Posts by Mystery

51

Professional Wedding photos are in!!!!!!

by Es in

jw
friends

hello all just got our pro wedding pics thought i would share a few...it was really hard to pick the best ones.

enjoy .

luv es .

First Christmas and now a Birthday Party

by Honesty in

jw
friends

yesterday i celebrated christmas all day long with friends from church after worship.

then today i celebrated with friends at a birthday party for one of their girls.

there was plenty of good food, fun and even some spiritual discussions about the shepherds and the angels when jesus was born.

Mystery

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (women) to do nothing.

Sounds to me like you did alot!!! So i guess your not evil.

I am really too far gone to return to the Watchtower after this weekend

to being to far gone to return.

11

My Sons Christmas Present

by Mystery in

jw
friends

my 16 year old son received a book from his grandfather "messy spirituality".

the back cover says "i guess i'm not a very good christian" i don't pray enough.

i don't read my bible enough.

After looking over the reviews, it doesn't sound as condemning as the cover makes it sound. My son is 16 and even though none of his friends or brother goes to church he still goes. I guess I had a flashback of "never being good enough to serve Jehovah". I don't want that to happen to my son and his God. I have told him he does not have to be perfect and that we all fall at times, but for him to keep doing what is in his heart.

He has been given the "Christian" books that condemn you to hell if you don't "tell everyone that they have to be saved or they are going to burn in hell". At first glance this is what I thought of when seeing it.

I know Colin thought the same thing when he saw it; his eyes actually teared up as he laid it on the table. I really care about his grandfather; I have been surprised the past 10 years that he has not called them. I guess he is still upset with me leaving his son.

Thank you for sending me the reviews; now after I have calmed down a bit I will look through it and talk with Colin about it. I wish his grandfather would have sent a note with it.

I was upset yesterday and still upset his morning. I knew I was in no shape to write him a letter this morning. So I came here.

Thank you again for your concern. I haven't had "flashbacks" in quite a while and I never want my son to have feelings that he is not good enough for God. He has chosen to believe in God; no man is going to tell him he isn't good enough.

If he choices to read the book, i will read it with him and we can discuss it. We have with several other books that he has either bought or been given.

85

Another great loss in my life..I hesitate to post this ,,

by LyinEyes in

jw
friends

[edited: links have been removed from this post.].

i hestitated to write this on xmas day and i hate to get anyone down, but i hope you understand and maybe send prayers my way.. .

dear friends i don't know how to even put my pain in words, or my great loss.

Mystery

(((((Dede)))))

11

My Sons Christmas Present

by Mystery in

jw
friends

my 16 year old son received a book from his grandfather "messy spirituality".

the back cover says "i guess i'm not a very good christian" i don't pray enough.

i don't read my bible enough.

Mystery

My 16 year old son received a book from his grandfather "Messy Spirituality". The back cover says "I guess I'm not a very good Christian" I don't pray enough. I don't read my Bible enough. I don't share my faith enough. I don't love God enough. I am not committed enough. I am not spiritual enough.

I was so upset I almost threw it in the fireplace!

I left Colin's father when he was 3 yrs. old. I have spoke to his grandfather two time in 10 years. His grandfather used to be a Baptist preacher. Colin has had to learn about God on his own. I would not take the boys to church. I would read Bible stories to them when they were young so that they would know who God is and about the Bible. I have taught them right and wrong. I have taught them the principals and gave them the choice as to believe or not believe in a greater being.

Colin has gone to church on and off since he was around 9 yrs old. In the past year he has really become involved in a Baptist church that he likes. It is HIS choice to go to church. HIS chose how he will worship. He is doing this himself without pressure or pushing from any adult or me. He is a very fine young man and has a great belief in God. He has a big heart. He tries to explain to me how God feels to him. He knows he messes up sometimes; but he knows Gods forgiveness.

Colin's face literally drained of color & his eyes teared up when he read the cover of the book. It broke my heart. I am so upset about this book that I know I will be writing a letter to his grandfather and telling him that he is not to question my sons spirituality. That he does not even call and talk to him. That he has sent him 3 Christmas presents in 10 years and he dares to question my sons spirituality. He doesn't even know him!

I have started a letter to him, but everytime I try to keep typing I can't see the screen from the tears or the flames from being so pi**ed! He knows nothing about my family, only about what my ex tells him! I have to put up with the religious BS from my family and now from my ex's family as well?

How do I write a letter full of love instead of telling him what a sorry a$$ Ba$tard I think he is.

35

How did you overcome the allure of Paradise? Or have you?

by M.J. in

jw
friends

i think the biggest reason someone maintains their faith in the wts is because the wts is the "ticket" to paradise earth.. how did you deal with the prospect that the "ticket" salesmen weren't totally reliable?.

did it cause you to let go of your hope in paradise earth?

did it redirect it to another hope?.

Mystery

Giving up Paradise was the hardest part of all for me. Animals getting along together. Beautiful creeks, waterfalls etc.......... All the beautiful things on this earth - but that was the mindset of a teenager. A teen that believed with all her heart.

Now - I go out and see all the beauty that i can, hopefully one day i will own my own little piece of paradise. (Anyone have a few acres of paradise in southern TN? Must have a creek! )

4

One Day Assembly - Special Talk

by Mystery in

if it has already been discussed please refer me to the link; i looked but did not see one.. my mom & sister came down to see me and my family for thanksgiving a few days to have turkey and dressing.

they haven't been down in 3 - 4 years; but due to the new addition to my immediate family - my first grandbaby - they had an excuse to come.

i called them before they began their trip and mom was tired because they had just returned from a one day assembly in houston and now she had to pack to get ready to leave again and drive the 12 hours to my house.

Mystery

If it has already been discussed please refer me to the link; i looked but did not see one.

My mom & sister came down to see me and my family for ~~Thanksgiving~~ a few days to have turkey and dressing. They haven't been down in 3 - 4 years; but due to the new addition to my immediate family - my first grandbaby - they had an excuse to come.

I called them before they began their trip and mom was tired because they had just returned from a one day assembly in Houston and now she had to pack to get ready to leave again and drive the 12 hours to my house. I ask her how the assembly was, she said "Oh it was really really good" and changed the subject.

They stayed 5 days. We basically have a "don't ask, don't tell" relationship. They don't ask about my life and i don't tell about the holidays, birthday parties, my volunteer work etc... Pretty much we watch TV, play cards and shop.

Mom mentioned a book that was on my entertainment center, about how pretty it was. I ask which one and she said "The black one with the gold writing, i can't see the title." It was the NRSV Holy Bible, if she had continued looking she would have also noticed the King James version, The Open Bible, the JW Bible, several concordance of the books, Crisis of the Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom. I saw my sister give her 'the look' so mom didn't say anything else. I mentioned the assembly again, my sister said 'oh yea, we saw so&so and so&so, they said to tell you hi." Again no mention of the subject of the special talk.

I was wondering what wonderful information was shared with the loyal that apparently was not for me, the unfaithful, to know about.

---finally relaxing, drinking my coffee and reading with all my apostate friends

13

JW - Teen Suicide

by Mystery in

jw
friends

http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=201011

y-c hit with second suicide.

published: november 19, 2005. by paul daquilante.

Mystery

http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=201011

Y-C hit with second suicide

Published: November 19, 2005

By PAUL DAQUILANTE
Of the News-Register

YAMHILL - A 17-year-old Yamhill-Carlton High School senior was found dead of hanging Thursday morning by his mother, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office.

Lt. Ken Summers said Cody Earl Monks-Damm hung himself in a barn at the rural family home, northwest of Yamhill at 23880 Mount Richmond Road. He said Cindy Damm discovered the body and called 911 about 11:15, triggering a response from deputies and medical personnel.

Monks-Damm, who had been sent home from school the previous day for disciplinary reasons, is the second Y-C student to commit suicide this school year.

Junior Anndi Huff, 16, was found dead Sept. 12 in her pickup, parked in the school's north parking lot. She had shot herself in the head with a .22-caliber pistol.

Superintendent Steve Chiovaro said Monks-Damm did not have a history of discipline problems. He said the boy had been expected back at school Thursday.

However, like Huff, he had been suffering from bouts of depression. And like Huff, that had raised family concerns, triggering treatment.

"He has been treated for depression issues," Summers said. "His family had been concerned for some time over the struggles he was having. He had undergone treatment."

Chiovaro said he was out of town when he received a call about 1:30 p.m. informing him of the incident. Other school officials, including Principal Jim Orth, had been notified, he said.

The county's crisis control team, consisting of counselors and clergymen, immediately responded to the school and set up a safe room where students come to grieve and talk.

Orth went from room to room, taking each teacher aside to explain what had happened and offer direction on how to break it to students.

Students who wanted to talk to a member of the team were escorted to the library. The team returned to school Friday to continue its work.

"Some people are a little numb, and they're wearing their emotions on their sleeves," Chiovaro said. "It's just a very, very tragic situation.

"The staff, they're good teachers. They care very much about their kids. They take these things very personally."

Orth said Monks-Damm, who had attended Yamhill Elementary School previously, "had his group of friends." But he said the youth was not as involved in extracurricular activities as most students.

"As I walk down the halls, I see kids who are so resilient," Orth said. "They have been so supportive of each other. I don't want to get used to this type of thing, but we know how to support each other.

"It just says so much for our students and the staff. This is why I believe so strongly in the small-school environment. This is why I work in a school this size."

Orth said, "The staff knows the students. They know each other and pull together."

A Memorial Service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Forest Grove Senior Center, 2037 Douglas St. in Forest Grove. Ed Willer, elder of the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in Forest Grove, will officiate.

Arrangements are under the direction of Tualatin Valley Funeral Alternatives, based in Hillsboro.

At least it "says" parents tried to find help for him; although they were the cause of the depression.

8

Possible Bumperstickers

by Mystery in

finally-free wrote this comment on the "united in worship topic..." i thought it would make a great bumper sticker.

the watchtower is a bit like microsoft in this respect.

you're always having to upgrade, but very little new useful functionality is included in upgrades.

Mystery

Finally-Free wrote this comment on the "United In Worship Topic..." I thought it would make a great bumper sticker.

The Watchtower is a bit like Microsoft in this respect. You're always having to upgrade, but very little new useful functionality is included in upgrades. It's mostly patches to cover up vunerabilities.

37

We've lost an ex-JW from Missouri in Iraq

by keeshah in

he was from my congregation in missouri.

i remember him well.

he was 6 yrs younger than me.