Posts by garyneal

25

College and the Watchtower: Remember One Thing

by metatron in

jw
friends

if any of you lurkers listen to a rant by the society against college, remember one thing:.

the brother giving the talk is probably an utter hypocrite.. there are a few exceptions but consider that many elders are financially secure - which allows them to be elders.

while they talk about not planning for the future because armageddon 'is so close', they have pensions, ira's, roth accounts and investments.

garyneal

Actually, money is just one factor in considering a better job. How about health insurance? Paid vacation and time off? Weekends off? Working conditions? Respect in the workplace? Job security? Some people are actually willing to switch jobs with a cut in pay in order to have other advantages.

You're so preaching to the choir, Billy. Never-the-less, she likes her vacations and shopping sprees. Those things don't come free. However, I certainly don't consider her to be money grubby, she just realizes that we need more money if we want to be able to work and have daycare provided (which is by no means cheap), plus have a roof over our head and food on the table while still being able to do some of those extra things. You know like, vacations and eating out and shopping sprees.

21

I love my Congregation and Can't Wait for the District Assembly!

by laverite in

hello my fellow jwners.

i have been going the local unitarian church off and on for a few years.

my kids and i go regularly now and love it.

garyneal

Billy, aren't you still semi active in your cong or have you totally faded?

25

College and the Watchtower: Remember One Thing

by metatron in

jw
friends

if any of you lurkers listen to a rant by the society against college, remember one thing:.

the brother giving the talk is probably an utter hypocrite.. there are a few exceptions but consider that many elders are financially secure - which allows them to be elders.

while they talk about not planning for the future because armageddon 'is so close', they have pensions, ira's, roth accounts and investments.

garyneal

Well said, metatron.

I remember a few years ago my wife wanted to stop going to college and try to get a 'Bible' education. It was a coincidence (NOT) that the prior assembly harped against education in lieu of pioneering (as they always do). So I asked her, "How did elder 'nice guy' get his degree and work as a pharamacist?" "He got his degree before he came into the truth," she replied. "Well, isn't that convenient. Get your degree, get your good job while you are a worldly, then come into the religion with all the benefits of a good education," I said. How sick....

I don't know if that convinced her to go on with her degree or not but she went on with it. Now she realizes the importance of getting a good job with a good income but she still feels guilty about it. Saying she hates being all 'money grubby' and all.

35

Now that Rick is gone......

by outsmartthesystem in

do you think there is any chance we can get 20571pnt428571......8675309....r2d2....10-4 over and out to quit bombarding the message boards with ridiculous apocolpytic fortune telling?

.

garyneal

Honestly, I don't know what there is so much hatred directed towards Rick Fearon.

35

Now that Rick is gone......

by outsmartthesystem in

do you think there is any chance we can get 20571pnt428571......8675309....r2d2....10-4 over and out to quit bombarding the message boards with ridiculous apocolpytic fortune telling?

.

garyneal

His site is up.

3

Modern, contemporary style churches just Jesus worshippers?

by yadda yadda 2 in

jw
friends

after i left the jw's about 5 years ago i decided to visit a few other churches out of curiosity.

i visited some big contemporary style churches, you know, the ones with bands and loads of young people.

i wasn't surprised to see so much emphasis on jesus of course but what struck me was the almost total absence of any emphasis or praise given to the father.

garyneal

Of all the churches I've been to over the years (and I have been to many) there is a mixture. Some use God's name (Jehovah), most don't, the one I attend now occasionally prays to the Holy Spirit (which I find a bit unusual), most focus on Jesus.

245

Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

as i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?

why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?

it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.

garyneal

Well, if you want to see (in action) how little an active witness will actually try to defend the doctrine (while still believing in it), read this thread.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/members/private/194717/1/Getting-understanding-about-the-New-Generation-Light-from-a-JW-Elder

Reader's Digest version:

I wanted him to explain the whole 'this generation' thing just prior to the new light becoming public. I was hoping to commit him to the old light teaching first, but he was aware of the new light. After revealing the flip-flop of the teaching over the years, he simply reverted to saying that they are not about generations but about love of neighbor, God, etc.. Which, logically, I pointed out that this was little different than any other church. I have not heard from him since, even though he promised to get back with me.

16

At the Assembly... Did you catch that talk about encouraging young ones to pursue a career in the ministry? ...and what about that 'murmuring'

by garyneal in

yes, i heard that talk where apparently (in my wife's circuit that is) there are 5 times as many pioneers over 50 or 60 than there are amongst the younger people.

there was also 3 or 4 times as many elders and ms's amongst the elderly than there are amongst young people.

the message, parents, friends, encourage your young ones to pursue an education and a career in the ministry.

garyneal

When I heard that there were so many more pioneers, elders, and MS's amongst the older ones than the younger ones, it made me think that this religion is in decline and it needs to either adapt or die. In regards to encouraging the younger ones to forego college and pursue an education and a career in the ministry, I think Liz Weston's article says it best when it says, "Not everybody can, or should, attend a four-year college. But if you want a decent economic life for yourself, you should get at least some training beyond high school. Anyone who tries to discourage you from getting that doesn't have your best interests at heart."

I could not have said that better myself.

16

At the Assembly... Did you catch that talk about encouraging young ones to pursue a career in the ministry? ...and what about that 'murmuring'

by garyneal in

yes, i heard that talk where apparently (in my wife's circuit that is) there are 5 times as many pioneers over 50 or 60 than there are amongst the younger people.

there was also 3 or 4 times as many elders and ms's amongst the elderly than there are amongst young people.

the message, parents, friends, encourage your young ones to pursue an education and a career in the ministry.

garyneal

And concerning that talk about discouraging young ones from college and career, I think this article is appropriate.

http://money.msn.com/college-savings/ignore-the-talk-college-is-vital-weston.aspx

16

At the Assembly... Did you catch that talk about encouraging young ones to pursue a career in the ministry? ...and what about that 'murmuring'

by garyneal in

yes, i heard that talk where apparently (in my wife's circuit that is) there are 5 times as many pioneers over 50 or 60 than there are amongst the younger people.

there was also 3 or 4 times as many elders and ms's amongst the elderly than there are amongst young people.

the message, parents, friends, encourage your young ones to pursue an education and a career in the ministry.

garyneal

Yes, I heard that talk where apparently (in my wife's circuit that is) there are 5 times as many pioneers over 50 or 60 than there are amongst the younger people. There was also 3 or 4 times as many elders and MS's amongst the elderly than there are amongst young people. The message, parents, friends, encourage your young ones to pursue an education and a career in the ministry. YIKES!

And what about that murmuring that we should all look out for. The example on the stage showed one witness help another understand the overlapping generation non-sense. When I heard that witness explain the whole thing to the one who was questioning it, all I could think of is, "WOW, some people will believe ANYTHING the Watchtower tells them."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmgA5ef5K8s