Shaky, I agree with your statement that old "friends" should just call to see how you are doing and not have an agenda. That's what true friends would do.
Sorry you had to go through that. No one should be treated so unkind.
glueman
JoinedPosts by glueman
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45
So an old friend from the hall called me today....
by shakyground inhe said he wanted to know how i was doing and what was going on with me.
i knew that it was only a matter of time before he started asking about me not being to the hall in like 3 months and him trying to bring me back into the fold.
and in about less than a minute he started telling me about how everyone at the hall misses me and asks about me.
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Did you have anybody stay at your house?
by d inin 2000-2001 we had 2 witness stay at our house because they were building a new kh.
the experience was strange to see the least but the people were nice.today the jw's are not as nice.. does anybody have similar experiences..
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glueman
Over the years we have had JW's stay with us and we've stayed with others.
That being said, the best visitor we ever had was a non-JW asian exchange student. Would do it again in a heartbeat.
We also helped out a transgendered friend of one of my daughters for a bit during hard times.
Anybody want to guess on all the judgments passed upon us for doing such "dangerous" things?
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glueman
As serving as an elder I was reported on to the other elders in the body (11 member body at that time...yikes) by the PO about defaming his character by addressing a concern I had about the PO and body to the CO. This was one of those congs where the PO controlled everyone and everything.
Also while serving on a judicial committee I was reported to the CO about "dissention" comments and positions I had.
Vee vill make u talk :)
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Children not raised as JWs - an 'out of the mouths of Babe's moment
by skeeter1 ini have a 10 year old.
been to the kh once, at about 3 years old, for a relative's funeral.
lately, my 10 year old and her bff are talking on the phone alot.
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glueman
What a strong and deep subject this brings up. Sadly so many JW's are apathetic to the true needs of others and this world we live in, ironically while complaining of an apathetic territory.
I remember one instance where I met someone at the door and they said that the org had so much power to do true good to people. Imagine what a mass amount of practical good 7 million united people could do. As a group and individually they could contribute to a better place RIGHT NOW and not sit idly waiting on someone else, divine or not, to do the work.
To me, having a "ministry" means to minister...seems simple right? Minister is to "attend to the needs of others" or is "the act of serving".
When JW's limit that term to teaching a doctrine it falls so short of what being Christ-like should be.
The last couple of years when I was going out "in the ministry" (there it is again) I changed my whole format. I stopped pushing mags/books/studies and tried to truly listen to people about their lives, families, jobs, etc. I developed caring relationships with others while trying to do what I could to serve them and attend to their needs. Of course I was counseled about not carrying a bible or literature, not having proper focus, blah blah. While by no means trying to elevate myself above others, I can think of many instances where simply giving a kind word, bringing flowers, helping the elderly, etc. brought me great joy. We are supposed to do that to ALL we can, right?
I have brought people into the organization and at the time it did feel good, but it is so much better when you can give practical help to humanity and try, in whatever small way possible, to make a difference to people and the world.
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My guitar was in that wheel barrel.
by Quarterback inwell, i may be overeacting....i may be sensitive.....it may be sad....it may be the silly comments heard at the wt meeting.
however, there it was in the study article ...a picture of some sad looking, unhappy runners (the kind of look that the org inflicts on us) .
for the first time i looked at that guy with the wheel barrel.
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glueman
Should have been an electric guitar since that is more devil inspired...jk.
I was offended, as I often am, but nowhere near suprised by the implications as well. What about all those "new world" pics with someone playing guitar?
I have and will continue to Rock On!
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The Effects of Child Abuse
by Xandria inbeing abused and/or neglected as a child are not the only painful and potentially damaging experiences that human beings may suffer in childhood.
whether or not, and to what extent child abuse and neglect (or other painful experiences) have negative effects depends on a variety of factors - related to the abuse itself, but also to relationships, in which the abuse and the child's responses occur.
child abuse, in itself, does not "doom" people to lives of horrible suffering.
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glueman
I am a male survivor of long-term childhood sexual abuse (10+ years - multiple predators). Being such, I have very strong opinions about the subject. I am grateful that dialogue regarding this, especially regarding male survivors, has increased. Sadly we are so far away from resolutions to this and the overwhelming majority of people are still ignorant of it. Thanks for the posters in helping educate us all.
I'm 39 now and have dealt with the effects in one way or another my whole life. I can checkmark most items on all those lists.
I was in heavy denial until about 30 or so when I first disclosed the abuse to my wife, who I am so blessed to have as an advocate and partner. It has been a long, long road that will not end, however things can and do get better with much help, honesty and perseverance .
Personally, I have received the most help from group therapy with other male survivors. Regretably these types of groups are few and far between and most will not have access to such. I also am in individual therapy, 12-step programs and legally medicated. All of which are essential to my survival. Illegal medications and other numbing techniques only help for so long.
I'm not one for self help books, but in the event there are other male survivors on here (which considering the facts about the epidemic of this, there is one book that has literally helped me survive: Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse by Mike Lew.
Honestly I didn't read every post here so it may have been referred to already.
If anyone in similar shoes wants to talk, I'm here for you.
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What is the most embarassing moment you've had while still a JW?
by african GB Member ini remember having to preach to my girlfriend/classmate while i was still at school.
i was with one of the elders and it was my 'house' to preach.. wished i could vanish from the surface of the earth..
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glueman
Sorry, Bigmouth for the late response.
I couldn't counsel her because I had no freeness of speech
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4 Suicides I Am Aware Of This Year, Why Elders, COs Are Not Competent To Handle These Matters. (Life Or Death, Your Choice!)
by AvocadoJake ini would like to relate with the first suicide that took place this year, this was more than seven months ago.
this person was deeply distraught and was talking about killing themself.
the conduct of this person started to escalate (deep depression with morbid thoughts.
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glueman
I forgot to mention that my heart goes out to all who have similar circumstances and for those who have been deeply hurt by someone losing the battle over suicidal ideations.
Peace and Love
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4 Suicides I Am Aware Of This Year, Why Elders, COs Are Not Competent To Handle These Matters. (Life Or Death, Your Choice!)
by AvocadoJake ini would like to relate with the first suicide that took place this year, this was more than seven months ago.
this person was deeply distraught and was talking about killing themself.
the conduct of this person started to escalate (deep depression with morbid thoughts.
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glueman
I suffer from major depressive disorder, PTSD and a couple other things and the organization did nothing but harm me, mentally speaking. Well I guess to be completely honest there was a mag article on PTSD that helped me to get properly diagnosed.
The org couldn't help in any way. Mental illness is misunderstood by the majority of mankind, even more so within the organization. Regretfully there is still a stigma attached.
I tried and tried to get peace and happiness within the confines but always falling short and never feeling adequate by any means. I attempted suicide twice while being a JW (once while serving as an elder). I believe that they did care and were concerned about me, but their training is simply insufficient and they should recognize this inadequacy. Holy spirit should be able to help anyone with anything, bah humbug. I can't tell you how many times I was quoted 1Pet 5:9 and told that somewhere in the world someone was just like me and are "accomplishing" better results. How cruel to to leave the impression that I'm not succeeding or doing good enough.
And when I expressed that I was going to get "outside" help, there wasn't anyone who said that was a good thing and it was a wise choice, but rather that I should be very careful about it because of the potential for the influence of Satan and the bad influence of wordly thinking.
"Shepherding visits" consisted of "encouragement" to "throw anxiety", live day to day, oh and the solution is Bible reading, meeting attendance, prayer and the ministry.
When someone who is clinically mentally ill, those recommendations imply, once again, you are not doing enough or good enough.
I loved the post that compared it to a physical ailments. Would you tell a cancer patient that they can be helped by their over simplified so-called solutions?
Sickening (no pun intended).
It was only after I found a good individual therapist, a great group of men in group therapy, psychotropic medications and 12-step programs that I could see the light of day, albeit somewhat cloudy.
It was only in these situations that I learned that not everybody is so judgmental and began learning how not to judge myself.
Thanks for reading.
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True Pink Floyd Fans Only...(ok everyone is invited)
by charlie brown jr. inlistening to a retro lunch...... this queensryche song comes on....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhat-xuq6dw.
the only song from them i like for 1 reason........ pink floyd rip off...... hidden voices..... and the corny...........help me!.
lmao!!!.
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glueman
Major Pink Floyd fan here.
The original comment, I think, was about Pink Floyd being heard elsewhere.
I always pinned Queensryche as heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, right down to creating a concept album (which I like, by the way).
Radiohead is another. Listen to Exit Music (For a Film) and when the drums come in you cannot miss (if you're a fan) the similarity to Meddle-era Floyd.
A bit of a longer stretch is Tool (another band I love). Floyd's influence on them is seen in their use of imagery in their live show, long form songs, themes of isolation, spacey atmospheric music, holding out on I-tunes (at least until recently), etc.
My $0.02