TMS

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Posts by TMS

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  33

  I've Cried for Days

  by Smoldering Wick in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been separated from the jws now for 4 years.

  the first year, i went into a deep and severe clinical depression.

  i think that's what happens when you are 3rd generation jw, born and raised.

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  TMS

  Dear Sister,

  Sorry to have contributed to your pain.

  Your sister-in-law and I set a series of irreversible consequences in motion back in ‘93 when we invited our just DF’d son back into our home, a decision we have never regretted for a millisecond. All the theocratic trappings dangled in front of us seemed like so much “refuse” when compared to the most precious thing to ever enter our lives.

  We tried to act with dignity while keeping a low profile. Both of us had severe health issues, which in my belief were hastened by the tremendous emotional upheaval we experienced. Our view of matters has been in the developmental stage for nine years now as your sister-in-law and I have discussed for thousands of hours every aspect of our lives, beliefs and regrets.

  The “reliable source” you mention is our only reason for living. Those years ago he did not miss a meeting , working nights while in a DF’d state for eighteen months. He worked hard for reinstatement, not because he wanted to be a JW, but because he loved us. For the next several years, he worked hard to physically “set us up” in our new location. What a “wicked” individual!

  I’m sorry about the unpleasant visit with S. It seems she said some very unkind things, although her motives were probably good. Its almost impossible for a JW relative to discuss these issues in a dispassionate, reasoned way, not unlike the religious fundamentalist who calls a radio talk show to make a point, his voice cracking with emotion. He can’t conquer his nervousness because he is representing the “rightness” of his whole way of life, not just expressing a viewpoint or opinion.

  I’m hopeful that the pain of this unpleasantness will subside quickly. I’m happy that you are at least able to take control of the direction of your life at a relatively young age.

  Our best to your family.

  Your brother,

  TMS
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  9

  Memories of Hillary - Part I

  by Duncan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  upfront disclaimer: .

  i know its entitled memories of hillary, but an awful lot of this post is, in fact, all about me and our hero doesnt actually get much of a look-in in this part.

  but i need to tell the story right, and it starts with me.

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  TMS

  a bit of Duncan:

  when I ever did get out some books to study at home, my mum would be around with “ Oh, Duncan – studying the wisdom of men! You know it’s all foolishness in the eyes of Jehovah! Do something else – read up for the bookstudy!”

  Educational sabotage?

  Over forty years ago, I proudly selected non-academic courses that would be of practical help to my pioneer career: wood shop, metal shop, boy's home economics, automotive engines. All these classes were against the grain of my natural aptitude.

  Unlike Duncan, I never recovered secularly, but still find myself in an entry level job just eighteen months from retirement.

  Two small reminders from "All Those Years Ago":

  1. notes in red on a homework assignment by my English teacher, Mr. Ewoldt: "TMS, this is another one of those assignments, that in retrospect, you will wish you had put effort into."

  2. 1962 Theocratic Ministry School Schedule: 31 talks are underlined, meaning that I volunteered to give them on "short notice", usually ten minutes or so.

  TMS
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  11

  Duncan - Part III - Into Thin Hair

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the 70s passed by in a haze of bad fashions and flaccid watchtower excess.

  i tried hard to be bright-boy, thinking somehow that i was pleasing the inhabitants of heaven by doing so, and was rapidly pushed up jacobs corporate ladder, somehow without ever having to put my foot on a rung.

  regular pioneer, ms, infant elder, special pioneer, temporary co, special branch assignments, they dropped on me with a rapidity that took away my senses.

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  TMS

  Hillary,

  Interacting with creative, intelligent individuals who happened to be JW's reinforced our belief system.

  THEY believe!!

  So, we swallow our nagging doubts and continue. The understanding smiles given us by our Bible students adds additional reinforcement.

  Its a tangled web, but we share in weaving it.

  TMS
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  12

  No TMS !

  by Derrick in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  not only is it forbidden to post the tms on the web, but it is even forbidden to distribute it via your private email!.

  letter from the legal department at patterson] dated december 5, 2001:.

  http://www.eusty.co.uk/notms.htm.

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  TMS

  Ginny,

  I clicked on to JWD Active Discussions and on the top of the heap: "No TMS!"

  I thought I had just been eliminated by a mafia hit.

  TMS
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  13

  Gutless,Cowardly Watchtower

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  today's wt.

  study - they started talking about mercy.

  and rules and pharisees.

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  TMS

  Metatron,

  I'm certain you used this example intentionally:

  Would you help a df'd person change a flat tire?

  This was one of the examples used in the Watchtower in 1971 when there appeared a brief respite in some of the harder line aspects of the treatment of disfellowshipped persons.

  This was an exciting time when field service reporting, sacred service and disfellowshipping all seemed to be somewhat under review.

  It all came crashing down a few years later when all the moderations were rescinded.

  TMS
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  18

  Memories of Duncan - Part 2 - The Tables Turn

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  not long after a fifteen year old duncan had outraged his teachers and surprised his peers by leaving behind a promising academic career to regular pioneer and wash windows, a telegraph pole wearing green pants knocked at my door.

  as i was expecting a visit from the local constabulary, for reasons noted below; the pole was a pleasant surprise.

  the pole was a actually a jw, the plainest and longest man i had ever seen, with a mighty grin capable of felling empires and, i was to discover, also the possessor of a formidable intellect.

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  TMS

  Hillary.

  this caught my eye:

  I grew to love the ‘pole’, whose literary eloquence convinced me in later years that he too, had subjected the most important thing in a persons life; his creative soul

  Thank you,

  TMS
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  32

  My Committment to JWD

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i debated the wisdom of making this post.

  i have made every effort to make it as neutral as possible to avoid personally offending anyone.

  i may be losing my marbles here, but i feel that this needs to be said.

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  TMS

  egocentric, adjective. 1. dwelling upon one's self or upon one's own personal interests almost to the exclusion of everything else; viewing everything in relation to oneself; self-centered.
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  15

  struggling & need feedback

  by wildeflower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am 32 years old, have been disfellowshipped since age 17. was born & raised in the "truth.

  " my father was and still is an elder.. without going into the gory, painful details: i have kept in somewhat contact with my parents in the last 15 years (i can't believe it's been that long!

  ) by calling them and popping over to their house, etc.

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  TMS

  Anewperson,

  You have just presented the short and long versions of a disastrous approach.

  TMS
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  I Know This Feeling

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  oh my love.

  john lennon & yoko ono.

  my eyes are wide open.

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  TMS

  Oh My Love

  John Lennon & Yoko Ono

  Oh my love for the first time in my life
  My eyes are wide open
  Oh my lover for the first time in my life
  My eyes can see

  I see the wind, oh I see the trees
  Everything is clear in my heart
  I see the clouds, oh I see the sky
  Everything is clear in our world

  Oh my love for the first time in my life
  My mind is wide open
  Oh my lover for the first time in my life
  My mind can feel

  I feel the sorrow, oh I feel the dreams
  Everything is clear in my heart
  I feel life, oh I feel love
  Everything is clear in our world
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  14

  Memories of Duncan - Part 1

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it was a surprise and delight for me to find duncan posting to this board.. our relationship goes back further than either of us would care to admit, right back to the days that were.. we both attended one of the most respected schools in our english town.

  a school which produced reams of achievers like a combine-harvester of the soul.

  it sowed the embryonic seeds of a major uk politician, world class musicians, in the classics and out, and a particularly amusing mimic who went on to write comedy scripts for some of the uks most popular shows.. i was not a jw at the time.

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  TMS

  Hillary,

  I'm intrigued.

  TMS

  ps I dated this initial installment c.1967 because of the LSD reference, although I realize UK dentists were spreading this stuff somewhat earlier.(Let's see Duncan was fifteen, several years Hillary's junior. . . . 15+3+35 intervening years=53) j/k

  Please continue, Sir.