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TrueTomHarley

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  1. Haha
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Thinking in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Oh for crying out loud, Dimitar! Why would you downvote that one?
  2. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Thinking in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    I like this.
    I like this too. It is just Human Relations 101. There are some cultures in which ‘saving face’ is so important that if you don’t do it you might as well flush your words down the toilet. But even when not in one of those cultures, it is good advice to heed.
  3. Haha
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Patiently waiting for Truth in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Oh for crying out loud, Dimitar! Why would you downvote that one?
  4. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    I like this.
    I like this too. It is just Human Relations 101. There are some cultures in which ‘saving face’ is so important that if you don’t do it you might as well flush your words down the toilet. But even when not in one of those cultures, it is good advice to heed.
  5. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Oh for crying out loud, Dimitar! Why would you downvote that one?
  6. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley reacted to Arauna in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Yes - I am happy you survived it all!  A good example to us all.  (Pity that some accusers on this forum had a problem with the org... but could not survive the problem).  Consequently, they lost their chance to serve Jehovah forever! 
    I do think women must man-up.  At work there are rules about discrimination but even then , it is hard to stand up against it in the world (human resources departments.) It seems it can also be hard when there is some sort of discrimination against a fellow believer. In this case we must not let it pass because Jehovah's organization must be better than the world. When brothers act like a clique, then the congregation can suffer... and unfortunately it takes the GB a while to discover this.  That is why we should act according to conscience - when we see something wrong. No-one is above the council of Jehovah. 
    Last year we had an elder twice snub a sister while she was answering (she did not speak English very well and the brother wanted her to finish her long, insecure answer). I sent my group overseer a phone message:  Why has the elders not appointed someone to help her to prepare a shorter answer so she does not get snubbed in this ghastly way?  ... something to that effect.   There was an apology and she was helped.   I do not like my brothers or sisters treated openly in a disrespectful way.  In a nice way I will say something. 
    I asked the same elder, by phone,  why some elders preach the vaccine more than the kingdom. I had a shepherd call from the CO.... I think it was to sass me out but I retained a good attitude - But if one stands for righteousness, truth and kindness - it must be there at all times.  I will NEVER put a question like this in public where a brother can lose face but I will ask questions in private. 
    I really feel one must be open and kind - speak the truth at all times - and be who you are. Do not tolerate disrespect to the weak and weary. There are many vulnerable people amongst Jehovah's people. I have learnt to handle disrespect regarding myself quite well and answer with kind openness (I had to learn it).  I do not care to lose face... it is not important.  Believe me women often encounter this - no matter how high the position (in the world and org) but I do not take it to heart too much. BUT always ask questions if things are wrong - with respect. As a woman I must still be submissive so as not to be branded a Jezebel. I am very aware of being respectful and submissive. 
    So far I have survived - and my faith has had its bad times and the good.  I just hope Jehovah gives me courage to act according to my conscience - whether in front of brothers or the worldly courts.
  7. Thanks
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Arauna in Thought I'd put this here as it probably will not be on the JW Org website   
    With regard to the first: ‘Child Protection.’ https://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/pedophiles/
    the second: Medical Treatment: https://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/blood_transfusions/
    and the third: Disfellowshipping and Disassociation https://www.tomsheepandgoats.com/2019/01/in-defense-of-shunning.html
    Apologies to the old hen, who gets antsy at too many redirects.
    (you dodo)
  8. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Arauna in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Yes. If you don’t forgive and put it behind you, you never heal. You are forever rehashing your injury. In close to 50 years with Jehovah’s earthly organization, the supportive benefits have far exceeded the abrasions that can come from working closely with people. But that does not mean that abrasions have never occurred. In No Fake News, I wrote: 
    “After studying one book seemingly written for no other purpose other than to harp on dress and grooming and harangue about field service, the conductor said to me: “Tom, why don’t you comment? You know all these answers.” It was a turning point. He was right. I did know them all. It was time to stop sulking. From the circuit overseer on down, they had stirred up major chaos in the family. They had been heavy-handed and clumsy - but never malicious. And it had never been Jehovah.
    I had read of ill-goings-on in the first-century record. Congregations described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were veritable basket cases, some of them, but that did not mean that they were not congregations. Eventually things smooth out. Eventually 1 Timothy 5:24 comes to pass: “The sins of some men are publicly known, leading directly to judgment, but those of other men will become evident later.” “Later” may take its sweet time in rolling around but it always does roll around. Should I stumble when it becomes my turn? I’d read whiner after whiner carrying on about some personal affront or other on the Internet. Was I going to be one of them?”
    When a circuit overseer years later—he was a good guy—tried to soften matters – saying how God sends just the right personality at just the right time, I said “Look. I know the line. I’m perfectly willing to spin it and even view things that way - God works with people. I get that. But I also want to call a spade a spade. The guy was an unbalanced nut.” Later when my daughter asked the circuit overseer about his conversation with her dad, the latter replied: “He was…frank.”
    Jesus makes exactly this point in his illustration of the slave not forgiving his fellow slave for a debt after his master had forgiven him for a huge one. It’s a matter of looking at things from his point of view, not our own.
    “That is why the Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 When he started to settle them, a man was brought in who owed him 10,000 talents.  25 But because he did not have the means to pay it back, his master ordered him and his wife and his children and all the things he owned to be sold and payment to be made.  26 So the slave fell down and did obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you.’  27 Moved with pity at this, the master of that slave let him off and canceled his debt.  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves, who owed him 100 de·narʹi·i, and grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back whatever you owe.’  29 So his fellow slave fell down and began to beg him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’  30 However, he was not willing, but he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay back what he owed.  31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they became greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all the things that had happened. 
    Then his master summoned him and said to him: ‘Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you when you pleaded with me.  33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I showed mercy to you?’  34 With that his master, provoked to wrath, handed him over to the jailers until he repaid all that he owed.  35 My heavenly Father will also deal with you in the same way if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18)
  9. Haha
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Patiently waiting for Truth in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Almost in the same breath you’ve answered your question:
    Any number of times you’d said how you don’t expect to survive Armageddon. Why don’t you repent and turn around from whatever is causing you that little problem? If you have faith in Christ, and unless you are a practicer of sin, the ransom is supposed to give you confidence. They teach about the ranson sacrifice of Christ at the Kingdom Hall.
    Will you even be doing the Memorial this year? Or will you be holding out for the really big holiday two days away involving the Easter Bunny?
    If I was on a boat drifting toward the falls which I did not expect to survive, I would not be using all my energy hollering to those on shore how they are doing everything wrong.
  10. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Arauna in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Almost in the same breath you’ve answered your question:
    Any number of times you’d said how you don’t expect to survive Armageddon. Why don’t you repent and turn around from whatever is causing you that little problem? If you have faith in Christ, and unless you are a practicer of sin, the ransom is supposed to give you confidence. They teach about the ranson sacrifice of Christ at the Kingdom Hall.
    Will you even be doing the Memorial this year? Or will you be holding out for the really big holiday two days away involving the Easter Bunny?
    If I was on a boat drifting toward the falls which I did not expect to survive, I would not be using all my energy hollering to those on shore how they are doing everything wrong.
  11. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Thinking in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Yes. If you don’t forgive and put it behind you, you never heal. You are forever rehashing your injury. In close to 50 years with Jehovah’s earthly organization, the supportive benefits have far exceeded the abrasions that can come from working closely with people. But that does not mean that abrasions have never occurred. In No Fake News, I wrote: 
    “After studying one book seemingly written for no other purpose other than to harp on dress and grooming and harangue about field service, the conductor said to me: “Tom, why don’t you comment? You know all these answers.” It was a turning point. He was right. I did know them all. It was time to stop sulking. From the circuit overseer on down, they had stirred up major chaos in the family. They had been heavy-handed and clumsy - but never malicious. And it had never been Jehovah.
    I had read of ill-goings-on in the first-century record. Congregations described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were veritable basket cases, some of them, but that did not mean that they were not congregations. Eventually things smooth out. Eventually 1 Timothy 5:24 comes to pass: “The sins of some men are publicly known, leading directly to judgment, but those of other men will become evident later.” “Later” may take its sweet time in rolling around but it always does roll around. Should I stumble when it becomes my turn? I’d read whiner after whiner carrying on about some personal affront or other on the Internet. Was I going to be one of them?”
    When a circuit overseer years later—he was a good guy—tried to soften matters – saying how God sends just the right personality at just the right time, I said “Look. I know the line. I’m perfectly willing to spin it and even view things that way - God works with people. I get that. But I also want to call a spade a spade. The guy was an unbalanced nut.” Later when my daughter asked the circuit overseer about his conversation with her dad, the latter replied: “He was…frank.”
    Jesus makes exactly this point in his illustration of the slave not forgiving his fellow slave for a debt after his master had forgiven him for a huge one. It’s a matter of looking at things from his point of view, not our own.
    “That is why the Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 When he started to settle them, a man was brought in who owed him 10,000 talents.  25 But because he did not have the means to pay it back, his master ordered him and his wife and his children and all the things he owned to be sold and payment to be made.  26 So the slave fell down and did obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you.’  27 Moved with pity at this, the master of that slave let him off and canceled his debt.  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves, who owed him 100 de·narʹi·i, and grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back whatever you owe.’  29 So his fellow slave fell down and began to beg him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’  30 However, he was not willing, but he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay back what he owed.  31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they became greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all the things that had happened. 
    Then his master summoned him and said to him: ‘Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you when you pleaded with me.  33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I showed mercy to you?’  34 With that his master, provoked to wrath, handed him over to the jailers until he repaid all that he owed.  35 My heavenly Father will also deal with you in the same way if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18)
  12. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Thinking in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Almost in the same breath you’ve answered your question:
    Any number of times you’d said how you don’t expect to survive Armageddon. Why don’t you repent and turn around from whatever is causing you that little problem? If you have faith in Christ, and unless you are a practicer of sin, the ransom is supposed to give you confidence. They teach about the ranson sacrifice of Christ at the Kingdom Hall.
    Will you even be doing the Memorial this year? Or will you be holding out for the really big holiday two days away involving the Easter Bunny?
    If I was on a boat drifting toward the falls which I did not expect to survive, I would not be using all my energy hollering to those on shore how they are doing everything wrong.
  13. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Amidstheroses in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Almost in the same breath you’ve answered your question:
    Any number of times you’d said how you don’t expect to survive Armageddon. Why don’t you repent and turn around from whatever is causing you that little problem? If you have faith in Christ, and unless you are a practicer of sin, the ransom is supposed to give you confidence. They teach about the ranson sacrifice of Christ at the Kingdom Hall.
    Will you even be doing the Memorial this year? Or will you be holding out for the really big holiday two days away involving the Easter Bunny?
    If I was on a boat drifting toward the falls which I did not expect to survive, I would not be using all my energy hollering to those on shore how they are doing everything wrong.
  14. Haha
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Amidstheroses in 2022 Pursue Peace Convention Fillable Notebook   
    Well, you do have to turn your obnoxious boom box down after midnight.
  15. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Almost in the same breath you’ve answered your question:
    Any number of times you’d said how you don’t expect to survive Armageddon. Why don’t you repent and turn around from whatever is causing you that little problem? If you have faith in Christ, and unless you are a practicer of sin, the ransom is supposed to give you confidence. They teach about the ranson sacrifice of Christ at the Kingdom Hall.
    Will you even be doing the Memorial this year? Or will you be holding out for the really big holiday two days away involving the Easter Bunny?
    If I was on a boat drifting toward the falls which I did not expect to survive, I would not be using all my energy hollering to those on shore how they are doing everything wrong.
  16. Downvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Patiently waiting for Truth in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Yes. If you don’t forgive and put it behind you, you never heal. You are forever rehashing your injury. In close to 50 years with Jehovah’s earthly organization, the supportive benefits have far exceeded the abrasions that can come from working closely with people. But that does not mean that abrasions have never occurred. In No Fake News, I wrote: 
    “After studying one book seemingly written for no other purpose other than to harp on dress and grooming and harangue about field service, the conductor said to me: “Tom, why don’t you comment? You know all these answers.” It was a turning point. He was right. I did know them all. It was time to stop sulking. From the circuit overseer on down, they had stirred up major chaos in the family. They had been heavy-handed and clumsy - but never malicious. And it had never been Jehovah.
    I had read of ill-goings-on in the first-century record. Congregations described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were veritable basket cases, some of them, but that did not mean that they were not congregations. Eventually things smooth out. Eventually 1 Timothy 5:24 comes to pass: “The sins of some men are publicly known, leading directly to judgment, but those of other men will become evident later.” “Later” may take its sweet time in rolling around but it always does roll around. Should I stumble when it becomes my turn? I’d read whiner after whiner carrying on about some personal affront or other on the Internet. Was I going to be one of them?”
    When a circuit overseer years later—he was a good guy—tried to soften matters – saying how God sends just the right personality at just the right time, I said “Look. I know the line. I’m perfectly willing to spin it and even view things that way - God works with people. I get that. But I also want to call a spade a spade. The guy was an unbalanced nut.” Later when my daughter asked the circuit overseer about his conversation with her dad, the latter replied: “He was…frank.”
    Jesus makes exactly this point in his illustration of the slave not forgiving his fellow slave for a debt after his master had forgiven him for a huge one. It’s a matter of looking at things from his point of view, not our own.
    “That is why the Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 When he started to settle them, a man was brought in who owed him 10,000 talents.  25 But because he did not have the means to pay it back, his master ordered him and his wife and his children and all the things he owned to be sold and payment to be made.  26 So the slave fell down and did obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you.’  27 Moved with pity at this, the master of that slave let him off and canceled his debt.  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves, who owed him 100 de·narʹi·i, and grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back whatever you owe.’  29 So his fellow slave fell down and began to beg him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’  30 However, he was not willing, but he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay back what he owed.  31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they became greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all the things that had happened. 
    Then his master summoned him and said to him: ‘Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you when you pleaded with me.  33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I showed mercy to you?’  34 With that his master, provoked to wrath, handed him over to the jailers until he repaid all that he owed.  35 My heavenly Father will also deal with you in the same way if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18)
  17. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Yes. If you don’t forgive and put it behind you, you never heal. You are forever rehashing your injury. In close to 50 years with Jehovah’s earthly organization, the supportive benefits have far exceeded the abrasions that can come from working closely with people. But that does not mean that abrasions have never occurred. In No Fake News, I wrote: 
    “After studying one book seemingly written for no other purpose other than to harp on dress and grooming and harangue about field service, the conductor said to me: “Tom, why don’t you comment? You know all these answers.” It was a turning point. He was right. I did know them all. It was time to stop sulking. From the circuit overseer on down, they had stirred up major chaos in the family. They had been heavy-handed and clumsy - but never malicious. And it had never been Jehovah.
    I had read of ill-goings-on in the first-century record. Congregations described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were veritable basket cases, some of them, but that did not mean that they were not congregations. Eventually things smooth out. Eventually 1 Timothy 5:24 comes to pass: “The sins of some men are publicly known, leading directly to judgment, but those of other men will become evident later.” “Later” may take its sweet time in rolling around but it always does roll around. Should I stumble when it becomes my turn? I’d read whiner after whiner carrying on about some personal affront or other on the Internet. Was I going to be one of them?”
    When a circuit overseer years later—he was a good guy—tried to soften matters – saying how God sends just the right personality at just the right time, I said “Look. I know the line. I’m perfectly willing to spin it and even view things that way - God works with people. I get that. But I also want to call a spade a spade. The guy was an unbalanced nut.” Later when my daughter asked the circuit overseer about his conversation with her dad, the latter replied: “He was…frank.”
    Jesus makes exactly this point in his illustration of the slave not forgiving his fellow slave for a debt after his master had forgiven him for a huge one. It’s a matter of looking at things from his point of view, not our own.
    “That is why the Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 When he started to settle them, a man was brought in who owed him 10,000 talents.  25 But because he did not have the means to pay it back, his master ordered him and his wife and his children and all the things he owned to be sold and payment to be made.  26 So the slave fell down and did obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you.’  27 Moved with pity at this, the master of that slave let him off and canceled his debt.  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves, who owed him 100 de·narʹi·i, and grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back whatever you owe.’  29 So his fellow slave fell down and began to beg him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’  30 However, he was not willing, but he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay back what he owed.  31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they became greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all the things that had happened. 
    Then his master summoned him and said to him: ‘Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you when you pleaded with me.  33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I showed mercy to you?’  34 With that his master, provoked to wrath, handed him over to the jailers until he repaid all that he owed.  35 My heavenly Father will also deal with you in the same way if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18)
  18. Like
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from xero in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Yes. If you don’t forgive and put it behind you, you never heal. You are forever rehashing your injury. In close to 50 years with Jehovah’s earthly organization, the supportive benefits have far exceeded the abrasions that can come from working closely with people. But that does not mean that abrasions have never occurred. In No Fake News, I wrote: 
    “After studying one book seemingly written for no other purpose other than to harp on dress and grooming and harangue about field service, the conductor said to me: “Tom, why don’t you comment? You know all these answers.” It was a turning point. He was right. I did know them all. It was time to stop sulking. From the circuit overseer on down, they had stirred up major chaos in the family. They had been heavy-handed and clumsy - but never malicious. And it had never been Jehovah.
    I had read of ill-goings-on in the first-century record. Congregations described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were veritable basket cases, some of them, but that did not mean that they were not congregations. Eventually things smooth out. Eventually 1 Timothy 5:24 comes to pass: “The sins of some men are publicly known, leading directly to judgment, but those of other men will become evident later.” “Later” may take its sweet time in rolling around but it always does roll around. Should I stumble when it becomes my turn? I’d read whiner after whiner carrying on about some personal affront or other on the Internet. Was I going to be one of them?”
    When a circuit overseer years later—he was a good guy—tried to soften matters – saying how God sends just the right personality at just the right time, I said “Look. I know the line. I’m perfectly willing to spin it and even view things that way - God works with people. I get that. But I also want to call a spade a spade. The guy was an unbalanced nut.” Later when my daughter asked the circuit overseer about his conversation with her dad, the latter replied: “He was…frank.”
    Jesus makes exactly this point in his illustration of the slave not forgiving his fellow slave for a debt after his master had forgiven him for a huge one. It’s a matter of looking at things from his point of view, not our own.
    “That is why the Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 When he started to settle them, a man was brought in who owed him 10,000 talents.  25 But because he did not have the means to pay it back, his master ordered him and his wife and his children and all the things he owned to be sold and payment to be made.  26 So the slave fell down and did obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you.’  27 Moved with pity at this, the master of that slave let him off and canceled his debt.  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves, who owed him 100 de·narʹi·i, and grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back whatever you owe.’  29 So his fellow slave fell down and began to beg him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’  30 However, he was not willing, but he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay back what he owed.  31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they became greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all the things that had happened. 
    Then his master summoned him and said to him: ‘Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you when you pleaded with me.  33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I showed mercy to you?’  34 With that his master, provoked to wrath, handed him over to the jailers until he repaid all that he owed.  35 My heavenly Father will also deal with you in the same way if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18)
  19. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from ComfortMyPeople in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Yes. If you don’t forgive and put it behind you, you never heal. You are forever rehashing your injury. In close to 50 years with Jehovah’s earthly organization, the supportive benefits have far exceeded the abrasions that can come from working closely with people. But that does not mean that abrasions have never occurred. In No Fake News, I wrote: 
    “After studying one book seemingly written for no other purpose other than to harp on dress and grooming and harangue about field service, the conductor said to me: “Tom, why don’t you comment? You know all these answers.” It was a turning point. He was right. I did know them all. It was time to stop sulking. From the circuit overseer on down, they had stirred up major chaos in the family. They had been heavy-handed and clumsy - but never malicious. And it had never been Jehovah.
    I had read of ill-goings-on in the first-century record. Congregations described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were veritable basket cases, some of them, but that did not mean that they were not congregations. Eventually things smooth out. Eventually 1 Timothy 5:24 comes to pass: “The sins of some men are publicly known, leading directly to judgment, but those of other men will become evident later.” “Later” may take its sweet time in rolling around but it always does roll around. Should I stumble when it becomes my turn? I’d read whiner after whiner carrying on about some personal affront or other on the Internet. Was I going to be one of them?”
    When a circuit overseer years later—he was a good guy—tried to soften matters – saying how God sends just the right personality at just the right time, I said “Look. I know the line. I’m perfectly willing to spin it and even view things that way - God works with people. I get that. But I also want to call a spade a spade. The guy was an unbalanced nut.” Later when my daughter asked the circuit overseer about his conversation with her dad, the latter replied: “He was…frank.”
    Jesus makes exactly this point in his illustration of the slave not forgiving his fellow slave for a debt after his master had forgiven him for a huge one. It’s a matter of looking at things from his point of view, not our own.
    “That is why the Kingdom of the heavens may be likened to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.  24 When he started to settle them, a man was brought in who owed him 10,000 talents.  25 But because he did not have the means to pay it back, his master ordered him and his wife and his children and all the things he owned to be sold and payment to be made.  26 So the slave fell down and did obeisance to him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay back everything to you.’  27 Moved with pity at this, the master of that slave let him off and canceled his debt.  28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves, who owed him 100 de·narʹi·i, and grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back whatever you owe.’  29 So his fellow slave fell down and began to beg him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’  30 However, he was not willing, but he went and had him thrown into prison until he could pay back what he owed.  31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they became greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all the things that had happened. 
    Then his master summoned him and said to him: ‘Wicked slave, I canceled all that debt for you when you pleaded with me.  33 Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow slave as I showed mercy to you?’  34 With that his master, provoked to wrath, handed him over to the jailers until he repaid all that he owed.  35 My heavenly Father will also deal with you in the same way if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18)
  20. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley reacted to Arauna in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    Believe me, I do not think there is not a person who has not had their feeling or ego hurt in the course if time.  But we are all stronger after it. We are all very imperfect after all. 
  21. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley reacted to Thinking in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    There is…nobody should be beaten..not spiritually  or emotionally….but it does and has happened and if anyone says that not true then they are either lying or have genuinely never seen it or experienced it….beleive it or not but there really are some good congs who don’t ..and there are some appalling ones who do….
    We are not door mats..tho many things can be excused as normal common human responses and we need to forgive or just not take notice of some things…as many many times I have experienced such forgiveness also from my brothers and sister.
    Yet there are things that at times one must stand up like David did when facing Goliath…and it’s not pleasant…it’s not nice…and blood symbolically speaking may be shed…even doing it the right way ..the theocratic way…this will still happen.
    1) You take your complaint and  lie it before the Court  of the God of Justice first…number one thing to do…
    2) Make sure your written formal letters is addressed to Elders Co then the Branch and the GB…apparently then those who it is addressed are forced to read it. Write your letter well and only once…as Jehovah has it in his Justice  court.
    3) Be respectful and not a smart….but be blunt and to the point…and do not skirt any emotional trauma…right from the heart…use only a few scriptures…( very important as they don’t have time to read novels ) lay it all out on the ground…the truth and even the ugly parts..and personal faults as well.
    Give it directly to your CO…they then must then Handle it theocratically..keep a copy….then muster up your strength to go back to those meetings …DONT…DONT EVER Let them chase YOU away from amongst Gods people…YOU FIGHT your spiritual fight..just as you had to when in the world.
    Give up any hope of ever hearing again from your letter….it will never happen….no apology…as if it was never written.
    This is hard to take…but don’t let those guilty change your Personality…fight your own inclination to become resentful and bitter ..it took me two years and at times I still battle it.
    Consider Joesph and  his battle In getting justice..8-10 yrs his cries went un heard..are you any better than him..I know I’m not.
    one has to learn a new humility as Joesph did…unfair treatment…down right server injustice with blatant lies involved…lack of loyalty and a trusted friendship ruined…some dont like to hear this but it happens in the truth as well…
    My experience took the greatest toll as a mother….and yes I’m still a bit cynical which I hate…as I was never like that before…it’s hard…but with Jehovah’s help it’s doeable….and most of the brothers and sisters are loving and kind …some are not..and I dont mix with them…my motto is..if you don’t build me up but tear me down stay the h…..away from me…and yes I slip back into the bitterness at times…it’s a hard fight they put on you…and then  Jehovah reminds me of my considerable errors..and I am shamed and humbled.
    Did I  get justice…sort off… not what I wanted….elders were removed…( it took two long years ) three years latter a assembly the last talk was given by a bethel brother and it was absolutely scathing on the elders and those in positions of authority….he got the cat of nine tails out on them and beat them over and over……I was stunned.and had tears running down my face…..and at times I felt for them…I watched them as they sat thru that…..I don’t feel sorry for them anymore as you never get an apology….you never get  …do you want to talk over a coffee……you get grunts when you humbly say hello to the….well I tried all that lovey dovey stuff and it didnt work so I don t waste my time with them anymore…..even Jesus say you have to repent to be forgiven…
    If you have been wronged and I’m talking severely wronged….after the shock wears off ….TAKE YOU STAND….and then leave it and try to let it go…or put it on the back burner or find another cong and move.
    As to Bro Morris’s 111….he’s not my favourite speaker …but In Fairness he didn’t laugh over one’s dying his little laugh or smirk was the match acted like a little unexpected firecracker before it blew out….fairs fair…
    I loved Dan Sydlick…..but he wasnt perfect…a little on the chauvinistic side…he gave great talks but one talk he introduced himself saying he never had children …but he’s got a wife…and I guess that’s like having a child…..I remembered I   cried out ..whoooooah..and so did the audience…you could hear them..but he was a genuinely warm loving brother and we easily forgot his blunder…not sure if his wife did tho…lol….. …
    Just don’t let them make you angry and resentful….then Satan has got what he wants..Jehovah will deal with all of us eventually ….and kindness may even be shown to these ones….so don’t be a victim…be a soldier  of a Christ and stand up to the serious  wrongs…with out hatred and remember Jehovah know the full story.
    Our whole cong changed but it too, two years of facing those men…I don’t call them brothers…I wouldn’t even look at them when they had their parts…and blocked my ears at their voices ….and read my Bible…I got anxiety at these times…my heart beat faster…and I felt sickly…it was like torture..and I would silently say to Jehovah in a heated voice,,,this isn’t fair, how much longer do you expect me to last!!!!
    The truth is I really wanted to get up and smash them one….should I have been a brother…I would have been prepared for jail time and disfellowshippement  over that,….such was the pain and mental torture…but I had to not behave as I wanted and act before Jehovah in a judicial matter…
    I don’t know what it was like in the 1950s….do tell more …
     
  22. Upvote
    TrueTomHarley reacted to xero in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    In Texas we have Aggie jokes. I worked in an office w/a few Texas A&M grads and was always ripping them. "You know what you call this?", I asked one while holding up a black felt marker. "No", he replied. "It's an Aggie highlighter!", I responded. (yes I made that joke up allll by myself)
  23. Like
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from xero in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    It is much like a spat of Polish jokes that made the rounds years ago. 
    Tracking down the origin of such joke, one prof of Eastern European history said they came from hostile neighbors trying to justify their aggression against Poland in the late 1700s. Poles were too stupid to rule themselves, was the slander, and so outside powers had no choice but to rule them. In the aftermath, some Polish nobility fought for the colonies in the American Revolutionary War. If they were driven out from their own country for wanting self-rule, might as well fight for someone else pursuing the same thing (much as some outsiders are fighting in Ukraine today). Casimir Pulaski was one of them, who organized and directed American calvary 
    Fortunately, most ethnic jokes are freely interchangeable—simply change the ethnicity. Or they need not be ethnic jokes at all. Say how the scientists of PSomH’s family declared their intention to land a spacecraft on the sun. Fellow scientists mocked them for this. It’s too hot to land on the sun. The PSomH scientists replied that of course they had thought of that—they were not dodos! They planned to land at night.
    Or why is so-and-so’s mother so strong as muscular? From raising all those dumbbells. 
    Alas, only one ethnic joke does not work if the ethnicity is changed:
    Scientists crossed a Cohoe Salmon with a Walleye and got a Cowal. But it wasn’t a fighter. So they crossed the Cowal with a Muskie to get a Cowalsky. But they had to teach it to swim.
    I broke off ethnic jokes when I told one to a friend who happened to have that ethnicity in his background and took great offense. In today’s environment, I’m sure they come across as ‘spreading hate.’
  24. Confused
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Pudgy in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    It is much like a spat of Polish jokes that made the rounds years ago. 
    Tracking down the origin of such joke, one prof of Eastern European history said they came from hostile neighbors trying to justify their aggression against Poland in the late 1700s. Poles were too stupid to rule themselves, was the slander, and so outside powers had no choice but to rule them. In the aftermath, some Polish nobility fought for the colonies in the American Revolutionary War. If they were driven out from their own country for wanting self-rule, might as well fight for someone else pursuing the same thing (much as some outsiders are fighting in Ukraine today). Casimir Pulaski was one of them, who organized and directed American calvary 
    Fortunately, most ethnic jokes are freely interchangeable—simply change the ethnicity. Or they need not be ethnic jokes at all. Say how the scientists of PSomH’s family declared their intention to land a spacecraft on the sun. Fellow scientists mocked them for this. It’s too hot to land on the sun. The PSomH scientists replied that of course they had thought of that—they were not dodos! They planned to land at night.
    Or why is so-and-so’s mother so strong as muscular? From raising all those dumbbells. 
    Alas, only one ethnic joke does not work if the ethnicity is changed:
    Scientists crossed a Cohoe Salmon with a Walleye and got a Cowal. But it wasn’t a fighter. So they crossed the Cowal with a Muskie to get a Cowalsky. But they had to teach it to swim.
    I broke off ethnic jokes when I told one to a friend who happened to have that ethnicity in his background and took great offense. In today’s environment, I’m sure they come across as ‘spreading hate.’
  25. Haha
    TrueTomHarley got a reaction from Thinking in Are JWs in America back on the 'door to door' work now ?   
    I have it on good authority that he should be.
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