UTC, thank you for your OP. It really struck a chord with me. If I can get my wife to wake up, I will be gone in an instant. I know we can build better friendships, and rebuild some friendships with good people who have preceded us out the door.
Dreamerdude
JoinedPosts by Dreamerdude
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22
Is it just for social reasons you remain?
by UnshackleTheChains inas someone who has tried to fade on various occasions, i always end up attending meetings!
why is this the case you may ask?.
if i was single, i would have kissed this high control american religion goodbye many years ago.
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182
Major congregational quake in Southern California
by Hecce inthis notice is not official yet and it should be confidential until released thru the proper channels.
a friend of mine told me about a huge elders meeting in southern california.
the subject was the relocation and dissolution of some congregations; it seems that this is the result of some project that has been going on for some time and is going to be implemented right now.. please let me know if this is happening all over the country?.
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Dreamerdude
I heard some interesting news about this from a Spanish CO. The English and Spanish congregations have been reorganized, so that every 4th congregation was eliminated in Orange County. This means 25% of the members are scrambling to join new congregations in overcrowded KHs. The savings (profit) from this raw deal is estimated at $7 million. San Diego County is next, with a similar amount of loot for Mother. Each of these counties makes up about 10% of California's population, and about 1% of the US population. So the first round of KH sales in the US could rake in hundreds of millions $$$.
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22
Is it just for social reasons you remain?
by UnshackleTheChains inas someone who has tried to fade on various occasions, i always end up attending meetings!
why is this the case you may ask?.
if i was single, i would have kissed this high control american religion goodbye many years ago.
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Dreamerdude
Yes, I am strictly a social witness, since waking up mentally. I have always been mostly a social witness, since I was born into it. My wife has always been more serious about the rules, and she pretends to understand the ever changing doctrines. She is very deep in slumber, but I try to tickle her awake, as possible.
I like hanging out with the fun witnesses and my wife and I are popular with them. We dont know many others. But I try to avoid the boring ones and the extremely deluded ones.
I try to minimize my support for the local cult activities and do my very best to avoid any support for the world wide work.
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27
Angry and scared
by BlackWolf ini feel like everything that comes out of my mothers mouth is something negative and cringe worthy.
all she seems to talk about with me is how terrible and demonic our disfellowshipped relatives are, how horrible the world and holidays are, or how she is so much better and "holier than thou".
it really makes me sick sometimes.
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Dreamerdude
Black Wolf, maybe you can use this month's JWTV to build common ground with your parents. You can explain how you were impressed by the faith building example of Thelma, the 107 old lady who is keeping up with present truth. Although she was raised in the truth from the age of 10 she took the time to make the truth her own and got baptized at the age of 30, in imitation of Jesus. This was after she had been married for 8 years. You can explain that you also want to serve Jehovah for the long term, maybe 100 years or so. This seems so much better than the tragedies that happened to your relatives who got baptized before they were ready and left the truth.
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Meeting Attendance levels
by freddo ini attended a sunday meeting today after missing a couple due to a bout of chronic apathy.
out of 74 publishers we had a grand total of 33. wonderful.
for those that attend, how are you finding the numbers?.
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Dreamerdude
The hall near me had 4 congregations with an average 180 pubs each. One was recently eliminated, so there are now 3 congregations with an average of 240 publishers. Still there is a total of 720 publishers meeting at this one building.
Here is the explanation given to the r&f:
The seating capacity determined by the local fire department is 189. Therefore, seating was provided assuming 100% attendance, with some room for visitors or new ones. Now the idea is to size the congregation based on anticipated attendance of 60-70%.
Previously each congregation had about 100 on Sunday. The first Sunday after the reorganization saw 180 for one congregation, but I don't know numbers for the others. All came early to grab seats and see who they got as refugees from the disbanded congregation. I don't know how many were counted on phone lines.
My thoughts: Since they got 75% attendance on the first Sunday, they will probably be able to keep below the legal limit allowed by fire regulations. No one seems to be expecting growth, just hoping that no more than 80% show up. The most deluded that do show up will be sitting cheek by jowel. I will be a gentleman to stand up and go elsewhere to read what you good folks have to say. I might complain about my aching a** or seek out Freddo to rejoice in our apathy.
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My presentation (new one here!)
by Skepsis ini registered in the board and i wanted to present myself.. i used to visit this forum some time ago and even register an account but then i tried to convince myself all was ok in the congregation.
now, i'm coming back :).
i live in a southern european nation, i'm a young jw, a good example in the congregation serving as a regular pioneer and ms. for all in the congregation i'm the good guy, one of the best examples in the area i live.
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Dreamerdude
Thank you for the great introduction. I am happy for you, that you woke up while you are still young.
You have a good plan and have received some good advice here.
Once you land a job you can support yourself on, it will make it easier to explain the need to stop pioneering. I have just one suggestion. The WT study for next week can give you a golden opportunity to explain your need to move to a congregation in your native language. The photo of the family that is struggling to understand speaks a thousand words. Study that article carefully, now that your eyes are open.
I wish you the best.
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Changed Wording in February 2017 WT Article
by Ding inthe february 2017 wt had stated that the gb is "neither inspired nor infallible" and that it can make errors in doctrine.. the language of the online wt issue now says, “the governing body is neither inspired nor perfect.
therefore, it can make mistakes when explaining the bible or directing the organization.”.
why the change?
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Dreamerdude
Maybe nuance? "Infallible" is sometimes associated with the Pope.
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73
Quite Possibly The Most Sinister Speaker Ever?
by pale.emperor inhi guys.. "brother" jose is quite possibly the most sinister speaker i've ever seen or heard.
and i've seen/head a lot of cults in my time.. he's over the top with his voice tone and gestures.
i see a future governing body member in the making here:.
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Dreamerdude
I wonder what the Arabs of New York think of him when this creepy looking Puerto Rican comes to their door trying to speak to them in deep throated Arabic. I cam imagine Jose Jr. strutting around the Arab KH as the COBE, keeping them in control. Although I doubt there are many Arabs there. I would guess they are mostly Americans who are learning or trying to learn Arabic.
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Update on U.S. Local Design/Construction Arrangement—November 2016
by wifibandit inupdate on u.s. local design/construction arrangement—november 2016 video will be considered the week of november 7, 2016. english and spanish.
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Dreamerdude
If some of the helpers were helping them think, they might have thought they could get more donations by saying they need to build 1,000 halls in 5 years rather than be honest and say they only need to build about 20 halls a year so they could get some footage for JWTV.
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Update on U.S. Local Design/Construction Arrangement—November 2016
by wifibandit inupdate on u.s. local design/construction arrangement—november 2016 video will be considered the week of november 7, 2016. english and spanish.
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Dreamerdude
Lemming, thanks for the excellent translation to non-cult English. It is so much easier to understand than the WT version.