Posts by choosing life

39

How old did you expect to be when the New System would come?

by JH in

jw
friends

i became a jw at age 28 and no way did i expect to ever get older than 40 years old in this system.. maybe at the extreme, i could have imagined being 45 years old, not more..

choosing life

I came in as a teenager. I was told that my new baby would never enter kindergarden. I really believed it. That child is now 30 and I have grandchildren. I recently heard one of my children saying the same thing-they would never grow old in this system. As I look at getting older and eventual retirement, I can't help wondering what all I would have done differently. I was very affected when they changed the generation teaching. I mean, I really believed I would never have to deal with old age and death. Now I can't believe I put so much trust in men. And I just want to shake my kid and tell them that they will, most certainly grow old and die, so wrap their mind around it now and plan for the real future.

29

Voting with their wallet

by SirNose586 in

jw
friends

when i came here in may, i began to see phrases like "voting with their wallets" or "voting with their feet" in regards to declining contributions and declining attendance figures.

i think i am seeing the former in action..... last sunday i went to the local ca.

at the half they read the accounts report--aka, cough up that dough report--and there was a "$4,000 deficit.

choosing life

Far from new-was a witness for 30 years. There was a time when they did ask if people wanted to pay for such projects. They still do on a congregation basis. last time they asked, the congregation voted them down.

12

All of the Lost Loves

by Sparkplug in

jw
friends

today i was typing out thoughts on a thread and it struck me.

i have not seen my one sister in 20 years.

she has missed out on one of my children completely.

choosing life

I feel sorry that you have lost your sister and can not have the relationship you both deserve. I hate shunning and see it for what it is- control and pure evil.

2

Just wondering?

by 5thGeneration in

jw
friends

if jehovah uses the armies of the world to advance his purposes.

are the individual soldiers blood guilty?.

if, as the society says, many persons in the past have proven faithful already, why are we still in this quagmire?.

choosing life

The issue of mankind proving faithful to God and Satan and God fighting about universal sovereignty makes no sense. You are right, men have already proved faithful and still are. I wish I could tell you why we are still in this mess but I can't. I am interested in making the best I can of it and when we find out the answer, it won't be in this life.

29

Voting with their wallet

by SirNose586 in

jw
friends

when i came here in may, i began to see phrases like "voting with their wallets" or "voting with their feet" in regards to declining contributions and declining attendance figures.

i think i am seeing the former in action..... last sunday i went to the local ca.

at the half they read the accounts report--aka, cough up that dough report--and there was a "$4,000 deficit.

choosing life

We have always had a huge deficit at each circuit assembly the past couple of years. But I also noted they take a lot of liberties with donated money for the assembly. It goes to CO and DO expenses, any visiting speaker from Bethel, a standard donation to worldwide work and I can't remember what else. The list was long. The strange thing was last time I went they announced a $3-4000 debt, then said funds on hand were like $10,000. Why can't they use those funds to pay the deficit? They redecorate the assembly hall when it still looks brand new and I mean NICELY. Then we have to pay for it. They don't even ask us our opinion or offer a vote.

5

R u blood guilty?

by buffalosrfree in

jw
friends

oops, hit return to soon.

i was waiting outside the bookstudy a week ago and heard this comment.

if a person gets into an accident and someone is hurt it is up to the brothers to investigate to see if the driver that caused the accident (if they are a witness) is blood guilty.

choosing life

There was an article in a recent magazine-not sure which one. It actually said that the brothers would do their own investigation into any auto accident that caused a fatality. And it didn't matter what the law decided-their investigation trumped the law of the land. So much for living in a democracy and obeying the higher authorities. They mentioned speeding or even just being tired while driving. I think this has something to do with the law suit that was filed against them when someone from Bethel was in an accident and the society got sued. They made it sound like all driving, but I think they are most worried about driving in service. People can say that that the society sent them in service and try to sue because they have deep pockets. They are actually talking about disfellowshipping if you make a mistake while driving and cause the death of another. Talk about being totally bummed out. How bad would you feel if someone died in an accident you were involved in and then you were disfellowshipped! But this way they can put the blame on you and protect themselves.

7

Flip-Flop Scan - Live Forever book

by bigmouth in

jw
friends

recently, a poster was asking about the changes between the 1982 and 1989 issues of the live forever book.

this was regarding the resurrection of the inhabitants of sodom and gomorrah.

are they or aren't they?

choosing life

I remember these changes. It never made sense to me that the people of Sodom would not be resurected because of what Jesus said there. At first, they said that they would not. Then the Live Forever book said They would-"new light". I thought great, they are making some sense now. Then they changed it again. So, really they have changed from no to yes to no again. I think the middle one is correct though.

22

The Impact of this Discussion Board in your Present Life

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

the impact of this discussion board in your present life from time to time that question comes into my heart .

and mind.

all of the information and research that .

choosing life

This board helps me to know I am not alone and not crazy. There is strength in numbers and if I had to go it totally alone, I don't know if I could have made it. After 30 years in an organization who claims to speak for God, it is slightly intimidating to say wait a minute, this just does not make sense. It is like saying the emperor has no clothes on. Obvious to you, but others are appalled that you dare to mention it.I love all the different personalities and the rather deep level of thought from various posters. So thanks for everything and keep it coming.

19

Do you miss 'em?

by Jourles in

jw
friends

if you're df'd or da'd and your friends and family have cut you off, do you still miss them?.

i miss some of my good friends i admit.

but do you want to know something really callous?

choosing life

Hate to break the mood here, but yes,I do miss my daughter. Of course, it is pretty fresh for me. But somehow I don't think that will change ever.

2

Watchtower humility and The Gitanjali of Tagore

by veradico in

jw
friends

i was thinking about how watchtower publications talk so much about humility, but really they are designed to humiliate.

we are instructed to distrust our hearts, think of ourselves as sinners, and look to the society for direction and salvation.

the publications spend so much time condemning independent thinking, higher education, higher criticism, the pleasures of life, the diversity of human expression, and the general messiness and complexity of life that the poor people like many in my family who are still trapped are consumed by a fear of getting their white robes (washed in the blood of the lamb) messy in the dirt of the world.

choosing life

Thanks,very nice and true. I no longer see God in handmade temples either. He is in his creation and busy taking care of it.