There are contribution boxes in Bethel at least in the tour area and the kingdom hall within Bethel. Although the contributions donated through the box in the Kingdom Hall are probably sent by means of the congregations that use the hall.
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Pathofthorns
JoinedPosts by Pathofthorns
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24
2000 Annual Info. Return for WTB&TS of Canada
by expatbrit insection b. directors/trustees
section e. further information on amounts received
section h. gifts to qualified donees
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2000 Annual Info. Return for WTB&TS of Canada
by expatbrit insection b. directors/trustees
section e. further information on amounts received
section h. gifts to qualified donees
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Pathofthorns
In all honesty, I'd be surprised if the WT's books were not accurate. I think their whole status as a charity is misleading, but I think they are smart enough to cover their asses. Of course, at this point in time knowing how deceptive they are about everything else I am a fool to even make such comments
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Do you really need liquor at a wedding reception?
by ronin1 inthis is in response to the post on december 10, : "a wedding gone bad"-.
the question: do you really need liquor at a wedding reception?.
here is my story:.
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Pathofthorns
You must be joking.
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Bethelites are Jerks! Your Comments?
by Marcos inbethelites are jerks!
your comments?
i've posted here a few times but, as you can see by my profile (at left) i am a newbie.
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Pathofthorns
I couldn't generalize to the extent to say they are all "jerks" because there were some good people I knew. But I've never been a fan of Bethelites personally.
At worst they were jerks and at best they were so out of touch with reality and plastic and artificial. I was fortunate to live in an area where we knew full well what Bethelites were like and never bought into the myths and so it was quite fashionable in certain circles to be critical of them.
I can't see how such an environment wouldn't mess people up, where you were always on display and could never really let your hair down. Many bethelites I knew were deathly afraid of the possibility of having to live in the real world and the longer they were at bethel the more afraid they became. I could never trust them since they were all bought men and how many men do u know that will bite the hand that feeds them, even if it is a matter of principle?
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2000 Annual Info. Return for WTB&TS of Canada
by expatbrit insection b. directors/trustees
section e. further information on amounts received
section h. gifts to qualified donees
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Pathofthorns
Hawk.. I could be wrong but "gifts" are often amounts over and above congregation expenses for which resolutions are passed to donate these amounts to the Society.
The ironic thing is that these constant "gifts" to the Society keep a congregation operating relatively month to month so that they never get a huge sum sitting in the bank. While I know this mindset is encouraged, there are some congregations that don't send in their surpluses and have a nice bank account.
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should jws use oak /yew wood?
by badboy in.
i understand both were regarded as being sacred in druid(indeed some believe the word druid comes from a word meaning oak.. i n view of the pagan connection,should a jw use them
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Pathofthorns
LOL! My sense of humor must be completely f@#$ed up!
Wood yew clarify that?
I'm sorry... LOL so lame but so funny!
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Who has HELPED YOU grow?
by jst2laws inthank you for your encouragement.
i was so impressed when my wife called and told me i was mentioned on the jwd thread "who are the smartest posters here".
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=42252&site=3 i felt bad for the truly smart posters on the board who were linked in any way with the likes of me, and disappointed that not enough credit was given to those as oldhippy, janh, norm, kent, hilarystep, larc, pathofthorns, jt, and hawkaw all who should have been listed near the top with the others identified.
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Pathofthorns
I guess for me, different persons were there for me during different stages in the whole exit process.
I would have to thank 6of9 as one of several that exercised great tolerance with me as many of us struggled to come to grips with "the Lie" over at Witnet. I have to thank Obed Fernandez for personally phoning me at that key turning point when I finally accepted it was not true, when you realize you are going to die and your family isn't going to have anything to do with you anymore. I'd have to thank Ray Franz for his books at about this time, as well as "Duncan" that encouraged me not to send in my disassociation letter. Those that came over from Witnet, like Prisca are remembered well.
Also at about the same time, I'd have to thank the crowd over at H20. Particularly, Norm's essays and their sarchasm cracked me up but they were just so true, and Alan F and Jan H's posts were impossible to ignore. And "one" or JT has always been a favorite. Forgive me for forgetting his name, but there was a man that passed away that had a wicked-evil sense of humour that left me laughing so hard and so I should mention him too.
This board (Thanks Simon) grabbed my attention innitially because of Frenchy's posts. And his comments and the spirit in which they were made left a huge impression on me. A simple comment from PuppyLove finally made me consider the "possibility" there might not be a "God that cares about us". Comments from AhHa made me think as well. Waiting, Seven and RedHorseWoman all were great company during that bizarre transition period where your beliefs seemed to change every week. Each was a strong and brilliant lady that helped me grow.
In the days since then, the board is very different and a more challenging place to be and can often be a bit volatile. In view of this and because I try to keep my personal life separate from this online stuff I am often unemotional, distant and vague in my posts and stick more to the "non-fluff" threads. At the same time, it is the humorous threads and comments that I enjoy reading the most. I laugh alot reading comments at this place.
There just are so many these days that make me smile or leave me with things to think about that it would be impossible to list them all. Even persons that can be difficult I find beneficial because they push my limits and force me to find creative ways to resolve difficult situations in a peaceful way.
I would have to also thank my "real life" friends who made the exit with me but live apart from this online xjw culture and so will never read this. But they are appreciated so much and many treat me like family and for that I am grateful.
Sometimes you have to stop and look back to see how much you have grown. And when you do, you realize you have grown more in that short while since you've been out than in your whole lifetime as a JW. Thank you everyone.
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PS... J2L, thanks for this thread and for the honorable mention. I don't think our paths cross too often, but I remember your first posts here and remember thinking to myself... "this is a good and genuine man".
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These flame wars rock?
by Brummie inis anyone really hurt badly by the flame wars?
but seems to me that almost everyone on this board is drawn to them, why?
...cus you like them dont ya...c'mon admit it.
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Pathofthorns
I personally wouldn't agree with your statement that "flame wars rock". I think when discussions degenerate into name calling and the sharing of personal details in a public forum that people are often hurt.
IMO Flame wars are the result of BOTH parties having too much pride to walk away from an argument and several persons that have no business adding their 2 cents to the fight. Of course, everyone somehow manages to justify their own behavior and responses and thinks they are *necessary*.
Participants in flame wars often fail to realize what sort of message they are sending out, simply by their perpetuating and participating in these negative situations. Bystanders often just shake their heads and say "this is really sad and pathetic".
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Being asked to leave the Hall
by Pepper inate before the congergation book study, can create a real problem with the "friends".
once i remember my dad who was the conductor at the time setting at the front of the hall book study leading the opening prayer, when all at once there was this screech sound, it soundeed like a half dead cat being ran over.
it was my ever loving dad, cuttinng a cutie, and of cource he just pretended it was something outside the hall, but we all knew it was him that is me and my friends, so we sat there with our mouths coverd by our hands till i took to letting one rip from flexing myself from holding back laughter, so my dad says to me looking right at me: "do we need to grow up son"?
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Pathofthorns
Priceless thread! Loved your posts lately Pepper. And the Fart Generator was just too much Lilacs! LOL
Reminds me of when we were small and our parents did the hit and miss "family study" thing and we kids tried to sabotage it by farting during our studies. One person would let one go and the others couldn't hold back from laughing. Our mom would get so upset especially because our old man would be "contributing" to the situation by both farting and laughing too... "Kids.. you heard your mother.. stop it" while he was laughing.
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What to say to the elders
by freedom96 inso the elders come a knockin.
they ask "the question": so, do you consider yourself a jehovah's witness?.
what is the correct answer so they don't da or df you?.
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Pathofthorns
A few weeks ago, a JW sister came to my door by herself and started into her presentation... "we're sharing a positive hope from the Bible" and I just smiled.
She asked if I had ever heard of JW's and here I am in my wife-beater shirt with my armband tattoo in plain view and I said "I am one of JW's actually... I just haven't been too involved lately"
She was taken for a loop at first and I asked who was out in the ministry today and recognized some of the names. She was new to the area and could tell I was not and eventually she could tell I was more than just a "weak" one.
(It was sort of funny because this nice young lady still knew her "place" and that her "measily" elder's wife position was trumped even by my inactive status simply because I was a man.. just stupid really)
I declined to tell her why I was not attending, but just that I had personal reasons and that I was very comfortable with those reasons and my not attending. I always try to leave the impression that I feel good about my present position and not sad or guilty.
She told me the meeting times "in case i changed my mind". I could tell she was never warned about me because of being so new to the area and that was nice. I guess she would have been filled in when she went back to the cargroup, but I'm sure she would be perplexed at what they would say versus what she perceived from talking with me first hand. Basically, I was pleasant and wished her well and stayed away from anything controversial.
Of course, 2 elders showing up at your door wanting to have "a little chat" or to "help me get back to meetings" is a different kettel of fish. Elders are a devious and deceptive lot, and many times I wonder if they can even appreciate their own dishonesty. In view of this, I have no problem pacifying them with unexpected dishonest responses or statements of my own and sending them on their way as quickly as possible.
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