One of my daughters is 30 today. I'm glad Armaggedon was late. Two daughters and four grandchildren are blessings within this evil system of things some of my former associates said would never happen. Hallelujah!
OICU8it2
JoinedPosts by OICU8it2
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1975 +30
by OICU8it2 inone of my daughters is 30 today.
i'm glad armaggedon was late.
two daughters and four grandchildren are blessings within this evil system of things some of my former associates said would never happen.
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How do you explain your lack of success in making disciples?
by JH in.
you weren't qualified enough?.
people weren't interested in your stupid magazines?.
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OICU8it2
I always felt Jehovah was not blessing my ministry due to my sinful condition and not going to the elders and telling them every little thing including wayward thoughts. Also, I could have been sharing in the sins of others by not ratting them out.
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How the Internet Means 'The End' for Apostates and Opposers of the Society
by slimboyfat inthe received wisdom is that the internet has dramatically damaged the ability of the watchtower society to gain and retain followers.
there was a very eloquent article to that effect written some time ago by a commentator who attempted to buttress his argument with reference to the postmodern condition and the breakdown of metanarratives in todays secular society, nay, even the come-back for enlightenment notions of truth.
in the 1970/80s there were major challenges to the watchtowers theology (great crowd in heaven) and chronology (1914) in norway, alberta canada, dublin ireland and in the newyork bethel itself: but the damage caused by those involved in the dissent was limited because knowledge was dispersed merely through personal contact and minimal use of obscure publications that seldom met the eyes of witnesses innocent of the watchtowers doctrinal and chronological vacillations in any case.
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OICU8it2
Remember the Iron Curtain? Remeber the VOA. Truth was received and it contributed in time to the downfall. Same will go for any totalitarian system denying freedom. In my case the internet DID contribute especially this website.
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Political Canvassing. compared with Ministry.
by AlanB ini have recently got involved in politics and was out over the weekend canvassing.
i found it an interesting contrast with being on the ministry.. first of all i found it easier to actually talk to people about something i actually believed in rather then recite the same old stuff that had become so dry to me.
the biggest contrast was when i rang a door and after a few moments it was clear no one was in, i instinctively reached for the door bell again, the witness way being to string out a 'not at home' for as long as decently possible so as to 'get your hour in' without having to talk to too many people.
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OICU8it2
Interesting, Alan. I haven't gone canvassing but have been supporting a political group and have talked with many at work. I can imagine the feelings you had. A couple stopped by yesterday from the hall in service. They did not know me. I decided to let them run on with their presentation. The woman was maybe in her 50's and had a younger companion who spoke up occasionally. The presentation was right out of the kingdom ministry and reminded me of the examples presented onstage. When they stated the signs in Mt. 24 I couldn't help it and asked them "how could these things be a sign if they are just routine history?" There was a disconnect at that point with her not even understanding the question. It was like she was on automatic or not used to any actual questions. Meanwhile, another witness vehicle raced up and down the street repeatedly, watching us as they passed as if they thought their coworkers could be in danger. Maybe they hadn't witnessed a discussion in some time. At any rate I told them all of their publications from the beinning were available on the web and in reading them it was clear they were not divinely distinguished at their start if their beliefs now were so different. In fact, they are not wild about researching their material from the twenties and thirties. Nothing registered with them. Perhaps they began to suspect apostasy. Like an idiot I tried to tell them about the fine tuning of the four forces, the ratios of masses of the electron and proton, the placement of the solar system within the Milky Way, the large moon's influence on earth's stable tilt, etc. and how this leads me to believe in a Creator. That was the end of the call.
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The story of my life (part 8- hanging on by a bare thread)
by onacruse ini can't remember the drive home from the airport...all i can remember is how relieved, how incredibly thankful, i was to be back on my own bed, in a safe environment, with two parents who would help me get through all of this.
it was the first peaceful night of sleep i'd had in a long long time.. i also don't remember much at all about the explanations i tried to give to my folks.
but i do remember this: i apparently told my dad enough such that he was compelled to drive over to see the congregation servant (as they were then called), who had himself been at bethel...and demanded to know why he hadn't told my folks about what bethel life was really like..why he had let them send their firstborn son into such an environment without any warning whatsoever.
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OICU8it2
Please, don't stop now. If you can remember, elaborate on your thoughts more. Include more details. Write the book! Thanks, Carlton
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JWs are going to love this...
by Ellie in'god told me to invade iraq' - bush .
friday, october 07, 2005. source: ananova.
us president george bush has said that he was instructed by god to invade iraq and afghanistan, according to a new bbc series.
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OICU8it2
I agree with you aniron. People will believe anything the liberal media prints.
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Can You Spot A Jehovah's Witness?
by minimus inif you've ever been away on vacation, have you noticed a jw is in your midst?
what stands out to you in knowing that a certain person "must" be a jw?
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OICU8it2
Heck yeah. I've even taught my wife how to ID 'em. It's good fun. It's the grouping, location, clothes, styles of clothing on adults and especially the adolescent kids. I remember goin' into the donut shop after talking to maybe one person in field service, and the good buddy elder friend of mine eating so many powdered donuts and getting it all over his face and clothes. He always wore the same cheesy plaid polyester sport jacket. On our vacation-district assembly dinners at the local smorgasboard (Ponderosa Steakhouse) he would get the salad bar for himself and then make a million trips to fill up his 3 girls plates even though he only paid for one. Talk about cheap. He was always on a diet and was such a slob it was embarassing when he got food all over himself. All of 'em insisted on wearing their badges, too. God, I can't believe I dragged my family thru it.
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The story of my life (part 6- Bethel, the second shock)
by onacruse inso, here i am, reeling from the events of the recent weeks...and then comes a blessed respite.
one of the "perks" of being on the janitorial crew was that, every summer, tradition sent us to mountain farm for a couple of weeks, to pick strawberries..
ahhhhhh!!
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OICU8it2
If you fleshed out the details and recalled more stories, I believe you have a very interesting book.
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Does the sadness ever leave?
by pc inhi everyone, haven't posted for awhile.. i am probably just rambling tonight( a few glasses of great red wine) so pardon me.
every once and awhile i just have such great sadness that begins to permiate my thoughts.not just for me but for everyone who has walked this path.
i happen to have a pretty great life, but sometimes this deep sadness rises up in me for all the things that might have been.
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OICU8it2
Everyone asks 'what might have been". Don't look back like that. It wasn't all bad was it? No one can say what might have been. There is so little time for life if lamenting the past too much. Your experiences have made you a better, wiser, kinder person. You can see thru that sort of thing now no matter what it is. Look ahead and enjoy the present. People, animals, this world is so amazing. I never saw it before. All I saw was bad. It is a struggle, but is so amazing the strength and character many people develop over time. Live. Love. Smile. Encourage others always. People can be so interesting and warm with a little kindness. Your friend, Carlton
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Guess what I bought today!!! Something to do with the word "CAR" :D
by Elsewhere insadly it was not the new mini cooper i recently ordered... instead it was a shinny new $66.26 gas cap!
my check engine light kept coming on and after a few failed attempts to fix it myself i broke down and brought my car to a auto repair shop.
they hooked my old gas cap up to a machine that tested if it could seal closed correctly and it failed, so they put a shinny new gas cap on my car and charged me $66.26 for it.
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OICU8it2
Sorry for that gas cap. See if this makes ya feel any better. My pickup wouldn't start in a store's parking lot. OK, Its gettin' spark, must be the fuel filter.. nope, must be the fuel pumg. Take it to the closest garage (across the street) a Pep Boys. Tell 'em I think it needs a fuel pump, but check it out. Next day, they tell me pump's fine by their test but it needs new plug wires, plugs, dist. cap, serpentine belt, clean the fuel system. Ok, 600 bucks but it starts till I stop for gas and then DOES EXACTLY THE SAME THING-- WONT'T RESTART. Pissed, I get it towed back (no charge) and the next day it needs a 500 dollar fuel pump job (they hadn't done a hot start test the previous day). Well, it's 9 yrs old and needed all that stuff anyway. Next, I park in the driveway at home instead of the garage. Next morning my wife forgets and backs her car into the truck. 2000 $ apiece, (costs me 500$ total with deductible.) Fix the truck and car and trade the car for an 06 STS. Maybe our luck's changin'. Your friend, Carlton.