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JoinedPosts by processor
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Instrucitons for using the toilet at the convention (pic)
by maninthemiddle inthis was posted in the men's room stall, i hear the instructions in the womens room was more detailed.. this was in addition to having a "bathroom attendant" handing out 1 paper towel per person.. i haven't felt so childish since i was in grade schooll, i had to wonder if all the tall people around me were really grown men and women.. .
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THE ALTERNATIVE DAILY TEXT by The Witchtower editor
by processor ini have published more than 200 'daily text' comments in german, and will now start translating those into english.
they will be published here:.
http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/.
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processor
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=778855468825873&id=114394598605300
Alternative Daily Text for Sunday, July 27, 2014
“She will return to her hire and prostitute herself … Her profit and her hire will become something holy to Jehovah … Her hire will be for those dwelling before Jehovah.” (Isaiah 23:17, 18)
Some imitation Christians who are influenced by teachings of false religion may be surprised, but the Biblical statement is clear: The “profit” or “hire” of prostitutes is “something holy to Jehovah.” That is why James asked: “Was not Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous?” (James 2:25) Indeed, Rahab had loved the Israelite spies ‘with her whole soul.’ – Matthew 22:37.
Jehovah is especially pleased when a prostitute uses a part of her profit “for those dwelling before Jehovah,” that is, when she donates it to the worldwide preaching work. Still in the 10th century, Pope John XII operated an own brothel at St. Peter’s Basilica. But then apostasy became rampant, so that gradually all churchly brothels have been closed. Finally, the apostate clergy banned prostitution completely. So they resembled the Pharisees whom Jesus told: “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going ahead of you into the Kingdom of God.” (Matthew 21:31) Contrary to religious leaders, prostitutes have a guaranteed place in God’s kingdom.
That is why faithful servants of God, like Judah or Samson, did not abstain from calling on prostitutes’ services. (Genesis 38:16; Judges 16:1) The prophet Hosea was even instructed by Jehovah himself: “’Go, take to thee a woman of whoredoms.” (Hosea 1:2, YLT) True, in some verses the Bible speaks negatively of prostitution. But all these cases relate to married women accused of adultery. (Isaiah 57:3; Ezekiel 23:43) Neither Moses nor Jesus banned prostitution, but both condemned adultery. (Leviticus 20:10; Luke 16:18) So if you want a married woman, do not commit adultery but rather liquidate her husband. – 1 Samuel 25:3, 13.
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Is eating for Christians? If so, which food is suitable? (Reprint from The Witchtower)
by processor inis eating for christians?
if so, which food is suitable?reprint from the witchtower, 04/2010.
they are like the bread ... all those eating it will defile themselves.
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processor
Is eating for Christians? If so, which food is suitable?
Reprint from The Witchtower, 04/2010
“They are like the bread … all those eating it will defile themselves.” – Hosea 9:4
Some believe that Christians should not eat at all. They base their opinion, among others, on the July 22, 2001 Awake! issue. It says: “A Gallup Youth Survey of 13- to 17-year-olds in the United States revealed that 56 percent of them say a prayer before dinner.” (page 13) Jonathan, a young man from Germany, indicated: “Most people pray to false gods before their meals. Since true Christians must abstain from everything that is connected to false religion, for me it is out of the question that a servant of God would defile himself by eating.”
In the first century, some worshippers of God had the same attitude. The Bible says: “The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat.” (Mark 7:3) But is this approach based on the Bible? Obviously not, since the Pharisees and Scribes told Jesus: “The disciples of John fast … and so do those of the Pharisees, but yours eat.” (Luke 5:33) Indeed, Christians “have authority to eat,” as Paul wrote later. – 1 Corinthians 9:4.
Hence it is out of the question that Christians may eat. But can they voluntarily abandon eating? Or are they obliged to eat? It is interesting what Jesus did when he raised the daughter of Jairus. The account says: “Her spirit returned, and she rose instantly, and he ordered something to be given her to eat.” (Luke 8:55) So he considered eating the most important thing of all.
Jesus imitated his heavenly father in this regard. Moses advised the Israelites against the gods of the neighboring peoples and called these “the product of the hands of man, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.” (Deuteronomy 4:28) Doubtless he would not have pointed out that these gods ‘cannot eat’ if the true God could not do that either. Hence Jehovah can eat, and as Christians we must be “imitators of God.” – Ephesians 5:1.
A divine mission
In fact, eating is a divine command, since according to the prophet Isaiah “this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: ‘Look! My own servants will eat.’” (Isaiah 65:13) On another occasion he instructed his readers: “Let there be … an eating!” – Isaiah 21:5.
Some may object that they are already overweight and would better make a diet. But according to Isaiah 11:6 also “the well-fed animal” would be among God’s people, and this verse applies to “beastlike men.” (Isaiah’s Prophecy – Light for All Mankind, volume I, page 164) Indeed a diet would be contradictory to God’s righteous principles, for he said: “All the fat ones of the earth shall eat.” (Psalm 22:29) God appreciates when his worshippers eat, be they slim or fat.
The prophet Zechariah said: “Every … cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah must become something holy belonging to Jehovah of armies, and all … must do boiling in them.” (Zechariah 14:21) Eating is a sacred duty for worshippers of Jehovah. Indeed, “he who eats, eats to Jehovah.” (Romans 14:6) Thus the question is not if but what God’s servants should eat.
In the past, Jehovah provided uncommon food from time to time. Likely the prophet Ezekiel was in the bathroom when God instructed him: “Son of man, what you find, eat. Eat this roll.” (Ezekiel 3:1) We can imitate Ezekiel in hard times, but there is yet another food that is suitable for Christians.
Meat
Christians must be “imitators of God,” and God ate meat when he visited his friend Abraham. (Ephesians 5:1; Genesis 18:3, 8) His son Isaac ate meat, too; he said to Jacob (whom he thought was Esau): “Bring me some game and make me a tasty dish and, ah, let me eat!” – Genesis 27:7.
Later eating was regulated in the law. Jehovah told the Israelites through Moses: “As for the flesh, everybody … may eat the flesh.” (Leviticus 7:19) Later he added: “Because your soul craves to eat meat, whenever your soul craves it you may eat meat.” (Deuteronomy 12:20) Was this only a recommendation? No, God commanded specifically: “You must eat meat.” (Deuteronomy 12:15) Vegetarians would have transgressed against God’s law, and whoever did that had to be stoned.
Jehovah reinforced this instruction when he commanded through Jeremiah: “Eat flesh!” (Jeremiah 7:21) Even later, Jesus mentioned a king who said: “I have prepared my dinner, my bulls and fattened animals are slaughtered.” (Matthew 22:4) Indeed, “flesh is true food.” – John 6:55.
In paradise, meat will be the common food. Jesus foretold how a father in paradise will react to the resurrection of his son: “Bring the fattened young bull, slaughter it and let us eat and enjoy ourselves, because this my son was dead and came to life again.” – Luke 15:23, 24.
Bread
Hence there can be no doubt that meat is suitable food for Christians. But what about bread? Note how king Saul reacted when a witch tried to induce him to eat bread. She told him: “’Let me set before you a piece of bread, and you eat, that power may come to be in you, because you will go on your way.’ But he refused and said: ‘I am not going to eat.’” (1 Samuel 28:22, 23) Since he insisted on not eating bread, the hag knew only one alternative: “The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once … Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate.” – 1 Samuel 28:24, 25, NIV.
Saul followed his own rules, for he had commanded: “Cursed is the man that eats bread.” (1 Samuel 14:24) With this, however, he only repeated a principle from the Mosaic Law. Even there Jehovah had ordered: “You must eat no bread.” (Leviticus 23:14) Moses himself “ate no bread.” (Exodus 34:28) The Israelites followed his example and therefore were blessed by God, so that he could tell them: “While I kept guiding you forty years in the wilderness, your garments did not wear out upon you, and your sandal did not wear out upon your foot. Bread you did not eat.” – Deuteronomy 29:5, 6.
Granted, in a moment of weakness, even David “ate the loaves … which it is not lawful for anybody to eat.” (Mark 2:26) But he knew that God’s servants did usually not eat bread; at old age he wrote: “A young man I used to be, I have also grown old, and yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread.” (Psalm 37:25) Righteous people looked for meat at the market, not for bread. A capable woman described by the mother of king Lemuel heeded this divine principle: “She is watching over the goings-on of her household, and the bread … she does not eat.” – Proverbs 31:27.
Temptations
Some years later, the apostate king Jeroboam tried to entice a prophet of God to commit a deed because he had caught Jeroboam at worshipping a golden calf. “But the man of the true God said to the king: ‘If you gave me half of your house I would not come with you and eat bread’ … For that is the way he commanded me by the word of Jehovah, saying, ‘You must not eat bread.’” (1 Kings 13:8, 9) Later, however, he was fooled into bread eating and was put to death by divine intervention. – 1 Kings 13:23-26.
The prophet Ezekiel too was instructed by Jehovah: “Bread … you should not eat.” (Ezekiel 24:17) Finally, Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil himself. Satan asked him: “If you are a son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” (Luke 4:3) But Jesus pointed out the divine principle and replied: “It is written, ‘Man must not live by bread.’” (Luke 4:3) Later he instructed his disciples to carry “no bread” for their trips. (Luke 9:4, NIV) The disciples confirmed “that they had no loaves.” – Mark 8:16.
Some worshippers of God tried to eat bread secretly. During Solomon’s reign, a woman said: “Bread eaten in secrecy – it is pleasant.” (Proverbs 9:17) Later some Israelites smuggled bread into their villages and said: “At the risk of our soul we bring in our bread.” (Lamentations 5:9) But they did not go unpunished. The Bible says with regard to such people: “They did not put faith in God … Men ate the very bread … They had not turned aside from their desire … when God’s wrath itself ascended against them.” (Psalm 78:22-31) Indeed, “bread … is pleasurable to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.” – Proverbs 20:17.
Beware of bread
Furthermore the Bible uses bread as a symbol of wickedness. Wise Solomon called the food of the wicked ones “the bread of wickedness.” (Proverbs 4:17) The prophet Isaiah warned the Israelites against “bread in the form of distress.” (Isaiah 30:20) Finally Jesus advised his disciples: “Watch out for the leaven!” (Luke 12:1) The Bible usually mentions bread in a negative context and even calls it “contemptible bread.” – Numbers 21:5.
Hence eating bread is out of the question for worshippers of God. But “in all the land of Egypt there was found bread,” and “in the Bible, Egypt often symbolizes Satan’s world.” (Genesis 41:54; Isaiah’s Prophecy – Light for All Mankind, volume I, page 201) For worldlings bread is suitable, and to them we can offer it.
The prophet Hosea said regarding apostates: “They are like the bread … all those eating it will defile themselves.” (Hosea 9:4) Jesus called Judas Iscariot, his traitor, the one “that used to feed on … bread.” (John 13:18) That is why the Bible counsels us: “If the one hating you is hungry, give him bread to eat.” (Proverbs 25:21) With regard to the apostate Israelites who should soon be killed at the destruction of Jerusalem, Jehovah said: “They will have to eat bread.” – Ezekiel 4:16.
Soon, after the last worldling has been annihilated in Armageddon, bread will not be anymore. Jehovah then “will send hunger on the land; not hunger for bread.” (Amos 8:11, Postmodern Bible) The prophet Jeremiah foretold regarding the New Jerusalem, the future capital: “There is no bread anymore in the city.” – Jeremiah 38:9.
Cake
Can the same principles as for bread be applied to cake? Granted, the prophet Ezekiel ate cake. He did this, however, as a prophetic example for the apostate Israelites. Jehovah instructed him: “And as a round cake of barley you will eat it … upon dung cakes of the excrement of mankind you will bake it.” (Ezekiel 4:12) It was a onetime event by which Jehovah wanted to teach the Israelites a lesson.
Apart from that, the Bible speaks of cake in the same way as of bread. On one occasion, Tamar wanted to induce her brother Amnon to cake eating: “Then she took the flour dough and kneaded it and made the cakes under his eyes and cooked the heart-shaped cakes. Finally she took the deep pan and poured it out before him.” (2 Samuel 13:8, 9) But obviously he knew the divine principles: “Amnon refused to eat.” – 2 Samuel 13:9.
Later the prophet Elijah suspected a widow of eating cake in secrecy. She was innocent though, and she professed: “As Jehovah your God is living, I have no round cake.” (1 Kings 17:12) She also knew which consequences the eating of cake would have: “Then my son and I will die.” (1 Kings 17:12, NLT) The psalmist wrote that only apostates are concerned with cake. – Psalm 35:16.
In actual fact, cake is even connected with false religion. Jeremiah reports that idolatresses offered “sacrificial cakes” to the “queen of the heavens” with the consent of their husbands. (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:19) For sure, it was not for nothing that God had this account included in his word. Cake surely is no suitable food for worshippers of Jehovah.
Fruits and vegetables
Since bread, cake, and other types of pastry are out of the question: What about fruits and vegetables? Interestingly, Jehovah God commanded even the first human couple: “You must not eat from the tree.” (Genesis 2:17, NIV) God later repeated this principle and forbid his people to eat field crops by themselves. He said: “The fruitage of your ground … a people will eat whom you have not known.” (Deuteronomy 28:33) As with bread, the Israelites could sell fruits and vegetables to foreigners.
In the Mosaic Law, God aptly summarized what the food chain should be like among his people: “I shall certainly give vegetation in your field for your domestic animals, and you will indeed eat and be satisfied.” (Deuteronomy 11:15) Jehovah provided the “vegetation” not for humans but for their “domestic animals;” the humans should then “eat” the flesh of these animals “and be satisfied.”
This fact was confirmed by the experience of king Nebuchadnezzar. If it would have been common back then that humans ate fruits and vegetables, God would not have told him: “The vegetation is what they will give even to you to eat just like bulls.” (Daniel 4:25) This pagan ruler who had walked in opposition to Jehovah had to eat vegetables as a punishment. Even today, children who see a cow ask their parents: “I am thinking of mad King Nebuchadnezzar … Do you think he also chewed the cud?” – Awake!, January 8, 1983, page 26.
Fruits and vegetables were made for animals, not for humans. In Elisha’s time, his attendant made a disastrous mistake. Elisha instructed him: “Put the large cooking pot on and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” (2 Kings 4:38) Obviously this man lacked correct knowledge of God’s law, since he “went picking wild gourds … and sliced them into the stewpot.” (2 Kings 4:39) Fortunately, the “sons of the prophets” knew that eating vegetables was forbidden under penalty of death according to God’s law: “As soon as they ate from the stew, they themselves cried out and began saying: ‘There is death in the pot’ … And they were not able to eat.” (2 Kings 4:40) Elisha understood the gravity of the situation, and immediately he advised the cook: “Pour it out!”
– 2 Kings 4:41, NASB.Apostates
The apostate king Ahab who was married to wicked Jezebel ignored God’s principles regarding vegetables intentionally. He “spoke to Naboth, saying: ‘Do give me your vineyard, that it may serve as a garden of vegetables to me, for it is close by my house.’” (1 Kings 41:2) Naboth obeyed God and used his garden to grow wine, which was designated by God as the appropriate beverage for his worshippers. (John 15:1; 1 Timothy 5:23) Wicked Ahab though wanted to turn the vineyard into “a garden of vegetables.”
Naboth knew that this would be a sin against God, and so he rejected Ahab’s offer: “It is unthinkable on my part, from Jehovah’s standpoint.” (1 Kings 21:3) Hence Jezebel had him put to death by means of false accusations, so that Ahab could conclude his illegal project. (1 Kings 21:11-16) Because of him and other fruit eaters, Jehovah had to bring judgment upon Israel. Jeremiah described it like the following: “I saw, and, look! the orchard itself was a wilderness … It was because of Jehovah, because of his burning anger.” – Jeremiah 4:26.
So it stirred Jehovah’s wrath when the Israelites ate fruits and vegetables. Jesus imitated his heavenly father in that regard. When he passed a fig tree and came to know that Jews had eaten from it, he cursed it and said: “Let no one eat fruit from you anymore forever!” (Mark 11:14) Hence there can be no doubt that Christians must abstain from fruits and vegetables.
The right food
Thus meat is the only food that is appropriate for worshippers of Jehovah. Before someone became a Jehovah’s Witness, he was part of the world, the antitypical Egypt, and may have eaten fruits and vegetables. He has to change his diet in order to meet Jehovah’s requirements. Thereby he has to avoid a complaining attitude and must not imitate certain Israelites who complained about the obligation to eat only meat: “In Egypt … there were cucumbers, melons, onions, and garlic.” (Numbers 11:5, CEV) But as a holy people for Jehovah, they were not allowed to defile themselves with fruits and vegetables anymore.
That he chose flesh as the appropriate food for his people is an impressing proof of Jehovah’s wisdom and kindness. Many people dislike vegetables, others are allergic to fruits. But “no man ever hated … flesh.” (Ephesians 5:29) Granted, some worldly scientists claim that eating too much meat would be hazardous to health. But David, a faithful servant of God, knew that consuming flesh is not dangerous. He sung under inspiration: “What can flesh do to me?” – Psalm 56:4.
A diet that consists only of meat is not necessarily monotonous. The apostle Paul hinted the Corinthians at this fact when he wrote: “Not all flesh is the same flesh.” (1 Corinthians 15:39) Apart from beef, pork, and poultry, there is lamb and ostrich meat. Also there are different ways of cooking, so that a varied diet is possible. In any case let us imitate faithful Israelites of Moses’ time who said: “Do give us meat, and let us eat!” – Numbers 11:13.
Meat – the right way
How should meat be cooked? Jehovah God instructed the prophet Ezekiel: “Make the logs many. Kindle the fire. Boil the flesh thoroughly. And empty out the broth, and let the bones themselves become piping hot.” (Ezekiel 24:10) Ezekiel should boil his meat in a pot on a log fire. In the Mosaic Law too, God commanded his people: “Boil the flesh.” – Leviticus 8:31.
Hence boiling is the classic way of cooking meat, and surely it is acceptable to God. Other methods however, like grilling of frying, are not specifically mentioned in the Bible. So we can assume that it is not important for God how we cook our meat, as long as we observe his prompt: “Get up, eat much flesh!” – Daniel 7:5.
When shopping, we have to heed the following principle though: “You must not eat any fat of a bull or a young ram or a goat.” (Leviticus 7:23) Actually, the Mosaic Law does no more apply to us, but God has not changed. (Malachi 3:6) Therefore we should only choose lean pieces when we purchase beef, lamb, or chevon. As regards pork, we can also eat fatty pieces, since the Mosaic Law did not specifically mention the fat of pigs.
Where should we eat?
It seems that eating in public is was uncommon in Israel. Uriah the Hittite asked: “Shall I go into my own house to eat?” (2 Samuel 11:11) Many centuries later, some Christians had a false attitude and ate in public. The apostle Paul trounced them and said: “Certainly you do have houses for eating.” (1 Corinthians 11:22) Worshippers of God should eat only at home.
The current world that is ruled by Satan offers many temptations. These include snack stalls which could induce a Christian to eat in public. May we not be distracted by such lures, but let us imitate Uriah who wanted to eat only in his own house.
Remaining faithful to God
What we subsist on has direct influence on our relationship to God. The apostle Paul wrote regarding followers of false religions: “Some think it is all right to eat anything, while those whose faith is weak will eat … vegetables.” (Romans 14:2, CEV) Some Christians in the first century mistakenly thought they could “eat anything” without losing their righteous stand before God. Others were weak in faith and were fooled into eating fruits and vegetables. Both groups along with others “who do not know God [and his principles regarding food] … will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9.
If we remain faithful to Jehovah God and keep abstaining from fruits, vegetables, bread, cake, and other vegetarian food, we will be allowed to live forever in a paradise. God will then carry out his original purpose, according to which animals are “born naturally to be caught and destroyed.” (2 Peter 2:12) Satan’s world along with its animal welfare organizations trying to detain people from eating flesh will then be a thing of the past. Are we not happy about these wonderful prospects?
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THE ALTERNATIVE DAILY TEXT by The Witchtower editor
by processor ini have published more than 200 'daily text' comments in german, and will now start translating those into english.
they will be published here:.
http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/.
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processor
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=776445855733501&id=114394598605300
http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/it-is-in-vain-that-you-rise-up-early/
Alternative Daily Text for Tuesday, July 22, 2014
“It is in vain that you rise up early.” (Psalm 127:2)
“In many congregations [of Jehovah’s Witnesses], there are publishers who rise early to speak with people at bus stops and train stations.” (God’s Word for Us Through Jeremiah, page 37) “Housewife pioneers and others have to arise early to take care of household chores so that they can devote a full morning to Jehovah’s service.” (The Watchtower, July 1, 1984, page 17) In the past 15 years, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany alone spent more than 400 million hours in the preaching work. This amounts to more than 45,000 years; at an average income they could have earned around ten billion dollars during that time. This money would have been enough to save roughly 300 million starving children.
Was it worth the effort? Did rising early and neglecting the own family and oneself and everything else pay off? Over the period considered, the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany decreased from 166,818 to 162,705. Indeed, you Jehovah’s Witnesses, “it is in vain that you rise up early!”
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Exodus 24:10 - The Israelites saw Jehovah? Has this scripture ever been explained?
by truthseeker inhas anyone really pondered what this means?
jehovah said that no man can see god and live, and here at least 70 people saw jehovah standing on a bright blue pavement.
24 then the lord said to moses, come up to the lord , you and aaron, nadab and abihu, and seventy of the elders of israel.
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processor
It says that the punishment for Israel was three years of famine, but in both 2Samuel 21:15 and 1 Chrons 21:14 it is three days of Pestilence that God gives.
Bart Belteshassur, you're right, thanks for the hint.
Still, though David picked the three-day pestilence, God once offered a three-year famine and once a seven-year famine:
2 Samuel 24:13: So Gad came in to David and told him: “Should seven years of famine come on your land? Or should you flee for three months from your adversaries while they pursue you? Or should there be three days of pestilence in your land?
1 Chronicles 21:11, 12: So Gad came in to David and said to him: “This is what Jehovah says, ‘Take your pick whether there should be three years of famine, or three months of being swept away by your adversaries while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or three days of the sword of Jehovah — pestilence in the land — with Jehovah’s angel bringing destruction in all the territory of Israel"
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Exodus 24:10 - The Israelites saw Jehovah? Has this scripture ever been explained?
by truthseeker inhas anyone really pondered what this means?
jehovah said that no man can see god and live, and here at least 70 people saw jehovah standing on a bright blue pavement.
24 then the lord said to moses, come up to the lord , you and aaron, nadab and abihu, and seventy of the elders of israel.
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processor
Getting to Know the Warrior Who Gives Peace
Reprint from The Witchtower, May 2009
We can learn something about God when we are concerned with people like Jacob, who saw “God face to face.” (Gen. 32:30) True, “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the older men of Israel proceeded to go up, and they got to see the God of Israel.” – Ex. 24:9, 10. Someone who has seen God face to face surely would be able to teach us many things about him. But “no man has seen God at any time.” (John 1:18) Paul clearly wrote that “not one of men has seen or can see” him. (1. Tim. 6:16) Jehovah himself said: “No man may see me and yet live.” – Ex. 33:20. It is obvious that Jehovah wants to be seen by men. The apostle Paul wrote that he “dwells in … light.” (1. Tim. 6:16) John also stated that God “himself is in the light” and “there is no darkness at all in union with him.” (1. John 1:6, 7) Jesus made clear that Jehovah is always approachable:: “Everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking it will be opened.” (Luke 11:10) Jehovah himself said: “Those looking for me are the ones that find me.” (Pr. 8:17) It is not difficult to get to know something about God. It is obvious that Jehovah does not want to be seen by men. David wrote that Jehovah “made darkness his concealment place, all around him as his booth, dark waters, thick clouds.” (Ps. 18:11) His son Solomon said: “Jehovah himself said he was to reside in the thick gloom.” (1. Ki. 8:12) He made clear that there will come a day where he will not be approachable: “At that time they will keep calling me, but I shall not answer; they will keep looking for me, but they will not find me.” (Pr. 1:28) It is not easy to get to know something about God. All people have equal chances, “for there is no partiality with God.” (Rom. 2:11) In another letter, the apostle Paul wrote “that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34, 35) So, we can be absolutely sure that we can approach God and get to know him. Not all people have equal chances. When Jacob and Esau “had not yet been born nor had practiced anything good or vile, in order that the purpose of God respecting the choosing might continue dependent, not upon works, but upon the One who calls, it was said …: ‘The older will be the slave of the younger.’ Just as it is written.” (Rom. 11:9-13) Likewise, Canaan had been “cursed” even before his birth. (Gen. 9:25) So, we cannot be sure at all if we can approach God and get to know him. Mankind really has the most favorable circumstances for a good relationship with God. “Everything he had made” – including mankind – “was very good.” (Gen. 1:31) And he “is not … a son of mankind that he should feel regret.” (Num. 23:19) Samuel said to Saul: “He will not feel regrets, for He is not an earthling man so as to feel regrets.” – 1. Sam. 15:29. Mankind really has no favorable circumstances for a good relationship with God. Even shortly after completing creation, “Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth. … And Jehovah felt regrets that he had made men in the earth.” – Gen. 6:5, 6. Early in human history, he gave a perfect law to the nation of Israel through which they could gain life. David wrote: “The law of Jehovah is perfect, bringing back the soul.” And “Moses writes that the man that has done the righteousness of the Law will live by it.” – Rom. 10:5. Early in human history, he gave an imperfect law to the nation of Israel. Later, he said: “I myself also gave them regulations that were not good and judicial decisions by which they could not keep living.” (Eze. 20:25, footnote) “Therefore by works of law no flesh will be declared righteous before him.” – Rom. 3:20. We can get to know Jehovah through the Bible, for “all Scripture is inspired of God.” (2. Ti. 3:16) Its writers “spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.” (2. Pet. 1:21) Hence, it is important to adhere closely to the Bible in all questions. We can get to know Jehovah through the Bible, but not all of its content is inspired by God. For example, the apostle Paul acknowledged “I say, yes, I, not the Lord …” (1. Cor. 7:12) Jesus also implied that some commands from the Mosaic Law had not come from God. – Mark 10:3-6. So, what should we do if the Bible’s advice does not conform to our personal opinion? Wise Solomon advises us: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding.” (Pr. 3:5) So, instead of listening to our own mind and our treacherous heart, we should fully trust in the Bible’s advice. To rely on our own understanding may lead to ruin. So, what should we do if the Bible’s advice does not conform to our personal opinion? Jehovah tells us through Jeremiah: “Behave with understanding.” (Jer. 9:17) And the apostle Paul advises us: “Let your reasonableness become known to all men.” (Phil. 4:5) Indeed, it can be unreasonable to take the Bible’s rules literally – they were written thousands of years ago for a totally different cultural sphere. We should rely to our heart and our own understanding to make a good decision. What does the Bible tell us about Jehovah? The apostle Paul mentions one of his outstanding qualities when he calls him “the God who gives peace.” (Rom. 15:33) True, “God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace.” (1. Cor. 14:33) Since we should “become imitators of God,” we also must work towards peace. Isaiah foretold about God’s servants: “Neither will they learn war anymore.” – Is. 2:4. What does the Bible tell us about Jehovah? Moses mentions one of his outstanding qualities: “Jehovah is a manly person of war (‘a warrior’, NIV).” (Ex. 15:3) He said regarding his enemies: “I will dash them one against another. … I shall show no compassion, nor feel any sorrow, and I shall not have the mercy to keep from bringing them to ruin.” (Jer. 13:14) Since we should “become imitators of God,” we must not refrain from fighting against his enemies. We could consider a military career to “put on the complete suit of armor” and be prepared for God’s war. – Eph. 6:11. Jehovah does not become provoked easily. He is “slow to anger … pardoning error and transgression and sin.” (Ex. 34:6, 7) James wrote “that Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful.” (James 5:11) “He is good, for to time indefinite is his loving-kindness.” (1. Chr. 16:34) He declared: “I do not take any delight in the death of someone.” (Eze. 18:32) True, “Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness.” (Ps. 103:8) Let us imitate him by being merciful to our fellow men. Let us help them to survive God’s day of judgment instead of rejoicing at their annihilation. Jehovah does become provoked easily. The psalmist wrote: “His anger flares up easily.” (Ps. 2:12) When the Philistines brought back the Ark of the Covenant and the men of Beth-Shemesh looked upon it, “he struck down among the people seventy men” and then “fifty thousand men,” he “struck down the people with a great slaughter.” (1. Sam. 6:19) Many hundred years after the Amalekites showed a hostile attitude towards Israel, Jehovah commanded Saul: “Go, and you must strike down Amalek and devote him to destruction with all that he has, and you must not have compassion upon him, and you must put them to death, man as well as woman, child as well as suckling.” (1. Sam. 15:3) Let us imitate Jehovah by not having compassion upon our fellow men. Rather, let us rejoice that he will execute judgment against all worldlings. It is surely comforting for us to know that God does never bring temptations upon his servants. The apostle James wrote: “When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.” (James 1:13) The “tempter” is Satan the Devil. (Mat. 4:1-3) It was him who incited David to number Israel; the count revealed that there were 1,570,000 men and led to a three-year famine where 70,000 Israelites died. (1. Chr. 21:1, 5, 14) So, we should be on the guard against Satan. It is surely daunting for us to know that God does bring temptations upon his servants. Jesus taught his disciples to ask Jehovah on every occasion: “Do not bring us into temptation.” (Mat. 6:13) Even Moses explained to the nation of Israel: “Jehovah your God is testing you.” (Deut. 13:3) Hundreds of years before, “the true God put Abraham to the test.” (Gen. 22:1) It was him who incited David to number Israel; the count revealed that there were 1,300,000 men and led to a seven-year famine where 70,000 Israelites died. (2. Sam. 24:1, 9, 13, Footnote) So, we should be on the guard against Jehovah. Jehovah said with regard to other nations‘ customs: “Everything detestable to Jehovah that he does hate they have done to their gods, for even their sons and their daughters they regularly burn in the fire.” (Deut. 12:30, 31) True, human sacrifices are an abomination for Jehovah. He clearly said that “to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire” was “a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart.” (Jer. 7:31) Under no circumstances, he would accept or even require a human sacrifice. In ancient times, he wanted animals as sacrifice, and today it is the “sacrifice of praise” that makes him rejoice. – Heb. 13:15. Jehovah’s command to Abraham was clearly defined: “Take, please, your son, your only son whom you so love, Isaac, and make a trip to the land of Moriah and there offer him up as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall designate to you.” (Gen. 22:2) Jehovah required Abraham to burn his son in the fire and offer him as a sacrifice. On this occasion, he intervened at the last minute and prevented the offering. (Gen. 22:12) But later, Jehovah accepted a human sacrifice. “There came to be a famine in the days of David for three years.” Jehovah told David: “Upon Saul and upon his house there is bloodguilt, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” (2. Sam. 21:1) David accepted the Gibeonites’ suggestion to take “seven men of his sons,” and “he gave them into the hand of the Gibeonites and they proceeded to expose them on the mountain before Jehovah, so that the seven of them fell together; and they themselves were put to death. … So God let himself be entreated for the land after this.” (2. Sam. 21:7, 9, 14) Likewise, Christian parents of our day can offer their apostate children as a burnt offering to Jehovah. That may be contrary to worldly law, but “we must obey God as ruler rather than men.” – Acts 5:29. Jehovah is not in need of putting people to the test or tempting them, as the apostles prayed: “You, O Jehovah, who know the hearts of all.” (Acts 1:24) And David said to God: “You have considered my thought from far off. … You have become familiar even with all my ways.” (Ps. 139:2, 3) The creator does not need to go anywhere in order to see something. “The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping watch upon the bad ones and the good ones.” (Pr. 15:3) “There is not a creation that is not manifest to his sight.” – Heb. 4:13. Jehovah had to put Abraham to the test in order to get to know his state of heart. Only when he applied the knife to put his son to death, Jehovah said to him: “Now I do know that you are God-fearing.” (Gen. 22:12) He could also not see from heaven what actually happened in Sodom and Gomorrah. Hence, he said to Abraham: “I am quite determined to go down that I may see whether they act altogether according to the outcry over it that has come to me, and, if not, I can get to know it.” (Gen. 18:21) Even before, shortly after the flood, “Jehovah proceeded to go down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had built.” – Gen. 11:5. Jehovah “does not dwell in houses made with hands.” (Acts 7:48) The apostle Paul confirmed this fact to the inhabitants of Athens (Acts 17:24) “Jehovah – in the heavens is his throne.” (Ps. 11:4) Should not the fact that he can watch us always and everywhere fill us with awe? At the same time, we can be sure that he can hear our prayers, regardless of where we are. Jehovah said about the temple in Jerusalem: “My eyes and my heart will certainly prove to be there always.” (2. Chr. 7:16) Jehovah’s eyes are in Israel up to now. Hence, he cannot see what happens elsewhere on earth. We can feel unobserved when we live outside Israel. However, we should offer our prayers in or at least near Jerusalem. When Jerusalem was devastated and Daniel lived at Cyrus’ court, he prayed with “the windows in his roof chamber being open for him toward Jerusalem.” – Dan. 6:10. The apostle Paul wrote that “it is impossible for God to lie”; he called Jehovah the God “who cannot lie.” (Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2) Indeed, “God is not a man that he should tell lies.” (Nu. 23:19) Therefore, we too “wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.” (Heb. 13:18) “All the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur.” – Rev. 21:8. God makes use of lies to reach his accomplish his goals. Paul wrote about his contemporaries: “God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie.” (2. Th. 2:11) Hundreds of years before, the prophet Micaiah said to King Ahab: “Jehovah has put a deceptive spirit into the mouth of all these prophets.” (1. Kings 22:23) Like the prophet Elisha, we too can lie if it boots. – 2. Kings 6:19. Are we not grateful that God’s word provides clear and distinct answers to many important questions? Are we not grateful that God’s word provides clear and distinct answers to many important questions? Important Questions
1. Can humans see God?
2. a) What kind of dwelling place did Jehovah choose for himself? b) Is Jehovah approachable anytime?
3. Does every man have equal chances before God? Explain.
4. Was Jehovah pleased with his creation?
5. a) What kind of law did Jehovah give to the nation of Israel? b) Could the Israelites gain life by following Jehovah’s law?
6. Is the whole Bible inspired of God? Explain.
7. What should we do if we don’t understand a Bible-based advice?
8. a) Mention Jehovah’s most outstanding quality. b) How should God’s servants view military service?
9. a) Does Jehovah become provoked easily? b) Is Jehovah merciful and gracious?
10. a) Who brings tests and temptations upon God’s servants? b) How many men revealed the census in David’s day? c) How long did the famine last that Jehovah brought upon Israel?
11. a) How does Jehovah view human sacrifices? b) How can we soften Jehovah’s face today?
12. a) Is Jehovah in need of putting men to the test? b) Can he look into the heart? c) How can he get to know what happens on earth?
13. a) Where does Jehovah stay? b) Can he watch us always and everywhere? c) Where does he hear our prayers?
14. Is lying appropriate for Christians? Explain.
15. Why should we be grateful?
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If there was a pill that could open their eyes - would you give it to them?
by truthseeker inif there was a pill you could give to your jw family members that would awaken their eyes to the truth about the cult, would you give it to them?.
most would probably say yes.. but what about those who are completely institutionalized, the elderly, the super zealous, the geeky kids who have no friends, the misfits?.
some people need "boundaries", they need someone to lead and give them directions, they need a sense of belonging, even in an organization that has no social programs.
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processor
JWs prefer this kind of pill: http://replicasalaapostasiaprofesional.blogspot.de/2014/06/catalogo-fotografias-experiencias-y_23.html
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THE ALTERNATIVE DAILY TEXT by The Witchtower editor
by processor ini have published more than 200 'daily text' comments in german, and will now start translating those into english.
they will be published here:.
http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/.
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processor
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=773586186019468&id=114394598605300
http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/2014/07/16/jehovah-is-a-killer/
Alternative Daily Text for Wednesday, July 16, 2014
“Jehovah is a Killer.” (1 Samuel 2:6, NWT 1984)
At all times “Jehovah killed” people. (Exodus 13:16) When the Israelites were dwelling in Egypt “Jehovah let Pharaoh’s heart become obstinate” so that he had reason to send a “destroyer” through the country. (Exodus 10:27, NWT 1984; Hebrews 11:28) Shortly afterwards he was fed up with his own people, “and Jehovah began striking the people with a very great slaughter.” – Numbers 11:33.
Sometimes, though, “Jehovah kills” indirectly. (1 Samuel 2:6) Admittedly, we usually blame humans for earthquakes, floods, plane crashes, terror attacks, and other calamities. However, the Bible says clearly and unequivocally: “If a calamity occurs in the city, is it not Jehovah who has acted?” (Amos 3:6) The book of Revelation also states that God instructed a horseman “to kill with a long sword and with food shortage and with deadly plague and by the wild beasts of the earth.” – Revelation 6:8.
Without doubt, “Jehovah is a killer,” even if at times he makes it look like a natural disaster or lets assistants do the actual slaughtering. He announced to kill even more people in the future, so that “those slain by Jehovah in that day will be from one end of the earth clear to the other end of the earth.” (Jeremiah 25:33) Certainly “the slain of Jehovah will be many.” – Isaiah 66:16.
No wonder that the apostle Paul wrote: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) Let us, therefore, avoid Jehovah and his witnesses!
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2014 God's Kingdom Rules PDF!
by Atlantis in2014 god's kingdom rules pdf!
we would like to thank cedars who contacted a friend who sent us the book to scan.
the sender was promised that the book would be rerurned to them unharmed.
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processor
Thx!
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THE ALTERNATIVE DAILY TEXT by The Witchtower editor
by processor ini have published more than 200 'daily text' comments in german, and will now start translating those into english.
they will be published here:.
http://dailytext2.wordpress.com/.
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processor
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=771335182911235&id=114394598605300
Alternative Daily Text for Saturday, July 12, 2014
“Abraham had two sons … the man who had gladly received the promises attempted to offer up his only-begotten son.” (Galatians 4:22; Hebrews 11:17)
Abraham was a puzzling man. Once he “took his wife … and they set out for the land of Canaan,” and “he went out, although not knowing where he was going.” (Genesis 12:5; Hebrews 11:8) And though his wife Keturah alone bore him six sons and therefore he had “two sons” in total, he tried to offer up his “only son” as a sacrifice. (Genesis 22:2; 25:1, 2; Galatians 4:22) Finally he purchased a piece of land from the sons of Hamor which was later purchased by his grandson Jacob from the sons of Hamor.
God gave to Abraham and to his offspring “the entire land of Canaan for a lasting possession” so that it is theirs “until time indefinite,” and “he did not give him any inheritance in it, no, not even enough to put his foot on.” (Genesis 13:15, NWT 1984; Genesis 17:8; Acts 7:5) Not for nothing, the apostle Paul called Abraham “the father of all those having faith.” (Romans 4:11) “In faith … [Abraham and his sons] died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises,” and the same will happen to everyone who puts his faith in the god of the Bible. – Hebrews 11:13.
