Posts by 1Averagejoe

40

INTERVIEW: with an Elder

by TerryWalstrom in

elder: "i'm not sure i know what you mean by 'diversity.'.

elder: "well, it's not quite like that.

elder: "um.

1Averagejoe

He was carrying the NWT but NEVER OPENED IT to read a scripture!

Not even at elders meetings is it opened. When discussing issues even the C. O. Just uses his "bible" elder's manual, lazy elders never even look up the few references cited. It's always letter dated this and that... Who can keep up?

1 Peter 3:15 "always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands the reason for the hope in you." Riiiight. Go to our website for your frequently asked questions.

Bible show at least Jesus "quoted" the scriptures to the pharasees and even to the number one apostate.

Expecting any return visits soon? Perhaps he'll never preach by himself again.

Good post as usual Terry, Thanks!

7

Disfellowshipping Votes

by sloppyjoe2 in

jw
friends

for current and former elders.. when sitting on a judicial committee, was a unanimous vote required in order to df?

if the answer to above is "no", what happened when 2 were for df and one wasn't?

what happened when 1 was for df and 2 werent?.

1Averagejoe

Even before I got fully awake I didn't feel it proper to public reproof let alone Df. There was always something I could pick on in supporting my arguments mainly due to the cases I couldn't avoid handling were those that were self confessed. That was a plus. I also had the watchtower on determining weakness and wickedness (as if!) then later when I woke up the arguments that only if the person was a practicer. So due to who in the body you have in the j. C. We at times would have to meet again after considering the case for a week.

However, there was one case of a youth who got involved in an immoral act and confessed to the body. But despite all the effort it all went south. The new elder and I voted private reproof. The third elder got worked up and claimed that the person had received prior counsel about association and should be disfellowshipped. Saying if we didnt think so he would include a letter to the branch expressing his view and we were being linient since it was an elders child. Boy was he worked up! We arranged for another meeting.

By next meeting, new elder had been convinced by worked up elder to vote for disfellowshipping. MAJORITY won! That person now years later has never returned.

Found out later that the bully elder had had hard feelings towards this youth prior due to some business venture!

So... There you have it, I hope. Sad but it shouldn't be left to a few humans to decide on such a life destroying judgement.

58

My introduction and confession

by elderINewton in

jw
friends

well another big bad elder here just wanting to say sorry.. i'm sorry that so many were treated like crap, and shown that god's love is not to be found around jehovah's witnesses.

i'm sorry that inadvertently i've likely taught many to judge and as such see that racism permeates every corner of the jw world, else why else would someone be of the world, or even inactive.

i'm sorry i sat in on a jc, and voted to df.

1Averagejoe

Welcome elderlnewton. I am on my way out too. Handed in my resignation as an elder, stated health because truly it was all tearing me down. Have you noticed when you tried to do good and help others out it was like you're the odd one out till they (elders) didn't want your input.

Those you've helped will remember you and appreciate.

You stated I've always pushed the focus to the bible rather than a watchtower.

Same here am sure many did as elders. Did you notice how many in the audience couldn't compute with that? While others found that to be interesting and refreshing. Your concern must have been felt and you've planted some seeds which in time will sprout.

You protected those you could but it's beyond the ability of one person against the majority who think they are the only ones that have God's mind on the matter. Well done!

Hope you are able to fade gradually.

25

Article: Inside the Jehovah's Witnesses' British Headquarters

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.vice.com/read/inside-the-jehovahs-witnesses-british-headquarters-829.

vice.

inside the jehovah's witnesses' british headquartersby adam forrestoct 8 2014. .

1Averagejoe

Some Pr! Someone with the facts of what's really going on should interview the ones at the top, and get them live defending their actions expose them. Michael Moore-like. Then we'll see how many volunteer to stand next to carts with their literature. Then again that too may backfire into "persecution" claims.

12

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 07-12-2015 WT Study (FIGHT SATAN)

by blondie in

blondies comments you will not hear at the 07-12-2015 wt study (fight satan)(may 15, 2015 issue).

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/.

the wts usually says the devils main and sometimes only target are the anointed remnant and the other sheep are collateral damage because of their association with them..

1Averagejoe

WTwizard.... It's the wt using the same tricks thieves and magicians use of misdirection.

Why do they not focus on the miserable failings within the organisation, put that in the yearbook, instead of picking on the seemingly few "exemplary" ones since they recognize the bible writters were honest and recorded good and the bad.

According to wikipedia misdirection..

is a form of deception in which the attention of an audience is focused on one thing in order to distract its attention from another. "The central secret of conjuring...is a manipulation of interest." (Henry Hay, The Amateur Magicians Handbook, pg. 2, copyright 1972).

Your comment. I think most of my problems would have been solved or prevented had Satan and His Demons been with me through my life.

Reminds me of the Billy Joel song...

They say there's a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it's better but I say it ain't
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
The sinners are much more fun...
You know that only the good die young.

12

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 07-12-2015 WT Study (FIGHT SATAN)

by blondie in

blondies comments you will not hear at the 07-12-2015 wt study (fight satan)(may 15, 2015 issue).

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/.

the wts usually says the devils main and sometimes only target are the anointed remnant and the other sheep are collateral damage because of their association with them..

1Averagejoe

I just couldn't find a paragraph where I could comment on during the meetings without raising suspicions. So infuriating to hear misguided comments!

Had done researsch on Demas.... He wasn't the only one who forsook Paul,

2Tim1:15 "all the men in the( district of) Asia have turned away from me. Phygelus and Hermogenes are of this number."

However so what, did Demas also forsake Christ? That scripture and others of Paul's letters would have been more specific if it was ment to be understood by readers thousands of years later thus avoiding wt's and followers unchecked conclusions about it.

Pride? Materialism? Our wt conducter had been accused of fraud and found out only last year by a bible student. Still has his privileges. I noticed how that was not touched on during the materialism part...

The Fraud topic was also skipped during the bible study material two week ago (Draw Close page 268) where again it was mentioned how it affects one having privileges. It's like ignore it and everyone will forget soon enough.

Thanks blondie. Looking foward to your comments for next weeks article. "They saw things promised" by whom? Whose imaginary pictures are we going to be told to fantasize on as reality?

I can't help feeling sorry for the old ones pictured in the coming study articles.

26

Had my Hopes up for this Regional Convention

by James Jack in

heard a lot buzz for our upcoming convention.

those that already been were saying how great it was and all the videos that were presented.. well, thus far not impressed!

in fact many times pure insanity!

1Averagejoe

Once more they have failed to deliver.

Ours is still ahead in the coldest month of the year! Someone didn't think it through. But its a social club only bigger. Perhaps giving the single ones more chances to dress their best to meet, mingle and get a mate without the congregational medler's attention. We won't have videos either as it has even been difficult to have witness broadcast at the hall.

Looking forward... Not.!!

56

Hello Everyone

by MarieK in

i hope everyone is having a good saturday.

i've visited this many times in the past month or so, joined yesterday and finally got the nerve to post!

needless to say, i'm super nervous, being new to this whole experience.

1Averagejoe

See. All are welcomed! .. Sorry was trying to correct a typo...but couldnt find original message...

Am still learning.... Baby steps.

56

Hello Everyone

by MarieK in

i hope everyone is having a good saturday.

i've visited this many times in the past month or so, joined yesterday and finally got the nerve to post!

needless to say, i'm super nervous, being new to this whole experience.

1Averagejoe

Hi MarieK. And welcome. That's awesome!

I've been reading these forums for a long time too and only beat you by a few weeks in posting.

Thanks for your story hoping to hear more. Glad to hear your husband is "awake"

Here you'll find you can express your changing views as we all have while we learn. A great place to be updated and get links to subjects of interest.

Take things easy... Fade ever so carefully and gradually.

Welcome!

56

Hello Everyone

by MarieK in

i hope everyone is having a good saturday.

i've visited this many times in the past month or so, joined yesterday and finally got the nerve to post!

needless to say, i'm super nervous, being new to this whole experience.

1Averagejoe

Hi MarieK, welcome! I beat you in posting by a few weeks and it's great to be here. You will feel free to express your thoughts, doubts, rant and so on. Even as we now grow in our research we can still express our views, changes in thoughts, questioning as we go on. Yes am still in, by outward appearances still an elder for a short while. Phew I don't have to lie to the gullible from the platform again, but living a lie.

Gkad to hear your husband is "awake" too.

Waiting for the rest of your story. Hope you take things slow and easy in your fade...leaving ever so careful, gradual like.