Posts by lookingnow25

28

Situation Developing in Family

by lookingnow25 in

my 25 year old sister just called me with some big news...her husband...30...is of the annointed as of last december.

omg!

i'm having trouble processing this.

lookingnow25

As far as my mom goes, she has never been one to leave anything alone. It's just her personality and all of us kids have kind of gotten used to it, and know how to work it. She is very emotional, very involved in her children's lives, and has always had her input.

As far as my sister goes, I'm sure that scripture has been shared with her. HOWEVER, surely all of us here can understand the cognitive dissonance aspect of her situation. Jehovah will satisfy every desire, sure, ok, fine...It still sucks for her. I'm trying to find anything that I can honestly say to her that will comfort her without comprimising what I believe. I won't support his belief/conviction that he is of the "elite". There is no such thing as the "elite" (144,000).

I'm feeling lost, I'm sorry that I can't convey what I'm feeling very well...

28

Situation Developing in Family

by lookingnow25 in

my 25 year old sister just called me with some big news...her husband...30...is of the annointed as of last december.

omg!

i'm having trouble processing this.

lookingnow25

I do see the humor in it, I really do. But please don't make too much light of the situation. My sister is borderline falling apart, I could hear it in her voice. I'm not sure that the next time I talk to my parents I'll be able to control my tongue, this could cause serious problems.

Yes, it's funny that he has jumped on the annointed bandwagon, especially when my sister says "he can't explain or understand it, but he knows that it's right".

But the serious side effects of this are as follows :
1) My parents and him have a rocky relationship. When they were dating he called a meeting with my family to explain that according to the scriptures my sister was now "his", and that we should all keep that in mind and basically stay out of their business.

2) My sister is slowing coming to the realization that she won't "live forever" with her husband, the man she loves.

3) ...more to come, gotta go

looking

28

Situation Developing in Family

by lookingnow25 in

my 25 year old sister just called me with some big news...her husband...30...is of the annointed as of last december.

omg!

i'm having trouble processing this.

lookingnow25

My 25 year old sister just called me with some big news...her husband...30...is of the annointed as of last December.

OMG!

I'm having trouble processing this. With my recent return to fadedom and all, this is messing with my mind. My BIL is of the...annointed...what...the...F@*#?!!

I like the guy, he's alright, never liked him a lot, have known him a long time. I went to pioneer school with his brother, played basketball with my BIL for years...

My family is already screwed up! What is this going to do to my mom and little sister?!?!

I'll be back later, I need a drink.

looking

18

Making it through the public talk Vol. 1

by lookingnow25 in

i dread meetings, like all of you that still attend i'm sure, but i have found a way to enjoy the sunday meeting again anyway.

it's become my "personal study" time if you will.

refernce 3 : wt 60 pg.

lookingnow25

Better?

18

Making it through the public talk Vol. 1

by lookingnow25 in

i dread meetings, like all of you that still attend i'm sure, but i have found a way to enjoy the sunday meeting again anyway.

it's become my "personal study" time if you will.

refernce 3 : wt 60 pg.

lookingnow25

I dread meetings, like all of you that still attend I'm sure, but I have found a way to enjoy the Sunday meeting again anyway. It's become my "personal study" time if you will. I follow along with the speakers scriptures and ignore all of the fluff in between. This has led me to some interesting verses by reading the context around them, and to some WT references that I wouldn't have read otherwise. Here's my tidbit from this Sunday's talk.

It was something about choosing Jehovah's side...

Scripture : Mt. 15:9 - NWT : "It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines."

Reference 1 : WT 82 7/15 pg. 17 "9 The Jewish Pharisees zealously advocated rules. Not content with the Mosaic law, they developed numerous rules or “commands of men” that invalidated God’s commands. Besides developing these rules that went beyond what God asked, their legalistic outlook encouraged the view that righteousness could result from knowing and keeping these human regulations.—Matthew 15:1-20; 23:1-5; Luke 18:9-12.

Counter reference 1a : AW 99 pg. 2/8 pg. 16 "Many popular styles of the ’90’s find their seeds in such fringe cultures of yesteryear as the hippie movement in Western society of the ’60’s. Beards, unkempt long hair, and bedraggled clothing announced a rejection of traditional values. But the dress of rebellion also kindled a new conformity, a new peer pressure." (NO BEARDS. Ask any Bethelite if this is a true "rule". They will say yes.)

Counter reference 1b : AW 96 11/22 pg. pg. 22 "For a Christian youth, the issue is not what is acceptable among one’s peers but what is “acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:10) Besides, what kind of youths are drawn to alternative rock? Youths who seem to be happy, balanced, and interested in spiritual things? Or does it seem to find its audience primarily among youths who are disgruntled, unhappy, or even angry? True, some youths with cheery, upbeat personalities may still be drawn to alternative rock. But consider this: Christians, young and old, have a bright future awaiting them. (2 Peter 3:13) The apostle Paul reminds us of the certainty of the fulfillment of God’s promises, saying: “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18) What point is there, then, in exposing yourself to the bleak, negative view of the future that some alternative rock songs express? Could becoming absorbed in music that expresses fear, despair, and hopelessness undermine your faith? Furthermore, what effect might a steady diet of such music have on your emotional outlook?" (NO ALTERNATIVE ROCK. Seriously? Are you sure that's in the bible?)

Reference 2 : WT 51 pg. 326 "7...The Bible does not need the addition of uninspired traditions prattled by men to make it complete: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”—2 Tim. 3:16, 17, NW"

Counter reference 2a : WT 81 2/15 p.19 "Rather, the record that the “faithful and discreet slave” organization has made for the past more than 100 years forces us to the conclusion that Peter expressed when Jesus asked if his apostles also wanted to leave him, namely, “Whom shall we go away to?” (John 6:66-69) No question about it. We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the “faithful and discreet slave” organization." (WTBTS is likening themselves to Jesus here. They are putting the value of their teachings on par with Jesus')

Counter reference 2b : WT 81 8/15 p.28 "They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago, and some have even returned to celebrating Christendom’s festivals again, such as the Roman Saturnalia of December 25! Jesus and his apostles warned against such lawless ones." (PUT THAT BIBLE DOWN AND PICK UP A WATCHTOWER!)

Refernce 3 : WT 60 pg. 530 "4...: “It is in vain that they keep paying respect to me.” (Matt. 15:8, 9) 5 Even when a person is convinced that the religious doctrines he formerly believed were not Scriptural and his way of life was not truly Christian, when it comes to his abandoning such a religion, especially if it is the religion of his parents, it can be very difficult. Of course, if the other members of his family love God’s Word they will be glad to know from him what it teaches, but if not, they may be bitter in their opposition. Unable to refute the Bible truth, they may demand that the newly interested one stop associating with Jehovah’s people. To keep him from further study, they may even destroy his Bible study literature. By his patience, by his tactfully speaking about the Bible when appropriate, and by his right conduct he will lovingly try to help his relatives to see the truth; but in some cases persons who have expressed their sincere desire to serve Jehovah God have been disowned by their relatives. "

Counter reference 3a : Speaks for itself.

I hope a few of you enjoyed those quotes. Maybe it will give you some more ammo to hate the WT with, or maybe to discuss with your families, or maybe just a laugh.

Later,
Looking

1

A low-grade lightbulb moment

by inkling in

"apostasy" is drawing a distinction between the words of the bible and the.

words of the watchtower.. by even implying that there is a difference between bible teachings and ideas.

and watchtower teachings and ideas (no matter how obvious these might .

lookingnow25

This has without a doubt been my personal experience. I was before a JC a few years back (not for apostasy by the way) and in the process of talking everything out I told the elders that I believed God was an assh**e. (Not exactly how I feel now, btw.)

They hardly batted an eye. No one accused me of apostasy, no one called me names or anything. I don't imagine I could have said the same about the GB, WTS, or even an elder and have gotten away with it the same.

This was definately a light bulb moment for me. That group of elders had NO loyalty to God at all.

looking

21

Please, please, please help me!

by copperbunny in

i'm searching for long lost family, and i am hoping someone on this blog might know them.

i am looking for fowler's from either the kansas or missouri areas of the us.

i am willing to give first names if someone thinks they might be able to help me out.

lookingnow25

I could also possibly help in the central, mo area.

14

Col 2:16-19 in CO's talk

by lookingnow25 in

it's time for my once every 3 years visit.

started out lookingnow22, then lookingnow25, now it could be lookingnow28.

still struggling in the org.

lookingnow25

T, As far as the CO's application, I wasn't paying real close attention but he was focusing on the last part of verse 19 about being harmoniously joined together. It was the last hoo-rah! talk on Sunday so... Looking

14

Col 2:16-19 in CO's talk

by lookingnow25 in

it's time for my once every 3 years visit.

started out lookingnow22, then lookingnow25, now it could be lookingnow28.

still struggling in the org.

lookingnow25

It's time for my once every 3 years visit. Started out LookingNow22, then LookingNow25, now it could be LookingNow28. Still struggling in the org.

Given the recent power trip of the GB, particularly in the WT from this week talking about ready to obey every order, no matter how hard or unreasonable it may seem, this scripture popped out from the CO's talk (from the same day)at me. Quoted from NWT (sorry) :

16 Therefore let no man judge YOU in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath; 17 for those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ. 18 Let no man deprive YOU of the prize who takes delight in a [mock] humility and a form of worship of the angels, “taking his stand on” the things he has seen, puffed up without proper cause by his fleshly frame of mind, 19 whereas he is not holding fast to the head, to the one from whom all the body, being supplied and harmoniously joined together by means of its joints and ligaments, goes on growing with the growth that God gives.

Could Col 2:16 be applied to holidays? It kind of sounds like it doesn't it? "let no man judge YOU...in respect of a festival". - Mock humility..puffed up without proper cause by his fleshly frame of mind.

lookingnow(28)

26

Just read "Who Wrote the Bible", another book recommendation please?

by lookingnow25 in

i just finished reading "who wrote the bible" by friedman after seeing someone reommend it on here.

i was enthralled and finished it in record time for myself.

i'd never considered anything that could be called 'higher criticism' before.

lookingnow25

Thanks for all the replies everyone! 'The Jesus Mysteries' was a great read. It's refreshing to hear new thoughts and ideas, and to be able to reason on them myself. I'm definately going to consider a few more of the recommendations here.

looking