Found this interesting talk on E-watchman's site. It was given by David Splane, a GB member.
The talk is really interesting as it gives a more focused look at the troubles the Society is facing as it trys to cope with education, peer pressure etc.
http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=454
Yesterday we had the zone overseer David Spane giving a special talk in Belgium. He has been touring around in Europe and had the last stop in Belgium before returning to Bethel.
This was a complete different talk than the one described by Candace.
We were really shocked by a lot of things from his talk.
I will provide a small summary of it.
He started with the event of David and Goliath. When David noticed Goliath he proposed to fight with Goliath. Saul gave him his armour (copper helmet and coat of mail), but David was unable to use this. So he choose 5 smooth stones and his sling and a secret weapon, Jehovah's help.
That way he was able to defeat Goliath with Jehovah's help and not with Saul's armour.
Now a parallel was made to our time. We also have to fight against some figurative giants. 4 giants were discussed.
1. Higher education
2. Peer pressure
3. Negative publicity
4. Ourselves
1.Higher education as giant
This was discussed for almost 30 mins.
The main point was, do we really need higher education?
He said, what would Saul say: Well you can go pioneering when you have finished your university. That way you will be able tosuppport your family when you need to stop pioneering and you have to find a job.What would David say: With Jehovah's help I will be able to find a job when needed when I give Jehovah the first place, and go pioneering and not going to university.Than he discussed the disadvantages of university. People always think you need a certificate to find a job. He said that the situation currently is that too many people have a degree and some people even have to pretend you don't have a degree to find a job.
If you have a degree eg computer sciences and you start working at Bethel in the kitchen, what advantage will you have with a degree in computers, you won't use the knowledge. And if you need to stop working at Bethel after 15 years of service, than your degree is worth nothing, because the technology has evoluated.
So basic point is you definitely don't need a degree, you're better without it.
Than he also gave some examples of brothers/sisters who worked at Bethel and had to leave Bethel because they were expecting kids. They easily found a job with the things they learned at the theocratic school.
2.Peer pressure as giant
This was directed to kids and parents with kids.
It can be difficult to be a JW and be at school. Some kids are afraid of telling they are JW, but it has advantages. He gave an example of a 12 y old girl who told she was JW at the teacher at start of school and she studied with the teacher and the teacher and some other people from school became JW's. So always good to inform people you are JW.
Than there was a part about being unbaptized publisher. This was directed at parents.
He said, if you have a kid of 12, 12 or 14 years and he/she is not a unbaptized publisher, how is your education? At that age they should be unbaptized publishers and if not, there is something wrong with your education.
Than he said, if you have a kid of 14, 15 or 16 years and the kid is not baptized yet, wat about your education?
At that age they should be baptized or thinking about it.
Imagine you have an 18 year old son not baptized. He cannot be reaching out for privileges in the congregation because he is not baptized. What if he's thinking of dating someone? Who will he be dating? A girl from the world? another unbaptized publisher? a baptized sister who is spiritual weak? Other options are not possible because a spiritual strong sister won't be interested in an unbaptized publisher.
What if you don't want to force your kids to do these things. Is that a good point? He gave an example of parents who have a son who is working at McDonalds. When at a certain day he doesn't want to go working, will you call the manager and tell him that your son doesn't feel like working today and other days and that he will come when he wants? No, you will get your son out of bed and tell him he has to go to work. You will force him to do that.
The same applies for our obligations as publisher. You don't have to give them the option not to go to meetings or preaching. They have to go. Than he gave an example of a family who did that and was successful in this with their son.
3. Negative publicity as giant
That was about bad news in the newspapers about JW's. He said some of the brothers or sisters read something about us in the papers and than call or write Bethel about it. They think it should be true because it is in the newspapers.
Well think about that, why are we being hated in the world. It is because Jehovah made sure there was enmity between the woman and Satan and her seed and his seed. So we should expect to be hated and have bad publicity.
Saul would say, well we can examine some of our beliefs or positions. Example of disfellowshipment, bloodtransfusions, go preaching, ... These examples were given with the dates when the organisation started with it. The point was, when we would remove a standpoint, we will have another that the world does not like. We can go back in history to remove points, but we won't be able to please the world, because Satan is the ruler and he will never like our organisation.
4. ourselves as giant
This was related to our self-image. We can be negative about ourselves and think we are not worthy for God. And this can be as a giant.
He gave an example about an alcoholist. When he drinks 1 glass, the second is easy there and than a 3rd, 4th, 5th... and after some time he is drunk and lies on the ground. Which glass was the wrong one? The first, because that started the cycle.
The same with our thoughts. When we start thinking negatively, a second thought can come, a 3rd, 4th and eventually we think we are not worth anything for God and we get into depression. The first thought was wrong. When we would start thinking negatively, we should stop it and think positive and pray for help.
Than a remark was made about pornography, which can be similar.
The conclusion of all was, we have several giants to fight against and we don't need to think as Saul but as David and make use of our secret weapon, Jehovah's help.
ANY, many years ago lived an emperor, who thought so much of new clothes that he spent all his money in order to obtain them; his only ambition was to be always well dressed. He did not care for his soldiers, and the theatre did not amuse him; the only thing, in fact, he thought anything of was to drive out and show a new suit of clothes. He had a coat for every hour of the day; and as one would say of a king “He is in his cabinet,” so one could say of him, “The emperor is in his dressing-room.” 
