I am sure that you all know the Wayan's Brother's, well their father, Brother Wayans picked me up for the Annual Meeting, he is anointed. He appears to be very humble. I found out that Damon is the only child that is baptized however he is inactive.
Altogether there 13, 242 in attendance for this "wonderful event".
5,262 in New Jersey
2,396 in Patterson
2,329 in Walkill
2,810 in Brooklyn
445 in Canada
The meeting opened promptly at 10am with song and prayer.
Bro Herd, member of the governing body opened the meeting by stating, in the voice of Bro Sydlick (he sounded just like him, it was quite comical), "It's good to be alive and serving the living God. We are serving a God that is Good. " Psalms 25:8, Psalms 100:1-5
Reports from distance lands:
Argentina, Down under really applies to Argentina more than Australia. There's a saying about Argentina, Aqui termina el mundo (here the world ends) The preaching working commenced there in the 1920's, in spite of two government bands the work has continued. The work grew under ban, from 33, 503 to 50, 151. There is seldom worked territory in Argentina, in fact there where 400 brothers that moved to seldom worked territory and commenced on a long 4 month campaign. This resulted in a 20, 000 increase, Isaiah 42:10. 8 congregations in that area, they have now finished the Bible Teach in sign language. How thankful we are that Jehovah has held back the 4 winds of destruction to save these souls!
Hong Kong, There are 500, 225 JW's in Hong Kong, Buddhism has left a strong mark on this country. Many accept ancestor worship and Buddhism only because it is common. The people are poor so they have constant challenge of making a living. Commercialism and materialism keeps them from learning about Jah.
One young man named Keith wanted to know why there are so many god's? What happens to the dead? Keith had 4 earrings in his ear and looked like a thug. A sister witnessed to him and he heard the ring of truth. He is now a regular pioneer. (They say this as if only the Witnesses have the ability to change hearts. Many other religions and organizations have transformed people too, not just the witnesses).
Street witnessing is a portal they use to witness. They set up a booth and passersby’s look at the literature. Almost 100 studies have been started that way in one month.
Madagascar, the 4th largest Island in the world, also known as the red island. There is no translation for the word soul, and Christendom has really taken advantage of this. The New World translation has just been translated in Madagascee, a glossary has been provided to give a true definition of the word soul.
There are over 20k publishers there, over 54k Bible studies being conducted.
A person in a rural area requested a bible study. "You people come to all the villages except ours and we need someone to teach us the Bible and since you people have an advertisement regarding free Bible studies, we would like a visit!"
Someone followed up and this isolated area yielded 528 in attendance for the Memorial.
Portugal
Portugal is divided by two types of water and fish, the warm African waters which contains the warm fish that are easy to catch and cultivate, then you have the other side of Portugal that is the European sea which is cool waters and fish that are not so easy to cultivate that require more patience.
In the Cape Islands, there was a woman by the name of Silvita, who was heavy into politics and was very prejudiced towards Jehovah's Witnesses. A dear friend of hers died and wanted answers. She started a bible study, she denounced her lifestyle along with the politics. She is now a regular pioneer.
Prison witnessing in Portugal has been producing good works. There are currently 56 studies being conducted and 30 unbaptized publishers in the prisons. 2 after release became Ministerial servants and three have become elders and some have become pioneers.
Year text 2009 is........drum role please....Given by Guy Pierce
Nothing greater can happen to a human being than to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses.(I can't believe that they really believe this crap!). A lot of times the law of diminishing returns can affect us. Our enthusiasm begins to lose fire in our hearts. (this is a direct quote) If worldly people had a bit of sense they would realize their financial situation is the least of their worries. If they don't have a good relationship with Jehovah, they have more serious problems ahead, instead of lining up at banks they need to be lining up at the Kingdom Hall. (Witnesses make such ridiculous statements!)
Acts 20:24 is where this years text is taking from, with emphasis on, "bearing thorough witness to the good news of the undeserved kindness of God."
Please eradicate all thinking from your mind that since we are at the end there is no need to preach more. That is Satan’s thinking and we need to be at the preaching with urgency! (If there is such urgency why do they have huge building plans that will take at least ten years to complete?)
WILL YOUR FAMILY SURVIVE ARMAGEDDON?? by Steve Lett
Jeremiah 35:23
The question you must ask is, "Will my household survive this momentous event? Will my children and will my mate survive that great day?"
A key ingredient for the family is having a family worship evening. A major factor for the bookstudy change was the importance of family study.
What are the family worship objectives?
Draw closer to Jehovah, Ezekiel 9:5.6, the objective is to have the mark, the mark is the Christlike Personality.
What are the three elements for a successful family worship?
1. Be consistent.
2. Make it practical, ex: Have field ministry practice sessions, have practice sessions on how to cope with peer pressure in school. Use this evening to encourage spiritual goals!
3. Make it ENJOYABLE!
One young brother took that chapter of Isaiah that Jesus read aloud in the temple which he fulfilled and removed all the verses, then used rolls like we use for aluminum foil and paper towels, tied it to both ends and rolled it up like the scroll and re-enacted what Jesus did and he stated, "Boy was it hard to find that scripture without the verses."
After Armageddon is over SPIRTUALLY STRONG FAMILIES will be in tact.
Out of all the people Jah could have chosen a wealthy family to raise his son, he chose a poor family? Why? He knew they would keep His son's spiritual interest at the fore. (This is just a stupid assumption. A rich person cannot be spiritual?)
Who is the faithful and discreet slave? (this talk stresses their personality) Bro Splane
True anointed ones listen to the congregation as Paul and Barnabas did. Paul spent 3 years in the Arabian desert and was directly appointed by Christ, yet he never usurped the governing body's and their decisions, he always respectfully asked their decision and direction on things. 1 Cor 12:14-18 (This statement is an out and out lie. There was no governing body in the first century and Paul never, ever asked their direction on anything!)
The faithful and discreet slave don't go around introducing themselves as anointed and expect special treatment. NO, quite contrary, they understand being anointed is not a calling card. It is a privilege to receive this invitation, they understand it is just that, an invitation and they must remain loyal to the end.
They understand among the governing body there will be differencing of opinions and it is an advantage to that, it's good to see how someone views things outside of yourself, doesn't mean you're right or wrong, just means you have different views. Whatever decision the Governing Body makes is out of AFFECTION and we love one another no matter what the decision is. The same is expected of the great crowd when they make decisions and getting along with one another.
The last talk wasan interview of the oldest serving Governing Body members, Barr, Jerez and Losch.
Bro Jerez stood out because he was the youngest to receive privileges. At 21 he was a district overseer and at 49 he was invited to be part of the Governing Body. He said he could really appreciate what Paul said to Timothy as far as not letting anyone look down on your young manhood. So folks, don't give these young people a hard time that are reaching out, encourage them.
Bro Barr, stated he is terribly shy, he had to pray to Jehovah to this day (he's in his 90's to combat this), in addition, he once wanted to go to Gilead and was rejected, he was hurt, he felt he was qualified, but he respected the brothers decision. He then learned a vital lesson, NO ONE CAN STOP YOU FROM A PRIVILEGE OF SERVICE IF JEHOVAH WANTS YOU TO HAVE IT....a lot of times we think we know what's right and we don't. We feel we're suited for certain things and we are not, we need to accept Jehovah's instructions when he says NO and accept the assignment with pleasure that he does give us. (Oh, God!)
True anointed ones listen to the congregation as Paul and Barnabas did. Paul spent 3 years in the Arabian desert and was directly appointed by Christ, yet he never usurped the governing body's and their decisions, he always respectfully asked their decision and direction on things. 1 Cor 12:14-18
The faithful and discreet slave don't go around introducing themselves as anointed and expect special treatment. NO, quite contrary, they understand being anointed is not a calling card. It is a privilege to receive this invitation, they understand it is just that, an invitation and they must remain loyal to the end.
They understand among the governing body there will be differencing of opinions and it is an advantage to that, it's good to see how someone views things outside of yourself, doesn't mean you're right or wrong, just means you have different views. Whatever decision the Governing Body makes is out of AFFECTION and we love one another no matter what the decision is. The same is expected of the great crowd when they make decisions and getting along with one another. (This is a lie. They sometimes argue like dogs before a decision is reached. Bu then, only a 2/3rds majority is needed for a change to take place. If it were a 100 percent majority there would pepbably never be new light.)
This Meeting was just an opportunity for the Governing Body members to slap themselves on the back and relate what a good job they are doing. It is the Watchtower's version of the Academy Awards.
26 comments:
"they argue like dogs..."
How do you know? Have you sat in with them?
It is just too easy to accuse or attack these days, since you do not have to show any evidence.
"There was no governing body in the first century and Paul never, ever asked their direction on anything!"
Did you ever read Acts Chapter 15:1-2?
If you did, how could you say that?
GBL Post:
"There was no governing body in the first century and Paul never, ever asked their direction on anything!"
Sheeplike's comment:
"Did you ever read Acts Chapter 15:1-2? If you did, how could you say that?"
Sheeplike, reread Acts 15. The entire contents of that Chapter deal with one debate between certain of Jesus' disciples from Judea who taught that all Christians needed to be circumcised. (Easy if you were like the majority of Christians at that time and were a circumcised Jew, but scary if you were one of the new Gentile believers.)
Barnabas and Paul made the trip to Jerusalem specifically to argue this matter on behalf of the Gentiles with the Judean men referred to in Verse 1 as causing trouble.
Things did not go so well for Paul's case until the Apostle Peter stood up and reminded the other Apostles of his experience with Gentiles endowed with the Holy Spirit. That tipped the scales of justice in Paul’s favor.
The Apostle James (the brother of Jesus) had a letter written -- APPLICABLE ONLY TO GENTILE BELIEVERS -- absolving them of them of the laws which the Apostles and Jewish disciples were still observing—including circumcision.
=Paul specifically tells us that his directions came directly from Jesus Christ--he had no need to seek advice from men!
=Nowhere in scriptures does it indicate that the Apostles in Jerusalem ever sought Paul’s advice; or that Paul sought to have theirs on any matter than this debate involving one of their own.
=If there had been an Organization/ FDS/ GB in existence at that time these Apostles would certainly have been it. However, Paul's letters often name dear brother believers by name however, the Apostles and disciples from Jerusalem are completely ignored.
=Furthermore, if there had been a Governing Body in Jerusalem there certainly would have been occasions for the exchange of information between them, however not only are there no letters such as that in existence, none are referred to in scripture.
Sheeplike said... “"they argue like dogs..." How do you know? Have you sat in with them?”
Read "Crisis of Conscious" by Raymond Franz, having been a member of that same group of men, his statements and testimony are just as valid as any member of the Governing Body of JW's
Anonymous said...Did you ever read Acts Chapter 15:1-2? If you did, how could you say that?
Not this dead-horse again...Was There A First Century Governing Body?
The term "Governing Body" never appears in the scriptures so once again we see the Watchtower placing great emphasis on a term that does not exist in the bible. How then does the Watchtower justify an all powerful Governing Body? This is by reference to when the issue of circumcision was decided in Jerusalem, as discussed in Acts chapter 15.
There is only occasion that a gathering of brothers is ever mentioned to decide an issue; the scriptures never again mention a select group of brothers convening to establish doctrine. On this occasion it can not be said that the decision was made by an established Governing Body. Rather in Acts it says that "they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute." (Acts 15:2) Rather than showing the existence of a Governing Body of a small number of leaders, Acts describes a gathering of all the apostles and older men in Jerusalem along with Paul and Barnabas, who were traveling missionaries, to decide on an important issue that was affecting the local congregations.
To show that there was no centralized Governing Body directing the early Christians it is interesting to read the history of the Apostle Paul. After Paul’s conversion he did not go to Jerusalem to receive an assignment. Rather, he immediately embarked on his missionary work without conferring with the apostles or any group of leaders. Three years after his conversion Paul made his first trip to Jerusalem and even then did not meet with a group of leaders, but just with Peter and James. It was not till a further fourteen years later that he went back to Jerusalem (Gal 2:1-3), possibly for the occasion described in Acts 15.
The early Christians were not directed by an organization, but by the words of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It was under the guidance of Holy Spirit that Paul did his work, as were all followers of Jesus.
(Romans 15:19) "19 with the power of signs and portents, with the power of holy spirit; so that from Jerusalem and in a circuit as far as Illyricum I have thoroughly preached the good news about the Christ."
(Acts 4:31) "… they were one and all filled with the holy spirit and were speaking the word of God with boldness."
The was back then The Holy Spirit to guide and direct Chrisitans as there is today. There is no such thing as a Governing Body in the Scriptures despite the interpretations of the Watchtower.
So, is the moderator of this site an active JW? Or does he just relate whats told TO him? ie: he spoke of the annointed Brother Wayans picking him up for the meeting...him? or the person relating the story? I do not understand what the deal is here. I appreciate all the updates, but someone is on the "inside" and I just wondered who it is. Thank you.
Anonymous said...I appreciate all the updates, but someone is on the "inside" and I just wondered who it is. Thank you.
Me too. But I prefer his identity kept secret rather than ruin the insider access provided to us all. Especially for those poor trapped ones in the JW cult.
GBL is not an active JW, he got all the information from various forums. What he did is as simple as copy-n-paste, and will not bother checking before posting.
For example, there are repeated paragraphs in this post. He even make personal comments on those paragraphs, but he can't see the duplicates.
His lack of stating the source of his posting, not only makes people confuse but also shows his credibility.
"His lack of stating the source of his posting, not only makes people confuse but also shows his credibility."
Sorry you see things that way. I'm not confused out all by his posts and find it refereshing compared to the doctrinal and teaching flip-flops of the Watchtower. As for credibility it is no less valid than anything spewing forth from the Watchtower.
"What he did is as simple as copy-n-paste"
Do you mean like the Watchtower Society has done with their publication the Reasoning Book? They just copied partial text form other publications when it supported JW doctrine, but when you actual read the entire referenced publication it tells quite a different story.
”..and will not bother checking before posting...His lack of stating the source of his posting, not only makes people confuse but also shows his credibility.”
Did you mean “His lack of stating the source of his posting not only makes people confused but also shows his credibility”?
The word confuse in your sentence structure is not grammatically correct. The correct word is confused. If a few grammar errors or typos are how you judge clarity and credibility, from your own example you must be confused and untrusting of yourself.
P.S. You should bother checking before posting!
Theocratic joker is right.
That is why what is said on the blog can not be taken seriously.
Strike up that worldly Rocky theme music, Ronde is back! (Yes, he now appears as Voice of Reason, Anonymous and many other alias - btw: when asked about this, he'll flat out lie because that's what he's trained to do apparently.)
Hey, want to see some professional videos about JW's? Check out:
http://www.watchtowercomments.com/
btw: Many current and long-time JW's have commented about how good these videos are!
The truth is, this organization is growing, and not on its last legs. Jehovah's people are happy, and only want others to be happy too.
Enemies can only attack the organization (made of imperfect people) because they cannot provide anything better scripturally.
The biggest problem Witnesses have in my area is lack of Kingdom Halls. The congregations are all growing so fast that they have to split every year or two.
Visit this web-site and you'll see why so many have left, while others have one foot in and one foot out!
www.sixscreensofthewatchtower.com
Keep yakee yak yakee yakee yak
there was no governing body, do you really pay attention to what you are reading in the scripture, oh oh I forget you are blind mentally on spiritual things
read Acts 15 again and pay close attention to the subject matter.
let me just give you one point about Paul wake up, wake up you are sleeping
let's see I know your eyes will not be open because you are not sincere.
but Read acts 15:2 But when there had occurred no little dissension and disputing by Paul and Bar´na·bas with them,
Pay attention to this:
they arranged for Paul and Bar´na·bas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute.
pay attention to verse 6
And the apostles and the older men gathered together to see about this affair.
question to open your eyes.
if there was no Governing body why is it that the congregations did not take the decisions by themselves?
oh let's say your eyes will never be open, too bad. this wicked world that you love so much will be destroy soon enjoy it while you can.
keep yakkeee yakkkkkk
Sheeplike said... Enemies can only attack the organization (made of imperfect people) because they cannot provide anything better scripturally.
The congregations are all growing so fast that they have to split every year or two.
You need to search for truth a little hardder. There most certainly is better and more logical things scriptually. 7 million JW do not have truth, while 7 billion people do not.
I sure hope you don't believe groth is an indication of truth. There are other religions that have grown much faster and contain many more followers. Again, search for truth a little hardder.
frank said..."yakee yak yakee yakee yak"
Don't talk back! Take out the papers and the trash or you'll get no spending cash.
Seriously frank...
Read the entire chapter of Acts 15. The entire contents of that Chapter deal with one debate between certain of Jesus' disciples from Judea who taught that all Christians needed to be circumcised. (Easy if you were like the majority of Christians at that time and were a circumcised Jew, but scary if you were one of the new Gentile believers.)
Barnabas and Paul made the trip to Jerusalem specifically to argue this matter on behalf of the Gentiles with the Judean men referred to in Verse 1 as causing trouble. Since the problem started with the Judean men from Jerusalem, it only makes sense for Barnabas and Paul to go back to the source of the conflict to have it resolved.
Things did not go so well for Paul's case until the Apostle Peter stood up and reminded the other Apostles of his experience with Gentiles endowed with the Holy Spirit. That tipped the scales of justice in Paul’s favor.
The Apostle James (the brother of Jesus) had a letter written -- APPLICABLE ONLY TO GENTILE BELIEVERS -- absolving them of them of the laws which the Apostles and Jewish disciples were still observing—including circumcision.
Paul specifically tells us that his directions came directly from Jesus Christ--he had no need to seek advice from men!
Nowhere in scriptures does it indicate that the Apostles in Jerusalem ever sought Paul’s advice; or that Paul sought to have theirs on any matter than this debate involving one of their own.
If there had been an Organization, or a Faithful and Discreet Slave Class, or a Governing Body in existence at that time these Apostles would certainly have been it. However, Paul's letters often name dear brother believers by name; however, the Apostles and disciples from Jerusalem are completely ignored.
Furthermore, if there had been a Governing Body in Jerusalem there certainly would have been occasions for the exchange of information between them, however not only are there no letters such as that in existence, none are referred to in scripture.
Anon. 10/10 1:15
"His lack of stating the source of his posting, not only makes people confuse but also shows his credibility."
Get this: This [anonymous] contributor suggests that the credibility of a comment is in doubt because it is… anonymous!
Do you suppose that this person is new to the Organization and does not know that Watchtower's own New World version of the bible was translated by an ANONYMOUS group called the Translation Committee?
Talking about credibility, maybe he/she doesn't even know that since the original 1950's anonymous Translation Committee the WTBTS has added to the word of God? True. More recent revisions of the New World Translation include the word 'Jehovah' in the Greek Scriptures.
Read the preface material in your copy of the NWT. It explains that no other version--even the oldest copies of the bible--include that name in the Greek texts. They go on to justify their having added in the word Jehovah because 'it should have been there'; ‘in spite of all evidence to the contrary once was there’, and (in true paranoid fashion) say that ‘some evil one took it out’.
I ask you Watchtower followers this question:
Don't you think it's just a wee bit odd that one could be so opposed to using the name of God that they'd go so far as to obliterate EVERY scripture reference to it in EVERY copy of the New Testament and yet not even begin to do the same with the Old Testament?
frank said...why is it that the congregations did not take the decisions by themselves?
Paul went back to the source of the conflict. The conflict started in Judea/Jerusalem. You go to the source of the problem...Jeez!
Let me reprint Anon's comment for you Frank to help you some more:
The term "Governing Body" never appears in the scriptures so once again we see the Watchtower placing great emphasis on a term that does not exist in the bible. How then does the Watchtower justify an all powerful Governing Body? This is by reference to when the issue of circumcision was decided in Jerusalem, as discussed in Acts chapter 15.
There is only occasion that a gathering of brothers is ever mentioned to decide an issue; the scriptures never again mention a select group of brothers convening to establish doctrine. On this occasion it can not be said that the decision was made by an established Governing Body. Rather in Acts it says that "they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute." (Acts 15:2) Rather than showing the existence of a Governing Body of a small number of leaders, Acts describes a gathering of all the apostles and older men in Jerusalem along with Paul and Barnabas, who were traveling missionaries, to decide on an important issue that was affecting the local congregations.
To show that there was no centralized Governing Body directing the early Christians it is interesting to read the history of the Apostle Paul. After Paul’s conversion he did not go to Jerusalem to receive an assignment. Rather, he immediately embarked on his missionary work without conferring with the apostles or any group of leaders. Three years after his conversion Paul made his first trip to Jerusalem and even then did not meet with a group of leaders, but just with Peter and James. It was not till a further fourteen years later that he went back to Jerusalem (Gal 2:1-3), possibly for the occasion described in Acts 15.
The early Christians were not directed by an organization, but by the words of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It was under the guidance of Holy Spirit that Paul did his work, as were all followers of Jesus.
(Romans 15:19) "19 with the power of signs and portents, with the power of holy spirit; so that from Jerusalem and in a circuit as far as Illyricum I have thoroughly preached the good news about the Christ."
(Acts 4:31) "… they were one and all filled with the holy spirit and were speaking the word of God with boldness."
The was back then The Holy Spirit to guide and direct Chrisitans as there is today. There is no such thing as a Governing Body in the Scriptures despite the interpretations of the Watchtower.
for you anonymous who complained about using anonymous for posting comments: look yourself at the mirror. don't talk to much
Anonymous said...for you anonymous who complained about using anonymous for posting comments: look yourself at the mirror. don't talk to much
Ditto.
All the comments about:- God's law on blood. I would like to point out there is NO LAW on blood or the refusal of blood. Acts 15v25-27. If people were to study Acts chapters 10-16 they will read it was James opinion to sanction the Gentile converts out of the Jews jelousy that brought the subject about. It was not the apostles, either Peter or Paul who both agreed nothing should hamper the gentiles from coming to the Christ but it was James the half brother of Jesus who went above the apostles, and Peter, who had a fear of man did not want to offend James. In Galations 2v11-16, Peter is corrected by Paul for his double standards and his fear of upsetting James or the Jews. So, it is NOT a law of God that one must not have blood, but an opinion of James instead. Acts means the actions of the apostles. So, Jehovah's wintesses are totally bloodguilty before almighty God for listening to James instead of the twelve foundations of the church, the apostles. Also a point of interest here is; the letter was only addressed to gentiles and in 3 towns where they had a large population of Jews.(Acts 15v23) Again reason on this; if one did not live in any of those 3 towns did the letter apply to them, NO of course not. An ex witnesses of 38 years. Now I am free because the truth about them has set me free.
"An ex witnesses of 38 years. Now I am free because the truth about them has set me free."
No, you are not free or you would not be posting antiWitness things.
And there is no such things as exWitnesses. You are just an inactive Witness for 38 years who does not live up to his dedication.
Oh darn!
We can never be exWitnesses?
But it's been so amazing up until you burst our bubbles...
I guess when, at the ripe old age of 11, I decided to dedicate my life to an ideology that there was now way I could fully understand that it was for keeps.
Glad I was deluded enough to pretend to be an exWitness long enough to raise my son differently and insure that he didn't make the same dedication.
I have a lot of guilt to work through now. Good thing my parents shun me! Undoubtedly that will give me the motivation I need to get back in the big J's good graces or at least convince my local elders that I really mean to repent this time.
Thanks a bunch, VoR!
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