The opening talk again discussed taking notes, but this time recomended all to take brief notes to have handy for the convention review in the autumn. Can't make their minds up...
"Removing the veil from those Blinded" We were given instructions to start a bible study on a return visit. This was not just recomendations, but specific procedure to be used. This is the same as the kingdom ministry's, which now give specific introductions to by used for the magazines. Is this because they don't trust us not to say what we think? Or do they not want to let the householder steer the conversation to matters which could make them uncomfortable.
Doing More. They emphasised that it is possible for each and every one of us to more in the truth, its just a matter of motivation. Jehovah will empower us to be able to do it, and Satan will do his best to stop us. So if we don't do more, we are being influenced by Satan. Even though we may be depressed because of constant browbeating by the elders, working all hours because we were recommended not to get an education, in an iron lung, or already doing as much as we can, if we don't do even more we are doing Satans will. This point was made several times through the assembly.
Hated Without Cause. There was an experience of 2 sisters with 11 children from Malaysia who refused to buy political cards. They were beaten by a mob for two days, and finally stripped naked in front of them all. They still refused to buy a political card. But I remember reading on here somewhere that mexican? witnesses were allowed to buy them. Can someone confirm this? If so, I wonder if this experience will be used at the Mexican conventions, or what those two sisters would think if they heard about this.
Cultivating a Christlike View of Greatness. The example of Christ washing the diciples feet was used to show that ministers should be lowly, and not look for greatness. But later on the day, and also on the Sunday, youngs ones were encouraged to reach out for priviledges and positions of responsibility, and noted how good this would be to them and what example this would show to others. Isn't this showing to others how great you are, and thus totally different to what was said in this talk? It also counseled not to help some and not others. Thus the organisation confesses at a convention how much 'love' is shown to those not in the 'in crowd'.
Tired, but not Tiring out. "Good teaching actually enhances the bible." So they are making reading their own publications, "Teaching instruments", more important than reading the bible! Is that why in the ministry school on Thursday nights a portion of The Watchtower is used for the reading instead of the bible?
Beware of the Voice of Stangers. Do not attempt to talk to apostates, just flee from them. Is this because they know their reasoning doesn't stand up to close investigation? A young woman I didn't know came up and started chatting to me, but because there was a few people around who did know me, I told her I was DF'd. From the look on her face you would have thought I told her I was a serial killer and she was next.
You also can't believe the media, because they often withhold minow details that make a difference. Apparently, the documentary on the BBC on pedeophiles missed out most of the interview of the governing body member, just leaving the bits when he refused to reanswer questions he'd already answered, thus debunking the whole program. However, they also miss out minor details like being a member of the UN, and that attendant over there is a pedeophile...
Children must also listen to their parents at all times, because even if you live to be 1,000,000 yrs old they will always be older and more wise than you are. So if you are a youg witness you're never going to amount to anything, because everyone else will be older, wiser, and so much better than you.
They used the example of keys, and said at first glance they couldn't be distinquished, but you had to closely examine them to see the differences and find which one was true. But the whole point of his talk was not to examine the other key, just to accept the one that you've got. I've made that mistake before, I didn't realise that I'd picked up the wrong keys until after I got back from a drunken night out in the middle of winter.