zarco

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Posts by zarco

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  40

  In the past 20 years, have you seen a balanced, educated adult not raised by JW parents get baptized as a JW?

  by BonaFide in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am not criticizing those who have gone through depression or a traumatic experience.

  nor am i criticizing those who were raised as a witness as i was.. but i am curious to know if any of you have seen a person from the territory, not a relative of a witness, no recent tragedies or emotional problems, not a young runaway, not a drug user, but an educated adult who began a study with jehovah's witnesses, and eventually got baptized.. when i was a missionary, i met a gilead couple who had been in their assignment for 19 years.

  i asked them about that.

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  zarco

  The other issue that arises is that since the majority of current Witnesses are not balanced emotionally, secularly and intelectually they will have trouble attracting balanced converts. It really does take balanced people to attract balanced people. I think in the 80s and possbily the early 90s the Witnesses had some of the generation that really knew the bible - at least the Witness proof texts - and could attract others with logical reasoning and the power of their lifestyle. Nowdays not so much....
• 
  40

  In the past 20 years, have you seen a balanced, educated adult not raised by JW parents get baptized as a JW?

  by BonaFide in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am not criticizing those who have gone through depression or a traumatic experience.

  nor am i criticizing those who were raised as a witness as i was.. but i am curious to know if any of you have seen a person from the territory, not a relative of a witness, no recent tragedies or emotional problems, not a young runaway, not a drug user, but an educated adult who began a study with jehovah's witnesses, and eventually got baptized.. when i was a missionary, i met a gilead couple who had been in their assignment for 19 years.

  i asked them about that.

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  zarco

  If you look back 20 years we are still in the late 80s and yes in the 80s and early 90s we knew of and studied with a few that ended up coming in. They were normal, well adjusted educated individuals. Since the early 90s I do not know of any well adjusted, educated individuals that have come in. I am sure there must be some, but it is really rare that Witnesses pull in well adjusted, educated folks. Obviously individuals that have a normal life are not searching for something new and they likely check before they buy. With the availability of information about the Witnesses, I cant imagine many coming in. As many have stated previously, as an American religion some in under-privledged countries might view the Witness life as the American way and give it a try. But other than that, it is going to be kids and a few crazies sitting in the front rows for the baptismal talk.
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  67

  THIS IS IT, THIS IS IT, THIS IS IT?!!!!

  by Hikaru in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  google alerts caught this.. http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/07/17/news0133.htm.

  <quote>.

  summit ends with call for global peace .

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  zarco

  Hikaru,

  Yes. This is the cry of peace and security. It is important that you sell your belongings, stop making payments on all debt and move to where the need it greater. It might be a good idea to throw your money in the streets as well, because it is worthless.

  Let us know how it goes for you.
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  27

  As of July 1st No more reimbursements directly to CO's etc. from congregations.

  by cattails in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well if i read it correctly it seems that at the spanish extj.com forum.

  there's a letter (in spanish of course) saying there's a change in the.

  way reimbursement of expenses are going to be made for co's, and.

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  zarco

  Farkel,

  That is how I see it. If the "Spain Method" spreads to other countries, the Branch will indeed bill the local congregations for social security or similar tax. Nothing like getting an invoice for something you wish you didnt buy.

  Zarco
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  18

  Lost My Job Yesterday

  by InOregon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am a little sad today.

  i lost my job yesterday.

  i have only worked at this job for 8 months and my position was eliminated.

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  zarco

  InOregon,

  It is hard not to take job loss personally. In these economic times many qualified hard working people are losing jobs. Try to stay positive, it seems like changes like these can work out for the best. All the best to you.

  Zarco
• 
  27

  As of July 1st No more reimbursements directly to CO's etc. from congregations.

  by cattails in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well if i read it correctly it seems that at the spanish extj.com forum.

  there's a letter (in spanish of course) saying there's a change in the.

  way reimbursement of expenses are going to be made for co's, and.

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• 

  zarco

  It seems that the new approach in Spain is so that the Branch can charge tax back to the congregations. In other words, CO has $100 expense, the obligation to the CO is $100 plus a tax (let's say $10), so the Branch sends $100 to the CO, $10 to the local tax authority and then bills the congregation for $110. The local publishers bear the burden as it does with most things now days. Circuit Leasing and insurance tax levy on the publishers being examples.....

  Can't really expect the WTBS to cover these costs can you? (joke)
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  25

  How Many JWs Are 100% Committed?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think most are not.

  i think most do what they must simply to continue their social and family life..

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  zarco

  This is an interesting question. I also think the answers would vary significantly in response to the "how many are committed vs. zealous". In the congregation that we attend (sometimes) we have no elders who pioneer. We do have one elder that I would say is completely committed. I admire his honesty and example. He conducts several studies and helps those individuals in need. In my opinion, he does a Christlike work.

  The remaining elders are pretty decent guys, but far from committed or zealous. One has burned himself out. One has been divorced a few times and is not really effective. Another seems very militaristic in his approach and is an outlier (few associate with him). The really good elders have resigned their positions. The remaining elders are family men who are reaping the consequences of following the WTBTS advice to shun education and it seems every ounce of their energy is spent taking care of their families.

  The reason I focus on the elders is that the congregations seem to mirror the "norms" set by the elder body. All the Watchtower articles, talks, assemblies and visit from the CO and DO can never even come close to the example of the elders. So likewise the congregation that we attend has a couple of folks who are committed and even zealous and a bunch enjoying the ride. The remainder knows it is intellectual dishonest to be a Witness, but choose not to dwell on it.

  Zarco
• 
  10

  Mennonite elders demonstrate correct response to abuse within their ranks

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  "colony elders suspected something was wrong when they wondered why one man was getting up so late in the mornings, and they decided to shadow him, said prosecutor freddy perez.. they then handed the case over to the police.".

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8117905.stm ().

  not difficult really and a better reflection on their suitability as 'elders' in their community than the frequent "lets shove this under the carpet to protect our image" approach of wts elders ....

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  zarco

  hear, hear!
• 
  11

  Have you ever heard of brothers refusing to give public talks in other congregation(s)?

  by asilentone in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  maybe some of them do not like particular people in other congregations, so they refuse to give the talk there.

  do you know of any experiences like that?.

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  zarco

  As LeavingWT mentioned, it is a practical matter. It takes an entire day to give a talk at another congregation. If the brother is even trying, he prepares on Saturday and then travels on to the KHall and gives the talk. After the talk it is common that the congregation feed the speaker, so then you have a lunch that lasts a couple of hours. Adding up the preparation time, the talk, the lunch and the drive home a weekend is gone. So from a practical point of view, a lot of speakers decide not to go outside their home congregation.
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  47

  An Open Letter to Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  dear jw's -.

  i was, not too long ago, one of you.

  i loved jehovah, and his organization.

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  zarco

  Jeff,

  Thank you for a thoughtful and reasoned letter to current Witnesses. Many of your points resonated with me. All the best to you and yours.

  Z arco