Maybe some sisters have been having abortions so they can stay at Bethel ...
OldSoul
JoinedPosts by OldSoul
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2
the labs are for
by lurk inaccording to wadsworth the labs are for self montior (elap certified non-commercial labs).
http://www.wadsworth.orga non-commercial laboratory is a self monitor, performing analysis for only its facility.
it does not accept samples from the public.
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28
please don't try discourage me !
by Yvonne A in.
please read my reply at the end of just for jehovah's witnesses and please don't take offense as i haven't with your opinions.
thank you .
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OldSoul
Yvonne, I am not an ex-JW. I believe the Bible is inspired. I also share your belief that if the Bible prohibits us from something it is for our benefit. I will not try to discourage you. Jehovah's Witnesses make it seem that anything that would slow your "progress" (which they define as increased activity) is discouragement. From what I have read everyone here has been encouraging you to "make sure of the more important things." (Philippians 1:8-11) That scripture applies to study and research. The Greek translated "make sure" mean to examine and test.
I encourage you to prayerfully consider the October 15, 1998 Watchtower article entitled, "Can You Believe the Bible?" In that article, aimed primarily at Catholicism, there are two subheadings ("The Bible or Tradition?" and "The Importance of the Scriptures") that should provide you with a clear basis for choosing to fairly evaluate whatever you want to. Especially before baptism.
Also, consider the questions for baptism as they read in 1973 (w73 5/1 p. 280, pp. 25):
- Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognizing yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
- On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
Compare those questions to the current questions (w85 6/1 p. 30):
- On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
- Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah?s Witnesses in association with God?s spirit-directed organization?
According to these new questions there is no specifically stated need to be a student of the Bible at all. The Bible is not mentioned, neither is the holy spirit, or its operation on individuals. I recommend you thoroughly research whether there is any such thing as a "spirit-directed" organization before answer yes to that second question. If you have any questions that your teachers are reluctant to answer or that do not fully satisfy you, there is a reason.
Please do not take cautioning words as discouragement. They are meant as encouragement. Encouragement for you to choose whatever course you wish to take with full knowledge and assurance.
Respectfully,
OldSoul -
67
Pivitol Date Stuff
by IP_SEC ini dont "get" the whole 1914 thing.
the 'prophetic rule'?
day fer a year?
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OldSoul
mkr: Your arguments are so UNscholarly as to work in the exact oppisite of your desired intent! You are actually convincing people that the date is wrong by trying to show them that it's right!
Interesting observation, but your advice may go unheeded. Given the abysmally lacking defense it may be scalar's purpose to do exactly what you suggest he (or she) is doing.
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67
Pivitol Date Stuff
by IP_SEC ini dont "get" the whole 1914 thing.
the 'prophetic rule'?
day fer a year?
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OldSoul
scalar: WT chronology has a;ways placed an emhasis on the seventy years as desolation of the land which by definition implies exile and servitude.
I am not impressed by your unbased definitions of implication. Actually, by every "definition" the implication is the state the land would be left in. Astonishingly destitute, a waste. A scholar would know that. That word does not in any way apply to the people's state of exile or servitude except through grossest liberties in interpretation. A modest argument could be made to indicate that in addition to physical desolation there may also be a connotation (as opposed to denotation) of spiritual desolation, but that is as far as one could reasonably go with interpretting the meaning of the Hebrew word שׁמם (shaw-mame') or its variants.
Anyone who goes beyond that is stepping outside the bounds of translation and entering the arena of fantastical contrivance. There is no path by which such an interpretation can be drawn using scripture to interpret itself. This is, therefore, another example of the Governing Body exercising magisterium over the laity under the pen name "Faithful and Discreet Slave." You bear the name scholar like an ill-fitting crown.
I think perhaps you might consider fully expounding your substantiating materials so that I might arrive at the same conclusion independently of your insistence that, "It is so!" Otherwise, you could seek some other haunt more conducive to your efforts at peddling false sagacity. I get the distinct impression no such substantiating materials may reasonably be expected in the near future. You wish me to content myself with your anecdotal claims of the existence of such material. I would as soon believe that Mr. Smith, at the direction of Moroni, actually found some gold leaves sorely in need of translation.
So far, thanks for the levity. That is all you have really added.
Peace,
OldSoul -
43
Silly Quiz Question...
by Englishman inok, try this one.. michaelangelo's statue of david.
you know the one, somewhere in italy?
if you look closely, actually very closely, you'll notice something unusual about this statue.. david has got a very, very, tiny willy!.
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OldSoul
'Cause the picture was taken when he was cold?
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Intelligence
by onacruse inthis matter has been brought up for discussion here many times before, but for certain reasons i ask that you will patiently bear with me as i bring it up yet again.. what constitutes intelligence?
is it (among many possibilities):.
1) the mere accumulation of knowledge...factual information?.
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OldSoul
amazing: Einstein was not able to balance a check book, yet he was a wizard at physics and advanced math.
I believe that the most up-to-date version is that he was an excellent theoretical physicist who required the assistance of a brilliant mathematician to bring his thoughts into formulaic terms. First, his wife fulfilled that role. Later in life he developed close friendships with many other noted mathematicians. He could spot the errors in formulas quickly, but had trouble laying them out for himself. Good point, either way.
Respectfully,
OldSoul -
179
I found a big ol' fat lie again in there!
by gumby insome big fat liar made sumthin up again!
looky here what i went and found in the bible!
remember that little dove that desended down on jesus right after he was baptised by john?
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OldSoul
OldSoul..........your little game should have caused you embarrasment also. The fact is.....the lameass bible writers goofed didn't they? They could decide to lie and say John was locked up before Peter was chosen or after he was chosen. You'd think the demonized Catholic church fathers could have put their crack pipe down long enough to get their damn stories straight before they decided which books would make up the canon. When you come up with a believable explanation for John imprisonment timing.....let me know...k?
Way to strawman, sport. And you think I should be embarrassed? Your hypotheses couldn't even take a single simple question. You still haven't indicated why you think such a small chronological detail about a "supporting character" even matters.
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OldSoul
Geoff,
All due respect, look around carefully in your congregation. Can you honestly say your experience is typical for one of Jehovah's Witnesses? It seems you took our comments personally when they were largely descriptive of others.
For instance, that quiet sister in the back who is in her thirties, has never been out of the city she grew up in, is too shy to join the TMS, and has trouble studying for the meetings because the ideas presented are so complex, much less doing deep Bible research. Where does she find solace when her spirit is crushed within her?
Or how about that young brother handling the mic on Sunday who has a job waiting tables so he can Pioneer, but whose personal study habits and personal relationship with Jehovah suck because an organization directly contradicts the Bible when it tells him that the most important thing he can be doing is going out in the Field Ministry, engaging in this "never to be repeated work." Who does he cry out to when he realizes that he has no spiritual depth at all because he followed the instructions of the Faithful and Discreet Slave and put the preaching work first - ahead of personal study?
But, typical of one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you internalized the comments and only saw them as they relate to your experiences. Empathy doesn't mean sympathy, empathy means looking through someone else's eyes. From one who is still in to another, I encourage you to acquire some genuine empathy. You will see the dear people in your Hall in a whole new light. They hurt because of those who do nothing to alleviate their suffering. Well, nothing much beyond platitudes, from what I have seen. And no, I am not talking about my personal experience. I am not considered a weak one in the congregation.
I am confident those hypocrites who have seated themselves in the seat of Moses - supplanting Jesus as mediator, priest, and teacher - will bear their judgment. I just hurt for the damage they do in the meantime.
Respectfully,
OldSoul -
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OldSoul
I try to give everyone at least 20% trust credit on account. On account'a what, you ask? On account'a that is who and what I am. I also trust my own instincts to a pretty high degree, and will adjust that initial credit either way by as much as 40%, depending on what I pick up on from the person.
Then there is what I'll call the "intent factor" that modifies it a little in either direction. For instance, I understand what my JW parent's intent would be in spiritual discussions and trust them slightly less because of it. In other areas, I would trust them slightly more. There are not many people that I trust unconditionally and unreservedly - as in, letting them know my PIN numbers and such would not give me a moment's pause. And while I grant them my complete trust, I do so with absolute knowledge that they have the potential to betray me.
I know that some believe that it is impossible to acknowledge that potential and still trust completely but I can choose to willingly accept that risk. I am not gullible, credulity and trust are not the same.
But, then, I have access to a personal financial account of a former workmate. We were complete strangers when I started working there but I earned his complete trust. He doesn't even question whether I might abuse his trust. He has placed his trust well, I would never intentionally abuse his trust in any way and I exercise great care to avoid unintentionally doing so. Is he a fool to trust?
I have come to believe that people will tend to live up to or down to reasonable expectations. That is not an absolute, by any means, but I think the tendency runs that way.
Respectfully,
OldSoul -
109
Pathetic JW Web Site
by DevonMcBride in.
this guy needs a friend...and a life.
definitely a few fries short of a happy meal.. http://www.flyinhi.freeservers.com/.
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OldSoul
This one is definitely Elder material.
Honestly Honesty, you took the words right off of my fingertips.