Posts by gingerbread

39

Speculation on why now?

by Crazyguy in

in the last couple of years the org has gone money crazy, selling off over a billion dollars worth of property and now a new tithing program.

just wonder what every one thinks is the reason for all this now?.

gingerbread

The Watchtower leadership (not the Governing Body) is strengthening its financial position.

The Governing Body is strengthening its control position (of the individual members and the body of elders).

As an organization, they are doing everything possible to take ownership of the structure - down to the kids in the congregations.

The appointments or deletions of elders is now controlled by the circuit overseer. The branches now own all Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls. The branch (and headquarters) now controls each congregation's bank account.

I don't know what is in store for the future with the doctrinal issues - but I think it's going to be BIG. Big changes will cause divisions, doubts and anger in the publishers and elders. I also think the the Governing Body is going to create situations (and push loyalty issues) that will bring persecution upon the individual Witnesses.

ginger

59

"They've made us debt FREE !!!"

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

so proclaimed the brother that read the wt letter tonight that explained the new kingdom hall funding arrangement.. everyone in the hall claps .... well, like it was the last talk on the district convention.. he says 'what bank would wipe out a debt of $200,000 ???

only jehovah's organization!

isn't this wonderful !!!".

gingerbread

After the letter was read - and the comment was given about being 'free of payments' on the KH loan - yes, $200,000 is remaining on this single auditorium Hall that was built a few years ago - the applause erupted.

In the letter it specifically states that new Hall projects are needed in areas where "the costs of property and building materials is high". This new arrangement isn't targeted to build quick structures in developing parts of the world. (13,000 Kingdom Halls and 35 Assembly Halls) Perhaps the focus is to add investment properties to their real estate portfolio (real collateral).

The letter offers two options for the congregations - the BOE will present a resolution for a monthly payment OR a 'survey' of what each family will contribute monthly. After the letter was read the brother said that there was a change in that method (they had received a NEW letter of instructions on Wednesday). All congregations must take a survey - with each publisher/family committing to a monthly contribution.

ginger

59

"They've made us debt FREE !!!"

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

so proclaimed the brother that read the wt letter tonight that explained the new kingdom hall funding arrangement.. everyone in the hall claps .... well, like it was the last talk on the district convention.. he says 'what bank would wipe out a debt of $200,000 ???

only jehovah's organization!

isn't this wonderful !!!".

gingerbread

So proclaimed the brother that read the WT letter tonight that explained the new Kingdom Hall funding arrangement.

Everyone in the Hall claps .... well, like it was the last talk on the District Convention.

He says 'What bank would wipe out a debt of $200,000 ??? Only Jehovah's Organization! Isn't this wonderful !!!"

ginger

61

Embarrassed by Aggressive Apostates

by ShempLives in

jw
friends

xjw protests & videos.

.. i am disturbed by some of the more aggressive apostates posting videos on youtube,like "a jw memorial to remember" where a drunk man goes to a memorial and downs the whole glass of wine as a sort of protest.

this video and others like it received positive comments from aawa members.

gingerbread

I have family members and long time friends that are currently researching JW history and questioning their relationship with this organization. I'm afraid this sort of angry, ex-JW garbage on YouTube will close their minds to leaving and living.

Some people leave the Org. and focus their anger toward individuals who are still active members. This is counter-productive.

The internet can be used by the ex-JW 'disenfranchised' to find their 15 minutes in the limelight. It's personal and selfish.

Remember too that a lot of ex-Jehovah's Witnesses die every year - angry, disappointed, uneducated, narrow-minded and resentful. They were still locked into the JW mindset and never set themselves free....

ginger

34

Feeling disloyal

by stirred but not shaken in

i've been visiting here for about a year or so, but didn't really feel compelled to participate other than reading the various posts that interested me.. there's been that uncomfortable feeling of being disloyal to god, the organization, many friends and relatives.. i've been associated since birth.

after 65 + years of service within this organization and actually enjoying that time, it troubled me to find myself wanting to express feelings that were contrary to all that time of "faithfulness".

those years were filled with progressive "privileges and responsibilities" even at a high level, and there was considerable success in our evangelizing activity.

gingerbread

Thank you for telling us a bit of your story. Courage!

The Gingerbread family mirrors yours. Watchtower lifers, 'good examples' and well known.

We see the process like being on a merry-go-round. After we stepped off we were 'dizzy' and sick to our 'stomachs'. We look back at our lifelong 'friends' and still feel a closeness; but it's just not the same.

After living a year in JW inactivity, I understand that everyone does indeed have free will. We can love and trust ourselves, enjoy each day for what it is and cherish each moment.

The real challenge is changing how we think.

Best - - ginger

24

We are seeing JW history in the making

by suavojr in

with all the current changes and downsizing, the 1914 "anchor date" appears to be drifting out to sea.

yes, i know the gb is putting all of their chips on 1914 but if you stop and think about it for a moment.. we are seeing jw history in the making for the next jw generation of 2114.. first they teach a date as significant.second, when it becomes obsolete, they come up with a convoluted explanation of how it really was significant, just not in the way "some believers" once taught.third, it becomes a historical footnote, as in: "bible students at one time thought... but now we see... evidently... .

the next generation of jws (100 years from today) will be talking about 2014 as the year of great expectation, and how close the end is in 2114. yes, when jesus spoke about this generation evidently he was talking in a symbolic way, and he was truly referring to the generation class.. .

gingerbread

www.newsystemschool.org

Look it up.

ginger

12

Millions Now Living Have Never Lived So Well

by Bob_NC in

that's right, millions now living are living during the best of times for humanity.

but aren't these critical times hard to deal with?

aren't these the last days of a dying wicked system of things.

gingerbread

This is one of the things that gets me going! SO many of the faithful complain, complain, complain about how hard life is during these 'last days'.

They complain that the convention hall is too hot or too cold, that the internet is evil, that all we hear about is bad news (because they're glued to CNN or Fox News 24/7), that their kids or grandkids aren't staying in the 'truth', that their aches and pains have become unbearable (they can't make the meetings or field service), they're broke or don't have any retirement (because the evil government has stolen their Social Security), they are so depressed that can't stop taking their Zoloft, Paxil, Cymbalta or Wellbutrin...

A real mess...

22

420/Marijuana/Mary Jane - What Is The Society's Stance Now That It's Legal In Two States?

by Sam Whiskey in

jw
friends

sorry if it's already been discussed (i did do a search and did not see anything recent) here on the board.

now that 420 has been legalized in washington and colorado, what is the society's stance on this?

is it viewed the same as alcohol, taken in moderation?

gingerbread

The last time the WT connects smoking to spiritism was in the 1980's .

According to the upcoming July public Watchtower, the Bible condemns smoking because 1) it is addictive, 2) it damages the body, and 3) it harms others.

The Watchtower further defines 'smoking' as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, waterpipes (hookas), chewing tobacco, snuff and e-cigarettes.

It's only a matter of time when most States legalize mj - especially when they realize the billions of dollars in tax revenue.

Bring it on!

ginger

24

We are seeing JW history in the making

by suavojr in

with all the current changes and downsizing, the 1914 "anchor date" appears to be drifting out to sea.

yes, i know the gb is putting all of their chips on 1914 but if you stop and think about it for a moment.. we are seeing jw history in the making for the next jw generation of 2114.. first they teach a date as significant.second, when it becomes obsolete, they come up with a convoluted explanation of how it really was significant, just not in the way "some believers" once taught.third, it becomes a historical footnote, as in: "bible students at one time thought... but now we see... evidently... .

the next generation of jws (100 years from today) will be talking about 2014 as the year of great expectation, and how close the end is in 2114. yes, when jesus spoke about this generation evidently he was talking in a symbolic way, and he was truly referring to the generation class.. .

gingerbread

In the 1830's, William Miller and his group of Second Adventists put their faith on the return of Christ in 1844. It became known as the "great disappointment" but the faithful kept faithful. They later concluded that Christ's return was invisible (sound familiar? - C.T. Russell borrowed many of our beliefs from Adventism).

This group later became known as the Seventh-Day Adventists. The strictly conservative Aventists now - 180 years later - number over 18 million. Still keeping the faith. Still adjusting their daily lives to the tenets of this religion.

For the past 2000 years, apocalyptic millennialist sects have used disasters (human or natural) as proof of the coming end. This won't ever end as long as there are people willing to put their trust in those ideas.

ginger

33

A Text Message Exchange

by Emery in

jw
friends

i have been in the fading process for over a year now.

nobody has really bothered my wife and me since we've stopped, which i am thankful for.

recently, i've had an old jw friend send me a few text messages relating to business.

gingerbread

A friend that you grew up with can be a great friend - understanding and supportive. The danger is that as JW's we are conditioned to reject 'false teachings' of apostates. If your friend suspects that you are doing this to him, he will drop you like a hot potato.

JW friendships are always 'conditional' - on the condition that you are an active Witness. Otherwise you are labeled as bad association.

Don't feel discouraged when your friend no longer communicates with you. It will happen at some point.

He is a victim of confirmation bias.

All the best - -

ginger