Posts by Redneckgurl

37

Good excuses for missing meetings and going out in service.

by frankiespeakin in

.

i know a lot of lurkers are probably looking for good excuses and would like a list they could refur to..

Redneckgurl

LOL, this one is hilarious! We used to talk about those who missed because of

"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"

"Allergies to the new carpet, mold, etc."

"migraines"

"just had a baby and doc said to stay in house for 6wks."

My mom and I used to talk about how they were just excuses...........wow! we were right! (my mom is still a JW, struggling of course, but won't admit it)

At the end of my life as a JW, my kids got sick, a LOT, my son's asthma would act up, my daughter has an emotional problem that I would use as an excuse, even though everyone said they would help me with her. Here's something I did to "ease" my conscience at that time though (and this is terrible, I know)
We had a phone system for those who couldn't make it. You would call in, and they would call you back and hook you up, live with the telephone. It worked best with a speakerphone of course, so you could lay in bed and not have to hold the phone to your ear.(yeah, ok) Well, I would turn the volume down, watch my favorite tv show or surf the internet, but it still showed that I was "on" and me and my kids would still be counted as attending the meeting. This helped the numbers stay up of course. The more phoning in the better, and if you had 3 way calling, you were great cause you could even hook up more people they didn't have enough lines for!

Redneckgurl----Krissy

22

Exodus 23:14-17 You CAN celebrate Thanksgiving. !!

by hubert in

it's right here, in the nwt bible.... .

exodus 23:14...."three times in the year, you are to celebrate a festival to me".. exodus 23:16...."also, the festival of harvest of the first ripe fruits of your labors, of what you sow in the field.

and the festival of ingathering at the outgoing of the year", when you gather in your labors from the field".. so, on the third thursday of november, we celebrate the "feast of the ingathering" by dedicating this day to giving thanks to god for the food and all the blessings we have enjoyed throughout the year.. it's right there in their bible, so why won't they celebrate it?

Redneckgurl

Well, I recall that the reasoning for us not being able to celebrate Thanksgiving is because it was considered a "nationalistic" holiday. In other words, it was being loyal to the US by celebrating it. Being thankful for Columbus discovering the Americas and making friends with the Indians, and now we have this great country to live in. (but it isn't any more special than anywhere else in the world so why be thankful for it?) I just took that explaination and never went farther with it. ............until now............

I know now that there is much more to it. I am going to make a "Thanksgiving Tree" for my kids this year. Next week, starting on Monday, I will have them write down something that they are thankful for on a piece of craft foam cut into a leaf, and hang it on the little tree, then on Thursday, Thanksgiving day, we will go over all these things and talk about them.

Unfortunately, we have NO family to celebrate this holiday with, just my husband and the kids, (3 of them) so I am thinking about doing something different this year. When I was a kid, we had family over, and would devour all the food on the table, it brings me very warm thoughts, but last year, when I made our Thanksgiving Turkey and all the yummy stuff to go with it, it was hardly touched. I am thinking about spending the day in the City here, in Houston, going to the Parade downtown and then to a Lighting Festival later in the afternoon instead of staying home and cooking a ton of food that won't be eaten, with bored kids who don't want to just sit at home and watch movies. We will go see the Polar Express on that day, too. Maybe we will start out own Thanksgiving day traditions.

49

How to Deal with Shunners Part I. It Is They Who are Afraid

by jst2laws in

shunners, they are afraid.

how to deal with them.

having been df'd about a year ago for apostasy (the sin of thinking for yourself without disengaging your mouth) i have taken advantage of several opportunities to speak to local jw's.

Redneckgurl

I know, it's been so long........but here I am!

My mother still talks to me, not as much as before, but if there is something she is excited about or whatever, she will call me. She even comes over sometimes. Funny thing though, when I saw her out in public, and she was with some fellow JW's, she practically ignored me, said hi to me after 10 minutes and then it was very quiet like she was going to catch something from me if she got too close. I know why she did it, I am not mad at her, I just wish she could see the rediculousness of it all.

I saw an "old friend" at a carnival that I was at with my kids a couple weeks ago, and this was her reaction to seeing me. She looked at me, her eyes got big and she made a sad face. Then she came up closer to me, turned her back and looked up at the sky and said "I know I am not supposed to talk to you, but I love you and miss you" then she walked away with a smile on her face and some look of satisfaction. I thought, how wierd is that? Why didn't she just look at me and say it? It was as if she was afraid of being seen saying anything to me.

-Krissy

28

Christian Freedom - Ray Franz

by Noumenon in

jw
friends

in the foreword of ray franz's book 'in search of christian freedom', he says: .

"there is yet another, very significant, side to the matter.

many persons seek only a negative freedom.

Redneckgurl

As far as this site goes, I find that all kinds of needed support can be found here. No one post can fit everyone, nor can everyone relate to all posts. Some of the posts are very negative, I agree, and some are not. Everyone is in a different place, spiritually, emotionally, and just in life.......period.

I know there are times I laugh my ass off reading some of the posts on here, they are very entertaining! And some I just sort of flip through, because I don't agree, or don't really care. That is up to everyone, what they want to read. I came here for some understanding and some support, others came here to vent. Whatever, it meets different needs, and I think that's pretty cool.

Ray Franz is a very brave man to speak of the things he has, about what he has seen and heard, but also, just because he has written something, does not mean that everyone here agrees totally with that either. We all make our own choices, we all agree that we have free will to do what we want, and will "reap what we sow".......cause and effect, that's life. I have not read this book yet, only the first one, that was enough for me. Perhaps I will read this one someday, but I am not in any hurry. Sounds like there might be some who read this and become like his followers? I don' think that is what he had in mind at all.

Just my .02 cents!

Krissy

10

DA'd on Christmas, and my mother calling me

by Redneckgurl in

jw
friends

i knew this wouldn't be easy.

first of all, our announcement was read in 2 congregations, since we had just switched about 2 years ago.

the one my parents and longtime friends are in heard it on thursday, how ironic?

Redneckgurl

I knew this wouldn't be easy. First of all, our announcement was read in 2 congregations, since we had just switched about 2 years ago. The one my parents and longtime friends are in heard it on Thursday, how ironic? My mother called me on Friday, and she was crying from the start. "how could you? how could you do this to us? you are so wrong, you are listening to Satan, listening to lies, how could you do this to your family?"

I told her I was not doing this to my family, that I would not discuss this with her in such an emotional way because this was not an emotional decision that I made. Then my phone cut off because I was in a bad area with hills, so she probably thinks I hung up on her! People are irrational when they are emotional, and she is and always has been an emotional basket case. So, I am sure she is going to be in tears most of the time now, looking like she is ill and in mourning for months, and will have even more people feeling sorry for her pathetic life. My husbands parents just said we put them in a position that they don't want to be in, and his sister said not to be surprised when we are not invited to her wedding. So loving, right?

Glad I have my husband and friends to support me in this. And you all!

Krissy

17

California Earthquake usher's in Armageddon!!!

by FreeWilly in

jw
friends

wow that was a strong quake - it shook my a$$ right outa bed!

i frantically stumbled to the bookcase and grasped for one of the watchtowers my mom sent me in the mail.

it got really intense then, and when i looked down my hands were on c of c!

Redneckgurl

That was AWESOME, you are very talented! Besides capturing what I think a lot of JW's were actually feeling, and feel everytime some calamity strikes, you made it entertaining as well! Please write more!

I had the same feeling while lying in my bed about 13 years ago, there was an underground explosion about 100 miles away that shook the mobile home I was living in with my ex-husband and my baby. The first thing I though was "this is it" and it scared the pants off of me! Well, that was 13 years ago, I am still here and happier than ever!

Krissy

24

We gave them our letters of DA

by Redneckgurl in

jw
friends

well, i guess it will be official very soon, the announcement will be read and we will be "lost" into satan's world... my husband gave our letters to the elder who came to visit us with his wife the other day.

this is the 3rd time they came by in the last month, even after he told them he would call them if we wanted to "talk".

they saw the christmas tree shining through the door, brightly lit, so there could be no question that we had already taken some steps away.......but he still stayed for an hour trying to convince my husband that it was the "truth".. later that day my parents came over (i wasn't here) and he said my mom just looked at our christmas decorations with jealousy in her eyes.

Redneckgurl

To Everyone:

THANK YOU! I can tell some of you can really understand my pain for my son, and you all understand the freedom and joy that I am feeling, the burdens of guilt being lifted, finally, off of me. That isn't to say I don't think we should feel any guilt, after all, that is what we have a conscience for!

My kids are 7,8, and 12, the oldest being super smart and way beyond his years. I read to him something I found the other day about Libra's, that is what he and I both are (if you believe in that stuff) It talked about Libras being very intuitive, that we can tell truth from lies and go with our intuition about things and are usually right. I told him that was us, and I feel in my heart that something isn't right about JW's and he should listen to his heart, too. He is a lot like me, trying to "straddle both sides of the fence" as they put it, having friends in the world, getting involved in sports, activities at school, etc., and I know he would never want to give all that up for a miserable life.

My mom came over today, just to say HI, and I could see her looking around at my Xmas stuff, I know it was hard for her, but she didn't say anything about it. My daughter showed her a Bday present she got the other day, and my mom didn't say anything about that either. Who knows, maybe she is thinking. My dad is an elder, though, and really they don't have any life out of the JW world, so for her, it would be much harder to leave. I will just keep hoping there is doubt in her heart, she is the one who put so much of it in mine anyway. She has never been happy with things.

Well, thanks again, and Happy Holidays to everyone, enjoy all the fun stuff right now!

Krissy

24

We gave them our letters of DA

by Redneckgurl in

jw
friends

well, i guess it will be official very soon, the announcement will be read and we will be "lost" into satan's world... my husband gave our letters to the elder who came to visit us with his wife the other day.

this is the 3rd time they came by in the last month, even after he told them he would call them if we wanted to "talk".

they saw the christmas tree shining through the door, brightly lit, so there could be no question that we had already taken some steps away.......but he still stayed for an hour trying to convince my husband that it was the "truth".. later that day my parents came over (i wasn't here) and he said my mom just looked at our christmas decorations with jealousy in her eyes.

Redneckgurl

Well, I guess it will be official very soon, the announcement will be read and we will be "lost" into Satan's world.. My family will be crying together along with the congregation of people I have known for the last 20 years. Geez, to think I might really be thought of for a minute or two! LOL

My husband gave our letters to the elder who came to visit us with his wife the other day. This is the 3rd time they came by in the last month, even after he told them he would call them if we wanted to "talk". They saw the Christmas tree shining through the door, brightly lit, so there could be no question that we had already taken some steps away.......but he still stayed for an hour trying to convince my husband that it was the "truth".

Later that day my parents came over (I wasn't here) and he said my mom just looked at our Christmas decorations with jealousy in her eyes. I figured she was wondering why we had a fake tree, and not a real one, something she made an issue of when I was a kid. They still don't know about our letters, they were being to argumentative while here to tell them.

Basically, anyone I have given my reasons for leaving to, have all come back with the same things "it's a bunch of lies by apostates" and "you need to wait on Jehovah to see if there are going to be changes" and "the light keeps getting brighter, that's why there are changes in the WT" and "this world is spinning out of control and crashing upon itself, you have been caught up in it"..... that was the most hilarious one so far! I am really not moving that fast that I can feel anyway.........

My kids are loving Christmas, and just being like the other kids, happy and celebrating life. Enjoying it!

My oldest is a basket case, breaking into tears, not knowing if he will go to heaven or not, and thinking that if we just did all the good JW things, he knows then that he wouldn't die because they make sure to not do anything bad......I had to start showing him how they really don't focus enough on Jesus like some other religions do, and that could be very serious. Poor kid, I think he needs some counseling, my parents have him feeling so guilty.. I hate that! I feel like I can't even let him go to their house anymore to see them because he will be torn apart again.

Thanks for being here to listen to me.

Redneckgurl,,,,,,,,,Krissy

9

My family has never been happier!

by Redneckgurl in

jw
friends

i know it's been a while again since i posted, just a lot going on.

i guess i missed the get-together in dallas, hopefully i will get to the next one!.

anyway, we are celebrating christmas this year.

Redneckgurl

Hi everyone! I know it's been a while again since I posted, just a lot going on. I guess I missed the get-together in Dallas, hopefully I will get to the next one!

Anyway, we are celebrating Christmas this year. My mother looked in the window and saw the tree last week, has not talked to me since. She has even been short tempered with our co-workers. Good going Mom!

My kids are sooooooooooo happy! They are sooooooooo excited and I will tell you that everyone we know is just as excited for us! My daughter's teachers threw her a first Birthday party last week at school. (how many kids get gifts from the teachers at school for their birthday? or a party?) This was a big deal to them. Also, one of her teachers brought us a tree last week, with ornaments and lights. I really felt like that was a blessing, don't know why, but I did. (but I would have thought that Satan was knocking on my door with these wonderful things, had I not changed my beliefs, how sad)

Guess what I bought? A STAR.......for the tree! I remember when I was a kid and my parents were "out" for a while, my mother would only put a bow on the top of the tree, like that didn't make it so bad or something. Whatever......

Yes, I still have issues, I am sure.......can't really figure out now why my mother doesn't see the hypocrisy, or maybe she does but doesn't want to admit it.

Kids are thrilled, even with losing their closest grandparents, they don't seem to be too phased by it, and you know what? Niether am I, because I guess for the first time in my life I feel free, like I am not being watched and scrutinized for everying, nor do I feel terrible about my evil self..........what a great feeling!

so, that was just a quick update, we have been really rejoicing over being happy, even attended a Christmas Pageant at the local Baptist Church ,and guess what else???? There were a lot of people who came up to us to say hi, just like at the Kingdom Hall! Imagine that! there were nice people there!

Hope some of you can relate.....we did write our letters to DA ourselves, (my husband and I), for the benefit of those we still do care about in the organization. Just feel like they should know, so they don't get too shocked.

Redneckgurl (probably will sign my name soon!)

42

Were You Afraid of The DEMONS???

by minimus in

jw
friends

most witnesses believe satan and his demons are looking at them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

were you one of those?

how did you handle stories of demons, witchcraft, etc.??

Redneckgurl

I was afraid of Demons after watching scary movies, so I would put the videotape outside and lock the doors. Just felt better sleeping that way.

Hubby was sometimes afraid to buy stuff at garage sales. He was tought that the people who lived there could have been into demons and they would come with the items we bought. (whatever)

I was afraid to walk into a religious building for fear I would be bombarded by them somehow.

Used to feel like during Christmas at the mall, that warm fuzzy feeling I had inside from the music and lights was really demonic, the demons were just floating around that mall!

oh brother, what a waste of thoughts!

Redneckgurl