i would like to know from anyone who has left bethel .
do the brothers give the people leaving bethel an employment reference , and how is it worded ?
i would prefer to think that if someone is asked to leave due to downsizing , or restructuring , that the bros do everything they can to enable that one to find employment and cope outside .
I would like to know from anyone who has left Bethel . Do the brothers give the people leaving Bethel an employment reference , and how is it worded ? I would prefer to think that if someone is asked to leave due to downsizing , or restructuring , that the bros do everything they can to enable that one to find employment and cope outside . Are they given any other provisions or money when they leave ?
Thanks ,
Leo999
please suggest an answer to this conversation stopper: i sent the first statement and he responded with the 2nd statement:.
equivocation:.
the bible forbids "taking in" blood.
Hi Maputo ,
Ask him if he is a vegan . As unless he eats only kosher meat and avoids milk which can contain white blood cells he is not abstaining from blood , so is a hypocrite .Anyone knows that it is impossible to drain all blood from a carcass , only the life blood is poured out , by slitting the throat . Anyone that eats meat consumes some blood .
Have him reason on Lev 17 :15 , where an alien or a native Israelite could eat a dead animal , which hadnt been bled . The command was to wash not be put to death . Is a Blood transfusion to save life , taking 'dead blood' which is freely given in anycase .Are the scriptures talking about an animals life blood being poured out to show respect for life and for the animal being killed .
Leo999
so looking at the worldwide report , the baptisms are down , many countries are 0 growth ,publishers, hours , and studies up because of changes in reporting methods .
but just how long can the propping up of numbers happen for , before the real downward slide starts ?
a year or two tops , which will be real close to 2014 .
A lot of replies here . I was always puzzled about the importance that the society put on numbers , I mean who really cares a lot about hours , except for the burden of having to get ones hours in ! And in anycase , these hours will most likely be grossly inflated , inaccurate anyway .No one will round their hours down , always up to look better , so the whole thing is a falsehood .
In anycase , shouldn't the society who prides themselves on following Bible principles , reflect on the account in 2 sam 24 .David counted all of the nation in a census , and although he realised he had sinned and appologized , he was given a choice of 3 punishments . Jehovah 's angel struck down 70,000 people by pestilence ! So , what does one glean from that ? That strength is not in numbers , nor should our reliance be on people .
It would seem also on reflecting on Gideon 's 300 men used , that small numbers of loyal people are more important to Jehovah .Surely it cannot be right to boast in numbers .
But they do change and make it easy now . Many years ago , it was 175 hours for a special , 100 for a regular pioneer , and 75 for a 'vacation pioneer' .Those hours were hard to get in !
Im thinking that apart from more hour reductions for pioneers , there isnt alot more they have left as wiggle room . It will certainly be interesting if there is a big drop in the next year or two , to see if they pull all publishing of any year totals !
Leo999
so looking at the worldwide report , the baptisms are down , many countries are 0 growth ,publishers, hours , and studies up because of changes in reporting methods .
but just how long can the propping up of numbers happen for , before the real downward slide starts ?
a year or two tops , which will be real close to 2014 .
Gayle , this will be my 6th month without reporting any FS , even longer for hubby . So Im guessing they no longer count us as publishers ? Now in our cong , there are now 8 'inactive ' ones of the conscious class' . Now when I was asked about it by an elder , I told him that it bothered my conscience to count a couple of hours for FS when all the speaking I had done was 10 mins . He didnt have any answer . Of course I didnt tell him all the rest of the reasons :) In our cong we have had no baptized ones come in from the territory , only kids , youngest was 9 :(
i have read on this site that if you write to ray, he will reply.
i was skeptical about this, so i wrote him about how much i appreciated reading the book crisis of conscience and thanked him for his time and effort in writing and documenting his experiences in bethel.
after a few weeks with no reply, i thought that i would never get one.
I must say how wonderful Rays book C of C is , for me this book was a total revelation and there was no going back afterwards . His total humility and love for God and Christ just shine through , just as much as his complete lack of rancour and bitterness . I will never get a chance to meet him , but if I did , I would want to throw my arms around him and say THANK YOU RAY .
Just wondering , does he ever get to post on here or is he in facebook or on a Christian forum or anything ?
Leo 999
so looking at the worldwide report , the baptisms are down , many countries are 0 growth ,publishers, hours , and studies up because of changes in reporting methods .
but just how long can the propping up of numbers happen for , before the real downward slide starts ?
a year or two tops , which will be real close to 2014 .
Thanks Cattails for the welcome and nice to be here :)
Megatron , I remember a yearbook a few years ago , it was full of zeros , looked awful ! Now when the countries are quickly scanned , there are no Zeros , just blanks , so it gives a better 'feel ' .
Wizard and Think about it ...Yes , you are right . I think what drove it home for me , was to see the paperback Bibles now produced . There is something that doesnt seem to sit right with me to have a paperback bible . Maybe Im the only one , but Gods word shouldnt be done on the cheap , just my personal feelings .
Leo999
so looking at the worldwide report , the baptisms are down , many countries are 0 growth ,publishers, hours , and studies up because of changes in reporting methods .
but just how long can the propping up of numbers happen for , before the real downward slide starts ?
a year or two tops , which will be real close to 2014 .
So looking at the worldwide report , the baptisms are down , many countries are 0 growth ,publishers, hours , and studies up because of changes in reporting methods . But just how long can the propping up of numbers happen for , before the real downward slide starts ? A year or two tops , which will be real close to 2014 . Plus the Generation change , will surely make many more wake up ...
What do you all feel ?
leo999
i always have felt that the meetings at the kh lacked any spirit , were more like an academic exercises , with boring speakers lacking any enthusiam .
there seemed to never be any holy spirit flowing or if there was , it bypassed me !!.
coming out now from this , i have to admit being a little scared by some of the services i have only heard about , where they say the holy spirit is poured out , as it is sooo different to what we have been used to .. so i guess what i'm trying to ask is , have any of you ever had an ' experience ' or received the holy spirit , and you knew for sure it was that , and can you share how you knew and what it felt like ?.
Hi ,
I always have felt that the meetings at the KH lacked any spirit , were more like an academic exercises , with boring speakers lacking any enthusiam . There seemed to never be any Holy spirit flowing or if there was , it bypassed me !!
Coming out now from this , I have to admit being a little scared by some of the services I have only heard about , where they say the holy spirit is poured out , as it is sooo different to what we have been used to .
So I guess what i'm trying to ask is , have any of you ever had an ' experience ' or received the holy spirit , and you knew for sure it was that , and can you share how you knew and what it felt like ?
hi , i need some help to convince someone that feels the problems all lie with people in our congregaions that are 'imperfect' , but that the fds and the wt are wonderful .
i am doing this over the net , and have sent articles on the spanish bethel .. has anyone any suggestions on subjects / info to undermine their view that all is rosy in the borg ?.
leo 999.
Thanks to you all . Some good stuff to ponder on . I think the main thing I need to do is to take baby steps with people , one wants to naturally tell them the whole awful truth !
Leo 999
hi , i need some help to convince someone that feels the problems all lie with people in our congregaions that are 'imperfect' , but that the fds and the wt are wonderful .
i am doing this over the net , and have sent articles on the spanish bethel .. has anyone any suggestions on subjects / info to undermine their view that all is rosy in the borg ?.
leo 999.
Hi , I need some help to convince someone that feels the problems all lie with people in our congregaions that are 'imperfect' , but that the FDS and the WT are wonderful . I am doing this over the net , and have sent articles on the Spanish bethel .
Has anyone any suggestions on subjects / info to undermine their view that all is rosy in the Borg ?
Thanks ,
Leo 999
