Posts by jschwehm

There was a young man who was being DFed for drug use I believe. And there was disagreement on the elder body as to whether he should be DFed. One elder was against it and made his views public. The Watchtower Study conductor was on to what was going on. In any case, this elder kept raising his hand during the Watchtower Study and the conductor kept ignoring him.

Eventually, someone asked the Watchtower Study conductor why he was ignoring this elder. So, the next time this elder had his hand up the Watchtower Study conductor called on him. This elder then started to give his perspective on the situation at hand in the congregation. At that point, the Watchtower Study conductor yelled the elder down and ordered that the microphone be taken away from the elder.

It was not long before this elder was deleted and moved to a different congregation.

Jeff S.

9

The old "Philia" mailing list....

by Country Girl in

jw
friends

anyone remember the old philia mailing list for xjw's?

that was back in the days before the www, when the internet didn't have graphics, and you had to subscribe to mailing lists by sending a request to the particular server and requesting to subscribe.

you then only got text response from all members of the mailing list.

jschwehm

I was on the list back in 1995.

Jeff S.

27

My Aunt Is Told That If She Goes To My Daughter's Wedding She'll Be Deleted

by minimus in

jw
friends

as a regular pioneer and even if she gave a gift, she'd be removed as a pioneer!

this woman is 80 years old and has been pioneering for over 40 years.

my mother also is a pioneer in a different congregation and she is wondering whether this is a new rule from the society or is something that the local congregation has decided.

jschwehm

We had a situation where a JW man wanted to marry a lady who was studying. They could not have the wedding in a KH so they had it at a reception hall. The entire congregation was invited to the wedding. The elders would not give a talk there and so they got a justice of the peace and a JW friend of the family was going to read some scriptures there. The wedding was scheduled for a Saturday evening. At the Service Meeting a mere two days before the wedding, the elders gave a special needs talk saying that no one from the congregation who was invited to the wedding should attend the wedding. This really split the congregation.

Jeff S.

18

Anybody see ex-JW, now Catholic, on TV last night?

by willyloman in

jw
friends

jeff schwehm, an ex-jw who sometimes posts here, was on ewtn, the catholic network, last night.

he posted an announcement on this forum several days ago.

i thought he came across as a very nice man, sincere and full of conviction.

jschwehm

Hi All:

I take no offense at the critical comments about the Catholic Church. Lord knows that the Catholic Church has very serious problems these days.

I was attracted to the Church by what it officially teaches and by reading history. I realize that much of the history of the Catholic Church and Christianity in general is marred by the failures of the followers of Christ to live up to what Christ has taught us. I am afraid that all Christians fail in this regard to one degree or another myself included.

However, the Catholic Church and Christianity in general teach us that we will not be perfect on this side of heaven and that the Church is, or should be, a place that will help us to live the life of Christ more faithfully. One of the most powerful teachings of the Catholic Church and Christianity in general for me is the Mercy of God. As a JW I had this view of God as a major tyrant who was interested in using weak human beings to prove that He had the right to rule over us. As a Catholic, I realize that God is actually a loving Father who wants to teach us to be more like Him and that is to love others unconditionally.

If you are a Christian, and you believe Jesus is God, you believe in a God that knows exactly what it means to suffer and die. As a Christian, we are baptized into the life, the death, and ultimately the resurrection of Christ. In fact, according to Catholic teachings those who suffer in this life are part of what is known as "the apostolate of suffering". By their suffering they are actually considered more closely ordered to Christ Himself who suffered tremendous pain as a human being. That is why the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations spend so much time and money assisting those in need. Jesus really meant it when He said that when we assist those in need we are really assisting Him. It is also why many Catholics will ask people who are suffering to pray for them. It is because the Catholic Church teaches that when we are suffering we are more closely ordered to Jesus than at any other time. St. Francis of Assisi said that when we suffer in this life it is Jesus lifting us up to His cross to give us a kiss.

As far as my wife is concerned, she also entered the Church. What my wife says is that when she learned of God's Divine Mercy from the writings of a Catholic nun by the name of Sister Faustina, it moved her so much that she decided to become Catholic. In any case, that is her short story.

Thanks again for all of the comments both pro and con. I hope everyone is doing well.

Jeff S.

11

Newspaper Article on Conversion from the JWs

by jschwehm in

jw
friends

hi gang:.

this article was published in the local sheboygan press newspaper this morning on my conversion from the jws to the catholic church.. here is the link:.

http://www.wisinfo.com/sheboyganpress/news/archive/feat_15995880.shtml.

jschwehm

Hi Gang:

This article was published in the local Sheboygan Press newspaper this morning on my conversion from the JWs to the Catholic Church.

Here is the link:

http://www.wisinfo.com/sheboyganpress/news/archive/feat_15995880.shtml

Jeff S.

17

Another Television Show on the Jehovah's Witnesses on May 10th

by jschwehm in

jw
friends

hi gang:.

i will be interviewed on the cable tv network known as the "eternal world television network" (ewtn) about my conversion from the jehovah's witnesses to the roman catholic church.

the program is called "the journey home" and it will air on monday may 10th at 7 pm central time (usa).

jschwehm

Gumby:

How could I get upset with you?????

Jeff S.

17

Another Television Show on the Jehovah's Witnesses on May 10th

by jschwehm in

jw
friends

hi gang:.

i will be interviewed on the cable tv network known as the "eternal world television network" (ewtn) about my conversion from the jehovah's witnesses to the roman catholic church.

the program is called "the journey home" and it will air on monday may 10th at 7 pm central time (usa).

jschwehm

Hi Gumby:

I thought that way too until I started reading the early church fathers. In addition, I soon discovered that it was the bishops of the Catholic Church that determined what books should be included in the New Testament. Eventually, I read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and that eventually lead to my conversion.

I also started reading the stories of many of the Saints and was impressed by their concern for people everywhere. I did not realize this but the Catholic Church provides an impressive array of social services for needy people all across the world regardless of race, creed, religion, or color.

In addition, I fell in love with the way in which Catholics worship God. The churches are artistically beautiful and the music is grand.

As far as the effect the program would have on any active JWs, I would expect them to be very negative towards it. I am more interested in educating fellow Catholics about the JWs and any former JW who might want to learn more about Catholicism.

Jeff S.

17

Another Television Show on the Jehovah's Witnesses on May 10th

by jschwehm in

jw
friends

hi gang:.

i will be interviewed on the cable tv network known as the "eternal world television network" (ewtn) about my conversion from the jehovah's witnesses to the roman catholic church.

the program is called "the journey home" and it will air on monday may 10th at 7 pm central time (usa).

jschwehm

Hi Gumby:

I am not sure what you are talking about.

Jeff S.