Posts by NotBlind

6

Jourles asked "New Light Guesses on the UN...

by Thirdson in

here is a glimpse of the future.

this is the 2009 edition of "revelation, the big finale real soon" published by the wtb&ts (a ngo and un dpi).

page 195. revelation 13:14,15.

NotBlind

Jourles,

The point you make about the internet speeding up knowledge of this issue is a good one. However, I tend to feel that this is offset (at least to some degree) by the fact that Witnesses are not exposed to the UN/NGO issue like they were to the 1975 issue. Each and every Witness had 1975 put before them by the Society; Witnesses will most likely hear about the UN issue only from 'apostate' sources. Therefore, the Society will deny/downplay/rationalize the NGO's existence. The result? Since most Witnesses listen to the 'Society' and not to 'apostates', it seems that it could take a while for this issue to have an effect on the organization en masse.

I believe you are right when you say that nearly every congregation will be exposed to this issue within a few months. However, we all know that the WT is GREAT at rationalizing their way out of trouble, at least in the short term.

In short, I'm just speculating. I'm curious to see what time will bring. Either one of us could be right. Personally, I hope YOU are RIGHT and I am WRONG.

6

Jourles asked "New Light Guesses on the UN...

by Thirdson in

here is a glimpse of the future.

this is the 2009 edition of "revelation, the big finale real soon" published by the wtb&ts (a ngo and un dpi).

page 195. revelation 13:14,15.

NotBlind

Personally, I think it will be a LONG time before we hear the Society fess up, if ever. One of the Society's favorite tactics against such issues is to 'keep quiet long enough', hoping it will go away. They did just that after 1975, but eventually had to make a half-baked apology in 1979, after thousands of Witnesses had left.

I predict that the Society will publish an article, make an apology, or resign as an NGO, but ONLY if it causes serious dissention in the ranks similar to the 1975 fiasco.

Remember, the Society is motivated by two main things: membership statistics and profits. The only time they take action/revise 'old light' is when one of those two motives is threatened.

4

1999 Service year report of JWs worldwide

by Dan B in

jw
friends

i have, in my hands, a copy of the service report from the 2000 wt bound volume.

it's very interesting to note that, although there was an average of a 2% increase worldwide, the majority of developed countries actually had a decrease.

the usa gained 432 publishers after devoting 174,594,349 hours to recruiting, i mean preaching.

NotBlind

The part about Assembly Hall fees probably makes the least sense. It's a building the Society owns, usually paid off, and they charge their own members exorbitant fees to use it. It's often even cheaper to use an outside venue than one of the JW's Assembly Halls.

In my own experience, the assembly hall rental was closer to $9000 a weekend, but I believe that has to do with the number of publishers using the hall. If I recall correctly, the Society charged $3.25 per publisher per day for Assembly Hall rental, as of the early 90's (probably higher now). So, the fee would be much higher for larger circuits.

4

1999 Service year report of JWs worldwide

by Dan B in

jw
friends

i have, in my hands, a copy of the service report from the 2000 wt bound volume.

it's very interesting to note that, although there was an average of a 2% increase worldwide, the majority of developed countries actually had a decrease.

the usa gained 432 publishers after devoting 174,594,349 hours to recruiting, i mean preaching.

NotBlind

Very interesting indeed!

And all the while, the Society continues to extol the 'benefits' of the door-to-door work, calling it the 'most effective preaching tool' ever. Give me a break! I think even the rank-and-file know better than to believe that!

If their aim truly WAS to reach out to the whole world, they would use more efficient means to get people to the Kingdom Hell.

20

Tickets for special meeting changed!

by Esmeralda in

jw
friends

hey all,.

i've been out all day, so i apologize in advance if anyone already posted this info.. one of my jw relatives (whom i happened to see while visiting my dad this afternoon) told my mother that she'd have to "turn in her ticket to the elders to get a replacement.

" from what she said, they've changed the color of the ticket.

NotBlind

The whole idea of having to obtain a ticket to go to a 'meeting' seems less than appropriate, especially after how many times we've heard how 'united' the organization is, and how all the congregations around the world study the same books and material at the same time and get the same WT articles at the same time.

Now, all of a sudden, that isn't the case anymore. Hmmmmm.....

21

OVERFLOW KH MEETING TONITE!

by MadApostate in

jw
friends

i just drove by the local kh on my way home, and the parking lot was overflowing, almost like at the memorial.

there were probably 50% more autos than are normaly at the average ms/sm.. is this just a local "phenomenon"?

anyone else here live near a kh?

NotBlind

Yes, in a congregation in Kentucky, there were over 90 people in attendance (almost 100). This is a place that usually has 70 - 75 people for TMS and SM. The hall was packed out, like CO's visit.

The disaster was mentioned in nearly every talk of the night: (Bible highlights, Bible reading, Announcements, Service Meeting). There was even a special local needs talk about it.

'Sideline' JW's who may have been avoiding meetings are getting scared. Perhaps they fear WW3 and Armageddon is knocking on their door, and they're not going to take any chances.

I was encouraged to see many Witnesses in the congregation truly hurt by what had happened in NYC and Arlington. Unfortunately, the Service Meeting speaker told the cong. to use the tragedy to place more mags and go out in service more.

No mention was made of relief efforts.

18

Why did people Jump?

by bboyneko in

jw
friends

this was posted on msnbc.com under an article explaining why people jumped off the twin towers.. years ago, frederick says, a colleague of his set up an experiment where he subjected laboratory animals to excruciating pain.

they could go into another chamber to escape the pain, but if they did they would get their heads chopped off.

other lab animals were allowed to observe this, so they knew what would happen.

NotBlind

Of all the reports regarding the WTC catastrophe, this part of it was no doubt the most disturbing to me - normal, well-adjusted people, like you and me, being forced to jump to their deaths. Simply imagining the thoughts that rushed through their heads before and as they jumped is simply horrifying to me.

Those who are responsible for this evil MUST be punished.

And the saddest part of this is that those who jumped would "probably not be resurrected" according to the WT Society, since they committed suicide.

26

From House to House, From Door to Door....

by individuals wife in

jw
friends

i was in the town this morning and saw a little cluster of jws leaving the kingdom hall, clutching their ministry bags, eager to go out into the field service.... well, maybe eager isnt quite the right word.... anyway, i thought to myself - how many people will they convert today?

one, two, a whole family?

the more obvious answer is none at all.

NotBlind

Yes, the House-to-House work is a sham. It doesn't work because people <i>just don't want to be bothered</i>! I don't want to be bothered, so why should other people?

Funny, I know of a family with about 40 members in the 'truth', most have pioneered at one time or another, and they have NO house-to-house conversions in their 45 years in the organization!

14

Pay Attention To Yourselves and to All The Flock

by Kent in

jw
friends

you can find pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock in many languages on the watchtower observer, such as english, spanish, polish, portuguese, french, finnish and german.

but there is also lots of other sites that carry the book.. there is a new "pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock" coming soon, and i hope to be able to bring the "new light" in a short while.

http://www.kki.net.pl/~ksk3/ (polish).

NotBlind

Interestingly, I saw a copy of the "Flock" book for sale on E-bay a couple of days ago. The current bid price was well over $100.00 US, which is WAY too much for a book that isn't even ten years old.

Anyway, I did think about buying it, then hauling it to the Kingdom Hall and showing it to the elders.

"Look what I bought on e-bay! This is a really good book!"

I'd love to see the expression on their faces.........

8

Am I The Only One................................?

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

am i the only one that catches myself either whistling or humming kingdom songs?.

usually i catch myself before i go to far as not to embarase myself.. my wife who is still very active gets a pretty good charge when she catches me at it.. you would think after being away for almost six years that would not happen.. just wondering if it happens to any of you?

NotBlind

Jurs said:

No one sang with enthusiasm or from the heart.

How true! Those of you who attend the meetings and assemblies, just look around next time the cong. stands up to sing. I've noticed that in recent weeks about half of the cong. doesn't even sing the songs. They just stand there like zombies with their songbooks open, looking at the words. Most of the rest barely move their lips and mumble the words. And to be honest, I can't blame them!

Many of the songs lack life, and have tunes that are just too hard to learn.

The singing that JW's do is just a formality, a ritual, a routine. It's nothing more than a convenient way to open and close a meeting. It's also useful for giving the blokes who fill the seats a chance to stand up halfway through the meeting so their legs don't fall asleep.