Doubting Bro

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Posts by Doubting Bro

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  14

  congregation book study 11/26/07

  by ush419 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  we have the book study this week and am wondering if any of you out there have anything to add or say about it, have typed it up and here it is:.

  congregation book study nov. 26, 07 chpt 26 para 12 chpt 27 para 6. behold the ark of his covenant!.

  12 jehovah rules!

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  Doubting Bro

  Last week, they talked about how the 7 trumpet blasts were the 7 district conventions in the 1919-1926 period. Ok, I know hard core JWs that roll their eyes at that craziness, as I did when I was a zealot. However, I never noticed this:

  17.The seven angels continue to sound their trumpets, signaling historic events here on earth. Dedicated Christians have a great responsibility to continue proclaiming these announcements to the world.

  Interesting because I went door to door my entire life and never once proclaimed the particulars of those resolutions to anyone NOR did I even know what they were!! A trumpet blast is a short sound, not a 100 year sound. Even if you buy the fulfillment at the DCs how does the above statement make any sense??

  2 John now sees a great sign—one of outstanding interest for God’s people. It introduces a thrilling prophetic vision, the meaning of which was first published in March 1, 1925 issue of The Watch Tower in an article entitled “Birth of the Nation” and then again in 1926 in the book Deliverance. This brilliant flash of bible understanding became a historic marker in the advance of Jehovah’s work.

  Really??? A historic marker?? Ask any JW say 30 minutes after the CBS this week what historic marker was published in 1925 and see how many can answer. Not exactly up there with man walking on the moon.

  I started to comment on how the anointed Christians are the Bride of Christ, yet offsping of Jehovah's "heavenly" organization of which Jesus (also offspring of God) is the head of but I actually need to draw a chart to figure out what they are trying to say.
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  47

  How Will You Use Barbara Anderson's News to Help Your Witness Family ?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so the big "national " news release has come and gone.

  it was huge in that this time it definitely hit the ears and eyes of witnesses as well as others who know witnesses, or have relatives who are in it .

  on a " national " scale this is a lot of people.

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  Doubting Bro

  I had about a 30-45 minute discussion with my wife Weds night about this. She was not overly shocked at the settlements because she has friends that we abused by elders and saw that the org doesn't do anything to help. She said that many religions tolerated this sort of behavior in the past but now things are different. I agreed this is a problem with religions in general but pointed out that the witnesses are supposed to be different (Gods channel and all). She said Paul warned about oppressive wolves arising in the congregation. However, I pointed out that the situation Paul spoke about was the "great apostacy" according to the WTS and since the appointment in 1919 of the FDS, the WTS teaches that we are in a spiritual paradise. So, I asked, which is it?

  The conversation was one of the best I've had with her about the WTS. She said that I was very black and white, but I did make the point that when you claim to be Gods chosen people, that is a huge standard to live up to. Of course, the "org is not perfect" card was played. My response? Perfection isn't what I'm looking for, doing the right thing by making sure child rapists are off the street, the action that 99% of the general population would take, that's what I'm looking for.

  I also told her I was upset that funds donated to further the preaching work was being used to settle these cases. She said the victims deserved to be compensated and she was glad the WTS settled! I agreed that these poor folks have had their lives screwed up and the WTS should have to pay. So, at least that was one point that we could agree on.

  Not sure how this will effect her, but I do know that she did not question the validity of the claims or think it was some sort of "apostate" campaign by Satan. So, overall I hope it will lead her to question other things.
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  24

  Barb's response to the WT's Media email and site

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone else care to comment on the watchtower's media site response to the pedophile issue?

  i know this has partially been covered, sorry.

  randy.

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  Doubting Bro

  I find the WTS response extremely lame. Also, if they're doing such a great job, why decline comment for the NBC story?? They are right on one point, there have not been enough lawsuits over this issue. I hope that every single person who has been harmed by the WTS stupid policies and lack of action by both local elders and Bethel files a lawsuit aginst the elders personally involved and the WTS. I told my wife last night that I thought this was the tip of the iceberg. I hope that the floodgates open.
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  43

  Well I finally resigned as an elder - Phew.

  by The Scotsman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  thats right, about 2 weeks ago i confronted the po and told him i just could not do it anymore.. i genuinely have been under alot of pressure recently with my work so i used this as the pitch.

  he was not happy but i received little resistance, which suited me.

  i handed him my letter last week before i went on holiday.. i have to say it is a great weight off my shoulders, no book study, meetings for ministry, talks, public talks etc etc.. i will no doubt be the subject of local congregation gossip!

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  Doubting Bro

  the scotsman,

  Congrats buddy. It will feel a little weird at first sitting in a meeting and not having to jump up and do a part or the first time they announce "there will be a brief elders meeting after the meeting". But, the relief and weight off your shoulders will feel great.

  I'm sure the rumor mill will start, just be prepared for it. You will be treated differently.
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  8

  2008 Distric Conventions..... Dates announced yet???/

  by still_in74 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  maybe this just pertains to southern ontario, but have any dates been announced yet for 2008 district assemblies?.

  my cousin asked me the other day if i had noticed that we still had not had an announcement for 2008 but that we have had an announcement for 2009 international convention.

  after our last dc the accouncement was made that there was nothing to announce as of yet for 2008 dc.

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  Doubting Bro

  ...BTW...some correspondence/letters is now coming via PDF emails to the CO then emailed to the POs and secretaries...saves tons of postage/envelopes/printing costs for them

  I was wondering when they were going to start doing that. Especially since postage is .41 in the US. I know that they've been sending out letters in batches to save money and it just makes sense to send it to the CO via e-mail.

  I know the last few years, the letter and outline for the pioneer meeting (that each congo holds in Dec) often didn't reach my congo until the first week or two of Jan.
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  48

  Why Did You Get Baptized?

  by Open mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jws are officially told the "right" reason for baptism is a heart motivated out of love and appreciation for all jehovah has done combined with the desire to please him.

  now let's get real.

  be honest.

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  Doubting Bro

  75% - Peer pressure (parents/friends)

  25% - Stay alive at the big A

  I resisted until I was 17 which made me the oldest person in my circle of friends to take the dip.

  Later on, my devotion to the WT was because I really thought that's what God wanted me to do.
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  177

  Jehovah's Witness here.

  by nimzo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a question about my religion.

  when people turn apostate, why do they seem kinda... weird.

  they turn back to false teachings and their bible knowledge even proves that.

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  Doubting Bro

  Nimzo,

  Just a couple of quick points. I don't think many people object to the YHWH (Jehovah, Yahweh) being used in the NT when the OT is being quoted and it appeared there. I think the problem becomes when Jehovah is added in the place of Lord in spots where the OT is not being quoted. I have yet to find one shred of scholarly evidence to support that the original texts included YHWH. I'd love to see it if you have it. I'm a life long JW and recently "stepped aside" as an elder because I couldn't get answers to some serious doctrinal questions and therefore could not in good conscious continue to teach these doctrines from the platform.

  In regard to baptism, you are not in line with the official JW teaching because if you read the book of Acts, you'll see several examples where people heard the good news and were immediately baptized. Right after Pentecost thousands immediately responded, after one of Paul's speeches, again thousands. Auld Soul already mentioned Cornelious and his family. How about the jailer and his family when the angels broke Peter & John out of jail? There are other examples that I'm sure you are familiar with.

  You may say things are different now and maybe they are. But, if you believe in the Bible, then you really can't deny that at least in some cases it would appear that knowledge of Jesus and his part of the universal plan and faith in that sacrifice is sufficient for baptism.

  I don't have any answers for you if you are searching. But, I would encourage you to continue to search for truth. I have come to the painful conclusion that the organization I thought was God's chosen channel of communication isn't.
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  15

  What is most important for a typical JW

  by Nosferatu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what, in your opinion, is most important thing for a typical jw?

  what affects him in his day to day life?

  what causes them to make the decisions they do?

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  Doubting Bro

  I think Sir82 hit it right on the head. I never noticed it before, but when I was a zealot, I used to do things just to impact my "standing" in the congregation. For example, a 5th grader has no trouble picking out the answers to the WT or KM, yet I would underline every piece of study material for every single meeting and bring printouts of scriptures, ect to boot!

  Now, I just don't care what others think.
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  10

  sisters did you settle for less??

  by karter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  due to the lack of brothers did you marry down??.

  i've seen it time and time again really lovely sister marry total dork..

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  Doubting Bro

  Hey, us dorks need love too!!

  Yeah, I definately married "up" Although where I grew up, there were more young JW males than females for some reason. But, I moved to an area where the ratio was reversed.

  Doubting Bro of the "at least I reconized I married up and treat my wife as the princess she is" class
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  21

  I'm giving the CO a "green-handshake" tonight! HELP!

  by MinisterAmos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm planning on giving him t w o dollars!

  and i plan on making a h u g e deal of it as i secretly tickle his palm with the bills.

  any hints?

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  Doubting Bro

  That's great! Make sure you fold it up so that he'll think its a lot more than it really is. Hey, didn't you bust his chops earlier this week asking him who the leader of the Christian congo is?

  If you're trying to piss him off, I think this just may do the trick!! Can I ask, are you an elder? They seem to always expect the elders to give them the green handshake. I only did it once but my wife & I gave him a card with cash and suggested that he & his wife go to dinner. That was the only CO I really liked.

  How about giving him a gift wrapped paperback Bible and write sometime corny on the inside cover!!