Posts by ezekiel3

20

What is a disfellowshipping offense?

by M.J. in

i had a brief discussion with my wife about the practice of shunning and i asked her if the act of associating with a df'ed or "apostate" individual would get someone disfellowshipped.

she denied that it would, saying that it was not included among the specific "disfellowshipping offenses" listed in the bible.

yet my understanding is that there are many things that can get a jw disfellowshipped which aren't among the immoral practices specifically listed by paul in that context.

ezekiel3

*** w81 9/15 pp. 25-26 Disfellowshiping?How to View It ***

But it is not wrong to be loyal to the righteous and just God of the Bible. He tells us that he will accept ?in his holy mountain? only those who walk faultlessly, practice righteousness and speak truth. (Ps. 15:1-5) If, though, a Christian were to throw in his lot with a wrongdoer who has been rejected by God and disfellowshiped, or has disassociated himself, that would be as much as saying ?I do not want a place in God?s holy mountain either.? If the elders saw him heading in that direction by regularly keeping company with a disfellowshiped person, they would lovingly and patiently try to help him to regain God?s view. (Matt. 18:18; Gal. 6:1) They would admonish him and, if necessary, ?reprove him with severity.? They want to help him remain ?in God?s holy mountain.? But if he will not cease to fellowship with the expelled person, he thus has made himself ?a sharer (supporting or participating) in the wicked works? and must be removed from the congregation, expelled.?Titus 1:13; Jude 22, 23; compare Numbers 16:26.

18

just curious, whats wrong with the smurfs?

by embeth2525 in

jw
friends

was reading the older posts and noticed a christmas display with smurfs, why don't jw's like smurfs?

i guess i wasn't informed about that one.

ezekiel3

Because they SMACK of spiritism (the WTS new favorite phrase).

16

Anyone practice yoga?

by seawolf in

i've been looking into starting yoga.

i hear it's good for relieving stress and things like that.

i'm curious as to the results others have had while practicing yoga.

ezekiel3

Yes! And I love it. Although I cannot attest to PinTail's flights of fancy, yoga is an excellent no-impact way to exercise. It literally wrings the tension out of you and focuses attention on your breath, a fine way to relax/meditate.

I recommend to take lessons from a reputable instructor because correct positioning is critical. After you develop a routine it is possible to practice on your own.

WTS has come down against yoga as a improper form of meditation, gateway to the demons. etc. By the way, the breathing excercise mentioned below is unheard of by anyone I ask. The norm is for regular deep breathing, not holding your breath. Typical fear mongering.

*** w02 8/1 p. 22 Yoga?Just an Exercise or Something More? ***
Not a Choice for Christians
Whatever health instructors may say to the contrary, yoga does not stop with physical exercises. The book Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies relates the experiences of two yoga novitiates who were under the guidance of a guru. One is quoted as saying: "I made superhuman efforts to hold my breath as long as possible, and only breathed when I was on the point of fainting. . . . One day, at high noon, I thought I saw a bright moon, which seemed to move and sway from side to side. Another time I imagined myself enveloped in thick darkness at midday. My director . . . was greatly pleased when I mentioned these visions to him. . . . The time was not far distant, he assured me, when I should experience much more surprising results from my penance." The second man relates: "He obliged me to stare at the sky every day without blinking my eyes or changing my position. . . . Sometimes I thought I saw sparks of fire in the air; at others I seemed to see fiery globes and other meteors. My teacher was much pleased with the success of my efforts."
The strange sights were evidently (nice false conclusion WTS!) what the gurus felt were proper results along the way to the true aim of yogic exercises. Yes, the ultimate goal of yoga is moksha, explained as the merging with some impersonal great spirit. It is described as "the (intentional) stopping of the spontaneous activity of the mind stuff." This is clearly contrary to the goal set out for Christians, who are given the admonition: "Present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God."?Romans 12:1, 2.
The choice of what physical exercise to pursue is a personal one. Christians, however, would not allow anything?be it bodily training, eating, drinking, clothing, entertainment, or something else?to mar their relationship with Jehovah God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) For those exercising simply for the sake of their health, there are many avenues available that do not involve exposure to the dangers of spiritism and occultism. By keeping clear of practices and beliefs that are rooted in false religion, we may look forward to God?s blessing of a righteous new system of things in which we can enjoy perfect health in body and mind for an eternity.?2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:3, 4.

12

2004 Annual Report (Scans)

by ezekiel3 in

i am posting these pages as i scan them.

the resolution is poor because of the size limitation of attachments on this board.

proceed with the dissection.. .

ezekiel3

Summary from Report (Worldwide):

2004 Peak Pubs: 6,513,132

2004 Avr Pubs: 6,308,341

% Increase over 2003: 2.0

2003 Peak Pubs: 6,184,046

2004 Number Baptized: 262,416

Average Pioneer Publishers: 858,461

Number of Congregations: 96,894

Total Hours: 1,282,234,887

Average Bible Studies: 6,085,387

Memorial Attendance: 16,760,607

Memorial Partakers: 8,570 (That's 5 more than last year.)

JW spent $93 million in caring for special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their field service assignments.

Compare with 2003 stats from official JW site http://www.watchtower.org/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm#_top_

12

2004 Annual Report (Scans)

by ezekiel3 in

i am posting these pages as i scan them.

the resolution is poor because of the size limitation of attachments on this board.

proceed with the dissection.. .

ezekiel3

I am posting these pages as I scan them. The resolution is poor because of the size limitation of attachments on this board. Proceed with the dissection..

Edited to say: Sadly You can't read the details this way. I am willing to email the high res jpegs to someone will can post them on their site and link back to JWD. Contact me via this board if you are able to do this.

29

Masturbation reduces risk of prostate cancer?

by melmac in

source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm .

men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular masturbation, researchers suggest.

they say cancer-causing chemicals could build up in the prostate if men do not ejaculate regularly.

ezekiel3

People you have it all wrong! Please get a handle on yourselves...

*** g90 4/8 p. 27 The Prostate and Its Problems ***
Guarding
one?s thoughts: At Matthew 5:28 Jesus Christ counsels: "But I say to you that everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Following Jesus? advice can contribute to good prostate health. How? When passion is aroused in a man, the prostate gland prepares for intercourse. Dr. Brosman writes that repeated episodes of arousal without accompanying ejaculation cause an accumulation of fluid in the prostate and the seminal vesicles and can lead to prostate trouble.

Personally I prefer to apply this scripture:

(Psalm 110:2-3) . . .The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, [saying:] "Go subduing in the midst of your enemies." Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force. In the splendors of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, You have your company of young men just like dewdrops.

30

The Secret Fault I Tolerated About Blood

by Swan in

yes, i tolerated a secret fault concerning blood.

i have never told anyone about it until this day.

now i am telling you.. as i recall, sometime in the 80's (or maybe late 70's) we were told to check our pet's food for animal by-products.

ezekiel3

Review the following list of 'Jehovah's creations' and answer these questions:

What did they eat before the flood?

How did they adapt their entire biology to almost exclusive blood-feeding in only 4,300 years (WTS says Noah's Flood occured 2370 BC)?

Vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. - If they can?t find blood for two nights in a row, they will die. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0110/bats2.html

Tick Ixodes - The tick's engorgement occurs during the last 24 hours of feeding during which the females imbibe 2 to 8 times as much blood as they finally gain in weight and multiply their body mass by as much as 100 fold. http://www.forschung3r.ch/en/publications/bu27.html#descr

Mosquito Ochlerotatus - The female seeks a blood meal to obtain the protein necessary for the development of her eggs. http://www-rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/moslife.htm

Leech Rhyncobdellida and Gnatbobdellida - Sanguivorous (blood-feeding) leeches can ingest several times their own weight in blood at one meal. http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/leeches.htm

Flea Ctenocephalides - The mouthparts of adult fleas are adapted for puncturing animal skin and sucking blood. http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/pests/g07380.htm

Chicken mite Dermanyssus gallinae - The body of a hungry female up to 0.75mm, after sucking of blood they grow up to 2mm. http://www.cdfound.to.it/html/ecto_4.htm

30

The Secret Fault I Tolerated About Blood

by Swan in

yes, i tolerated a secret fault concerning blood.

i have never told anyone about it until this day.

now i am telling you.. as i recall, sometime in the 80's (or maybe late 70's) we were told to check our pet's food for animal by-products.

ezekiel3

Expounding on Satanus' reference to WT excuses note the original QFR in 1964:

*** w64 2/15 pp. 127-128 Questions from Readers ***
Would it be a violation of the Scriptures for a Christian to permit a veterinarian to give blood transfusions to a pet? And what of animal food? May it be used if there is reason to believe there is blood in it? Also, is it permissible to use fertilizer that has blood in it?
What, then, of animal food? May it be used if there is reason to believe there is blood in it? As far as a Christian is concerned, the answer is No, on the basis of principles already mentioned. Therefore, if a Christian discovers that blood components are listed on the label of a container of dog food or some other animal food, he could not conscientiously feed that product to any animal over which he has jurisdiction. He could not conclude that doing so would be excusable, for this would not be a case of an animal killing another animal and helping itself to the blood of that creature. (?????) No, this would be a direct act on the part of the Christian, making him responsible for feeding blood to a pet or other animal belonging to him.
Of course, if there is no indication on the label of a package of animal food that the product contains blood, a Christian might conclude that it could be used. Still, his conscience might trouble him. In that case he should put his conscience to rest by making reasonable inquiry and acting in accord with the information he receives, for a Christian surely desires to have a good conscience before God.?1 Pet. 3:21.
But now, what about fertilizer that has blood in it? One who is going to show respect for God?s law on blood would not use it. True, according to the Mosaic law, blood when taken from a body was to be poured out upon the ground and covered over with dust. (Lev. 17:13, 14) The objective was, however, that the blood should serve no useful purpose when thus disposed of. It was not placed on the ground with the thought in mind that it would serve as fertilizer. Hence, no Christian farmer today could properly spread blood on his fields to fertilize the soil, nor would he use commercial fertilizer containing blood. Such blood use would be a commercializing on something that God has reserved for himself. It would be a violation of God?s Word.

Ah, the old dogmatic days... Now the WTS answers questions with questions:

*** w81 10/15 pp. 30-31 Questions from Readers ***
Another situation that sometimes arises involves feeding blood to animals. It is true that at present many animals in the wild do not live on vegetation as the Bible says they did originally. (Gen. 1:30) Rather, they eat other creatures, blood and all. Nonetheless, would a Christian who knows God?s law on blood intentionally feed blood to animals under his care? Would that harmonize with what he knows about how blood was handled under the Law?

And now we note the logical gynastics of leeches and blood:

*** w82 6/15 p. 31 Questions from Readers ***
However, though leeches parasitically feed on blood in their natural state at present, it would not be proper for a Christian to permit leeches to draw his blood. (Proverbs 30:15) Even where this was urged for medical reasons and the leeches would later be disposed of, the use of leeches would involve deliberately feeding blood to these creatures. That would conflict with the Bible?s indication that blood, being sacred and representing life, should be disposed of if it is removed from a body.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Right (as I gain my composure), so even though God didn't create animals to eat blood originally (including leeches it seems ) they do now with God's sanction, but we don't want to d elirberately feed them blood. OK. Finally the next quote makes perfect sense...

*** w05 1/15 p. 20 Foregleams of God's Kingdom Become a Reality ***
Perhaps some have found certain information published by "the faithful and discreet slave" hard to grasp.

28

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 12-19-04 WT Study (Abbreviated)

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the 12-19-04 wt study (november 15, 2004 issue)

review comments

will be in black and parentheses ().

ezekiel3

Thank you for your comments Sister Blondie. (Rustling of papers and book bags heard) And now we'll close the meeting with song #6. Please stand as we sing "Declare the Everlasting Good News" taken from Revelation 14:6-8. (Music begins, then over the music:) Oh, and there will be a meeting for field service in about 15 minutes up in the front of the hall... (Comment ignored, congregation begins ~~singing~~ humming).

So much for boldness.

37

Witness logic and reason applied to bread, fallacy of logical conclusions

by garybuss in

jw
friends

witnesses like to use logic and reason to support their ideas.

here is what happens when logic and reason is applied to food.. .

bread.

ezekiel3

1. No sale of bread to minors.

2. A nationwide "Just Say No To Toast" campaign, complete celebrity
TV spots and bumper stickers.

3. A 300 percent federal tax on all bread to pay for all the societal
ills we might associate with bread.

4. No animal or human images, nor any primary colors (which may
appeal to children) may be used to promote bread usage.

5. The establishment of "Bread-free" zones around schools.

The previous "commands" would simply allow JWs to get sued up the a$$. Instead, the "faithful and discreet slave" would lovingly admonish us in the following way:

1. Would a faithful follower of Jehovah provide or even sell bread to a minor? When commissioning his disciples, Jesus"gave them orders to carry nothing for the trip except a staff alone, no bread , no food pouch ." (Mark 6:8)

2. As part of our January service campaign, let us make an extra effort to provide everyone in our territory with the new tract "Christains View of Toast." What a timely provision from Jehovah's spiritual table!

3. As the earthly organization moves forward God's heavenly chariot, the Governing Body has incurred a substatial cost for the new buildings and presses that produce our no-bread literature. We thank you for committing in your hearts to increase your contributions for this exciting new project. Indeed " may you also abound in this kind giving." (2 Corinthians 8:7) On average a publisher may want to increase their donations 300%.

4. A spritually mature person would shun any bread packaging with human or animal images. Indeed, it is an issue of divine soveriegnty, for "y ou must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath." (Exodus 20:4).

5. Some Christain youth have been observed frequenting "bread-free zones" at schools and other worldly hangouts. Do we as parents inculcate to our children that "we are no part of the world?" Children have Jesus for their example when, while being tempted by Satan, he said, " Man must live, not on bread alone." (Matthew 4:4) We too must resist the machinations of Satan!

From the gluton-free class.