Posts by Muddy Waters

15

A Visit from the JWs, knocking at our door...!

by Muddy Waters in

ha, another visit from the jws.... thankfully they are few and far between (seem to roll around whenever the co visits or is about to visit...)an elder and his wife, presenting the magazines and inviting us to the talks, which are "so encouraging".

he had the saddest, most hang-dog expression, as he bemoaned these last days, so critical to deal with, and how the world was getting so terrible, things are so bad, blah blah blah, and every time i looked at her, she smiled encouragingly at me with that bright-eyed, put-on "sincere" smile.

i thanked them for coming, and said, "i appreciate you thinking about us" (after they said how the "missed us" at the meetings, ugh) -- "but we know where the kingdom hall is if we decide to go back.

Muddy Waters

Ha, another visit from the JWs.... thankfully they are few and far between (seem to roll around whenever the CO visits or is about to visit...)

An elder and his wife, presenting the magazines and inviting us to the talks, which are "so encouraging". He had the saddest, most hang-dog expression, as he bemoaned these last days, so critical to deal with, and how the world was getting so terrible, things are so bad, blah blah blah, and every time I looked at her, she smiled encouragingly at me with that bright-eyed, put-on "sincere" smile.

I thanked them for coming, and said, "I appreciate you thinking about us" (after they said how the "missed us" at the meetings, ugh) -- "but we know where the Kingdom Hall is if we decide to go back. To be honest, I have to say we're very happy these days. Life is great and I've never felt happier."
(looks of shock, disbelief, and amazement)
I continued: "The Bible says that Jehovah is faithful, and he will not forget the love I've shown for his name. So I have to believe that, and if he wants to kill me at Armageddon for not going to meetings, then so be it."

*still laughing at the shocked expressions on their face*

31

Why I get out of bed every morning.

by compound complex in

jw
friends

because someone needs my help.. as a jw -- you can relate -- i truly believed that what everyone really needed was the kingdom hope and its eventual reality.

you know, the hope that does not lead to disappointment.

of course, if anyone needed practical help with a task or getting through some difficulty, most of us realized that was part of being a helpful and caring friend (or family member).. at nearly seventy years of age -- no, i didn't enter the promised kingdom in my healthful and vibrant youth -- my getting out of bed isn't so bad.

Muddy Waters

Yes, some days it is hard to come to terms with how much of our life some of us have spent/given to the org... yet we can make a difference, and bring hope and healing to others.

It is always good to remember that people can be deeply affected by the happenings and postings on forums and boards like this... for me, it has been a definite healing and therapy!

How fulfilling to know that we can make a difference, large or small, in helping others.

32

Oddest front covers on Watchtower or Awake

by usualusername1 in

jw
friends

in my comedy i want to show the audience a large version of some weird front covers from the watchtower or awake.. do you have any suggestions?.

cheers.

paul.

Muddy Waters

Wow, they sure know how to draw LUST on the men's faces surrounding Baby, I mean Babylon the great....

17

13th Dec 2017

by zeb in

i have a 'financial advisor' email tell of massive changes coming to us (and thereby world currencies) on the above date.. does 13-dec 2017 mean anything to anyone.?.

he is talking about the removal of cash etc now if this is half way correct where does it leave the money machine of the wt?.

positive responses welcome..

Muddy Waters

That day is my birthday! lol

Have not heard about anything else....

72

What was the biggest thing that convinced you that

by Ponyo in

.....the truth was not the truth... ?

.

Muddy Waters

For me, it was a progression of little things and doubts or questions which I quickly suppressed... (the mind control was strong in this one!) and then one day something hit me over the head like a lightening bolt which brought the whole house of cards crumbling down.

First, the doubts and questions...

- the change in 1995 about the generation teaching (now "overlapping")

- the Revelation book, with its claims of the heavenly trumpet blasts being pronouncements at 1922 Conventions which we never hear about or know nothing about anymore

- also, in Revelation book, the terrible, scary, invasive locust plague being **us**?!?!? - Jehovah's own people??

- again, the Revelation book, with JESUS being the rider on the white horse?!? - leading the way with wars, plagues, famine, disease, earthquakes riding along right behind him. Wow, real good on ya, Jesus. Way to go.... thanks a lot...

- and again, in the Revelation book (and numerous WT articles) Jesus waging war in heaven and throwing Satan and his demon horde to EARTH?? Like there was nowhere else in the whole universe to send them? Just cast these horrible, evil, powerful, wicked, depraved, crafty spirits down to the earth where billions of your CHILDREN live - the humans you and Jeh claim to love so much...??? Yeah, thanks a lot for all of that "Woe to the earth and to the sea.." Sure. Good on ya. But, hey, at least your house is clean.... (I don't believe any of this rubbish now, but at the time, it was really hard to fathom....)

- and BLOOD FRACTIONS!!!! This is now a conscience matter??? What happened to "he being faithful in what is least...".????? That was a huge question and doubt!!! (Yet, for this true-believer/ koolaid drinker, still not the final blow!!)

...

- the FINAL BLOW came when I finally became a grandma - though how I wish I'd have seen and recognized this when my own babies were little ---

And happened when I was going to give my grandchildren the book, MY BOOK OF BIBLE STORIES.

As I looked through the book, it was like I was seeing it for the first time through their little eyes -- and it was HORRIFYING --- the violence, , the bloodshed, the frightening pictures of all the bloodshed and pain-filled faces, my god... And these pages way outnumbered any happy illustrations!! I thought WHO could put out such a book for CHILDREN, children who can't even read yet ... ????

... my next thought was, it would be the Governing Body, they would have had to approve this book!!! MEN, who, for the most part, DIDN'T EVEN HAVE CHILDREN ...!!!

I still remember that moment, like a moment frozen in time -- that moment of striking clarity, shock, and realization -- that those men didn't know everything, that they could make mistakes, and that they were just making it up as they go... It all fell apart for me then and there....

...

Gosh, and how I shook and trembled and later even cried and had nightmares ... But doing much better with it all now.

39

Why pigs???

by stuckinarut2 in

why did jesus supposedly cast the demons into a herd of pigs?.

(matt 8 / luke 8).

and, how were there so many demons inside one man, that when "released" by jesus, it took a whole pack of pigs to contain them??.

Muddy Waters

I find your comments well researched and informative, David Jay, and I appreciate hearing things expressed from another perspective.

Some people take offence at all religion now, especially after being so hurt or damaged from being in a cult (JWs) but many people also appreciate hearing these other viewpoints, such as myself.

Stay, post as you do, and ignore the chiders or any unkind remarks. There are many here who appreciate your posts and explanations.

14

Listening to the meetings from the perspective of a "newly interested" person?

by stuckinarut2 in

just wondering how many others (when you were still in the org) would try and listen to the meeting programmes from the perspective of a newly interested person visiting for the first time?.

i know that i did this, and most times i did, i found it disturbing!

it was not just the "in-house" language and terminology that was odd, but also the actual doctrines, and method of 'teaching' that was odd!.

Muddy Waters

I remember a pioneer sister who was very excited that one of her "studies" was going with her to a circuit assembly! It was a really big deal of course. When I later asked her what her "study" thought of the assembly, she looked so sad and confused as she said, "well, she STOPPED her study. She said the assembly was ALL NEGATIVE and full of don't do this and don't do that!!"

And I, a totally indoctrinated dubbie at the time, ALSO felt confused. I mean, after all, weren't our assemblies for our benefit and ENCOURAGEMENT, and the very best places to be to receive spiritual banquets from Jehovah of life-giving instruction & refreshment?? It was very confusing at the time how her study could view our assembly in such a negative light.

Of course, it is clear as day to me now!! Her study was very lucky to have gotten out before she even got in!

18

The Ever-Changing Song Book

by Cimarrona in

the songs in the old brown song book were way better than these new ones.

had they not changed the songs, i may never have left (halfway joking).

they gave no feeling, no soul (but of course there's no such thing as soul or whatever)!

Muddy Waters

OMG, the new songbook, dreadful!! Absolutely dreadful, the worst!!!

I think the old songbook was called, "Sing Praises to Jehovah", the new songbook should be called, "Sing Praises to the Governing Body"!!!

And don't even get me started about the music, they all sound like funeral dirges, only not even that elegant or pretty. The music sounds all wrong, the words are forced to fit the music, no logical or beautiful rhythm to it, just terrible and awkward.

And the melody, if you want to call it that, doesn't fit expectations of how you would sing a song. Where you would expect the music to lift and sound elevated, it dips low, it's like the music is constantly sinking.... and the songs are filled with weird chord progressions (though they always have been, even in the old brown songbook) whch makes them difficult to play and sing along with.

The songs sound sad, depressing, and all the same. And the congregation sings them that way, too. One of my last acts of defiance before I stopped going to meetings was to belt those crappy songs out as loud as I could, haha. It was cool to sing "angry" but I didn't care in the least. I caught a few looks of surprise, but nobody said anything to me. They probably didn't know what to make of somebody practically screaming their stupid songs at them. Ha!

32

Counter-Watchtower / Answers-in-Watchtower First Draft Issue 1

by Counter-Watchtower in

please proof read the draft and comment any edits, corrects or changes of any kind needed.

also i need help with the cover page, what the title should be and plain text or whatnot, whatever would be more appealing to a jw to get them to open and read.. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0b2s6sigyikwhmglhqk5fcmxwzwc/view?usp=sharing.

Muddy Waters

There are still many errors that I could help you fix, but I won't be able to get to this till later today or tomorrow. It is a very good compilation of information, though! :D

130

2017 Annual Meeting

by Jules Saturn in

this just in from the 2017 annual meeting:.

1. watchtowers and awakes won't be released regularly, at least three watchtower and awakes per year.

6 magazines a year.. 2. a new book is being released: remain in god's love, more of an update like how they did for the what does the bible really teach book.

Muddy Waters

Wow, I am just gobsmacked at this.

I mean, "The Watchtower - Heralding Christ's Presence!" - will barely be published anymore??
Whatever will the JWs *do* without a monthly WT magazine?? Whatever will they study on Sunday? What will they underline? What will they do with all their rulers and pens and high-lighters and markers, etc.??? What will they fill all their bookshelves and bookbags with??

Is everybody to buy an iPad?? Has WT invested heavily in Apple stock?? What does this all mean in the practical daily/weekly/monthly lives of the faithful flock??

Will everybody sit around a computer screen to see the latest from Jehovah's mighty and glorious website?

Yes, that must be it, seeing as how their latest JW broadcast said they were building a fine "Digital Foundation"!!! Well, thank goodness they will have a rock solid, stable *digital foundation*.... (as long as the internet connections hold and the wireless networks and clouds keep doing their things...)

Imagine when all the resurrected ones will be given new tablets, never mind those old stone things. They will all have *iPads* and the new system will be filled with cell towers or such to stream in the new light from Jehovah.