Why nullify it? Did the person dying ask it to be nullified? Doesn't make sense to me.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
have you ever heard that the wbts in rare cases nullify ones baptisim?.
in france, a jw who was dying in his bed with aids, confessed to the elders, his homosexual relations.
the elders not knowing what to do, contucted the bethel of france.
Why nullify it? Did the person dying ask it to be nullified? Doesn't make sense to me.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
in another thread i mentioned that i was having the in-laws over and going to tell them about the un thing last night.. well, i didn't chicken out.
i told her (mother-in-law) that the reason i wasn't going to meetings anymore was due mostly to the wts hopping in bed with the un.
that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
In another thread I mentioned that I was having the in-laws over and going to tell them about the UN thing last night.
Well, I didn't chicken out. I told her (mother-in-law) that the reason I wasn't going to meetings anymore was due mostly to the WTS hopping in bed with the UN. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
She was a bit taken back by the notion that "God's organization" would do that and without ALL the details of why they did it, if they really did) she couldn't really comment on it. But even if it were true, Jehovah will in time correct it. She wondered if it was okayed by the GB of which I gave the 2 names that applied for it.
She asked me when "Brother Franz left the truth" which I thought was hysterical. In her mind it had to be the act of an evil apostate. I, of course, let her know that Ray Franz was disfellowshipped in the 80's and the WTS affiliated themselves in 1991/92.
She also accused me of looking for an excuse to leave the organization, having apostate ideas, leaning on my own understanding, not trusting in Jehovah, etc. etc. etc. She felt that I was too judgmental of the organization and looking to impute wrong motives on the faithful and discreet slave.
Much was said on her part, to try to reason with me, too much to convey at this time, but naturally the discussion came around to "where are you going to find another organization that bears God's name, preaches worldwide, etc." I wish I had been better equipped to provide some kind of thought-provoking answer, but in all honesty, nothing I could have said would have made any difference. She told me that she will support the organization no matter what, and that only if Jehovah audibly speaks from the heavens will she change her mind.
One final thought for now, she did tell me that if I can find another organization/religion that proclaims God's name, doesn't teach the Trinity or Hellfire, or any other false doctrines, to let her know. She has "researched every religion" and has not found any that come close to teaching what's in the Bible.
Thanks for letting me unload. I was really nervous last night. I really do love my mother-in-law, she has been a great friend to me. She eats, sleeps, breathes the organization. She is the most loyal witness I know, and truly lives the witness life, one of the few that is not hypocritical. I know that nothing that I say will ever change her thinking on the matter and I also know that she will not let this alone now. She will take every opportunity to try to change my thinking, and I realize that it will be done out of love. She told me that she is really scared for me.
After she left, I was talking with my husband about the whole situation. He said that life was much easier not knowing the "real truth." We are at a point where we know too much and cannot go back. I feel like I'm in the Matrix.
Any and all advice or comments are welcome.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
well, it's sunday morning and i'm sitting here posting on this board when i hear 2 car doors slam.
i peek out the window and see 2 elders walking up to the door.
since i'm still in my jammies, i told my husband to go get the door while i snuck into the bedroom.
I have not been out in service for at least 2 years, and I have been getting KM's on a regular basis. I go to about 1 Sunday meeting a month, less lately.
I was under the impression that only active publishers were suppose to get KM's. The only reason I can think of why they continue to give them to us is in hopes that we will return regularly. It is the congregation my husband grew up in, if that makes a difference.
We were in different congregations the past 10 years and only returned to this one about a year ago. The PO came by as we were moving in (at the nudging of my mother-in-law) and encouraged us to attend since we were now back in that territory. We tried to go for a while (to keep mum happy) but haven't been in about 2 months.
Now for the highlights of the January 2002 KM:
Front page: "Keep the Kingdom First"
Now, that is new. LOL
"How Will They Hear?"
page 2
Schedule for parts, as usual
In a box is a little article entitled, "Set Something Aside"
It seems that "Today the worldwide work of Jehovah's people keeps expanding, requiring ever-increasing financial support. It is appropriate that we too "set something aside" regularly to help fill the need. Material giving can be done in a variety of ways. (See November 1 WT, p. 28-9)
pages 3-6 are suggested presentations.
page 7:
Announcements-same ole, same ole except for an announcement about "researchers and others have contacted a number of brothers, seeking information about Jehovah's Witnesses and our organization. They have requested that survey forms be completed, supplying answers to questions related to our beliefs and teachings. If such individuals approach a congregation publisher, he should provide the name of the presiding overseer. The elders can handle such inquiries and make an appropriate response based on a letter addressed to all bodies of elders, date April 25, 2001."
In a box is an announcement entitled "New Corporations Formed" and lists the 3 new corporations
page 8,
"Parents-Train Your Children From Infancy
Another box entitled, "What to Say About the Magazines" which gives a brief overview of the magazines being offered during Jan and Feb.
Dang, you guys, that's the first time I've looked at a KM in years.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
edited for typos
well, it's sunday morning and i'm sitting here posting on this board when i hear 2 car doors slam.
i peek out the window and see 2 elders walking up to the door.
since i'm still in my jammies, i told my husband to go get the door while i snuck into the bedroom.
cygnus, I have no idea why they keep giving them to us.
I will post highlights at a later date, but right now I have to go get groceries and clean house, I've got the in-laws coming over for dinner tonight. I plan on sharing the UN thing with them, if the opportunity allows. I'll let ya'll know how that goes.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
well, it's sunday morning and i'm sitting here posting on this board when i hear 2 car doors slam.
i peek out the window and see 2 elders walking up to the door.
since i'm still in my jammies, i told my husband to go get the door while i snuck into the bedroom.
Well, it's Sunday morning and I'm sitting here posting on this board when I hear 2 car doors slam. I peek out the window and see 2 elders walking up to the door. Since I'm still in my jammies, I told my husband to go get the door while I snuck into the bedroom.
They stopped by to drop off the latest KM (neither one of us has been in service for at least 2 years, nor do we go to hardly any meetings, let alone the Service Meeting) and to encourage us. Well, the husband told them it was not a good time so they left.
Now, I can breathe a sigh of relief until next month.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
my teenage son approached my husband and me yesterday to inform us that he wants to get baptized at the summer convention.
ugh!.
he hasn't shown an interest in witness things for several months until a cousin from up north came to visit and took him out in service all day.
So many great comments.
Trotafox, to go a little further with your response to Danni,
another thing that I've noticed is the judgemental attitude of the JW youths that are baptized, for instance...
last night we were out to dinner with family from out of town, my one neice (about 18) was talking about a girl that my nephew is interested in. I asked if she was nice, cute, her age, etc. of which her reply was yes to all of my questions except for "she's not baptized." The girl is 17.
Too much pressure is put on the youth in the organization to get baptized. They do not do it because they have a deep devotion to Jehovah and want to dedicate their lives to him, they do it to be accepted among all the other JW youths. I've seen it over and over again, young person (12-15) gets baptized, hormones kick in, gets reproved or disfellowshipped, lives their teenage years in guilt over making mistakes, on and on it goes.
Knowing my son, if he were to get baptized, he'd be disfellowshipped within a year.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
i see quite a few movies during the year but this one really stands out as the best i've seen for a long time.
russell crowe was fantastic and no longer will i remember him just as the gladiator.
jennifer connelly was more than the attractive girl in this one.
I saw it last night. Great movie. I didn't realize it was based on a true story until the very end. My husband hated it though, not enough action for him.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
i read crisis of conscience some time ago and it had a profound effect on me.
i just gave it to my ex-bethelite friend to read (he had already discovered the "truth" about the truth on his own).
he's about halfway through it and is in the anger stage.
I remember when it first came out, my dad read it. He disassociated himself. A former circuit overseer's wife, at that time commented that she read it, nothing she didn't know already. She's still an active witness. She's the only one I know of that read it and remained.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
i was doing a little websurfing... not hurtin' nobody... mindin' my own bidness... and found myself at the wts official website.
over on the righthand side i noticed a "search" button.
hmmm.
Type in disfellowshipped or disfellowshipping...you will see that the WTS has not changed it's view.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---
my teenage son approached my husband and me yesterday to inform us that he wants to get baptized at the summer convention.
ugh!.
he hasn't shown an interest in witness things for several months until a cousin from up north came to visit and took him out in service all day.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
madA, my husband and I pay the bills in our home, but we don't want to protest too much as we feel this will drive him harder to be a witness.
wonderwoman,
he is 15 and we have really encouraged him to get involved with kids in school. A couple of months ago he had a non-witness girlfriend and didn't have an interest in the witnesses. Unfortunately, they broke up so I'm hoping he'll set his eyes on someone else at school real soon.
mrs. rocky,
Great idea about the questions. I had not thought about that.
freeman, alliwannadoislive, Mulan, AlanF, Mulan, Dungbeetle, LB, et all,
We do feel that right now he is just trying to go along with all of his witness cousins. Probably the one he's closest to is getting baptized soon and I'm sure that is playing a big roll in his decisions right now. We also sat down with him yesterday and explained to him that Jesus was 30 when he was baptized and he was perfect, if that wasn't a clear example of being mature enough I don't know what is. We also told him that he was not old enough to get married, let alone get baptized.
patio,
Great ideas, bringing up the dinosaurs. New points to think about.
tyydyy,
not sure I want to bring him to the board yet, he may get too spiritual and turn me in, but maybe later. I do, however, use a lot of what I learn here to share with others in the family.
YouKnow,
Please let me make this one fact clear to you...I do not hate truth, in fact it is my love for TRUTH that has caused me to investigate the religion of my birth (just following Society's orders). Also, it is not a humiliation for me, if my son ultimately decides he wants to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses and get baptized, I will whole-heartedly support his decision, as long as it is HIS decision and he is not doing it just to fit in with his friends. I have the maturity to know what is involved with getting baptized as a JW, he does not.
I'm glad that he has a love of God in his heart.
Incidentally, I have older children that we tried hard to make them live the witness lifestyle, they rebelled.
"I must stand up in search of the truth, if I don't I only roll with the flow of the lie and make it stronger.
---Sovereign---