for anyone who's ever written something of a private nature or asked clarification on certain beliefs have you ever had the unfortunate experience of the elders calling you in the back room or a sheperding call ?.
the reason i bring this out is that newer brothers or sisters don't know that everytime you write the society the society sends a copy of your letter to your local cong.
elders.
I, for one, have grown bored with all of this. It's no different than sitting around listening to my two teenagers snipe at each other all day! As Dorothy Gale said, "The next time I decide to go seeking my heart's desire, I won't look any further than my own backyard -- because if it isn't there, I'm not going to find it anywhere ...
There's no place like home ...
Goodbye all.
what does this have to do with being a jehovah's witness?
nothing.. the greatest movies ever made.
1. the godfather.
OK - here are some of my favorites. I'll probably think of a dozen more later, but these all moved me in some way - be it serious, inspirational, or even humorous (because we ALL need some humor in our lives!).
Ordinary People (one of my all-time favorites!)
Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe)
The Shawshank Redemption
Schindler's List
The Rainmaker
Friendly Persuasion
Dead Poets'Society
A Christmas Story
Somewhere in Time
The Sting
The Music Man and Fiddler on the Roof
i leave you all with my list of favorite books:.
1. lord of the rings, tolkien.
2. the hobbit, tolkien.
Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen
Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
Chesapeake by James Michener
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
The Diary of Anne Frank
Christy by Katherine Marshall
A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr
St. Maybe - Anne Tyler
Friendly Persuasion - Jessmyn West
Just about anything by John Jakes
Steven Birnbaum's Disney World Guide :)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
have you noticed there are certain movies you just never get tired of watching?
what's does your list include?
here are some of mine (in no particular order as to favorites):.
Oh yes! How could I have forgotten To Kill a Mockingbird! I agree wholeheartedly on that one, 7. ANd, Yes, The Prince of Tides. What a story. But, I have to say I found the book to be much better than the movie. We need a threat on best books here also. (The Bible doesn't count; goes without saying ...)
what does this have to do with being a jehovah's witness?
nothing.. the greatest movies ever made.
1. the godfather.
I'm still working on my Greatest Movies of All Time list. Needless to say, it will be quite different from my "Movies you watch over and over and over ..."! For instance, I consider Schindler's List to be one of the greatest, but let's face it, not something I wanna watch over and over!
CJ
have you noticed there are certain movies you just never get tired of watching?
what's does your list include?
here are some of mine (in no particular order as to favorites):.
Yeah - just watched part of My Fair Lady today actually. I get a real bang out of the "Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man" routine. LOL And it struck me that in a remake, Kelsey Grammer (Frazier Crane - Do you even have Frazier in England?) would make a PERFECT Henry Higgins.
hi, waiting, and all others concerned about this amicus brief:.
just to set the record straight - i have been a legal secretary for over 20 years, and i assure you there is nothing shady about the society filing an amicus brief in regard to this swaggart thing.
an amicus brief is filed in cases in which the verdict could set a precedent that would or could have an adverse affect on other parties not involved in the suit (i.e., other religious organizations, corporations, etc.).
Spec: Concerning your post above - something about "taking it to the congregation ...?
There's a line in Joe vs. the Volcano (granted, not Oscar material, but one line in it just jumped out at me when I read your post). Meg Ryan plays multiple roles - one of which is the really ditzy sister. At one point, Meg Ryan's main character is having an exchange with this ditzy sister, who suddeny throws some totally off-the-wall remark at her. Meg stands there looking confused for a minute, her mouth hanging open, and finally all she can say is: I don't know how to respond to that ...
That's exactly how I feel about your post ...
I don't know how to respond to that ...
in the supreme court of the united states, october tenth, 1988, case no.
88-1374, filed on june 22, 1988, clerk joseph f. spanol, jr.. on that date and file number, the attoreny james m. mccabe,and donald t. ridley, 25 colombia heights, brooklyn, ny 11251 (718)606-4993, attorneys for amicus curiae, watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc. filed a "friends of the court" brief on the behalf of the famous preacher, jimmy swaggart and his ministries.. why would the watchtower society, direct channel for jehovah's holy spirt, which also godly hates babylon the great, which also christiandom is the largest part, go into the supreme court of the united states and file a legal brief to help jimmy swaggart's ministries in his trial which was case no.
88-1374: jimmy swaggart ministries, appelant vs. board of equalization of california, appeller?.
Waiting:
I don't doubt at all a lot of what you said because I've lived in some small towns myself in the past. Hope you didn't think I was insulting small towns or calling their people "ignorant", 'cuz I wasn't. It can be quite pleasant in some ways; however, people in small towns seem to know more about each other's business, and the elders in those small congregations seem to have more of a propensity for ... um, shall we say ... imposing their personal opinions ... running the show where it's not their place. They can be very opinionated and there are fewer "checks and balances" (in the way of other mature brothers) to prevent them from going too far. So, I know that some of the things you commented on are probably quite accurate. The Society, however, HAS put a LOT of emphasis on elders NOT imposing their personal opinions and consciences on individuals. Unfortunately, in your case, the brothers don't seem to be taking that counsel to heart!
By the way, You mentioned something I almost put on my "Women hate it when ..." list (from another thread) ... Having to have your husband act as an intermediary (for the "little woman") in congregation matters! Not a matter of resenting headship really - but I do have a one-on-one relationship with Jehovah. The elders are to be spiritual shepherds to ALL in the congregation. I should be able to approach them with my problems/needs of a spiritual nature on my own. Enough said.
I too live in the midwest, but not in a small town - We've lived in small towns several times serving where the need is greater. There were very noticeable differences - I must say. Chalk it up to human nature, maybe - but if it is too extreme, the Society would probably want to know about it also.
Hang in there.
CJ
have you noticed there are certain movies you just never get tired of watching?
what's does your list include?
here are some of mine (in no particular order as to favorites):.
Have you noticed there are certain movies you just never get tired of watching? What's does your list include? Here are some of mine (in no particular order as to favorites):
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (ALWAYS makes me laugh)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Ditto)
The Fugitive
Sleepless in Seattle
Trading Places
Groundhog Day
The Net
When Harry Met Sally
Father of the Bride (Steve Martin version)
The Big Chill
American Dreamer
in the supreme court of the united states, october tenth, 1988, case no.
88-1374, filed on june 22, 1988, clerk joseph f. spanol, jr.. on that date and file number, the attoreny james m. mccabe,and donald t. ridley, 25 colombia heights, brooklyn, ny 11251 (718)606-4993, attorneys for amicus curiae, watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc. filed a "friends of the court" brief on the behalf of the famous preacher, jimmy swaggart and his ministries.. why would the watchtower society, direct channel for jehovah's holy spirt, which also godly hates babylon the great, which also christiandom is the largest part, go into the supreme court of the united states and file a legal brief to help jimmy swaggart's ministries in his trial which was case no.
88-1374: jimmy swaggart ministries, appelant vs. board of equalization of california, appeller?.
Good Grief, Waiting. Do you live in a REALLY SMALL TOWN or something? 'Cuz in MY WORLD there are ALWAYS TONS of Witnesses who attend WeightWatchers meetings! (No pun intended!) It's NEVER been questioned by ANYONE - even if held in a church's public facilities, which they're NOT around here, although Overeaters Anonymous meetings are. (Not to mention AA and Al-Anon meetings, which are attended by more Witnesses than you would care to think - WITH the blessings of the elders, if it's a struggle that is known to them.) Even though in a physical "Church building", they are not religious meetings.
I've always bought Girl Scout Cookies - even served them on treat nights after book study with no comments from others other than how they love those Mint ... whatevers ...!
I used to go to an Aerobics class at the Y - sponsored by the Y. The literature does discuss not JOINING the Y, but a fee for equal services (with no name on a membership roll ...) is a matter of conscience. I never made a secret of that either. (My Brother, on the other hand, was reprimanded for serving turkey on Thanksgiving! LOL Go figure!) A lot of it is the "conscience" of the particular body of elders. Sure, that's just plain silly, but if I were going to stumble over something, I'd sure hope it would be something more meaningful than that! LOL
Anyway, I'm guessing either you have (had) one VERY OPINIONATED elder that you've had to deal with, or live in a VERY SMALL TOWN. LOL Am I right?
The moral of the story is - know the scriptural principles involved - KNOW what the Society's feelings are on a matter - exercise your Godly conscience, and ... um, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ...
PS - Think we need a new heading? We seem to have left Jimmy Swaggart in the dust!
Cj
