I get a visit from an elder every couple of months. He drops off a few magazines and chats for half an hour or so, but never gets into gossip (of course.)So, its rare that I get to hear what's really going on.
I do pick up a few real experiences from a good friend who's still in, but by the time she tells me, it's history anyway! However, my daughter was out of town last week and with her own eyes saw a "brother" from my old congregation, smoking a cigarette! Must be a sign that we're living at the time of the end?