it looks like the wts finally put 2 and 2 together on the us branchs failing statistics over the past few years, particularly the years 97 - 01. what happened?.
in the latter part of 1996 cos instructed elders that congregation bookstudy conductors (soon to be officially called "congregation bookstudy overseers) should not initially ask congregation publishers for their field service time reports.
instead, each congregation should have a small box so that publishers could "shoulder their own responsibility by turning in time of their own accord," by voluntarily putting their report slip into this box.
To MadApostate:
1983, Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, page 104: "Those giving public talks may count the time spent delivering these, and a parent may count up to one hour each week when studying with his or her undedicated children." The "Organization" book, the OM predecessor published in 1972, does not appear to address how to count family study time on the field service report.
Mrs Rocky
i can't believe i made jedi!
i never thought i would stick around to do 1000 posts.. amazing.. marilyn (a.k.a.
mulan).
Kudos Marilyn! I enjoy your posts. I get encouragement and the feeling that I'm not insane for pursuing my life away form the Borg.
Mrs Rocky
my friend just called me from her cell phone, and is out in service, sunday morning.
complaining like mad.
it's snowing here, and she is miserable.
Does it seem like you have more time between 7 and 10 on Sundays? When we were regular fixtures at the KH it seemed like I could never get breakfast on the table and the kids dressed in time. Maybe it's all in the attitude - permission to enjoy the leisurely breakfast.
Don't think our snow is going to go away for awhile. Think we have at least a foot accumulated here. Took my daughter to breakfast at the cafe by the KH yesterday. Nobody showed up for service that I can tell. If the snow is keeping them home now I wonder what's going to happen when winter really hits?
Happy Sunday!
Mrs Rocky
i got to thinking the other day about how jws, at least when i got married in the hall could not use secular music for the ceremony.
we there fore were forced to use kingdon melodies.
anyone else have fond memories about your wedding song?.
Did anyone know that the song "We Thank You Jehovah" is in the hymn book used by the Church of God Faith of Abraham in its entirety? I thought WT got updated the songbook (got rid of songs from the pink songbook and green songbook) to get rid of stuff that Christendom used. Wonder if the GB knows about this?
it looks like the wts finally put 2 and 2 together on the us branchs failing statistics over the past few years, particularly the years 97 - 01. what happened?.
in the latter part of 1996 cos instructed elders that congregation bookstudy conductors (soon to be officially called "congregation bookstudy overseers) should not initially ask congregation publishers for their field service time reports.
instead, each congregation should have a small box so that publishers could "shoulder their own responsibility by turning in time of their own accord," by voluntarily putting their report slip into this box.
Just a note on counting family Bible study, if I remember correctly, the family head can only count up to 4 hours a month. Don't know if that's changed - haven't been to a Sales - oops, Service Meeting for about 3 years.
Mrs Rocky
the bible!
the things that are will be brought to nothing.
is that really the way jehovah teaches today?
Bill - I skimmed through your disortation. The bottom line I think you are trying to get at is that there is no God sanctioned group to impart spiritual knowledge to mankind. God gave his holy spirit to help us understand scripture. There should be nothing between man and God but Christ. The WT GB has inserted itself into the equation by using Matt.24:45 to justify their position of control. I agree with Venice, it's an illustration! What really amazes me is how most JWs don't even notice how often the 'faithful and discreet slave' is elevated above Jesus, even in prayer. It's one of the things that helped me fade away.
By the way, we haven't been to a meeting for almost 3 years. We've had one shepherding call since then. Small congregation here. Most of the elders have recently moved here from other parts of the state. They told us that since we haven't turned in a service report for such a long time (4 years maybe?)we can't really be considered Jehovah's Witnessess. We have too many close relatives to sever the ties formally so we're just trying to lay low. Was in line at the postoffice the other day behind the congregation PO. He didn't even acknowledge my existence. So I understand the shovel thing. Felt like I wasn't even good enough to be an apparition! Don't hold your breath on Jehovah cleaning things up. Been waiting for that too long - this congregation keeps having the same problems, just different faces.
...free at last, thank God I'm free at last! Martin Luther King, Jr.
it looks like the wts finally put 2 and 2 together on the us branchs failing statistics over the past few years, particularly the years 97 - 01. what happened?.
in the latter part of 1996 cos instructed elders that congregation bookstudy conductors (soon to be officially called "congregation bookstudy overseers) should not initially ask congregation publishers for their field service time reports.
instead, each congregation should have a small box so that publishers could "shoulder their own responsibility by turning in time of their own accord," by voluntarily putting their report slip into this box.
Typical for the WT to do something like this. The last time I was asked if I had time to report, its been about 3 years ago, the congregation secretary said surely I had talked about Jehovah to someone during the month. I flat out told him that I didn't keep track of every minute and to guess would be lying. You should have seen the smoke come out of his ears! Never bothered me again about field service reports. So do the low hour publishers (less than 5) get to feel better about their service to God? or are they just adding another category of people who will never be good enough?
i got to thinking the other day about how jws, at least when i got married in the hall could not use secular music for the ceremony.
we there fore were forced to use kingdon melodies.
anyone else have fond memories about your wedding song?.
We married when there was still a piano in the KH. Think we had "Shulamite Maiden" out of the old pink songbook. Personally, I think something died in me when they went to canned music. Used to play piano for weddings and memorial services, most of the meetings too. I must have been mistaken, but I thought music was supposed to be a heartfelt expression of love for God...canned music doesn't cut it.
don't worry, folks...it's only for an hour.
my son-in-law has his first public talk today, and i was invited to attend the event.
it seemed to be very important to him and to my daughter that i be there, so i agreed.
Just went through the memorial at the Kingdom Hall business a month ago when my father in law passed. He was never a witness but my mother in law is 45 years in and devout. So the congregation opened its doors for her. Funny tho', non witness family and FIL's classmates from 50+ years ago outnumber congregation people. Extra sad for mum in law, she should be worth more than that. Only a few came to the house for the dinner afterward, mostly our neighbors. Felt bad for the elder giving the talk - mostly from outline... same old stuff, hardly anything about my father in law.
having grown up in a suburban congregation in a well-educated area, i have not had many bad experiences within the organization.
no one has ever tried to step out of line in telling me how to dress, what music to listen to, who to have over, etc.
(except for my parents when i was living with them, but all parents set their own rules).. i have a strong set of moral values, a close family who cares about one another, and have had some good times with friends within the org.
Location of congregation only changes the personality factor. The main policies of the Borg still remain the same. Question anything once and you are labeled as bad association, do it twice and you change getting booted out. Think the personalities of the elder body affect the congregation "spirit" more than anything.
