Posts by truthlover

43

Help me figure out what to say...I'm not usually at a loss for words

by Terry in

jw
friends

well, i finally found him on facebook!.

his name is tollie padgett.

he was my congregation overseer (before the "elder" changeover) when i was in prison in seagoville in the late 60's.. i've been searching for him for years and years.

truthlover

So he friended you....

I think your account of the friendship can be spoken of, how much you appreciated all he did for you and that you love him for his caring and protectiveness. He seems to be the kind not to be afraid of anything and use all in his power to overcome what seems like insurmountable obstacles, using the powers that be in his favor to get justice rather than just letting it be taken care of by those in the congregation who should be caring for your life and soul. For all the words spoken of off the platform, rarely do you see such enthusiasm or caring actually acted upon.

If nothing else comes of it, at least he will know your true feelings and that he is one person who you admire trememdously. Because, as you well know, once it is said you have left the truth and he and his wife are still in, its a slippery slope from there on down. But no matter what comes of it, at least he will know your gratitude in standing up for you when others did not.... he may come back to you and with all your knowledge and quick wit, being quite a master of language and start asking questions himself... you never know...

Just my 2 cents

14

Special Assembly in Puerto Rico Coliseum to annouce Branch Closure

by Calebs Airplane in

so, 2 weekends ago, my wife is showing an apartment to a potential buyer in the financial district of san juan and walks the buyer over to the balcony to show her the awesome views.

the buyer looks down at a crowd approaching puerto rico coliseum (aka jose miguel agrelot coliseum) and asked my wife: "are those jehovah's witnesses?

" my wife looks down from 19 stories up, notices the "pioneer pace" of the crowd and says: "yes.

truthlover

If Jehovah blessed the opening of the branch - what does he think about the closing of it, and all the others?

26

Question 3 of this weeks Oral Review???

by Comatose in

3.. why did jesus say that his disciples would not complete their circuit of preaching "until the son of man arrives"?

(matt.

10:23) [jan. 14, w10 9/15 p. 10 par.

truthlover

When Jesus returns --- doesn't He separate the sheep from the goats - indicating only he knows anyone's heart condition and that nations who have not heard the "good News" will have a chance to acept or reject? and on that note - there is a rumor that the society is pulling missionaries out of some countries - could that be because they are in danger iof death from those who do not want prostelites in their country?

That is probably spelled wrong, but you get the drift.

Now I now the society says he returned in 1914-1918 but I cant go along with that premise... mainly because He says when he returns, only then will he give his FDS all his belongings and that has not happened yet, according to the Annual Meeting spiel in Oct 2012 and delivered by the holy ones - the GB members!

Will be interesting to see what spin is put on this if someone is thinking..otherwise, they will read the answer in the cited info.

80

I am totally confoused who is the Faithful and Discreet Slave Class?

by booker-t in

i have been hearing and reading on websites about some "new light" jws are saying concerning the faithful and discreet slave class.

it sounds like the same information they have been saying for years.

i was always taught the faithful and discreet slave class is the annoited governing body members dispensing food at the proper time for the non annoited jws.

truthlover

So expanding this a little farther, does this mean that the number of anointed does not apply anymore if only the eight in Brooklyn are termed as only the FDS, the others don't matter as the Wt was trying to tell us last year when it said they don't know who they are and don't need to know the number??

A good way to get rid of the promise that as soon as the anointed die off ( as was always the case with the reducing in numbers), then the GT would be here!! That is now out the window with this Annual Meeting thinking

43

Recorded Judicial Meeting by 19 year old

by BlindersOff1 in

.

he runs circles around the dogmatic elders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lko0vmqfyau.

truthlover

Thanks Terry and FInkelstein, I thought I was off base when I made my comment about the attitude. I have seen other videos of folks who recorded their JC's and found them to be very tasteful in their presentation. Tl

26

I asked an elder today...from the horse's mouth!

by Julia Orwell in

jw
friends

today's watchtower made out that the combining of branch offices around the world is a loving provision from jehovah to streamline the production, but i had to ask an elder afterwards, even though i already knew the answer.... "if the wts is selling off bethels and brooklyn property and cutting the publishing costs and commitments, then where is all that money going?".

elder replies, "well the donations are just not coming in anymore and so they have to sell off property to stay afloat.".

gee, i thought if this was jehovah's approved organisation carrying vital truth to the world, then he'd be making sure the donations would be sufficient.

truthlover

Never saw any recent annual report from Canada - you used to be able to get it online thru the Income Tax dept but dont know if you still can.. One year they had an income of $50 million.. that was back in 2004. I had the actual numbers - income and expenses for sev years prior to that too but destroyed them.

In the U S, I know that on the WW report it states there are over 1.1 million pubs - yet their hours and new baptisms are down vs Brazil who has only 720,000 pubs yet both have about the same number of baptisms.. seems the U S is starting to fall behind. The U S cong is increased from 2011 but baptisms are down, as I said.

All figures on the WW report are rounded - if it says 1 % growth, it is not a full percent but only a tenth of a percent is truthful..and when you look at those baptized and add that number to the average pubs, and then apply the two numbers to the so called 2012 aver pub it does not compute. There are 125,455 pubs missing or 81 million hours of preaching vanished.

I believe that with the closing of the branches, the truth, once again, is not being told to the pubs -as any reason spiritually, is accepted.

This can all translate (along with the child abuse cases) to falling income levels, yet they continue to build. Someone can correct me but some GB member said, "when the money stops coming in, Jehovahs blessing is gone too" or something along that line.. looks like that may be happening. I believe someof the growth is because of the bethelites in all countries being turned out to the field and the congregations now having to support them. After all, 2200 were removed to the field 3 years ago from Brooklyn... if they are showing only a 1% growth?? this yearbook, what would it have been without the extra bodies in the field?

TL

30

Elders- Have any of You faded Because of participating in a JC where the Arguments from the accused made sense to you?

by truthlover in

i know the question is long, but it has occured to me that there are a lot of newbies here but before that, many ex elders, some co and do's that are no longer jw's.... did the publishers comments at a jc about the misconceptions,dates, and lack of holy spirit, etc.

make sense to you and did you start thinking about the failed prophecies, fudging the "new light" etc.

which caused you to slowly fade away.. .

truthlover

FHN, Glander and all..

I hope there are a lot of responses too.. I find it fascinating that elders, can for years, listen to those who have serious spiritual doubts and not be affected in some way. If they were to be psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, etc - which they are not, and deal with all types of personal and spiritual situations, it has to take a toll. Somewhere along the line, for all the praying they do to bring holy spirit and direction to the JC, surely that holy spirit would direct them to jump ship. I know that those who have stepped down refuse to go back to the responsibility but still maintain their meeting attendance while not agreeing in whole anymore with the society. "Hidden rocks"?? who knows

TL

30

Elders- Have any of You faded Because of participating in a JC where the Arguments from the accused made sense to you?

by truthlover in

i know the question is long, but it has occured to me that there are a lot of newbies here but before that, many ex elders, some co and do's that are no longer jw's.... did the publishers comments at a jc about the misconceptions,dates, and lack of holy spirit, etc.

make sense to you and did you start thinking about the failed prophecies, fudging the "new light" etc.

which caused you to slowly fade away.. .

truthlover

Thanks for the feed back Glander -- for the few years I had "lurked" here it never occured to me to ask that question, yet it seemed so pivotal to what is happening with the society now - a lot of elders and ms are leaving, we hear of co's and do's in spiritual trouble and the society begging former elders to take up the torch again as the young ones are not stepping up and the older ones are burned out.. and now the JC's are being taped, recorded and played on Facebook and you tube, etc. for all the world to see, so I just wondered how many elders were impacted with logic..

Thanks again

64

I'm new, please come and meet me!

by Julia Orwell in

jw
friends

long time lurker, first time poster.

i'm really glad i can join your community because i've been in the wts for the last 14 years and now i'm on my way out and it's great to meet like-minded people!.

about me: i started learning jw ways when i was in my teens.

truthlover

Welcome Julia and you are right about atrophy of the brain -- happens when you let others think for you -- and the society loves to do that.... obey, obey

At least here you can think for yourself and give your opinion and doubts without being disfellowshipped. Oh, and don't go to another religion for a while, hubby still in, and even tho he has few JW friends, he will find out when the elders knock on your door and ask him to let them have access to you as you have become apostate due to going to another faith. Keep it on the QT for now and just take your time and think it through.

My thorn is the fact the governing body has now openly taken the place of Jesus for my salvation.. its in the April WT study edition - a picture of Jehovah sitting on his throne in the Ezekiel vision and lo and behold, the next in line is the Governing body, then district overseers, circuit overseers, elders and as we know, from the GB on down, shite rolls downhill.

Take it slow.. welcome

TL

43

Recorded Judicial Meeting by 19 year old

by BlindersOff1 in

.

he runs circles around the dogmatic elders.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lko0vmqfyau.

truthlover

He did handle the elders really well but when I saw him puffing on the cigar, like a little kid who had won an argument with mommy, kinda took away his professionalism in dealing with the situation.

but now I guess, he can do what he wants.