why aren't you a scuba diver?
it's a user friendly sport that nearly anyone can do.
i've helped instruct a blind man and a woman that was over 100 pounds overweight.
Double Edge, I received a pilots liscense too. It was hard. It took a lot of study. I am a slow learner. But it was also very fun, and the accomplishment of getting the liscense. I haven't flown for some years now though.
LB, Glad you can do something that you enjoy so much. Rock on!
i've just joined up to silentlambs.
basically i still consider myself a jw, although i'm no longer active.
i do frequent the odd sunday meeting tho, as i still consider 95% of it to be the truth.
Hello Torn, Sounds like you have your head screwed on straight. I don't need to remind you that you are going against the societys admonishing, not to question anything. Just wait on Jehovah
It takes courage to make a stand on your beliefs. Please, continue to be an independant thinker. Its the only way to live , I feel. We are all entitled to our own beliefs. I share yours, in that armageddon may come now or many years from now. I also feel that the watchtower has some correct teachings. However, when they claim to be Gods sole channel of communication on earth, I have a problem with that. Anyway, welcome. I don't have experience with the silent lambs issue, but I hope that works out well for you.
do you really feel that you are a nice person or an unlikeable one?
when you were in a congregation, did you tend to get along with people?
were you contentious?
Joanna, you mean likeable, don't you?
.
im a huge cowboy fan but i dont think they will make it to the super bowl, damn sure would love to be wrong.
ok here is who i think as of right now pittsburgh stealers and san francisco 49ers and god i hate them both, well thats my pick how about you?
heaven
xena warrior
Crazy151drinker
GO PACK GO !!! GO PACK GO !!! GO PACK GO !!! GO PACK GO!!!
Brett Favre is the BEST quarterback in the NFL
PACKERS ARE AMERICAS TEAM!
1983 "avoid independent thinking .. how is such independent thinking manifested?
a common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by god's visible organization.
" {wt jan 15 1983 22}.
This is a great post! Thank You.
Excellent responses by all too.
This is one thing that especially bothers me about the witnesses teachings. As posted, They clearly write, in there publications, that we should avoid independant thinking. This is one of those things that I can't see how the witnesses can reason, that this is O.K. . Common sense tells all of us that we should STRIVE to be independant thinkers. There are times when I think about going back to the hall. But when I think about the admonishment to avoid independant thinking, I am reminded why I am not going anymore.
Please, for those witness posters, can you explain how you can agree with the watchtower on this one?
ok, here is what happened.
i had someone from this site (who i won't name) who sent me two e-mails.
this person told me that they read the post where i mentioned that i have had a rough time since i got to las vegas.
I'm sorry , i thought this post was about depends.
i would have to say my favorite moment is when bart goes to the comic book store and has this conversation with comic book guy:.
(bart lays $8 on the table).
bart: "can i have this comic book here?".
my favorite character is Gil. Gil has been on only a few eppisodes but he always cracks me up. Maybe because i feel like him a lot. He is a pathetic loser.
When homer went to buy the "canyonarro"s.u.v. , gil the car salesman had the sale stolen from him by another slick salesman. Then, gil gets on the phone with his wife and it goes something like this:
(gil says) you shoulda saw me i almost had the sale. well, no i didn't sell it but i was sooo close. Hey, that sounds like steve in the background. Dear, i thought you said you wouldn't be seeing him again. No, No , don't put him on.... HI steve(nicest voice)
i was on another thread today reeming out pomegranite when he replied back with"why do you get so angry and bitter with the way i feel"?
he said"do i hurt you or others".
he really made me think.
I feel that some ex-witnesses are very angry that they (we) allowed ourselves to be controlled by the WBTS. This same type of feeling is present whenever there is anything discussed about religeon or God, as in this forum. The attitude is, " I AINT TAKIN NO CRAP FROM NOBODY! NOBODY CONTROLS ME ANYMORE!"
I personally try not to get angry at people who don't agree with me. I just try to reason with them. Of course there are always a**holes. Those people get no response from me.
my sister who is still a jw called me today and was talking to me about my "situation".
i said to her that i am studing, doing research and trying to find my way and what i believe.. i said how mum said is pleading for me to go back to the meetings and i said to my sister that i cannot make up my own mind if i am at the meetings.
her reply was "the only way you can is at the meetings because that is where you get holy spirit from.".
It bothers me less now. It occured to me that the witnesses have been saying that the end is near, since 1879. They have always pointed to one thing or another ( wars, immorality,etc.) and said, " see, that just proves we are near armageddon." There is even a witness poster here that has talked about the stock market demise. When the stock market gets back on its feet, then something else will be pointed at.
I DO believe that our heavenly father will put an end to our world as we know it. I understand it may not happen in my lifetime. Or it may happen tomorrow. But how can the watchtower take credit and say "I told you so", when they have constantly said it for so many years. Its no different than me saying, tomorrow the USA invades Iraq. I will just keep on posting it everyday , until someday, if it happens, I will say, I told you so!
the other night i was upset and decided to pray to god.
i was outside looking at the stars and wondering if i was talking to myself or if he is really out there somewhere.. as i prayed i didnt know who to address, i have said jehovah, jesus, father, who ever is out there please hear me.
i don' t mean to be disrespectful in saying it that way , but just confused.. many of you know we havent been to a meeting in over a year .
Sometimes I say "heavenly father" other times "Jehovah". Lately I don't know if anyone is out there though. I just prayed a couple hours ago for some answers...................crickets chirping.........
