i was just watching one of the videos on watchtower comments regarding the growing number of partakers at the memorial celebrations each year.
made me wonder what the tally was this year?
anyone have the stats yet?.
Thanks for the posts. I figured it would be in the yearbook or the OKM but I thought we might have some insiders around with inside scoop.
You guys are funny, "one for sure" and "one less for sure". Both answers make me grin.
Love the idea of the pool for the closest to the number of partakers. That could get some traction.
Thanks again,
The_Present_Truth
i was just watching one of the videos on watchtower comments regarding the growing number of partakers at the memorial celebrations each year.
made me wonder what the tally was this year?
anyone have the stats yet?.
I was just watching one of the videos on Watchtower Comments regarding the growing number of partakers at the Memorial Celebrations each year. Made me wonder what the tally was this year? Anyone have the stats yet?
Thanks!
The_Present_Truth
my favorite character is sawyer.
such a smartass.
my favorite episode was when hurley won the lottery.. .
Sawyer is easily my favorite of the guys. Kate is my favorite of the chicks. Just got done watching it tonight. Hate to see the series come to an end. It's been the most intriguing series I've ever watched.
The_Present_Truth
just a couple more gems from the recent co visit:.
in his meeting with elders / ms, he was warning of the "dangers" of the internet.
following is a more or less accurate quotation:.
When is the April 15th WT lesson with the new "generation" teaching scheduled to be studied at the WT lesson? Anyone know?
Thanks!
The_Present_Truth
... that i just remembered.
it has been brought up in one of the many enlightening posts here, but i wanted to just share what he said.. the co was speaking about how the org growth has somewhat tapered off and not seeing the large increases as before (too bad we don't have a talk about how many that have left!
) and that the org is now 7+mil active members (yes, he said active specifically).
In that case we're halfway there.
just got back from memorial.
only went so that i could say to my parents that i had gone and to remind myself why i left.. oh my word!!!
it was sooooo painful.. got there a bit late - it was a couple of minutes into the talk.
This is the first year ever that I didn't receive an invite - not even a phone call from my parents. I guess my repetitive words to them over the last few months, "this religion will never,ever be part of my life again" - has finally sunk in. My dad likely gave the memorial talk, he always does. Sighhh ...
On the songs ... have to say I'm glad I missed out on the new songs. I haven't heard a praiseworthy thing about them. That always baffled me. With all the resources that the WTBTS had in Brooklyn, could they not come up with some songs that were more jubilant and praising of Jehovah and Jesus. Songs that were happy in nature and could not be mistaken for anything else? Instead, they come up with these flat, somber songs (with the exception of a few). They need to take a lesson from these folks down here in the South. They know how to sing praises! I don't attend any other churches but occasionally I'll be flipping through the channels and see them on the weekends. It's a whole different feeling. Did it ever strike you odd that these other religions are so happy and jubilant in their praises and the witnesses for the most part were so monotone and somber in theirs?
The_Present_Truth
the society would sell the land and claim insurance.
no need to fire 1,000 bethelites so they could move to watchtower farms.
they would claim we are "near the end of the system" and satan is attacking god's people.
Actually this thought had crossed my mind. The bigger question in my mind if something like this "were" to happen and say all the Governing Body members were killed in the same day by the event is "what is the protocol in that situation"? Who would step in and provide the proper food at the proper time? Cough........
The_Present_Truth
from jw.org, here is the new definition of the generation from the april 15, 2010 watchtower.. .
article: holy spirits role in the outworking of jehovahs purpose.
13 third, holy spirit is at work in bringing bible.
Can't resist ....
Opening song for the April 15, 2010 Watchtower lesson on "This Generation" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=594WLzzb3JI&feature=related
Sing it with me now!"Talkin 'bout my generation ...my generation!!!(or maybe your generation, or the one after) ...."
the thread on commentary on the book of james started this experience, thread link here....... i didnt want to hijack that thread.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/188186/1/commentary-on-the-letter-of-james.
mythbuster posted this paragraph from the book, which i shared with my dad.
Hi Misery,
I can relate to the thoughts you expressed here. My experience was this: The more tasks I took on, the less I was able to actually sit in a meeting and absorb what was being discussed. If I was running the sound box I was focused on the microphones and what was going on with them or song preparation etc. I wasn't really focused on the lesson being discussed.
There seems to be a free pass if you're putting in certain kinds of "work service". I usually gave 2-3 talks per week either on the School or Service meeting. Add up prep time and then time spent during the meeting thinking about the delivery of them and delivering them and you can see how one's focus is centered on the task or work at hand vs. the entire menu of the meeting.
KH builds ...enjoyable for sure. I enjoyed everyone and there was a "credit" for time spent there towards my hours as a pioneer. I forget now what it was. (Been a while.) If I missed a meeting to build a KH no problem. If I had been missing meetings to build a habitat for humanity house or some other community service like working at a local food bank - I guarantee they wouldn't have let that slide.
Bethel was the same way. I spent a month out there on temp work. As long as you showed up on top for morning worship wearing a suit and got to work on time, and did a proper "hospital corner" when you made your bed in the morning, it was easy to disappear in the sea of brothers and sisters out there. No one had a clue whether the temps were making the meetings, going in service, or going down to China Town. What would get noticed is if you weren't showing up for work. You were there to work and don't forget it.
The WTBTS and JW's are a "task oriented" /"works based" organization. Now I have no problem with work or works.Both have merit as long as they're kept in perspective. Like I said, I enjoyed much of what I was assigned to do at that time in my life. Here's the problem, what good was I doing? Do you know that I have had more meaningful opportunities to "witness" since I left the "organization"?
Time is our most valuable asset. It is finite. It's the only thing we can't buy more of or replace once it's gone. So ask yourself, "How do I want to spend my time in this life?"
I'm not sure if you have a family or not, but if you do, wouldn't your time be better spent being a good dad or husband and looking after the needs of your household vs. spending 10-15 hours a week preparing talks or sitting on committees for the "organization" and it's agenda? If you have surplus time left after taking care of family needs, probably the next best thing to spend it on is the ministry (if we really wanted to present a contradictory argument to your dad about how best to spend your time). But I don't mean going out with the goal of putting literature in the hands of people. I'm talking about having conversations with people you meet in everyday life, getting to know them, what's good or bad in their life, sharing some hope with them from the scriptures out of genuine concern, becoming the person in your community that people look to for unbiased comfort and truth. I've found that every person I've ever met has their own story, and for the most part they want to tell it. So let them. One of my CO's said once that "People need to know how much you care before they care how much you know." He was one of the few who had a clue. Most are dismissive about what the householder or fellow member of the congregation may say, quick to quote a scripture or article as to what they need to "do". Sometimes people just need us to listen.
Do you realize that about the only thing an individual can't do in the "organization" if they're not an elder is participate in judicial committees? As far as looking after our brothers and strengthening them or participating in the any facet of the ministry - that could all be done as a publisher. A regular pioneer in my time was just a publisher who spent 90 hours each month in the field service. I think now it's like 70?
You don't have to have a title to be the guy that people need. I'm pretty sure Jehovah would agree with that. That raod that you're getting ready to embark on isn't cold and it certainly doesn't have to be lonely. The notion of lonely stems from that dang seed they plant in our heads that we'll lose everyone in our life because they'll tell them they can't talk to us etc. Guess what? People are human, they'll talk to you at some point. If they don't let them own that not you. They're schmucks if that's the choice they make. I don't have a ton of friendships outside my family today just because of the obligations it can present on my time. Plenty of offers though to go hunting, fishing, travelling etc. I just make it a point now to do everything I can with my wife. What spare time I have after that is available for others.
You're the man. You'll be fine.
The_Present_Truth
any takers?.
African GB Member, When you say "what happens" ...what do you mean? Do you mean "what happens to the wrongdoer in the big picture - as in their fate?" Or do you mean "what happens as far as a decision being rendered, handed down, announced?". TPT
