Posts by Faithful Witness

8

Any experiences with the presence of christ

by DS211 in

weird question.

have any of you had any personal experiences with the presence (not watchtower parousia presence) of christ within yoursef i.e the holy spirit, speaking in tongues, etc.

or just experiences when you first came into a true relationship with christ?

Faithful Witness

Great question, and I'd be curious if any JW's will share any experiences.

I have had some obvious direction from the Holy Spirit in my life, but just over the past several months. While attending Kingdom Halls and churches, I did not have these feelings. It has just been over the summer, that I have really felt that I was bathed and filled with the Spirit. It is not something I ever thought I would proclaim. That kind of rhetoric was reserved for showy Christian types, and I'm just an average person.

The JW's teach you NOT to expect any special treatment, being one of the great flock. Anyone claiming to feel the presence of Christ, is to be viewed with suspicion. You haven't been paying attention, if you ever think God is going to reach for you personally.

I'm not going to bog down this thread with stories or fancy claims. I will say that I know that Jesus is here with me, and he comforts me and guides me. Listening to praise and gospel music, has been especially effective in helping me change my attitude.

Jesus is here for any who will believe and choose to follow. Die to yourself, and surrender to his love for you. www.smile.fm is a great place to start, and even though the stories sound fanciful and sometimes are hard to believe... The power of music really is incredible. Why else would there be so many pslams in the bible? there is no easier way to lift yourself upward. Try it!

10

Wow! Things have moved on!

by Oneoutallout in

jw
friends

this is only my second or third post.

my previous posts were under the username piglet.

i couldnt remember my log in details so i have now changed my username, which i feel is more relevant now anyway.

Faithful Witness

Thanks for sharing your good news! That is awesome and encouraging.

Did something specific happen, that caused your kids to wake up and realice they'd "had enough?"

Have fun at the bonfire. What is Chrimbo?

48

HELP. ELDERS COMING TO TALK WITH THE FAMILY

by Thoughtless in

so after the annual meeting, on sunday, the elders want to talk with my family.

i do not like this one bit.

perhaps i am being exposed.

Faithful Witness

If you are truly going to study the magazine, I would suggest using a different approach than the one they teach.

#1 ignore the questions at the bottom of the page. They have no value to a thinking person.

#2 go through the mag with a highlighter and find all the different synonyms that they use for the word "change." (Adjustment, clarification, previously we believed... Etc.)

#3 see if you can recognize the ways they attempt to manipulate the reader. Confusion, making him flip pages back and forth while reading complex interpretations, false assumptions stated as facts. See how many "facts" you can spot, that have no evidence. Read the accompanying scriptures, but read the whole chapter... for example, read the entire parable of the sheep and goats. Who are the sheep? How are they identified?

They are trying to distract you from what is happening right now. They are manipulating you And your family. Good for you. It sounds like you are Awakening. Keep posting questions, you are safe here.

28

Annual Meeting Instructions to MS / Elders

by jw07 in

have any elders or ministerial servants here recieved any specific instructions regarding the annual meeting?

as an ms all i have been told to do is to arrive early to "await further instruction due to the sensitive nature of my assignment".

ironically all i can imagine after hearing that a few times is dispensing cyanide laced kool aid to attendees.

Faithful Witness

Same here, Gypsy Sam.

i think the hype and excitement they are stirring about the meeting could be a distraction technique. They know JWs are reeling, after all the changes last month. They need to get them to focus on today. Never mind what we said yesterday, except that part about who is in charge now.

They want them all to think that none of that stuff they said in September was that big of a deal... THERE IS A SPECIAL MEETING THIS WEEKEND. It's very important you ALL attend!

28

Annual Meeting Instructions to MS / Elders

by jw07 in

have any elders or ministerial servants here recieved any specific instructions regarding the annual meeting?

as an ms all i have been told to do is to arrive early to "await further instruction due to the sensitive nature of my assignment".

ironically all i can imagine after hearing that a few times is dispensing cyanide laced kool aid to attendees.

Faithful Witness

My mom told me they are serving biscuits and juice... I'm not joking. This reminds me of bread and wine.

Do they normally serve refreshments? Why not cookies or muffins... Biscuits? (in America, these are like dinner rolls, not cookies)

5

Duped by my dub mother

by Faithful Witness in

i'm not sure what wenr into my mother deciding to send me this email.

i am just sick, and sick and sick of her treating my children and me like we don't matter.

she sent this message, and when i replied she told me it was a joke and then rejected my invitation to lunch, since they'd already made plans with their friends who are moving to the different congregation.

Faithful Witness

This is all she wrote. It doesn't sound like she's heard much, except that it was important.

I'm considering inviting them to meet at a restaurant afterward. I would like to go, prepared with some questions.

Any ideas what I can ask, to get more information about what is happening at her KH? How often do they move people like that? The ones she is referencing here, are locals and will have to drive farther to their new Hall. She seems confused.

edited to add: turns out this was just a joke about the snack, and a way to tease us again. They live over an hour away, and drive past our house to go to this ass hall. They never stop, and we usually don't even hear about it. This time, I guess she wanted to make sure we knew they were coming to the neighborhood, but would be spend in time with their real friends, instead of their grandkids. pretty spiteful if you ask me.

5

Duped by my dub mother

by Faithful Witness in

i'm not sure what wenr into my mother deciding to send me this email.

i am just sick, and sick and sick of her treating my children and me like we don't matter.

she sent this message, and when i replied she told me it was a joke and then rejected my invitation to lunch, since they'd already made plans with their friends who are moving to the different congregation.

Faithful Witness

I'm not sure what wenr into my mother deciding to send me this email. I am just sick, and sick and sick of her treating my children and me like we don't matter. She sent this message, and when I replied she told me it was a joke and then rejected my invitation to lunch, since they'd already made plans with their friends who are moving to the different congregation. Never mind the fact we barely see grandma about four times a year now. God, I am really getting tired of this heartbreak. Why bother telling me you're going to be in town? This now just seems mean-spirited at best.

My mom shared an interesting bit of detail about her congregation in lower Michigan. They have been attending this KH, since they began about 4 years ago. Here is what she said In her email:

There are a lot of changes at our Hall......our friends E and D, and their son's family, (he is one of the main elders) have all been requested to go to help out at Smith Hall for two years. One of the other Pioneers women has also been sent there. Our other friends have moved to the Detroit area, as he has been out of work for quite a while and finally found work over there managing a Assisted Living Facility. He also is an elder. So, our congregation is dwindling..............soon we will be in need.

What reason do they use, to shuffle people around like that? The people she is referring to, are long-term residents and (I get the impression) they are sort of the "rock." Of course, they've always been a pretty proud group. Especially the singing. The last visit we made, granted it was a few years ago, the seats were packed full. Maybe this move will shake some people, and get them to wake up. She also is confused about the upcoming meeting This weekend:

We have a special three hour meeting in Holt his Sunday instead of having the regular service at the Hall. I have no idea what it is about.....strange and a little unusual. It is 'very important'. I heard they are serving refreshments.......biscuits and juice................................that is unusual in itself......(don't drink the kool-aid).

23

Thinking of visiting a Kingdom Hall after 20 years in disguise

by not bitter in

jw
friends

i have been to my old kh for 2 funerals since i left 20 yrs ago but i don't think they count.

so i am thinking of visiting a different hall on a sunday for the public talk and wt study.

i want to go just to remind myself how simple minded it is and to hopefully help me appreciate how wonderful and free my life now is.

Faithful Witness

Personally, I wouldn't worry about anyone approaching you. Arrive late and leave at the end. My husband and I visited TWO separate Kingdom Halls during September. Instead of the intrusive "welcome" we expected, we were eyed with what seemed more like suspicion. We were dressed well, and we even had our books. The atmosphere is eerie and somber now... At least in the two Michigan halls we visited.

63

CANCELL MY REQUEST FOR MEMBERSHIP I HATE APOSTATES

by Simon in

lol, just received this email:.

idiots!

you of weak minds that have chosen to leave the truth!

Faithful Witness

Me thinks he doest protest too much!

He also spelled cancel wrong.

24

Is John Barr's funeral talk at odds with New Light?

by Splash in

john barr served in the gb and died in dec 2010 at the age of 97.. in his funeral talk and the accompanying eulogy tract that was printed, is the final sentence:.

"without a doubt, he slept for but a moment in death and has now received his heavenly reward and his father's approval - all he ever wanted!".

given that the new light about being approved and appointed over all things is now a future event linked to the gt trib, was it correct to teach these things about brother barr at his funeral service?.

Faithful Witness

I have no opinion on this topic, since it's all a load of something stinky... But I do have an observation.

How confused do you think the average JW is, WITHOUT having a way to process these thoughts and beliefs out loud?

Not allowed to question or wonder... I really feel compassion for these poor people. Trapped and alone, and scared to admit it.