Yeah, a little over 5000 each week. Big deal. Mormons have that, too. 5000 per week is 260,000 per year. Definitely not an increase. More like status quo.
leaving_quietly
JoinedPosts by leaving_quietly
-
16
Anthony Morris - AP's in August, 900%, increase, yet decrease in BS's
by berrygerry inthe only video that i've found of tomo is 39:00 minutes long - the ending is missing.. various posts mentioned highlights of the tremendous witness in august, with a 900% increase in ap's, as well as some other magnificent accomplishment that i cannot locate.. then i painfully listened to the video to verify, and at about 38:00, tomo bemoans the downward trend in bible studies.. the best august of all-time, yet downward trend.. looks like the toilet bowl is swirling.. .
.
-
-
-
13
"Opinions about dress and grooming..."
by leaving_quietly infrom the july 15, 2014 watchtower, page 15. par.
"opinions about dress and grooming, health and nutrition, and other personal matters may also trigger controversy.
accordingly, if no scriptural principle is being violated, jehovah's people wisely abstain from arguing over such matters, "for a slave of the lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle [tactful, ftn.
-
-
leaving_quietly
Yes, he did read 1 Tim 2:9. Notice, though, that the apostle Paul never explained what he said about modest or appropriate dress. He never got specific. He didn't offer an opinion. He left that to the consciences of those he was writing to. What Paul said was enough.
Thus, any OPINIONS about the color of socks and the tightness of pants or the age by which a male has to be a ministerial servant is just that, OPINIONS.
I would have had no issue if he had read the verse, then said something like: "Some have observed some of our brothers and sisters wearing clothing that is a little too tight or too revealing. Perhaps we should evaluate what we're wearing to see that it's modest and appropriate before we leave our homes." And leave it at that. Let people's own consciences guide them.
Of course, in a high-control group, controlling what people wear is one of the hallmarks. I realize that.
-
13
"Opinions about dress and grooming..."
by leaving_quietly infrom the july 15, 2014 watchtower, page 15. par.
"opinions about dress and grooming, health and nutrition, and other personal matters may also trigger controversy.
accordingly, if no scriptural principle is being violated, jehovah's people wisely abstain from arguing over such matters, "for a slave of the lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle [tactful, ftn.
-
-
leaving_quietly
From the July 15, 2014 Watchtower, page 15. par. 13:
"Opinions about dress and grooming, health and nutrition, and other personal matters may also trigger controversy. Accordingly, if no Scriptural principle is being violated, Jehovah's people wisely abstain from arguing over such matters, "for a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle [tactful, ftn.] toward all." - 2 Tim 2:24."
Seems yet another double standard has been applied as Anthony Morris apparently feels he is above this counsel.
-
8
Nethinim - (Barb Anderson please comment if you can!) :)
by wallsofjericho in*** w06 2/15 p. 28 par.
11 walking in the path of increasing light ***.
the year 1992 saw still another refinement, one that is comparable to what happened after the israelites and others returned from exile in babylon.
-
-
leaving_quietly
The 1992 article is really the only article ever to attribute the GB helpers to the Nethinim. What's interesting is that the 1992 article said that the Nethinim were never considered equal to the Levites. One of their references was the Dictionary of the Bible, and when reading that source, it later says (but not quoted by WTBTS) that the Nethinim later became indistinguishable from the Levites. This was one of the first places I noticed intentional misquoting by WTBTS.
The WT article says this:
16 When the group returned from Babylon, it contained few Levites, compared to the priests or Nethinim and “sons of the servants of Solomon.” (Ezra 8:15-20) The Dictionary of the Bible, by Dr. James Hastings, observes: “After a time we find [the Nethinim] so completely established as a sacred official class, that privileges are accorded to them.” The scholarly journal Vetus Testamentum notes: “A change occurred. After the Return from Exile, these [foreigners] were no longer regarded as slaves of the Temple, but as ministrants in it, enjoying a status similar to that of those other bodies, which officiated in the Temple.”—See the box “A Changed Status.”
17 Of course, the Nethinim did not become the equals of the priests and the Levites.The Dictionary of the Bible says this (page 654):
From this point the Nethinim gradually rose in official position, until they were Indistinguishable from the Levites.
Another interesting thing is that the revised NWT no longer says "Nethinim". Each place where that term occurred in the old NWT, it's been replaced by "temple servant".
The term itself was first applied to the Gibeonites who tricked Joshua (see Joshua chapter 9).
For WTBTS to apply this to the helpers to the GB was and still is way out of line. If they want to have helpers, fine. But don't say these are "given ones" or "Nethinim". The two terms have nothing to do with each other.
-
16
Anthony Morris - AP's in August, 900%, increase, yet decrease in BS's
by berrygerry inthe only video that i've found of tomo is 39:00 minutes long - the ending is missing.. various posts mentioned highlights of the tremendous witness in august, with a 900% increase in ap's, as well as some other magnificent accomplishment that i cannot locate.. then i painfully listened to the video to verify, and at about 38:00, tomo bemoans the downward trend in bible studies.. the best august of all-time, yet downward trend.. looks like the toilet bowl is swirling.. .
.
-
-
leaving_quietly
The statistics part of the program was in Leon Weaver's talk.
What is interesting about the downward trend in bible studies is that effective January, 2015, the first Saturday is no longer Bible Study day. So, go figure.
I've seen lots of bible studies come to the hall. They come for awhile, then they go. In the last ten years, several were baptized. One quit attending almost immediately. Another one who attended quite regularly at first now attends very sporadically. Another family attends, but the husband was raised "around the truth", so there's the advantage there. I've seen plenty of other studies come for awhile and then disappear.
What's my point? Bible studies is NOT a good measure. How many of those bible students get baptized should be the real measure. There is no record in the Bible of anyone conducting a bible study with anyone else. Yes, there were those who would explain the scriptures for a few hours, but that doesn't count as a bible study. What counted was that the person was baptized.
-
61
Zone Visit feedback, from ones still in??
by Crazyguy injust wondering if any one has heard from ones still asleep, what their feedback has been and what comments have been made by the rank and file??.
.
.
-
-
leaving_quietly
@BU2B, remind your wife that that "loose cannon" is one who will rule over her during the 1000 years. He is one of those "kings".
-
-
-
leaving_quietly
Isn't Canada part of the US Branch Territory? I thought it was, but I could be mistaken.
-
45
My Breaking Point -- 11/9/14
by game1914over ini have enjoyed reading your comments during the past four years.
deep down inside, i have always been agnostic.
the first few chapters in genesis are contradictory and differing.. no one has ever been able to answer my question: "why was satan ever created?".
-
-
leaving_quietly
Do you have an exit strategy?
It's game over for me, too. But, my exit strategy is failing miserably. My wife told me a little while ago that I look awful. This is the look of a person in extreme mental anguish. Exhausted and angry with no way to express it.
-
443
Zone Visit: An Announcement That Will "Test Your Faith"
by breakfast of champions inthis is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.
.
.
-
-
leaving_quietly
Many of the negative comments offered here are only the product of warped minds, disgruntled ex-members, and plain liars. Lots/most comments here are taken out of context, crazy reasoning only by unruly people.
Gustv, I have no problem agreeing with you when you are right. However, as one who attended, I can attest to most of the comments here regarding the actual program. I am not a disgruntled ex-member, nor do I have a warped mind. I simply see the Pharisaical attitude of the GB, teaching commands of men as doctrine. Nothing here was taken out of context, and there is no crazy reasoning by unruly people.
It was great, children behaved beautifully, and afterwards a group of us went out to eat. Nice!
Yes, children behaved beautifully where I was, too. Glad you had a nice meal afterward.
-
443
Zone Visit: An Announcement That Will "Test Your Faith"
by breakfast of champions inthis is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.
.
.
-
-
leaving_quietly
Anyone else notice the gold-edged, brown-covered large Bible Morris was using? I'm thinking it's the next Bible to be released, probably a reference Bible.