GrreatTeacher

Joined

• started 32 topics
• posted 2,671 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by GrreatTeacher

• 
  11

  Looking to learn

  by kimmy in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  sorry if i shouldn't be posting this, i am not jw however i have had past experiences with jw's and was learning a lot about the religion, in hopes to convert one day.

  it all ended suddenly and i guess i feel guilty for not learning more, i would get scared at the thought of bible studies and discussions in case it brought back memories.

  i was looking for any advice on the best ways i can find out more please.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  You say you have a fear of the religion.

  I think in this case your gut feeling is correct. It is telling you something is very wrong there.

  Listen to yourself.
• 
  10

  Support widows

  by road to nowhere in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this weeks meeting part.

  boy did they miss it while a hug is nice a scripture will not mow the yard, fix a flat, or pay the bills.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  "Widows and "orphans" always seemed to be the least popular in the congregations. Women without husbands (or husbands not in the truth) had very little status.

  Sadly, many lose their husband's pension upon his death and truly do struggle. Especially those that were housewives all their lives as many older ones were.

  A little financial planning can usually avert that kind of disaster, but you need to speak to a professional about your specific circumstances.
• 
  13

  It's VERY DIFFICULT for some JWs to accept the Truth-------But for other not so much------WHY?

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is it about some jws that they can't see the flip-flops of the wt's changing doctrine?.

  some of the flip-flops involved the death of many of it's members, and it was not even biblical based.

  yet for some reason they can't seem to grasp the significance of the matter.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  True, min, for some people logic is not the primary way they approach life.

  Some people are so buffeted by their emotions that they will give up logic for the emotional safety of believing that they absolutely have all the answers.

  I've even heard people say that they dislike the work of making decisions about what's right and wrong and love having the WT do all of that for them!

  That is not the kind of person I am! That makes no sense to me, which is kind of the point: sensibility and logic are how I order my world. I'm a little fiesty and dislike being told to do things that make no sense, sometimes to my detriment when the world of work has policies and procedures that are counterproductive. Keeping my mouth shut and lying low are skills that I'm working on.

  So, I put it down to basic personality differences. Are you ruled by emotion? Are you ruled by logic? How do you make sense of life and the world you live in?
• 
  13

  A little off topic... I'll be moving...

  by Expanded-Mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'd appreciate getting some opinions about a decision i will shortly have to make.. i am moving soon and have the choice of two different apartments in two different towns.

  i am hoping this move will be one of the last that i have to make - i have moved frequently in my life - at least for a long, long while.. the apartment i like the least is in a town and a location that i love due to my history with, and connection to the area.

  the apartment i love is in a town and location i am not as crazy about, but it is still a really nice area.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  If you have kids, pick the one in the better school district whichever that may be.

  If you tend to get involved in your community, pick the nicer location. If you can ignore your neighbors and stick to yourself happily, pick the nicer apartment.

  If you're a homebody or work at home, pick the nicer apartment. If you work at home also consider internet connectivity.

  I think if it were me, I'd tend not to settle down long term yet. I'd probably go for the nicer location with crappy apartment, sign a short lease and continue looking for a better apartment while living in and getting to know the area and available rentals. You might not get all three things right away: nice location, nice apartment, and long term living situation.
• 
  39

  The First Time I Went Over 120mph (193kph) I Was In A ____________ ,

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  honda vfr 750.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  I just wanted to pop back in and let you all know that this thread inspired this past month's worth of YouTube binging on airplane flying videos.

  I can now land a 747 in an emergency.

  Just kidding!

  There are some really interesting channels that replay air traffic control communications from interesting situations: scary takeoffs, landings, pilot unconsciousness, etc.

  The ones with the sassy Kennedy Steve are funny. He had quite a following until he retired. Look these up, they're fun.

  It takes a little bit to learn the lingo, but it's been enjoyable to learn something new. I tend to play these before bed and my husband keeps asking, "What the hell is that you're listening to? I can't understand any of it!"

  So, now I know, if the pilot dies, I'll have to be the one to land the plane. I'll let him tackle the beverage cart and deploy the emergency slides!
• 
  30

  What WT Children's Book Were You Studied With As A Child?

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  my mom studied with me in the paradise book before i went to kindergarten.

  i remember the book vividly.

  it creeped me out as a kid.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  I hate to tell you, but the "scantily clad alluring women" ads are likely based on your own browsing history.

  I tend to get ads about real estate and candles. (Who knew there were so many candlestick makers in the 21st century?) But real estate is a topic I often search, and, damn, when you buy one order of candles through the mail, they NEVER forget!

  I started with the orange Paradise book when I was a kid, then transferred to the Great Teacher book later.

  As far as kids' literature is concerned, they were not very exciting, and neither were the ones that came later. At the time I really enjoyed pop-up books where you'd turn the page and suddenly the illustrations were standing up in 3D in front of you.

  Imagine the fun if the snake had popped up to tell you to eat the fruit! Or the walls of Jericho popped up and you could make them fall down as you turned the page!

  Missed opportunities, WT! Tsk tsk tsk.
• 
  8

  My Story 2.0

  by James Jack in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jikmxk5hgdy.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  Just caught this video and enjoyed listening while doing the laundry. (My tablet is magnetic so I safely set it on top of the dryer where it stuck fast. Neat trick.)

  One thing I've gathered after listening to this and other elders who spill "secrets:" elders can be big bullies, but like most bullies, they will back down if confronted. The person will then be labeled as not having the right "heart condition."

  I've never attracted bullies, and I've never attracted counsel from any elders. In fact, I have a story of an interaction that I ended very quickly.

  It was during the quick build of our new Kingdom hall in the late 80s. I was working and the conversation turned to labor unions for some reason. When I asked what the problem was with them, an elder told me that no publisher could remain in good standing and be a member of a labor union.

  "That's funny," I said. "My father is an elder and has been a member of a labor union for twenty years."

  And that was the end of that conversation. I never heard anything else about it. My father remained an elder.

  I don't know what that guy's problem was. It was like he enjoyed being a pompous asshole, but he didn't know that I knew the real story. Dude, I was a teenager, but knew every bit of doctrine. I was a good student, too, and smart, and would eventually go on to get my Bachelor's degree.

  People are always underestimating my intelligence. Maybe because my dad was a blue collar worker and I fit in there. My husband is a blue collar worker. Even now, I do a lot of code switching. I can talk shit and really get along with the physical laboring crowd, but then I can turn around and speak perfect "Broadcaster" English with the white collar crowd. I guess that confuses people.

  Anyhow, I like that rooster picture you have on the wall. It looks good with the wall color, and your blue shirt really stands out against the wall as well. Great set design!
• 
  7

  Is the NSA spying on Tucker Carlson?

  by LoveUniHateExams in

  1. social
  2. current

  interesting video by lotus eaters.. it seems that the nsa are spying on tucker carlson's emails.. the nsa are allowed to spy on foreign countries and citizens, but it is illegal for the nsa to spy on us citizens.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq5d3e6fzui.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  Take it from a local: NSA monitors EVERYONE'S digital footprint.

  You'd better believe that this thread has come to their attention simply because it references the word "NSA" in it.
• 
  39

  The First Time I Went Over 120mph (193kph) I Was In A ____________ ,

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  honda vfr 750.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  Waton: "Trees hit cars only in self defense."

  Hysterical!

  And, as usual, you've made me think, and what I've thought of is a story from a few years ago when, in actuality, was the last time I've gone 120 mph.

  My husband was driving, yet I approved, and we had two teenagers in the back of the car, my son and his girlfriend.

  We had planned to go on a nice kayaking expedition. The sky was brilliant blue and the sun was bright.

  My husband got a frantic call from this young girl's father. The grandfather, who lived with the family, had suddenly felt ill and had chest pains out in the acreage that they rented as hunting property. He called the son, presciently, who told him to hang up and call 911 immediately. The grandfather was taken to a hospital local to the farm but about 25 miles from our location.

  The father called us and begged us to get the girl to the hospital to hopefully see him one last time if he didn't make it. He also asked us not to tell her the reason why so she didn't fall apart without her family there to support her.

  So, we said we would. It was a matter of life and death. So, we sped off down the highway and on back farm lanes as fast as we could without flying off the road. The speedometer was surely over 110 mph and more. It was a new car with All Wheel Drive and excellent brakes. The adrenaline kept us alert and reflexes as sharp as could be. We got there in record time.

  We risked additional lives in the process. It's hard to admit, but seeing someone for the last time, or rather, not seeing them was a terrible risk, too. We felt we had to try.

  Her family met us at the door, and, yes, he had had a massive heart attack, got medical care in the ambulance, but, ultimately they were unable to resuscitate him. It was a widowmaker they said. Not survivable. So, we had delivered the poor girl to the hospital and it was too late. She did hear the news from her family, she did get to see him and say goodbye physically, though he was already gone. At only 69. He had just retired the previous year and bought a large family home for the 3 generations to live in. A tragedy.

  My dilemma was not with the speeding this time, though. It was that I had to lie to the poor girl. Lying doesn't sit well with me. It's a really shitty thing to do to kids, in particular. I debated with myself at the request to not tell her about her grandfather's illness. I am good, in general, in emergencies, and at making executive decisions. I considered her possible reaction to the news and, ultimately, agreed with her father that the girl would need her family to process the outcome, no matter what it might be. I weighed that against her possibly resenting me for lying to her, and accepted that as a risk I must take.

  So, I lied. I told fantastical stories about the kayaks being unseaworthy, that a friend had called and needed help right away and it was an emergency, etc, etc. I don't even remember all the lying I did. Still lying as we pulled up to the hospital. I lied her right into her family's arms. And then I wept with them. For the terribleness of it all.

  Later on, I told my son that I felt so awful for the lying and asked him to tell his girlfriend so. A day or so later he reported to me that the girl was not angry and thought I had done the right thing. I felt better, but would not have been angry if she had been angry with me. I did lie, and lie, and lie some more to her, and right to her face. It felt so terrible and slimy, yet I did it because it was the lesser of two evils.

  My son and she are still together and I think she is a wonderful person.

  I'm sorry for the sad bedtime story, and all from a fun post, of which we need more.

  GT
• 
  7

  I'm launching a new website

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just launched a new website to talk about my books.

  the website has links to all three books in the alternate history trilogy i published over the last year.

  of more interest to this group there is a description of the suspense/thriller i plan to release this summer.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  GrreatTeacher

  Nice!

  The formatting is off on my Samsung tablet. The image of the book at the top covers the words and the writing adjacent to your photo is cut off at the end of each line.

  It could be me? Not sure what's causing the errors.

  Also "Armagedon" is spelled wrong in the subtitle. It's spelled with two d's in the image of your book.

  I want to read these!