truthlover

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Posts by truthlover

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  98

  Discussion involving my Dad & other long timers - Mood is definately different

  by Doubting Bro in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've seen several posts relating to the mood among longtime jws here recently.

  i thought i would add to that collection and recount a discussion i recently had with my dad and a small group of folks about his age.

  quick background on the group:.

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  truthlover

  Mood change -- yes!

  As a side issue - in our area we have been hit by many snowstorms lately on meetings nights/days -- several in a three week period - it was discussed that we have the meetings on the Family study night, but no takers - elders agreed to say "no" too busy --consequently, no extra meetings were planned at any time to make sure the congreagation had their "spiritual food at the proper time!!"-- I see that as a great comment on the times being spoken of - the desire is gone, people are only putting in mediocre service - attendance or service - not many have signed up for the April push on aux pioneers... it will be a slow descent, but one nevertheless

  people are tired - there is no real heartfelt smiles or anticipation of seeing new faces at the hall - cause there isn't any unless a family moves in from another congregation....more publishers are getting sick, physically, families are tied up with each other and their illnesses, and those who are single or widowed are on their own.....

  In speaking with others in various congregations, its the same -- no growth, no interest by the community at large...

  If Bethel is monitoring this site - they should be aware they better change and soon, I once heard this system was like a freight train running out of track, well that applies today to the society, they are out of track, its panic time!!
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  26

  Disfellowshipped for eating FATTY FOODS, BEING FAT, BAD DIET

  by free2beme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  heart desease is the leading cause of deaths in this country.

  bad diets are leading to an ever increasing population of diabetic and fat children and adults.

  if we keep this up, more and more people will be too sick to work or live a normal life.

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  truthlover

  Also - in the new Elders book - if persons are not cleaning their houses, messy, etc. they too can be brought up to a JC..

  I guess the hoarding issues are starting to indicate some type of emotional illnesses that have to be addressed.. Chapter 5 Elders Book - Pg 65

  • Extreme physical uncleanness

  Chapter 5 - Pg 67- Gluttony
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  54

  Do you think a lot of JWs are ashamed of their beliefs?

  by I quit! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the reason i asked this is because i'm going to the funeral of a man who wasn't a jw.

  my mother-in-law has lived in the same neighborhood as him for years and knows his wife.

  i asked her if she was going attend the funeral service.

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  truthlover

  Sad -= cause I thought this was the one

  embarassed - because of flaunting the fact that no one who committed a crime would get away with it, as they would have to confess to the police before becoming a JW - only to find out that child abusers were committing the most horrible of crimes -molesters,physical abusers, emotional abusers (male ) and allowed to get away with it by other men,elders -- -saying we all sin, go your way and sin no more- yah right!

  They do hot have training to deal with these issues - protect jehovah's organization??? Jehovah would not want this to happen - He has to be very upset that His name is attached to such things. And then, the organization has to pay off those who want to bring justice to light...using our contributions to pay off the unfortunate abuse victims....this eats me up!

  embarassed - as a woman to think we are second class citizens in an organization that tells us God is not partial and who also says that "even" woman have been chosen to be of the annointed, yet the female gender cannot hold any position in the "governing body" of men... nor give them counsel being a woman, they are in subjection.... so what about Deborah-the prophetess???

  sentimental- when I came into the truth, it was not like today - we sat around the dinner table and had real conversations about the bible, gave our impression about talks and points without being afraid someone would run to an elder to tell them we are becomning apostate

  Mad - as to how the governing body is usurping Jesus' role as our mediator, how they have dropped the holy spirit from the baptismal vow

  I think I will take a break..
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  14

  Gas Prices Not Cooperating with Governing Body "Arrangement"

  by LostGeneration in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we all know how the governing body has "lovingly arranged" for 30 hour aux pioneering in april.

  but oil prices are going up, and $4 a gallon gas will probably be here by memorial day, and $5 gas by the summer.

  http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-gas-may-hit-5-dollars-by-summer-feb24,0,7527696.story.

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  truthlover

  As of today, in one part of Canada - the east coast - pricing ranges from 112.8- 118.2 per litre -- so would that be about $5.08 - $5.32 per gallon??

  So far, in my cong - not a lot of folks have signed up for the 30 hour push
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  74

  CO's putting the screws on elder bodies, and ministerial servants to auxilliary pioneer this April.

  by miseryloveselders in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have such a love/hate, 50/50 relationship with this organization any more, but a letter was read to the elders and ministerial servants that has pushed me to the 30/70 range in favor of hate, if even momentarily.

  most of you if not all are aware of the auxilliary pioneering initiative for this upcoming april.

  it's no secret that i'm not real fond of pioneering as its unscriptural for one thing.

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  truthlover

  ***jr chap.8 pp.94-95 par.7 Will You "Keep Living,"as Did Jeremiah?***

  Consider first that Jeremiah was to remain childless. Jesus did not command his followers to abstain from having children. Yet, it is noteworthy that he pronounced "woe" on pregnant women or those nursing a baby when tribulation came on Jerusalem in 66-70 C.E. That time would be especially difficult for them, given their situation. (Matt. 24:19) We now face a greater tribulation. This should add a dimension for Christian coupleswho are deciding whether to have children. Do you not agree that it seems harder and harder to deal with these critical times? And couples have admitted that it has been very challenging to raise children who will "keep living" through the end of the present system. While each couple must decide if they will have children, Jeremiah's case is worth considering.

  Once the brain sees this -logic fails and if the org is hinting at this - it becomes ingrained and then law!!

  Going back to MLE first comment -- talking of sisters having 1 -4 kids to grow the org.. not today -- ain't happenin -- they want pioneers -- eunuchs - commanded not to marry outside the Lord -- therefore, many single sisters have no hope of finding a mate since the ratio is 20-1 in favour of the male who has his pick of the litter... the older brothers can snag any sister -- mostly young uns.... the Muslim religion is growing leaps and bounds - why?? they are having up to 8 kids per family -- not so with the org...

  This growth in the Muslim religion is going to put every religion in jeopardy - churches closing due to lack of patrons -- the older generation is dying off, no one is going to church, no growth in families that support the church finances... so goes the org too....
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  74

  CO's putting the screws on elder bodies, and ministerial servants to auxilliary pioneer this April.

  by miseryloveselders in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have such a love/hate, 50/50 relationship with this organization any more, but a letter was read to the elders and ministerial servants that has pushed me to the 30/70 range in favor of hate, if even momentarily.

  most of you if not all are aware of the auxilliary pioneering initiative for this upcoming april.

  it's no secret that i'm not real fond of pioneering as its unscriptural for one thing.

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  truthlover

  Well, this is a corporation, is it not?

  My guess is that each CO/DO for a particular circuit is betting how much they can outdo the next circuit/district... in that way they can say to the higher ups how well they run their circuit/district, no problems there, every thing is being handled so well all pubs and elders are out there following instructions and taking care of the sheep... maybe getting special privledges for their hard won efforts???? Therefore, they are working to get as many elders/COBOE's out in the field for April...

  I, for one, will not be out there
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  22

  "If this 'system of things' goes on..."

  by Franklin Massey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been hearing more people saying this now than ever.

  especially those in the over-40 crowd.

  i just got off the phone with an older jw family member who was reviewing options for golden years living.

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  truthlover

  Funny you should mention this today - I was speaking with a friend who is taking classes to improve their education and I asked what is your plans for the future as you have a little girl to bring up.. the answer was" my school,my child, our future"-- we are in the truth, yet have the same outlook.. we know things are getting bad -- Jehovah's Witnesses are not the only ones saying that in religious circles-- yet we (JW's) do not know when this system will end, certainly the older brothers and sisters did not think it would go this far, I can remember thinking our son would not have to go to school....he is now 42 , so we can only try to live for today to secure the future should the system not end in our lifetime.. a BIG COMING OF AGE -- no longer do we think the society has the answers to this one!!

  And I do not think we are alone - people just won't say what they believe about this anymore - otherwise they are labelled.. and yes, they do add that little blurb "Jehovah can't let this go on much longer"....
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  36

  Anyone want to share emails that they wrote to the BBC about the program this morning?

  by brotherdan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know many of you have sent emails to emma britton, who hosted the show this morning with our own cantleave and angus.

  (btw, you guys did amazing!).

  i sent my email to her as well and wanted to see if anyone else wants to share their emails.

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  truthlover

  Mad Sweeney -- sorry about that, it was you who gave the link, thanks

  I did listen to the interviews and thought they did an excellent job of expaining their situations, and the letter from the society hid the fact of how strict they really are when dealing with relatives who are DA's or DF'd - my child did not want to go to meetings at 14 years of age and being a minor, we did not force him to go - not kick him out of the house- hence he never got baptized and thankfully today, we have a great relationship one that the soceity can do nothing about..

  If there is a groundswell of support for this issue, the society will have to bend to the will of the people - or at least loose some of the restrictions... hopefully -- people are depressed,ill,suicidal (2 that I know of) because of this harsh directive
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  36

  Anyone want to share emails that they wrote to the BBC about the program this morning?

  by brotherdan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know many of you have sent emails to emma britton, who hosted the show this morning with our own cantleave and angus.

  (btw, you guys did amazing!).

  i sent my email to her as well and wanted to see if anyone else wants to share their emails.

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  truthlover

  Cantleave and Angus:

  thanks much for the link
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  110

  A Concerned Elder Speaks

  by Franklin Massey in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a lot of talk has centered around information dispensed at the recent km schools.

  many brothers feel there is a "tightening up" taking place.

  i had a recent experience that you may find interesting.. after the meeting i was working with our cobe on some congregation tasks when out of nowhere he said, "have you looked up any extra information about higher education since the km school?

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  truthlover

  Am I reading the stats above wrong??

  It shows that out of a small 211 sample - 51% got their high school vs a grand total of 36 % and 22% had some college vs a grand totalof 23% - the numbers for JW's drop when looking at the post grad college vs grand total

  The 51% category was the highest out of all the sampling and I know where I live it is mandatory that to get a job, people have to have grade 12 and in the truth here, at least, they say some community education i.e. tech, nursing entrance, etc.. so its just not the plumbers and cleaners we are looking at around here.. and if they are, believe me, they have the best in the material world - most have new cars,trucks,vans, etc.. a lot of elders are self emp in other services and make money at it...elders in the congr.--- 1 engineer, 1 heavy equip operator, 1 manager, ms - 1 heavy equip -- all requiring more education than normal, yes pioneering is encouraged, with continued college education discouraged.. and with the new instruction, things may change, time will tell - but it's not all gloom -- I do know my BIL and friends years ago were upset they did not get a better education - but then they just did not get the educ.. they quit at grade 11 and did not go pioneering or anything else spiritually speaking --

  If the society pushes this thought on the elders - they will lose them -- and then what -- as it is the birth rate in the US is dropping greatly, so is productivity and salaries -- this equates to a lack of converts and contributions to support the building work in Walkill and Paterson

  I think they are painting themselves into a corner...