You know, I recall a quote some years back, Nobody ever became a Jehovah's Witness by just reading the bible.
Posts by Ken O
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19Today's Watchtower
by tornapart inat the meeting today the wt had a paragraph about certain ones breaking away from the church because the church's doctrines didn't match the bible, some were excommunicated, some imprisoned, some executed.. of course they were held up to be lovers of god, true christians... if i was to do the same thing i would be held up as an apostate.... and excommunicated...... i wish sometimes i had the same courage as those ones.....
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CRAZINESS!!! I'M BEING 'MARKED' FOR GOING TO COLLEGE!!!
by MsGrowingGirl20 inohmygosh!!!
one of my friends who is a ms told me today that the elders have 'marked' me because i'm a reg.pioneer and i've decided to go to college next semester???!
he said he can't tell me anymore but to be careful---what the hell does 'mark' mean?
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Ken O
Ok, here is my reply to your college situation. I grew up around the 'truth' and started at 15 as an unbaptized publisher. I took the whole pitcher of kool aid. I didn't go to college after high school; instead I worked at the local wal-mart. I aux pioneered from time to time. I was appointed a MS and married a PIO. I got into management and no long qualified somehow to be a MS when I moved. I later got into law enforcement. I went back to college, on and off. I earned my Associate's degree in May 2011 and now I am 40 years old working on my BA in history. Hope to earn my MA too so I can teach at community colleges and online colleges.
I wasted 20 years in the 'truth'. If I had followed my gut and stayed with college in 1999, I would have a PhD by this point. Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't live your life for an organization that will use you up and then throw you out with tomorrow's trash. Have a life, go to college, make something of yourself, have children if you want. God's love does not start and end with any man made organization, no matter how much they tell you it's God directed, or whatever they are saying these days. We still don't have any savings to speak of, because the end of the world was coming any day, why save money because it was going to be worthless someday. Don't fall into that trap.
Obviously, if you are/were pioneering, this is quite a shock to you. They mean for it to be a shock to your system; they want to snap you back into line.
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15
My Personal Experiences thus far
by Ken O ini was brought up around the "truth" as a child.
my parents studied some then later after they were divorced, we (mom, sis and i) moved in with my grandparents, who were inactive witnesses.
though inactive, they still touted all the wts lingo and doctrine.
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Ken O
Hello everyone! I can't believe it's been so long since I posted on here! Since leaving in Jan 2007, my wife came around shortly afterward and starting reading the information I found. She left the WTS too, though she just drifted away. We are still married, though we've been through some really tough spots since that time. I now know why people say couples who leave the WTS often times end up getting divorced. When your marriage is based on a lie, it's difficult to know where to pick up at. She started smoking then, and is still addicted to it; yes I did play the whole addiction thing on her but it didn't work....she said she was done with being told what to do with her life.
In 2009 I ran for City Council; didn't win, but I did get involved and until a couple months ago I was involved with the city housing authority as one of the commissioners.
I finished my Associate's degree in May 2011 and I am working on my BA in History at American Military University, a totally online accredited college. I hope to go on to earn an MA in History and teach at community colleges and/or online colleges. I am leaving law enforcement and we are moving to Florida this summer. Among other illnesses, is my Chronic Kidney Disease, which is slowly progressing downwards. I feel it's time to step aside from being the sheep dog and focus on my health and family. Besides, who can resist Florida right?
Looking forward to being active and reading up on what everyone has been up to on the boards.
Ken
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106
POLL: Would You Ever Consider Going Back To The Organization?
by minimus inyes, no or maybe....and why?
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Ken O
Nope!
They've had their hooks in me for the last time. I'll not be back....Unless a direct revelation from God or Christ were to show they were somehow remotely actually being used....but then again, if a frog had wings it wouldn't bump it's ass. -
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My Personal Experiences thus far
by Ken O ini was brought up around the "truth" as a child.
my parents studied some then later after they were divorced, we (mom, sis and i) moved in with my grandparents, who were inactive witnesses.
though inactive, they still touted all the wts lingo and doctrine.
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Ken O
I was brought up around the "truth" as a child. My parents studied some then later after they were divorced, we (mom, sis and I) moved in with my grandparents, who were inactive witnesses. Though inactive, they still touted all the WTS lingo and doctrine. School was NOT fun. I DID manage to get into Speech and Debate stuff and a play in the 10th grade. I decided the JW's were right and so after HS I worked instead of going to College to pursue a dream of acting or teaching. My family life was horrible. My mom had depression, and still does. She would throw dishes at me because they weren't cleaned JUST RIGHT. Had my head banged into a wall numerous times and would have to endure night after night of rubbing her feet because it made her feel good. I remember sitting on the floor beside her bed rubbing and rubbing wishing something bad would happen to her. When I was old enough to work, of course she couldn't hold down a job so it was my "scriptural" duty to assist with household expenses...meaning my WHOLE paycheck would go to her. My sister left me there...and I hated her at first for it, but later realized I too, should have left. When I was of the age to date, of course that means you have to be thinking about marriage, my mom hated the idea. She was afraid I was going to move far away and she wouldn't see me. Wonder what would give her that idea? (That's just what I did too) I met a JW Pioneer and of course, those of you who've endured JW dating rituals know exactly what I'm talking about..don't touch, don't sit together..for God's sake don't Kiss!! We married, at the time for me more so I could get away from home and I was a regular 20 year old man with hormones. By this time I had become a Ministerial Servant and was being used in the Cong. The wife went off the Pio list because we needed money...imagine that! I started working retail and eventually moved to Management. We also had two kids sometime in there. When I was transferred to MN, I was called three months later and told over the phone I wouldn't be recommended as a MS to the new congregation....thanks alot! That was my start downhill. I started studying less and less and of course, the rest of it dropped off. I became inactive and we moved back to KS. I got a rare blood disease(now dormant) and a kidney disease from the blood one. I decided to follow in my dad's steps and become a cop. That went over like a lead balloon. Of course, the immediate shunning as "bad association" started. We moved closer to my job when I went full time at the PD. The local elders were sincere and "thought" they were doing the right thing. So...after being there two years, they and my wife convinced me I should leave my job and I could be a MS again...or so they said. I left and it was the worst two years of my life(I went back to police work in '05). We continually struggled and all we got was "Satan's doing it to you because you're making God happy". We moved again when my father in law died into the house to help her mom. That was another BIG mistake. I ended up totally disliking...almost hating her...to this day. I went back to being a full time cop and then it really started going downhill. The WTS came out with a Questions From Readers article in December '05 about armed employment. Basically, they said anyone who rejects counsel from the elders and stays in armed employment was no longer considered "irreprehensible". Obviously, I looked that word up and the opposite meaning as well. I became very inactive and critical. That started my search for the truth about the WTS. I bought a book by Ray Franz. Mother in law found out and was SO distraught. How could I bring apostate literature into the house? I later D/A myself. Then, the wife and I talked and she wanted to continue with me being married. We had agreed I could have my non-jw friends over at the house. Her mom went through the roof. "He's not having any WORLDY people in THIS house!" That kicked it for me with her mom. We paid MOST of the bills, mortgage, etc. That's when she came into our room one night. She "let me have it" in her JW way. I was killing my family and brought "demons" into the house by that book by Ray Franz. She said she could "feel the demons" in the house. She told my wife that she was being blinded by me and I had her running wild just to keep me happy. She told her right there in front of me that I was going to eventually leave her anyway...without saying it she was telling her to leave me or have me leave. Then she said we had to leave because she just couldn't continue to put up with apostasy in her house and "that book" bringing in the demons. After that...alot of pressure was brought to bear on me. I went to the elders and wrote a 3 page "I'm Sorry" letter. (My D/A letter was 6 pages long and CC'd to the Gov Bod). We moved out and I continued my research. I only went to two meetings after we moved out. On Jan 28, 2007, I sent the elders an email saying I was OUT..I didn't need to be called on, shepherded or anything of the sort. My problem now is how to get the family out of the WTS. My dad and former step mom were amazed at my new feelings and that I actually acknowledged the WTS as a Cult. They never were JW's and tried to tell me for years. My wife and kids are now the focus. She insists that I DO NOT try to teach her or them anything contrary to WTS teachings. And yet, if you love or care for someone, how could you NOT try to get them out of the Cult? I am deeply concerned and truthfully feel it will culminate in divorce; as I cannot in good faith NOT share my feelings and my findings with my wife and kids. According to the WTS, I would bring them into spiritual despair, or spiritual danger by my apostasizing. SO...now what....that's where I'm at currently at of January 2007.
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What do you do.......
by Heather inwhen your jw family member tells you it would have been so much better if you had just faded instead of daing yourself.
that to them daing yourself is much worse then dfing yourself.
if only you had hung in there and faded they would treat you as family but now it tears at them that they can't talk to you.
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Ken O
Heather, Don't do what I did...I gave in to alot of pressure and went back after my D/A letter...though I wised up a few months later...this month in fact!...and told the elders I was OUT...don't call me, don't shepherd me,etc,etc.... I think since you've taken that step....you should stay with it. I know it's hard...hard's not the word...but I do understand. I'm getting the shunning thing too and I have a little bit of a Non-JW support system that's been really helping me to move on. You're not married or with a JW boyfriend right? Apparently not...so you are in a much better position than me...because I'm still currently married to my JW wife... SO...stay D/A...don't make the mistake of going back like I did...even though I changed that and am no longer a JW....it's still difficult...and it's your decision alone...may God grant you wisdom and peace. Agape Ken
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18
I think I'm screwing myself
by nonamegiven inget your mind out of the gutter, not screwing myself that way haha.. for those that don't know, i'm df'd, trying to get reinstated so i can get family/friends back in my life than fade away faster than the only good radio station you can tune in on a long road trip.
basically, i can't keep my mouth shut.
my mom and i were talking the other day.
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Ken O
I truly feel your pain. In October of last year, I did a 6 page D/A letter...then through a month of arguing and pressure, I met with a couple elders and did 3 page "I was wrong" letter. Man, I could just kick myself every time I think about it!!! SO..I decided I wouldn't go. There was alot of pressure because of the Shunning issue. My own mom called me to say she couldn't talk to me anymore..etc..etc.. The only good thing that came of it was we moved out of mom in law's house. I'd bought a Ray Franz book and she could "feel the demons" in the house because of it!!!! OMG SO, I decided not to return. I kept up with my internet research and looking at the oldest publications by the WTS I could find...and came to my final conclusion I couldn't go on living a lie so on Jan 20th, I emailed the Elders and basically told them I'm out!!! Don't call me, shepherd me..etc.. NOW..my wife and kids are the next issue. I'm not sure I even want to stay married at this point. She's "weak" but solid in that CULT. Her mom's her biggest "helper" to stay in it. She says all the stuff I found is "lies by apostates"...even though much is out of the WTS or reputable information sources. Wait...I'm rambling.........er...OK... Yes, you ARE screwing yourself...but not like you think. Go ahead....let them D/F you....stay that way. I totally understand about the shunning issue. Get new friends...go out, have a good time, MAKE NEW FRIENDS. That's a good ploy they use; you only have a JW support system then you are more likely to STAY a JW because you have NO ONE ELSE....(I'm not yelling, just trying to emphasize). Did I make my point? Hope so... :-)
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January 14, 2007; the most bizarre comments I have ever heard at a Hall
by MinisterAmos inmost of you have already scoped out the wt lesson for yesterday that blondie provided, but i'm going to add to it a bit and share the audience comments for the meeting.. i'm also going to share some direct-from-the-gb "new-light" that was revealed by the speaker in his discussion.....ready?.
so the wife and i are on vacation yesterday and visit a congregation located in western fl or east al; floribama as the natives call it.. the speaker began by telling us that the "happy god" isn't really happy because of the state of the world.
i forgot to ask him where that fact is found in the bible.
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Ken O
Yeah, I've heard that comment about the angels and taking notes for some time now....about the last three to five years.... Interesting huh?
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How ambitious were you as a JW?
by OnTheWayOut inalltimejeff got me thinking about this.
he was very ambitious as a young jw, .
things changed as he wised up.
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Ken O
I started out just wanting to be of some use, to help. Got baptized at 17 and went on to mic handler, magazine and later literature assistant...later a MS and Aux Pio'd alot. Married a PIO but she left the list because we had to LIVE...you know, make money to pay the rent, etc. THOUGHT I wanted to be an Elder. I was deleted because I moved to another state for my retail mgr job and they decided not to recommend me to the new cong...which they didn't tell me until three months after I moved...and over the phone! Moved back to KS and became irregular/inactive...later became a cop..left for the WTS and then went back to being a cop when I realized they were totally wrong and I'd spent two whole years out of it just because I was trying to please men. SO.....yeah..I think that covers it.
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Planting seeds of doubt
by Anony-Mouse inlike the bible scripture, i will plant the seeds, and curiosity (not god) will make it grow.
or something similar.
i've tried it, but none of my comments seem to make people think.
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Ken O
Hey,I was a JW for oh..17 or 18 years I suppose...from 17 years old to 35 now...I just formally said on January 20th of this year I'm done with them. If you talk with "Spiritually Strong" witnesses, good luck on not getting the "room", a judicial meeting. If you talk with "Weak Ones", then you might get somewhere. They are "weak" in the JW faith for SOME reason. Perhaps they see through all the BS and lies that the WTS has passed down through the years but are, like I was, very afraid to lose their friends and family..basically their whole social and spiritual lives...according to WTS rules. Start with little things...like the UN involvement; The "Anointed" being alleged as Mediators between God and Man instead of Christ..where is that in the bible?...get them to use other bibles besides the NWT...because it's slanted to the WTS views. It's a start. When they start to genuinely ask questions and don't take the blanket "wait on Jehovah" ploy, you might be getting somewhere.