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well, there has been a lot of religious and historical debate going on this topic, as we are all aware.. but i'd like to know what is your personal take, at the moment being.. all contributions welcome.
thanks!
FYI
Just as it is difficult to prove Jesus existed on this earth outside of the NT and a limited handfull of writings since his death - the sarcophogus of his brother Joseph being "proved" fake, and all; King David has no modern day proof outside of the bible, either.
-B
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well, there has been a lot of religious and historical debate going on this topic, as we are all aware.. but i'd like to know what is your personal take, at the moment being.. all contributions welcome.
thanks!
Interesting post, PB, thank you for your perspective.
Who was he? As the Dahli Lama was raised from 2 or 3 years old within the Buddhist Lama structure of being the previous Dahli Lama incarnate, Jesus was a human with sacred birth raised with Essene training to develop his direct connection with "god".
The questions I have asked myself, and worked toward answer are:
Did Jesus exist on this earth? Yes. He was required to to understand "humanness" and the limitations we have within our skin suits and small brains.
Does Jesus still exist? Yes.
Is he on earth today? No. But many with his qualities whom he has send are and have been.
Is he there only for JW's? For Christians? For the world? Yes, he is there, bur for the whole world. No need for "christianity" to acknowledge him and his works; to believe.
Is Jesus god? No. He is not the souce of the universe whose power connects us all(my concept of god). He is an intermediary. Some say THE intermediary.
Does Jesus love me, personally? Maybe. Definately indirectly. I have guides whose job it is to assist and pass on his "love"..
Is Jesus a he? He was when he was human. Now "he" is part of and an extension of "He She It They", in my understanding.
I believe he is one of, maybe the leader of, many who minister to the earth and everything and everyone upon it.
Just part of what I have come to believe. Do I have any documentation? I can't quote book, chapter, verse, nor author, but I have done much reading and speaking with spiritual people to formulate my beliefs.
Bren
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well, there has been a lot of religious and historical debate going on this topic, as we are all aware.. but i'd like to know what is your personal take, at the moment being.. all contributions welcome.
thanks!
A compassionate man with a gift for expressing himself, powerful in his convictions and truly empathetic to his fellowman.
His Holiness, the Dahli Lama?
i have to tell you something.. i really find it hard getting over the idea of no new system and all that it meant to me.
to be with my children and their children forever in perfect health.. too many days it just leaves me empty.
i just wish i could shake it and enjoy life, but the idea that we just live for 70 years and die kills me.
Bebu
When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.
Not screaming and yelling, like the passengers in his car. .
I spit coffee on that one! Thanx!
Bren
i have to tell you something.. i really find it hard getting over the idea of no new system and all that it meant to me.
to be with my children and their children forever in perfect health.. too many days it just leaves me empty.
i just wish i could shake it and enjoy life, but the idea that we just live for 70 years and die kills me.
Confused - Goodonya! (auzzie for Good For You!)
One day at a time, and Keep it simple. How about McDonalds for dinner tonight?
Plan what you need to, so it can get done, including the fun stuff. Dont forget spontenaety (sp) if you some small thing you know your wife will love, get it for her, or your kids.
Hugs on your new journey!
Bren
i had business in that end of town, and just stopped by.
i had been wanting to do so for quite a while.
my parents will be 87 each next month.
So far, thank you everyon for your kind words.
Balsam, you mom sounds like she was a hoot! I'm so glad you got the time with her. You're a better person for it.
Ruth, I plan on visiting my parents often just for those reasons. I'm sure you can see from my first post that I value them. And from my visit, I found that they value me, too, as much as they are able.
The biggest thing that pissed me off over the years is that my folks had no idea who I was, or am. They'd talk about how smart Markie is (raised non-jw, went to college) and how he works with computers and travels all over the place, yet I had to tell her that I did the same thing, and taught all over the US and Canada. She was shocked. "How did you do this, did you go to school?" "No, I learned on my own, on the job, from some very intelligent mentors."
We can, and I do, carry these resentments for years. We all know we've enough resentments with the WBTS, JW's and any family that are still there. But sometimes it's necessary in one's life to put these resentments aside and do the right thing. For me, it was time to try again, inspite of them. For me, it worked this time. Time was right.
I'm set that if they bring up why I don't.... that I will tell them "... that is not why I'm here. I'm here to see you and not to discuss the WBTS doctrine." If they continue, I will leave. I found out 15 years ago they have no more power over me. I've even managed to give a couple "right on" answers to see my dad speechless - and my dad is NEVER speechless! (My dad, Saggitarius, as am I, an elder all my life and many times a PO and many years on the JC.)
There will be more to come.
Hugs, and thanx for the love and support
Brenda
i had business in that end of town, and just stopped by.
i had been wanting to do so for quite a while.
my parents will be 87 each next month.
I had business in that end of town, and just stopped by. I had been wanting to do so for quite a while. My parents will be 87 each next month. I wanted to thank them for everything they have done for me and taught me (sans JW stuff). I was adopted and know enought about my siblings lives to know that I was much better off.
I havent seen them in over 10 years. Last time I brought my husband #3 to be to introduce him. My dad totally ignored my fiance and never once put down the paper he was reading. My mom, ever the cordial one.
I figured either 1) they would not let me in and tell me to go away, 2) not answer the door even though they were home, or 3) answer, let me in, my mom be pleasant and my dad thump me when he got the chance.
It was 3. But my dad was very pleasant and never once thumped! So unlike him. Well, he is old. Has had a rough time with losses from diabetes, and he's a bit child-like.
All in all it was a wonderful visit. I thanked each for the things they taught me: My mom for teaching me to sew, and for patience in sewing to rip out and redo, and for teaching me patternmaking and design. My dad for turning me loose in his workshop and showing me how to use his power tools. For teaching me how electricity and plumbing and cars work, and for showing me how to read maps, and electrical/electronic schematics. All of which I've used in business, especially my 15 years in the computer industry.
I kept welling up in tears: when the heart overflows with gratitude, it comes out the eyeballs.
They want me to come back and keep coming back. Even "my Kevan" is welcome! They've changed. "Time wounds all heals" is so true.
Snuffle.
Hugs
Brenda
i have to tell you something.. i really find it hard getting over the idea of no new system and all that it meant to me.
to be with my children and their children forever in perfect health.. too many days it just leaves me empty.
i just wish i could shake it and enjoy life, but the idea that we just live for 70 years and die kills me.
Hey, Confused. I appreciate your "loss". As that is what it is, and that is why it leaves a hole. This loss needs to be filled with something: a new belief system, a new understanding or enlightenment.
Me? I had a difficult time living for the future. I'm much more of a here and now person. This characteristic in me makes it difficult for me to have long-range, even mid-range goals. I've finally learned how to have these goals and work toward them. It's taken a spousal unit that is so long-range oriented that he sometimes has a difficult time with the present! We're great together.
I have seen my parents waste away pining for the New World, and not achieve, or even work toward their dream of retirement on Hood's Canal (A beautiful stretch of water in NW Washington State. They stayed stuck. Even when I was a JW I swore I'd never do that. (And my spousal unit and I are planning our retirement years in Hawaii).
As others have indicated, there is much more to this life TODAY. Each day is a wonderful miracle... how are you going to appreciate it? What are you going to do special today, for yourself, for your family and friends, for friends you havent met yet?
New World? Why don't you work toward making one. You know, the bumper sticker that says "Think Globally, Act Locally"? Get involved with doing something right in your neighborhood, or city. Volunteer. Help clean up a vacant lot for a park. Work with Habitat for Humanity, or Loaves and Fishes delivering meals to shut-in seniors. Work at a cancer or aids hospice. Create your own New World.
Blessings and hugs on your jorney. It's an exciting one!
Brenda
i was talking with my dad last night and during our call, he started talking about all the storms to hit florida, the earthquake in california (that didn't damage anything), and mt.
saint helens on the verge of erupting.. he didn't come right out and say it, but i got the feeling he was trying to slip in some kind of warning.
the old 'sign of the end' type of stuff.
FairMind, you may wish to check out the Hopi Prophesies on the end of the 4th world (of man). Here's a link to help you on your way - and there are many others.
http://www.dreamscape.com/morgana/tethys.htm#banyacya
I've had the privledge of meeting Grandfather Banyacya, in a small group on one occasion, and in public, as one of his assistants, on two other occasions, when he was traveling the country talking about the last days of the 4th world.
Other peoples - non-christians - have prophesies of end-times, too. It's not a christian nor JW phenomenon.
-B
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"they are in my opinion, a disgrace!
" i have posted about their racest practices & unwillingness to distribute watchtowers & awake magazines to everyone on prior occasions..... i "finally" see one of them distributing the magazines at the bus stop and she is walking along "with a cigarette hanging out the side of her mouth", smoking while she is doing it.. the witnesses in this area need a better attitude about what they are doing!!
still for making wine
You don't use a still for making wine. Wine will make itself with just the introduction of the appropriate yeasts feeding on natural or added sugars. However, the highest any naturally produced alcohol can attain is 13-14% before the yeast dies. (Alcohol being a by-product of yeast - read yeast farts). A still is for dis-stilling the alcohol from the original source, of which the alcohol in wine is the source for distilling into brandy, or for fortifying wines like MD 20/20.
These guys were going for the gusto!
-B
