Posts by Ron.W.

51

Leaked Annual Meeting Video: "Expect Sudden Changes" Jeffrey Jackson

by raymond frantz in

jw
friends

https://youtu.be/uxqqyrrffow?si=wo0jotyvjg76oljk.

well that's sort of related to the next talk on our program brother jeffrey jackson will discuss the theme don't be surprised by sudden changes, brother jeff you have our.

attention well i'm sure we all agree with this fact in recent years there have been a lot of changes even since the last annual meeting there have been many changes some of them perhaps are a little surprising or may seem to be sudden but you know brothers and sisters when we look back on how these changes have come we can see that jehovah has gradually prepared us for each of these adjustments and changes let's review some of the recent changes we've had what changes have we seen with regard to our understand understanding of bible teachings at the 2021 annual meeting we received an adjusted understanding of john 529 it was explained that the resurrection of judgment will not be a judgment of condemnation rather it will be more like a period of probation the unrighteous mentioned at acts 24:15 will have an opportunity to gain everlasting life but their names will not be written wr in the book of life at the time of their resurrection to have their names eventually written in that book these ones will need to respond positively to the great educational work that will take place during the thousand-year reign then at the annual meeting in 2023 we gained enhanced insight into what we do know and what we don't know concerning jehovah's judgments we learned that the door of opportunity for people to take a stand for the kingdom does not shut when the great tribulation starts with the destruction of false religion at that time perhaps some will be like the egyptians in moses day who took a last minute stand and joined the exodus of god's people at the same annual meeting we adjusted our views with regard to jehovah's judgments of those who died in the flood and those who were destroyed in sodom and gomorrah also at that annual meeting an adjustment was made regarding the reporting of our time and activity in our preaching work instead of focusing on reports we try to make good use of every opportunity to witness then we receive the 2024 governing body update number two in that update we saw the need to adjust how we interact with those who have committed serious sins and have been removed from the congregation what other major adjustments have we recently seen in our preaching work the emphasis now is on studing bible studies and making disciples not on distributing literature to that end the focus is on studying meaningful conversations not just on using memorized presentations were you surprised by these adjustments perhaps so but as we look back we see how one adjustment in understanding gradually helped us with the next adjustment isn't it true that gradually jehovah has prepared us and when we look back on it we see how logical this training has been to refine our understanding but events in the world likewise have changed it's true sometimes in the world you have sudden changes for example the pandemic but often times change in the world is gradual isn't it true with regard to the view of morality homosexuality abortion even what's acceptable and not acceptable with regard to conduct all of that has happened gradually in the world and it's not until you look back and see how different the world is today with regard to those matters that we see that there have been a lot of changes but this can be dangerous because as things gradually change we may get used to gradual change and forget that there are some sudden changes about to occur uh let's take our bibles please and if you turn with me to the book of luke chap 21 now this is an example of sudden change in luke chap 21 uh notice there in verse 34 the words of our lord jesus are recorded and he said in verse 34 but pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with oving and heavy drinking and anxieties of life and suddenly suddenly that they be instantly instantly upon you it's interesting to note that jesus had already said that this day he was referring to would occur at a time that we don't think is likely so what lesson do we learn from what jesus said it's a warning isn't it that we can't just sit back and think well things are gradually going to develop we know which way it's going and maybe it's not going to happen yet you know got a little bit more wiggle room there with regard to the schedule but you see that's dangerous thinking now what we're going to do is consider two examples of areas where perhaps we could be a little guilty with regard to that for example our view as with regard to the number of anointed ones remaining on the earth now for many years what did we think we thought well that number would go down and down and down and down now i don't know about you but me i you when that report came out just how many how many partakers and and what were we thinking we probably you maybe we didn't say it but we were thinking you know the number will go down down down down and there'll be just a couple of old guys in a wheelchair who will get their reward well i'm exaggerating but that was sort of the feeling wasn't it but now what have we seen in recent years those numbers have gone up and up and not only that younger brothers have been appointed on the governing body now i know what you're all thinking two new ones how old are they we know you're not googling now but you will be but you see we need to be careful about what we're thinking with regard to the number of anointed ones left on earth you see 19 years ago i was appointed on the governing body even i thought i was too young now they tell me i'm not so young anymore but do we see the point what does the bible actually tell us with regard to this well it doesn't say the number would just dwindle down to just having a few uh older ones left no the great crowd of other sheep will be judged on the basis of how they deal with

Ron.W.

https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/end-soon.php This is more in-depth of the various words and times the WTS has said the equivalent of very soon.

I found this deeply disturbing - when my family joined the jw's in the 1960's they had already pushed back 'soon' so much over the decades.

I don't know how the wt have the cheek/audacity to keep promoting 'soon' in their brainwashing rags.

Perhaps they get away with it because those brought up on it from long ago have all simply died off!

Here's a dictionary definition of 'soon'...

57

2024 Annual Meeting Doctrinal Change

by Listener in

a change to their doctrine came from jackson.

this isn't a transcript of his whole speech but i thought i would try and get some of his main speech in writing.. at around 1hr26 minutes he starts talking about some dangerous thinking in feeling there is some wiggle room in regards to the schedule for the gt.

but you see, we need to be careful about what we are thinking about the number of anointed ones left on earth.

Ron.W.

LHG In my hall 'young ones' were aggressively targeted as the only ones who should be pioneering.

We had a few non working elders who had retired early on really good pensions/payoffs paid off mortgages & 2nd homes who did around 10hrs a month -

constantly saying that young ones should leave school, get a part time job and pioneer - full time working was severely frowned upon by them - what hypocrites!!

73

JWN, 23 years posting Blondie

by blondie in

jw
friends

can i call you friends, i think so after 23 years posting here.

i am dismayed how jwn is being "dominated" or taken over by a few posters, peppering the comments.

in the past, the admin did not approve of this and did remove some posters from jwn.

Ron.W.

Being honest, I now feel quite bad about how preachy I was on the ministry as a regular pioneer etc.

Without invitation I used every trick in the book to dismantle innocent householders religious beliefs.

I now feel really, really bad about that -

I also cannot take any overbearing preachy sermons here, or anywhere.

The bible is words written on a page - it may or may not be true - I don't know - more words can't convince me.

So, in conclusion, I feel really guilty for haranguing people on their doorstep, businesses, street work, shop work.

I am trying to work on being more tolerant of people of all beliefs. But, I am very weary of entering any overly serious debate with anyone about religion, politics and possibly even football!

35

Serious sinner?

by Gorb in

jw
friends

with the statement in the study watchtower this sunday, that stop serving jehovah is a serious sin, the following:.

- can i conclude now, that we, (i, wife and 2 children), since 2008 pomo and no longer active in any religious activity, are serious sinners for jehovahs witnesses?.

writing this in a watchtower, a statement like that, could have big implications.. it makes me so sad.

Ron.W.

Just to be clear about my own personal stance about being labelled a serious sinner - quite similar to Jeff Windup merchant's:

wt: "We are not embarrassed about adjustments that are made, nor is an apology needed for not getting it exactly right previously,"

Me: I am not embarrassed about using 'independent thinking' to make needed adjustments in my thinking. Nor is an apology needed to wt for using 'independent thinking' to get right previous errors in my thinking.

73

JWN, 23 years posting Blondie

by blondie in

jw
friends

can i call you friends, i think so after 23 years posting here.

i am dismayed how jwn is being "dominated" or taken over by a few posters, peppering the comments.

in the past, the admin did not approve of this and did remove some posters from jwn.

Ron.W.

I started 'lurking' here back in 2007 - That was the year I got in touch with Ray Franz and gradually realised my lifelong JW religion was NOT the 'truth'.

I am most grateful for this site and the wealth of information it provides.

I do personally find overly long 'preachy' posts a struggle.

Some posts make me feel I am being scripturally 'machine gunned' or 'pebble dashed' by others (possibly well meaning beliefs).

But, there are many, many posters and posts I do enjoy here - and for them I am truly thankful.

2

My dissociation letter - António Madaleno (ex-elder in Portugal)

by Antonio_Madaleno in

you can listen here:dissociation letter.

you can read here:https://www.desperta.net/testemunhos/letter-of-dissociation-of-carlos-fernandes.

Ron.W.

Very well put - thank you for sharing.

31

October Elder's Letter Delayed- Big Announcement at Annual Meeting

by Newly Enlightened in

https://youtu.be/93h5zpbil6k?si=ffatfxjuxmj_na9i.

Ron.W.

I'm trying to think what the 'big announcement' may be. Any educated guesses?

14

rant about the stupidty of JW r/f

by enoughisenough in

putting this under beliefs,doctrine and practices because i don't see a better heading.

here is what i have been thinking for years now and the situation with the recent storms and the devastation brings in closer to home in my thinking.

i lived in western nc for 20 years and moved to wv in feb of this year.

Ron.W.

Videos used to teach the resurrected ones?

Reminds me of an elder who had Bill Withers greatest hits playing in the KH at his wife's funeral.

He then went around everyone in attendance with his video recorder saying he wanted to get a comment from everybody there to show his wife when she was resurrected....

53

WTS 2024 Annual Business Meeting ...

by careful in

... is just three weeks from this saturday.

the org has been tight-lipped, really, successfully secret about advance info on these in recent years,.

now that these relatively recent changes on dress and grooming, reporting fs time, judicial matters, etc.

Ron.W.

👍🤣🤣

25

JEHOVAH'S WITNESS STUPID: a special category of ignorance

by Terry in

worse than being stupid is thinking you are smart while you are stupid.. i should know.. for many years i was a special category of "stupid"; i was jehovah's witness stupid.. .

what does that entail?

listen and i'll tell you.. ___________________________________________________________.

Ron.W.

👍👍🤣🤣🤣