i have never been to a congregation where they had a third hall for talks.
is it rare to have a third school?
Yes , for a little while.
It used to be on the school schedule that if the enrollment exceeded ?? students, there should be another school. We had enough for 3 , but the # of no shows eventually took it's toll.
I was the School overseer & it was a real pain making up 3 schedules.
B.
kingdom ministry for october under: how can we help?
..."when donations are earmarked specifically for a certain disasters, it is necessary in some countries to use such funds only for the purpose specified by the donor and within a certain period of time, whether the needs of out brothers have been cared for locally or not.
(is this true and if so, isn't that the whole point of donating to natural disaster victims?
If they rebuild a house for a witness, then they have them sign a document stating that they will turn over the insurance check to them. All of it! They (WTBS) may spend $50,000.00 to build a house worth $100,000.00 and they would take the check for the insurance payment of $100,000.00. So instead of the family getting a break, they get the break. This money could be used for the family to buy new furniture, clothes, etc., but instead the WTBS gets it. Such a loving organization. (The labor is free, materials sometimes are donated, so it makes a person wonder if they pocket most of it.)Swalker
Swalker---
I've heard this too. I'm not saying you are wrong, but do you know this for a fact?
B
i was thinking the other day, why so many xjw's become atheist or agnostic.. is it because the wt admonishes us to "draw close to jehovah" so much, that when a witness finally does see the "light" regarding the watchtower, they feel that god has failed them?
think of the publication, "draw close to jehovah" - the book is practically a step by step guide to being god's friend.
because witnesses believe that jehovah and the watchtower are entwined, almost like a duality, then the closeness they feel with jehovah god must be a catalyst for deep discord in the event that the truth is discovered about watchtower teachings and dogma.
I've thought about this a lot also. The Bible says of Christians 'We walk by faith, not by sight.' JW's walk very much by sight. So you hear expressions like ' I don't want to get in trouble with the elders'.
So much is done for show that I think a relationship with God actually suffers. Even though the publications stress a relationship w/ Jehovah, in the practical outworking,as is the case so many times, that message is lost. So when a person leaves, & their relationship was with 'the organization' it's back to square one.
B
first i hope this has not been posted yet,,,
(not had time to scroll) how is this for kindness?
dear abby: yesterday a young man from a religious sect rang my doorbell and pounded on my door until i opened it.
WTS sent out a letter to cong about a year ago directing to avoid calling at homes with 'no tresspassing' signs. We were reminded a week ago at the SM.
Also per WTS direction, she should be noted in the territory file as a 'do not call'.
B
how to answer= where do we go to if jw not right?
i have tried the answer is not 'where' but to 'whom' (meaning jesus) any suggestions that a jw can understand?
thanks as always, carla
any suggestions that a jw can understand?
This is probably the biggest problem & depends a lot on the particular jw. The standard garden variety jw can't grasp anything that is not programmed in by their literature & meetings. The concept of being a Christian without belonging to an 'organization' is completly beyond them. So to them it is a simple choice of either belonging to WTS or Methodists or Catholics,etc,etc. Ray Franz introduced me to the idea that leaving JW does not mean we have to join some other religious organization. I read both of his books (a must read for all who will) & I kept waiting for the bottom line--WHERE WILL I GO? He even implied one could possibly remain a JW & still be a Christian (with some difficulty). We are judged as individuals, not by what organization we belong to.
But if the jw is not already receptive to thinking, I doubt that there is anything you can say to make a difference. It is the same frustration felt at the door when nothing you said got through. The WTS condemns 'independent' thinking, but anything other than 'independent' thinking isn't thinking at all, but is simply blind acceptance, which is what they want.
anger, fear, guilt.
when those 3 things no longer visit us, i think that is a good indicator that we really have broken free.
jesus said 'the truth about 'the truth' will set you free
Anger, fear, guilt. When those 3 things no longer visit us, I think that is a good indicator that we really have broken free. Jesus said 'the truth about 'the truth' will set you free
I hope to get to the point where I do not feel it necessary to prove them right or wrong. As long as we are still hashing it over, that would seem to indicate that we haven't let it go. But, I can't quit cold turkey right now. I think there is a good chance that if it were not for family, I could just drop it & move on. But also I feel a need to share 'the truth about 'the truth'with others. And just as when going in service, when you share these things with others it deepens your own conviction. How ironic, huh?
I think about getting back in so as to support some who are laboring under the man made burdens & the guilt that goes with it. I think of spies who make a sacrifice for a cause. Previously, I have shared in the sentiment that 'apostates' have nothing positive to offer & that they focus on lies & misinformation. Ray Franz (CoC) & some of the posters on JWD have totally changed my mind. I am convinced that some (not all) of them are more to be believed than the WTS. Now I believe that a service (ministry) is performed by those who help others break the chains of bondage just as Jesus said --'the truth shall set you free'. So even if there is no other 'organization' as we know it to go to, I think displaying real Christianity as an individual is the big thing. Just 2 laws (1) Love God (2) Love neighbor.
Guess I sort of rambled. Sorry. Hope to help some of the newer ones here.
so i'm at the literature counter last night picking up my latest magazines (that are used for floor mats in my car when its raining) and there are these 2 bible students (mom and daughter) who are studying with some sister in the hall.
(its obvious since they apparently have not got the memo yet on wearing pants to the meeting but i'm sure that's next chapter in the require brochure) anyways so here they are in front of me at the literature counter with a whole list of books and publications they want from the desk including the reasoning book, to tracts even to the wt cd-rom!
the brother looked obviously uncomfortable and gave them what they wanted till of course they asked for the cd-rom.
And If you are DF, don't even THINK about getting a cd. I asked the po why I can't have a KM since I am supposed to go to all the meetings. Blank stare----then---'I guess that is part of the consequences'. So it is all about punishment.
B
while talking with my mother about why i gave no thought to my future employment as a young man, i mentioned the 69 awake article that assured young folks that they would not grow old in this system.
she thinks i must have misread it.
i can't locate it now, so can anyone point me to it?.
That's it. Thanks to everybody.
B
while talking with my mother about why i gave no thought to my future employment as a young man, i mentioned the 69 awake article that assured young folks that they would not grow old in this system.
she thinks i must have misread it.
i can't locate it now, so can anyone point me to it?.
While talking with my mother about why I gave no thought to my future employment as a young man, I mentioned the 69 Awake article that assured young folks that they would not grow old in this system. She thinks I must have misread it. I can't locate it now, so can anyone point me to it?
Thanks
B
i was reading sir82's thread on the recent elders' school and he mentioned them learning how to use the index in the new od book.
does anyone remember the elders' school in 1986 or 87 (i think) where the whole two days was spent learning how to use the new "watchtower publications index 1930 - 1985".
at that time i had the same reaction as sir82 just had .... duh!
I remember that school. They kept repeating 'we have all we need' referring to that new index. We were 'trained by Jehovah' to use this new provision to locate Watchtower law on almost anything, thus saving many phone calls & letters to HQ.
B
