Posts by 88JM

67

How Long Have You Been Viewing Thiis Site? Does It Serve Its Purpose For You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i've been here forever.... this site still gives us some of the most up to date info about jws .

it keeps evolving.

sometimes it is the place to be and i think that's especially true for newbies.

88JM

I think I've been reading this site for 5 years, but only signed up 3 years ago. Initially it was just curiosity, then I really started to enjoy reading the old threads of stories and experiences, and getting ideas for myself on how to do a successful fade.

These days I try to add supplementary information to discussions if I feel I can help, and I still come here to find out what's really happening in JW-land as my local congregation here is quite out of the way.

Most of all, every time I visit the site, everything I read confirms to me that getting out of the cult is always the right thing to do.

I wish I could contribute more, particularly my I.T. skills. I did quite enjoy doing the yearbook stats compilations and I'll be updating that when the new one comes out, and maybe even going a bit further back with Atlantis posting some of the older ones now.

12

2014 DC in DETROIT? anymore info ? scan of the "letter"

by ?me? in

jw
friends

so in our area, we have the circuit assemblies going on, so the "letter" about when and where our dc was delayed.

but a local elder let everyone know in their service group, and they let it out of the bag( only to have 30 comments on socal media, and only to be deleted a day later).

not a big deal, right?

88JM

I'm not sure what is worse - being told to travel 2-3 hours to hear boring talks, or as they are doing here in Scotland for the DC - doing a video link to hear boring talks from Twickenham in London!

19

Thowing a monkey wrench in jw doctrine

by runForever in

1) the signs of the times are qualified:.

luke 21:.

then he said to them: nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

88JM

More discussion here:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/215260/1/Albert-Schroeder-and-Sputnik

32

Undeclared changes to the 2013 NWT

by Doug Mason in

in the following from the 2013 edition of the nwt, the watchtower society indicates that when it released its initial 1950 edition, it considered the greek text provided by westcott and hort as its master text.

as a result of these additional masters, the wts made some undeclared changes to the 2013 nwt.

it does not list these changes or give any explanations.. greek text: in the late 19th century, scholars b. f. westcott and f.j.a.

88JM

Perhaps someone who knows could clarify this, but despite the WTBTS attempting to be "modern" and "updated" in their translation, are the W&H and the Nestle-Aland texts considered quite out of date by now by most reputable bible scholars? i.e. there are far better sources nowadays?

19

Thowing a monkey wrench in jw doctrine

by runForever in

1) the signs of the times are qualified:.

luke 21:.

then he said to them: nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

88JM

As I recall from other threads, during the Knorr-era, they considered linking "great signs from heaven" to the launch of Sputnik, but had a change of mind and decided not to run with that idea.

9

New UK Bethel location

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

not seen this mentioned yet - a letter was read out saying that the uk bethel is probably moving to west hanningfield near chelmsford, essex depending on all of the legal matters going through.

the letter also said not to visit the site as it would annoy nearby businesses.

no more mention yet of begging for funds.

88JM

Witness My Fury - I hate to burst the bubble, but from reading the other threads it seems likely that it's a bit too late to lodge any kind of planning objection. It sounds like things are already well underway - I imagine someone doesn't sign an agreement to 80 acres without some sort of assurance already. Local businesses will probably be rubbing their hands together in glee at the business this will bring them. Strip clubs come to mind for some reason...

16

Breaking News - WT Sign for a New Site.

by Slidin Fast in

jw
friends

bulletin.

the wt has signed an agreement subject to ... blah, blah for an 80 acre site near chelmsford in essex.

they have just though bought new accomodation in mill hill.

88JM

I could still see them shutting things down in Mill Hill, even if they are buying new properties there.

One thing to explain that would be if they are wanting to sell the Bethel flats out at Finchley - that would instantly displace a large number of Bethelites, though they will likely be glad to see those flats go, and Bethel will be glad to be rid of the flats as well, and be rid of a source of many London Bethel problems. Buying properties closer to home in Mill Hill will act as a bit of a "buffer" if they sell the flats, and property around Mill Hill is still probably a good investment anyway regardless.

9

New UK Bethel location

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

not seen this mentioned yet - a letter was read out saying that the uk bethel is probably moving to west hanningfield near chelmsford, essex depending on all of the legal matters going through.

the letter also said not to visit the site as it would annoy nearby businesses.

no more mention yet of begging for funds.

88JM

You nearly got there first Saltheart Foamfollower except:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/269075/1/Breaking-News-WT-Sign-for-a-New-Site

16

Breaking News - WT Sign for a New Site.

by Slidin Fast in

jw
friends

bulletin.

the wt has signed an agreement subject to ... blah, blah for an 80 acre site near chelmsford in essex.

they have just though bought new accomodation in mill hill.

88JM

80 acres? That seems quite a lot - even with new resedential blocks, which will presumably be mostly apartment blocks rather than the plush Mill Hill villas they have at the moment.

Maybe with that much space it will even be a Bethel + Assembly/Kindgdom Hall complex?

What about the presumed exodus of Bethelites in the north London congregations? Won't those congregations be much smaller and with far fewer appointed men? I know they have lots of halls shared by 2, 3+ congregations so maybe they'll be glad for the space though, or they'll just merge. So what about the Chelmsford/Essex Congregations? Are they aware they will be getting a huge influx of bethelites? Will they be splitting up?

21

A little gem from the latest WT

by dmouse in

jw
friends

.

it never ceases to amaze me the propensity that the wbts has of seeing the straw in someone else's eye but not the rafter in their own.

this little gem is from the latest july 15th watchtower, page 22. .

88JM

I just came across this great gem as well. A search on the forum seems to not indicate it's not so well known.

Also I think it's worth posting the paragraph that is 3 paragraphs down from the one in the last post. (make sure you check that out too!)

I was just going to put the last line here, but that would be taking it out of context. Still, if you just read the last line in bold, it's still a pretty great quote!

*** w03 7/15 p. 23 Think Straight—Act Wisely ***
It is especially important to let God’s thoughts guide our thinking in times of stress or danger. Strong emotions like anger or fear can make it difficult to think straight. “Oppression may make a wise one act crazy,” says Solomon. (Ecclesiastes 7:7) It is even possible to become “enraged against Jehovah himself.” (Proverbs 19:3) How? By blaming God for our problems and using them to justify doing things that are out of harmony with his laws and principles. Instead of thinking that we always know best, may we humbly listen to wise counselors who seek to help us by using the Scriptures. And if necessary, let us be prepared to abandon even strongly held points of view when it becomes evident that they are mistaken.—Proverbs 1:1-5; 15:22.