big game?looks like they bringing more celebrities in for half-time show.i'm going to be pulling for the carolina panthers for two reasons: !

  ) i'm currently living in n.c. 2)would be nice to have a new team win it this year that's never won.i'm happy that at least the new england patriots aren't in this year's super bowl.

  they are a great talented team but have just had my fill of them being in so many over the years.anyhow i just hope this year is a great game and that the half-time show doesn't suck.go panthers!!!!!!!!

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  BeautifulMind

  A couple of the in-laws are coming over. I'm going for the Panthers, bring the championship back to the NFC!!

  #DabOnEm
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  17

  Do you ever contact those who shun you?

  by Xanthippe in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  do you ever test the water and see if your relatives or friends still feel the same way?

  i don't have mobile phone numbers or email addresses for my family because we left a long time ago.

  long before facebook.

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  BeautifulMind

  Me personally, nah, what the hell for? They want to walk away, let them. Im good with my friends and family who love and care for me just the way I am.
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  13

  Jw style encouragement - Return or perish....

  by Tornintwo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i haven't been able to post much recently, just started a new job with long hours... but i'm thinking of you all and drop in when i can.

  anyway i've been meaning to tell you about this because thought it would tickle some of you.... 5 months after my last meeting, i've just had two "kind and loving" 'come back' messages/cards from different people both using the same days text from dec. 31st which says: .

  "it is not a desirable thing with my father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish" matt 18:14. jehovah cares deeply about all those who have expressed love for his name, even if they are not actively serving him at present.

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  BeautifulMind

  I got the same text but in the email form from a former very close friend of mine. I felt the exact same way when I read it, come back or die is the clear message here, not to mention the guilt and fear that text is trying to stir up in you. Oh how loving and encouraging that is!
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  23

  "I thought About You" Email

  by BeautifulMind in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hey everyone!!

  i hope everyone is doing good today.

  i don't share or comment often, but i'm in the mood to do that today.

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  BeautifulMind

  Im just glad that particular chapter is over. I don't have to worry about silly misapplied scripture emails from her again. It was a big step for me because I usually just let things like that go, shrug it off. But that was too much, I had to say something. JW are so quick to "boldly" tell the world their beliefs and how they have the "truth", but run when someone doesn't agree or changes their mind. Such cowards.
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  23

  "I thought About You" Email

  by BeautifulMind in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hey everyone!!

  i hope everyone is doing good today.

  i don't share or comment often, but i'm in the mood to do that today.

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  BeautifulMind

  I did reply very nicely, but firmly. Of course before I replied, it took me a day to calm down! I was seriously annoyed. But like truthseekeriam said, she thinks she's is doing something good. It was especially difficult to reply because She doesn't even know that I know TTATT. My hubby hasn't told his parents yet, so we are still low key. All she knows is I'm taking a break and analyzing things. Anyway, here is my carefully worded reply - edited of course to remove her name. It's a little long, sorry.

  Thank you. I know your email came from a good place and you mean well.

  I did consider the information you sent. My situation is completely different than what is described. Nothing happened to stumble me or cause me to be in a state of inactivity. Not one thing. I'm purposely taking the time out to take a long, hard, honest look at the religion and in doing that realized I had some serious thinking to do regarding my beliefs on it. After all, Jehovah did give us free will and I am using that free will to assess my situation. And for me, that requires stepping away from the organization so I can assess it with a clear head. The bible says "the heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). My heart knows that if after my assessment I decide not to start attending meetings again, my friends and family that are witnesses will stop associating with me and that would be so hurtful! My heart would become "desperate" to return to regain that association.

  
  

  For that reason, I am not trusting my heart. But I instead am using my mind and following the words that we often quote/read to people of other religions out in the ministry. 1 John 4:1 "Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." Jehovah's Witnesses encourage everyone to examine their religion/beliefs (Public Edition of the Watchtower, July 1, 2013 article "Should You Trust Religion", pg. 3). It would be naïve to think some Jehovah's Witnesses would not apply this to themselves if moved to do so. So for me, I should be able to examine my religion without it being an earth-shattering event. This religion has been my entire life to this point, and you know that. So it's going to take some time to figure things out for myself and that won't happen over night. What I am 100% positive of is only I can determine what I want my relationship to be with God. I've allowed other factors/people to influence my beliefs in the past. That stops now. Ultimately it is my personal decision to make, no one else's.

  I haven't heard from her since.....

  
  
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  23

  "I thought About You" Email

  by BeautifulMind in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hey everyone!!

  i hope everyone is doing good today.

  i don't share or comment often, but i'm in the mood to do that today.

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  BeautifulMind

  Menrov - it was a daily text. She sent it with the daily text app. I didn't even know they had one of those.

  Magnum- you read my mind!!
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  23

  "I thought About You" Email

  by BeautifulMind in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hey everyone!!

  i hope everyone is doing good today.

  i don't share or comment often, but i'm in the mood to do that today.

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  BeautifulMind

  Hey everyone!! I hope everyone is doing good today. I don't share or comment often, but I'm in the mood to do that today. I wanted to share an email I got from my former close friend a couple of weeks ago. I got so excited when I first saw the email title and thought cool, maybe she is coming around to respect my decision to step away from the org. and we can go back to the way things were. I hadn't heard a peep from her since I told her my stance back in September. But of course, that was wishful thinking. Here's the email.

  I wanted to share with you some love & Encouragement!!

  It is not a desirable thing with my Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.​—Matt. 18:14.

  Jehovah cares deeply about all those who have expressed love for his name, even if they are not actively serving him at present. (Luke 15:3-7) Are you among those who are not now actively serving God? Perhaps someone in the congregation hurt you and as a result you stopped associating with Jehovah’s organization. Since some time may have passed, ask yourself: ‘Is my life now more meaningful, and am I happier? Was it Jehovah who offended me, or was it an imperfect human? Has Jehovah God ever done anything to harm me?’ Really, he has always done good toward us. Even if we are not living up to our dedication to him, he allows us to enjoy the good things he provides. (Jas. 1:16, 17) Soon, Jehovah’s day will come. Now is the time to return to our heavenly Father’s loving arms and to the congregation​—the only safe haven in these last days.​—Deut. 33:27; Heb. 10:24, 25. w13 11/15 2:16, 17

  At the end of it she goes on and on for another paragraph about how much she misses me and loves me and hopes I change my thinking and return to Jgod. No how are you and the family, just come back. We talked every day before "the decision" (and yes, I stole that little saying from LeBron lol) and shared many life events together. Yet, she now feels the only way to communicate with me is to send a email with info that doesn't even apply to me asking me to come back to the Hall? Hmmmmmm....... 🤔🤔🤔
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  19

  Disassociation letter

  by BeautifulMind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  good evening.

  i have a question about where to send my disassociation letter.

  do i give a copy to the overseer of the cong i was in and the branch?

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  BeautifulMind

  @FayeDunaway @freddo - I did talk to those I considered myself to be close about a few of the concerns or disagreements I had about the org - and not even the deep stuff. And guess what? They are now actively shunning me. As far as giving a note to everyone I know, that would be a lot of notes 😳, so Im not doing that.