Watchtower Property Deals Falls Through

October 23, 2008

Levine Walks, Bossert Back in Play

At the eleventh hour, R.A.L. Companies has walked away from its contract to purchase the former Bossert Hotel from the Watchtower Group, a source familiar with the situation tells us. RAL, the development company headed by Robert Levine, had signed an agreement to purchase the 14-story former hotel at 98 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights for $92 million back in the spring of this year with the intention of leasing it out as student housing; the deal reportedly had been scheduled to close by the end of last month. Our source says that financing had been difficult to come by; it's also possible that with sales at One Brooklyn Bridge Park not as far along as hoped Levine didn't want any more Brooklyn Heights exposure right now. Either way, expect the 224-unit property to start being shown again soon. Tough break for Watchtower: It's hard to imagine the building fetching anywhere near $92 million in this environment.
The Bossert Finds a Buyer [Brownstoner] GMAP
The Bossert on the Block [Brownstoner]
Photo by hetteix

Is The Watchtower Magazine Really Important?

Have you ever wondered why, if the Watchtower magazine is so full of vitally important information, it's written and produced six months in advance and then sits on the shelf for most of that six months until the information is published?
If the information in the magazine was really as important as they say it is, they would certainly post it on their web site the same day it's written. After all, it is supposed to be life saving information.
The information contained in the magazine isn't important enough for that. However, like all cults the donations received from the pulp paper magazine is the important thing.
The Watchtower is a publishing/media corporation with a gullible, superstitious market. First they found the market, now they are creating the market.
After decades of watching them, I have come to the conclusion that with the Watchtower it all comes down to two things: (1) They're a printing company; and (2) They're never right.

Watchtower, January 2009

Click on picture to enlarge it.

The Watchtower covers itself for every contengency. If they show an increase it is because of Jehovah's blessing. If they show a decrease it is because of Satan and they quote the scripture about the road to life is narrow....

Now they have a new tactic. Although they have greatly increased their presence in third world countries, they have not had the expected success. So their explanation is that although the meek respond well, they are not expecting a mass exodus out of non-christian nations. So if we do not see significant numbers to account for the billions of hours spent in field service it is understandable. I suppose this is in addition to the invisible growth that we also do not see.

They also stress that we should not give up preaching in those areas.

Morning Worship At Bethel

In Bethel homes throughout the world, Morning Worship starts at 7 am sharp. In New York, there are closed-circuit televisions with a large digital clock display, including the seconds. Morning Worship takes place in the big dining rooms so you are given breakfast after, everyone has an assigned seat. Exactly at 7:00:00 AM, the Table Head begins morning worship. You are expected to be in your seat, not walking to your seat. If you wake up late, don't bother going downstairs, they don't want anyone interrupting Morning Worship.
You are also expected to be wearing a tie or at least a nice shirt if you are male, there are only a few that don't wear a tie, and many often wear a suit jacket. The sisters all wear dresses, no pants allowed. You are not supposed to rest your hands on your chin, I got counseled for that. I guess it was in a nice way, but I was told to look more awake.
Morning Worship is tied in to several dining rooms with about 300 in each one. The closed-circuit TV's are also tied into Wallkill, Patterson, and Canada I think three times per week now.
Morning Worship is a consideration of the Daily Text, with brothers selected beforehand to give a one-minute comment. Then the conductor gives his comments. It lasts till about 7:15. After a prayer, the food comes. All the tables are set for 10 people, with a Table Head, and a Table Foot, seniority makes the call. It is family style, with everyone taking a portion from the serving dishes. The Table Head decides which way the serving dishes go around the table. Everyone takes a little. If it is all eaten, the Table Head gives the plate back to the waiter, who refills it. No one can speak to the waiter except the Table Head.
The eating lasts about 15 minutes, then everyone quickly stands for the prayer, then rush off to work.
That's the arrangement.
The reality is that you are scared to death at Morning Worship. I have seen grown men who are new to Bethel struggle with napkins, basic table talk, and their food. It is nerve-wracking since there are rules (I mean provisions) about everything. How much you should take onto your plate, how much you should eat, how loud you should talk, how affectionate to your husband or wife you should be, how you should dress, what you should talk about and not talk about. The stress is incredible, although the weird thing is, I viewed it as a great privliege to be there, as only Bethelites and overnight guests can be present at Morning Worship.
Sometimes there are reports from different countries, or from the Publishing Department about the number of magazines or books made. Sometimes there is a disfellowshipping from Bethel, that is shocking.
But usually its pretty hard to listen to. I learned to sleep with my eyes open. (That's an old Bethel joke: "What do you learn at Morning Worship? To sleep with your eyes open.")

The Watchtower Controls Your Life

Most of us know that one of the control tactics that the Watchtower uses to control its members is to keep them so busy engaged in Watchtower activities that there is absolutely no time to pursue normal family interests or hobbies. Look at these quotes and see how controlling the Watchtower society is becoming.
Notice this quote from a recent book study:
"Take, for example, a man who is serious about providing for his family. To do so he would appropriately view his secular work as important. Perhaps something develops, and he feels he must miss some Christian meetings in order to work. In time, missing meetings becomes easier, and he misses more frequently. Little by little, his bond with God weakens - he has "begun to forget his maker." (Oh brother.) So what's a poor man to do, let his family starve if he can't find work that doesn't interfere with meetings? I had a brother tell me once who had six children and a wife and worked in a produce section of a grocery store 3:00P.M. till 11:30 P.M. week nights that the elders were severely guilting him into quitting his job because he missed too many meetings! He was in tears telling me this. What right do they have to tell you to quit your job- they don't!
Next quote about "worldly parents":
"A similar thing may happen to a Christian whose parents or other relatives are unbelievers. He faces issues: How much time will he reserve for them, and when?" I mean, come on, now they are saying to limit or really minimize any time for worldly relatives? I remember visiting my worldly grandparents plenty of times with my witness mom and dad in my youth ! Once again the screws of control are being turned a notch tighter!
Then about actually enjoying yourself and having fun comes this quote: "What about deciding how much time and attention to use for trips, hobbies, and entertainment"? Once again the reins of control tighten keeping witnesses SO BUSY that they will not have time to pursue hobbies , trips, and recreation.
So do you see how controlling and busy they are keeping witnesses these days?
Most of the motivation used by the Watchtower leadership is comprised of guilt and fear. This is because there is really nothing to inspire people within the organization or anything to evoke natural intrinsic motivation based upon love and devotion. The only tool available to the organizational hierarchy is attempt to make its members feel afraid and guilty for not molding themselves to the organizationally programmed treadmill. Unity is natural. Unanimity must be manufactured and enforced.

This Week's Watchtower Study, Paragraphs 11-13

At this week's Watchtower study, paragraphs 11-13, it was discussed how lepers in Jesus' day were outcasts because leprosy was so contagious. Lepers were required to call out "leper, leper" as they walked so people would stay away from them.
The next paragraph says that according to rabbinical sources, a religious leader even threw rocks at a leper to keep him away. The next paragraph says that Jesus actually touched the leper man, showing him "dignity." and then healed him.
The paragraph says that shows how loving Jesus is.
Please understand that I am not saying that Jesus is not loving, but I believe that there is another way to look at this Bible passage.
I think that the reason the people didn't want the lepers to be near them was because they knew it would spread to them. They weren't bad people and the religious leaders were not bad or heartless. They just did not want to catch leprosy.
Jesus didn't have to worry about catching the disease because he wouldn't be adversely affected.
Of course Jesus could touch the man.

Difficult For The Watchtower To Get Their Story Straight

Scriptural foundation:

(1 John 4:1) . . .Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

(Deuteronomy 18:22) 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.. . .

***w799/1pp.29-30pars.28-29TheRoyal"Shepherd"ofBibleProphecy***
Unlike the clergy class, those of the Jeremiah class have been sent by Jehovah to speak in his name..... the Jeremiah class back up their message by quoting the words, "This is what Jehovah has said."

***g933/22p.4WhySoManyFalseAlarms?***
Jehovah’s Witnesses, in their eagerness for Jesus’ second coming, have suggested dates that turned out to be incorrect. Because of this, some have called them false prophets. Never in these instances, however, did they presume to originate predictions ‘in the name of Jehovah.’ Never did they say, ‘These are the words of Jehovah.’—February 15, 1981, page 19.

presumptuous - full of, characterized by, or showing presumption or readiness to presume in conduct or thought.

Moses refers to presumptuousness, not lying. While liars would certainly be recognized as subject to this judgment, Moses did not say "lies" or "falsehood", he said "presumptuousness". A readiness to believe.

And less than 2 years after they claimed to speak in Gods name they denied ever having said it!