borgfree

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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  RR,

  My first year at the convention was completely different from what you describe. Erick Grieshaber gave a very special talk about Jesus, what He had done for us etc. I would have never thought I would go to the alter in front of several hundred people and say "the sinners prayer" giving my life to Jesus, but I did.

  I have gone every year since, this will be my 10th year. Joan would never consider letting a non-believer direct worship or anything like that. I can't imagine why you had that experience, but, I can assure you it is not that way now.

  Most of the talks are spiritual, of course there are always comments about our former lives in the WT, what the latest WT happenings are, etc, but, I would say about 90 % of the program is Christ/spiritually oriented.

  You should give it another try.

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  RR,

  I agree that we all need to go on with our lives, but, there are always new ones who are fresh out of the WT, who will be at the conventions. They will, of course, be very hurt, and their "wounds" will be fresh. The ones who have been out for a few years are there for comfort and support for these new ones just out.

  Also, you grow to really care about those you have met at the conventions and look forward to seeing them again.

  There are usually book tables where the ministries offer a big variety of books, etc. When I was just leaving the WT, I wanted all of the information I could get my hands on, that information helped me assure myself that I had made the right decision, and, I became much stronger in my convictions. I was then equipped to help others with the knowledge I had gained.

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  Pomegranate,

  I have read your last post carefully. Unless I missed something, somewhere in the post, I really do not find anything I would disagree with.

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  Pomegranate,

  You stated this in an earlier post and I did not respond to it:

  James 2:19
  Even the demons believe that-and shudder.

  I think you misused the scripture. As you can see below, the writer was talking about faith producing deeds or works, he was saying that even the demons believed there is a God, but, that is a totally different thing than believing in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and having faith in Him to grant you eternal life. The demons can have no such hope.

  14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
  18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
  19 Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless [4] ? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  Pomegranate, you say,

  Any man coming to you saying he is saved and chosen is talking through his buttocks and looking to start his own religion.note the following scriptures

  John 6:40
  For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

  John 10 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all [1] ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

  John 1:12
  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

  
  

  John 3:18
  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[

  John 3:36
  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

  John 5:24
  "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

  John 11 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
  25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

  John 20 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may [1] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

  These scriptures and others make it plain that eternal life is a free gift from our Lord and we only have to accept the gift by believing in Jesus Christ, really believing, not just pretend believing.

  You say: "looking to start his own religion."

  All of the major protestant,mainstream, religions that I know of, teach that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have everlasting life. By claiming the things you are stating in your posts aren't you teaching a different gospel? and in effect, looking to start your own religion?

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  John 3:36 - He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.

  John 5:24 - Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

  John 6:54 - he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  My apologies for repeating anything that had already been said, I am at work and sometimes have to actually do work, so it takes longer for me to complete my post.

  borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  Valis,

  I think I understand what you mean, I just do not believe it fits most of the people I know who attend the convention.

  The first year I attended (fresh out of 54 years of believing the WT) I went to the alter and gave my life to our Lord. I am not attempting to preach here, just explain. At that point I was given eternal life (my beliefs) I am under no obligation to accept anything some speaker says, I can accept it or not, that is my choice.

  Christian living is much different than JW living. Unity in the Christian faith is unity is Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. There are many things Christians will differ on, as far as beliefs are concerned, we can do that, and still be brothers and sisters. The only real unity must be our Lord.

  We can also love other people, whether they share our beliefs or not, we can actually love our enemies, (talked about but not necessarily practiced by JWs) I find living as a Christian entirely different from living as a JW.

  Our keynote speaker will express his thoughts, views, etc. I will agree with him or I may not agree with everything he says, again, my choice. If I like, I will get up and walk out, I will still be treated as a brother by the others there.

  I forget who the keynote speaker is, but, if it is Erick Greishaber, he is an ex-JW, now a Pentacostal Pastor, you only need to be careful around him because he is in the habit of giving bear-hugs, he is a big guy.

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  Valis,

  I spent my life believing the WT. I do not consider it the same thing at all. As witnesses we believed "the world is under the power of the wicked one" I think most Christians believe that is so. If that is the case then it would be wise to be careful of the information we believe. I am not afraid to read or listen to any information but I do not believe everyone who is considered an authority of some kind, I will use my own mind, unlike when I was a JW.

  This will be my 10th year at the convention. I hope to never miss it. It is nice to be with people who have been where we have been.

  There will be a man there who has attended every convention since the first one. He claims he still is not a believer. I guess if the convention was anything like the WT, he would have given in to the mind control by now.

  Borgfree
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  101

  "Witnesses Now For Jesus" convention ...

  by borgfree in

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  borgfree

  Main Entry: 1 fundamental
  Pronunciation: "f&n-d&-'men-t & l
  Function: adjective
  Date: 15th century
  1 a : serving as an original or generating source : PRIMARY <a discovery fundamental to modern computers> b : serving as a basis supporting existence or determining essential structure or function : BASIC
  2 a : of or relating to essential structure, function, or facts : RADICAL <fundamental change>; also : of or dealing with general principles rather than practical application <fundamental science> b : adhering to fundamentalism
  3 : of, relating to, or produced by the lowest component of a complex vibration
  4 : of central importance : PRINCIPAL <fundamental purpose>
  5 : belonging to one's innate or ingrained characteristics : DEEP-ROOTED <her fundamental good humor>
  synonym see ESSENTIAL

  Websters Dictionary