caspian

Joined

• started 46 topics
• posted 436 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by caspian

• 
  86

  Uncool Photos only......starting with Cassie LOL.

  by Lainey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yeah i know cassie likes to think he is so cool, he only puts up the good piccies on his av, hoping the jwd girlies will fancy him.

  anyone can look good when a professional takes a photo ..cassie!!

  so i thought i would share a more realistic pic taken at a wedding 3 years ago .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  Simon and Gadget

  Believe me I am SO looking for them, she hasn't been out of the house so they are somewhere.

  Cas
• 
  17

  Tonight Matthew I am going to be.....................................

  by Lainey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you had to go on stars in their eyes.. who would you choose and why?.

  i think i would stick a blonde wig on and sing blondie's heart of glass.

  as mine gets broken a lot.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  The Brit-posse do a good "Vindaloo", even if they are supporting the wrong country.

  England qualify and Scotland only make the Playoffs, Little Toe you are having a laugh right.

  Brooke

  hmmm....well if it is like performing as, then....

  You can perform for me anyday LOL

  Lainey I will find the photo that proves this.

  Lainey xx (who looks more like Catweasle than Cat Woman)

  Caspian.
• 
  76

  I'm sick of being mistaken for a prostitute!

  by Aztec in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this has happened far too many times now for it to just be happenstance.

  over the last year or so i've had at least 10 guys try to "pick me up" while i am out walking.

  if it only happened at night it would be one thing but, it's happened early in the morning as well.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  Azzie you still have the cutest avatar.

  You pout so good

  Cas.
• 
  26

  Ozzie's Weekend Poll #67

  by ozziepost in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how's this weekend been going for you?

  we had a sudden cold snap yesterday bringing the temps right down low, so today we're 'enjoying' cool, windy rainy weather.

  oh well, we're cozy inside.. looking back over the week, we've been heartened to recieve communications from exiting dubs.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  Such a funny post this week Ozzie.

  7. You were being selected for KH toilet cleaning.

  I was once asked to be the Toilet Overseer, or was it the assistant toilet overseer.

  Cas

  ..Just reaching out for the U Bend privilege.
• 
  86

  Uncool Photos only......starting with Cassie LOL.

  by Lainey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yeah i know cassie likes to think he is so cool, he only puts up the good piccies on his av, hoping the jwd girlies will fancy him.

  anyone can look good when a professional takes a photo ..cassie!!

  so i thought i would share a more realistic pic taken at a wedding 3 years ago .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  I am speechless., how could pretty old me take a bad piccie

  You Cow You have hidden all of the photo albums.

  This is war and I will not rest until I get my revenge.

  Anyway the JWD girlies love me for my wonderful personality, not my charming good looks

  Cas... so damn ugly..so damn cute
• 
  34

  WATCHTOWER WORDS

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it is true that jehovah's witnesses have their own language.

  an "outsider" might not have a clue to what certain words might mean.

  for example, "the truth"-----if a person heard that expression, they would never have connected it to only the jw religion.....can you think of language that is exclusive to "watchtower" world??

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  Found this site and....................

  This is just the letter A.

  accounts

  {Congregation} financial record of {contributions} and expenditures. <<It was as if Satan said to Jehovah, ``Give the accounts to Charlie and see whether he will not curse you to your very face!'' [20] >>

  [20] Caring for the accounts is a difficult, tedious, and low-profile job.

  accounts report

  During the {Service Meeting} introduction once each month, someone, usually the accounts servant, presents a summary of the congregation's local financial status, including a report on any audit. It is rare for there to be any discussion of money matters at congregation meetings at any other time. (See {sermon on the amount}.)

  accounts servant

  The brother who cares for congregation {accounts}, usually a {ministerial servant}.

  accurate knowledge

  Knowledge that is exact or full. A single-word Greek expression with a prefix meaning ``additional'' is translated 24 times in the New World Translation as ``accurate knowledge'' or ``accurately know''. To some persons the modifier accurate might seem unnecessary, for it seems as though knowledge that is not accurate is not real knowledge at all. But nobody knows everything about anything. And some people become knowledgeable experts in things that aren't true, e.g., evolution or Bible criticism.
  

  NOTE: Gaining accurate knowledge of God's will is indisputably important. (Joh 17:3) However, as Paul reminded the Corinthians, we know the truth only partially, both as individuals and organizationally. (1Co 8:2; 13:9, 12) Yet some persons attempt to represent themselves as having knowledge greater than the accumulated wisdom of Jesus' {faithful and discreet slave}, often demonstrating themselves to be more concerned with impressing others than they are about Jehovah, Jesus, the brotherhood, or truth. (1Ti 6:20, 21; 1Co 8:1; 13:2) Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization today have God's spirit to teach them the truth, (Joh 14:26) and are teaching it to people. Adjustments, when needed, are shared by everyone at approximately the same time, and in that way the entire organization grows together, while maintaining a united front toward those on the outside. (Pro 4:18; Eph 4:11-16) Regardless of how ``right'' some self-proclaimed intellect may be about some minor point, there is no room in Jehovah's organization for those who {push ahead}. It is far more important to maintain unity and love within the congregation. (1Co 13:8, 13)

  acronym

  A word formed from the initial letter or letters of parts of a compound term. An acronym is pronounced as a word rather than as spelled out letters. In the computer world acronym is often used instead of the more correct term abbreviation to mean a term made up of the first letters of an expression, and pronounced as though being spelled. This constitutes an incorrect use of the word acronym. <<{MEPS} is a true acronym. {SAD}, though it could be spoken as a word, is spelled out, and so is an abbreviation.>> See the section entitled AMOOFLs, a term invented for and used throughout this Glossary, for a more detailed explanation.

  active publisher

  Any {publisher} who has reported field activity at least one month in the past six is considered active. (Compare {regular publisher} and {inactive publisher}.)

  adultery

  A form of {fornication} wherein at least one of the persons involved is married to someone else. (Mat 5:32) <<When his wife committed adultery, he became {scripturally free} to divorce her and remarry, but he chose to forgive her.>>

  Advance Medical Directive

  A legal medical document all of {Jehovah's Witnesses} are strongly urged to carry on their person at all times in case of a medical emergency, directing that blood not be administered as medical treatment. It was formerly and is still sometimes incorrectly referred to as the ``blood card'', or the ``no blood card'', because the front of it says NO BLOOD in large letters. A letter from the Society came with the 1995 set of cards advising us to use the term ``Advance Medical Directive'/ instead. In the May 1995 {OKM} it is written as Advance Medical Directive/Release. The next-to-last paragraph releases medical personnel from liability for damages caused by our refusal to take blood.
  

  NOTE: This card must be signed, witnessed, and dated to be legally binding. At the assemblies in 1993, where the card was used as ID, it was discovered that about 50 percent of the cards presented were not signed. One wonders how many more persons did not have cards at all. Do you have yours? Is it signed?

  advertise

  To make something known publicly. In preaching the {good news} Christians are really advertising the facts about God's Kingdom. The most famous example of the use of the word among Jehovah's Witnesses is quoted many times in our literature. <<In 1922, when some 10,000 met in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A., the {delegates} were inspired by the speaker's encouragement: ``This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom.''>> [w95 8/1 19]

  a.ga'pe

  Transliteration of the Greek word for the highest form of love, i.e., self-sacrificing love based on principle. Witnesses use it frequently in the complimentary close of a letter, including in informal electronic communications. Whereas many persons might feel awkward in some situations about signing a letter with ``Love'', all Witnesses understand agape to mean the kind of love that one should express toward all fellow human beings. It is a word free from implied overfamiliarity or sexual overtones.

  aged

  The current politically correct euphemism for ``old''. (See the article in [g95 6/22 14-16] entitled ``What Does It Mean to Be Aged?'') Sometimes the word is pronounced as two syllables, i.e., as ag`ed. (See {-ed}.) <<Some aged elders still contribute significantly to the work of caring for the congregation spiritually by offering wise advice based on many years of experience.>>

  agenda

  A list of items to discuss or perform; a program. <<{Presiding overseers} are encouraged to prepare and circulate an agenda for quarterly elders' meetings well ahead of time so that every elder may prepare in advance and so that the meeting may proceed in an orderly manner.>>

  agnostic

  One who is unsure about the existence of God, arguing that the answer to the question is unknowable. This is much different from being an {atheist}, because it is sometimes possible to reason with a true agnostic, ultimately influencing him to accept the truth about God's existence. [21]

  [21] Upon which he is no longer an agnostic, though not necessarily a {believer} .

  alcohol

  The Bible recommends the moderate and controlled enjoyment of alcoholic drinks [22] (Ecc 3:13; Ecc 9:7; Psa 104:15; 1Ti 5:23), while strongly condemning drunkenness. (1Co 5:11; 6:9, 10) This {balanced} view of one of God's provisions contrasts with the black and white approach of some religions that go beyond the teaching of God's word and completely proscribe the drinking of alcohol. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 associates such restrictions with the ``teachings of demons''. Would Jesus have turned water into wine at a marriage feast if God disapproved of drinking it? (Joh 2:1-10) Interestingly, recent scientific research confirms that persons who regularly drink alcohol in reasonable quantities seem to enjoy better health than complete teetotalers. <<I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy. [23] >> Of course, persons who have a problem with controlling alcohol should learn to do without. Also, in most places in the USA, the sale and consumption of alcohol is regulated by {Caesar}. Loyal Christians respect and observe these stipulations. <<May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your expressions of endearment are better than wine.>> (Son 1:2) Sometimes a little wine can help things along a bit, though.

  [22] And lately so does the US government.

  [23] If you don't get the joke, read it out loud. If you still don't get it, try it again after having a couple of drinks and it will seem much funnier.

  aliteracy

  The quality or state of being able to read but being uninterested in doing so. Reading ability is not always matched by reading desire. Aliterate people are sometimes quite intelligent and well-educated, but allow almost any other activity to displace reading from their lives. They use many excuses, such as being too tired, or that reading is too much work. Television viewing is the most common substitute. (See the article ``Guard Against Aliteracy'' in [g96 1/22 21-23]; also, compare {militantly ignorant}.)

  AMOOFL

  A self-referential {neologism} meaning ``abbreviation (or acronym) made out of first letters''. I use this term throughout this Glossary . The story behind it is complicated enough that I have devoted a whole section to it in the introductory text. See the section entitled AMOOFLs. Also, compare {abbreviation} and {acronym}. <<Today the {CO} and {PO} got together to draft a letter to the {WTB&TS}.>>

  announcements

  Usually the first part on the {Service Meeting}, normally devoted to publicizing schedules and matters of local concern. The word is used both for individual items and for that part on the Service Meeting as a whole. <<We better make sure that point makes announcements this week.>>

  STORY: {Disfellowshipping} notices are always read by an {elder} as part of the Service Meeting announcements. One night a brother in our area had to read one such notice, and also a more mundane announcement. Somehow he got the names confused, and for ten horrible seconds, until the brother realized his mistake, while she and her unsuspecting family and close friends were all having strokes and falling in the aisles, some poor sister was accidentally disfellowshipped. :-(

  anointed, spirit-anointed

  Having God's spirit of adoption as a {spiritual Israelite}, and the hope of eventual heavenly life. (Compare {spirit-begotten}.) The term is sometimes applied to all the {remnant} as a whole. <<He has been receiving assignments normally given to the anointed.>>

  antediluvian

  1. Relating to the period before the {Deluge} (Flood) of Noah's day. 2. As a noun it refers to persons living before the Deluge. [w93 11/15 13] This must be some Watchtower editor's favorite big word, because it appears in nearly every Watchtower that deals with the Deluge, and is rarely seen anywhere else. (By me.) <<The Nephilim were giant antediluvian bullies who roamed the earth perpetrating violence until they were destroyed by the Deluge.>>

  antitype

  See {type}.

  apostate, apostasy

  One who has rebelled against and abandoned the {true worship} of Jehovah. Sometimes apostates actively oppose true worship and attempt to influence others to do the same. <<Some apostates were trying to hand out leaflets at our {convention} last week.>> An act or particular case of apostate behavior is called apostasy. (2Th 2:3)

  NOTE: Apostates are persons who were once among us, walking in the Truth, not merely outsiders who oppose it. They usually know our beliefs, terminology, and organizational ways quite well.

  Apostates tend to seek out unwary Witnesses and engage them in dialogue. Often they were once fine people with an extensive {Truth} background. But they tend to be proud of their independent intellectual accomplishments. <<Based on several years of deep research, careful study, and profound meditation I have concluded blah blah blah ...>> They will claim support for their ideas from others who are supposedly pillars in the Truth. <<I know numerous people, including elders, who agree with me that blah blah blah ...>> They will flatter the listener while speaking condescendingly of Witnesses in general. <<I realize that most Witnesses wouldn't understand; but I realize that you are by no means average, but are truly open-minded.>> The speaker condescendingly suggests that most Witnesses are simple, unpretentious, and unsophisticated, but is implying that for the most part we are a bunch of dopes.

  Willing association with true apostates, whether in person, by reading their literature, or engaging in electronic debate across the Internet, is itself apostate behavior, and therefore potentially a {disfellowshipping offense}, in addition to being extremely dangerous and outright stupid. It should be avoided entirely.

  appeal, appeal committee

  When a person is {disfellowshipped} and believes that a serious error in judgment has been made by a {judicial committee}, he may appeal the decision within seven days, in which event the case will be reheard. The ``appeal committee'' is the group of {elders} {appointed}, usually by the {circuit overseer}, to conduct the appeal process.

  applause

  Approval expressed by clapping the hands. People accustomed to the sanctimonious solemnity of a staid church may be surprised to observe that we occasionally applaud at our meetings. It is customary to applaud at the conclusion of the {public talk}, following assembly parts, at the end of the session for each day at conventions and assemblies, after a student's {first talk} in the {Theocratic Ministry School}, following high points in mid-talk at {district conventions}, especially when {resolutions} are being read, when announcing the appointment of pioneers and servants, when acknowledging or passing {love and greetings} to another congregation, and at other times as invited by a speaker.
  

  NOTE: It is not considered appropriate to applaud when an announcement of {reinstatement} is read. Although we rejoice when persons who have been put out of the congregation come to their senses, show repentance, and are restored, they are at that moment weak spiritually, and in need of love and encouragement, but not congratulations, as though they had accomplished something worthy of acclaim. [24]

  [24] The only place where this point appears in print is in an outline that was used by circuit overseers a few years ago.

  application

  The putting to use of {knowledge} and {understanding} so as to follow a course of {wisdom}. <<Some couples with problems study the Bible and their marriage improves, but others in the {Truth} all their lives fail and get divorced. What is the difference? Application! The solution? Read the Bible. Do what it says. [25] >>

  [25] A near verbatim quote from the district overseer at a recent circuit assembly.

  apply the merit

  Literally to take advantage of the benefit of something. The phrase is most often used in connection with the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. <<By applying the merit of Christ's ransom sacrifice, God was able to declare righteous a large family of spiritual sons.>>

  appointed elder

  See {unappointed elder}.

  appointment

  1. The scriptural method of assigning privileges of service. (Act 20:28) {Elders}, {ministerial servants}, and regular and special {pioneers} are all appointed by the {Society}. 2. The designation of responsibility itself. <<Sister Hiker's pioneer appointment arrived from the Society.>>

  appreciate

  To evaluate the worth of something. We may learn that something is true, and also perceive its relation to other matters. Appreciation is a more profound level of learning that affects the heart. It involves recognizing the significance or benefit of something with a heightened awareness. <<One who knows the Truth can teach the Scriptures, but one who appreciates it lives the Scriptures.>> Appreciation comes in many flavors besides plain vanilla. We have great appreciation, deep appreciation, {keen appreciation}, heartfelt appreciation, warm appreciation, fine appreciation, enhanced appreciation, genuine appreciation, increased appreciation, ever-growing appreciation, deep-hearted appreciation, outstanding appreciation, heightened appreciation, full appreciation, overwhelming appreciation, and {no doubt} others as well.
  

  Jehovah's Witnesses seem to have an infatuation for this word, so much so that it stands in danger of being killed from overwork. One elder wrote to tell me: <<I once visited an {inactive} brother who received me with the words, ``Brother, you are certainly welcome to come in and visit with me. All I ask is that you not use the word appreciate. That word is so overused by most brothers I can't bear to hear it anymore.''>> (Compare {helps us to appreciate}.)

  archaic, archaisms

  Characteristic of language of the past. Christians are encouraged to use modern language. {Babylon} frequently uses old-fashioned or obsolete expressions. Some of them are discussed under {common archaisms}. Some headwords adjudged as {fuddy-duddy} expressions are archaisms.
  

  STORY: We had a Service Meeting part in the early 1970s that discouraged the use of archaisms. The brother who was the source of the examples under {pronunciation} presented the part, [26] and in the course of it said, as phonetically transcribed: <<We don' wanna be speakin' no arcake er nuffin'.>>

  [26] Natch.

  ark

  1. An ark is a box or chest. The two well-known Bible examples are the one that Noah built for the saving of a remnant of human and animal life from the {Deluge} (Gen 6:14), and the ark that was placed in the most holy of the tabernacle and later in the temple in Jerusalem. (Exo 25:10) 2. The ark of Noah's day has been shown to be prophetic of all of Jehovah's arrangements for mankind's survival through the end of this system of things. Thus new ones coming into the {Truth} are sometimes said to be entering that ark. <<We would like to welcome all 100 persons who entered the grand ark of Jehovah's salvation when they were baptized this morning.>>

  Armageddon

  Anglicized version of the transliterated Hebrew word {Har-Mageddon}, God's great final war. (Rev 16:16) Although {NW} uses the {transliteration}, the {Society}'s publications in English more commonly use the term Armageddon. <<Many uninformed persons mistakenly believe that Armageddon will be a global nuclear holocaust that will indiscriminately kill everyone on the planet.>>

  around the Truth

  In the vicinity and likeness of {Jehovah's people} without being fully committed to their way of life. The speaker is usually expressing a contrasting distinction from being {in the Truth}. The Truth has great intrinsic appeal to persons, but living it as a disciple brings great responsibilities. People manifest varying amounts of willingness to follow through on what they learn as a result of their study of God's word. Nearly every congregation has associates who participate less than completely in its activities, but who continue to live on its fringes, though calling themselves and being regarded by others as Jehovah's Witnesses. Some such are even baptized and dedicated; others remain permanently {interested persons}. <<Brother Hurdlehopper was raised around the Truth; his father was disfellowshipped when he was five, and his mother became inactive shortly thereafter, though she continued to attend the {Sunday meeting} now and then.>> (Compare {Jehovah's Bystander}, {marginal Witness}, and {submarine Witness}.)

  arrangement

  An order, system, or structure of things. Because {Jehovah's people} are highly organized, we have many systems worked out to implement work that needs doing efficiently. Therefore, we speak of the {elder arrangement}, the {donation arrangement}, the {hospitality arrangement}, and others that are fabricated as needed. <<Brother Flush will now explain the Port-a-John arrangement for next weekend's {quick build}.>>

  art, arts

  In American English, art in the default sense usually refers to the traditional visual arts, i.e., painting, sculpture and the like. <<I was an art major in college. [27] >> In other contexts, it refers to creativity, aesthetic beauty, and skill as applied to most any pursuit. The {New World Translation} calls teaching an art at 2 Timothy 4:2. <<Brother Hugs is a master at the art of encouraging conversation.>> The arts (plural) is an all-encompassing word referring to what is sometimes called the fine arts, namely music, literature, dance, theater, etc., in addition to the visual arts. Most of Jehovah's Witnesses seem to have even less serious interest in the arts than most people in the world. <<You call that art!?>> It may be to some that in these {last days} other things are necessarily more important, that pleasures like delving into a good book or cultivating a creative skill are luxuries in the same realm of importance as {recreation}, and that the resources available for such activities are extremely limited. Of course, the average American still watches about seven hours of television a day.

  [27] The speaker learned how to draw pictures of naked people.

  article

  A section of a {magazine}; everything beneath a single main title. We tend to focus magazine presentations around a particular article, or series of articles in a magazine, usually the featured cover story, rather than just attempting to place the whole magazine on the basis of the publication's name recognition. <<Today we were showing your neighbors this article in The Watchtower about better world conditions.>>

  as it were

  Seemingly. Used with a statement that might appear unlikely to show that it is not meant literally. <<He knew the material for his talk so well he caught fire, as it were, when he presented it. [28] >> This is one of those idioms that is best used sparingly. Nevertheless, it is a favorite of Society editors; I was able to find it 356 times in my online literature collection.

  [28] A circuit overseer once said ``Put fire in your talk, or put your talk in the fire.'' As it were.

  ASCII, ASCII file

  AMOOFL for ``American Standard Code for Information Interchange'', pronounced ASS-kee. It refers to the commonest way of encoding standard characters, i.e., letters, numbers, punctuation marks and special characters, on computers. The word is used often by hackers, so I have included it in the Glossary. An ASCII file is a file that is made up entirely of characters from the ASCII set. On most computers, ASCII file means the same as text file. When using software options to read or write text files, it means files that do not include the byte combinations that represent application-specific formatting or control sequences. <<The plain version of the Glossary is an ASCII document that may be read with an editor or pager.>>

  assembly

  A gathering of God's people. Although any prearranged meeting of several people is a form of assembly, the term is normally applied to larger meetings. When used without a modifier it usually refers to a {circuit assembly} rather than a {district convention}. <<Our assembly is scheduled for next month, and just two weeks later we have the district convention.>>

  NOTE: There has been some flip-flopping over the years over whether our large summer festivals are called assemblies or conventions. The Society originally called them all assemblies until the war years, when assembling was declared against the law in the USA. The Society wanted to have a big assembly, but because it was during the war they were not allowed to do it. The only way to have one was to call it a convention, because conventions were not against the law. The name convention has applied to big assemblies ever since. <<A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.>> The precise term used makes little difference. The usage explained in this Glossary is current as of 1997 to the best of my knowledge.

  assembly food [obs]

  The announcement that there will no longer be food at assemblies and conventions in the USA was barely a week old when I last revised this entry. [29] (See {simplified convention food service}.) In past times the food provided at assemblies varied with the locale and the time. Years ago we had large kitchens and served tens of thousands of complete hot meals, morning, noon, and night. Times changed, and the Society moved toward simplification in all its pursuits in order to reduce costs and impose less burden and expense on brothers. Recently, early morning fare usually included coffee, orange juice, fruit and pastries. Noon meals were soft drinks, sandwiches, chips, and more fruit. To persons who wailed ``But we are mortal!'' I respond that no one was forced to eat too much of it, or any of it at all. [30] The Israelites griped about the manna, too. (Num 11:6) And we all know what happened to them. <<Man must not live by assembly food alone! [31] >>

  [29] February 1995.

  [30] Urp.

  [31] Either kind!

  Assembly Hall

  A building owned, operated, and usually built by Jehovah's Witnesses for the purpose of holding {circuit assemblies} and other large gatherings.

  assembly rats

  Persons who relish {assemblies} with a fervor similar to some in {Christendom} who wish that every day was Christmas. It is an important part of our culture to attach a high value to the assemblies. Many rank them just barely below the {Memorial} in importance of obligation to attend. Persons who have never missed a single session in many years in the Truth are quite common. Therefore, in addition to their spiritual benefits, assemblies provide the greatest social events of the year for Jehovah's Witnesses. Some consider it a sign of great status to have assembly responsibilities, particularly talks. (Should they think this way?) Young people use the assemblies for networking, often cruising for potential marriage mates. The assembly rats are ones who wait outside the doors at 6:30 AM, an hour before the gates open, even though they have no work assignments, armed with coolers, bags, blankets, and a thick stack of old magazines. Guess what they are planning on doing with them? [32] <<Get to your posts, brothers, here come the assembly rats!>>

  [32] Not catching up on their reading. The issue of saving seats unnecessarily at assemblies has been a persistent problem that has been discussed at Service Meetings before assemblies for many years. (1Co 10:24; 1Co 13:5; Phi 2:3)

  assembly speaker

  A brother who receives frequent speaking assignments at assemblies and conventions. It has been observed that for an organization blessed with an abundance of consistently excellent speakers, relatively few brothers seem always to get these assignments. Is it therefore true that in Jehovah's organization getting certain assignments depends in some measure on who you know? To some it might seem that way. The brothers who make these choices are expected to enlist the best speakers they can find, but cannot possibly be expected to know everyone. According to the instructions given to those entrusted with finding speakers, talk assignments are given to brothers on the basis of their speaking ability and the good example they set in taking the lead in {field service}. Does it matter if it seems sometimes as though the guidelines are imperfectly applied? No it does not. Brothers who waste their time and energy thinking to themselves ``I could do just as well'' are just stroking their own egos.
  

  Often assembly speakers speak quite differently in their home congregations than they do at conventions. The Society sends out strict instructions about how talks should be presented at assemblies. When followed, presentations at assemblies are generally of uniformly high quality. Unfortunately, it can result in a soporific sameness. Not every brother can do it well. Not every brother wants to learn to speak like an assembly speaker, including some who are highly skilled at platform teaching.

  assignment slip

  Short name for the Theocratic Ministry School Assignment slip, form S-89, given in advance to {School} students to notify them of upcoming talks. <<Always remember to give your assignment slip to the school overseer before the meeting when you are giving a talk.>>

  associate, association

  As a verb associate means to keep company. As a noun it refers to those with whom company is kept, and is closely related to association, the process of forming connections or bonds with people, organizations, or even ideas, such as through books or other media. (1Co 15:33) <<When my father heard the CD I was listening to he reminded me of the dangers of bad association.>>

  atheist

  One who denies the existence of God, and therefore also rejects all religion. (Compare {agnostic}.) Because they thereby put their own thinking ahead of God's, they become guilty of self-worship, a form of idolatry. (Psa 14:1; see the Insight book [it] article on IDOLATRY.) True atheists are much less liable to be reasoned with than agnostics, because they are ones who claim to have become convinced of God's non-existence, and so have taken a stand against evidence to the contrary. <<Most people who say they are atheists are really merely agnostics.>>

  attendant

  A brother, usually a {ministerial servant}, who helps with seating, greets strangers, maintains order, assists with crying babies and obstreperous children, {takes the count}, watches for problems in the parking lot, answers the phone, and occasionally acts as bouncer to unwelcome misbehaving intruders.

  [attire, dress] and grooming

  Attire and dress both have to do with one's choice of clothing styles, and the appropriateness of what is worn. Grooming is concern shown for an attractive appearance, and includes attention given to personal cleanness, neatness, hair styles, straight {ties}, pressed {suits}, and so forth. The Society's literature often mentions these words together in one phrase. Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to be exemplary in attire and grooming, generally conforming to local community standards as to what constitutes being well-dressed. [sg 184] <<Elders need to take care that they do not impose their own strongly held {opinions} about dress and grooming on the congregation.>> (See also {suit}, {tie}, {shirt}, {beard}, {mustache}, and {button}.)

  attribute

  An inherent characteristic or quality. The noun form has the accent on the first syllable. The Bible describes Jehovah's four primary attributes as being love, justice, power, and wisdom, with his other personality qualities being composites of and secondary to these.

  Authorized Version

  Official name given to the so-called King James English translation of the Bible, published in 1611. It was traditionally referred to in print as AV, but is now more commonly designated as KJ. (See Psa 83:18 KJ.)

  aux pioneer

  Slangy shortened version of {auxiliary pioneer}. People who use this seem to be prone to using other truncated forms, particularly in writing, such as pio for pioneer, and cong or congo for {congregation}. <<I'm planning on joining the aux pios and other pubs in our cong in mag service between semesters after I finish the lit inventory.>> This style of usage is seen frequently in {email}.

  auxiliary pioneer, [continuous, regular] auxiliary pioneer

  A {pioneer} {minister} who devotes 60 hours to field service in a month, normally during isolated months, or for a few months at a time. One who serves as such without interruption is called either a ``continuous auxiliary pioneer'' or a ``regular auxiliary pioneer''. There is a box on the application form that may be checked if the applicant intends to continue indefinitely.

  AV

  AMOOFL formerly used to refer in print to the {Authorized Version} of the Bible, otherwise known as the {King James Version}. In recent years the Society's publications use KJ instead.

  Awake!

  News-oriented companion magazine to {The Watchtower}. Notice that the {exclamation point} is a part of the title. It is sometimes left out in casual writing. It should not be. The magazine was called The Golden Age when it was first published in 1919, which is why its {publication code} is [g]. Later it was called Consolation .
  

  STORY: In 1976, when I was serving the Upper Manhattan congregation in New York City, the elder body considered a letter received from an irate householder. I can still remember it almost verbatim. It said:

  To Whom It May Concern:

  I do not belong to your religion. I have never read any of your books or magazines, and have not ever been the least bit interested in doing so. I live in an apartment with a crack under the door. Last week while I was at work some of your people came by and slid a copy of your Awake! magazine, something which I did not want, under my door. My dog seized it, ate it, choked on it, and died.

  Now don't worry, I am not going to sue you or anything. I have gotten over the loss of my dog, and have bought another one. But I must insist that you please never come back to my apartment again!

  The letter was not signed, and there was no return address. I don't think that's what the woman meant who said to Jesus: ``the little dogs do eat of the crumbs falling from the table of their masters.'' (Mat 15:27) Jesus said on an earlier occasion: ``Do not give what is holy to dogs.'' (Mat 7:6) Apparently {spiritual food} is not good for everyone.

  away back there

  A phrase used often in {The Watchtower} to mean ``away back then'', indicating a point remotely far in time, not in space. Spoken by some older brothers with great enthusiasm, drawing out the way. <<Awaaay back there in the days of Abraham ...>> Saying just ``away back'' followed by a place refers to that place at a particular time. <<Away back in the garden of Eden ...>> means ``in the garden of Eden at the time it existed.'' A search of my online literature collection found 187 occurrences of back there, most all referring to a point in past time.
• 
  34

  WATCHTOWER WORDS

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it is true that jehovah's witnesses have their own language.

  an "outsider" might not have a clue to what certain words might mean.

  for example, "the truth"-----if a person heard that expression, they would never have connected it to only the jw religion.....can you think of language that is exclusive to "watchtower" world??

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  Most people think that Remnant is a bit of cloth left over
• 
  17

  Tonight Matthew I am going to be.....................................

  by Lainey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if you had to go on stars in their eyes.. who would you choose and why?.

  i think i would stick a blonde wig on and sing blondie's heart of glass.

  as mine gets broken a lot.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  I would also nominate Ozzie for Rolf Harris singing Jake the Peg

  ROFLMAO. Ozzie Harris that is so good

  Pink spotty Simon is even funnier.

  How about vivamus, tink and sens as Bananarama.

  E-man could even be Alvin Stardust.

  Cas
• 
  35

  Do you have a an extra special Best friend?

  by Lainey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a friend who you can turn to,.

  when the chips are down, .

  who is always there for you.. who accepts who you are and what you are made from.. what kipling called the thousandth man.. one man in a thousand, solomon says,.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  Yeah Simon

  You'd think that a group of elders in a congregation would have had the decency to not have your BEST FRIEND on that Committee.

  It was a conflict of interest for him..

  Yeah even by the society rules, you can't serve on A JC if you are their friend or have a special relationship with them

  That is awful, have you posted on this meeting before , if you have can you remember the link.

  Cheers Cas.
• 
  127

  Hi I am Caspians sister and this is my first day here.

  by Lainey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello this is my first post and i wanted to introduce myself so here goes.. my name is lainey, and i have not been to the meetings for about 4 years now.. i am 28 and work as a doctor in a big city university hospital as a sho.. also for my sins, i am cassies little sis, and i am staying with him for a little while, as i am signed off sick for the next month with a stress related disorder.. after the death of my older bro and my dad within the past few months, i started suffering from terrible nightmares, most of them connected in some way to my witness upbringing.. me and cassie have talked for some length and he suggested that i spend some time having a look on this site and meeting others who have had similar issues to face in life.. i hope you are all are better listeners than cassie, who tends to fall asleep when i am in the middle of talking to him.

  (brothers!!!

  ) btw he hates being called cassie lol.. anyway i am not a big talker, so i probably wont post a lot, however i am going to scout around for a while.. thanks .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  caspian

  Dr Peekaboo sounds really funny.