I think they always had some topic to discuss, the scriptures they wanted us to use and of course, the "offer" they wanted us to sell (back then, they were selling them). over 40years ago I am pretty sure they gave us an opening line, then a few years later, we got reasoning from the scriptures so that we could counter some of the questions and arguments that often came up.
JWdaughter
JoinedPosts by JWdaughter
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6
Anyone who was a jw a while ago know when they started using pre-written responses in the ministry?
by DuvanMuvan inone of the things that bothered me as a jw was how whenever i was on the ministry with someone it was pretty much the same sh*t being said every time.
also, it wasn't very stimulating when you had a question and got the same response every time.. i was just curious as to when this started happening.
did the gb decide one day that the majority of jws don't know how to answer the simple questions in the way they would like so they had to write them for them?
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I'm a bit confused actually.
by quellycatface ini'm not i like the "happy clappy" bits and pieces in church (c of e).
it's just not me.
the local school choir came in today and did 2 songs and one was a rap song about easter.... that's so not me.. i like serious but not hellfire preaching.. any ideas where to next?
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JWdaughter
I went to a SBC church and enjoyed it. I went to another and wanted to commit hari kari. In the one church I went to, we had semi structured women's bible studies using guides(but going off book a lot) and on Wed. nights, just reading from the bible, discussing what various ones had learned about the language and culture of the applicable part that we were reading, which was just however much we got through each wednesday. I really did learn a lot and really enjoyed it. Sunday school was more structured and I taught it. Didn't enjoy it so much because it was presented in a very structured, almost condescending way (materials which I would not use again and which were optional, but I got dropped into the position and didn't know it wasn't incumbent upon me to stick to the materials provided and wasn't prepared to do my own syllabus at the time).
Wed.nights were for the whole adult part of the congregation. Usually about 60 showed up, about 15-20 really participated. Many were busy teaching the kids AWANAS or caring for the nursery kids or teenagers, but Wed night studies were pretty popular. No one took roll or asked for excuses if we didn't make it. It was an actual bible study. JWs wouldn't know what to do without a bag of literature.
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SECRET SIGN FOR FADERS
by Bob_NC infaders need a secret sign to use at the khall.
the thought came to me after reading replies to datadogs post on stopping singing at the meetings.. i can suggest a few secret signs for faders to use and to look for at the khall, but it would be better that current meeting attenders make suggestions here.
if readers on this site can agree to a secret sign to use at the meetings, just imagine the power that would have at your kingdom hall.
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JWdaughter
mmmmm. so, you know that the WT spies will catch on to that real quick-I mean a special handshake or a purple scarf tied on your purse or something. . .Those are soon no secret at all.
I think all the tell-tale signs of fading are pretty obvious to anyone paying attention-yet, they are not definitive enough to get ya into trouble.
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Going to a meeting for the first time in a while- love bombing expected
by DuvanMuvan inlong story short, i have to go to the kh on tuesday with my mum and i havent been in at least a month now.
the reaon im going is because when i got my mum to finally let me make my own decision about whether or not i want to be a jw she made me promise that i'd go to the memorial, assemblies and if she had a talk.
she's already told me that people have been asking for me and only a few people in my cong know that i dont think it's the truth.. when i was trying to leave a couple brothers really piled on the "encouragement" and i dread to think about what it will be like when they see me again.
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JWdaughter
The only reason you are there is to respect your mom. It doesn't require you to be warm nor does it necessitate rudeness. It also doesn't preclude a lengthy trip to the john during the part that comes after the school.
There is something that your mom needs to be made cognizant of-the more thoroughly you reject the WT teachings (since they seem to be pushing it down your throat as much as they can), the more of a pariah she will be. That is the way of the WT. Your rejection will rub off on her and her reputation. Whereas, if you simply faded and they stopped seeing you (and pretty much forget you) then it will be less of a reflection on her. I would hate for her to experience 2nd hand shunning, but the more you are FORCED to resist visits and studies, the more under the microscope she will be. Remind her that the more quietly that you are allowed to slip out of the congregational influence, the kinder that they will ultimately be to her.
Bring something to read in the john.
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Mud slide in WA state - sister at Assembly
by leaving_quietly inlook for it in the yearbook next year.
there was an assembly the day of the big mudslide in washington last saturday.
a sister's life was saved because she obediently attended the assembly and thus was not home when a huge mudslide hit her neighborhood and buried and killed lots of people.
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JWdaughter
My son lives in the town that had the mudslide. He isn't a witness. He was not hurt. I am considered by many to be apostate. Yet, my son was safe from the mudslide (though his school is rescue central). I guess we can make something of that, if we wish.
I am a believer, but here is what I believe. Stuff happens, and we can use the stuff that happens to improve ourselves and be better people than we were. Good or bad things happen-and how do we respond? We can use challenges or blessings for good/growth or as an excuse or selfishly-as the case might be.
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Are witnesses the best behaved people in the world?
by speargrass55 inhi everyone, i was discussing with a family member recently and was encouraged to at least consider the benefits of being raised in the truth.
for example,i'm not a drunk, don't do drugs, respect others etc.
the point is i've found lots of nonwitness friends who have similar behavior.. growing up, when a worldly person does something good like help someone i'll hear things like "that's nice of him, for a nonwitness.
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JWdaughter
Jw's are just people. There are children who do childish things, teenagers who do foolish things, and adults who game they system. In and out of the BORG. There are rapists, child abusers, spouse abusers, drunks, the mentally ill (from depressed to psychopathic) and everything you canimagine. But at the meetings, JWs are on their sunday best behavior. Like Baptists or catholics are at church events. Cause that is what folks DO.
Stadiums are usually filled with drunken sports fans or some kinds of conventions that are not focused on putting on a self righteous showl. Of course JWs are going to be considered great guests by the arena managers. They sure beat a bunch of drunken hockey fans who just lost the championship!
JWs like to pat themselves on the back. All groups want to be special, I guess. They get to be special for having their little children sit still for 3 days, in suits and taffeta, in 95 degree weather. Wow. impressive feats of good behavior.
There are some really good and kind JWs who bring up lovely families. Nice Catholics, mormons and the methodist lesbian couple down the street from me have raised some beautiful kids together. But there are the abusers, the thieves and the jerks among each of those groups (although the particular couple I mention don't seem to have any of those particular issues).
Most of us have kids. We know that they can be very well behaved in public and holy terrors at home(or elsewhere) sometimes. No one would ever believe that sweet little girl can turn purple if she doesn't have her binky at bedtime. We are all well behaved until. . . we aren't. Most people don't drive around causing havoc 24/7. They have their moments. JWs aren't showing theirs at the conventions or meetings. And the other church people are good at church too. It is what they are doing the rest of the time that actually matters.
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Faith On The March
by RN inanyone out there have an original edition of this book?.
because i'm trying to decide if i've lost my mind or have the worst memory ever.
in my early teens (mid 1970's) i read this book, and i always wanted to read it again; especially in the early '90's when things really started to bug me.
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JWdaughter
"Thirty Years a Watchtower Slave" might be the book you read. William Schnell is the author, I think.
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Black sheep of the family-my life as an ExJW
by bsand20 ini was a 3rd generation jw, half the congregation i attended was made up of my entire mom's side of the family, 2 of the 3 elders were my grandpa and uncle.
my first memory of the organization was when they announced my mom's name in the meeting saying she had been reinstated....it was 1988 and i was 6 years old....i didn't understand it then, but when i asked my mom why was she crying and why did they say her name in the meeting, she said "it's because i've been good!".
so she went back and after a period of time assisting constantly, she was reinstated.
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JWdaughter
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you have your own family and can teach them better. wondering how your mom relates to your kids and husband now.
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My son has made his decision
by CaptainSchmideo inthis is the followup to this thread:.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/276119/1/well-its-march-and-the-college-answers-are-coming-in#.uyjdu_ldv2e.
the financial aid offer came in.. the first year of attending is actually cheaper than what we were going to pay at the state university after their scholarship offer.. i mean, really cheaper.. we would be fools to turn it down.. they are even flying him in for the preview week.. .
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JWdaughter
I love good news. Actually GOOD NEWS!!! Congratulations. MIT. Wow.
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What Ailed Those Pilots ... ?
by snowbird inthe pilots and crew of the missing plane, was something wrong with all of them?.
sylvia.
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JWdaughter
Political statements usually have some words attached to the actions. There were none here. Religious extremists seem to enjoy staking claim to their acts (often there are false claimants, even). No one has said a word about this other than political commentators, really, and armchair experts.
First we are told that rank amateurs learned to fly airplanes-jets using flight simulators that were made for teaching professionals and now an actual, certified professional is supposedly practicing on a flight simulator? I find that lacking in credibility.
As to the names(Muslim)-probably a good 1/4-1/3 of the pilots of the world are Muslim. If all/most/many Muslims were so hot about crashing planes into the ocean or buildings or anywhere, then you'd have a lot different world than we do. In fact, were so many ready and willing to commit mayhem in the skies, why do you think they bothered to train all the rank amateurs for 9/11? Perhaps that is NOT the normal behavior of Muslims??? That hasn't occurred to anyone yet? Seriously, they find guys like "the underwear bomber"? I'm still interested to know the injuries he sustained when he exploded himself (and thankfully no one else!)