We have a fake very real looking tree, that I decorate. We just don't put it in the front window. We have a special meal while we are on vacation during that time. We plan on visiting some ex-jws on the way down if they are around. Otherwise we will have turkey sandwiches, crudites and dip, pumpkin pie, and eggnog and coffee. We will stop at a rest stop along the way. We are taking a couple of gifts to open during the trip. Otherwise we will do it Christmas Eve. In days gone by we went to a music venue for a free singing secular Christmas songs and a few well-known quasi religious ones. All free. We watch some of those traditional movies too, like the Grinch one (haha).
Posts by blondie
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16Holiday Plans
by Kathy1978 inanyone doing anything interesting/fun for the holidays this year?
we got some presents for our kids and a tree.
other than that, just chillin.
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27
Hotels Deny Watchtower Discount Rates For 2020 Regional Conventions
by JW GoneBad inthe wtbts is not being given special room rates by 2 major hotels at the long beach convention center area for the upcoming 2020 regional conventions & wt is t'd off.
letters are being read in surrounding circuits and congregations.
apparently wt is afraid that other hotels are going to blackball them as well.. has anyone else heard this?
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blondie
We had better rates through AAA or our government status, and used that. Those rates were much lower than any offered in the WTS booking system.
We just didn't advertise our windfall and be told that we should be supporting the WTS financially through the booking system.
Remember, when jws were told not to eat at outside food vendors but support the food "arrangement" at the assemblies/conventions?
Then in 1990, the WTS suspended paying for food those "arrangements" and in 1995 the WTS told jws they had to bring their own food, and cut the time allowed for lunch supposedly not enough time for jws to go to restaurants (many still did go to restaurants and just came late).
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30
Good memories of full-time service?
by fulano inperhaps not a topic for everybody... mine.. in both sp service in a foreign field in europe , the freedom and helping people to read and write in spanish .
doing a lot of work in the congregations.. in missionary-service.. helping congregations in a third-world country and see good results in family relations.
and the siestas from 13:00 to 15:00..... who has good memories of bethel?
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blondie
sparky1,
The place was loaded with back stabbing, throat slitting, ladder climbing, hypocritical, boot licking, sycophantic, corporate stooges that were merely god intoxicated religious fanatics.
I saw that and had Bethelites confide to me their negative experiences and they trusted very few other people there with their true feelings. They tended to be closer to the people in their congregation.
In the home congregation setting, there was more space and privacy literally than living at Bethel.
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60
Did You Think Jehovah’s Witnesses Were Typically “Racists”?
by minimus ini was a jw from infancy.
we had a melting pot type of congregation.
i grew up with all types of witnesses , all with different backgrounds.
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blondie
There were few black male Bethelites that I saw in my visits in the 1970's. They had to be very exceptional candidates.
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60
Did You Think Jehovah’s Witnesses Were Typically “Racists”?
by minimus ini was a jw from infancy.
we had a melting pot type of congregation.
i grew up with all types of witnesses , all with different backgrounds.
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blondie
Actually, there were few Bethelites that married that were allowed to stay at Bethel. There were a few exceptions. But the wives had to meeting the standards required of all Bethelite applicants. Of course, there are always ways around that through unofficial ways.
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23
Did You Ever Get Hit On By An Elder?
by minimus inthe organization stresses to elders to be careful with members of the opposite sex.
never be alone with a sister whether it be in field service or paying a visit by means of a shepherding call.
do you know of any elders that flirted or were overly “touchy” with females?
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blondie
I had two elders who were touchy feeley with me. One when I was single, the other when I was married. I broke one's finger (looked like he had an accident, not attributable to me), the other was told if he touched me again, I would break his finger; he stayed far away from me after that. I told my husband after we stopped attending meetings about that one, I did not want him to knock him out.
It is good not to be a confidant of some sad unhappy married man or woman. It never ends well.
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California Fires-Contact from elders
by SouthCentral inthe fires have been hitting many areas of los angeles lately.
recently, i checked my home voicemail and noticed messages from several elders.
they were calling everyone on their “books” to ensure that they were ok.. i assume this is the protocol for a natural disaster.
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blondie
If you haven't changed your phone number, then changing to a congregation may not matter. I have seen that BOEs are very lax in regard to keeping their data up to date on their "sheep." I have found that one elder many times has no idea what the other elders are doing and vice versa.
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Selling KH to another religion
by blondie ini found this question box in the july 1969 km.
question box (july 1969, p. 4).
• is it all right to buy a church building for use as a kingdom hall or, when a new kingdom hall is built, to sell the former hall for use as a church?
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blondie
I found this question box in the July 1969 KM
QUESTION BOX (JULY 1969, p. 4)
• Is it all right to buy a church building for use as a Kingdom Hall or, when a new Kingdom Hall is built, to sell the former hall for use as a church?
This is a matter for the brothers locally to decide. There does not appear to be any direct Scriptural objection to doing so. It is not a matter of cooperating in a religious way with representatives of false religion, but is simply a business transaction. It is a one-time real estate deal. Of course, if some in the congregation are bothered in conscience because of such buying or selling, then this can be taken into consideration so as not to stumble anyone. Renting a Kingdom Hall from a religious organization, however, requires close, constant relationship with representatives of false religion. There is a month-to-month contact in paying the rent and in the discussions regarding repairs and upkeep. Also, renting from a false religious organization might indicate to onlookers that there is not the distinct difference between the truth and false religion that we claim there is. It is best to avoid such rental arrangements. It is up to the brothers locally to decide if they should rent a pool from a false religious organization on a one-time basis for an assembly baptism. The same is true of renting an auditorium for an assembly. It is best to make other arrangements, if possible.
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Ever Wondered What People Think of Not-at-home Letters and Obit Letters?
by blondie inhttps://www.patheos.com/blogs/thefreethinker/2019/10/op-ed-intruders/.
here are some excerpts of a man who was called on by 2 young female jws, received a not-at-home letter as well, and what he thought about them.
i encourage you to read the whole thing, it is worth the laugh.. "it wasn’t pompeo knocking but he would have beamed approval on the two young women on the doorstep.
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blondie
I agree with what he has to say, Searril. I have had experiences myself in regard to jws. I had people at work who knew I was or had been a jw, ask me why they were getting a letter from a total stranger and commenting on their relative's death. Or a letter out of the blue. It is not this man looking for something to bitch. He had several different instances and was saying what passed through his mind and how it did not lead him to God.
I got a letter myself from a sister in the same town I lived in who I knew although she was in another congregation. She did not recognize my name or me as a jw.
It is a surprise for many jws that people find these behaviors strange. Reverse the circumstances, imagine you're getting a letter from a complete stranger, obviously more concerned about their religious message than how you are experiencing terrible sadness and loss. Or how creepy to get a letter from a Mormon telling you they have the bible answer to your situation.
So don't attribute bad motives to this person. He is just giving his experience to these things.
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60
Did You Think Jehovah’s Witnesses Were Typically “Racists”?
by minimus ini was a jw from infancy.
we had a melting pot type of congregation.
i grew up with all types of witnesses , all with different backgrounds.
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blondie
Here is a Questions from Readers from 1973 regarding interracial marriages. Reporting not supporting.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1973887?q=interracial&p=par
● What is the view of Jehovah’s witnesses toward interracial marriage?—France.
Jehovah’s witnesses at all times seek to reflect the Biblical view of matters. The Bible does not specifically discuss interracial marriage. It does, however, show how Jehovah God views humankind and it provides guiding principles for those considering marriage...
Nevertheless, not all persons share this broadened viewpoint, nor do all appreciate Bible standards. Many deep-seated prejudices remain in the world of mankind. A Christian, being realistic, must face life as it is—not as he wishes it might be.
In a few places, there are even laws making interracial marriages illegal. When that is the case, Christians are under Scriptural obligation to obey them, as such laws do not make it impossible for them to worship God with “spirit and truth.” (John 4:24;Rom. 13:1) Of course, if a Christian would prefer to move to a locality where such laws are not enforced, he is certainly free to do so.
In other communities, local prejudices produce discrimination and unkind treatment toward those of certain races of mankind. These prejudices do not make interracial marriage wrong. For the discerning Christian, nonetheless, they may give cause for thought as to the advisability of such marriage. No matter what the racial backgrounds of the mates, marriage of itself requires much adjustment on the part of both persons to be successful and to bring happiness. Human imperfection causes all marriages to bring some measure of ‘tribulation in the flesh,’ as the apostle Paul wisely points out. (1 Cor. 7:28) In certain localities, where racial prejudices are strong, this could put added strain on the marital relationship and could be especially trying for any children resulting. So the Christian should give thoughtful consideration to the probable consequences before entertaining the prospect of interracial marriage.
Persons of different races may have very similar backgrounds, culturally, socially and as to education. Or their backgrounds may be very different. Sometimes the varied habits, attitudes and customs that go with different backgrounds seem to add interest to the marriage union. Yet widely differing backgrounds, even among marriage mates of the same race, can and sometimes do give rise to problems, making marital adjustment more difficult. In making his decision, the Christian should also rightly weigh these factors—for the other person’s happiness as well as his own.
The Christian is under obligation to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom to others. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) As a factor, then, he may consider whether or not interracial marriage is likely to create a seriously adverse effect on the attitude of the people in his community toward this Kingdom-announcement work. The examples of Christ Jesus and his apostles show that they were willing to forgo things to which they had a right rather than severely hinder persons from being receptive to the truth of God’s Word.—Rom. 15:3; 1 Cor. 10:32, 33.
However, after weighing all these factors thoughtfully, each Christian must make his own decision—in good conscience and motivated by love for God and for his neighbor.