Posts by Faithful Witness

19

Overseer's wife accompanied my Elderette, to answer my question, "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?"

by Faithful Witness in

as usual, i was unprepared for a "drop-in" visit by a jw.

they seem to have a knack for coming when you're in the middle of something, or your house is a complete disaster... for me, both things are almost always true.

it's better if you call me and warn me before you come over.

Overseer's wife accompanied my Elderette, to answer my question, "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?"

by Faithful Witness in

as usual, i was unprepared for a "drop-in" visit by a jw.

they seem to have a knack for coming when you're in the middle of something, or your house is a complete disaster... for me, both things are almost always true.

it's better if you call me and warn me before you come over.

As usual, I was unprepared for a "drop-in" visit by a JW. They seem to have a knack for coming when you're in the middle of something, or your house is a complete disaster... for me, both things are almost always true. It's better if you call me and warn me before you come over. Today, my blood sugar was also crashing, so I had a hard time concentrating and speaking clearly. (I'm sure I looked like a fool).

The CO's wife (new to me) was a convert. I didn't ascertain how long she has been a JW, but she was pretty excited about the fact that she had found the one true religion. She explained that God has ALWAYS had an organization on earth. She made a couple of claims that I noticed, but was not feeling equipped to challenge. She also had stated that she only had 5 minutes to chat, but she kept on talking... hahaha (how atypical for a JW!)

There were only 2 points I challenged her on.

She claimed that nobody was making any profit off this... (!!!) She went on to say how nobody gets a salary, nobody: from the elders, overseers, right on up to the governing body. "Nobody gets paid!"

I noted (to myself) that this statement was coming from a woman who has a very nice salon hairstyle, the latest style of fashion boots, and most likely has her housing, vehicle, meal and living expenses paid by the society (or do the CO's have to pay their own living expenses... ??). From the things I have heard and observed, wherever they go, everything is provided for them, while they brag about how they don't make any money...
I interjected and said, "But there IS a Watchtower Corporation. They DO have billions of dollars."
To which, she nodded and said, "And WHAT do they DO with that money? (bats eyelashes)" ...
and here is where my reason went out the window and I lost it (I am blaming the blood sugar). I said, "They are paying court costs. They are shelling out milliions of dollars to lawyers, to cover their tracks. They cover up crimes by calling them sins. Millions... Candace Conti??"

I admit it, I lost my cool... oops. (But really, "nobody is making money....???")

Her response: "Oh, there are WEBSITES that will try to defame the name of our ORGANIZATION (her word)..."
I said, "Like NBC News?"
She came back with, "If you want to know the truth about someone, what do you do? If I want to know more about you and how you run your house or take care of your kids, do I ask you personally, or do I go run around and see what your neighbors say about you?"
and I said, "True, but if I want to know more about a business or organization that I am considering, I do ask for the perspective of outsiders. I would ask their previous customers about their experiences, and I would look at the history of that organization." (There is a big difference between her example and reality. I am not asking anyone to donate their time and money to serving me and my purpose. I am also not claiming to be God's mouthpiece in the time of the end, or asking anyone else to follow my instructions as if they come from God.)
They went way over their time limit, but I don't regret saying something to the visiting overserette.

2. On their way out, I repeated one other statement she had made to me...

"God has always had an organization on earth? There was never a time without one. Who represented that organization in the 1700's or 1800's?"
She then said there had been many imperfect reps before, and that Jesus had told the disciples that he would appoint the slave during the LAST DAYS... (at this explanation, I heard my elderette let out a quiet, "Oh!" like she was so glad there was actually an answer to that question).

So elderette has my phone number now, so hopefully she will call in advance next time, so I can clear a path and put on the tea kettle first. She has agreed that she will come back, but only wants to talk about what is IN THE BIBLE. She claimed that she had already spoken to our previous BS teacher, and that he was happy to hear that she was coming by. Apparently, he has stopped here to find our house empty on several occasions... interesting to hear!

I'm pretty sure she is scared of my bringing out apostate information. I wonder if old Watchtowers will also be apostate information? I think next time she comes, we may have to clarify what information is accurate to consider. She said she only wanted to review words that are "inspired."

3

Public Watchtower March 2014: "Finding Strength in My Weakness"

by Faithful Witness in

i received this magazine from an acquaintance last week.

this particular article caught my interest.

although it is clearly supposed to make me feel happy for this handicapped woman, who has shown such strength and stamina in serving jehovah, it really just makes me angry and sad.. the article appears on pages 7-9 of the public watchtower.

Faithful Witness

The next article in the same magazine, "Interfaith - Is It God's Way? Is Truth Relative?"

Jehovah’s Witnesses cordially invite you to visit a Kingdom Hall near you to see for yourself the remarkable peace and unity that exist among them. — Psalm 133:1 .

I know, "peace and unity" are not the same as love and care... but this lovely woman is clearly on her own in this world.

And as evidence that there is only one TRUE religion, the box at the end of the article states:

Jehovah is described as “the God of truth,” and he said of himself: “I do not change.” ( Psalm 31:5;Malachi 3:6 )

I've never been a JW, but I continue to be amazed at how easily they can change their beliefs, almost without even realizing they are changing. From the conversation I had with the elderette who gave me this magazine, they have become convinced that "adjustments" are not actually changes.

From dictionary.com:

ad·just

[uh-juhst] verb (used with object)

to change (something) so that it fits, corresponds, or conforms; adapt; accommodate: to adjust expensesto income.
to put in good working order; regulate; bring to a proper state or position: to adjust an instrument.
to settle or bring to a satisfactory state, so that parties are agreed in the result: to adjust our differences.
Insurance. to determine the amount to be paid in settlement of (a claim).
to systematize.

3

Public Watchtower March 2014: "Finding Strength in My Weakness"

by Faithful Witness in

i received this magazine from an acquaintance last week.

this particular article caught my interest.

although it is clearly supposed to make me feel happy for this handicapped woman, who has shown such strength and stamina in serving jehovah, it really just makes me angry and sad.. the article appears on pages 7-9 of the public watchtower.

Faithful Witness

I received this magazine from an acquaintance last week. This particular article caught my interest. Although it is clearly supposed to make me feel happy for this handicapped woman, who has shown such strength and stamina in serving Jehovah, it really just makes me angry and sad.

The article appears on pages 7-9 of the public Watchtower. "Finding Strength in My Weakness," the story of Maite Morlans.

She was hospitalized in a sanitarium when she was 10, baptized when she was 14, with only Bible publications and her JW upbringing to comfort her through many years of pain and crippling illness. She was in a wheelchair for most of her life, and shares stories of a bad car accident, and the time when out in field service, the sister who accompanied her, let go of her long enough to send her rolling out of control down a hill and into a parked car.

She is so proud to do her telephone witnessing, even though she looks so weak at 65 pounds... It is sad to see that the WTS is proud to exploit her in this way. Not only are they shamelessly sucking every last bit of energy out of this poor woman, they are using her as a proud display of the way they treat their followers. There is no mention in her entire article, about love or care that she gets from other JWs or from the society... only the hope she has for a better life later. She closes her story with the following lines:

There are many things in life I cannot do. I call them my pending wishes. Often I close my eyes and open my private “window” into the new world that God promises. (2 Peter 3:13)

I imagine myself healthy, walking about and enjoying life to the full. I take to heart King David’s words: “Hope in Jehovah; be courageous and strong of heart.” (Psalm 27:14)

Although my body has become more and more fragile, Jehovah has made me strong.

So let this be a lesson to anyone who feels like they are tiring out from all the work for the Kingdom... if Maite can do 60 hours a month as a pioneer, why can't YOU!?

And to anyone in the public, who might actually read this magazine... JW's are happy to put you to work, no matter what condition you are in. There is a place for you in Jehovah's organization!

29

Joining a Church and advice from co-workers!!!!!!!!!!

by Jon Preston in

so im obviously out mentally....i havent da-ed but i cant care less!

but.....my co workers are encouraging me to find and join a church.

this person is particularly "wisdomonian" meaning she seems to solve and assist many an ailing indicidual in my field.

Faithful Witness

Church of Christ is not the same as the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

It is its own denomination. From what I can tell, they do not add extra books like the Mormons do (Book of Mormon).

34

DC Follies: Will SOMEBODY please come to Atlanta? Anybody? Pretty please? Don't make us beg!

by sir82 in

jw
friends

"a friend of a friend" applied to go to an international convention this year.. they have not heard anything about whether they were accepted or not.. but recently, they received this e-mail:.

brother xxxxx:.

according to our records, you applied and were approved by your body of elders to be a delegate to international conventions outside of the united states, but were not selected.

Faithful Witness

I'm curious to know... Will this man apply for this privilege?

57

Regional Convention Program Posted

by kneehighmiah in

jw
friends

http://download.jw.org/files/media_books/b8/co-pgm14_e.pdf.

i think i will want to kill myself during the friday afternoon symposium.

it should be called "how to not enjoy life or have fun.".

Faithful Witness

Friday 4:00 - "Sacred Secrets of the Kingdom," Progessively revealed. (Matthew 13:10-11)

Adjustments will be made.

7

2014 Convention Program is up on jw.org

by factfinder in

jw
friends

a new book for children on friday?.

a brochure about god's organization on saturday?.

Faithful Witness

Friday 4:00 - "Sacred Secrets if the Kingdom" Progressively Revealed

More changes?

53

Detroit DC is NOT filling up? Please book a hotel room!! -letter

by ?me? in

jw
friends

we have had a letter read the last 2 meetings to all congs attenidng the detroit dc's... seems people are not going, or not booking their hotels.

and the society is pissed!

they are imploring every one to not wait for a new list with new hotels, it is not happening.

Faithful Witness

My mother claimed that they had to call 10 hotels, before they could find rooms for the Detroit convention. She claimed they are expecting 45,000 people to attend.

She was also curious to tell me about the letter they read at their meeting on Thursday night. "We don't want to make the Witnesses look bad! I don't understand why they are having this problem."

8

My JW mom is coming for her 2nd visit this year!

by Faithful Witness in

my kids are so excited to see grandma again, after just a month.

she canceled her visit scheduled for 2 weeks ago, when she realized it was the weekend of the circuit assembly.

(they drive 75 miles, to go to the assembly hall, which is 3 miles from my house... we still wonder if they take the long way, or just hold their breath as they go driving by our property unnoticed).

Faithful Witness

She has gone, and we did have a good time together. We didn't talk JW until yesterday afternoon. I'm always interested to see what she tells me about her KH or things she has heard. A few of the gossip items that she was interested in:

Our congregation seems to be getting smaller and smaller! They moved a couple of our best people to another KH.
There have been at least 3 people disfellowshipped recently. She shared what she knew, along with her confusion about the policy.
They read a "BIG LONG" letter to us, about how not enough people are booking their hotels for the Detroit convention in June. "We don't want to make them look bad!" She claims there will be 45,000 people there.
I have not been out in service in "SO long!"
I have not read the current Awake or Watchtower magazines. (I had copies that were given to me by a friend).
My brother in law is a ministerial servant, and is privy to some information she is not. (She did not know if there were FS hour requirements for this title).
My 11-year old niece was interviewed on stage in front of the congregation. (!!!!) She was asked what her "goals" were. She said she wanted to be baptized, and that she wanted to travel (I read: run away from home). The interviewer chuckled and said, "You mean, Move to Where the Need is Greater. haha." My mom also made the comment, "I think they are going to have trouble with her." (I hope they do. I think my niece could be the catalyst that shakes up this JW movement that has divided our family).

We had a long discussion, and jokingly I asked her if she would count the time. She said, "Oh yes!" We laughed, but I told her it made more sense to count time you are actually talking to someone who is interested, as opposed to the time you spend running around in cars and knocking on doors of people who not at home. She told me how she told the man she reports to, that she had not done any field service in February. He said, "Surely, you've talked to SOMEONE!" Then he coached her on how she can count time talking to coworkers and giving magazines to friends. So she got credit for 3 hours, even though she never had to go out on a single indoctrination cruise with the friends.

Some thoughts I hope she took with her:

Child sexual abuse is not reported to the authorities in the JW religion. She knows this already, and brought up the question, "Do the Catholics report it?" I asked her, "So the JW's are trying to be like the Catholics now?" I asked her if she realized how hard it is to be a child, reporting abuse by an adult. I can only imagine it is a lot harder as a JW.
When did Christ tell his disciples to cast out people who did not agree with Him? She said she was going to look it up. She does not agree with my sister, but will not address the questions I ask about why she is acting this way. (Is it my brother in law, the JW's, or ?? I don't know what I did wrong! Unfair.)
We talked about the disfellowshipping she has seen recently. I tried to suggest that she look at situations from both sides, especially when it is a young person being cast out.
She made the comment that she wished they would allow questions during the WT study. She admitted that she is often confused by the articles. I asked her who she could ask these questions to... Her bible study has ended, since she is baptized. She has questions, but does not seem to feel comfortable asking them.