Posts by konceptual99

first off - for those lurkers who feel guilty just for being on this site and reading this (even if you don't read any further, as it is your right to choose that course) i want you to know that you're not alone in what you're going through or in what you are feeling.

if you read on, i hope my experience may be of some small help to you.. this may be long, but i'll try to organize it in a way that doesn't make it painful to read.

to start, i feel it is most beneficial if i'm upfront and honest with my goals from posting this, which are (in order of the degree to which they motivated me):.

konceptual99

Great to hear from you Joe. I am slowly fading myself having had a very similar awakening to yourself. I have the added complication of kids. I've had lots of encouragement from all on this site so am sure you will get lots of encouragement yourself.

Have a good one...

43

New Atlanta Assembly Hall Has raised 3.4 million Dollars... GONE

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

they announced last week that the new atanta assembly hall has thus far raised 3.4 million dollars.

my local told that will become the society's come may 1. i wonder how that will go over with the ones who have been contributing to this fund..

konceptual99

I was looking for the quote about never soliciting and found this article referenced here http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/donations.html

Awake! 1975 September 8 pp.24-26 Economic Woes Strike the Churches

Where Is Spiritual Food?

There is another reason for the economic woes and it is related to this matter of wrong teachings. It is the growing awareness on the part of the public that the churches have not provided real spiritual benefits for their members.

No doubt this is the reason that a number of religious periodicals have folded up and gone out of business in recent months. Says The Christian Century: "The fact is that within American Protestantism the general religious periodical is almost extinct.''

But is there a religious group that does not accent the material side of things? Are there publications that lead one to forsake wrong habits and practices and thinking, and that really assist one to make one's mind over to be Godlike?

Well, consider: Back in 1879 in the second issue of The Watchtower (then called Zion's Watch Tower), it was noted:

"'Zion's Watch Tower' has, we believe, JEHOVAH for its backer, and while this is the case it will never beg nor petition men for support. When He who says: 'All the gold and silver of the mountains are mine,' fails to provide necessary funds, we will understand it to be time to suspend the publication."

That issue of the magazine cost five cents. Today The Watchtower still costs five cents in the U.S.A.—in spite of much higher production and mailing costs. It has grown from a circulation of a few thousand to almost ten million copies printed every two weeks. Would that not indicate that it has had a real and powerful effect in changing people's viewpoint for the better? Yes, it has emphasized spiritual values, not material ones.

During more than ninety-six years of publication, The Watchtower has constantly advocated the high principles of Jehovah God, as taught in the Bible. Many persons have been reading The Watchtower for decades. Logically, they have come to appreciate how it directs one's attention to the Bible. True, they, like everyone else, have their share of personal financial problems. But is it not a comfort for them to know that in the local congregation of Jehovah's witnesses they will never be tithed to pay out a percentage of their income? Nor will unscriptural money-raising schemes be imposed on them. It is at the Kingdom Hall that an unobtrusive contribution box is located for use by those who wish voluntarily to give money to support the work of the congregation. Donations mailed to the headquarters of the Watch Tower Society are also unsolicited and entirely voluntary.

So it appears that the woes that have come upon the churches are not simply the result of current economic problems. Does it not seem to be that they have lost the backing of the people because they no longer pursue spiritual riches, but, rather, material ones? Why give your support to them? Instead, associate with those who are enjoying real and lasting spiritual good.

Chinny reckon!

112

All appointed men are being told they have to pioneer now!

by stuckinarut2 in

yes, you read correctly..... all appointed men have been told in a new letter that they have to pioneer to "set the lead" whenever there is a "special" campaign month.

they use some scripture saying that these ones have to show by example.... so for any of us who are appointed and have learned ttatt, it is going to be very hard to fade during this time!.

.

konceptual99

Taking the lead is not the same as making sure you put your name down for pioneering. It's not even the same as doing more than some average or other. It's a state of mind. You might find one elder in a hall who is really taking the lead but the chances are that every single well meaning, genuine man has had the depth of his personallity shovelled out and replaced with a machine that has to respond to letters, follow directions and tick endless boxes.

38

Looking Back, Are You Embarrassed By Your Attitudes, Speech, Actions as a JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i think of how judgmental we were as witnesses.

"worldly ones" were almost as bad as disfellowshipped ones but not as bad as "apostates"..

konceptual99

Just to add, that I think the chances of having been a dickhead increase if you were an elder, a "superfine" pioneer or had family inactive/disfellowshipped. Thankfully pretty much none of that has applied to me.

38

Looking Back, Are You Embarrassed By Your Attitudes, Speech, Actions as a JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i think of how judgmental we were as witnesses.

"worldly ones" were almost as bad as disfellowshipped ones but not as bad as "apostates"..

konceptual99

Generally no. I do have some moments of ploppyness which I think were stupid and naive. I wish I showed more love to DF'ed ones. I also regret how I handled a situation regarding the a family who were leaving the "truth". Part of me also wishes I'd been less influenced by being the son of an elder and how things reflected on him. Having seen how he handled my siblings I think he would have expected me to get up to much more than I did. He said to one of my siblings once when they have been seen drinking underage that they were more stupid for getting caught than drinking in the pub!

20

Electronic KMs Now Being Provided By Org to R&F?

by pronomono in

i received a call from my book study conductor the other day asking for my email address so that he could start sending electronic copies of the km to me.

has anyone else received calls like this?

i've missed quite a few meeting (it's been nice) so am unaware if any letter has been read.

konceptual99

They have had a letter about it George. Anyone who is entitled to a paper copy can ask for one. They don't want the R&F to know 'cos it's yet more work.

59

JW Witnessing Trolleys. To approach or ignore what is your preference and why?

by KateWild in

i saw two brothers this morning next to the main train station in liverpool city centre this morning.

they were not actively approaching anyone.

what i found strange was that they were from a cong that has different territory, so i don't know why they were there.. anyway i knew them both, and they know i was df'd, i was in my car and couldn't park up for a chat, but i did beep and wave to them as i drove passed and they waved back.

konceptual99

I have seen 3 stands.. none of them have Bibles Displayed or available : (

Ecc 12:12 - " My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end..."

Yup - the lack of bibles is because the instruction is not to have bibles on display. Only if someone asks for specifically should they be given on.

20

Electronic KMs Now Being Provided By Org to R&F?

by pronomono in

i received a call from my book study conductor the other day asking for my email address so that he could start sending electronic copies of the km to me.

has anyone else received calls like this?

i've missed quite a few meeting (it's been nice) so am unaware if any letter has been read.

konceptual99

Elders have had the permission to pass the KM on. If they are not then it's lazy.