I just received Steve Hassan's book today. Freedom of Mind.
Faithful Witness
JoinedPosts by Faithful Witness
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43
Need advice: Witnessing to a JW at my door
by Faithful Witness ini have been waiting for this moment, and it has finally come!
i was actually in the middle of typing in the other thread, about householders who caused you doubts, when a jw rang my doorbell.
my barking german shepherd didnt scare him away, but did knock all his books out of his hand and onto a wet porch, which i really felt bad about.
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43
Need advice: Witnessing to a JW at my door
by Faithful Witness ini have been waiting for this moment, and it has finally come!
i was actually in the middle of typing in the other thread, about householders who caused you doubts, when a jw rang my doorbell.
my barking german shepherd didnt scare him away, but did knock all his books out of his hand and onto a wet porch, which i really felt bad about.
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Faithful Witness
Thank you for your kindness and patience. If I could, I would reach for my JW niece and nephew. My sister is protecting them from me and my kids. She says she has a hard time "explaining" to them. I guess it's hard to explain why Jehovah is going to kill us, because we sing songs about Jesus that aren't in the blessed song book. I'm speculating, of course...
My niece just turned 12, and I think there is a light going off in her mind. They love 75 minutes away, so it's hard to get access to her.
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JW's supposedly at Mall shooting
by zound inthe following is from annointedjw - a website i dislike the more i read from them.
this reeks of total bs to me, but interested if anyone else has heard about this.. the part that gets me, is how the hell they could know what these jw's did or said if they were killed - who witnessed this?
and the other thing that makes me rage is that these guys are martyring these jw's to further their own 'ministry' - very watchtower-like.. opinions?.
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Faithful Witness
This reads like dangerous propaganda to me.
That website is bizarre, but it serves a valuable purpose. It is getting JW's to read things online, beyond the blessed website.
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EVIL SLAVE IS HYPOTHETICAL
by The Searcher inthe quotation used in today's wt study about the evil slave "being for all practical purposes, hypothetical", is taken from the net bible and was written by a bible 'scholar' from christendom!.
three points:.
1. jesus always spoke by means of illustrations & parables.. 2. matthew 24:45-47 is a parable!.
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Faithful Witness
I love this forum! You people are wonderful And refreshing.
I can't figure out how to quote from someone else's post, but...
Daniel1555 said: "My exam is the best." That sums it up perfectly. Awesome.
The sheer lack of actual reasoning they make is so alarming, I really some people wake up and start heading for the doors. Wow.
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Terminology changes in the new Bible
by Bonnie_Clyde inthis (overlapping) generation will by no means pass away.
" - matthew 24:34. and (new) scrolls were opened.
" - rev.
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Faithful Witness
@ Bonnie: is this a joke?
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Do you have any "one-liners" for drive-by witnessing?
by Faithful Witness ini am looking for things i can say in passing, when i meet some of my jw friends.
we used to attend meetings, but have not been officially recognized yet, as apostates.
we were good and curious students, but fell away and were choked out by weeds.. since i will be renewing my bible student status soon, i am hoping this will open more windows into the organization.
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Faithful Witness
That is an interesting approach. I'm afraid my sarcasm would come through... I wish I could pull that off. Haha.
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43
Need advice: Witnessing to a JW at my door
by Faithful Witness ini have been waiting for this moment, and it has finally come!
i was actually in the middle of typing in the other thread, about householders who caused you doubts, when a jw rang my doorbell.
my barking german shepherd didnt scare him away, but did knock all his books out of his hand and onto a wet porch, which i really felt bad about.
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Faithful Witness
Thanks, jgnat. I truly appreciate the sentiments. I agree. Going into a Bible verse battle with a JW, is like throwing ping pong balls at a brick wall. I've been academically preparing myself for months. Only now, am I finally submitting to God to help me do things according to his plan, instead of mine.
I have been praying this week for this man and his family, that God would guide me if I am meant to reach out to him. My prayer is for me to submit to the will of God, because I tend to get all full of confidence and think I have the right answers for someone else.
I have been in preparation for this work for a long time. Since turning our backs on the watchtower, i have kept looking over my shoulder, watching my parents and sister go deeper and deeper, until they've been swallowed by the Borg. Not wanting to be the one to "stumble" them, I let them make their own decisions. All the while, the holy spirit has been working on me, drawing me closer to Christ. My path has had a few curves, but it has led me to this spot.
I've just recently been alerted, that it might be time to reach out to my family. After an episode last fall that effectively divided our entire family into two camps (JW and not), my goal has been to try to narrow this enormous rift. Maybe someday, they will open their eyes and see the bridge that can carry them back across to us. Right now, they are lost in cult think. They are happy to be controlled and have chosen a new family. No grandparents for my kids, since we decided not to become JW's!
Anyway... I guess what I'm trying to say, is the pain that I've gone through is nothing, compared to what my niece and nephew have and will suffer inside the tower. Until about 4 months ago, I felt it was just hopeless. I was "outgunned," since the JW's have so much well-worded literature that provides "evidence" for their beliefs. I had been on my own path to the truth. Suddenly, I realized that I was so busy reaching UP, that I forgot to reach OUT.
I resisted reading anything from apostates for about 3 years, after changing my mind about becoming a JW. They trained me well. When I went to www.jw.org and saw the July 15 magazine, changing their prophecies again, I saw the window had opened. I researched and read, finding some great information and ideas for words to say, along with facts and scriptures to back it up. I've got enough evidence against them now... my heart has been prepared and my mind is finally ready for a conversation with a JW.
In hindsight, I think I might have done TOO well when talking to the JW on my porch. I scared him away. Either i caused a doubt or made him realize he would not have answers to my questions. I showed my hand. I was too eager, and chomping at the bit. I tried so hard to be gentle, and I complimented him on his gentleness, and tried to show him I was concerned for him and my JW family. I went too far. I was too prepared, and didn't want to waste all that preparation for nothing... Hahaha... So he got about 8 of my most pressing questions. Oops. Too many!
I do hope he comes back, and if he did talk to Eric... Maybe Eric will come. Hahahaha yeah I don't think so. Although Eric is more like King Kong, while this other guy was a Care Bear.
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Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-22-2013 WT Study (FEW FEED MANY)
by blondie inwt publications http://www.a2z.org/wtarchive/archive.htm (old).
feeding many.
was the channel that christ used for spiritual.
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Faithful Witness
Wow, very thorough. Thanks.
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43
Need advice: Witnessing to a JW at my door
by Faithful Witness ini have been waiting for this moment, and it has finally come!
i was actually in the middle of typing in the other thread, about householders who caused you doubts, when a jw rang my doorbell.
my barking german shepherd didnt scare him away, but did knock all his books out of his hand and onto a wet porch, which i really felt bad about.
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Faithful Witness
He didn't show up today. Either I scared him away, or he had something else come up.
This is a disappointment and a relief at the same time. Now I am left wondering if he will come back.
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43
Need advice: Witnessing to a JW at my door
by Faithful Witness ini have been waiting for this moment, and it has finally come!
i was actually in the middle of typing in the other thread, about householders who caused you doubts, when a jw rang my doorbell.
my barking german shepherd didnt scare him away, but did knock all his books out of his hand and onto a wet porch, which i really felt bad about.
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Faithful Witness
OTWO: thank you. I will do that... "Enjoy your life and put this behind you." But before that...
Adam: I know that i do not have the power to save anyone. I am too small to take on the org that controls an honest hearted JW. I can't convert anyone, but am hoping that something might plant a seed in his mind, and he might later realize that he might want to question the reign of the GB over his life. He has at least one daughter.
In dealings with this man, and every other JW I meet, my intent is always compassion and love For that person. God has been changing my heart, to do this work. I am not going to put up any big tent and start yelling on a bullhorn or anything (even though I believe that is what needs to be done). My mission is small, and is leading toward my ultimate purpose. I'm on a path, just like everyone else here.
Everything JW's, from any level, current, new, born-ins, fading, disfellowshipped, elders, GB members... Everything they say has value. They are all clues. Windows into the mind of the borg itself. The organization in itself, has become a living, breathing animal that needs to be fed. Is it a sheep? Maybe... But it does not act like one. The Borg has swallowed a part of my family. I have walked away and left it behind... but something is calling me back. I think it might be the voice of my 12-year old niece. It is going to be extremely difficult, I know... But my ultimate mission is to get the message to her. There is life outside the Watchtower. Please God, tell me she is not baptized! (i don't dare to ask, and would prefer no guessing or speculating).
So yes, in a way, I am USING this poor JW man, to get inside info. I am also keeping him off the street, so he can't go deceiving any of my neighbors. While doing that, I can still care about him. He comes from a foreign country, and has been JW for 32 years. He has no idea there is a chance for a life out here. Maybe something I say will make him do some thinking of his own, someday. I'd rather be remembered for trying, than as someone who slammed a door in someone's face, for doing what they think is a good deed. His intentions are good, and mine should also be.
I admit, I was confused about the purpose and intentions of this message forum. I am really appreciative of each one who is wiling to share their story and opinion Here, regardless of your beliefs or practices. Especially the ones that do not agree with me. I am here to learn and move on. Thanks to everyone for your honesty.
Edit: I am reaching my posting limit. Everything i hear from JW's has value, especially what I am learning from those on this forum. Thank you again!