Posts by William Penwell

41

The elders of the 1980s are now in their 60s and 70s

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

having just come back from the uk and spoke with some witnesses to find out how my old congregation is doing, i realized i am now the age that my elders were when i was a kid.

and i wonder what the elders who are now in their 60s and 70s are thinking when they look in the mirror and an old face looks back at them.

many of the elders in my old hall are now retired.

William Penwell

The last time my ex-brother-law elder visit me, he looked beaten.
He's 78 and failing health, we were very close. So he ask what are you doing
with the knowledge that you have gain from the Bible, I can see you are know
your bible.Why not come back. It's been 28 years since I left and no way will I return,
life have been good for me. I told him I have learned to play the guitar, golf, met some
fine folks in the mean time, a great life. His response, I always wanted to learn to play the guitar.
His goal in the borg was to become CO or DO, to bad because he was removed as a elder
twice for abusing his wife (my sister). He would have made a great GB member...

This sounds so very much like my ex brother in law. Even though he is still sticking by the organization waiting for Armageddon to come.

41

The elders of the 1980s are now in their 60s and 70s

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

having just come back from the uk and spoke with some witnesses to find out how my old congregation is doing, i realized i am now the age that my elders were when i was a kid.

and i wonder what the elders who are now in their 60s and 70s are thinking when they look in the mirror and an old face looks back at them.

many of the elders in my old hall are now retired.

William Penwell

I wonder what the elders who are now in their 60s and 70s are thinking when they look in the mirror and an old face looks back at them.

If they have not come to the reality that they will grow old and die in this system, is a real cultural shock.

22

Has the Great Witness Trolley/Cart campaign produced ANY results?

by freddo in

jw
friends

i live between two cities that are big enough to have their own metropolitan trolley cart arrangements organised at circuit level.

the 3 congregations at the hall i attend have trolley schedule noticeboards.

i see trolleys in the high streets and markets locally.

I can't comment on your point but I would like to relay what I seen today on my facebook page. I am wondering if anyone else seen this picture. My ex posted a sick picture of a JW sister in the Philippians that is in a wheel chair and has no arms or legs with the caption, "What challenges have YOU overcome to regular pioneer? This regular pioneer named Cynthia from the Philippines is an encouraging example to all! ‪" I guess they are now trying to use the feeling sorry for me campaign to get converts.

36

How many here believed, down deep in your heart that the end would come in 1975?

by James Mixon in

i was straddling the fence on that one, just in case they were right.

i don't recall.

telling anyone this is your last chance.

William Penwell

I was quite young in the late 60's early 70's, so a very much impressible mind. I think looking back I might have been 80% convinced but as the date 1975 approached I started to have some doubts. What if this was all a big hype and mistake? I recall in the early 70's studying with this brother that every study he would lead off with, the time is so short, you have to get baptized. Then he would point his bony finger at me and say, "when are you going to get baptized?" I eventually got baptized, not because I knew what I was doing but felt pressured into it and that is what all my witness friends at the time were doing. I recall in about 1973 my ex brother in law saying to me, "this system can't go one, I don't think we will even see end of 1974 in this system." Well when 1975 came and went and nothing happened and no acknowledgement from the WT, that was the beginning of the end for me. It took me another 10 to 20 years to do the slow fade.

9

First President Of The Watchtower Society

by William Penwell in

i was reading on wikipedia about the watchtower society and it lists a william henry conley as the first president of the wt society (1881-1884).

i was wonder if this is correct and why the modern jw's have eliminated him from the societies history?

the only thing is the society was not incorporated till 1884 with russel as president.

William Penwell

Yes it is interesting to find out this information. Seems like it is part of the Watchtowers history the organization for whatever reason, wants to keep hush hush. Some time ago I read up on the Dawn Bible Students Association and the International Bible Students Association. By their history, they are the ones that follow closer the teachings of Charles T Russell. Like someone mentioned on here once that Russell would now be DF'd by the Watchtower for some of his teachings.

9

First President Of The Watchtower Society

by William Penwell in

i was reading on wikipedia about the watchtower society and it lists a william henry conley as the first president of the wt society (1881-1884).

i was wonder if this is correct and why the modern jw's have eliminated him from the societies history?

the only thing is the society was not incorporated till 1884 with russel as president.

William Penwell

I was reading on Wikipedia about the Watchtower Society and it lists a William Henry Conley as the first president of the WT society (1881-1884). I was wonder if this is correct and why the modern JW's have eliminated him from the societies history? The only thing is the society was not incorporated till 1884 with Russel as president. Anyway nothing surprises me with this cult as they do like to rewrite their history.

35

Cognitive Dissonance

by LexIsFree in

jw
friends

the cognitive dissonance amongst jws has never been more obvious to me then what i just experience in the last 5 min.

long story short i had a phone conversation w/my mom about some things and i mentioned to her to look up what has been going on with their beloved organization in australia.

brother geoffrey jackson of the holy governing body was caught lying numerous times about several subjects including disassociations & shunning.

William Penwell

I have experience this first hand. A JW relatives recollection of events can be a lot different than reality.

37

The local hall just got fleeced for $15,000!

by My Name is of No Consequence in

the local hall recently sold some property to the state for a road improvement project that is sorely needed.

they received about $20,000.

guess what?

William Penwell

Pretty soon the Borg will be after them for the other $5,000.

You know it will only be a matter of time they will be guilted into sending them the rest.

37

The local hall just got fleeced for $15,000!

by My Name is of No Consequence in

the local hall recently sold some property to the state for a road improvement project that is sorely needed.

they received about $20,000.

guess what?

William Penwell

I recall in the 70's there was one brother that would put up with a bit of resistance to these "democratic" votes to sending money to the mother organization. Looking back he had a valid argument, that the congregation should hang on to some of the money as a rainy day fund. I recall one elder making some comment that he was not a very good brother, how he didn't have faith and should be relying on Jehober. I am sure glad I am out of that cult.

16

Back again!!

by Sweetp0985 in

jw
friends

back again since about 10yrs ago.

last year attended the international convention in new orleans and was feeling some type of way afterwards.

went to a couple of meetings and then the thrill was gone.

William Penwell

They've gutted the only remaining positive happy past time of book studies in private homes (with "goody nights" once month).

I remember when the District and Circuit conventions were fun because of the food service and volunteering for the food service. It actually broke up the monotonous talks. Now you don't even have that to look forward to, just 4 to 5 hours of boring talks a day that everyone is falling asleep to.