>>To whom did we write?? Why, to EVERYONE. We wrote that letter to every address in Stratton OH. Every home. Every person. Everyone.<<
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
I had NO idea!!!! (blush)
I AM impressed!
Hugs,
Annie................sending a cyber backpat!!
Sunspot
JoinedPosts by Sunspot
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LETTER TO STRATTON OHIO
by biblexaminer inthe letter is on the way.
it will arrive at every home in stratton oh about midweek next.. fyi ...use this link to view.. http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/23d1f005/bc/stratton/letter+to+stratton.doc?bcmkj28aybh5a0jg
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6
Blood Debate On Oregon Live
by LB inthis is the same forum that was discussing the bryant murder situation.
i egged a dub into telling us what he would do if his two year old child required blood to survive.
he gave the party line about bloodless surgery, how effective it is, that sort of crap.
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Sunspot
YOU guys are over there TOO????
I've been leaving posts for a couple of days now, had four deleted as well!
(Interested person in NY, Clapping Hand, Knock knock who's there, Cries for sheep, Hurting for us All, Spies R Us, Hush-Hush, and Gladys Hellileft) That's me!
Oh Yeah......and Sunspot! <grin>
That forum is a lot more lenient about posts, though, than the forums here in the upstate NY region.I can't say anything NEAR what they say out in Oregon!!!
Well....I can POST them, but they disappear in ten minutes! It's frustrating, cuz someone will reply, I'll be answering their reply, and when I click on "POST" to submit it, a big long URL comes up and freezes things up until I refresh it, and sometimes the entire thread is deleted! ARRRGH!
See you out there!
Annie
Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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16
disfellowshipping and suicide
by LyinEyes inmy mother had been a faithful witness for 16 yrs, she got addicted to prescription drugs and things got very bad for her.
she overdosed one nite and was put in rehab.
she began smoking after rehab and was disfellowhipped for it, she got a letter in the mail .
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Sunspot
>>I guess not going door to door or attending meetings anymore is considered a "sin" now. But you know what? During the time when things were going lousy for us - I was first on bedrest for a month because of a threatened miscarriage, then after the baby came incapacitated with depression and anxiety attacks, my husband lost his job, my 3 kids got chicken pox one after the other (9 weeks of missed meetings because someone was always contagious), a back injury followed by a car accident and neck injury - NOT ONE of "the friends" even lifted a finger to encourage us. Nobody called. Nobody visited. Nobody gave a flying f*ck. And then when we get on with our lives without them, they have the AUDACITY, the GAUL, to say that we "turned our back on The Truth™". They have the BALLS to say that it wasn't anything they DID that caused US to leave THEM. In a way, they're right - they didn't DO anything. But in DOING NOTHING, they didn't make us want to stick around either.<<
Scully,
I can SO relate to this! I, too, got the cold shoulder for months due to two unrelated conditions that hit me at the same time. The last few meetings that I went to, I was "back" on crutches again, after going through a bout in a wheelchair, crutches, and then remission.....and back on crutches again when this all happened.
It just HURT so bad, cuz I was always there for everyone else when I was ABLE bodied, fixing meals, etc, all the things one DOES for others, which I DIDN'T mind DOING at all, but when *I* just could have used a phone call (I DID get a card from an elderly sister) but several JW families have to go right by here to get to the KH, so they HAD to feel "somewhat" awkward going right past, knowing no one gave a crap about stopping in when they WEREN'T rushing off to a meeting, ya know?
I misspoke here......I got one call per month at the end of the month...to see if I had any FIELD SERVICE to report! GRRRRR
Actually, the last meeting I went to, it was made known that a man who'd been studying for about a year or so (I had JUST seen him and talked with him the previous day) had been found that night---he'd shot himself with a pistol. It hit me SO hard, I came home and bawled for a long time-and I couldn't even say WHY it affected me that way, I didn't know him WELL.
I can pinpoint the fact that THAT incident was the beginning of my journey out.....I began to "peek" at H2O and arjw, but was still defending the religion, which led to a lot of links to apostate (LOL) websites and some informative <grin> discussions.
And STILL no friendly visits, phone calls or cards from my "friends", then the summer came and went--nobody called to see if my grandson (lives with us) would like to go swimming with the KH kids, or do ANYTHING with them (what did HE do to be snubbed?) and it burnt me up inside. Of course, if I'd been an Elder's wife.......
I wrote to the Elder's in October, to tell THEM how I felt, and that I didn't deserve this treatment after almost 30 years, and I had some serious thinking to do about a lot of things especially the lack of love I was definetly feeling and that now it was MY choice-to be left alone-until *I* chose to go back to the meetings again or not.
They couldn't get over here fast enough or often enough-now that I PREFERRED to NOT "enjoy their company". It pissed me off even MORE!
It's all about control-THEIRS-and I STILL resent it even now.
As for the "time" I'd like to "report"?
I've spent MORE time "whole-souled" in WARNING people about the Watchtower Society, than I did going door-to-door trying to INTEREST people in JOINING the Society! LOL!
Annie
Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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disfellowshipping and suicide
by LyinEyes inmy mother had been a faithful witness for 16 yrs, she got addicted to prescription drugs and things got very bad for her.
she overdosed one nite and was put in rehab.
she began smoking after rehab and was disfellowhipped for it, she got a letter in the mail .
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Sunspot
[[[[[Lyineyes]]]]]
How heartbreaking is that? It just makes me SO angry and frustrated the more I hear about the tragedies that result from Watchtower treatment.
And....... it just keeps ON and ON, while the JWs smugly sit in their righteous cloak of judgement on those who left Jehovah's "Ark of protection.
DAMN!!! There isn't anything HATEFUL enough that I can WISH to happen to the Watchtower Society!
Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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27
Comments from the CO today
by Richie ini went to the meeting today to hear the public talk given by the visiting co. the talk dealt with jehovah's secret dwelling place and how we can all be taking advantage of "fleeing to safety" as it were, especially as the days are getting wicked as he mentioned.
he brought out the dangers of listening to apostates (there were 2 people in the congregation who disassociated themselves recently, which automatically meant that they were apostates according to the co's comments).
then he further elaborated on the fact that there were about 14,000 witnesses disfellowshipped in the usa each year and in canada 1400, about the size of a circuit assembly - also he said how terribly dishonorable it would be to be df'd and be as a dead person as it were (i felt so embarrassed as i am df'd) - during the talk he brought out two points which were extremely misleading if not outright lies: he said that just after the disaster of sept 11th, thousands of people "wanted to flee to security to the watchtower building and that they felt that they needed this security".
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Sunspot
>>the ranks of the JWs are dropping like flies. I know you know it shakes you to your very foundations <<
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>That's not true. Even if it were, so what? Jesus said that "the love of the greater number would cool off" so why should that shake my faith.<<
Isn't just incredible how the WTS conjures up a "handy-reference" scripture to cover ALL the bases no matter WHAT the circumstances?
If the "numbers" are down, then they pull up the "greater number cooling off" thought, and it satisfies the "still-eager" JWs, who go away happy and chattering, with visions of "we are SO CLOSE to the END now" urging them yet further on.
If the "numbers" take an unexpected upswing, then it's viewed as "Jehovah is BLESSING us with an increase", and it satisfies the "still-eager" JWs, who go away happy and chattering, with visions of "we are SO CLOSE to the END now urging them yet further on.
Things that make me go hmmmmm.....
How about YOU?
Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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55
I've been shunned from my sister's wedding
by Quotes inthe following is the contents of a hand-written letter i just received from my (21 year old) sister, who is getting married may 18. for some reason, i thought that she would let love and compassion be stronger than wt programming.
but i was wrong.
yeah, it sucks.. *** my question for the board ***.
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Sunspot
Dear Quotes,
I didn't realize how deeply affected I would be as I continued to read this thread. Almost two years ago to the DAY my heart was stomped on with a similar situation. I thought I was pretty well over it, but by the tears running down my face and the huge lump in my throat..........(sigh)
Maybe some of you from h2o and ARJW will remember what I posted the day I got the "news";
Message 1 in thread
From: Dizzbee ( [email protected])
Subject: June Wedding
Newsgroups: alt.religion.jehovahs-witn
View this article only
Date: 2000/03/11>>Well folks,
Chalk up another warm fuzzy for the
"Religion-That-Does-Not-Shun-Those-That-Leave"....(according to their OWN
PubIic-Relations Website) I heard from one of my sons today (non-JW) that my JW
regular Pioneer Daughter is getting married in June.....but she just sorta, kinda forgot to mention it to me...her Mom.
So much for Good News.I guess since she doesn't want me to know, that I won't be invited,
either....on the brighter side...someone else will be footing the bill........Yup! My punishment and non-inclusion in this "minor event" in her life, REALLY draws me closer to the heartfelt warmth of the Watchtower Society, and demonstrates to me the error of my ways in leaving this loving Organization.
This, too, shall pass.............<<
Well, I swallowed my hurt and my pride, and went out and picked out a beautiful pair of crystal lovebirds (they WERE really stunning, and I KNEW she'd love them!) and chose an "appropriate" card (no good luck or anything) and shipped them off to FL.
Weeks went by and I'd figured the package must have been left in her condo, and someone ELSE was enjoying them, cuz she was ALWAYS a stickler for sending "thank-you" notes out quickly. Finally she called very early one morning in August, starting the conversation out with "I can't talk long I'm meeting for service in ten minutes" but thank you for "the gift" we enjoyed "it" (never even acknowledging WHAT I sent)
I could TELL that this was a "duty" call, her tone said it all, but I summoned up the courage to nicely ask her WHY we weren't invited to her wedding. Her answer? Because she thought we wouldn't be able to make it! I said the when so-and-so got married in VA, we were invited, and when so-and-so's daughter got married in FL a few years ago, THEY invited us down for it....they probably knew we wouldn't be able to get down there, either, but they were THINKING of us and were letting us know that they wanted us to share in their joy. It's a matter of old-fashioned courtesy.
Well, didn't she have to rush to meet with the group, g'bye.
The next month was our anniversary, we got a card......no sentiments.
Last year, we didn't even rate a card.
I sent them an anniversary card last June, and I'll send one THIS June. Hubby says not to bother, but I want to be able to honestly say that I never treated her vindictively, despite the fact that I'm not allowed on the furniture.
As far as those crystal birds go, providing she KEPT them, I hope when she is dusting them, or walks by them, or if someone visits and comments on them-----it will poke at her senses and cause her to think bout things. She KNOWS me, and she also knew that this treatment would cut me to pieces.
I discovered months later that my son (never baptized----stopped going to meetings in 1980) was the Best Man, and my grandson (who's the son of another daughter who stopped going to meetings in 1987) was the Ring Bearer! Go figure. Wonder WHAT they told the well-wishers about my (and hubby's) absence? Maybe that "we couldn't MAKE IT????
BTW........she married an Elder. And both their halos were polished nicely for the occasion.
So...Quotes--give it a lot of thought, don't worry too much about how OTHERS will feel if you go or don't go. How will it affect YOU and your WIFE? It will place HER in an awkward position too. I LIKE Scully's (I think it was) idea of having your wife write that letter, whether you decide to go or not.......your sister (with WTS help) drew the line in the sand....
[[[BIG HUGS to Quotes & Wife]]]
Annie
Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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Why They fear 'Dateline'
by metatron inwhether or not the 'dateline' program ever airs, the watchtower.
society is still going to get pounded by bad press over the coming.
months and years.. why should they care?
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Sunspot
>>And the nice ladies who came to my door were always telling me that, unlike other churches, no money was asked at the Kingdom Hall...<<
Hi Celia,
It's hard for me to stifle a large HAH!
OK, so they don't pass a basket, a plate, or a hat at the Kingdom Hall, but the last time I was inside one ( Spring of '99), there was a place for contributions for the literature and special orders we picked up, the KH Building Fund, the Fund to bring missionaries home to the US for a District Convention, and the "regular" contribution box for the KH's needs (electric bill, water bill, snow plowing bill [upstate NY], etc).
And then the "pledge slips" passed out when they wanted to rebuild, remodel, or relocate, each baptized member had to pledge a specified amount per month to pay, and were REMINDED every month about their "obligation to Jehovah" yadayada.
And the incurred expenses when the CO visited....his gas, his car repairs, a portion to share in his car insurance, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At every assembly or convention, there were pleas for MORE donations for the cost of "renting/heating/lighting/parking" the building we were "priveledged" to be sitting in, even if it was a WBTS-owned assembly hall....they used to tell us from the platform that each person attending should pay $7.00 (or whatever they had "broken down" the expenses to) even when most of us had spent every spare penny we could scrape up (hotel rooms, meals, travel to and back home costs) just to be able to BE there as commanded....the old guilt trip speeches began to be expected programming on the last day of a convention, or the last "talk" at a Special One-Day or Circuit Assembly.
So Celia, don't let'em sell you THAT line of nonsense! The Watchtower STILL has it's hands in your pocket, but they're just more slick in their approach.
Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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LETTER TO STRATTON OHIO
by biblexaminer inthe letter is on the way.
it will arrive at every home in stratton oh about midweek next.. fyi ...use this link to view.. http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/23d1f005/bc/stratton/letter+to+stratton.doc?bcmkj28aybh5a0jg
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Sunspot
>>Does anyone know anyone in or near Stratton to find out if anyone has thoughts on the letter?<<
Hi BX,
Where did you send the letter? Newspaper? Discussion Board online? etc. Would it be somewhere you can trace back to?
I hope this doesn't sound stupid (blush) but I've written SO many myself over the past few months, I tend to lose track of where I sent them :o) so that's why I mentioned this.
Will Power;
Thanks for the nice reply!Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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KOIN TV NEWS station on JW's
by VeniceIT intonight on koin news a portland or station there will be a segment on the jw families that have been murdered recently.
dad was called for an interview this afternoon, but since we're in fl now they had to do it on the phone.
others were also interviewed.
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Sunspot
Thanks for the links SF!!!
Been there, dropped three posts, feel better!
We NEED to get IN there (and other forums like this) and gain some attention to the Watchtower Policies from Hell!!!!
Annie
Shredded families and ruined lives;
The WBTS has MUCH to answer for......Hugs,
Sunspot
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Can a JW PLEASE answer my question on baptism?
by Sunspot inwitnesses always strongly state that they strictly follow the commands of jesus and all bible principles.. i have such an important (to me, anyway) question that i would appreciate a meaningful answer to:.
at matthew 28:19, jesus issues a direct command to his followers, that being: "go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing then in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit".
why doesn't the wbts then follow this command, which has never changed, and taken it upon themselves to add to and alter what the bible clearly states on this?.
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Sunspot
>>Sorry for the long post, but this question comes up from time to time, and I thought that maybe a more detailed discussion would prove helpful.<<
Not at ALL, Amazing!
I've been asking this same question SINCE 1985, when I was sitting in the Syracuse War Memorial during the "Baptism Talk", I was scrounging around under my seat for something I'd dropped, and I distinctly remember when the "revised" questions to the candidates was read, I sat right back up in my seat and asked myself "What was THAT all about?" because it struck me in an odd way.
I did the good JW shuffle---I shrugged it off and dismissed it, I figured I was already baptized so it didn't APPLY to ME (duh).
In the years after that, it ALWAYS made me uncomfortable when I heard those questions repeated, but I never persued an answer......until around 1989 or so, and I asked an Elder the same way I worded my post, and got such gobbledygook for an answer, I just figured it was too complicated for me to totally understand (like proving the times and times again thingy which I NEVER "got", LOL!)
From what I remember, though, a "strong" point was that the reference to the "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" was what CHRISTENDOM uses when baptizing babies, and "WE" don't want to have "ties" to "THEM", so the F&D slave, maintaining their "separateness" from Christendom, asks questions to the candidates that will IDENTIFY them exclusively as Jehovah's People, belonging to HIS progressive organization, and no other.
So there ya have it!
I could just HUG you for posting THE most comprehensive and understandable explanation that I have EVER seen! I am so grateful for your time and effort in posting what you did......long or not!
Thank you SO MUCH!!!
Jerome-You made some good points as well! Thank you!
Zev-Sorry I didn't get to you very quickly with your urgent need for Barf Bags!!! I was busy writing and sending email to forums, websites, newspapers, etc, on the Bryant situation out in OR. I just broke away from that to check and see the posts on my "Baptism" question! Should I send a clean-up crew out to you? <grin>
Thank you to the others who replied to my post.....
Hugs,
Annie
aka Sunspot
HOW does the Governing Body SLEEP at night?
Very nicely, I'm afraid.