Posts by TTATTelder

97

First post

by thedog1 in

jw
friends

this is a very strange thing for me to do.

i have been an active witness for over 25 years.

i currently serve as an elder and i conduct the watchtower study.

TTATTelder

Hey thedog1,

I feel your pain. I am a current elder myself. I too have a named position in the congregation. Here is my first post from about 2 months ago:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/262639/1/An-Elder-Reads-CoC#.Uo_TNdJgDao"

The generation teaching thing is huge for me. I made big life decisons based around their "old light", and so did many people I care deeply about. This latest twist along with the other so-called "new light" is beyond disturbing. Oh, and thanks for the apology - gotta love them manning up and taking responsibility for screwing with people's minds, plans, lives, and futures. Anyways...

All of this is extremely bizarre to deal with, but more and more people seem to be coming out of the ether. Welcome. Feel free to PM me.

68

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses keep track of field service hours?

by Faithful Witness in

i understand that they claim to have the responsibility to preach to every corner of the earth, so they can encourage armageddon to come quickly.

(matthew 24:14 "and this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

what rationale do they have, for keeping track of their hours and literature placements?

TTATTelder

I have always been told it is for organizational purposes. Jehovah is a God of order. They kept detailed statistics in ancient Israel, so God's people have always kept organized records etc. etc.

Of course in the real world it is used as a measuring stick of "spirituality" aka - organizational loyalty. If you are sacrificing more time for the cause then you must believe in it more, have stronger loyalty and so forth. They reward people with highest hours/highest loyalty with more prominence in the group. At our last convention, almost all the people in the drama were pioneers.

162

True Stories from the Tower - Part 1 "From Anointed to Pedophile to Bethelite"

by BluePill2 in

before i dive into the actual write-up of this experience, let me put some things straight.. i have thought long and hard if i should write more about my experiences during the 10+ years at different branches.

during these years i worked from financial department, service department, home office and different it assignments.

as you can imagine one sees and hears and reads a lot of stuff going through different stations in different countries.

TTATTelder

Keep it coming man. Stories like yours give us a view into the inner sanctum that is very rare and and eye-opening.

26

Service Meeting Part about Sisters Wearing Head Coverings

by TTATTelder in

this week's service meeting had another part about women wearing head coverings.there's already been a post about it, but i would like some thoughts from the forum on the scripture referenced.

11: 3-10. i want to focus on verses 4-6. it says this (nnwt):.

"4)every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head; 5) but every woman who prays or prophesies+ with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head.

TTATTelder

Thanks for the replies everybody.

Thanks Blondie for the research.

56

How can I stay motivated for field ministry?

by jgnat in

jw
friends

thus asks my beloved and slow-on-the-uptake jw hubby, who is finding it increasingly difficult to drag himself out the door.

so far, i've tried to avoid sarcastic comebacks (i'ts boring and useless!

duh!

TTATTelder

Tell him

"Don't worry honey, it takes 6000 hours to get a baptism. It's just busy work. Nothing to feel guilty about."

Say it with a sense of humor.

10

English Speaking Congregations in Mexico...

by DATA-DOG in

has anyone read a letter or heard of english-speaking congos being shut down in mexico?

an elder told me that this was happening, and that it was based on a "scriptural precedent.

" sounds like downsizing with a made-up bs reason to me.

TTATTelder

I am currently serving and no I haven't heard of or seen any letters on that.

It probably would be a specific type thing that only people involved with that would be privy to.

Side Note: We did get a letter stating send your Phillipines relief money to the WWW. Also you can specify relief money on your check, but can't say where you want it sent. So they make no promises.

Translated: Send us all the relief money you want. It will make you feel good and we can make interest on it. God Bless.

32

Im not sure how much longer i can take this

by DS211 in

jw
friends

i kind of snapped at my wife today...for no reason really.

and in my frustration ive been contemplating just spilling the beans...i know its not the best idea but i do t know how much longer i can lead a double life and hide the truth.

as i still believe in god i feel like a hypocrite.

TTATTelder

I have done the same thing you described in snapping at your wife. This whole awakening thing causes more anxiety than most people realize. It builds and comes flying out sometimes. I still think it is best to try and play it cool. I am going through the same thing.

I realized early on that this is going to be an experience like no other and it will demand from me qualities and skills that I have yet to develop or ever need thus far in life. I mean who of us is born ready for this type of thing? But... I am determined to develop the patience and the grit needed to see this thing through.

It will mean faking through some conversations. It will mean living a mental/spiritual double life to some extent. I will have to pick and choose what I am willing to say from the platform and through commenting. I see it as a mission. I love my wife and I want to be with her for many many years after this process of breaking free.

I try to focus on the upside. For me it was a huge relief to be freed from the guilt trips and control games of the org. So while I am still trapped, I am free now in so many other ways. I can live on that for awhile.

26

Service Meeting Part about Sisters Wearing Head Coverings

by TTATTelder in

this week's service meeting had another part about women wearing head coverings.there's already been a post about it, but i would like some thoughts from the forum on the scripture referenced.

11: 3-10. i want to focus on verses 4-6. it says this (nnwt):.

"4)every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head; 5) but every woman who prays or prophesies+ with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head.

TTATTelder

Justitia Themis,

Interesting point. I hadn't thought about it that way.

26

Service Meeting Part about Sisters Wearing Head Coverings

by TTATTelder in

this week's service meeting had another part about women wearing head coverings.there's already been a post about it, but i would like some thoughts from the forum on the scripture referenced.

11: 3-10. i want to focus on verses 4-6. it says this (nnwt):.

"4)every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head; 5) but every woman who prays or prophesies+ with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head.

TTATTelder

KateWild

Sorry for your ordeal. I can only imagine the emotions you have been going through.

The part felt very sexist when being delivered at our hall. What's interesting is there were some new female studies there, and the study conductors were scrambling trying to do damage control.

26

Service Meeting Part about Sisters Wearing Head Coverings

by TTATTelder in

this week's service meeting had another part about women wearing head coverings.there's already been a post about it, but i would like some thoughts from the forum on the scripture referenced.

11: 3-10. i want to focus on verses 4-6. it says this (nnwt):.

"4)every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head; 5) but every woman who prays or prophesies+ with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head.

TTATTelder

This week's service meeting had another part about women wearing head coverings.There's already been a post about it, but I would like some thoughts from the forum on the scripture referenced. It is 1Cor. 11: 3-10. I want to focus on verses 4-6. It says this (NNWT):

"4)Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head; 5) but every woman who prays or prophesies+ with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head. 6) For if a woman does not cover herself, she should have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved, she should be covered."

Other translations including the ONWT render vs 6 as "let her also be shorn" - as in shearing a sheep!

Does this not basically say that if a woman is caught not wearing a head covering in certain settings then she should have her head shaved or shorn??

Was this meant to be taken literal???...or was Paul just trying to make a point (in a very degrading way)?

P.S. The elder that handled this part at our hall has a reputation for being a bit chauvinistic towards his wife and other sisters in the hall. The way he delivered the part by reading the entire 8 verse passage to the congregation made for a very uncomfortable scene. It made me embarrassed to be there.