04-02-2010, 03:42 AM
04-02-2010, 03:45 AM
Londoner Wrote:
Hi :)
I'm one of a few on this board who is still one of Jehovah's Witnesses, attending regularly at the KH and participating on the ministry.
I've been uncomfortable with the trend in the UK in the last few years to have a memorial invitation campaign in the three weeks leading up to the memorial. The ministry is very easy and "exciting" using the invitations, I admit. I took part for the first two years, but refused to do so this year. A friend of mine refused to take part last year, and that helped to persuade me to take a stand this year and not take part.
I agree that the evening meal was an intimate affair in the 1st century. They certainly did not invite every Tom, Dick and Harry. When I was baptised in the early 1990s, only bible studies were invited. The WT implores us to follow Christ's footsteps closely, but we certainly are not doing so in this regard.
I did not enjoy the memorial last Tuesday night (30th) or in the last decade because the talk outline focuses nearly 99% on the anointed and who should/should not partake. The remaining percentage of the outline is about the other sheep and inviting new ones to our weekly meetings. It's so disappointing and dry. :(
Didn't Jesus say "keeping doing this in remembrance of ME". Yes, in remembrance of Christ, not in remembrance of the anointed. The outline should focus mainly on Christ and how he died and suffered greatly for all mankind.
Londoner
I'm one of a few on this board who is still one of Jehovah's Witnesses, attending regularly at the KH and participating on the ministry.
I've been uncomfortable with the trend in the UK in the last few years to have a memorial invitation campaign in the three weeks leading up to the memorial. The ministry is very easy and "exciting" using the invitations, I admit. I took part for the first two years, but refused to do so this year. A friend of mine refused to take part last year, and that helped to persuade me to take a stand this year and not take part.
I agree that the evening meal was an intimate affair in the 1st century. They certainly did not invite every Tom, Dick and Harry. When I was baptised in the early 1990s, only bible studies were invited. The WT implores us to follow Christ's footsteps closely, but we certainly are not doing so in this regard.
I did not enjoy the memorial last Tuesday night (30th) or in the last decade because the talk outline focuses nearly 99% on the anointed and who should/should not partake. The remaining percentage of the outline is about the other sheep and inviting new ones to our weekly meetings. It's so disappointing and dry. :(
Didn't Jesus say "keeping doing this in remembrance of ME". Yes, in remembrance of Christ, not in remembrance of the anointed. The outline should focus mainly on Christ and how he died and suffered greatly for all mankind.
Londoner
You have more company than you know, Londoner. I just delivered Bible tracts and engaged those I could in conversation but I refused to deliver even one of those invites. Tried to explain myself to those who challenged me but unfortunately, it's difficult with those enslaved to the slave.
:friends:
sw
04-02-2010, 09:52 AM
Quote:
the talk outline focuses nearly 99% on the anointed and who should/should not partake. The remaining percentage of the outline is about the other sheep and inviting new ones to our weekly meetings. It's so disappointing and dry.
Didn't Jesus say "keeping doing this in remembrance of ME". Yes, in remembrance of Christ, not in remembrance of the anointed. The outline should focus mainly on Christ and how he died and suffered greatly for all mankind.
Didn't Jesus say "keeping doing this in remembrance of ME". Yes, in remembrance of Christ, not in remembrance of the anointed. The outline should focus mainly on Christ and how he died and suffered greatly for all mankind.
I've heard this repeatedly over the past several years and it's truly sad that the one 'celebration' of the JWs is not all that celebratory, but just another 'meeting' more or less.
I've been told my experience of a wonderful memorial talk I attended about 10 years ago was an exception, and perhaps the brother didn't follow the outline... but I think back then there was less strictness about following it precisely.:dontknow:
This dear brother - the PO at the time - did such a great job - it was all about Jesus and he spent 99% of his time reading the "passion" verses - how very much Jesus loves all of mankind to die that horrible death to free us from sin. His sincerity and love for Jesus nearly reduced him to sobs - and he had us all in tears.:crybaby: People lined up afterwards to exclaim it was the best memorial talk they'd ever heard! (and some of those people had been Witnesses for decades and decades!)
Since then, sadly, the WT has tightened the reigns on personal reflections and the speaker must adhere rigidly to the prescribed guidelines. Having Jesus as our Lord and Savior IS a personal thing to each of us. It IS an emotional 'thing' that should move our hearts to near breaking in remembering just what a huge sacrifice it really was and how much love was involved from Jesus and His Father both. I know the WT doesn't like the 'emotional throes' of other Christian denominations - but how can one even describe God or His Son without the highest degree of emotion - LOVE? :love:
The next to last memorial talk I attended was given by a Bethel brother - and there was such excitement about that - but it was as you said, "dry as a bone".
I have hope, though dear brother Londoner, that the lovely and sincere truth-seekers within the WT walls will be blinded by Jesus' light too, and rendered speechless by the choking emotions wrought by the recognition of Jesus' and his Father's extremely loving sacrifices on our behalf - the awesome revelation of Christ! :cheer:
Good to hear from you brother,
:heartbeat: Love from me. :peace:
04-02-2010, 10:43 AM
Hey, Londoner:hibye: hang tough, bud!
When we lost power for the first session and then the room failed completely for the second one, we were feeling pretty bad -- for us and for those that we knew were trying to meet there.
What really was wonderful was being ministered to by our brother gogh on Skype. What used to be (at the KH) a time as dry as last week's soup bone was warm, happy and emotional. My son and I felt like gogh was right in the room with us.:grouphug:
Get on Skype, folks!:help: We don't know how long we can keep meeting like this!:D (the night is coming) Just remember that our Lord promised to be with us till the 'completed end' of this age. We are never completely alone.:thumbsup:
I don't know how others are feeling after our Lord's evening meal but I'm more conscious than usual of the things I need to work on. Wisdom and patience are very high on the list. Sometimes that comes with quite a bit of personal sadness. And then I remember that - yes- well - amazing grace and am filled with gratitude that Jesus is still working on me.
Happy renewal everyone!:grouphug:
Rez:siskiss:
When we lost power for the first session and then the room failed completely for the second one, we were feeling pretty bad -- for us and for those that we knew were trying to meet there.
What really was wonderful was being ministered to by our brother gogh on Skype. What used to be (at the KH) a time as dry as last week's soup bone was warm, happy and emotional. My son and I felt like gogh was right in the room with us.:grouphug:
Get on Skype, folks!:help: We don't know how long we can keep meeting like this!:D (the night is coming) Just remember that our Lord promised to be with us till the 'completed end' of this age. We are never completely alone.:thumbsup:
I don't know how others are feeling after our Lord's evening meal but I'm more conscious than usual of the things I need to work on. Wisdom and patience are very high on the list. Sometimes that comes with quite a bit of personal sadness. And then I remember that - yes- well - amazing grace and am filled with gratitude that Jesus is still working on me.
Happy renewal everyone!:grouphug:
Rez:siskiss:
04-02-2010, 11:13 AM
Hey Londoner ... :hibye:
It was so good to hear from you ... and I have to say ...
Been there ... done that ... can't do it anymore ...
I so understand your feelings my brother ... as only another fellow witness can I guess ... :friends::grouphug:
Remembrance time is and should be about who brought it about shouldn't it!
It would be kind of like celebrating someone's anniversary and wishing 'another couple' a 'happy anniversary' instead of who the party was for! :shocked:
How would that real 'anniversary couple' feel ...? Would they not feel invisible, not feel that they were indeed remembered, would not feel cared about, and yes even angered at the 'hypocrisy' of having a 'party' for them, only to ignore or minimize the event ...?
Hope that illustration is applicable enough to make the point ... :giverose:
May we always remember and reflect and be thankful and humbled for the unconditional and excelling love our Lord had and has for us all!!
Hope you will post more often my brother!
Your sis BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
It was so good to hear from you ... and I have to say ...
Been there ... done that ... can't do it anymore ...
I so understand your feelings my brother ... as only another fellow witness can I guess ... :friends::grouphug:
Remembrance time is and should be about who brought it about shouldn't it!
It would be kind of like celebrating someone's anniversary and wishing 'another couple' a 'happy anniversary' instead of who the party was for! :shocked:
How would that real 'anniversary couple' feel ...? Would they not feel invisible, not feel that they were indeed remembered, would not feel cared about, and yes even angered at the 'hypocrisy' of having a 'party' for them, only to ignore or minimize the event ...?
Hope that illustration is applicable enough to make the point ... :giverose:
May we always remember and reflect and be thankful and humbled for the unconditional and excelling love our Lord had and has for us all!!
Hope you will post more often my brother!
Your sis BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
04-02-2010, 09:10 PM
In today's mail I recieved a DVD copy of Tom McGovern's Communion Talk, from the Witnesses for Jesus convention 2009.Watching it this afternoon , I found it every bit as good as I remembered. I can't wait to share it with my family.
Anyone else remember it?
Blithe
Anyone else remember it?
Blithe