Posts by lolipopp

106

Crackdown on "sisters" volunteering at DCs

by dozy in

jw
friends

the wts has sent a letter to all convention overseers expressing their increasing concern at sisters "directing brothers" at district conventions.. with immediate effect (ie for dc 2008), sisters are no longer to be used as volunteers in parking and security / watchman departments.

any sisters volunteering in other departments (eg toilet cleaning) must be subordinate & follow the direction of appointed brothers.

this move will put a huge burden on the dcs in my area - nearly half the volunteers for parking are sisters and there aren't enough volunteers as it is.

lolipopp

I'm prompted to make my first post after many years. Dozy's information is good news and hopefully will accomplish the same thing this type of thinking did to me, Here is my experience in this regard:

I was a full time pioneer and my husband was elected elder when that arrangement first came into being. In 1972 he left me and the family to play (I should have followed sooner for my own reasons). I was left with a minor son, the other two having been married (at age 19-20 ???). This young son was in desperate need of a father and I asked the elders to call on him for encouragement --- no one came. By late 1973 the boy had got himself in trouble with some marijuana along with 5 other boys.

Meanwhile my husband had left behind the elder Organization Book and I had read it and was extremely familiar with all the old and new rules. When the boy was called to a JC as were the other boys, he confessed and was later disfellowshipped. He was 16 at the time and the rules were an underage child was to remain under the parental supervision (he was never in trouble or rebellious). I questioned the new elders as to why they felt that was necessary and they said that his answer to their question as to whether he would do it again was "I don't know" he couldn't foretell the future just that he would hope not to. To the JC it showed he wasn't really repentent in his heart. UAU they could read hearts. I argued with them about the information in the Org Book about minor children and their answer was "since there was no longer a man in the house they didn't feel I could handle the boy being alone".

Thereby started my exit from the organization. It was a 10 years fade after having spent 20 yrs being dedicated and submissive to the organization, always "waiting on Jehovah" for my doubts. I wroteo many letter to the society and eventually had my "life time" Bethel cousin tell me to quit writing the Society about this incident because I would be considered no more than a "difficult/obstinant sister".

Elders had lied about me and my family and I shouldn't defend myself??? I lost complete faith in "mother" . No more "waiting on Jehovah" it was time to to leave slowly and have never been DF'd or DA'd although now I am considered an apostate" (HURRAY) and no longer spoken to by my elder oldest son and his family and other self righteous ones of my so called "friends" and "loving sis/bro".

Sorry this is soooo long. I left much out and there is a lot more to my experience but this suffices for now to encourage those who are on the borderline or those may be snoops in here that it's time to smell the roses on the outside of the stranglehold of that Organization and their changing "brighter light".

89

How I handled Child Abuse cases when I was an Elder (1996-2006)

by slmdf in

hey ya'll.

i know there is a lot of buzz due to the nbc story.

i thought i'd share my experience as an elder dealing with abuse.. i attended 23 different congregations in my life and served as an elder or ms in 9 of them.

lolipopp

This is my very first post after many years of reading everything that others have posted. This subject needs to be sent all over the news and for some reason the way many have expressed themselves on this particular thread has moved me to say that the entire discussion should be sent to newspapers or made into a booklet and sent out to the public. The public must see the WTS for what it is. An organization that needs to change, be stopped and no longeer tolerated as it is today. Too many lives destroyed, throughout the years, due to that society's egomaniacal demands and ability to control the minds of many. This discussion expresses it all so very well...IMHO. Thank you all for this effort. Lolipopp

25

So sick and tired of the double standard

by ValiantBoy in

jw
friends

for a group that constantly bitches about people needing to accomadate it's beliefs and practices, jw's sure are inflexible and intolerant.

i realize that we all already know that, but is of special irritation to me right now.

my oldest sister, who is faded and now regularly attends a worldly church, is getting married.

lolipopp

Dear Froglett, there is no reasoning with people who reason in a circle. You just go round and round and get nowhere. That can really be frustrating when your reasoning with someone you love. My oldest son, who is an elder, along with his JW family (who shun me completely) would not come to visit his dying brother, my youngest son, because he was disfellowshipped, even though the youngest had asked to see him. Witnesses were not allowed to attend funeral services if they were in a church so when one of our JW friends mother died no one was going to the funeral to give the "sister" support. A few of us went to the services anyway and never heard anything more about it. Fortunately there still are some within that incredibly controlling organization, no different from the catholic church in so many regards, who use their own mind and heart and act with impunity or in willingness to "suffer" (ah sweet release) the consequence. The organization that claims to be based on love is based on nothing more than guilt and fear and worse of all lies. Those who are followers, like most of us here, were followers out of sincerity and innocence feeling we were learning to please God, until reality smacked us right between the eyes. I do hope your mother changes her mind and attends the wedding, she will regret it in days to come. It will be difficult to make up for the hurt given to those who came out of her womb. I hope the gentleness of our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus will allow you a happy wedding day.

40

Do You Think Your Family & Friends Will Ever Get Out Of The Religion??

by minimus in

jw
friends

can you imagine certain ones making it out of the religion, somehow, sometime?

?

lolipopp

It would bring me incomparable joy to know my son, his wife and family have finally opened their eyes and made a positive commitment to get away. It would be difficult for my son and his wife. If their children and their family came out as well it would be easier for all of them, they lean heavily on each other. Since they do not communicate with me, all I can do is have hope and pray.

If they never do seek release, it is my hope that they have enought love to get a favorable judgement fomr my Lord Jesus.

There are those who have what is needed to get out regardless of how many years they were in but some are needy and have filled that need in the regimented life provided in that closed society. While I was in for over 30 years, it took me 15 of those years separating and making the final break.

I will continue to pray for strength for those who decide NO MORE.

11

Medal of Honor Recipient was Reared a JW

by Kenneson in

jw
friends

i was perusing through a book entitled "african american recipients of the medal of honor: a biographical dictionary, civil war through vietnam war" by charles w. hanna (jefferson, north carolina, and london: mcfarland & company, inc., publishers, 2002) when i came across this very interesting entry on pages 173-4. i thought some of you might find it interesting.

it is rather lengthy, so i will not quote the whole article.. "1st lieutenant ruppert l. sargent, u s a.

9th u.s. infantry.

lolipopp

This is a subject that allows for many different opinions. Just for another viewpoint I offer the following.

If the whole world were devoid of war this situation would not have come up. Considering that is not the case we could remember that were it not for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect what our country perceives as a threat to our (and the worlds') security we could all be speaking German, Russian Vietnamese, Arabic or what have you.

While I am not in favor of war and feel it an absolute travesty that we lose our young men and now women in these wars (or conflict state) I am eternally grateful for the freedoms these sons and daughters have allowed us to have and enjoy. I think that is a good thing to remember.

Having lost a son, I am well aware of the pain parents feel when their children die in whatever manner, and I'm talking not only emotional but incredible physical pain. For this I am exceedingly pained for the family members.

Wars have been around since God had Joshua enter the Promised Land (or perhaps before?) Living in total peace is for a future time; meanwhile we have to deal with what's at hand.

Having said all that, how do we reconcile war with Jesus statement to love our neighbor as ourselves?? If the authorities that order war are allowed by God (doesn't it say He has allowed these authorities to exist?) it allows for great consideration.

Bring in the WTS and one can really get discumbuberated (SP? is it a word, sounded good rolling out of my mouth ;o). On can join the armed forces, one cannot join the armed forces, one can do alternative service, one cannot do alternative service, in one country NO, in another YES. This yoyo places braindead oh I mean brainwashed individuls clinging to someone elses conscience or opinion in order to act.

Now comes conscience and one cannot go against conscience so there we have a reason for differing opinions, and God bless the difference.

Ok I've said my piece and come to no real definitive conclusion except that kindness, gratitude and good manners are always acceptable.

45

New to forum

by Happyman in

hi folks,.

i am new to this forum, as of today, but i see that there is already someone here called happy man.

i'd have chosen a different nick if i'd known.

lolipopp

Oops:

While I have belonged to the forum for a long time this is possibly the first time I've posted. Just wanted to tell you that if you life your name and it is in conflict why not change it to happyman2. You keep your happyman and don't infringe on the first one. Just my opinion.

Welcome and you will not regret and be happy with the friendships you find in the forum. Your spiritual sis. Lolipopp

45

New to forum

by Happyman in

hi folks,.

i am new to this forum, as of today, but i see that there is already someone here called happy man.

i'd have chosen a different nick if i'd known.

lolipopp

Happyman

44

Elders want letter from my daughter!

by reubenfine in

jw
friends

background: my unbaptized daughter married an unbaptized young man when they were both 18 years old.

it didn't work out and 2 years later they divorced.. now it's 6 years later, (after the divorce), and my daughter never got baptized.

her ex-husband did and is engaged to another dub.

lolipopp

<P>Dear Reubenfine</P> <P>I find the fact that the elders are asking such a thing of your daughter extremely insulting, invasive and demeaning. ; What possible RIGHT do these men feel they have that they can ask an individual who has never been a member of their incredible organization do put such a thing in writing. ; </P> <P>Is the ex claiming that he has been celibate since divorcing your daughter???? ; Do you think this is a question that Jesus would have ask while he was a man on earth? ; This organization claims to have authority given to them by Jesus and Jehovah so they should be following His footsteps.</P> <P>I feel so sad for your daughter to be put in this position. ; Hope the young man can get his life on the road he wishes to take it without her making any claim about living in sin or otherwise....it is NONE of their business. ; Their dealings is with the young man and his fiancee. ; An attorney can advise you of any legal recourse for harassment or invasion of the privacy act.</P> <P>You can email me direct if you feel inclined to, <A href="mailto: [email protected]"> [email protected]</A> ; ; Agape, lolipopp ;</P> <P> ;</P> <P>Background: ; My unbaptized daughter married an unbaptized young man when they were both 18 years old. ; ;It didn't work out and 2 years later they divorced. </P> <P></P>Now it's 6 years later, (after the divorce), and my daughter never got baptized. ; Her ex-husband did and is engaged to another dub. ; The elders told him they wanted my daughter to write a letter acknowledging she is now living in sin. ; <IMG class=smilie src=" "> ; (Has for 5 years with NO elder visits, OF COURSE!) ; How insulting to everyone involved. ; I suggested just ignoring it to piss them off, and she wants to write back and tell them to go to hell. ; I also suggested writing, "I heard you were concerned about me. ; It's nice to know you care. ; Goodbye....." or something to that effect. ; LOL <P></P>I told her I would ask for other suggestions and let her know. ; Some of you are way more creative than I am! ;