I agree, Undercover. I would think that it raise more eyebrows than it seems to. Also, at our special assembly day a few weeks ago, I was floored by the accounts report. We were told that we had a surplus of $4000 from the last assembly. Then, they said that $3500 was sent to the society for the worldwide work (keep in mind all the bills for the assembly had been paid before sending the $3500), and this assembly cost $3000, so we now had a deficit of $2500. The assembly could have been totally paid for out of the surplus. It seems to me that no matter how much money comes in, it is sent to the society in order to bring the balance back to zero. It made me think (in contrast)of the time the Israelites were told to stop giving because there was so much surplus. It seems the witnesses will never be told to stop giving, even at an assembly which was titled, "Keep Your Eye Simple".
atypical
JoinedPosts by atypical
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9
If you want to help with hurricane relief, just put it in the regular box
by atypical inwas anyone else there to hear the letter about this?
a few weeks ago, right after the new orleans disaster, a letter from the society was read which said that if we wanted to contribute to the relief effort, we should put the money in the regular wordwide work box.
it said that the society would apportion the appropriate amount for relief.. the letter then went on to relate how a bunch of families were saved because they were out of town at assembly, and how the brothers were going through the superdome with a watchtower in their pocket to pick out witnesses and take them somewhere better.. that letter blew me away and left me shaking my head.
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9
If you want to help with hurricane relief, just put it in the regular box
by atypical inwas anyone else there to hear the letter about this?
a few weeks ago, right after the new orleans disaster, a letter from the society was read which said that if we wanted to contribute to the relief effort, we should put the money in the regular wordwide work box.
it said that the society would apportion the appropriate amount for relief.. the letter then went on to relate how a bunch of families were saved because they were out of town at assembly, and how the brothers were going through the superdome with a watchtower in their pocket to pick out witnesses and take them somewhere better.. that letter blew me away and left me shaking my head.
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atypical
Was anyone else there to hear the letter about this? A few weeks ago, right after the New Orleans disaster, a letter from the society was read which said that if we wanted to contribute to the relief effort, we should put the money in the regular wordwide work box. It said that the society would apportion the appropriate amount for relief.
The letter then went on to relate how a bunch of families were saved because they were out of town at assembly, and how the brothers were going through the superdome with a watchtower in their pocket to pick out witnesses and take them somewhere better.
That letter blew me away and left me shaking my head. I thought, 'So now I am being told that I don't even have enough sense to decide myself how much of my hard earned money will go to help hurricane victims and how much will be used to further watchtower interests.' I don't understand why more witnesses aren't raising hell about things like this.
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Did your relationship change with your partner when you left.........
by vitty in...........well what more can i add, only to say mine got fantastically better!!!!!!!!!
ive been married for 24 years, i went back in the org 4 years after i was married, it has put so much strain on us over the years, its undescribeable.
my husband came in the org, about 6 years after me.
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atypical
Mine hasn't so far. I can tell she is sad sometimes when she goes to meeting by herself, and it is hard on her to have everybody pressing her for details as to where I have been, but she has not treated me different. I think it helps that her siblings also left, and she has refused to judge them in any way. I do worry what will happen because I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut, especially the more I learn. I'm just trying to show her that contrary to what she will be told, I will continue to be a good mate (probably better) even if I am not at meetings.
Tetra, I am sorry for what you are going through. I enjoy your posts.
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Embarrassing things that happened to you on the platform?
by Jordan ini remember one of my last talks, it was a bible reading, i was 15, and on crutches.
i tripped getting up on the platform and took the mic stand with me.
that was embarrassing.
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atypical
I had a full blown panic attack while giving a prayer in front of 2 CO's, the whole pioneer school, and two other service groups who had joined us. I don't mean like a panic attack where only I knew it was happening. I mean I completely lost it. I still get embarrassed every time I think about it.
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A Challange to Def'd.....
by AK - Jeff ini, and many other well meaning posters here, have asked you dozens of questions.
you have dodged them all for the most part and spent your replies on personal attacks, or just plain refusal to address the questions posed.
your favorite retort is typically ad hominen attacks or a red-herring thown in for good measure.
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atypical
After I started really having serious doubts, this was the main question that bothered me. I followed this thread hoping that Def'd would have a good answer. Realistically, I guess we cannot expect him to have a better answer than the organization itself has given. At this last summer's district convention, the only thing that kept me awake was waiting to hear if they addressed this subject. It's interesting that I never pondered this point until the last few months.
Anyway, one talk on the program did address this issue. It was a speaker from Bethel, and he said basically this: In 1918 Jesus arrived and found that the JWs were the only ones who were dispensing the proper spiritual food to his sheep. They said 1918 was crucial because it was three and a half years after 1914. Apparently three and a half years is significant because that's how long Jesus waited to return to his cleansed temple or something like that.
I found the explanation to be empty and scary.
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How many mistresses can a JW elder have?
by Gill insince finding out more about the wtbts over the last year, it has come as no surprise to me anymore that the deceptive actions of the mother (wtbts) are seen in some of her children.
the need for double thinking, self deluding beliefs and sneaky, twisted belief and thought patterns that i have noticed over the years in so many jws suddenly makes sense and is no longer scandalising or suprising.. so when i was told of the behaviour of a 'fine, upstanding, pillar of the community, brother' i simply shrugged.
however, the results of his behaviour are not something to simply shrug your shoulders over.. it turned out for the last thirty years of his being married he has conducted affairs with another two 'sisters' in the congregation.
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atypical
It's not like they were holding a gun to my head forcing me to work a dead end job, not having children, not going to college. Of course they would tell you do these things but the actual choice comes down to what the person wanted to do.
I think most of us here understand that social pressures, mind control, and manipulation can be much more powerful than a gun to the head. A gun to the head can look much less frightening than losing your entire family, all the friends you have ever known, possibly your business if you have many JW customers, and more. Being afraid of those consequences does not indicate cowardice, it shows a heart filled with love and a desire to preserve the things that deep down we know are the most important. The more aware we become that our entire life is held hostage, the more fear can keep us from walking away.
Laser, I'm afraid you are showing the same cold indifference to suffering that most witnesses show toward the suffering of non-witnesses.
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Should I ask to be taken out of the school?
by lola28 ini think it is time to get of the tms schedule, i haven't given a talk in over a year and don't want to be on the list any more.
do you think the elders would get on my case if i did this?
is it a wise choice?.
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atypical
After I started having extreme panic attacks every time I was asked to read, pray, or give talks, I tried just cancelling each time I had a talk. However, it seemed that the TMSO was trying to call my bluff, because even after almost two years of this, he was still regularly giving me assignments. I was even starting to get comments from others at the hall that I never showed up for my talks. Finally I pulled the TMSO aside and tried to be honest, telling him I was having trouble with my nerves and would like to be taken off of the school for awhile. He tried to talk me out of it but eventually said ok.
That was about 8 years ago. Since then I have never rejoined the school, and even though it is supposedly voluntary, I was never really given other privileges. Anytime I would ask about being used for sound, etc, I got asked why I wasn't on the school. I think it is much harder for brothers to shy away from the school than sisters because of the difference in how they are viewed by jws.
Lola, I always like to think that honesty is the best policy, but in this case it really hasn't worked out for me. Being honest about my panic attacks has only led to brothers blaming it on other things, ie - not enough faith, ashamed of a secret sin, not trusting Jehovah, etc. At my hall they have even started giving counsel during the Ministry School that being nervous is not an excuse to avoid giving talks because everyone gets nervous and the only way to get over it is to give more talks. By the way, I gave talks for 16 years (my first number 2 was when I was 4 years old, and had regular assignments until I stopped at about 20 years old), so I don't think it's a matter of making excuses.
Unfortunately, I think it's a game that has to be played in order to not attract too much attention to yourself (if that is your aim). I have found that the best way to deflect pressure from the brothers is to act as though they are making me discouraged and taking away any motivation I have to progress. This seems to work extremely well and usually sends them running the other way.
Just my 2 cents worth.
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Guys ONLY... Hear me out, but did you notice...
by upside/down inthat most guys in the borg were .
i mean, i don't know about you, but i remember countless times that situations would develop involving young to old men alike, where me and other non-dub-raised "dudes", would comment that.... what that guy (bro) needs is a good ass-kicking!
i mean a good old fashioned beat your ass whoopin... i mean learn some real "humility" at the hands of your "friends".
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atypical
Man, is it true about jw sports. I could never believe how a bunch of guys who were trying to out-righteous each other at the hall would all of a sudden be swearing like sailors and body checking each other as hard as possible, using fouls as an excuse to try and sneak in an elbow punch or other painful move. But of course, when worldly people showed up and wanted to play, they never let them. I realize now it's because those worldly guys wouldn't have put up with the way the jws were playing.
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So, are you, by nature, and introvert or extrovert?
by onacruse inmulan's thread, and simon's post thereto, got me to thinking about this, especially in terms of what i might be today, minus the influence of the wts.. by nature, i was always an introvert.
early on (age 10 or so), i immersed myself in mathematics, physics, chemistry...the "pure" sciences, devoid of "worldly" meaning...just the plain and simple facts, thank you ma'am.
i'd stay in my room and study stuff until my mom had to literally grab me by the ear and say "craig, go outside and blow off the stink!.
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atypical
I am definitely an introvert. On my first day of school, I wanted to cry, die, and run all at the same time. I have never liked groups, and I have always shied away from attention. On the other hand, because of my upbringing, I can make conversation with anybody, literally. I can keep up the charade for an unlimited amount of time, after which I will go home and need a very long time by myself to recover. I have noticed this has gotten worse lately, I have had less tolerance for social formalities. On the other hand, I can spend the evening with one of my longtime friends (they are no longer part of the borg) and not need to recover. I think the expectation aspect of socializing has clouded my outlook on people.
I'll add it to my list.
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What silly rules did your congregation make up?
by weinermcgee inelders were famous for making up stupid rules with no bible base at all as an ego trip i guess, what were some of yours?
i am not talking about the stupid rules that we all had to follow, just the congregation specific silly ones.. 1. having to button your jacket while on stage (this was later changed due to all the elders having a beer gut).
2. suits only or no privledges.
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atypical
I got removed from handling the microphones for not having 10 hours or more each month. The elder who decided this made the MS in charge of sound tell me. I asked him where that was in writing. He looked confused and said that he thought that was how all congregations did it. I told him that there was no rule, and he went back to the elder (the MS was a nice, normal guy, just quick to believe anything he was told). It was pretty funny, because when he questioned the elder, the elder had to change the reason to keep from looking stupid. So the MS came back to me and said that it wasn't about how many hours I got, it was just that they didn't see me at enough service meetings. So I said, what if I went out for a 10 hour day once a month? He hung his head a little and went back to the elder. This went back and forth several times. Interestingly, the elder never did talk to me about it. The funny thing is, at the time I was regular at meetings and in field service. Now that I am there maybe once a month with no jacket and zero hours in service, they keep putting me on the list to handle microphones.
It is also a rule in my hall that you have to be an MS to read the Watchtower or be an attendant. Interestingly, anyone is allowed to clean the bathrooms, sweep the parking lot, or donate money. I personally do none of the above.