Posts by lriddle80

39

What Does Prayer Actually Do?

by punkofnice in

if you think it works, what is your evidence outside of possible coincidence?.

I will pray something. Then I will go about my life and forget about it. One day that prayer will get answered in some way and I know because it's at that moment I remember that prayer! I have seen this play out in other's lives, too. Does the Spirit give us a sort of supernatural recall in that moment?

Something else is that being in a relationship with God is a partnership. He is partnering with us in prayer. We live out our lives interceeding for our loved ones or strangers or situations in prayer and we find peace. The more I pray the more I see God working. (He would have done the same things had I prayed or not because he is always at work), but when I pray I get to participate and see the results/blessings/gifts.

Prayer, to me, is going on an adventure!! It builds trust. It builds patience. It deepens faith. It has given me a refuge to run to whenever I have a need/concern/area that is beyond me. I am grateful for prayer and moreso for who is on the other side of those prayers!!

22

Are you less judgmental after you became ex JW?

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

any takers?

.

lriddle80

At first, no! Probably more so, against JW because I felt justified in my anger and judgements. But then I heard a quote that said something like if you don't forgive them, you can become just like them, so I struggled until I was able to be less judgy. The story of the wheat and the weeds growing together helps me a lot with this! Acceptance of what you can not change and the courage to change the things you can helps me, too!

20

GENDER PRONOUNS

by JohnTron72 in

just to put it out there, the whole gender pronouns idea being pushed by the lgbtq+ minorities is just a way to try to hide the sin of homosexuality.

if you can void people talking about your true sexual identity then it seems there is no sin anymore if two they or them of the same sex are together.

example of the coverup: ("i don't identify as either gender"), so the kids i'm raising in a lesbian relationship need not speak of me as a mom or any other female term and we all don't have to feel any stigma attached to the true terms so, any shame we might feel is hidden anyway.

lriddle80

My son is a "they/them" but since he isn't prepared to go public with this info, I still say he/him. He says he just deals with it. My step sister, on the other hand, is a militant they/them and acts like she is going to commit suicide if someone doesn't address her by her pronouns. I want out of the whole conversation!! We can't force people to cater to us...they barely love us as it is!!

11

Did ANYBODY Here Believe The Witnesses Were The One True Religion?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was raised believing i was very fortunate knowing i had the truth.

i was groomed to be an elder.

i figured if mother said something, even if i couldn’t totally understand it, it was correct because mother knows best.

lriddle80

I remember thinking it was weird I was born in to the "only true religion"....seemed suspicious...

34

STUDY ARTICLE When a Loved One Leaves Jehovah

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the watchtower—study edition | september 2021. study article 39. when a loved one leaves jehovah.

2 think how heartbroken jehovah must have been when members of his own angelic family turned their back on him!

(jude 6) and imagine how hurt he was at seeing his beloved people, the israelites, rebel against him time and again.

lriddle80

We didn't "leave Jehovah" we left a false religion. I am irritated that my family is going to read this and think about me "leaving" God when I left to actually pursue the true God...Oh well! What are ya going to do? We all lose.

19

The Bible and its use of excesses beggars belief ?

by smiddy3 in

how many accounts of the bibles use of excesses can you recall ?

i will start off with a favourit of mine.. the inauguration of solomons temple and the sacrifices offered .2chron.7 :4-5 , 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep ?

c,mon.

lriddle80

I once heard Jewish people were known for their use of hyperbole.

You can miss the forest for the trees when it comes to the Bible. Example. Jehovah's witnesses arguing over if Christ died on a cross or a stake. By doing this, they miss the whole point of the sacrifice itself.

Focus on the message, I say!

25

Just invited to a zoom memorial.

by Overrated in

jw
friends

walked away from the trooth years ago(over 20) my older sister sends me an invite to the memorial via zoom.

i have no interest in jwism at all.

should i ignore or respond?.

lriddle80

My mom sent me an invite through messenger. I have been going back and forth as to how or if to respond. I had a great idea of responding with a clip someone recorded of me preaching about the wheat and weeds parable, but my husband said it was aggressive, so I have opted for no response. It isn't as fun, though!

43

When You Were A Witness Did You Believe Everything Taught?

by minimus in

jw
friends

obviously at some point you stopped believing the witnesses had the truth or else you wouldn’t be here.

.

but for the most part, were you a true believer or were you typically a rebel or a doubter?

lriddle80

It wasn't that I believed it, per se, I just repeated back what I was told and followed the rules so I wouldn't get sent to the back room.

But one story is telling of how I felt. So, I finally place a magazine and the guy actually seemed interested in our religion. He had been looking for a place to worship. I remember not wanting to do a return visit because I didn't want him to have the burden of it all.

I thought I had to do it. I was trapped in it with no way out. It's like I was living out 2 lives at the same time. Always having to keep up appearances so you wouldn't be too suspicious but hanging out with the wordliest witnesses I could find because that's who I really was. But you wear your dress, do your talks, get a few hours a month, underline the whatever, answer sometimes...and as I type this - how far removed from a heartfelt belief in Jesus it is!

I am grateful for it (because I got out of it), it shaped me and I wouldn't be who I am today.

47

What is the most insensitive thing an Overseer or Elder has ever said and done to you?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

what is the most insensitive thing an overseer or elder has ever said and done to you?

i have had many insensitive things said to me by some elders, but for some reason one self-righteous elder was always on my case.

he didn't like the fact that i missed meetings, didn't like that i never went out in field service, that i didn't answer at the weekly meetings and he didn't like that i carried my books and magazines in my hands and not a service/book bag.

lriddle80

He said that God wouldn't bless me if I celebrated Christmas or went to a church.

Lie.

26

The Bible speaks of the "Unforgivable Sin" ? What is it ?

by smiddy3 in

do any jehovah`s witnesses or ex jehovah`s witnesses even know what that sin is ?.

why is such a statement in the bible if its not identified what that sin is ?.

were the authors of the book just playing with peoples heads ?

lriddle80

I hear from preachers that the unforgivable sin is unbelief in Jesus and refusing to bow your knee and accept that only Jesus can save you. If you reject Christ, you die in your sins (according to the scriptures) thus making you unforgiven. It's pretty clear that Jesus is the way and it's a really simple formula I don't understand why so many reject it. Maybe they aren't chosen?