"Growth" is mostly a shell game at this point. Foreign language groups appear to be growing, but most of the "growth" is from the English speaking uber-Dubs or the English speaking bored Dubs joining the foreign language congregations. So while English congregations are stagnating or shrinking, they can point to all the foreign language congregations and exclaim that there is tremendous growth. Smoke and mirrors.
tim3l0rd
JoinedPosts by tim3l0rd
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Tampa Bay Times: Jehovah's Witnesses still going door-to-door in a closed-door world
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.tampabay.com/news/business/workinglife/jehovahs-witnesses-still-going-door-to-door-in-a-closed-door-world/2231499.
st. petersburg like any group of spirited salesmen, this crew swaps stories about the big scores, those times when people couldn't wait to buy what they were selling..
"we were out in service on sept. 11," remembers power-suited jonathan burns, his colleagues nodding.
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Was it worth it?
by John Aquila infor those of you who left family and friends and had to start over from scratch just to get out of the organization, was it worth it?.
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tim3l0rd
I want to walk away, but I've seen the devastation that my mother went through when my younger brother faded. She really lost a part of herself and unfortunately she went super-zealous after that. I know that if I do the same she will go through it again and probably even worse since both of her children will be lost to her. I hope I can wake my parents up before I fade, but sometimes I think that it might be better just to get it over with sooner rather than later. -
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Are Elders experts on the Bible? Are they spirtually qualified men?
by John Aquila inhow many times have elders read their bible in its entirety?
these are the leaders that give counsel to married couples, to teenagers, to single girls and single boys on everything from marriage, education, sex, association, dress, and recreation..
how well do they know their bible?
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tim3l0rd
Definitely not bible scholars. My dad is an elder and really is a loving and caring person, but bible scholar is not a description I would use. He said recently that he couldn't believe that the 'Flock' book was now available online and how this would allow it to be distributed to others who shouldn't have it (apostates). I had to really bite my tongue to not say that it was already available online before the Society made it available and that I had the newest release before he did. :)
I keep hoping that he and my mom will wake up, but when they can't even see an issue with having a 'secret' elders' manual, I feel that they will never wake up. I'll probably just have to disappoint them by leaving "The Truth".
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Why new people visiting kingdom halls are able to comment while a reproved ones can't???
by hardtobeme ini have always asked myself that question.
why new people visiting kingdom halls give comments at meetings while a reproved brother can't?.
who is more worldly?
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tim3l0rd
I love it when they call on the non-JWs. Especially the whacked out ones that come around sometimes. In ASL, we get some deaf who come thinking that they are going to be fed or get some other support. They'll stand up and comment about how they have no money and need assistance and go on for a long time sometimes. Everyone just shakes their head. Does anyone help? Nope. They stop picking up that person for the meetings. -
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april 15th simplified why is the article dissfelowship a loving arrangement missing
by poopie inthoghts
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tim3l0rd
It's actually in the May simplified watchtower. For some reason they didn't include it in the April simplified. I think it was probably a formatting thing. Couldn't fit it with all the words they needed to explain the other articles. -
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Preparing for Governing Body 3.0? Making older GB step down? (New September Watchtower)
by FusionTheism inwatchtower, study edition, september 2015, "are you reaching the stature that belongs to christ?":.
paragraph 6: the mature christian shows humility in that he recognizes that jehovahs ways and standards are always better than his own.
[footnote: for example, older, experienced brothers may be asked to step aside from certain responsibilities and to lend support to younger brothers as they take on those responsibilities.].
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tim3l0rd
I agree with sir82. No way any of the GB is forced to step down. They may step down of their own accord due to health as their age declines, but typically they would just reassign his responsibilities. -
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Tampa Bay Times: Jehovah's Witnesses still going door-to-door in a closed-door world
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.tampabay.com/news/business/workinglife/jehovahs-witnesses-still-going-door-to-door-in-a-closed-door-world/2231499.
st. petersburg like any group of spirited salesmen, this crew swaps stories about the big scores, those times when people couldn't wait to buy what they were selling..
"we were out in service on sept. 11," remembers power-suited jonathan burns, his colleagues nodding.
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tim3l0rd
Hopefully this doesn't "out" me, so I'm going to be as vague as possible. I actually know Jonathan and Mary mentioned in this article. What kills me is that they are looked up to as a fine example that everyone should follow and are touted on assembly parts etc., but their circumstances are so different than most JWs. Mary is part American Indian. She gets a stipend from her tribe (was even given an Indian name so she could get this) because the tribe is very wealthy (I forget which tribe or how much). Her college was paid for (I don't know if she actually went) and I believe she even would get more if she graduated from college. Jonathan is a sub-CO and both pioneer. Well if most JWs had their circumstances, maybe all could accomplish what they have.
I hate that they are put on a pedestal in this borg for basically just having the right circumstances... smh
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Street Witnessing - did you ever do it?
by Muddy Waters ini remember in our congregation, there were a few older pioneer sisters who would start counting their time early - even before the service arrangement - by standing at a street corner and holding the magazines up in front of them and hoping that any passersby might stop to take one on their way to work or whatever.
as a fresh, new dub, i had heard about this "street-witnessing" work, but there was only one time i ever actually saw one of these older sisters doing this.
and even then i was shocked and embarrassed for her.... because this poor old sister was standing there, all by herself, holding up the watchtower & awake magazines, yet looking as sad and depressed as she could possibly ever look, her whole mouth was turned down just totally sad as she stood there, observing all the "dead" people walking around, hurrying to catch buses, get kids to school, get to work, etc.
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tim3l0rd
I did early morning witnessing many times. We would drive around and find people waiting for buses or otherwise looking unoccupied and offer them magazines or tracts to read (usually older issues). I even had a return visit or 2 with some gas station personnel. Every now and then we would frequent the downtown bus stations (they were all on one street) and walk up and down looking for someone that we could talk to.
I actually enjoyed these methods of preaching much more as I wasn't normally in the hot sun and I actually found people to talk to and not just another 'not at home'. I'm a very outgoing person and if nothing else have at least been very well trained for public speaking by this org. I try to look on the bright side and get over the anger/hurt.
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Wanted to Share a Watchtower Quote with you
by FusionTheism injust thought this was interesting and wanted to see all of your thoughts and opinions on it.. watchtower, november 15, 2014, simplified study edition, pages 11-12:.
9 let us examine the words of three brothers who for many years have worked closely with members of the governing body.
one brother mentioned: while this has indeed been a unique privilege of service, the close association has from time to time revealed that, although spirit anointed, these brothers are imperfect.
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tim3l0rd
I can deal with imperfect men. The problem is whether this is or ever was "God's Organization". Misquoting and taking quotes out of context is a dishonest practice that I don't believe God's organization would do on a regular basis. One should not be deceived into believing something. There are no examples in the bible of God's people being misled with a wrong teaching that "strengthened their faith" even though it was wrong. Jesus also spoke of humility and it is hard to find humility at the top of this organization. -
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Abraham, Isaac, Jacob are IN the Kingdom of Heaven?
by FusionTheism inthe new jesus book ("the way, the truth, the life"), page 92 says this:.
"once jesus has performed that healing, he uses the occasion to confirm that non-jews of faith will be favored with blessings, saying: many from east and west will come and recline at the table with abraham and isaac and jacob in the kingdom of the heavens.
what about faithless jews?
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tim3l0rd
Poor writing. I have found that to be an issue with many of their doctrines. They simply skip certain things and don't explain what the scripture means or what they think the scripture means. Many times I've had questions during my personal bible reading and tried to research a scripture only to find that there are no articles written to explain the scripture that I had questions on. Really that was a big reason why I started looking outside the org.
I don't think the doctrine has changed. I think they are just pointing out that the Jews of the first century that reject Jesus' teachings miss out on going to heaven and the conveniently skipped the part about "Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the heavens.”