2nd weekend of June. Time to plant my beans now. The rest of the garden is in. It is also sunny with high's in the upper 70's. Totally ADD
TotallyADD
JoinedPosts by TotallyADD
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5
It is a gorgeous, sunny Sunday
by PaintedToeNail ini'm so glad i have been able to be puttering around my yard, planting flowers, pulling weeds, drinking coffee while on the porch, instead of being locked in a stuffy kingdom hall, being bored to death, watching the clock and hoping nobody was going to be long-winded on the comments at the watchtower and we would end up overtime.
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isn't it great to be able to have a leisurely sunday morning?.
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Should all elders be painted with the same brush?
by Socrateswannabe inan hour or two ago, i was reading a topic on this forum that welcomed new elders to jwn.
there was some criticism aimed at the op and i understand that elders shouldn't be singled out as special.
one poster said he/she hates all elders.
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TotallyADD
As a former elder I remember the great pressure put on elders to perform. One of the biggest was always field service, bible studies, shepherding work, preparing talks, book studies, JC, studying with your family, personal study, CA parts or assignment, RBC, DC parts or assignments, elder school and plan old elder meetings at the hall. The tread wheel is big and very tiresome. After awhile it sucks any joy you may have had. Some elders enjoy and exploit their positions. Others do about 70% of what they are told to do and still others 50% down to 20 %. It all depends on the person. Point is the WT has it design so elders don't have time to think or take care of themselves or their family. So after awhile for many they are like robots acting like what they think a elder should do. For those who really want to help the flock my hat is off to them but the old WT tread wheel is right on your heels all the time. It's there to wear you out so it is easier to brain wash elders with WT propagnada. They get this propagnada from letters from the WT and meetings with CO during his visit. I always loved after they loaded elders with more things to do they would always conclude the letter that they don't want to burden the elders with a heavier load. But that is what it did. The funny thing is after awhile what you are told you truly believe it. It all sounds so right and makes sense. So back to the question "Should all elders be painted with the same brush?" No. But every elder handles this pressure diffrently. Some good others bad. Elders are much a captive to this cult as anyone else who are in it.
My advice for socrateswannabe is to find a way out. I know it is hard. I was the PO when I wokeup and it took 2 years to break free from it all. Baby steps. I was lucky though my wife was on the same page. Most are not. Hopefully time is on your side. I totally hope you can find a way out of this cult with your family intact. Take care. Totally ADD
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You know you're getting old when...
by nonjwspouse in...you can remember as a kid having to stand by the tv set in a certian spot, sometimes holding the antenna to get better reception.. yes, i was an antenna sometimes.
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any more trips down memory lane for you oldies like me?.
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TotallyADD
I remember back in 1962 when the telephone company change out our wood box telephone that hung on the wall which had a crank on the side with a dial phone. To top it off it was on a party line. Our rings was two shorts and one long. If it was not your ring you could pick up the phone and listen to others talking. Totally ADD
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Numbers don't lie :The End of JESUS...
by raymond frantz in(1john2:22,23)who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that jesus is the christ?
this is the antichrist, the one that denies the father and the son.
23 everyone that denies the son does not have the father either.
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TotallyADD
They are not JW they are GB witnesses. Totally ADD
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How did disfellowshipping work before the elder arrangement?
by slimboyfat inas i understand it disfellowshipping started in the early 1950s, but the elder arrangement didn't come i to place until 1971. nowadays three elders discuss and then vote whether the disfellowship.
but what did they do when congregations didn't have a body of elders.
who decided when to disfellowship then?
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TotallyADD
Before the elders arrangement there was 1. P.O. 2. Field Overseer 3. Bible Overseer or Bible Study Overseer I don't remember which. These were permanent positions. They made up the committee for J.D. I may be wrong on the right name for those positions but I do know that's how it worked. Totally ADD
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What problem did being a JW leave with your personality?
by frogonmytoe inand i don't (necessarily) mean a religious or spiritual one.. for example, i think the traces of guilt and paranoia i often fight with come from being a born-in, but my biggest issue by far is not being able to live in the moment.. i have listened to the power of now audiobook (and eckhart tolle's voice put me to sleep) so i read it instead.
i have read other self-help books, most of them buddhist in leaning, but i still find it hard to stop thinking only in the future (thanks to the great trib, armageddon), or in the past (jesus, flood, 1914 being responsible for that).
and whilst i no longer believe the big a is looming, and barely give anything else a second thought, my behaviour has projected itself, and i still find it difficult just to 'be' in the moment, enjoying and savouring what i'm doing, and doing it to the best of my ability, i'm forever thinking what is coming up, and what i did badly last time.. my sister said the last time i visited her that she felt like she was waiting for something to happen "but not like armageddon, something else".
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TotallyADD
What Roberta 804 said makes alot of sense. As born-ins we all lost our childhood. The reason is they try to make children into adults. Doing adult things. Listening to adult talks that only adult should hear. We was all rob of our innocents. Something we will never get back now that we are adults. The only thing we can do is observe how others act in the world around you. Take notice of the good things they do. The kindnesses, how they treat others. Try to be silly sometimes. Find things that make you laugh. Try to get involved with a local club that you would really enjoy. I was told once on this fourm by Randy or maybe it was Simon I don't remember which that as born-ins we will never get over the mind control cult we came from. All we can do it work really hard to make life better for ourselves and those around us. Like all of you I am still arkward around other people but now unlike the cult we came from they are not judging to see where you will mess up. They just want to know if you will make a good friend. Totally ADD
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Who on here, are close to 60
by Quarterback inwow, where does the time go?
i'm scared of reaching this number, and yet i'm so close.. what is your health secrets?
what do you do for stress releif?
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TotallyADD
Happy birthday blondie. I missed what you said in your comment. ADD. Are you also a june 6th baby? Great to be alive. Totally ADD
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Former Long Time Elder, New Member
by James Jackson ini have served 20 years as an elder, 5 years as an ms. was on the district committee in 2010, held various positions on the district , circuit, and rbc level.
probably been on more than 100 judicial committees and even an appeals committee.
was the coordinator in our congregation and deleted because adult child was df ( i kicked him out at the time of his wrongdoing, but that wasn't enough for thr brothers).
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TotallyADD
Welcome James. I to an elder for 25 years and in the same positions you served. I to lurked for serveral years before coming on board. It's a long process for some and a short one for others. We are all diffrent. I don't remember in your comment but are you a born-in or convert? I hope both you are your wife are on the same page it will make it easier for both of you. Reopened Mind and I also had a teenage son DF but we allowed him to stay home with us. Even though the CO wanted me removed and body of elders didn't. So I stayed on as a elder. Take your time there is no pressure on you from us to do anything but what you are doing now. As adults it is really strange how we have to sneak around just to find the truth about the truth. Our new friends we have that know are past find it so hard to believe what we all go through to escape this cult. Again Welcome to the forum and look forward to more comments from you. Take care. If you need any advice just give me a PM so we can talk. Totally ADD
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Who on here, are close to 60
by Quarterback inwow, where does the time go?
i'm scared of reaching this number, and yet i'm so close.. what is your health secrets?
what do you do for stress releif?
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TotallyADD
Both Reopened Mind and I are close to 60. Eat right. Stay away from fast food joints. Walk, work out, garden, when it comes to yard work do it the hard way instead of the easy way. Really a good way to keep your strength up. Enjoy the sunsets, warm days, cold days, rainy days and even bad days. Take in the marvels of nature, night sky, the early morning sunrise. Laugh alot and it's OK to act silly and always never take yourself seriously. Living in FL for so many years we saw alot of old people. The ones who stay active live along time those who just sat on their butts where gone in a few years. As far as sex is concerned. Wellllllll You can figure that one out on your own. LOL Totally ADD
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Today Is TotallyADD's 5th Birthday
by Reopened Mind inno, he is not 5 years old, he is 59 today.
totallyadd like many of you was raised in the cult and not allowed to celebrate his birthdays.
he was always on the outside looking in, deprived of cake and comraderie.
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TotallyADD
Gee! Thanks all you guys. It has been a great 5th Birthday. Maybe next year I will get a bicycle with training wheels for my birthday. All of you have really made my day. Even though it's been raining all day the bright smile of my wife greeted me with a happy birthday then two great birthday cards one from my wife and one from some friends of ours. For supper tonight my wife made me steak, bake potatoe with corn. Served with a ice cold beer. Then home made chocolate cake with 5 candles on it. What more can person ask for. Thank you for all your love and birthday wishes it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you my loving wife for this wonderful surprise on JWN. This all goes along ways in keeping me happy and level headed. May all of you what age you are have a great brithday also this year. Turning 5 has been great. Thanks to all. Totally ADD PS I love you Reopened Mind.