starfish422

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Posts by starfish422

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  48

  Marking.

  by Englishman in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've heard the expression a few times here but have normally not taken much notice.

  i've been exited for 31 years and 4 months, well before the onset of elders, reproofs and marking.. i understand the first 2 but am all at sea about the the third.

  someone please tell me exactly what "marking" is and how one becomes marked or a marker.. or markee!

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  starfish422

  Makes me think of Hester Prynn with that big scarlet "A".

  everyone was asking "who is that about?" She said she had NO IDEA. The gossip really took off. My mother called the elder who gave the talk and she ASKED HIM IF IT WAS ABOUT US, and he said it was a generic talk, and wasn't about anyone. Well, we know that was a big lie and it was about us, but she spread it all over what he had said. Then everyone was very confused.

  Isn't this an epidemic in every congregation?? In a so-called "spiritual paradise", it is filled with suspicion, gossip and back-stabbing.
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  25

  My apostate Christmas tree!

  by YellowLab in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ahh, it's so nice to celebrate holidays... 'tis the season to be jolly!.

  http://www.strike9.com/profile.aspx?name=yellowlab.

  (note: i had to take the picture without a flash, and i didn't have a tripod handy, so it might be a tad blurry).. merry christmas!.

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  starfish422

  It's lovely!! :) Is it your first?
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  48

  Marking.

  by Englishman in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've heard the expression a few times here but have normally not taken much notice.

  i've been exited for 31 years and 4 months, well before the onset of elders, reproofs and marking.. i understand the first 2 but am all at sea about the the third.

  someone please tell me exactly what "marking" is and how one becomes marked or a marker.. or markee!

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  starfish422

  You know, when I was quite young, maybe 5 or 6, I remember a brother announcing from the platform that so-and-so in another congregation was now considered bad association; since he wasn't baptized, he couldn't be disfellowshipped, but they did single him out by name.

  Now if someone is DF or DA, they only announce it in their own congregation, correct?
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  15

  Out of the mouths of babes

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have just imd my 11 year old daughter - -because of family commitments they are not going to meeting tonight.

  i asked "are you pleased you do not have to go to meeting tonight?

  " she replied --- "dad" all indignantly --- i then replied "what" and she said " dad , nobody likes going to meetings it is just something we have to do" so it appears waht has been said on this forum is truth.

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  starfish422

  Wow, Stilla, it's great that she can be so open with you. I can't possibly imagine telling my dad, at age 11, that I didn't like going to meetings. Eek. That would have meant lots and lots of extra study for sure.
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  18

  Need some Input!

  by Sunnygal41 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm going thru an incredible range of emotions since conversing with my fleshly sister yesterday.

  i've posted a few times here, but, haven't yet gained enough "notoriety"

  terri

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  starfish422

  Gosh, even my parents have sent photos of my nieces & nephews (through my grandmother). In their case, I have a feeling it's to show me all I'm missing out on, being out of the family.

  (((HUGS))) I'm sorry your sister's treating you this way.
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  10

  Broken family

  by Phil in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a question.

  i know of a couple that were both jws and the husband was dissatisfied with the organization and wanted out.

  is it possible for a marriage like this to function?

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  starfish422

  It seems to me that in many cases, the "believing" spouse leaves the "non-believer" on the basis that their spirituality is endangered, and often does so with the elders' support (although if a spouse's life was endangered by an abusive but still "faithful" spouse, trying to leave would result in a cut-off from the congregation...hmmmmm). They are allowed to divorce but the believer can't remarry unless the nonbeliever commits adultery.
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  4

  The burden

  by A Paduan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "my burden is light"

  jws are asked to watch their children die rather than have a transfusion, and more commonly, shun them and speak to them no more.

  are these burdens light?

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  starfish422

  Losing my child at my own hand, whether through shunning or denying them life-giving medical treatment? The very thought sends me into a panic.
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  48

  Just lost our parents....

  by 2escaped lifers in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, the shunning begins.

  we finally had "the" discussion with my parents, that we no longer consider ourselves jw's, and a little bit of why we felt that way.

  of course, "dad the elder and po" and mom the pioneer dutifully informed us that not only will they be "loyal to the organization" and shun us completely, but that he would immediately let the other elders know, so that proper judicial action could be taken.. it was a heart wrenching discussion, with all of us, including my two young boys (9 and 10) all balling our eyes out.

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  starfish422

  Brandon, I'm very, very sorry about your parents' decision. Sounds *exactly* like what I went through ten years ago when I left as well. Do you have a support network outside of your family that you, your wife and sons can rely on? ((((HUGS))))

  Take care.
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  52

  What did you day dream about at assemblies?

  by lastcall in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as a kid i would try to pay attention, but i just couldn't hang in there.

  if i didn't day dream i was going to go insane.. i used to create scenarios in my mind that i was a jw super hero.

  i had a special costume that was partially made of "flubber" that would allow me to bounce all over the auditorium.

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  starfish422

  I usually was engrossed by the cute guys from other KH that I only got to see at assemblies and conventions. :)
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  56

  My mommy is dying.... :(

  by outnfree in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm off to new york this morning.

  i'm fortunate that my oldest daughter will drive with me, missing class to support her mom and possibly to say a final farewell to her grandma.. my mother has has two strokes this year, and, after the first one in may, told me that she felt like she was dying from the inside out.

  she had another stroke at the end of august, and was eventually put in a nursing home.

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  starfish422

  Brenda, I am very, very sorry. (((HUGS))) You will be in my thoughts.