Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  21

  Annual Pioneer "

  by Open mind in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs
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  Doubting Bro

  Absolutely! In my approximately 10 years as an elder, I conducted or helped conduct the Annual Pioneer meeting probably 7 out of 10 times. The outline was very similar in format (obviously different subject matter) to what the CO reviews with the elders & ms during his visit.

  One congregation we had only a couple of pioneers and we (the 2 elders conducting) would take them out after the meeting. We usually scheduled the meeting so that it was on a Sat evening and then go straight to dinner. Sometimes, other elders would come with us, sometimes the wives (if there were sister pioneers). Other times, it was just lunch. Sometimes the rest of the BOE would kick in some funds but if not we would do it on our own.

  I know of one congregation that got in trouble because one of the elders hosted a big dinner in honor of his congregation's pioneers. He was counseled by the CO for drawing too much attention to these individuals. He probably did go overboard but I think it was sincere.

  I always argued that since the meeting was supposed to encourage the pioneers to continue on, that there was nothing wrong with buying them a meal and giving them a little attention. I thought it was common (at least in the US) so I'm surprised more folks didn't experience it.

  It seems to me that the amount of socialization among JWs is much less than when I was a kid. I notice very few congregation picinics and the like.
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  22

  Slightly weird mess-up by the Society...service meeting part

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if there's one thing the society loves, it is punctuality and regularity.. every year for at least the past 30 years, without fail, you could set your atomic clock by it, what is the primary topic of the 1st service meeting in january?.

  you find out where and when your district convention will be that year.. so, looking at the december km, sure enough, there is an insert covering the usual topics (don't save seats, arrive on time, spit out your gum, don't pee in the hotel pool, etc.)..

  but wait a minute!

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  Doubting Bro

  Blondie - Yeah, I remember that one and that has to be one of the biggest screwups of all time. I was secretary at the time and if I recall correctly, we actually sent them back. I remember thinking at the time that was a big waste of postage that we could just throw them away. But, it also got me to thinking more seriously about the blood policy since I knew what allogenic meant.

  It was one of the thing in which the motar around the bricks began to loosen!

  Edited - I could very well be wrong about the returning of the cards and I'm sure the link is more correct on that detail than I am.
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  64

  Extra Extra read all about it. Study Article PDF to be posted on www.jw.org

  by jah1914 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just got this excerpt from a friend who is an elder all excited about how jah's people are using technology.

  guess we won't have to provide links anymore.. excerpt:.

  we are pleased to inform you that the study articles in the english edition of the watch-tower will be made available as pdf files in the public area of the jw.org web site.

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  Doubting Bro

  I'm surprised it took them this long! You wait, the KM will be there in some fashion in the not too near future. It makes sense and should save them a ton of cash. It's volunatry for the moment but I give them 6 months to a year before it becomes "strongly suggested" that the study WTs be downloaded by individual pubs. If I were them, I would have done this years ago.

  Just another item in the expense reducing trend. Not critizing, just pointing out that the need to reduce costs is a top priority at the WTS, Inc.
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  147

  Did You Personally Know Any JWs That Were Sexually Molested By Other JWs?

  by minimus in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i knew of a handful (which is too many) that were molested by a jehovah's witness.

  it was not typical in my experience.

  what about you???.

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  Doubting Bro

  Never in any congregation that I was a part of but I do have 2 JW friends that were molested by elders when they were kids.
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  61

  For Active JW Men: Ideas on Awakening Your JW Spouse (Long post)

  by Open mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  disclaimer: your mileage may vary.

  if you are a married, "active, in good standing" (tm), jw male who has recently discovered that the .

  watchtower is not what it claims to be, this thread is for you.

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  Doubting Bro

  But I noticed the distant look in her eyes, like saying “I agree with you…but where else can we go?”.

  Yup and that's always been the tough one to overcome. Also, the fact that many born-in JWs (like me and my wife) look at being JW not so much as a religion but as part of our social heritage. Much of the family on both sides are JW, many "friends", etc. There's the tradition of not celebrating holidays, birthdays and the various workarounds so that you do have celebrations with your family. Of course, there's the shunning which is really the glue that holds the whole thing together. If they dropped shunning, I would guess a good sized number would leave.

  I've been in limbo for several years now not knowing which way to go. Part of me wants to take OTWOs route and let the chips fall, part wants to unring the bell, and part has sort of given up on everything.
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  33

  Assembly Parts NEVER made sense to me....!!!!

  by babygirl30 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is and always has been one of my biggest gripes: assembly parts/experiences.

  not 1....ever......e-v-e-r was even remotely relatable to me.

  now i have traveled all over the place (and to other countries) and i have sat amongst rich and poor jws, suburbanites and urbanites, siddity folks and straight 'hood'.....and not 1 assembly experience made me sit up in my seat and say "wow - that's just like me!".

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  Doubting Bro

  Of course, many of these assembly parts are embellished to make them more "encouraging". I was stunned the first time I had the "privilege" of conducting one of these parts (sort of a entry level part for folks trying to climb up the ladder to DC parts). First, the POs (COBOE now) from the other congregations I called blew me off when I asked if they knew anyone with the type of experience I was looking for. Then, when I told the CO, his response was to find someone who sort of fit the experience and then "work with them" to make it fit. I responded that I thought it was a little dishonest and said that he was confident that somewhere in the circuit, the actual experience had taken place and that many were shy. So, he said I could think of it as a demonstration of what could happen as opposed to an actual experience. Of course, they are always presented as actual experiences.

  babygirl30 - seriously your experience would actually be more "encouraging" (sorry, it creeps me out typing that) to the average rank & file than some of these overly hyped ones. You are dead on about the sports scholarships! I've heard those stories too and agree that is complete BS.

  Usually these "scholarship" offers are either 1) kids like babygirl30 who had every intention of going to school but got talked out of it at the last minute or 2) aren't real offers but merely suggestions from guidance consoler that you may qualify if you apply. Usually it's #2.
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  61

  For Active JW Men: Ideas on Awakening Your JW Spouse (Long post)

  by Open mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  disclaimer: your mileage may vary.

  if you are a married, "active, in good standing" (tm), jw male who has recently discovered that the .

  watchtower is not what it claims to be, this thread is for you.

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  Doubting Bro

  OM - thanks so much for sharing. You've inspired me to be a little more open with my wife. I've just avoided JW discussions for quite a while now because I was afraid of what may happen.

  Terrific advice. I have a feeling that folks liked you being an elder.
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  8

  New From HAPPYDUB Inc: The "Between-Doors-Buddy"

  by Rumspringa in

  1. social
  2. humour

  over on jwr, i'm known as nightgoat.

  this is my first post on jwnet as rumspringa .thought i'd take some shots @ the org from your corner of the pool.. a new site "the laughing apostate" is soon to be up that specialize's in anti-dub humour for those that have been out for awhile & whose scar tissue won't mind some sick n' twisted org-bashing.. .

  pioneers!!!.

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  Doubting Bro

  That was great
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  13

  "Bearing Thorough Witness" book and Jason David BeDuhn quotes

  by sd-7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the beduhn book, truth in translation, finally arrived today at the office.

  here's a comparison with what the faithful slave says and not even the half of what beduhn says:.

  bearing thorough witness about god's kingdom, box on page 105:.

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  Doubting Bro

  Interesting but not surprising. Thanks for supplying the reference.
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  110

  wife took it pretty well i guess...it's over...

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i guess it only took three years, but they were hell in so many ways for both of us...she was not happy and lived in denial as much as possible...i was not happy and lived in a bottle as much as possible and glad that is over for me....but it was one of the saddest things i have ever experienced in my life....as was the visit to my parents before i told her....but yes...she said she kind of expected it...was thinking something was going to happen soon as she noticed i had more and more trouble saying i love you back to her when she said it on the phone at the end of goodbyes...and when i was leaving the house...i had noticed it for over a year and it was killing me..... i told her how sorry i was for changing so much again....and that she still walks on water...and is a great person and so pretty....and that she will be ok because she was happy single before me for many years and had all she needs for that again...her closeness to jehovah and her freinds in the congregation...she is very close to both and will be ok i hope...it was very surreal....very calm...very sad.

  my bitterness and disdain for wt rules came through when talking to my parents and i was very open about how i feel as to their upcoming shunning of me, and how it feels to my son since he was just 17....and how the fear of losing them had kept me trying in my marriage for the past few years...dad was firm in his position of future action....mom said they will still always love me...and will still talk to me until i get dfd.....oh how this hurts.....dad said there is a name for people who only live for themselves and deny god but could not think of what it was....i told him i was not living just for myself...that i am a good person and there are values from him and the bible i hope i always have....i cry so hard as i type this and tell you just so you can know how painful this is....i told him i so loved the rule of treating others how you want to be treated and have always done that...even allowing myself to be wronged on so many occasions to keep peace....... he said that was a good rule....i agreed and said it was a big one too....and that while i could do it...treat him the way i would like to be treated...he would not be able to!.......left as i became emotional...big hug from mom, but i just barely put an arm on dad............oompa.

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  Doubting Bro

  Just wanted to add my best wishes. So sorry it ended up this way but things will get better.