about 15 years ago when i started attending meetings, i noticed that people arrived about 20 to 40 minutes before the meetings started, just to talk and socialize.
also they used to leave about 30 minutes after the meeting.
so when you add that up, the meeting wasn't 2 hours but 3 hours.
This is indeed a new time and age. Not only do we have access to tons of information on the internet, times are changing, and adults just don't have the time they used to.
The fact is, that now more than ever, both parents have to work, and more hours on top of that. People are running out of time. And that is going to take a toll. Perhaps it means less time in service, less meetings etc.
there have been a couple of postings lately about long assemblies.. does anyone remember these, or maybe even attended them?.
i was just a young child in the early 70's and something tells me i remember a long assembly, but don't remember if it was 8 days.. how long were they exactly, and what times.
what the hell did they talk about???.
El Kabong-
That link is great! What a relief not to have to go anymore!
i have been having an ongoing discussion with a friend about spousal abuse.
she has come to accept and believe that i have never hit a woman in my life, but feels that i am a rarity.
i contend that i am not, that although too many men still hit their wives, they are in the minority.
I would like to think that most men do not hit their spouses, though I think verbal abuse is more prevalent than we would like to think.
I have never hit a woman, nor will I ever. However, I have been hit, scratched, etc by my ex.
i sadly observe that the watchtower has collectively chosen to resist moral.
reform of nearly every kind.
some of us had hoped that child molesting, lying,.
In the WTS there is always an answer for everything. The "friends are falling apart" is a sign the end is coming. If there is a decrease, it is the sifting period, if there is an increase, that too is God given.
So sad. You do look around the halls, and yes, the people there do not appear to be happy. They are forced into going, or suffer the consequences.
For sure, the witnesses are not " a happy people."
I would like to think, that if a good percentage found out the real truth, and others left at the same time, that then they could allow themselves to be happy, and to pursue the happiness that God wants us to have.
fyi...in case no one else has posted this.
the williams sisters are going to be on oprah today....wonder if they'll do any "national witnessing".
judging by the commercials for the show, they must be setting new trends in proper dress for jw's.
I think they should just go out and have the time of their life, and put the witness garbage behind them.
oprah is on at 4 pm here, so i will tape it and watch it.
i want to see how honest they are with the big o and if they "thank jehovah" for being there!
moman-
My point is this. We were brought up to believe that the end is going to happen at any second. Therefore, schooling, pursueing a career, is not encouraged by the WTS. In fact, if you really pursue it, a witness could be counciled, and not advance in the witness ranking.
As a good gung ho witness, you are not allowed to date people other than witnesses, and you really are not supposed to have any friends that are not witnesses, hence worldy association.
A gung ho witness would not put themselves in that situation. A gung ho witness would not put themselves in a position where people would idolize them. False worship. These girls are pursuing acting, competitie sports, etc.
I have not seen anything from them that shows that deep in their heart they are witnesses. Meanwhile you have witnesses that truly believe, and are janitors, etc, that are meek and humble, and are told not to pursue the "things of this system."
That being said, I have nothing against the Williams. I think if one has talent, go for it. There is just so much double talk among the witnesses. Does the WTS say nothing because of money they get? Who knows if they have ever gotten a dime from the Williams.
I just don't see them acting like the WTS says to act.
In my opinion, they should go all out for their career, and not try mixing the WTS into it. They are not the normal witnesses.
congrats mike!.
i just saw you on 'katie at night" talking about sponge bob squarepants.. you've hit the bigtime now!.
lizard
What was he doing on Donahue?
oprah is on at 4 pm here, so i will tape it and watch it.
i want to see how honest they are with the big o and if they "thank jehovah" for being there!
Don't care too much for Oprah, but from what I hear she does a lot of good out there, so I wish her well. As far as Venus and Serena, again don't much care for them either.
I guess it kinda bugs me for when someone claims to be a witness, but doesn't want to follow their teachings like everyone else has to.
The normal witness cannot go out there and date worldly people. The Williams sisters make far more money than they need to in order to survive until the end. And pursueing a career that involves missing meetings, and such worldly contact, is just not conducive with the normal witness.
However, that being said, I am in favor of anyone who has talent to go out there and be the best they can be. Lets just not be hypocritical in the process.
as the holidays approach, i find myself in a festive spirit, though a bit fiesty as well.. i couldn't help but think that some of the local halls could use a little decorating for the holidays.
many halls have signs out by the street.
wouldn't they look better with a few stockings hanging from them?.
Now if we were to do this, and you have to admit, it would be fun, we must try to get pictures, perhaps some even of the looks as the witnesses go to the meeting. Would that not be the talk of the day. LOL just thinking of it.
macho, macho mike.
yes, michael jackson has a lot of explaining to do.
at last week's dangling a baby episode in germany, witnesses gasped at the thought of jacko possibly dropping his child (prince michael ii).
I think there is a big diffence between true fans, like those in the audience, and the tabloid reporters out to make a buck by taking pictures.
Michael was giving the fans what they had wanted, and that was to see his son. He did it on his terms, from a distance. He was simply letting them see his son, though may not have been the best way to do it. Having those reporters chasing down celebritites is a whole other matter.
Just ask Princess Diana.
