CornerStone

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Posts by CornerStone

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  30

  Field Service, Anyone?

  by Farkel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the human brain is a non-stop chattering machine.

  it is constantly evaluating, making decisions and judgments.

  there is not a human being alive that isn't an abject hypocrite nearly every day.

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  CornerStone

  OH Gosh! I was just begining to forget my DRONE days but thanks for the laughs anyway.

  CornerStone
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  8

  Faith in spite of the WTBTS --- Hillary, et. al.

  by LoneWolf in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to all ---about faith.. i posted this some months ago on another board.

  the comments then were thoughtful and appreciated.

  i'd like to know yours, too.. a brief background first: i first became active in service in december of 1946, and have been disfellowshipped for over 12 years now, not for gross wrongdoing, but because i asked too many questions and wouldn't quit.

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  CornerStone

  Hello TeeJay,

  I find that I can identify with your assestment of LoneWolf's standing as a witness; "you never were a Witness." This seems to describe me to a tee. I too was a social loner, not antisocial, just not going out to seek friendships. The "love bombing" I encountered when I started studying was a new experience for me and served to wake me out of my "loner" status. But despite the new experiences I never gave my heart or mind over to the WTS. Through the study, baptisism, and the last handfull of years I found it impossible to "pretend" that the WTS was who they claimed to be. All the scriptual errors in the teachings and my previous Bible knowledge and my step back and look at the whole picture attitude PREVENTED me from accepting the WTS's claimes.
  So, I guess at heart, I too was never really a witness. I do believe, however, I continued to be a Christian at least to myself.
  You know, I think that means I could not be accused of being an apostate since I never REALLY BELIEVED the WTS's claimes in the first place. I believe the Bibles claims but not the WTS's claimes. To me, this means I never LEFT something I never ARRIVED at in the first place! (What I just say?)
  Anyway, I feel very similar to the way LoneWolf feels in his post. Good to see that the orgs. influence begins to crumble where common sense begins.

  CornerStone
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  5

  First Post

  by mike in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello everyone.. i've come over from nic's site and am looking forward to getting to know you.. wish i'd picked a more interesting 'handle' like some of you have.

  will tell you a bit more about myself later.. mike

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  CornerStone

  Hello Mike,

  Welcome to the board. Looking forward to reading your post.

  CornerStone
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  14

  What I Observed Last Night At The Kingdom Hall

  by stevieb1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am still one of jehovah's witnesses and i still attend meetings at the kingdom hall though i am quite disgruntled over many of the society's teachings and the practices that go on in the congregation.

  i have read everything about jw's both pro and con, (i have one of the largest collections of material related to jw's in europe) and i have contributed scholarly articles to the society on many occasions.

  i could talk about many things but i'll just talk about what i observed last night.

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  CornerStone

  Hello StephenW20,

  In answer to your last questions I guess it depends on who's perspective you think is more credible. Some early Bible writers like Job and King David believed our destiny was solely shaped by God:

  35 I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it.
  In due time their feet will slip.
  Their day of disaster will arrive,
  and their DESTINY will overtake them.’
  Deuteronomy 32:35 NLT

  14So he will do for me all he has planned. He controls my DESTINY. 15No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me.
  Job 23:14 NLT

  17 Then one day I went into your sanctuary, O God,
  and I thought about the DESTINY of the wicked.
  18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path
  and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
  Psalm 73:17, 18 NLT

  24 You will keep on guiding me with your counsel,
  leading me to a glorious DESTINY.
  25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
  I desire you more than anything on earth.
  26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
  but God remains the strength of my heart;
  he is mine forever.
  Psalm 73:24- 26 NLT

  10Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your DESTINY.
  Ecclesiastes 6:10 NLT

  2The same DESTINY ultimately awaits everyone, whether they are righteous or wicked, good or bad,£ ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who take oaths are treated like people who don’t.
  Ecclesiastes 9:2 NLT

  23For you have defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your DESTINY! 24So God has sent this hand to write a message.
  Daniel 5:23- 24 NLT

  Even New Testement Christians believed God's unswerving hand keeps us on-track to a bright future:

  3All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6So be truly glad!£ There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
  1 Peter 1:3- 6 NLT

  24And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. 25All glory to him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen.
  Jude 1:24, 25 NLT

  As for how we influence our reality I think that depends on what we choose to accept, like a JW refusing to review the society's history from "apostates" or an evolutionist refuseing to consider the VERY extreem probability of life and complex life just "popping" out of nowhere and nothing. We HAVE to be involved in creating our own reality otherwise we would not have freedom of will. We would then just be automatons. I believe this despite the observation that lifes matters seem to be uncontrollable. Well, these are my thoughts, such as they are. Be Well.

  CornerStone
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  14

  What I Observed Last Night At The Kingdom Hall

  by stevieb1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am still one of jehovah's witnesses and i still attend meetings at the kingdom hall though i am quite disgruntled over many of the society's teachings and the practices that go on in the congregation.

  i have read everything about jw's both pro and con, (i have one of the largest collections of material related to jw's in europe) and i have contributed scholarly articles to the society on many occasions.

  i could talk about many things but i'll just talk about what i observed last night.

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  CornerStone

  Hello StevieB1,

  Your observations are not unusual to critical thinkers or to people who are just honest with themselves. Because we live in the "western world" and are busy with work, family, possesions, and the cares of this life, we fall into a sort of self absorbed way of living, similar to what Jesus warned the people about in his day. Of course, I am not making excuses for people who KNOW Jesus command to love their brother and fellow man and what you see in your hall is the same thing I see in mine, the very same thing. All one has to do to know why this is takeing place is to look at WHO is takeing the lead in teaching and guiding the flock. It goes all the way up to the GB of the WTS. They have the wrong view that Gods' spirit opperates from the top on down to the R&F. But anybody who has studied the Bible can plainly see that God has frequently used people on the low level of the social, economic, political, and religious systems of the day. Their view has the bad result of "running" the flock like a business,( watchtower and awake! sales) rather than imitating Jesus kindly example of leading the sheep to refreshing drinks of water,( from Gods' word). There are just so many bad situations that result from this kind of "leadership" that it puts a black eye on how people precieve God and Jesus, putting reproach on their names.
  I believe that any good change that will take place does not necessarily begin with THEM but with US as individuals. If others are not kind then we need to be kind. Mercy, friendship, faithfulness to Gods' teachings and the like need to start with us, the individual. In time I believe God will lead us to where we need to be, while not forgetting the lessons of where we came from.
  So, it is distressing to see hippocritical actions and attitudes within the cong. but just remember, if you love truth, you won't be there forever.

  CornerStone
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  46

  Tonight's memorial - did you go?

  by dmouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my wife has just left for the memorial.. just before she went she asked me to come...this was the second year in a row that i declined.

  i hated seeing her so sad, i almost agreed to go just to cheer her up but that would betray her in a very real sense.

  to go to the memorial would be an admission in her eyes (and other jws) that i still believe deep down that it is the truth.

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  CornerStone

  Hello All,

  Man! This is so hard for those with connections to the "collective". Some decided to go, (me) , others have not. More POWER to all who act out of their conscience! Family ties and friends make it so hard to put this org behind us. But I suppose in this world we don't just battle for food and shelter, but for our very souls. Stay strong everyone.

  CornerStone
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  11

  New T-shirt logo: I survived the memorial.........

  by expatbrit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .........without smacking anyone!!!.

  but man!

  it was tough!.

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  CornerStone

  Hello Expatbrit,

  Surprisingly, I found it rather easy this time. I did not feel the usuall strong emotions that I usually feel at this "most important time" of the year. I guess it is because I really feel sorry for these people baseing their hopes on committee created beliefs.

  When the bread and wine passed by I just wiped my hand on my pants leg as a show( however small ), of my involvement here tonight.

  As you pointed out same old same old on the lunar dates and number of the remenant, nothing new except stronger instruction on who "partakes" and who does not.

  One interesting note; the definition of the word "is". The speaker remarked on how the Catholic Bible and Jeruselem Bible translates where Jesus said "This IS my body" but the NWT translates it "This MEANS my body" Matt: 26-26, thus trashing Catholics "transsubstanciation" ( I think that's the word ). I think President Clinton and the WTS translation team can compare notes. ( I just had to say that but I like President Clinton).

  Any way, my wife thanked me for the evening and for attending the memorial, so that at least was worth my involvement. Now I have to go and prepare for next years memorial with many prayers asking God for forgiveness for attending, ( mabey? ).

  Sorry you had to deal with bad feelings. A lot on this board, I'm sure, know how you feel.

  CornerStone
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  1

  Just trying-out my icon

  by CornerStone in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi.

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  CornerStone

  Hi.
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  11

  Describe JW/ A mind altering cult/ Dangerous Cult

  by nojw86 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am sort of interested to your responces if someone might ask a ?

  about the jw how might you describe the jw?

  would they to your personal opinion be a mind altering cult or a dangerous cult?

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  CornerStone

  Hello HoChiMin,

  The main reason the r&f believe by missing meetings you are "leaving Jahovah" is that the society uses the scripture that commands Christians not to "forsake the gathering ourselves together" to apply to ALL meetings. By this they say it is a command from God not to miss meetings. Of course, it does not matter if it's 1 meeting or 50 meetings a week. If you don't show your dissobeying God's command. Quite effective in putting a stranglehold on the sheep. Keeps them "tuned in" and less likely to see that the printing corporation has them as their cost effective slaves.

  CornerStone
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  7

  intro?

  by cecil in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my name is cecil.

  as you can imagine i am not posting with my real name.

  call it what you want but i am not yet ready to 'jump out of the closet', as we put in my mother-tongue.

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  CornerStone

  Hello Cecil,

  It seems you have a common problem that we who are still "in" the org. share; that is waiting for the other shoe to drop! Yours, mine and everyone eleses doubts and fears can only be conqured by courage. The courage to face your enemies, (doubt and fear, not impotent old men who scrubb floors and clean windows) and after you have faced them, to continue to stand. When my day comes to face my fears I will do so with only the story of the three Hebrews and the idol. Bow down and worship the WTS idol or Not bow down and face the consequences,( df'ing, wife leaving?). Only Jehovah knows the outcome but it will be MY decision to make. The same with you my friend. My courage comes from God's promisses in the Bible. This is not the same for everyone though but mabey it can be for you. Your descision, but just remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There are more with us than against us.

  CornerStone