Say it in one breath
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Post by Say it in one breath on Aug 20, 2007 13:52:57 GMT -5
GIT reminds me of someone who would take 5 minutes to pray and 10 minutes to speak in a meeting with 15 to take part.
Some people just love to hear themselves drone on.
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Post by ranman77007 on Aug 20, 2007 14:03:18 GMT -5
well you can explain and explain and explain, but its easier to just get a firm grip around that sheep, and put it over your shoulder, and take it home.
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3
Senior Member
Posts: 206
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Post by 3 on Aug 20, 2007 17:15:09 GMT -5
I remember a worker advising us to simply bring a slice of bread to the meeting (our testimony), not the whole loaf & wrapper.
What frustrated me TO NO END was when a visiting worker (99.9% of the time was an older brother worker) who'd be the last one to speak. Perhaps he'd begin @ 11:20 and still be preaching at 11:40! By the time he wrapped up his monologue and bread & wine song & dance was performed, the meeting was finally over at noon....
And don't bother complaining or you'll be shamed b/c after all, this is the voice of God speaking. What else would you possibly want to be doing with your time? etc. etc.
My gripe, of course, was having small children who, armed with plenty of cheerios & books, could barely make it through a 1 hour meeting!
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 20, 2007 17:39:52 GMT -5
GIT reminds me of someone who would take 5 minutes to pray and 10 minutes to speak in a meeting with 15 to take part.
Admittedly I do speak for a while. I'm a bit on the verbose side.
Some people just love to hear themselves drone on.
Or perhaps excited by the things they have found in scripture? With plenty to communicate?
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 20, 2007 17:42:37 GMT -5
What frustrated me TO NO END was when a visiting worker (99.9% of the time was an older brother worker) who'd be the last one to speak. Perhaps he'd begin @ 11:20 and still be preaching at 11:40!
Bear in mind that other people might appreciate what he was saying. Personally I've always enjoyed the contributions of the older workers.
By the time he wrapped up his monologue and bread & wine song & dance was performed, the meeting was finally over at noon....
What can be said?
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3
Senior Member
Posts: 206
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Post by 3 on Aug 20, 2007 18:02:08 GMT -5
Keeping in mind the topic of this thread: long winded prayers & testimonies......
I'm sure many people appreciate/enjoy what older brother workers have to share. However, they are the ones who advise/admonish that fellowship meetings need to conclude within the hour.
Why are they exempt from their own admonitions?
The long winded workers need to restrict their long winded monologues (Webster: a long speech monopolizing conversation) to Gospel meetings.
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Post by Cant believe it on Aug 21, 2007 18:38:58 GMT -5
GIT - You may think people enjoy hearing you or some worker expound for a long time, but why don't you ask them. Or listen to what they say away from the meeting. I will say the meeting I have attended is very quick, people pray short prayers and the testimonies are short. You would be reminded of that if you went on and on. Or you could find a meeting that might like your style. There are many things workers have said to people about the prayers and testimonies. Testimonies - should be like a nail -- a head and a point -- get it overwith. Another said, what do you remember about a long prayer or testimony -- that it was long. And there are others that Eldon Tennyswood used to like to state. Just some info which GIT won't care about anyway.
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 21, 2007 18:50:30 GMT -5
Just some info which GIT won't care about anyway.
My meeting consists of three people. If we each do not bring sufficient material, it's over in a heartbeat and we are left feeling a bit unfed and empty. We all contribute equally in our meeting.
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elle
Junior Member
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Post by elle on Aug 21, 2007 18:53:53 GMT -5
I think I'd enjoy GITs testimonies. I enjoy his contributions here.
It is important and common courtesy to consider others in a meeting, especially when there are young families. Its hard enough keeping your kids behaving as they are expected to behave for the normal time period without having to deal with an extra 10 minutes because of long winded visitors.
Often the hardest expectations to meet come from those without children- like the workers- or those who have forgotten what children were like. Many think they are an expert on kids because they have been one themselves. Its similar to how many think they are the full book on schooling and education just because they went to school too. There is nothing like actually being a parent or a teacher to grasp the complexities of it all!
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 21, 2007 19:28:26 GMT -5
Its similar to how many think they are the full book on schooling and education just because they went to school too. There is nothing like actually being a parent or a teacher to grasp the complexities of it all!
Well said! Very well said!
In my experience, many people think teaching is one of the easiest professions there is. After all, all you do is stand up, read from some notes, write it on the board, get the students to copy it down, mark if they've got it or not, and it's too easy, right?
And if kids muck around, well, just scream at them. Loud volume conquors behaviour issues, right?
I have learned never to yell at kids. I have learned that kids need to be regarded as human beings, and that you get far more from them by having discussions one-on-one. And I have learned that variety is the key to a good education.
At the momement I'm doing a parliamentary role play with my classes. Kids love it. The taste of power, the exercise of control, and the ability to make speeches and debate endlessly - a bit like the TMB actually. We'll be moving onto courtroom roleplay soon, because our parliament is having some "constitutional issues".
I also use a lot of technology in my lessons. Animations, movie clips, PowerPoints, sound effects, photographs - I have a data-projector to do this, and my laptop. Great stuff.
About the only thing that makes me feel really happy is: 1. Meetings, 2. Kids and young people, 3. My dogs.
I got the best praise a teacher can get on Monday - from one of my kids: "You're not like the other teachers, Mr [My name]. You care about us. You understand. You're more like an adult we can come to and talk to about our problems and stuff."
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Post by nitpickers on Aug 21, 2007 19:49:32 GMT -5
Some folds are by nature "long-winded", while others say their thing and sit down quickly. People have their different personalities. Live with it.
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Post by déjà vu on Aug 21, 2007 20:45:17 GMT -5
GIT quote My meeting consists of three people. If we each do not bring sufficient material, it's over in a heartbeat and we are left feeling a bit unfed and empty. We all contribute equally in our meeting. It looks as if the the" truth " is dying out in your field .are there no missions in your area?
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 22, 2007 2:38:30 GMT -5
It looks as if the the "truth" is dying out in your field .are there no missions in your area?
Actually ours is what you might call a "pioneering meeting" - moving into new territory, as it were.
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Post by which is on Aug 22, 2007 7:45:57 GMT -5
...which is GIT's way of suggesting that Christianity had never been there before.
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Post by guest5 on Aug 22, 2007 9:02:53 GMT -5
GIT - So you have only 3 in your meeting and so that means it has to last so long, like an hour. Show me where that is written or even where some worker has said that. My wife met with 1 other woman and the meeting lasted about 15 minutes. Guess that isn't long enough in your books. Even the workers prayers and testimonies in a Sun. or Wed. study meeting, why do they feel they have to orate on and on. Just to show who they are. Come on. Get real!
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Post by honesty on Aug 22, 2007 9:26:13 GMT -5
Just some info which GIT won't care about anyway.My meeting consists of three people. If we each do not bring sufficient material, it's over in a heartbeat and we are left feeling a bit unfed and empty. We all contribute equally in our meeting. Is this why your posts are so long?
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Post by Longwinded on Aug 22, 2007 12:35:54 GMT -5
I'm an ex. I've been out for 20 years and if there was one thing that always puzzled me it was this focus on time and testimonies.
I'm not saying I think a meeting should go an hour or over an hour, but repetitively I noticed people griping and complaining, criticizing and judging anyone who took over the allotted time that they thought they should. This happened in just about every state in the USA that I visited. After meeting, the topic people would bring up is who took the longest time (not who did it the shortest), and also a major topic was who's baby was distracting people.
It's a person's individual responsiblity to stay focused or become distracted. Not listening sends a message to the speaker.... it's a message of I don't care about you or what you have to say because I'm too impatient to bother "hearing" you. (What does this say about the distractee?)
No body actually takes charge and says, okay, you have to limit your testimony to 1 minute---or two minutes or three minutes and Workers get 10 minutes. (Some churches actually do this). So the time anyone takes is up for grabs and invariably the after-meeting focus is who could complain the loudest about who spoke the longest. I doubt anyone remembers much of anything that anyone says anyway unless it's a Worker speaking at convention. (and maybe GIF----I would guess the other two people at his meeting probably remembers what he says because he's thought is out so well). This whole testimony time crunch just doesn't make sense to me.....
I rather enjoy reading GIF's long posts. He's cohesive, a good writer, gifted vocabulary and I would imagine a great teacher of children. This planet needs people who are dedicated to teaching our children and who cares how long it takes him to speak in meeting? If no ones is complaining in that meeting, why complain here? You don't have to read his emails if you don't want to.....
Just for the record, here's one ex that reads your emails GIF over anyone else's because they are so interesting.
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Post by GIF on Aug 22, 2007 12:55:40 GMT -5
;D GIF= Glory In Fruth ;D
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Post by Dont Believe It on Aug 22, 2007 13:34:33 GMT -5
Longwinded - you have been out 20 years so you don't know what has gone on over the years. There are, in fact, meetings that request short testimonies and prayers. In our area, one male worker in the field was always shorter than most of the people. What was he trying to show? Some meetings as that people limit prayers and testimonies to one line - each line being different from one already spoken. An old worker that just recently passed on didn't take part and told the people that maybe the next time she was in their meeting that they would leave some time for her. Yes, times have changed. You stick with GIT's long orations and I will continue to go for the shorter ones. To each his own.
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Post by Longwinded on Aug 22, 2007 13:55:19 GMT -5
Well, Don't Believe it,
It doesn't sound like much as changed from what you are telling me.... even back in the olden days when I attended meetings, the Workers asked people to be brief. Always! This was preached more than anything else was. Be brief, be brief, be brief... it was a mantra of sorts. But what does brief mean? One minute or 20 minutes? I think "brief" is in the eyes of the beholder.... hahahaha...
Also I was in at least one meeting where the older Worker didn't take part and laid a guilt trip on everyone else for taking too long. But will he say how long is too long? No. He just says "be brief" (I'll repeat in the name of brevity).
That's what I mean. If they want short testimonies they need to tell people specifically how many minutes, and then stop the person who goes over.
Have you been in a meeting where length of time of someone's testimony has been enforced? (other than once in a great while at convention of course. I've seen it enforced there) I'll bet you have not seen it done in Sunday morning meeting. It sill doesn't sound like things have changed when it comes to this particular issue.
Here I'll go for what peeks my interest and GIT's (hahaha sorry for the typo) posts strike me as interesting and engaging even though I'm not on the same page as he is anymore.
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Post by Dont Believe It on Aug 22, 2007 14:47:44 GMT -5
Longwinded - As a matter of fact I have been in meetings where the worker and/or person leading the meeting has requested 30 second orations because of so many people. And what do you think asking for a one sentence prayer or testimony is? Of course, you will say the one sentence might have 500 words. Most people understand what is being asked of them. Being brief, you speak like people are dumb but again they know what is being asked of them but just don't think they are long to start with. I have been in conventions where the worker in charge of the meeting has gotten up and told the person that others needed time also. That is not the way to do things but it has happened and the person being asked to stop left that particular meeting. This is getting no where cause you think one way and myself another. I like short (2 mins. or less) of whatever. And I would announce it that way. Welcom GIT to our meeting .
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 22, 2007 18:09:45 GMT -5
GIT - So you have only 3 in your meeting and so that means it has to last so long, like an hour.
Our meeting lasts about half-an-hour.
Show me where that is written or even where some worker has said that. My wife met with 1 other woman and the meeting lasted about 15 minutes.
As you might expect, every gathering comes to its own understanding about these things. My meeting has arrived at a certain understanding, and this works for us.
Guess that isn't long enough in your books.
I need the testimonies. I need to recieve inspiration and correction.
Even the workers prayers and testimonies in a Sun. or Wed. study meeting, why do they feel they have to orate on and on. Just to show who they are. Come on. Get real!
It depends on the Worker. Some speak short, and in the middle of the meeting somewhere, and that's it. Personally I always enjoy the Worker's testimonies the most, and I like the Worker's longer testimonies - it's like having a sermon in the meeting. In fact, I like longer testimonies in general, providing they are well-thought out.
I always try to do some serious work before I speak. I always read the text in two different translations, sometimes comparing notes with my two literal translations of the Greek. I read about the passage in two commentaries - Matthew Henry's and a conversative Church of England text - and I also consult my study Bible. With a good understanding in relation to interpretation (although sometimes I disagree with the texts) I try to find some application to my life, or my circumstances; something practical, and something I feel bears the samp of approval from the Holy Spirit.
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 22, 2007 18:11:52 GMT -5
I rather enjoy reading GIF's long posts. He's cohesive, a good writer, gifted vocabulary and I would imagine a great teacher of children. This planet needs people who are dedicated to teaching our children and who cares how long it takes him to speak in meeting? If no ones is complaining in that meeting, why complain here?
Thank you very much for your kind words about the two things I find important in life - meetings and teaching.
Your comments have made my day!
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Post by gloryintruth on Aug 22, 2007 18:15:31 GMT -5
I have been in conventions where the worker in charge of the meeting has gotten up and told the person that others needed time also.
This happened in our convention a couple of years back. One man was speaking in testimony time for ages. Everyone listened patiently for a time.
Then the Head Worker stood up and said, "Brother, I'm afraid we're going to have to stop you because other people need some time too."
He answered, "Sorry Uncle [Worker]!" He didn't walk out.
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Post by déjà vu on Aug 22, 2007 18:33:42 GMT -5
Were does it say that a meeting has to be one hr .only? any scriptural basis? what better way to spend ones time. I know of mid-week prayer meetings / studies that last 2-3 hr.
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_
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Post by _ on Aug 22, 2007 19:02:01 GMT -5
Is it just me or does it sound like a lot of you are a buch of whiners?
Of all the concerns one might have regarding the 2x2 fellowship, the issue of workers talking to long or meetings being more then one hour seems to be extremely trivial...
I mean, is this what you folks are worried about... that some visiting worker spoke too long, or that your sunday meetings ran over a bit because someone was long winded...
Give me a break...
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 23, 2007 6:30:51 GMT -5
My christian girlfriends and I could sit down in cafe sipping cappucinos and fellowshiping/talking God stuff for hours, animatedly with excitment and laughter at what God had been doing in our lives and people around us.Sharing new scriptures new revelation and the joy of knowing him. Encouraging each other in our most Holy Faith. We were used to church going on for 3hr plus an hour prayer meeting before church...but the kids had sunday school. I never heard anyone complain.
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Post by longwinded on Aug 23, 2007 9:52:58 GMT -5
Shushy,
That is exactly my point! When we are sharing something very personal and spiritual (like testimonies in meeting perhaps?)..... time should not be a factor. Obviously it isn't for you. When we aren't in this "space" of spirituality, we tend to look at superficial things like Bryan pointed out..... things like the way a person is dressed, how long they take to tell us what is on their hearts etc.
When we humans are stressing about time (doesn't matter if it's a Worker or not)..... we/they just aren't in the same spiritual attitude that Shusy speaks of in this thread. Whether we want to be honest with ourselves about this or not, when we are fussing about time when someone else is trying to express their awareness of personal spirituality, we are just plainly bored. When we listen with our "hearts" to another, we are giving them the best gift we can possibly give. When we criticize and condemn another, we are not opening our own hearts to the wonders that can be ours when we love unconditionally.
This type of acceptance is within reach of all of us!
I believe people can be spiritually aware in any church, and I also see that GIT has opened his heart in manyy instances here on TMB--- to complete strangers only to be attacked and verbally assaulted. I see his love and passion for spiritual beingness, and I happen to appreciate this about him no matter how many times he's judged us unregistered ex's. We are not all against him. I believe his heart is searching for the beauty of spirituality that affords all of us.
You are welcome GIT. Now I'll disappear in the shadows once again........
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