Posts by NikL

15

Whatever happened to the chat room?

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

i used to post here many years ago, back then there was a chat room.

it was good to talk to others instantly.

why has the chat room gone?

Anyone remember "Jehovahs Christian Witnesses" in Portland OR?

by NikL in

jw
friends

back in the early 1980s i was visiting my aunt in gresham oregon, a suburb of portland.

she was worldly but being a good witness that i was i picked up the yellow pages to find the location of the local kingdom hall.

well, i found it but i also found a listing for "jehovah's christian witnesses".

Back in the early 1980s I was visiting my aunt in Gresham Oregon, a suburb of Portland. She was worldly but being a good witness that I was I picked up the yellow pages to find the location of the local Kingdom Hall. Well, I found it but I also found a listing for "Jehovah's Christian witnesses". I thought that kind of interesting.

Since I didn't have any wheels and I was only 15 at the time I called the kingdom hall and arranged for a brother to give me a ride to the Sunday meeting. On the way to the meeting I asked the brother about the listing in the Yellow Pages. He said, "that's a little organization we have up here". He gave me to understand that this was some sort of apostate group. I've thought about it over the years and wondered what the story was behind this group. Does anybody remember?

74

Personal Experience I've Never Shared - I Hope it Helps Some Here !

by flipper in

jw
friends

o. k. how do i start ?

i will preface the start of this first by saying this happened many years ago - in 1985 when i had just become a new father myself to my dear son flipper junior, i'll call him.

when i explain this to you, some of this may appear comical, in fact, now that i overcame it years ago, i can laugh at it, but when you see the totality of the story- when it happened then to me- it was no laughing matter.

NikL

You are a good man Flipper. I am a nice guy and don't go looking for a fight but I can tell you that there would be a big can of Whoop Ass unleashed and damn the consequences I would be hurting someone. Thanks for the story

37

Jehovah's Witnesses are CASTING A GIANT SHADOW

by Terry in

jw
friends

folks are about as happy as they decide to be.. looking on the bright side of life gives you more of a foothold when things go awry.

nurturing hope builds a foundation for you which enables you to save for tomorrow and build toward the future and hang on when things get tough.. people dig their own graves when they become pessimists.

"why bother" replaces "that's worth a try!".

NikL

Wow, I have been thinking these similar thoughts lately.

I have been a poster here for several years but I don't post very often. Mostly because anything I have to say can be said by somebody else and said a whole lot better. Case in point this post Terry.

I have been reading a lot about positive thinking lately and through books like "the secret" and "feeling good for no reason" I have come to see how important good thoughts are and how destructive bad thoughts can be. Now that I'm trying to live on the sunny side of life I have noticed all the negativity from my JW wife. Whenever a news story comes on about something bad her response is always "Jehovah will take care of it". Whenever there is a news story about damage to the environment or someone or some organization going green her response is always "it's too late Jehovah will have to take care of it now". It does get trying at times.

This is the same woman who doesn't understand how I can be happy living in his crappy old world with no hope for the future. It's funny though, she's the one on antidepressants not me. As a matter of fact, I spent a good part of my past JW life in depression. After I left the depression has not been the problem than it used to be. "Giant shadow" indeed.

25

What Circumstances Cause Some to Decide to Fade or Disassociate ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

this morning in seeing another poster going through this particular dilemma , i thought it would be good to open it up to open discussion to see what various situations occur in our lives that make us come to the decision to fade / or disassociate ?

everybody has different circumstances in their lives - so one size certainly doesn't fit all .

everybody has there pressure points in life they can deal with - some cannot.

NikL

It was discovered that I read Ray Franz's book "crisis of conscience" and the elders called a judicial meeting on me. During the meeting they asked me what I would do if they DFed me. I told them that I would appeal it. They asked why, I did not want to be a member of Jehovah's organization anymore? I told them I did not want my name slandered because if Dfed me people would think I had done something very wrong which I hadn't. They told me as long as I did not tell others what I had read in the book or share with them my doubts of the organization they would leave me alone. They cautioned me however, that should I ever tell the things that I had read I would have to meet with them again and there would be consequences.

I think the only reason they left me alone was because my wife was and continues to be a faithful J. W.

Whatever their reason, I was allowed to fade. Fine with me since I am married to an active witness.

39

Who CONFIRMED the BIG announcement about the Book Study?

by Alligator Wisdom in

jw
friends

this seems to be the topic of the week, if not this year.. out of the many points and countless threads about this topic, many have been speculative and of the reminiscing sort.

i was wondering how many confirmations we have about this.

there were only a few that sounded like confirmations that i found posted on this site.

NikL

Last night my JW wife informed me about this big announcement that was to take place this Sunday in every cong. all over the Earth.

I knew nothing about it as I have not been on these boards for a while.

Anyway, she told me that the book studt conductor said "it is something you will remember when you are 400 years old".

Given that statement I have a hard time believing that it is only a change in meeting arrangements as some seem to think.

I realise that the dubs have a history of building suspence for their big announcements but this one seems different somehow.

6

How many of "Jehovahs People" really feel.

by NikL in

jw
friends

this e mail has probably been posted before but i just thought i would pass it along again.. it is obviously tongue in cheek but still i know many dubs do feel this way.... .

a new way to handle those pesky little "conversation stoppers".

they preach to people.

NikL

This e mail has probably been posted before but I just thought I would pass it along again.

It is obviously tongue in cheek but still I know many dubs do feel this way...

A new way to handle those pesky little "conversation stoppers"

1.) 'I'M NOT INTERESTED' You might say:

"Well, many feel the same way, and they're
called goats in the Bible. Let me share with you a
scripture that talks about the fate of those goats.
(Read Matt. 25:46) Do you want to get cut off? Do
you WANT to take a dirt nap for eternity?!"

2.) 'I HAVE MY OWN RELIGION' You might say:

Well whoop dee doo! "Yeah, and I have MY own religion
too. Its called the "TRUTH!" See I'm what you call a
"Christian" (Make the double quotation gesture with
your fingers.) You know what "Christians" do?
They preach to people. Those that don't preach to
people are on that "broad and spacious road." Here
let me show you in Matt 7:13.

3.) 'I'M TOO BUSY' You might say:

"No you're not. You were probably watching TV
or kicking back right? Don't lie to me. Do you know
who the father of the lie is?
It's Satan!!!................Is he your daddy?
I think he is!"

4.) 'I'LL READ YOUR LITERATURE IF YOU'LL READ MINE' You might say:

Hey, this isn't a hostage negotiation here. I'm
not going to read your stinkin literature! I came
here to preach to YOU remember?........... Now, if you
want to preach to ME, you'll have to get up off YOUR lazy
behind, and come knock on MY door on a Saturday
morning. But don't bother because I'm NOT INTERESTED
in your beliefs, because I HAVE MY OWN RELIGION, and
I'M TOO BUSY in the work of the Lord to
READ-YOUR-LITERATURE-IF-YOU'LL-READ-MINE, JUNK! Then
slam THEIR own door in THEIR face!

OKAY!!!!!! So who wants to make a car group for this
weekend?

12

More JW e mail drivel (PUKE)!

by NikL in

jw
friends

i just had to pass this e mail along to my friends here.. .

angels in the field service!!!

>at morning worship with the bethel family, brother lett of the governing .

NikL

I just had to pass this e mail along to my friends here.

Angels in the Field Service!!!
>
>At morning worship with the Bethel family, Brother Lett of the Governing
>Body, made a few comments regarding our work of preaching and bearing
>witness to others.
>He made the point that we should not be discouraged by not-at-homes or
>those who are not interested in our message. He mentioned that even if 80%
>of our visits were not-at-homes, and 20% were not interested, we still have
>many reasons to be joyful. Primarily, because we are pleasing Jehovah.
>Also, we are fulfilling our responsibility to bear witness to others,
>thereby proving that Satan the devil is a liar. Additionally, we are
>helping the angels determine the condition of people's hearts.
>
>He then gave this example of a typical day in field service. At the first
>door we go to, after we knock, a woman peeks through the window, sees us,
>but doesn't answer the door. We mark it as a not-at home, but the angels
>mark it as something else. They can see the condition of the woman's heart.
>
>At the second door we knock at, no one is home since the husband and wife
>are both at work; but we leave a tract. That night when the couple gets
>home and sees the tract, a conversation begins. "Those Witnesses were by
>our house today. They sure are persistent." The angels are watching and
>make note of it.
>
>At the third door we knock at, no one answers. This is because the woman at
>the first house called her friend at the third house and warned her that we
>were coming. She says: "Boy, those Witnesses sure are persistent. They just
>don't give up." We mark it as a not-at home, but the angels mark it as
>something else.
>
>We knock at the fourth house and no one is home. However, a lady across the
>street sees us. The Witnesses had knocked at her door last week, but she
>didn't listen. She says to herself: "Those Witnesses sure are persistent,
>but very well dressed. Even their children are well behaved. Maybe I should
>listen to them the next time they knock at my door." Again, the angels make
>note of it.
>
>We knock at the fifth house, and again, no one is home. But a garbage truck
>passes by. The driver tells his co-worker: "There go those Witnesses
>again." The co-worker asks: "Aren't they the ones that don’t accept blood
>transfusions?" "Yes", the driver replies. "But look at how well dressed and
>well behaved their children are. I wish my children were the same." The
>angels make a note of this.
>
>So at just these five houses, there may have been five not-at-homes marked
>down, but look how many conditions and reactions of the heart the angels
>were able to observe. Now imagine how many of the se same scenarios they
>observe being played out around the world each and every day. How important
>it is that we be in the ministry to help our angelic brothers to see behind
>the response we receive at the doors.

14

Talk about a lazy way to go in field seervice!

by NikL in

so i am at home by myself.

my active jw wife is in town.. i hear an engine running out front and peek through a window.

some car i don't recognise.

NikL

So I am at home by myself. My active JW wife is in town.

I hear an engine running out front and peek through a window. Some car I don't recognise. Wait for a knock but it doesnt come. I open the door to see what gives and there on my door in plain sight by the way of anyone who cares to see (A no no I thohught) a tract inviting me to travel 200 miles to the DC in San Fracisco.

Now most of the time we don't get visits because my wife is well known in the cong. and they arent out there to visit but to count time. Anyway there they are not even knocking but just tip toeing to the front door leaving thes ~~pieses of crap~~ invitations.

That would have been my kind of field service when I was a dub...just go around and leave things and not even have to talk to a householder yet feel like I was doing my sacred service.

43

Another J W e mail

by NikL in

jw
friends

i noticed another thread on this site relaying a stupid e mail making the rounds of dubdom.. well i just got this one and i thought i would share.... powerful illustration.

after the prayer, the local elder slowly stood up, walked up to the.

platform and, before he gave his public talk, he briefly introduced a guest.

NikL

I noticed another thread on this site relaying a stupid e mail making the rounds of Dubdom.

Well I just got this one and I thought I would share...

POWERFUL ILLUSTRATION

AFTER THE PRAYER, THE LOCAL ELDER SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED UP TO THE
PLATFORM AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS PUBLIC TALK, HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST
SPEAKER.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE ELDER TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST
SPEAKER WAS ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS FROM A FAR AWAY PLACE AND
THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CONGREGATION AND SHARE
WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE. WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY
MAN STEPPED UP TO PLATFORM AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.

A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE

PACIFIC COAST." HE BEGAN. "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT
TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE. THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE
FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE
THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO

TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE TALK BEGAN, LOOKING
SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.

THE AGED GENTLEMAN CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE
FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS
LIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.

HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION. THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A
CHRISTIAN AND HE LOVED JEHOVAH HE ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT
AND HAD NOT LEARNED TO LOVE JEHOVAH.

THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES. AS
THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS
SON'S FRIEND. BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO THE
CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE
BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED!

BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT, ANXIOUSLY
WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE AGED GENTLEMAN'S MOUTH.
THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD BE REMEMBERED BY JEHOVAH AND
HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND NOT LETTING JEHOVAH GET TO
KNOW HIM BETTER AND HIM GETTING TO KNOW JEHOVAH AND THE PROMISES HE HAS IN
STORE. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND. HOW GREAT
IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE DID THE SAME FOR US.
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON SO THAT WE COULD BE
SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE
LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU " WITH THAT, THE OLD GENTLEMAN TURNED
AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.

THE ELDER AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PLATFORM AND DELIVERED A BRIEF TALK
WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END TO START A BIBLE STUDY WITH SOMEONE HERE AT
THE KINGDOM HALL. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.
WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD
MAN'S SIDE. "THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY BUT SARCASTICALLY STATED ONE
OF THEM, "BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP
HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN AND
LOVE GOD."

WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED GLANCING DOWN AT HIS
WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE AND HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED
UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT?
BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT THIS STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE
OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR JEHOVAH GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.

YOU SEE...

I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR CIRCUIT OVERSEER IS MY SON'S FRIEND.

West Cong., Spartanburg, SC