Thank you GARY!
Well put and concise. I had an inkling of what you first posted but didn't want to misinterpet it. Thanks for clarifying.
As always, your posts are well appreciated.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
Alligator Wisdom
JoinedPosts by Alligator Wisdom
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45
The End of Jehovah`s Witness`s
by OUTLAW inwe see alot of topics on the board about the end of the wbt$..i don`t think that will happen in our lifetime........so..lets change our focus..kingdom halls are getting fewer and fewer jw`s in them..congregations are being dissolved and kingdom halls are sold off..many jw`s are very unhappy and we see alot of them on this board.....the wbt$ is a billion dollar organization,they will survive for along time to come..........how about the jehovah`s witness`s?.......with fewer and fewer members..information about the wbt$ on the internet..and..some very depressed jehovah`s witness`s looking for a way out of the cult they are in.....will the "jehovah`s witness`s" survive?...outlaw
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Alligator Wisdom
Hi,
I refused eldership twice over the past five years. It looks like I'm due for another recommendation though.
Funny how the elders seem to envy me. Honestly! Here they are running about with their hands cuffed because of policy and procedure from the Branch office while trying to shepherd the flock. Sorry, doesn't work that way. An elder in the true sense needs the spirit of Christ and Christian freedom to be an effective shepherd. Something that the WTS doesn't allow. The corporation keeps tight reigns.
I know these elders in my circle well enough to say that they are basically nice people, but they are dedicated to the role the WTS dictates that elders should portray. And in turn force the flock to portray. Yes, I refuse to be a pharisee.
The supply of elders are getting younger and inexperienced.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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45
The End of Jehovah`s Witness`s
by OUTLAW inwe see alot of topics on the board about the end of the wbt$..i don`t think that will happen in our lifetime........so..lets change our focus..kingdom halls are getting fewer and fewer jw`s in them..congregations are being dissolved and kingdom halls are sold off..many jw`s are very unhappy and we see alot of them on this board.....the wbt$ is a billion dollar organization,they will survive for along time to come..........how about the jehovah`s witness`s?.......with fewer and fewer members..information about the wbt$ on the internet..and..some very depressed jehovah`s witness`s looking for a way out of the cult they are in.....will the "jehovah`s witness`s" survive?...outlaw
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Alligator Wisdom
The current management of the Watch Tower Society doesn't like Jehovah's Witnesses. That's obvious by reading the publications and listening to the convention manuscripts being read. The Witness people are like adult children still trying to please an abusive parent.
Hi Gary,
As always, I enjoy your reading your posts. Always with a nice angle with keen insight.
However, with the one quoted above, I'm not sure what you mean. Maybe too deep for me. Please pardon my ignorance, but can you elaborate a little more on what you mean by the publications and convention manuscripts indicating the dividing line between the WTS corporation and the JW religion.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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31
Letter - Anonymity Required?
by Steady As She Goes ini am baptised and wish to write a letter to the brooklyn branch requesting a response to two belief-related issues regarding which i have recently educated myself.
the reply to this letter will likely play a large part in my determining how the rest of my life is lived.
i have decided that whatever i do or do not believe in times to come, i will not disassociate myself.
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Alligator Wisdom
Try sending your letter/questions marked "Confidential" to the WTS with a stipulation in your inquiry saying that the local BOE are NOT to be contacted.
Simply note that you implicitly trust the letter desk/service department/writing department in this regard and to address your concerns directly without involving your local BOE. State clearly in your letter that if they were to copy a letter to your local BOE, then the WTS at its highest level cannot be trusted with confidential matters. State that all matters in your letter are addressed to the department only and it is confidential while quoting Proverbs 25:9,10.
Attach to that a copy of the Questions from Readers W71 4/1 "Christians keeping certain matters confidential ~ Proverbs 20:19"
You will then truly find out if the WTS is truly trustworthy and respectful for your request. If they are reluctant to do as you suggested, then they should reply back to you directly stating such without copying in the BOE.
However, if they do send a copy of the letter to your local BOE and these elders approach you with it, then you can gasp for air, perhaps cry out in anquish while in distraught terror that your trust was betrayed by Jehovah's annointed one while pointing out your copy of the letter in their hands with your instructions and with the big "Confidential" lettering on the top. Let them know that you now feel depressed and need time to pray to Jehovah for strength to recover from the betrayal.
After that......presume your fade.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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67
Japan closes 638 Congregations!!!!! Why???
by Witness 007 injapan since the 1970''s has had amazing publisher increases!
every year the number of witnesses shot up by many thousands.
this peaked in 1998, since then the number of witnesses and congregations has continued to drop!.
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Alligator Wisdom
The many many gung-ho Japanese JW, in particular childless couples and single pioneers of both genders, have been moving from Japan to various areas in southeast Asia to help where the need is great.
The Japan branch in Ebina encompasses the entire southeast Asia region and this area is under their supervision. The branch office have been encouraging, as instructed by Brooklyn, for brothers and sisters to move where the need is great. Some who are still active on this board may remember a letter that was read to all congregations late summer last year. It highly recommended moving to somewhere where there is a dire need for Kingdom publishers. Of course, this is to be done at your own expense.
From the time that letter was read until today, I personally know 10 people in my circle of JW that I'm acquainted with, that had moved from Japan to other lands. All of them went to third world southeast Asian countries. From Thailand to Papa New Guinea to Cambodia.
This will also produce lower numbers in terms of publishers and congregations in the land of the rising sun.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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84
Our PO just confess to one of us: He doesn't believe anymore
by outofthebox inmaybe we are the crazy ones!
but, after a chat with the po of our congo, we felt a little better with the knowledge that we are not alone on the inside.
let us explain .... today we went to the ministry as every saturday :(.
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Alligator Wisdom
Oracle,
You have a PM. Check your inbox.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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34
J.W= No beards-clean shaven, short hair...even Jesus???!!!
by Witness 007 indo you remember all the publications in the 1950-1960's pictures showing a jesus clean shaven with short hair???.
watch.
1954 p.511 "why do watchtower books now show jesus with short hair and no beard?
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Alligator Wisdom
One elder I know shaved his mustache off because the CO said that he was the only elder with one and that it didn't seem he was united with the body of elders in the congregation.
I pity both of them. The reason? Because it has absolutely NOTHING to do with walking in faith toward God. Yet, this procedure was mandated.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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67
Japan closes 638 Congregations!!!!! Why???
by Witness 007 injapan since the 1970''s has had amazing publisher increases!
every year the number of witnesses shot up by many thousands.
this peaked in 1998, since then the number of witnesses and congregations has continued to drop!.
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Alligator Wisdom
Fads are big in Asia - they come and go quite quickly.
Agreed!
As I mentioned in my previous post, the surge in growth in the 80's thru mid-90's was partly due to a trend. The "IN" thing among the youth in Japan at that time was the Bible. Of course the Japanese housewife syndrome also had a role in it. That factor plus their children equates to outstanding growth. But by and large, the youth culture in the JW was intact during that bubble growth period. Teens and young adults ran with the pioneer spirit.
It was the thing to do. It was "IN", not only among JWs, but also from the cultural standpoint. Knowing the Bible and/or having exposure to it kept the JW organization in Japan going full thrust at that time. Remember, with youth there is energy!
That has now since been dying off. The trend of being hip with Bible knowledge is now streaming along on another tangent. And the youth JW of Japan are going wherever the river of fads flows. And it sure isn't flowing toward Ebina Japan where the branch office is located. Yes, the branch office is the mecca for JWs living in Japan.
My reason for knowing. Well, I'm very familiar with Japan and the Japanese culture. Extremely familiar. If I were to relate anymore about it, it certainly will blow by cover as I'm still trying to remain anonymous in the meantime.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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33
OMG! OMG! OMG! My DAD has the Sept KM QB part!! We have been....
by oompa ine-mailing back and forth for days about the qb, and he only told me today that he had not even noticed anything new or different about this material until i had brought it up.
he says it would be "absurd" to think the fds mean all literature and web sites other than the wt ones are not to be used for anything, but that the context of the article needs to be taken into consideration.
that the context is key.
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Alligator Wisdom
I'll be attending.....as usual.
Our PO is scheduled to deliver this part. His is sort of a "rebel" JW. Rebel in the sense that he doesn't enforce WT policy as other typical elders do. He tends to let things slide. He also gets counseled regularly by the CO during his bi-annual visits, so I've heard from the other elders. Nonetheless, he still is a company man.
I'm curious as to how he develops this material.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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30
Will Armageddon Ever Come?
by tula inthree years ago, the buzz was "its just around the corner".. two years ago, it was "almost at the door".. one year ago it was "at the threshold".. now the watchword is "the door of the ark is closing".. could it be that the new "members only" publications will now isolate a small inner core of this group?
what do you think will be the outcome?
what do you foresee for the jw's in one years time?
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Alligator Wisdom
We really are all the same but unfortunately when we think we are the only ONE (collectively or individually) that has it right is when we get into trouble, I will continue to make my own statement by trying (and it can be trying) to have love for all mankind as best as I can and take one day at a time. Don't live for Armageddon in the future but live each day as your last, as you never know what tomorrow may bring, but try to live it with LOVE.
Excellent point Sheri.
Whether Armageddon comes in our lifetime or not, there is absolutely no control over it that we can administer to. Should we only live for that day? Then our motive is to save our own hides. If we live each day giving God glory, then the time-table of the BIG-A doesn't have a significant bearing on our lives afterall.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)