TrueTomHarley

I should not say it. It is too crass. I am not in her league. She is too refined. I am too much like the idiot who hollers: "Hi Yo Silver!!" when he hears the William Tell Overture. Ah, well. It's not over till the fat lady sings.   I know that feeling. It's not mine, though I wish it were. It certainly fits. It is that of author Harlan Coben, his tweet. I must read one of his books someday in payment. I trust there will be nothing untoward in it - I've no reason to think so, granted that it will not be a church hymnal. "Grow up, TTH, would you?" says....pretty much anyone. Yes. That is why she is where she is - with Jehovah's organization. harlan.jpg_large PS: Isn't this pic one of ours? I could swear I have seen it. It is pretty chaste to come from anywhere other than JWs. Isn't it in the Live Forever book? Nope. But I am still not convinced it is not ours. Maybe it is common stock which both he and they used. Once I accused @Ann O'Maly for using our photo to promote her very opposite cause. To her satisfaction, and my chagrin, she pointed out that it was not 'ours.' It was common stock that we had purchased, but anyone else could, too.

Were it not for the flood of hateful remarks directed at theocratic authority, I would most likely agree with you. But like pus from a wound, it is everywhere. Maybe there is a place for someone from us who spills the dirt before the scoundrels do. Online there are endless persons who spill dirt on God's organization. Often it is true dirt, or it is based upon something true. 'No human is able to exercise perfect self-control,' today's Watchtower says. Same with other qualities. Therefore there will always be dirt. Opposers misrepresent and exaggerate and always always always impute wrong motive. Eventually, John Q Publisher comes across it, and because he has been exposed to not a hint of it, he is floored - and in many cases he swallows it along with the negative spin supplied - and the spiritual consequences are dire. Therefore it may not be a bad thing if someone spills dirt in a 'loyal' context. You could almost liken it to a vaccine - exposure to a little bit of the crap by a physician better prepares one for when they encounter it in the wild. At any rate, you can do nothing about it, so you may as well adapt. I don't think it is great, either, but there may be a practical use to it. People spill all kinds of confidential stuff here. It amazed me at first. Then they say where there is secrecy there is tyranny. The remark is not completely wet, but it is misplaced. 'Confidential' is not the same as 'secret.' Nor is it the same as 'not intended for public distribution.' John gave the reason that not everything is intended for everyone, and it reveals no ill intent whatsoever. Quite the contrary. 'I have many things to say to you, but you are not yet ready to bear them,' Jesus said. "Oh yes we are," says everyone on this forum (including me). I can picture some (if they dared) combing through all the stuff Jesus held back so that they could post it online in order to to fill our 'right to know.' Still, since the liars abound, 'loyal' ones can put a proper spin on the dirt they reveal. Though I don't like to see confidential things displayed online, they yet serve to strengthen general confidence in the organization God uses. Shiwiii, for example, posted that confidential letter in which Bethel reminded local publishers to donate timely. He was hoping I would be outraged at the greedy Watchtower. Instead, I feigned outrage at the greedy Bible writers, for it was clear everything the organization did was based upon scripture. Even when you don't like the general direction in which godly counsel is heading, you nonetheless have to concede that it is godly - supported scripturally - and thus you can ask yourself: 'to what degree am I willing to be 'taught by Jehovah?' even as the ones publishing it ask themselves the same question. I will go out on a limb here and risk being presumptuous, but I'm not sure the brothers know what to do with the pure deceit that is so readily spewed online by many. I think they probably reign in some instincts on how to respond because that is what the Bible says they should do. Maybe I should too, and others here. But we get clobbered by apostates and one wants to do something about it, if at all possible. "I am stronger than you, and I thank God for it," says Miss Pross to the wicked foreign woman who would cut her throat. She fights not for herself, but for someone to whom she is loyal. It is the first century playing out all over again. There is not a NT writer who does not deal with it. The apostate issue was fueled by same thing then as it is today: a contempt for authority. (Jude 8) It's hard to know how to deal with it.

There are some things I have not quite gotten my head around - even given that names could be assigned retroactively, like Peter and the rock, but .... during his lifetime? To his face? Did he introduce himself: "Pleased to meet you. My name is Worthless"? It is almost like God being Hosea's matchmaker. Could I be so big? It's easy enough to get stuck with a 'wife of fornication' all on one's own without requiring divine help. Okay, okay, some of them had concubines back then, but still. And don't get me started on Ezekiel staring at a brick. "Honey, I'm hooommee!" he hollers. "Tell me about your day, dear," his wife responds. It's why those depictions don't entirely fly when these guys are portrayed as Ozzie and Harriet types, ever concerned about their dress and grooming. But we recognize the good intentions, and so we play along. After all, who can say what things were really like back in the day?

Imagine a system where all one must do to enjoy the status of 'teacher' is to partake! Instantly, they are recognized as an authority! Genuine annointed Christians will follow this route, of course. But any Tom, Dick or Harry can do it, too. Afterwards, by talking a good game, they will convince many of their special credentials. It won't affect the running of things, because elder/servant bodies are formed on other considerations - but some of the local friends will be wowed. I've known six locally. Only one was generally accepted. Witnesses don't judge such things, but one can become aware of a grapevine consensus. The one 'unchallenged' was a tireless pioneer who had been around forever and was always in harmony with theocratic organization - in no way did she 'compete.' (and even her acknowledgment was not universal) Others were all unusual in one way or another, and one of them got to be so critical of things that another ceased association with her. Still another began partaking only after (not immediately after) being appointed an elder. The circuit overseer approving his appointment, said that he qualified - because he did - he met the scriptural qualifications to an acceptable degree. But he added as an aside: 'He's not the most humble person in the world.' He and the hyper-critical one became best of friends; he got to be critical himself, and they eventually departed together. He is still alive and is generally thought to be an 'off the wall' apostate. I think he has authored a book or two. For whatever it's worth, his family, before becoming Witnesses, included some who claimed psychic status and did water witching. I can't imagine a better arrangement than that of the current 'slave.' They must be of the annointed AND they must have been refined, with decades of full-time humble service. No harm done, then, if someone partakes through unbalance or self-deception. The path they take is only between themselves and God, which is how a truly annointed one would want it anyway.

Yes, I remember this. As am I. (not that I have ever applied for the job) Strange at the qualities associated with leading - as in David, a downright hothead at times (Nabal, for example) whereas bashful, modest Saul - well, just look at how he turned out.

Is there a way to find brothers on LI?

Are there some?

He got a package deal. They were a weakness all lumped in together. He didn't weep bitterly after each one and then do it again. He wept when the entire course hit him.

I haven't yet. Other things intervene. But I will. You would think something like a documentary on God's name would interest me. Somehow it doesn't. Or rather, it does, but not enough for it to go to the top of the stack. This fellow Furuli's name pops up a lot. There may even be a brief exchange with him somewhere on my own blog - or maybe it was with someone else. I wonder who he is. These brothers that write books - I wonder what they are like as people. My understanding is that the books are academic in nature. I have written two ebooks, and they have facts and history, but I would never call them scholarly. They are as much storytelling and anecdotes with large doses of humor inserted. Even the third book cannot be called scholarly, though it is the one I will first try to get into print. I'll cut back on the jokes, too, but not an occasional measured bit of sarcasm. I hope it is a resource, but it will very much be a work of an apologist.

Though the educational opportunities at the London Museum are immense, I am fearful that @JW Insider squandered them all to hang out at the vending machines where they stock Milk Duds. Approvingly he commented that "the vast majority of staff are there to help manage the huge gift shop (and restock things like Milk Duds in the vending machines)" Still, he was there to learn more about God - and Milk Duds are truly the food of the gods, so perhaps the time was well-spent after all. 'Do they stock Milk Duds in the vending machines?' was my first question that came to mind when he invited some. Actually, I'm not sure I have ever eaten any. If so, it was not often, and long ago. I used to eat Necco wafers all the time, though, and to this day, I will reach for some when I see them. They are second only to candy corns, which I stay away from, because if I don't I will eat them until my stomach says: 'you idiot! what did you do that for.' As a boy, I used to walk to the nearby drug store with my friend to pick up some Necco wafers and if you got distracted reading Mad Magazine at the magazine section, a clerk would remind you that it was not a library. They really were just a nickel then - what are they now, $5? - and maybe that is how they got their name. Driving to Pittsburgh recently - a trip I had to make more than once because of snafus with the Pennsylvania DMV, I uncharacteristically fueled my trip with 2 Snickers bars and coffee. My stomach let me hear about it, but I don't like to stop and eat on such trips when I just want to get them over with, and a full meal makes me drowsy. The Pennsylvania DMV is more finicky than the NYS DMV, and I did not think that was possible. Actually, I take it back. The NYS DMV was once pure torture - I can recall a local politician years ago campaigning to bring them to tow - he spoke into the camera with a live DMV loonnnnngggg line as backdrop. Some fellow in an adjacent DMV line once told me he was there to solve a situation caused by the seller of his car having died. 'He's going to wish he had died before this is over,' I told the one behind me. But that was long ago. The NYS DMV, against all expectations, has for many years, gotten its act together and now delivers refreshingly pleasant service, if you consider such things 'service.' You may, but it is a little like the "full service" toll takers sign you will sometimes see at the bridge crossing, instead of a bin to throw your money into. "Worth every penny!" I sometimes tell the Thruway toll taker when I am paying up. One of them wisecracked back: "It is not!"

A BS? (beard sighting) I hope we get over this in time, as everyone else did long ago. Hippies and beatniks have long gone the way of the dinosaur.

This reminds me of brothers ribbing each other years ago. One, a new parent, went on a child-development conference, something called (ready for this? The Better Baby Institute). On returning, he was quizzed by another. Did you go in service while you were there? .... No Did you go to meetings.... No Well, did you pray? THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!! Yes.... Actually, despite some flippancy, I used to be obnoxious at museums - slowing everyone down so I could read each exhibit. Someday I'd like to get to London and the Louvre

Keep @JW Insider away from museums. #NoMuseums

There's a 'whole lotta sinnn' that can go on in that way - if even "tomorrow" he will do the same thing again. Is it possible for God to have a clean 'people for his name' - as Acts 15:14 says he should? It sounds as though you would have his people become as but one team on the football league - not much different than any other. God becomes the loser that way. His name suffers. People look upon Christianity and say 'what good is it? It's just a matter of squabbling over doctrine.'

 you are very polite person when you tell, "please". I am giving you  + for that But you also said, "I want a yes or no answer". I am giving you - for that  But there is no answer! Will one be forthcoming?

The one thing that comes through loud and clear is that he was there, at some personal risk. I wonder how many eager to condemn him and his would risk putting their own rear ends in the line of fire.

Hmm. Yes. Maybe I was a little too glib at @J.R. Ewing's comment. If so, I apologize. He is the strangest of all birds to me. But that's okay. These days I increasingly find I don't like people unless they are strange. And @Anna, I didn't mean to involve you with that sarcasm remark. I thought it was for someone else. RUN!!!! I haven't forgotten her 'new' rules which I will try to observe, save for caveats I mentioned already on her page. It's just that turning over a new leaf may have to wait till a new tree (thread) is planted.

I don't buy this, either. Was he under the influence of Satan? Sure. But who isn't in the realm of 'man ruling man to his injury?' It's even true with Putin. I wouldn't want to live in Russia. However those who already do seem not in a hurry to get out, short of some well-publicized ones and now those for religious reasons. It is but another form of human rulership. Not everything is atrocious about it. Some things are better. If you try to peer in his pants and tell of his soiled underwear, he gets mad. Keep out of his way, and usually you do fine. In all lands it is: 'ask the king his ground rules for maintaining public order, and then do them.' Our life is not about human rule. Do what he says and get on with life. Of course, when he turns against you, siding with the house Church, you are up the crick and our brothers have it very tough for a time. The only caveat is that they are used to it, as we would not be. Does Putin amass wealth for himself? American politicians do no less. They come in poor and they leave wealthy. They come in wealthy and the leave wealthier. Trump is one of the few who go against the pattern. He comes in wealthy and sees his interests take a hit. I also don't buy that the top guy of almost any system of government is a thug. As often as not they are conscious of a responsibility to govern and provide for the public good. As far as I can see, it is true of Putin. The trouble is, these guys think that you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. They all think it. The problem with a system of concentrated power is that they are able to implement it. But that does not mean that their intention of providing public service for the citizenry is phony.

I have not heard of him and I do not follow any of the 'names' out there. So probably a lot gets by me.

The trouble with it is that few will want to bury their comments on the profile page of another, hidden from common view. I, for one, am never carrying on a dialogue with any given person. Probably that is true with most others.

It will work for about ten minutes. But I will not be the first transgressor.

Well - you are certainly right about not understanding.

There actually was a Tom Irregardless and I fought for years with him not to say it. I thought my prayer had been answered when an older brother who also used to say it recalled how he had been approached by another who had asked him to look it up in the dictionary. "I never found it," he said - and he never used it again. My heart soared when I heard this. I approached Tom and asked him to look up the word in the dictionary. But times had changed. He found it. True, it was labeled "irregular" but that was a distinction far too subtle for Tom Irregardless. As though he were Trump himself, he doubled down on it!