Greendawn, They don't see the importance of Christ, because they're brainwashed or under some kind of spell. And basically they don't even worship Jehovah, they worship the organization and the elders, ms, overseers, pioneers, etc. From my experience it seem every meetings I would miss and to stop associating with the JW (except my parents), that my mind, body and soul was being released from the clutches of some spell. I could not think rationally (without JW thoughts) for about a year. My father gave the special talk a couple of weeks ago. My brother and sisters were having Easter dinner and had a bet as to when the special talk is held (on Saturday, week before memorial, etc.) So as a joke, I called my mom and told her that my sister wanted to know because she wanted to take her family (my sister is baptized, but has faded away and is now running for city council, plus an agnostic)....So then my sister calls my parents a day before the talk and tells them that all of us (one disfellowshippe sister, a christian (myself still baptized), a dread locked still baptized brother) will be attending to support dad. Back to the point of this thread.... The special talk was on Jesus and how the world see him...well my dad started flipping through the bible (I swear he read aleast 100 verses), picking scriptures to support their doctrines. My mind literally was mush. I left that talk so sad. I prayed for days for my parents and the JW to be freed from the brainwashing they're experiencing. So my father call us all and thank us for attending (he was very happy to see us there). He asked me what did I enjoy the talk. I told him yes, but I thought he used too many scriptures and tried to cover to many points in such a short time. That maybe he should teach from a passage of scripture, so the audience could really learn about Jesus. I thought he was going to start screaming about me being an apostate, but he didn't he agreed that he used too many scriptures, but was following the manuscript or outline (see I have forgotten JW terms).
Almost There
JoinedPosts by Almost There
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Almost There
I have not posted nor visited this site in quite awhile (I'm glad to be back). This topic struck my interest, because this is one subject that have stumpted me and continue a little. All I want to say is that I don't know if Jesus and God are the same persons. But I know that Jesus is a God (from my experience). Since I've accepted him as my Lord and Saviour, and now live everyday of my life worshipping him, I've experienced the greatest peace and contentment, plus I have found my purpose. Coming from being raised a JW to feeling guilty from leaving the Organization thus baptizing when I didn't really feel the JW ... to being a agnostic and finally loving life...to becoming a Jesus loving Christian. So my answer is that Jesus is "GOD" to me. p.s. And this is to anyone who is thinking about leaving the JW Org. or recently left. It may seemed hard at the time, but as they say, "Time heals all wounds". I've been freed for 5 years and can't even remember most of the Jehovah Witness teachings.
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Doubting Thomas - A Real Hero !
by Amazing inhave you longed to at least get some response from god, some small indication from him that he really listens, cares, or is just simply there?
the vast majority on this forum have likely struggled with many issues regarding god,
christ, the bible, history, truth, religion, the foundations of christianity, agnosticism, and atheism.
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Almost There
I was a doubting Thomas until about a month ago.
I had been attending this church with a friend of mine and really enjoyed the services. I would see the people praises Jesus and would sort of laugh inside. (This is an african american church and they take their worship serious)
My friend told the associate pastor about my agnostic views and my JW experience, so he asked me to visit with him to answer any questions that I may have.
I told him I believe the Bible was a great piece of literature and had some good princicples that you can live by. But not necessarily inspired by God.
He read a few scriptures and I don't remember them because I was thinking, Oh' Boy here we go again with this Bible flicking.
He then ask me if I believed Jesus was my Savior and had I asked him into my life. I was turning to answer him (because I had turned around to look at this picture) and I felt this inner peace that I had never felt before and a voice told me that I believed.
If you would have told me this story a month ago, I would have laughed inside and said WHATEVER.
But believe me God has revealed himself to me. Because my husband of 10 years came out of the blue about a week and a half ago and told me he did not love me anymore and handed me divorce papers, then pack his things and left.
I know if I did not have Jesus (oh my goodness I sould like a Jesus freak), I would have been taken to the hospital. I suffer from SEVERE depression and was hospitalized in December 2002. But since I have been communicating with God through prayer. I have been stronger and happier that I have been in my entire life.
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Whats the nicest thing anyone has said/done to you?
by SpiceItUp in.
in the spirit of minimus i thought i'd put a positive spin on things.
they say when you surrond yourself with the positive its easier to be positive and vice versa for negativity (no offense to min as i also fully believe that you have to deal with negativity too).... that being said....whats the nicest thing, compliment, gift etc that anyone has ever said or done to/for you?.
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Almost There
I love this thread.
I have alot of nice things. But the most recent happened last week.
My husband unexpectedly told me his was moving in 3 days and came back with divorce papers and asked me to sign so I would be served at my job.
I'm crying and in shock. My two boys 9yrs. and 16 yrs. old - busted through the door and started hugging me and when I look down, my 9 year olf through me a kiss. Oh my eyes tear up just thinking about it.
By the way he left that day. (Because I don't think he like the tension in the house, I'm sobbing and the boys shooting daggers at him with their eyes).
So when he left I was talking to the boys about how we were going to be ok and that we needed to pray for their dad.
After my little talk with them. My 16 yrs. old said, Mom, you don't know this now, but you are much better off without dad. You have loved him more that yourself for TOO long. You deserve better and I think God (my son is agnostic) will bless you with someone who can love you the same as you love them.
I ask him do you REALLY THINK SO? He said mom I KNOW SO.
Being that I was agnostic (but just became a christian). I ask him why did he say that God will bless me (being that before I believed that your blessing came from youself). He said because he still don't understand all of the God stuff. But he do knew that since I started believing in Jesus, that I have become a different person. And he was certain that my new faith would lead me to someone who has as much love in them as me.
Almost There
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ten things I love not being borganized
by little witch in1 the joy in my childs eyes when we sing happy birthday.
2 christmas tree twinkling in the living room..... oooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh, awwwwwwwwwww.
3 flying the stars and stripes.
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Almost There
1. Seeing my children blow out birthday candles.
2. Watching my children perform at the Christmas pageant at school.
3. Going to church and singing and rejoincing and praising the lord (black folks style)
4. Having friends that I truly love and TRUST
5. Not feeling guilty if I don't want to go to church.
6. Give true love to my friends and receiving it back.
7. Standing up for the pledge of allegiance. Standing up during the singing of the national anthem
8. Being able to vote for the person I think will make my families life better
9. Letting my children chose their own friends.
10. Attending my childrens sporting events
11. Attending holiday celebrations with my Dear Family and Friends.
12. Not judging my friends choices (even when I don't agree), but supporting them.
13. My new relationship with my siblings (all 4 of us have left the JW org.)
14. Buying gifts for my neice and nephews birthdays, Xmas, etc.
15. Wishing my Co-workers happy Birthday, Xmas, etc.
I could go on and on.
I'm just happy to out of the Borg.
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What works for me?
by Anne ini remembered something that was in my consiousness from back in the day.
i went to the door of a very nice home and was greeted by a nice person.
i presented the usual rehearsed salespitch and she said the oddest thing, "i tried jehovah's witness once, it just didn't work for me.
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Almost There
The expression "Time heal all wounds" is very appropriate. The longer I'm away from the witnesses the better I feel.
And after I was honest with my witness family (even though their response was not very good), I started feeling good about myself.
You will feel confident, when you are honest with yourself - by not letting others make you feel bad in your own skin. They may not like your choice, but they will have to respect them. (that's what I told my family) And if they refused to respect your choices - keep them at a distance.
This is what has worked for me.
Almost There
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Does anyone want to change the world-just a little? Stinky?
by azaria inhi again, stinky pantz.
i woke up around 6:30 this morning.
the birds were chirping.
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Almost There
Why not just pray to God?
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Almost There
We do not know if Michael's mothers are involved or not. Would you want to be harassed as Michael is. On the news last night, the mother of the older children, sent a statement that Michael would never do anything to harm his children or anyother children.
When the the interviewer spoke with his son, the child seemed very comfortable speaking. And Michael was very relaxed with the child talking. So it did not seem as if the child was under distress.
The reporter was very wrong on how he tried to spin the story. Can you imagine if we allowed someone 8 months in our homes. I can tell you he would of had a better story from my family.
It has been reported that ABC paid the production company 5million for this story. The reporter was not neutral in his reporting. But sensationalized it to make money. Can you guess what ABC sold the commercial spots for.
I think the reporter is scum - to have made Michael think he was reporting his life acurately. And turned it into something entirely different.
And one more questions. WHAT IS NORMAL? Normal is what your environment dictates to you. What is normal for me will not be normal for you.
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Who watched the Jackson Interview ?
by Xandria ini am sitting here watching this shocking interview.
the reporter spent 8 months with this um, person.
i cannot believe how bizarre mr. jackson is.... and it has given me the willies.
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Almost There
If this interviewer spent 8 months with Michael and the only odd behavior that he came up with was the few episodes that he showed.
If what was viewed tonight was the only highlight that he got out of 8 months of coverage, I would say Michael's life is pretty boring. And yes different, but can you imagine what life is like for him. He can never just run to Walmart to pick up a pack of crayons for his kids.
I loved the interview, it showed Michael to be a sensitive loving person. And more children need people to care as much for them. I wish I had a never never land to visit when my parents were dragging to me a real never never land (KH).
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Who watched the Jackson Interview ?
by Xandria ini am sitting here watching this shocking interview.
the reporter spent 8 months with this um, person.
i cannot believe how bizarre mr. jackson is.... and it has given me the willies.
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Almost There
I have to agree with Mouthy. I think his popularity is so hard on the guy. The people who are stalking outside his hotel and the media exploiting him so, should be ashamed. Just think of the money the media is making off of exploiting him and disparaging him.
The media can edit anything to make it more sensational than needed.
I find the kids sleeping with him very innocent. I baby sat my friends daughter and she was afraid to sleep in the guest room, so she sleep with me (I'm female). My 8yr. old still sleeps in the bed with my husband and I. And yes I would be ok with them sleeping with a friend of mine.
I think some of the comments are very judgemental. His life is NOT NORMAL at all. So we cannot put our experience to his.