respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  45

  I heard Jehovah's Witnesses were the first ones on the scene in Boston providing assistance.

  by Theocratic Sedition in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you know those articles from the wt are coming, along with emails from jw friends and family.

  all the shameless self-attaboys, and fictitious observations by non-jws remarking on how jws provided the most and best assistance to the victims..

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  respectful_observer

  I can verify that there were several JWs running the marathon yesterday. Several were within a mile of the finish line when the bombs went off. One of them had crossed the finish line less than 30 seconds after the first bomb went off so was very close. They are all safe and sound.

  I'd post more, but don't want to "out" myself....

  As of JWs being on the scene for "support and comfort" none of the Boston-based JWs that I know have related any such experiences. The media did mention that several people were walking up and down the marathon route sharing Bible verses for comfort.....but they turned out be Lutherans!!!
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  38

  No more big District Conventions?

  by serenitynow! in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so i went to the hall today for a funeral and took a look at the bulletin board.

  i was surprised to see a letter stating the dc for michigan would be held at the local assembly hall instead of the big convention center in ohio where it had been held the past few years.

  have you all heard about this?.

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  respectful_observer

  The conventions in my area are still held at rented areanas. The closest Assembly Hall is in use something like 50 weekends a year, so it would be impossible to also use it for 8 weeks of DCs held here at 5,000+ a piece.
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  21

  Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 04-07-2013 WT Study (HERITAGE)

  by blondie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  2 in his word, god has preserved for the use of.

  18 jehovah has preserved spiritual.

  gods written word contains the truth.

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  respectful_observer

  5 That privilege became part of our spiritual legacy at our convention in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., in 1931. The letters “JW” appeared on the printed program. One sister said: “Speculations were made as to what JW stood for—Just Wait, Just Watch, and the correct one.”

  The person sitting next to me at the meeting nudged me and pointed with their pen at "...Just Wait..." and whispered "Maybe they should switch it to 'Just Wait'; it's what they keep telling us to do at every assembly and convention." We both had a good snicker over that one.
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  10

  We are all under the influence of Satan, that,s why we can,t see the truth.

  by jam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  have you been told that and if so what did you say.

  blinded by the devil until we come back to jehovah organization.

  we will never see the light.

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  respectful_observer

  I would ask "how exactly is Satan influencing me?"

  I find it puzzling that, on the one hand, JWs run are told over and over not to let Satan and the demons influence are thoughts and actions, or that "Satan tempts you when you are weak", yet on the flip side they say that Satan and the demons cannot read our minds, but only see our actions.

  If he can't read people's minds, then how is he tempting/influencing anyone. Unless he's physically possessing someone ( ) then he can't, right? If Satan can only break the Spirit/Physical World barrier (e.g., moving objects), but can't break the Spirit/Mind barrier, then how in the heck are Satan are the demons influencing people?? I have yet been able to have a J-dub provide an answer to this.

  For someone to claim that Satan can't read our thoughts, but somehow influences people mentally...
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  6

  North Korea War and J-Dubs

  by nolongerconfused in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...expect all the rank and file/wt to use this tension to hype up their doomed message.... haven't been to the meetings for 6 months now...any talk of this at your local dingdom hall for active ones?.

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  respectful_observer

  Whenever a JW makes a statement like "conditions have never been worse!" or "with world events lately, this system doesn't have any time left", I like to say, in a very sypathetic tone: "Really? I always think about how bad it was during WWII...hundreds of millions dead, a World War, nuclear weapons being used on civilians, millions being executed in concentration camps. Imagine what the Witnesses thought about how close Armageddon was back then!"

  That usually shuts them up pretty quick.
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  6

  North Korea War and J-Dubs

  by nolongerconfused in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...expect all the rank and file/wt to use this tension to hype up their doomed message.... haven't been to the meetings for 6 months now...any talk of this at your local dingdom hall for active ones?.

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  respectful_observer

  I haven't heard anything myself, but ever since the "NuLight" of the USSR being the "King of the North" burned out, I often thought that a re-ignition of the Korean War would result in China (a rising communist near-super power) backing NORTH Korean interests, and the U.S. ("Anglo-American World Power") backing SOUTH Korea.

  Result?

  J-dubs running around, apoplectic, hair-on-fire: "AAAHHH!!! We finally know who the King of the North is!!! This is it! Here comes the Great Tribulation!!"
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  14

  McDonald's Cashier Job Requires Bachelor's Degree

  by VM44 in

  1. social
  2. current

  mcdonald's job listing.

  crew (cashiers).

  contract type : full time.

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  respectful_observer

  A JW friend of mine (who thinks the WTS stance on 4-year degrees is stupid) just sent this to me a few minutes ago with the subject line: "The society is officially screwed"
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  26

  If this is true then expect the GB to get even crazier!!!!

  by DATA-DOG in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.anointedjw.org/memorial_experiences_2013.html .

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  respectful_observer

  I was skeptical before I even clicked on the link and continue to be skeptical of the more dramatic accounts. However, one particular account provided a location and certain details of that particular Memorial that would fit with one that I attended. Of course I can't say which one.

  Although if I'm sure several hundred people partook in NV, I'll eventually here about through J-dub channels.
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  20

  12-year-old thread: JWS/WTS REACHES CRITICAL MASS - A NON-EVENT!

  by steve2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a few days ago, there was renewed interest in a 12-year-old thread which, among other points, argued the watchtower's days were numbered.

  several current posters expressed the view that the wts has not been impacted by any "critical mass" and that it speaks to the immunity of the watchtower to any such "critical mass" event.

  i thought the topic warranted a renewal for wider consideration - with the "benefit" of "12-years" hindsight - so have duplicated one of my responses: .

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  respectful_observer

  I know quite a few active JWs who openly argue that the door-to-door work is incredibly inefficient and ineffective. They're loathe to waste their Saturday mornings, but have ZERO desire to do street work or participate in the fancy new booth/cart/table approach. Whenever it comes up, the typical response is "There is NO WAY you could get me to stand next to one of those things all morning. But I bet the pioneers will make good use of it!"

  More and more of the friends seem to hear certain things from the platform at CAs/DCs/SADs and say..."I can understand why they say have to say that, but in the real world..."
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  20

  local memorial attendance

  by outsmartthesystem in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i have a friend that is still "in" because of his elderly parents.

  he attended the memorial and reported back to me what i thought was encouraging.

  we have two congregations in the city i live in.

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  respectful_observer

  Thanks Gayle. There don't seem to be two consecutive years of decline it attendance, but we'll have to wait nearly a full year to find out what happened this time around.

  R_O