Posts by miseryloveselders

29

It looks like the new song book is bombing!

by Mickey mouse in

jw
friends

http://www.facebook.com/pages/okay-is-it-just-my-hallor-can-nobody-sing-the-new-kingdom-melodies/292219582186?ref=mf.

miseryloveselders

A few observements on the new song book...

The opening song for the Service meeting last week, was about a minute long. I was out in the lobby doing the attendant thing, and I went to grab my coat to take a breeze through the parking lot to check on the cars and the lot, and as I went to open the door, the brother started with the announcements. Its literally a minute long give or take a few seconds. I don't know whether you can consider it a song, or a verse.

Yesterday the brother delivering the talk, selected for the opening song, what possibly may have been the most depressing thing I've ever heard. It would make The Cure(old school goth band for those not familiar) sound like Mary Poppins. I was standing next to the brother handling the sound, and I said to him, "what is this mess? We at a funeral? This is depressing. I should have worn all black with black eye liner" He started laughing, and people in the rows closest to us looked back to see what the commotion was. So we promptly started singing along. Its one of the newer songs.

Later on I went over to my Folks for dinner. Mom did a pork roast, which I have a hard time resisting. Afterwards, had a couple Heinekin Lights, and I asked my dad what he thought of the new song book. He gave me a look as if he was constipated. He's a hardcore dub too. My mother chimed in, "he was listening to gospel music before you came!!" Really it was just a commercial for a gospel compilation CD. After she said that, he looked at me and said, "some of that gospel music sounds good I have to admit."

A couple weeks ago, the brother doing the sound had trouble getting it to work. The chairman said, "it doesnt matter, nobody knows how to sing it anyway, lets just open with prayer."

I don't know what to think about the new song book. I guess as Blondie mentioned, this will happen with something new in this organization. The thing thats killed me the most with the new song book is, we had an Assembly Hall dedication several months ago, and after it ended, while i was cleaning, they were playing a Choir version of it. While running a vacuum cleaner, I heard the choir singing, and I thought to myself, "maybe they're finally getting in tune with people." Granted the choir was considerably mediocre compared to what I've heard from other Christian faiths, but at least its a "possible" start in the right direction with this organization.

56

Just ONE FACT, that's all I ask, JUST ONE.....

by Terry in

what is a fact?

a statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened.

i've read the bible many times in many ways with many methods.. .

miseryloveselders

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New International Version)

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

There you are you heathen.

26

Russian Tract campaign: "Could It Happen Again? A Question for the Citizens of Russia"

by TJ - iAmCleared2Land in

jw
friends

http://www.jw-media.org/rus/20100226.htm.

for immediate release.

february 25, 2010. jehovahs witnesses address their fellow citizensrussiaon february 26-28, 2010, throughout russia, from the chukchi peninsula in the east to kaliningrad in the west, a special campaign is taking place.

miseryloveselders

font issues. did you catch the question regarding the claim on whether or not they break up families?

20

Another bit of unexplainable hypocrisy

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

ask a dub acquaintance this and see if they have anything resembling a rational answer:.

you: when you're at a public event and the announcer says, "please rise for the playing/singing of the national anthem," you refuse to stand because that would be considered an act of nationalistic worship, correct?.

dub: correct.. you: why then, when a jw is in a courtroom and the baliff says, "all rise for the honorable judge whatsherface, court is now in session," do jws stand up?

miseryloveselders

That is a JW urban legend, but its somewhat close to my teenager years. I grew up in the city, and still reside in the city. Not exactly South Central Los Angeles but not quite the Suburbs either. Working class city, with spots of Middle class neighborhoods, Upper Class neighborhoods, and typical bad neighborhoods that are in every major city. I've been out of high school for well over a decade, so i don't know how Black youths are today when the Pledge is to be recited. Especially now since Obama got in, I wonder if the mood has softened. I'm somewhat out of touch nowadays, but back then.........the dudes I hanged with, would have no problem spitting on a flag, or burning a flag. They werent standing for the national anthem, and werent pledging allegiance to anything except their "hoods", or their flags, which was a hankerchief. So at the beginning of the school year, when it came time to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, often times I was the only one who stood. I didnt cross my hand over my heart or anything, but to show respect I stood. Eventually the teachers give up after a few days of arguing with the other students, and as a result I didnt have to stand any more.

There's nothing wrong with standing to show respect. Pledging, or singing along is where the issue lies.

20

A People for His Name

by AGuest in

jw
friends

my lord: "if that is true, that such term was "by divine providence," is there any other name they need to identify themselves by?".

those who also identify themselves by other names.

my lord: and they use such to identify them... with regard to who they belong to... and distinguish themselves from those they do not belong to, do they not?".

miseryloveselders

LOL Outlah.

24

Missing meetings due to the weather, and then attending meetings is making me Bipolar I think.

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

without divulging too much information about myself, i'm on the east coast, up north.

we've been hammered by snow storms, and from what i hear we've got another one on the way tommorrow night.

this month, i've missed 4 meetings total.

miseryloveselders

Wizard, you're a funny guy lol. I definately relate to being disappointed when the storm of the century is a dud on a meeting night.

Wheel, thanks for your input. I've never really considered how fast a congregation moves on after losing a loved one to death. (there's that JW speak coming out of me, why can't I just talk normally and say, "after someone dies") Wow i just got to work, and brain is alreay in overdrive after reading what you wrote. I'm saving your post on a Word Document and leaving it on my desktop. Wow, I've never really taken into consideration how quickly a congregation can discard and forget, even after a death. Crazy. Thanks for the post.

10

In line with a recent topic

by Heartbreaker in

jw
friends

it was just asked (by whom i'm not certain, sorry!

i can't go back!

you can never go back!!

miseryloveselders

Hey Heartbreaker, I know what you mean. Its like being in an episode of the X Files almost, or the Twilight Zone. Sometimes while in the middle of a meeting, or an assembly, I think to myself, is anybody else within the audience lurking on this board or possibly posting that I know? I think to myself, I can't be the only one in this audience of almost 100 people having strong feelings of doubt, can I ? I think we underestimate the power of social structure and indoctrination sometimes. I mentioned in another thread, that during Watchtower studies, Congregation Bible studies, and Bible Studies that you have with students, the objective isnt necessarily to encourage, as much as its to instill, indoctrinate, incultate, err inculcate, reinforce, entrench, etc., the WTS organizational structure. These studies or lessons, we usually prepare the night before. Then we come to the meeting and hear the opening and closing prayer which often petitions for something associated with the lesson we've studied the night before. Then the reader reads the paragraph, which again we've read the night before. The conductor asks the question which contains part of the answer in the question. Someone comments or responds to the question. The lemmings nod their heads displaying approval. Its systematic reinforcement of the WTS' views. Its not designedto encourage you. Its designed to keep you in line.

Unfortunately Heartbreaker, you woke up. You figured it out. But your unique in that you understand why everyone else can't see it. They're constantly being spoonfed how to think, how to behave, who to associate with, etc.. The WTS is intelligent enough to not deviate too far from what they know works, so as to not disturb the masses zombie like state of sleep. Everybody cant use the internet. They know they're going to lose a few, but the majority will swallow it just like the fish they are. Its the same reason people continue to vote Democrat or Republican faithfully every election despite their disatisfaction with the party of their choice. The same reason middle aged people try to keep up with the latest fads younger people are into. Advertising is a Mutha F#$@! Then on the other hand, there are hose who are like you who realise something is not quite right, but the social structure within this organization prohibits them from verbalizing their true feelings. So they get by the best they can. They show up late, they miss more than the occasional meeting. I've seen couples meet the group for field service, and when the brother taking the lead inquires if anybody has plans that would limit what they can do with the group, the couple states, "they've got a bible study", or "a call that might turn into a bible study." They're lying, but they do whats necessary to avoid field service without raising suspicion, and off they go.

I don't know if I'm going or coming half the time, I think I might be losing my mind trying to play both sides of the fence. But I do know that theres a significant population in this organization that doesnt buy it all. But due to the social structure they keep the routine up. The others have fallen into the hamster wheel and are too busy making their owners smile with approval, that they don't realize they're actually "belongings." Thats my thoughts on it, maybe I'm off, I don't know anymore.

24

Missing meetings due to the weather, and then attending meetings is making me Bipolar I think.

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

without divulging too much information about myself, i'm on the east coast, up north.

we've been hammered by snow storms, and from what i hear we've got another one on the way tommorrow night.

this month, i've missed 4 meetings total.

miseryloveselders

Wanted to say thanks to everyone for their comments and insight. (sorry if that sounds like the end of a WT study) I was wiggin out last night. Really thought I was going to snap. Right now I'm at work getting ready to go to lunch, and I feel so much better.

Babygirl-I watch wayyy tooo many crime movies. I've always been way too fascinated with drug dealing.

Onthewayout and Wheelwithinthewheel, its coming. I don't know if its this year or not, but its coming. The fallout is what makes me hesitant. I don't ever want to sound like I'm tooting my own horn, but it would be shocking to quite a few if I don't plan this right. I can say 50% of the hall I can do without, but the other half I do have some emotional investments with. It would hurt me, to hurt them. Obviously that goes without saying in regards to my family much more. Wheel, my attitude has already displayed itself a couple times at the Hall. I had to reevaluate my mannerisms and speech. We had a Pioneer who was moving across the Country to "serve where the need is great." So a group photo was taken, and I was desperately trying to get out of the hall, when they called me over to be apart of the photo. So I joined in, and some little girl noticed my demeanor, and said in front of everybody, "Misery, smile." It was almost as if someone spilled cold water on me as i was sleeping when it resonated. Or being caught with my pants down. So I smiled, and made a note to myself, to smile more often. Some days it just becomes too difficult though.

Blondie it might be cognitive dissonance. I bought a book on Epictetus and Stoikism, and its helped tremendously. I'm learning about how to evaluate impressions and emotions, and how to recognize whats beyond my limitations and how to act accordingly. As evident by this thread I still have quite some way to go. I meant to mention in your last WT thread, I hope and pray your health gets better.

TJLibre thats hilarious. It fits too. It amazes me that in their attempt to imitate 1st Century Christians activity, they missed the point. Paul said to, "go on encouraging one another as the day draws near." For one thing Paul thought "the day" was coming in his day. Maybe it did happen in "his day", and what we've been doing for the past century is all for naught. I wonder. In the meantime, our meetings are not encouraging. Rarely do I feel that I've gained anything from attending. Theres times I'm conducting a study, or delivering a 1/2 hour discourse and it feels like Deja Vu. I think I'm developing mental problems as a result. The thing is, most people don't need to sit somewhere going over some chapter in a poorly written book for a half hour for encouragement. Think about it.......we study the lesson the night before. The Reader reads the paragraphs. The Conductor asks the questions, with half the answer within the question. Someone answers the question. All of this is done with microphones for amplified results. Thats NOT encouragement. That's indoctrination. Thats reinforcement. Thats memory training which may stamp the information in the brain, but it does very little for the figurative heart other than "weigh it down". By the way you may know me. We very well may have crossed paths. I'm a fan of a team in the AFC that was successful within the past decade.

LifeisTooshort I don't know what your present situation is like, but its nice when you realize the problem isnt you. Sometimes I don't even know if its them? Its this whole culture of JWism placing importance on organizational matters as opposed to love. Love for God and Neighbor have been downplayed into stat sheets. Field service time, placements, your publisher record card, meeting attendance, peak publishers, bible studies, it all starts to look like the back of baseball cards after a while. So your never actually playing the game as much as your compiling, collecting, and monitoring your stats. So there is no time for actual affection or displaying genuine love because your too busy playing your role as an Elder, Pioneer, Elder's wife ( I don't know how women tolerate that), Publisher, etc.. Then you take into the social dynamics of a congregation, and if you don't fit in with certain social clicks, your a misfit. Ironic isnt it, your treated as a misfit, by people who are considered misfits by most other people who live normal lives today. Then the oppressive misfit class can't understand when you don't want to be apart of this toxic culture anymore. Laughable if it wasnt so tragic.

MeetingJunkie- thanks I try to post when i can, just too busy. Way too busy. I post at work or later in the evening when at home if I have nothing going on. But thank you.

Thanks to all for your input. The next few months, I'm gonna need it.

24

Missing meetings due to the weather, and then attending meetings is making me Bipolar I think.

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

without divulging too much information about myself, i'm on the east coast, up north.

we've been hammered by snow storms, and from what i hear we've got another one on the way tommorrow night.

this month, i've missed 4 meetings total.

miseryloveselders

Without divulging too much information about myself, I'm on the East Coast, up north. We've been hammered by snow storms, and from what I hear we've got another one on the way tommorrow night. This month, I've missed 4 meetings total. 3 Tuesday night meetings, and one Sunday. I got 4 hours of field circus this month, two of which I'm lying about. You know I've never felt better in my life. Granted I'm sick of shoveling. Between shoveling for my personal parking spot, and helping older neighbors on my block, to slipping and falling, trudging through the snow and slush, making up hours at work, a fender bender that a hillbilly autobody shop overcharged me to repair, shopping for my parents, .....I'm about sick of this weather. And its early yet. Still got March and April and we get snow here during those months too.

However, call me crazy, but the night before a meeting when I'm watching the news and the weather girl comes on and says we've got a low pressure system developing from the south, I get all tingly inside. Then she says the potential for 3-6 inches.......my ears perk up.........then she says starting between 5pm-6pm.............call me Caligula. Granted that means its going to be a nightmare getting home from work, but thats ok!!!! Because its guaranteed the PO (I still call him that) is going to call me and say, "I talked with the other brothers and we're thinking about cancelling." He calls it , "thinking about cancelling". Translation: he's spineless and worried I'm pious enough to question his spirituality for even considering such a thing. Little does he know, I've been expecting his call, and looking forward to it. I reassure him, "yeah we need to cancel. The roads are getting bad out there." It gives me so much joy to call those in my group and tell them the real "good news." Thank you white manna from the sky! Thank you arctic cocaine from the heavenly Bolivia! I can relax for a change. I actually sleep better on non-meeting nights. When a meeting is cancelled its like I've over-dosed on Ambien. Serenity. Peace.

Eventually though, the weather gets better. The sun comes out, and the roads are clear. Full of pot holes, but driveable. I've been to two meetings this month, and now I'm completely miserable again. The concluding chapter and final study in the book Keep Yourself In God's Love, talks about how Jehovah has given us "hope" , and not to let "Satan's old system" make us "negative." Whats ironic to me is this system doesnt make me negative. I deal with it. Accept it for what it is, and deal with it. What makes me negative, is these meetings, which are often about meetings. We apply Hebrews 10:24-25 at meetings. You understand what I'm saying? We have meetings about meetings, for the sake of being in harmony with a minute section of the Apostle Paul's letter that dealt with group support. Not only that, but I go in service as a Christian to preach to other Christians. Or its some adult who can't handle life's simple problems that calls me in the middle of the night because she feels guilty for watching and enjoying House. Its all so repetitive and time consuming. Its not encouraging. It's depressing. Its all a waste ot time. The past week and a half I feel like my life is coming to a close. My chest feel like I swallowed a tennis ball as I'm typing this.

Why is it that the religion or faith that is supposed to give you comfort or hope, is the very thing that makes you contemplate stepping in front of a bus with hardly any traffic around, or leaving your car running in the garage while you sit and wait for the exhaust to put you out of your misery? I miss meetings and I feel great. I attend meetings, and I leave disgruntled, angry, cheated, dissillusioned, even somewhat suicidal. Not that I would ever do that. At least not now. But you ever feel like this? Did it ever get to this point in your life while still in? Feel like I'm breaking.

28

Counting heads at the Watchtower Study

by Sour Grapes in

i was sitting in the back of the hall on sunday morning.

and about 30 minutes into the watchtower study two.

brothers get up to take a head count.

miseryloveselders

I guess its different at every hall, but I thought policy-wise that the count was to be done once in the early session, and by one brother only. The brother who sits in the lobby, is to keep a number on any who leave or come in after the count was taken. Then for the second half, they just add or subtract from the original count.

Those to be counted are any who are able to learn or benefit. Children who can understand even a little are to be counted. That's left up to the attendant's discresion.

Speaking personally, I liked counting just cuz it gave a reason to get up and an excuse to go out to the lobby, or the kitchen/multipurpose room/whatever you want to call it. Usually other like minded brothers would already be out there shooting the breeze about nothing. Funny thinking back about a WT lesson that touched on violence, and in I'm talking with two others about the boxing match from the night before.