TheListener

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Posts by TheListener

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  12

  help me understand the political dynamics of the kh heirarchy

  by Check_Your_Premises in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the more i learn about the dubs the more i understand so many things that take place.

  one thing that has been of interest to me is all the politics that go into choosing people for the various tasks.

  i figure human nature is human nature.

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  TheListener

  CYP,

  From my own experiences. I have found that the appointment of elders is very personality driven. Yes, the wives may do that sort of politicking in service or at a gathering. However, the society is and has been for some time short of elders and ms. The bodies of elders would like to make as many ministerial servants into elders as possible. They're supposed to work with the ms in the hall to help them qualify for elder. There are lazy BOEs who don't do this and there are bodies who are really good at doing this. The point is there is no specific number of elders a congregation cannot exceed so any good ms can be appointed regardless of the number of elders. There are of course BOEs who loathe to appoint any ms into the elder role and therefore some ms move to different cong. to get appointed there. I've even heard of cases where an ms will move away to get appointed and then move back to the original cong. to serve.

  As far as politicking for positions within the body. Each body is different. It all depends on the makeup of the various personalities. If there is a strong personality that leads the other brothers, he can be a kingmaker or a king - his choice. By king I mean PO or secretary.

  Since it's all personality driven the best thing an ms can do to get appointed is be regular at meetings, comment a lot, give well prepared talks, go in service regularly - or do nothing and kiss a^$ or be related to an elder!!
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  10

  "Just Looking " or, " Tracking? "

  by Blueblades in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when it comes to your husband or wife, yes, wives look and track too.

  woman do look at other men and other woman too.

  so when it comes to both, how much looking and or tracking is too much for you to take?.

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  TheListener

  I don't get in trouble until I find myself walking the wrong way.
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  19

  change to Special Assy. Days, CA's and DC's

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been thinking about this for some time.

  i have been thinking how the society could maintain the same number of yearly obligations but lower their costs.

  i could see the society making some changes to the assembly/convention setup in the near future to cut costs.

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  TheListener

  I'm sure that DC donations are higher, but so are expenses. In fact they've made the first step at change. They've slowly begun using less expensive arenas and asked the friends (at least in the US) to bring a small lunch with them instead of going out. By using smaller venues they've reduced the overall cost of the DC for themselves. By asking the friends to bring a small lunch with them instead of going out theire ensuring that some of the friends will donate more than they used to since their food expenses are lower. I believe they could hype one of the CA as the new DC and still get higher donations. But, the savings in cost to the society for using their own buildings would be significant. Even if in the short term they had to build more CA halls they've make out very well in the long term.
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  5

  BLOOD, FAITH and imputed qualities

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  who is the person most associated with faith by the major three monotheistic religions?

  answer: abraham.

  why is he considered so?

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  TheListener

  Terry, I'm glad you're back posting again. I missed your insightful (inciteful?) thoughts.

  It has been noted by early christian historians (notice there's no reference) that the early christians almost looked forward to becoming martyrs for their faith ( I believe, but may be mistaken that Polycarp fits this category). They were fanatical. Was it for favor with the big guy, to impress others to convert or did/does the faith simply draw fanatical individuals? I don't know, but I do know some fanatics.
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  46

  What do you think the new releases will be this summer?

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what do you think the new releases will be at the dc?.

  a brochure or two?

  a recycled publication with a new title and look?.

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  TheListener

  Ipsec, seriously? A big release?

  I was thinking either Ezekiel book(s) or a revised Reasoning book. The reasoning book is about 15 or 16 years old and things have changed since then.
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  19

  change to Special Assy. Days, CA's and DC's

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been thinking about this for some time.

  i have been thinking how the society could maintain the same number of yearly obligations but lower their costs.

  i could see the society making some changes to the assembly/convention setup in the near future to cut costs.

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  TheListener

  I have been thinking about this for some time. I have been thinking how the society could maintain the same number of yearly obligations but lower their costs. I could see the society making some changes to the assembly/convention setup in the near future to cut costs. We've already seen the downsizing of arenas in which the district conventions are held. Currently the society hold 6 full days of year of special instruction; District Convention = 3 days; Circuit Assemby = 2 days; Special Assembly Day = 1 day.

  NEW SITUATION:

  Cancel district conventions, add a circuit assembly, and add an extra day to the current special assembly day, this would allow the society to maintain the same amount of spiritual food while sharply decreasing costs. It wouldn't allow for the usual district convention hype and perhaps the jump in meeting and service numbers as a result of the hype. But, they could begin hyping the circuit assembly just as much.

  I'm sure they could and would spin this as a simplification for the friends. Think of it, no more travelling to some faraway city (for those that do) for the district convention. essentially just 3 circuit assemblies a year. I would like it better if they cancelled the DC and just added a day to the special assembly day. That would be less meetings.
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  16

  Why do people call it WTBS???????

  by Wild_Thing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  .......instead of wtbts?

  i always called it wtbts for watchtower, bible, & tract society.

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  TheListener

  After reading old soul's reply I too am changing from WTBTS to WTS.
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  29

  Assemblies suck

  by Nosferatu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  didn't it drive you up the wall how, after a long week of working or going to school, you had to spend your entire weekend at an assembly?

  the saturday and sunday that you could've spent catching up on some yard work, or even relaxing was wasted away by sitting in a bunch of chairs, listening to stuff you've heard many times before.. i know this used to drive me up the wall.

  it felt like i had absolutely no time to myself during these weekends.

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  TheListener

  Assemblies and conventions are the worst. Especially for the little ones. No children should have to sit and listen to bible based guilt tripping for more than say 10 minutes tops. But all day!! You have to be kidding me!! Now that I'll have no job at the assemblies I'll be bored out of my mind. I've always worked in departments where there is a lot of talking and laughing with the other brothers so it was fun. Now I'll have to sit there like everyone else and perfect my sleeping while I pay attention face.

  The worst part is that the material isn't new or exciting. The most exciting thing now will be to listen for examples and stories that I can check snopes for later.
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  26

  Please do not shun me!!!!

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  alright.

  it is done.. last night during the announcements a new ministerial servant was appointed along with a new elder.

  yippee!!.

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  TheListener

  Thanks everybody. I feel really good. I do feel a weight off my shoulders.

  Musashi,

  I worked very hard to be removed from the body of elders. I don't think I'll be writing a letter requesting a review of the situation.

  Java,

  I have lurked on the boards for a couple years while I checked things out for myself. This board was invaluable to me. I was afraid to sign up and post for fear of detection.
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  32

  Thought it was about time I spill my guts...

  by Krystal in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have already posted bits and bobs about my "story"... i like the companionship i have found here and i feel it about time i get this off my chest, so here it goes.

  i am a 20 year old montrealer (it is me above!

  ) who was brought up a witness from the day i was born.

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  TheListener

  Thank you for sharing your story Krystal. Life can be painful at times. It's stories like yours that have made me determined to be there for my family in their times of need.