Posts by StrongHaiku

39

received revealing "witness" in parking lot

by Magnum in

a few weeks ago i was working out of my home state and was in a grocery store parking lot when i received my first jw witness since leaving jwdom.

a youngish-looking lady was sitting in an suv parked next to my car and i was about to get in my car to leave.

she opened the door and asked whether she could give me something to read (had a tract in her hand)..

StrongHaiku

Magnum, thank you for the kind words. As a matter of fact I was in Puerto Rico about a month ago. I saw a number of JWs standing with their carts. I had my girlfriend go up and ask some questions. They handed her literature but that was about it. They just kept pointing her to look at the book. I think the average JW could be replaced with a Kiosk at this point.

I am not sure of the future of JWs there. I took a quick look at the numbers and they seem a bit suspect. At the very least they seem "flat" to me in comparison to the "blazing work" we were doing when I was there as a kid. If the growth had continued as it was in the 70's everyone in that island should be JW by now ;-). Their growth is probably similar to other U.S. states/territories that have access to good education, internet (Internet speeds are usually about 3 to 4 times faster than in the U.S. It is crazy fast.), and a dying "hardcore JW" population. However, Puerto Rico is experiencing economic and social problems which the "Organization" can leverage/exploit and might give them a slight "uptick".

I guess time will tell. I plan to go back home again this year. I will make it a point to learn more.

65

The Fear mongering of this weeks WT study!

by stuckinarut2 in

have you all read this weeks study article?.

oh my word it is full of fear inducing tactics....doom and gloom outlooks.... anxiety inducing methods to develop absolute control over witnesses and cripple them in any attempt to think for themselves!.

(notice i am saying "themselves" rather than "ourselves"?!

StrongHaiku

I find that picture both shocking but expected. I think one of the things the GB has to do is inoculate their people to what is becoming evident in the media and Internet. To me it seems that the picture is being used to "prime" JWs to believe that any criticism of the "Organization" is equal to persecution and is part of the "Great Tribulation", etc. So, when JWs read about the lawsuits, bad press, etc. they will likely interpret that as "persecution" and create a "sense of urgency".

I could be wrong (said by no one ever in the GB)

39

received revealing "witness" in parking lot

by Magnum in

a few weeks ago i was working out of my home state and was in a grocery store parking lot when i received my first jw witness since leaving jwdom.

a youngish-looking lady was sitting in an suv parked next to my car and i was about to get in my car to leave.

she opened the door and asked whether she could give me something to read (had a tract in her hand)..

StrongHaiku

I remember growing up in the late 70's and 80's as a JW going on special field service days where all you were allowed to bring was a bible as opposed to trying to place literature. I remember that one of the key cornerstones that all you needed was the bible and you had to practice using just that. I remember the focus on studying and memorizing "Reasoning from the Scriptures" so we could do that.

I think one of the appeals of the JWs (especially during the 70's) was that it had a veneer of pseudo-intellectuallism that was a magnet to a particular type of person. In the 70's people were becoming dissatisfied with the Catholic Church (especially where I grew up, in Puerto Rico) and the alternative was the charismatic (e.g. Pentecostals) which was viewed as too extreme. JWs were extremely successful in Puerto Rico because they were in the middle of that continuum. And, one of the things that the JWs do really well is that they create a very strong and cohesive inner-circle that goes beyond their doctrine. So, at this point in time, doctrine doesn't even seem to be part of the equation any more.

All of the comments I have seen so far are very much on point. I do not recognize these people now. They have "jumped the shark".

22

Woke up this morning to the realization that the future is now

by campaign of hate in

jw
friends

as the title of the thread says, i woke up this morning realizing more than ever that we should, each and every one of us, live for today and what we can accomplish today, rather than constantly looking toward the future.. i'm not implying we shouldn't make plans, plans are healthy and advisable, especially if you have healthy commitments.. but i realized the reason why nothing in my life ever seems to get done, is because i put things off, and look ahead 10 years down the line, then a few days later realize how much work needs to be put into that said task, then i don't do anything.

and so the cycle seems to repeat itself.. what i think i'm trying to say is that worthwhile endeavors that have a reward at the end, but take many years to get there, need to be challenged one day at a time.

i now understand that to get to where we want to be 10 years down the line, we need to focus on today and the hard work that needs to be out into a task one day at a time.

StrongHaiku

CoH - You are not alone. It is sometimes disheartening to think of all the time, opportunities, careers, resources, and lives that I wasted. I try to keep in mind - "Success is the best revenge.".

“Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.”

― Marcus Aurelius

28

making meetings more interesting

by openminded in

jw
friends

do you keep falling asleep during meetings and assemblies?

long and boring home studies?

> here's a way to change all of that.. > > .

StrongHaiku

For additional fun and personal education, make another set of bingo cards made up of the most common logical fallacies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies)

Ah, good times. Good times...

41

Counting service time in a creative way

by nevaagain in

jw
friends

couting time and, how to count time while doing as little service as possible is often a hot topic around witnesses.

i even overheard pioneers discussing about it.

they call it "creative time counting" (i translated that phrase from a different language so bear with me ;-).

StrongHaiku

Gotta love "Incentives and Laws of Unintended Consequences"...;-)

I think it is good to look at the "Organization" as just another business trying to manage their "employee's". "Worldly" businesses have the same challenge similar to the options below:

1. if you are an hourly employee, typically the business expects you to work a certain amount of hours. The unintended consequence is that the employees find creative ways to work slower or "cheat" on their hours. The typical solution to this is to add production quotas (e.g. number of magazines) and/or add more and more managers to "crack the whip".

2. If you are a salaried employee, typically the business expects you to hit your quota regardless of how much time you spend doing so. The unintended consequence is that people spend less time doing the work and find more "creative" ways meet the quota. And again, the business puts in more and more managers to "crack the whip".

3. If you are an unpaid volunteer, typically the business sets a set of goals/vision usually with an intrinsic value. There may be hours or production quotas, but the focus is to appeal to the person's commitment to the goal and vision. The unintended consequence is that people will stop volunteering when the goal (or vision) is no longer compelling.

The "Organization" seems to be a mix of the above even though they state that JWs are "unpaid volunteers" (#3 above). However, they try to measures hours and quotas and don't have a compelling goal or vision. No wonder you can't really trust their numbers.

72

Last nights meeting...

by DATA-DOG in

i know dubs are delusional.

i know dubs don't reason well.

i know dubs are a bit off, like many groups.

StrongHaiku

Caleb at age 26 - Caleb is seduced by a "worldly" woman at work...

13

Was Cynthia Franz ever disfellowshipped?

by breakfast of champions in

i seem to remember that she was not ever dfd even though she was present at the fateful meal, but i don't remember where i saw that.

it seemed like they specifically targeted raymond, but cynthia was left alone.. i tried searching jwn, but the search feature seems to be not working.. also tried googling the answer, but to no avail..

StrongHaiku

Breakfast of Champions - Very good suggestion and reminder. And, it cannot be overemphasized... What "thedepressedsoul" said about the "What if they're right" moment is normal. I work with PTSD victims (Veterans). Trust me. That feeling you get is similar to what a veteran with PTSD experiences when he hears a car backfire. I have seen veterans throw themselves into the curb triggered by a loud noise, spontaneously curl up in a ball cause they smelled smoke, and begin to cry unconsolably for no apparent reason. We all have triggers that will come up once in a while. And, like PTSD, the way it manifest itself will vary based on the person, experience, etc. There are lots of coping mechanisms and treatments. And, like PTSD, talking about it helps. Which is probably why we hang out here ;-)

Some people cope with this feeling by remembering failed doctrine, prophecies, etc. For what is worth, when I get that "what if?" feeling I try to remember this - "The JWs have no moral superiority over me. I do not harbor criminals." And, remember to laugh.

109

Happy at Bethel. Can't believe what I'm seeing.

by Pubsinger in

apologies if this has already been posted but i am speechless.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnbmyudrwgs&x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260#t=72.

StrongHaiku

Thank you pixel.

The video also made me fill a bit sad. I kept thinking -

Look at all that energy and resources. I just wish they were doing something worthwhile like building houses for the poor, feeding and clothing the hungry, curing the sick, etc. Wouldn’t it be great to take all of those resources, and people, and energy and focus them into those things? Can you imagine the incredible "witness" that would be given to the world if the GB sold everything and spent all their money and resources and energy doing things that add real/concrete value? You know, like Jesus instructed...

109

Happy at Bethel. Can't believe what I'm seeing.

by Pubsinger in

apologies if this has already been posted but i am speechless.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnbmyudrwgs&x-yt-ts=1422327029&x-yt-cl=84838260#t=72.

StrongHaiku

First time posting here... I have been enjoying so much of the discussions on this site. Thank you all. I apologize in advance if I step on anyone's toes, etc. Feel free to correct me.

Wanted to weigh in on the Bethel video...

When I watched the video, I was a bit puzzled because the “Organization” I grew up with (~30 years ago) had a very “Old Testament”/no-nonsense view of dancing and listening to worldly music. I remember a "District Assembly" in the mid-80s (Denver, CO) where the District Overseer marched to the podium and put on a Michael Jackson glove on and proceeded to give a talk on "Idolatry" and "Worldly Music" to shame a lot of people. Yes. That actually happened.

Further, didn’t they just have a discussion on how the JWs need to learn to appreciate Kingdom Melodies and move away from worldly music? Also, it is my understanding that the “Organization” is trying to discourage independent productions/materials that represent them.

Which made me think:

- If the video was not sanctioned by the GB, are they going to take the names of each person and have a “little talk” with them? In which case, they are not going to be very “happy” for long.

- If the video was sanctioned by the GB then I am really confused cause this is a music video with worldly music and dancing within the context of something related to the JWs. The message that was inculcated when I was growing up is "Don't Do That!" followed by severe chastising and correction. No exceptions.

- Or it could be that the GB is turning a “blind eye” to stuff like this when it suits them. In which case, maybe a JW can go ask an elder if there are some guidelines for making music videos (I would love to hear that conversation).

If you are a JW please understand I am not trying to take your fun away. I'm not being a "hater". And, no, I am not jealous that the new generation of JWs is getting to do things I wasn't allowed to do. You should be having fun and dancing, etc. This is normal behavior. I am just trying to understand what I saw through the "Organization's" own internal logic. Just trying to get a handle on what the “Organization” is saying vs. what the "Rank and File" are doing. And, it is making me confused because this isn't the only thing where there seems to be a mixed message (e.g. new light, etc.).

On a side note: I actually liked the video. The music is good, the choreography wasn’t half bad, and the level of energy is very high. But then again, I am easily amused and my tastes are questionable.