Posts by gumby

17

Do you have to be part of organized religion?

by trumind in

jw
friends

ok. this is my first thread and i am very interested to see the kinds of responses i get.

my question to you all is do you beleive you have to be a member of some type of organized religion in order to have god's approval?

i was raised in jw household, never baptized.

gumby

Welcome aboard.
As an answer to your question....many who became christian were not always around households and places of meeting in the first century and God was still with them.Those who could meet in homes (which was the custom at that time period)did so with fellow christians. Accepting christ as savior was what was emphasized and belief in him and then the holy spirit would then be with you and be your guide. If meeting together with other keeps you strong...why not do so? Your question is a good one and one many have themselves asked.
HERE IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO JUST THROW IN THAT I THOUGHT WAS COOL TO SHARE WITH YOU OFF THE SUBJECT
The Center of the Bible. This is pretty strange or odd how it worked out
this way. Even if you are not religious, you should read this.
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
Answer - Psalms 117.
What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
Answer - Psalms 119
Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?
Answer - Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118
Add these numbers up and you get 1188.
What is the center verse in the Bible?
Answer - Psalms 118:8
Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for
our lives?
The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for
their lives and that they
want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His
Word!
Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) "It is better to trust in
the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it?
Before sending this, I said a prayer for you. You got a minute? 60 seconds
for God? All you do is simple say a small prayer for the person who sent
you this.
"Father God bless _________ in whatever it is that> you know he/she may be
needing this day! And may ___ life be full of your peace, prosperity and
power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with You." Amen.

**Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you
through it.**

TAKE CARE AND ENJOY THE JOURNEY

89

God not only condoned mass murder, he ordered it

by Kent in

jw
friends

god not only condoned mass murder, he ordered it .

i notice that many people here have claimed that "god is not a murderer.

god does not condone or plan the brutal murder of children!

gumby

bboyneko 2
Do you really believe honestly that God would look down with approval of all those thing's you depicted in your pictures?
Not all thing's done in the name of religion is true christianity and you know that! Jesus said many would cause the way of the truth to be spoken of badly by all the things done by ones profesing christianity. Atheists have done horrible things too. Would it be fair to say all atheists are horrible people because some have done horrible thing's. Let's at least be fair.

14

A Question. Your Help Requested!

by Englishman in

jw
friends

there is something that i am not clear about in my mind, so i would much appreciate some input on this 2 part question.. i keep reading posts from persons who are desperate to leave the jw's.

however, almost without exception, these persons state that they will be shunned by their families and friends.

so, my first quesion is: do you mean that you will be officially disfellowshipped by the elders of your congregation if you simply opt to leave?.

gumby

Englishman:
If you verbally tell the elders that you no longer wish to be a JW, you will have dissassociated yourself in their eyes and an announcment will be made that bro.xxx is no longer one of jehovah's witnesses. If you quietly just drift off and don't attend anymore without saying why to anyone, you will mearly become inactive. However you can expect a possible sheparding call and questions may be asked as to why you do not come to meeting's anymore. If you tell them why...then you will be dissassociated which is the same treatment as being disfellowshipped.
If you slowly drift off and enough time has past to where you are somewhat forgotten and it comes to the attention of the elders that you have commited some serious wrongdoing....it will depend on the elder body to decide if enough in the congregation is effected by it and if so..contact you over the issue and proceed from there. My sister slowly drifted out and after a few years had joined another church, was wearing a cross, and they never met with her or contacted her.
Not all situations are always handled the same in the quietly leaving method. BTW....Their public policies of not shunning those who wish to leave don't mean nothing. That is a lie to look good to outsiders. Good luck and I hope this helps.

89

God not only condoned mass murder, he ordered it

by Kent in

jw
friends

god not only condoned mass murder, he ordered it .

i notice that many people here have claimed that "god is not a murderer.

god does not condone or plan the brutal murder of children!

gumby

SixofNine: Why are you always so harsh to ones on this board who still believe in a creator and the bible? You just said"You make me sick". Whats that all about? Does it really make you that sick and resentfull at people who have their own beliefs? What do you have to offer to others as to a hope of some type? Do you have a belief that is good to hear or a depressing one? I don't mean this in a smart ass way....but I would like to know. I notice ones who still believe don't seem to use the same degree of bitterness on this db towards those who don't believe. The non believers are quick to jump on believers and I really wonder if it isn't sheer anger of being burned by the Borg.....burned so bad it runs deeper than you know,and the tongue lashing believers get is a result of that. Just my opinion....again...I wish I knew!

89

God not only condoned mass murder, he ordered it

by Kent in

jw
friends

god not only condoned mass murder, he ordered it .

i notice that many people here have claimed that "god is not a murderer.

god does not condone or plan the brutal murder of children!

gumby

Hey to all you going at it on this......Know what I think?
I think I wished I had a good answer to help understand both opinions. On one hand it is also hard for me to fathom how our creator did some of the things he has done and his reasoning.
We always think how we would handle it if we were in charge of these given situations and we would be more fair. What if our lord would allow us insight as to why he has performed the way he has in the past and we were to understand entirely different... seeing it from a viewpoint we never imagined before......that is concievable is it not?
When I get discouraged at God for the things Kent has mentioned, and others, I also have to wonder what you guys who feel this way feel about creation and all it's design and wonders. No way there was not a loving designer and I think you guys truely feel the same way.
The irritating part is why the two sides of God don't seem to jive. Living by the bibles standard also has to be agreed by all as a GOOD guide and agreed upon by many a learned man as a way of life even the best philosophers could't have come up with.
Bottom line for me personally is there is a God...the bible was intended for us to follow...but there is much in it I don't understand.Did he mean for us to understand it all...or leave much of it obscure because that was his intent for a good reason...perhaps......to test our faith)
Wish I had more logical answers to help out with.
I do think we should all try to be more patient with each others feeling's. I think most here are trying hard and doing our best to express what we really feel and would like all the true answers.
I enjoyed sharing this.....I REALLY needed it today. Take care all.

174

get a life -- 10 facts

by joelbear in

jw
friends

i thought it would be interesting for people to just post a few things about themselves so we can get to know each other just a bit.. try posting 10 facts about your life.. joel.

1. i was born and raised in south georgia.. 2. my favorite subject in school was math.. 3. i was in the fulltime service (bethel and pioneer) for 4 years.. 4. my favorite color is blue.. 5. mitch and i have been together over 12 years.. 6. we live in a suburb of atlanta georgia.. 7. we love to eat out and have friends over for dinner and board games.. 8. the only sport i was ever any good at is tennis.. 9. my favorite tv show of all time is the simpsons.. 10. we are both naturists and wish we could lay on the beach naked every day.

gumby

SixOf Nine:
I have felt as you do many times before as to the bibles legitimacy.I got so upset with it I decided to buy a book called
"NEW EVIDENCE THAT DEMEANDS A VERDICT", by Josh Mcdowell that backs up the bible as God's word and Quotes from many learned men
that agree, that did not agree before, truely examining the evidence, that the bible is from God.
Perhaps you could enlighten me on how God communicates with us
and if he exists...why he would leave us in the dark as to why he put us here,where we are going,and what to think of him. To me it would be cruel to just make us and leave us to wonder the rest.
Perhaps you could read the book I mentioned and see if you do not see things differently. I do appreciate the time you took to read my post and respond. Drop me an e-mail if you wish.

174

get a life -- 10 facts

by joelbear in

jw
friends

i thought it would be interesting for people to just post a few things about themselves so we can get to know each other just a bit.. try posting 10 facts about your life.. joel.

1. i was born and raised in south georgia.. 2. my favorite subject in school was math.. 3. i was in the fulltime service (bethel and pioneer) for 4 years.. 4. my favorite color is blue.. 5. mitch and i have been together over 12 years.. 6. we live in a suburb of atlanta georgia.. 7. we love to eat out and have friends over for dinner and board games.. 8. the only sport i was ever any good at is tennis.. 9. my favorite tv show of all time is the simpsons.. 10. we are both naturists and wish we could lay on the beach naked every day.

gumby

1.Was raised a witness from birth (am now 47) been out 6 years.
2.Was elder many years...,had all positions except P.O.
3.My wife,married daughter with two children, two sisters,and all of my aunts/uncles still dubs.
4.I am a christian,love to study,research,and talk the bible.
5.Like to golf,looking for some other line of work besides laying carpet/vinyl.
6.I can sing and sound like other artists.
7.Cant wait for W.T. to get the shit kicked out of them by exposure..(nice christian attitude but I can't help it!)
8. Spend most of time when not working my job or at home on this db
9. Wonder how different I would be if family exited the org.
10.Last....am very dissappointed at how many leave the org.
and turn atheistic,agnostic,spirituallist,etc. I wonder how and why they can lose faith in what they so strongly believed in before....and I mean the bible and it's teaching's...not the org's teachings.Why do so many leave God because of being lied to by a bunch of LOSER old bastards!

45

Ray Franz and setting up a fund $ assistance &a...

by MrMoe in

jw
friends

one final thing before i go on vacation:.

a while back a few of us discussed setting up a fund for ray franz, which i think is an excellent idea.

he has done so much for so many people and deserves financial help.

gumby

Excellent idea for Ray!
I think the most logical way to handle this is wait for a post on ray's response from max. or whoever inquires to ray on this idea. Usually a person put in this dilema such as "Do you need money"? will have a hard time saying..."Why yes!,I could really use it". If he is strapped financially.....it would be better to just send a gift..no questions. I have his personall address if the commemtary press address is not sufficient.....providing this address I have is still current. It has been about 6 years since we have corresponded.

rent. It has been 6 years ago since he and I wrote each other.

58

How many christian on this db

by gumby in

jw
friends

i'm a newby here and was wondering the % of christians vs. .

non.rough estimate fine.

i sure like the comradery here for ex"s. but wonder why so many here leave their belief in god altogether.. what is it that caused disbelief?

gumby

Well...I guess you ask a question here and you get honest answers! That's good. I myself left about 6 years ago and was raised a dub from birth.I still have my wife,daughter with two kids, two sisters, my mom, all my moms side still in.Myself and two younger sisters are the only ones out.
My question was because I was wondering if many left christianity after meeting others who left, were influenced of the truthfulness of the bible, and found it came up short.Let me in on why I shouldn't believe. I know of many reasons many feel the way they do...suffering of humanity and God not stopping it etc.
What are other solid reasons you could share.I'm all ears

58

How many christian on this db

by gumby in

jw
friends

i'm a newby here and was wondering the % of christians vs. .

non.rough estimate fine.

i sure like the comradery here for ex"s. but wonder why so many here leave their belief in god altogether.. what is it that caused disbelief?

gumby

hippikon

christians vs. non

Is that how you see it?
I didn't mean..One against the other.I simply meant what was the ratio of believers and non believers (believers being followers of christ)
Flip

Although you didn't define your intrepretation of 'god', if you're referring to the one germane to this environment.
I was refering to the God of the bible.