Posts by gingerbread

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'.

29

Steve Hassan Interviews XJW elder, Roberto di Stefano, at ICSA Conference in Italy

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

trieste, italy - icsa conference - july 6, 2013. both roberto di stefano and steve hassan were speakers at the conference.

you can see the hassan interview on his website.

here's the link:http://freedomofmind.com/media/video.php?id=59.

gingerbread

Excellent video with complete honesty, sincerity and smiles. We'll be watching this as a family tonight.

Thanks for the link!

ginger

40

Former Longtime Elder : Contributions

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

for a year now, i have been handling the accounts.

we have 6 elders and 7 ms, and none of them ( i am not serving), want to do the accounts, so they asked me to do it.

here is what i have noticed.. 4 elderly sisters cover the whole congregation in donations monthly!

gingerbread

Contributions are considered an indicator of the congregation's overall 'spiritual health' - just as much as average service hours, active commenting during meetings and lively interaction of publishers before and after meetings.

For older ones, it's a lifetime habit to budget money aside for congregational expenses. For the "under 40" crowd, that is a rarer thing - except if a young guy want to get noticed for future appointments (he always writes a check!).

With increased pressure on CO's to tabulate and inspect, a decrease in contributions will cause the elder body real trouble.

In my observation, publishers that are high earners give lump contributions and lower income folks give service time.

31

What Is The "Typical" Elder In The Organization Like Now?

by minimus in

jw
friends

when i was an elder, most of the elders were pretty independent 40 to 80 year olds.

they had no issue speaking up to the circuit overseer.

i wonder what the average elder is like now.

gingerbread

It's still a boys club.

More now than ever the elders are burdened by more meetings, new rules and procedures & the stress of organizational business.

They deal with a congregation full of aging folks. And people with depression issues or emotional problems. The WT leadership continues to ramp up fear in talks and publications. The result of that is average publisher is scared to death - every 'bad' story to hit the news is a new piece of evidence that the big A is on it's way. The persecution complex is on full throttle (with apostates being the main source of the torment).

Some elders show sympathy. Many have become policemen bent on enforcing branch 'directives'.

Nuts.

ginger

17

Marathon service days before Sept 1

by gbrn in

jw
friends

so my wife showed me her instagram and one of her friends posted a picture of herself and a couple other pioneers with the title "20 hours in so far on our 24 hour day of service!

" mind you they were all sitting in starbucks.

this just made me want to scream!!

gingerbread

After a half-lifetime of involvement as a publisher, I've concluded that many join the 'pioneer ranks' with good intentions - to reach others in the community with the religion.

But, if a full time pioneer is honest they would admit that they do it for themselves. They like the title, position, special meetings and training schools.

Listen to interviews of pioneers at the assemblies. One question that is ALWAYS asked is "please tell us how full time service has benefited you spiritually."

ginger

30

One Day is as 1000 years to Jehovah

by confusedandalone in

jw
friends

i wake up this mornign to find this on my facebook page... instant deletion.

if 1000 years is as one day...the following is true....if 1000 years is as one day...the following is true..... .

someone did the math, of the 1000 years = one day equation.

gingerbread

19

Who benefits from the money they receive?

by unfamiliar in

i keep seeing people on here (and other places) talk about the wbts making money .

.

sorry if it should be obvious!.

gingerbread

The Watchtower corporation(s) in themselves don't generate an income like an individual does through employment. The corps hold assets such as property and investments. These assets can be converted into cash.

The corps protect the assets and cash. Without these the organization ceases to function.

Like any well managed corporation, the WT finds ways to reduce costs, maintain the strength of it's assets and look for new ways to increase funding.

All funding is given voluntarily to the corportation (branch) by members. The WT corporation has millions of members that give funds and personal assets to them every week as 'donations.'

So, the corporation (branch) benefits from the money received. Of course, the persons in control of the corps spend a lot of money but they never risk the long-term financial health of the Org.

No strings attached. No accountablility.

ginger

85

I'm thinking about going back

by Corboy101 in

jw
friends

i have been out for 22 years.i was raised as a jehovahs witness.

i was baptized in 1986 but soon after left the religion.

theres a whole lot to the reasons why i left, but i left.

gingerbread

I think some of the ideas expressed here - through Corboy and 1009 - are the 'new' jehovah's witness.

They're still involved because of family and friends. They pick and choose what they want to participate in. They are selective about their associates in the congregation. They have doubts and questions and know it's better to keep this to themselves. They stick with the big 'doctrines' and rules ( blood, neutrality, meeting attendance, regular field service, etc.) but ignore the 'little' stuff. It's no biggie to drink too much, watch 'bad' movies or listen to 'debasing' music, have a 'worldly' girl or boy friend (secret), etc. Just so you show up for service the next morning. They pose as ones 'reaching out' for congregational responsibility. They pioneer (and live at home) so they don't have to get a job. They volunteer for building and remodelling projects. They always have their Watchtower and Jeremiah book underlined.

The 'new' Jehovah's Witness is about appearances. Looking good. Looking right.

85

I'm thinking about going back

by Corboy101 in

jw
friends

i have been out for 22 years.i was raised as a jehovahs witness.

i was baptized in 1986 but soon after left the religion.

theres a whole lot to the reasons why i left, but i left.

gingerbread

Doctrine is defined : Principles, position or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government. Something that is taught; teachings collectively: as in religious doctrine.

The single defining doctrine taught by Jehovah's Witnesses, either individually or collectively, is that the Governing Body ( the eight men at the religion's world headquarters in New York ) is the sole earthly representives of Jesus Christ and his heavenly government.

It is through this governing body that Jesus Christ informs the Witnesses and the world about Biblical interpretation.

If you actually believe in this doctrine, return as quickly as you can! Without it your daily happiness, personal success and eternal salvation are in serious jeopardy...