Posts by AwakenedAndFree

Please seek a second medical opinion - don't settle just for one solely medical opinion! I would not trust a medical doctor who had been negligent about my plea to investigate my body's warning symptoms.

My prayers are with you.

Warm hugs.

AwakenedAndFree

27

finally got the nerve

by livingagain in

jw
friends

i have been reading posts here for several months, which has helped me to keep from going insane.

my doubts came when i finally got the nerve to leave a bad marriage, why did i stay so long.

because i was ashamed and really scared of what "jehovah" would think of me.

AwakenedAndFree

Hi livingagain,

Thanks for posting your Watchtower story.

I'am a newbie here too.

WELCOME to the forum.

Christian Love,

AwakenedAndFree

29

Barely hanging on

by joelbear in

jw
friends

i am just barely hanging on to my sanity again.

going through one of my terrible.

panicky periods.

AwakenedAndFree

Hello Joelbear,

Sorry to ear about your recurring panic attacks.

Please seek medical help. I agree with Mimily as to seek a second medical opinion.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Get well SOON!

AwakenedAndFree

6

I remember

by ivoryroses4u in

i was 13 at the time that my only brother and his new wife introduced jehovah's witnesses to my family.. it was christmas time and we as a family were coming together to celebrate as we had done for as along as i could remember.. my brother said that him and his family would no longer celebrate and that we could discussed it at a later time... i was so upset.. my brother throwing away something that was so important too me...well i needed to know.. so my sister-in-law took me to my bedroom and showed me where we as christian shouldnt celebrate a holiday that is not of god.. again i was so upset and confused..... later the blood issue came up..my mother and father was upset by the thought that if anything happend to my niece and nephew that they would go to court to make sure they were taken care of.. and i told my mom why shouldnt she find out what they are being taught and then she would have grounds to fight if she had too...3years later my mother and father became a jw.... i struggled with this.. i never felt worthly of jehovah and his love.. i was so bad of a teenager.. so into the world.. how could he love me.....at 16 i was hooked on cigerettes and wanted to quit... i went to my parents and they went to the elders of their congregation.... one of the elders agreed to speak to me.. wheni went to the meeting i poured out my heart to this man.. and what he told me is that he could use me for time because i wasnt baptised... i was so hurt and turned off .. that it took many years and tears before i could get over that insult... years pass quickly.. and i am now in my 30's .

i just came out of an abusive relationship and was then practicing wicca... i was in a battered woman shelter.. and met a woman of the christian faith.. .

she gave me a book that talked about spiritual abuse.. here i was feeling abused and used and this book told me because i wasnt sharing god with my children that i was committing spirirtual abuse against them.. i got so scared i called up the local kingdom hall and started a study with one of the elders wife.. it didnt take to long to quit smoking and dedicate my life to jehovah... i was bapitised 5 months later and my oldest daughter bapitised a month after me.. life was great.. except i still felt as if i wasnt doing what i should for jehovah.. i was being told that i needed to get off welfare.. get a job.. when i did.. it was with a store that had catholic backing.. because it was tied to the beast.. i was made to quit as not to stumble a sister.. my daughter was working the field for 40 hours a week.

AwakenedAndFree

Hi ivoryroses4you,

Welcome to this forum!

Thanks for sharing your story with us here on the board.

I'am a newbie here too!

ROMANS 15:4 : " For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope."

Christian Love,

AwakenedAndFree

25

I'm new!

by Tzu in

jw
friends

hey everyone, great site!

at last ex jw's can express themselves and be heard!

i came out of the watch tower about four years ago, best thing i ever did.

AwakenedAndFree

Hi Tzu,

Welcome to the forum.

AwakenedAndFree

7

WTS reaffirms Salvation only by Works

by ozziepost in

in the new special assembly day program, the wts once again affirms that "true christians" receive their salvation by their works.

the theme is "be rich in fine works" and starts with the circuit overseer discussing what it means to "exert themselves to acquire spiritual riches".

the bethel speaker's first talk is "fine works in this time of harvest" - encouraging the r&f to "share even more fully'.

AwakenedAndFree

Hello Ozzie,

The scriptures show us that everlasting life is a free gift from God to mankind - it is not an earned gift, but a gift given to man by God's loving grace.

From my observation while I was still an active member, I do not recall the society classifying acts of kindness as works - their emphasis regarding works was always focused on field service "worked hours in the field". Hosea 6:6:" For in loving-kindness I have taken delight, and not in sacrifice; and in the knowledge of God rather than in whole burnt offerings."

Boasting is very much encouraged within the organization to proclaim their achieved goals. They boast their accomplished goals in their publications as well among themselves. The book of Romans 3:27, 28 says:(27):" Where, then is the boasting? It is shut out. Through what law? That of works? No indeed. But through the law of faith." (28):" For we reckon that a man is declared righteous by faith apart from works of law". The book of Proverbs 27:2 says: "May a stranger, and not your own mouth, praise you; may a foreigner, and not your own lips, do so." The book of Matthew 9:13 says: Go, then and learn what his means," I want mercy, and not sacrifice." For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners."

AwakenedAndFree

16

My Story

by CC Ryder in

well, i guess it is time to share my story with you all.

most of the recent events in my life i have already shared in bits and pieces throughout various threads here on the jwd.. i am 47 years old and have one sister who is 44. we grew up in a religously divided household.

my father was and still is a jw and my mother is still a devout bible student.

AwakenedAndFree

Hello to you, CC Ryder and to your wife Tink,

Thanks for sharing your Watchtower experience with us.

AwakenedAndFree

25

Hello, I'am "Ex-Watchtowerite-Hubby's Wife

by AwakenedAndFree in

jw
friends

i'am new here.. firstly, i would like to thank simon and his wife anghrad for this website.

i have been reading posts here for several months.

this forum has indeed helped me with my exit from the watchtower, as well it continues to be a great source of help, theraphy, encouragement and information.. my husband is a member here.

AwakenedAndFree

Hello Scooter,

Having researched the "real truth" of the Watchtower Society, you have done a lot of homework for your wife. I feel you are well equiped to point out the contracdictory points - point out to her all the societies past history, and keep her informed of current issues as they unveil and point out how unscriptural these policies are by using the Bible. And be persistent at it. Ask her how the elders behave toward the flock in the congregation, something she can verify herself when she attends her meetings.

Scooter, tell your wife to read Ezekiel chapter 34 - this scripture provided me with so much confort when I left,and it continues to provide me great confort- - the Bible shows us that OUR HEAVENLY CREATOR never abandons his own children, but removes them from the tyrant hands of the ones who claim to protect God's own flock.

I hope I have been of help to you.

AwakenedAndFree

25

Hello, I'am "Ex-Watchtowerite-Hubby's Wife

by AwakenedAndFree in

jw
friends

i'am new here.. firstly, i would like to thank simon and his wife anghrad for this website.

i have been reading posts here for several months.

this forum has indeed helped me with my exit from the watchtower, as well it continues to be a great source of help, theraphy, encouragement and information.. my husband is a member here.

AwakenedAndFree

Hello FrankRaven,

Thank you for your warm welcome.

AwakenedAndFree