TMS

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Posts by TMS

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  5

  DECEPTIVE JW ELDERS - CASE#4b

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  deceptive jw elders case#4b .

  but jesus called them to him, and said, you know that the princes of the gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

  my son-in-law said that the young jw man arrived and stayed a while, started to watch the movie, but then left.

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  TMS
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  7

  More Than An Ex-

  by Francois in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we all spend lots of time here giving the lie to the cult known as jehovah's witnesses and their cover organization, the watchtower bible & tract society.

  here, the real truth about this dangerous and divisive organization of men is revealed for all who are interested.

  long before i showed up here, the jedi and other advanced members here have given unstinting support for people coming out of "the organization.

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  TMS

  Swa: I think "Yes"!

  Mostly I am consumed with life itself, not being an ex-anti-inactive-df'd, da'ad witness.

  But when I take my wife her coffee in the morning, if the conversation turns. . . . . .

  TMS
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  10

  What about Cats and Dogs?

  by Thirdson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was thinking (as i am wont to do) while driving this weekend, about god killing 279 million americans of the us kind at the big a. it is hypothetical, but something the 900,000 jws here in us believe.

  is god so cruel that along with all the people he is going to kill all their pets too?

  after all with 50 million households or more, most of which have at least a dog or a cat, (many one or more of each, plus fish, birds, snakes and whatever) who will care for all those animals once the people are zapped.

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  TMS

  you have struck a nerve, Mr. Patio!

  My wife and I have just spent a year nursing a min pin back from renal kidney failure. Every day he lives and shows 30% of his former vigor, we rejoice. When he has bad days, we are totally down.

  Weren't we "created in God's image"?

  TMS
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  25

  I Look Death in the Eye

  by COMF in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have always had trouble breathing.

  in track i was great for a quick burst of speed in the 50 yard dash, but couldn't move enough air in and out to keep myself going for the longer runs like the 330. i had sleep apnea really bad, with the classic symptoms where i stopped breathing for a while and then suddenly snorted myself awake gasping for breath.

  for most of my life, surgery wasn't an option due to my jw lifestyle and employment choices (cleaning business = no insurance).

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  TMS

  Hey Kid:

  Everytime we swallow those little beta-blockers, deuretics, synthroids, etc. we r reminded of our mortality.

  The kids at Burger King get our order wrong and the kids at the hospital can't read our charts right.

  Are old farts like us anachronisms or what?

  TMS
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  5

  DECEPTIVE JE ELDERS - CASE#4a

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  deceptive jw elders case#4a .

  the following case#4a through case#4 (whatever), are a number of events that personally happened to me where jw elders deceived or deliberately lied to me or members of my family.

  they are not necessarily written in order of events nor necessarily connected to one another, but they all had an impact on my decision to leave the organization:.

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  TMS

  This thread is, of course, not about home-schooling, but about arbitrary, capricious, arrogant directives from opinionated, "full-of-themselves" shepherds.

  Amazing cited two scriptural principles that are harped upon in congregational meetings, but frequently ignored or actually not comprehended by elders: 1. headship 2. Matt. 18

  TMS
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  20

  "Not of Our Sort" Part I

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am an old man.. this is a topic i have been comtemplating for some time as i continue in this transitional time of my life, reminiscing about my 50+ years with what some of you call the "borg", but i simply refer to as jehovah's witnesses.. good people i have known who loved god, but did not fit into the organizational scheme of things is the topic.

  there will be at least three parts a la amazing.

  this topic will sink out of sight like a rock, but it is therapeutic to write it and the contemplation brings a smile to my face.. my first subject is b.w.. b.w.

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  TMS

  I am an old man.

  This is a topic I have been comtemplating for some time as I continue in this transitional time of my life, reminiscing about my 50+ years with what some of you call the "borg", but I simply refer to as Jehovah's Witnesses.

  Good people I have known who loved God, but did not fit into the organizational scheme of things is the topic. There will be at least three parts a la Amazing.

  This topic will sink out of sight like a rock, but it is therapeutic to write it and the contemplation brings a smile to my face.

  My first subject is B.W.

  B.W. was the least likely Witness prospect you have ever encountered. He left home at 14, working in carnivals as a barker. He fought at Iwo Jima and Northern Africa in WWII. He was affluent in middle age, a chain smoker and a heavy drinker.

  His first encounter with JW's was early 60's, obtaining "Your Will Be Done on Earth". He became mesmorized by Daniel's prophecy, especially pertaining to first century men who perceived that John the Baptist might possibly be the Christ by the chronology.

  He agreed to study with a gifted Special Pioneer, who had just been assigned to circuit work. We took over the study as best we could. A study with B.W. was a marathon, going hours into the night, extended by his multitude of questions and his gracious hospitality. After prayer, he would offer a glass of red wine, which he would never allow to empty. Ham on rye with avocado. More red wine. You get the point. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and our age difference was immaterial to him.

  B.W. did not merely "attend" a meeting. He literally burst onto the scene, instantly a player, although he was never regarded as a legitimate Witness. He commented profusely from the get-go and knew what he was talking about. He read the entire Bible. He read the "Aid" book from A-G,(all that was available at that point) He figured the chronology should point to 1974, not 1975, based on his calculations. He witnessed to all his chronies in the business world. His car would be at the Town Hall restaurant hours every night. He could be found at a table, buying dinner for businessmen, NWT on the table, waxing eloquent about Daniel and all he had learned.

  He traded in his Cadillac for two Opels. He would drive one in service and the other would be available for another car group.

  No Witness need went unfulfilled if B.W. learned about it. When he learned a widow sister's roof leaked, he had materials delivered and a crew there in the morning.

  Yet he still smoked and drank heavily and bemoaned his weakness. In those days, smoking would not prevent one from baptism. He lit up a big cigar after his immersion and went in service, Bible in hand.

  When the persecution in Liberia broke out in the early 60's, he cabled the Watchtower Society. He had contacts in that area and could help. "No thanks", they replied. When the Malawian situation was detailed, he was livid. While most of us were writing letters of protest, he was requesting a formal meeting with the Malawian regime, "any place, any time".

  All of the brothers knew that B.W. had a "heart of gold", but never fully accepted him. The circuit overseer, who gladly accepted a case of fine whiskey B.W. smuggled over the border, informed B.W. that his dream of pioneering would never be realized as long as he smoked.

  This man, with all his obvious weaknesses, was one of the finest men I have ever known. He NEVER memorized a 30-60 second presentation, but went to the door with only a Bible, dressed in a $500 suit. He was generous to a fault. If a householder had a material need, it was satisfied. If a brother in the congregation had a need, it was satisfied. He knew he was a sinner, worthy of nothing.

  B.W. was disfellowshipped for smoking in the early 70's when the policy changed. He died in that state. He never complained. His ex-wife, who divorced him when he became a Witness, expressed extreme bitterness, that this man, who gave so much of himself to an organization, could be treated in such a way.

  He was just "not of our sort".

  TMS
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  16

  DECEPTIVE JW ELDERS - CASE#3

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  deceptive jw elders case#3 .

  for there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was (anything) made secret, but that it should come to light.

  mark 4:22 .

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  TMS

  Just a quick observation about the file being kept to determine a "pattern of conduct". Since "practising sin" is a key component of non-repentence, it becomes important to establish repetition of the wrong. One slick, heartless elder I was acquainted with liked to skillfully link unrelated incidences over a period of time into a more generalized category. Bingo! A practice!

  Thus, a youth caught in petty vandalism one year, a year of two later over-drinking at a party, which he tried to cover up("collusion"), now becomes guilty of "practicing" the broader sin of "loose conduct". So, in effect, two unwise actions become three instances, when the individual sins are isolated, which are now linked semantically into a broader category for judicial purposes.

  TMS
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  20

  DECEPTIVE JW ELDERS - CASE#2

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  deceptive jw elders case#2 .

  appointing spiritually qualified men to take the lead and serve as elders and overseers has been a feature of watch tower congregational organization since about 1972. jws were told in talks at conventions, in literature, and finally in the two versions of the organization book that the biblical criteria is used when elders meet to consider some men for appointment as an elder.

  jws are also told that these qualified men are already appointed first by holy spirit, and then as the congregation is lead by that spirit to recognize them, the elders meeting is a confirmation of what god has done.

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  TMS

  My experience with pre-Circuit Overseer recommendation meetings spans about 35 years, actually predating the current elder arrangement. Most were a little more conscientiously handled then Amazing relates, although flawed.

  Generally, some of the Scriptural references and much of the current organizational book's take on these qualifications were considered.
  Unfortunately, personal friendships and personality conflicts could cloud individual judgement in spite of all of the holy spirit in the room. Sometimes, alliances were formed within the body to promote or block a particular brother.

  A little anecdote about the appointment letter from the Society with the green check mark next to the name of one appointed:

  In one congregation in the late 70's, we recommended two brothers for appointment as elders. One was green-checked(appointed). Next to the unchecked name were the remarks from the spirit-directed organization: "too young, baptized too recently".

  The only problem was that the brother appointed was actually several years younger than the one not appointed and had been baptized a shorter time. This created a quandary for the body of elders. My suggestion to write a letter was met with quick resistance by the majority. They thought it best to leave well enough alone. Actually, I believed they feared losing the appointment of the more popular younger brother. After much discussion, a query was drafted and sent to the Society. They returned the original appointment letter back with BOTH brother's names "green-checked". No explanation. Sort of unsettling to a true believer in the "appointed by holy spirit" concept.

  TMS
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  11

  "Well Rounded JW Kids"

  by LDH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well, my parents (from ny) came out to visit a couple of weeks ago, no notice or anything (they live 3,000 miles away) and knocked on my door on a friday evening.. as hubby was not home from work yet, and i was laying down from yet another migraine, i got extremely agitated when the doorbell rang.

  now, i don't open my door for anyone when i'm not feeling well.

  to make a long story short, it was my parents, who spent about 6 days.

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  TMS

  Lisa,
  "G"'s on "Application Made Clear" and "Subject Theme Emphasized".

  Our own experience is "case in point". We have a 30 yr old son, who sacrificed all normal growing-up experiences, eventually becoming a Regular Pioneer and Ministerial Servant(although, he had no real inclination for it).

  Once disfellowshipped (and while pursuing reinstatement, because of his love for us), he began to do things that were simply best for him; a little schooling, pursuing a career, etc. and has really blossomed.

  Our early years of parental nurturing were anything but well-rounded, but, hopefully, we've not wised up too late.

  TMS
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  37

  Final Observations

  by Esmeralda in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm an observant person.

  i became that way back in what i call the 'wallflower years' of my life, when i could very easily blend into the woodwork of any room i walked into without anyone looking up.

  i became a student of human nature and watched how people interacted, and that study has come in handy at many points.. sometimes, though, i don't realize when i'm opening a can of worms.

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  TMS

  The discussion board concept invokes a unique psychological dependency/ interaction.

  Being involved in several "boards" of totally diverse interests, my contention is that the "good-bye" post could almost be a "fill in the blanks" document.

  Cases in point:

  On a HVAC(heating, venting and air conditioning) board a long-time serious poster composed a wordy "good-bye". He eschewed the deterioration of quality posts, the spamming, the Carrier vs. Lennox threads. etc. His words were carefully chosen and not a few arrows were aimed at his former colleagues.

  On a Dallas Mavericks basketball fan board, a long-time dominant poster threw in the towel over the Maverick's decision to sign, as a player, an aging veteran with a checkered personal life history (Vernon Maxwell) He wrote a long-winded, desparaging post to announce his dissatisfaction with the entire Dallas Mavericks organization and their fandom.

  Over at the recently deceased Witnet, a pompous frequent poster from the Phillipines, who labeled himself as "Man of the True God", didn't simply stop participating but detailed his reasons for severing his connections with said discussion board in a long-winded, condescending post.

  What is it about discussion boards that impels one to not simply cease and desist, but file a formal divorce action?

  TMS