Paralipomenon

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Posts by Paralipomenon

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  24

  What could they be wanting now?

  by Schism in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, so you know about my parents' and my email exchange.

  mom said come to meetings, i was genuine with her and told her why i don't, mom replies with denial of what she just read (like i am a confused baby), then i replied with an email that absolutely takes care of everything.

  from evolution vs creation, to the bible, to jehovah, and the wts.

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  Paralipomenon

  What would I do?
  
  I'd make it very uncomfortable for him.
  
  Call up your dad and say that knowing your husband, he will be very tired after his shift. Suggest instead that he come over for supper on the weekend. If he balks and says that he wanted to meet with your husband alone, you have every right to ask what it's about.
  
  If he's evasive about the subject of the discussion, you could have alot of fun with that. Try to guess reasons why two normal men would want to have a meeting together.
  
  "Are you trying to sell him something?"
  "Are you okay dad? Is it your prostrate?"
  "Do you need money?"
  "You didn't have an affair did you?"
  
  Then you can say something like "Well it can't be very important then, come over for supper this weekend and I'll leave you two alone to talk about your -man issues-"
  
  Hell, if he wants to run mind games on your husband, the least you can do is return the favor. If he's still beligerant you can feign anger and cancel the meeting yourself "You're trying to get him to leave me aren't you! Well you can forget about any secret meetings, I love my husband!" -click-
  
  *grin*
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  1

  Snow day update

  by Paralipomenon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well i'm caught in the middle of a blizzard right now so i'm stuck at work.

  i left a few hours ago, but it took me a full hour to go 3 kilometers so i went back to work.

  i've had a rather interesting week and now i have alot of spare time so i might as well make a post about it.

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  Paralipomenon

  Well I'm caught in the middle of a blizzard right now so I'm stuck at work. I left a few hours ago, but it took me a full hour to go 3 kilometers so I went back to work.
  
  I've had a rather interesting week and now I have alot of spare time so I might as well make a post about it.
  
  This weekend past was my son's birthday which was the first one that I planned to celebrate. My wife had agreed to let our kids do the holidays but didn't want any part of it herself. I just made the plans myself and talked to the kids about it.
  
  When the day came I did some last minute shopping and was all set to go. We were going to go to McDonald's for a lunch then back to our neighbor's place for a small party. While getting ready, my wife was just sitting there watching TV, I popped into the room and said "just so you know, you're invited too if you want to come"
  
  She paused then said "you're not going to be singing Happy Birthday are you?" I said no, and meant it, that song still kinda annoys me so she agreed to come along. That was quite a relief since our neighbor's husband decided to go hunting, that would have just left myself with my wife's best friend and the kids. Even though we'd have a ton of kids with us, the last thing I wanted was for my wife to get jealous about her best friend having lunch with her husband regardless of the circumstances. (My wife has a small issue with jealousy)
  
  So we got there and all the kids had alot of fun. This was one with a large play area in it so I took all the kids in to play. My wife and her best friend stayed out to chat. When we got back to our place the kids were really excited for the party. I just headed over to her place hoping my wife would come along anyways. Our neighbor took more initiative and shouted out "Are you coming too?" She told me later that during lunch my wife said that she felt very conflicted by the whole situation. Our neighbor told my wife that she had to "do what felt right in her heart".
  
  Apparently what felt right was to come along. I was a bit nervous since this was a full party with candles and cake and presents.
  
  I had done up small gift bags for all the kids and we handed out those first to distract the rest of the kids. They were all quite delighted and everyone had a good time. Our son was extremely impressed with the gifts I got him and really happy. I offered some cake to my wife and she said "sure, I'm here. Might as well have some birthday cake" her tone wasn't happy but wasn't annoyed either. I think she just had to make some comment to reconcile her feelings of guilt.
  
  Eventually we rounded all the kids up for naps and headed home. When we got into our house my wife said: "You did a very good job on that party. You have my blessing to organize any other kid's party"
  
  That's quite a complement as she is fantastic with planning and throwing social events. That was it and we didn't discuss it any more. No change in her attitude, but I think if I just keep doing holiday activities one year she'll just join in willingly. Hoping at least.
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  95

  First & Last, One-time post

  by journey-on in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been lurking for quite some time now on jwd.

  my story is pretty much just like everyone else's, "only the names have been changed".

  in reading your posts, i have both laughed and cried till tears ran down my cheeks.

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  Paralipomenon

  Very good letter, I think you hit the nail on the head as to her motivation.
  
  I think very few witnesses actually enjoy shunning. They shun because it's an easy thing to do to reaffirm their faith.
  
  So my question would be, why let it be easy on her? Why give her an easy affirmation by shunning you? Why not call as often as you want? Invite her over for supper? Show up to help out? Make shunning you more of an effort than not and she might take the path of less resistance.
  
  If they like being a JW, that is their own prerogative. You may have to accept that, but you don't have to accept their shunning.
  
  You can actively show your love by not giving up on her.
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  49

  Stuck in a dead-end job because of obeying anti-higher education policy?

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did you refrain from obtaining a degree or advanced studies when you had the chance because it wasn't the witness thing to do?

  how has this affected your life?

  comments, rants, and personal experiences please.

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  Paralipomenon

  I actually wanted to go to university when I left school but couldn't qualify for a student loan because my father made over the income bracket. According to the loan calculator my parents would be responsible for financing 50% of my tuition.
  
  They didn't put any money aside for our education and didn't have any savings so I couldn't go. I had to wait 3 years after I graduated until I could apply for a load on my own merits. At that time I felt I lost too much time and wouldn't be able to afford the loan all on my own so I attended a 1 year college course instead.
  
  That really limited my career options and I had to start with low paying jobs and work my way up. After 10 years I am finally making the same as my university educated peers, but only because I specialized in an uncommon aspect of my field.
  
  My parents were never against my getting an education and were actually quite proud, it was more frustrating that they never thought that day would come and their inaction inadvertently stalled my career progress for several years.
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  35

  I get this nagging feeling something big is about to happen ?

  by 5go in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i don't know what wether the watchtower is going to implode or the begining of ww3 is about to happen.

  something big !.

  but something makes me feel weird, not afraid but ready for it.. maybe it is the psyco in me..

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  Paralipomenon

  I have it on good authority that we are living in the LAST MINUTES of the LAST DAYS.
  
  Gives me goosebumps... or possibly gas... I get the two confused.
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  21

  Deep thoughts: Is Jehovah omnipotent?

  by Paralipomenon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jehovah is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

  he is the god of gods and all powerful.

  this is a fairly accepted teaching and one that no active witness would argue with.

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  Paralipomenon

  agapa37:
  
  I am curious as to your opinions on if you think the bible portrays Jehovah as omnipotent or just as a powerful being.
  
  As for the omnipresent, it literally means "present everywhere simultaneously" this is where the JW teaching gets a bit murky. Jehovah is said to be sitting on his throne as an individual, but his holy spirit is everywhere. Since holy spirit is referred to as Jehovah's active force, is it possible to have your active force to be omnipresent without being omnipresent yourself?
  
  If the holy spirit has a separate presence than Jehovah, wouldn't that more support the claims of a trinity?
  
  But for the rank and file JW member if you ask them if Jehovah is the three O's you will definitely receive an affirmative reply unless there has been an article that recently discussed this topic in the past few years. That was the point of my post.
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  21

  Deep thoughts: Is Jehovah omnipotent?

  by Paralipomenon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jehovah is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

  he is the god of gods and all powerful.

  this is a fairly accepted teaching and one that no active witness would argue with.

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  Paralipomenon

  Ironically, when Jehovah kills people he uses the forces of nature, when an angel kills people it is done silently and in their sleep.
  
  ie. Assyrians wiped out in Hezekiah's time, firstborn of Egypt
  
  I guess only certain people need to know what's killing them.
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  21

  Deep thoughts: Is Jehovah omnipotent?

  by Paralipomenon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jehovah is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.

  he is the god of gods and all powerful.

  this is a fairly accepted teaching and one that no active witness would argue with.

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  Paralipomenon

  Jehovah is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient.
  
  He is the God of gods and all powerful. This is a fairly accepted teaching and one that no active witness would argue with. So the question comes up, is he petty? "Surely not" is the indignant reply.
  
  Now after some musings I was thinking about Armageddon. If I was an omnipotent God of gods and I wanted to wipe out all the evildoers, what would I do?
  
  Very simple, I'd blink them out of existence. There, they are all gone and their technology too, quite easy right?
  
  Well we have a small problem. You see, Jehovah has wiped out the wicked from the earth before. This was in the time of Noah when wickedness was running rampart and Jehovah decided to wipe the earth clean. This was done by the means of a flood, a very natural method. In fact Jehovah was powerless to protect his faithful at the time by divine intervention or at least didn't care to exert himself.
  
  Noah was instructed to build an ark and get 2 of each species of animal and 6 of each livestock to preserve them before the destruction. Was this to test faith? Was this to serve as an example to the survivors? You could argue so and leave it at that.
  
  Next up, lets take a look at Sodom and Gomorrah. Those two cites were slated for destruction directly by Jehovah himself. After warning was given and the faithful fled the city, fire and sulfur rained down from the heavens destroying these two cities.
  
  So Jehovah has identified that he has mastery over the natural elements of the earth, but needs to use physical means to execute his will. This is made very apparent in the foretold destruction of the earth at Armageddon.
  
  It is said that the earth will be ripped asunder, fire will rain down from the skies and a great trembling will topple towers. That is, volcanos, earthquakes, lightning and potentially a meteor shower.
  
  Why? Ask this question of any faithful witness and the reply is, so they know where the destruction is coming from. At the end of times when the governments turn against God's people that is when Jehovah will take action and turn against them. They will know that it is Jehovah is their judge.
  
  Wow, powerful stuff but that didn't answer my question... why? According to the teachings, those killed at Armageddon will be sealed in death for time eternal. That's it, the final curtain. So what purpose does it serve for the dramatic destruction? In these people's final hours, why must their death be so gruesome and painful if they are just about to fade out of existence without memory of their fate? So the question comes up, is Jehovah truly omnipotent but yet choses to torture those not worthy, or does he lack the power to actually just take everyone's life force? Is his power only restricted to the elements and nature?
  
  Even though the bible paints the picture of a very powerful God, I fail to see any evidence of an omnipotent one.
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  18

  My 6 year old gets a Watchtower

  by Clam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this morning at 9am i was having a shave when the door bell rang.

  within seconds my 6 year old son answered the door (it's school holidays here) and before i could towel the shaving cream off my face i heard the door close again.

  my 6 year old announced "it was some people selling comics" and he handed me a february 15 watchtower - lol.. having a read just now i noted an article our unique solar system how it got here.

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  Paralipomenon

  An interesting read.
  
  Apparently he went on to further clarify this quote later in life that while the Genesis account was close, it wasn't exact.
  
  You can read his full opinion here:
  
  http://www.aapg.org/explorer/2000/05may/sermon.pdf
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  33

  OTHERS WITH YOUR SAME NAME. CHECK IT OUT.

  by Outaservice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you think your name is unique?

  you might be surprised!.

  put in your first and last name and see how many people in the united states have your same name.. http://ww2.howmanyofme.com/.

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  Paralipomenon

  517 with my exact name