Posts by DriveslikeJehu

65

The Poor JW Children

by larc in

jw
friends

the children.

there are many things that could be changed, and even though i would never go back, i think there are some very basic changes they could make in their child rearing practices, simple changes that would make a big difference in their society.. 1. don't force small children to sit for two hours in a chair.. this was discussed at length on the thread about slapping children at the kingdom hall.. 2. don't bring children to meetings where the subject has to do with adult sexual practices.. 3. don't tell teenagers that they can't ask someone out for a date unless marriage is on their mind.. 4. don't tell them that they are not special, that they have to humble themselves and be like everyone else.. 5. don't tell them they have to get good grades through high school as a reflection of what jehovah has given them and then tell them they can't go to college when they graduate from high school at the top of their class.. 6. don't tell your wordly neighbors that you give your children presents all through the year, but not on their birthday, when they have never seen a special gift wrapped present in their life.. 7. don't expect a shy child to enjoy going from door to door and don't expect an extroverted, lively child to sit still at meetings.. 8. don't tell an inquiring child not to ask questions and don't tell them not to read interesting books.. 9. don't surprised if you don't change your ways that your children will leave you, even though they love you.

DriveslikeJehu

Now look what you guys made me do...

*** w92 11/1 17-18 Education With a Purpose ***
Adequate Education
8 This seems, therefore, to be an appropriate time to consider the Christian’s attitude toward secular education. What Bible principles bear on this subject? First, in most countries proper submission to “Caesar” requires Christian parents to send their children to school. (Mark 12:17; Titus 3:1) As for young Witnesses, in their schoolwork they should remember Colossians 3:23, which states: “Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men.” A second principle involved is that Christians should be able to support themselves, even if they are full-time pioneer ministers. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) If married, a man should be able to provide properly for his wife and any children that may be born, with a little extra to give to those in need and to support the local and worldwide preaching work.—Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:8.
9 How much education does a young Christian need in order to respect these Bible principles and meet his Christian obligations? This varies from country to country. By and large, however, it seems that the general trend in many lands is that the level of schooling required to earn decent wages is now higher than it was a few years ago. Reports received from branches of the Watch Tower Society in different parts of the world indicate that in many places it is difficult to find jobs with decent wages after completing simply the minimum schooling required by law or in some countries even after finishing secondary or high school.
10 What is meant by “decent wages”? It does not indicate highly paid jobs. Webster’s Dictionary defines “decent” in this context as “adequate, satisfactory.” What might be termed “adequate,” for instance, for those who wish to be pioneer ministers of the good news? Such ones generally need part-time work to avoid putting “an expensive burden” upon their brothers or their family. (1 Thessalonians 2:9) Their wages might be termed “adequate,” or “satisfactory,” if what they earn allows them to live decently while leaving them sufficient time and strength to accomplish their Christian ministry.
11 What is often the situation today? It has been reported that in some countries many well-intentioned youngsters have left school after completing the minimum required schooling in order to become pioneers. They had no trade or secular qualifications. If they were not helped by their parents, they had to find part-time work. Some have had to accept jobs that required them to work very long hours to make ends meet. Becoming physically exhausted, they gave up the pioneer ministry. What can such ones do to support themselves and get back into the pioneer service?

The bold is mine, obviously.

65

The Poor JW Children

by larc in

jw
friends

the children.

there are many things that could be changed, and even though i would never go back, i think there are some very basic changes they could make in their child rearing practices, simple changes that would make a big difference in their society.. 1. don't force small children to sit for two hours in a chair.. this was discussed at length on the thread about slapping children at the kingdom hall.. 2. don't bring children to meetings where the subject has to do with adult sexual practices.. 3. don't tell teenagers that they can't ask someone out for a date unless marriage is on their mind.. 4. don't tell them that they are not special, that they have to humble themselves and be like everyone else.. 5. don't tell them they have to get good grades through high school as a reflection of what jehovah has given them and then tell them they can't go to college when they graduate from high school at the top of their class.. 6. don't tell your wordly neighbors that you give your children presents all through the year, but not on their birthday, when they have never seen a special gift wrapped present in their life.. 7. don't expect a shy child to enjoy going from door to door and don't expect an extroverted, lively child to sit still at meetings.. 8. don't tell an inquiring child not to ask questions and don't tell them not to read interesting books.. 9. don't surprised if you don't change your ways that your children will leave you, even though they love you.

DriveslikeJehu

Sorry I took so long to reply, LNM...

Otherwise you would apply Matthew 6:33 and put kingdom interests first, instead of second to your education, and rely more fully on God to provide for you.

Right now, I work at a grocery store. I can't do much better than that, you see. Why? I have no education in a trade skill. My father works in e-commerce(originally majored in engineering), and has no trade to pass down to me.
At my current job(one of the highest-paying in town as it is), I would have to work overtime(they don't like that, and schedule you to prevent it) just to make ends meet. That's the best-case scenario. Worst is that I might have to work two jobs. Not much time left for pioneering, is there?
However, with a college education I could get one(my kinda number) job earning more money than the grocery store while working for shorter periods of time. Regular pioneering or regular aux. pioneering would be much more feasible in that situation. And while in school working part-time, I can still aux. pioneer quite a bit.
Another consideration is that of Bethel service. I conversed with a Bethel speaker after an assembly just after I had started college. He mentioned that there was a need for brothers with knowledge in the field of computer info systems(my planned major). IMHO, it might be nice to do that for a few years. I'm also going to attempt a temporary assignment this summer.

I know I'll have your support.<g>

P.S.- I also attend a 'country' congregation. We live on the outskirts of a large city, so we make the trip into town for 'social activities.' Oh, and I turned 21 today, so I guess I'm out of the mischevious group.lol

65

The Poor JW Children

by larc in

jw
friends

the children.

there are many things that could be changed, and even though i would never go back, i think there are some very basic changes they could make in their child rearing practices, simple changes that would make a big difference in their society.. 1. don't force small children to sit for two hours in a chair.. this was discussed at length on the thread about slapping children at the kingdom hall.. 2. don't bring children to meetings where the subject has to do with adult sexual practices.. 3. don't tell teenagers that they can't ask someone out for a date unless marriage is on their mind.. 4. don't tell them that they are not special, that they have to humble themselves and be like everyone else.. 5. don't tell them they have to get good grades through high school as a reflection of what jehovah has given them and then tell them they can't go to college when they graduate from high school at the top of their class.. 6. don't tell your wordly neighbors that you give your children presents all through the year, but not on their birthday, when they have never seen a special gift wrapped present in their life.. 7. don't expect a shy child to enjoy going from door to door and don't expect an extroverted, lively child to sit still at meetings.. 8. don't tell an inquiring child not to ask questions and don't tell them not to read interesting books.. 9. don't surprised if you don't change your ways that your children will leave you, even though they love you.

DriveslikeJehu

Lurker,

I hope you don't expect me to be a homeless person on the street, pioneering. Notgonnadoit. I have to find some way to support myself(not necessarily a 'cushy' life) during these 'last days,' and a college education will allow me a better chance at finding it. And I aux. pioneer when I can.

33

Big Ray on Disfellowshipped Members

by truth_hurts in

jw
friends

from: big ray.

date: mon apr 17, 2000 8:44am.

subject: re: inactive publishers who post.

DriveslikeJehu

Prisca,

Did I denounce the Society at all?

Yes, albeit mildly. That was the post they mentioned in the email they sent you, which you posted here. I really don't feel like looking for it right now.

26

Elders- "Trained or UnTrained- WHICH IS IT??

by JT in

jw
friends

the biggest error wt has continued to make for the last 120yrs is they leave a wonderful paper trail behind - where a serious student of study will have no problem following and seeing that so many of their lofty claims simply don't fly .

case in point - are the elders trained or untrained clergymen as it were?.

well for those of you who have never served as an elder allow me to share with you what elders are told about their training.

DriveslikeJehu

The elders are trained locally, not at the Patterson facility(the '$50 million WT Education Center'). It's called MTS, or Ministerial Training School. Ministerial servants that are age 23 and older may attend as well.

14

Is it just me?

by mommy in

i have noticed we have several "active" jws on this board, and some of their comments really bother me.. when i was active, when the wtbts said "don't associate with apostates or worldly people" i didn't.

when they said "spend more time in the ministry" i went to school, held down a job.

and aux.

DriveslikeJehu

I just wanted to mention that I'm not here to 'flaunt' any rules so to speak. This site is an "Online meeting area for brothers & sisters," as it says at the top. So that's what I'm doing. If I was going to be rebellious or show off somehow, there's quite a few other things that I'd do first, trust me. Coming to a website of any kind isn't on the list.lol

33

college education=spiritual weakness?

by twvsnt in

hi i'm twvsnt and i've been a witness for 3 years now.

im glad this site exists.

i've been meaning to speak to fellow witnesses who are more open-minded.

DriveslikeJehu

Hi twvsnt,

I'm one of the folks mentioned currently attending college. A lot of ppl still might not see the need for it, but if you need it to support yourself, you gotta get it, right? Some ppl just don't realize that, and see that times are different now. It's a lot harder to get a decent job now, than it was oh, 15-20 years ago(At least that's what I hear. I'm only 20 myself).
It's especially commendable that you want to pioneer and further Kingdom interests as well. I'm hoping to possibly do the same, but I'm willing to settle for supporting a pioneer sister.
Don't let the naysayers get to you, and keep up the good work! They don't know your circumstances, and can't understand them. Only Jehovah and yourself can.

33

Big Ray on Disfellowshipped Members

by truth_hurts in

jw
friends

from: big ray.

date: mon apr 17, 2000 8:44am.

subject: re: inactive publishers who post.

DriveslikeJehu

Even though I hadn't posted any "controversial" posts on their site! They admitted this in a letter to me, which I posted here a month or so ago.

Prisca, it was most likely because of a post that you made here. It was mentioned in the email from the WOL admin that you posted here earlier.

65

The Poor JW Children

by larc in

jw
friends

the children.

there are many things that could be changed, and even though i would never go back, i think there are some very basic changes they could make in their child rearing practices, simple changes that would make a big difference in their society.. 1. don't force small children to sit for two hours in a chair.. this was discussed at length on the thread about slapping children at the kingdom hall.. 2. don't bring children to meetings where the subject has to do with adult sexual practices.. 3. don't tell teenagers that they can't ask someone out for a date unless marriage is on their mind.. 4. don't tell them that they are not special, that they have to humble themselves and be like everyone else.. 5. don't tell them they have to get good grades through high school as a reflection of what jehovah has given them and then tell them they can't go to college when they graduate from high school at the top of their class.. 6. don't tell your wordly neighbors that you give your children presents all through the year, but not on their birthday, when they have never seen a special gift wrapped present in their life.. 7. don't expect a shy child to enjoy going from door to door and don't expect an extroverted, lively child to sit still at meetings.. 8. don't tell an inquiring child not to ask questions and don't tell them not to read interesting books.. 9. don't surprised if you don't change your ways that your children will leave you, even though they love you.

DriveslikeJehu

I would almost dare to say that at least 75% of witness teens have suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

I suppose I'm fortunate that I'm in the other 25%.

Do they offer activities for the youth (other than 5 boring meetings a week), do they encourage the youth to associate with one another? Thus sayeth the GB(parties, dancing, music all suspect) 'all that is required is more hours spent in 'field service'.

Are you talking about the GB? Parents? The youths themselves? Most youths can come up with activities on their own that they'd like. My friends and I used to go to the movies at least once a week(nothing good is out now), and now we try to play pool at the mall.

5. Don't tell them they have to get good grades through high school as a reflection of what Jehovah has given them and then tell them they can't go to college when they graduate from high school at the top of their class.

They don't tell them that anymore. Been there, done that. I'm in college right now. As a matter of fact, I should be studying for a computer logic class instead of posting here.lol

8. Don't tell an inquiring child not to ask questions and don't tell them not to read interesting books.

I hope Chrichton, Clancy, and the like count as 'interesting books.' Or at least they are to me. They helped me finally get the gumption to try putting together a novel series of my own. The first(of three) book is done and being typed, and the second is in progress. Waitaminit, I'm not a child. I guess my point isn't valid.lol

64

Family dynamics and the Org.

by LDH in

jw
friends

i have made a couple of remarks regarding family dynamics on other threads, but i thought it's be nice to start a new thread.... i'm no psychologist, but suffice it to say i see some similarities here.

(please add to/comment on these thoughts).

the organization wishes to be seen as our mother.

DriveslikeJehu

Sheesh, people! I try to bring this thread back on topic, and it goes back down the tubes again! Hey Xandit, can you help a brother out?lol

wendy being MOMMY today

And doing a great job of it, I might add.