please, please remember i am asking a question, not stating a fact.. .
there appears to be many advantages to fading out of the 'truth' as opposed to a full blown "i don't believe it and i'm out of here regardless of consequences'' policy.. reading others postings and experiences here and my own local experiences i can truly see why many do so.
i remember during the later stages of my still attending meetings talking to a couple who had stopped going to meetings a few years before.
Over time, I have been able to let go of deceit because I no longer have interests to protect. I am more authentic and like myself and others more than ever. It is wonderfully honest to accept myself the way G-d made me and to accept others the same way.
Be patient with yourself. You will find yourself able to let go of the deceit gradually as you find who you really are.
Regards,
SandraC
so one year of lots of questions and showing doubts, and missing quite a few meetings but still going out in service, doing mics, reading, hall projects...then i get the new light from society regarding the letter i sent them (wow, stunned me, blew me away) and i let them know how i felt about it and i quit the ministry after 40 active years.
nobody says anything about this, no counsel, no will you go out with us on saturday.
not a single "were is your time for the month" phone call.
Nvr is so RIGHT! (as usual).
In my case ('way back in 1979), I moved far away. There would have been no issues with elders except that I had to get away from my elder husband in order to get away from the dubs (really, vice versa). Anyway, it was not about encouragement at the time. It was about finding something thay could convict me of in order to make my ex "free." The poor bast**d could have freed himself!
I like that Eagles song about how we live our lives in chains while the entire time we hold the key.
Regards,
SandraC
i didn't cry when my mother died.
i didn't cry when i saw her laying lifeless in the hospital bed, nor did i cry at the funeral.
my mother used to say bring me my flowers while i'm alive.
With sympathy to you in your sorrow,
SandraC
well christimas will soon be here !!.
for those that are new we have done this for the last few years, what it involves is that those who want to join in will post to this thread and then pm me their name and address.
i will then collate the names and addresses and assign everyone a person to buy a gift for.
This is such a great idea! Count me in. Thanks!
SandraC
this song has always been one of my favourites.
wintley phipps tells the history of the song.
very moving.. amazing grace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmf_24cqqt0&mode=related&search=.
"When We All Get to Heaven" - If you don't know what "happy in Jesus" means, here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvC6Fo2yhQo&mode=related&search=
this song has always been one of my favourites.
wintley phipps tells the history of the song.
very moving.. amazing grace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmf_24cqqt0&mode=related&search=.
"I've Got a Mansion" - Elvis Presley - Elvis knew the gospel of country folk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvC6Fo2yhQo&mode=related&search=
this song has always been one of my favourites.
wintley phipps tells the history of the song.
very moving.. amazing grace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmf_24cqqt0&mode=related&search=.
Ricky Skaggs and Tony Rice singing "Where the Soul Never Dies"
this song has always been one of my favourites.
wintley phipps tells the history of the song.
very moving.. amazing grace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmf_24cqqt0&mode=related&search=.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y34lUGEmv10
The above link is to "I'd Rather Have Jesus," sung by the Gaithers. It reminds me of my dear grandparents, and I am all teared up. The Gaithers sing many of the songs I heard as a child at my grandpa's church. They're hard to find these days. Appalachians' music selections were not altogether mainstream, e.g.:
I'll be a listenin' for my name, Born again, I've got a mansion, Where the soul never dies, etc.
Regards,
SandraC
did you think you were better than everyone else?
did you talk down to people?
were you a know-it-all?
One day I realized that I had been a better person when I was "worldly." Now I am again.
when it comes to the society, are they to blame for the control they use upon the members, or is it the peoples fault?
should we blame the society for tricking people?
or is it the people that let themselves be tricked?
Personally, I don't like the blame game.
That having been said, people who are likely to become JW's are impaired in critical thinking skills, judgment, social skills, mental health, self esteem, or have life crises of one kind or another. They are promised paradise and led into hell.
