I've heard about digital scrapbooking but you see we don't have that here in Bedrock . I do it the old fashioned way, which of course takes much longer, usually about an hour to do one page. Like you, it's my only vice, and the way I see it I'm doing my family a huge service by preserving the memories. I might just try the paint shop pro, probably when some newer and more sophisticated technology come out .

I'm so glad you're reading the Bible. I'm going to put you on my prayer list, that the Lord Himself will open your eyes to the true meaning of His word, no books, no magazines, just the Holy Spirit to guide you. The WTS says it's impossible to understand God's word without them; I'm here to tell you that's a bunch of BALONEY! They have a lot of nerve limiting God's power to teach us individually. You'll see, if you truly want to know Jesus in your heart He will reveal Himself to you in His word.

God bless,

Mrs. R

You know I have come accross many JW's who know there is something wrong but say that they must follow anyway because so many believe and its got to have mostly truth to it....Well this is what I say...

I always think of the crowd who chose Barabbas over Jesus. What would you have done if you had been in that crowd? We can let popular opinion sway us, receive approval when we go along with it, yet be following a lie. It takes an honest and courageous person to step out of the crowd and say, I dont care how the rest of you think, I'm going to stand by what I think is true....!!!!!!

Remember we must rely on God as the ultimate scource of truth in our lives. We cant rely on what feels true or what someone tells us is true. These reliances leave the door open to our own self-centeredness, ignorance, defensiveness to enter in and turn lies into destructive truths. We must rely on Gods help as we seek to find the truth.

Ok, got preachy there sorry but its my 2 cents worth.

YOU PREACH IT SISTER!!!

God bless,

Mrs. R

That is so true!

When I read Raymond Franz Crisis of Conscience it was one of those light bulb moments when he said...
"I try in my own mind and heart to understand the feelings
of all [Jehovah’s Witnesses], including those of the Governing Body.
Based on my own [60 years] experience among them I believe that they are, in effect, the captives of a concept.
The concept or mental image they have of “the organization” seems almost to take on a personality of its own, so that the concept itself controls them, moves them, or restrains them, by molding their thinking, their attitudes, their judgments…
The …concept of “the organization”…
becomes, in fact, the dominant, controlling force."

During my years as a JW I was truly a sheep...going along with the crowd...never mind that we were all about to fall off a cliff!

That statement from Ray Franz helped me to have compassion for JW's. At first I admit I was very angry with them, because they're all so blinded and deceived and they blind and deceive their children and friends. My heart softened quite a bit once I'd finished reading Crisis of Conscience. Even though so much of it was an eye opener and left me flabbergasted, I also appreciated that Ray Franz didn't come across as someone with an ax to grind. He just wanted people to know and understand Witnesses, whom he obviously still loves very much. It taught me so much about what true love is, not the conditional love given by the WTS, but the real thing, that loves no matter what the circumstances, no matter how badly you've been treated. Love like Jesus loves.

Blessings,

Mrs. R

Hi glad you're here.

I too found great comfort in searching for others on the internet and could relate to your cautiously peeking in at first. I got comfortable after a while, made some friends, and then it felt like another cult 'cause I was online too much either complaining or reading complaints. Not healthy for the long run. So I left that off for a while and I began to study the Bible more earnestly for myself (that's what I was DF'd for anyway!) and that's what really set me free. And they know that's how it works too for they're now discouraging personal Bible studies in the Sept 07 KM! It's not enough to leave them, I had to replace all the falsehoods with Biblical truth. And it's necessary to recognize that they do indeed teach some truth. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater! I value the time spent as a JW. But I view it as bait and switch game that they play. They lure people in with truth and then switch over sincere devotion to Jehovah to loyalty to the Society. That new book "come be my follower" is excellent. If I had never been a JW, I'd be reading it thinking I'd like to be one because Jesus is so appealing in it! But they don't own Jesus! Now I know, it was Jesus all along I wanted when I studied back in 1996. They fed me enough truth I couldn't resist and went flyin' in, but then they subtly switched me over to worshipping the WTS. And I am ready, O yes, sooooo ready to expose that game!!!!

I've been out of the organization officially since 2004 and I am finally free of that halfway thinking that "maybe they're right". They are blasphemers, nicely dressed, polite, well-versed, and sometimes sincerely searching blashemers. But blasphemers none the less. And I couldn't label them as such if I didn't think I knew what/who Truth was. Without knowing the TRUTH, ya never quite get out of that halfway state of "what if they're right?"

So welcome, I hope you find a lot of help for your own journey here!

Hi and welcome! I am new as well and completely understanding still having nagging doubts about the organization and religion in general. Crisis of Conscience is a great book, I liked Christian Freedom even more. It really did open my eyes to the not so squeaky clean organization.

Boy, do I know about that! I spent 18 years away from the WTS, but couldn't get myself to completely break away from the beliefs, even though I knew so many of them didn't make sense. I just kept on believing they had the truth. It wasn't until I picked up my Bible and read God's truth that I realized how far the JW's are from it.

Blessings,

Mrs. R

Hi blindersoff:

As it has been said already you came to a great Forum! I first came in contact with Cal in 2003 and we've been friends since. I am so glad your free from the WT -Amen! I too can relate to losing family and friends. All my family are all still active in WT -and my niece who was at one time DF'd is now back in, as is her brother who left for a time but was never DF'd. I don't even know if he was ever baptized yet.

This is a wonderful caring, supportive Forum and more than just a place to post. We're like family here.

Welcome, enjoy, and many blessings:

Hello and Welcome. I do not post here often, but spend some time on other discussion boards with former Jw's. I could have written the paragraph you wrote above. I really believed it - and joined up around the time you did, as far as baptism - in 1973 for me. But I was raised in the org since 1960 [at age 5].

The journey out takes work. As far as finding 'the truth' anywhere else - I don't believe that is possible. The Bible does not associate 'Truth' with any organized people or group - but with Jesus. John 14:6 was keynote to my realization of that. I visit churches from time to time - but I am far more spiritual now than I will ever be religious.

I hope the forum adds to your richness in life. Welcome.

Jeff