respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  23

  New video telling the R&F to be generous

  by Splash in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  bro sanderson has a 7 minute video up on their streaming website called "be willing to open your hand".. in it he tells us not to be "tight fisted" or "stingy" and later "regardless of how much we have or how little we have, we'll find something within our power to be able to do".

  we have the responsibility to imitate jehovah's generosity.. there's a bit about giving to one another when we see the need, which is nice, then he drops in how 20 years ago the canada branch committee asked the bethel family for donations to the disaster relief fund, and promptly raised over $10,000.

  i think that's pretty good going for those under a vow of poverty.. "the generous person will prosper" he says, then illustrates this using a made up story.

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  respectful_observer

  Just watched it. From my perspective, there wasn't really anything that was too objectionable. His message seemed to simply be that we should be generous to those in need. No mention of the Org, any of its projects or financial needs, or the contribution box. The closest was the mention of the Bethel family raising $10,000 for flood relief in Canada, which makes me chuckle because now we're not allowed to contribute funds toward a specific disaster relief effort, only to the "Worldwide Work".

  Whether this is a subtle, passive aggressive reminder to contribute, I'll leave to others to debate. In my view it wasn't offensive though. (Although Lett's latest telethon sets a high bar.)
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  20

  Orchestral Accompaniment for Singing at Congregation Meetings

  by pixel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  to all congregationsre: orchestral accompaniment for singing at congregation meetings.

  dear brothers:.

  many will find that the newly composed orchestral recordings are more inspiring andconducive to our worship than is piano music alone.

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  respectful_observer

  I seem to recall that in years past, the branch would remind the local congregations that the orchestral versions of the songs were reserved for assemblies and conventions only and could not be used at the local level; local meetings could use piano versions only. I always laughed to myself when I read that because it seems so Pharisaical.
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  72

  Specific Comments By R&F About May Broadcast

  by freemindfade in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know there are many posts discussing the may money requesting televangalism...er... broadcast i mean!

  but i wanted to start one where anyone can put what they have heard any non-exjw, non-apostate witnesses say good or bad about the broadcast.

  i don't see how it can't rattle followers... but then again i might be surprised how they can twist things (2+2=5).

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  respectful_observer

  Crazyguy15 minutes agoThey actually said they haven't asked for money before?

  Yes...but then Lett went on to "define" what "ask for money" actually meant. He stated (not verbatim, but close enough): "We've never given you a slip of paper telling you what specific amount to contribute. I've told bible studies before that someone could attend meetings for 20 years and never put a single penny in the contribution box and WE would never know. But Jehovah would!"

  
  
  

  My spouse just about walked out of the room when he said that.
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  72

  Specific Comments By R&F About May Broadcast

  by freemindfade in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know there are many posts discussing the may money requesting televangalism...er... broadcast i mean!

  but i wanted to start one where anyone can put what they have heard any non-exjw, non-apostate witnesses say good or bad about the broadcast.

  i don't see how it can't rattle followers... but then again i might be surprised how they can twist things (2+2=5).

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  respectful_observer

  My spouse (who is not "awake"...as far as I know) was very upset by it and said to me:

  "You don't understand. I really shouldn't have watched that. It makes me not want to be a Jehovah's Witness. Don't tell me you've never asked for money in 130 years, then spend 90 minutes asking for money. I never thought the Governing Body would be so dishonest and misleading to our faces about how much money they spend, and on what. They're not getting another dime from us until they put out detailed financial reports like every other big non profit out there."
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  28

  May tv broadcast

  by New day in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  somebody on another thread suggested that those still in could express their opinions on steven lett's performance.

  i am still in and i was shocked, dismayed and saddened by it.

  i became a witness over 30 yrs ago and the issue of donations was a non-issue for so many years.. now, it is a huge one for the org.

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  respectful_observer

  Is it possible for a mod to merge all the May JW broadcast threads?
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  29

  4 New BOEs as of Tuesday 4/28

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  we thank our informant for these documents and hope he/she will remain under the radar safely!.

  click the green download button... 2015 april 17, boe (re: meeting medical needs in the foreign-language field).

  .. http://wwwb.fileflyer.com/view/gukk6aq.

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  respectful_observer

  The terminology here is for the UK version. In the U.S, I don't believe Advanced Directives (yes, that's what they're called here) ever expire. If I were a betting man, I'd bet this is specific for the UK branch territory. Can any elder in the U.S. confirm whether this applies here, too?

  I was wondering the same thing. But typically privacy laws are stronger in the UK and Europe, so I'd be surprised if there was an instance where U.S. privacy laws prevented the WTS from doing something, but UK/EU law permitted it.
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  55

  Mays JW TV Broadcast/Your feedback is appreciated

  by ToesUp in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a pretty good intuition but i have to admit i am going back and forth on the jw tv may broadcast.

  i keep asking myself are they really in financial trouble (wishful thinking) or are they just grabbing for more money?.

  i always appreciate reading everyone's thoughts and ideas on here.. let me know what you think.

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  respectful_observer

  All for show6 minutes agoSome still In friends, faithful and sadly asleep, said they are so discouragedby the broadcasts.

  Do you mean the broadcasts in general, or this specific one? If it's this specific month, I'd be curious to know what was said by those who are "asleep".
  

  I did notice that over on jwtalk dot net, the monthly "dancing in the Kool Aid fountain" that typically occurs when the monthly broadcast is released is strangely absent this month. Most of the posts on the thread relate to technical questions on how to download, etc. There is one depressing post about how someone will buy less fresh food, cancel cable TV, and potentially cash out life insurance policies to increase their donations.
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  172

  May tv.jw.org program

  by zophar in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the may broadcast on tv.jw.org.

  we need money!.

  http://tv.jw.org/#video/vodstudio/pub-jwb_201505_1_video.

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  respectful_observer

  So I finally got my significant other ("SO") to watch the relevant parts of this JW broadcast. My SO typically refuses because, "It will make me think we're in a crazy cult."

  Well my SO watched it and flipped out at many of the misleading statements, half-truths, etc. that have already been noted by many of you on this thread (without prompting from me). The response at the end: "I wish I never saw that. You don't understand. Watching that makes me not want to be a Jehovah's Witness."

  Needless to say, I don't think I'll be getting any pressure to swipe our debit card at the next CA or RC...
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  31

  They're Making it Impossible to Fade

  by DarioKehl in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for those of you who have already faded due to family still being in, have you noticed how the noose is tightening?.

  if it's not memorial, it's special day assembly.

  if it's not that, it's convention or the special talk.

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  respectful_observer

  I haven't carried a blood card in 5-10 years, nor has my spouse. My spouse has said (more than once) that the logic behind the blood policy is weak at best, and easily argued against...but would still refuse blood when it came down to it. A little confusing, but I haven't ever pushed on the issue.

  If this scheme of collecting copies of everyone's blood cards does play out, I'll be curious to see how it plays out in my family.
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  17

  JWs are being told Watchtower is financially strapped because they forgave Kingdom Hall mortgages!

  by PokerPlayerPhil in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  here's why the governing body did that little line on jw broadcasting, i have a source still inside new york and being as sneaky as ever, the watchtower is claiming they need the cash because they forgave the kingdom hall mortgages!

  not all the kingdom halls are hitting the targeted monthly donation-revenue range, they are still asking other kingdom halls to pony up cash for kingdom halls that can't afford the "recommended donation rate".

  pure evil, that's the jehovah"s witness watchtower theocratic war in action!

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  respectful_observer

  tim3l0rdan hour agoI saw the same post as you. Someone posted a copy of it on Reddit. It read like it was full of sarcasm to me. I really hope it was someone being sarcastic or an exjw trolling.

  
  

  I read the original post on jwtalk dot net. Sadly, the original poster was completely serious; no sarcasm. (Hopefully they still have money for Kool Aid.)