Hillary_Step, AlanF, James. . certainly. I read Friend's reasonable comments on the H2O board. There was also a little troll who invaded serious discussion, getting under everyone's skin. I forget his handle.
Posts by TMS
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76Posters You Miss
by minimus inanyone that you miss from this site, dead or alive??.
i miss farkel, blondie and a host of others!.
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31
Are You An Angry Exjw At This Point In Your Life?
by minimus ini’ve been here for many years.
the tone seems to be different in this place.
not so many pissed off exjws .
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TMS
The anger dissipates. It hurts that I wasted fifty years of life, but, in the last twenty, I utilized whatever acquired skills I had in pursuits I've actually enjoyed.
I've covered political corruption in Texas on a blog with millions of pageviews, gone about homeschooling a precocious eight year old grandson, while caring for my wife through four strokes.
My retirement is not what it could have been monetarily, but adequate.
I feel genuinely respected in my community, more so than in my thirty years as an elder.
This peace was not reached instantly, with years of nightmares reliving unpleasant JW incidents, work conflict at my forty year entry level job, going over my life each night during REM.
What always angered me the most were the things I WISH I had said, the situations I could have handled so much better NOW.
But, that's all gone.
I'm at peace now.
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9
My Thanksgiving Tradition As One of Jehovah's Witnesses
by TMS inthe jw prohibition of celebrating holidays includes the american celebration of thanksgiving, a sort of innocuous harvest festival, where thanks is given for the year's blessings.
a typical family eats a large meal together, including turkey and all the trimmings.
in recent decades, nfl football, always involving the dallas cowboys and detroit lions, has become part of the routine, as well as drinking beer.. every year or so, the "awake!
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TMS
The JW prohibition of celebrating holidays includes the American celebration of Thanksgiving, a sort of innocuous harvest festival, where thanks is given for the year's blessings. A typical family eats a large meal together, including turkey and all the trimmings. In recent decades, NFL football, always involving the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, has become part of the routine, as well as drinking beer.
Every year or so, the "Awake!" would run an article denouncing Thanksgiving as "worldly,," sometimes making fun of the supposed original meal featuring the pilgrims and Native Americans.
My extended family, almost entirely made up of JWs, actually celebrated Thanksgiving every year without admitting it.
As my uncle Russ, a former Zone Servant, old old term for Circuit Overseer, would say every year: "Turkey is cheap and we have a day off, so why not get together for a meal?"
My uncle Gene, who never set foot in a Kingdom Hall, after getting out of prison during World War II for not serving in the military, and his Catholic wife, Ann, were always the host family. Ann made a huge spread, including certain favorite dishes for several JW relatives.
My anointed grandfather, Adolph, would be asked to say "grace" over the meal.
After the meal, Uncle Gene would light up a cigar, while fending off any attempt by any of his guests to witness to him.
I continued the tradition with my own family, sometimes eating turkey a day early to soothe out consciences.
Our pretense of not celebrating Thanksgiving like everyone else was phony, but typical of the kind of rationalizations JWs make to get around organizational rules and beliefs.
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3
How to start a blog
by Holden Caufield ini want information on how to start a blog called the mad prophet.
this blog will encourage the freedom of ideas..
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TMS
In August 2011, after a difference of opinion with a political advocacy group, I started a blog on Google. The format was simple enough for a technically-challenged senior citizen. Pictures, videos and links can easily be incorporated in your articles. Be aware that the font on cell phones and other devices may be smaller than what you see on your draft screen. I typically use a larger font.
Being fairly well-known in this south Texas city of 200,000, I instantly got daily pageviews in the 50-100 range, about 5,000 my second month. Recent monthly pageviews have escalated to 150,000 monthly with my overall total for the life of the blog, now over 4,000,000.
Early on I learned that adding each story to my Facebook and Twitter accounts greatly increased pageviews.
Google has a modest advertising program called AdSense. You receive a tiny commission for each time a reader clicks on an ad and lose revenue if Google thinks you are clicking on your own ads. My largest commission check ever was just over $500, but typically it runs around $150-200 monthly. It's also possible to sell ads if you prefer. I've had a number of offers to sell political ads, but declined.
Enjoy yourself, Holden!
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The Elder's Choice~"Care for his Own" or Save Face and Retain Congregation Privileges?
by TMS in"but if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
" 1 timothy 5:8, kjv.
the scriptural principle above is not followed by jehovah's witnesses if a child's presence in the home is a threat to retaining congregation privileges.
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TMS
"Seems to me like your unbaptised nephew and niece are smarter than you appear to give them credit for. They have their parents and the JW organisation well sussed and they're playing them at their game."
Scoobydon't,
You're absolutely correct. I've told them as much, that they're positively brilliant in leading a double life, playing the game. Just imagine the two homosexuals who served on the so-called governing body, how conflicted their lives became, and the cleverness they developed in hiding their actual nature, leanings.
I don't object to these three young people's classification as disabled, either. They truly are, although, you would never guess it with a first impression. None of them can successfully exist on their own.
Another set of in-laws raised their nominal JW family in another way, aided by the fact that the husband was known to just being going along with his wife, not an actual JW. All of the boys went out for football with the family's at every game Friday night. There was no actual studying or understanding of JW beliefs, just respect for the religion. When approached about it, the family would shrug their shoulders and say they believed everything JWs taught, just found it too hard to live the religion. This family was never hassled about their duplicit lifestyle, just accepted for being JWs in name only.
Now, after all these years, with the kids all long gone, the elderly couple is back at the Kingdom Hall. An elder and his wife are "studying with them." Go figure.
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The Elder's Choice~"Care for his Own" or Save Face and Retain Congregation Privileges?
by TMS in"but if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
" 1 timothy 5:8, kjv.
the scriptural principle above is not followed by jehovah's witnesses if a child's presence in the home is a threat to retaining congregation privileges.
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TMS
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8, KJV
The scriptural principle above is not followed by Jehovah's Witnesses if a child's presence in the home is a threat to retaining congregation privileges. Even if God's so-called "word" calls for caring for one's family, it's more important for a JW to simply maintain the appearance, if not the reality, of "presiding over his household in a fine way," so as to keep serving as an elder.
My brother-in-law, after falling to get appointed as an elder for a number of years, finally got his wish about twenty years ago. It was a running joke, even among the non-JW side of the family that "R wants to be an elder so badly," as my Baptist mother-in-law used to say.
Once appointed, R's life became complicated by three children, all with bipolar symptoms. The kids, all good looking, athletic and intelligent, succumbed to the illness as they reached their twenties, now functioning with limited skill sets to live independently. Each child has presented a slightly different challenge to their elder father as he tries to maintain his image in the congregation as an elder meeting scriptural requirements (Watchtower rules).
The oldest child, now 32, was never baptized, despite an urgent bullrush by the local elders when he was 15.
"They told me that not getting baptized would not protect me at Armageddon, because Jehovah knew I had the knowledge to do the right thing and refused to act on that knowledge. I told them I would never submit to baptism because I didn't want to be disfellowshipped," the young man told me recently.
He was correct, of course, as his life since has been full of so-called disfellowshipping offenses, but his non-baptized state has given him family access. Recently released from prison, he went straight to his folks, who tried furiously to find other accommodations for him. Eventually, the young man found food and shelter with a cousin, who is also an ex-JW.
The second son, at 18 or so the apparent congregation role model on a fast track to Bethel, is now about 30, having paid dearly for his mistake of baptism, by being estranged from his family for a number of years. I visited with him at a food store a couple of years ago just before his second or third attempt at reinstatement. Proudly, he showed me his wrist, displaying a tattoo of the tetragrammaton.
"I'm going to show this to the elders to prove to them my devotion to Jehovah," he goofily told me at the time. He was eventually reinstated, despite the tattoo.
This boy's life has continued to spin wildly out of control, despite now being a JW "in good standing." He and his wife, the daughter of another local elder, live off of social security checks for mental disability, but supplement that income with con artistry, fake GoFund requests, stealing credit and debit card information, etc. Both are currently in Paris on vacation, despite having almost no income.
I've had little contact, in recent years, with the youngest child, a daughter, now in her late twenties. We've seen her once at an art gallery, arm in arm with her non-JW boyfriend, and once more at a club featuring live music. She did not make eye contact either time and we didn't approach. She lives in her own government-subsidized apartment, keeping her secret life separate from the family.
She, like her older brother, successfully resisted baptism, but has continued in school, now pursuing her doctorate, most likely in education. She's never held a job, although has done some non-paying work in fashion.
Because of her unusual beauty, she's traveled the world escorted by various men, so much so, that she gifted a recent vacation to her parents paid for by her frequent flier miles. She may also have used this to pay for her brother's trip to Paris. I don't know.
The daughter, still dependent on her parents in several ways, frequently attends meetings as an "interested person." even making an occasional comment. In comments made on a YouTube video, she describes herself as "leaning toward Buddhism." Because of her skill set in "playing the role" and never being baptized, she's free to navigate the JW scene as she sees fit.
Meanwhile, the elder and his wife, my brother and sister-in-law, live in their two story, "empty nest" home. The upstairs bedrooms are empty and the congregation privileges remain preserved. It's all about priorities.
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Subtle Differences in congregations
by SouthCentral ini grew up in a very zealous congregation.
we had almost 40 pioneers with only 100 publishers.
the congregation was 100% black americans (i don't say african-american).
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TMS
Not a JW apologist, but, with respect to eliminating racial prejudice, we tried.
Economic superiority, though, was treated differently, as it was reinforced by the Watchtower and their circuit overseer minions, who were influenced by the green handshake, the hotel accommodations during assemblies paid for by wealthy JWs and the low self-esteem of the "publishers."
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That Most Uneven of Judicial Procedures~The Gradual Lifting of Restriction After Reinstatement
by TMS inthose with substantial experience as jws will likely agree that judicial matters are handled with considerable inconsistency.
elders certainly vary in skill level, understanding, compassion or even knowledge of the talmudlike watchtower rules.
the punishment and, it is actually punishment, for similar offenses can result in anything from private or public reproof to disfellowshipping or sometimes an elder will choose to simply offer private counsel without even bringing the matter before the body of elders.
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TMS
A couple personal notes:
Quite a few years ago, I encouraged a young married sister to consider pioneering for the month. With a look of astonishment, she replied: "Bro. ______, you know I'm on restrictions. I felt so badly as I'd been on that judicial committee and we'd simply forgotten to remove her restrictions and, several years later, she still had them hanging over her. I did apologize profusely. She did pioneer that month, but our conduct as so-called shepherds was inexcusable.
Back in 1995, my son, then recently reinstated was invited, along with his band, to play at a JW get-together. One of the young brothers in his band got, somewhat of a suckup, but also on restrictions, thought it might be prudent to ask one of the elders for his "permission" to play. The elder's response: "You guys have more important things to worry about then playing music." In retrospect, that might have been a good thing. Somewhat sardonically, my son had the guys practicing the John Lee Hooker tune "Serves Me Right to Suffer."
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That Most Uneven of Judicial Procedures~The Gradual Lifting of Restriction After Reinstatement
by TMS inthose with substantial experience as jws will likely agree that judicial matters are handled with considerable inconsistency.
elders certainly vary in skill level, understanding, compassion or even knowledge of the talmudlike watchtower rules.
the punishment and, it is actually punishment, for similar offenses can result in anything from private or public reproof to disfellowshipping or sometimes an elder will choose to simply offer private counsel without even bringing the matter before the body of elders.
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TMS
Those with substantial experience as JWs will likely agree that judicial matters are handled with considerable inconsistency. Elders certainly vary in skill level, understanding, compassion or even knowledge of the Talmudlike Watchtower rules. The punishment and, it is actually punishment, for similar offenses can result in anything from private or public reproof to disfellowshipping or sometimes an elder will choose to simply offer private counsel without even bringing the matter before the body of elders. Elders themselves with a "secret sin" they've been hiding for several years, may even avoid judicial action altogether if its determined that their life shows evidence of "Jehovah's blessing" in the intervening years of concealing the sin. Their theocratic appointment and privileges are considered part of that evidence. Did you know that?
Perhaps, the most variant of procedures is the so-called gradual restoration of privileges after reinstatement. While some committees restore all the privileges in very short order, other so-called spiritual shepherds insist on perfect meeting attendance and other arbitrary standards to gradually restore so-called theocratic privileges.
It can be a very inhumane procedure. Just think, the formerly lost lamb, has just spent from six to eighteen months or more groveling to the elders, sitting at the back of the hall, coming in just before the start of the meeting, while leaving quickly afterward. Now, after finally being judged "repentant" by three men, a similar process begins with attempting to regain full, ordinary congregation function, without restrictions. What damage this must do to the human psyche.
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Could Joel Osteen Bring the JWs Out of Their Doldrums?
by TMS inrussell had some charisma, as did the alcoholic womanizer, j.f.
rutherford.
n.h. knorr, not so much.
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TMS
C.T. Russell had some charisma, as did the alcoholic womanizer, J.F. Rutherford. . N.H. Knorr, not so much. . Fred Franz, an oracle, but not a leader. . . . . What if? What if TV Preacher Joel Osteen agreed to take over JWism? He agrees to some basic teachings; the ransom, a paradise earth hope, an unnumbered heavenly class with tweaks on blood, shunning and disfellowshipping. . . . encouraging alternate service. Osteen becomes the Writing Department and takes over JW.org.
Could Osteen save the Watchtower and how much would his services be worth?