Posts by Esse quam videri

my mom, while pregnant with me, was one of thousands of jw volunteers to work on the construction of this once beautiful assembly hall in south florida circa 1984. it had a beautiful pond, waterfall, and even a resident alligator.

many remember it as well for it's huge plaster murals on the walls showing scenes of paradises.. pics as it was before (sorry for the low quality, struggled to find good pics of the auditorium as it was, if you have any good ones, do share them):.

.

Esse quam videri

No doubt 'dedicated to Jehovah'. It's a good thing 'Jehovah and Jesus completely trust the faithful and discreet slave' otherwise Jehovah may get really pissed off.

63

Life is changing for me: no pioneering, got a job!

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

a month ago i decided to register in this board.

i had decided to step down pioneering but was frightened about the consequences.

i had finished my university degree some months before (despite disaproval from brothers in my congregation) and i had to choose: continue pioneering and working in jobs with no future or starting a career, working full-time.. i was thinking to postpone the decisiton but... i was fed up with preaching.

Esse quam videri

DesirousOfChange
The greatest revenge is living a happy and successful life!

Why even use the word revenge? It's poison. Just 'go on your way'. Live a happy and successful life. Find new friends and family. Try your best to make their lives happy and successful.

8

What is freedom to you?

by What is Truth? in

jw
friends

we always say free choice, the freedom to choose well the ability to choose is freedom and we claim freedom ourselves to the attention that we become aware of our decisions.

well today this year i choose to never step foot in a kh again unless someone died or i have an axe and some gasoline!

who's got a lighter for me?.

Esse quam videri

It is all perspective. When FDR gave his four freedom speech in 1940 he spoke of going to two things and going from two things.

TO : FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION

TO: FREEDOM OF WORSHIP

FROM: FREEDOM FROM WANT

FROM: FREEDOM FROM FEAR

What about the addict who freely chooses to take dangerous drugs? In B.C. Canada last year almost 800 people died of drug overdoses. Not the whole country but just one province. Is it a good thing they had freedom to choose? Some may say they did not because the addiction controlled them. Others argue that they choose freely.

What about freedom of speech? The freedom to subject others to slander and all its side effects. Who is to decide if it is slander? Maybe it is just the truth. It still does the same damage. We may say, so be it, they should have thought about that before they acted. Now we merely expose them for what they are. If they suffer, so be it. What about their family? Wives, husbands and children. They will be collateral damage. Should they not also have freedom the fear of their lives being effected?

What about the person whose wants far exceed his needs. More, more, more. One fears not having 10 million dollars in investments thinking he needs it for a secure future. Another fears not having a full paycheck next Friday. Should not both their wants be satisfied? Who is to decide? The answer is that Society, as a whole, has to decide. There has to be some standard to follow that is reasonable and treats all equally. Some may argue for the virtues of JW.Org based on these standards. Others argue against it.

58

Mexico branch......Now closing!!!

by krismalone in

a circuit overseer friend of mine serving in latin america called me today to say hi.

i asked him what's new and he dropped the news that they have received notification that the branch in mexico will be closing!!

this branch also called the central american branch (although located in mexico) oversees all of mexico's 800,000+ publishers plus all 7 countries of central america of over 100,000 publishers.

Esse quam videri

If true, the CO's will find out what it's like in the real world. Supporting themselves and still touring the circuits at the whim of the Governing Body. I can picture some very lively discussions between Mr. CO and Mrs. CO. And so much for the Vow of Poverty, or does that not apply to the CO? Of course the only thing they will have marketable skills for is working in a fast food joint or cleaning windows. [ Marketable skills = No skills ] How many people in Mexico want their windows cleaned? That should take care of the Poverty part.

58

Mexico branch......Now closing!!!

by krismalone in

a circuit overseer friend of mine serving in latin america called me today to say hi.

i asked him what's new and he dropped the news that they have received notification that the branch in mexico will be closing!!

this branch also called the central american branch (although located in mexico) oversees all of mexico's 800,000+ publishers plus all 7 countries of central america of over 100,000 publishers.

Esse quam videri

I say BALONEY!

19

How long does it take to get a response from the branch office?

by Homer notsimpson in

jw
friends

does any one have any experience with writing to the branch office?

i know they're busy, but while reading through the shepherd textbook, it says to write to them quite a few times.

so if a body of elders write to the branch office, whats the usual wait time for a response?

Esse quam videri

'... Does any one have any experience with writing to the branch office? ...is it fast...? '

1 - I have a large amount of money to donate to the Society. Where do I send it?

Response time - 37 minutes.

2 -I am having trouble understanding a scripture. Can you explain it to me?

Response time - 6 - 8 months.

3 - The kingdom hall I have attended for the last 20 years was sold and now it is a meeting place for Pentecostals. Can you explain how this Kingdom Hall could be dedicated to Jehovah God and now is used by Babylon the Great?

Response time - 3 - 4 decades. Unless of course you count the judicial committee that will be visiting you the next day.

14

Vow of Obedience and Poverty? WTF??

by NikL in

jw
friends

listener on here started a cool thread about the april 2017 wt which can be found here.... https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4881380162928640/watchtower-april-2017-overview.

it got me to look at it closer and in the opening study they use terminology i've never heard used before namely, "vow of obedience and poverty".... 19 currently, there are some 67,000 members of the worldwide order of special full-time servants of jehovah’s witnesses.

some perform bethel service, others engage in construction or in circuit work, serve as field instructors or special pioneers or missionaries or as assembly hall or bible school facility servants.

Esse quam videri

' ...Some perform Bethel service, others engage in construction or in circuit work, serve as field instructors or special pioneers or missionaries or as Assembly Hall or Bible school facility servants. They are all bound by a “Vow of Obedience and Poverty,” with which they agree to do whatever is assigned to them in the advancement of Kingdom interests ...'

Br. Project Superintendant: [ who hasn't had dirt under his finger nails since he was 11]: Oh, hello Brother Schmuck. I see you have just come to work on our new branch project and I see also that you have signed the 'Vow of Obedience and Poverty'. Is that correct Brother S.?

Br. S. : Yes. I signed the 'Vow of Obedience and Poverty' last Friday.

Br. P.S.: Yes I know, I was just checking to make sure you understood what you were signing. I don't really care about the Poverty part. That naturally comes along with the position. What I am more interested is the Obedience part. So Bro S. are you ready for your first chores for the day?

Br. S: Yes, I can't wait to get started.

Br. PS: Good, good. You see that big pile of sand over there?

Br. S: Yes, I see it.

Br. PS: Good, good. Well, I want you to take this shovel and that wheelbarrow over there and go over to the pile of sand over there and shovel some sand into the wheelbarrow. Then I want you to wheel the wheelbarrow full of sand, and we do want it to be full Br. S, and then dump it beside the pile of rocks over there.

Br. S: What? That pile of sand if huge. Is anyone else going to help me?

Br. PS: No, no. You will be shoveling and wheeling all the sand by yourself.

Br. S: That will take me weeks.

Br. PS: Probably. What a privilege you have in working hard for kingdom interests. When you get that done come and tell me. We will find another 'Kingdom Privilege' chore for you. I'll be in the office. Have to go, it's getting cold out here.

24

5 Ways to Improve Your Online Security

by Simon in

let's face it, we're all connected now.

we take it for granted that we access our bank accounts from our laptops or phones.

it's so convenient.

Esse quam videri

M-Passwords