i reckoned that a comment by muddy waters in his latest post deserved a separate consideration - especially for active/fading j.w.'s..
's who called on him, parroted out the org's message of doom from 2 timothy 3:1-5 to remind him how bad the world is and that it showed that we are living in the last days.. a former elder/p.o.
once told me that he hated it every time the wtbts falsely applied these verses to the 20-21st century.
No worries, Fall Guy! In retrospect I probably shouldn't have selected a name of a *male* blues singer! lol
At the time I began posting, the "clear waters of truth" were no longer so crystal and pure...
Anyway, I appreciate your research and comments as to those "critical times hard to deal with.." -- another big new thought for me about something I thought I'd previously understood....!
at the agm on oct 7th, his eminence miserable morris iii stated the jw yearbook would cease publication and that the annual report would instead be released via the "about us" menu in the jw website.
related to this, the "life and ministry meeting workbook - january 2018 (living as christians)" outlines the following item to be considered jan 1-7 2018...."annual service report: (15 min.
) talk by an elder.
Hahaha, I can just imagine a pioneer saying, "Hmmm... You know, I can't recall having an outstanding experience in the field ministry this past year..."
Eager Elder: "Well, how about in previous years? Surely there's something..."
Pioneer: "Not really... 'Outstanding experiences are so far and few between, and if I did have one, have probably used it already ...."
Elder: "Well, how about somebody ELSE'S experience..? Surely you've heard something said by someone..."
Pioneer: "Hmm, not really... It really has dried up out there and nobody's ever home... "
Desperate Elder: "Hmmm... Perhaps we can find something from the YEARBOOK!"
Bwhahahaha!!
i reckoned that a comment by muddy waters in his latest post deserved a separate consideration - especially for active/fading j.w.'s..
's who called on him, parroted out the org's message of doom from 2 timothy 3:1-5 to remind him how bad the world is and that it showed that we are living in the last days.. a former elder/p.o.
once told me that he hated it every time the wtbts falsely applied these verses to the 20-21st century.
Wow, that is very interesting, Fall Guy! Never ever heard that scripture applied THAT WAY, even though explained in the Insight book.
And, ha, despite user name, am female! Sorry for confusion. 🙃
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.
LOL, Smiddy, so true! Yet I remember having that same stupid smile be on my own face way too many times! Gah, and never ever realized how phony and fake I also must have looked...!
Gosh, it felt good to say those things to them. How I wished I could have said a LOT more!!!
since i don't have you,i conjure up an image thatis both real and ideal.. what i do recall is etched in sharp relief, but deeply, in dark caverns of my mind.. the heart is a better well of reminiscence as it draws upan intangible but true past.. a newfound, tranquil corner inme reassures that love, thoughgone missing, is never lost..
Lovely... Beautiful poem.
I have some thoughts about life and death, new thoughts for me, and so different from my old JW thoughts...
and which are hard to fit with your beautiful expression that "love, though gone missing, is never lost."
I like your "newfound, tranquil corner"... I am still looking for that...
so i've just skived off to the car park half way through our assembly day - what a classic morning.. i'm sat right behind an early-teen kid with some sort of special needs (autistic?
) who's sat with what looks like his late-30's harassed single parent mother.
(or married to an unbelieving mate?
My heart breaks for that little boy, but LOVE him for being able to speak out so honestly.
.....the truth was not the truth... ?
.
Hi, Ponyo. Yes, the awakening process can be very unsettling... take your time, prepare to have your mind boggled... Do not talk to any JWs or elders, they are trained to shun you and mark you/ disfellowshipped you, take your family away from you.... Be cautious and careful as you wake up...
Crisis of Conscience is an amazing book, glad to hear you are reading it! Ray Franz was truly a person of integrity and high moral caliber.
And I am so curious, which parts of my earlier reply (page 6) gave you shivers?? Which part or parts resonated with you?
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.
It was so satisfying to tell them I wasn't afraid of Armegeddon!! And it really shocked her. After all, it's their big stick, their big boogeyman...
And yes, I never could stand it when they say they "miss you" but you never hear from them or maybe only when the CO visit comes up.
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.
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*
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.
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.
