Posts by ScenicViewer

24

Emblem Takers Mentally Unstable?

by Cold Steel in

onthewayout wrote: of course, for quite awhile (and probably still), congregations have been viewing any relatively young (maybe under 50 or even 60) partakers as mentally unstable and watchtower ignores such people anyway and says they must listen to the elders.

is this correct?

ever since the emblem-takers were given emeritus status as members of the faithful and discreet slave, have they been relegated to standard membership?

ScenicViewer

We represent the faithful slave:

"... Governing Body, which represents "the faithful and discreet slave." -- W 6-15-09, p.24

contrast with:

But we we don't talk to them, know them or give a flying fig who they are:

"The Governing Body...does not consult with... does not maintain a global network of anointed ones." -- w8/15/2011

Now that's funny.

You would think the FDS would appoint it's own representitive, but since the GB never knew those who make up the FDS how could the GB have been appointed by the FDS; the GB is in effect saying "we never knew you" to the Slave, but we appoint ourselves to represent you.

The truth is, the GB was always self-appointed in claiming to be the FDS' rep.

Of course this has all changed now, since the GB claims to be, not just the representitive of the FDS, but the FDS itself!

The new move may have eliminated the above problem of the GB having to actually know who they are representing, but it simply escalated their self-appointment to a higher level, and it makes the GB even more arrogant now than before.

47

What is the point of the picture in this weeks study article ?

by stuckinarut2 in

i don't understand the relevance of the first picture in this weeks study article?!?!.

wt week of december 15-21 "cherish your privilege of working with jehovah".

can someone post the pic?.

ScenicViewer

Island Man: By putting this image so prominently in an article entitled: "Cherish your privilege of working with Jehovah", the GB hopes to impress even more on the minds of JWs, the importance of voluntaring on such construction projects, thus increasing Watchtower's free construction labor force. Watchtower wants JWs to see such work as being equally important as going door to door

How true.

The article promotes volunteering to work on various WTS construction projects, from building/renovating a local KH, assembly hall, or branch facility, to building the World HQ complex. Witnesses who volunteer are pumped up with pride by being said to be...

- honored by Jehovah

- a fellow worker of Jehovah

- glorifying Jehovah

- the equal of Moses and Noah, who also volunteered

- accepting a cherished privilege

- taking part in sacred service

- an obedient human

-a part of God's organization

Paragraph 7 sums up the intent of the article very well, including a reference to the opening picture.

"7 You will agree that it is amazing that Jehovah has invited imperfect humans to have the honor of serving as his fellow workers. (1 Cor. 3:9) Those who are involved in building Assembly Halls, Kingdom Halls, and branch facilities are taking part in a physical building program, as did Noah and Moses. Whether you are working to renovate a local Kingdom Hall or to build our world headquarters at Warwick, New York, cherish your privilege to serve in this way. (See opening image for artist’s rendering.) It is sacred service. However, for the most part, Christians are invited to engage in a spiritual building program. It too is designed to glorify Jehovah and to benefit obedient humans. (Acts 13:47-49) Appropriate direction on how best to do this work is provided through God’s organization. This may at times mean being given new assignments of work." (W, Oct 2014 Study Edition, article: Cherish Your Privelege of Working With Jehovah)

Most of the other photographs are slanted toward making the reader believe they are part of God's great work (preaching the Good News) if they are volunteering free labor to build Watchtower's facilities. (Is that literature cart parked in front of a building project underway? If so, it's the most obvious tie-in of the construction work to the preaching work.)

A question is raised by all of this. If armageddon is really 'right around the corner,' or as one brother likes to say 'staring us right in the face,' then why are JWs wasting all this time, effort and money building new facilities that will take them far into the future in 'this old system?'

Answer: Even Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe Jehovah's Witnesses.

47

What is the point of the picture in this weeks study article ?

by stuckinarut2 in

i don't understand the relevance of the first picture in this weeks study article?!?!.

wt week of december 15-21 "cherish your privilege of working with jehovah".

can someone post the pic?.

ScenicViewer

6

Governing Body business cards

by LogCon in

.

ScenicViewer

The remark about 'burying the dead for a long time,' is that something that Losch said, or that was written in a Watchtower publication?

24

GETTING THINGS STRAIGHT. Who invented the "FDS" as a prophetic identification of the GB? WHEN?

by Terry in

15 july 1906 issue of the watch tower russell stated maria russell was the first who in 1894 "called attention to matt.

24:44-45, applying it to me at a meeting at allegheny and in another meeting with the new york church.

i demurred that i had not thought of the passage thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although i could not deny the force of the argument....i urged great moderation in the making of any personal application" (p. r3811).

ScenicViewer

Thank you Sparky1 for the Harp of God reference. It's helpful.

I would still like to have the issue from the 1923 Watchtower quote. I'm sure it will appear soon.

24

GETTING THINGS STRAIGHT. Who invented the "FDS" as a prophetic identification of the GB? WHEN?

by Terry in

15 july 1906 issue of the watch tower russell stated maria russell was the first who in 1894 "called attention to matt.

24:44-45, applying it to me at a meeting at allegheny and in another meeting with the new york church.

i demurred that i had not thought of the passage thus, and declined to make any personal application of it, although i could not deny the force of the argument....i urged great moderation in the making of any personal application" (p. r3811).

ScenicViewer

as late as 1923 , the Watch Tower repeated the same belief about his role, declaring: "We believe that all who are now rejoicing in present truth will concede that Brother Russell faithfully filled the office of special servant of the Lord; and that he was made ruler over all the Lord's goods ... Brother Russell occupied the office of that 'faithful and wise servant'."

Terry, do you have a page number or an issue where this quote can be found?

Thanks for the information!

45

Why isn't the story of SAMPSON quickly and clearly regarded a myth?

by Terry in

judges chapter 15:.

14 when he came to lehi, the philistines shouted triumphantly at meeting him.

then jehovahs spirit empowered him,+ and the ropes on his arms became like linen threads that were scorched with fire, and his fetters melted off his hands.+ 15 he now found a fresh jawbone of a male donkey; he reached out and grabbed it and struck down 1,000 men with it.+ 16 then samson said: with the jawbone of a donkeyone heap, two heaps!

ScenicViewer

One other tiny fragment of information:

He became the strongest man around because he had long hair. After he got a haircut he wasn't strong any more.

If the Bible says it, it must be scientific fact!

Judges 16:15, 16 (NIV)

15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.

17 So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.”

93

AAWA activists burst into a Kingdom Hall in Kent!

by raymond frantz in

aawa activists burst into a kingdom hall in kent.

.

ScenicViewer

This kind of action plays right into the persecution complex of JWs. It's the treatment they expect.

It will prove to them that they are God's persecuted people, and apostates are wicked, evil people who hate God.

23

Comstock Sign Systems!

by Atlantis in

comstock sign systems .

http://www.comstocksigns.com/files/kingdom-hall-signs.pdf .

.. petra.

ScenicViewer

Seeking Agape,

I agree with everything you said. He's nice enough and has a pretty good family. I was not aware of the Watchtower contract until I saw this post. I knew him in our congretation in the 1980s. He always knew how to make a lot of money in business. He often spoke of his success, the things he bought, the cars he had owned, the remodeling he was doing on his house, things like that.

After just a couple of years he moved to Bakersfield. He didn't do nearly as well financially in a small town here, but was quite successful in the bigger towns such as Fresno or Bakersfield.

I last saw him probably about 10-12 years ago at a Convention.

He is a typical deeply rooted JW. I like your remark about armageddon not being around the corner anymore, but "right in front of your face." That's Nick. I would love to see him again and have a nice long conversation about why I no longer support the organization. I wonder how he would react after being confronted with pointed information.

23

Comstock Sign Systems!

by Atlantis in

comstock sign systems .

http://www.comstocksigns.com/files/kingdom-hall-signs.pdf .

.. petra.

ScenicViewer

I know Nick Comstock as well, from a congretation in central California that I used to attend. From there he moved to Bakersfield, where apparently he still is.

He was a fairly ok person, as Witnesses go. Not a clear thinker at all. Very much an organization man. Probably still saying the system can't last more than another year or two.

He's been in the sign business for a very long time.