rip van winkle

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Posts by rip van winkle

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  24

  The PHOTO

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when my mom died i couldn't cry.. she had had cancer before and had beaten it.

  you brace yourself.

  you wait.. but, she recovered and life went on.

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  rip van winkle

  It was a Gift, a perfect one, opened at the right time, Terry!
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  15

  I may have saved 1 person from joining this religion/ I'm going to do the unthinkable with my hair!

  by MsGrowingGirl20 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my younger cousin.

  well,i was so worried about him and how he would feel/grow up if i stopped pushing the religion down his throat but i did.

  since then, the boy seems so much happier and comfortable with me.

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  rip van winkle

  I don't really want to upset them....I think it's sad that if i change my hairstyle...God will no longer like me and my 'friends' will no longer speak with me.

  McGG20- Yes, it is sad that they( your spiritual bros & sis') judge on the outward appearance of a person. And they are not 'God'. If you are looking to make waves~~, then express yourself freely; including how you wear your hair. But if you want to fade, then I would suggest you do as little as possible to upset the congregation. You know, they will have a "hair-raising" reaction if you wear your hair ala pot smoking rastafarians.
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  4

  Responsibility. Respect. Reverence... the three R's principle for living

  by caliber in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i had a lawyer friend first mention these three r's as an excellent set of principles to live by ... what do you all think ?.

  i looked up a few discussions on the net.. here is the essence of it.. responsibility: the act of being responsible; that is, involving personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or superior authority; able to make moral or rational decisions on ones own and therefore answerable for ones behavior.. and we are accountable as individuals.

  it is not enough to blindly abide by the rules of the religion we embrace or to be governed by the laws of the land.

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  rip van winkle

  Caliber, I like your three R's.

  ~~~This is how my brain works:

  Responsibility= acknowledgement + action

  Respect=appreciation+ admiration+honor

  Reverence= awe+affection+ RESPECT

  Thank you for sharing. These are fine principles to live by.
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  14

  Hi guys!!!

  by thinking_not_believing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  been reading threads in this forum for a few days... love the post by all!

  i was waiting for approval (not trolling) just wanted to say hello n give my story... .

  my parents converted when i was in 3rd grade ... and i went with it cuz i was a good boy... baptized at 15 and pioneered at 16... though i always had doubts about different doctrines.

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  rip van winkle

  Welcome Thinking!
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  15

  I may have saved 1 person from joining this religion/ I'm going to do the unthinkable with my hair!

  by MsGrowingGirl20 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my younger cousin.

  well,i was so worried about him and how he would feel/grow up if i stopped pushing the religion down his throat but i did.

  since then, the boy seems so much happier and comfortable with me.

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  rip van winkle

  How's my favorite MsGrowingGirl20? You seem to be doing very, well! Thank you.

  Glad your cousin is no longer being inculcated with WT doctrine. I'm sure parents on board will offer suggestions on alternative activities to replace the time he used to spend at meetings.

  Boy, those elders are really something else! They were upset with you because you didn't keep your committment to THEM and how dare you! Oh, well(LOL)

  Hang in there, MsGG20! For every cold shoulder you receive, keep close to your heart the fact that you will be an educated person, will have a career, and will choose the way in which you want to live YOUR life. And just keep taking the high road.

  But, if you really want to upset them- yes, locks/dreads are going to be a problem. So, dread cautiously
• 
  10

  Have the GB wised up to the dangers of e readers yet?

  by londonlady in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just trying out the new kindle myself and i realised that with its password protected facility, it would be possible to download all manner of forbidden books and magazines without the elders or jw parents knowing.. .

  i'm surprised there hasn't been dire warnings issued about this yet?

  or have the gb yet to hear about e readers?.

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  rip van winkle

  Hi londonlady! My cong is full of ipads, kindles and nooks. Everybody's doing it. It's the latest sensation!(Fad, craze, not materialistic)
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  21

  What did you do with all your old publications?

  by Dark Fader in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so we had spent years building our "theocratic library" of bound volumes, books and other materials.

  personally, i boxed everything, taped the boxes closed and threw them in a dumpster at a construction site.. i did actually feel bad though.

  that was a lot of paper which could have been recycled!.

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  rip van winkle

  Every time I "place" magazines, they go directly into the trash ( recycle bin). Same for books. Some books I have given away. A lot of them I have kept. "Throwing away" the soft covers are easier. I've thrown away Cassettes and VHS from the WTS. That's what I usually do with garbage.
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  69

  Not Sure What I Believe In Anymore

  by nuthouse escapee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  inside my head is a tangled ball of wool when it comes to what i believe.

  i have days where i believe in a creator and other days when i don't.

  then there are times when i refer to this as believing in 'something' but what exactly this something is, i have no idea.

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  rip van winkle

  Just to clarify, I do not think I can advise someone when I am unclear as to what is true and what is not. What I said to Leslie,

  The Christians here will tell you to pray and let Christ come into your heart. The athiests will tell you needing or creating a god is being weak-minded.

  And I can't tell you ANYTHING until I figure things out.

  It was not a criticism of anyone's belief for or against. I was just disqualifying myself . I don't think what I said was untrue.

  And I happen to agree with many here who have advised reading and taking one's time. All good advice.
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  31

  Is There a Such Thing as Progressive Understanding?

  by Recovery in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  is there such a thing as progressive understanding of god's will?

  a simple yes or no will suffice, but if you'd like to state why, please by all means do so..

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  rip van winkle

  'Fraid not Frankie!
• 
  31

  Is There a Such Thing as Progressive Understanding?

  by Recovery in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  is there such a thing as progressive understanding of god's will?

  a simple yes or no will suffice, but if you'd like to state why, please by all means do so..

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  rip van winkle

  LOL Frankiespeakin- I think you are referring to "The History of The World, Part I" Mel Brooks!