Posts by Bluegrass Tom

14

Preaching work

by jula71 in

as a jw, we?ve been taught that preaching is a direct command from jesus, but is it?

who was he talking to?

in matt 28 he was talking to the remaining apostles.

Bluegrass Tom

As things turn out, I am studying this exact subject at present. It will be a while before I am done.

However, I can tell you this so far. The commandment is to make disciples, not to go door-to-door. Jesus is the exemplar. The example to follow. He didn't go door-to-door according to the gospel accounts.I think at this stage of my study it is fair to say that the most going door-to-door could be considered is a suggestion. There is no question that one of the best ways to contact people is by knocking on their door and talking to them. Also note that C.T. Russell did not promote the door-to-door approach.

The idea of everyone going door-to-door is a doctrine of the WTS, with marginal support from the scriptures.

42

What if?

by jula71 in

does anyone have the fear of, "what if they?re right?

" i?ve had that nagging me then i have another voice, i?m not nuts-i?m not hearing voices-just a metaphor, tell me "they can?t be right.

" i just have this incredible inner conflict in me.

Bluegrass Tom

Everyone gets it. It is a sign of the longlasting emotional damage that has been done to us in the form of instilled guilt and emotional conditioning. When it comes, relax, focus and straighten your mind out. It will pass.

21

The Best Response To Memorial Invites?

by dawn27 in

jw
friends

they will not give up!!

i live a ways away from my old congregation and i work with a couple of active witnesses who know i'm inactive.

so, i've been bombarded with phone calls and asked by my co-workers to go to the memorial.

Bluegrass Tom

My advice is that the less said the better. I find this to be true for most things in life.

If they ask you when your memorial is say, 8:00 PM and leave it at that (If the hall is shared, tonight one will be at 6:30, the next at 8:00 PM). All you are saying is an hour of the day. You are not confirming attendance, or anything else. Use some reverse "theocratic warfare". Smile and be unspecific. They are not entitled to know anything.

24

Disfellowshipping in absentia policy from "Organized to do Jehovah's Will"

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

this is the new disfellowshipping policy from the "organized to do jehovah's will" book.

this book is now the replacement for the old "organized to accomplish our ministry" book, released in 1983. .

chapter 14: maintaining the peace and cleaness of the congregation .

Bluegrass Tom

This has always been the policy, but not disclosed to the rank and file until now.

Here is how it goes: If the body of elders has received a credible report of wrongdoing the body assigns two brothers to investigate. The two brothers investigate and report back their findings. If they find that there is in fact wrongdoing of a gross nature, the body of elders establishes a judicial committee to handle the matter. This is usually the two brothers that looked into it initially and one other Brother. A Chairman is selected by the body. Now the body is out of it. It is strictly handled by the judicial committee.

The committee first listens to all testimony and evidence. This is done separately. Then they try to establish a meeting with the accused. If the accused won't meet with them after several attempts, they will set the meeting date and time for the judicial hearing and notify the accused (verbally only). Then the committee will meet, consider all the information and come to a conclusion whether the accused is there or not. If the conclusion is to disfellowship, they will advise the accused verbally and give them time to appeal. If they don't appeal within 7 days, the disfellowshipping will be announced at the next Service Meeting.

This procedure also applies to the appeal process. If they don't show-up the appeal committee proceeds. It should be noted that the appeal committee is only concerned whether the judicial committeee acted properly and within the WTS guidelines. They do not re-open the case, and consider the testimony, etc. The appeal committee is in place to help protect the WTS from a law suit. That's it. It has nothing to do with making sure that the accused gets a fair shake.

3

June 2004 Magazines, info wanted please

by flower-eater in

i'm wondering if anyone has any information about the june '04 mags concerning whether or not there was an "update" on how jw"s are supposed to treat their disfellowshiped family members.

i received a scathing letter from my mother telling me to never contact them again and upon telling someone about this, they thought they saw something in a june mag.

dictating this behavior.

Bluegrass Tom

Flower:

The WTS's direction is that you do not talk to or eat/associate with any disfellowshipped or disassociated relatives that do not live with you. Only family business under rare and controlled circumstances can be transacted. If the person lives with you, the treatment varies slightly.

14

WTS admits slanting scriptures

by Bluegrass Tom in

"furthermore, the remnant of spiritual israel had for decades ... been looking forward to the ending of the times of the gentiles in the autumn of 1914. they were expecting god's messianic kingdom to be fully established in the heavens by then and also for the remnant of spiritual israel to be glorified with jesus christ in the heavenly kingdom at that time.

all understanding of the holy scriptures was slanted in that direction or adjusted to that idea.

" man's salvation out of world distress at hand, 1975, p.136.

Bluegrass Tom

"Furthermore, the remnant of spiritual Israel had for decades ... been looking forward to the ending of the Times of the Gentiles in the autumn of 1914. They were expecting God's Messianic Kingdom to be fully established in the heavens by then and also for the remnant of spiritual Israel to be glorified with Jesus Christ in the heavenly kingdom at that time. All understanding of the Holy Scriptures was slanted in that direction or adjusted to that idea." Man's Salvation Out Of World Distress At Hand, 1975, P.136.

16

Can a person have his baptism nuliified if he was too young when baptised?

by William Penwell in

i know this was discussed not that long ago on here but can a person have his baptism nullified if he was too young when baptized?

the reason i ask is that i have a friend that said he was baptized at 14. i was mentioning that i read somewhere on this and told him i would get back to him.

if so, how does one proceed with doing this and is there a sample letter he could use?

Bluegrass Tom

Will:

There is a family that lives in a town in Long Island New York that got a lawyer and had their baptisms annulled. They did this as adults. Send me a PM and I wil get the details and send to you.

60

The org is going down----I can feel it!

by stopthepain in

jw
friends

.

my brother called me today.he is 20 ,3 years younger than me,and out of the religion.he still has fear though that it could be true,but thats another story.. he told me he heard my mother and father talking upstairs.my mother said about the org "ive put 26 years into it,i think i'm done with it,i might just go sunday from now on".this is huge ,because she was a devoted nutjob witness.she made my life horrible for the 1st 17 years of my life.i had been trying to suddly tell her the truth about the troof,but i didn't expect this.i'm happy and yet i want to know where she stands with the borganization.. this along with what seems to be an outpouring of similar stories,i have a gut feeling the jehovahs witness mind control cult is on the brink of implosion.everyone is so burdened by it.the jig is up,gb,good riddance when you fold.the rank and file have had enough.my 2 younger sisters are on the edge of mental freedom.i hope they can fully get free of it.. this is a milestone in my families long and strange trip in mental enslavement!!!!!!!!!!!!

!

Bluegrass Tom

Just Tickled Pink:

Thanks.

10

How is Quotes and his site doing since the legal fuss?

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

.

last i heard his lawyer sent a letter replying to the wts's own legal letter.. is there any new news?.

Bluegrass Tom

Scully:

Thanks.

60

The org is going down----I can feel it!

by stopthepain in

jw
friends

.

my brother called me today.he is 20 ,3 years younger than me,and out of the religion.he still has fear though that it could be true,but thats another story.. he told me he heard my mother and father talking upstairs.my mother said about the org "ive put 26 years into it,i think i'm done with it,i might just go sunday from now on".this is huge ,because she was a devoted nutjob witness.she made my life horrible for the 1st 17 years of my life.i had been trying to suddly tell her the truth about the troof,but i didn't expect this.i'm happy and yet i want to know where she stands with the borganization.. this along with what seems to be an outpouring of similar stories,i have a gut feeling the jehovahs witness mind control cult is on the brink of implosion.everyone is so burdened by it.the jig is up,gb,good riddance when you fold.the rank and file have had enough.my 2 younger sisters are on the edge of mental freedom.i hope they can fully get free of it.. this is a milestone in my families long and strange trip in mental enslavement!!!!!!!!!!!!

!

Bluegrass Tom

Elsewhere:

Can you please post or PM this awake page? A scanned copy maybe? I would like a hard document with this text. It is not on the CDROM, and I don't have the bound volume for that year. Any help you can give is appreciated. If you can't you can't.