Listener

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Posts by Listener

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  11

  1 bilion property revenue since august 2016 and still they have not enough

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  read in the new york business review that jw.org made 1 bilion property revenue since august 2016.. unbelievable, isn't it?

  they are one of the richest religion organizations in cash flow, for sure.. the co asked us this morning to "overthink wat we can share, to support the work and make jehovah happy".. g..

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  Listener

  It sure makes them look greedy by continually asking for more money.
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  47

  AND STILL NO RELEASE OF THE 2017 JW YEARBOOK

  by steve2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  here we are on the cusp of the new year, and the 2017 yearbook of jws has still not been released.

  jw.org continues to feature the 2016 yearbook in its list of main publications.

  in previous years, the upcoming yearbook's annual report on jws was released in november for the january 1st then the feb 1st watchtower, then earlier in december when it was only featured in the yearbook, then more recently with a couple of days of december 25th.

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  Listener

  WT - The most recent published report is for the year 1995, and it shows 28 more partakers than in the preceding year though the ratio of partakers to those attending did actually drop.

  Thanks for those figures Darksplver, even that line of thinking is not working out for them.
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  22

  Kingdom Hall Renovation Question: Who Pays?

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  so last night it was announced at the local hall that the ldc had decided against building a new hall, and that the existing hall would be "renovated.

  the prospect of a new hall has been dangled before this congregation for at least 10 years now.

  in fact, the congregation had already purchased property, had approval from the rbc for a new hall.

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  Listener

  Going by that chart, maintenance and repair works are the responsibility of the congregation and IF renovations are approved the org. has developed a clever system. They say they will pay but the congregation must set up a contribution box. Therefore many will consider the onus is on them to finance the project (effectively paying twice).
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  19

  2016-12-29 BOE Re: Donations in Support of Kingdom Interests Worldwide

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  december 29, 2016 to all congregations re: donations in support of kingdom interests worldwide.

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  Listener

  Is it too much effort to write ' Dear Brothers and Sisters' rather than just 'Dear Brothers'?
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  144

  RC 2017

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  due to last years success, i will post everything related to the 2017 regional convention in this thread.. to start us off.... thanks to exjw reddit user ich3b we have advance notice of the theme (this is not a joke!).

  the theme for the 2017 regional convention is: "don’t give up!” .

  as always, if you have access to confidential materials you would like to leak but need to protect your identity, pm me or email me: wifibandit1 (at) gmail.

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  Listener

  I remember the song "Don't give up" first sung by Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel in 1986. It's beautiful, haunting and very sad.
  
  Wiki states that it is inspired by depression era photographs showing poverty stricken Americans in dust bowl conditions and the difficult economic times in Britain under Margaret Thatcher. It states 'The verses, sung by Gabriel, describe the man's feelings of isolation and despair; the choruses, sung by Bush, offer words of hope and encouragement.'
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjEq-r2agqc
  
  Here's a second version with better visuals
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLiie7VKCuo
  
  If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, I don't know what would.
  
  The Convention theme should really be
  
  Don't give up - on the Organization
  
  In the context of the above song it would suggest that the Organization has caused sorrow on it's followers, such as bad economic conditions causes a great deal of stress and hardship.
  
  The last couple of years have proved to be a really tough for the Organization. Not only with cutbacks left right and centre but also it's public exposure on it's handling of child abuse. It demonstrates how the Organization has been the root cause for hardship on many.
  
  There is reason to believe that 2017 is only going to be worse.
  
  Their theme 'Don't give up' comes across as being a last ditch effort and just doesn't cut it.
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  35

  1975 statements

  by A Believer in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  from jw org.

  “six thousand years of human existence”.

  in 1969 the watchtower magazine in czech began publishing a series of articles based on the book life everlasting—in freedom of the sons of god.

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  Listener

  Why did HQ send at Bethel Elders including Fred Franz in 1975 to Australia to reassure JWs that Armageddon wasn't coming that year and not to discuss the saga amongst themselves?
• 
  35

  1975 statements

  by A Believer in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  from jw org.

  “six thousand years of human existence”.

  in 1969 the watchtower magazine in czech began publishing a series of articles based on the book life everlasting—in freedom of the sons of god.

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  Listener

  A Believer, you link to a website that claims Ray Franz was behind the 1975 saga.
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  14

  Vow of Obedience and Poverty? WTF??

  by NikL in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  listener on here started a cool thread about the april 2017 wt which can be found here.... https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4881380162928640/watchtower-april-2017-overview.

  it got me to look at it closer and in the opening study they use terminology i've never heard used before namely, "vow of obedience and poverty".... 19 currently, there are some 67,000 members of the worldwide order of special full-time servants of jehovah’s witnesses.

  some perform bethel service, others engage in construction or in circuit work, serve as field instructors or special pioneers or missionaries or as assembly hall or bible school facility servants.

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  Listener

  Here's a link to the Vow of Obedience and Poverty 2002.
  
  https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/106721/bethel-vow-poverty-documents-scanned
  
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  20

  April 2017 wt says you can't undo a dedication to God

  by poopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if that's true then you can't say such and such is no longer aa jehovahs witnesses .

  now i'm not very educated but is this like contradictory..

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  Listener

  Tepidpoultry - What if a Kingdom Hall is dedicated to Jehovah,
  Can it be sold and then of course be used for something else, let's say a brothel?
  Maybe it can never be sold then,

  An enthusiastic field service group leaving for witnessing activity in Lusaka, Zambia. The well-maintained Kingdom Hall serves as a powerful witness to Jehovah. Watchtower April 2017

  
  Not only are these Halls dedicated to Jehovah but they 'serve as a powerful witness' to him. Why would they even think of selling?
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  29

  Watchtower April, 2017 Overview

  by Listener in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'll start with the first study article.. this study article deals with vows made to jehovah.

  three main vows are discussed.. 1) your dedication to jehovah.

  we are told that it is not possible to claim that our baptism was not valid .

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  Listener

  The next study article is headed “The Judge of All the Earth” Always Does What Is Right, however it has little to do with God’s judging.
  
  The article discusses injustices occurring within the congregation and how faithful servants are not surprised or stumbled when injustices occur and should wait on Jehovah rather than take matters into their own hands.
  
  This advice is given
  
  

  prayerful reliance on Jehovah, combined with loyalty, will prevent us from ever becoming “enraged against Jehovah.”—... he should be careful not to engage in harmful gossip. Of course, it is entirely proper to seek assistance from the elders and to inform them if a member of the congregation is guilty of a serious wrong. (Lev. 5:1) However, in many cases that do not involve serious wrongdoing, it may be possible to resolve a difference without involving anyone else, not even the elders. (Read Matthew 5:23, 24; 18:15.)

  
  Note that they use a scripture that only applied to the Israelites in support of their idea that JWs should inform on those who have committed serious sins.
  
  In the closing paragraphs we find that we are likely to blame for percieved injustices.
  
  

  At the same time, we modestly acknowledge that we likely do not have all the facts. We are keenly aware that the fault may lie in our imperfect view of matters.

  
  The next article deals in the situation where elders are at fault for injustices. These injustices include major problems such as the wrongful disfellowshipping of a husband/wife/son/daughter/close friend. The solution is to demonstrate humility.
  
  

  First, humility will move us to acknowledge that we do not have all the facts. No matter how much we know of a situation, only Jehovah can read a person’s figurative heart. (1 Sam. 16:7) Our awareness of this undeniable truth will prompt us to be humble, to recognize our limitations, and to adjust our view of the matter. Second, humility will help us to be submissive and patient as we wait on Jehovah to correct any true injustice. It is as the wise man wrote: “It will turn out well for those who fear the true God . . . , but it will not turn out well for the wicked one, nor will he prolong his days.” (Eccl. 8:12, 13) Certainly, a humble response is in the best spiritual interests of all concerned.—Read 1 Peter 5:5.

  
  Also forgiving the Elder is another solution. There is virtually no arrangements for family to discuss with Elders the reasons for their decisions and facts of the case.
  
  
  
  

  If a brother who sins against you continues to serve as an elder or even receives additional privileges, will you rejoice with him? Your willingness to forgive may well reflect Jehovah’s view of justice.—Read Matthew 6:14, 15.

  Basically servants are told to shut up and accept the abuse no matter how long it lasts.