freddo

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Posts by freddo

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  20

  This Weekend's Watchtower Study "What You Vow, Pay" from April issue

  by BluesBrother in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  just some random thoughts here... theme scripture is matt.5: 33 .

  we already had a thread explaining that jesus added a "but" after those words.

  however, few would argue against the principle of keeping one's word.

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  freddo

  I thought paragraph 11 was interesting ... see the bit I have put in bold? An absolute lie if you got baptised before 1985 when the question was "adjusted" to include "God's spirit-directed organization"

  11. What happened on your baptism day?

  11 Have you dedicated your life to Jehovah and symbolized your dedication by water baptism? If so, that is wonderful! Recall that on your baptism day, before eyewitnesses, you were asked whether you had dedicated yourself to Jehovah and understood that “your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization.” Your affirmative answers served as a public declaration of your unreserved dedication and showed that you were qualified for baptism as an ordained minister of Jehovah. You must have made Jehovah very happy
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  71

  Breaking News, London: Van Ploughs into Pedestrians

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. current

  3 male passengers then get out and start stabbing / shooting people according to early reports.. but it could have been anyone for any reason, who knows, possibly jehovahs witnesses or amish.. maybe we'll never know the reason but i'm sure there will be people praying for those involved and hashtags.. thus solving the problem once and for all.. just "life in a big city" according to the muslim mayor of london, sadiq khan..

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  freddo

  I wonder where the next Islamic Peace Truck will visit?

  
  
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  11

  How do I get you to Visit my house

  by I have question in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  okay simply put i am not of your faith however my faith allows me to learn and study other people's beliefs and faith's.

  now i believe at least from what i have seen that you people are humble and respectful, when interacting with me.

  and that watchtower book thing u hand out has actually helped me in the past.... taught me that resentment only hurts me and not the person i resented, that was really needed at the time.

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  freddo

  I have been a Watchtower follower for over 40 years and was used by them as an elder for over 25 of those years too. I would like to answer any questions you may have.

  I would also tell you that however humble and respectful Jehovah's Witnesses may be or seem, they are not a healthy group to get involved with.

  But that might just be me ... (shrug) - stay a while and ask away.
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  23

  How Do You Get Most of Your News?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i read that many people get their news from facebook.

  i look online mostly at fox news and the drudge report.

  very seldom do i look at cnn.😎.

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  freddo

  BBC mainly. Bit of ITN and Channel 4.

  Occasional online newspaper articles. Especially local or specialised stuff.

  Anything I want to check out "and google is my friend" and just identify and avoid the tin hat wearers ...

  Really important stuff (to me) and I'll check the writer's history and background.
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  19

  Feeling Alone. Need Emotional Support.

  by Doubtfully Yours in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  please chime in if you're one of my kindred spirit that happens to literally be trapped in due to strong family/friends ties, or plain fear of being abandoned in old age.. although leaving the org is my ultimate wish and desire, fear of the unknown, fear of how it would change my family dinamics, plain fear alone paralyzes me.

  how do you cope in this difficult situation?

  dy.

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  freddo

  Hobbies? Especially ones you can do alone or with others. Volunteer for the local charity shop?

  In England you sometimes get a free parish magazine or community newspaper delivered. They often list what's happening locally for the month ahead. For example in the one round here for June there is the following:

  4 Saturday Coffee mornings at the local community hall

  1st Monday evening - Free computer advice clinic - neighbouring village hall.

  1st Weds evening - Table tennis - beginners welcome at 7pm - experienced 8pm

  2nd Friday evening - Pub Quiz. Make a team of four or five or phone xyz678 if you'd like to be in one.

  Every other Thursday 7pm - gardening tips from "Old Grumpy Gardener" at the allotments. (Weather permitting)

  3rd Saturday afternoon - village tidy up - bring gardening gloves and plastic bag - meet at war memorial - 2pm.

  Last Tuesday evening - meet with the local police officer to discuss concerns/initiatives for the area - bring a packet of biscuits - tea and coffee provided.

  Movie Night - Saturday evening 25th June - £2.50 entry. 7pm "Dead Poet's Society" - Village Hall. Cold soft drink provided.
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  19

  How do you talk to a child that believes Jehovah/Armageddon is real

  by Anony Mous in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i'm having some serious issues with my child, she is now 5 and her mother is teaching her all sorts of things regards god, jehovah is real, in heaven, pray if you're scared, etc.

  the problem is the kid is scared of demons at night and also conflicted that i don't believe, she also figured out jehovah doesn't actually help her not to be scared.. i've tried explaining that i'm there for her, watching over at night.

  i've tried introducing her to various churches and beliefs so she understands there is a difference in believes and she likes those churches better than kingdom hall.

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  freddo

  Oh yeah ... Sulley ... not Scully!
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  41

  48% Capacity at Kingdom Halls - A post on reddit

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there was a letter read this week, followed by a talk about all the changes that are coming in the next couple of months regarding merging congregations in the area (va/md/dc) - the letter said that the kh's in the area are only being filled to 48% capacity.

  this was music to my ears as i have noticed the decline in attendance in all the neighboring congregations.

  they will sell some kingdom halls and merge some congregations.

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  freddo

  Heard a good one from last Sunday.

  A contact I have in my circuit who knows it's (JW'ism) a load of nonsense but goes to keep the peace from time to time said he went to his hall and the public speaker said:

  "Normally I address this next part of the outline especially to the teenagers and children, but as there aren't any here I'll speak to the young at heart instead."

  
  

  I asked what the attendance was like and he said about 50 out of 95 publishers.
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  36

  How ballroom dancing helped our exit

  by Finally Left in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just wanted to say hello and thank you for all of your comments.

  when i finally figured out this was not the truth it was nice to know i wasn't the only one - it was a surprise to learn how many there are.

  february was my last month of service after 43 active years.

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  freddo

  Lovely post! Thanks for sharing - really encouraging.
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  38

  Talk to my Dad about beards.

  by LovingLifeNow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i spoke to my elder dad the other day, and he asked if i still am sporting a beard.

  i said yes, then i said, "i thought the society said its ok to have a neat trimmed beard now?

  " he said "no, no, no..if you read the article , it says in countries where it is accepted" so my response was "ummm, its pretty accepted here in america"..which he says "it reflects your spirituality" "if another wittness saw you, they would know you are weak"...i was like, "ok, i don't get it, and i follow christ/god, not men..." then he said in his hall" if a brother came in with a beard , he would not have privelages" then i just gave up, and tried to change the subject..ugggggggggg if these people would just listen to themselves , they would see the sillyness of there teachings...

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  freddo

  @Splash

  I've read a lot about beards on this forum; I've sat in elders meetings always on the side/leading the charge to allow beards in our hall and when an elder I questioned CO's and made one in particular squirm when he allowed one (long time elder with a beard) brother a position of dept. authority in the circuit, but when a young min. serv was to be offered the same level of authority he wasn't allowed to have a beard.

  But your post says everything that needs to be said. Excellent post indeed.
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  6

  Death sentences

  by Chook in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what your thoughts on if gb ruled the world would elders happily administer lethal injections at head offices request ?.

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  freddo

  Sadly there would indeed be enough elders "just obeying orders" to do this.