i have only posted on here several times, but i am constantly reading what others post.
i guess i am more of a reader than author.
that being said i am happy to announce i am no longer one of the jehovah's witnesses.
Freeof1914
Interesting point you brought out when you said:
"Funny, I don't recall Jesus shunning Thomas for not believing. In fact he showed him the PROOF necessary to support the claims of the other apostles. THAT is your responsibility to your flock and you have not fulfilled it, instead you choose to cast me off because of those doubts. EXCELLENT shepherds."
You give your entire life to the wbts's cause and you are given a kick in the back while you are down in return! So disturbing!
yesterday, my wife's sister shared on facebook a screen capture of people talking about the earthquake in china.
the top of the list was a twitter user saying "is it just me or are these 5.0+ quakes coming more frequently" (paraphrasing).
her response "people are finally seeing what's coming" (not paraphrasing).. initially, this pissed me off because there is no increase in earthquakes.
I was going to make a post about these interesting numbers on tornadoes to refute the societies panic button for the end of the system, but this fits in with the lower statistics we see on earthquakes as well. Just wanted to share!
how do you budget?.
as a jw, we never had "classes" on family budgeting.
the world was going to end, so who cared about paying off credit card bills, retirement savings, etc.
Skeeter, Google "Simplified Income Statement" and print to fill it out. The form should have these basics:
1.) Take home pay
2.) Living expenses
3.) Total available for savings and investments.
If you desire to educate yourself, I recommend the book: "Personal Finance Turning Money Into Wealth" 6th edition by Keown and published by Pearson.
A helpful website or app on your phone is "mint" as well as "manilla"
A.) Look for ways to save by deciding how much you want to spend, say on eating out a month.
B.) For example: set the budget for $50.
C.) Set $50 in an envelope and when the $50 is gone, you do not allow yourself to spend any more. Voila! You make yourself stay on budget.
Let me give you an example of how easy it is to save: If you are 20 years old now and you save only $15 dollars a month (that works out to 50 cents per day) if you invest this $15 a month at a 12% rate, then 50 years later when you are ready to retire...you will have $585,000! Saving is easy, the key is to start early. Most everyone can set aside $15 a month to invest. Good luck!
so, the two local congregations were planning to hold their memorial together at 7:30 at the local community center, but they had to make a last-minute change to their own hall, and i'm pretty sure it was because of me.. let me explain.... at work on monday afternoon, a co-worker returned from her lunchbreak and showed me the memorial invitation that was waiitng in her door when she went home for lunch.
i noticed the sticker on the back indicated the memorial was being held, not at the local hall, but at the community center.
from a past (non-jw) event i attended there, i knew they didn't allow alcohol (unless you pay for security guards), so i wrote to the center's coordinator:.
"All rental agreements for halls CLEARLY spell out rules regarding Alcohol. The JWs tried to commit fraud if they said no wine was being served. No doubt some theocratic strategy Some usudpecting smuck was saved as a result of this quick thinking. Shouldn't a good JW be willing to sacrifice a late meeting for what they believe in?"
I'm with balaamsass. He already said he felt bad anyways.
hello to everyone :) i wanted to introduce myself as a newbie.
i was raised in and i am currently on active status due to most of my family being very much in, but i am so ready to be done and have felt that way for quite some time.
internally i know this is not the right religion without a doubt.
Thank you to you Think About it! Open Mind, I followed the link and read it, you're right, it is very thorough and well written. Thank you! :) Twinkle Toes it is certainly encouraging to see someone who has successfully completed the fade, I will be looking to your posts for tips then if you don't mind. You are too funny! Loved your evil laugh too he hee :)
so, i finally decided to become a member and make my first post .
a bit about me:.
i've been lurking around the forum for quite some time (about 6 months i think).
I am currently in and trying to fade as well. This site and the kind members here are an amazing wealth of knowledge in helping me know the do's and don'ts of fading. Good luck to you & welcome Sparlock the Wizard! :)
i'm sure alot of you have noticed, the influx of new jwn members with "postitions within the cong" this is amazing, i myself am still an m.s.
working to get removed.
lol my wife (who has been really supportive throughout my fade) asked my why i am doing i decided to fade?.
I was a regular pioneer...I feel like knocking on all the doors I have been to...just to apologize for being soooo wrong!
hi guys.
i'm interested in knowing whether any other faders out there ever find themselves feeling a little paranoid about establishing contact with other faders or former jws, just in case the unthinkable happens and things turn sour.. personally, i'm now fairly comfortable with the idea that i will be disfellowshipped or disassociated within the next year or so.
i see it as inevitable, and an essential transition in order to do what i want to do with my life.
I feel the exact same! I am trying to start and establish friends outside of jws, but I am hesitant now about contacting ones that were recently df because one just stopped contact with me;
she felt she needed to go back now and she was not following the arrangement talking to me...so...is she going to out me when she goes back for her reinstatement and clear her conscience? It scares me that there is a chance someone will yes, "out" me before I am ready. I have to be sure I am in the optimal position with family before I leave, I have to get my fade just right for my best chance to get them to see ttatt. Is it worth the risk trying to gain a life outside the org with friends...if it means I lose that chance I need to get my family out? I am not one to over-analyze, but my god, it consumes your thinking to the nth degree for sure Cedars!
that sweet, tingling feeling you get, no matter how hard life is at the time, when you remember that you're free.
that feeling reminds you that it's okay to not be sure about everything and it's okay to love persons even if they don't read the same literature or hold the same views as you.. it's okay to make mistakes because the people who love you will not pull back their love and association because of it.. the persons who are around you genuinely love you and are not just trying to portray 'love' because it looks good to 'potential' sheep.. it's even okay to try new things and it isn't a bad thing when you're actually enjoying life.. i don't have to try to be someone that i'm not and my worth is not, not.... my worth is not measured by a number on a piece of paper.. i can go through life at my own pace and i can be different.. that feeling reminds me that i can be myself!.
i know that you get that feeling also.
Absolutely!
" It's okay to make mistakes because the people who love you will not pull back their love and association because of it... It's even okay to try new things and it isn't a bad thing when you're actually enjoying life."
Relax & enjoy life as it should be.
hello to everyone :) i wanted to introduce myself as a newbie.
i was raised in and i am currently on active status due to most of my family being very much in, but i am so ready to be done and have felt that way for quite some time.
internally i know this is not the right religion without a doubt.
Aunt Fancy That is unconditional support at it's best!
Theredeemer Yay! Made it just in time then ;) I am planning to fade and have to a certain point, but I am learning so much as far as how to fade safer than I had been. I am enjoying basking in all of the kindness and effective practical advice here.
Thank you both! - Excite
