Posts by tor1500

19

The Truth is not an ORG.....It's inside of you

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

the truth, the org is the truth...ummm...let's think about that...i was thinking that the bible is the truth & what it does is that it reveals the truth about you...the more you read the bible the more you may see yourself & your actions.

you may be a person who judges people, the bible will show you what's wrong with that...viola, another truth revealed about you.

you may be a prideful person, you read a story in the bible about that...again, it's another truth revealed about you.

tor1500

Hi Xanthippe,

I agree with you 100%...I did look up what you said..sorry for not getting back to you about that...My apologies...You are right...As they say nothing is new under the sun....I think by nature we are kind of self-centered....I'm an only child, I had to learn to share & learn that there are other people in the world besides me...because at home....I was the center of the world...Many of our behavior is from our environment or how we are raised. For example, you don't have to teach a child to lie, but how not to lie. If they see their parents or whomever act a certain way, not all but most of the time, the child(s) mimic's that....I've met many users in my life, the longer I know them the longer I notice so where their parents. Once I met a sister that told me she didn't want to be like her MOM, folks always took advantage of her. So this sister has a bit of an edge to her, it's a protection. Many people put up walls of protection from others. So they don't know how to be treated nor how to treat others with or without kindness.

If you were not treated well at home or were surrounded by nice people, you don't have any experience with knowing how to love or be nice or treat others well. Yes, you can decide to be a nice person, but first you must recognize that you are not & would like to be. Many go to church to learn....I still believe churches/halls or any place of worship is a rehab for the mean folks...because I tell you I've met the most meanest folks in places of worship, so I get what you mean about religion...Someone on this site once said, some Christians are more religious than spiritual.

Ever run across folks that say, they don't like people all that much...My reply is....So what are you? Don't you know I hear crickets...

I understand what you mean by living by someone else's rules & that's why I come to this site, to make sure I'm still sane....I like the friends a lot....but I know I don't fit in, so we shall see.

All in all I think or should I say hope we are on the same page. I'm not a debater, I like to look at all sides & I will keep what you say in mind....That Kindness is not a new thing....& religion didn't event it...

You know why sometimes I have my doubts about the Bible...it's when they say so & so wrote this book & then at the end of the book, the character dies but the story goes on...how can one write about their death...I think the folks they say wrote different books in bible...I don't believe they know. Someone also said, how come Jesus never wrote...I say...UMMMMM..

I will do a little more research on folks trying to work out to be a good person since 550 BC...Food for thought.

Thanks for replying....

Tor

3

Today's Text Is A Joke - Be Humble And Consider Others Superior???!

by Divergent in

jw
friends

thursday, march 17. with humility consider others superior to you.—phil.

2:3.. we appreciate it when people are straightforward yet tactful when approaching us.

how can we extend the same courtesy to those we meet in our ministry?

tor1500

Hi Divergent,

9. Which is more superior to JW's - "saving the lives" of the householders / getting their hours in / status? If report slips were done away with, pioneer ranks abolished, & preaching is not made compulsory for all JW's, would most JW's still be going out in service?

I like them all & they are all true.... but # 9 is what I truly believe..Take away all those titles, most of them couldn't stay...They would do nothing for Jah unless they could count it....

When they go door to door they feel superior, yet they always have this default button to make them look humble..NOT...they are the furthest from being humble...they have all the answers. Basically they are a judgmental lot.

# 4 Do JW's always listen patiently while the householder is talking or do they at times rudely interrupt the householder...Majority of witnesses are not good listeners at all only if you have a sob story...always have to have the last word...you can say, I know God's name is Jehovah, the witness will answer, yes but did you know.....No matter what you say, even if you agree...they have to have the last word...They are always in a hurry if you want to talk to them...ever been at the hall & you want to say Hi, to someone, they are busy looking to speak to someone has a title or just to talk to a brother....(single sisters, just to get their man-on).

They have no respect for anyone that isn't a JW. Yet, they say, God is not partial, yet they are....only associate with their own, but say we preach to everyone...we don't get a chance to preach....that's why we have the new meeting books...we get a chance to show our skills on stage because we never get a chance to do our presentations at the door. It sharpens our skills for..............( I don't know because no one is home now a days, they are at Home Depot).

Somehow I'm a JW, but don't fit in....not that I'm trying....I do what I do...I go out in the ministry, spend time with the friends, go to my meetings, do my lessons...& live my life...I think most of them see I'm confident, yet not overly, just me...no looking for any approval. I feel good about what I do....& If God is looking at me...Hope he is saying..."WELL DONE"....could care less what man says...he can't even direct his own steps.

Tor

19

The Truth is not an ORG.....It's inside of you

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

the truth, the org is the truth...ummm...let's think about that...i was thinking that the bible is the truth & what it does is that it reveals the truth about you...the more you read the bible the more you may see yourself & your actions.

you may be a person who judges people, the bible will show you what's wrong with that...viola, another truth revealed about you.

you may be a prideful person, you read a story in the bible about that...again, it's another truth revealed about you.

tor1500

Hi Fukitol,

I agree to some extent "one's natural conscience and heart tells them is right versus wrong"...let me give you a little example of one's natural conscience which can be molded by one environment. I once was walking down the street & heard this Father tell his son...Son, now that's how you shoot a gun, the son was no older than 6 or 7 yrs. old. The son said, thanks dad. Then the father says, next I'll show you how to use a glock gun, son says, cool dad & so if someone gets me angry I can shoot them, dad says, that's right son, dad what about Sean, he gets me mad sometimes, I can shoot him. Dad say, No son, that's your brother. Now imagine growing up like that from a youth? That son's natural conscience is being trained not for good but for bad, & he may never know the difference because how he was raised.

I get where you are coming from, but not everyone comes from a loving, nurturing household...how do you show those qualities ? Many of you have been in the hall. Love is not natural for most witnesses. Some parents just raise their kids, no love no nurturing, because maybe they didn't have it either, so that trait passes on. So some go to church/hall or wherever & see some type of love & learn some type of love from the bible. The problem is not the bible, the problem is people who interpret the bible....Many on here say the WT says this the WT says that..but what did the bible say ?

I think many came to the org, looking for the loving parent they never had, & halls/churches provide some of that love. It starts from home. Why do we listen to man ? The bible says nothing about shunning, quitting your job to full time ministry, or rely on the congregation to support you, not to smoke not to drink, walk this way, talk this way, no short skirts & on & on...that's man interpretation of what they want, not what God wants. The OT, lots of killing & stuff, just so Jesus could make it thru the line of David. Now the NT, it's a love story....Jesus didn't do nothing, never gave a whole lot of rules, but his Dad/God did.

I get what everyone is saying, the bible could or could not be true, but it's man that messes up the message. Even it there isn't any God/Jesus, The Bible, wouldn't you like looking back on your life & you were a good person...

I became a witness because I liked what I was learning, even though I knew how to treat folks before I got there...I had good parents. I didn't have to join the org. to be patted on my back or look approval from man. To be honest the truth led me to the truth...& found out what man says, God never even thought it...We as humans can't be nice to one another so it's easier to set rules.

Example, many of the friends says that they can't even get a ride to and from places. But guess what ? Those same folks who don't give rides to people, will come to the hall, & put their slip in for AUX. Pioneering, HUH? So adding more hours to yourself is easier than giving someone a lift....No, it's not but that's how mean spirited some are.

For most witnesses they need to be witnesses it's the only power or recognition they have & they have gone too far. Most of them needs validation that they didn't get from home. They need to be seen, haven't figured out what gene that is LOL.

So I get what all of you are saying...Don't be mad at God....if you still believe but be angry with the org, & maybe a little at yourself, but forgive yourself for just not knowing. We know it's not right to shun or for families to be at odds with one another....No org., has the right....I read somewhere...folks can't drive you crazy if you don't give them the keys.

Some have to admit they loved being a witness and wore it as a badge of honor. In this life your family and friends are your support system. If a family member only wants to be with you because you are a witness but won't if you don't....What's that telling you ? I know it's hard when it comes to family to be shunned or ignored...but I think some folks would be that way even if they were even if they weren't in the org. The org. just gave them an excuse to be that way. Just like some never wanted to work, so, when they heard full time pioneer & God will help & so will your bros.& sis....that was music to their ears...they never wanted to work in the first place...We can't blame the org. for certain things nor can we blame the bible for some natural bad ways.

Again, I get what all of you are saying & I agree with some & not with others...I'm not against anyone here. I don't drink the kool-aide..because I know better.

So my original topic....You can't find truth no where but in yourself....Even if it hurts & you need to change.

Tor

19

The Truth is not an ORG.....It's inside of you

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

the truth, the org is the truth...ummm...let's think about that...i was thinking that the bible is the truth & what it does is that it reveals the truth about you...the more you read the bible the more you may see yourself & your actions.

you may be a person who judges people, the bible will show you what's wrong with that...viola, another truth revealed about you.

you may be a prideful person, you read a story in the bible about that...again, it's another truth revealed about you.

tor1500

Hi All,

I got where you are coming from....I'm talking about our human hang nails that we have. The simple niceties in life that we extend to one another...The Jews....when things were going their way they were alright. Let's be honest the Jews were in Egypt for ages and were taken from there, but like most folks, you can take them out of environment but you can't take the environment out of them. Sometimes folks just don't change. They would tell God, ok I'm going to be good & obey, then turn around & disobey him...Just like us today....we listen to our parents, then disobey them....I know what you're going to say, but our parents didn't kill us (yet, some do). We have to remember they were kind of barbaric back then. Again, I get where you are coming from.

If common sense was so common everyone would have it...I have read the bible & sometimes see myself in some of these stories...Like when Peter said, he would never deny Christ & he did....the moral of this story...never say never. What about the good Samaritan, couldn't we all identify with that story...would you help anyone that doesn't look like you, worship like you, etc. What about the guy whose loan was forgiven, yet he didn't forgive someone that owed him money. David & Saul: Saul was the man, but folks kept making a big deal about David & Saul became jealous, who here has not felt jealousy of someone ?

The man that wouldn't give up his riches & Christ said a man giving up his riches is just as impossible as a camel going thru an eye of a needle...& isn't that the truth, how many would give up their riches ? Some do, but most won't. What about power doesn't power go to our heads at times...look at the celebrities...before they got rich, they were humble, then they get pumped up to larger then life, & they feel they can do whatever... Look at the police, don't they think they are above the law & do what they want. I could go on & on...What you can take out of the bible if you wish, is..MORALS...ah, this one just came to me...what about, do to others as you would have them do to you....meaning, BE NICE, because you'd want someone to be nice to you...That to me is the meat and potatoes of the bible...Don't do to others what you don't want done to you....Most of the bible are just stories...true or false, who knows & who cares...but it's how we treat one another that really counts.

Most of us want to go through life with no problems, but it don't happen that way, many say it's not fair, but life never promised you fair.

I don't get the point of all these stories in the bible & I too wonder, why does God allow suffering, especially when we read, he can heal anything....how long does this have to go on until he jumps in....& the org., is wondering too, why else would they constantly write about it in all their literature. They want to know as well, but they are phrasing it differently so they think they have the answer. They claim Jesus became King in 1914, don't think they are not asking...Hey Jesus, what you been doing since then?

No one can trust religion run by man or interpreted by man...I think at the end of the day...BE GOOD...

Application to real life...again...BE GOOD & KIND. CARE ABOUT YOUR FELLOW MAN, HELP WHEN & WHERE YOU CAN. TRY TO BE AS POSITIVE AS YOU CAN...

Tor

19

The Truth is not an ORG.....It's inside of you

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

the truth, the org is the truth...ummm...let's think about that...i was thinking that the bible is the truth & what it does is that it reveals the truth about you...the more you read the bible the more you may see yourself & your actions.

you may be a person who judges people, the bible will show you what's wrong with that...viola, another truth revealed about you.

you may be a prideful person, you read a story in the bible about that...again, it's another truth revealed about you.

tor1500

Hi All,

The Truth, the org is the Truth...ummm...let's think about that...I was thinking that the bible is the truth & what it does is that it reveals THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU...the more you read the bible the more you may see yourself & your actions. You may be a person who judges people, the bible will show you what's wrong with that...viola, another truth revealed about you. You may be a prideful person, you read a story in the bible about that...again, it's another truth revealed about YOU. Many of us think we are OK, but when we read the bible, sometimes we see ourselves (mirror) & it's not easy to admit we may need to change. The bible makes us accountable for our actions, sometimes we are so busy pointing fingers at others when it's something we should change about ourselves.

We are all guilty of judging, gossiping, having sex out/inside marriage, drinking, drugging & countless other things. So when one reads the bible & is ready for correction....that's where the truth comes in...The Bible reveals our true selves...Again, the truth is not outside of us, it's inside of us to be revealed....then truly the Truth can set you free from all your messed up ways...

Again, that's just my 2 cents.

Tor

10

Has anyone any contacts in Australia specifically Jehovah Witnesses

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

i hope i added this topic so everyone could read & comment.

i was just thinking, since this arc thing, does anyone here know any one in australia, that knows about the arc or how it's affecting the jw's there.

i used to go to a site that had a really nice person who is a jw, he never argued or debated, never sent back hateful comments, & he lives in australia.

tor1500

HI All,

Wow, you all knew exactly the site & the person, correct Brenton. I was in contact with him years ago. He was a really nice person. I wasn't baptized then, & I was just commenting on what I saw going on in the org. Most of the experts were really mean to me...I even told some of them, they were not supposed to be on that site in the first place...then I said, Ah, I know why some of you witnesses are on the site....Hours...that's how they counted their time....the more I exposed them the more hateful they became..On that site you can't even ask a question, they will blast you, even when it's the truth....I used to say, how were they imitating Jesus by the way replied. Brenton was the only one that was nice to me & he kind of agreed with some of the stuff I mentioned.

So Brenton did comment on the ARC, ummmm. I think for JW's this is hard to swallow, even if they know it's true. Their foundation has been taken away from them...Like most of them say, "Where will we go"? No matter what the #'s are or if they were all witnesses or just some witnesses...It was not addressed & the org. is guilty of this sweeping it under the rug. That's what is hard for most JW's to swallow....The org. tells them how to live their lives & to be truthful, yet the org. isn't. Guess it's like finding something out bad about your parents.

In this world there isn't anywhere one can go for the Truth, once man gets a hold of I,they mess it up.

If Brenton is taking his time to get back to some...Maybe he's being watched & has to be careful of how he replies...The org. is so worried about God's rep., they should be worried about their rep.

I guess time will tell...Thanks all.

Tor

10

Has anyone any contacts in Australia specifically Jehovah Witnesses

by tor1500 in

jw
friends

i hope i added this topic so everyone could read & comment.

i was just thinking, since this arc thing, does anyone here know any one in australia, that knows about the arc or how it's affecting the jw's there.

i used to go to a site that had a really nice person who is a jw, he never argued or debated, never sent back hateful comments, & he lives in australia.

tor1500

Hi,

I hope I added this topic so everyone could read & comment. I was just thinking, since this ARC thing, does anyone here know any one in Australia, that knows about the ARC or how it's affecting the JW's there. I used to go to a site that had a really nice person who is a JW, he never argued or debated, never sent back hateful comments, & he lives in Australia. Lately I go to this site to see what's going on. For a while it's been kind of quiet but especially since The ARC.

Since in THE USA, no one is talking about the elephant in the room I was just wondering how the JW's are doing there.

Just wondering...

Tor

14

The bible teaches that money is the answer for everything!

by EndofMysteries in

contrary to what the wt teaches, they ignore the wise words of ecc 10:19 "ecc 10:19 "a feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

"

tor1500

Hi,

Money only provides the comforts of life...I know lots of folks that have money....they make a lot & spend the rest of it in a shrinks office...telling them..." I thought money would make me happy". When the lights go out & you are sleeping in your beautiful bed & nice place....what then ?

Oprah, umm...that's funny, all folks that have money says it doesn't make you happy, but would they get rid of it..No way...Oprah will have a show about shoes or whatever & say...You've got to have these....they are a must....mostly she's talking about shoes...again, saying....This is a must in your closet....next show..."Why are you in debt"....or how to get out of debt. Oprah, you told us to buy these must have shoes..Duh?

Ever notice the bible was written by rich Jewish men....The poor are only spoken of in passing (not even the mention of a name). Or that they will always be with us....Guess books are never written by poor folks..

Paul said he is good whether he has a lot or a little...Paul was a rich person before God got to him...no doubt he had money saved.....we never heard that he ever missed a meal, well maybe when he was stuck in water...ummm

Tor

92

Only a few days ago I was entirely lost and without hope the rug was pulled out from under me

by elderess in

jw
friends

only a few days ago i was walking around the house in a mindless wander thinking if i needed to seek professional help.

then i got the courage to seek the comfort of complete strangers on the internet and found a world of support here on this website.

thank you simon and whoever else has made this website possible.

tor1500

Hi,

I'm so happy you found this site...Just like me & many others....They save lives here..I'm almost sure of it. This site helps you vent, it helps to see you're not crazy, spiritually week, an apostate, it's ok to think, that you can understand the bible without the org. (especially if you can read). It keeps you from going to a shrink and that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

The longer I'm there the more, I know that God is not who they say he is. I too believe in God & that is SO LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten son....I so hope this is true. When & if I leave the org. I'm not leaving God/Jesus but the org.

When I first started to study I wondered why They say God is not partial yet, they say this is God's org.

I've met some nice folks in the org. But they are just a little off. The more time you spend with them the more you see, they have a mean streak. Not all but most.

I'm so happy your husband is on board with you as well. I think to have a mate in the truth and no matter what you show or tell them, they still won't listen. I think most likely they are afraid. Or their ego gets in the way.

I'm going through the motions. I do what I'm supposed to do. I'm not new to religion, what I've found out is that religion is man's interpretation, no more no less....One can read the bible and get the message....Be nice to folks & get ready for God/Jesus to come back.

I was so weepy & happy when I read your story....I would love to meet someone that knows TTATT....that's in the hall...I do know someone but they have issues.....& she is so happy to carry Jehovah's name...so she sips the kool-aide....I didn't read all the post, but there are some great folks on here. I comment now & again...Just to add my 2 cents, it makes me feel better....

I hope we see you again on this site....

Again, I'm so happy that you know TTATT, but better yet, that your husband is on the same page with you...

Beautiful.

Tor

33

How to spot faders or "closeted" apostates in a congregation / meeting?

by nevaagain in

jw
friends

so i am awoken for several years now (never really bought the cool aid) but for family reasons i am still enduring everything.

but my wife knows ... .

anyway so yesterday we had this boring meeting and as i was sitting there trying to make time pass faster i looked around me and i thought who else feels the same as me and is completely bored?

tor1500

@NLAJWBro,

Do you really think it's as low as 20% know about TTATT. I was thinking maybe more but won't say anything. Once I was looking at one of those TV preachers (love him but won't tell his name, but he is dynamite, he makes you look at yourself, not easy). Anyways, when the camera scanned the audience....I don't swear but I thought I saw a DO, I know there are no longer DO's in the org. He has such a distinct face, I really thought I saw him. Maybe I did, maybe after he was no longer a DO, he said, what the heck, I'll do what I darn well please.

I agree with you....who can have the best poker face...One thing we do know witnesses can't keep a secret, but TTATT, they are doing a great job, at least 8 million of them are.

I'm wishing you the best. You'll be just fine...Just don't be angry, as many on this site say, BE HAPPY...

Tor