in 2009, they reported 118 branches.
in 2011, they reported 98 branches.
a net loss of 20 branches in 2 years.. they are selling off kingdom halls, here and there - sometimes packing several congregations into one hall where one per building was the rule.not compassionate where weather or other traveling factors could injure publishers..... and they're selling off some assembly halls, too.. brooklyn et al is being sold - and you already know about all the many cutbacks, layoffs and the downsizing of magazines.. why?.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Bethel Boppers reduce meetings to one hour on a Sunday. The end of this wicked system will be predicted to occur some time this century, God willling. Reporting time would be stopped.
As long as the 7,000,000 worldwide membership use enough literature and contribute enough to keep the tax evading Tower in place, all will be well.
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frosted flakes..... they're grrrrrreat!.
Caption: Damn-it! How can I get my hair to cover my sticky-out ears, like you guys?
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frosted flakes..... they're grrrrrreat!.
Pams girl So glad you decided to stay around. (I have just returned from a week walking in and around Crickhowell South Wales. Thanks for your invitation to call by) Love the new avatar. Keep on keeping on, people notice you, even if they don't comment.
the reason i ask, is that if you search the wt publications, you will see that it is spelled with only one "p" over 600 times, but also spelled with two "p"s 600 times.. .
very confusing!
any linguistic experts out there that know which it should be?.
In the UK we 'P' twice in this word.
how do you explain david's graphic portrayal of jesus' death by crucifixion (psalm 22) 1000 years before christ lived?.
how do you account for the odds (1 in 10 to the 157th power) that even just 48 (of 300) old testament prophecies were fulfilled in jesus christ?.
in what sense was jesus a "good man" if he was lying in his claim to be god?.
What is a thinker?
i am adrift, without rudder, .
in a sea of broken dreams.. .
my mind descends into a tangle .
I always enjoy your poetry.
Heaven is a place on earth and may not be as far away as you think. Perhaps you need to get out for a couple of beers with some good mates...
the most embarrassing book in the bible - understanding the book of revelation.
in a short 36 minute video, andrew corbett discusses an alternative view of the bible book of revelation.
his position is interesting as it attempts to place much of the subject matter of the book in a first century context with rome as the seven-headed wild beast and jerusalem as the great harlot.
Embarrassing to whom?
The possibility exists that John was as high as a kite when he recieved his revelations and that may be as close to heaven as he will ever be.
growing up and jw and being around them all my life i constantly heard the expression "a relasionship with god".
this always confused me, because how do you have a relasionship with someone that doesn't talk back to you after praying?
this was always rationalized as god talks back to you when you read the bible.
It also agree with talesin. I would add that our sub-conscious mind constantly attempts to communicate with the so call conscious part of our mind; more accurately called our frontal lobes.
When a solution to a problem pops into our awareness or we feel as though a voice is helping us, we can attribute this to a god, Jesus, zeus, demon, dead friend or insanity but it is just the normal activity of our whole mind.
Please don't tell Tammy I said this.
anyone know the jw explanation for this:.
so supposedly, god exists outside of space and time.
or, god wasn't created and didn't create itself, it just always was, or something.... ignoring any logical issues for a moment, if this is true, why does it deserve any worship for this?.
Those in power who demand worship are considered immature, egotistical and shallow. For an almighty god who claims to be love to demand worship, is absurd; as illustrated by the god of the Bible.
Perhaps the idea that god is not a deity but the spiritual part of each of us as a living part of the universe, is closer to the truth.
do they both lead people away from god?.
N.drew 'I do not believe all religionists and atheists are seeking truth. Especially the Jehovah's Witnesses. Their religion is all about quiting seeking because they put their trust in men who they believe have the truth.'
It may appear that way but many Jehovah's Witnesses are people who were susceptible to the Watchtower Society's version of truth because they were seeking truth. They joined believing they had found the truth. When the blind lead the blind they may both fall into the pit.
I have empathy for all sincere people who are unwittingly misled by false teachers. Jehovah's Witnesses that realize they have been duped can prove they are seekers of truth by leaving and continuing their search. I know from experience that this is not always easy to do and the cost can be high. It is a test of a person’s integrity to pursuing truth regardless of where that leads.
