Faithful Witness

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Posts by Faithful Witness

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  7

  The Generation of 2014

  by free2beme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "surely i tell you today, the generation at saw the events of 2014 will surely not pass away before the end comes.".

  damn it!

  someone hit the reset button, i feel we have all been here befor a hundred years ago.

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  Faithful Witness

  Is this a quote from a current article, or are you pulling my leg?
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  31

  Protest at district convention in Budapest, Hungary

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihncqunkq94.

  whatever your thoughts on the shouting, displaying a simple web address is an extremely effective and non-confrontational way of getting the message across - and in this case it looks like hundreds if not thousands of witnesses saw it.. .

  cedars.

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  Faithful Witness

  Could you share more with us, the methods you used to reach and save 300 JW's?
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  33

  Should I reconnect with my Bible students? What do you think?

  by KateWild in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i reprted 5 studies the month i was df'd.

  more than a year has passed since i have seen any of my students.

  i got on so well with many of them, we became friends.. did i do the right thing?

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  Faithful Witness

  You have just proven yourself a bigger and better friend than any JW I know.
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  33

  Should I reconnect with my Bible students? What do you think?

  by KateWild in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i reprted 5 studies the month i was df'd.

  more than a year has passed since i have seen any of my students.

  i got on so well with many of them, we became friends.. did i do the right thing?

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  Faithful Witness

  I wish I could still be friends with any of my Bible teachers! Good play, Kate!

  You are so right about the love-bombing, but it does work. It kept me studying well past my better judgment.

  It was an accidental exposure to a YouTube video of the John Ankerburg Show, that shocked my husband and I into investigating the stories we were getting. When our teacher told us he would not listen to the apostate information, we were done. When we stopped going to meetings, the friendships stopped too.
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  40

  New here, just wanted to say "Hello"

  by Goldiver in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello all, it is nice to have a forum for former jw's and see i wasn't the only one out there having serious doubts.

  my parents got into it when i was about 4 years old.

  my family was part of the granville ny congregation.. my dad in time became an elder.

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  Faithful Witness

  Welcome, and thanks for sharing your story.

  I was never baptized, but studied with the JW's for a few years. As more of an observer to this strange group, I find the different stories very interesting.

  It is good to hear the story of someone who left.
• 
  32

  Lies on the JW.org FAQ section

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it's riddled with lies.

  here are a few, "are you an american sect?

  all of our teachings are based on the bible, not on the writings of some religious leader in the united states.1 thessalonians 2:13.. we follow jesus christ, not any human leader.matthew 23:8-10.. .

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  Faithful Witness

  Are You Christians?

  Yes. We are Christians for the following reasons:

  • We try to follow closely the teachings and behavior of Jesus Christ.—1 Peter 2:21.

  • We believe that Jesus is the key to salvation, that “ there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved. ”—Acts 4:12.

  • When people become Jehovah’s Witnesses, they are baptized in the name of Jesus.—Matthew 28:18, 19.

  • We offer our prayers in Jesus’ name.—John 15:16.

  • We believe that Jesus is the Head, or the one appointed to have authority, over every man.—1 Corinthians 11:3.

  However, in a number of ways, we are different from other religious groups that are called Christian. For example, we believe that the Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, not part of a Trinity. (Mark 12:29) We do not believe that the soul is immortal, that there is any basis in Scripture for saying that God tortures people in an everlasting hell, or thatthose who take the lead in religious activities should have titles that elevate them above others.—Ecclesiastes 9:5; Ezekiel 18:4; Matthew 23:8-10.

  I'm not so convinced about this "we follow Jesus" statement. Oh wait, it says "We try to..."

  Also curious... aren't there different levels within the group? Bible student, unbaptized publisher, publisher, ministerial servant, elder, overseers of various levels, Governing Body... Some of those could definitely be considered titles. Do any of these titles elevate one man above another within the organization?
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  11

  JW Prayer vs. Christian Prayer

  by Faithful Witness in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  we studied for a few years with the jw's.

  the public prayers were often an endurance test, while holding exhausted babies.

  to be honest, i have forgotten the jist of most of their prayers.

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  Faithful Witness

  We studied for a few years with the JW's. The public prayers were often an endurance test, while holding exhausted babies. To be honest, I have forgotten the jist of most of their prayers. I have thankfully distanced ourselves far enough from this world, to have begun recovering my thinking mind.

  I know many here do not support any type of religion or belief in prayer. I'm still studying the Bible and learning about what it says about Jesus. We spend a lot of our time with Christians, and they talk a lot about prayer. They are constantly "praying for you." This is unsettling in a way, because even though I'm confident they are sincere, the "prayer request" circles sometimes seem more like gossip sessions.

  When I talk to a Christian friend about something I am facing (like trouble with the brakes on our van), she says, "I will be praying for you. The Lord has a plan, and it will be worked out in His way." I'm still having trouble finding comfort in this.

  Recent articles about prayer from the Watchtower are pretty disturbing, too. I guess I never realized they don't pray for people outside the walls of the WTS. This is even more strange, coming from Jehovah's chosen people.

  The more I read the Bible with my eyes open, the more I realize how FAR from its teachings the JW's live their lives.
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  32

  Lies on the JW.org FAQ section

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it's riddled with lies.

  here are a few, "are you an american sect?

  all of our teachings are based on the bible, not on the writings of some religious leader in the united states.1 thessalonians 2:13.. we follow jesus christ, not any human leader.matthew 23:8-10.. .

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  Faithful Witness

  I asked my JW friend if they follow Jesus or the 8 men in NY? She denied that there were 8 men in NY.
• 
  33

  Should I reconnect with my Bible students? What do you think?

  by KateWild in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i reprted 5 studies the month i was df'd.

  more than a year has passed since i have seen any of my students.

  i got on so well with many of them, we became friends.. did i do the right thing?

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  Faithful Witness

  As a "Bible student" myself, I can tell you I would be thrilled to hear from anyone at the KH, on a social level. I contacted one of my good "friends" over the summer, but was sadly disappointed to see her with my eyes open. I think it's a fabulous idea. You've already made connections with them, and it woiuld be interesting to hear what they have heard about you.

  How many Bible students become baptized? From what I've heard and observed, not many. I asked my mom about this (the fruits of their service). She admitted that since she had started going to the KH 5 years ago, no one new had been recruited from the door to door ministry.

  Go for it! I'm sure they will be pleasantly surprised to see your real persona.

  I had 4 separate teachers, but they were all born-in JW's. I would love to have any one of them as a friend today. All I have now, is the fun of seeing them in public and discussing their reactions to me with my children. They sure must be blind... I have to practically knock them over, to get them to notice me.

  Good for you, Kate! I hope it goes well today.
• 
  31

  Epic FAIL! :( My sister is gone from me.

  by Faithful Witness in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  got this email from my sister today.

  there is a lot of back story, and this isn't a surprise.

  it will be interesting to see how it affects the rest of the family, if they hear about it or not.

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  Faithful Witness

  I'm afraid she is so far gone right now, that I am pretty much done trying to actively reach her or maintain a relationship. I will see her at the family reunion in August (she will be late, because they do their field service and Bible study before making the 2 hour drive to the party). I may run into her occasionally at my parents' house, but she usually leaves shortly after I arrive. I will keep my word, and be loving and kind to her, when I do see her. I make a point to say hello and "I love you" to each member of their family at the reunion. The reaction from my brother in law (turns stiff as a stone while I hug him in front of others) makes it all worth the effort.

  I have been honest with her, and I do not expect her to reply or explain herself. My sister has washed her hands of me.

  I am going to mention this to my mother, who I should have the opportunity to see this week. She was recently hospitalized for a chronic illness/infection that she has to monitor and treat regularly. I have noticed that my mom has been more actively texting and emailing me, and we have had some good conversations on the phone. I'm taking advantage of this opening, to try to rebuild some of the lost connection with her. I used to be very close to my mom, but she now has a dual personality. Lately though, her natural persona has been showing itself, and I have enjoyed a few good visits with her. My kids have had a good experience with all this, and I am pursuing it as much as I can. I will not bring up any more JW stuff with her, unless she does.

  When the issue comes up about the way my sister and brother in law are shunning me, I simply tell my parents that all is forgiven. I am not the one who has a problem. I say, "They are just trying to do what they believe is right. I forgive them." The stunned look I get from my dad when I say this, is very telling. (Does Satan forgive JW's ...??)

  My niece (12 years old) saw me last week, when I visited my mom at the hospital. She was there with her dad, my brother in law, who would not make eye contact with me. He was bizarrely familiar with my kids, however, and seemed surprised that they were afraid to talk to him. My niece kept looking at me, and smiling at me. I think she knows what is going on, and I have heard murmurings about her being "rebellious." She is not yet baptized.

  My mom is a very weak JW, who made the statement to me recently, "Maybe I should not have gone ahead and been baptized." (!!!!) I think all the characters are being put into place, and prepared for the eventual rescue of this family from the WTS. Either that, or we will have front row seats, when they all follow "the instructions that do make sense from a human standpoint." (November 2013 Watchtower) Time will tell.