Point taken, Steve. It's not my business.
Faithful Witness
JoinedPosts by Faithful Witness
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30
Planting seeds of thought with my JW doctor
by Faithful Witness ini have hesitated to post anything about my recent encounters with our jw doctor, because i don't really want anyone to insult her or me, for continuing to rely on her for medical care.
our family doctor is a jehovah's witness.
we were referred to her by our former bs conductor.
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Faithful Witness
Praying to whom, through what channel?
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Faithful Witness
punkofnice: 'It isn't food they need, they need the watchtower.'
Exactly! That is exactly what they need!
I asked my sister what she thought of the article about the sheeps and goats in the July Watchtower, 2013. Her response (after 5 second blank stare... oh, I made her think... or not...), "It made sense."
I asked why they ignore the passage where Jesus describes the behavior of the sheep and goats... "you know, feeding the poor, helping the homeles..."
Her response: "Oh, that's just an example. There is nothing wrong with a food drive, per se. BUT...What we do is much more important. We are offering them eternal life."
I just said, "You can't eat a magazine. How are they supposed to hear your message, if their stomach is rumbling or they are getting hypothermia because they have no coat to wear?"
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Anyone else having a bad few weeks??
by quellycatface ini seem to have a really crap couple of months with stuff going wrong.
people being nasty to me.
i saw a neighbour of mine today (who i fell out with 18 months ago), to whom i've since apologised for losing my temper with, but today, when i smiled at her, she looked at me daggers!!!
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Faithful Witness
Quelly: I feel your pain! It is hard to go through trials and challenges. Sometimes it really DOES feel like the world is against you.
The good thing is that you have found support here, and that you can reveal your frustrations here. Expressing yourself, and knowing that someone else is reading them, really does help sometimes. You are not alone!
I am inspired by the OT story of Joseph. The trials he faced, and how he was refined and prepared for the purpose he had in life, really spoke to me. I am a Joseph. Whether you want to follow a Bible example, or one from the history books, there are many examples out there.
You're under fire. You're being refined. How you face these challenges will help determine their outcome. Sometimes I just want to give up! I've suffered from depression and low self-esteem my whole life, and I very easily fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself. I have been learning to look at trials from a different perspective... what can I learn from this? (Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, right?)
The fact that you are actively making changes in your life, moving forward, is going to bring new challenges to the forefront for you. (Satan is not attacking you... you are in a process of change, which is usually uncomfortable).
This is not meant to sound like a list of complaints, but here is a short summary of the last 5 years of my life:
5 years ago, we had a serious auto accident. My husband's neck was fractured. This accident rewrote our history in a split second. It took 3 years & 3 surgeries before his neck finally fused and he returned to work. I had to take on a lot of his responsibilities around the house, including all the driving. My son was 16 months old, my daughter was 3 at the time of the accident (we were on our way home from a meeting). We lived in the car (almost literally) for 3 years, driving him to appointments for several different types of therapy (vision, voice box paralyzed, physical therapy, cognitive).
I lost 160 pounds during the first year of this time, after weight loss surgery, that I had prior to the accident. (Thank goodness... through this whole trial, I realized I am much stronger than I thought!)
My parents and sister have become devout Jehovah's Witnesses, and my sister is now shunning me because I decided not to join them, due to the results of our independent research. In short, our once happy, intact family has been ripped in half by the JW religion.
I still do all the driving for our family (which means that anytime my husband has to go anywhere: work, continued medical appointments, etc... the whole family goes).
I live in a rural area, and over 30 miles from any friends. I do not have anyone who will help me with child care, unless I drive 30 miles and pay for the time. I spend 95% of my time with my children, which is a reward and a challenge in itself.
I feel like I have no friends. When I talk to people about the issues I am facing with my family, they get this confused/glazed look on their face, like I am a raving lunatic. They really don't get it, and I feel like, if they were actually being honest with me, they really don't care. I don't like being a burden to people, and don't feel there is anyone I can confide in. Even my one friend who seemed to share my mission in reaching JW's, constantly questions me. No one understands!
No one understands! I guess it boils down to that one statement for me. I really feel so alone sometimes. I get it.
Keep posting. It helps you to release your feelings to the world, and it helps others who are struggling, to know we are not alone.
Take it easy on yourself!
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Pioneer Encouragement - "You can sit in the back room"
by 4thgen inlast night one of the pioneers stopped by on her way home from the pioneer meeting.
she has always been very kind and i believe she is acted out of concern, however her visit was unsettling.
she mentioned that all the pioneers were counseled to invite everyone they know inactive or those who has had life has got them down to come to (a special?
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Faithful Witness
Oh Oh Oh! Mr. Kotter! Mr. Kotter! Pick me! Pick me!
I hope they come and invite us back to the KH! We are armed and ready.
I don't know if I could stomach another meeting, but I would be curious to see how many people are still there, and if we can notice anyone missing.
Showing up without an invitation after 3 years absence, would be suspicious, I think. I'm pretty sure news about us has spread, although they still will speak to me in public (when I approach them). They tend to walk around with blinders on, but I find myself doing the same thing sometimes.
How are you instructed to view former Bible students, who ask questions you can not answer from the publications?
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Should I Tell a Witness that I Am an Apostate?
by Band on the Run ini sometimes join discussion groups.
the witnesses do get mentioned.
i try to make it humorous but some bitterness seeps through.
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Faithful Witness
Depending what the discussions are, you could bring up parallel situations to the JW's.
I recently made a comment about Obama, and how he feels he has unlimited power over creating policies that affect the whole country. You could also share a story about a "friend" who is a Mormon, and ... or even how you "know someone who is a JW, and is it true that..."
Ask questions that might flip a switch later on. If she starts gushing about how much she loves field service, you might find a way to ask her where in the Bible Jesus told us to keep track of our good deeds and report them to men? "I used to have a friend (roommate, coworker) who was a JW, and he showed me his time card. He said he was a _______ (insert title like elder or pioneer) or something like that. In Matthew 6, Jesus warns us to do our good deeds in secret. What do you think he meant when he said that?" (Matthew 6:1-5)
"Is everyone in your family JW?" "Is it true that you're not allowed to speak to family members who leave the religion?"
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Planting seeds of thought with my JW doctor
by Faithful Witness ini have hesitated to post anything about my recent encounters with our jw doctor, because i don't really want anyone to insult her or me, for continuing to rely on her for medical care.
our family doctor is a jehovah's witness.
we were referred to her by our former bs conductor.
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Faithful Witness
I have hesitated to post anything about my recent encounters with our JW doctor, because I don't really want anyone to insult her or me, for continuing to rely on her for medical care.
Our family doctor is a Jehovah's Witness. We were referred to her by our former BS conductor. It is a small family practice, not perfect, but she refers us when needed. It is nice to be part of a small family doctor's clientele. The staff knows us by name, and they know all our history, etc. We really like her, personally.
With both the new year and some recent health concerns, we have been seeing our doctor frequently in the past 5 weeks. I am taking some opportunities to plant seeds of thought with her.
I took my daughter for her "well child" exam (checkup) last week. When she started asking us about our homeschooling, and what my (2nd grade) daughter's best subject was, my daugher replied with "reading." My (kindergarten) son piped in and said, "Mine is math." To this, the doctor replied, "Well, that's really about all you need in life... if you can read and do math, you can succeed in most areas of life." I agreed and added, "We like to do research projects. It is fun to look through books, and learn about history. We have found a few instances, where we read one thing, and then find different facts from another source. We like to use our analytical skills to 'dig' for the real truth." She agreed that this was important.
Today, we went to her for an issue my husband is having. Out of the blue, she made a comment about Obama. I forget now what her opening line was, but I added my own comment about him (not a fan), and how he claims he can just "go around congress if he needs to." I made the off-hand remark, "You really need to watch out for people who try to control every aspect of your life."
When we first started seeing her, 5 years ago, we did tell her we were studying with the JW's. I'm sure she remembers that, although we have never discussed it since. There are always Awake and Watchtower magazines in the magazine rack, but her husband (office manager) frequently works the desk (in view of the magazines). I know for a fact that she has a lot of JW patients. She does not overbook appointments, and very rarely runs behind schedule (so not a lot of waiting room time).
Today, I asked her about her family. It turns out she is still in contact with both her kids and her grandkids (JW's? Her granddaughter has gone away to COLLEGE!!). She shared how they make a point to all get together once per month. I liked that idea, and am going to try to do that with my parents... see if I can get onto their calendar. I thanked her for the advice on keeping connected with famiy, "the most important people in the world."
I know she does not come to work as a "JW." She deals with patients of all religions. She is helping my husband document one of his VA claims right now, and she was not hesitant at all about assisting him. She asks him how to word the letter he needs.
Anyway, just thought I'd share. I'm not really looking for criticism about JW doctors. She is a kindly doctor, and has not yet harmed us. ;) She takes Wednesdays off, but has a PA that fills in for her. She gives referrals, and it is nice to have someone who actually knows us, coordinating our care.
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Do JWs use the Baptizmal formula?
by Hortenzie indo the elders say: "in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit" when they are immersing the one being baptized?.
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Faithful Witness
JW baptism is creepy. I'm sorry.
When we were bible students, our teacher encouraged us to come and see the baptism, and he was especially excited to be the one delivering the baptismal "speech." It was long and boring. I found it eerie, hearing all the people agree in a monotone "chant-like" way, about how they were joining the organization.
Months later, I went and watched my sister and brother in law go through this, and I must say that the assembly days were just boring and time-consuming. We went to please our teachers and "friends." We just did not "get" the excitement.
I also saw the blah-zay (sp?) way they reacted, when one new "sister" decided to get baptized. "Oh, she finally decided to go through with it, huh?" Weird response to something that receives so much emphasis. I'm not aware of this woman's history, just that she was always at the meetings when we went.
Just an "outsider's" perspective... it never really "caught on" for us. I guess we are too analytical in our thinking.
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Do JWs use the Baptizmal formula?
by Hortenzie indo the elders say: "in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit" when they are immersing the one being baptized?.
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Faithful Witness
ablebodiedman: Don't get so technical! ;) Are you qualified to make these analyses? Are you part of the "number of brothers?"
Rule #1 in JW-land: Don't think. Don't criticize. Just obey.
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Do JWs use the Baptizmal formula?
by Hortenzie indo the elders say: "in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit" when they are immersing the one being baptized?.
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Faithful Witness
Label_licker said: " that the most important thing here is that I get all my answers through their publications."
Wow! They actually said that directly? What about what the Bible says?