Posts by partydelights

35

Elders came to visit...

by pubtruth in

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partydelights

Dear pubtruth,

I think many here have expressed sufficiently on what you should or should not do.

I can fully agreed on the following and I hope you can exploit it to a benefit: Help your mum (I believe she is still an active JW).

1) Do not get baptized

2) Do not get involved with the Elders anymore. “Shun” them like how they would you eventually. So if they are at the door, don’t answer. If they call, don’t answer. If they write, don’t reply. If you are easily “motivated” with words by them, don’t even read their letters.

At the meantime, please do not think of becoming an atheist. This is precisely what WT paints everyone leaving to be – someone who had forsaken God. Yes, this is just another device of Satan. So please do not fall for it. Your eternal future means a lot to God.

Try to read the Bible daily, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. Invite your mum to read with you without WT articles. Pray with her. Let her know you love her still. You just hate the diabolical WT. Invite her to know God better along side you.

I think you have enough “WT Facts”. Why not try gaining Bible facts now? Go to Christian web sites that can increase your faith toward God. Sites I personally benefited from are www.GotQuestions.org and http://bible.org. Try visiting them and strengthen your spirituality. Invite your mum to join you. Otherwise, print out the materials you think she can benefit from.

Leaving WT is not an easy task because of the mental symptom called “cognitive dissonance”. But with careful planning and efforts to lessen the shunning effects, both you and your mum can leave eventually. Don’t forget the power of prayers. It’s something many rely upon heavily during their final days in WT and afterward.

May the peace of God be with you always. Amen.

PD

36

I decided not to go back to the KH

by Bucholz in

well, as i mentioned before in one of my few other posts, i've been lurking here for some time now and finally decided it was time to face the facts and take action.. i was raised a jw (4th generation) and my parents were quite zealous when they got married.

mom was a regular pioneer and dad was a ms. i was the little jw 'rockstar' in my congregation, got baptized at 10, was giving talks and serving as an attendant at the hall and at conventions at such an early age.

auxiliary pioneered whenever i could.

partydelights

Congratulations! You've made a wise decision.

Just concern... Have you thought about the "consequences" you're going to face? The shunning and such? Are you prepared? How?

Would like to hear from you. (To be honest, it took me about a year to fade. During this time, I secure all that I can, my wife, my children and one of two JWs that stands a possibility to fade with me. Today, I'm happy my family leaves WT with me intact, and a possibility the JWs will eventually leave.)

Just my concern: It's definitely a wise decision to leave. But please plan carefully so that the lost is manageable.

13

I'm back from vacation!

by coffee_black in

jw
friends

in the past 2 weeks i have driven 4200 miles... from ma to va to switch cars with my son...to fl to pick up my daughter and 3 grandkids...to the outer banks of nc... where we stayed for a week....back to fl to drop off my daughter and 2 of the grandkids.. (aubrey came back to spend a month with me) ....to va to switch cars back... to ma.

got home last night.... here are the kids in the back seat during the trip back to orlando from the outer banks.. .

had a blast.... we shared a house with friends and family.

partydelights

You make me envy for one already....

4

Theocratic War Strategies

by partydelights in

jw
friends

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dear readers of jwn,.

im less than a week here and have read a few articles.

partydelights

Currently, I know a twin Sisters who are both ex-JWs actively assisting those who are ready to leave WT.

1) A lot of such ones are on the Internet, posting queries. We who are out of WT and had rebuilt our lives can be of help to them, both through our concern and our loving comments.

2) Not all JW will fully follow WT "command" to shun us, especially those facing ongoing calamity and the initial "keep warm and well fed" period has past. My wife and I had tried visiting them. They had received us warmly. I hope some day we can help them break free from WT .

3) If you have joined a Church, you are in a good position to teach your fellow Church friends how to deal with JW at the door. Advice them not to slam the door, nor fear their presence. On the contrary, get your friends to offer topics that will get JW into thinking process after they leave. E.g. showing interest in the history of WT, especially the days of CT Russell (why is he buried under a pyramid that is viewable from Google Earth?), JF Rutherford, and 1975 will get the JW into research. Also, remember arguing about doctrine is usually not the best way to convince JW to leave WT. Rather, showing love to them will. This is because WT painted the picture that all "in the world" are loveless. But their ability to see love in action will proof WT wrong/bias about many people. (Aren’t we living examples of such?)

4) Sometimes we meet JW on the street. Familiar faces. Greet them. Tell them "I love you guys", “We’re praying for you”. You're not under WT "commandments". Show them your current life is happier and more meaningful. My wife told me what happened the last time we smiled at the Elder that DF us (who also smiled back). After we walked a distance, my wife peeked back. She told me he looked depressed, staring at the dried goods (we're at a shopping mall). I believe my "Apostate Materials" regarding CT Russell's pyramid has some effect on him. (He has to read them to tell me they’re “Apostate Materials” and use them against us.)

Well, these are some experiences I had tried and if you have more, please post them. Let’s try to device more ways that can help saved those we love from WT.

29

Greetings, First Post on JWN Forum

by partydelights in

jw
friends

dear all,.

i'm new here and this is my first post.

i hope to introduce myself in order to gain more friends online.. to begin, i'm middleage and has just left wt with my family intact (praise god for that).

partydelights

Hello and Hello to so many of you replying,

Finally managed to change my Avatar. That’s the photo of my eldest son, taken about 8 years ago. My twin sons (third and forth, now 2+) look almost like him. I’ll change to their photos in the future.

You know, many of your comments/bio showed me one thing – Love still exist in this world . Glad to know ex-elders. I was never appointed to MS and am fortunate. Otherwise I wonder how much a hypocrite I’ll become. But thanks to God, my eyes were opened to such.

And to @Quandry, I came from a country where WT is banned. Hence, many, including our parents, do not know about JW. All they can associate is “they are all Christians”. Finding out the difference is outside their concern, as they’re all Buddhists. Hence out exiting WT is just “moving from one church to another”.

For the past months, I have been doing a lot of research and readings. Accompanied by my average knowledge of the Bible (I read it many times in Prison due to Military issue), I quickly able to distinguish the difference between WT teachings and Church doctrines. In addition, I can reason with many articles on the Internet which of the two is the more accurate understanding. Very importantly, I can now fully understand the way WT mind-control JWs worldwide. Looking at it, I actually feel sorry for those JWs in my area, including the Elders whom I called hypocrites.

Anyway, WT is behind us now. We’re rebuilding our family bonds, and also adapting to our new Church services and fellowship. Happy to know that there are so many who had walked the path we are take now. Do share your love and experience with us freely.

4

Theocratic War Strategies

by partydelights in

jw
friends

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dear readers of jwn,.

im less than a week here and have read a few articles.

partydelights

Dear Readers of JWN,

I’m less than a week here and have read a few articles. It appears that many of you here has a noble intention to assist JW who are still in WT. I raise this thread to discuss how we can help them as Christians.

First, I like to encourage depressed ones here, please do not become an atheist or agnostic. In fact, I almost became one. I told the CO once: “If I left, I’ll become an agnostic”. But thanks to God, I remain a Christian, and a much better one because of the help and encouragement I received from other ex-JWs. If you need such help, please raise threads about your concerns. I’m sure many will be ready to assist.

Now back to my point: Theocratic War Strategies to free JW from WT

Let me begin with what I think is best:

1) Do not be angry at JWs, particularly the Elders. But instead show them the love of God. Remember that they too were misled by WT and are currently under her spell (being mind-control).

Scripture: (I’ll quote from NWT unless otherwise stated) Matthew 5:46 “For if YOU love those loving YOU, what reward do YOU have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if YOU greet YOUR brothers only, what extraordinary thing are YOU doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? 48 YOU must accordingly be perfect, as YOUR heavenly Father is perfect.”

Yes, dear Christian Brothers and Sisters, let’s become “perfect” like our dear Father in the heavens. The tax collecting Elders tells all their rank-and-file NOT to greet us. But we, admonished by our Lord Jesus to do otherwise. By greeting the poor-souled JWs who hated us for no real cause, we’re doing the extraordinary thing of “love” unknown to them. Continuous rejections many make us feel dejected. But have faith that the impact of our love for them will be the eventual force for “sheep-like” ones to leave WT.

2) Overcome the fear WT has instilled into us.

Scripture: 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love.

19 As for us, we love, because he first loved us.

20 If anyone makes the statement: “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him, that the one who loves God should be loving his brother also.”

Yes, we need to constantly pray to God that we be freed from the WT “fear”. Such fear caused our love for God to become imperfect. A perfect love is unselfish and is only concern with things good and chaste, kind and compassionate. We received all these from God. Since He loved us first, we should learn such love and show JW worldwide such magnificent love God has given us.

(vs 20) Without a doubt, we can see clearly JW has fall short of God’s love. But let’s not be judgmental over them. Rather, proof to Christ we are true Christians. Proof to God we are His children. Love the JW who hated us. Show God we’re not liars. We love those whom we can see. In this way, there stands a real chance for us to love Him, who we cannot see. (Thanks to Jesus. Such faith is possible and with it, we can approach God and be accepted by Him.)

These are my two cents contribution. May more brothers and sisters contribute to this “Theocratic War Strategies” so that we can see how we can more effectively show our love to JWs worldwide.

PD

26

My wife and I are lonely....I know too bad....

by itsibitsybrainbutbigenoughtosmellarat in

jw
friends

partydelights

Dear itsibitsybrainbutbigenoughtosmellarat

My wife and I just left WT and had similar feelings. We each were with JW Org for about 15 years and had left our homeland to Pioneer. So you can imagine how “isolated” we are from this real world. Perhaps, give me a listening ear as I describe my experience how we partially overcome this feelings of loneliness.

1) Start dating with your wife again.

Sounds strange? Well, It was recommended by the infamous “Family Book” isn’t it? Yes, except the dating there involves doing the magazine distributing work. But for us, we started the courtship we missed as JWs. Literally. We assign tasks to our children – vacuum the floor, mop it, hang the laundry, wash the dishes, then, …. We disappear .

We’ll hold hands when we walk the mall. We’ll “flirt” when we’re being secretly “observed” by the waiters and waitresses, … And of course, the most well spent time was and still is reading and expounding the Bible together. The book of Job took on new meanings to us, Romans becomes something so rich in meaning – That we are REALLY sinners and the ONLY solution is faith in Jesus (read Preface to Romans by Martin Luther at http://www.ccel.org/l/luther/romans/pref_romans.html)

We’ll go for lunch date, another day tea date, another day night date. And of course, we visit the Christian site www.TheMarriageBed.com as well as its Forum as a couple. (Our reading of the Song of Solomon took on new meanings, when the Shepherd Boy is not around)

To us, this is the first step to clean up our loneliness.

2) Find a Church

This is perhaps one of the most difficult things to do. WT has deeply ingrained into us how diabolical the Churches are. But now, with logic, if WT is the Satanic one, then the Church is not. But how about the Cross? The Trinity? The Hell Fire? …

For us, I take the lead to do researches. Always remember: WT has spread lies regarding everyone on earth. So to overcome the negative feelings, (A) Proof that what was said by WT is false and (B) Listen to the “accused” for their side of the story.

I easily accomplished (A) by reading articles from many sources. Just Google the topic and the answers are there. But be prepared. This “Personal Study” session is going to spend you more time than preparing for KH meetings. But I can assure you. It’s worth it. That’s how I come to understand the Cross is just a symbol representing the PRESENCE of Christ in the Church, much like the Ark of Covenant representing the PRESENCE of God with Israel. No one worship the Ark. Neither do anyone in the Church (I can speak for my Church) worship the Cross.

Of course, you can ask for the explanation of the Trinity, Hell, etc from the Pastors. But be prepared the answer may not be satisfying because of WT influence. But if you like to, raise threads for these questions. I’m sure many of us here can contribute to better understanding of the scriptures than WT.

Also, be open to the Pastors about who YOU were. We were pleasantly surprised that the few pastors we approached, showed much kindness, understanding and empathy, though they regretted they had no experience dealing with ex-JWs. (As I mentioned before, we were “serving” in a territory where “the need is great”. 80% of the householders here have not heard of JW nor had any WT articles in their homes before.)

3) Enroll your kids (do you have kids?) to Church activities

For us, after “investigating” a few Churches for about a month, we brought in our “army” (yes, I have 4 kids plus 1 coming. Thanks to www.TheMarriageBed.Com). We enrolled them into “Kids Kingdom” (surprised by the name of the Sunday School?) There, they make new friends, learn to sing praises, and study the Bible. Yes, study the Bible, contrary to what WT accuses Churchgoers, that they do not read the Bible.

Note: For starters, please choose an Evangelical Church and avoid the Pentecostals and Charismatic. No ill intention for our Brothers there. But Evangelical is more easily acceptable by ex-JWs. (You may Google Methodist, Baptist, Anglican, and perhaps Presbyterians to know more about them).

4) Grab opportunities for family outings.

For us, whenever there is an opportunity, we’ll bring the family out, be it the waterfall nearby, or the beach 200 kilometers away. Driving without the music on is a great time for bonding. It’s OK to miss a Church Service so that you can have a long weekend together. The Pastors will not conduct a “Shepherding Visit” for it.

Well, these points worked well for us and we’re making good friends with our fellow Church believers. Few retirees and housewives made efforts to come together just to chat and have a meal together. None of them was sent by the Pastor to “spy” on us. But everyone come just to … yes, be friends! That’s all.

This is how we cope with loneliness. May you find ways that works for you and your family.

PD

29

Greetings, First Post on JWN Forum

by partydelights in

jw
friends

dear all,.

i'm new here and this is my first post.

i hope to introduce myself in order to gain more friends online.. to begin, i'm middleage and has just left wt with my family intact (praise god for that).

partydelights

Hey Guys (and Gals),

Thanks for YOUR quick replies.

Firstly, my wife and I are very happy to have our fifth child. (Unlike the Satan feelings instilled by WT regarding our Firstborn.) I'll update when the delivery is near (Ultrascan dates the birth to be from 29 October to 2 Novenber.)

And hey @sooner7nc, I like "Matrix". Maybe I'll watch again later with my family. (Ya. I never realize how much we missed as family until we left WT. When we no more need to place books and magazines, we have sooooo much time. We're using this time for bonding now.) Indeed, true freedom is to be a slave of Christ and under Christ alone. So good to be free from the "intermediate mediator", the "remnant" of JW Org.

Soooo happy to hear from an "Elder", @Billy (Is it your real name or an alias?). I had deal with enough Elders to be fully convinced that this rank is made up of hypocrites and "politicians". (Note: I was never appointed to any rank. I was only interested in Pioneering because that was the best way (I thought) to serve God properly.) Since you are an ex-Elder, then I can be assured you're not good enough to be a "politician" and hence can never be a hypocrite. So may I be a friend of yours? Feel free to email me.

Hey by the way, can anyone teach me how to change my avatar picture and allow friends here to PM or email me?

(Has anyone here requested a spell check on this Forum? I'm very bad at spelling and has to check spelling via MS Word, making my typing slow.)

And @Black Sheep, indeed it was a challenge. The step to "tell her the brutal truth" about WT was mixed with fear and uncertainty. But with God's blessings, her eyes were opened to the truth about WT's diabolical nature and the hypocrisy among Elders. We considered for 6 months before making our resolution to leave. (Well, that's another story. I'll share when opportunity arrives.)

104

I am considering suicide...

by Nebeska Nada in

jw
friends

under the wheels of a train.... .

i feel really bad.... i don't want to be in the cult anymore.... .

i was thinking about that whole meeting today.... .

partydelights

Dear Nebeska Nada,

I'm new here, but I'm also "new" as to leaving WT. Hence, I still remembers lots of things in WT.

One thing for sure: People OUTSIDE WT are not as mean as her Elders.

Elders ONLY interest is image of WT (directly or indirectly). Our life (alive or dead) is secondary to them.

But ever since I left WT and joined a Church, I realized there are many, many, many people worldwide (often condemned by WT, e.g. Church Pasrtors, Counsellors) are actually very, very loving people. In fact many are humble enough to acknowledge they are inexperience with ex-JW and expressed their lack in ability to help. But one thing for sure, they're there when you need a listening ear.

Personally, I encourage you to remove all fears, walk into a mainline Church (I personally recommend Baptist, Methodist, Angelican or Presbyterian and avoid Charismatic like Assembly of God, Pentacostal for starters,... sorry for those there, no bad intention by me,...) and talk to the Pastor. These are the initial "WT Obstacles" to overcome:

1) The cross. It's not an idol. It's like the Ark of Covenant. It represents God's presence. NO ONE IN THE CHURCH KNEEL DOWN AND WORSHIP IT.So the presence of the cross represents the presence of Christ with the Church, not for the purpose of worship.

2) The Hierarchy. Yes, there are Pastors, Reverends, Bishops, etc around. But there are also Elders, Ministerials Servants, CO, DO, ZO, GB, etc, etc, etc, in WT. Much more than the Church Hierarchy if you look into Bethel hierarchy. This hierarchy system is for the operation of the Church. Go there and see whether they are given God-like powers like the Elders in WT. You'll be surprises they call you "brother" out of a real heart.

3) The Trinity. Temporary put aside. But rest assured, after you study the scriptures properly, after you overcome WT influence and convinced that the "Trinity" brochure published by WT quoted many "Trinitarians" out of context, then you can praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as THREE PERSONS in ONE BEING in spirit and truth. (e.g. The Human BEING has Father, Mother, Son, Daughter. They are all individuals. But they all belongs to the Human Being.) We'll talk about this if you're ready.

Finally, try occupy your mind on spiritual thoughts. Visit forums like this one frequently. Do not be afraid to read Bibles other than the NWT daily. A scripture I like to share with you as closing words is 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (NIV) Yes. Overcome the fear WT instilled into you. True love from God has no fear. Taste it and believe it.

In Love,

PD.

PS: Please, as many has spoken, I likewise echoed "Seek help, medical or otherwise". My wife said "Not worth dying for WT. Live so that you can fight it."

29

Greetings, First Post on JWN Forum

by partydelights in

jw
friends

dear all,.

i'm new here and this is my first post.

i hope to introduce myself in order to gain more friends online.. to begin, i'm middleage and has just left wt with my family intact (praise god for that).

partydelights

Dear All,

I'm new here and this is my first post. I hope to introduce myself in order to gain more friends online.

To begin, I'm middleage and has just left WT with my family intact (praise God for that). My wife and I each has about 20 years association with JW Org and has 4 kids, plus one more coming (thanks in advance for your congratulations. We love kids).

[Before proceeding further, in my language, WT = Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, WT Articles = WT books, magazines, etc, JW = individual(s) who are in WT, JW Org = The Religious Organization called "Jehovah's Witnesses" (not the JW mentioned in Isaiah)].

We considered ourselves "spiritual" in the Biblical sense. Both of us read Bibles (not just NWT), gave up/disowned by our non-Christian families, our careers, my chance for University studies, married so that we can "reach out" for Missionary service together, travelled to "territories where the need is greater" to serve, etc, all for God (though we do not know WT has betrayed God then).

Primary reason of our decision to walk out of WT is because of the hypocrisy we discovered after a mis-pronouncement that made me step down from Pioneering. To cut a long story (15 years) short, I was foolish but not sinned against God, sensation raised and Elders' "ganged" to removed me (none of them serving as E now), I was asked to stepped down. But I did not accept, fight in many ways for 15 years, case re-open, meet with 3 COs, few Elders (not involved in the original case), ... , and finally, the DO who in his "shperding visit" with another E, privately apologzes and ask me what I want to do to the E's. I said "nothing needs be done to them", but wants to be "reinstated as a Pioneer". The answer by the DO was "I cannot do it". Well said by one who assured me he was "representing the Faithful and Discreet slave". Well, through the 15 year process, we saw all sorts of hypocrisies. When we're finally assurred that "WT image", not "the Name of Jehovah", is what the Es are concerned, we decide to leave WT with our children.

Of course the rest are experiences of shunning faced by everyone here. (That's why I considered myself lucky that my family is still intact.)

Today, I try to join online forums (including this one) to get myself on the "Internet Highway" so as to travel as quickly as possible away from WT ligerings. For those who wish to know more about me, you can read what PartyDelights post on Yahoo! R&S.

So, thanks for your reading and would very much like to link up with with more ex-JW worldwide, particular those in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. (Latest statistics from JWFacts indicates there's more than a million who had left WT the past 50 years.)

And be of good cheer (shall I quote from NWT of what - A joke).