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Luvnlife
Lion King
Joined: 22 Feb 2007
Posts: 1271
Location: US
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 Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject: Attention! Jehovahs Witnesses! |
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Please PM me so that I know who you are so that when you don't respond to a question I have, I understand that you are just doggedly following your churches erroneous doctrines.
I was disfellowshipped as requested by my family in the late '70's partly because of issues within the church. I thought about going back at one point but was treated so badly when I did return that I decided not to put myself through that abuse any longer.
With time and after studying the bible, I determined that there are many things about the JW's I don't agree with including the way they treat so-called 'fallen members.'
Please do me the courtesy of letting me know who you are via PM so that I know that you are not intentionally being rude and obnoxious. I understand that you are just doing what you are told by the church even though it's not in keeping with the teachings of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
I understand that you are part of the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding families turning against each other.
Matt 24:
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And…..
Luke 12:51-53
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Matt 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye
Thanks
Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
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Ryck
Lion King
Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 1094
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:37 am Post subject: Re: Attention! Jehovahs Witnesses! |
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| luvnlife wrote: | Please PM me so that I know who you are so that when you don't respond to a question I have, I understand that you are just doggedly following your churches erroneous doctrines.
I was disfellowshipped as requested by my family in the late '70's partly because of issues within the church. I thought about going back at one point but was treated so badly when I did return that I decided not to put myself through that abuse any longer.
With time and after studying the bible, I determined that there are many things about the JW's I don't agree with including the way they treat so-called 'fallen members.'
Please do me the courtesy of letting me know who you are via PM so that I know that you are not intentionally being rude and obnoxious. I understand that you are just doing what you are told by the church even though it's not in keeping with the teachings of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
I understand that you are part of the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding families turning against each other.
Matt 24:
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And…..
Luke 12:51-53
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Matt 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye
Thanks
Luv |
That was thirty or so years ago. Isn't this too long to have an axe to grind? |
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Zathrus
King Kong
Joined: 28 Aug 2002
Posts: 2273
Location: WI USA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| Ryck wrote: | | Isn't this too long to have an axe to grind? |
Apparently not for the Witnesses.
_________________
Establishing the law by receiving the righteousness which is by faith, without the deeds of the law!
2 Cor 3 "11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious."
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TBax
King Kong
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Posts: 2131
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:49 am Post subject: |
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Matt 24:48 “But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ 49 and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, 51 and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.
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Agape,
TBax |
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Luvnlife
Lion King
Joined: 22 Feb 2007
Posts: 1271
Location: US
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:51 am Post subject: |
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Ryck said: | Quote: | | That was thirty or so years ago. Isn't this too long to have an axe to grind? |
Ryck;
Perhaps you did not read TBax's post to me stating that he cannot talk to me because I was disfellowshipped 30 years ago!
In addition, I have a brother that decided (with the help of his new wife) that he did not want to be a part of our family anymore. Both had spent their childhoods attending the JW church. Neither one of them was attending any church when they decided to write off our family. I asked my brother why he wasn't talking to me. He said it was because I said something unkind to his wife. I didn't. We were getting along fine, or so I thought.
Later on, it became a JW issue. Suddenly, since he is in the cult, he and my nephew and niece and his wife are using the church as an excuse to not talk to us.
Does that sound 'Christian' to you and does it sound like it was 30 years ago and does not impact my families' lives still?
Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints |
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Ryck
Lion King
Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 1094
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| Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| luvnlife wrote: | Ryck said: | Quote: | | That was thirty or so years ago. Isn't this too long to have an axe to grind? |
Ryck;
Perhaps you did not read TBax's post to me stating that he cannot talk to me because I was disfellowshipped 30 years ago!
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Sorry, no. Sometimes all this "insider information" that shoots back and forth I'm only able to catch some if it doesn't go over my head. 
Maybe if you guys can call a truce and be a little more civil with each other?
| Quote: |
In addition, I have a brother that decided (with the help of his new wife) that he did not want to be a part of our family anymore. Both had spent their childhoods attending the JW church. Neither one of them was attending any church when they decided to write off our family. I asked my brother why he wasn't talking to me. He said it was because I said something unkind to his wife. I didn't. We were getting along fine, or so I thought.
Later on, it became a JW issue. Suddenly, since he is in the cult, he and my nephew and niece and his wife are using the church as an excuse to not talk to us.
Does that sound 'Christian' to you and does it sound like it was 30 years ago and does not impact my families' lives still?
Luv |
Seems petty if that came from strangers but since it is coming from family relations then it is much more serious. If you can't sit down and try to talk this out calmly, without setting who is to blame, and just make peace for the family, then perhaps you can take the higher road and tell them that you love them no matter how much they do to hate you and divide you from the family. Let their own unChristian attitudes sit with them as they contemplate their reactions to your loving Christian and family action.
At the very least, find joys with other members of your family that not putting up resistance to you. And also expand to include valued friends as part of your extended family as well. I once heard a saying that friends are God's excuse for your family. So, in instances when your family has become worse than strangers, make more friends.
My dad's side of the family were always very snotty with me and my mom's side of the family because they had more "professionals" in their family that went to college while my mom's side of the family were more "blue collar" and honest hard working laborers. In the end, all my relatives on my dad's side ended up with divorces, broken homes, and screwed-up children. But my mom's side always remained humble, loving, tight knit and helped each other and everyone. In contrast my mom's side families stayed together and their children went on to having good happy families of their own.
So, find ways to be happy, luv. Don't mistake revenge or nursing old wounds for happiness but make your happiness the best revenge in and of itself. Make happiness your best revenge. Do it in the face of God rather than in their faces and by ignoring whatever they do to make you otherwise.
(If I catch TBax's drift, try to resist bad-mouthing them or their religion. Because then what you do is reciprocating their bad actions and continuing the cycle.
Jesus said that if your enemy slaps you on the check, offer to him the other also. Take all the worst from them and give nothing evil in return. God wil make sure to resupply your spiritual battery with all the good energy you need to be a finer Christian.)
Who knows? Maybe one day when their house burns down to the ground and you take them into yours gladly without hesitation or you donate a kidney to save your niece's life or whatever it may be, maybe it will be enough to break hearts of stone and make them re-think just where is that important reason they have to be against you?
Anyway. Hope something in this has something of use to you. You have a nice handle for you online ID here. Make it your middle name for your real life too.
God Bless! |
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Zathrus
King Kong
Joined: 28 Aug 2002
Posts: 2273
Location: WI USA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:04 am Post subject: |
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| Ryck wrote: | | Maybe if you guys can call a truce and be a little more civil with each other? |
Geez Ryck.  Way to make it sound like it's luvinlife's fault.
Your advice to luvinlife is very good. I agree completely. However, we don't know that she isn't already being more gracious and more noble than these relatives of hers. In fact it's reasonable to assume that she is since she's not initiating this dysfunctional behavior.
luvinlife, you have every reason to be hurt by the behavior of your relatives. Normal, healthy people do not interact with each other this way. It's clear that you love them and care about them. I hope that someday they see that family is more important than the teachings of a misguided and dysfunctional religious organization. I agree with you in prayer for it.
_________________
Establishing the law by receiving the righteousness which is by faith, without the deeds of the law!
2 Cor 3 "11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious."
Certified Chalcedon Compliant
Officially approved in 451 |
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Luvnlife
Lion King
Joined: 22 Feb 2007
Posts: 1271
Location: US
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| Zathrus wrote: | | Ryck wrote: | | Maybe if you guys can call a truce and be a little more civil with each other? |
Geez Ryck. Way to make it sound like it's luvinlife's fault.
Your advice to luvinlife is very good. I agree completely. However, we don't know that she isn't already being more gracious and more noble than these relatives of hers. In fact it's reasonable to assume that she is since she's not initiating this dysfunctional behavior.
luvinlife, you have every reason to be hurt by the behavior of your relatives. Normal, healthy people do not interact with each other this way. It's clear that you love them and care about them. I hope that someday they see that family is more important than the teachings of a misguided and dysfunctional religious organization. I agree with you in prayer for it. |
Thank you.
I agree that Ryck does have some good advice. I have written to my brother and niece in recent months to let them know that I would like a relationship and let them know that I do love them. I received a scathing letter back with biblical scriptures included which insinuated that our family are devils and evil.
I wrote one last letter to my 16 year old niece answering in a loving way each thing she had said in her letter including the biblical references. I reminded her that Jesus teaches us to be charitable, loving, forgiving and non-judgmental and told her that she does not have to choose sides. She can have a relationship with her dad and his wife and us. I told her no matter what she decides, she is my niece and I love her and that will not change.
Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints |
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Luvnlife
Lion King
Joined: 22 Feb 2007
Posts: 1271
Location: US
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:37 am Post subject: |
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TBax: ... | Quote: | | 49 and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, |
TBax;
I'm not sure what you are implying here.......
Maybe you can post a general response to everyone on this...
Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints |
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Zathrus
King Kong
Joined: 28 Aug 2002
Posts: 2273
Location: WI USA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:01 am Post subject: |
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| TBax wrote: | | .... and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, ... |
I know who I think is beating the fellow servants. It's very noble of you to admit this on the part of the Witnesses, TBax. 
_________________
Establishing the law by receiving the righteousness which is by faith, without the deeds of the law!
2 Cor 3 "11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious."
Certified Chalcedon Compliant
Officially approved in 451 |
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Ryck
Lion King
Joined: 05 Dec 2002
Posts: 1094
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| Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Zathrus wrote: | | Ryck wrote: | | Maybe if you guys can call a truce and be a little more civil with each other? |
Geez Ryck. Way to make it sound like it's luvinlife's fault.
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I didn't say: "luvinlife, call it a truce and you be civil with the JWs"
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Your advice to luvinlife is very good. I agree completely. However, we don't know that she isn't already being more gracious and more noble than these relatives of hers. In fact it's reasonable to assume that she is since she's not initiating this dysfunctional behavior.
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I'm sure she is gracious and more. I'm suggesting she remain that way without the distraction of resentments and giving any of that negative energy a place or even a foothold in her life.
Happiness, a joyful heart, and wishing everyone nothing but love is the best revenge. I can testify that it will either make your enemies crazy or not be your enemies for much longer!  |
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Luvnlife
Lion King
Joined: 22 Feb 2007
Posts: 1271
Location: US
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:49 am Post subject: |
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Ryck said: | Quote: | | Happiness, a joyful heart, and wishing everyone nothing but love is the best revenge. I can testify that it will either make your enemies crazy or not be your enemies for much longer! |
Hi Ryck;
I think it's important for those who are JW's who have nagging questions about this group of people or those who are thinking about joining this organization to know the truth.
TBax has already shown his true colors over & over. He is 'ignoring' me because .... well, I don't know why honestly. I am a Christian but I don't go to his church. That, however, describes about 90% of the people on this board. He is rude and condescending to people over and over again and he uses the bible not as a tool to teach or learn from but instead to constantly bash people over the head or call them names. He is representative of the religion (not to be confused with the faith/Christianity).
Luv
_________________
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Biblegateway Christian Viewpoints |
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eleven
King of the Jungle
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1561
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:22 am Post subject: |
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Wow, I just read thru all these posts. It was a real eye opener for me.
Just another example of why religion very often has nothing to do with God.
Spirituality and religion have nothing to do with one another. One is true, the other is illusion.
Luv-
My heart breaks for you. If you can't rely on your family, who can you rely on?
God. He'll never fail you.
Your family is asleep.
They are in some nightmare that teaches separation is a good thing. God doesn't teach that. God says, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
What your family is doing is evil.
God says, overcome evil with good.
Don't try to reason with these people, they will never get it. Love is an ACTION.
And action is the language of love.
Here's what you do.
Treat them the way you would if the relationship between you was just fine.
Send them notes of love telling them how much you miss them. But don't beg, don't accuse, and for heaven sake, don't argue scripture. That will only keep you separated.
Cards like, "I'm thinking of you" or "Missing you across the distance" will do just fine.
Send pics of you and your family.
And no matter what they send back, keep loving them!
That's what God does for us. No matter how ugly we get, He keep loving us. That is His message.
Now is your opportunity to live it!!!
Think of this as a blessing, and not a curse. Because in this way, you will truly learn what it means when God says, "the last shall be first."
I now it hurts right now darlin' , but don't let hurt feelings keep you down. Stay strong, because one day, we will all be united in love anyway.
And I will bet with everything I know, they will come up to you and say, thank you for always loving me.
God bless!
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Pain is inevitable;
misery is optional. |
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Zathrus
King Kong
Joined: 28 Aug 2002
Posts: 2273
Location: WI USA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| luvnlife wrote: | | He is 'ignoring' me because .... well, I don't know why honestly. I am a Christian but I don't go to his church. That, however, describes about 90% of the people on this board. |
Evidently they can't stand it if someone used to be a Witness and isn't anymore. 
Eleven, great ideas! I know I couldn't stay mad at someone who let me know how they loved me often.
The Witnesses think they are disciplining people who they disfellowship. That's absurd. That behavior doesn't teach anyone anything except that the Witness organization is an unhealthy dysfunctional environment. It doesn't help anyone.
It does, however, put the disfellowshipped person in a position where they can be free in life, and maybe help others still trapped in the organization to get free also.
_________________
Establishing the law by receiving the righteousness which is by faith, without the deeds of the law!
2 Cor 3 "11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious."
Certified Chalcedon Compliant
Officially approved in 451 |
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eleven
King of the Jungle
Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1561
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:03 am Post subject: |
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| Zathrus wrote: | | Eleven, great ideas! I know I couldn't stay mad at someone who let me know how they loved me often. |
I would like to take credit for that one, but I can't.
Recently an elderly man came into the Dr's office where I work. I try to put my patients at easy by asking them about themselves and holding simple conversations.
This man told me he has been married for 60 years!
I said, MY GOD, what is your secret???
He said, on the day we were married, my wife and I made a pact. Every nite in bed, before we would go to sleep, NO MATTER HOW MAD WE WERE AT EACH OTHER, we would look into each other's eyes and say, I love you! There is no way evil can exist in the presence of love.
Keep going!!! It may not be easy, but it definitely is right! Overcome evil with good! God knows what He is talking about.
God is love, and love is an action.
_________________
Pain is inevitable;
misery is optional. |
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