After following a thread or two about Violet or from Violet, I have come to the same conclusion as I would for anyone...if she would like to attend meetings and become more involved with the Witnesses, that's her decision and her right, and perhaps it will indeed contribute to her happiness. I think that giving her some things to think about, as some here have honestly tried to do, is fine, but why criticize her for doing something she evidently wants to do?
Posts by DB
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12What's happening to Violetanai?
by Marilyn ini haven't read all the responses from yesterday but i know many of you will have "made a good account of yourselves".
why can't we help her?
i know from the number of people that i converted that there is a turning point at which time you stop being receptive to outside advice and opinions.
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26
Whats your opinion on the best way to step down??
by Leander ini know a lot of you here were former pioneers, servants and elders.
how did you go about stepping down?
did you just not say anything, did you write a letter or call one of the elders?.
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DB
Leander, aftre reading each reply, I think Runningman had the best suggestion, although the others were good too...not quite sure about the "Butt Naked" one though.
By all means, let us know what happens.
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38
The Annual ``Don't Misbehave'' at Asemblies'' KM
by Room 215 ingreetings from the ``here we go again'' department.
while worldlings have only the song of the robins and the bloom of the daffodils and crocuses as harbingers of spring, jehovah's people and readers of their literature can always count on two more: the annual ``don't partake!
'' article in the watchtower, and the yearly exhortation to ``make nice at the summer's assemblies'' in the km.. in the case of the latter, the tone and content of the annual scolding is unbelievably demeaning to any responsible adult... being told to dress nice (suits and ties only, please, for the men and deresses only -- not too short ladies) not to abuse complimentary breakfasts, pool privileges and generally avoid rowdiness at the hotels where they stay-- all laced with clearly fabricated -- not to mention unattributed-- quotes from ``worldly observers amazed by our fine conduct.''.
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DB
Lisa, there have been times when I did not even make it that far (to the keynote address) without day-dreaming or otherwise figuring it was time for a walk.
And on a hot day at The Vet in Philly, most of us are boiled eggs before that talk.
215, yes, I have heard of instances in which jws left tracts but no tip...I'd love to be able to see the face of a waiter/waitress after that.
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38
The Annual ``Don't Misbehave'' at Asemblies'' KM
by Room 215 ingreetings from the ``here we go again'' department.
while worldlings have only the song of the robins and the bloom of the daffodils and crocuses as harbingers of spring, jehovah's people and readers of their literature can always count on two more: the annual ``don't partake!
'' article in the watchtower, and the yearly exhortation to ``make nice at the summer's assemblies'' in the km.. in the case of the latter, the tone and content of the annual scolding is unbelievably demeaning to any responsible adult... being told to dress nice (suits and ties only, please, for the men and deresses only -- not too short ladies) not to abuse complimentary breakfasts, pool privileges and generally avoid rowdiness at the hotels where they stay-- all laced with clearly fabricated -- not to mention unattributed-- quotes from ``worldly observers amazed by our fine conduct.''.
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DB
Yes, I just read over the insert. What is evident too is that these reminders are actually merited by the poor behavior of many jws at assemblies and hotels. If they knew how to behave and keep an eye on the kids, such reminders would hardly be necessary.
This does go to show too that jws are hardly different from the rest of society. Among any large group, there will ne those who misbehave, etc. The jws, perhaps as a group, with many individuals included, do for the most part behave well at these functions, but there are those 'bad apples'.
One reminder that always amazed me is the one about tipping, though I am not sure if it appears in this year's KM. It takes a person with the common sense of a baboon to withhold a tip or give a meager one and then think they are doing the wait person a favor by leaving a tract....come to think of it, I may have just insulted the baboon community.
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37
Hello, I am new here...
by Spiderman ini am from barcelona, spain and i recently bought a computer and got on the internet.
i was searching for jehovah's witnesses as i am one of them.
i found this site.
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DB
Welcome Spidey,
I am also an active Witness, and you will find more on this board. I also like to consider more than one side of an argument.
By the way, is your real name Peter Parker? Do you spin a web any size, catching thieves just like flies?
When I was a kid, I loved Spiderman, and I am looking forward to the new flick. I hope it's as good as the actual comic and the cartoons that used to air.
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17
Is holy spirit really involved with appointments?
by Leander ini've always been curious about the process they use to appoint someone as a minsterial servant, elder or pioneer.
do they claim these appointments are made by holy spirit?
i am aware that the elder body has to first approve it and then send it through bethel or the circuit overseer, but i'm not sure what happens next.
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DB
Once again, another good post by Leander.
The reasoning on this is that, since the qualifications for elders and min. servants are listed in the Scriptures, and the Scriptures are a product of holy spirit, then it follows that brothers are appointed by holy spirit, if indeed the recommendations are made based on what those scriptures say. Also, the elders should prayerfully consider these choices, asking for guidance by holy spirit. Whether such prayers are really answered is anyone's guess, and perhaps a discussion best left for another thread, lol.
The Circuit Overseer can object to a recommendation by the body of elders (this happened once while I served as an elder). he writes a letter stating the reasons for his objection. In the case we had, the entire body relented and we 'pulled back' our recommendation.
Also, during some discussions on recommending brothers, I sensed a distinct LACK of holy spirit over the process...for example, the scriptures themselves were not adhered to, rather, brothers seemed make recomendations or withold such based on personal impressions and ideas.
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31
My husband is stepping down tomorrow night . . .
by Prisila ini'm extatic .
my husband is stepping down as an elder tomorrow.
how do you guys think that will go?
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DB
There is a letter to elders on the subject of resigning, it was sent around maybe 4 years or so ago.
In the letter, mention was made of elders meeting with and 'speaking to' a brother who wished to resign. No specific mention is made, to my recollection, of trying to talk him out of it or not allowing it, but rather to discuss it, as one would expect.
I believe the letter then mentions that, if the brother still wants to resign, the matter should be held until the visit of the C.O. I cannot recall exactly what is stated next, but my guess is that they'd want the C.O.'s input.
It seems to be a more complicated process than one might expect. I remember sitting there when the letter was read among the elders thinking "geez, if a guy wants to quit, let him quit". I can see discussing his reasons with him, but I don't think that, per se, he is "not allowed" to resign. However, some of my recollection could be inaccurate. Also, there may be a portion in there about the elders' not accepting the resignation, and if so, that does just about amount to not being allowed to resign. But the fact is, I know personally of elders who did resign and there did not seem to be a fuss made. No elder ever quit from the body while I served though, so I am not sure exactly how the other resignations were handled.
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17
I need a cigarette.
by butalbee inok, the good news is i'm on vacation: a time when i should just relax, have fun, do things i like to do when i want to do them, stay up all night, sleep all day, whatever.
but, i picked of all times to *try* to quit smoking.
i used to smoke like only when i was drinking, or if i had a really bad day at work, but lately due to a stupid ass man in my life and my family fighting, i have been smoking more than i should.
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DB
It is a tough, tough, habit to break, that's for sure. I don't envy you one bit...and hopefully, you can break free from the habit if it's what you want.
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Best Pro-JW Site
by Stephanus inyes,yes, i know, they're all reputed to be crap, but there must be a contender for the above.
one which shows good design, has a seemingy even handed approach to the subject at hand.
any nominations?
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DB
Well, I've lurked on purelanguage, and I found it to be boring. It just seems to be a repeat of things you'd read in a WTS publication or hear from the platform. No discussions about how people feel about things, etc, that I noted.
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18
Another Weekend Poll from Ozzie
by ozziepost inyep, it's now sunday here 'downunder' and another lazy sunday has come.. after you've read the sunday papers, enjoyed a stroll down to the 'local', watched match of the day, how about doing a little poll for all you exdubs?.
today's topic: what's the most enjoyable thing you do now that you've got 'time on your hands'?.
disclaimer: apart from 'that' of course!!.
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DB
Ozzie, I am still a jw and active, but I will respond in a slightly modified manner:
Now that I am no longer an elder I:Enjoy seeing my daughter participate in track and field for her school.
Enjoy finally having some ease on weekends instead of cramming all my work/chores in so that I could lead out in servive each Saturday and two/three Sundays each months.
Enjoy not having my decision-making affected by what others might think of the example I was setting.
Enjoy not having to prepare and deliver talk after talk after service meeting part after talk, etc, etc.
Enjoy not having to prepare to conduct the bookstudy.
Enjoy not feeling guilty about not having a family study.
Enjoy not having to prepare to conduct the Theocratic School (I spent most of my years as an elder doing the second school and was also School Overseer). It is absolutely a miserable meeting to prepare for, and then there were always the unexpected no-shows and cancellations that made each week stressful.
Enjoy not having to give up the things I enjoy, like watching a ball game, in favor of meeting preperation or study or some of the things I mentioned above.
Enjoy not having to sit in judgement of my brothers and sisters, whom I am no better than in any way whatsoever.
Enjoy not having to send my family home without me late at night for the elder's meetings and other matters that had to be handled.
Thanks Ozzie, good post.