Posts by RedhorseWoman

22

To wait or not to wait?

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

okay, this need not necessarily be controversial but i would like some honest opinions on the matter.

from time to time (in last sundays wt lesson for example) i read in the magazines or hear brothers say this in their talks.

(with some variation) arent we grateful that jehovah has waited this long before loosing armageddon on mankind?

This whole donation thing really bothers me. I never did much like asking for money to cover the printing costs, but I figured it was probably the only way the Society could continue the preaching work.

This new procedure just seems like so much tax evasion to me. And, yes, Waiting, it IS double payment, although I had never really considered it before (funny, there are so many things that we just allow to slip past us....because we believe that the WTBTS would NEVER do anything that wasn't for the ultimate benefit of mankind and for the ultimate purpose of promoting the truth).

32

The Holy Spirit

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

okay, i'm interested in what everybody thinks on this.

i believe that for the most parts all religions start off with a good motive, i.e., to provide a forum that will help people to serve god.

(basically).

RedhorseWoman

Ozzygal,

I, too, used to feel that major lack of the Holy Spirit, also. For years I just assumed that I wasn't doing enough or wasn't doing it right, so I would try harder, but I never felt that I measured up.

To my great surprise some years ago, I was in a personal situation that was totally overwhelming. I went outside the "proper" JW guidelines for appropriate prayer and just talked to Jehovah as I would a friend....telling Him my problems and specifically asking for what I needed (which, I can tell you, was NOT improvement of my field service skills). I got the answer and the closeness I had never been able to achieve when following all the rules.

To me now my relationship with Jehovah has become very much a personal thing, and I no longer worry about the Society's rules.

27

Just saying Hi

by Ozzygal in

jw
friends

i've been lurking for a while, and feeling a little guilty about being here.

you know, the ol' internet is evil thing.

it's been a big topic down our way recently.

RedhorseWoman

Hi Ozzygirl,

Nice to see someone else who is new. Wow! This place has really started to come alive.

It's great to be able to discuss concerns and ideas without being labelled. I've always been somewhat of an iconoclast, I guess. I've always felt that I should look into things for myself.

For instance (should I admit this? Oh, well, why not?), when I was a teenager (a loooonnnggg time ago) I thought it would be prudent to understand other people's beliefs so that I could present a better witness to them. Since I had basically grown up in the truth, I knew very little of any other religions. I actually sent away for a Catholic study course. Needless to say, it was an eye opener....I never realized that they had changed the ten commandments. They left out the one about no idols, and split the covet commandment further to make ten.

While that eliminated Catholicism for me, I still find that I need to "know"....to discuss the things that I find troublesome or wrong. A forum such as this is such a breath of fresh air.

It helps, too, to find that everyone here has intelligent opinions and puts much thought into their responses. It's not just bashing, which I find to be a total turnoff.

45

About posting your picture be careful!

by spectromize in

jw
friends

simon i'm sorry i don't mean to rain on your parade but you have to remember the society and your local elders watch for stuff like that.

this is a very liberal board as far as discussions go and forever thankful for that, but you have to be careful because you could face a jd meeting.

i'm sure everyone is well aware that some posts on this board just wouldn't go over to well with the society.

RedhorseWoman

Me? Well.... But if I ever get my butt in gear and take some pictures, maybe I could post one of the infamous Red Horse.

105

I'm a Neutral Jehovah's Witness

by Martini in

jw
friends

dear brothers and sisters,.

i martini, will confide in you that i have become a neutral jehovah's witness.

i wonder if i'm not coining a new phrase here!.

RedhorseWoman

Wow! Waiting, you have expressed my feelings so poignantly. I had often wrestled with the guilt of feeling bored because I knew what was going to be said before it was ever said.

I never really studied in school but always got good marks....I couldn't understand why it was a requirement to study and underline the publications when it was so easy to pick up and recite the answers.

I always wondered why thinking was discouraged...why Biblical points could not be discussed....why Bible Study meant quoting sentences from the publications, but "putting it in our own words". That is not study...that is recitation.

Not follow your conscience? How odd. What else do we have to guide us as to what is right?

15

resigning...

by mesaluna in

jw
friends

any suggestion on how to resign as a jw?.

what would you say in your registration letter?.

what i wanna do is resign with no question ask.

RedhorseWoman

Mesaluna,

I agree with Spectromize and SevenofNine....just walk away. Being inactive carries no stigma, and there is no need to play by someone else's rules.

Also, if you have family or friends who are still active, you won't have to be cut out of their lives.

If you are questioned about your inactivity, just stress that you need some time to think about things and that you don't want to be pressured.

I'm sure this must be tough for you to deal with. I hope we can help.

10

I AM SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY

by overthehillgrandma in

jw
friends

i am so happy to of found this place..wowowowow i can share my feelings (and my useually silent thoughts) without feeling foolish, and no one really knows me so no one can go "tell".....yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

oh did i tell ya i was soooooooooo happy!!!!!!

!

RedhorseWoman

SevenofNine, are you saying that we all have big mouths here? LOL Well, you're right!!! (hehehehe)

45

What is truth?

by spectromize in

ah!

yes, that remark made by pilate after pilate had asked jesus wether he was a king.

( john 18:37-38 ).. how would you answer the question according to what we know from the bibles definition, and how the faithful and discreet slave have endeavored to give us spiritual food at the proper time?.

RedhorseWoman

One point that has always bothered me about "truth" and which Frenchy touched on, is the impact "present truth" can have on our lives.

What about the person who is disfellowshipped for having violated a Christian principle which at that point was truth and that truth is later modified so that it is no longer a disfellowshipping offense? Is there any effort put forth to find those who were disfellowshipped and give them a formal apology as well as rescind the disfellowshipping?

After all, I'm sure that many of these people were totally discouraged and did not put forth the effort to get reinstated on their own (which brings up another issue that I won't elaborate on here about the need for encouragement in many cases rather than censure).

I asked several elders about this a few years ago, but I got no answer. This bothered me no end. After all, being disfellowshipped is considered to be a death sentence, and yet no effort was being made to exonerate those who were wrongly accused according to the current "rules".

13

what is Reformed Jehovahs Witnesses?

by overthehillgrandma in

jw
friends

i saw a web site about this..does anyone know what it is?.

btw i am a grandma to three, mother to three, wife of thirty one yrs to the same wonderfull man... hello to all of you!

RedhorseWoman

We started getting into this a little bit in another thread. I think it's a very interesting question.

I used to believe 100% that we were God's ONLY organization on earth. Then, I started seeing evidence of Jehovah blessing others outside the organization who, in most instances, were not affiliated with ANY religion, but who possessed a simple, but strong faith.

While I still feel that there are many JW's who are truly God's people, I no longer adhere to the exclusivity of our position. I have rather come to the conclusion that NO religious group can claim to be the only way to God, but rather that Jehovah has true disciples in many areas, each with his or her own strenghs. For some it is door-to-door witnessing, proclaiming Jehovah's word, for others it is a more personal ministry.

10

I AM SOOOOOOOOO HAPPY

by overthehillgrandma in

jw
friends

i am so happy to of found this place..wowowowow i can share my feelings (and my useually silent thoughts) without feeling foolish, and no one really knows me so no one can go "tell".....yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

oh did i tell ya i was soooooooooo happy!!!!!!

!

RedhorseWoman

Well, SOMEONE certainly seems to be enthusiastic! Welcome. I'm fairly new, too, but this is a really great DB, with some really great people.