Posts by DoubleYouBee

36

"These also I must bring..."John 10:16

by AuldSoul in

an invitation to any jws, ex-jws, faders, lurkers or readers: please wreck this if you can.

i trying to tackle a foundation doctrine of jws as simply as i possibly can.

if anyone has a way to further simplify this, please offer suggestions.. john 10:16"and i have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also i must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.".

DoubleYouBee

It makes sense to me this way - The two 'folds' are Gentiles and Jews, but there is only one flock > believers, Christians.

God is not partial:

Acts 10: 44 While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came on all who were hearing his words. 45 The Jewish followers who had come along with Peter were surprised and wondered because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also given to the people who were not Jews. 46 They heard them speak in special sounds and give thanks to God. Then Peter said, 47 "Will anyone say that these people may not be baptized? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."

Romans 2: 21 But now God has made another way to make men right with Himself. It is not by the Law. The Law and the early preachers tell about it. 22 Men become right with God by putting their trust in Jesus Christ. God will accept men if they come this way. All men are the same to God. 23 For all men have sinned and have missed the shining-greatness of God. 24 Anyone can be made right with God by the free gift of His lovingfavor. It is Jesus Christ Who bought them with His blood and made them free from their sins.

Epesians 6: 9 Owners, do the right thing for those who work for you. Stop saying that you are going to be hard on them. Remember that your Owner and their Owner is in heaven. God does not respect one person more than another.

IMO the wall is 'sin' which separates sinners from God, not one flock from another - Matthew 27:51 At once the curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks fell apart.

So as our High Priest and the ONE door into the Kingdom of God, Christ opened the way to reconcile sinners to God, effectively ripping down the 'curtain' that divided us from Him - Hebrews 10: 19 Christian brothers, now we know we can go into the Holiest Place of All because the blood of Jesus was given. 20 We now come to God by the new and living way. Christ made this way for us. He opened the curtain, which was His own body.

We can't ignore that the Bible doesn't ever state '2 hopes' and it takes some scripture wrangling to make it appear so - as brought out by the other good posts. It sounds so ridiculous now,(screwy, screwy fer sure!) but I fell for it too.... Yes, ONE God, ONE Way, ONE hope. This one hope issued TO all mankind FROM heaven(thus 'a heavenly hope') - it is to be saved by our faith and God's grace through Christ. Christ will choose who will rule with him and in what capacity. It's presumptuous to think that one Christian over another Christian is bound for more or less glory or to delegate positions in heaven and on earth - but all religions do it and it's arrogant, self-righteous. Even the one religion that is such a loving brotherhood and has no clergy - lies-barf-lies- does the opposite from what it says by giving unearned respect and adoration to DO's, CO's, PO's, elders, and especially anyone from Bethel or the GB. "Do what they say(selflessly love God and neighbor), but not what they do"(walk in pride and partiality).

That makes sense doesn't it?

Searching and digging with you, WB

23

Indiana,....represent!

by *jeremiah* in

out of curiousity, is there anyone on here that is in indianpolis, indiana, or the state of indiana for that matter?.

also was wondering if there are any exdubs who went to any indianapolis congregations in the 80's and 90's?.

DoubleYouBee

Another Hoosier here! I live in central northern Indiana - out in the country - 45 miles West of Ft. Wayne.

Sorry - never went to an Indy cong., was 'assigned' to Wabash, but went to conventions in Indy. I've been out 5+ years. It's great to see you 'guys' connect after so long.

WB

30

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 11-12-06 WT Study (COURAGE/LOVE)

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the 11-12-06 wt study (october 1, 2006, pages 21-25)(courage/love).

review comments will be in red.

wt material from today's wt will be in black.

DoubleYouBee

"5) In his final prayer with his 11 faithful apostles, Jesus showed the connection between knowing God and growing in love, saying: "I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them." (John 17: 26) Jesus helped his disciples to develop the kind of love that existed between him and his Father, revealing both by word and by example what God's name represents-God's wonderful qualities. Hence, Jesus could say: "He that has seen me has seen the Father also." John 14:9, 10; 17:8.

Revealing both by word and by example

'Borgia's' right - it is love in action that is the one defining mark, which was always Jesus' point.

If Jesus was so concerned about making God’s name known, why did he not use it in this prayer? Why did he not use it in the Lord’s prayer? Where did he address God as anything except "Father"?"

That seems out of place.... Why did they stick that reference to God's name in there? One cannot 'know God' without knowing love... Oh, I get it - anyone who does NOT know His name cannot really love in truth - so they're 'countefeit Christians'.... oh, brother....

I have A friend still in... whose life has been totally, irreparably screwed-up by those loving elders decisions... and she voiced the same dark thoughts - that FS was her reason for waking-up - telling people about God's name is her purpose and the only thing that brings her any joy, and , as 'Borgia' brought up - she is so busy 'doing God's will' that she doesn't have time to ponder her own situation. The elders that rail-roaded her life right off a cliff cannot even look her in the eyes(what amazing love) - and she feels sorry for them! She undoubtedly suffered through this study - although I told her it would probably be best to miss this one... I hope she did...

Thank you again, Blondie! An excellent idea for a CD - you've compiled quite a store-house of information and references - let me know, I'll buy one!

ps - Are you really in fiordy Finland?

~Peace~ WB

13

What is Rom 15: 20,21 getting at?

by yaddayadda in

romans 15: 20 & 21 "in this way, indeed, i made it my aim not to declare the good news where christ had already been named, in order that i might not be building on another man's foundation; but, just as it is written: "those to whom no announcement has been made about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.

could this be used to show that jw's are wrong to condemn all other christians as false, because as long as these other christians have accepted christ and have him as their foundation, does it really matter if some of their doctrines are not quite right?

i think this scripture shows that jw's are wrong to focus so much on the faults of other christian religions.

DoubleYouBee

From that scripture I'm seeing that Paul's intent was to spread 'the Good News' about Christ the Messiah - Yeshua was born, lived, died, arose from the dead and was ressurected to Heaven as prophesied. Maybe Paul was expessing the thought that Christ shouldn't be preached to those who already knew of him - but to those who'd never heard his name. (?) So preaching Christ to those already professing to know him is... redundant. Don't you think? To me it's blatently 'promoting sects'! I'm thinking along the lines that most of the initial preaching work(establishing the facts of Christ's existence and true identity) had already been done in the first few centuries. There's a scripture where Paul states that the preaching work was effectively finished... can't think of it atm tho' ... The ones to whom the Good News should be taught are those who've never heard of him yet.... makes sense to me instead of putting up even more exclusivist barriers between God and mankind. WT is anti-Christ if you ask me... imho... Did anyone ask? lol

WB

12

Have any of you ever read this account?? How do they explain this away??

by Lady Liberty in

good morning and "happy saturday" everyone!!.

i've noticed recently alot of discussion on b-days.

i just posted this on another thread, but then thought it deserves its own thread so more may benefit by reading it.. some time ago my mom told me about a entire town that was murdered as a wedding presents by a pharoh for his daughter who married king solomon.

DoubleYouBee

So how's come there're no big 'weaning day' celebrations observed re: Isaac? It's just as scriptural as 'the given ones' being 'replacements' for GB members! It also passes the top WT criteria - it's from the OT and doesn't honor Jesus in any way.

That's an excellent point about celebrating a birth only at birth - but weddings(oh, now they're evil too, darn...) are continuously celebrated on the 'anniversary' date... and surely if Satan hates a person loving his life and being happy to be alive... then he would also hate marriage and anniversary celebrations as they're 'sanctioned-by-God-good-things'?

Yes - Thanksgiving is an evil day....shudder... It has something to do with politics I'm thinking... and also interfaith - wouldn't want to be saying prayers along with the Godless who pray to who-knows-which demons.

Like many of you - I can hardly believe I went along with this unbalanced thinking... I thought it was just me when I didn't understand or felt 'rebellious' - lol - when I really didn't believe something taught - but now I see it was my brain momentarily trying to un-numb itself... Those were the constraints of the religion that I chose, so I went along with it all. The hardest learned and the absolute best life lesson comes from being SO wrong about SO much - humility. Thank you WT, for helping me see how thoroughly I could allow myself to be deluded... it was the ultimate hard-won humbling experience. Thank you VERY much!

WB

ps - Don't want to miss anyone's 'banquet day' - Happy Weaning Day, everyone!

20

I Just Got Door Knocked - how did I handle it?

by Crumpet in

well i just got visited with the tract by a chap who looked like an elder - the most interesting thing about the whole 2 second visit was not .

a) that his partner hid out of the way so i couldnt even see them.

b) that they just stood at the door didnt ring or knock.

DoubleYouBee

Hi Crumpet!

I should have something clever to say if they ever come back - but it's not bloody likely on either count!

Evidently they've been given divine instructions from the top to deliver this one a different way - sly serpent/innocent dove thing maybe? Who knows - but sounds like they were told this is a "new" and "special" approach with "exciting results". In your instance, Crumpet, it occurred to me that they might've been just sticking them in the doors and weren't planning to knock at all, and you surprised and flustered them in your pretty pink jammies! This is from another forum -

"Hit and Run !!!!
Thats how it was articulated in our neck of the woods on how we should go about it. Dont carry your regular "witness" bag. Try to look as inconspicuous as possible. "I am engaging in a public service .....this is your free copy ....please read it" Hit the road.
Oh and we have to record all the not at homes and return with the tracts at a later date."

"Freaky is the feedback: " Everyone accepted the tract - marvelous" " Wonderful response - no one refused"

And this is the reported response because they don't know(how could they not???) that it's being tossed as soon as it's discovered it's WT propaganda - maybe people are hoping it's some coupons or something free and gladly take it... lol. People are thankfully wising up to all the bad publicity of late and happily realising that registration with the wtbts corp. is anything but free... I wish I'd-a known.

lolol - I will remember that "Are you Mormons?" line - -rofl!

WB

10

Re: Angels & Women -Scans-Russell encouraging Students to read Demonic book

by Lady Liberty in

hope you are having a super weekend!!

" [1] it also said that the spirit that "dictated" the novel to mrs. smith was one of the fallen angels who desired to return to god's organization.

angels and women has a three page foreword.

DoubleYouBee

Well, Ronald - looks like you and I are wrong about Russell's naivite -

Angels and Women

is, supposedly, an automatic writing book recommended by the Watchtower Society in 1924. It is a revision of a novel written in 1878 titled Seola by J. Gregory Smith.[1] Seola was revised and published as Angels and Women by a Bible Student who was identified as being "a personal friend of Pastor Russell and one who was close to him in his work." [2] This revisor said the woman who wrote it was "impelled to write it after listening to beautiful music." [3] He believed the spirit that "dictated" the novel to Mrs. Smith was not one of the "holy angels" (of the kind that supposedly transmitted information and Biblical interpretations into J. F. Rutherford's mind), [4] but was one of the fallen angels who desired to return to God's organization. [5]

The Society at the time believed that some demons or fallen angels were honest and could be saved and return to God's organization. [6]Angels and Women, they believed, was channeled or "dictated" to the author by one such fallen angel who was honest and told the truth about pre-flood conditions on earth. They said he shed some "light" on the subject. They therefore claimed to receive new "light" from a demon according to their published statements. This is unusual as all the automatic or channeled writings I have researched claimed to be from good spirits whether angels, extraterrestrials, or highly evolved spirits. The Society appears to be unique in claiming to receive new light from an evil spirit or fallen angel.

I googled 'Angels and Women'.

10

Re: Angels & Women -Scans-Russell encouraging Students to read Demonic book

by Lady Liberty in

hope you are having a super weekend!!

" [1] it also said that the spirit that "dictated" the novel to mrs. smith was one of the fallen angels who desired to return to god's organization.

angels and women has a three page foreword.

DoubleYouBee

Thanks LL -

I've read parts of it before on the internet and it is INDEED creepy!

Are you sure, though, that it was Russell's 'friend' that wrote it? And not Rutherford's? Just seems... well, Russell died in 1916 and the book wasn't punlished till 1924, so it seems that it would've been judge was giving it rave reviews....

Just a thought... mainly because I like Russell, even if he was deluded in ways, I think he was sincere and at least honest. Rutherford on the other hand, was egotistical and arrogant and deceptive in order to keep and enlarge his control - him I do not trust. And also, didn't Rutherford admit to having 'help' from a 'spirit' in writing some of his own profound hogwash, or one book in particular? (I used to know all this stuff but thankfully I've forgotten much of it.... other, better things to dwell on ya know - but it still comes up in conversations sometimes.)

Peace to all -

WB

35

Agent Smith's story

by AgentSmith in

i was born into a jw family.

my father's parents were jw.

my mother?s family was a big mix.

DoubleYouBee

Somehow I posted before I was ready... sorry - it's my first day!

As I was reading your story, Agent Smith, it occured to me... how many times when I was a dub I'd wished I'd been 'brought up in the truth'. Good Grief! How my life would've been different, and not in the fantasy 'good' way I'd imagined. My dad died when I was young and instead of staying home to take care of me... my mom may well have found a 'nice aspiring brother' in the congregation and I would've had a j-dub step-daddy.... Yikes! The full implication of all that just came upon me. All I can say is "Thank God for unanswered prayers!' I absolutely do thank God that none of my relatives were ever 'in' - I was the only dupe and it was hard enough exiting without my family shunning me - they were the only ones who kept me sane, I think. So thank God I'm out and you're out with your sweet wife by your side - now that's a really happy ending to that tragic tale, isn't it?

Don't worry about the rest of your family's attitude - living well and being happy is it's own reward, and you don't have to argue with anyone about it - just smile, smile, smile and let them know how happy you are in your new freedom in Christ. You're a stronger, better person for having gone through it and making your stand for what's right - man are you tough! Keep turning your cheek - they're blinded - and praying for them to see the light too isn't a bad idea! I hope to hear much more from you in the future.

The best to you... WB

35

Agent Smith's story

by AgentSmith in

i was born into a jw family.

my father's parents were jw.

my mother?s family was a big mix.

DoubleYouBee

You have a wondefully descriptive writing style that's a pleasure to read - thank you for sharing your story. It sure left me wanting more - maybe sometime you can fill in what you left out - if it were a book I'd surely read it!