blondie

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Posts by blondie

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  11

  Care to vent with me?

  by patio34 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  am aware this is not original.

  my jw son called yesterday.

  he pointed out to me how "fragile" everything is, what with the wtc bombing threatening so much in the us and world.

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  blondie

  No change in attendance by me or near me.
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  19

  50 Years Ago in the Watchtower

  by Thirdson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  no doubt you are familiar with the practice of many popular magazines to print selected extracts from their issues 25, 50 or 100 years ago.

  (scientific american goes back 150 years).

  what is interesting is the ideas presented then, sometimes they are fanciful and just plain wrong.

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  blondie

  Actually, non-witness or non-witnesses is becoming the new politically correct term.

  There has been a silent switch from worldling to worldly people/unbelievers to non-witness(es). Note that this change is almost always in connection with relief work.

  Last use of worlding
  *** w95 7/1 22 Dwellers Together in a Restored "Land" ***
  However, according to the words of Zechariah, some Philistines had a change of heart, and this foreshadowed that some worldlings today would not remain at enmity with Jehovah.

  Using “unbeliever” not meant to be belittling. Do not call worldly spouses unbelievers. Use in politically emotional situations. Use “non-Witness” instead.
  *** g97 9/8 13 "No Part of the World"-What Does It Mean? ***
  In the Bible the term “unbeliever” is at times used to designate non-Christians. However, there is no evidence that the word “unbeliever” was used as an official designation or label. Certainly, it was not used to belittle or denigrate non-Christians, as this would be contrary to Bible principles. (Proverbs 24:9) Jehovah’s Witnesses today avoid being harsh or arrogant toward unbelievers. They consider it rude to label non-Witness relatives or neighbors with derogatory terms. They follow Bible counsel, which states: “A slave of the Lord . . . needs to be gentle toward all.”—2 Timothy 2:24.

  Use “wordly” for groups not individuals.
  *** w98 5/15 15 Christian Faith Will Be Tested ***
  An additional test came upon true Christians in 1918 when worldly authorities, goaded on by the clergy of Christendom, ‘framed mischief by law’ against Jehovah’s organization. (Psalm 94:20, KJ)

  *** w99 1/1 4 Real Help for the Family ***
  Many non-Witnesses have made similar comments about their Witness spouses.

  *** w98 1/15 5 Christianity in Action-Amid Turmoil ***
  “The brothers from Europe, however, brought money that enabled us to buy food, which was scarce and very expensive. The food came at an important time, since many had nothing to eat in their homes. We distributed the food both to Witnesses and non-Witnesses. If the help had not come when it did, many more would have died, especially children. Jehovah saved his people. Non-Witnesses were very impressed. Many commented on our unity and love. Some acknowledged that ours is the true religion.”

  *** w98 1/15 6 Christianity in Action-Amid Turmoil ***
  Aid to Non-Witnesses
  This humanitarian aid was not given exclusively to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Others also benefited, just as many did in 1994. This is in harmony with Galatians 6:10, which states: “Really, then, as long as we have time favorable for it, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.”

  *** w98 7/1 31 A Samaritan Proves to Be a Good Neighbor ***
  Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to follow this Scriptural admonition. For example, when natural disasters strike, they extend humanitarian aid to fellow believers as well as to non-Witnesses.

  *** w98 12/1 13 Hated for Their Faith ***
  Like the early Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses in modern times have been “objects of hatred” in various lands. Yet they do not hate non-Witnesses; nor have they ever been a seedbed of insurrection against governments.

  *** w98 12/1 15 Defending Our Faith ***
  From their self-righteous perch, these fanatic men looked down on the Gentiles. We do not take such a narrow view, treating non-Witnesses with disdain.

  A balanced, Scriptural view should affect the way we speak about non-Witnesses.
  
  *** w95 8/1 18 Taught by Jehovah Down Till This Day ***
  Another longtime feature of the teaching program is the Public Meeting. As its name indicates, this meeting was established particularly to acquaint non-Witnesses with basic Bible teachings. Thus, the one giving the talk needs to present the information so that it is understandable to those hearing the message for the first time. This means explaining terms such as “other sheep,” “brothers,” and “remnant,” terms that non-Witnesses may not understand.

  *** w95 11/1 29 Box Meal Gives Witness ***
  Jehovah’s Witnesses shared their food with others who were in need. One Witness found himself eating his lunch while traveling by car with a non-Witness colleague working in the same company. So he shared one of the box meals he had received.
  “Where did you buy this box lunch?” his colleague asked. The brother explained the relief work of the Witnesses. “I haven’t eaten vegetables for days. I’m going to save some and take it home for my family,” the man said appreciatively.

  *** w93 7/1 15 Christians and Human Society Today ***
  If a mixed marriage breaks up, the initiative almost always comes from the non-Witness partner.

  *** w92 1/1 29 Maintaining Christian Integrity in War-Torn Liberia ***
  Food supplies were very limited. Even before the war began, merchants had stopped importing goods. Thus, very little food was left in the city. Our supply of food at the branch would have lasted our 12 family members many months, but we sometimes had up to 200 people living with us, including non-Witness neighbors who were desperately in need of help. Everyone was restricted to one small meal a day; we survived on such rations for several months. Everybody was hungry. Babies were just skin and bones, hanging limp in their parents’ arms.
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  20

  Patriotism?

  by proplog2 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was raised a jw and during the 1950's i experienced the ugly side of flag worship.

  date: 1960. place: midwestern industrial city.. scene: school gymnasium/auditorium.

  2,000 students assembled to recognize the foreign exchange students.

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  blondie

  I will miss your comments, proplog2. Even as a lurker I looked for your responses.

  I still remember the 1950's and Joseph McCarthy and shudder.

  Sorry about your experience...I had a similar one.
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  12

  Unite For Star-Studded Fund-Raiser

  by stephenw20 in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  alicia keys, bon jovi and others unite for star-studded fund-raiser .

  by joe d'angelo .

  alicia keys, bruce springsteen, stevie wonder and bon jovi are a few of the artists joining forces with tv and film celebrities like jim carrey and tom hanks for an unprecedented telecast of music and supportive messages on friday.. the event will raise funds for a long-term relief effort for the thousands who have been affected by last tuesday's terrorist attacks.. the two-hour, commercial-free "america: a tribute to heroes" will be broadcast live from new york and los angeles on abc, cbs, fox and nbc at 9 p.m. et/8 p.m. ct, and tape-delayed for the mountain and pacific time zones, according to an event publicist.. others slated to appear in the television special include neil young, sheryl crow, cameron diaz, robert de niro, billy joel, tom petty, will smith, george clooney, amy brenneman, the dixie chicks, clint eastwood, calista flockhart, dennis franz, kelsey grammer, tom cruise, faith hill, conan o'brien, ray romano, julia roberts, paul simon, sela ward and robin williams, with more expected to be added.. production costs will be paid for by the networks, and everyone involved will be donating their time and resources.

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  blondie

  Neil Young was great...the last few times I have seen him, he seemed so burnt out. He was playing and singing right on the mark with "Imagine." I can't imagine John Lennon doing a better job.
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  2

  Montreal dad shot family....

  by peterstride in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  check out this link that will take you to a cbc newsworld web-site news article.

  the guy that shot his family so that they could be in paradise sounds suspiciously like he could be..... : http://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2001/09/21/murder_suicide010921.

  peter stride.

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  blondie

  The Bauer family was a popular family involved in hockey, baseball and other community activities in suburban Kirkland.
  
  http://www.canada.com/montreal/
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  44

  Questions="dishonest baiting"?

  by Julie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  three little scriptures that i feel reflect the opposite of all that christians claim biblegod to be.

  i merely asked a hard-core defender of the faith to justify these as actions of an all-loving, enlightened supreme being.

  here they are along with the "explanations" of them (in a nutshell):.

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  blondie

  I found the census account difficult to understand and I still don't...I'd like the "rest of the story"

  David had a choice of:

  1. A famine for three years,
  2. The sword of Israel’s enemies overtaking Israel for three months,
  3. A pestilence for three days.

  1 Chronicles 21:13
  13 So David said to Gad: “It is very distressing to me. Please, let me fall into the hand of Jehovah, for very many are his mercies; but into the hand of man do not let me fall.”

  Amazingly, the Bible does not state why taking a census was wrong. Bible commentators have suggested that David erred in not collecting the head tax. Or that David was showing weakness in trying to find out how large his military force was, instead of depending on God for victory no matter what its size. Yet others say that David might have given in to human pride, wanting to be able to boast over Israel’s importance and glory. But the Bible is silent on this.

  Was that unjust to kill 70,000 innocent people for the king’s error?

  This is the WTS explanation given.

  “The Bible plainly shows that we all are sinners deserving of death; it is only by God’s undeserved kindness that we live. (Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Lam. 3:22, 23) So those who died had no special “right” to life. Additionally, can any human today say for sure that those 70,000 were not guilty of some serious sin not mentioned in the historical record?”

  Imagine recording that 70,000 people were executed but not recording why the census was a sin and and how 70,000 people shared in David’s sin.
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  64

  Bush's speech -- I'll be the first to admit...

  by Seeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...it was an effective speech.

  i was impressed, and thought it only fair to say so here given the recent political discussions.

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  blondie

  I have to admit that part of me cringes when President Bush has to speak "off the cuff" or extemporaneously. I feel for him...he does better in public speaking when he has a script and has rehearsed (who doesn't?). But that was fairly obvious when he ran for office...and he was elected anyway.

  Of course, I realize that many of the words he speaks are crafted by those who assist him. I wonder how many famous words attributed to certain famous people were actually from someone behind the scenes?
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  95

  Org. Re-orging in JAPAN

  by JWD in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who haven`t been following it,the wts is in a downward spiral here in japan.fs hours are down,memorial attendance.

  is down,pioneers are down,studies are down,donations are down,number.

  of congregations is down and the number of publishers continues to.

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  blondie

  This information appeared in the WT which was the same WT the Japanese brothers would have received...

  4/15/91 WT page 23 Imitate God's Mercy Today ***
  13 In recent times there have been cases in which an elder happened to meet a disfellowshipped person. Where appropriate, the shepherd briefly outlined the steps to be taken for reinstatement. Some persons like this repented and were reinstated. Such joyful outcomes indicate that there may be disfellowshipped or disassociated ones who would respond to a merciful approach made by the shepherds. But how might the elders handle this matter? Once a year at most, the body of elders should consider whether there are such persons living in their territory. The elders would focus on those who have been expelled for over a year. According to the circumstances, if it is appropriate, they would assign two elders (hopefully ones familiar with the situation) to visit such an individual. No visit would be made on any who evidence a critical, dangerous attitude or who have made it known that they want no help.—Romans 16:17, 18; 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:16-18.

  14 The two shepherds could telephone to ask about making a brief visit, or they could stop by at a suitable time. During the visit, they need not be stern or even cool but should warmly reflect their merciful concern. Instead of reviewing the past case, they could discuss Bible texts such as Isaiah 1:18 and Isa 55:6, 7 and James 5:20. If the person is interested in returning to God’s flock, they could kindly explain what steps he should take, such as reading the Bible and publications of the Watch Tower Society and attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall.

  15 These elders will need wisdom and discernment to determine whether there is indication of repentance and whether a follow-up visit would be advisable. They should bear in mind, of course, that some disfellowshipped persons will never be ‘revived to repentance.’ (Hebrews 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:20-22) After the visit, the two would give a brief oral report to the Congregation Service Committee. They, in turn, would inform the body of elders at their next meeting. The elders’ merciful initiative will have reflected God’s view: “‘Return to me, and I will return to you,’ Jehovah of armies has said.”—Malachi 3:7.

  So the Japanese brothers had the information, whether they chose to apply it I don't know. I assume so since they seem to be much more obedient that those in the US.
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  95

  Org. Re-orging in JAPAN

  by JWD in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those of you who haven`t been following it,the wts is in a downward spiral here in japan.fs hours are down,memorial attendance.

  is down,pioneers are down,studies are down,donations are down,number.

  of congregations is down and the number of publishers continues to.

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  blondie

  Every September in the US the elders routinely visit the DF'd and DA'd once a year (or at least they are direted to do so). Is this in addition to this directive?

  *** km 9/99 7 Announcements ***
   The elders are reminded to follow through on instructions given on pages 21-3 of the April 15, 1991, Watchtower, regarding any disfellowshipped or disassociated ones who may be inclined toward becoming reinstated.
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  69

  DICK, GORE, BUSH & COLIN

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some of you have read posts here, and on other forums, in magazines and newspapers, and maybe watched tv commnetary that alleges president george w. bush is less than brilliant, perhaps under-qualified for office, etc.. evidence seems starkly missing from these allegations.

  during campaign 2000, the media started painting gw as being mentally 'one can short of a six-pack.

  ' but, has anyone, and i mean anyone provided even an ounce of evidence to support this?

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  blondie

  BTW, isn't that Colin?