Posts by respectful

17

Convention Invites are Idiotic

by cookiemaster in

so, like every year, there's a campaign going on about giving people convention invites and urging them to attend the convention.

what an utterly moronic waste of time.

we live 500+ kilometers away from the convention hall.

respectful_observer

So, why do they keep this idiotic practice going year after year?

1. Keeps the ordinary J-dub busy.

2. It's easy hours for publishers, so they don't mind. That many fewer presentations to give.

I'd be curious to know whether, since this invitation work began, there has been any marked increase in convention attendance. Same goes for the Memorial-- since the invitation work started, has there been a measurable % increase in worldwide attendance? If the "faithful and discreet slave" thought it was worth all that expense and effort, surely it must have reaped measurable results for the Master.

20

Tsongas Center Lowell MA, Sunday Session of the Regional Convention 2015

by oppostate in

we're breaking up the regional convention event by going each of the days to a different weekend session.. the tsongas center lowell ma was a bit hard to find, we got lost and got there after the first song and prayer (just in time for the first talk)!

we ran into so many from our home congregation who aren't even assigned to this rc!.

i think it's quite common for publishers now to break up the convention weekend and attend at times when their congregation isn't assigned.. some families (3) were attending this particular convention so as to meet up with family members who are in another part of the region.

respectful_observer

Hopefully the parking situation is better in Lowell than it was in Amherst.

As for the lower attendance numbers, I think it's mostly because there aren't too many hotels that are willing to work with the WTS. I've never been to a DC/RC with more than 5K or so. Most are in the 4K range.

150

Disfellowshipping Image

by naazira in

jw
friends

this photo can be found in the april 15 , study edition article titled:.

why disfellowshipping is a loving provision.

just by looking at this image we can see how quickly the barrier between the congregation and former member is put up, after the announcement that this sister is no longer one of jehovah's witneses.

respectful_observer

What you can't see is what's on the FRONT of her dress. Here's another view of her from earlier during the meeting:

45

New Thought About Active J.W.'s

by The Searcher in

from my own observations & conversations with selected active j.w.

's, here are my conclusions:.

's are very rapidly falling into two distinct camps -.

respectful_observer

The ritual pomposity and pedantic theatricality of the old Roman religion is no match for the brainwashing, easy to "study" literature that reinforces their feeling of belonging and acceptance.

Btw, oppostate, this made me think of this classic Family Guy. Love it!!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yetwdpsiM8Q

45

New Thought About Active J.W.'s

by The Searcher in

from my own observations & conversations with selected active j.w.

's, here are my conclusions:.

's are very rapidly falling into two distinct camps -.

respectful_observer

I heard one report it was something in the range of 40 vids at the RC? 40 VIDEOS! WTF?! And people are lapping it up.

Btw, I'm glad someone posted a few of these here. I took a glance at a few today and involuntarily spit out my coffee, I laughed so hard. The skits about Jesus are so cheesy and amatuerish, I couldn't help it. Thankfully I can prep myself for my upcoming RC...I would have hated to be taken by surprise sitting in the audience and laughed out loud.

As for oppostate's observations, I think they are spot on. A huge proportion of the 20-40-somethings today, are only JWs because they were raised in it, and very often married with kids. Their extended families are all JWs, their friends (and very often co-workers) are almost all JWs. They realize they don't have to "reach out" like their parents' generation, so they "coast"...enjoy hanging out with their friends, drink what they want, watch what they want, etc.

29

"do not go beyond the things written"

by stuckinarut2 in

thanks to bu2b and splash who mentioned this quote in another thread!.

but i thought it deserved a thread all of its own, such is the impact of this:.

the very best example of going beyond the things written comes from a 2008 watchtower.

respectful_observer

Not the video that the poster above was thinking of, but I haven't seen anyone post this classic in a while:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kZvkDuL-_8

21

"We can't even talk with you anymore! You react very abruptly"

by stuckinarut2 in

so that was the line used by an elder the other day to me!.

he implied that i react badly when spoken to by the elders.. i corrected him and said: "no, i'm always happy to have a conversation.

but what you seem to be implying is that unless i sit and accept and take everything you say, then i am being defensive?

respectful_observer

If you keep bringing them back to their personal views, such Elders will be conflicted, and most likely, at the end of some time, will saying something like: "it doesn't matter what I personally think." That is when you'll have them in your corner. You can than say:
"Then why does it matter what I think? If you are not free to express your personal conscience, then why would you seek out the details of mine. Like you, I would like to keep it private and like you, I believe I have the right to do so."

That's actually a really good idea. I'll have to file that away for future use.

35

THIS IS WHAT WITNESSING HAS BEEN REDUCED TO IN 2015

by steve2 in

threads on the newer jw face of public "witnessing" have shared in common the astonishment that jws safely park themselves behind their literature trolleys and exercise incredibly little contact with passersby.

whether the poster is talking about europe or the united states or australia, descriptions here are the same.. literature stands are protective sheilds behind which jws huddle, talking to each other, sipping on their espressos, whilst the disinterested world passes by.

neither the jws nor the passersby catch each others eyes.

respectful_observer

Its a bit deceiving, the appearance of the trolly people.

Haha...the first time I read this, I read "the troll people"...and suddenly had a vision of a JWdotOrg cart positioned under a stone bridge, well out of the way of foot traffic with two trolls standing next to it. Meanwhile all the foot traffic and wagons blissfully continued over the bridge paying no attention to the "troll(y) people" underneath.

25

It Is Official, Just as Predicted on this Site... Local Cong Donates all Monies on Deposit with You Know Who!

by RichardHaley in

my local cong just donated all money (4k +) on deposit with you know who to, you know who.

"since the society forgave all kingdom hall loans the boe felt it only appropriate to forgive the society of our loan to them.

" is exactly how it was presented to the r&f.

respectful_observer

In all my decades as a witness I can never recall when someone voted against a proposal. It was always unanimous.

My congregation recently decided to send a large donation to the WTS via resolution. As soon as I realized what was going on, I decided I suddenly needed to use the restroom and walked to the back before the hands went up for the "vote". I couldn't bring myself to raise my hand in support, but didn't want to be outed as someone who disagreed.

37

How Much Do Circuit Overseers Make Under the Table, and is it Taxable?

by Tazemanian-devil in

i was thinking about green handshakes, and i knew my wife and i personally would try to slide at least $100 each c.o visit to the c.o.

if we were low on cash, we'd never hand him less than $20.

how many of such handshakes does he receive in a weeks time?

respectful_observer

http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Frequently-Asked-Questions-on-Gift-Taxes

Who pays the gift tax?
The donor is generally responsible for paying the gift tax. Under special arrangements the doneemay agree to pay the tax instead. Please visit with your tax professional if you are considering this type of arrangement.

What is considered a gift?
Any transfer to an individual, either directly or indirectly, where full consideration (measured in money or money's worth) is not received in return.

How many annual exclusions are available?
The annual exclusion applies to gifts to each donee. In other words, if you give each of your children $11,000 in 2002-2005, $12,000 in 2006-2008, $13,000 in 2009-2012 and $14,000 on or after January 1, 2013, the annual exclusion applies to each gift. The annual exclusion for 2014 and 2015 is $14,000.

I'm not an accountant, but my understanding is that when cash gifts are given, the donor is responsible for paying the gift tax, not the recipient. The annual exclusion for tax purposes this year is $14,000 (per recipient).

I'd be surprised if very many J-dubs are donating more than that to any single CO in one year.

respectful_observer

Posts by respectful_observer