OH yeah...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
-BONEZZ
BONEZZ
JoinedPosts by BONEZZ
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I'm not working for NY Times but another great story about cults in China
by BONEZZ inseems china is allowing christian groups to do their thing in the countryside and it's screwing up all the people...funny they don't mention the dubbies at all.
others are making big inroads.
my pasting abilities are not so great so you'll just have to go to their website and check it out...it's worth it...here's an excerpt (if it works)...... http://www.nytimes.com/
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I'm not working for NY Times but another great story about cults in China
by BONEZZ inseems china is allowing christian groups to do their thing in the countryside and it's screwing up all the people...funny they don't mention the dubbies at all.
others are making big inroads.
my pasting abilities are not so great so you'll just have to go to their website and check it out...it's worth it...here's an excerpt (if it works)...... http://www.nytimes.com/
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BONEZZ
Seems China is allowing Christian groups to do their thing in the countryside and it's screwing up all the people...funny they don't mention the Dubbies at all. Others are making big inroads. My pasting abilities are not so great so you'll just have to go to their website and check it out...it's worth it...here's an excerpt (if it works)...... http://www.nytimes.com/
......"China's growing material wealth has eluded the countryside, home to two-thirds of its population. But there is a bull market in sects and cults competing for souls."
-BONEZZ
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Great editorial in today's NY Times regarding Apocalypse groups and Fundy's
by BONEZZ inmentions millerites...but no jw's...darn it.
op-ed columnist apocalypse (almost) now.
by nicholas d. kristof.
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BONEZZ
Aw CRAP..I just notice the first part is missing too...oh well just go to the Times..it's a free sub.
-BONEZZ
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Great editorial in today's NY Times regarding Apocalypse groups and Fundy's
by BONEZZ inmentions millerites...but no jw's...darn it.
op-ed columnist apocalypse (almost) now.
by nicholas d. kristof.
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BONEZZ
Sorry about the extra stuff...I obviously need to cut 'n paste more better!!
-BONEZZ
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Great editorial in today's NY Times regarding Apocalypse groups and Fundy's
by BONEZZ inmentions millerites...but no jw's...darn it.
op-ed columnist apocalypse (almost) now.
by nicholas d. kristof.
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BONEZZ
Mentions Millerites...but no JW's...darn it.
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Apocalypse (Almost) Now
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: November 24, 2004ARTICLE TOOLS E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Format Most E-Mailed Articles Columnist Page: Nicholas D. KristofTIMES NEWS TRACKER Topics
AlertsBooks and Literature Evangelism Christians and Christianity Track news that interests you.f America's secular liberals think they have it rough now, just wait till the Second Coming.The "Left Behind" series, the best-selling novels for adults in the U.S., enthusiastically depict Jesus returning to slaughter everyone who is not a born-again Christian. The world's Hindus, Muslims, Jews and agnostics, along with many Catholics and Unitarians, are heaved into everlasting fire: "Jesus merely raised one hand a few inches and . . . they tumbled in, howling and screeching."
Gosh, what an uplifting scene!
If Saudi Arabians wrote an Islamic version of this series, we would furiously demand that sensible Muslims repudiate such hatemongering. We should hold ourselves to the same standard.
Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, the co-authors of the series, have both e-mailed me (after I wrote about the "Left Behind" series in July) to protest that their books do not "celebrate" the slaughter of non-Christians but simply present the painful reality of Scripture.
"We can't read it some other way just because it sounds exclusivistic and not currently politically correct," Mr. Jenkins said in an e-mail. "That's our crucible, an offensive and divisive message in an age of plurality and tolerance."
Silly me. I'd forgotten the passage in the Bible about how Jesus intends to roast everyone from the good Samaritan to Gandhi in everlasting fire, simply because they weren't born-again Christians.
I accept that Mr. Jenkins and Mr. LaHaye are sincere. (They base their conclusions on John 3.) But I've sat down in Pakistani and Iraqi mosques with Muslim fundamentalists, and they offered the same defense: they're just applying God's word.
Now, I've often written that blue staters should be less snooty toward fundamentalist Christians, and I realize that this column will seem pretty snooty. But if I praise the good work of evangelicals - like their superb relief efforts in Darfur - I'll also condemn what I perceive as bigotry. A dialogue about faith must move past taboos and discuss differences bluntly. That's what blue staters and red staters need to do about religion and the "Left Behind" books.
For starters, it's worth pointing out that those predicting an apocalypse have a long and lousy record. In America, tens of thousands of followers of William Miller waited eagerly for Jesus to reappear on Oct. 22, 1844. Some of these Millerites had given away all their belongings, and the no-show was called the Great Disappointment.
In more recent times, the best-selling nonfiction book of the 1970's was Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth," selling 18 million copies worldwide with its predictions of a Second Coming. Then, one of the hottest best sellers in 1988 was a booklet called "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988." Oops.
Being wrong has rarely been so lucrative.
Now we have the hugely profitable "Left Behind" financial empire, whose Web site flatly says that the authors "think this generation will witness the end of history." The site sells every "Left Behind" spinoff imaginable, including screen savers, regular prophecies sent to your mobile phone, children's versions of the books, audiobooks, graphic novels, videos, calendars, music and a $6.50-a-month prophesy club. This isn't religion, this is brand management.
If Mr. LaHaye and Mr. Jenkins honestly believe that the end of the world may be imminent, why not waive royalties? Why don't they use the millions of dollars in profits to help the poor - and increase their own chances of getting into heaven?
Mr. Jenkins told me that he gives 20 to 40 percent of his income to charity, and that's commendable. But there are millions more where that came from. Mr. LaHaye and Mr. Jenkins might spend less time puzzling over obscure passages in the Book of Revelation and more time with the straightforward language of Matthew 6:19, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth." Or Matthew 19:21, where Jesus advises a rich man: "Sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. . . . It will be hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
So I challenge the authors to a bet: if the events of the Apocalypse arrive in the next 10 years, then I'll donate $500 to the battle against the Antichrist; if it doesn't, you donate $500 to a charity of my choosing that fights poverty - and bigotry.
Gentlemen, do we have a deal?
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Jgnat needs our love and support.
by kls ini am grieving tonight, can't stop crying.
my wonderful, strong, capable, practical myrna, my stepmom and all mom to me, has malignant cancer that can't be operated on.
if you are able, send your best prayers and best wishes her way.
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BONEZZ
Jgnat,
Love and hope go to you...and I know it's hard but try to keep positive. You've got a lot of friends praying for you.
-BONEZZ
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Today, I'm Going To Bring The "Crisis of Conscience "Book To My Mother
by minimus inmy mother has been expressing to us how she reluctantly is beginning to see that the organization indeed has some problems.
she is starting to "feel" that things aren't right.
this past thursday, they gave a "marking" talk for my daughter who hasn't attended a meeting in years.
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BONEZZ
That's great Minimus...my parents both quit in their late seventies. Both of them were baptized in L.A. around 1950. There is hope. Just be prepared for depression that your mom might feel when she realizes she's given most of her ife to the borg. She'll handle it with your help.
-BONEZZ
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Assembly & C.O. /D.O. Elder meeting notes
by doinmypart ini attended the 2004-2005 circuit assembly this past weekend.
the internet, online chat rooms, and jw online dating was mentioned several times both days.
during both the circuit overseer's final talk on sunday and the district overseer's final talk sunday they both spent several minutes talking about how the internet poses a serious danger to god's people.
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BONEZZ
Thanks for the update doinmypart. I'm sure it makes a lot of us feel extra happy that we're not a part of that intimidating crap anymore. They just don't get it. They will continue to browbeat their flock and and lose 'em in droves.
-BONEZZ
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Confession of sin and the watchtower
by little witch inhi everyone, it has been awhile since i have visited and i just wanted to share a few thoughts with you today on the topic of confession of sin.
for those who have never attended a church, i will explain the view of 'christendom" on the matter.
church for most christian denominations is a place of healing and recharging of the spirit.
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BONEZZ
They want to know your deepest, darkest secrets, because they wish to help you...LYING BASTARDS! If you confess to the elders, the WTBS now has more control over you and that's what it's all about...CONTROL.
-BONEZZ
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My Mother's Being Announced in November As OFF The Pioneer List
by minimus inafter 40 years of serving as a regular pioneer and being on the infirm list, the circuit overseer, the po and another elder told her today in a 30 min.
conversation she was going to be announced as no longer pioneering.
the co mostly talked about me, my wife and daughter.
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BONEZZ
Min...
I'm very sorry for what they've done to your mom. I haven't read all the replies so excuse me if I'm being redumnuts...err redundant. If your mom is geographically close, this would be the time to love bomb her with visits and company. Actions speak louder than words. I know you love her and want the best...I hope it works out good for you guys.
-BONEZZ
f America's secular liberals think they have it rough now, just wait till the Second Coming.