Posts by cha ching

37

Whats the most damning of the July 15 2013 changes?

by Crazyguy in

a lot of the rank and file at the meetings seem to think some of the changes make more sense but what is the most damning of the changes that may help to wake to some up.

some thing the rank and file will not first see or understand as a big deal?.

cha ching

Caleb's Airplane: "Besides, who else is preaching the Good News?"

Exactly! Works like a charm every time.

"Sure, there are pedophiles, but who else is preaching the Good News?..

Even the pedophiles are preaching the Good News!"

20

Get Your Teeth Cleaned ... Armageddon is NOT Imminent!!!

by cha ching in

i have had bad teeth my whole life..... but..... armageddon was imminent!.

i am in my late 50's... .

we were told, "don't get an education, by the time you get out of school, you won't be able to use your education.".

cha ching

I have had bad teeth my whole life..... BUT..... Armageddon was imminent!

I am in my late 50's...

We were told, "Don't get an education, by the time you get out of school, you won't be able to use your education."

So did I get braces? no... not until I was in my 40's... If I had gotten them as a teenager, my teeth would have been spaced evenly, I could have fit floss inbetween, and had less decay....

I always thought, "Oh well, it costs sooo much money, I'll just wait, Armageddon will be here before I have to deal with it"

You will have to deal with it....and you might lose your teeth. I brush and floss, but I have crowns, etc... you can get build up under them. My dentist showed me pictures of the tartar... It made me cry.

I have a $17,000 bill facing me...... but, I will be able to eat!

Get your teeth cleaned regularly... (which means at least ONCE, if not twice a year)

24

What problem did being a JW leave with your personality?

by frogonmytoe in

jw
friends

and i don't (necessarily) mean a religious or spiritual one.. for example, i think the traces of guilt and paranoia i often fight with come from being a born-in, but my biggest issue by far is not being able to live in the moment.. i have listened to the power of now audiobook (and eckhart tolle's voice put me to sleep) so i read it instead.

i have read other self-help books, most of them buddhist in leaning, but i still find it hard to stop thinking only in the future (thanks to the great trib, armageddon), or in the past (jesus, flood, 1914 being responsible for that).

and whilst i no longer believe the big a is looming, and barely give anything else a second thought, my behaviour has projected itself, and i still find it difficult just to 'be' in the moment, enjoying and savouring what i'm doing, and doing it to the best of my ability, i'm forever thinking what is coming up, and what i did badly last time.. my sister said the last time i visited her that she felt like she was waiting for something to happen "but not like armageddon, something else".

cha ching

Me? I always have been a "person" person... even being friendly to people I meet at the store, etc.

However, deciding when to "get closer" / have them to your house for dinner? I still wonder "will they rob me?" (even tho I have been "robbed" by JW's in business... ) I have a new job, and after a year or so, am getting to know the people there, and have been to dinner, they are very nice, and I have high hopes.

My sister? she use to be afraid of dying... every day... Armageddon is today! tomorrow! She has a hard time thinking of "future." Tho she does, she could be mad at "no health insurance, no pension, working until she is 80."

My husband? He feels like he has to do more, more, more. Has he done enough? Is he working at his best? What else should he be doing? He has a hard time just "enjoying the moment."

88

Former Long Time Elder, New Member

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

i have served 20 years as an elder, 5 years as an ms. was on the district committee in 2010, held various positions on the district , circuit, and rbc level.

probably been on more than 100 judicial committees and even an appeals committee.

was the coordinator in our congregation and deleted because adult child was df ( i kicked him out at the time of his wrongdoing, but that wasn't enough for thr brothers).

cha ching

Congratulations on letting yourself admit what you see!

As a mom, I also would say: 1st thing... reconnect with your son!

I was thinking about "the prodigal son."

He didn't have to go to meetings, go in service, say he was sorry a million times, sit before a committee of three.....

His dad saw him, ran to him... It was the other brother that was jealous, that wanted more.

Don't feel bad about the past... just love him, he'll let you. He needs you.

I am looking forward to hearing more from you :-)

29

just got an email from a jw friend

by outofthelionsden in

jw
friends

hi guys, so i got an email form an old jw friend that i haven't seen in a long time , i moved away to another state a few years ago.

so she sent me an email to tell me that she found out that i had left "jehovahs organization" and that she has been crying for weeks because she always looked up to me ( i was always that kid that pioneered & always had demonstrations and experiences in the district and circuit assemblies) she said that she's not judging me but that she cant believe i would do that , that i know better and that there is no reason ever to leave and hopes that we wake up before its to late..... i have to respond but i know she wont hear ttatt there deep in, so any suggestions would be appreciated on what to respond.. ( im so heart broken and tiered at this point.

i know she is doing it out of love, she's actually the only person that has contacted me, not even my family has done that.

cha ching

I copied your info, outsmartthesystem, thank you.

My experience with "friends"? People I have known 40 years?

They get shaky and afraid, their voice trembles. I am only telling them simple things, asking questions like:

"I went on a Bible Study, "taught them about Sodom & Gomorrah having the hope of a resurrection, not being able to answer them scripturally and being embarrassed," then a month (?) later, it changes. I have to go back and say, "uh.... hmmm... it changed..." "you were right, and the GB, the enlightening men were wrong"

So when I told a friend how I felt about this, and then said "If Jesus is giving us light, then it is like turning it off and on, not getting brighter" (no resurrection, , resurrection, no resurrection) That is not the light getting brighter... It is off on, off on... She trembled, was afraid, said, "Go talk to an elder." I thought she was a reasonable, smart person.

One friend, after I said "I don't know what is going on, I think they are going to do the same thing as they did in the 19th century, change history, say they didn't believe in things that they use to... That 1914 had to change, and the 607 article proves it"

Next time I called her? "Is Kelly there?" "Oh, there is no Kelly who lives here"

Gone.

29

just got an email from a jw friend

by outofthelionsden in

jw
friends

hi guys, so i got an email form an old jw friend that i haven't seen in a long time , i moved away to another state a few years ago.

so she sent me an email to tell me that she found out that i had left "jehovahs organization" and that she has been crying for weeks because she always looked up to me ( i was always that kid that pioneered & always had demonstrations and experiences in the district and circuit assemblies) she said that she's not judging me but that she cant believe i would do that , that i know better and that there is no reason ever to leave and hopes that we wake up before its to late..... i have to respond but i know she wont hear ttatt there deep in, so any suggestions would be appreciated on what to respond.. ( im so heart broken and tiered at this point.

i know she is doing it out of love, she's actually the only person that has contacted me, not even my family has done that.

cha ching

Emery "The organization requires transparency out of it's members, yet they do not provide the same in return."

That does hit the nail on the head.

We, the "uninspired," the "un-annointed" the "rank and file," the "other sheep" the "non-slaves"

must always, are always required to... live up to a higher standard than the GB.

38

FAQ - from the official web site "Do You Shun Former Members of Your Religion"?

by therevealer in

those who were baptized as jehovah's witnesses but no longer preach to others, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned.

in fact, we reach out to them and try to rekindle their spiritual interest..

cha ching

Reallity.... let's talk reality.

We have all seen it, all experienced it.

They have "the words," "the script," "the mantra," but in reality, if the WT says "jump" most will say "how high."

It's only a matter of time.

37

Are you really an Apostate, according to the WT ?

by Phizzy in

jw
friends

perusing the coverage of the 2013 dc spewings about apostates, the wt claims that apostates are "liars" and speak "twisted things".

this is their definition of apostates.. now, the reality is that sites such as paul's excellent jwfacts.com, books like coc and isocf, by ray franz, the works of olaf jonsson, penton and others, all write what is true !.

we are careful on here to present that which is true, at least i hope we are !.

cha ching

exactly!

The people who are twisted, and who twist your brain are the ones who make "the truth" a lie.

The song, "Make the Truth Your Own," should be:

"Make the truth a lie, suck it uuup and please don't crrrryyyyy."

"We are NARsiSIStic MOOOOnnnneeyyy loverrrs"

"Do it our way, or just diiiiieeeee"

73

Why won't JWs have "civilized" debates with home owners?

by ilikecheese in

it seems kind of crazy to go to someone's house touting your religion as truth and then not even defend your own beliefs.

why do jws stop the chat if someone just tries to calmly reason/debate with them?

i'm not talking about crazy preachers who start slamming bibles and yelling about how they need jesus or something.

cha ching

My husband & I would always have long discussions with people, in past years, about "hell", Jehovah's name, and on and on...

We did study, and truly wanted to "help people."

Me personally? in the last years that I went in service, I didn't think it was right to make people mad, so if something was upsetting, or getting that way, I would wish them a good day & leave. Perhaps I was on the verge of a fade. I did not want to make my life or anyone else's upset, and thought "love" would go a lot farther.

My husband would have long discussions with ministers, and they got along quite amicably. He respected their viewpoint. He valued "mildness & deep respect."

(1 Peter 3:15) 15 But sanctify the Christ as Lord in YOUR hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of YOU a reason for the hope in YOU, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.

Why can't the "organization" apply this scripture?

Instead, they call people names.... that is all the GB has to do: Call you a name, label you, & that will justify their actions.

29

EMOTIONS can tear you apart....but, not if you IDENTIFY their SOURCE

by Terry in

many people don't know why they "feel" what they feel.

they fall in love with the wrong person.

they cry unexpectedly.

cha ching

Just an interesting observation of info I have come across lately:

Lately, I've read about a young happy woman that went to a Yoga class, and became involved in a cult. She could not believe it. What did the cult leader use? Emotions.

One book about cults describes how cult lealders manipulate emotions, and make their followers slaves to them. (Sorry I don't have the names of books or links... just too tired tonight)

It all starts out happy "release bad feellings" "shout happy ones" and then the next thing you know, little by little, you are part of a cult.

They know what they are doing, the pattern works.

(PS, I like emotions... they all have their place)