Evacuated

5 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

I didn't realise it was a competition.

Being "beat" doesn't necessarily reference a competition........it could be construed as an evidence of modesty!

2 minutes ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

Keep taking the medicine. You might get better one day. 

At least you know when you're beat John Butler. That's why I don't think you're a bad man...yet!

3 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

I would like to say how this few words can explain many things that happened in Jesus case and also in today life of people who are believers and participate in some organized religion.  

Good comment, but I wouldn't limit it to those who are believers and participate in some organized religion.

5 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

so be it

Amen to that.

5 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

"You quoted my "scare quotes" I note."  I quoted it straight from your comment. 

I think that's what I said? Learn what they are before you extrapolate.

4 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

"truth"

You quoted my "scare quotes" I note. Better check their usage before you take your "Taxi" too far in the wrong direction!

5 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

You didn't seem to disagree with JTR Jr,

But you know that things are not always what they "seem" to be, are they?

5 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

I think that proves my point of Jesus being apostate to those that were supposed to be the spiritual leaders. 

This is more of the faulty logic. Jesus was never apostate to those that were supposed to be spiritual leaders. Even your own insipid definition of apostasy confirms this. They may have believed him to be an apostate ..but they were as wrong as you are.

This isn't really conforming to the thread subject. Perhaps a discussion on the meaning of the term apostasy would be more appropriate elsewhere.

1 hour ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

Give honor where it is due!

That's an upvote too. But you can only give one response here, and I laughed longer and louder.

2 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

Who died and made you boss?

I have never claimed to be Bruce Springsteen???

1 hour ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

We can tell you are a newbie, you have much to learn.

That's a bit rich. You are demonstrating that you area newbie from the nonsense you talk about Jesus being apostate to the way that God had told the Nation of Israel to serve Him.

Don't be deceived @limmy, you ain't gonna learn anything from this John Butler guy, newbie or not. It's through meeting  people like this in the "truth", (and there are a few), that  others go apostate.

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

That in itself is reason enough for me not to get involved. 

Very wise strategy Mr Butler. He who fights and runs away etc.....

Your conduct in this at present classes you quite squarely with the people you condemn. You're seeming to be cut in the same spineless, self-saving mode. And the little children? ...Why , just let them suffer. 

You might be thinking that turning your back on those whom you define as ones who "have the full information" might in some way exonerate you, but really, you are just seeming to fill up the measure of Zeph.13:4.

3 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

4 hours ago, Outta Here said:

I can see that the JW org has trained you well

Yes, that is your assessment. You're just grasping at straws here. You don't really know how I have been trained, or who trained me. 

Anyway, I don't think you are a bad man Mr B. at the moment. You leave yourself too exposed for that. I think  Anna has you pretty well taped on this so I'm going to live up to my tag here. You've had your advice and chosen to ignore it.

@Nicole"I'm curious, in Spanish it says, "sin gas" which the translator tool, says it is equal to "still mineral water""

Evian mineral water has always been presented as "natural" or "still" as a characteristic. (without gas).

Badoit, on the other hand, is said to be "naturally carbonated" and thus provides the alternative to bottled water consumers. 

"In 1971, Badoit became part of EvianSA, which later became a fully owned subsidiary of Boussois Souchon Neuvesel. Today, Badoit is a product and brand of the Danone group". Evian is also part of this group now. So says wikipedia.

1 hour ago, JW Insider said:

  2 hours ago, Outta Here said:

We still use that expression even now when something unexpected happens

Actually that is what Paul McCartney said.

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

What info do you have ?

?? The info you have provided???

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

condemn me

You feel condemned? The problem is that you are presenting the same charcteristics as those you condemn others within the congregation for having. You may not actually intend this, but you seem to be doing the same thing as those you yourself condemn . So, that would lead to the conclusion that you are self-condemning. But I don't think that is what you are aiming at, is it?

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

If you read all the comments on that topic you would know that some told me to mind my own business.

??? I thought you said:

5 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

i am my own man, I need no approval from men.

Are the hours actually announced?

It is 60 hrs a month for an aux.pioneer isn't it?. The 70 hrs is just an average out per month for a regular pioneer's annual commitment to at least 840 in the 12 months. It is only a minimum actualy. Many do more. And many don't make the goal for a variety of reasons.

Hmm... Perhaps it would be more interesting to announce at the end of a month how many hours those making a commitment actually did get? That might even up the boasting stakes a bit.

1 hour ago, JW Insider said:

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer was my analogy for when something goes wrong out of the blue, as it so often does, as I was beginning to find out at that time in my life. I wanted something symbolic of that, so to me it was some fictitious character called Maxwell with a silver hammer. I don't know why it was silver, it just sounded better than Maxwell's hammer. It was needed for scanning. We still use that expression even now when something unexpected happens."

Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

3 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

Tell me what ounce / gram of proof do i have that i could present to the police or anyone else ?

The official line on this in the UK is:   "You don’t need to be sure that a child or young person has been abused - it’s OK to report a suspicion."  https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse

and this reassurance if you report to Childline on 0800 1111: "The ChildLine number won’t show up on your phone bill if you call from a landline or from most mobile networks."

Your reticence to get involved is understandable, but you have revealed such a lot about the matter in this, a public forum, along with your various allegations against "elders" whom, you say, have more responsibility than you do, that it would seem that the reticence "horse" has actually bolted.

As made clear, the UK police line on this matter is "there is a moral duty on everyone of us to report to the police any crime or anything we suspect may be a crime".

3 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

Tell me what ounce / gram of proof do i have that i could present to the police or anyone else ?

Your concern regarding evidence is unfounded, as the police have a duty to investigate any report of "suspicion". It is up to them to decide if there is evidence or not to substantiate it.

It is all so easy to do, and can even be done anonymously. I don't understand your shrinking back from what is your moral responsibility, regardless of that of anyone else.  I would have thought, given the tone of your allegations against others, that you would proudly proclaim your "doing the right thing" in the matter of reporting allegations of child sexual abuse.

But, so far, all these reasons and justifications you list seem like more of the mealy-mouthed excuses of others on non-reporting  to which you attribute your withdrawal from the Witnesses. I am sure that wasn't your intention?

To stay (rather tenuously ) on topic, this kind of discussion would seem to be a pretty good reason why  those who wish to debate such matters in a congregational setting would be better shunned.

7 hours ago, limmy said:

The Governing body and the Apostles in the first century were also infallible!!

Is this a mistype?

On 8/23/2017 at 3:25 AM, Nicole said:

Prosecutor Colleen Barnett said Melgar was motivated to kill her husband and stage a break-in for a $500,000 life insurance policy.

She also said Melgar's religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness made her look for a way to get out of the marriage without a divorce, which would have left her ostracized. 

Because a church friend testified that Jehovah's Witnesses believe dead people are "sleeping" until the Apocalypse, Barnett said Melgar may have taken her husband's death lightly.

This beggars belief. Has anyone heard of other cases where prosecution has factored religious belief on the condition of the dead as a component of a "guilty" verdict? I mean are all the Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Muslim,  etc. folk who get accused of murder said to be emboldened because they believed their alleged victims are actually alive after death?

On 11/12/2018 at 8:22 PM, Srecko Sostar said:

So, if Spirit influenced apostles and elders to made decisions, please will somebody say, explain HOW that was happened?

This the subject for a different thread. Why not start it off?

4 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

The Elders remove anyone that can prove how disgusting the JW org is. If a congregant mentions the Child Abuse / Pedophilia problem and gives proof of names of pedophiles, names of victims, then the congregant will be disfellowshipped for CAUSING A DIVISION WITHIN THE CONGREGATION. That way the Elders can pretend that the person was a 'sinner' and needed to be removed. 

By the way, did you get that child abuse issue you were talking about sorted? The Childline suggestion seemed to be a way you could keep personally out of the frame and still get some practical advice on the matter remembering that there could be children at risk. How did you get on with that? You did get on with that didn't you?

On 9/17/2016 at 9:28 PM, Nicole said:

What should I gift a new born of Jehovah's Witnesses?

Diapers? and Babygrows? You might want to add food and love if you are the parent?

7 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

Anyone can grab photos off the internet and pretend that it means something.

Of course they can!

These pictures are all taken in the locality in which I did my ministry. Just to indicate there are many cultures in Britain, particularly inner city where most people are and where real experience is gained. 

7 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

It's not 'Christmas' that means a lot, it's the christmas break. The time off work, the rest period. time to relax and have fun with family and friends. And the people want to be left in peace, not talk religion. 

I'm sure you mean well, but this could be construed as an example of narrow minded inexperience in assuming one view is held by everyone else.

'Christmas' means a lot to some people; many do not have time off work; many have no family and few friends; many DO want to talk about all sorts of serious matters, including religion, anytime. (We are not looking for those who do not by the way.) 

PS. reply if you like but pardon my non-response here as I have gone off topic now.

26 minutes ago, Nicole said:

Not sure if this still works

This workflow still works on my iPad. But it is just for Apple devices.

http://appchasers.com/2015/03/17/video-optimize-your-theocratic-activity-using-workflow-for-iphone-and-ipad/

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

British people, the working class ones,

 You are perfectly right. I know Christmas means a lot to them in these pc days.

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

British people, the working class ones, have to work almost 24/7 so don't get much rest and don't see their families often

Hmm Yes

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

And you probably don't understand British people either. 

What? Like these British people??

2 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

the Christmas day door to door witnessing is not a good thing. It's intrusive and rude.

Probably in some of the more snooty or nationalistic areas of the UK that is quite right. In fact, many city Brits see it as a way of asserting national identity these days

.

Having been inner city most of my ministry time though, the multi-cultural mix makes for a whole different experience. Many don't see Christmas as particularly significant and it is just another day.

6 hours ago, She said:

How can I get comments for watchtower study’s  pictures ?

If you are using a PC and you want to see the intended caption for the picture rather than the speculative interpretations commonly voiced at KHalls, then Right Click on the picture and choose Inspect from the menu. The caption will appear in the code window on the right, highlighted. Like this:

Although from the January 2019 study edition, these captions will will appear as footnotes for each study article, the method holds good for most illustrations in recent electronic publications.