Posts by Juan Viejo2

138

A farce elder here

by His Excellency in

just to share a little about me:.

i was recently appointed an elder, about 6 months ago now, and that is exactly two years after my awakenning, but funny that the appointment came also about 2 years after i had completely lost all faith in god and had been leading a full time anti-jw life .

makes you wonder the role of the holy spirit in the entire nomination or appointment process.. .

Juan Viejo2

There are a lot of elders that have lost their faith but go through the motions and act the role. An article I published on Ex-JW.com several years ago by "Shadow Elder" described just that situation. He was torn and hated having to fake it. He finally shared the truth with one of his sons (his story is also on that website). I have not heard from him in several months, but the last time he wrote me he said that he and his son were still in because it was clear to him that his wife would not leave. He figured he would just continue to do what he did, knowing in his heart that it was all an act. But he summed up his reasoning like this:

"I will continue to play the role of an elder. I know now that getting the rest of my family out - with the exception of one son - will not happen for the foreseeable future. I figure that I can keep my family together and maybe help and protect some of the brothers and sisters in my Kingdom Hall. I know it is all an act and I don't believe a word the Watchtower prints any more, but my conscience is clear - and that's all that is important to me."

My guess is that there are a lot of "shadow elders" out there who play the role because they are not ready to see their families destroyed. Likewise, I'm sure there are a lot of other "shadow elders" who don't believe a word of the Watchtower bullshit, but play the role because they like being in positions of power over others and enjoy the prestige of being looked up to by 80-140 people who don't know any better. I've known both kinds in my lifetime - some truly caring, but trapped - others who just enjoy lording it over others, pharisees and hypocrites.

JV

33

New "Donation Arrangement" is a DECOY!

by The Searcher in

put yourself in the org's position - distasteful as that is - and come up with a solution to solve the problems of not only recovering their stock market losses, but also, ensuring an increase in their dwindling revenue stream.. the major problem is, donations are voluntary (with no future guarantees) whereas pledges are compulsory - in the heart and mind of the giver!.

however, far too many will probably forget/refuse to keep up their monthly tax - with no way of knowing who is 'paying the man', and who is not.

master stroke - make plan a 100% certainty to fail in the first year, based on the 'anonymity' of the setup.

Juan Viejo2

Another reason not to be an elder:

You know that if the pot comes up short, that the COBOE won't want to have to answer to the CO for consistent shortages. So the elders will be expected to dig into their own pockets to make up the difference.

Remember all that spare money held in congregation rainy day bank accounts? All that spare cash is now sent to the WT HQ to be held in reserve for when the local congregations need it. Yeah, right. How many BOEs will dare to ask for their money back?

JV

66

A new start? Watchtower renaming at HQ Columbia Heights

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

friends,.

who was in any doubt that our jw believe is a marketing model, see this pictures of the still existing hq of jw at columbia heights.. earlier comments on jwn that something is going to change in the organisation, these comments are true.. in a few years we will not talk about the watchtower society, we wil talk about jw.org.

i think the current leadership will make a transfer to a new start.

Juan Viejo2

Knock, knock...

"Hello, we have an invitation to a very important meeting being held here in Urtown..."

"Hold on a minute. Are you Jehovah's Witnesses?"

"Not any longer. We are now known as 'JW Orgers'."

"Don't you give away those Watchtower magazines?"

"Not Watchtower any more. You'll find our website address on the invitation and you can download all our literature yourself. But we welcome donations."

"What is the name of your download magazine?"

"The Governing Body's New Light Journal. You can print it out yourself. It has the very latest truth as the Governing Body declares it to be."

Slam!!!

----------------------------------------

Remember that back in the 1930s the Witnesses would drive into quiet neighborhoods and play Rutherford's speeches through huge horns attached to the roofs of sound trucks. Placards and signs on the sides of the trucks would often say something like, "Judge Rutherford Speaks!"

----------------------------------------------

I think it is interesting that when you go on the contact page of JW.org and try to send an email to whomever the "contact" might be, in most browsers the link will not work. Why don't they just put up a clear text link that says: "Email Us at [email protected] or [email protected]" ?"

Here is what I get when I click on the Email Link:

https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue=https://mail.google.com/mail/?view%3Dcm%26fs%3D1%26tf%3D1%26to%26body%3DContact%2BUs:%2BUnited%2BStates%2Bhttp://www.jw.org/finder?locale%253Den%2526docid%253D502012366%26su%3DContact%2BUs:%2BUnited%2BStates&scc=1<mpl=default<mplcache=2&emr=1

Geez. Something so simple and they can't even get that right...

JV

66

A new start? Watchtower renaming at HQ Columbia Heights

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

friends,.

who was in any doubt that our jw believe is a marketing model, see this pictures of the still existing hq of jw at columbia heights.. earlier comments on jwn that something is going to change in the organisation, these comments are true.. in a few years we will not talk about the watchtower society, we wil talk about jw.org.

i think the current leadership will make a transfer to a new start.

Juan Viejo2

Will we be seeing this very soon?

Very possible, if not probable...

JV

6

Change to Contributions for World Wide Work..Why Not ??

by Poztate in

jw
friends

a letter is soon to be read out at all congregations changing the rbc box from a voluntary thing to a mandated contribution sent in each month based on pledges.

i am sure the thrill of this will soon wear off as congregations are hounded if they fall short of pledges.

i am sure it will be a "local needs" talk at least every second month.. however if it only partially works i can see this happening in another year or so.. brothers (tear comes to his eye) the www is every bit as important as the kingdom hall building funds.

Juan Viejo2

It will probably be just like the political parties in the USA. Contribute during one of their major elections and they come back to you for every Senate and Congressional election, every time a bill is passed, every time a court case comes up, etc. I recently got 33 appeals for money from a political party in one day, all for different purposes. That's when I decided to stop giving them any more of my money.

Churches do this as well. Went to the Saddleback Church in Mission Viejo, California a couple of times with my daughter. There were announcement before the session started, at least three during breaks in the session, a video tag at the end of a short film with music, and a couple more after the main sermon was over. Then when we left, there were at least 6-8 tables set up outside that were asking for money for various special functions.

And just like Paul and Jan Crouch, so much of it goes to buy and build on expensive properties. Amy Semple McPherson went from a nobody to running the biggest and gaudiest church in downtown Los Angeles (The Angelus Temple) by making sure that the plates were passed every 15 minutes where ever she preached.

I'm sure that the Watchtower realizes how much money they passed up by not moving from nationwide radio hookups and their own radio station (WBBR) into TV like so many other sects did. Instead they decided to go for magazine and book publishing for nickels and dimes while everyone else was buying cable and satellite TV time and making gazillions.

JV

25

Lot's last word to his wife

by bamse in

does anyone come after us?.

Juan Viejo2

Not sure what Lot's last words might have been, but here's my guess for Guy Pierce's last words as he breathed his last and said goodbye to his wife:

"We were faking it. All of it. Get out while you can and take the grandkids with you! 'FDS' stands for 'faking, deluded, and self-important...' "

JV

324

Is this new donation arrangement for real?

by nugget in

just read a post on jwsurvey about the new donation arrangement.

congregations are to pledge a monthly amount to be sent to the society to fund the building of assembly halls and kingdom halls.

congregations who already have a loan from the society will no longer have to pay back the loan but the amount pledged should not be less than the current monthly repayments to the society.

Juan Viejo2

Neverending - none of my comments were directed to you - and not actually to anyone in particular. You are fine and so are your comments.

My comments were in general to describe my disappointment in how some posters here who are clearly not trolls, will still tend to always try to discredit those of us who are just trying do the right thing or to share something we've been told by someone who has proven their credibility in the past.

While I'd like to continue to share that information, right - wrong - near miss - or too fantastic to believe at times - I am afraid that my contacts will read the negative responses and either stop sharing with me or simply tell me to stop posting any of it on JWN. Remember that they have provided this information to help keep us informed, often at great risk to themselves. One of our insiders was caught and kicked out of Bethel very recently for getting the word out. How do you think he would feel now if the very thing he shared appeared here and the loudest voices immediately called it bogus?

I'm good with everyone here - most of the time. Not that any of that matters. But sometimes I do worry that someone may miss a warning or a critical piece of information because it was shouted down prematurely.

JV

324

Is this new donation arrangement for real?

by nugget in

just read a post on jwsurvey about the new donation arrangement.

congregations are to pledge a monthly amount to be sent to the society to fund the building of assembly halls and kingdom halls.

congregations who already have a loan from the society will no longer have to pay back the loan but the amount pledged should not be less than the current monthly repayments to the society.

Juan Viejo2

Snowbird - and you've always been supportive to guys like me as long as I've known you...

JV

324

Is this new donation arrangement for real?

by nugget in

just read a post on jwsurvey about the new donation arrangement.

congregations are to pledge a monthly amount to be sent to the society to fund the building of assembly halls and kingdom halls.

congregations who already have a loan from the society will no longer have to pay back the loan but the amount pledged should not be less than the current monthly repayments to the society.

Juan Viejo2

Neverending - the BOE letter is just the tip of the story, the very first step. I'm sure the Watchtower will make additional moves after the first letter is read to the congregations and begins to get feedback. Much of this thread is based not so much on that letter, but from other information from insider sources that have proven to be somewhat (and that's a big "SOMEWHAT") credible in the past.

The danger, especially here on JWN, is that when insider information and gossip is shared, the "messenger" (in this case yours truly) tends to become a target, especially by trolls and a certain number of consistent naysayers. Others who have found themselves in this same situation have just given up and will no longer share what they know or what they have heard because they get tired of being targets of abuse here.

I've felt that way myself many times, especially in connection with the Menlo Park scandal and my relationship with AAWA. The question becomes, "Do I stop sharing what I've heard and what I know because I will face accusations and abuse, or do I just let it bounce off and do it for those who are truly interested and enjoy that kind of information?"

One of the glorious things about JWN is how it has become one of the first places to read the latest rumors, to get the facts behind the rumors and other insider information. This is where so many come to get a secret copy of an elder letter or see an audio-video of an insider meeting. That is what makes JWN so special and why, even though I sometimes get more than my share of abuse, I make regular visits back here from time to time.

Because of my websites (Ex-JW.com, WatchtowerWatch.com, JWReport.com) and my relationship as webmaster for AAWA, and I always try to keep my email doors open to all, I am blessed with relationships and connections to many WT insiders at both congregation and HQ levels. I have also been threatened personally at both of those levels - (my wife sometimes worries that one night someone from the Watchtower will come and burn our house down with us in it. Seriously!).

So maybe it's not worth it. I'd hate to think that anyone and everyone that comes to this site to share insider news or gossip should only expect abuse. That is not to say that such "rumors and insider information" should not be closely examined or subject to critique - it just seems so one-sided at times. I haven't dropped off yet, but I am for sure considering it. I'm not usually that thin-skinned, but it is frustrating to get far more negative feedback than one should expect from "friends."

My other fear is that I will lose some of my best insider contacts if they realize that they are essentially casting their "pearls before swine."

JV

29

Creative ways of counting field service time

by 4thgen in

jw
friends

there was a sister in my congregation that signed up to aux pioneer one month to put in 60 hours.

we couldn't figure out why she was never at the arrangements, but yet she said she got in her time early in the month.

we found out later that we wrote a letter that took her an hour.

Juan Viejo2

Undercover - magazines in the windows! Yes, we did that in 1953 and 1958. It was fun. Cars would pass us, honk their horns, then flip us the bird.

When we'd stop at roadside rests (few and far between in those days), other people would come up and look at the magazines in our car windows. My mother and father would go over to them and witness with them briefly, told them we were going to New York for a big Christian convention. One or both would count our stopover time as witnessing work.

Every so often a car would pass us, honking and waving. They were other JWs going to New York too and saw our mags.

At first my dad put a WT on one side of the rear window and an Awake! on the other side. Since we were driving a 1941 Chevrolet sedan, that did not leave much of the rear window to look out through via the mirror. So he moved them to the rear side windows. That was problematic since we could not roll the windows down while he was driving. In those days there were no car air conditioners and the inside of that 2-door sedan became an oven as we drived across the desert. But we lived with it as we were quite dedicated in those days.

JV