Posts by StoneWall

68

Well, I Guess There IS One Good Thing About the WTBTS...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

if you're the kind of person who would rather convince yourself that someone isn't "deserving" of your help... which may include your money... even an amount as small as $3.00... the wtbts was the right group to be a part of.

because they have every excuse under the sun for not giving to the poor... not helping out someone in need... not even giving a hungry one a meal (because we know, don't we, that every one of them is an alcoholic and/or drug addict... and everyone knows... particularly the wtbts... that those folks... those sinners... don't deserve to eat at all...).

looks like some of have learned well from them.

StoneWall

AGuest said:

Since we are to follow him... and performing acts of mercy is what HE did... feeding someone hungry... regardless of why they are hungry... would be "reasonable", IMHO.

On this we can agree. I could never walk past someone hungry and not offer them food. But I would go purchase it for them and give to them.I've seen too many times people gave to the poor money for food that was used to buy alcohol or gambled it away hoping to win the big one. As I stated earlier, to me the good samaritan did the wisest thing...take care of the expenses himself to make sure they went where they were supposed to go.

here was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need."

You in my opinion underlined the wrong word...to me instead of any being underlined you shoulda underlined need (not wants)

Sorry, but I just don't "get" that. It SMACKS of WTBTS teachings...

Umm your judgmental almost self-righteous attitude lately is whats been reminding me of the WTBTS. When on other thread I saw where you supposedly could read hearts and telling others they had a dark heart.....I was like this don't sound like the same AGuest I used to read her threads. Something changed.

Anywho peace right back at ya..

StoneWall...not a slave of no one or anybody or any organization...but a free man in Christ and all things.

John 15:14-15 "YOU are my friends if YOU do what I am commanding YOU. I no longer call YOU slaves, because a slave does not know what his master does. But I have called YOU friends, because all the things I have heard from my Father I have made known to YOU.

John 8:31,32 "And so Jesus went on to say to the Jews that had believed him: “If YOU remain in my word, YOU are really my disciples, and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free.

213

My Lord spoke and told me to post

by watersprout in

jw
friends

my lord spoke to me for the first time yesterday and this morning he told me to post my experience.. i know there are going to be ones who will call me names and thats ok. i will accept whatever you feel you need to say.. here goes.

i heard a voice calling ''my child'', this happened while at the zoo so i was taken off guard!

i replied ''who is this?

StoneWall

If I had to hazzard a guess on what Jaheshua was supposed to mean it would be something like this:

Jah=Jehovah

eshua=messiah or something similar to hebrew form of Jesus

So maybe Jaheshua could be Jah/Jesus God/Christ

But I'm by no means an expert in Hebrew or theology.....I just slept at a comfort Inn last night...

68

Well, I Guess There IS One Good Thing About the WTBTS...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

if you're the kind of person who would rather convince yourself that someone isn't "deserving" of your help... which may include your money... even an amount as small as $3.00... the wtbts was the right group to be a part of.

because they have every excuse under the sun for not giving to the poor... not helping out someone in need... not even giving a hungry one a meal (because we know, don't we, that every one of them is an alcoholic and/or drug addict... and everyone knows... particularly the wtbts... that those folks... those sinners... don't deserve to eat at all...).

looks like some of have learned well from them.

StoneWall

Voices said:

so why criticize an act of love?

I wasn't criticizing an act of love.

I was criticizing what I consider an act of stupidity. Anyone that just gives to someone because they're poor without looking into the mitigating circumstances is asking to be taken advantage of.

If you want a good example of how to give, look no further than the good samaritan. (Luke chapter 10)

He took care of the man that had fell to the robbers by taking care of his wounds and then taking him to an inn and paying for his expenses and even telling the innkeeper that he would pay for anything else the man needed. But notice he didn't just give the man money. He made sure that the money went to help take care of the mans needs. (not wants or desires)

I'm all for helping people but in the right way, to do the most good.

Here's another scripture I like to share:

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12[NWT] " In fact, also, when we were with YOU, we used to give YOU this order: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat.” For we hear certain ones are walking disorderly among YOU, not working at all but meddling with what does not concern them. To such persons we give the order and exhortation in [the] Lord Jesus Christ that by working with quietness they should eat food they themselves earn."

AGuest said:

Curious, yes, but uplifting and hopeful... that not EVERYONE left their heart... in the WTBTS (if they even had one there - )

My reply to this is I'm hoping that everyone didn't leave there head up their ass when they left as well. We were all given a brain as well as a heart, so my only thing is to try to show people that it's good that they want to help others, but don't be taken advantage of.

Even in the Bible it encourages us to let our reasonableness be known to all men. I just hope they reason on something instead of just giving out free handouts without understanding what it may be enabling someone to do with their money. such as a mentally deranged poor person(homeless) on the street taking money someone gave them to buy a handgun to blow someones brains out on the street.

Edited to add: Peace,love and rock n roll to you as well

68

Well, I Guess There IS One Good Thing About the WTBTS...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

if you're the kind of person who would rather convince yourself that someone isn't "deserving" of your help... which may include your money... even an amount as small as $3.00... the wtbts was the right group to be a part of.

because they have every excuse under the sun for not giving to the poor... not helping out someone in need... not even giving a hungry one a meal (because we know, don't we, that every one of them is an alcoholic and/or drug addict... and everyone knows... particularly the wtbts... that those folks... those sinners... don't deserve to eat at all...).

looks like some of have learned well from them.

StoneWall

donuthole said:

The offering isn't so bethel can have a new chandelier. It isn't so the youth group can get a new flat-screen. Thieves. It is for the poor. It belongs to them. In society and in religions the poor always come last. The mortgage company gets paid, the utility company gets paid, the pastor gets paid, his secretary gets paid, the youth pastor gets paid, the music minister gets paid, the building fund gets paid, and whatever crumb is left we call benovalence and give to the poor. Sorry for the soap-box - but this really gets me angry ...

When I read that part, I couldn't help but think of the case of when Judas Iscariot was fussing about why didn't the disciples give the money to the poor instead of using the expensive perfumed oil for the feet of Jesus. (John 12:1-8)

John 12:4,5 [NWT] "But Judas Is·car′i·ot, one of his disciples, who was about to betray him, said: “Why was it this perfumed oil was not sold for three hundred de·nar′i·i and given to the poor people?”

Jesus answered in verse 8 "For YOU have the poor always with YOU, but me YOU will not have always.”

As much as I like to help the poor and all people for that matter, sometimes the answer isn't always just to give the poor a handout.

Me personally, I'll find out about someone before I just give them anything. Anything less is just pure stupidity. If I know someone's poor, and the reason for them being poor is when they get money they go buy booze with it, you better believe I'm not taking from my family and giving to them just to get drunk all over again.

You've maybe heard the saying, give a man a fish and you feed that man for a day, teach a man to fish and feed that man for life.

I subscribe to that philosophy. It's much better to teach the poor to benefit themselves and become a productive member of society. Then it not only helps them but humanity as a whole.

Edited to add: If you want to give anything to the poor, give them a job. That will make them feel a sense of self-worth.

Instead of giving them 50 dollars as a handout...tell them you'll give them 50 dollars to mow your lawn, or rake your yard or anything to build confidence in their ability to be a functioning member of society. I think that is what is meant by people when they say, God helps those who are willing to help themselves.

33

Short Intro

by ZeusRocks in

i can only say i'm new here in the sense i've just been able to join.

i have actually followed this forum for over a year now.

i've tried joing several times but must have been doing something wrong, so i thought i'd try one more time and it finally worked.. i was a born-in jw.

StoneWall

ZeusRocks welcome to the forum!!

Nice intro and glad you didn't give up on joining the forum even though it seems it wasn't easy for you to get on.

Oh and by the way, I like your screen avatar. I've got that game that the pic came from and just seeing it makes me want to go play Age of Mythology again.

Looking forward to hearing more from you in the future.

105

What if WBTS is right?

by african GB Member in

people, please don't be angry at me, but do you sometimes ask yourselves this question?

i do..

StoneWall

Actually what if there really are little green men from Mars?

It's still not going to change who I am as a person.

Let's bring out a scripture to illustrate. Just going to focus on the first part.

Psalm 84:10 "For a day in your courtyards is better than a thousand [elsewhere]...

A day of freedom is better than a thousand under the yoke and shackles of the WT.

10

Brief elders visit! Ack!

by NiceDream in

jw
friends

yesterday, my husband and i were having a dub over for dinner and i went to the door thinking our friend was there.

surprise!

2 elders were there instead and i was scared.

StoneWall

Hey NiceDream!

Since it was two Elders that came to your door, there is only one of two things this can be.

1.) A shepherding call- trying to "encourage" you back to the meetings.

2.) An Inquiry- trying to follow up on something that's been said to them and looking to investigate and find out information.

A good rule of thumb is to always hope for the best but plan for the worst.

Usually from my experience and in my opinion, if it was a "shepherding visit", they would have at least said at the door when they found out it was a bad time, that they were just wanting to share some scriptures for "encouragement and upbuilding"(or similar wording) and that they have been missing you at the meetings and will call back at a more convenient time.

You said they didn't mention anything about missing you at meetings or ask if you were going to the D.C. This in and of itself would make me lean more towards the number 2 option above- the Inquiry.

I say these things not to panic or scare you but just to forewarn. To be forewarned is to be forearmed as the saying goes.

I've had plenty of both types of visits over the last 3 years (mainly last 9 months). If at anytime during any of these visits, they ask you something like do you feel like the governing body is being used or directed by God, you can safely assume they're trying to find out where your loyalties belong. If it's not to the organization then they are there to find out.

If you wish to remain a fader for the time being, what has helped me the most is playing their own game against them. You know how the society has in times past said a whole lot of nothing by being vague. Use this same strategy against them. If asked if the governing body is being used by Jah, say something similar to "well I certainly hope so because I've been taught that for years."

That way you never said yes they are or no they weren't. It leaves them confused and agitated (lol) because if they try to keep pushing the issue I tell them they remind me of the gestapo in the concentration camps trying to force witnesses to sign the paper renouncing Jah. That usually shuts them up. They hate that comparison.

But whatever you do if you have another impromptu visit I hope you the best results with it. Remember that they can only have the power over you that you alone give them. The good thing about if you do talk to them at home is that you got home field advantage. Use it to your benefit.

P.S. I would greatly recommend getting a voice recorder and having it hid inconspicuously in your home next time they visit. You can get some decent recorders that are small and good quality at places like Wal-Mart or similar type stores.

113

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT- CULTURE

by serenitynow! in

jw
friends

so as not to hijack another thread i decided that a thread on culture could be useful.

i'd like to provide a safe place for people to talk about cultural norms or abnormals.

you don't want to learn that you've done or said the wrong thing by gettin' a fist in the face, know what i'm saying?.

StoneWall

Serenitynow! said:

The bottom line Stonewall is this, we do have freedom of speech, but as I believe it was the apostle Paul who stated, "all things are lawful, but not all

things

are advantageous." Just because we can say something, does not mean that we should say it.

I'm so glad you quoted the Apostle Paul on this one. Then look how you ended it with your words afterwards. Just because you can say the "N" word and think others (non-black) can't, doesn't mean you should.

Now lets look at something else the Apostle Paul said in Romans 2:21,22 and see if we can apply it to this situation;

do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself? You, the one preaching “Do not steal,” do you steal? You, the one saying “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery?

Now lets use this same principle that Paul stated here and apply it to this situation. Do you the one saying to others do not use "the N word," do you use the N word?

Imagine going near a woman who said she hated being called a bitch and saying she felt that word was very repulsive and offensive and yet the next day you overhear her calling another woman a bitch. Or maybe she refers to her girlfriends she hangs with as her fellow bitches in jest. Would you think the word really bothered her that much? Would you think she was being hypocritical?

113

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT- CULTURE

by serenitynow! in

jw
friends

so as not to hijack another thread i decided that a thread on culture could be useful.

i'd like to provide a safe place for people to talk about cultural norms or abnormals.

you don't want to learn that you've done or said the wrong thing by gettin' a fist in the face, know what i'm saying?.

StoneWall

1. Bullshit....thats like telling your kids not to cuss/obscene language then cussing like a sailor. The word Hypocrite springs to mind here.

Chris Rock doesn't impress me in the slightest , so I won't be taking any cues from him on what is appropriate or not.

If you don't want others to use a word then do the world a favor...don't use them yourself...even in jest.

2.Don't touch anybodies hair; black,white,hispanic, etc. without asking. Could get your fingers broke by any of them.

3.Seems like common courtesy not to mess with anyones food....do you assume white folks love to poke in each others food?

4.Most monkey references on this board seem to be to Shamus..with his kiss the monkey and other such stuff.

NOTE: I have no clue what the thread is and haven't read it yet so might be out on a limb here but when I first read this opening post it hit me the wrong way. I'm sick of all these people trying to tell others what they can and can not say or do or think.

I left my parents a long time back and don't need no one else trying to fill their shoes....my RANT for the day.

6

Before the Solstice Playing "The Golden Age" LIVE

by Clint Bussey in

here is the link to youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lffjsafrlp4.

StoneWall

Clint that was AWESOME!

Do you have any more vid's of you guys playing live? If so care to put up a few more links to them.

Oh and by the way I've enjoyed following your videos of the last few years memorials at the kingdom hall.

You're going to give those Elder's a heart attack trying to figure out what to do with you. LOL

From one Jawja(Georgia) boy to another Jawja, keep up the good work both in your music and in showing people that there is life after leaving the WT Org.

Regards,

StoneWall