my name is becky aka mrsroller.
i call myself that because the notorious rollerdave is my hubby.
i met dave when he was in his early thirties and it had only been a few years since he had left the jw's.
Hi Mrs.Roller and welcome to the world of JWD!
I had a chance to communicate with your husband RollerDave and found that he is a very respectful and considerate person.
Hopefully we'll hear more from you and your experiences in life.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
for saturday morning bookstudy!!!!
thanks for checking on me though.
every meeting now i ask her "so what did you learn at the meeting" and i can tell she is getting tired of answering.
Every meeting now I ask her "so what did you learn at the meeting"
Oompa, do you know what I do?
Once the book study meeting is over, instead of the usual mundane chat regarding weather and work, I occasionally ask the brothers and sisters in my bookstudy group (Revelation Climax publication) what they learned from the meeting.
They look at me as if I'm challenging them. Perhaps they feel threatened. Very possible it's because they don't know what happened during that one hour. Somehow they look nervous. I suppose talking about the weather is paramount in their daily living along with their eternal salvation.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
from a great wikipedia entry about controversies regarding jw's: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/controversies_regarding_jehovah's_witnesses unfulfilled predictionspredictions such as the following have appeared in various watchtower publications:[56].
1907: armageddon will culminate in the year 1914.
[57]1917: in 1918, god would begin to destroy churches "wholesale" and church members by the millions.
Gary,
Your concepts put into words are just amazing. Painting pictures with dialogue is your gift. Thanks for contributing with your posts. I always look forward to them.
And if you don't mind, I'll gladly use your analogy about 1914 and the concept time with those whom the discussion may come up with when it comes to WTS dates.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
http://www.poodwaddle.com/realage.swf good luck.
i god 94 years total.
I received this test in an e-mail I received yesterday.
My real age is accurate and the predicted time of my demise is at 80 years old.
Actually, it encourages me to better my health habits. If not for me, then for my family. I want to be with them for as long as possible.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
hello, yes the scotsman has returned, but i have been naughty .
i have been doing some of my own research on the internet etc regarding jws and some doctrinal issues.. i have had some doubts for a while but am beginning to think that some of our current teachings are simply unsustainable.. example - the 1914 timeframe.. the reason that this is so pivotal is that it is a foundation stone of the organization.
evidence is easily available to prove that this date is unsafe.. many on here speculate about revolution in the organization etc, if 1914 was moved it would have a catastrophic effect on the ordinary publisher and would lead to big change across the congregations.
Scotsman,
I remember when you first started posting. You were diligent enough to tough it out while you could. There is value in that. Stand up for what you believe in. Then that will only further deepen your beliefs because it will force you to find solice and peace in your truth.
Yes, stand up firmly in what you believe in. If someone questions you about it, then there is the opportunity to examine your beliefs. That is what you did. That is what many of of did.
Do you believe everything in the local newspaper? Do you read everything in the local newspaper?
Okay?
Do you believe everything in the WTS publications? Do you read everything in the WTS publications?
For you to be in the WTS corporation and associating with JW, the only way for you to survive and endure in terms of not wanting to leave/fade/DA/DF (for family or other reasons), then you will have to believe and read ONLY what you are confident in.
With the local newspaper, some only read the comics. Some only read the editorials. Some only read the classifieds. Some only read world headlines. Some of what we read in the newspapers have a significant bearing on our lives. Some of what we read don't. Yes, people don't believe all what they read nor do all people read everything in the papers. The same with the WTS publications.
Stick to what you firmly believe in. But you must back it up. Otherwise, its unbelievable.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
you know, the one where independent bible research is forbidden, er, discouraged.. .
did anybody actually have the balls to say, "the society does not say such activities are forbidden or discouraged, just not endorsed?
" (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
so as to analyze the accuracy of the New World Translation
That has just got to ring BELLS!!!
They almost seem to be tipping the R&F off. Why even bring up the accuracy of the NWT Bible?
Yes, they obviously know that JW are finding out much about the WTS and its ways. But foolishly they are telling them specific areas of doubt.
Any thinking person has just got to follow up on this. Really, think of this senerio. Suppose you hired a real estate agency to assist you in buying a house. Then this agency told you that many of their clients are now trying to investigate the integrity of the houses that this real estate agency had been selling. And besides this, the real estate agency now tells you that it is unnecessary and a waste of your time to even inquire about the specifics of the house you are willing to invest in. Would that just scream to you that something is fishy?
OMG is all I can say.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
i was looking at who incited david to take the census, satan or jahooba (2 sam 24:1 vs 1 chron 21:1).
anyway, i was searching the wt 2006 cd and i came across this qfr that has nothing to do with what i was looking for, but i could not believe what i was reading.
this has to be one of the most inane "reasonings" from the scriptures i have ever read.
Thanks for sharing your find erynw.
Something else to add into my bag of teachings that the WTS dispenses that is PURE speculation and opinion, yet it is to be rendered as TRUTH.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
it is clear that, outside of areas with high immigrant populations, the society is having trouble keeping.
elders.
i also think they are "looking the other way" on a lot of moral lapses in some areas because.
The quality of the elder body highly determines the health of the congregation.
Some congregations have a BOE who are very field service oriented. Thus the impetus for the ministry. I know a congregation now where there are six elders who are serving as pioneers. This congregation has twenty pioneers and five continuous auxiliary pioneers.
Some BOE are family oriented, study oriented, shepherding oriented, power oriented, two-faced outer appearance oriented. In my 30+ years experience in the WTS corporation, the local congregation generally reflects the spirit that the elders show.
Elder loss = Low enthusiasm and low morale.
Elder loss = Low quality shepherds = Sick sheep
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
japan 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!.
On a related note, it's been said before, I know, but there's something about the regimented, authoritarian and stress-induycing JW lifestyle that - for a couple of decades, at least - really struck an attractive note among the Japanese who seemed tailor made for the JW mindset.
True true oh so true!
And for the dedicated ingrain Japanese JW, they are fitting in perfectly to that regimen and systematic structure in the Japanese congregations. However, you should see their faces when visiting a foreign language congregation NOT in Japan (because foreign language congregations in Japan are basically still Japanese as they are operated the Japanese way).
Some are bewildered in two ways:
(1) They cannot fathom that elders are sitting among the sheep at congregation gatherings. In America, for example, everybody in the congregation serve themselves at their convenience, if it is at a picnic or one-dish party gathering. In Japan, everyone knows that the elders get served first. Also these elders group and sit together apart from the lowly congregation publishers.
(2) The younger Japanese JW (especially teens to pre mid-20's) are so intrigued by the individuality of their so-called Christian brothers and sisters in, let's say England. As mentioned before, fads and trends are important to the young generation of Japan. Once these younger Japanese JW experience something new from their culture, whether JW or otherwise, they will forsake their own culturalistic way of viewing their faith. That is why many many Japanese JW youth will travel abroad to Canada, Britain, America, New Zealand, Australia..etc and attend congregations there while having permission to live there because of a work or school visa.
Yes, Japan JW culture is shrinking.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
the man drove along the highway, cautiously and slowly as the fresh sleet pranced on the roadway with the chill of a new winter.
driven, the man concentrated on getting to the office, another day and another piece in the construction of his success.
reports, proposals, and bids occupied his mind, not thinking of the cold city just outside his window.
Thanks!
That story really pushed buttons with me. Saved it!
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
