meeting survival guide games we play
one doesn't grow up religiously attending '5 meetings a week' without developing a strategy for survival.
mine started at about ten years of age and gradually grew more sophisticated as the years assemblies rolled by.
At the indoor assemblies I use to stare at the lights then I would look away and follow the pretty lights. I ocassionaly try to do this but it's not as effective anymore - eyes worn out??
Sometimes I will outright sleep.
I'll pull out my PDA and read JWD comments that I have downloaded
WAC
damm!
my good friend who became an elder just recently wants to invite me for service because he wants to talk about a few things with me.
well ... you have not commented in months!
I am not prepared to discuss it right now."
jgnat
I like that! Gonna have put these quotes in my PDA.
thanks jgnat and others.
well it's a good thing he is moving soon - he brought me into the borg and recommended I go to bethel.
The other elders have laid off me cause they don't want to "push me" cause they realized that me leaving bethel was a traumatic shock (double the shock cause I learned about JWD). I was freakin borderline suicidal. One elder was cool (for the moment). He said take all the time you want ... 1 month 6 months 1 year. Yeah, but eventually they would have wanted me to become the P.O. Hell no I won't go.
damm!
my good friend who became an elder just recently wants to invite me for service because he wants to talk about a few things with me.
well ... you have not commented in months!
you guys are so right. apart from being dubbed, it's a character flaw of mine of saying too much. but i have learned to control my tongue, otherwise I would have been marked as Apostate by now. You guys are freakin' awesome.
damm - i think they caught me sleepin at the meeting this week... I could hear them now ... "damm, what an example x is setting after being in bethel and en elder for so long." ahh bite me!!!
does not suck that much no more
wac
damm!
my good friend who became an elder just recently wants to invite me for service because he wants to talk about a few things with me.
well ... you have not commented in months!
Damm! My good friend who became an elder just recently wants to invite me for service because he wants to talk about a few things with me. About what? Well ... You have not commented in months! I only see you out in service once a month! You have not been to the Sunday meetings all year long.
Damm. What do I say? Should I say, "Serving at Bethel for 10 years really let me see what goes on"? I guess if I say that I become an apostate in his eyes. Any ideas? Or should I say it's a personal issue?
This sucks. I knew it was coming. I guess it will be a good time to turn in my elder book.
I am only toughing this out cause my family is locked in the borg. This really sucks. I wish he would get approved to serve where the need is great.
Did I mention that this really sucks?
WAC
dumb elder said "Our neighbors are our enemies" and "Jehovah is gonna destroy everything" - imagine a newly interested person who would have listened to that trash? that sucks
i don't know where the elders learned this one.
maybe it was local - i don't know.
but.... these were shepherding calls to build you up spiritually so therefore no serving of coffee or cookies were allowed.. was this true with your congregation's shepherding visits?.
In what area do you live
It was while I was serving in NY Bethel (in one of the local halls).
Check this out... one pioneer sister was living in a home which we knew she should not be (would bring reproach on Jah's name). Then she told me the real reason why she was pionnering (which was all wrong). But damm she was happy pionnering and could not do anything else. She eventually moved out and did not bring reproach on Jah's name in that way ... anyway from what she said about why she was pioneering we could have deleted her from the list but it would DEVASTATE her + she was a like a mom to me. So we let her be, she would be happy that way and also the org would like the hours :-)
off topic here but ...
I could not hold myself together when I announced my departure from the platform (sobbing like crazy) and the congregation as well. The friends would ask to keep in touch with their kids. When I would give the local needs I would talk about POSTIVE things that the congregation was doing and elevated the publishers moral by mentioning them from stage what postive things they have done in advancement of "truth".
damm. i knew i was not doing everything right so how can i expect the friends to be perfect??? i told them my mistakes from stage and they enjoyed that i was frank and honest.
:-)
i don't know where the elders learned this one.
maybe it was local - i don't know.
but.... these were shepherding calls to build you up spiritually so therefore no serving of coffee or cookies were allowed.. was this true with your congregation's shepherding visits?.
Dang! When I was serving as an Elder I would visit each member 2 or 3x's a year. I would make an invitation saying that it would be nice for us to meet and have only words of encouragement over a cup of coffee and cookies.
I would never bring up negative aspects. My goal was to only talk about positive aspects of the individuals.
They would even ask to visit them more often.
What a concidence.
most of you have seen me post under my alias truthsetsonefree.
some call me "tsof" which is cool too.
one or two of you know me by my real name.
I completely understand what you are doing. I wish I could do the same thing. I served in Bethel and as an Elder. I left Bethel and stopped being an Elder for family matters. One side of me tells me go and help the flock but the other side says it will wreck havoc on your mind.
There is some sound counsel from other posters, but you know your limits.
WAC
here is some news from a source within one of the wts branches:
hot news from todays morning worship announcement worldwide -- letter from gb being read on 1st of march 2006 to every branch (hopefully we will have a copy of the letter soon.).
as of aug. 31, 2006 the bethel elder arrangement will be dissolved!
Zone Overseer Report Jan 99. - robert tracy mex branch
Since spirituality is necessary, how would you consider your spirituality? Fair? Good? Excellent? Bethel elders play a key role in maintaining the joy and spirituality of the Bethel family. If someone is not attending morning worship or the Watchtower Study, that person needs to be readjusted. Take the initiative. Do not hold back when counsel is needed. Keep your joy, your sense of humor and above all keep your spirituality on a high level. Despite frustrations and a tight schedule, you are going to hold on. 1 Corinthians 16:13, 14 says,
" Stand firm and grow mighty. Let all your affairs take place with love. "Posters: I knew many Bethel Elders who did not attend WT Study or Morning Worship.
here is some news from a source within one of the wts branches:
hot news from todays morning worship announcement worldwide -- letter from gb being read on 1st of march 2006 to every branch (hopefully we will have a copy of the letter soon.).
as of aug. 31, 2006 the bethel elder arrangement will be dissolved!
Dissolve them because they have become a pain in the a-s. "Why him and not me?" "I am no longer a Bethel Elder?, I'll show you" nag nag nag. Things prob. got out of hand. Too many to keep track of. That and also more than likely a former bethel elder brought to light or even GB that Bethel Elders have no scriptural backing.
3 notes below... This whole process is guided by holy spirit ;-)
GET A LOAD OF THIS...
PASSED around in bethel
As of August 31, 1999
Total Bethelites around the world: 18,497 in 109 Branches
Brooklyn - 3,329
Wallkill - 1,286
Patterson - 978
= 5,593
Total of 195 Commuters for all complexes. THESE HAVE BEEN DISSOLVED SINCE THEN
200 Bethelites in foreign service. THIS HAS INCREASED SINCE THEN
1,279 Bethel Elders in United States. "damm!!! how many congos is that?"
Bethel has kept records/applications since the 1920's - Included are, Knorr & Franz.
Bethel applications: 1,916 received and processed last year. HOT DAMM. ALMOST 1914???
661 accepted last year.
2000 ANNUAL MEETING TALK
While the Governing Body directly appoints the Branch Committee, Travelling Overseers and Bethel Elders, they too commission responsible brothers to act for them, such as Paul and Barnabas did in Acts 14:23. Later when Titus was in Crete, Paul wrote Titus 1:5. Then he outlined the requirements. So today the Governing Body indirectly makes appointments through qual ified brothers at headquarters and in the branches.
In the first century, appointments were made theocratically. This pattern is followed today. Appointments are made in 91,000 congregations, but not democratically or by some elaborate ritual. Unlike Christendom, Jehovah ’s Witnesses stick to God’s Word. If elements try to interfere, what do we do? Acts 5:29 Being theocratic certainly has proved to be the wise course because it brings divine approval. Some appointments are transmitted by a letter for the Governing Body with a stamp on it. One form letter may appoint more than one brother in the congregation. It is important to note that no legal entity controls the appointment, [of elders, ministerial servants, etc.] even though such entity may be used to transmit the information. The whole process is guided by holy spirit. Isaiah 60:17 contains meaningful words. May we all rejoice in the increase.
BRANCH OFFICE PROCEDURE
26. All Bethel elders should be available to the members of the family who have problems and they should be observant as to any difficulties or discouragement on the part of any member, being ready to offer personal counsel and help. It should be made clear to all elders just what their responsibilities are and what they are expected to do themselves. Serious problems may be reported to the Branch Committee. Bethel elders appreciate the value of giving encouragement to fellow workers and commendation for things well done. Efforts should be continued to maintain a good attitude and wholesome spirit among all members, as well as appreciation for their service privileges and a feeling of being needed and appreciated. Matt. 11:29, 30.
here is some news from a source within one of the wts branches:
hot news from todays morning worship announcement worldwide -- letter from gb being read on 1st of march 2006 to every branch (hopefully we will have a copy of the letter soon.).
as of aug. 31, 2006 the bethel elder arrangement will be dissolved!
I will have to disagree on some points. Bethel Elders have no power what so ever. I worked with them. All they are used to is to correct wrong doers in the departments as was said. They do not have any power within the org. The only ones with cloat besides GB are the Branch Committee.
