Posts by gingerbread

23

Special Local Needs talk this week

by rosesinbloom in

it was announed at the sunday meeting 9/1/13 that all congregationswill be hearing the same local needs talk this week as sent by the wbts.. i would like to know if anyone has had their service meeting yet and what it was about..

gingerbread

Exactly my thought too BOC.

Did you notice that they are asking for skilled, knowledgeble construction professionals. Maybe some of the other folks used in the recent past aren't jumping on this bandwagon.

And - the branch isn't asking for a bunch of full-time jugheads to come up and assist as laborers....while counting their hours as field service time.

Time is the motivating factor.....to get the Warwick project completed before they start getting eviction notices from the new owners of some prime Brooklyn property.

ginger

8

10/5/13: COMING TO A KH NEAR YOU?!

by grumblecakes in

hey there everybody,.

gota text froman elder in my cong a little while ago informing me of the "annual meeting meeting" to beheld at out hall on oct 5th....what live via satilite?

ps.

gingerbread

That is correct.

In the US at least, the program will be either broadcast live or replayed again that weekend at both Kingdom and Assembly halls. It's not open the public - but to active publishers. The live broadcast requires an invitation - preference is given to members with congregational responsiblility, full time pioneers and those who have been 'in' for many years.

This is an organizational first.

We were offered invitations/tickets in July.... but politely declined citing 'being out of town' during that weekend.

ginger

23

Special Local Needs talk this week

by rosesinbloom in

it was announed at the sunday meeting 9/1/13 that all congregationswill be hearing the same local needs talk this week as sent by the wbts.. i would like to know if anyone has had their service meeting yet and what it was about..

gingerbread

It is a 15 minute talk from from the US branch.

They compare the building of the new headquarters in Warwick, NY to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall as recorded in Nehemiah. The parallel is that the wall was rebuilt in 52 days by many volunteers. The GB wants the same to happen to their new home.

It's an open plea for Witnesses who are experienced construction trades persons to come to Warwick for "ONE OR MORE YEARS".

The work is 'speeding up' ....

The 'historic' Watchtower buildings in Brooklyn have sold. It's time to 'flee to the mountains'.

ginger

32

Security cameras inside & outside the Kingdom Hall ?

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

i recently heard from a family member who is still active about the new security system in her kh.. during the installation of the digital projector on the auditorium's ceiling, she said that the brothers who came to install it (i'm assuming some from the regional bldg group) also installed security cameras.. she specifically mentions a computer screen at the sound box that shows live feeds of - the parking lot, the carport/drop-off, interior view of the entrance, the lobby and magazine counter & the 'little room' ( the 'elders room' with conference table, computer and printers, filing cabinets, library, etc).. has anyone seen or heard of these being installed in a local hall ?.

comments?.

ginger.

gingerbread

This Hall was an RBC construction project about five years ago. The digital projector and cameras were installed last month.

I understand the need for practical security. The most perplexing shot was of the elder's meeting room - where judicial cases are heard.

The use of live feeds may give a sense of a secure meeting place for the publishers. It also can fuel fear of persecution from the outside.

Another thought - with the elder's room is being monitored perhaps this is a way record any who enter and look through the physical files, make copies of documents or transfer sensitive information to a flash drive/memory stick...

ginger

32

Security cameras inside & outside the Kingdom Hall ?

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

i recently heard from a family member who is still active about the new security system in her kh.. during the installation of the digital projector on the auditorium's ceiling, she said that the brothers who came to install it (i'm assuming some from the regional bldg group) also installed security cameras.. she specifically mentions a computer screen at the sound box that shows live feeds of - the parking lot, the carport/drop-off, interior view of the entrance, the lobby and magazine counter & the 'little room' ( the 'elders room' with conference table, computer and printers, filing cabinets, library, etc).. has anyone seen or heard of these being installed in a local hall ?.

comments?.

ginger.

gingerbread

I confirmed the story myself by visiting the Hall this weekend. Sure enough. The computer screen was divided into nine views - six of them showing live views of areas both outside and inside. I thought it strange that a camera was in place in the elders room.

This hall is in a medium sized town - not in the inner city. No fences, gates or security bars.

The camera system was installed at the same time the required digital projector was put up on the ceiling in front of the stage. An uncle of mine was so excited about the projector. "It's arrived just in time for the new arrangement for the annual meeting" he said. Then he says something that really creeped us out....'We'll soon be using that projector a lot. The branch has talks scheduled that we will tie into for live video - we will all be watching the Governing Body speak to all the Kingdom Halls at the same time.'

I think he was doing his best to impress us. Maybe it was his subtle way to encourage us to start attending more often (like old times)...little does he know.

ginger

32

Security cameras inside & outside the Kingdom Hall ?

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

i recently heard from a family member who is still active about the new security system in her kh.. during the installation of the digital projector on the auditorium's ceiling, she said that the brothers who came to install it (i'm assuming some from the regional bldg group) also installed security cameras.. she specifically mentions a computer screen at the sound box that shows live feeds of - the parking lot, the carport/drop-off, interior view of the entrance, the lobby and magazine counter & the 'little room' ( the 'elders room' with conference table, computer and printers, filing cabinets, library, etc).. has anyone seen or heard of these being installed in a local hall ?.

comments?.

ginger.

gingerbread

I recently heard from a family member who is still active about the new security system in her KH.

During the installation of the digital projector on the auditorium's ceiling, she said that the brothers who came to install it (I'm assuming some from the Regional Bldg group) also installed security cameras.

She specifically mentions a computer screen at the sound box that shows live feeds of - the parking lot, the carport/drop-off, interior view of the entrance, the lobby and magazine counter & the 'little room' ( the 'elders room' with conference table, computer and printers, filing cabinets, library, etc).

Has anyone seen or heard of these being installed in a local Hall ?

Comments?

ginger

4

What would it take?

by Kool Jo in

jw
friends

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gingerbread

Persons will 'leave' only when the organization know as Jehovah's Witnesses ceases to exist.

Even after 1975, dispite the allusion that an exit of many left the 'truth, most stayed 'loyal to the faith'. Suggestions of hundreds or thousands leaving the organization is probably correct, but from a percentage aspect very few threw in the towel and left.

Some did become inactive for a while but many returned after some years ... to wait on jehovah.

Some that became inactive after 1975 left for good in the early eighties after learning about Ray Franz's story. But in reality, most of us might have heard a general retelling of those events but never knew of any details - the Time magazine expose and interview was banned as apostate propaganda.

21

It's yime for an introduction

by HowTheBibleWasInvented in

jw
friends

i've been lurking a month or two and letting out a comment here and there.a few weeks ago someone asked if i had formally introduced myself.

i was born and raised a witness.

i always found meetings borning and family studies so bad.

gingerbread

Welcome!

I too walked in your research shoes a few years ago. Also, I made a study of the history of the WT organization and the origins of our main beliefs. By slowly sharing my 'findings' with my spouse, we're quietly fading away from the organization together.

It's working very well with few hassles - even though we were both raised in and have parents and siblings still in...pioneering, responsibilities, building construction... we were card carrying JW's.

I always recommend reading books by and watching videos about Joseph Campbell.

ginger

25

Wait on Jehovah - What does is it truly mean?

by ProfCNJ in

good evening folks!

we have encountered this advice countlessly on wt study articles.

this especially comes out to ease the waiting pain of brothers eagerly waiting for god's new world and the end of the old system of things - with all the sufferings that go along with it.. i also noticed this being floated to try to extend the patience of brothers who are jumping ahead of the organization in terms of thinking - as if they are pre-empting the organization on certain sensitive views and issues.. if a brother has gotten an idea or insight that is far more superior than the present affairs in the society, or regarded as way in advance - he can be branded as a brother "not in order".

gingerbread

Welcome to the real 'organization'.

I've been in this situation and have seen hundreds of others experience it by being 'put in their place'. I've seen too many good brothers ( and sisters too!) with great ideas that are told NO...

The WTBTS and it's branches are structured from the top down. Rank and position exist on every level. The 'pecking order' is very real.

'Waiting on Jehovah' to correct wrongs in the congregation only leads to pain and misery. Just like you focus on in your experience - ProfCNJ - , it's easy to blame a rotten, controlling person in the congregation. However, you (just like I used to do) miss the point: the real problem is the organizational policies and doctrines that run the WT machine.

This religion will never be improved or reformed from within.

ginger

34

"Whether These Appear Sound From a Strategic or Human Standpoint or Not." - What do YOU think?

by jw07 in

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20131115/seven-shepherds-eight-dukes/.

paragraph 17.

"at that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from jehovahs organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint.

gingerbread

I've come to realize over the past couple of years that the Watchtower doesn't 'hide' what it's thinking. The GB and it's writers are blatant and obvious regarding what is expected from everyone.

This is another statement that tells the membership that the GB is in charge of their lives.

The one word that concerns me in JW07's quote is in the last sentence: 'help'.

This last sentence is a directive to the elders to pressure any that are educating themselves or advancing their careers. On the flip-side, this kind of 'help' will awaken the balanced ones in congregations and also cause even more young adults to flee 'the faith'.