Posts by Alligator Wisdom

18

As A Witness Did You Believe That Jesus Was Your Mediator??

by Lady Liberty in

good afternoon everyone.. happy wednesday!!.

when you were a witness did any of you know that the society actually teaches that jesus is not your mediator unless you are one of the 144,000??

she said to him, "that is apostate talk, where did you get that??

Alligator Wisdom

From what I know, not everything the WTS teaches is 100% foolproof correct.

Jesus is mankind's mediator to God and it is clear in the Bible. I teach it from the platform. I end my prayers at the meetings with Jesus Christ as our mediator...amen! Everyone in the hall says "amen" to that, so they all must agree regardless if the WTS says otherwise. Not a single elder/CO/DO has ever stopped me from saying so. I think because they too don't believe it. Honestly, I don't think many JWs really buy into that reasoning that Jesus is the mediator only for the annointed. Really, they don't.

Sure, the typical R&F may somehow try to understand the reasoning of the WTS for this topic. But really, not every JW believes it. I should know. I talked with several about this.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

30

Reason for no windows in Kingdom Halls

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

i found this newspaper article online today........jr brown makes a comment why there are no windows in kh's.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080106/enm_4104779.shtml.

by phillip milano, the times-union.

Alligator Wisdom

Like the other posters mentioned, it depends on the location, climate and integrity of the neighborhood.

My current KH in the main auditorium, about 20 windows. There are about 10 on each opposing wall.

My former KH had no windows.

My KH before that had 4 long rectangular windows located at the top of the wall. Two on each side. As the ceiling was about 15 feet above the floor with these windows just below them, you couldn't peer out of them.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

9

Did you avoid becoming a elder in order to take care of your family?

by flipper in

jw
friends

i was raised in the witnesses from the 1960's on and my dad was an elder who invariably was taking care of congregation problems with publishers, constantly.

how many of us remember wives and children sitting at the back of the halls waiting for an after meeting elders meeting to finish, only to get more frustrated as an hour or so would go by?

for those of us raised in this it was always congregation business first, family second.

Alligator Wisdom

I refused eldership twice! Never did want to get into the politics of it.

Funny thing though, the elder body seems jealous. I don't have to do the routine mechanical dry in-step that they "have to" perform all the time. I'm free to help shepherd the sheep in my own way, give attention to the ones overlooked by the elders in the congregation, making myself approachable and available which the elders can't do because they are wrapped up with scheduling and paperwork before during and after meetings.

You know what ticks the elders off the most. When we have guests or visitors in the congregation, they always assume that I'm the elder and that the PO or secretary isn't. These elders really don't like being overlooked or mistaken for not being elders. I'm not that old, in my 30's, in case you were wondering.

You see, that's only one reason why I don't want to be an elder. Your hands are tied while on a power recognition trip. Doesn't sound like fun nor a privilege to me.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

41

Name Some RIDICULOUS JW Beliefs

by minimus in

jw
friends

i'll start with a couple.....jws believe that everything in revelation is symbolic except the number 144,000.. jws believe that donating blood is wrong.

yet jws can accept "blood fractions" which can only be recieved if one donates blood!.

Alligator Wisdom

We are living at the extreme end of the final part of the last days.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

19

Why did you want to be an elder?

by ThomasCovenant in

i'm curious to know reasons for wanting to be an elder?.

some have expressed to me they wanted to use their abilities to help others.. another said he wanted to be in the inner circle to make sure he was able to look after his families' interests in the event of any future mishaps by his children.. i think many just get caught in the web of handling microphones, then ministerial servant then elder.. i know it's easy for me to say as i wasn't any of these (apart from microphones) but .

i can't help thinking for most men it is simply helping to fulfill a desire for more power.. many don't seem content to be viewed as a mere publisher but want to get in on the action, knowing all the gossip and being involved on decisions.. is it true that deep down, even though most may have good motives, it is still out of a feeling of self importance.. thanks .

Alligator Wisdom

I refused eldership twice!

Never did want to get into the politics of it.

Funny thing though, the elder body seems jealous. I don't have to do the routine mechanical dry in-step that they "have to" perform all the time. I'm free to help shepherd the sheep in my own way, give attention to the ones overlooked by the elders in the congregation, making myself approachable and available which the elders can't do because they are wrapped up with scheduling and paperwork before during and after meetings.

You know what ticks the elders off the most. When we have guests or visitors in the congregation, they always assume that I'm the elder and that the PO or secretary isn't. These elders really don't like being overlooked or mistaken for not being elders. I'm not that old, in my 30's, in case you were wondering.

See. That's only one reason why I don't want to be an elder. Your hands are tied while on a power recognition trip. Doesn't sound like fun nor a privilege to me.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

14

YOU MEAN IT'S NEXT WEEKEND!!!!!!!????????

by Warlock in

jw
friends

next weekend is my district convention.

my wife has, in all capital letters, written "district convention" on the calender in the kitchen.. i told her i'm not going.

look, it's too cramped, i have some physical problems that will not allow me to sit, like a grasshopper for hours and hours.

Alligator Wisdom

So she says we can go for the public talk on Sunday afternoon.

Just a heads-up for you :

The public talk will be on Sunday morning instead. The drama will begin after the lunch break.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

68

Assembly Hall shakedown - Columbia SC

by sir82 in

jw
friends

from someone who attended:.

there was a big elders meeting in columbia sc on saturday june 9.. around 240 congregations, 2000+ elders.. the society wants to build a brand new assembly hall in columbia, sc, to handle the huge influx of jws moving to the us southeast from up north.. they expect to have it done in 34 months (finished by april 2010).

total cost estimated to be approximately $8 - 9 million.. they want to have the whole thing paid for by the time the building is done - no long term loans.. they "strongly suggested" that each of the 240 congregations commit to supporting "their share" of the expense.

Alligator Wisdom

The elders in each cong. will have to make up the difference. If they pledge to do it, they will
be expected to make up any shortcomings of their own flocks. That could be an extra $100 in
any given month for any one elder, with several each month having to find more windows to
wash.

I was wondering about this.

Do the elders have to make up any defecit on account if their congregation is unable to fulfill its resolution to finance any endeavor such as this one?

Well then, if this is the case, MAY ALL congregations just say "yes" to these types of resolutions. Don't worry. Those taking the lead in the congregation (elders) will gladly be a pillar of support if you are unable to satisfy your obligations in terms of financing any project. Afterall, it is based on your voluntary and anonymous contribution. They'll never know who donates what.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

29

Which JW commandment did you break first ?

by JH in

jw
friends

i always tried to my best as a jw, to observe what the watchtower and bible told us "not to do".

then i became inactive and lowered my guard, and didn't care as much.

i think that my first jw sin, was playing lotto, then talking to disfellowshipped ones in my congregation, then posting on apostate forums, and then giving blood.

Alligator Wisdom

A couple of Benson & Hedges menthols I stole from a pack of cigarettes that my "worldly" friend's mother had lying on her dining room table. Yes, I got a nasty head rush and almost threw up what was in my stomach. Oh yeah, since I stole them, it can be considered a double sin.

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

7

Remember how excited...

by El Kabong in

jw
friends

...we used to get when the circuit servant/overseer/area douchebag manager would come to our congregation and give his "special talk" on sunday complete with slides or a movie?

it sure was a nice change from watching some guy up on the platform wearing a cheap suit and droaning on and on about nothing.

Alligator Wisdom

we used to get when the Circuit Servant/Overseer/Area Douchebag manager would come to our congregation

I still see the elders scurrying to get in their token shepherding calls during the final weeks before the CO visit, so that they can answer in the affirmative when asked during their CO/Elders meeting.

I still see the service overseer scurrying to make his appointed visits to each book study group during the final weeks before the CO visit.

I still see the secretary scurrying to the back room to handle tons of paperwork and to have them in order during the final weeks before the CO visit.

I still see the PO scurrying about and approaching each publisher to insure that they can accomodate the CO in terms of transportation, field service, meals, Bible studies to go to...etc.

Yes, when the CO is coming to town....there is excitement in the air!

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)

P.S. I, in turn, got the CO excitedly frustrated when I refused eldership twice!

27

What injustice and abuse of power did you suffer at hand of elders?

by flipper in

jw
friends

how many of us suffered in the jws from a lack of justice, love, or abuse of power by elders?

how did it make you question what you believed or had been duped into believing?

would be good to hear experiences so we can bounce ideas off each other on how it freed you from fear of authority or otherwise.

Alligator Wisdom

I found myself more encouraged by some humble brother or sister in the corner, who the elders would consider, inconsequential.

Oh so true!

My current "team" of elders in the congregation are task masters. Shepherding is done on a token basis the week before the CO visits the congregation. Any and all so-called counsel and direction that was given to me in this congregation wasn't based on fundamental Biblical truths. How do I know? I even asked them to crack open the Bible to help me understand the reasoning behind their direction. The answer I got : Read the publications. Funny, isn't it?

Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)