Hi Randy:
The announcement to JWD about the Awake becoming a monthly magazine was in a thread by Valis at this link.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/83364/1.ashx
Interesting step by the WTS don't ya think?
Had Enough
last week my mother gave me a woman's magazine that she had read at the home where she lives.
it had organization tips and recipes she thought i would enjoy.
i hadn't looked at it until two days ago, after she asked me if i had read it yet.
Hi Randy:
The announcement to JWD about the Awake becoming a monthly magazine was in a thread by Valis at this link.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/83364/1.ashx
Interesting step by the WTS don't ya think?
Had Enough
as mentioned in my other thread, my daughter lena is having brainsurgery on monday, jan 24. the surgery will last 6-7 hours, so i'm hoping the board members will be willing to make a special effort tomorrow to send positive thoughts, healing energy, good wishes and prayers her way.
we are asking that the surgeon's hands be delicate and skillful and that lena does not bleed overmuch and that brain damage be minimal (if not non-existant).
surgery begins at 8 am eastern standard time (us), but we have to have her to the hospital by 6 am, so this is "good night!
(((((Brenda and Lena))))):
I've just noticed this thread and am so sorry Lena and your whole family has had to go through this ordeal. What a relief though to hear things went so well.
No matter what age our children are, we still feel that dreaded helplessness when their lives are threatened and fear for their safety so I'm so happy you have had such tremendous support on this thread and privately.
I think of you often and wish Lena a speedy recovery and hope we can meet up again sometime soon.
Love and Lots of Hugs,
Had Enough
the tobacco bombshell
early in the decade of the 70?s, all jw?s were notified (in the tobacco-growing district) of a special meeting at the kingdom hall.
three representatives from wts, a district overseer and two circuit overseers delivered a symposium that brought an abrupt end for all jw?s working in the tobacco industry (whether selling cigarettes, manufacture, tobacco machinery, etc.
Hello Randy:
Thanks so much for posting this story for the "Anonymous" author. I know how much it means to him to be able to tell his story. He has been driven for such a long time to get this story out because his biggest hope and desire in telling his story is of helping others understand the full impact that this "bombshell" in the guise of "new light" had on those directly involved in the tobacco industry. He deeply hopes that sincere-hearted ones will be moved to start searching for more information about the many inconsistencies and errors in the JW teachings, as well as the unloving, uncaring, heavy-handed methods of those who are supposed to be kind and nurturing shepherds.
My only knowledge of the tobacco industry at that time was that it had been a popular source of income for regular and special pioneers during the growing and harvesting season, so I never really thought too much about this at the time it was happening. I remember feeling like AMNESIAN posted:
I vividly recall what a jolt of self-righteous specialness and holy-spirit-directed warmth electrified our JW community with the announcement of the new no-tobacco edict that night at the Service Meeting.
But of course the loss the tobacco farmers felt was best described by the author's words below..."robbed"... because the WTS's pressure on everyone to get out of the business in such a short time didn't allow him, and many others like him, the needed time to sell their farms without having to resort to "giving" them away. Some that tried to stay and grow different crops had to have enough money to purchase different farming equipment only to find the soil was just not suitable and ended up losing everything.
What happened, of course, is now hindsight, but shows what can happen when a policy is recklessly enforced without due consideration for people?s personal circumstances. We were robbed of the potential appreciated value of a lifetime investment, which in the end is a farmer?s only retirement nest egg. This demonstrates a calloused attitude by these men in authority.
"Anonymous" hopes that those who lived during that time, both exJWs, JWs still attending and any contemplating becoming a JW, will read his story and recognize the callous, unloving pattern the WTS has used time and time again ..... that is the using the "fear of displeasing God", being disfellowshipped, losing one's family and friends, and ultimately losing one's life at Armageddon.
Thanks again Randy for posting this story for the anonymous author.
Had Enough
i am in need of a favour.
i am trying to locate a copy of an article from awake october 8, 2004. page 13. entitled, "jehovah, you found me!
anyone with access to this article and the ability to scan and post it; please do.. .
Hi Elsewhere: I've sent the files to you just now and thanks for your offer.
Hi Satanus: I tried using the paperclip icon and uploading my files which are around 1 mb each, but even when choosing the largest option of 500x500 (I think), I got an error message and so then I clicked the middle size and they still ended up being attached as only 24 kb. I haven't figured out what else I can do to fix it right now but will master it YET!!! Grrrrr
G'DAY OZZIE: Thanks for "popping in" and saying Hi. I STILL haven't been able to get to participating much or even viewing JWD more than once every few weeks or so. I sure miss it and still plan on getting back into the old swing of things. I just happened to see this thread late last night and knew I had that mag brought to me last week. Old friends still drop by with them once in awhile so I look through them to see what's up. Hope you and Mrs. Ozzie are keeping well and happy.
Had Enough
i am in need of a favour.
i am trying to locate a copy of an article from awake october 8, 2004. page 13. entitled, "jehovah, you found me!
anyone with access to this article and the ability to scan and post it; please do.. .
Hi again:
Yes that's the article about the little girl, now "Nelly Lenz", who wanted to go to the meetings but wasn't allowed to after her mother stopped studying, so she finally got baptized at 19.
I've tried re-attaching them at a largest size but "an error" occured so I chose the medium size on my 3rd try, but don't know how to fix it if it isn't readable. Sorry.
I'll check in again in the AM to see if anyone has any suggestions on how to make it larger.
Had Enough (but not of trying) <----sorry 'bout the groaner...it's late
i am in need of a favour.
i am trying to locate a copy of an article from awake october 8, 2004. page 13. entitled, "jehovah, you found me!
anyone with access to this article and the ability to scan and post it; please do.. .
Hi Happy Guy:
I think I've figured out the attachment procedure so I've edited my first reply to you and tried to attach the scans. I see them so I hope you see them too and I hope this helps you in your goal.
Had Enough
i am in need of a favour.
i am trying to locate a copy of an article from awake october 8, 2004. page 13. entitled, "jehovah, you found me!
anyone with access to this article and the ability to scan and post it; please do.. .
Hi Happy Guy:
Just happen to have that mag. (Locals are still trying to get me to come back)
But....sorry I haven't posted for such a long time, I forget how to insert a picture. Can anyone help me?
Thx,
Had Enough
***OK....I think I've figured it out..I'm editing this post to try to add the 3 pages I scanned. Hope this works!!
my cult minded husband hurried out the door this morning say'ing there was a special talk today.
Hi...
Title is "Be Courageous and Trust in Jehovah". Probably the same stuff that's been said over and over and over and over...you get the picture?
Had Enough
i have just finished watching it.
so glad donald mentioned it was the jehovah's witnesses- who knew about the abuse & said nothing..... good work donald.....
i was so sorry to hear what you went through as a youngster...... p.s.
Hello Donald:
I am so glad you were able to get your story on TV. I saw the program last night and am very impressed how you could show how deeply his abuse affected you and you are still working through it towards healing. The writing of your book, and the making of this program, I'm sure have been great leaps for you in your healing process. Even going out into the woods with your brother Ron to see his 10-year conservation project was difficult for you with its horrific memories, but commendably, both of you wanted to go see it for each other's sake.
I remember from your book, that your brother Ron harboured deep anger from the abuse but it was nice to see how he is healing as well and he came across in the program as overcoming his anger.
I am familiar with that area of the province and some other events you mentioned in your book. I remember years ago being horrified when I heard of the murder case in your congregation during that same time, and now to hear of the terrible abuse you and your family silently suffered during that same time period, is just eye-opening to say the least, to the corruptions of the WTS I once viewed as a pure, clean, safe haven.
The WTS can say all it likes in trying to defend its lack of actions by saying, "how to handle abuse was not well-known at that time", but you made it very clear after the elders wouldn't do anything about it and sent you back home to your abuser, you finally got to realize it was a crime by reading "Ann Landers". Well if she knew it was a crime, it obviously was an established law, and the WTS should have been up on "Caesar's laws" at that time as much as they are today. Glen Howe was their champion lawyer and would have been very aware what the laws were, so that excuse cannot 'hold water' in my opionion.
Thank you for your courage and your families' too, in talking so openly about your terrible ordeal in growing up. This is one more skeleton in the closet that is coming back to haunt the WTS for its failure to "take care of His sheep".
Had Enough
i'd like to do a little informal survey.
i'm wondering how many pieces of literature are actually distributed to the public.
not how many pieces are reported placed, but actually placed.
Hello Farkel:
Interesting thread Farkel and I appreciate your reasoning on asking this question.
First of all I have to say...this tread does not deserve to be minimized as worthless and/or too difficult to calculate. At least you, in the majority of your threads start with a contribution of research and information rather than just start a multitude of threads with questions thrown out for everyone else to answer. I appreciate all the time and effort you put in to providing informative threads.
Next to answer your question.....I'm glad to hear how many admit to fudging their numbers because it proves to me that those "impressive" numbers provided each year by the WTS, were seriously lacking in any substance, thereby disproving that God's blessing was causing the "growth" in numbers.
I had my times of being enthusiastic and gung-ho in the "truth" but admit that service was always difficult for me to really enjoy. For most of my life, I didn't really think I was fudging my numbers (because I didn't want to lie about them) but admit now that the number of hours lacked quality in their quantity. For example, like Englishman, I many times got my few hours a month by walking to a return visit nearby to "start my time" and then purposely have territory that required me to walk clear across town to make one or two attempts at finding someone home, and then ending up my 2 hours with another "surething" call.
When I did have a vehicle, I would do the same thing and so did many in our group it seems. Many a time, we spent the whole morning just leaving magazines at a call and never speaking to another person other than the ones we started our time with and ended our time with. Everyone was of the same mind, that we could start counting our time by even just saying "here are your next magazines" and ending our time the same way and it didn't matter if nothing else was said to a householder all morning....that constituted our 2 hours.
Doing this 2 or 3 times a month, as well as studying with the kids, easily got me 8-10 hours and 8-10 magazines each month, enough to keep the elders from hounding me.
I remember a pioneer who would joke about getting his time in by stopping in on his nephew who was not yet baptized and saying the word "kingdom" and then just stay for a nice visit for an hour or two before finishing for the day. He did this alot so needless to say, the majority of his time was well "padded" as well. I'm realizing now just how extensive this kind of thing was and probably still is.
Hope this helps with your figures.
Had Enough