my wife and i want to start looking afresh at the bible, go back to basics as it were.. what have people here found to be the best approach?.
what translations of the bible would you reccomend (i have the nwt).
what commentaries / texts have people found most useful?.
This site has an incredible amount of resources online, free! www.blueletterbible.com You can look up verses or passages, and click on any version, click on words, then it will tell you about the Hebrew or Greek word, also clickable list of commentaries. (I am partial to the Matthew Henry Commentary.) You can find Vines' Expository Dictionary of New Testament words, Strong's concordance, and even Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians, and more.
cheers, auntbee
i am a baptized witness... i've been around it most of my life.
i've been baptized for a while now.. just as a topic of thought, what do you think is the current state of the society/jehovah's witnesses today?
it seems like we're in the last days.... but then again, the last days have been going on for 60+ years!
Serafin: My heart totally goes out to you on the loss of your child. I also lost a daughter in '08. What was said to you as to the reason why, was UTTERLY And absolutely cruel and outrageous!!
THere is an easy way for anyone to refute the idea bad things happen for punishment to bad people doing bad things, and 'good' people doing 'good' things are spared these things: OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK AOUND.
Who do people think they are?? GOD? JEHOVAH? Check out the book of Job, and see that Job is not even told why.
i've just realised i have no idea what i should be serving on 25/12!!.
turkey?
chicken?
I second what Nelly said! Make things that are too difficult to usually make, and too expensive! We sometimes have prime rib like Ada, and we ALWAYS have crab legs, except for one year i think , when the cost was too outrageous, even for Christmas. have fun! CHeers, auntbee
just wondered?.
.
or maybe how often should you clean your fridge?.
Since i HATE doing the whole thing, i try to do a few small "areas" each week. HAHA, aren't i such a domestic genius? pfffff.....only took me years to figure that out.... I think it does save work in the long run, as it doesn't get as bad. Good luck!
this is just an obsevation from me...ok i dont mean to annoy anyone but is it true or just me?.
i feel that ones raised in the truth are so much better of than us who came in from the world.
i say that because they have family who are witnesses too.
"Their parents protect them beyond belief,"
I'll have to totally agree with AngelEyes on this one, from the one JW family i've been around for several years. I just found out that one of the sons who is now a freshman at the local University --- his mother went to campus with him on the first day, and stayed all day, to walk him to the various classes.!! i'm sure he's thankful for this fine protection.......My heart goes out to the guy, actually. very sad. I know not all JW moms would do this, but i think the JWism definitely enters into it, and causes a tremendous amount of dysfunctional enmeshment. --- This same mom phoned her other son while she was out of town, while he was watching FIREWORKS with some worldly people, to tell him she was "mad at him." He's nearly 20!
has anyone ever heard anything wrong with having a honeymoon baby??.
just wanted to ask as i was told by an elder two weeks before i married "dont you dare have a honeymoon baby"......
"Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him." Ps. 127:3, NLT -- The WTBTS has a long history of negative attitudes towards having children. Even to the point of outright telling couples not to, because the time is short, the work is urgent, etc. I've read many sad stories of couples who did not have children to be "more spiritual" and be able to do more "spiritual work" for Jehovah (the WT), and then it turned out to be too late, and they were not able to have any at all.
This guy was completely out of line, and violating your boundaries. (but i'm sure he doesn't think so, since it is a high control group.) That is the sort of thing close girlfriends or mothers/daughters might share about.
(We have a large family, and occasionally people make snide comments, like - DO you know what causes that? And i say - Yah, and we really like it! hehe)
i have just been watched the first part of a sort-of theist vs atheist debate on youtube featuring christopher hitchens.. what struck me is that in all of these types of debates that ive seen, the christians, when faced with the question why does god allow suffering, never really provide any sort of satisfying answer.
its usually something along the lines of:.
our question shouldnt be what is *god* doing, but, rather, we should ask ourselves: what am *i* doing?
Gallons of ink have been spilled on the theodicy question! I do like what DD said, and half a person's verse from Job. It's interesting how the book of Job concerns the problem of suffering, and the answer to it is really..........no answer! -- I do know for sure that when you read the Bible Teach book, and it "answers" that age-old question, which has been debated/discussed over centuries by many brilliant theologians, philosophers, etc, in like 5 paragraphs....... Well, it's one of the most aburd things i've ever seen! Anyone who claims to answer it in a totally satisfying, dogmatic and simplistic manner is just plain wrong and ridiculous!
how do you put the bible book of revelation into perspective?
do you see it as real?
metaphorical?
Ultimate Reality - I'm much more interested in this view lately too, the pre-ad 70 date. I realized from studying the Reformation and church history, that the popular views of today that get the most publicity were not held by most CHristians over the span of church history. -- I"ll look into those books you mentioned. A book that is written on a more popular level i think, is Last Days Madness, by Gary DeMar. (I would think exJWs would like the title, LOL) -- Another resource for those who are really into it, is Concordia Theological Seminary (Lutheran), has a series on Revelation on ITunes U. The prof is somewhat hard to get used to listening to, but he's quite good. (i've got a link somewhere on a verse by verse commentary on Matthew 24 from the pre-ad 70 point of view that's really interesting too. I'll try to find it later.)
Cheers, auntbee, tucson
matthew 9:6 but that ye may know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.. .
john 1:12 but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of god, even to them that believe on his name:.
why did we beg for jehovah's forgiveness at every prayer when clearly the son has this authority?.
Angel Eyes said: "if we know we have led a truly clean life and been repentent,confessed sins when needed, lived according to Jehovahs standards then we are forgiven "
Have you ever read where Jesus clarified Jehovahs standards in the Sermon on the Mount? I don't feel i have lived according to Jehovahs standards on most days, let alone as a characteristic of my entire life. Have i led a truly clean life? NO. Do i confess sins when needed? I doubt it. I think there are many sins i commit that i am not even aware of. Especially if one includes in the definition of sin, sins of omission, as well as sins of the heart, attitudes , words ,etc. In the JW theology, is it really only the "biggies" you have to worry about? The external ones?
THe last JW i spoke with said that God knows our heart, and she was saying this as though it would be a comfort. This is not a comfort to me, that God knows my heart. I would be fearful in light of this, if it weren't for Christ as my mediator, and the One who died in my behalf.
Perry is right. The WT claims to be the only Christian organization on earth, but takes away the most basic, awesome , most comforting joy spoken of in the New Testament.....Jesus died for our sins!
2009 sing to jehovah lyrics--pdf----by request!
request from researcher: i heard about this file but never received a copy and wondered if you had it.
can i get a copy?
I agree with Satanus after skimming the songs. Not much Jesus, not much about what He has done for us, not much good news. TONS of stuff about what YOU MUST DO, SHOULD DO, to get blessings, rewards, etc. Even where it mentions "Ransom" or "Forgiveness of sins", it doesn't go in depth about what this means, etc. It's almost like just thrown in there to make it sound somewhat "Christian." It reminds me more of songs someone would sing who has joined a military organization, songs to hype you up, and keep you going. I think the hymnody of a group really does reveal a lot!
I hope it's ok, but as a contrast, i wanted to post one of my favorite hymns. It's become popular lately in Contemporary Christian music, by various groups. It's called Before The Throne of God Above by Charitie Bancroft (a contemporary of Russell actually, LOL) I just love it, because it is pure Gospel. It's all about Christ, and His work for us, and its benefits! Nothing about us, how dedicated we are, should be ,etc. (some nice renditions of it are on YouTube. THe music is beautiful also.)
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!
Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!
One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God
