LDH,
I cant find the phrase (undeserved-loving-kindness) anywhere in my New English Bible, please could you cite me a few examples of where the phrase appears in the NWT (I dont have one), so that I can compare applications?
Many Thanks,
Englishman.
Englishman
JoinedPosts by Englishman
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25
Are Kingdom Songs Good for You?
by Englishman ini have a little theory buzzing around in the back of my mind.
it was triggered by trevors comments re the low self esteem that is endured by many jw youngsters.. i`m wondering if the singing of kingdom songs can actually make you feel depressed and worthless.
i know it might seem a strange idea at first, but see if my reasoning doesn`t make at least some sense.. i frequently see the tv ad for linguaphone, the language learning course, that uses your repetition of foreign language phrases spoken along with a cassette recording.
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Englishman
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25
Are Kingdom Songs Good for You?
by Englishman ini have a little theory buzzing around in the back of my mind.
it was triggered by trevors comments re the low self esteem that is endured by many jw youngsters.. i`m wondering if the singing of kingdom songs can actually make you feel depressed and worthless.
i know it might seem a strange idea at first, but see if my reasoning doesn`t make at least some sense.. i frequently see the tv ad for linguaphone, the language learning course, that uses your repetition of foreign language phrases spoken along with a cassette recording.
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Englishman
I have a little theory buzzing around in the back of my mind. It was triggered by Trevors comments re the low self esteem that is endured by many JW youngsters.
I`m wondering if the singing of Kingdom Songs can actually make you feel depressed and worthless. I know it might seem a strange idea at first, but see if my reasoning doesn`t make at least some sense.
I frequently see the TV ad for Linguaphone, the language learning course, that uses your repetition of foreign language phrases spoken along with a cassette recording. The ad says: "You hear. You speak. You understand."
In other words, it is you speaking the words that imprints them in your memory.
Then of course, there are "Positive reinforcement courses" that depend on your repetition of certain phrases to make you feel, well, dynamic: "Every day, in every way, I`m getting better and better". Again, it is by you speaking the words that has the effect of altering your state of mind.
So, how about when we sing the Kingdom Songs? I have not seen inside a song book for many a year, but I well remember singing "We are Jehovahs witnesses" to a stirring tune, that made us all stick our chests out in a sort of defiance to the world in general. OK, I know it wasn`t a match for "Land of Hope and Glory" or, say, Sousa`s stuff, but nonetheless, it could alter one`s frame of mind.
But, how about some of the more subtle stuff? I remember thinking once what a lovely song "The Power of Kindness" was:
When faced with problems that perplex,
We will very often find
That their solution simply lies,
In being mild and kind.All well and good, yes, but lets look at the preceeding few lines:
How thankful we, to God should be,
Who loving kindness shows
To undeserving fallen man,
As every Christian knows.Notice the "should", a word very common in Kingdom songs and indeed, in all the societies literature. Psychologists agree that replacing the word "should" with "could", is a first step when someone wants to improve their sense of self esteem. "Should" is a major league word in the world of negative mind imprinting.
"Loving kindness" may at first seem OK, but how often are those words prefaced by the WTBTS inserting the word "undeserved" in front of them? "Undeserved loving-kindness" are 3 words that just roll of a JW`s tongue like syrupy poison, as the sub conscious mind has its sense of low esteem reinforced by the sense of being not worthy of anything that is good. Remember, Jehovahs witnesses believe that "man is only worthy of death".
Indeed, linking these 3 words together in a song proved too difficult for even the WT poetry dept, so they made sure that the phrase was brought to mind in the next line. Undeserving? Fallen? You try telling someone that they dont deserve something, and see what an irate reaction you get! "You have a lovely home. You don`t deserve it. Why are you kicking me?"
Now imagine, not just saying those words to yourself, but actually singing them out loud!
I think that I have made my point, if I was in posession of a Kingdom song book, I bet I could find lots of similar examples!
Englishman.
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95
Do Kids Hate Being JW`s?
by Englishman inmy kid brother, tom, was born to witness parents.
he was something of a surprise package and my parents were delighted.
my father said that tom was:.
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Englishman
Trevor,
Yes, yes, and yes again to everything you have said. I can relate to all those experiences that JW kids endure.
Englishman
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19
Elder's Manual Here
by Simon insome may find this useful, it's quite interesting and, if nothing else, really annoys the elders that you can read it.... url: http://home2.inet.tele.dk/carloc/index.htm
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Englishman
Xandit,
Are you sure about this? The reason that I ask, is that I`m fairly certain that DF`d ones are supposed to get the occasional call from the elders - every 2 years, I think, supposedly to fulfill some obligation or other. Probably a bloodguilt trip.
Im had my last call a couple of years back, 2 guys I had never seen before asked me if I was still in a "DF`d state". I toldthem to mind their own business, which seemed to surprise them.
Oh yes, they both wore hats.
Englishman.
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7
Ex-Witness Wins Bunny Girl In Casino.
by Englishman ini couldn`t resist the "headline", but it is absolutely true, i`m the ex-witness and my everloving was the bunny.
this being saint valentines day, it seems a very appropriate moment to share the story:.
back in `72 i was df`d , olivetti were in the throws of bankrupting me, i was living in a grotty bed-sit and going through a nightmare divorce.. one day, i got a message from my ex - lets be friends!
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Englishman
Thank you LDH, she`s a honey, that`s for sure!
Englishman.
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7
Ex-Witness Wins Bunny Girl In Casino.
by Englishman ini couldn`t resist the "headline", but it is absolutely true, i`m the ex-witness and my everloving was the bunny.
this being saint valentines day, it seems a very appropriate moment to share the story:.
back in `72 i was df`d , olivetti were in the throws of bankrupting me, i was living in a grotty bed-sit and going through a nightmare divorce.. one day, i got a message from my ex - lets be friends!
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Englishman
I couldn`t resist the "headline", but it is absolutely true, I`m the ex-witness and my everloving was the Bunny. This being Saint Valentines day, it seems a very appropriate moment to share the story:
Back in `72 I was DF`d , Olivetti were in the throws of bankrupting me, I was living in a grotty bed-sit and going through a nightmare divorce.
One day, I got a message from my ex - Lets be friends! Yeah, right. I quickly decided that whatwever game she was playing, no way was she getting any more money out of me, but I would listen to what she had to say.
So, we met up in a Portsmouth pub, and she said that she was now a member of the new Playboy club that had recently opened, and that if I would accompany her as her guest, she would give me a fiver to play with at the gaming tables. Hmm, she was going to give me money? What was I being lured into?
So, we went to the Playboy. Wow, where had these girls been hiding! Back to the plot. As a complete beginner, I hadn`t got a clue what I was doing back then, so when my 25p stake on number 29 black came up, I didn`t collect the chips off the table. The number repeated and suddenly I had got over £300 in front of me. Remember, this in 1973, so its a lot of lolly!
I carried on gaming heavily, lost some, won some on 32 red and stopped playing (Only 1 zero on UK roulette tables, the house only has a 3% advantage I learnt later.)
Feeling full of bon-homie, I gave my ex her £5 back and wandered into the restaurant. Whilst waiting to be seated for our meal, the cocktail waitress came over to take our drinks order. Wow, I was absolutely smitten! This amazing pleasant and beautiful lady was charming, well-mannered and efficient. I couldn`t take my eyes off her.
Of course, my ex broke the spell with a "Hah! She`s well out of your league!" comment, but I was totally enchanted with the lady. I later learned that she was an ex nurse just turned 19, and there was me, an old grizzly of 26.
From there on, I was in the casino every day. My winnings soon went, so I would often stroll in and spend hours just sipping whisky and American dry ginger. I learned to play 7 card stud poker and blackjack, and would often play roulette with just a couple of pounds, so that no-one (I thought) would realise that I was really coming in to talk to the cocktail Bunny.
It was absolutely forbidden to try to date any of the girls, so I played a different strategy. I told my Bunny all about a folk club that I used to enjoy attending, and sure enough, one day, she turned up!
As well as folk music she enjoyed football (joy oh joy), so I invited her to accompany me to see Pompey give Nottingham Forest a 2-0 thrashing. We also became good friends, for me it was the first time that I had actually liked a woman.
Within 6 months we had moved in together, and within another 6 months we were married. We had 3 children - all sons - and have remained the very best of friends. She often accompanies on my jaunts to the pub, and tonight we have booked our places for our 28th Valentines night together.
Sometimes I think that I am the luckiest guy alive!
Englishman.
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19
Elder's Manual Here
by Simon insome may find this useful, it's quite interesting and, if nothing else, really annoys the elders that you can read it.... url: http://home2.inet.tele.dk/carloc/index.htm
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Englishman
PS. I don`t live in Norway, of course, but there must me some sort of world wide policy on keeping tabs on DF`d persons.
Englishman again.
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19
Elder's Manual Here
by Simon insome may find this useful, it's quite interesting and, if nothing else, really annoys the elders that you can read it.... url: http://home2.inet.tele.dk/carloc/index.htm
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Englishman
Simon,
I followed your link, (thank you)and came across the following statement, written, I think, by Kent S:
In Norway (where I live) they have been allowed to collect information about «disfellowshipped» members. Any kind of information. Who you sleep with, have slept with, how much you drink, with whom, etc. But they are NOT allowed to collect information on existing members.
Does this mean that they have other details about me, besides my DF`ing?
Englishman.
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25
Updated list of Watchtower RANKS (*not* Classes!)
by Focus in23 common or garden bethelite.
25 common or garden elder.
58 female child of unbaptized associate; dead unbaptized associate/family.
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Englishman
Focus,
I`m feeling very stumbled because I only reached 92.5 on your Richter scale.
I need some urgent shepherding, some building-up and lots and lots of undeserved loving kindness.
I know, I know! I shall go out in the service. Then I shall go to the book study.
Oh this is all too silly, everyone knows I`ll be down the pub.
Englishman.
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Dub in the Pub: Update.
by Englishman ini`ve had a few inquiries re my elder pal, otherwise known as the "dub in the pub".. just to recap: i like to spend my final hour of the day relaxing over a few beers in my local pub.
we`re a pretty fun lovin` bunch and the repartee flows thick and fast.. we`re only a few miles from the border with wales, so most of us have inherited the welsh habit of tacking someones occupation or hobby on the end of a persons name.
it works like this: i have a pint with roy the guinness, chat to dave the taxi, play dominoes with pete the paint, who always beats me, mike the windows.
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Englishman
ISP,
Thanks for replying. Re alcohol, yes, not everyone can partake in moderation. ( Ah! The gift of moderation. I can envisage the WT study now, yawn.....)
You can moderate your alcohol consumption in several ways, her Ladyship normally chooses to enjoy a glass of wine with her evening meal. I choose not to drink at all at home, my time is late evening for an hour before bed.
G`night, SNOReZZZ.Englishman.