Posts by Makena1

18

I just had a thought

by radar in

jw
friends

who the fuck am i?.

radar

Makena1

Radar - I humbly apologize. Had a bad day yesterday, and as I said in my tagline - I was cranky. Who am I? Nobody, and I often make an ass of myself.

I have to admit that your post of the Suicide is Painless song from MASH (great movie..seen it many times) initially hit a nerve because of my daughters suicide.

I know the lyrics are tongue in cheek, but as anyone who has gone through losing a friend or family member will tell you - the pain of the experience never completely goes away for those left behind.

I also think I understand where you are coming from after reading your post on "weakness and strength". See, I did not really put you on ignore!

Please forgive my haste and snap judgment.

Peace bro?
Makena

17

Bizarre Urban Myth...have you heard it?

by Preston in

jw
friends

i remember a couple of years ago when i was out in field service i heard a story (haven't we all) about a district convention in california where the speaker was invited to give a talk, and as he was standing before the platform, he unexpectedly began to tell a slurry of sex jokes, profanities, and stories about his sex life.

everyone in attendance was shocked, and after he was removed from speaking, an elder had to inform the audience that what happened was completely unexpected and uncalled for.

being that i was a jw at the time i had no use for critical thinking, so i thought every word of it was true.

Makena1

Roy wrote: I still receive calls every once in a great while from a "brother" asking me to give a Sunday talk. I guess my name is still on a few speaker lists. I wish I had the guts to have him schedule me, go their Hall and do what you just said (or maybe do the dropped pants routine!) LOL!

I was talk coordinator for quite a few years. I got an unlisted phone number about a year ago. However, prior to that, about once I got calls asking for a speaker, or if I was available. Sigh..........missed opportunity to slip in a few zingers to see if the secretary was following the outline. :)

29

More Wondering and Self doubt

by Vitameatavegamin in

jw
friends

hello friends, this is your vitameatavegamin girl.

by the way, don't forget to watch the i love lucy marathon on tv land starting october 15th, it should be a hoot.

50th anniversary of the show.. anyway, lately i have been doing more thinking about everything.

Makena1

Vita - so many of us hear can relate to what you are saying. Trust me, it takes time to sort things out. You sound like a thinking, caring person - you will be just fine.

There is a lot of research you can do - have you read Ray Franz' books. It really helped me with some of the nagging doubts you have. Remember too, that their are a lot of sincere people out there who will never be reached with God's word, or given a complete "witness". Will a loving Creator just wipe them out? I cannot believe that.

On the other hand, the org and its henchmen use a lot of scare tactics, and blackmail to shame you into submission. Compare that to the way Jesus taught in the Gospels.

Warm regards,
Makena
in for 43 years, 4th generation (on my mom's side), glad to be a "freethinker"

18

I just had a thought

by radar in

jw
friends

who the fuck am i?.

radar

Makena1

A person with too much time on their hands??

Putting Radar on my ignore list. Nothing personal Radar - just too much to read that's of more substance.

Hope this post was not too long.

Makena
Cranky tonight - not my usual style.

15

What would it take?

by cynicus in

jw
friends

in view of the jw reactions on items such as the ngo thing, harbouring child molesters, it made me wonder about what it would take for the average jw to really grasp that the gb, the org and lots of its doctrine is not what it claims to be.. personally i've experienced that after a longwinded argument with an elder about the validity of the 1914 doctrine, he eventually agreed that it wasn't as solid as he thought and that it could be incorrect.

did he see the light (or its absence)?

interestingly enough, he immediately added that even if all this were true/untrue, it would not invalidate his loyalty to the org & gb.

Makena1

I can relate to the chipping away that Mulan and others wrote about. For me it started when I finally decided "I" was in a position to devote the time, effort and energy to reach out as an elder. The ticket to the back room was a real let down. Not working with the congregation, going on shepherding calls which I dearly enjoyed, but the interaction with the body - if H.S. was there, I missed it completely. Then the biggest blow came when our daughter committed suicide and how terribly that was handled by the elders and most of the congregation. We read Ray Franz books, which burst my bubble that surely things were handled differently at headquarters - NOT!

RR wrote: I remember a conversation I had with a JW women which still boggles my mind when I think of it. Asked if one day she opened the Watchtower and it supported the Trinity and other orthodox teachings what would she do? She said, 'nothing, this is Jehovah's organization and I will believe that he is cleaning it up.'

When I left the WT, and thought about where to go next (2 years, still no decision)for some spiritual discussion (other than the discussion boards!) I always said that it would take Jesus himself appearing to me to make me believe in the Trinity. Does that statement show that I am not quite as blinded as the quote above? lol

I posted this on another thread, which is the reaction of one of our few JW friends to the info on the UN:
I went to that site and it sounds like the "disaffected" are disfellowshipped or apostate ones. I'm skeptical to say the least! Like I've always said, Jehovah and his word speaks for itself. All I know is Jehovah's Government is going to rid the world of all oppressive governments and oppressive people inside and outside of his organization! I was just happy to hear what a great impression the brothers & sisters were making in New York since the 9-11 tragedy. The Fire Chief and Mayor Guliani praised them. Plus the Society has been feeding the firefighters and rescue workers for free; transporting them to and from Ground Zero, loaned their equipment, etc. The stuff you never hear about in the news! Also, the Firefighter Commissioner praised the brothers and sisters for the "most important work they've been doing in comforting people'" who are hopeless. I don't know what the "U.N." thing is but I know Jehovah's organization wouldn't have lasted this long if it was due to dishonesty.

I understand where she is coming from. My only beef with the Guardian article is that it should have stuck to just the facts about the UN, and left out the blood and pedophile issues for another forum.

JMHO
Makena

26

First Reaction To My UN letters

by Ranchette in

my husband called his cousin this morning and the first thing the cousin said to my husband was something like, are you aware that your wife sent us some information that was very disturbing to us?.

my husband let him know that he did not know i was sending out those letters but he had since done research on the info and found that i was correct.. the cousin asked my husband if he was aware that i could be in trouble for a letter like that.

my husband informed him again that i was telling the truth and he had called the un himself to verify.. the cousin said he would call the society to see if this is true but.

Makena1

Sabine (my wife) and I have sent out some feelers to a few close friends. Only got one reply so far, after having first tried the UN website info, and then the article in the Guardian. Did not get an OMG reaction unfortunately yet:

Our friend wrote: I went to that site and it sounds like the "disaffected" are disfellowshipped or apostate ones. I'm skeptical to say the least! Like I've always said, Jehovah and his word speaks for itself. All I know is Jehovah's Government is going to rid the world of all oppressive governments and oppressive people inside and outside of his organization! I was just happy to hear what a great impression the brothers & sisters were making in New York since the 9-11 tragedy. The Fire Chief and Mayor Guliani praised them. Plus the Society has been feeding the firefighters and rescue workers for free; transporting them to and from Ground Zero, loaned their equipment, etc. The stuff you never hear about in the news! Also, the Firefighter Commissioner praised the brothers and sisters for the "most important work they've been doing in comforting people'" who are hopeless. I don't know what the "U.N." thing is but I know Jehovah's organization wouldn't have lasted this long if it was due to dishonesty. end quote

Not sure how my wife and I would be viewed if our friend finds out that others in the KH would view us as "one of the oppressive people in or outside the organization."

My problem with the Guardian article is that it should have stuck with just the UN news. The blood and pedophile issues, while very important, did make it sound like "those dreaded apostates" were behind the article. Hopefully other news sources in the US will pick up the article, AND/OR the UN itself will revoke the NGO status and make some headlines. Hoping that will make some difference.

However, as RR pointed out in another thread, there will always be perhaps a majority of JW's who are totally blinded, and brain dead loyal to the society.

Peace,
Makena

4

Bobbing for apples anyone?

by RR in

jw
friends

the october 8 awake!

journals has a cover article on .... you guessed it halloween.

it traces its roots to the celtic festivals.. "apples and hazelnuts, both viewed as products of sacred trees, were used to divine information concerning marriage, sickness, and death.

Makena1

What's next - a ban on apple pie eating contests with your hands tied behind your back? lol

RR - really enjoyed reading your personal experience.

Best wishes,
Makena

37

ANNUAL MEETING ... Silverdome

by biblexaminer in

jw
friends

i want to barf.

i was wondering when the hell samuel herd was going to shut up.. blab blab blab.... aren't we wonderful, oh we are so wonderful.. about the only thing that was said that i could see as being something which the gb would see as touchy enough to warant the multiple announcements for " no tape recorders, no video recorders and no computer note taking" would be the statement by herd that there's "going to be a lot off killing, billions will die ....in swift fashion".

and the other gb (fill in the name) who talked about being in the new world "in two hundred years".... wow.. that's leaving enough prophetic lee-way for the gb heirs to the thrones.. much emphasis was placed on the "...two roads to the new system ...the high road and the low road".

Makena1

200 more years?????????????? IF so,

I am thinking about trickling some funds into companies like this:

http://www.wessingtoncryogenics.co.uk/products.htm

Now everyone, please turn in your bible's to Prov 13:12, "Expectation postponed is making the heart sick".....sad not only for the oldsters, but their great grandchildren.

28

Is this site JW or what?

by Ephesians6 in

jw
friends

i have been on this site for a bite.

reading posts and where are all the jw's?

we have people who have gotten out of the watchtower, good for all of you.

Makena1

Welcome Eph!
I too have not d'ad or d'fd, but have not been to a meeting since Memorial 2000, and was sporadic at best over the past 3 years. Was very active for almost 40 years, elder schmelder etc., but have not turned in a field service report for 2 years.

I should know this, but do I still get counted in the annual report as a member?

5

Screen Junkies And The Pioneer Spirit.

by hillary_step in

jw
friends

i have to say that i am often surprised at the speed with which arguments and opinions on this board often become a conflagration worthy of the russian parliament.

randy watters made the interesting point on another post recently, that this behavior was the nature of these types of boards and i have to begrudgingly agree with him.

i wish it were not so, as like voltaire i tend to think that weakness on both sides, is, as we know, the trait of all quarrels.

Makena1

Hillary I do not have a quick answer to your very good question - yet - still thinking. However, since you brought up that you are a musician, I am curious about what you play, type of music etc.

I have played keyboards since I was 6 (played at KH's, circuit and district assemblies, weddings etc.), taught myself guitar, clarinet and violin over the past 20 years. Not proficient at any of them, but truly love music. My 15 year old son seems to have inherited some of this ability too - taught HIMSELF the drums, and is a decent guitar player. My problem is that all of the folks I used to jam with are still in the borg!

Anyone ex-JW musicians in the Seattle area want to jam?

Peace,
Makena