Disciple.Luke

I have several Bibles that are either falling apart or are a waste of space because I never use them because I have newer copies or editions. I've never thrown any away though and that probably attributed to my conscious believing God's word shouldn't be in the trash 
I agree that in reality it's just paper and ink and has no real value without a human reading it's pages. I wouldn't take position either way of how one should or shouldn't dispose of old bibles. I mean I've thrown away MANY books or tracts with Bible verses on it and thats really not any different.
I think it's important to NOT believe printed copies of the Bible are the fourth part of the Trinity or something. You run risk of borderline worshiping the pages instead of the words like Muslims. If a Muslim even drops a copy of the Quran on the floor ...it has to be buried in the ground..and we have all seen their reactions to people buring Quran.

Their version of Easter is called the "Memorial". I have been twice over the years and attended it in a zoom meeting back during COVID to see if it had changed at all. The meeting is probably the most unchristian meeting I've ever seen. They pass wine and loaves of bread around but ONLY the remaining 144,000 "anointed Co-Rulers with Christ" are allowed to partake and there are only a few thousand left. Visitors and the average JW are discouraged from partaking with Watchtower articles implying that new people who partake are most likely "mentally ill" or have a false witness of the Spirit but says not to try to attempt to stop them.
This is their largest attended event yearly with millions of visitors and inactive members being invited to attend. So what you would see in person is mass of millions of people being handed the emblems to remember Christ's sacrifice and they are rejecting him by passing it on.
They may give the appearance that they are moving more toward authentic Christianity but that is far from the truth. In light of the many recent child sex abuse lawsuits against them the Governing Body has cracked down even harder on telling members not to read any anti JW literature or websites insisting any criticism or accusations against them are an attempt by Satan to discredit Jehovah's "earthly organization".
 
 
 

That pretty much sums up what I've seen too. My great Uncle was one of the Wesleyan pastors here for as long as I can remember. I know that him and his family lived in a home paid for by the church but later on when his kids became adults he was able to purchase his own house. I know one of the youth pastors lived there briefly before the house was sold and the profits went back into the church.
I also know that the IFB has two living quarters on the property. I'm not even sure what exactly they are called but it looks like two small mobile homes connected to make two apartments. That lodging is for visiting pastors, musicians, or even new employees until they can get settled. I don't believe any of the staff stayed in church owned homes by the time I began attending but they may have at one time. I know the church provided a vehicle for the Pastor but most times they chose not to use it.
I can only think of two congregations where I know they own homes either right next to or very close to the congregations for their Pastors but they are both fairly small congregations.

When I was searching different religions/denominations attempting to find where the truth was to be found...I developed unusual relationship with an older man who served as the local LDS Bishop for close to seven years.
This man was the age my grandfather would've been and only worked a few hours each morning at Menards so his schedule wasn't super busy. We developed a very close relationship and he taught me many lessons about serving and leading others and how to be expert at family history research.
Over several years he had become like a father figure to me so when he passed away it deeply effected me. I remember prior to his funeral I was having feelings about and questioning his salvation and where he was now after stepping into eternity.
When I attended his funeral he was dressed in his temple attire...which consisted of white shirt, pants, and tie. He also had a green robe around his waist with what appeared to be fig leaves in a pattern and a ridiculous white hat similar to what a baker or chef would wear.
Seeing him in those clothes made me realize that this man had spent a lifetime trying to work his way to heaven with ritual and works and no matter how much it pained me I realized he passed without knowing Jesus or his true salvation.
I still miss him to this day but I came to understand that God has made a way for salvation and despite my feelings only those who enter that narrow gate find forgiveness in death.

I knew a JW whose wife was a Baptist.
I couldn't really understand how their marriage had lasted. He wasn't a pleasant person to begin with and on top of that he was a very strict elder. I felt like he took his position as an Elder to be an "enforcer" around the congregation. 
I studied with him many years ago but I remember that his wife was ill at the time. I asked him one time how they avoided heated theological disagreements and he said that when they read the bible together they ONLY read the words of Jesus. 
HIs answer seemed odd to me which is probably why I remember it after all these years. 
There is no way for me to know for sure but I always assumed the marriage wasn't a very happy one 
It's been my experience that MOST JWs are married to inactive members or agnostic types that don't put up a fight over religion preference. He's the only one I know personally that married someone with a faith like a Baptist.

I heard a Pastor answer this question many years ago.
I think this question is really important now. There seems to be so many "Pastors" out there who became one for all the wrong reasons. I have seen some who wanted "power", trying to scam people out of money, or even to influence social issues.
I believe that if someone feels a calling to become one they should speak with their Pastor and older men of the congregation who know you well enough to validate if that callings fits you personally.
This idea that attending seminary or getting an online certificate validates your own conclusions is poisoning the pulpits.
IF people like Joyce Meyer, Paula White, or Jim Baker would've been a part of a true biblical congregation...then someone wouldve recognized that thier "calling" wasn't consistent with the word of God.