TheListener

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Posts by TheListener

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  54

  You've rented a billboard in front of a KH. What would you put on it?

  by whyizit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you could rent a bill board where you knew jehovah's witnesses would see it, what would you put on it to try to effectively reach them?

  and don't forget that lots of other people would see it to.

  maybe the regular joe would be able to develope some good questions from your ad too.

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  TheListener

  "Jesus said our load would be light - Is yours? - Matthew 11:28-30"
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  122

  BETHEL NEWS: Bethel Elder Arrangement to be dissolved as of Aug. 31, 2006

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here is some news from a source within one of the wts branches:

  hot news from todays morning worship announcement worldwide -- letter from gb being read on 1st of march 2006 to every branch (hopefully we will have a copy of the letter soon.).

  as of aug. 31, 2006 the bethel elder arrangement will be dissolved!

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  TheListener

  You might have it right Elsewhwere, but when you're at Bethel it doesn't take very long to know who the "hard asses" are and to steer clear of them. If your supervisor is a one it takes twice as much effort to stay out of trouble.

  The gossip grapevine in Bethel travels at the speed of light. If the GB use anyone in a bethel elder capacity, whether or not they have the actual title, it won't take long for the rest of the family to hear about it.

  Perhaps they feel that after so long a time there is a lot of dead wood in the bethel elder ranks. Instead of selectively asking some to step aside they just cancel the whole program. This way they can begin to unofficially use who they want to do whatever it is they deem necessary.

  Let's face it, the ones with real power and authority now are the "given ones." Everyone else is a second class citizen.
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  40

  JW message board talking about "famous" apostates

  by unbeliever in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://ewatchman-exposed.co.uk/research/exposure_1_strange_bedfellows__robert_king_and_donald_burney.html?lastpost=1141249562#msg11 1. james penton who was an elder in lethbridge, alberta canada became apostate in the late 70's, took at least 80 souls with him at that time.

  god only knows how many he took through the years?

  his book is intitled: "the apocylpse is not delayed because of my stupidity".

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  TheListener

  Those people are nutty. I read some of the threads and they just appear to be nutty.
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  122

  BETHEL NEWS: Bethel Elder Arrangement to be dissolved as of Aug. 31, 2006

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here is some news from a source within one of the wts branches:

  hot news from todays morning worship announcement worldwide -- letter from gb being read on 1st of march 2006 to every branch (hopefully we will have a copy of the letter soon.).

  as of aug. 31, 2006 the bethel elder arrangement will be dissolved!

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  TheListener

  I think they need to give the "given ones" a higher stature. One way to do this is to remove a competing title.

  If a bethelite screws up it will be handled by his local congregation or if he's a heavy the given ones will mete out punishment. - imho.

  On the whole bethel elders aren't bad guys. Most are just regular people struggling with life in the big house, hoping not to piss off anyone heavier than they are.

  There are a few bad apples that thrive on the power and authority - real or perceived.

  The local congregations know which bethelites assigned to them are plain elders and which are bethel elders.

  They also make fun of the new boys.
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  35

  Death to the Pixies: A few questions, just for you...

  by AuldSoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as an able apologist for jw dogma, i am wondering whether you give me answers with scriptural backing for a few questions.

  in other words, whatever your answer is i would like scriptures to support the answer.

  i hope that is not too much to ask.. (1) was charles taze russell ever the "faithful and wise steward" assigned to give people their "portion of meat in due season"?.

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  TheListener

  I am enjoying this discussion.

  I hope it's not over. Each point hasn't been dealt with in its entirety yet. The following points seem to still be open: (I put AuldSoul's comment in one box and DTTP in a separate box to make it more readable. DTTP if you respond anymore to these issues can you use better spacing? Thank you.)

  Point 1:

  Auldsoul:<<<Besides this, what else is needed? And if men are heads AS the Christ is head of the congregation then we will be alongside our wives, not over them. Just as Jesus invites his disciples under the yoke he himself bears and as he himself became "beside" his Father a master worker. (Matthew 11:28, 29; Proverbs 8:30)>>

  Reply: Somewhat inventive, if there is a total equality in authority, then why does Paul call-out those who have a false authority, and who cause his authority problems? He, and the apostles in general, had an authority over teachings so the "ekklesia" would not be chasing every "wind of teaching". One cannot interpret Matthew 16:9 as applying to anybody but the apostles as a group (MAybe a rough read would have Peter alone). Every Christian is not being giving this individually.

  You cannot "submit" to someone who has equal authority. You can submit to someone and be equal in nature, but not authority. As far as the "the master worker analogy" I believe you are reading more into this thought than is there. We know Jesus would never seize upon the Father and try to become "equal". (Phil. 2) Since the context is not nature (as the Son has the Fathers nature or form) it must be his superior authority.

  Point 2:

  Auldsoul:<<<<I especially applaud the direct response on question #7. That one affected me personally just recently, as my father (PO in my wife's congregation) informed her that since I am no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses I am no longer to be considered her spiritual head. I dealt with it by allowing her 2 weeks to find a Scripture to demonstrate that. She could not, despite asking my father for help. She does not mind if I pray for my family (just the two of us, for now) or study with her. She still asks me questions on Bible topics frequently>>>

  Reply: They would probably point out that when one is Ex-comm from the congregation, both in Jesus' words in Matthew 18, and in Pauls call-back to the OT (1 Cor. 5:13), this required a total lack of communication in regards to spiritual matters, and all communication except to help when in need. As Scholar Albert Barnes points out with regard to Matthew 18: "The Jews gave the name “heathen” or “Gentile” to all other nations but themselves. With them they had no religious contact or communion." This is how Jesus specified this, Whether or not this is applied directly to Husband/Wife situation is not dealt with specifically I believe. I could be wrong as I have not gone thru the OT in its entirety.

  Point 3

  Auldsoul:As to the "appeals" process you mentioned, they saw no need since they actually had God's holy spirit. The Bible never makes even an implied reference to any such arrangement.

  Reply: True they "actually" had the spirit (I guess in conrast to the CCJW in your view), but having the spirit does not insure perfect judgement. Judgement errors are made by pretty much every key player in the OT. The example we have in 1 Cor. 5 has a **flawed** handling by a church. At best you are arguing from silence. Those who undestand imperfection, will use God-given common sense to cover that. (not to imply that anyone here does not have common sense, so please do not take it that way)
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  128

  listing of authorities and their date for the fall of Jerusalem

  by M.J. in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  sorry if this has been posted before.

  i came across it and thought it was worth pointing out: http://members.tripod.com/sosoutreach/wts/607.html.

  (edited) the annoying popup caused me to cut and paste the table from the page, rather than embed it: the narrative before and after is good too so you might want to check it out the original page.

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  TheListener

  I don't like to discuss the 607 date much, but I just feel I need to say this.

  Scholar, I read almost every post you make on this forum. I want to thank you for constantly reminding me why I left the truth and how good I currently feel being free to serve Jesus without the WTBTS in the middle.
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  20

  GB member speaks about cutbacks

  by startingover in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  a member of the gb spoke in this area recently.

  i understand one talk was about endurance.

  no surprise there.

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  TheListener

  I think talk of cutbacks and low meeting attendance and slow growth does add stress to the membership but for most of the dubs I think it encourages them to stay strong in spite of hard times.

  They feel that they know something no one else understands. They have secret knowledge that due to Satan's machinations not many will listen to. That gives them a feeling of "me against the world" and that feeling can be very strong. When the numbers go down the hardcore get stressed because they are doing even more to show how special they truly are and how much they believe it regardless of the slowdown of others.
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  4

  current jw emails

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  what are the current jw emails circulating?

  you know, bethel reports, urban legends, etc.

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  TheListener

  What are the current jw emails circulating?

  You know, bethel reports, urban legends, etc. etc.
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  22

  WTS 2006 Special Campaigns

  by doinmypart in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in a boe letter dated 2/2/06, the wts listed four special campaigns for 2006:memorial, wed apr 12, 2006 (in a boe letter dated 2/3/06 wts wants elders to help all inactive & new ones attend the memorial.

  the letter said attending the memorial is often a stepping stone to serving jehovah...visit every inactive person in the territory and give an invitation, give every family member that is friendly to the message an invitation).special public talk, sun apr 30, 2006special handbill to advertise district convention - wts is printing handbills to advertise the "deliverance at hand" district convention.

  three weeks before the convention, jws will distribute the handbill in the territory, with family members, and others.

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  TheListener

  This stinks.

  I haven't been bothered at all yet, but this will probably spur some do-gooder elder to check in on me.

  Stay strong Listener, stay strong.
• 
  206

  Elder video is up~

  by alamb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2o4lbgx81u

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  TheListener

  Wow.

  I can imagine how smug that brother felt after his testimony. Imagine how he told the rest of the elder body how he used his Bible as a sword in answering critical and unfounded accusations against the faith. In my opinion the cross-examination and redirect was very weak.

  The elder knew what the attorney wanted to get at but because the questions were so poorly worded the elder was able to wiggle around them.