Missing Old FriendsnRelatives
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Post by Missing Old FriendsnRelatives on Aug 19, 2007 20:47:55 GMT -5
A new topic (I think) from the thread "Tell Me The Story of Jesus": I'm wondering if the exe's on here miss convention times? And for those of us playing hokey pokey - so to speak.... are we listening at convention differently than before? Are we looking for evidence of brainwashing? Can we ever be the same? How many of you exes have been to a convention since you became an ex? Do any of you go on a regular basis? If so, why? I'm thinking about it this year (maybe just a weekend) because it'd be a great way to see old friends and several relatives. Meeting time would be great for napping, reading a book, or working on some paperwork from the office.
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Post by ithascome on Aug 19, 2007 21:20:50 GMT -5
I went to one Saturday meeting...
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Post by Sylvestra on Aug 19, 2007 22:03:18 GMT -5
I went to one convention meeting (Sunday AM) with my oldest son about 15 years ago. We stayed through lunch to visit with a few people, and when it was time to go into the afternoon meeting, I asked Todd is he was dead set about going back in. He said, "No way. I have the distinct feeling that I simply don't belong here."
He went back into the tent to pick up our books, and we left. We did have very interesting 2-hour trip home talking about "things".
I have been to quite a few Sunday AM meetings, and several gospel meetings to accommodate family.
E
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Post by nitro on Aug 19, 2007 22:12:13 GMT -5
I don't think my Ex wife has ever been to convention since she left me.
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Post by Stefan on Aug 19, 2007 22:51:56 GMT -5
I usually stop by for a Saturday evening meeting. I did not go this year. It's nice to see some of them that I haven't seen in years. I especially like to see my uncle who always greets me with his customary convention greeting: "Hey Stefan, think we have time to get in 18 holes of golf between meetings?" Love that guy.
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Post by wanttobewithGod on Aug 19, 2007 22:54:46 GMT -5
I just clicked on your siggy, nitro. GREAT song.... I added it to my faves. Thanks Mich
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Post by too funny on Aug 19, 2007 22:57:11 GMT -5
I usually stop by for a Saturday evening meeting. I did not go this year. It's nice to see some of them that I haven't seen in years. I especially like to see my uncle who always greets me with his customary convention greeting: "Hey Stefan, think we have time to get in 18 holes of golf between meetings?" Love that guy. That's funny. I would have said, "let's go, my clubs are in the trunk!"
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Post by uncle merv on Aug 19, 2007 23:03:57 GMT -5
I especially like to see my uncle who always greets me with his customary convention greeting: "Hey Stefan, think we have time to get in 18 holes of golf between meetings?" Who's golf? One of the sister workers?
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Post by ithascome on Aug 19, 2007 23:08:08 GMT -5
OMG!
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therose
Junior Member
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
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Post by therose on Aug 19, 2007 23:08:57 GMT -5
Convention is less than a mile from me but I do not go each year. Mainly because I dont want to have to feel like I am being hypocritical by being there in the first place. I am,however, quite aware that whole week of what is taking place there and wonder if I go to the store or anywhere in town if I will run into someone I know.
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Post by come on on Aug 19, 2007 23:32:34 GMT -5
I especially like to see my uncle who always greets me with his customary convention greeting: "Hey Stefan, think we have time to get in 18 holes of golf between meetings?" Who's golf? One of the sister workers? Not funny. Leave the junior high humor at home please.
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_
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by _ on Aug 20, 2007 1:47:02 GMT -5
How many of you exes have been to a convention since you became an ex? I would have liked to go this year, and I was even invited by a few of the Friends... but I turned their offer down... It is not the place for me anymore...
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 20, 2007 3:21:22 GMT -5
I'm thinking about it this year (maybe just a weekend) because it'd be a great way to see old friends and several relatives. Meeting time would be great for napping, reading a book, or working on some paperwork from the office.
Perhaps it would be better to call your friends and relatives. After all, they are at convention to worship God.
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 20, 2007 3:24:41 GMT -5
I asked Todd is he was dead set about going back in. He said, "No way. I have the distinct feeling that I simply don't belong here."
What would your reaction have been if he had said he would like to go back to the Fellowship? It is great if you support his choices.
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Post by I went on Aug 20, 2007 3:37:38 GMT -5
I am an ex. I went to two conventions this year. One for the whole convention, even stayed in the tent. (Away from home) One for just a day. (Near home) To say the most part. It was for the most part enjoyable. friends, good food, the occasional sermon that sticks in your head. I left meeting because I do not believe in exclusivity and felt like a hypocrite. It doesn't mean I do not believe the spirit is not working there in some of those people, or that some of the sermons do not hold the power of god behind them. For the most part everyone there was happy to see me there, and where very kind. On the other hand I still hear a lot about the friends being the only way, a special people, etc. etc. I know I am not special, and do not believe I found the only way to heaven well everyone else in the world is going to hell. Therefore do not think I will find my way back to the fellowship anytime soon.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Aug 20, 2007 6:20:17 GMT -5
I'm thinking about it this year (maybe just a weekend) because it'd be a great way to see old friends and several relatives. Meeting time would be great for napping, reading a book, or working on some paperwork from the office.Perhaps it would be better to call your friends and relatives. After all, they are at convention to worship God. Is worshipping God to the friends just a way of life or is it an actual thing they do?
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Post by Sylvestra on Aug 20, 2007 10:08:21 GMT -5
I asked Todd is he was dead set about going back in. He said, "No way. I have the distinct feeling that I simply don't belong here." What would your reaction have been if he had said he would like to go back to the Fellowship? It is great if you support his choices. I would have gone back into the meeting and stayed as long as he liked However, we two were on the same page about the church at the time (he had already steered me to "the websites") and I was pretty sure what he answer was going to be. E
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Post by jh62 on Aug 20, 2007 10:12:25 GMT -5
You show a wonderful spirit, Edy.
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Post by Whoa GIT on Aug 20, 2007 13:27:00 GMT -5
Perhaps it would be better to call your friends and relatives. After all, they are at convention to worship God. How do you know? Are you a mind reader? Convention has meant little to me over the past 10 years other than to see friends and relatives. I know others that admit the same thing, albeit quietly. Convention is a family get-together for many - of this I'm certain. Your post makes me wonder how many people, like yourself, go to convention blindly believing that everyone they see is there primarily to listen to the workers tell them how and what to think. Does it sound rotten that this is the reason some go? Maybe. But what else are we supposed to do? I count over 100 friends and 82 relatives that I'd never get to see again if I didn't go to convention. I go, and get to see most of them every year. So if I want to drive 200 miles (round trip) once a year to spend a few days sleeping in a shed, eating in a tent, and dozing off in the worker's meetings (the ones I don't skip), all to spend some time at an annual family reunion, that's my business. And if you want to think that I'm there mindlessly lapping up the bilge that comes from the platform, that's your problem.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2007 13:39:15 GMT -5
We as a family attended the Carima, Italy convention a couple of weeks after we were exed (at convention) 2001. Since then we haven't been at to a convention .. although I have stopped at an older convention grounds and visited the folks there a few times. In fact the lady at this convention grounds called us today to tell us that Eldon Knudson (the worker responsible for our excommunication) has unfortunately just been diagnosed with prostrate cancer.
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Post by responsible on Aug 20, 2007 15:28:17 GMT -5
Who was really responsible for an excommunication?
Seems to me that in this case there was some reason.
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Post by lighten up on Aug 20, 2007 15:40:57 GMT -5
Not funny. Leave the junior high humor at home please. Either that or grow a sense of humor.
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 20, 2007 17:36:18 GMT -5
How do you know? Are you a mind reader?
No I'm not a mind reader. I assume that the function and purpose of convention is worship.
Your post makes me wonder how many people, like yourself, go to convention blindly believing that everyone they see is there primarily to listen to the workers tell them how and what to think.
I hope everyone. That's the best bit for me - the meetings, and then the long walks afterwards meditating on what has been spoken. Sometimes I feel as though eternity is within reach, so profound is the experience.
The socialising side has always been purely incidental (for me).
So if I want to drive 200 miles (round trip) once a year to spend a few days sleeping in a shed, eating in a tent, and dozing off in the worker's meetings (the ones I don't skip), all to spend some time at an annual family reunion, that's my business. And if you want to think that I'm there mindlessly lapping up the bilge that comes from the platform, that's your problem.
Personally, I could not do something like this in good conscience. It pains me to hear the preaching described like this. It's always been spirit and life to me.
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_
Junior Member
Posts: 71
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Post by _ on Aug 20, 2007 19:02:10 GMT -5
I assume that the function and purpose of convention is worship. The more I think about it, the more I cannot hold the same assumption... Looking back, I never viewed convention as the function and purpose for worship... It was always viewed as a yearly refresher... to get recharged... for fellowship... But worship? No... I never viewed it in that context... and I wonder how many others do the same...
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Post by not appreciated on Aug 20, 2007 20:15:03 GMT -5
Perhaps it would be better to call your friends and relatives. Yeah I tried that and they said the workers frowned at them when their cell phone started ringing.
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Bonnie
Senior Member
Posts: 212
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Post by Bonnie on Aug 20, 2007 20:22:33 GMT -5
I believe that God smiles upon the fact that those who love him love being with others who do too.
For many years I would say the pat thing, that we are here to get bread and not to spend our time visiting.
I don't believe that now. I believe that most of our feeding should be throughout the whole year. If we are as starved for bread as I use to say I was in my testimony, then I really didn't have the relationship I thought I had, with God.
Hope this makes sense
Love In HIm Kathy
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Post by wingsofaneagle on Aug 20, 2007 20:27:36 GMT -5
I assume that the function and purpose of convention is worship. The more I think about it, the more I cannot hold the same assumption... Looking back, I never viewed convention as the function and purpose for worship... It was always viewed as a yearly refresher... to get recharged... for fellowship... But worship? No... I never viewed it in that context... and I wonder how many others do the same... At the last convention I was at this year one man said that convention was his SALVATION!
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Post by to GIT on Aug 20, 2007 20:31:56 GMT -5
No I'm not a mind reader. I assume that the function and purpose of convention is worship. Assume all you want. This may be true for you, but please understand that not everyone is like you. Dream on. I know what you're talking about. I used to be the same way until I started to grow to the point where I discovered that I could have this more than once or twice a year; I could have it every day of the week. Starving to death for convention used to sound so honorable. Now I see it for what it is; An indication of the lack of spiritual life away from the structured environment of convention. How sad! But if this is the way you prefer it, more power to you. For those of us who are fed in other ways, socializing at convention is really all there is. Then don't. I'm sorry to have hurt you this way. Just please understand that not everyone is like you. I'm glad that you are fed at convention. Really, I am. But not everyone is fed there, and that is not an indication of their lack of a relationship with God.
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