Brother Apostate

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Posts by Brother Apostate

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  77

  Make a statement you have found to be TRUE.

  by gaiagirl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jw's like to refer to their body of beliefs as "the truth", even when those beliefs are adjusted or even reversed, giving rise to the question 'if this is "the truth", then what were the beliefs which were promoted as "the truth" until the change'?.

  state something you have actually found to be "true", in the sense that, in your experience, it agrees with what is observed in the real world.. .

  i'll start: knowledge is power

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  Brother Apostate

  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him - 1 John 4:16
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  73

  As of tomorrow I will no longer be a JW

  by passwordprotected in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  after my last post where i asked for advice on how to handle whether i should tell an elder that we've been going to church, i decided to tell a local elder who's related to me through marriage.

  this was to save my dad having to 'report' me (i'd told my dad we go to church).

  anyway, i had an interesting chat with him and he said some very personally revealing things re.

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  Brother Apostate

  How legalistic!

  Yes, that is JWs in a nutshell.

  So, I said, "ok, I'll meet with you guys". I'm not going to DA myself and I'm not giving them a letter.

  Per the Elder's manual, if you meet with them you recognize their authority- therefore, they believe they have the right, and will exercise the right, to DF you for "apostacy", not apostacy from the Scriptures, but apostacy from the org.

  Per the Elder's manual, if you do not meet with them, and make clear that you do not recognize their authority- they will exercise their percieved right to DF you for "apostacy", not apostacy from the Scriptures, but apostacy from the org.

  Per the Elder's manual, if you merely write your response to their charges, and make clear that you do not recognize their authority- they will exercise their percieved right to DF you for "apostacy", not apostacy from the Scriptures, but apostacy from the org.

  No matter how you respond, same result.

  Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities'- Revelation 18:4-5

  BA- Now that you are out- leave manmade doctrine, pray for Holy Spirit, read the Bible, seek God and Christ.
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  4

  Anyone "born again" who was a born in JW?

  by startingover in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just curious.

  from my experience there are lots of born ins that become atheist, whereas those that came in from another religion seem to be more likely to go that direction again.

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  Brother Apostate

  Me. See other thread as to why...BA
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  108

  Any "Born Again" Christians here?

  by sacolton in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  would like to see how many have accepted jesus christ as the only way, truth and life..

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  Brother Apostate

  How else will you see God's Kingdom?

  BA- Born Again

  John 3:1-21

  There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

  Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

  Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

  Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

  'Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

  "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

  Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?"

  Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

  Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.

  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

  No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
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  16

  Will Atheists be Targeted as "The Anti-Christ"?

  by cameo-d in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  will lack of religious affiliation with a church be the determining factor in declaring one as an "anti-christ"?

  if you are not a baptised, signed up, tithing church member somewhere....will this be the dividing line?.

  will church membership be the sole criteria of "godliness" in this battle of armageddon?.

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  Brother Apostate

  Will Atheists be Targeted as "The Anti-Christ"?

  No need to "target" them alone:

  "and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world." -1 John 4:3

  "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh This is the deceiver and the antichrist." -2 John 1:7

  "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son." -1 John 2:22

  "Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour." -1 John 2:18

  Atheists, then, are antichrists. However, they alone are not the only antichrists. Anyone who denies that Jesus Christ was a real, historical, being, who dwelt within a fleshly body, the messiah, the son of God is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Father, God, is an antichrist.

  Will lack of religious affiliation with a church be the determining factor in declaring one as an "anti-christ"?

  No, see above.

  If you are not a baptised, signed up, tithing church member somewhere....will this be the dividing line?

  No again, see scriptures above.

  Will church membership be the sole criteria of "godliness" in this battle of Armageddon?

  Ditto.

  Who gets killed off .....the good moral atheists or the hypocritical self righteous christians?

  That is up to Christ. (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37; Hebrews 4:13; 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Peter 4:5)

  BA- Search the Scriptures for answers.
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  37

  Is it reckless to eat dessert first?

  by compound complex in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've heard whispered tales that some daring souls actually do do that.

  yes, eat dessert first.

  typically, for us middle earth ethnics, the antepasto* is the first course.

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  Brother Apostate

  "I prefer to regard a dessert as I would imagine the perfect woman: subtle, a little bittersweet, not blowsy and extrovert. Delicately made up, not highly rouged. Holding back, not exposing everything and, of course, with a flavor that lasts."Graham Kerr (the Galloping Gourmet) 1960s

  BA- Agreed.
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  32

  ONE CREATIONIST EXPLANION FOR DINOSAURS DEMISE

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  they didn't arrive on time at the ark.. can't remember where i read it?.

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  Brother Apostate

  Spend more time researching the real answers.

  Spend less time asking stupid questions.

  BA- Take my advice.

  PS- Or not.
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  127

  I am scared for my life. Problems with punks.

  by SnakesInTheTower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i have been having problems with the renters that moved in next door.

  the last 3 months have been a living hell.

  i have an ongoing complaint with the slumlord that owns the property and the city is taking him to court for derelict vehicles next week (which i anonymously complained about, but i am sure i am being blamed for).

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  Brother Apostate

  So I have been having problems with the renters that moved in next door. The last 3 months have been a living hell. I have an ongoing complaint with the slumlord that owns the property and the city is taking him to court for derelict vehicles next week (which I anonymously complained about, but I am sure I am being blamed for). He is also pissed that I called the police on him last week for using my yard and drive as a place to turn around. The white cop that came was useless. Took my name and birthdate but went over and listened to them and then left (without telling me what was going on). I had to stop the cop to find out that there was nothing he could/would do.

  Wow, lotsa drama.

  Let me back up by saying this as background:

  a) I am white. Punk neighbor is black and just moved to my street from the ghetto where his behavior is not only tolerated but apparently encouraged.

  Move or deal with it. Those are the actual options.

  b) I am not predjudice against any race, only stupid people.

  If you were/are stupid, would you feel the same way?

  Two of my closest friends that I would give my life for are black.

  What if they were white, or yellow, or red, green?

  c) My neighborhood borders the ghetto and is in danger of becoming ghettofied. (meaning this is a nearly all black neighborhood that has been quiet until these renters moved in)

  There goes the neighborhood. Either deal with it in some constructive way, or move out.

  d) I have nothing against renters, I have rented this house for over 9 years. My original feud is with his slumlord.

  If you were this "slumlord" how would you improve what you perceive as this situation? And would it still be worth your effort to continue to maintain and rent your properties?

  Tonight, as I am pulling down the street to my home, a car comes up from the opposite direction, then backs up into oncoming traffic..meaning me (this is a narrow street) and into the driveway next door. Of course, I look to see who/what the problem is. It is the troublesome punk neighbor. I say nothing. I dont flip him off, I dont say a word.

  You need to get a life, seriously. There are much more important things to deal with.

  I pull into my driveway and start to get out. He starts mouthing off at me not to look at him. Understand, there is a mere 30 feet tops between our houses, our drives/yards separated only by a narrow strip of grass and a walnut tree. I try to ignore him, but he continues to make advances and threats. Finally, in as calm a voice as I couldm I asked him to stay on his side and leave me be and there wont be a problem. He continues yelling at me not to stare at his yard or him. I told him it is kind of hard not to look at a yard that is right next door. I asked that maybe he should have his landlord put up a fence then I couldn't see him. He continues mouthing and I try to get things out of the car. I ignore him, but now he is coming across the yard. Very quickly. I know what is coming, he has done this once before. What I dont know, is how far he will take it. Whether it is more intimidation and mouth or real physcial violence.

  Quit being a total wimp. Do (at least) pushups, squats, crunches and other calisthenics, and aerobics, maybe take some self-defense classes. Are you a man or a mouse?

  I take a defensive stance, knowing I dont stand a chance against him (even assuming he is not armed). He had me pinned up against the car and was in my face. I basically was reduced to pleading, How fu$king humiliating. He was trying to intimidate and he succeeded. I told him he can hit me if he wants, I dont stand a chance in hand to hand combat and he knows it. He backed off at that point. He told me to call the cops again and see what happens. I told him I wont be calling the police anymore because they are apparently quite useless.

  Apparently you lack huevos or you like humiliation, or you are handicapped (in which case I am truly in error and beg forgiveness for my previous comments).

  I managed to get inside without further incident (other than to move my car into my detached garage). I was shaking and yes, I called the police, but only to document the incident. I told the officer that I dont own a weapon and in that circumstance a weapon would have been useless anyway. That the law is only to protect the rights of the criminal.

  You need to buy a license and a weapon and a carry permit, use this experience depending on which state you live in. Go to a public firing range where they rent weapons, learn to use them, but them, practice regularly.

  While this 20 year veteran was empathetic, he agreed that their hands were tied. That without witnesses or proof of his trespassing or threats, there was nothing they could do.

  My advice: Read second amendment over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. It might sink through.

  I called my landlord this evening and left him a message. I told him that I would pay the $600 for a 8 ft high stockade fence but that he would have to install it. I cant afford to move until I finishe school next July. I pay $290 a month rent for a 2BR house with a garage.... average rent for a one BR apartment in this area starts at $600/mo, so I figure that its cheaper to erect a fence that the punk would have to go around to get to me than for me to pay to move, pay first and last month rent, a deposit, a moving van, and double rent.

  What a wimp.

  Damn, I wanted to spend that $600 on a big screen tv.

  Do some exercises, wimp.

  Thanks, I needed to vent. Yes, I am scared shitless. Now I am going to go drink myself into oblivion.

  Give up drinking. Spend the money you save on joining agym. Use the equipment. Quit being such a wimp. Get mad at yourself and learn to be a man.

  BA- Seriously.

  PS- Quit it now.
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  9

  just wondering

  by booby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why, if all things were created through jesus, does the new world translation wait till genesis 1:26 for god to say let "us" make, and then revert back to ignoring the us in verses 27-31 to just god.

  in verse 31 it says again just that god saw everything "he" made was good?.

  31 after that god saw everything he had made and, look!

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  Brother Apostate

  God directly created His only begotten son, through which all other things were created.

  As found elsewhere in the Bible, God is Love.

  Love flows through all His creation.

  God makes everything in His Love, His Image.

  The things He creates choose their destiny.

  Love, or something else.

  That is the choice of those living.

  And those who die will be judged according to their choices.

  Thankfully, Grace has been extended through Christ's sacrifice..

  It's a choice.

  BA- 'Nuff said.

  PS- Amazing Grace:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT88jBAoVIM
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  2

  Stock Brokers are a Tourist Attraction Now

  by sammielee24 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just read this in pravda....i thought it was interesting to see whats buzzing around the world....sammieswife.. stock brokers become another tourist attraction in new york 15.10.2008source:pravda.ru the business area of new york has turned into a tourist mecca.

  stock brokers become another tourist sightseeing in new yorkbreaking newsthe world may celebrate the end of the western civilizationevery u.s. citizen holds 86,000 dollars of national debthypocritical west stands up against russialinda evangelista: a true model that changed the face of fashionmore...new yorks oldest business area reminded a carnival last friday, tourgenius.ru reports.

  wall street has never seen so many tourists, reporters, students, hot dog sellers and policemen.

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  Brother Apostate

  They've always been a "tourist attraction" to folks who understand the financial makets.

  BA- The light is shining brighter these days, apparently.