Posts by TheListener

21

National Average = Quotas

by zack in

jw
friends

the national average for publishers reporting feild service time in the untited states is just under 10 hours a month.

this has become the de facto standard for every member of the congregation.

if one fails to produce at the rate of others, he is "weak", his service is "divided", he puts the things of "this life" in "first place.".

TheListener

Reviewed some KMs from earlier this year and late last year. Average bounced between 8.8 and 9.9. I don't know the last time it was above ten.

62

HURRY ,HURRY ,YOU GOT TO SEE THIS,,,,,,,,,

by kls in

jw
friends

i knew i would get you to look.

congratulations to me.

TheListener

Wow 5000 posts. You must have a lot to say.

Congratulations.

61

She keeps making eyes at me but I'm not interested. :S

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

at work there is this girl there who keeps making eyes at me, but i'm not interested.

on top of that, she keeps trying to strike up conversations and she goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on... its amazing!

never a pause between sentences and barely a any space between words... just a very very long series of words coming out of her mouth non-stop.

Welcome Crazyblondeb

by kls in

jw
friends

welcome to you and all the newbies, we are glad you is here.

TheListener

NEWBIE NEWBIE NEWBIE

Welcome to the Board. I am prowling and looking for NEWBIES to associate with.

I look forward to your posts.

46

we got a command at the service meeting tonight - the km article on the summer district conventions said if we are dining out we really should tip 15-20% minmum -this was repeated twice = good to know the witnesses are getting less tight

TheListener

I have no problem tipping. It should be done according to the custom of your area. What I do have a problem with is covering this subject during one of Jehovah's teaching sessions. What is wrong with this picture. We're supposed to be in a spiritual paradise but we're too stupid or cheap to follow the local tipping customs? I mean come on!! It's so bad now that the dubs don't even realize what a waste their indoctrination sessions have become.

I've learned more deep spiritual thinking from this board in the last 2 days than I ever did at the hall.

17

JOB's children celebrating birthdays

by eye 23 in

can anyone give me their view on why the bible says that after job's children celebrated 'their day' he went out and made sacrafices to god in case they had sinned and cursed god in their hearts ?.

the first part is a great talking part especially regarding job being a rightous man but the latter tends to counter act it some how by impling that job thoughts were that birthdays were wrong, in gods eyes.

especially as he did this after every birthday, so i can't really debate that it was one off event that might have encured some wrong doing at one particular party........if you understand what i mean.. thanks for any iput.

TheListener

Narkissos, I appreciate you agreeing with me. It was kind.

Thank you also for further explaining your point. It does make sense that where the specific is not mentioned that the general meaning should be accepted. I still believe though that the construction of the sentence doesn't preclude the idea of a birthday or some other regular feast (like harvest or something). But, I do understand your point and will think about it some more.

eye23,

I have cut/pasted some information from various commentators that I've found that discuss this subject. In discussing this in the future I wouldn't say that this is categorically referring to birthdays but that it is a possibility.

FROM ROBERT JAMIESON, AR FAUSSET AND DAVID BROWN COMMENTARY

4. every one his day--namely, the birthday (Job 3:1). Implying the love and harmony of the members of the family, as contrasted with the ruin which soon broke up such a scene of happiness. The sisters are specified, as these feasts were not for revelry, which would be inconsistent with the presence of sisters. These latter were invited by the brothers, though they gave no invitations in return.

5. when the days of their feasting were gone about--that is, at the end of all the birthdays collectively, when the banquets had gone round through all the families.
Job . . . sanctified--by offering up as many expiatory burnt offerings as he had sons (Le 1:4). This was done "in the morning" (Ge 22:3; Le 6:12). Jesus also began devotions early (Mr 1:35). The holocaust, or burnt offering, in patriarchal times, was offered (literally, "caused to ascend," referring to the smoke ascending to heaven) by each father of a family officiating as priest in behalf of his household.
cursed God--The same Hebrew word means to "curse," and to "bless"; G ESENIUS says, the original sense is to "kneel," and thus it came to mean bending the knee in order to invoke either a blessing or a curse. Cursing is a perversion of blessing, as all sin is of goodness. Sin is a degeneracy, not a generation. It is not, however, likely that Job should fear the possibility of his sons cursing God. The sense "bid farewell to," derived from the blessing customary at parting, seems sufficient (Ge 47:10). Thus U MBREIT translates "may have dismissed God from their hearts"; namely, amid the intoxication of pleasure (Pr 20:1). This act illustrates Job's "fear of God" (Job 1:1).

COFFMAN'S COMMENTARY

Each one upon his day(Job 1:4). It is not known if this means each one upon his birthday, or if it means that they took turn-about in hosting the feasts according to some other assignment of the days.

Job. offered burnt offerings(Job 1:5). The revelation of this verse is extensive. (1) It places the scene in the patriarchal age before the giving of the Law, during which the patriarch was the priest for his family. (2) Job recognized that the seat of human sin is in the heart, as Jesus said (Matthew 15:19). (3) It shows that Job recognized that, Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22), and (4) that, Job was mindful of God upon good days as well as evil, and that he faithfully discharged his duty as God's priest within his family.

JOHN WESLEY'S EXPLANATORY NOTES

Verse 4

[4] And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Feasted ? To testify and maintain their brotherly love.

His day ? Each his appointed day, perhaps his birth-day, or the first day of the month.

Verse 5

[5] And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

When ? When each of them had had his turn.

Satisfied ? He exhorted them to examine their own consciences, to repent of any thing, which had been amiss in their feasting, and compose their minds for employments of a more solemn nature.

Early ? Thereby shewing his ardent zeal in God's service.

May be ? His zeal for God's glory, and his true love to his children, made him jealous.

Cursed ? Not in a gross manner, which it is not probable either that they should do, or that Job should suspect it concerning them, but despised or dishonoured God; for both Hebrew and Greek words signifies cursing, are sometimes used to note only, reviling or setting light by a person.

Hearts ? By slight and low thoughts of God, or by neglecting to give God the praise for the mercies which they enjoyed.

Thus ? It was his constant course at the end of every feasting time, to offer a sacrifice for each. Parents should be particular in their addresses to God, for the several branches of their family; praying for each child, according to his particular temper, genius and disposition.

There is a lot more but this might help as a start.

12

Bookstudy - Ch30 "Go On Walking In Love"

by TheListener in

so this is the title of the chapter we'll be starting this week at bookstudy.

sounds promising eh?

well don't get excited.. here are some tidbits:.

TheListener

Just my thoughts that I didn't include above. For a study that is supposedly all about love there is a lot of counsel in there. Why can't the study really be about love and nothing else!

17

JOB's children celebrating birthdays

by eye 23 in

can anyone give me their view on why the bible says that after job's children celebrated 'their day' he went out and made sacrafices to god in case they had sinned and cursed god in their hearts ?.

the first part is a great talking part especially regarding job being a rightous man but the latter tends to counter act it some how by impling that job thoughts were that birthdays were wrong, in gods eyes.

especially as he did this after every birthday, so i can't really debate that it was one off event that might have encured some wrong doing at one particular party........if you understand what i mean.. thanks for any iput.

TheListener

Narkissos,

I thought the Hebrew word used was "yowm" Strong's word #3117(sp?) which means day? If that is so how can "each in turn" represent the same thought?

I found this on blueletterbible.org: Hebrew literal translation (but not backwards): "and his sons went and feasted [in their] houses every one his day - etc etc.

I guess this could mean either his appointed day or his birthday. Based on the text a Job 3:1? there doesn't seem to be a problem with the understanding that 'his day' referred to a birthday.

I am just learning how to research for real so pleeeeeease just tell me I'm right.

33

New to Board

by Harpy in

jw
friends

i am somewhat new to board.

i am member of a few yahoo email groups, but this is my first attempt to chat with so many ex witnesses.

i have no idea where to being and would like a few pointers.. there is so much here...

TheListener

Welcome Harpy. Glad to have you around.

It's really dificult to figure out who to believe. But, by thinking for yourself you've made a good first step. This board is full of people with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences that can help. It's amazing what you can learn here all with the WTS as the core experience.

16

Parenting - strict or relaxed

by TheListener in

jw
friends

this was inspired by satanus' thread about how can people leave the truth when they've been raised in it.. i was raised in the truth, or as some say i was raised around the truth and made it my own when i was baptized.

i know typical doublespeak from dubs.. which method of parenting will most likely result in your child being a stronger jw?

a strict parent who enforces family study, meeting attendance regardless of health, regular service, constant spiritual talk inserted into daily life, having dub families over a lot and creating situations for regular association with dub kids of a similar age and not allowing association with school and neighborhood kids.

TheListener

Jaffa, please post the article. I would really like to read it.

Yes, I believe in postive reinforcement not negative. However, do I view saying "God this is great" as a negative? As a strict dub parent you bet I do. As a relaxed fading dub I don't give a hoot. This kind of thing comes up a lot considering all of the rules and regulations that dubs live by. If my kid wants to visit a worldly friends house or vise versa, as a strict dub parent there's no way that is happening. As a fading relaxed dub parent, again, I don't give a hoot.

I'm just asking the boards opinion on which of these way will most likely cause a child to be a dub.

I guess though, advice on how to get them to think for themselves, yet not cross any dub family rules, would be extremely beneficial.