Something to think about: A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...
You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.
She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked. "What does it mean, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?
Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.
When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
Count your blessings, not your problems.
proandcon
JoinedPosts by proandcon
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The carrot, egg and coffee bean - which are you?
by proandcon insomething to think about: a carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee.... .
you will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.. .
a young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her.
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proandcon
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WT Press release - Possible sale of 360 Furman St Bldg in Brooklyn
by proandcon infor immediate release .
may 29, 2003. watchtower opens way for furman street property development.
the watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc., a legal entity.
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proandcon
For Immediate Release
May 29, 2003
Watchtower opens way for Furman Street property development
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., a legal entity
of Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States, has announced the
possibility of selling its nearly one-million-square-foot building on the
Brooklyn waterfront at 360 Furman Street.
For some 20 years, this building has been the principal shipping facility
for the Bibles and Bible-based publications produced by Jehovah's
Witnesses at their world headquarters. This information comes eight
months after Watchtower announced its plan to redistribute a substantial
portion of the Brooklyn printing operation to various international
locations and to its Wallkill, N.Y., printery.
A spokesman for Watchtower, Robert Alexander, said: "Our building at 360
Furman Street has served us well for many years, but we're relocating
much of the work that was done there. Perhaps this building will be used
by others in a way that is compatible with the Brooklyn waterfront
development."
Constructed in 1928, the 360 Furman Street building is located between
Atlantic Avenue and Joralemon Street and was originally known as the
Trade Facilities Building. Watchtower acquired the property in 1983. It
is a familiar sight to anyone traveling on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
near Atlantic Avenue, as well as to those looking south while crossing
the Brooklyn Bridge or enjoying the views of the Manhattan skyline from
the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
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Great Opportunity for them to share with "widows and orphans"...after the sale...NOT!
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Kingdom Hall being sold to church
by tinman72 inok, maybe not a real scandal, but this really bugs the hell out of me!
in short, the kingdom hall i went to as child and teen, is being sold to a church.
my mother (still active) informed me of this.
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proandcon
About 2 years ago, the local KH was sold to an outsider who uses it as a dance studio. The local dubs were unable to find a place to move to, so they rented the space back fro the buyer. Now they pay rent on the hall they once owned ! Go figure. Anyway, the dance studio is quite active. Carpets were replaced with wooden floors. Old drapes were removed. Mirrors were placed on the walls. Large pictures of people dancing (ballroom and ballet) were put up. At holiday times, all the decorations are put up also. The dubs meet there still. They put sheets over the decorations. Still attempting to move. Unbelievable story with far more twists and turns. Many left for other congregations because they don't feel Jah is with the congregation in this setting! With far fewer publishers, they can't afford to move now.
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proandcon
I remember years ago a CO smugly say: " Giving to a worldly charity is like putting a bandaid on a terminal cancer patient". I was new and very impressionable then. Even that comment made me wonder ! Now, it's so innane and heartless. It's shocking that some intelligent JW's continue to buy this drivel. Even Jesus went out of his way to help others not part of his following. Why would Jehovah not want all mankind to actually show all forms of love to one another - particularly those in need? The WT position makes no sense from any perspective - except theirs.
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Hasidem Territory
by Blueblades inrecently jh.asked about bad doors.has anyone had a whole territory of bad doors,such as a whole community of orthodox jews.
the hasidim are members of a sect of jewish mystics that originated in poland in the 18th cent.and that emphasizes joyful worship of an immanent god.
they do not take lightly proselytizing in their community.anyone have any experiences they would like to relate about working these territories.
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proandcon
To soledad...when did you live in Orange County? I was there in 1985-1994...up Rte 17 in the Middletown area...
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Hasidem Territory
by Blueblades inrecently jh.asked about bad doors.has anyone had a whole territory of bad doors,such as a whole community of orthodox jews.
the hasidim are members of a sect of jewish mystics that originated in poland in the 18th cent.and that emphasizes joyful worship of an immanent god.
they do not take lightly proselytizing in their community.anyone have any experiences they would like to relate about working these territories.
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proandcon
Soledad and Blondie are right...the WTS did have a circuit assembly hall in Monroe NY. It was in a beautiful hilly area of Orange County. About 1987, a number of hasidics from Brooklyn NY moved up to the area and began to build very large homes. Several families lived in each home. Over the next few years, many more moved to Monroe. Ultimately, they were able to get their section of the town separated from the Monroe town. They called their new village Kyrias Joel. The had their own village gov't, fire and police, and schools. They were completely independent. JW's in the Monroe area (Highland Congregation) tried to witness there. They were immediately run out. The witness were told not to return or else their would be problems with the assambly hall which was adjacent to the village. So the entire town was a DNC !! (Some JW's would try to speak to hasidics when they were alone in Monroe - with no success at all). About 1997, the WTS sold the ass'y hall to the hasidics. They wanted to build a large assembly hall near the Patterson Farm but were not allowed by the town to do so. Just recently, they completed an assembly hall in Newburgh NY (near I 84)...
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Helen "Cookie" Lundell
by proandcon inanyone know of her whereabouts?
last i knew she divorced and left upstate ny for somewhere in ohio.
da's from the jw's about 9 years ago.
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proandcon
Anyone know of her whereabouts? Last I knew she divorced and left upstate NY for somewhere in Ohio. DA's from the JW's about 9 years ago. Ex still lives in NY near WT Farms? Anyone....
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Commuter Bethelites
by Blueblades inare there any here who were commuter bethelites.i would enjoy hearing about your experiences when you were a commuter bethelite.how did you become one?what was the requirements?and do they still have cb's anymore.when did they stop it?blueblades
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proandcon
Blueblades...I wasn't in the commuter bethelite program...my daughter was...and some in our congo in upstate NY near the WT farms were...JT is right...these people were run ragged...to them though, especially the pioneers, it was a huge relief from going door to door...being a commuter was considered a privelege which was a sacred service...you could count your time while there...real easy...they did it at the farm when they needed additional labor (re construction, farming, etc) but didn't have room for people to room. it was at its peak in NY when Patterson was being built...as the skilled labor came from all over and many lived at the Farm while the locals did the dirty work at the farm as the skills wen to build Patterson. I believe it ended about 4 years ago officially. Only a very small handful were rewarded with becoming a full time bethelite...only those fwe with real skills WT needed...I know of a nurse, a draftsman and an auto body man who are still full time coming from the commuter ranks...of course in time, the commuters, with all the farm priveleges (Monday night WT study, family night, morning worship, rubbing elbows with the heavies, etc) often became more aloof to the regulars in the congo ...some became more haughty and judgemental given their new position...some were kicked out of the program (too lazy)...many liked it because it was "easy time".
Once the commuter thing became known outside the area, many single sisters came from all over the US to try to take advantage of this entry in the Farm...to work...and ...ahhhh...to "rub elbows" with the "cream of the crop" (studs) working there...it was like bees to a field of flowers...quite entertaining...the WT management had to put a stop to them coming...they had little $ and no where to live...more importantly, they were stealing the WT farm boys in marriage...quite entertaining...
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Printing /Jehovah Ain't Paying!
by metatron inhere are some choice phrases quoted from the letter (dated oct. 28) sent to congregations about changes in printing:.
"saved us millions of dollars" , "additional savings" , "consolidated savings of money.
and manpower", "less personel and more savings".
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proandcon
Outanfree...what they say to the mass of R&F and other readers is one thing...what happens behind the scenes in the "business" of religion is another...cash is the blood of any organization...for whatever reasons, the management feels a need to get a better handle on expenses and effeciencies.
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Printing /Jehovah Ain't Paying!
by metatron inhere are some choice phrases quoted from the letter (dated oct. 28) sent to congregations about changes in printing:.
"saved us millions of dollars" , "additional savings" , "consolidated savings of money.
and manpower", "less personel and more savings".
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proandcon
Met...like most large international organizations today, the WTS is looking for ways to become more efficient and cost effective. Many companies are also seeking to shed assets and locate to areas of lower cost...just for survival. The WT is the same. They could make millions selling the prime real estate they have in Brooklyn (some recently refurbished or built). Additionally, they could better utilize the many acres in Wallkill mort effectively, especially since they ceased farming there and are now purchasing most of the food products from distributors. As far as shipping is concerned, they will still only be about 65 miles from the port or major airports. Also, Stewart Airport in Newburgh NY has freight service and is only about 10 miles away. They are under cost pressures like most everyone. Their revenue streams are less predictable. They have some real exposure with lawsuits for sure (but likely have some insurance coverage). Like others, they surely have seen large declines on their marketable securities and are receiving a significant reduction in interest income given today's low interest rates. From a strictly financial perspective, they.re trying to "stay alive".