Posts by Tech49

18

Kingdom Halls open to hurricane flood victims??

by Sugar Shane in

there are other threads dealing with jws actions, or non-actions in response to the houston flooding.

i started this thread to find out specifically if kingdom halls, or assembly halls are being used to help victims.

not just other jws, but innocent victims of all walks: men, women, children & pets.

Tech49

No, they wont. A few years back, our city officials approached the local elder body to discuss this issue. Our area is prone to wildfires every year, and the hazards of evacuation and serious threat to life and property/homes is very real.

They wanted to line up any possible building to use as a shelter in the event of an emergency. The thought was that it would be easy to push all the chairs back, or remove them, and have a nice large shelter with bathrooms. Many in the congregation heard about it, and thought it a great idea! Help take care of their neighbors and all!

A quick call to confirm with Bethel gave the answer.: NO, absolutely NO. Insurance reasons, blah blah blah.

The elders looked really stupid. It was a terrible witness to the community, as many brothers work for the city and the county. Essentially, the KH would be the only empty building in an evacuation/emergency situation that required sheltering those that may have lost their homes. It was an embarrassment for everyone and was hushed up real quick. Sad indeed.

So NO, they wont be opening their KHś to be used. And they WONT be donating money to the Red Cross or any other charity services. Damn straight the pretty little trolley carts will be on every street corner as soon as the sun comes out... to offer comfort!

27

My Book With Bible Stories - 91 stories of murder and rape to be used as bedtime stories for your little children

by Anders Andersen in

"no honey, daddy doesn't like this book.

do you have a nice book we can read?.

as far as i know my wife and i agree this book would be off-limits.

Tech49

This brought to my mind a memory that I had pushed away for many years, until now. When my son, our firstborn, was a toddler, we would read to him from the Bible Stories book, just like any good JW family should. We have photos in our album of just such occasions.

But now, I distinctly remember skipping over some of the stories, leaving parts of some of the stories out, just because they were too much for a young child. Even basic stories like Noah's Ark got "smoothed over" because.......EVERYBODY DIED!

SERVE GOD OR DIE!!!

I remember thinking.." sheesh, this is a little violent, graphic, and overall almost R-rated for a kid!" "this won't promote good happy thoughts to go to sleep by!"

So we both made a habit of skipping stories and sections of the book entirely, and this went on for years, while both our kids were growing up.

Sadly, we couldn't see the forest for the trees at the time, and didnt think much more of it. Now, looking back, I wish I could slap my younger self across the back of the head!

DUH!

11

LDC or Regional Building Committee?

by Lynnie in

so i saw on instagram from one of the major uber elders from everett wa posted a picture of where he was staying for the week long safety training the ldc was putting on.

well this "suite" had a full bar for one thing and everything else was quite fancy!

he was complaining about losing $$ for a week since he had to go to this training but the accommodations were wonderful.

Tech49

I do think it varies depending on location of the training, etc. I know a couple who just sold EVERYTHING they owned, yes EVERYTHING (house, cars, belongings, everything), bought a plane ticket to travel across the country, to be a part of the training schools and the new LDC program. All they had to do was get there, and then everything would be paid. They get provided for them: a vehicle, 2 cell phones, accomodations, food, and vacation time off. He even bragged to me about how much they "got" in the way of "benefits" to be used by Jah! They are so HAPPY!! Every pic of them on Instagram is doing something on a KH project, or basking in the sun on the East Coast.

No joke. The kicker is..... when it comes time for them to be "laid off", for whatever reason, at any given time, they will have absolutely NOTHING, I mean ZERO.

17

info on why JWs can't go into other churches

by banco6 in

jw
friends

i would like to know why jws can't enter another church,for funerals or anything?

Tech49

Carla,

Yes, there is a section in the WT approved marriage talk outline (the only one they want you to use) that discusses how to treat your wife during ¨that time of the month¨. Its embarrassing. I have given the talk a few times, and skipped right over that part. Its childish and ridiculous.

17

info on why JWs can't go into other churches

by banco6 in

jw
friends

i would like to know why jws can't enter another church,for funerals or anything?

Tech49

OTWO, I concur wholeheartedly!

Recently, my wife and I went to her half-brother's wedding, held in a cute little country church. Just a few short years ago, this would NOT have even been a subject that would even been entertained! Even I was a little nervous about it, and caught myself thinking "what if someone sees us??"

Still, she was super nervous about it (being a den of SATAN and all)......, but she wanted to go to support him more than she was nervous! She took the bull by the horns, and made the decision to just do it, and to not tell any of her "judgey" congregation friends about it.

She thought it was beautiful, and didnt doubt herself one bit after that. It truly was very country and cute, the pastor was very respectful and kind, the service was short, simple, and perfectly appropriate. No propaganda speech, no "wife has her period" scriptures....you know what I'm talking about!

We kept it on the downlow.... no social media pics, the usual. No one has to know what you do on your own time!

Like I always say... dont give anyone more power than they deserve.

21

Special Bethelite Speakers

by JW_Rogue in

i've noticed that some elders will insist on getting a special bethel speaker for memorials, special talks, or sometimes for no reason at all!

i believe they are trying build connections they can use later, but who pays for it?

the congregation does and as a former account servant i can tell you airfare isn't all that cheap.

Tech49

When I was an elder, I always absolutely HATED it when the brothers wanted to bring in someone from Bethel to give the memorial talk. They would go around the table, and ask for names or suggestions. If none were given, they seriously would ask all the elders to start making calls and see if they could come up with someone.

I asked ¨ẄHY? ¨ !!!!! What is the big deal here!? We pay literally THOUSANDS to fly some guy out here and put him and his wife up for the better part of a week, and WHY????? What in the name of all that is sacred makes this dude any better than anyone else? Oh, NOTHING!

So again, why bring him across the entire country for a ¨vacation¨"on our dime? So we can hear a mediocre speaker? Watch other elders play kiss-ass? How does that benefit the publishers? Oh, it DOESNT! It just frosted me! What a complete waste of congregation money. There was always some stupid excuse, and we ended up hosting some moron that didnt know hardly anyone anyway. Every. Single. Time. It was always the same song and dance.

One time, the elders in our congregation got frustrated with my questioning them, and basically said ¨OK, YOU do the memorial talk this year and see how it goes!¨

So I did, it went just fine, everyone was very appreciative. The best thing that came out of that memorial talk was the older lady that stood up at the end, after the final prayer, and came up to the elders (who are always sitting at the front of the hall), and loudly told them ¨I am just thrilled to see a LOCAL man giving your service! I know him! He did work for me last year and was so kind! I get so tired of hearing sermons from all these high and mighty types that no one knows!¨

I couldn´t help but snicker.

Last year, we had a Bethelite hosted and flown out to give our memorial talk. Clear across the country. Only 1 of the elders knew him, a friend of a friend. He was a fat, pompous, little man, and a terrible speaker. It was almost embarrassing, and a miserable attempt at a talk designed for the public and those yearly attenders... Many of the friends complained that their money had been tossed in the wind.

SPECIAL Bethelite speakers?..... nope, dont think so. Just kiss-assers looking for a free trip out of the hell-hole.

28

Cart work - picture speaks for itself

by doubtfull1799 in

.

Tech49

Regarding attire:

In many congregations, including ours, we are asked to NOT be dressed up. In fact, instruction has been given to NOT wear a tie, and to be more "casual", so as to not "scare off the general public". Slacks, or khakis, maybe a button up shirt. Sisters, casual, not quite to the point of pants, but as close as you are willing to take it.

The standards are falling fast.

14

Comparing 1987 to 2017 --- cart witnessing

by pleaseresearch in

take a ride with me back to 1987. picture yourself in your town, or city centre.

remember the clothes people wore, the hairstyles etc.... now imagine yourself doing your ministry out on the street, engaging with people, speaking with them, striking up conversations.

now, how would you feel, and what would you say, if you noticed two people appear nearby with a cart.

Tech49

A long time ago, I knew a sister who took it upon herself to go to a local park (without anyone's "permission", without "applying" for the "PRIVILEGE"), spread out a blanket, and spread all sorts of literature out on it in a colorful fashion, and just wait for people to walk by and strike up a conversation. She was the "oddball" of the congregation, no one would hardly give her the time of day, she was NEVER interviewed or asked for experiences, regardless of her efforts. In talking to her, one had to admit that she always had great stories to tell, she was the kindest soul, and never would hurt a fly, very intelligent, and meant only the best for people. But the congregation and the elders paid ZERO attention to her, and kept her at arms length. I always wondered why??? She wasnt doing anything "wrong".

Now look where we are......

Another experience just popped into my head. Only about 10 years ago, we saw a group of some sort with a religious "booth" at the local county fair. SO much talk was made of those "CRAZY nutjobs", peddling their literature at the fair?!!! O...M....G....! How disgusting! Dont they know that the only way to imitate Jesus is to go DTD???

Lazy slackers!

23

What strange counsel did YOU GIVE to others?

by Funchback in

alright.... so in another thread, most of us have been counseled for some lame stuff, and the responses range from funny to shocking.. now, let's focus on you giving counsel to others.

come on, don't be shy!.

i'll begin:.

Tech49

I remember one time as a School Overseer, I had this pretty young lady of about 21 give a talk. She was wearing a moderately short skirt, and so it wanted to ride up the entire time she was seated, so she was constantly pulling on it. I took her in the back room, with another brother, and gave her kind but firm counsel on keeping in mind that her skirt was at eye level when she was on the stage, and you know..... blah blah blah.

Poor thing was so embarrassed, I got embarrassed with her and for her! I really did feel bad, but I meant well at the time, and not in a creepy perv kind of way.... As I recall, we didnt see her much after that, I dont know if it had much to do with my "counsel" or not, but I do still remember that and sincerely wish I could apologize for my nitpicking.

Erin, I'm sorry, please forgive me.......

8

Please track baptisms with attendance numbers at 2017 Regional Conventions here. (U.S. locations) Thx

by Gayle in

jw
friends

i always like to hear baptism with attendance numbers at rcs.

observe if the bigger amount baptized are jw children?.

convention.

Tech49

Salem, Oregon. 5/20, Saturday attendance 3800. 10 baptized, 5 of them children.

Jack Harper, Tech49