respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  17

  A JW mother and her children just came to my door......

  by haboob48 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  first of all let me say that i choked!

  i choked because i told myself if they came back that i would have a field day!

  didn't happen.

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  respectful_observer

  I let her know that YES, I had been researching her religion, all the way back to the beginning and it was very interesting in deed. She let me know there is only "ONE" official site I should be looking at JW.org and none other.

  "That's an interesting perspective. Can I ask you what kind of car you drive?"

  "Uh, I drive a <insert any 4-door model>."

  "Really! Well I'm shopping for a car right now. I went to the dealer yesterday and the salesperson told me 'You should only research this model on OUR website and by reading OUR brochures. Anything else you read online about it is most likely untrue and propaganda spread by unhappy former owners.'

  What do you think? Should I follow the salesman's advice and buy that car?"

  (Allow for response.)
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  27

  2013 January Our Kingdom Ministry!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  2013 january our kingdom ministry.click the link in the blue box by the blue arrow..http://www.sendspace.com/file/oo2c6k..click the link below and when the next page appears click slow download..http://www.fileswap.com/dl/vkqa8zbgwd/...click the link below and when the next page appears look to your left and click the link thats says (2013 january okm pdf.http://www.fileflyer.com/view/7pzmmbg...atlantis

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  respectful_observer

  For several months the highlights section has been an absolute joke.

  What do you mean?! Shouldn't we all encouraged by the "new peaks" that seem to continually get set in the Turks and Caicos??

  As for this perhaps bolstering the rumor of no more 3-day DCs...I'm a little relieved. I was starting to feel like I'd started a baseless rumor here a few months ago. Time will tell I guess. I still could end up looking like a fool!

  R_O
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  52

  So Do You Think The Economy Will Change For The Better, Remain The Same Or Get Worse?

  by minimus in

  1. social
  2. current

  what's your prediction?.

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  respectful_observer

  McDonalds sales just dropped for the first time since 2003. Doesn't sound good.

  Actually, McDonald's stock price RISING has been considered an ominous omen for the economy in the past, believe it or not! (People can’t afford a normal healthy lunch, so they cave and get a cheeseburger off the Value Menu.) So having it drop might actually be a positive signal for the economy!
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  30

  How Do You Respond When JWs Say There Is MORE Growth Than Ever Before?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i hear that comment from my mom that there are more baptisms, more magazines placed, more of everything!

  (a sign of jah's blessing)..

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  respectful_observer

  You could always ask her: "If growth is a sign of Jehovah's blessing, why is the Mormon faith and Islam both growing at a faster rate than JWs? Does that mean that he's blessing those faiths more than theWTS?"

  If she answers no, ask her to explain WHY their (faster) growth isn't a sign of God's blessing in their case, but it is the case of JWs.

  R_O
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  8

  Conventions in 2013 will continue to add to Watchtower Bible and Tract Societies' bottom line.

  by Balaamsass in

  1. social
  2. current

  this headline came up on google alerts at work today.

  i was unaware that some cities pay watchtower to hold conventions.

  combined with the standard travel agency 10% hotel room commission, cash, and credit card revenues....= a tidy profit!!!!.

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  respectful_observer

  Strangely enough, something tells me that even after Raleigh pays them $150,000, they somehow still get the announcement on Sunday that they're running a deficit for that weekend!

  R_O
• 
  35

  Do the elders have "clear direction" that it's ok to use an ipad at meetings?

  by nochoice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i read this post more than a year ago: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/212313/1/watchtower-publications-for-ipad.

  since i saw it, i've been waiting for the first brother or sister to show up at the hall with an ipad to see what happens.

  a little here and there at the conventions and assemblies.

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  respectful_observer

  Mr. Falcon....that's hysterical. It reminds me of something YEARS ago. A brother who'd moved cross-country for a hi-tech job dropped the meeting for a visit. (This was just after the first WT CD-ROM) was released.) He proceeded to fire up his laptop, plug it into the wall (this was a long time ago) and furiously take notes throught the Public Talk. Then when it came time for the WT Study, he started raising his hand and citing obscure references straight off his screen, all the while loudly clacking away on his keyboard. The conductor (my dad) fell for it twice, then just stopped calling on him.
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  35

  Do the elders have "clear direction" that it's ok to use an ipad at meetings?

  by nochoice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i read this post more than a year ago: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/212313/1/watchtower-publications-for-ipad.

  since i saw it, i've been waiting for the first brother or sister to show up at the hall with an ipad to see what happens.

  a little here and there at the conventions and assemblies.

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  respectful_observer

  I think it all depends on the congregation. I've been to halls where maybe only 5 people are using an iPad or tablet. In my congregation, it's probably closer to 15-20% (elders and MS included). In fact during last week's Bible study, the person sitting next to me nudged me and pointed out that he was the only person out of 8 people in the row that WASN'T using an iPad. It made me laugh because the School Overseer TM had to quickly put his away when it was his turn to conduct The School since they are forbidden on stage.
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  24

  Jonathan Holt's wife, Amanda Holt

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/court-wife-of-jonathan-holt-files-for-divorce/_yrllehsfuau05kwm4bobw.cspx.

  http://www.kgw.com/home/jonathan-holts-wife-files-for-divorce-176341531.html.

  http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/divorce-filing-wife-of-man-charged-in-ore-death-3991648.php.

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  respectful_observer

  I haven’t been able to identify any static approach when it comes congregation judicial action where a J-dub’s been arrested for a crime.

  I’ve seen cases where a member of the congregation is publicly reproved after an arrest with the explanation that “since the community knows it has to be public reproof.” Which would make total sense, except I’ve also seen cases where a well-respected J-dub is arrested for a serious violent crime, and in the months/years of pre-trial, no announcement is made to the cong about any judicial action.

  The reasons given by an elder in the cong?:

  “You don’t know, maybe the elders have dealt with it privately.”

  “But his arrest and arraignment were all over the news. Everyone knows, so should any reproof be announced to the cong?”

  “Usually yes, but they may be waiting until he’s found guilty or innocent in court.”

  “So you’re saying judicial action by the elders will hinge upon whether a ‘worldly’ court finds him innocent or guilty first?”

  “Well no, of course not.”

  “So you’re saying if a jury finds him innocent of the charges, he won’t get DF’d?”

  “Probably.”

  “So HOW is it that the cong’s judicial process isn’t being influenced by a ‘worldly’ court?”
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  20

  Has the rescent change in the identity of the FDS been released in print yet

  by A.M. Number 1 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just wondering what wt issue has actually put it down in print.

  i know that some of my jw frineds already know about it, but they didn't tell me if it was an announcement at the hall or actually in the wt..

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  respectful_observer

  I was speaking with an elder the other day and he mentioned how he needed to go over the baptism questions with someone the next day. I asked him how the person should answer the baptism question of "who is the 'faithful and discreet slave'? Are they supposed to reply with what the book and all current literature says, or should they reply with the information delivered at the Annual Meeting?" He said, "it doesn't really matter-- as long as it close to one of the two."

  I just laughed, shook my head and reminded him that when I went over the questions years ago, I provided the response that is now the Nooo Lite TM , and that he had to spend several minutes talking me around to the (now) Old Lite. I asked him, had "I actually been right the first time those years ago?"

  "No, not really, because it wasn't the current understanding at the time."
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  104

  Whitney Heichel - first hand account from congregation member on Facebook

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why, he even has gone to some meetings at their kingdom hall!

  someone calls with a large wedding tent that they would like to donate and set up in the kingdom hall parking lot for the public memorial on friday.

  i was amazed how people who came that didnt even know whitney, but simply felt a need to be here and comfort the family.

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  respectful_observer

  It's always moving when any community comes together and pulls together during a crisis-- this included.

  A few things jumped out at me:

  - "The Chief of Police has said that it is obvious that “God is with you people” (Where was he for Whitney that morning?)

  - "'With all of Jehovah’s direction and support this week, he isn’t about to let it rain.' Sure enough, it didn’t rain that day!"

  - "The chief of police said that the next time someone goes missing in Portland, he is going to call on Jehovah’s Witnesses." (He's welcome to, he just better not expect to see the same level of response.)

  - "The district overseer gave a very good half hour talk." (Glad to know someone who knew her and her family was able to do that. Of course does it really matter who gives that half hour talk since it's always the same strict outline being followed?)