Posts by Terry

an eloquent major figure questioned, well worth listening to: on the multi continental conflict among muslims and their push against the secular world.. can be heard on you-tube.. .

Terry

I didn't hear any particulars. The King wants to make changes and President Obama talks him out of it.

Did I miss something?

13

Why We Observe the Lords Evening Meal - Jan 2015

by berrygerry in

any still attending who are going to give a comment about last year's memorial study article?.

Terry

Only Jehovah's Witnesses could come up with the mind-bending idea:

Celebrate the only commanded celebration by NOT participating in the celebration, only 'observing' its celebration.

11

The Faithful Slave - An Obvious Question I Haven't Heard Asked

by berrygerry in

since the big 7 have appropriated this "blessed" title for themselves, and disavowed the existence of this slave prior to 1919, an obvious question comes up.. was it not the apostate maria russell that proffered that ctr was "the slave," and was the coiner of the term "the faithful slave"?.

if the slave did not come into existence until 1919, then how was it possible that prior to 1919 that anyone knew that it existed, or would have been able to foretell that it would come into existence?.

was maria a prophetic apostate?.

Terry

LIGHT and the intervals of NEW LIGHT about the Faithful and Discreet Slave

In 1881, an article in Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence by the magazine's editor Pastor Russell identified the "faithful and wise servant" as "that 'little flock' of consecrated servants who are faithfully carrying out their consecration vows—the body of Christ ... the whole body individually and collectively, giving the meat in due season to the household of faith—the great company of believers."
Fourteen years later: In 1895, Russell's wife Maria claimed that Russell himself was the figure referred to in the parable at Matthew 24:45-47, though Russell initially declined to accept the personal application of the title, suggesting that it should apply to the Watch Tower rather than its editor.
Two years later: In 1897 Russell agreed that Christ would have made a "choice of one channel for dispensing the meat in due season [emphasis in the original]" and while he did not refer to that "one channel" as an individual, Russell did apply to it the personal pronoun "he" (for example: "if unfaithful he will be deposed entirely"), and noted "whoever the Lord will so use, as a truth-distributing agent, will be very humble and unassuming" and "he would not think of claiming authorship or ownership of the truth."
Thirteen years later: In 1909, in an unsigned article, the Watch Tower mentioned that the "application to us of Matthew 24:45" had come "some fourteen years ago", or about 1895. The article went on to say "the Society's literature was the channel through which the Lord sent them practically all that they know about the Bible and the Divine purposes."

Seven years later: The prevailing view among Bible Students that Russell was "the faithful and wise servant" of Jesus' parable, was reiterated in the Watch Tower a few weeks after Russell's death in 1916:

Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of "that faithful and wise servant," and that his great work was giving to the Household of Faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation.

One year later: In 1917, the publisher's preface to the book, The Finished Mystery, issued as a posthumous publication of Russell's writings, identified him as the "faithful and wise servant" appointed by Christ; as late as 1923, the Watch Tower repeated the same belief about his role, declaring: "We believe that all who are now rejoicing in present truth will concede that Brother Russell faithfully filled the office of special servant of the Lord; and that he was made ruler over all the Lord's goods ... Brother Russell occupied the office of that 'faithful and wise servant'."
Ten years later: In 1927, Watch Tower Society president Judge Rutherford reverted to Russell's original viewpoint, announcing that the "servant" was not an individual, but was made up of the entire body of faithful spirit-anointed Christians.
Twenty-three years later: A 1950 issue of The Watchtower appeared to assign to the "mother organization"—in reference to the Watch Tower Society—the task of feeding Christians "meat in due season"; in 1951 the magazine defined the "faithful and discreet slave" as a class of people whose teachings were imparted through a theocratic organization.
Half a century later: From 2000 the Governing Body was increasingly described as the representative and "spokesman" for God's "faithful and discreet slave class".
Twelve years later: 128th annual meeting of the Watch Tower Society in New Jersey on 6 October 2012 made further changes to the doctrine about the identity of the "slave". The society's report on the meeting said that "the faithful and discreet slave was appointed over Jesus' domestics in 1919. That slave is the small, composite group of anointed brothers serving at world headquarters during Christ's presence who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food. When this group works together as the Governing Body, they act as 'the faithful and discreet slave.'" The report said the slave "logically" must have appeared after Christ's presence began in 1914.
The doctrinal change also redefined the "domestics" of the parable—previously identified as individual "anointed" Witnesses—as all Jehovah's Witnesses.

19

Reinstatement - repentance - works - Can you explain how this is supposed to work?

by berrygerry in

nov 15, 2006 wt.

when requesting reinstatement, he should be able to give evidence that he has repented and is producing works that befit repentance.acts 26:20.. .

how possibly can someone "give evidence" or "produce works"?.

Terry

What evidence of works did the Prodigal Son demonstrate to the father who welcomed him with open arms?

I rest my case.

54

I have a TASK for you to perform. Come on--it will be FUN!

by Terry in

jw
friends

look up in the right-hand corner of this page.. find where it says welcome (name).. did you locate that?.

now click on your name and observe the new page loading takes you to a top blue bar with a menu.. it should read:.

active topics search members topics started .

Terry

Terry you're the master of interesting and thought provoking threads, that get few replies.

_________________________

You'd think I'd learn my lesson, but I never seem to do so!

I try to look at the same old thing in a different way by standing at an odd angle to it and asking myself an obvious question about it.

I get flashes of ideas during the day. Suddenly I'm on fire. I think as I write. Then, I go back and sort out the steps of the presentation.

I would say MOST of my topics generated VERY FEW responses.

That tells me I'm just not very good at achieving my goal of creating a DISCUSSION!

I've got a long way to go!

21

Bicyclists

by poppers in

i'm wondering what sort of biking shoes and pedals you are using.

i'm a road biker, so i enjoy speed and distance riding, and am upgrading my shoes and pedals.

anyone have experience with specialized road shoes with the boa stem?

Terry

I still ride every day. Winter has arrived; I wear blue jeans. My right cuff is rolled up to avoid catching in the mechanism.

I live on the side of town where there is only a designated bike path close to schools.

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When nasty weather passes through, the branches end up pushed against the curbsides and bike lanes.

When I had a car that could pass inspection I'd transport my bike to the nice side of Fort Worth. There you'll find special

flat bike paths (which I NOW would really enjoy) looping around the city where it is scenic and pleasant. Quite a contrast

to the treacherous and ever busy city streets I inhabit now.

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The bike path riders are professional people with the expensive bikes and special gear. I call them costumes:)

Speed appears to be an obsession with such folks. I value life and limb far too much to exceed 10 or 15 mph.

So many unforeseeable events intrude in the course of a daily ride, I can't imagine how I'd have the time to cope if I were speeding.

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The bike riders on city streets appear to be insane young people with bicycles waaaay too small for their body. There is chaos in their manner of darting to and fro in front of this and that car. No wonder the automobile drivers have developed a fury toward us.

I had a man look me in the eye and suddenly turn in front of me as I zipped downhill (aided by gravity and wind at my caboose) creating

a crisis I only barely averted. My heart was pounding like crazy! It isn't the first time I've been the target of a bizarre attempted murder.

I don't know how it is in other states, but Texas men seem to have a visceral contempt for cyclists.

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I've been around bicycle clubs where ten to twenty people go out riding together. I'd rather have a proctology exam than be a part of that kind

nonsense. Why? I'm a lone wolf, I suppose--I dunno. I just don't get it. You have to deal with personalities, leadership struggles, egos, etc.

My sense of freedom and the opportunity to have fresh air (carbon monoxide mostly) and strenuous exercise at age 67 create more positives

than negatives. I truly enjoy riding on two wheels. I think I'd be dead in six months without the freedom to ride. It is the only pleasure I have left in life of a physical nature.

15

THE TRUTH IS AN ILLUSION and here is the process which proves it.

by Terry in

a wall is a wall, right?

question: what if each day a brick was removed and replaced with wood?.

the watchtower religion pretends to be like a brick wall built of truth.. however, each brick of truth been replaced with wood (changing opinion.).

Terry

Well, I am compelled to tell an old joke.

A man marries a very lovely lady and it is now the night their Honeymoon begins! (Wink wink--nudge nudge)

The man is waiting almost patiently in the large bed. His brand new wife removes her wig and places it carefully

in the dresser drawer.

Next, she pops out her blue contact lenses and inserts the packet in the dresser drawer.

As the anxious husband watches with--at first--a spellbound interest--and gradual alarm and concern . . .

The lady pulls two foam bra stuffers out and tosses them in the drawer.

Next, she removes a very tight girdle and Spanx, inserting them in the dresser drawer.

She reaches inside her mouth and extracts her false teeth and lays them in the drawer.

Finally, her eyelashes are removed and laid in the drawer as well.

She turns and beams a bright, toothless smile at her nervous husband.

She says to him, "Are you ready for me, Darling?"

Hubby swallows hard and replies, "I guess so--but let me ask you one question, please."

She nods.

"Should I stay here in bed or jump into the dresser drawer?"