Anna

13 hours ago, PeterR said:

Who obsesses more - the one who finally comprehends Jesus' words not to "let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matt 6:3), or the one who chases people for their reports, tabulates them, send them off to HQ, reviews them with the body, and brings them out whenever a decision has to be made?

My mother in law, who is living with us, daily takes her blood pressure, glucose reading and weight and records it in a chart, so that when the doc checks on her once a month, she knows exactly where she is and can adjust any medicine acordingly. She just increased her insulin by one point and said that she wished other patients kept such a meticulous chart as it would not only make her job easier, but would ensure better care for the patient. 

Someone should tell him that swallowing little blue pills will work better.

1 hour ago, b4ucuhear said:

Surprisingly there are many people who do enjoy that,

I used to when I was a teenager. Spontaneous drop ins were great as there was an excuse to take a break from homework or some other mundane task! But now our lives are so planned out, even our relaxation time, that any interruption is not really welcomed especially if you have no time to prepare physically or mentally. I thought I would personally kill the two elders that "dropped in while passing by" after I had had sinus surgery and looked like I had been severely beaten up. I was resting on my chaise, still partially drugged up,  and lo and behold, I see these two guys walking past my window. Normally I wouldn't have answered the door, but the combination of the hydrocodone and my fuzzy mind, I thought it was something important, I had no idea it was going to be one of our elders and the CO! I hadn't told anyone about the surgery, and they must have wondered why I was absent for his visit, plus it was raining and they were looking for things to do, lol. Anyway, the week after that I took that elder aside and wagging my finger at him  I jokingly but seriously told him to never ever do that to me again! I think because they are guys, brothers don't understand that women like to put themselves together before accepting visitors.

1 hour ago, PeterR said:

I've personally seen pioneers talk about "Sister so-and-so who we haven't seen", and then drive straight pass their house in order to make sure they get their "time in

You don't know whether they drove past to get their time in, or because they didn't want to come unannounced. What do you know, maybe one of them went home and contacted sister so and so later. Personally, I would not want someone just popping in impromptu, especially if there is more than one person. A phone call, and maybe an appointment would be much better. You are just being critical, without knowing facts.

2 hours ago, PeterR said:

The elder body I served with also seemed to need a check list. Not just of people mind you, but a check list of how those people ranked spiritually based on metrics like meeting attendance, hours in FS, etc. Then the people on the check list would be dealt with according to their spiritual ranking.

Yeah JTR, maybe it's not rocket science, but some people make it more like a science than a humanity.

I suppose by spiritual ranking you mean spiritual health, which is usually an indicator of overal health and happiness. Therefor those who are spiritually low, as indicated by some factors you mention, then those need more help and encouragement than others, or as you put it, "need to be dealt with". I'm afraid you make it sound more like a science than a humanity.

5 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

I have said all I know how to say ..... time to move on.

 

Phew!

9 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

uh ... depends on the hug.

"... Is that your gun, or are you just happy to see me?"

 

I know.....my question just begged for that famous line. But I was actually being serious . You see we don't do that gun thing in Europe. For starters, it would be very difficult to conceal one, especially in the summer, as most bothers take their jacket off at the meeting (no air conditioning). However, I do realise, from watching dozens of westerns, that a true American cowboy doesn't go anywhere without his cowboy hat and gun. Hence I guess not all brothers in America are cowboys

On 7/15/2017 at 10:34 AM, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

. NO ONE at the KH has EVER seen my weapon(s),

If someone at the KH gave you a hug would they feel it?

On 5/29/2017 at 7:09 PM, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

"Um, er... Brother Rook, uh.. are you carrying one now?"

"Yes, I am."

I don't think I would have argued with you either!

11 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

Uh ... and how SPECIFICALLY does that apply to JWI's comment?

That's what I'd like to know......maybe it's not to JWI comment....

4 hours ago, Brother Rando said:

Answer is fairly simple.  However, a person who is 'wicked of heart' cannot gain understanding until it's too late as in the days of Noah. For more specific information: http://brotherrando.webstarts.com/

 

2034 huh?   

17 minutes ago, Maid in UK said:

I've read on these pages a lot of mirth and clever play on words - fine. However, the action that promoted this thread in the first instance astounded me.   The meetings are meetings with Jehovah.   I consider the action to be disrespectful.  Surely our actions in the presence of our Creator should be serious and attentive to the counsel?   Jehovah is a happy God and endowed us with a sense of humour, but he has words recorded at Ecclesiastes 3: 1 "There is an appointed time for everything, a time for every activity under the heavens:    "verse 4:  a time to weep and a time to laugh;...."

That's @TrueTomHarleysome times he's serious, other times not, and sometimes it's difficult to tell if it's fact or fiction. He's a writer you see. But I will let him explain himself, if that's what he wants to do....

2 hours ago, tromboneck said:

I did not know that Bro. Morris' son was anointed. Now, that is a revelation. Thank you for that!

I didn't know either, until a friend in Bethel told me....

@tromboneck  P.S. We could stretch it even more with using the example of Br. Morris's son who I believe is 43? (or 45) and of the anointed. Assuming his son got baptized when he was 18 in 1992, just before Br. Franz dies, then he will also be among the 2nd generation. So that would "buy" us an extra 46 years (if we were to say he lived to be 89). I think 50 years is about the maximum years you can count. Of course as you say, the anointed don't have to wait until they die. But still, this gives us up to 50 years or so, where the end can come anytime between now and then.

10 hours ago, tromboneck said:

I'm sorry. Could you go over all that just one more time?

Tom, I am assuming you are asking me this question.

If you remember Br. Splane (in I can't  remember which month's broadcast) explained that the "2nd" generation of anointed would have to be contemporaries of the "1st" generation. This 1st generation would have had to be anointed in 1914 . He used the example of Br. Franz who was born in 1893 and baptized April 1914. Thus, anyone who became anointed during Br. Franz's lifetime and is still alive now, is of the 2nd generation. Br. Franz died in 1992, so anyone who was of the anointed before then (and is still alive) is of the 2nd generation, because their anointed life overlapped with that of Br. Franz. The youngest members whose lives overlapped with that of Br. Franz and who are still alive and who we know of, are in their early 50's (eg. Br. Jackson and Br. Sanderson) So, in theory, this does buy us about 35 years or so, assuming both brothers live to be in their late 80's and the great tribulation hasn't come before then.

On 7/10/2017 at 9:30 PM, tromboneck said:

but I will take into serious consideration anything until Jesus Christ through his "faithful and discreet slave" explains it.

They have explained it, just like I quoted.

Our congregation is beardless, bar one sister, she's been wearing one for years. She doesn't care about the peer pressure. She's one bold character with a backbone of steel. Besides, the elders have never counseled her about it as far as I know...

16 hours ago, tromboneck said:

Jesus made it clear that some of "this generation" will still be on earth when the great tribulation begins; relatively few are left now. Prophecies about the anointed generation prove that the end is near. This increase is positive, but not all of these anointed partakers are of this generation. They are anointed but do not count in the prophecy about "this generation." Those who are of this generation are, once again, dwindling each year, relatively few are left now.

But you also have to take into consideration the anointed of the overlapping generation, i.e those who were alive before the last known anointed of 1914 died. So that buys the "2nd generation" of anointed up to (approximately) 35 years.

On 7/8/2017 at 0:18 AM, JW Insider said:

There, with that statement, I just gave him a chance to claim a completely different rationale for his reactions. Maybe he will thank me for this one!

Apparently not!

I don't think Allen liked me saying "I like it when you get carried away" he gave me a negative point, my first one on here I think!! Boo hoo, I think I'm upset an I'm going to cry, and there isn't even a crying emoticon on here! And I think the Librarian is dead, she's not been chastising anyone for changing the subject for a while now, I mean look at the previous 1914 thread, although a reconciliation has been reached, its all gone silly on there. Everything is falling apart. I think I'm going to go out in the garden, sulk, and eat worms....good night everyone

39 minutes ago, Willie Rogers said:

I will take the Apostle's advice

You don't need to tell us what you are going to do......why not just do it

15 minutes ago, TrueTomHarley said:

It's a little dated. But it does fit the theme of an updated Revelation book:

http://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/2007/07/will-the-real-a.html

I remember reading that on your blog some years ago! It was enjoyable. What is telling though is your comment above that "it's a little dated"

10 minutes ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Can it really be that these characters were as concerned with dress and grooming as we are today?

Nah, that wasn't it. But seriously, it was quite a presumptuous statement. The brother in writing must have felt he had had an epiphany.

2 hours ago, JW Insider said:

Sorry, got carried away.

That's ok I like it when you get carried away

2 hours ago, JW Insider said:

I would love to see a book on Revelation that is done in the style of a standard commentary, so that it contains several possibilities for the meaning of each verse, instead of dogmatic explanations that effectively make the entire book obsolete as soon as something changes

Yes, the example you present would be perfect, because as you say, dogmatic explanations are SO susceptible to revisions, so much so that it is not really a prudent thing to do.....and references would be great for those who wish to "make sure of all things". I think @ComfortMyPeoplementioned once that it would be nice to have more of a commentary style for some of our publications and use more expressions such as "perhaps", "most likely",  "it would be reasonable to conclude", ....etc. But that has not been the style of the society (although improving a little) and my theory is, and I have mentioned this before, that the GB feel like they must speak with authority, otherwise they may lose respect and trust, i.e. the parent/child model. However, this has backfired in more ways than one quite a number of times...

P.S. I think one particular book had quite a few overt dogmatic statements on things that no one could possibly know for sure, it was one of the prophetic books we studied at our book study, either Isaiah, Ezekiel or Daniel. I remember one mature, studious sister got a little upset and exclaimed; how can they know that! I wish I could remember what it was...

It always cracks me up that on a mostly anonymous forum, some feel the need to correct and chastise complete strangers, who could be Jack the ripper posing as mother Theresa for all they know. I wonder if they count their time?