Are they really closing down these places, or just moving them?
skeeter1
JoinedPosts by skeeter1
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Former Austria and Switzerland branches update!!
by Viva la Vida inthe wt branches in switzerland and austria were sold and now they are being develop into apartment buildings.. check the projects on the following links:.
switzerland: http://www.vbarch.ch/aktuelles (7th picture from top).
austria: http://www.wvg.at/projekte/13g40.
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Describe What a Jehovah's Witness Elder Is Like
by minimus ini know what they are supposed to be like.
but at this point in time, do you think the elders look joyful?
are they serious bible students?
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skeeter1
Roosters.
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A letter from my Mom
by ateograciasadios infriends,.
i have seen several posts like the following, and never thought i would have to write one myself, but here we go: my dear mom is forcing me to make a move... one that i have been really avoiding as much as possible.
she wrote me an email today, and here i am giving you an idea of its contents.
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skeeter1
I hope that this passage helps you with some insight . . .
*****
Religion of Freedom
This is a religion of freedom and reason for man to lead a noble life.
B uddhism does not prevent anyone from learning the teachings of other religions. In fact, the Buddha encouraged His followers to learn about other religions and to compare His Teachings with other teachings. The Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings. The Buddha says that if there are reasonable and rational teachings in other religions, His followers are free to respect such teachings. It seems that certain religionists try to keep their followers in the dark, some of them are not even allowed to touch other religious objects or books. They are instructed not to listen to the preachings of other religions. They are enjoined not to doubt the teachings of their own religion, however unconvincing their teachings may appear to be. The more they keep their followers on a one-track mind, the more easily they can keep them under control. If anyone of them exercises freedom of thought and realizes that he had been in the dark all the time, then it is alleged that the devil has possessed his mind. The poor man is given no opportunity to use his common sense, education, of his intelligence. Those who wish to change their views on religion are taught to believe that they are not perfect enough to be allowed to use free will in judging anything for themselves.
According to the Buddha, religion should be left to one's own free choice. Religion is not a law, but a disciplinary code which should be followed with understanding. To Buddhists true religious principles are neither a divine law nor a human law, but a natural law.
In actual fact, there is no real religious freedom in any part of the world today. Man has not the freedom even to think freely. Whenever he realizes that he cannot find satisfaction through his own religion to which he belongs, which cannot provide him with satisfactory answers to certain questions, he has no liberty to give it up and to accept another which appeals to him. The reason is that religious authorities, leaders, and family members have taken that freedom away from him. Man should be allowed to choose his religion which is in accordance with his own conviction. One has no right to force another to accept a particular religion. Some people surrender their religion for the sake of love, without a proper understanding of their partner's religion. Religion should not be changed to suit man's emotions and human weaknesses. One must think very carefully before changing one's religion. Religion is not a subject for bargaining; one should not change one's religion for personal, material gains. Religion is to be sued for spiritual development and for self-salvation.
Buddhists never try to influence other religionists to come and embrace their religion for material gain. Nor do they try to exploit poverty, sickness, illiteracy and ignorance in order to increase the number of Buddhist population. The Buddha advised those who indicated their wish to follow Him, not to be hasty in accepting His Teachings. He advised them to consider carefully His Teaching and to determine for themselves whether it was practical or not for them to follow.
Buddhism teaches that mere belief or outward rituals are insufficient for attaining wisdom and perfection. In this sense, outward conversion becomes meaningless. To promote Buddhism by force would mean pretending to propagate justice and love by means of oppression and injustice. It is of no importance to a follower of the Buddha whether a person calls himself a Buddhist or not. Buddhists know that only through man's understanding and exertion will they come nearer to the goal preached by the Buddha.
Amongst the followers of every religion are some fanatics. Religious fanaticism is dangerous. A fanatic is incapable of guiding himself by reason or even by the scientific principles of observation and analysis. According to the Buddha, a Buddhist must be a free man with an open mind and must not be subservient to anyone for his spiritual development. He seeks refuge in the Buddha by accepting Him as a source of supreme guidance and inspiration. He seeks refuge in the Buddha, not blindly, but with understanding. To Buddhists, the Buddha is not a savior nor is He an anthropomorphic being who claims to possess the power of washing away other's sins. Buddhists regard the Buddha as a Teacher who shows the Path to salvation.
Buddhism has always supported the freedom and progress of mankind. Buddhism has always stood for the advancement of knowledge and freedom for humanity in every sphere of life. There is nothing in the Buddha's Teaching that has to be withdrawn in the face of modern, scientific inventions and knowledge. The more new things that scientists discover, the closer they come to the Buddha.
The Buddha emancipated man from the thralldom of religion. He also released man from the monopoly and the tyranny of the priestcraft. It was the Buddha who first advised man to exercise his reason and not to allow himself to be driven meekly like dumb cattle, following the dogma of religion. The Buddha stood for rationalism, democracy and practical, ethical conduct in religion. He introduced this religion for people to practise with human dignity.
The followers of the Buddha were advised not to believe anything without considering it properly. In the Kalama Sutta,the Buddha gave the following guidelines to a group of young people:
'Do not accept anything based upon mere reports,
traditions or hearsay,
Nor upon the authority of religious texts,
Nor upon mere reasons and arguments,
Nor upon one's own inference,
Nor upon anything which appears to be true,
Nor upon one's own speculative opinion,
Nor upon another's seeming ability,
Nor upon the consideration: 'This is our Teacher.'
'But, when you know for yourselves the certain things are unwholesome and bad: tending to harm yourself of others, reject them.
'And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good: conducive to the spiritual welfare of yourself as well as others, accept and follow them.'Buddhists are advised to accept religious practices only after careful observation and analysis, and only after being certain that the method agrees with reason and is conducive to the good of one and all.
A true Buddhist does not depend on external powers for his salvation. Nor does he expect to get rid of miseries through the intervention of some unknown power. He must try to eradicate all his mental impurities to find eternal Happiness. The Buddha says, 'If anyone were to speak ill of me, my teaching and my disciples, do not be upset or perturbed, for this kind of reaction will only cause you harm. On the other hand, if anyone were to speak well of me, my teaching and my disciples, do not be over-joyed, thrilled or elated, for this kind of reaction will only be an obstacle in forming a correct judgment. If you are elated, you cannot judge whether the qualities praised are real and actually found in us.' -- (Brahma Jala Sutta). Such is the unbiased attitude of a genuine Buddhist.
The Buddha had upheld the highest degree of freedom not only in its human essence but also in its divine qualities. It is a freedom that does not deprive man of his dignity. It is a freedom that releases one from slavery to dogmas and dictatorial religious laws or religious punishments.
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Help, got JW in home....need details on how to answer question
by skeeter1 in"the world is much worse off today then yesterday .
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i know the basic answers, but give me some more ammunition.
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skeeter1
Thanks everyone! He tried witnessing to us, and was shut down by my kid. I think it's really rude that people think they can try to bait others into changing their religion. What in intrusion. Anyway, I can't leave this JW alone at all with the kids. He's about to get a mouthful if he tries it again.
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Help, got JW in home....need details on how to answer question
by skeeter1 in"the world is much worse off today then yesterday .
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i know the basic answers, but give me some more ammunition.
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skeeter1
"THe world is much worse off today then yesterday . . . "
I know the basic answers, but give me some more ammunition
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Maybe moving! Need some advice
by Jon Preston inok so we might be moving to fl.
wife wants to get away to start over.
i also want to move but at the right time and to the right place.
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skeeter1
Florida has a low limit on class size these past 10 years, and that has helped all the public schools.
- 18 students in prekindergarten through grade 3;
- 22 students in grades 4 through 8; and
- 25 students in grades 9 through 12.
Each school is graded and their grades are on the Internet. I think it's going to be local, each county is going to have great and poorer performing schools based on the kids that attend. Also, Florida (many school districts) have put class/school information on-line. Parents check daily attendance, lunch balances, complete teacher's grade books, assignments past/present/future, download class textbooks, class calendars, etc. In our family, we use this all the time (Lee county). It helps parents know what is going on in the classroom. We even get almost weekly grade summaries and important bulletins via e-mail. The school system also gives out automatic phone calls for daily attendance and notices. There is extra help offered for the lower performing kids, and many advanced studies/clubs for the gifted.
Where I see the school system failing is the teachers get burned out in the higher grades. Teachers don't have to have a teaching certificate to teach 6th grade and beyond. Many are doing it for the money/pension/lost their other job. Alot of absences for the middle school teachers, while the elementary school teachers rarely seem to be out "sick."
Skeeter
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skeeter1
By now, if the plane is still in tact . . it's in a hanger or underground somewhere. I'm thinking in Pakistan or Afghanistan, a place where the land is flat enough to have built a long runway, hide it, unhide it for a plane to land, and then hide it again.
I think the passengers are likely dead. That's the reason, I'm guessing, the "pilot" took the plane above a safe zone.
If our NSA can monitor our e-mails, why don't we know where this plane is? I bet the US/Russia/China government has a good idea where the plane is, or when they do know, they are not going to tell us common people. But, when they figure it out, the area will be gone.
If the plane is retrofitted for bombs, I don't know which city will be hit. I am thinking China & India are top targets, due to their materialism in the area. China has been raping Africa of its resources, where alot of Muslims live. India and Pakistan are arch enemies. Also, Russian targets are also probably top too on a Muslim list. Islam and the Russians along the Black Sea don't get along. And, neither China nor Putin are going to play nice. (Speaking of which, did you see the article about the Russian journalist, picked by Putin, giving the US a statement that Russia had enough nukes to turn the US into dust?) And, then there's all of Europe.
I really hope that plane is found by a submarine. That would be the best news ever.
But, if they can hijack one plane . . . they can do it to others.
What has to be done is putting Islamic Terrorism (and all terrorism) on the world stage. We need a Nancy Grace to give them a balling out. No more pussy-footing around trying not to offend. It's time to stand up to the bullies, and the entire world, leaders to individuals, needs to do this. I'm so sick of the "My God is better than your god" mentality, especially when it's coupled with a sword.
Skeeter
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40
Maybe moving! Need some advice
by Jon Preston inok so we might be moving to fl.
wife wants to get away to start over.
i also want to move but at the right time and to the right place.
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skeeter1
Fort Myers! Shhhhh. Keep it a secret. Go somewhere else. Nothing good in Southwest Florida . . . but, have Spring Training for the Twins and Red Sox, plenty of theater, shopping, loads & loads of doctors, colleges, car dealerships, VA hospital, Miami & Tampa are each about 2 hours away drive, have a new airport, a melting pot of people from UK, Germany, and Mid-West, sprinkled with a few from Boston & NYC, great fishing, lots of fresh shrimp/stone crabs/fresh fish/fruits/veggies all year long, beaches, boating, great kayaking, biking trails, palm trees, great air quality, and best weather in the US from October 15th to May 15th. Seriously don't move to Fort Myers, Lee County, or Collier County! Stay in Tampa.
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Maybe moving! Need some advice
by Jon Preston inok so we might be moving to fl.
wife wants to get away to start over.
i also want to move but at the right time and to the right place.
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skeeter1
Are jobs a concern? Usually, Jacksonville area offers good job opportunities and lower cost of living. The houses are cheaper there, the beaches & fishing is great, and the cost of car & home insurance is lower too. It is like Fall there in the winter.
The further south you go, the higher your house & car insurance.
Orlando is super hot in the summertime. The whole state is hot in the summer, but the middle of the state swealters. Near the coast is cooler and has breezes & more afternoon showers.
Fort Lauderdale & Miami are like mini NYCs. A lot of crime and uninsured drivers there. But, there are jobs. If you are a millionaire, then these areas are great.
I don't know how the jobs are in Tampa. It is a big area, so you should get the job before you buy the house.
Honestly, I'd rent a place for a few months before buying.
And, if you don't have to work, rent a house in Islamorada. That's paradise.
Skeeter
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skeeter1
The 27 year old pilot would have been about 15 in 2001. He was at an impressionable age, and could have been brainwashed and used a sleeper. Remember, those hijackers had trained limitedly to fly a plane. But, landing a plane takes alot of skill. Find a zealot, 15 year old Islamist who wants to fly planes. Gear him towards flying planes, working for an airline, and taking a big bird to the desert.
Those planes have too many fail safe backup systems. And, the reports were that passenger's cell phones were still on, days afterwards. How can that be? I am always calling people who are traveling, and their phones don't ring.
Had to be foul play. I just hope it is in the ocean. I feel so bad for those people on the plane. But, I just hope it's in the ocean.
Either way, China is going to kick some Islamic arses. China is not going to be sensitive to radical Islamists. They run tanks over their own young dissidents, and have supported North Korea for years.