Posts by ItsJustMe

17

my notes from letter read at service meeting

by DB in

jw
friends

at tonight's service meeting, a letter was read concerning child molestation and the society's policy.. to preface, i jotted down notes in the form of a brief outline.

also, the elder reading it said that the letter is primarily directed to jws for the purpose of answering questions that we may encounter.. here's my outline:.

god's people are happy, in stark contrast to this world.. one reason is that we respect bible's view of sexual matters.. we abhor child abuse.. we will not protect abusers, or sheild them from the consequences of their wicked acts.. we expect elders to investigate every case (report) of child abuse.. but, we congregation follows bible stipulation that there must be two or three witnesses to establish a matter.. no congregation privilages extended to known child molesters.. elders are instructed to report abuse when required by state law.. people have the "absolute right" (my quotation marks for emphasis and to underscore that it is a quote from the letter) to report child abuse to the authorities.. since 1981 several articles published dealing with with matter in wt and awake.. when circumstances made the need clear, we have strengthened our policy over the years.. we feel that our bible-based policy is strong.. some additional notes: there were several scriptures cited and read, i did not jot them down.. well, i did note 1 tim 5:19 and 24. these verses were read after the comment abuout the need for two witnesses.

ItsJustMe

regarding parents reporting to the authorities - the letter specifically said they have the absolute right to do this even when there is only witness involved.

161

I've been studying for about a year now...

by Meow921 in

i've been studying with the jw's for about a year now.

i know that by nature (or nurture!

) i have an addictive personality so i have tried to be real careful that i'm doing the right thing by getting involved with them.

ItsJustMe

No one can make this decision for you. The only recommendation is to always ask why and do your own research.

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41

How often did you comment at meetings?

by LDH in

jw
friends

i have a theory and i'd like to put it to the test here.. i would be willing to bet that the posters who post a great deal probably commented more than the average publisher at the meetings.. i know it's true in my case.. on simon's forum we have the whole range of 'publishers-' from those that comment a lot ---down to those that are just there.

the lurkers.. what about you?.

lisa

ItsJustMe

I think every bookstudy only has three commenters (people who will comment on more than one paragraph).

My comments at WT always depended on whether or not the subject interested me. If it did, I would comment a lot. Otherwise, just once.

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14

New WTS Ministry Textbook

by artful in

greetings.. since this is my first post to this board, i would like to submit some interesting information from a new watchtower society (wts) ministry textbook.

this new publication is to replace the existing "school guidebook" and is to be used by all jws starting in 2003. .

please excuse me if this information has already been posted elsewhere on the board but i think that an interesting discussion is to be had here.

ItsJustMe

What proof, if any, is there that the first-century Christians did not celebrate birthdays?

5

question about shepherding calls

by blindfool in

jw
friends

i'm just curious about something and thought some of the former elders and such could answer.. i know of some witnesses who are sick and can't come to the meetings.. we used to call them shut-ins in church.

i don't think that any elders or pioneers ever visit on a regular basis.

it seems to me that it would be easy for a pioneer to rack up some good hours by going by and having a weekley book study and wt study with these people.

ItsJustMe

Some congregations have weekly schedules for assisting sick or elderly ones with grocery shopping, meals, cleaning, etc.

Another issue that seems to vary from hall to hall.
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5

The Watchtower Study ("meat of the word)?

by stevieb1 in

jw
friends

i have laboriously sat through so many watchtower studies in my local kingdom hall so i thought i would share my experience of what supposed to be the "main spiritual meal of the week for jw's".

as a formerly active jw i would disect all the scriptures quoted to really discern the meat of the word using a huge variety of commentaries that i have in my library.

my heart rejoiced when i came across all the spiritual gems and i used to look forward to bringing my comments out at the study (this applies to the book study as well).

ItsJustMe

It must be another issue that varies from hall to hall...my experience has always been that well-researched comments are appreciated and encouraged.

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31

Who are still in and who has left the JW Org? Why?

by STRUGGLE in

jw
friends

good morning!.

hi was just wondering who are still active in the organization and do you have doubts?

those of you who have left, briefly what made you leave, do you have any regrets, and was it hard making new friends?.

ItsJustMe

changed my mind on responding ;-)
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83

Special Dub Words That Make You Go YUK!

by Englishman in

jw
friends

for me, the word was "loving".. great "loving" kindness.. great undeserved "loving" kindness!.

disfellowshipping is a "loving" provision.. when the wtbts want their accolytes to swallow another bitter pill, another restriction, another rebuke, another demand on time, the buzz word is "loving".. the "loving" word, is, to the average jw, the same as the mccabe nod is to the salesman.

the mccabe nod is used by salesman all the time to get the prospective customer to agree to something that he doesn't care for too much.