Posts by BluesBrother

14

What happens if a JW say “Happy Holidays!”?

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

any takers?.

BluesBrother

Around here it would raise eyebrows and get a frown....

Actually, back in the distant past we had a dear old sister in our group . She was a regular at the Tuesday book Study. Dear old N..... she was sweet natured but definitely “sixpence short of. Shilling “

At Christmas time she would always say as she went to leave “ Compliments of the Season Everybody “ ( that’s a rather old fashioned way of saying Merry Christmas)..

We all thought it funny.. I did not have the heart to counsel the old girl who clearly did not quite get it....

They were happy days at Tuesday groups...

15

Circuit Overseer's visit and Body of Elders

by bola in

jw
friends

who is more powerful out of the co and the body of elders?

i remembered a time i was a reg.

pioneer and my service overseer in my congo was asking one of the regular pioneers during the meeting with the co. how powerful is the co to the body of elders and how powerful is the body of elders to the co?

BluesBrother

It is rare, but it can happen because the C/O has authority,”executive authority “ I once heard it called by an instructor at a big elders meeting.

The old time C.Os were more inclined to “kick ass” and revel in telling the elders to buck up. The young lads ( they do look young to me) they send round these days don’t want any trouble. Mind you the last couple of years they only drop in on Zoom.

9

What's actually recorded in publisher record cards?

by optimisticskeptic in

it seems to be unclear if things like public or private reproofs and details around those events being recorded and traveling with you.

it seems like the details are largely part of whatever judicial paperwork there is and not necessarily attached to your publisher card permanently.

i changed congregations a few years ago and it appears the letter the body wrote only covered the most recent issue and said nothing of a reproof that had happened a few years prior.

BluesBrother

In my day as secretary the record card just contained mundane stuff like name address d of birth, and baptism date and whether you were anointed or other sheep. Every month it would be updated with reported hours and placements .

Records of Judicial proceedings were separate and kept in sealed envelopes with your name on it . If you moved The Sec would write a letter of introduction (I tried to be nice) . Anything they needed to know might be conveyed in a phone call to the new cong.

I have seen a guidance to keep such letters brief and factual,due to fear of a data subject request but I don’t know if that is followed

16

The Watchtower—Study Edition | November 2021

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the watchtower—study edition | november 2021. .

13. how did prayer help one family who were unjustly treated?.

13 consider the experience of a sister named vero, who lives in the democratic republic of the congo.

BluesBrother

I am not in a position to say whether their experiences are made up.. and neither is anyone. But I will say that for every one that gets an escape , a dozen more seem to get the chop.. as seen in Russia.

So what is the criteria for protection? They can never answer that ....

I won’t knock the concept of prayer. If you believe in God it is all part of faith

14

Body of Elders Leadership

by bola in

jw
friends

who has more power in the body of elders in watchtower.

is it the cboe, secretary, service overseer or who?

i am just wondering since in my congo there seems to be cowards among them..

BluesBrother

Punk and D of C have nailed it. In my experience the most assertive elder has his opinions listened to. That is human nature, I guess.

When the Presiding Overseer became the Co-ordinater it was meant to show that there was no superiority but in practice little changed . Mostly the COBE is the smartest one and has been appointed by the C.O. , so he takes charge.

In my last appointment, the PO and Service Overseer ruled the roost , a third elder always agreed with what they said, leaving me and another decent elder always out voted.

18

So, When Did They Stop Singing?

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

rutherford said:.

a few words like the above pronounced at the beginning of the study would be far more beneficial than to occupy the same time in singing songs, which often express much that is out of harmony with the truth of and concerning god's kingdom.watchtower/1938/may/1st/pg.139 .

back then, they had what was called: order of study, and this is what every overseer was instructed to say to the audience.. .

BluesBrother

Why is it not surprising that JFR wanted to ban singing and music? He wanted to stop birthdays, Mother’s Day and most pleasureable things , except Whisky and nice cars for himself!

The really old , pre Rutherford songs were pretty gutsy , passionate, and often cribbed from hymn tunes. Once on the website they did a “look back “ video and it was someone singing Watchtower words but to the unmistakable tune of John Brown’s Body.

In my distant youth , the old green songbook had some favourites. They were tougher, anti Satan, anti the Church and tunes that stuck in your mind. We used to raise the Kingdom Hall roof , with dear old Sister Nellie pounding away at the piano......

Todays offerings are bland , pathetic nonentities.

5

Money Spinners

by Lost in the fog in

i can remember when i was in that there were numerous articles and assembly talks about not using the congregation as a means of making money from a captive audience of brothers and sisters.. i was looking at the etsy website and stumbled upon a jw themed product.. i wondered if there were any more and discovered that there were lots.

mind you maybe it's people who have left who see an opportunity for making money from gullible jws.. https://www.etsy.com/uk/search?q=jehovah%27s%20witness%20letter%20writing&ref=auto-1.

BluesBrother

Firms like Bennet Cards and Ministry Ideas ( spellings?) claim to be run by active Witnesses. They seem to be accepted as legit and are well used by the dubs I know.

11

Peace and Security and Mike Flynn

by SouthCentral in

i was on a jw page recently and some dubs were openly predicting the end of the world in a year.

mike flynn (trump advisor) mentioned having one religion in america and the dubs went crazy.

someone even mentioned 1975 on the thread.. it seems to have since been deleted; but there were about 50 comments before i couldn't find it again.

BluesBrother

It is a well known fact that if you are expecting something, every possible sound or sighting makes you think “ That’s It ! “..If you are looking out for someone you think you see their face in every crowd.

It’s the same with dubs and the News . When George Bush No.1 used the phrase “New World Order”, we all jumped to conclusions..

Some years back an Awake cover highlighted a U N Resolution that some critics thought could potentially be used to curb religion. Of course nothing ever came of it .

If you want to see something..... you probably will think you do see it.

19

So I was at a jw wedding and guess what!

by nowwhat? in

the major topic of conversation was that almost all do not want to go back to the meetings and field service!

and we are talking very zealous and active witnesses!

.

BluesBrother

Some of the fringe drifters will have disappeared during Covid, but you know what?

The sheeplike obedient will have a private grumble about going back but they will fall in line and do it. Once into routine it will seem normal. They have too much to lose by not going.

15

“A Better World Is Near.”

by Rattigan350 in

"the campaign will feature the distribution of a special edition of the watchtower magazine containing the cover series “a better world is near.”".

"more than 36 million printed copies of the magazine will be distributed in some 230 languages to communities in 240 lands around the globe.

in addition, the digital publication is available on various platforms in nearly 400 languages.".

BluesBrother

From the Midweek Meeting Workbook September...

“During November, we will make a special effort to share the good news that a better world is near. (Ps 37:10, 11; Re 21:3-5) Adjust your schedule to share fully in this campaign. If you sign up to serve as an auxiliary pioneer for the month, you may choose a 30- or 50-hour requirement.”

The Watchtower was No2 , 2021

Beats me how they do this with no public ministry? That is an awful lot of letters !