The skills I learned and honed giving talks in the TMS, service meetings, Public Talks, and at conventions are one of the only *useful legacies* I have left from my years as a Witness.
This is not much to show for so many many years, though.
----Dan
dannyboy
JoinedPosts by dannyboy
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39
Do you remember giving talks?
by klydia ini'm trying to remember the process for giving a talk.
i remember getting a slip with a topic on it, but what else was on that slip?
did it tell you what scriptures you should cite, or what book the talk was based on?
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The truth about the donation arrangement
by Wolfgirl ini never knew this...just found it today.
made me giggle.. payment of sales tax on literatureon 17 january1990 the u.s. supreme court made a ruling that sales tax must be paid on religious literature.
the following month, a letter from the watchtower society went out to all congregations stating that there would no longer be a set price for literature but that they would be given to the public on a donation basis.
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dannyboy
Amber is right about the reasons for this change being widely understood by the rank and file. In my area it was widely known that the "donation arrangement" was quickly undertaken to fend off the possibility of having to collect/report sales tax on literature placements.
Even though I was an elder at the time,I was "naive" about the ramifications of this new arrangement.
I took the "Society" at its word that literature would be provided free of charge, etc., but didn't catch the implied "wink" in this policy. In the months that followed, every Circuit Overseer visit would result in him hammering us about the "decline" in money forwarded for the [now] "free" literature......even to the point that they would calculate what the total "value" of the literature was that the congregation had been shipped in say the last 6 months [i.e. magazines+books+CD's etc.] and compare that to what was remitted (it was always less of course). It gradually "dawned" on me [yeah I was naive about this], that this new arrangement was "free" to the householders, but certainly not to us members of the congregation.
So then the thought that *we* (congregation memebers) should be sure we made up the shortfall was gradually introduced until it became the expected thing.
Bottom line is: The Society's switch in the US to the "donation arrangement" for literature resulted in individual members of the congregations paying for the literature mostly (since householders rarely contributed anywhere near enough overall), further enriching the coffers of the Watchtower organization.
BTW: This particular issue is the one that actually started me thinking more objectively about my whole religious life, though it took many more years for me to "Get it".
-----Dan
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KHAA, reasn Watchtower is afraid of Kingdom hall related lawsuits (mishaps)
by DaCheech inunlike any other business or homeowener in which we go out and buy insurance, the watchtower self insures itself.. each year all congregations sent a check through the wefts system for $4.5 for each publishers they have.
this money goes to the watchtower, and is kept as khaa or kingdom hall assistance arrangement.
any time fire, vandalism, or mishaps happen the kingdom hall supposedly sends the bill to the watchtower, and they will help with this bill (of course all labor will be done pro bono through regional building committe).
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dannyboy
[Edited to add: This is a bit off-topic, but I think still relevant:]
Note that the Watchtower's self-insurance program, as it relates to losses/damages to Kingdom Halls, covers the MATERIALS only, NOT LABOR, [yet another distinction compared to "regular" insurance]
So if a Kingdom Hall suffers damage/loss, the organization will pay for replacement materials, BUT NOT THE LABOR.
This makes perfect sense from their point of view, I'm sure, as the orginal labor was contributed, why shouldn't the "brothers" contribute the repair/replacement labor as well. Of course if Congregation members are thinking of their annual "insurance payment" as providing for coverage like their own homeowner's policy, they are sadly mistaken.
I learned of this policy after a local Kingdom Hall was damaged [yes of course while I was still a dubbie]
---Dan
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My Life in Jehovah's Service - VERY INTERESTING STORY
by Dogpatch in" the overseer made it quite plain..
"if i can't say i have been advised not to serve in alternate service--why are you actually doing it?
i was there to serve jehovah; consequently i was doing jehovah's will.
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dannyboy
Terry [and Randy],
I missed this when it was originally posted, I'm glad it popped back up near the top.
I feel like I "know where you're coming from", and the observations you have made about how Witnesses view things.
Thanks for a good read,
----Dan
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Do they allow internet at bethel?
by freedom96 in.
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just curious, with all the internet bashing, etc, if a bethelite wanted to have internet access in their room, would it be allowed.. if so, i wonder if they monitor the activity?
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dannyboy
SirNose:
Yep, I'm running FF 2.0. No problems.
---Dan
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BREAKING NEWS: U.N. talking about a BAN!!! Bible Prophecy???
by Funchback inthere will be new light (tm) coming forth soon regarding this.
the prophecy about a ban of all religion was misinterpreted.
upon further review, a ban is coming for the u.n., not "false religion".. .
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dannyboy
HAH! Good one.
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I Was in a Bad Collision
by Amazing inlast night, i was struck nearly head-on by a person attempting a left turn as i passed through the intersection.
i was injured, as well as the other driver.
the police told me that he broke his arm, and was in shock.
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dannyboy
Jim,
Sorry to hear about the collision, but glad you're not hurt more seriously.
---Dan
PS: Er, ahem, ah, I hope nobody tries to link this incident to any conspiracy theories
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Elders Letter: Big Announcement/Why they want all the telephone #'s
by dannyboy inaugust 28, 2006 .
to all bodies of elders and traveling overseers
dear brothers, .
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dannyboy
What's the latest on any *real* "Big Announcements"???
Just curious.
---Dan
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THE BORG WANTS YOUR NUMBER
by Mary inmy elderly dub aunt (who's the biggest whiner the world has ever seen) came over tonight to first of all, whine about how her neighbour shuts her kitchen cupboard doors in the most annoying way possible and her dog barks and what was she supposed to do about it?
anyway, as soon as these monumental problems were solved, she informed me that at the bookstudy the other night, the conductor told everyone to "stay after the prayer" as he had 'something important to announce.
" naturally everyone did this, all the while wondering if the red phone at patterson was in direct contact with jehovah himself as the study was being conducted.
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dannyboy
Is this why they're collecting the telephone numbers?
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Elders Letter: Big Announcement/Why they want all the telephone #'s
by dannyboy inaugust 28, 2006 .
to all bodies of elders and traveling overseers
dear brothers, .
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dannyboy
August 28, 2006
TO ALL BODIES OF ELDERS AND TRAVELING OVERSEERS
Dear Brothers,
In our letter of July 5, 2006 we asked that all congregations arrange to have in the permanent file a listing of each Publisher’s telephone numbers, including his/her residence number(s), work number(s), and any mobile (such as cellular) number(s). We appreciate the hard work of you brothers in compiling such lists. With this letter we will explain how this information is to be utilized in connection with a new arrangement to guard the flock, and which will be announced to all congregations the third week of October, 2006 at the Service Meeting.
Reports from the field continue to show that a minority of dedicated Christians are engaging in conduct and practices in the privacy of their own homes that are in violation of Biblical principles and Christian standards. For example, some are continuing to use the Internet to search for apostate information concerning the Organization, despite loving counsel to the contrary. Also, not a few married Christians are engaging in sexual relations far more frequently than is Scripturally necessary, taking valuable time and energy away from Kingdom interests. Not to be overlooked are those who continue to watch questionable movies and other programs on television.
Therefore, to assist you brothers in shepherding the flock, we are instituting a new arrangement, actually a set of advanced electronic devices that will enable you to monitor each household’s activity. You will need to arrange to have these monitoring devices installed in each Publisher’s home in the following areas: Bedroom(s), Living Room, Family Room (if any), Dining Room (if any), Kitchen, and Bathroom(s). If you feel that additional rooms need monitoring, such as enclosed porches or garages and carports, you may arrange to install monitoring devices in those areas also, without contacting the Society.
If a member of the congregation works secularly, at least one monitoring device will need to installed in his/her work area. The same would be true of those with mobile telephones, a device would need to be installed in their vehicle(s).
How will these devices work? A detailed installation and operation manual will be provided later, but simply stated, the monitoring devices will provide both video and sound (sent to the Kingdom Hall’s new Monitoring Room (please refer to our letter of May 6, 2006) via the telephone system.
Who will monitor these images and sound? We are asking that the Presiding Overseer arrange on a rotation basis for the elders to share in observing the actions and speech of congregation members as displayed on the monitoring screens. A built-in taping system will be provided, so that questionable activity may be recorded and analyzed, and if needed, appropriate counsel and/or Judicial Committees may be formed to deal with what is revealed.
Much more information about this new arrangement will be forthcoming in next few weeks, including the “Agreement to Monitor My Personal Activity” card that each publisher will need to sign, witness and date. Also a new position to be filled if possible by an elder to be called the “Big Brother”.
We know you brothers will rejoice with us in appreciation for this new provision from Jehovah to help our brothers.
With you in dedicated Kingdom Service,