WtWizard, If I remember correctly we were told to respond to "Merry Christmas" with " I hope you have a nice holiday, or break", which only confused those who were not JW`s.
All the best
Paul UK
zzaphod
JoinedPosts by zzaphod
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32
Are these things still frowned upon/banned?.
by zzaphod inthinking back, there were a few things i was told then, that now seem rather odd and petty.
i was wondering if these thing are common in the wts or was it just that my girlfriend at the time was a pioneer, and her father was an elder.
(so perhap a bit more "enthusiastic" than others).
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32
Are these things still frowned upon/banned?.
by zzaphod inthinking back, there were a few things i was told then, that now seem rather odd and petty.
i was wondering if these thing are common in the wts or was it just that my girlfriend at the time was a pioneer, and her father was an elder.
(so perhap a bit more "enthusiastic" than others).
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zzaphod
Thinking back, there were a few things I was told then, that now seem rather odd and petty. I was wondering if these thing are common in the WTS or was it just that my girlfriend at the time was a pioneer, and her father was an Elder. (so perhap a bit more "enthusiastic" than others)
Not allowed to toast the Bride/Bridegroom/Bridesmaids etc at my sister`s wedding (very embarrasing).
Wedding Anniversary cards could not have pictures of bells/candles/horseshoes etc. (wedding Ann. cards and get well cards were the only ones I can remember you could send).
Standing in a group outside a restaurant to say grace (rather than privately).
Not wishing someone "good luck".
And many others I`ve probably forgot, perhaps others can add to the list.
In the end, I was running on auto-pilot, so I couldn`t be bothered to question the reasons behind these rules.
It must be said that although they were "sticklers" for these small things, they had no problem bending rules of the world, ie tax arrangements etc.
All the best
Paul UK
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9
Time To Vent Part 2: So I've Been Studying With My Wife...
by tryingtoexit in...for the past month or so, and i've been showing my wife little by little why i am no longer "living" as a witness.
so far...she has been very receptive, understanding my points, and hasnt been giving me any trouble.
i think she's really getting it, but then today comes.... she says "i see all the flaws of this religion and i respect your feelings, but this is the best way that i want to worship".
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zzaphod
Things must be very frustrating for you right now, I hope that things work out for you. If nothing else, keep letting off steam here. There is a vast amount of knowledge and understanding in the people here, and we all hope that you find the right answers to your problems.
All the Best
Paul UK
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1
Anyone listen to The Overcomer Ministry?
by zzaphod ini sometimes listen to this chap (brother stair) on my shortwave set, he`s on the air on 6.110mhz and audible here in the uk between about 14.00 and 17.00 gmt.. or can be heard on his website (i won`t post a link, because it`s the messiest website i`ve seen, and for some reason causes my pc to hang), but you can find it via google if interested.. i ask this question in the entertainment section, because although he rambles on about the last generation, yahweh, and the rest, he`s also a bit of a conspiracy nut.. i find him entertaining, even funny at times.. if nothing else this chap is devoted to his message, i don`t think i could really take him seriously as a minister though.. i was wondering if he has a large following in the usa, he`s based in walterboro, north carolina.. i`ve travelled around the south east of the usa a couple of times, including nc, but i don`t remember hearing him on the am band when i was last there.. btw talk radio in america is the funniest thing i`ve ever heard, much better than our stuffy, and definitely un-funny bbc, which sounds more and more like pravda as time goes by.. .
all the best.
paul uk.
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zzaphod
I sometimes listen to this chap (Brother Stair) on my shortwave set, he`s on the air on 6.110Mhz and audible here in the Uk between about 14.00 and 17.00 GMT.
Or can be heard on his website (I won`t post a link, because it`s the messiest website I`ve seen, and for some reason causes my pc to hang), but you can find it via Google if interested.
I ask this question in the entertainment section, because although he rambles on about the Last Generation, Yahweh, and the rest, he`s also a bit of a conspiracy nut.
I find him entertaining, even funny at times.
If nothing else this chap is devoted to his message, I don`t think I could really take him seriously as a minister though.
I was wondering if he has a large following in the USA, he`s based in Walterboro, North Carolina.
I`ve travelled around the South East of the USA a couple of times, including NC, but I don`t remember hearing him on the AM band when I was last there.
BTW talk radio in America is the funniest thing I`ve ever heard, much better than our stuffy, and definitely un-funny BBC, which sounds more and more like Pravda as time goes by.
All the best
Paul Uk
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74
Just don't know what to do.
by Weeping ini disagree on some doctrine with the organisation.
yet, i also know these are the kindest,most loving people on earth.
such people must be guided by the holy spirit.
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zzaphod
Weeping, No-one here can tell you what to do. All we can do is share our experiences. When I left the JW`s I definately "lived life to the full" for perhaps a decade, and one day it caught up with me. I had a Cocaine induced Cardiac Arrest at the age of 37. Luckily, I survived, (a bit obvious that), but from that day onwards I never touched an illegal drug, and I dramatically cut back on the alcohol intake, ( I went from getting drunk every night, to a six pack every other week).
Everyone is different, all I can say is that if you are happy within the organisation, then that`s your choice. But try to keep an open mind about everything, not everyone in "The World" is a raving, drug addled Satan worshiper, the vast majority of people are normal, and just want to live their lives with a degree of hapiness.
I think the fact that you`ve posted here shows you are not entirely sure what to do. I hope you make the correct choice for you, whatever that may be.
All The Best
Paul UK
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10
Mill Hill Cong a CHARITY under the umbrella CHARITY the Watchtower???? What the?
by Aussie Oz insince when did the wbts or any congregations etc become registered charities?
just read the pdf on the 'charity' form the thread on mill hill disfellowshipping an d didn't want to hijack it with this question.. what in the name of god is going on here?????????????????????.
can somebody explain the why?
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zzaphod
Unfortunately it doesn`t seeem that the Javascript parts of that report are postable, this is what they claim to do -
ARRANGING MEETINGS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, WHICH INCLUDES BIBLE EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN CHRISTIAN LIVING. PREACHING THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC WITHIN THE CONGREGATION AREA. DISTRIBUTING BIBLES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LITERATURE; ALSO GIVING PASTORAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CONGREGATION AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY. ALL OF THESE SERVICES AND FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE.
Paul UK
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10
Mill Hill Cong a CHARITY under the umbrella CHARITY the Watchtower???? What the?
by Aussie Oz insince when did the wbts or any congregations etc become registered charities?
just read the pdf on the 'charity' form the thread on mill hill disfellowshipping an d didn't want to hijack it with this question.. what in the name of god is going on here?????????????????????.
can somebody explain the why?
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zzaphod
I`ve come across the Charity commision report on a local KH, thought you might be interested.
XXXXXXX - XXXXXXX, XXXXXXXX CONGREGATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES DUE DOCUMENTS RECEIVED Activities ! ! Where it operates ! ! Annual Update for 31 Mar 2009:
received 01 Jan 2010 This screen uses the Adobe Flash Player to display charts of this data. If you cannot see these charts you can get the Adobe Flash Player by clicking the logo on the right.Financial history ! Compliance history ! Financial summary !
Financial year end (FYE) Income Spending Accounts received Annual Return/Annual Update received 31 Mar 2009 £8,051 £10,382 Not Required 01 Jan 2010 ** 31 Mar 2008 £8,859 £9,747 Not Required 21 Dec 2008 ** 31 Mar 2007 £9,379 £20,866 30 Jan 2009 (365 days late) 04 Nov 2007 31 Mar 2006 £10,413 £5,906 29 Dec 2006 29 Dec 2006 31 Mar 2005 £10,825 £6,230 13 Jan 2006 13 Jan 2006 ** Annual Update received - charity below Annual Return £10,000 threshold for this financial year
Paul Uk
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2
JEHOVAH: What's In a Name?
by Cold Steel inthe jehovah's witnesses used to place a great deal of stock in the fact that they used god's name frequently whereas most christians were content to substitute the term "lord.
" their bibles are rife with the term "jehovah" and many combine the name with the title "god" to the point it sounds bizarre to others.
thus it is "jehovah-god" did thus and so and "jehovah-god" commanded moses to do this and that.
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zzaphod
From The Oxford Companion to the Bible p343 under the heading "Jehovah" -
"An artificially constructed name for Israel`s God first attested in sixteenth century CE Christian texts...Renaissance Christian tradition erroneously combined the consonsonants of Yahweh and the vowels of adonay to produce "Jehovah" - Steven Friesen
Further explained here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Judaism
Paul UK
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Door knocking in difficult territories.
by LeeT ini live in a 'difficult territory', though there is a kingdom hall only 15 minutes walk away.. how do jw's deal with door knocking in difficult territories?.
our door can be hard to hear if people come knocking but there is usually somebody home.
i haven't seen a jw at my door in 10 years or so.. now most of you would think that was great i know, but it would be good to meet them in the flesh occasionally, without having to go to the hall or arrange a study.. .
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zzaphod
I don`t know why, but I live about 12 miles South of you, and my parents get a call about once a year, (I don`t get any being an Apostate!). I remember when I was in the cult in the `70s & `80s we would often cover an area every other month.
Perhaps, they`re not as keen on following up on "Not at homes" as they were in my times with them.
The ethnic make up where I live is almost the opposite of Bradford with 70 odd % professing to be CofE or other Christian, and approx 12% Muslim, the rest being of other faiths/no faith.
Paul UK
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46
In your own words ... what is the truth?
by sacolton inin one sentence, can you define what the real "truth" is?
not the watchtower version (we all know what that is)..
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zzaphod
...By God`s grace.