wheelwithinwheel

Joined

• started 45 topics
• posted 345 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by wheelwithinwheel

• 
  11

  Embarrassing moments on stage

  by freedom96 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as a kid growing up with an elder father, from time to time we would have parts on stage at the meeting or assembly.

  my dad had a certain talk he must have delivered to a couple dozen different congregations, about families.

  during the talk, he would have my sister and i cause a scene during the talk, in which we would ultimately run on stage argueing.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  One day I was asked to pass the microphone. Our hall had just been equipped with the latest in air conditioning, ceiling fans. A brother in the middle of the aisle was asked to comment and I hefted the mike pole into the air anticipating the long reach. The fan grabbed hold to the microphone, snatched it out of my hand and flung it across the room. Fortunately nobody was hit but the worst was I had to go and retrieve the mike with all eyes following me. Then I was asked to see if it was still in working order. Remember testing 1,2,3,1,2 testing?

  Another time a sister with a huge set of teeth was asked to comment. Her younger son decided I was holding the mike too far away from mom, grabbed the pole, and wrenched it towards moms mouth. You guessed it, she got it right in the choppers and the noise was deafening. Everyone thought I was the one who had given her a swat on the piano keys.

  I dont remember passing the mike much after these incidents. I guess I was in my clumsy adolescent days.
• 
  27

  Brain Freeze Fluff

  by RubyTuesday in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  whats your favorite flavor and brand?

  mine is chocolate haagan daz.

  edited by - rubytuesday on 21 november 2002 22:17:44.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  ROLO is the greatest
• 
  11

  Jobs you couldn't have

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  having a tight control over us, the watchtower teachings told us what jobs we could or couldn't have.

  did you lose a great job opportunity because of their control over you?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  Anyone quit a good job to go pioneering? Quite a few in our area did it. Some were working in paper-mills making good money too. I see them around, washing windows, looking glum and they tell me world conditions are getting worse and the end has to be just around the bend.
• 
  18

  To: Lurking Elders or Former Elders

  by somebody in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if the watch tower society prints information such as this, claiming that they a legal instrument used by jws, .

  watchtower 98 3/15 18 .

  living up to christian dedication in freedom .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  The unofficial WT viewpoint I've heard about the 6 points is that the soc. had no choice on this matter because of all the stupid bumbling elders making all sorts of idiotic decisions. While this may have some bearing, one must keep in mind that, as 'somebody' has mentioned, all procedures must be by the Book and serious cases all always discussed and directed by WT legal ("phone mother, you will be told what to do")

  'hawk's' point about elder's having their own attorneys ... agreed but,

  First, I don't think most elders would even think about getting their own legal counsel. (What would I need a worldly lawyer for. Leave it in Jehovah's capable hands)

  Second, if one did come up with such an absurd idea, I believe he would be made to understand that that would be the end of his eldership duties and also the end of any WT support (You can't even consult a 'worldly' psychiatrist let alone a 'worldly' attorney). The WT would not allow a worldly lawyer to shift the responsibility onto their shoulders.

  Just another thought: some years ago a group of elders and C.O.s , D. O.s were discussing legal responsibility and it was mentioned that the soc. didn't bother to carry insurance but had a fund set aside in the unlikely case they would be found legally responsible. Anyone else heard this. If it's true the fund may not be sufficient in the coming years.

  Edited by - wheelwithinwheel on 21 November 2002 15:55:43
• 
  9

  Non-JW needs advice

  by agr8day in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  first off, those who have left the watchtower are extraordinarily courageous and thank you so much for having the fortitude to post your stories publicly.

  you are all no doubt helping untold numbers of people.

  i am catholic and i have a friend who is a jw.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  You seem to be a great friend to have.

  I agree 100% with joannadandy.

  The WT uses guilt, study preparation,service and meetings and the"you're not doing enough" refrain to keep their members well-occupied. Wonder why many can't keep up and feel depressed? The WT maintains their members inside the WT circle by calling outsiders, even relatives, "worldy" and forbides any 'fun' association with outsiders by labeling holidays as pagan. Week-ends are okay if they are spent in service and at meetings. I've noticed some who do well and finally wake-up and leave are those who get really involved in outside interests but this can be easier said than done. Perhaps you can get your friend interested in some non-JW activities without her feeling she's neglecting her religion or that you're encouraging her away from her religion.

  Most witnesses don't bother with education and aren't bothered by the WT viewpoint on education because the "end" is so near. You might try the approach that the "end" could still be some years away. This can be argued by the latest WT prediction 1975...27 years ago ... and yes I'm 49, been there, done that, never got a decent education, and am now doing cleaning (the WT's preferred career choice) with absolutely no benefits and in 15 years its pension time ohh-ohh. But then I'm the stupid one. You could perhaps mention that you believe it would be a good idea for the young man to further his education to better provide for himself and his future family. I've been humming this 'just in case the end comes later' tune for some time now and have found a few listening ears.

  good luck!!!!!
• 
  18

  To: Lurking Elders or Former Elders

  by somebody in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if the watch tower society prints information such as this, claiming that they a legal instrument used by jws, .

  watchtower 98 3/15 18 .

  living up to christian dedication in freedom .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  When I copied the quoted footnote 'what not to be used...' into my book, I realised the WT was 1. covering its ass and 2.hanging the elders out to dry for any consequences of WT legal's orders, which must be followed to the letter.

  I had already experienced WT legal meddling firsthand. Maybe that's why, as I wrote 1., 2., 3., and finally got to 6., I was quite shocked and upset by what I believed to be a shirking of responsability.

  So began my path out of eldership and eventually out of the org.

  The strange thing is the elders I've talked to, including my dad, don't seem to have a problem with the legal instrument's covering it's ass-hole.

  Since I'm out I now see that the WT will never take responsibility for anything... be it legal matters, misunderstanding and misinterpreting the Bible, failed prophecies or other matters
• 
  6

  Dressed to kill

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you beleive that one day the witnesses should stop wearing suits, and look more like every body in the street.

  they give the impression that they still live in the 50's.

  i think that they would be more accepted if they would dress differently, like everyone else.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  It's all part of the WT master plan
• 
  12

  current or recent jw's? especially elders.... what

  by surferdude in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what were or are the qualifications for certain "responsibilities" around the hall?

  our hall literally has only ms or elders --- attending, doing stage set up, handling book counter/service desk, and reading wt and closing the service meeting with song and prayer.... the only exception is the young son of a high ranking elder at our hall... they put the restrictions that a ms has to meet on these activities, i am regular, but not active enough in the service although i assured them i was "doing the best i could" (3 - 5 hours a month) but they acted like that was terrible.... we had a heated discussion for 30 minutes.... .

  sd .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  A friend of mine was finally judged qualified enough to become a ms - he was immediately assigned the privilege of mowing the kh lawn. This is a 5 hour job, every week, due to the size of the cheap land that the brothers bought, out in the backwoods. After being counselled regularly on his lawn-cutting skills he finally told the elder that, at the salary he was getting, nobody had a right to criticize his efforts, and that the elder could just do the job himself. Was it really a privilege? Funny, the elder didn't seem to relish the job and promptly assigned it to another aspiring ms.

  Privilege? : in my experience in kh's, quick-builds and Ass's = free slave labour
• 
  9

  JW wifes

  by happy man in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  i have read that some of you here who leave the truth, have still your wife inn the religion, some of you have devorse beaucaurse you left and she still inn.. this must be a very difficult situaition.

  myself have a very devoted jw wife,she is all that you here say jw are not, always ther fore the peopel who need help.always have here door open fore evryone .. go a lot in sevice, take care of evrything in the home , try to help evryone.. when i tell here some of this stuff, i see the brightness in here eyes was going down, happiness was perhaps littel bit away, now i must ask you who have been in this situation, can it realy be worth the price, to see your loved ones bee unhappy, and even perhaps lost ther hope and happiness..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  My best friend, while I was a JW, was a great guy. After I left I made a point of rescuing him. But, even though hes still a great guy, hes lost that glint of fun in his eyes. Hes often very irritated and seems troubled and discouraged. Last week he told me hes very depressed and is thinking of seeing a psychiatrist. Although my being out and him being in made things complicated for our friendship Im now wondering if I did the right thing. I thought I was helping him see the light but perhaps I was just being selfish. From reading posters here and from personal experience, leaving is difficult even when youre ready.
• 
  21

  First Elder to Testify in Abuse Case

  by Kenneson in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  sheldon longsworth maintains that he doesn't recall telling vicki boer to confront her abusive father.

  yet he told her to tell her father to go to the local elders.

  wonder how she was to do that without confronting him?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  wheelwithinwheel

  Hawk - a question? does this Frank Mott Trill have a daughter (I think maybe Sarah) who is also a lawyer and often worked for the WT ... if so, is she still in? Sorry to be off subject but I had to ask