since there a couple of ex-bethelites here, and a lot of people from the greater ny area who have probably visited the bethel in brooklyn and patterson many times, maybe they can shed some light into this curious question we (my wife and me) have for awhile.. so a couple of years ago, we happaned to be in the states and also went to visit the bethels in brooklyn and patterson.
we had the full package, what i mean is, not only we took the tour, but we also had someone to invite us for lunch.
while we wanted to enjoy our stay there, there was always a weird feeling being there.
Maybe they were waiting for you to offer them a ride out of that forced labour camp? To take them away from their anguish? Save them, as it were?
Surely they weren't expecting money, for the love of money is the root of all evil. And besides, seeing as how they are at the "Lord's House", I'm certain that "Jehovah provides." I would have told them to go back to work, be warm and well fed. lol.
for the “living as christians” section of the workbook, “are you reaching out?” talk (15 min), the bethelite gave this talk at the meeting.
he totally departed from the subject matter which is the watchtower of september 15, 2014, pages 3-6. he was so far off the reservation, it wasn't funny.
here are a few highlights of what was said: 1) if any brother asked why they haven’t been appointed, and wants to know if there is a problem or condition that exists, that brother is too “presumptuous” and therefore, can’t be used.
^^^^ That talk from a Bethelite or other higher-up, right there ^^^ that's the kind of shit that wakes long-time members up. It takes being kicked while you're down, or finally insulting ones intelligence beyond repair, for that "light-bulb moment" when you realize you've had enough and are tired of eating the shit sandwich and told to like it.
Congrats. Your wife may just be waking up after her long, long sleep. Keep spoon-feeding her more info.
happy friday to all!.
i haven't been to a meeting for maybe 10 years.
i only know what's happening nowadays from the experiences i read here or the internet in general.. anyway, on to the topic: i started attending meetings at the age of 7. as a kid, the only thing i looked forward to at the assemblies (circuit/district) was walking around veteran's stadium (philadelphia district convention) during intermission, hanging with friends, looking at girls (as i got a little older) and trying to have enough tickets to get pizza!.
Ahhh yes......"The Vet". One who had attended that concrete circular hell will never forget it. You either froze your balls off, or nearly died of heat stroke. It was usually the latter. I remember sitting up top, like at the VERY top around 1983-84. In July or so. It was PURE HELL. You couldn't hear a damn thing at that elevation except echo, and you got the full blast of the sun for not just hours, but DAYS on end because DC's were like 4-6 days or something.
Circuit Assembly? I remember being very young, and going down to a race and/or polo track. That was kind of neat. But mostly, it was the old Grantville Assembly Hall. Back when they actually served FOOD!! Back when the carpet and seats were ORANGE! When they had a woman actually play a grand piano up at the bottom of the stage. It had food service and a dining room! It also had the coolest baptismal pool I've ever seen in my life. My parents got dunked there around 1982 or so. I was witnessed it at age 3, and still remember it. The pool was great because the walls surrounding it were this nature seen, with frogs, birds, etc. I don't mean painted, I mean 3D painted, etc. There were also little waterfalls trickling down the sides, of real water! The railing was a cast iron, that I can still smell/taste even 30+ years later.
But seriously, CA's and DC's were the some of the most boring times of my life. School was 1000 x more preferable to me, as it kept my attention and I could take a leak without getting the "frown" from my parents.
this took quite a while this evening.
so worth it though.
hope you enjoy!
Wow! That was AWESOME!!!! Thanks so much Cappytan!!
I'd like to make a special point out to Juandefiero above, who posted this incredible article from the JW's in 1994:
The Watchtower, August 15, 1994: "In stark contrast, news reports have time and again revealed many of the clergy in some lands to be pedophiles, immoral swindlers, and frauds. Their works of the flesh and their extravagant life-styles are manifest for all to see. One popular songwriter expressed it well in his song entitled 'Would Jesus Wear a Rolex [a very expensive gold watch] on His Television Show?'"
attendance was 1200 in the morning, 1146 in the afternoon.
5 baptisms, mostly young girls (18-20 range) and one that look older (over 20).
cost of the assembly $8500.
"Cost of the assembly $8500. Total collected by 2:30 pm - $850"
Looks like the rank and file are voting with their wallets, and it ain't good! Wonder how Lett the Clown is liking THOSE numbers? Hahahaha! Take that, you freakin' crooks! How many people are on the verge, or close to leaving, because of hearing/seeing Lett? I wonder.................
in the last few weeks it seems that instead of one or two new posters a week we seem to be getting several every day.
many seem to be long time jw's who are troubled by the path of the organisation.
this is really encouraging to those of us who have been here sometime.. welcome!
warning of a long boring post ahead.
i feel like i need to vent my story out, as i feel quite helpless at the moment.. i'm 31 year old, married, father of toddler with another one on the way, due later this month.
i've been serving as elder for about 4 years now in a south florida congregation.
Only in a highly controlling CULT, are you made to feel obligated to explain your reasons to quit a VOLUNTARY POSITION.
I would have handed in my resignation as an Elder, with an "I'm done, and I'm not discussing my reasons. Effective immediately." That would have been the end of it. Saying you have "doubts" is only opening yourself up to a future JC. Should have faked depression and/or being "stumbled" by the new Governing Body Televangelism. Haha!
As for your wife: Sounds like she's royally PISSED because she married a company man, an Elder. Now, you've gone and ruined her "position" (the only one she's allowed to have in this Victorian Era dictatorship) of "Elderette". What's she to do? Walk around like a pee-on, like the rest of the nobodies? Surely you jest!!! But your resignation as Elder will definitely have a silver lining: Wait until the rest of the Elderettes and Pioneer nosey busy bodies start spreading false rumor and gossip about you, AND her, then start treating her like total crap. Oh yes......your wife is about to be shown "Organizational Love", bigtime!! Especially if you start "fading" from the meetings. Then she'll be treated like a leper! This will at first cause her shock, then disbelief, then anger about such abandonment of her conditional so-called "friends." She'll be running back to you, because you'll be all she has left after the spiritual whipping. Think I'm bullshitting? Just wait and see.......her turn at bat hasn't even come yet.
Question:
1. Judas (an Apostle) betrayed Jesus, but it was prophesied that someone had to do it, so why wasn't he forgiven?
2. Peter (an Apostle) actually DENIED Jesus (3) whole times in one night (as Jesus Himself prophesied) and yet Peter WAS forgiven?
How in the world can the Governing Body claim that sinning against the Holy Spirit be worthy of death? Also, who are THEY to decide such personal matters between a man and his Creator?
here's a wonderfully sickening video from another cult, the "church of christ".
have a listen and tell me if it doesn't remind you of a certain familiar jw tune, namely, "listen, obey, and be blessed!
this is crazy, just crazy!
So let me get this straight:
Jesus: Multiplied loaves of bread and fed the hungry masses.
Governing Body: Cuts up loaves of bread to show how God "lovingly" disposes of human beings he finds to be undesirable and unworthy of life. And hey, YOU should turn your backs on loved ones too!
Something is wrong with this picture, Very, VERY wrong with this picture.
