Derrick

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Posts by Derrick

• 
  29

  Newsweek Letter Writer Silenced

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the following email was sent to me today, if anyone would like to send and encouraging comment to loris i will be glad to forward it to her.

  all she did was tell the truth and now she is facing sanction in the congregation.

  so according to wt pr you are not sanctioned if you go to the police but you are sanctioned if you talk about it.

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  Derrick

  Soon I will join the ranks of the DF'd. and have to were a big "A" on my back.

  This reminds me of a movie called "The Scarlet Letter" that many including myself have seen extremely close parallels between early Puritan life around the time of Columbus, to life in this Puritanistic organization today.

  In the movie, Demi Moore must wear the letter "A" on her forehead. It stood for "Adulteress" (or if on a man "Adulterer"). I recall some comment that one could get the scarlet letter tatooed onto one's forehead by either committing literal adultery or spiritual adultery which is also known as Apostasy -- in order to mark them so that everyone they came in contact would shun them -- and thus an Apostate would also receive the mark of the scarlet letter.

  I sincerely hope that 100 years from now the organization has done away with this bazantine practice of "marking" brothers and sisters for shunning, and not gone the opposite direction, perhaps requiring an elder take a red rubber stamp and stamp the foreheads of DF'd ones before they can enter Kingdom Halls.

  Derrick
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  65

  Left Behind

  by gravedancer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  no that is not a description of a piece of rear-anatomy (i don't want to get booted again <g>).

  rather it is the rage now.... please check out http://www.leftbehind.com/ and take a look.

  the reason i bring this up is because 3 different people i know (not xjws) are all into this "stuff" now.

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  Derrick

  So I can be clear, are stated that the end of the world is not scriptural,

  The first question is loaded in that we must clarify the meaning of "the end of the world" which has so many connotations for each religion. The end of this system of things is taught by Jehovah's Witnesses. Why they don't just refer to "this system" without the qualifier has always stumped me. This system of things is really meant by JWs to describe -- and correct me if I'm mistaken -- the present system of government and its materialistic infrastructure and therefore, the world "things" qualifies "this system" as connecting and intermingling politics and laws to taxpayer funded infrastructure in all forms. Thus "this system of things" is the driving force of this present world's influence on those practicing Christianity, because it requires citizens to adhere to government laws and requirements in order to legally have free use of the nation's physical infrastructure and resources. This creates a system that subtly influences and tempts Christians to veer away from pure Christian ideology, tenets and ethics. In little ways, Christians are asked to subtly compromise their beliefs in order to satisfy the requirements of being a good citizen of the State. Perfectly ethical conduct that is approved by God is intermingled with nationalistic requirements, especially in times of war, in order for Christians to keep from breaking "Caesar's laws" and it is increasingly difficult to fully serve God and "Caesar" (the government and its authorized institutions). Of course the Christian cannot serve two masters the Bible tells us, but in seeking to serve God we are instructed in the book of Romans to obey the authorities. However, other parts of the Bible clearly warn that our obedience to the authorities is not without question, and that we cannot obey the government if it tells us to violate God's laws.

  The end of this planet either as a whole or the wiping out of its surface area through fire, nuclear conflagration, massive volcanic activity or atmospheric disturbances is "the end of the world" for many born again Christians and others in the evangelical Christian movements. However, the Bible on several occasions states that the Earth will last forever. This is not a sarcastic statement with a hidden meaning such as the actual mass of this planet will last forever while the entire surface area is destroyed. However, the book of Revelation seems to contradict other areas of the Bible in the implication of Earth's destruction, and a full study of the Bible as a whole is required to understand the context and symbolism specific to Revelation.

  or that LaHaye's (the Dispensational view) is not biblical?

  The "left behind" concept is based on scriptures that are, IMO, wrenched out of context. The movies raise more problems and contradictions than they solve. One born again Christian, some time ago, explained to me that God (who they claim is Christ himself) will rapture faithful Christians into Heaven, test those who aren't faithful enough by leaving them behind to get one last chance to prove their faithfulness to God, take those left behind through a grueling process of tribulation and worldwide destruction, create a literal new Earth (new surface area or new planet down to the core was not specified), then materialize the raptured Christians in Heaven back to Earth's surface to restore the planet to paradise over 1,000 years. Then after the 1,000 years, Earth would permanently get wiped out (I presume down to the core, so nothing was left, kind of like what happened to Alderon in the first Star Wars), and Christians would return to Heaven. Why the interim 1,000 years? I didn't get a clear answer. Perhaps a born again Christian in the house can explain the whole thing -- tribulation to end of 1,000 year reign of Christ -- for those like myself who just don't get it?

  Derrick
• 
  43

  Anderson Committee Move In For Kill

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well it appears the watchtower is back at their executions.

  after jr brown besmirched her moral character by saying she was being disfellowshipped for other sins unrelated to the dateline program, now three men want to meet her at a motel?

  why not the kingdom hall?

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  Derrick

  I suspect the elders will rent a room, and watch Barbara Anderson like
  a hawk as she enters and is seated (to prevent wiretapping). Also, anyone
  who demands to enter the room can be legally turned away. The room is
  a private rental, and whomever's credit card is used to pay for the room
  can decide who to let in.

  Should she refuse to enter under these conditions, I suspect they will
  dismiss her appeal and close the file.

  I hope that I'm wrong but their dubious motel rental scheme leads me to
  suspect they are planning to railroad Barbara Anderson's judicial appeal.

  Derrick
• 
  65

  Left Behind

  by gravedancer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  no that is not a description of a piece of rear-anatomy (i don't want to get booted again <g>).

  rather it is the rage now.... please check out http://www.leftbehind.com/ and take a look.

  the reason i bring this up is because 3 different people i know (not xjws) are all into this "stuff" now.

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  Derrick

  I rented the DVD and they have chosen a sensational manner to present this material. Some will feel confused, frightened and dazed, while others will roll their eyes and say "this is ridiculous."

  The only thing lacking is the scriptural support for this entire end of the world thesis.

  Derrick
• 
  43

  Anderson Committee Move In For Kill

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well it appears the watchtower is back at their executions.

  after jr brown besmirched her moral character by saying she was being disfellowshipped for other sins unrelated to the dateline program, now three men want to meet her at a motel?

  why not the kingdom hall?

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  Derrick

  Hi Bill,

  They addressed her as "sister" Anderson, does this mean they might
  rule in her favor? Hmmm...

  I believe that Barbara's integrity to Jehovah is being tested through this
  unscriptural process they are subjecting her to. I also think that renting
  a room in a hotel to conduct the meeting is a lapse in good judgment
  (although the whole process seems to lack better judgment). Perhaps
  they rented a small conference room?

  If it's a hotel room, then they can deny others access to the room
  legally (since it is "private property" during the rental period). Whereas
  if they meet at Barbara's home, she can invite you and others inside.
  However, in the hotel room, she must play by their rules or not enter
  (and if she doesn't enter then she loses the appeal by default, I will
  guess). They're getting shrewd, some attorney must be coaching the
  Watchtower on their every move.

  Barbara could carry a tiny sensitive digital voice recorder so the
  proceedings are covered. My heart and prayers go out for her to
  endure and triumph over the evil being done to her by those whom,
  by connecting this "judicial" process to Jehovah, are blaspheming
  Jehovah's name.

  She is blessed to have a caring brother like you to look after her by
  going to the hotel, even if you stand outside in the corridor.

  Derrick
• 
  27

  Your Little Jehovah will Fail You

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  your little jehovah will fail you .

  in honor of: dave haack .

  when i became associated with the jws in 1968, i was working at a machine manufacturing plant in california.

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  Derrick

  I have not thrown out any babies with any bathwater ... I am still a believer in Jesus Christ. Yet, I am not afraid to deal with the tough issues that challenge faith, even in Christ or Jehovah, or Yahweh, or whatever one likes to call the Almighty. I honor Dave Haack because he cared and tired to help me, when I was too brain-dead to listen.

  My apologies for the misunderstanding.

  I have been thinking about life lately given I nearly died 5 weeks ago with a massive heart attack ... and today is the 36th anniversary of my morther's death ... and so my mind went back in time a lot ... and Dave haack was there in one of the mental file drawers ... I hope that helps.

  I hope that today you are in good health and spirits, and drawing closer to Jehovah and Christ. I guess all my comments apply to Dave Haack. As you know, having faith in Jesus Christ, even those who have good hearts like Dave likely does, but abandoned all hope and live in darkness, will one day awaken from their spiritual sleep to find the Truth.

  I remember your posts on H2O and I'm so glad to hear you are still a believer in a Truth that many deny their entire lives.

  Sending you good wishes for happy days ahead,

  Derrick

  P.S. Thanks for distinguishing me out of the many on this site who have rebelled against the Truth by addressing "Everyone" and then "Derrick" -- even though perhaps your salutation wasn't quite meant to be, well, flattering?
• 
  5

  LOL

  by Derrick in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  click on this link:.

  http://www.jehovahswitness.com/.

  now that's funny, simon.

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  Derrick

  Click on this link:

  http://www.jehovahswitness.com/

  Now that's funny, Simon.

  Derrick
• 
  27

  Your Little Jehovah will Fail You

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  your little jehovah will fail you .

  in honor of: dave haack .

  when i became associated with the jws in 1968, i was working at a machine manufacturing plant in california.

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  Derrick

  In abandoning Jehovah AND the Watchtower, you are throwing out the nextdoor neighbor's baby with a tub of dirty bathwater in your own dwelling.

  Based on your empty reasoning that connects God with the Watchtower, any organized religion you could have decided to join at any point during your lifetime -- from the hellfire-breathing Southern Baptists to any other right-wing Christian denomination -- would have equally incurred your insults to God.

  This forum serves a useful purpose in showing the lengths people will go in using the Watchtower -- an organization that was subverted by a few elderly men with signature authority over the finances and their younger proteges -- to justify hatred for the fundamental concept of God.

  The Watchtower in its present spiritually adulterous state, NOT Jehovah, failed you.

  Derrick
• 
  101

  A NEW SIGN OUT FRONT AT BETHEL!

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i think it's time bethel got a new sign out front, one that really speaks volumes and is far more suitable to their "read god's word the bible daily.

  i was thinking: .

  oh what a web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!

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  Derrick

  "Study the
  Faithful & Discreet Slave's
  interpretation of
  Johannes Greber's translation of
  the Bible
  in the Watchtower publications
  morning,
  noon,
  and night
  24 / 7."

  At least it's honest. I used to practice this. I even used to read the Sunday Watchtower study article into a tape the week before, and listen to the tape through an earphone as I fell asleep at night (because an elder said the teachings would "subliminally" sink into my subconscious).

  Derrick
• 
  43

  The end of Watchtower Observer?

  by Wendy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was so saddened yesterday when i read this post by kent.

  http://kent.steinhaug.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=603.

  there is so much information on wo that have helped thousands of people.

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  Derrick

  Hi Kent,

  I have come to the conclusion as the years passed between the early 1990's and now that your site is keeping 'em honest. Pull it down, Kent, and the organization moves closer to returning to its own vomit (in reference to its decision in 1990 to join the United Nations, and its recent resignation as United Nations NGO member to quell the massive publicity and embarassment from your site).

  Nobody can deny that your site was pivotal in shining a light onto the Governing Body's furtive and secretive act of joining the Watchtower Society in NGO membership to the United Nations. You were right in exposing this hypocrisy and "the empty things people do in the dark." In exposing them you proceeded to "show them that they are wrong." This shameful sin against God that was orchestrated by the overseers of Jehovah's Witnesses, and your public exposure thereof, again demonstrates that "when the light shines on something, it can be seen." (Compare Ephesians 5:11-16.)

  Your site has proven itself to be a lighthouse for Jehovah's Witnesses, and "anything that shows up wrong ways is light." Because your site exposed the deceit that few were aware was occurring right under their noses, many at least temporarily stopped attending the Kingdom Hall. They were empowered to separate themselves from the gross misconduct of the present Governing Body who are responsible for joining the United Nations which is an organization the Watchtower Society's literature condemns.

  Many also realized that not only did the Watchtower secretively and hypocritically join an organization it claimed would play a key role during Armageddon, but that the very interpretation itself was questionable.

  Other sites will no doubt take the septor and dance on hot coals like you faithfully did for over a decade, but you will always have the distinction of being the grandaddy of 'em all, the first to strike back against the Empire.

  Tragically you lost your faith in Jehovah God in the process. I have come to understand what force has been responsible behind sowing the mean-spirited ridicule that shipwrecked your faith and that of Norm, Jan and other Norwegian ex-Witnesses. The result is that your knowing the real Truth is delayed, postponed until your death, after which the veil will be lifted. You will literally see at the moment of your death, in crystal clarity, what my faith only allows me to imagine through the rose coloured glasses of human reference. That is my witness to you, and I hope you remember me when these words come true for you.

  Perhaps the solution is to take long vacations each year, returning refreshed for more good fights to expose more truths until they finally come clean. Remember that to many JWs you are practically a folk hero or legend only whispered in hushed circles. If I'm ever traveling in Norway, perhaps I'll look you up and we can go to a pub for some great Norwegian beer. You may never know it's me, but then again you might suspect it...

  Derrick