Posts by Pete Zahut

22

Watchtower/Bethelite Volunteers and US Self Employment or FICA Tax?

by EnlightenedEphesian in

with so many aging bethelites being "laid off" after years of volunteer service, what hope do they have of collecting any social security retirement?

i ask because i recently learned that my mother will not receive any government retirement benefits because she did not work enough to collect the 40 credits required.

this got me to thinking about bethel volunteers.

Pete Zahut

When I was in Bethel, we got a W2 statement at the end of the year but there wasn't enough earnings to have to pay any taxes nor was there enough to earn credits toward social security benefits when you're old enough to retire. I'm not sure how it is for Bethelites today but both my wife and I have been working for decades making above average wages and paying into social security and even with a paid for house and no bills there's no way we could make it on the benefits we are to receive from Social Security. Thankfully we didn't listen to the advice to count on the new system being here by now and we have pensions and IRA's to use.

There's an elderly former circuit overseer in our old Hall who had to leave the circuit work due to health reasons. The last time I talked to them he was working as a school bus driver at 72 and she's a perfume sniper down at the local mall, giving out samples to passers by. They have no Social Security and need to work a number of years full time in order to get benefits.

I can't imagine how an older Bethelite would survive if they were suddenly put out to pasture. We are related to a a couple who have been there since their late 20's and are now approaching 50. If they get laid off, they have nothing. Out of principal, it's going to be very difficult for me to help them if they come knocking on my door one day. I don't want to clean up after another casualty of the Watchtower, in my lifetime.

13

Inactive Witness Preaches To Me Today

by pale.emperor in

a rather bizzare situation, this morning.

i was taking my daughter to the park, as i walk past a row of shops a car horn beeps and shouts me.

i turn round and see a car in a disabled parking space with a guy who used to go to my hall smiling and waving to me.

Pete Zahut

Inactive or former JW's who still believe, are the most messed up individuals of all. They use denial, delusion and any number of other mind games to soothe their consciences when they feel guilty for not being faithful about beliefs that weren't true in the first place.

15

Where is that lovely old thread "where are you from?"

by clarity in

big hello again to all.

there was an old thread, many pages long, where we could say where we lived in the world.. many just put the country but others told a bit about their hometowns.. i cannot seem to find it and just wondering if this still exists ....blondie maybe??.

now that there are so many of us, it might be pretty fantastic to know how many potential friends we have living in our areas.

Pete Zahut

Some shots I took around here recently (South of Seattle WA. )

24

Just changed my car

by snugglebunny in

jw
friends

they're known as marmite cars in the uk.

you either love them or hate them.

i love mine.. what do you think?.

Pete Zahut

Always fun to get a new car...I rented one of these in San Diego a year ago and it seemed pretty nice. The only complaint I had was that the exterior mirrors could have been a bit bigger as the car seemed to have a few blind spots at the back corners that made me nervous when changing lanes. Probably something that a person would get used to over time however.

15

Where is that lovely old thread "where are you from?"

by clarity in

big hello again to all.

there was an old thread, many pages long, where we could say where we lived in the world.. many just put the country but others told a bit about their hometowns.. i cannot seem to find it and just wondering if this still exists ....blondie maybe??.

now that there are so many of us, it might be pretty fantastic to know how many potential friends we have living in our areas.

Pete Zahut

Far in the distance proudly sat, bolt-upright, the world's smallest mountain range: "When God was creating the mountains, some mud fell out of His hip pocket," so the legend goes.
An hour-and-a-half never passed so quickly; I was exhilarated.
What's it like in your neck of the woods?

I took this photo of Mt. Rainier on my way to work the other morning. The photo was taken through a somewhat dirty windshield and doesn't begin to capture what I saw but it was glorious sight to behold as I rounded the bend in the road.

43

Watchtower today

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

today a main point in the wt was a guess game.. the study elder asked: .

what's wrong on the picture?.

before i share the local conclusions here, i would like to hear the comments made in your congregation 😎.

Pete Zahut

27

JW Letter Writing Conspiracy

by freemindfade in

just had a wild conspiracy theory.

get your tin hats everyone.

what if this mass letter writing is all a bethel conspiracy to increase declining service hours?

Pete Zahut

This cartoon mocking the Russians is making the JW social media rounds. "May your day be better than that of a Russian Postal Carrier"

Some of the smug self righteous comments I've seen are:

"Those Russians aren't gonna' know what hit them"

"I wish I could see their faces when all of our letters arrive"

Little do they realize that the world's too small of a place anymore to be mocking the Russian Government without the possibility of it making things worse for the JW's in that country.

29

I Smell Fear...

by pale.emperor in

msoneone of fb sent me this.

looks like they know they're being exposed as the frauds they are.

this plus the theme of the next convention "don't give up" just reeks of desperation.. stash: /intesoft-inc.appspot.com/post/b21fe47ca2644a0ea2f6e28fe6401145.html

Pete Zahut

"Surely there is ample evidence to show that you can trust the channel that Jehovah has used for nearly a hundred years now."

Anyone who knows their history knows that a over a hundred years ago they were saying the end was just around the corner and they as Gods direct channel, provided various bible based reasonings as to why specific dates were significant. Scaring people away from outside sources is one sure fire way of keeping them in the dark about how untrustworthy they really are. This tactic has worked so far but little by little as people see these mistakes taking place within their own lifetime, there are now resources that are easily available for them to investigate. I believe they're hearing reports from all over the world about people leaving because of what they've found out about the organization and they're scared.

17

So according to the bible, "believing" is enough to have everlasting life.

by NikL in

i am certain this has been brought up many times before.

according to john 6.... 44 no man can come to me unless the father, who sent me, draws him,+ and i will resurrect him on the last day.+ 45 it is written in the prophets: ‘they will all be taught by jehovah.+ everyone who has listened to the father and has learned comes to me.

46 not that any man has seen the father,+ except the one who is from god; this one has seen the father.+ 47 most truly i say to you, whoever believes has everlasting life.+.

Pete Zahut

The Bible also says that "Faith without works is dead" so this is one of those cases were the Bible "clearly doesn't contradict itself."

The Bible does say "faith without works is dead" but to most people, the works that faith in Jesus sacrafice produces are evident by how one conducts their life and in the way they treat others.

For JW's of course, one cannot have a relationship with Jesus or God with out the Governing Body intervening. They decide what works JW's must perform in order to demonstrate to men how faithful they are. The Governing Body decides how many meetings and assemblies will be held, what literature must be"placed" and what Bible texts you will think about each month. Those who follow the program are rewarded with accolades from ones peers, special "privileges" and position within the congregation and the virtuous feeling of being more deserving of everlasting life than anyone else on the planet.

37

GB asks every JW to give Putin their home address

by MrHappy in

jw's around the globe have been encouraged to write letters to putin and the russian government.

they are expected to give their personal details on the envelope.

i appreciate that this might be normal when writing to your own government if they are tolerant, but is this not a bit strange that the gb want to give putin the address of every jw in the world?

Pete Zahut

JW's being instructed to write letters to Putin is to say that Jehovah can't handle this matter on his own.

On top of that, they are advertising this campaign on their website so I'm sure the Russian Government will be alerted to this and will not see these letters as a spontaneous and embarrassing public outcry. Instead they could see this as further proof that they are dealing with a calculating and subversive organization.