Posts by NeonMadman

68

Come on! Tell it like it is. People are LYING when they tell you, "I've read the Bible."

by Terry in

go ahead.

tell me.. "i've read the bible cover to cover.

i don't believe you.. it is damned near impossible!.

NeonMadman

I read the Bible all the way through, every year. I have several editions of the One Year Bible and I rotate them, occasionally using other translations with the reading list (this year I'm reading the Holman Christian Standard Bible - in past years I have read the NIV, New Living Translation and ESV, sometimes in canonical order throughout the year, sometimes in chronological order). I keep the Bible I'm reading in the bathroom, and the first time I go in there for the day, I read that day's portion. I also keep other books in there for subsequent visits during the day. The system works like a charm, and I've been doing this for at least 10 years now, so that means I've read through the entire Bible at least 10 times.

Edited to add: However, I have NOT read all the way through the NWT.

2

scribd site

by abner in

hello,howispossible to saveinpdf,pdf's articles,who areinthescribdsite.

when it says"sorry!thisdocumentis notpubliclyavailable".

especiallythesitehttp://hildeydesa.blogspot.com.

NeonMadman

You have to pay for a membership to download documents from Scribd. You can read some documents online, but to save a copy, you need to cough up the bucks.

32

Have you ever been called for Jury Duty? before or after registering to vote?

by EndofMysteries in

jw
friends

i've never been called for jury duty and i'm not yet registered to vote, although i'm hoping to get that done this month.

i know someone who within a few months of registering to vote was called for jury duty.

i've read some articles that said voter records 'used' to be used to call on people but that was a thing of the past.

NeonMadman

I was called in Massachusetts a few times, and I never registered to vote in that state. I lived in CT for a couple of years and registered there, but was never called to jury duty until after I moved out of the state. Here in NJ, I get a grand jury summons every year or two (which requires a day a week for 5-6 months) but have always gotten excused because I am a commissioned salesman and my income would be severely impacted by giving up that many days. If it was "one day or one trial," like in Mass., I would go, but a day a week for several months would really be a hardship.

14

"Kingdom Hall Construction Guidelines For Lands With Limited Resources" ¡leaked!

by hildebrando in

"these guidelines are for use by branch personnel and those directly involved in the program.

they are not for general distribution... the material presented describes how this program is coordinated internationally through regional kingdom hall offices and how it is supervised at the branch level by the various branch committees re-sponsible.

it explains how volunteers are obtained for the program and how modest standard kingdom hall plans are developed based on local building materials and methods.

NeonMadman

NeonMadman, you don't have to pay for a subscription to Scribd to read online the Guidelines.

Yes, I know, but I'm an old fashioned guy and when something is that long, I prefer to print it out to read. So I usually try to dig up a pdf whenever possible. Also, I have a pretty extensive library of WTS pubs in pdf, so it also lends some consistency when I'm looking for certain material.

31

stupid statement in watchtower about appointments of elders

by hoser in

after going through all the processes of how they appointed elders in the past they say this:.

"the elders in turn would inform the newly appointed men of their appointment, asking them if they were willing and actually qualified to accept the assignment.

so after qualifying the man you ask him if he is qualified.. .

NeonMadman

As was always suspected, Holy Spirit got nothing to do with appointments.

9. Deletions during a regular visit to a congregation:

Recommendations for deletion because of poor judgment not of a judicial nature are usually best considered with the elders during the visit of the circuit overseer.

I think this is referring to poor judgment on the part of the one being deleted, not poor judgment in his being appointed.

31

stupid statement in watchtower about appointments of elders

by hoser in

after going through all the processes of how they appointed elders in the past they say this:.

"the elders in turn would inform the newly appointed men of their appointment, asking them if they were willing and actually qualified to accept the assignment.

so after qualifying the man you ask him if he is qualified.. .

NeonMadman

I was appointed twice as a MS, in two different congregations. In both cases, I found out about it when they read the announcement of appointment. Nobody asked me beforehand if I was qualified, or even if I wanted the position.

29

11-15 WT- Drinking before meetings

by Absalom in

to be holy, we must weigh the scriptures carefully and do what god asks of us.

consider aarons sons nadab and abihu, who were executed for offering unauthorized fire, perhaps while inebriated.

(lev.

NeonMadman

It sounds as if they are cutting the brothers some slack in countries or cultures where it is traditional to drink wine with dinner. I have a feeling they aren't trying to say that it's OK to stop at Happy Hour on the way to the Kingdom Hall for the meeting. The reference to 'circumstances varying from one country to another' leads me to believe that in the USA, for example, where it is not typical for most people to drink alcohol on a daily basis with dinner, the rules will be pretty much what they were. Sort of like when the Watchtower said that voting was a conscience matter.

19

Song #29: "Walking in Integrity" plagiarizes a song that was inspired by demons!

by Oubliette in

[earlier today i posted this onanother thread about kingdom melodies.

i decided to repost in its own thread because i am sure most of us don't know the facts about this song and would be very suprised.

enjoy!].

NeonMadman

Much as I hate defending the Watchtower, I think you are stretching a bit here. In the gazillions of songs that have been written, it's almost inevitable that there will be similarities between short sections of some of them. In this case, one phrase of the song contains a similar progression. It's hardly the case that "Walking in Integrity, is a complete rip-off of the jazz standard, Stella by Starlight." It's not really true, as you state, that the two have the "same tune," except in one small part of each song. Even if the former was influenced by the latter, I don't think the similarity is of sufficient substance to complain about plagiarism or a "lack of integrity in its authorship." It's entirely possible that the composer of Walking in Integrity simply utilized the phrase subconsciously without realizing it.

Now, I'm not saying that the WTS wouldn't plagairize a song if they thought they could and thought it would be helpful to them, but the similarity in this case just isn't of sufficient scope to back up the accusation, in my opinion.

6

OKM 10/14: Preach the word; be at it urgently

by darkspilver in

that's their new monthly theme!.

that's all folks!.

dark spliver.

NeonMadman

Interesting use of the text in the KM, since, taken in context, 2 Tim. 4:2 has nothing to do with evangelizing or what JWs call the "preaching work." It's an admonition to a young pastor to preach faithfully in a church (or congregation) setting.

14

"Kingdom Hall Construction Guidelines For Lands With Limited Resources" ¡leaked!

by hildebrando in

"these guidelines are for use by branch personnel and those directly involved in the program.

they are not for general distribution... the material presented describes how this program is coordinated internationally through regional kingdom hall offices and how it is supervised at the branch level by the various branch committees re-sponsible.

it explains how volunteers are obtained for the program and how modest standard kingdom hall plans are developed based on local building materials and methods.

NeonMadman

Does anyone have this in a pdf format that doesn't involve having to pay for a subscription to Scribd?