SerenityThere is a prayer often recited by people in various types of recovery programs called the Serenity Prayer.  Here the short version:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

I have recited this prayer myself many times but I often fail to grasp the meaning of it.  Why?  Because at times I still try to change the things I cannot change.  I have spent countless hours worrying about my family that are still Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Wondering “how can I open their eyes to the truth about the truth”?  I believe this is a natural phase we all go through.  This has been a very difficult time for me and I have not had much serenity ever since I learned “TTATT”.  There is another very popular saying among recovery groups and it is, “Let go, Let God”.  That one has always hit me hard because I know it is based on scripture… one of my favorites here at  Phiippians 4: 6-7, “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let YOUR petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard YOUR hearts and YOUR mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.”

That sounds great doesn’t it? “The peace of God that excels all thought” sounds to me like perfect serenity.  In my case, this is easier said than done.  To not be “anxious over anything” is almost an impossibility for me!  I can pray and let my petitions be known to God but I sure have a hard time not being anxious.  Why is that?  Could it be I fail to let go?  Like the popular saying goes, “Let go, let God”.  I honestly think that is what my biggest problem is.  Even though I hand my problems over to God,  I don’t fully let go.

So how do we let go?  I believe the entire Serenity Prayer might shed some light on this:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

If one could actually live by these words he would no doubt find serentity.  If we are not finding serenity then we must be doing something wrong.  I know I have been.  I do try to live “one day at a time” and when I truly apply that,  I do worry less.  “Enjoying one moment at a time” is difficult for me.  It helps if I get out of the house and go for a walk outside.  When I am at home I tend to check my e-mail often and hang out on X-JW forums and web sites most of the time.  I hope this is just a phase that I can grow out of because it is not helping my serenity.  What it does do is make me more and more upset with the GB/Borg/Watchtower and I tend to hold a huge resentment.  I need to realize that Christ is going to take care of them in his due time and “let go, let God”.  Give it over to him and get out of the way.  Not that I won’t write anymore articles about the Watchtower.  I feel a need to contribute any truth I find about the “truth”.  What I mean is I need to not be so absorbed in it all the time.  Reading the Bible and meditating on Gods word is far more productive than talking trash about the “borg” online.

I would like to ask you a question,  have you found serenity?  If so, how?  What do you do?  Any suggestions would be helpful to all of us.  I welcome your comments.

Your brother in Christ,

Greybeard


 

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30 Comments on Finding Serenity and Enduring in Our Struggle After Learning “The Truth About The Truth” (TTATT)

  1. JJ says:

    Thanks for the positivity Greybeard. And the great questions you raise. Joy is a quality of God’s Holy Spirit and we all can pray for a measure of it.

    The mirror of God’s Word helps us too to see that we don’t need to dwell on the flaws of others. Thanks.

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    • greybeard says:

      Good point JJ. Joy is a fruit of Holy Spirit. I do have more joy knowing God isn’t going to destroy all but JW’s. That has been a relief. However I think this scripture explains the pain well:

      Ecclesiastes 1:18, “For in the abundance of wisdom there is an abundance of vexation, so that he that increases knowledge increases pain.”

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  2. JWB says:

    Brother Greybeard thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. It’s interesting you mention the Serenity Prayer. It is the first time I’ve come across the whole text, but when I was in my teens my mother quoted the beginning lines. I was much encouraged at the time as I was going through a difficult period in my life.

    It may seem that nothing is changing in the wts, but I think it is. I believe there are many integrity-keepers who are finding, according to their own abilities, “courage to change the things” they can. We have people actively working from the outside as well as those providing valuable information on the inside. I think before any oppressive regime falls there has to be a lot of patience, determination and ‘a cool head’ displayed by those working for freedom. Usually it is the minority who get the main work done, but there comes that ‘tipping point’ when the minority suddenly becomes the majority. I think it is a case of the majority seeing a significant change in the way the wind is blowing. Once victory appears on the horizon an awful lot can happen in a short space of time.

    How I try to deal with the pressure is by recognizing that even though I am only one person I am part of a large body of people who have similar concerns. Even though it’s hard (I hit a low patch recently), I don’t ever want to give up fighting for what I believe to be right. Like any oppressive regime the organization depends on the masses being ignorant and thinking they have no individual power, that they must be forever grateful and humble towards ‘Mother’ and continue to accept everything she says and do the work she schedules to be done.

    Do you remember that animated film where the ants are oppressed by the grasshoppers and made to work for them? At first just one ant stands up for what is right, but in the end the combined efforts of all the little ants turns everything round. No doubt you’ve heard the expressions, “ideas are bullet-proof” and “you cannot resist an idea whose time has come” and “no man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that’s in the right and keeps on a-comin’.” Well, we must hold on to those thoughts and try to be positive. We must do all that we individually can to educate and encourage others to see that they do indeed have the power to overcome.

    Your brother,

    JWB

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  3. andrew says:

    Thanks for your candor greybeard. I believe you are right that in visiting lots of ex-JW sites we can get worked up into a frenzy. This ultimately is not what God would have for us. Acceptance is the stage that all ex-JWs should be working for.

    There are many examples of how man had dominated man for his injury. The organization is one of those examples, no more no less.

    Jesus would have us turn the other cheek and love even our enemies.

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  4. Wakeupwitness says:

    I have to admit that for about 3yrs straight I was obsessed about researching everything about the Society. I have read many books. I have found and read countless watchtower and awake magazines that are questionable. I guess it get’s to the point where you just finally realize and tell yourself (no matter how long you may have been a jw or that you may have family still in it), that the whole belief and the organization as a whole is a SHAM.
    Sure, a person at first usually goes through the whole, “what if it is indeed the truth?” But, when you truly see deception at it’s best (from actual watchtower material) it’s easy to see the total fraud.
    What woke me up was the changes in the generation meaning. It’s like I told my active witness sister….”it’s wrong for the society to say that it is the creator’s promise that the generation that saw the events of 1914 will not pass away…and then change Jehovah’s promise one month later like they did in the masthead of the October and November 1995 Awake! Magazines.” That’s just sly and deceitful and totally dishonest. Worse than that… Is the Society is changes Jehovah’s promise because the people who saw the events of 1914 are all dead.

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    • greybeard says:

      Great points Wakepwitness!

      You said:

      “Worse than that… Is the Society is changes Jehovah’s promise because the people who saw the events of 1914 are all dead.” I never thought about that but it is true, they are almost gone.

      The cognitive dissonance does really get to me sometimes. All my life I thought this was the truth. That thinking is hard to shake. I do find myself asking, “but what if it is really the truth?” I know all the facts prove that it is not but still, because of being raised this way all my life. I question myself. I think that is why it is necessary to keep going over the facts for the first few years. This is where I loose my serenity at times digging through all of this mire.

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  5. Willie says:

    1914 was when the plug was pulled on the Gentiles (and kings) ruling the “Christian” world. (Rom. 11:25.) 1914 was when the Times of the Gentiles BEGAN to end. Some water is still in the sink, but it is going down the drain fast. You can see the bottom now. Think Australia, Canada, Europe, AND America here. You watch it on the news night and day!
    The Parable of the Fig tree is about ISRAEL–so the generation pertains to Israel (Matt: 24:32-34). Israel became a state in 1948. Start the generation there and apply Psa. 90:10 and add.
    Its a given that if you start with the wrong date you’ll end up with the wrong answer.

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    • Amos says:

      Hi Willie,

      Thats well & good, Israel did become a state in 1948 BUT it wasn’t until 1968, that it obtained independance with the 6 day war…..now do the addition from that date…

      Another interesting point becomes obvious when you calculate the 70th Jubilee, as this appears to be the LAST Jubilee until the end.

      Interestingly, these two time periods coincide within about two years….

      It takes a bit to work it all out, but it can be done….BTW, the WTS chronology is not the one to use as it places the Exodus about 50 years to early. This is also not difficult to sort out. For obvious reasons, I’m not going to add any more details at this time as I don’t wish to start setting dates, ETC.

      As you said Willie, “if you start with the wrong date….”

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  6. Alden says:

    Dear Greybeard,

    I loved very much your sincerity and admission of your human frailty, which I consider to be a strength in disguise.
    What helps me is to know what is my fight and what isn’t. There was that great Judean King who got killed because he got into a fight that wasn’t his (with the Pharaoh of Egypt). It’s not our job to change the O (what does “Borg” stand for by the way?) Love is still the power that keeps us going. And if you can still love people who act as idiots (people like me) because Christ died for them, too, then I think you can find a little more serenity in this horrifying world.
    May you find peace from Jah, brother.
    -Alden

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  7. Willie says:

    I’M GOING TO STICK with the birth of the nation of Israel in 1948, Amos, because of Luke 21:29-31, “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and ALL THE TREES; When they now shoot forth, ye SEE and KNOW your ownselves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye SEE these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”
    If trees represent nations, as the fig tree represents Israel, then when did we see nations “shoot forth”? When the United Nations was formed in 1945 suddenly there were all kinds of little nations coming out of the woodwork. I think that observation–which we can SEE–is a confirmation of the 1948 date as the appropriate starting point.

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    • andrew says:

      Willie, I appreciate your enthusiasm for C. T. Russell’s writings. As I’m sure you know all his chronology and expectations for certain dates did not come to pass. IMO therefore we should be very careful about setting up similar expectations based on certain dates.

      Every generation has expected Christ’s coming during their lifetime. The generation now alive will be similarly disappointed I suspect. It would be good to compare how Jesus used the term “this generation” in other texts. This will help us get a handle on who he meant in Matt 24:34. This comparison has been done here: http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011.....eneration/

      Your brother
      Andrew

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  8. MrsFlower says:

    Greybeard,
    First of all I love your reference to Ecclesiastes 1:18…such a good scripture.
    Secondly I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for your honesty and openness in this post. I struggle with similar emotions and have for some time and to hear someone express it so openly is encouraging. I hadn’t been to a JW meeting in just over ten years and had struggled with guilt for years because my reason for not going was not out of any disbelief but purely personal. I recently decided I wanted to go back and get rid of some of this guilt and maybe regain a good standing with Jehovah. Sadly, or maybe i should say luckily, the anti apostate talks made me go home and find Crisis of Conscience…I read the book and the guilt is gone but now instead so much anger and emptiness. Never anger towards Jehovah but so much towards the organization and my family that is still in the organization. I try not to let it engulf my every thought everyday but it’s so hard since most my anger stems from the fact that this religion tore me from my family at the age of 4. Growing up I was ok with this…even greatful and so terrified that my mother would come and take me away from this life saving church. Even as an adult I was understanding and stood up for the reasons I was taken. Then just this year to realize the truth about the truth and to know that being taken from my mom and brothers was not a life saving thing has just turned my world upside down. I pray things will get easier in time as I’m sure they will. While this site has not dispelled my anger due to my emotions being deeply personal and not anything to do with doctrines I greatly appreciate the information and the loving way it is given. I’m not sure what I believe anymore but I do really enjoy this site. although I dont post for the most part I try to check in somewhat regularly to see the interesting posts. Thank you to all that take the time to write…

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  9. Willie says:

    In my humble opinion, Amos, the “Parable of the Fig Tree” is not immediately based on chronology. Remember the “SEE” and “KNOW”?
    I try to make the Bible the main source of my reasoning and beliefs. Just because I have done considerable reading of the writings of C. T. Russell, Andrew, please do not blame or credit him for all my comments. I’m pretty sure that he did NOT prophesy that the generation in the parable of the fig tree began with the date Israel became a nation in 1948 for he died in 1916.
    As for comparing the use of the word “generation” in other instances in the Bible, that would not be valid unless the context were the same. We have three very similar contexts for the interpretation of: “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” and they are Matt. 24:32-34; Mark 13:28-30; and Luke 21:29-32.
    “… In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (II Cor. 13:1). See also Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16, and Heb. 10:28.
    May I remind everyone that “The Parable of the Fig Tree” HAS TO DO WITH THE NATION OF ISRAEL, God’s chosen people, and the coming establishment of the New Covenant with them (Rom. 11:25-32; Heb. 8:6-13). As a parable, it has NOTHING to do with the true Church, the body of Christ, and when the remaining members will be taken–concerning which we cannot know the day or the hour (Matt. 24:36; 25:13; Mark 13:32); however, the faithful ones MAY know the year–at some point in time.

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    • Amos says:

      Hi Willie,

      I didn’t realize that I’d referenced “the figtree” as pertaining to chronology. I do however see it in the similar light to “the vine”, & pruning out of some of Israel & the grafting in of the Gentiles.

      Please notice that I did previously state that I don’t set dates, other than those we can refer back to….historical.

      While I do see that Israel will feature in God’s Plan, I see the fig tree as an illustrative, keeping awake, “sign” that our Lord gave to His disciples as another sign of the impending doom (judgement on Jerusalem) in their day.

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  10. Willie says:

    Andrew mentioned CTR chronology and you, Amos, mentioned WTS chronoloty while I was expounding on the Parable of the Fig Tree–which does not require any reference to chronology according to my reckoning–but, I apologise for the confusion. As for whether or not the Parable was only for the time in which it was given by Jesus, I thoroughly disagree, as you know from #9.
    Remembering that Paul was given visions and revelations from the Lord as we read in II Cor. 12:1-7, we assume that he would have a greater ability to apply events to the future with more accuracy than any of the other apostles. According to Paul, many of the things that God’s chosen people experienced as natural Isralites were examples for the spiritual Isralites and I think this includes the Parable of the Fig Tree. Isn’t Matthew 24 called “The Lord’s Great Prophecy”? Even the heading in my Bible says: “Signs of the End” for Matthew Chapter 24.
    Paul wrote in I Cor. 10:11, “Now all these things happened unto them [the natural Israelites] for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition [those living in Paul’s day], [and for those] upon whom the ends of the world are come.” That would be right close to NOW in my humble opinion.

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    • andrew says:

      Hi Willie
      My feeling is that when Jesus gave the prophecy in Matt. 24 it was indeed a prophecy for that generation.

      In 1 Corinthians 10:11 I believe Paul is saying that those alive back then in Paul’s day were the ones who were living during the end of the age.

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  11. Amos says:

    Hello Willie,

    I’ll try to give a summary of my views. I principally agree with Andrew concerning the main thrust of the Sermon on the Mount as being fulfilled during the first century, with the judgement on Israel (as a nation) in AD 70. I do also see that by extension, much of this prophecy HAS ALSO affected the entire Gospel Age (GA) down to our day.

    I find that most of us have been given a wrong view of the “last days”, that they are for the time that we are living in now. This is of course partly true, but it WAS NOT the meaning as understood in the Apostles day. Please have another look at Acts 2:14-47, where Peter explains that the “last days” began at Pentecost, following the anointing with the Holy Spirit. v17.

    Please don’t be misled by the headings in any bible, as these are only put there by imperfect humans, not by God. I think that we’ve all been misled by well meaning men who have put their own interpretation on the Word of God.

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  12. Willie says:

    Hi Andrew, I am amazed that you think that Matthew 24 was a prophecy for that generation only. The disciples asked Jesus to tell them “… what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end or the world?” in vs 3. and from vs. 4 to the end of the chapter Jesus answered that question. THEY may have thought that the end of the world would be in their day, but JESUS certainly didn’t and his answer can be projected beyond today, Oct. 30, 2011. So many of those prophesies HAVEN’T HAPPENED YET!
    God arranged the language of the Bible so that the length of time is concealed so that it does not DASH the faith of his saints in whatever time period they may be living. God knew that it would be nearly a 2000 year Gospel Age, but which of the Apostles could have endured the suffering and continued faithful under the burden of such knowledge? God made us, so he knows how we think and how depressing such accuracy of knowledge respecting the length of time would have been to the human spirit.
    In I Cor. 10:11 Paul gives us a concrete example of the economy of God–three applications for a single event or “ensample”–then, now, and future. Experiences to the natural Isralites were types of more important anti-types that would be experienced by the spiritual Israelite. Due to Paul’s seeing into the future in visions he could even apply it to the “end of days”–our day. Of all the apostles he would have been the LAST one to think that the “end of days” was in his day. We shouldn’t try to shorten the hand of God by saying that IT (whatever prophesy or event “IT” is) applied then and there only. This thought, of course, does not apply to every single happening, as common sense would tell you; but, don’t forget the old axiom that “history repeats itself”–for it essense it did and it STILL does.

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    • andrew says:

      I do realize that my viewpoint on Matt. 24 and many other prophecies is a minority view. However look at how the bible writers wrote about the very soon coming of Jesus back in the first century (See: http://www.jwstruggle.com/2011.....on-part-2/

      You will notice that the bible writers of the Greek scriptures wrote under inspiration that they were convinced that the conclusion of system of things was at the door. Should we then make the assumption that God let them merely believe they were close and let them write throughout the New Testement of the nearness of Jesus coming while in actuality planning that coming for 1000’s of yrs. in the future? Can we take descriptions of Jesus’ coming as “near” “soon” “quickly” “at the door” and postpone them for 1000’s of yrs.? If so then cannot words be made to mean anything? If we say “near” means far, “soon” means in 1000’s of years, “quickly” means not for a very long time, couldn’t we also take other promises of the bible and interpret them to mean whatever we wish them to mean?

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  13. Willie says:

    Hello Amos, It appears that you wrote the “Sermon of the Mount” (Matthew Chapters 5-7) instead of the “Lord’s Great Prophecy” (Matthew Chapter 24) near the opening of your comment, but I knew what you meant.
    I beg to differ with you that “last days” (Isa. 2:2; Mic. 4:1; Acts 2:17; II Tim. 3:1; II Pet. 3:3) “are not for the time we are living in now,”–although you went on to modify your statement somewhat. I believe 100% that they ARE for our day–even if they applied when they were spoken or written. I DON’T think that Peter was explaining “that the ‘last days’ began at Pentecost,” per se. Perhaps Acts 2:39 is the key to understanding this. It reads, “For the promise is unto you and to your children, and TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” [EMPHASIS mine.] That goes all the way down to OUR day. Remember that in Acts 2:17-21 Peter is quoting from Joel 2:28-32 as it says in Acts 2:16.
    Was Joel 2:28-32 for Joel’s day only? No. Was Acts 2:17-21 for Peter’s day only? No. Were the scriptures in Joel and Acts for our day too? Yes. How do we know? Because the “great and notable day of the Lord” (Acts 2:20) has NOT YET COME! I believe that a future application of this prophesy in Amos is the ultimate purpose of that scripture; but–in God’s economy–certainly it was also beneficial for the other times in which it was used. If you get a chance please read my comments to Andrew and it may give you some insight into my understanding on this subject without my having to repeat it here.
    Yes, I know the headings in the Bible are the opinions of men (thanks for the reminder), and I certainly hope that I don’t fall into the catagory of “well meaning men who have put their own interpretation on the Word of God.” I think that you were talking about our past AND religious history in general. Right?

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    • Amos says:

      Willie,
      I think that you need to re-read my reply to you & then have another go at answering me. I don’t think that sarcasm serves any purpose either.

      You also NEED to have another look at Acts ch 2 & do a word study on the verse that you emphasized v39.

      Who suggested anything about “Joel’s day”, Peter very clearly applied Joel’s prophecy to the day of Pentecost. As I said, you need to take another look.

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  14. Willie says:

    Dear Amos, I am so glad that you called me on my comment to you and I apologize for any consternation it may have caused you. I have re-read your comments [and mine] and perhaps this effort, though not an excuse, will explain my confusion.
    It could be that I started off with the wrong thought in my head when you stated that you agreed with Andrew because I knew that Andrew admits to having “the minority view.” What you said was, “I principally agree with Andrew concerning the main thrust of the Sermon on the Mount….” I hadn’t mentioned the Sermon on the Mount, so I assumed that you MEANT Matthew 24 and I continued from there. Next you commented, “I do also see that by extension, much of this prophecy HAS ALSO affected the entire Gospel Age (GA) down to our day. I find that most of us have been given a wrong view of the “last days”, that they are for the time that we are living in now.” I absolutely agree with that, Amos, BUT I misread it. I don’t know if it was because there was a capitalized “NOT” right under it, which caught my eye, or if it is just because I my cataracts are growing [for I misread it again the first thing this morning], but that is where I jumped the tracks. I “read” that they are NOT for the time what we are living in now.
    Next you said, “This is of course partly true, but it WAS NOT the meaning as understood in the Apostles day.” I agreed with that in my comment: “I believe that a future application of this prophesy in Amos [I should have said Joel here–my mistake again] is the ultimate purpose of that scripture; but–in God’s economy-–certainly it was also beneficial for the other times in which it was used.” I also referred you to my comment to Andrew which was dealing with the Lord’s Great Prophecy in Matthew 24 where I said, “THEY may have thought that the end of the world would be in their day, but JESUS certainly didn’t … many of those prophesies HAVEN’T HAPPENED YET!” It appears that we agree more than we disagree.
    I am the one who suggested “Joel’s day” for that is when the prophecy Peter was quoting in Acts was originally given and thus I considered it relevant to the point I was trying to make.
    Believe me, Amos, I take my comments on this site very seriously; I even consider them to be a very small offering to the Lord, considering that I have offered Him so little all these years. I truly try to make my comments beneficial–if not to the one they are addressed to, then to someone who may come along and read them.
    It doesn’t hurt my feelings to say that I made a mistake and I am sorry, but it did hurt to be accused of sarcasm. Would you be so kind as to explain to me the reason for that comment?

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    • Amos says:

      Greetings Willie,
      Firstly, I wish to apologize for mentioning “sarcasm”, as I misread start of your reply to me when you said; “It appears that you wrote the “Sermon of the Mount” (Matthew Chapters 5-7) instead of the “Lord’s Great Prophecy”. It didn’t make sense to me at the time & I read it several times. I thought you were saying that I “wrote the sermon on the mount”. Instead, you were correct, I said the wrong thing & did mean the “Olivet discourse”. The reason that I made the mistake, I’m having a very indepth discussion with a couple of brothers about the SOTM.
      On another forum that I’m on there is a person who repeatedly says to others, “Are you writing your own bible”, if he dissagrees with what they say, so I’m sorry for misunderstanding what you actually said.
      I do know that you are very sincere, & do appreciate your many posts here.
      Regarding “Joels’ day”, I questioned this because the prophecy wasn’t for “Joels’ day”, but for centuries later. I guess we’ve both misunderstood each other.
      I don’t know about yourself, but I have many things happening in my life at the moment & I’m also troubled by several health issues that affect my equilibrium at times, so I apologize for any offence that I may have caused.

      Amos

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      • Amos says:

        Dear brother Willie,

        I don’t know whether you saw my apology to you above in reply to your post to myself. There were a number of posts that probably put my reply below the list of “Recent Comments” that appear on the main page.

        Amos

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  15. Willie says:

    Dear Amos, Yes I did see your apology and I sighed a big sigh of relief. I should have let you know sooner. Believe it or not, I did have that on my list of things to do today, for I noticed yesterday afternoon that I had failed to respond. Thank you again!

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  16. MDC says:

    Speaking of websites and the abundance of information regarding the TATT. It has come along way in arriving at a more comprehensive stance and understanding. I remember back in 2000 shortly after I was DF,d for smoking I came across an anti JW site where the founder used to be a JW at Bethel in the 80’s ( No names but RW was his initials). It was there that I came to understand the “secret” works of the “org.” which caused me to understand that Jehovah could not be in charge with those who were so unjust and uncaring in their approach regarding the “sheep”. Years of searching, surfing, reading a plethora of views, on doctrine, i.e., Jesus is God, Salvation, 1914, 1918, Bro. Russel, pyramidology, FDS class…….on and on. Much of what I have arrived at is simple and workable. Salvation is found through faith in Christ, Jehovahs son. My sins are forgiven through that simple truth. The info on this site and others like it is a far cry from the early days of the TATT. Love and scriptural understanding is far more helpful and faith strengthening now than ever. Knowledge and truth is about, where we are, what the future will unfold, and the judgment of all, is God given and Christ supported. I feared Armageddon and its finality as a good JW. Then came fear and judgment at viewing so called apostate sites, now I thank Jehovah for never letting my curiosity, or my “keep on knocking, keep on searching” attitude has helped now in my late 40’s. Much of family has left “the org.”, not through a single word from me but on there own, albeit out of tiredness and not a “revelation of knowledge”. Now my fear has changed into those who have left, including my children, can’t see TTATT, but are caught up in this “worldy lifestyle”.

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  17. under the radar says:

    There is Peace, inner peace. God says if you remember me, than I will remember you. He is peace. May He give us inner peace.

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