Posts by pennycandy

31

GOVERNING BODY only

by nowino in

jw
friends

new here, so, should i be crossing any lines, i ask your pardon.

recently i asked a question within another's post on the meaning of "junior, senior" statements/levels.

the response i received within that post( and thank you ) was that it had to do with the "number of posts" one has/had made.

pennycandy

As long as I don't get counseled for lagging behind the rest, I'm fine with being one of the little guys.

"Sister PennyCandy, could we please speak to you in the back room? You've been attending this forum for about a year now, and yet you've only reached the status of junior member. Unless you can bring up your posting frequency to the forum average, we'll have to consider judicial action."

"Oh, please, no! I promise I'll do better. I'll . . . I'll start feeding my kids only once a day. I'll post at night. I'll keep a funnel and hose by the computer . . ."

83

EX JW who are now Born Again Christians?

by imnottheonlyone! in

jw
friends

.

i am pretty sure this is what i am.

i would love to chat with anyone else who might want to sort some stuff out with me.. many thanks!.

pennycandy

Hi. I consider myself a born again Christian, and am not affiliated with any religion. I'd love to chat also.

71

'This Generation'

by fairchild in

jw
friends

yes, again... after reading numerous posts on this site and doing some research on my own, i have a strong feeling that my whole belief will soon stand or fall with the understanding of 'this generation'.. matthew 24:3 .."tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?".

matthew 24:7 for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.. matthew 24:34 truly i say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.. .

generation:noun: group of genetically related organisms constituting a single step in the line of descent noun: the normal time between successive generations example: "they had to wait a generation for that prejudice to fade".

pennycandy

My belief has been that the Bible is perfectly clear about the things that are important for us to understand. All the other things are up for interpretation. Personally, I don't think it's necessary to understand all the prophecies and riddles in the Bible, though many may have an intellectual curiosity.

The Bible is clear enough on the way I should live my life and the relationship I can have with God. Anything else is speculation, and my eventuality won't change just because I may know exactly what it is.

That being said, I think it's accepted by basic christianity that Christ began ruling when he ascended to heaven. During Jesus' entire ministry, his disciples were expecting his power to be on earth, and that he will be a very literal king, and bring about a new "system of things", so the questions they asked him were referring to when his kingdom would be established right there, before their eyes. They just never "got it" when Jesus kept telling them his kingdom wouldn't be of this world.

I also think it's accepted by basic christianity that he will come again. Different religions place that coming in different ways, but there doesn't seem to be any reason (except the JW's) to expect it to come in our day any more than any other time in history.

Jesus told us we don't know when it will be, and I can live with that.

71

'This Generation'

by fairchild in

jw
friends

yes, again... after reading numerous posts on this site and doing some research on my own, i have a strong feeling that my whole belief will soon stand or fall with the understanding of 'this generation'.. matthew 24:3 .."tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?".

matthew 24:7 for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.. matthew 24:34 truly i say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.. .

generation:noun: group of genetically related organisms constituting a single step in the line of descent noun: the normal time between successive generations example: "they had to wait a generation for that prejudice to fade".

pennycandy

Just about every generation for 2,000 years has thought he would return during THEIR generation. Today is no different.

I agree with the others. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate these scriptures have any relevance to our day, specifically to the 1914 generation.

The math done to arrive at 1914 is astonishingly skewered and based on twisted logic, incorrect numbers, and adding to the scriptures meaning that just isn't there.

42

Let's Talk Against The Organization!

by minimus in

jw
friends

jehovah's witnesses are told to never talk against the organization.

they say that talking against the organization is the same as talking against jehovah god himself!........so, now that we have the freedom to speak our minds, say something true.

pennycandy

. . . and another thing. The typical kingdom hall color schemes are TACKY!!!

12

Wierdest / Worst thing you were asked to do?

by Why Georgia in

jw
friends

hey everyone!.

what is the wierdest or worst thing you were ever asked to do while going to the hall?.

here's my answer.. i had my son via c-section while the co was visiting.

pennycandy

What a cad!!! I'm so glad you told him HE should be making dinner for YOU. Good for you for using common sense.

Worst thing I was asked to do . . .

When my son was about six months old I was told that it was about time to start spanking him for fussing during the meetings. I ran into that dad quite a few times in the baby room while he was spanking his own just slightly older son.

The nerve of some people.

19

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHURCH AND KINGDOM HALLS???????

by vitty in

jw
friends

as i have never been to a church service ( except a wedding which i thought much nicer than our cold and impersonel talks) i wonder if they are as boring and repetitious as our meetings?.

i used to think it was me, that i wasnt spiritual or appreciative enough.

i was so bored.. we would have a talk in the service meeting about how some complain about too many meetings or going over the same stuff, and then promptly say it was our fault!.

pennycandy

I went to a few non-denomination churches. Some were more formal, with an hour-long boring sermon. Most, though were upbeat, no dress code, lots of lively music, and a pastor that doesn't have to stand on two foot outlines directly behind the podium. The pastor where I attend now is wacky, funny, and motivational. I don't feel it's necessary to my worship, but it's an enjoyable experience.

42

The Longest Hour in the Life of a Young JW

by TMS in

jw
friends

.

the family bible study.

tms

pennycandy

My poor mom. Throughout our childhoods she would try to take the initiative and study with us. We gave her such a hard time. I would sit there with my arms folded and refuse to answer. My younger siblings would play and joke and complain and cry and run around. After arguements and threats and yelling my mom would invariably run from the room in tears yelling that she was just trying to do what Jehovah wants her to but what do we ungrateful children care?

I feel SO bad about that now. We weren't bad kids at all, but for some reason we were horrible for our family study.

27

How did you feel about "apostates" when you were a devout JW?

by booker-t in

jw
friends

when i was a devout jw i would literally look at "apostates" picketing the assemblies and want to spit at them because i hated them that much and felt that they were of satan.

i remember one time i saw an "apostate" walking from the assembly and a friend of mine an myself were actually talking about confronting him and telling him off.

i just cannot believe how much i hated "apostates" when i was a jw.

pennycandy

My parents must have done a good job sheilding me from any apostates because I only remember hearing about them in general but never knowing anyone who was or seeing any at the conventions.

They must have really taught me good because I didn't even picture them as human. Just the thought of being in the vicinity with one gave me the shivers, as if they were Satan themselves. I pictured crazy eyes and spittle flying from their mouth as they spewed their poison. Like a dirty, insane, homeless person you see on television.

As an adult, the picture changed to an actual person, who turned away from the "truth" for whatever reason, and is now disillusioned and full of hate toward God's people to justify their own wrong course. Still demonized of course. I still wouldn't ever go NEAR one.

Now, being one myself, I know that any single person you see out on the street could be one. Just like there's no answer to the question, "What does a child abuser look like?", there's also no profile for an "apostate", just that they happen to be part of the 99.9% of the world that knows the WTS isn't the truth.

22

How I broke away

by pennycandy in

this is the story of my last bout as a witness.

nothing extraordinary.

probably not interesting to most, but it amounts to the biggest change to my life i've ever made.

pennycandy

Thanks everyone. You can relate the facts of an exit out of the organization, but there's just no way to accurately convey the emotions involved. Suffice it to say it would take at least 100 pages to really describe it.

At least I know there are so many others who've gone through the same.