do you have any odd or unusual reasons why the elder's decided to cancel one of your meetings?.
i don't know if this is necessarily unusual but our hall lost power one cold day.
the meeting was cancelled.
We had several meetings or Book Studies canceled due to typhoons here in Japan. But of course, they would cancel these meetings only if there was a Typhoon Caution Warning given "two hours" before the actual hit. They would wait until it's that close () before any of us would have to leave our homes to go to the "House of Jehovah". {Geez!}
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")
first time i have ever seen or heard of this but no one was baptized with 800+ in attendance at our circuit assembly two weeks back!
That happened at the latest English Speaking Circuit Assembly in Fukuoka Japan in April of this year. There were about 350+ in attendance and none were "qualified" at that point to get baptized. They did, however, continue with the baptisim talk as outlined by the program.
This was the first time for me to experience such a "thousand becoming a little one" . When the speaker asked "if there was anyone to be baptized" (which obviously there wasn't since nobody was sitting in the assigned baptisimal candidates seats). He just concluded by saying. "No?". Then just walked off the stage. He must of felt like a fool giving that talk with nobody in sight in front of him as it usually is to readily take in the information. I guess that part of the program is just part of the "Society's System of Things".
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously" )
a person years ago made a comment to me, about witnesses.
they said that in their opinion, being a witness brought out the extreme in a person.. for example, if they were untrusting, they would trust less.. if they were vindictive by nature, they would become more hateful and vindictive.. if they were kind and loving, they would even be more so.. basically, whatever type of person they were, being a witness would intensify that persona.. have you found that to be true?
maybe you knew someone before they came a witness.
I guess it depends!
Worst case : I am, by nature, very organized and orderly. So, within the Organizational Functions of the WT Society, I was extreme. Everything I did was to the tee (ahead of time, and in human standards, "perfect"). This included everything that I was assigned to do. Accounts, Territory, Sound/Stage, Magazines...etc. The friends in the Hall started to call me "Brother Exerting Vigorously". [However, that label has now changed]. I even got to the point of straightening up the chairs at the Kingdom Hall before the meeting started so that they were perfectly lined up. [Sick, huh! ]
Best case : I always felt that others deserved more than I did. So, I was always there to lend a helping hand to the "brotherhood" both in and out of the congregation meetings. Helping elderly ones with their yards, coordinating activites for the "youths", donating my material resources to those in need....ya' know. Believe me, this was done out of all sincerity for their well-being. I wasn't not "selling" myself.
Then came the time when I realized that I was starting to become a "warped" person. Burned Out and Disillusioned! Now doing the "submerge"!
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")
despite the fact that there has to be unified thinking in the kh, i have sometimes heard brothers arguing amongst themselves over the interpretation of scripture.. one such discussion concerned "the days of noah".. this elder was adamant that noah never did any preaching work after jehovah gave him the plans for building the ark.
his reasoning was that since jehovah already knew at that point exactly what size the ark must be, he must also know how many persons would be occupying it.
his point being that jehovah would not expect noah to continue preaching to people that he was aware would never listen.. this obviously has some connotations frrom a prophetic point of view and most of his listeners said he was talking rubbish.. what do you think?
Interesting point "Link"!
I myself have never considered it nor have I heard anyone touch upon the thought of Noah not preaching after the fact since Jehovah had already determined the logistics of the ark.
What I'll do is bring it up among the "brotherhood" . This may be an opportunity to see a "divided" stand on this issue.
Thanks for mentioning it!
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "Not Exerting Vigorously")
i can't get over the fact the the gb of the wt society are treated like kings.
aren't they supposed to be "one of the brethren"?
the wt always accuses others of being guilty of "idol" worship when it comes to people of fame (i.e.
I can't get over the fact the the GB of the WT Society are treated like kings. Aren't they supposed to be "one of the brethren"? The WT always accuses others of being guilty of "idol" worship when it comes to people of fame (i.e. movies stars, musicians, sports figures...etc.) However, nothing is being done regarding the fact that the R&F JW's practically are worshiping those fellows who are called the "Governing Body". Myself, being raised in the ORG and having many connections in it while also visiting the headquarters has proved that these GB members are willing to accept their "followers" admiration .
One ex-bethelite told me that he used to sit next to Ray Franz at his table. Boy, that's all I ever heard, day in and day out! He even told me his favorite scripture is Psalms 113:8 (NWT = "To make him sit with nobles, With the nobles of his people"). He said he felt this applied to him because these men are the ones presiding over the Kingdom work on earth and are future kings and (again!!) he used to sit next to Ray Franz. Obviously he and other are captivated by the hierarchy of the WT Society. My goodness!! How hypocritical! Doesn't Psalms 146:3 say (NWT = "Don't put your trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs").
And if that isn't enough. Boy, you should see the Japanese witnesses here in Japan. Whenever any GB memeber is making a visit to Japan for whatever reason (Bethel Branch Office visit, District Assembly Program, Dedication of an Assembly Hall...etc.), these Japanese witnesses practically hound them for photographs and to "touch" them by shaking their hands. I even had some brag to me that they even had a meal with some of GB members. Maybe one day I'll hear of some JW's asking a GB member to sign their Bibles for them.
I've seen this type of "veneration" all my life within the ORG. (Albeit an "anoited one", "Branch Overseer" and the like. But nothing compares with the Governing Body!) Didn't Jesus give us principles regarding fellow humans and how they are to be viewed, no matter what their position are in life? This also has contributed to my "spiritual weakness" in the eyes of the WT Society.
Question: Have any of you personally seen or heard of such a display of adoration and glorification toward the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses?
Your thoughts, please!
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "Not Exerting Vigorously")
.
i don't know about the rest of you but i spent the better part of my life believing that i would never die!
i think i have dealt with it....but it still almost seems unnatural.... we are all going to die???
No! At least not today.
However, if it were to happen to me at any other given moment, I can say that I'm "not afraid". But I must say that it will be a tragedy for my wife. It will devastate her! Then any thoughts of myself dying will make me feel reluctant about it. I love her too much to know of the pain she will have. [Can you make any sense of what I'm trying to relate?]
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "Not Exerting Vigorously")
the gb-laundry has to be washed seperately?
missionaries get a annual total-control visit (what do you do with the $$$) from the branch?
a yearly keep-up-the-good-work speach from the gb?
I didn't know about the missionaries in Africa. What happened? I'm interested in the details on that one.
Clothes washed seperately? I suppose because they are of the "discreet" class! Can't have any rumors starting about the kind of "undergarments" that they are wearing.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "Not Exerting Vigorously")
i have been wondering, .
before, while in the borg, many of us were under intense indoctrination of ideas like; "live for god", "look to the new system were everything will be perfect.." .
--not in those very words but you know what i mean... .
I'm going back to the basics.
While in the WT Society, I never learned how to "LOVE" God. Always had a morbid fear of Him. (You know, I was always taught by the JW's that Jehovah is a God of apprehension, punishment, execution, judgment and death). Now I'm getting out of the ORG and making my quest in life to learn how to "LOVE" God entirely (Mark 12:30) . This time with the right motives!
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "Not Exerting Vigorously")
go theocratic warfare!!
i thought i would update you all... .
i have officially "moved" out from my flat that "shared" with a male... .
Kelpie,
Feel free to always keep us posted on the decisions that you make in your life! Don't feel that it may bore us. It doesn't. It's always good to hear of individuals that are happy with their decisions.
Certainly we all hope for the best in all of your endeavors in life!
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "Not Exerting Vigorously")
whats your favorite flavor and brand?
mine is chocolate haagan daz.
edited by - rubytuesday on 21 november 2002 22:17:44.
Yes! Haagen Daaz!
(Butter Pecan, however)
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "Not Exerting Vigorously")