Posts by bebu

43

Being "Smart" will not prevent one from following the WTS

by onacruse in

this weekend, while katie and i were at the beach, we both spent a little time reading coc (no, it wasn't a study lol ...i can honestly say that i did not favor the disfellowshipping decision made by the [governing] body.

for when the vote came i conformed to the majority decision.

i felt dismayed when the body assigned me to prepare mateiral in support of the decision, yet i accepted the assignment and wrote it as was desired by the body...my belief in the organization as god's only agency on earth caused me to do what i did at that time without particularly great qualms of conscience.. .

bebu

Onacruise, I'm really enjoying your thread. I love your picture of the cognitive dissonance.

The scales are tipped so heavily to the side of accomplishment and commitment that we just can't bear the thought that we were carrying the football toward the wrong goal.

This is the human story, isn't it? I don't know of anyone who was born running toward the right goal (except One). We all need a lot of correcting, not just JWs.

You had too many good statements, Outoftheorg, to quote them all. Thanks so much for your perspective on it. I agree totally.

I believe that Christian faith is simply that God really is good - the fight ensues when we are faced with 'facts' that appear to support that He is otherwise (or that good = bad)

I believe this is as well. Actually, the Jews believe this too, but the second point of XNT is that the death of Christ (and his resurretion) give a concrete reason for this faith that God is really good. That helps me with the "fight" part. (I wonder how faithful I'd be if I were a Jew... ! )

I read many people on this board who have seemingly 'given up faith' - but perhaps the truth is that they have kept it - they're simply waiting for the One who is good.

Yes. Those who really do love goodness, they'll eventually find out that God is good. They will recognize Him; keep waiting.

...I have to admit that for the longest time I had been rather prejudiced that JWs were intellectually stunted. When I found this board and read for a few weeks, I was truly amazed (shock and awe!) at how articulate so many posters were. (I think all you posters here are enjoyable to read.) I must say, too, it was a real RELIEF to discover that I was wrong, and so many JWs were intelligent after all! I was delighted to feel challenged by those I'd practically written off. Nice to be humbled!

bebu

17

They lost 7 bible studies

by caballoSentado in

jw
friends

hi friends, .

i just found out that one of the persons i talked to about the un scandal and .

the wtbs hypocrisy, a very good & loving person, a real christian, has cancelled .

bebu

I must say that I've really taken courage from your story! This is a terrific post!!-- I realized that the UN scandal was more potent than I'd realized before, if it could knock out 7 Bible studies...

So, today I decided to take the plunge myself, and had a very interesting conversation with my JW neighbor. (I've discovered that all I have to do is make some remark using a JW watchword, and she jumps in and asks me to define what I mean by____. And then we're off and running. This is okay. I think I can use this technique to my advantage, as a way to open conversations when I am ready for one.)

Whatever we started with, I decided to find out if she was aware of the UN scandal, so I asked her for the WT take on the scarlet beast... and after she talked awhile, I told her I had read something quite bizarre online, and perhaps she'd heard of it... When I explained it to her, she was smiling at me with a look of "That's the MOST RIDICULOUS charge I've ever heard in my life!" while shaking her head. She was nearly laughing at the idea that the WT would ever associate with the UN in any way. I produced some documents and read salient parts to her (she didn't bring her glasses).

Anyway, the whole conversation was still remarkably pleasant. She is a very devout JW, and would quickly die for WT theology. She didn't get upset at me for bringing up these things. She agreed with me that getting the best info on it would be important, and was really very rational. I'd already asked her if she could verify the 607 date (she's never gotten back to me on that). But now she's got some documents in hand to share with an elder who has a computer...

Just a tidbit. And thanks for the 'boost'.

bebu

18

I lost the battle

by Yerusalyim in

jw
friends

my step son, sean, is moving back to pacific, mo.

he's moving in with his jw brother (big mistake as they don't really get along).

i guess the pressure from daddy saying if he converted he'd disown sean was more than he could bear.

bebu

Thanks for a really kind reply, Yeru.

You are surely doing well as a Christian to be able to take my remarks in the right spirit, though I may have unintentionally added salt to your wounds. You are obviously not just talking a talk, but walking the walk.

You have my deep respect and admiration for demonstrating what lengths love will go to. Eph. 5:10 simply says, find out what pleases the Lord. And that is obviously how you are trying to live--by doing whatever is right.

Echoing all, my prayers go with you in your choices.

bebu

18

I lost the battle

by Yerusalyim in

jw
friends

my step son, sean, is moving back to pacific, mo.

he's moving in with his jw brother (big mistake as they don't really get along).

i guess the pressure from daddy saying if he converted he'd disown sean was more than he could bear.

bebu

((((Yeru))))

Sorry to hear about the difficulties with your wife. I am going to say something different from the other posts, I hope it is not going to be taken wrong. I certainly don't know all your circumstances, but if you have decided to 'serve God as you know him', maybe some of what I write will resonate in you.

1. Before you make big moves to cut her off, please look for some counseling. The issues that you are dealing with have all been dealt with before, and if you find a counselor who is able to show you both how to negotiate thru the muck that you feel stuck in, you may be surprised to find that you can. Find a local friend whose marriage was helped by a counselor and get a referral. A counselor is someone who can sit and help you figure out why things are going the way they are, and give you encouragement. On a discussion board, we really are limited at certain times.

2. It sounds like your wife is very depressed, and sending big signals about it. (But again, a counselor can help discern if this is really the case.) You are her husband, and you shouldn't be holding back your physical affection toward her. Trust me--she needs to feel security from you, and if you only love her conditionally, you are only feeding that depression.

3. I also used to think that if God wanted us to be happy, then logically I should do whatever I thought would make me happy. The results were always much worse than I'd anticipated. Also, nowhere can you find this advice in the Bible. The question you are really dealing with is "Am I going to do something I know is wrong? Is evicting my wife wrong? Is withholding sex wrong?" Be careful about creating lame excuses, if that is the only way you can wrangle out a way to say that it is ok. Sometimes doing the right thing is the hardest thing to do...

4. Please remember that we are all naturally self-centered, and to Love is not a self-centered action, but means committing to another's interest above your own. This is why God's love is divine; and in marriage, this is what you have vowed to do--put her needs above your own. The 'love' you'll hear about on TV and radio is just a passing whim for satisfying one's self. It will always you leave you empty, and looking for someone else to fill your void... and you will have an endless cycle of using people, not loving people. Think about this.

Anyway, please don't give up yet. Commit to doing whatever is right (pretend you had to defend it before God), and you'll find happiness is granted as the bonus. My prayers are with you to this end!

Keep lookin' up!

bebu

8

You Won't Find A Spiritual Paradise Here

by minimus in

jw
friends

i remember so many witnesses looking at a congregation with the view of finding their spiritual paradise.

they figured that if it wasn't in this congregation, it had to be in the next one.

funny thing is, those people never found it!

bebu

(Laughing at proplog2)

20

More "classes" than you can point a stick at !

by refiners fire in

3:29; (64) israel of god, gal.

2:5; (69) holy nation, 1 pet.

11:3; (76) two olive trees, rev.

bebu

I'm learning new stuff all the time here.

So... these are all classes of the annointed? What about the 'mote in the eye' class? And the last, Jehovah's Witnesses, are the only ones who are not going to inherit heaven? How did they ever yank out this one group from the others and decide that the verse in Isaiah would name the group that inherits only the earth?

SHEEEEEEEEEESH.

13

Do you ever wonder:

by StinkyPantz in

jw
friends

what's wrong with me?

i have noticed that lately, i have become a real bitch (no need for anyone to agree .

there are certain things/people that really bug me and instead of just ignoring them like a civil person, i speak my mind (which causes a fight .

bebu

Stinky,

Maybe you're not perfect yet (like me ), but I think you actually restrain yourself pretty darn well. I appreciate posters who can debate issues without turning things into personal attacks, and I think this is what you always try to do. Thanks for being honest about your feelings.

bebu

34

Do you ever just get frustrated?

by Aztec in

jw
friends

not necessarily with anything in particular, but, with the world in general?

watching the news is disturbing, there just seems to be so little compassion or empathy.

most of us are so spoiled and we don't even realize it!

bebu

I've noticed that a lot of what can influence my attitude is the list of news headlines. Sometimes, the worst things grab and hold the headlines, and anything encouraging is absent. So I begin to assume that ALL the news is bad.

Like was mentioned above, it makes a big difference to see that goodness is still here:

Folks in the WTC helped each other out, some at the expense of their lives;

The Muslim lawyer who worked to help free Jessica Lynch;

People who rescue strangers from harm;

A neighbor who mowed my JW friend's huge lawn (since her husband abandoned her and took the mower); this takes 3 hours;

It's the gracious acts of people that bring a great goodness into the world that ascends the goodness of nature, I think.

But even the flowers in spring, the frost in winter, and all those sorts of things seem to me tos how that nature is such a beautiful and great foundation. Reflecting on this also helps me overcome, with sunsets and tides, the feeling of frustration.

Searching for goodness is kind of like playing, "Where's Waldo?" You have to look for it (even when it's hard, it's there).

bebu

34

newbie

by Freedomrules in

jw
friends

i'm just trying to figure this site out.

i'm inactive jw for 8 years.

my whole family is jw.

bebu

Welcome, Newbies!!

I'm glad you decided to come in from out of the quiet and into the warmth. This forum serves such a wonderful purpose for everyone. There is room for you here, and we all look forward to your posts.

bebu

17

Dr. Phil -- an idea for his show -- need your help!

by cruzanheart in

jw
friends

yesterday i sent dr. phil an e-mail (which i'm sure he will review personally.

well, here's my suggestion: how about as many of you as feel comfortable e-mail dr. phil too and suggest that as a topic.

that might get his attention and we might get a little more attention directed to the danger of associating with jehovah's witnesses.

bebu

Just finished sending my request. I hope Dr. Phil will be able to take an angle that reveals the incredible emotional damage the WT inflicts without compromising too much on account of legal issues (whatever they might be). I really hope there will be exposure on daytime TV!

I think shunned father would do well to also pursue this.

CRUZAN! A GREAT IDEA!!