Our family recently made a donation to help the people in the Phillipines, but we did it through a respected charity (don't worry, we will NEVER give another dime or cent to the WTS!!). But on this well-known charity's website, they also stated that donations of food and clothing are difficult to get to the people or to transport, and that money is the preferred donation as it can then be used for anything that is needed, as in tents, shelters, bottled water, and food that may be bought from other areas closer to the disaster area.
Muddy Waters
JoinedPosts by Muddy Waters
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Nov 20, 2013 Letter to All Congregations (RE: Phillipines Disaster Relief)
by Gayle in"however, it would be appreciated if such donations are made without restrictions as to where and how the funds may be used.
" additionally, at this time, there is no need for donations of food, clothing, or other items.
if such needs arise in the future, you will be notified accordingly.
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Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses is a Negative, Depressing Thing To Do, but....
by AllTimeJeff inover the years since i left jehovahs witnesses, one of the more fascinating things to observe, and really to me, the most important, is what to do after you leave.. to be sure, no one leaves because of a positive experience.
and therein lies the issues with leaving.
basically, people leave in three general ways: 1. they, like myself, resign or leave due to a disagreement.
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Muddy Waters
Wow, I read the very first post in this thread and was totally blown away.... this is freaking awesome to read... Totally relevant and explains so much.... very very helpful. Thank you for the bump, needed it.
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Did Cedars manipulate Lee into having a thread closed?
by cedars ini will happily answer this question if there can be some guarantees this thread won't be deleted..
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Muddy Waters
While the drama is disturbing and upsetting, it is important in a community to have open communication, yes, even with warts and all.
Sometimes moderators are too quick to close a thread or end a debate when things get heated, and to me that doesn't help. It only creates festers and simmering wounds. Sometimes you need to shout and scream and kick. Right? Righteous anger and all that? When mods constantly remind people, "Play nice, speak nice" then sometimes you just get versions of plastic people, like at the KH, all talking nice with smiles on their faces, everybody hiding their real feelings. I am not advocating ad hominem attacks or out and out abuse of any member, but sometimes people need to let off steam and say things.
It may get ugly, but I appreciate a forum where the moderator/forum owner is reasonable in this regard and not so quick to shut everybody up and silence each person's voice. We have certainly had enough of that from the bOrganization!!
It seems to me that, as former JWs, we are not used to conflict. We are used to surface niceness and fake smiles. All get along under an umbrella of insincerity. Stuff is never dealt with, unless you constantly run to the elders, and we never learn how to really stand up for ourselves without being made to feel that we are somehow "bad" for doing so.
...
Having said that, I do feel that Simon makes an extremely valid point in saying, "I honestly do think that it's something in the exJW psyche that they are still working out in their head but some people just flip and can't be reasoned with. Obsession takes over and it becomes about payback, revenge or whatever. Maybe the forum does becomes a substitute for the WTS and so I become the target for being the authority on it. Who knows, it's a nice theory if nothing else but I'm no shrink."
It seems like some exJWs, especially those who were raised in the religion/cult, have damage. Men have been taught (from infancy, ha!) that they are superior, yet they are stifled in any personal achievements or goals, unless those goals or achievements further the advancement of the WTS's agenda. As JWs, we are constantly bombarded with how we should be, how we are never good enough, doing enough, etc. and blah blah blah. I think this can create a personality disorder, a prickly personality with ego problems and even "ego dissonance".
But I also agree with the thought about love covering a multitude of sins, about love being patient and kind... all that good mushy stuff we try to apply in our dealings with people, friends and family....
So we may fight and argue at times, sometimes with very valid reasons, but remembering each others difficulties and issues and any resultant psychological damage that may have been inflicted from our bOrg experience or other life experience.
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a list of good movies/tv shows to get a JW to think
by nonjwspouse inones that have themes that come uncomfortabllly close to the cult dynamic.. i already got him to watch the obsolete man on twilight zone.
he sauggested watching some old tz again tonight so i wioll pick where is everybody, and escape clause.. i have heard oters say the movie truman show was a good movie as is the matrix ( though i detest violence).
any more suggestions for my personal handy dandy list?.
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Muddy Waters
TANGLED. (2010) It's an animated movie, but very apt!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398286/?ref_=nv_sr_1 -
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a list of good movies/tv shows to get a JW to think
by nonjwspouse inones that have themes that come uncomfortabllly close to the cult dynamic.. i already got him to watch the obsolete man on twilight zone.
he sauggested watching some old tz again tonight so i wioll pick where is everybody, and escape clause.. i have heard oters say the movie truman show was a good movie as is the matrix ( though i detest violence).
any more suggestions for my personal handy dandy list?.
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Muddy Waters
OBLIVION (2013) with Tom Cruise.
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a list of good movies/tv shows to get a JW to think
by nonjwspouse inones that have themes that come uncomfortabllly close to the cult dynamic.. i already got him to watch the obsolete man on twilight zone.
he sauggested watching some old tz again tonight so i wioll pick where is everybody, and escape clause.. i have heard oters say the movie truman show was a good movie as is the matrix ( though i detest violence).
any more suggestions for my personal handy dandy list?.
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Muddy Waters
THE ISLAND (2005) with Scarlett Johansson & Ewan McGregor. (I've been told that this movie depicts life at BETHEL with blazing accuracy!!)
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Did Cedars manipulate Lee into having a thread closed?
by cedars ini will happily answer this question if there can be some guarantees this thread won't be deleted..
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Muddy Waters
Everybody is their own universe. (Meaning: we all see things from our own perspective. Even when we try to see things from another person's perspective, it doesn't always resonate or make sense. Sometimes it seems to "resonate" or make sense, and we all get along, everybody's happy. Until another moment or something happens where we realize, once again, that everybody is their own universe....)
(This applies to everybody, anywhere, in any sort of relationship: friendship, marriage, message boards, forums, our colleagues at work, our pets... any time there is communication, there can also be communication break-down. Clarity and insight are gifts. When they happen, we appreciate these gifts.)
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Favorite scripture in your present journey
by Separation of Powers inso, if you haven't become an atheist yet and still hold on to some form of christian based/bible based faith.
tell us one scripture that defines where you are at right now in your spiritual journey.... .
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Muddy Waters
From Psalms 146:3.. "Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs..." (NWT)
3 "Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation." (new NWT)
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To any JWs watching and reading here, please know this...
by Muddy Waters into any jws watching and reading here, please know thiis:.
.... we know how you must be feeling so bad about being at a website like this, yet inside you are somehow questioning and not wanting to question... relax right now.. your computer won't explode -- reassuring smile -- all you are doing is asking a question or seeking an answer... right?
isn't that how one gains knowledge, finds truth?.
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Muddy Waters
Thanks, Zoos. :)
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To any JWs watching and reading here, please know this...
by Muddy Waters into any jws watching and reading here, please know thiis:.
.... we know how you must be feeling so bad about being at a website like this, yet inside you are somehow questioning and not wanting to question... relax right now.. your computer won't explode -- reassuring smile -- all you are doing is asking a question or seeking an answer... right?
isn't that how one gains knowledge, finds truth?.
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Muddy Waters
To any JWs watching and reading here, please know thiis:
...
We know how you must be feeling so bad about being at a website like this, yet inside you are somehow questioning and not wanting to question... Relax right now.
Your computer won't explode -- reassuring smile -- all you are doing is asking a question or seeking an answer... right? Isn't that how one gains knowledge, finds truth?
No, I'm not Satan whispering from a tree. I am a sister, a sister who had questions too, when some things just didn't seem to add up or make sense. So I questioned. Very reluctantly and with huge amounts of guilt and fear... Aways remembering "where else could I go?? This is the truth." .... Isn't it? And so you feel frightened. Maybe you will run away right now because you recognize these feelings and thoughts and fear that Satan is getting to you.
If so, that is fine... no worries. Keep seeking Jehovah's glory, his strength, his will, all the very good and wonderful things which do come out of "this organization".... And there are many good things. If you wish, drop by again to visit when you feel more comfortable or when another burning question or doubt comes up into your heart, because really, as a thinking person, you do require answers. Or explanations. Or just to reassure yourself and confirm your faith.
But if you think there just might, might be something strange about the Org lately or the GB are sure elevating themselves above everybody else lately... then maybe you need to hear more ...
You may be wondering if this is really the type of truth which Jesus taught, and is this really how people should live and believe and behave if they are true Christians...? What does the Bible say? Yes, it should all go back to the Bible, shouldn't it? The real question is... Does it?
Much love,
Muddy
(Muddy Waters, actually... Chose that name when I first start questioning things, when the clear, clean, sparkling waters of "truth" began to feel so confused, so non-sensical, so ever-changing... so... muddy. It was a totally confusing time, but did, and does, get better!!)