Posts by AGuest

32

Freinds, how many do you have ?

by Satanus in

jw
friends

i'll start.

i'm low on friends, for various reasons.

scientists poke their calculators into everything, and the number of friends we can have is one of them.

AGuest

Wow (and peace to you all!). I truly thought I was going to be low man on the totem pole here... and so I am VERY surprised at the responses. Very. I thought not to respond at first... but I think I will.

I have several VERY good friends (i.e., that I can ask for anything and if they have it, it's mine; if they don't, they will try and get it for me), both female and male... not counting about a dozen family members (both mine and my husband's) that I would also call friends. I know I can call them all friends... because they TELL me I am their friend... and vice versa... and have proven their friendship me, as I have tried to do with them. I am very affectionate with my friends and don't hesitate to tell them that I love them (yep, I TELL them that)... without expecting the same in return. As a result, though, I and a few, male and female, often call one another and just say, "Hey, I'm thinking of you and am glad you are in my life... I love you!" We're truly friends and so it feels natural to do that. It almost feels "wrong" not to... because we DO love one another.

I was devastated to have lost two friends in the past year (well, one I know was a friend... indeed, a very GOOD friend and for more than 16 years... lost because she decided to go back into the WTBTS, which I understand for her: we live over 1,000 miles away from one another and so she needed more friends; her other ones never left the Borg and had made it hard on her for some time), and so she "can't" really associate with my any longer. I give her her space; she knows I love her, though, and will always be there for her. The other I thought was a friend... or at least heading in that direction... for about 4-5 years; unfortunately, our differences in beliefs seem to have become an issue there, too.

The thing that I have learned in my life, though, is that the only way to HAVE friends... is to BE a friend. First. And no matter what. No matter what your friend believes/doesn't believe... or perhaps does/does not due. Even if they get on your nerves from time to time. In which case, you will most probably HAVE friends... no matter what... because like people often attract like people... and so you will most probably get on THEIR nerves from time to time, too.

I truly hope that some of you are able, at some point, to experience real friendships in your lives. While they are not necessarily necessary, like spouses, children, grandchildren, and pets... they greatly enhance your life and make it SO much richer. It certainly makes leaving something like the WTBTS a bit easier to endure.

Peace!

A doulos of Christ,

SA

153

If there is a God why didn't he sign our DNA

by scotoma in

jw
friends

todays scientists can and do insert their trademark into dna.. why couldn't jehovah anticipate scientists learning this technique and stumbling across a strand that says "human by yhwh"?.

that would have answered a lot of questions.. he could have even included a model number human2.0.

AGuest

I see no need to dismantle my belief system

.

Of course, you don't, dear jgnat (again, peace to you!). Most don't. Not yet.

Your speech reminds me of glossolalia, AGuest, an almost musical noise.

Well, people DO more often tend to hear what they WANT to hear... versus what is true... so I can see how that would be.

Isaiah 28:10-11 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Interesting. Particularly in light of what my Lord is recorded to have said to his disciples about them... which words I have personally found to be QUITE true, in all respects:

"... Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

“Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

" He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

" In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeingbut never perceiving.
For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears, understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

" But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.

"But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown..."

Christ IS the kingdom, dear one... and all I shared with you is what... actually, whom... I saw. I realize that your beliefs don't allow you to accept that... and so, yes, a dismantling would have to take place (1) FOR you to accept it, and (2) for you to see what I did. I shared nothing more than that. That you don't understand... but only perceive a "muscial noise" when I tried to further clarify... is the result of your beliefs... and EXACTLY what I was referring to.

Peace... truly!

YOUR servant and a doulos of Christ,

SA

153

If there is a God why didn't he sign our DNA

by scotoma in

jw
friends

todays scientists can and do insert their trademark into dna.. why couldn't jehovah anticipate scientists learning this technique and stumbling across a strand that says "human by yhwh"?.

that would have answered a lot of questions.. he could have even included a model number human2.0.

AGuest

You were very clear, actually, dear jgnat (again, peace to you!). You usually are. And so I understood... and understand. You made a very accurate comment with which I totally agree. I simply set forth WHY I agree with you. I realize you don't agree with THAT... and that you didn't ask for that (any more than I asked for your acceptance), but I didn't want others to think that we agreed for the same reason. For YOUR benefit as much as mine, though, as obviously, we don't agree for the same reason.

And that's okay with ME. But it can be confusing for others, sometimes, when "believers" agree or disagree. And so I simply clarified as to the basis for why I KNOW that beliefs must be dismantled in such a situation: mine had to be and were. So you are RIGHT -

And so, yeah, I get that you don't agree with WHY I agree with you. You don't have to, though. And I truly didn't expect you to. But it is the truth: both what I shared... and, given what I shared... your position that beliefs will [need to] be dismantled. Absolutely, they will.

Peace!

YOUR servant and a doulos of Christ,

SA

153

If there is a God why didn't he sign our DNA

by scotoma in

jw
friends

todays scientists can and do insert their trademark into dna.. why couldn't jehovah anticipate scientists learning this technique and stumbling across a strand that says "human by yhwh"?.

that would have answered a lot of questions.. he could have even included a model number human2.0.

AGuest

Ummmm... your declination wasn't really warranted, dear jgnat (peace to you!), as I didn't actually offer you anything. It's not really within my power to do so, really. I mean, some have that gift - I don't think I do. I just responded to show you how, yes, you WOULD have to dismantle your current beliefs... and why. So, we are actually in agreement there, dear one. That you won't/don't/can't is entirely YOUR choice... and I do not judge you, have any say, or hold any opinion of you regarding that, one way or another.

Again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a doulos of Christ,

SA

153

If there is a God why didn't he sign our DNA

by scotoma in

jw
friends

todays scientists can and do insert their trademark into dna.. why couldn't jehovah anticipate scientists learning this technique and stumbling across a strand that says "human by yhwh"?.

that would have answered a lot of questions.. he could have even included a model number human2.0.

AGuest

To entertain that possibility would require a complete dismantling of my own beliefs.

It does, dear jgnat (peace to you!) and did for me, as well. As I shared, during the one event I didn't know whether to run or stand still. EVERY inclination in my FLESH... was to run. Every fiber of my physical being said that was I was seeing meant danger and harm to me and that if I DIDN'T run... I would be killed. Eaten, sort of. Well, "bit" in two (kinda Jurassic Park style). My SPIRIT, however, would not LET me run; indeed, it kept saying, "DON'T run, stand STILL; to run would show a lack of faith!" And so... I stood still. Trembling, yes. Wanting the ground to open up and swallow me and hide me from the... "thing"... in front of me... absolutely.

But it was the "thing's" speaking to me that eventually helped me overcome most of my fear (most, not all). "It" said... first, that "they" don't "do" that (eat humans) - that such is a contrivance of man (as we see in our movies)... and that if "it" wanted to kill me all "it" had to do was... inhale. And then it... he... said:

"Don't worry about how I look; listen to my VOICE. You KNOW my voice and you know ME. LISTEN to me."

And as I allowed myself to calm down and DO that... I realized that I did know the One speaking to me. I didn't know him by his APPEARANCE... which was "terrible" from my POV... but I absolutely knew his voice. Which was... and is... wonderful.

And so I got through it. I stood there... still trembling, yes... but receiving quite a bit, some of which I have shared here.

God doesn't look at the outward appearance, dear jgnat. But WE do. And that's unfortunate. Because we miss SO much when we walk by sight. Because our eyes "say" all kinds of things, much of which is quite distracting. Things such as "if it doesn't look like us... or like we want/NEED it to look... it's BAD." And, contrastly, that "If it DOES look like us... and/or how we NEED it to look... then it's good."

That speech... what we "hear" with our eyes... is what's going to get most of mankind in trouble. Because what has NOT been recounted to them... by those who SHOULD have... but were too afraid of losing followers or being thought mad/insane/crazy... or couldn't accept it themselves... is what man WILL see.

May JAH help them all be ready... as He did me. Because it IS frightful, make NO mistake. And yes, one might definitely have to dismantle their current beliefs. Shouldn't be entirely difficult for some, though - those who did so while/just after leaving the WTBTS. Same thing: what you THOUGHT you knew... you don't.

Again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

SA

153

If there is a God why didn't he sign our DNA

by scotoma in

jw
friends

todays scientists can and do insert their trademark into dna.. why couldn't jehovah anticipate scientists learning this technique and stumbling across a strand that says "human by yhwh"?.

that would have answered a lot of questions.. he could have even included a model number human2.0.

AGuest

Right, because that not at all what "dragon" has ever meant in any sense ever at any point in time. It is an interesting idea to redefine a word and concept to mean something entirely different what it is in one myth into another entirely different myth.

Which is what those who define the word modernly do. It was never meant to depict a kind of beast but due to man's lack of knowledge and understanding that is what they've made it. So, okay, you accept the modern understanding. Doesn't negate the original meaning, though. A very good example of that is the "N" word: there is the modern usage/meaning... and then there is the original, from whence the modern came. Now, SOME have absolutely NO problem with the modern word (ending in "a" versus "er"); some, however, do not see or accept the difference - to them, it is the same word as originally intended. Always will be, no matter HOW some say it neither means the same thing or has the same connotation.

Now, I could be wrong but I suspect you fully understand that analogy... even in spite of your desire to deny that... "just because". But try to control yourself (and your trembling need to deny it simply because I stated it)... because you know it's accurate. Indeed, I'm ALMOST surprised that you hadn't thought of that already, the oh-so-smart man that you (usually) are. But sometimes one can be too smart for one's own good, yes.. and so can't see the forest? Could be due to the state of the art, super high-powered night-vision "goggles" he's wearing to try and impress others. Unfortunately, while some may ooh and ahh over them... others of us know they don't work so well... in broad daylight... nor are they really necessary... because there is no forest but only a vacant parking lot... and so anyone wearing them such merely looks like an idjit.

No one said it's a scientific approach but it is a scientific approach? FFS, what a jello approach to saying something.

It is a scientific approach (i.e., it is a theory, the hypothesis of which can be tested and verified, yes?); however, no one (meaning God, Jacob, or the author) said it was meant to BE a scientific approach. Dear mp (peace!) t'was that asserted such... not only that it was meant to be a scientific approach... but that it wasn't and failed. He has it backward: it wasn'tmeant to be... but was... and succeeded.

Given your two comments here, I'm thinking that perhaps you, who's usually much sharper than this, haven't yet had your usual morning "beverage," yet. Maybe you should pour yourself a... cup of coffee. Or somethin'.

A doulos of Christ,

SA

153

If there is a God why didn't he sign our DNA

by scotoma in

jw
friends

todays scientists can and do insert their trademark into dna.. why couldn't jehovah anticipate scientists learning this technique and stumbling across a strand that says "human by yhwh"?.

that would have answered a lot of questions.. he could have even included a model number human2.0.

AGuest

None of your apologetic replies are mentioned or highlighted in the text.

Not the text you quoted, no, dear mp (again, peace to you!). The text following that... yes. My reply wasn't apologetic, though. Just accurate. Unlike your assertion.

If this text is supposed to be a scientific approach it fails because its meaning when taken literally is obvious nonsense.

Ummmm... who said it was "supposed" to be a "scientific" approach? No one but you. YOU tried to use it AS a "scientific" approach, then to denounce that "approach." But it was never meant AS a scientific approach, although it IS a scientifica approach. It was merely meant as a means to foment a stronger flock of sheep. Which is did. Which can be... and is... done scientifically, yes. But that wasn't the intent of the Jacob's actions, as YOU wish to assert here.

No where does it mention health and so on,

SURE it does. Read the ENTIRE account. No, wait... here, I'll quote the REST of it for you:

"Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.

"Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animalsthat were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.

Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate,Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in frontof them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones,so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys."

It's called BREEDING STRONGER STOCK, dear one. Again, breeders do it ALL the time.

your being intellectually dishonest and introducing that to make an excuse for the crap that the text actually contains.

Actually, that's what YOU were doing, dear one. I simply corrected your error. That you weren't able to receive that is on you. MY apologies, though, if trying to set the matter accurate offended you. That was not my intent.

Again, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a doulos of Christ,

SA

85

Will you attend the Memorial this year? Why? Why not?

by Open mind in

jw
friends

.

om.

AGuest

I will, with dear hubby, absolutely. For much of the same reasons as dear tec and JMom stated (peace to you all!): to (1) set an example of what EVERYONG SHOULD be doing; and (2) because my love for THEM never failed.

To those who do go... and partake: take courage! While these might, by their "hatred" for you, show themselves to be the "world"... the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah... has conquered the "world"!

Peace to you... and "see you" there... in spirit!

A doulos of Christ,

SA

153

If there is a God why didn't he sign our DNA

by scotoma in

jw
friends

todays scientists can and do insert their trademark into dna.. why couldn't jehovah anticipate scientists learning this technique and stumbling across a strand that says "human by yhwh"?.

that would have answered a lot of questions.. he could have even included a model number human2.0.

AGuest

Ummmm... perhaps you miss the "trick" Jacob played on Laban, dear mp (peace to you!)? He actually did utilize a knowledge of DNA here. Maybe you think the point was that spotted/striped sheep can't procreate unspotted/striped sheep? I dunno. But the issue wasn't really the sheeps' appearance - that was just the decoy (what would tell Laban that Jacob was being "dishonest" with him). The issue was the HEALTH of the sheep, EVEN spotted/striped. Having already increased Laban's flocks, Jacob was a master shepherd. He simply used the same technique in multiplying HIS flocks that he used to multiply Laban's:

Although Laban separated his sheep from Jacob's and gave them to his sons, Jacob still watched over them ALL. And so when ALL of the sheep came to drink, he would "fence" off the stronger sheep so that they mated with the stronger of either flock: his OR Laban's. He thereafter kept their offspring for himself... thus multiplying HIS sheep and creating a strong line (which produced more sheep!). The weaker sheep, however, he did NOT fence off, but let them mate with Laban's sheep... and so Laban's flock continue as a weak line... which DIDN'T procreate as much.

Jacob was a VERY smart man, very shrewd... as shown by him tricking his brother, Esau, out of that one's birthright. What he did here is, rather than allowing Laban to PAY him a certain amount of wages for all of his work for that one... he simply took the strongest of Laban's sheep... and from those created for himself an even stronger... and vaster... flock. While Jacob may not have known specifically was "DNA" was, he certainly knew that strong sheep breed strong sheep... and weak sheep breed weak sheep. Even horse and dog breeders know this.

You should probably read the entire account as if you do you will see that Jacob's "scientific" method actually worked for him... and very well.

A doulos of Christ,

SA

160

I've Come To Realize That "Facts" Don't Mean Much If A Person Refuses To Accept Them

by minimus in

jw
friends

...and that applies to religion as well as politics.. if someone simply believes such and such is true, it doesn't really matter whether you "prove" it or not.

people will believe what they want to believe..

AGuest

Well, something has come up, dear Gopher (again, peace to you!) that, for ME... makes all of this discussion moot. Meaning it is SO important that disagreement TRULY does NOT matter (never did, but even less now). I cannot elaborate yet... but I most certain will. In the meantime, I have another post I must get to. I will post it in the Adult Section... and sincerely ask ALL who would respond SINCERELY to do so. Because I need your help. Truly.

But thank you, truly, for THIS discussion, as well.

As always, peace to you!

YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

SA