Posts by Alligator Wisdom

15

"Mole" Elders

by Alligator Wisdom in

have any here had one in their congregation?.

an elder is assigned to a congregation, usually by the co, in order to clean it out.

especially in regards to the elder body who may be going off tangent by wts accordance .

Alligator Wisdom

Have any here had one in their congregation?

An elder is assigned to a congregation, usually by the CO, in order to clean it out. Especially in regards to the elder body who may be going off tangent by WTS accordance . I knew of one, Brother ******, who went around to various congregations in the Los Angeles (South Bay) area. He was very straight forward and bold, but not warm at all. I suppose any of the elders in those congregations in the circuit would cringe when Brother ****** was assigned to their Hall. However, the other members in the congregation would deem it as a "God sent" considering that they cried out for rectification of some sort. Yes, many elders were removed from their pedestals.

Did you know of any such "mole" elders? What were they like? How long were they in your congregation before moving on?

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously by WTS standards) As much as we need to expose WT policy and the way elders behave while in a position of authority we also need to be careful about personal privacy. -- Lee

50

How Did You Choose Your Alias?

by hambeak in

jw
friends

.

i' curious how everyone came up with these unique alias names.

my partner gave me mine because my favorite meat is ham.. hambeak

Alligator Wisdom

Alligator Wisdom (A play on words)

An alligator's brain is about the size of a human thumb. But would you mess with an alligator?

Yes, I may not be smart...but I'm always learning.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously by WTS standards)

27

Active JW Apologists: Did you take the OATH at the Convention?

by kid-A in

inquiring minds want to know: how did respond to oath # 7 which all jws were required to take at the latest dc?

"we will resist with all our strength the spirit of the world manifested in such things as materialism, unwholesome entertainment, overindulgence in food and alcoholic beverages, the plague of pornographic material and the curiosity or temptation that lures one into association with outsiders through internet chat rooms.

our resolve is to be no part of world as we carry on worship that is clean from the standpoint of our god.

Alligator Wisdom

I was at the DC and didn't say "yes" nor did I take the oath seriously. I'm curious as to how many really did take the oath seriously, as another poster mentioned that it was the final talk on the last day with the majority looking at their watches in eager anticipation to have the program conclude.

What came to mind now, though, is what if the resolutions in future district conventions would not only ask for a "resounding" response in the affirmative (YES!!), but will also ask for a show of hands. Afterall, who knows if Brother Elder and Sister Pioneer agreed with a "YES". But what if Brother Elder and Sister Pioneer didn't raise their hands in agreement?

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously by WTS standards)

17

Do JWS have a relationship with God................?

by vitty in

jw
friends

how many jws have a real relationship with jehovah ?

i thought i did but looking back it was a relationship with the organization that i had.. i did pray, it always went something like "oh please jehovah make me more appreciative, and stop me being so negative, bored at the meetings and help me to enjoy the fs " .

i always felt the "third voice " you hear while reading the wt, was jehovah, i know it sounds nuts but i think this is why even though i had doubts, i always pushed them to the back of my mind.

Alligator Wisdom

Yes! = If I put in a favorable amount of hours and listed a nice sum for placements each month.

I was always perplexed when meeting a Christian out in the door-to-door activity who loved God sincerely. Since I was doing all the "works" based on the direction of God's spirit directed organization, how could I NOT have love for God. I discovered it was fear that I had. It was a rabid fear of God and of man.

Alligator Wisdom (Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

12

DID YOU TAKE PART IN SPECIAL CAMPAIGNS?

by badboy in

jw
friends

any takers?

Alligator Wisdom

I remember saying to one man, "I'd like to leave you this tract', and he said, "The only tracks you're leaving is 'down the road!"

LOL!

While as a zealous JW, I was delivering tracks faster than I had delivered newspapers as a child.

Now I can't even get riled up. Didn't even place one during this current campaign.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

14

Elder is going to visit me....

by DannyBloem in

jw
friends

a few weeks ago on the convention i met this elder, and he wants to visit me to talk.. he was quite liberal.

his daughter has been df-ed and she was going to meet him at the convention.

she came when we were still talking.

Alligator Wisdom

I'm curious too as how his visit goes. It sounds, by your comments, that these elders are far and few in between. I only knew of two or three in my 35 years of being associated/contact with JW's.

20

Depression

by Honesty in

jw
friends

how widespread is it among jehovah's witnesses and how do they cope with it?

Alligator Wisdom

I would consider depression as having a firm grip on "Jehovah's Organization". I'm still in its clutches, though winning the battle. I have been off depressants since May last year. It occasionally haughts me though, but I'm determined to not let it control my life forever.

The only coping methods for JW's are, as brought out by previous posters:

1) Depressants

2) Field service and more field service with an absolutely resolve not to miss meetings

What about prayer to God? I hardly hear that mentioned among the throngs of depressed souls in the WTS.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

27

Regrets of Being Brought up as a Witness

by chuckie77 in

ive never really been one to say a whole lot against the organisation, even though i was really unhappy in the years leading up to getting out of it, i still think theres so many good, peace loving and genuine people in it.

that said i was brought up as a witness and sometimes feel like ive been robbed of a true childhood.. my dad was a lot older than my mum, and was almost 50 when i was born.

he was the po in the cong and being a witness was, and still is, everything to him.

Alligator Wisdom

Regrets? Definitely!

Biggest regret is not learning to know how to love God (Mark 12:30). Sure, those in the congregation "said" love many times. They even "said" Jehovah loves. They "said" that they loved Jehovah. Why is it that I felt that their words were only that, words? It was obvious for me while growing up that to love Jehovah was to show terror. I was inculcated with a rabid fear of God.

When I would meet my neighbors at the door in field service, I would come across several Christians who really showed that they loved God. It was evident by their demeanor and by how they elevated God in their daily affairs in life. As a pharisee-like JW, I was perplexed. However, consider me now like Nicodemus in the night!

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

Chuckie ~ continue on your quest and we all are happy to hear you. You're not rambling. Venting, as I discovered, helps.

8

Flying under radar

by Alligator Wisdom in

for those who are still "active" yet don't profess that the wts is god's organization, how do you do it?

do you expect to be in much longer?

will you stay in?

Alligator Wisdom

Thanks Auldsoul for your reply. I knew that you and Blondie are in somewhat of the same circumstances that I'm in. (BTW, your post and comments in line with the Bible Teach book was excellent. I made notations from your post into the book.)

I was only wondering if it was inevitable that I would leave the WTS permanently. But I suppose that I only can make that choice. I doesn't make me feel alone, though, when I see/hear/read all of the comments of ones that are in the predicament as I.

Sorry to everyone if I posted this topic under the wrong "subject matter" (Beliefs, Doctrines and Practices).

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother Not Exerting Vigorously)

12

Out of the mouths of babes

by mrsjones5 in

this morning at the breakfast table my eight year old daugther asked if my mother went to church.

i told her yes and they call it a kingdom hall.

my oldest son (he's twelve) pipes in "yeah, it's a boring place.

Alligator Wisdom

The horror!

I was 5 years old when I first stepped into a KH. I tried to endure the best that any 5 year old would under threats. However, I did get the slaps and pinches for being squirmy in my seat. Even though I was never taken in the back room (2nd hall) for the beating, I knew many children that did. I always felt that there was a need for someplace where children, especially toddlers, can go to in a KH that would accomodate them accordingly. Don't get me wrong. Discipline is needed. But there is a clear difference between the normal toddler who gets into minor mischief and one who is like "Chucky".

Who instills this programming in these parents? The elders? The publications?

I don't know nor see the logic.