neat blue dog

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Posts by neat blue dog

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  29

  New Armageddon date?

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  looking at the most recent wt the study article focuses on the jubilees.

  the made a separate box in the article to highlight the math behind jubilees, and i'm wondering if they're trying to get people thinking and stir up the pot without actually making a false prophecy.

  for instance: jubilees happened every 7 times 7 years.

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  neat blue dog

  Looking at the most recent WT the study article focuses on the Jubilees. The made a separate box in the article to highlight the math behind Jubilees, and I'm wondering if they're trying to get people thinking and stir up the pot without actually making a false prophecy. For instance: Jubilees happened every 7 times 7 years. They give the starting date as 1424 BCE, so that means the 70th of these groups is coming soon, around 2026. Then when that fails, they can move on to 2034 (120 years since 1914) that has been brewing for a while.
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  37

  highlights from Circuit Overseer Guidelines

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just finished looking through the circuit overseer manual, so here are some highlights.

  first up, regarding circuit assemblies:.

  if a brother is so extremely overweight that others would be distracted if he had a part on the program, good judgment would need to be used in deciding whether to give him an assignment.

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  neat blue dog

  Then it didn't happen. Which means that 99% of pornography viewings never happened 😅 (post-70s/80s)
• 
  37

  highlights from Circuit Overseer Guidelines

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just finished looking through the circuit overseer manual, so here are some highlights.

  first up, regarding circuit assemblies:.

  if a brother is so extremely overweight that others would be distracted if he had a part on the program, good judgment would need to be used in deciding whether to give him an assignment.

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  neat blue dog

  I just finished looking through the Circuit Overseer manual, so here are some highlights. First up, regarding Circuit Assemblies:
  

  if a brother is so extremely overweight that others would be distracted if he had a part on the program, good judgment would need to be used in deciding whether to give him an assignment
  . . .
  if there are no baptismal candidates present when he asks for these to stand, there is no need to ask the two questions or to say the prayer

  A C.O. shouldn't color outside the lines:

  He should not organize special meetings or institute innovative programs unless given special direction by the branch office.
  On occasion, circuit overseers have related experiences that were inaccurate or fictitious. Therefore, before using an experience, a circuit overseer should make sure that it is authentic. If there is any doubt about an experience, it should not be used.

  Don't leave a paper trail:

  Communication related to child abuse matters should be handled over the telephone.

  It's always ironic to hear the "discreet slave" refer to itself in the third person while praising itself:

  The Governing Body has lovingly made the provision for those in special full-time service to receive additional days of personal time away every September 1, based on their years of full-time service or their age.

  Another irony is that the Governing Body, both as a group and as individuals, is guilty of the following, but advises others against it:

  It is important that circuit overseers avoid being extravagant or giving the appearance of wanting the best of everything in the way of food, clothing, apartment furnishings, the latest electronic devices, vacations, and so forth. In this way they will avoid “any cause for stumbling”

  Not sure why race is a judicial factor. Maybe to avoid frivolous calls if racism?:

  Before appointing an appeal committee, the circuit overseer should get the name of the accused, his race, the offense(s) he is charged with, and some facts about the case.

  The legalistic coldness of the following is almost funny:

  Circuit overseers and their wives will receive a shepherding visit at least once every two years from a branch representative.
  . . .
  The branch representative’s responsibilities cease at the end of his shepherding visit.

  Here was something I wasn't aware of. The organization of elite, crack teams of specialist Elders:

  Each year, the circuit overseer should meet with responsible brothers in his circuit to prepare for the Service Department a list of elders who are qualified to handle complex matters.
  . . .
  When preparing the revised list of brothers who are qualified to handle complex matters, the most qualified brother in the circuit should be listed first, the next most qualified brother in the circuit should be listed second, and so forth.

  If you know someone who would make a good substitute C.O., keep it secret:

  Before recommending a brother, the circuit overseer may discreetly ask experienced elders for their observations on the brother but should not reveal to them that the brother is being considered for the substitute circuit work. Brothers recommended to serve as substitute circuit overseers must not have viewed pornography within the last two years.

  Substitute C.O.s also shouldn't be able to get information on those higher up the prominence ladder than themselves:

  The circuit overseer should make sure that substitute circuit overseers do not have access to the portion of the circuit file containing information on brothers in the circuit with potential for greater privileges.

  Regarding C.O.'s wives:

  She should understand her role, not speaking for her husband or dominating conversations.

  It's also interesting that unlike average "sisters" they are actively discouraged from working with men in the ministry:

  It is preferred that the wife of a circuit overseer work in service with sisters and younger publishers. While it would not necessarily be improper for her to accompany a brother in field service, this should seldom be necessary

  In Kingdom Halls without video systems, when the C.O. has to provide a projector, his wife should not be operating it:

  select an alert, dependable brother.
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  34

  What’s Your Favorite Breakfast??

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to me, breakfast can be served at any time of the day.

  a local bar in my area serves breakfast all day long.

  for 5 bucks you get 2 eggs any way you like, bacon sausage or ham with home fries and toast!!

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  neat blue dog

  Breakfast is a social construct!

  JK I like breakfast all day too 😛
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  15

  Jw's mentioned in shows

  by days of future passed in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  have you ever been watching a show and suddenly, there's a reference to jehovah's witnesses?

  i was watching an english mystery show from a while back and the main character hetty, was giving a list of religions that could have drawn off a young girl.

  one of the "fringe" groups was tada - jehovah's witnesses.. there is plenty of other more well known clips like snl coneheads being approached by fake jw's.

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  neat blue dog

  Sinbad movie Houseguest, a guy at a pay phone says a white lie that one of Jehovah's Witnesses is bothering him.

  Big Eyes, which portrays JWs very well (unfortunately).

  A Perfect World, which portrays them very inaccurately.
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  32

  I saw my mother today for the first time in three years

  by pale.emperor in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i saw my mother today for the first time in three years..

  she was on one of the witnessing carts in town at a station i don’t usually get off at.

  i did today as i was dropping my daughter off somewhere.

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  neat blue dog

  Sending my love Pale. I know you do care and have to block your feelings for your own sanity. I'm so sorry.
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  81

  Evolution or Creation Poll

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  evolution is how we got here.. demonstrate that you believe that all species evolved from a single cell over/within 3.5 billion years by tapping "like" below.. demonstrate that you believe in special creation by tapping "unlike" below..

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  neat blue dog

  Nice idea of utilizing likes as a poll BTW 👍
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  16

  Who else provides all this spiritual food?

  by StephaneLaliberte in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  two days ago, i experienced a spiritual epiphany while visiting the library of a catholic university: i was shocked to find thousands of religious literatures produced by the catholics and protestants in the last few hundred years.

  someone could easily spend a secluded lifetime trying to read them all.

  for years, i was told by my religious leaders (jws) that the catholics and other religions did not provide spiritual food to their members.

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  neat blue dog

  Amen Xanthippe!

  Easter became the Memorial.

  They even follow the modern custom of buying new outfits, dressing extra spiffy and posting social media pics during "memorial season".
  
  
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  16

  Who else provides all this spiritual food?

  by StephaneLaliberte in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  two days ago, i experienced a spiritual epiphany while visiting the library of a catholic university: i was shocked to find thousands of religious literatures produced by the catholics and protestants in the last few hundred years.

  someone could easily spend a secluded lifetime trying to read them all.

  for years, i was told by my religious leaders (jws) that the catholics and other religions did not provide spiritual food to their members.

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  neat blue dog

  And an open secret in the writing department is that the Bethel library contains loads of reference works written by those in Christendom, and they benefit from their research, except where it contradicts JW theology.
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  35

  Hitting the fan: CD epidemic at my Hall

  by neat blue dog in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  yesterday my congregation met for field service and the elder taking the lead did something not so smart: he brought up the child abuse situation and the recent news articles hitting local news across the country.

  he said 'you can see that the persecution is really coming' and that we should be ready if someone complains about it at the door.

  (funny how it's persecution when it's us and righteous judgment when it happens to the other churches.

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  neat blue dog

  Maybe this elder is PIMO?

  I don't think he's quite there, but I do think he is partially awake, even if just a little. There have been circumstances in his life in the past 10 years or so that have humbled him and changed his outlook for sure. One sister was recently saying about a brother that stopped going that he has a beard now, and he practically bit her head off (in a nice way😅) saying, 'Oh, please. There are worse things in life than beards'. I also grow a beard periodically and he was one of the few if not the only one who spoke up for me when someone complained.