Balaamsass

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Posts by Balaamsass

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  44

  Just saw an elderly JW man...

  by zengalileo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  he was walking with such a slump, dragging his feet, carrying a jacket, magazines barely visible just hanging from his fingertips.

  if body language has any validity to it, this man was deeply discouraged and depressed.

  i remember that slump too.

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  Balaamsass

  It is never to late to learn THE TRUTH or be a Borean. The wife had a great conversation with her daughter yesterday about unconditional family love and apologizing if she had ever made her feel "less than"..even unintentially for not being a "sterling JW". She had an AWAKENING a few years back. While I never said anything, and have NEVER believed in Shunning for disassociation, at times I was a bit judgemental. Now the shoe is on the other foot. :)

  It is really sad how so many of these elderly ones are dying in poverty and obscurity. Most gave up any career choice that required further education or even some missed meetings. Most felt retirement savings showed a lack of faith. Some put off having Children, or shun unbelieving children who could bring them comfort in old age.

  My mother, -now in her 80s- has been battling depression, especially since the newest, newest, newest, newest, "generation" explaination and yet another funeral for a old friend. HER mother LOVED reminding us: "This Generation will not pass away" (She died of old age 40 years ago) Mom remembered as a kid old firebrand Rutherford telling them WW2 would end in Armagedon. A little buzzed, she looked down at her drink, and she almost cried when she said: "My family..we all thought we would be walking arm in arm into the new system, now they are almost all dead......"

  At this point I only have the heart to give her a hug and agree with anything she says.
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  17

  Woe to YOU, Congregation Elders

  by Badfish in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "woe to you, congregation elders, hypocrites!

  because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in.".

  "woe to you, congregation elders, hypocrites!

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  Balaamsass
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  32

  Thanks for your help !

  by 3rdgen in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  to all the posters on this board, your thoughts, experiences, and research have helped me more than you can imagine!

  until recently i was a true believer of more than 50 yrs.

  as my name implies, i am third generation from both parents going back to the turn of the previous century.

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  Balaamsass

  I want to thank everyone for being so Kind ! 3rd Jen has had a big smile all week! It is like a huge weight has come off our shoulders. Guilt is gone. We thought we were loosing our minds at times when discussing some of the increasing CraZY talk in the Mags and off the platform. We would look at each other and It was like huh??? Where did they get THAT in the Bible???

  Thanks everyone for your sanity and levity! :)
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  11

  SEC busts Bernie Madoff type ponzi scheme in Kingdom Halls!

  by brit-93108 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  it is true, difficult as it is to believe.

  the sec busted a bernie madoff ponzi scheme run in kingdom halls and targeted against defrauding elderly jehovah's witnesses:.

  u.s. securities and exchange commission .

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  Balaamsass

  What a shame. I knew more than a few Elderly JWs to fall for scams from "Bible Studies","Visiting Brothers"and needy kingdom halls...including our mom. Any more info on where in California this occured?
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  47

  Menlo Park (CA - USA) Kingdom Hall

  by Juan Viejo2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i received an anonymous email over at ex-jw.com that had an attached legal filing.

  the first couple of pages seemed to be standard legal filings, but the rest of the pages looked like standard typed documentation (not in numbered double-spaced legal format.

  ) i'm not quite sure what to make of it, so wonder if anyone here has heard of it.

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  Balaamsass

  Thankyou for your posts on this. Any updates?
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  44

  CO Visits=encouragement?

  by lifestooshort in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i was still a jw i remember my feelings of confusion caused by the co visit.

  i just found them so discourging.

  i knew what he was going to say.

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  Balaamsass

  CO Visits = encouragement....perhaps 4xs in 50 years :). Four C.O.s were humble god fearing men with enough brains and MoJo to accomplish the job. The majority were demanding self asuming bragarts, demanding special "diets" after putting away greasy donuts at break. Some always were looking for a green handshake or new digs. The brothers who sent them and the wives to the mall with a gold card were soon on assembly parts or City servant. Rude to some poor frazzled Sisters with crying babies. Some older C.O.s go through the motions just enough to stay on and avoid serious problems in the circuit like abuse or rape. One C.O. somehow convinced a few sisters it OK with Jehovah for them to comfort him sexually !! LOL!!

  Most C.O.s can't remember the names of all the Elders in a circuit, let alone servants and publishers. All the Elders run around contacting the irregular and inactive the weeks before the visit to deflect attention from the Elder body, which in turn causes some of the creative witch hunts for "apostate" publishers. Actually the craziest, most apostate off the wall stuff I have ever heard comes from the Circuit overseers themselves. Smurfs, Costume parties, theme parties, 3s Company, Congregation picnics, Unisex Clothing, women with short hair, men with mustaches or long hair, colored shirts, Sport Coats on the platform,1973, 1974, 1975, 2001, 2012, 9/11, Bibles only in field service, Magazines only in field service, 4 door cars, brothers only in service with brothers, only appointing elders with 15 hrs a month,...straining out the gnats.... :)
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  283

  Are you sure leaving is a wise decision ?- Lurkers think twice- Part 2

  by mankkeli in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  in the previous thread of this series, i called lurkers attention to the need of being discreet when contemplating an exit from the jw religion.

  i mentioned that the thread was borne as a result of the general observations i made reading old posts here and discussing with many ex-jws and their lives have gradually turned out.

  that thread alone was visited more than 2,980 times and graced with 204 contributions.

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  Balaamsass

  Does it have to be all or nothing......? Over the years I have known a few dozen Jehovahs' Witnesses who have employed "Theocratic Stratigy". They have moved out of state, outside the circuit,.and faded or became "irregular". A new unlisted telephone number, caller ID, parking the car in the garage Saturday, a picket fence, and a cheap P.O. box were helpful in finding peace on Saturday mornings. They visit with friends and family on a regular basis. Attend the Memorial, a half-day of an assembly and an infrequent Sunday meeting. These "Weak JWs" seem much happier than ones who publicly speak out and loose family and friends..hey, the family and friends NOW get to count service TIME sharing a pitcher of beer and pizza with them !! When the Elders eventually do visit. They just are home but hiding- or answer the door caughing "sick" in a robe..ohh brother I would love to have you in but we are so SICK. Give us a call first.. next time..love ya Bye ! :)

  I want to thank all the members who post on this site. For a while we were lurkers. When users spelled out WATCH TOWER or JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES the posts showed on my Google Alerts. In years past we thought WE must be crazy, because so many things obviously made no rational or Biblical sense..yet we were surrounded by thousands of true believers seemingly in happy lockstep. It is comforting to come here and realize we are not crazy. My wife is the happiest she has been in years..for that we THANKYOU!.
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  36

  Encouraging sigleness

  by Dudu in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  do you think is one of the unhealthy teachings among the wt?

  i mean humans has been created with emotional and physical needs that relationships provide, right?.

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  Balaamsass

  Ziddina, I think you hit on something. "

  I think the Watchtower's antipathy towards marriage started with Russell's divorce, and was reinforced by that drunken buffoon, Rutherford, who totally ignored his wife and child in favor of a mistress - or mistresses - and a long line of whores - er, "ladies of easy morals"...

  Rutherford was well-known to have hated the institution of marriage..

  I had some long conversations with Elderly Jehovah's Witnesses about the 30s, Rutherford, Franz, and Bethel. They refered to a lot of the Bethel brothers as "women haters". One old Bethel Elder said NPGs (non practicing/vs practicing gays) were not uncommon in the 40s. I took this with a LARGE grain of salt untill I served at Bethel. Some of the old-timmers of COURSE had the "GIFT" of singleness...they were gay. Chitty (Governing Body) was very "Light in the loafers"and when alone would asked Bethelites to rub suntan oil on him while sunning on the roof. Fred Franz held his "Bible Discussions" in the sauna with wide eyed young Bethelites. One morning at breakfast over 30 Bethelites were disfellowshiped for homosexuality and massage parties. If marriage isn't your "calling" NYC Bethel has been a great place to live and deal with internal struggles and penance for over 100years. The "Village" was a short subway ride away...and you were hundreds of miles away from meddling JWs and whispers in your mid-western hometown. If you were skilled at writting and stayed long enough...you might just end up writting those articles on the "Gift of singleness".....

  JESUS called it right.."forbidding to marry"........

  My 2 cents...
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  42

  How did you do it?

  by GeneM in

  1. jw
  2. experiences
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  Balaamsass

  We just faded after a congregation move and changing of the phone numbers. I had a picket fence added to the Rose garden (and put a small lock on it). We are third generation JWs. Family goes back to Russel. Never missed a month of service for over 40 years. Bethel. Pioneering. Elder. The outragious treatment of local abuse survivors was the begining of the end for me. I thought my fight to protect innocents was a strange local problem. We had Two molesters and a wife beating elder in our hall. More nearby! And I was expected to keep things "Quiet"?? "Theocratic Strategy"... Lying? No more cazy talk for me. Hello, police...sex crimes investigator please.....

  No letter needed. We still have family and business conections. The word was sent out is that I "caused divisions", but nothing was ever announced publicly. The wife says it's because I know of too many skeletons, attorneys, and can be cranky. :)
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  12

  Update about Ray and Cynthia Franz, by Request!!!

  by tooktheredpill in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  guys:.

  as i mentioned in a past thread, (http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/161647/1.ashx), i met ray and cynthia during the weekend!

  i went to their home with my wife.

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  Balaamsass

  Any updates on Cynthia Franz? Ray and Cynthia were so kind and hospitable to me when I was at Bethel.