did your congregation have any so-called dynasties, or "a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations"?.
my last congregation had a family who had or seemed to have complete control over most aspects of congregation operations.
they like to run the show and make it obvious that they are in charge.. then there are those who receive unearned privileges because their father is an elder who fast tracked his son to eldership.. .
It was chilling reading the Berean's comments as that is EXACTLY my brother's dynasty.
He bought houses and businesses for the "faithful" children and has frozen out the others completely. Also did a fantastic job of covering his kids misdemeanors as they grew up.
Ahhh the elders ol' boys club
masturbation isn't directly mentioned in the bible but neither is smoking.
many of the reasons given for disfellowshipping smokers seem to also apply to masturbation: a form of uncleanness, a defilement of the flesh, letting an addictive thing become king over us, a form of covetousness.. why are occasional, habitual smokers disfellowshipped and shunned, yet chronic masturbators, of which the organisation is of course replete, do not even get a slap on the wrist (excuse the pun)?.
yadda.
It's funny that the jws search and dig and twist scrptures to expel somokers and masturbaters but are silent on gluttony which is outright mentioned as an expelling "sin".
Just too difficult to prove? god must bless the gluttons
i had a couple of pretty good ones, i thought.. my first one was theocratic news.
i know a lot of congregations that did this one.
we had a long table facing the audience, and we gave the "theocratic news" from the km as if it were a tv news broadcast.
Geez OBA that woman beside you looks familiar!! Were you in Sydney at the time?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyid=104291534&ft=1&f=1012.
the science of spiritualityare spiritual encounters all in your head?by barbara bradley hagerty.
second of a five-part series.
Interesting, as I came to the conclusion that my personal spiritual experiences were all in my head, or at least I was "reading" something into situations, until I had a bunch of dolphins behave in a most unnatural manner and I had a "non believing" friend with me at the time.
A long story but he was gobsmacked by what he witnessed and even told me of experiences he had when travelling Asia and has never told a soul. (Too frightened!)
Not all spiritual experiences are hallucinatory visions or sounds....
my version of the "moral argument for god": .
(i have derived the following arguments after studying c.s.
lewis', norman geisler's, and victor reppert's arguments, and i want to give credit where credit is due).
"It's just that Atheists have absolutely no objective basis at all for their moral beliefs." quote
Still waiting for a reply.......
my version of the "moral argument for god": .
(i have derived the following arguments after studying c.s.
lewis', norman geisler's, and victor reppert's arguments, and i want to give credit where credit is due).
Wouldn't the beginnings of a moral code start when humans became aware that they were conscious individual beings? This awareness would be then be applied to offspring (to give nourishment and protection etc).
As family units came together for protection and ease of finding food, wouldn't social codes be the first thing sorted out? Being aware of our individual consciousness brings personal responsibility in our thoughts and actions with one another in the social realm.
hmmmm ....
Not only is space infinite but so is time, so all that can be imagined is possible.
Deep I know, lol.
"jehobo witnesses" lol crack myself up!
i remember from 1995 -2005 some brothers still wearing chocolate brown single breasted suits...bell bottoms, cream shoes, huge belts...stuff that hasn't been on sale for 20 years!
sisters in plade skirts from the 70's...they looked like they just stepped out of the "time machine.
Saw one today!
He had cammo shorts on, pulled up high with a sports shirt tucked in, plus long socks and runners!!!
LOL LOL
1975 was getting close......1975 was the topic of the day,for any jw during that time......our vancouver bc assembly was in full swing.......pretty jw girls wandered the area looking for cute guys like me!..lol!!
......my best friends annointed,apostate dad,was outside the assembly with a bullhorn..telling everyone about wbt$ lies..we all thought he was crazy,we were right!..lol!
!........................jw assemblys in those days,were huge events..nothing like today..local media always showed up.................it was the 2nd day of the assembly..the 2nd day had ended..we went home and turned the tv,to the new`s..............the local tv station was covering our assembly..the announcer said jw`s believed armageddon would be here by 1975......right at that moment,i knew i did`nt believe that.....i was supposed to believe it,but i did`nt..................have you ever had a similar experience,with any jehovah`s witness beliefs?.....................................outlaw.
I remember sitting at a convention in the mid nineties and speaker from the gb said "be like birds that fly in formation. They don't think (independantly) they just act." The point being, don't question the wbts, just follow without thought. I remember looking at my wife and she had the wtf? look.
The rest of the mob just sat there not even noticing that chilling statement. I actually questioned "friends" afterward and not one picked up his words.
As gets said here often, pass the Koolaid!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090515/sc_mcclatchy/3234191_1.
.
i think americans are so jaded, we don't get scared anymore.. .
Overseas six months ago and had a night of scratching and restless sleep. Didn't think until the next night. Middle of the night I felt something crawling on my skin. Sudden realisation then on with the head torch. First, little blood stains, then moving critters. Yup, Bed bugs.
Suffice to say, I made it clear to staff that I was sleeping in another room next night. They were so embarrassed....
