Patterson has a pool?! (page 3)

stevenyc

defd,:It is full of FLAWED people

Would you include either the FDS or the GB in that statement?

steve

AlmostAtheist

I dont feel that way, because I KNOW from the history of his org, it has always been flawed. Why? It is full of FLAWED people.

Let's say I have a hundred dollar bill and I want you to give me five twenties. I'll even give you a deal on it, give me $80 in small bills for my c-note and we'll call it even.

How could you tell if my bill was genuine? What if it was written in crayon on college-ruled paper? What if I claimed that all bills have flaws in them -- rips, smudges, fading -- and proclaim that my bill should not be judged just because it is also flawed.

In order to know if something is what it claims it is, there needs to be some standard to judge it by. We agree that the GB would do one thing in a given situation (like condemn you for being here), but God would do another.

If you're not looking for an organization that acts like God, what are you looking for? How are you identifying the GB as the guys that Jesus is using?

(Please don't quote the "by their fruits" scripture without listing some fruits you think they are producing, as well as at least paraphrasing the scriptures that show those fruits to be identifying marks of God's people.)

Dave

AlmostAtheist

On the "how to identify god's organization" question, you might want to reach back into the history you referred to.

Noah: Built a big boat 'cause God said to. Everybody thought that was a pretty stupid idea. "You feel rain?"

Abraham: Received visits from God, name changed to Israel. Miraculously, he becomes a father at 100.

The Nation of Israel, pre-temple: Ten plagues, pillars of fire and smoke

The Nation of Israel, post-temple: The occassional smiting by Jehovah, supernatural light emanating from the temple.

Jesus/Christians: Miraculous healings, resurrections, evidence of prophetic ability ("walk into the city, you'll meet a man, he'll lead you...")

So history shows that when God wants to identify his people, he doesn't mess around. Miracles abound, he isn't stingy with the "wow".

Today? Nothing. There's no organization on the earth that has any such miraculous stamps of approval. Many orgs CLAIM to be blessed by God, but they define what constitutes a "blessing". In the case of the Watchtower, pretty much anything that happens -- people come in, people leave, wars start, wars end -- is considered evidence of their divine choosing.

But that's what THEY say. It's what the Midianites said. And the Canaanites. Only the Jews could back it up with genuine miracles, proving they had God on their side.

Why not today? (Be careful, don't just repeat what they have told you on this, or you'll be employing circular reasoning. Think it through.)

Dave

Sunspot

Now you are just nit picking. Who frowns on those who have a nice big house? The "friends " do. Not the FDS.

Nitpicking? Hardly.

The WTS (Littlerockguy touched on this aspect) for years told us and counseled us to always do things in a "simple" (cheap except when making donations to the WTS) manner, and the scripture that says to "keep your eye simple" was embedded in our minds at every turn in the litter-ature , talks, assemblies and conventions.

Living "simply" was so that all your "extra" money, time and effort" could (SHOULD) be devoted to the...(guess who?).....the WTS!!!!!! Imagine that?

The old "we be imperfect" men who shoveled out all that tainted "food from God" to show us the "way", neglected to follow their own ~~wise counsel~~ dictates from God, and built structures complete with luxurious landscapes to die for and waterfalls better than the English Monarchy would be sipping their tea in......while the JW peons were to be "content" with what they had until the "New Order".

Do as we SAY, not as we do.......so say the WTS heirarchy.

Patterson is a fancy resort (supposedly) to the honor and glory of Jehovah. Funny, I don't remember him ever using the pool there.

Another big farce from the wonderful Watchtowerworld.

littlerockguy

Sunspot:

You forgot Matthew 6:33. I also had that scripture shoved down my throat so many times if another JW ever quotes me that scripture again I think I would "go postal" on 'em!

Gerard

An environmental inspector once told them to add some chlorine to their pool and the WT thought he meant their "gene" pool. Not good for them as it messes with their bipolar meds.

Gerard

This may be an Apostate site, but many here were victims of spritual beatings from the shepards. Jehovahs knows and I honestly believe He does not condemn me for being here.

Maybe He does condem you for staying a JW despite of knowing all you know.

daystar

I would not have a problem with them having their own pool, if they didn't place so much emphasis on such extreme sacrifice and humility on the individual level. If they can rationalize having their own pool and get away with it, why shouldn't the R&F be able to as well?

Mastodon

Hell, if the Puerto Rico Branch has a pool, a basketball court and a badass game room, then Patterson has a pool for sure...

Sunspot

You forgot Matthew 6:33. I also had that scripture shoved down my throat so many times if another JW ever quotes me that scripture again I think I would "go postal" on 'em!

Does any one recall a website that was called "Steve and July's Vacation"? It had dozens of pictures of the waterfalls at Patterson, the lavish surroundings, the lush landscapes etc.....it was enough to make you barf. I can't find it now.....it's probably defunct, much like what I long to hear about the WTS.

At the Assembly Hall built near hear in Rochester NY, we had Italian marble floors imported in, a state-of-the-art fully (and magnificently) equipped kitchen, and so many perks and expensive accroutrements that were quite astonishing to see. (and pay for)

The marble floors were a hazard to even try and walk on, anyone in high heels or little ones were always slipping and falling. Prince would have needed a private ambulance on standby if he was to navigate these floors. They ended up having to be covered with something far less dangerous........(more JW peon $$$ at work)

The expensive kitchen and all it's paraphernalia became a relic because the WTS had decided to not serve meals any longer.....the WTS sold it off. This only lasted a few short years because of the "swindle-the-IRS-out-of-the-taxes" game the WTS went to court for and lost.

And so it became a dining area where one could stand up at the tables after sitting during the sessions----a real pleasure for those of us trying to eat and feed the kiddies....

Then for some reason, they decided to close all the doors into the main auditorium after a few months of use....so that we had to use ONE door at the far back of the main hall....carting little kids from the front all the way to the back or from either side of the huge area---and out the door---around the corner (different corner) to the restrooms.....praying that the kid (or the adult) didn't have to "go in a hurry"...

ALL because some dimwit didn't want the doors used during the sessions. Now WHO was being thought of...or NOT thought of....through all the time we had to spend there? Beat the sheep once again.

They were always making up "rulez and regz" that made everything harder for the average JW.....like no going outside to eat lunch. What mother who had just gotten up before the chickens, traveled three hours to get to the stinking assembly with fussy, sleepy kids, and then had to stop and buy LUNCH before the first session.....or pack it from home before they left......would just be thrilled at this "provision from Jehovah" and be ecstatic to do it? Please.

Can't think of one. Not ONE! Can't complain though.....wouldn't want to be overheard and reported as a (gasp) murmurer cuz we ALL know what happens to them! Nope, we had to put up and shut up---gotta go along with the WTS program (UGH) while convincing ourselves how ~~disgusted~~ happy we all were!

I used to come home feeling as though I had been beaten up, way overtired, having little or no patience left for five unhappy kids who hadn't slept or eaten well for the duration, carting all the junk needed to survive our assembly---bookbags, songbooks, bibles, extra sweaters, etc....and realizing after MANY YEARS of this crap---that what could have been made to be much easier for us....was always shoved in the background and it was only made "easier" for the WTS. (But weren't we constantly reminded how great it was to BE a JW?) BLECHHH!

KEEP YOUR EYE SIMPLE..... was the cry.

It did NOT apply to the master manipulators in Brooklyn though, did it?

Actually.....when did it EVER?

Patterson has a pool?!

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