Posts by StoneWall

41

When Was The Last Time You Read From The Bible?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i can't remember.

i don't think about it .

what a difference a few years make!.

StoneWall

When Was The Last Time You Read From The Bible?

about 5 minutes ago

7

Has anyone heard from GaryBuss lately?

by StoneWall in

jw
friends

i haven't seen or heard anything lately from garybuss.. anyone know if he's alright?.

i checked his last post and it seems like its been 4 months since he last posted.. i always read his posts because he wasn't the type to sugar-coat what he had to say.. he would tell you straight up the way he saw things.

(and i appreciated that).

StoneWall

Glad to hear that he is Ok then.

There's just been so many as of late with illnesses and deaths in the family ,thought I'd ask about him.

Thanks for responding.

StoneWall

31

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? (A perspective)

by StoneWall in

who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics,.

to give them their food at the proper time?

happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.. truly i say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings" -matt.

StoneWall

Nark if what you say is correct and it just refers to anyone in general....then please answer the rest of that question for me.

Who are all those faithful slaves going to be appointed over?(the belongings)

Is it that they all prove faithful and they just are all appointed over each other? If so that sure seems like a mute point.

Next question.....why does Jesus go on in next chapter of 25 and use the term slaves(plural not singular) when talking

about his followers proving faithful?

7

Has anyone heard from GaryBuss lately?

by StoneWall in

jw
friends

i haven't seen or heard anything lately from garybuss.. anyone know if he's alright?.

i checked his last post and it seems like its been 4 months since he last posted.. i always read his posts because he wasn't the type to sugar-coat what he had to say.. he would tell you straight up the way he saw things.

(and i appreciated that).

StoneWall

I haven't seen or heard anything lately from GaryBuss.

Anyone know if he's alright?

I checked his last post and it seems like its been 4 months since he last posted.

I always read his posts because he wasn't the type to sugar-coat what he had to say.

He would tell you straight up the way he saw things. (and I appreciated that)

I remember one thread some thought he was a bit abrasive, but heck we all need that ever now and then.

If it wasn't for people like him we would all be a bunch of panzies.

Gary if you're out there give us a shout out.

31

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? (A perspective)

by StoneWall in

who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics,.

to give them their food at the proper time?

happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.. truly i say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings" -matt.

StoneWall

Oh I almost forgot one other scripture is in 1 Corinthians 15:27,28 showing Christ rulership and what it includes and

evidently what it doesn't include(God).

For [God] “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that

it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. But when all things will have been subjected to him,

then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

31

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? (A perspective)

by StoneWall in

who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics,.

to give them their food at the proper time?

happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.. truly i say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings" -matt.

StoneWall

Is Christ still a slave and will he return as a slave?

The answer is no; his time as a slave to mankind is over, he's now King of King and Lords of Lords. To suggest that he is under the inspection of some Master or other is false.

See now you're projecting something that I never said. Where in Matt.24:45-47 does it say anything about him staying

a slave or remaining a slave? It says he would be appointed over all his belongings thus showing rulership over the

belongings.

And as far as Jesus not having a Master or head, you spent enough time as a JW to remember the headship arrangement

as brought out in the bible I'm sure. The head of the woman is the man, the head of the man is Christ, the head of Christ is God.

And once again to illustrate Christ being a servant after being resurrected lets look at Acts 3:13. Its pretty clear on him being

called God's servant. "The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his Servant, Jesus, whom YOU, for YOUR part, delivered up and disowned before Pilate’s face, when he had decided to release him.

And passwordprotected you must remember I started this thread as a perspective, observation, viewpoint in regards to

that scripture in Matt.24:45.

Not as saying this was the way it is or has to be. Just food for thought. Because I had not ever heard anyone else to

my knowledge ask if Jesus could have been referring to himself.

But I do appreciate and respect your responses. Thats what I was after is open discussion.

1

Looking for specific Watchtower quotes. Blondie types, can you please help?

by yadda yadda 2 in

jw
friends

hi, as part of some research i am doing i am trying to find quotes from watchtower publications (or newspapers, etc) on the following:.

summing up their quick-build policy and how successful it isthe criteria and policy on when congregations should split if they get too large, if this exists (eg, elders manuals, co manuals)any quotes which may illustrate how the organisation reproduces and grows it's congregations in a fractal fashion, eg, like a franchise in the nature of mcdonalds and similar networked, self-reproducing organisations.anything you can come up with would be much appreciated.. thanks,.

yadda.

StoneWall

Yadda not sure if this is what you're after but here is an article from the 8/97 km page 3. (off of the WT CD)

Kingdom Hall Construction in the United States

1 When we look at the worldwide field, it is heartwarming to see the grand increase being experienced by Jehovah’s earthly organization. Last year in the United States alone, 246 new congregations were formed, while a total of 3,288 congregations were added worldwide. With all this growth, it is not surprising that there is a need for more Kingdom Halls.

2 Many brothers and sisters show outstanding zeal and support for Jehovah’s organization by volunteering their time and assets in Kingdom Hall construction. The 75 Regional Building Committees operating in the contiguous United States care for the needs of about 140 congregations each in their assigned region. Every year, approximately 200 new Kingdom Halls are built and another 200 are renovated. The regional committees have been entrusted with the oversight of these projects, and their labors are appreciated. The entire arrangement for Kingdom Hall construction is accomplished through the Christian spirit of giving and self-sacrifice—the opposite of the spirit so commonly displayed in the world.—2 Tim. 3:2, 4.

3 To assist in standardizing Kingdom Halls, the Society has supplied regional committees with a U.S. standard Kingdom Hall design package containing plans on CAD (Computer Aided Design/Drafting). This has helped to economize both the time and the resources of volunteer workers. It has also assisted in the wise administration of the Society Kingdom Hall Fund. Elders now make their selection from these basic designs. After receiving this new tool, one Regional Building Committee stated: “We were very pleased and indeed quite excited to receive the design package. . . . Brothers experienced in architecture and engineering have estimated a saving in time of 50 to 60 percent by using these new designs. Having this package will also help us achieve more uniform, consistent standards for Kingdom Halls.” As congregations cooperate in supporting the standardization of Kingdom Halls, we anticipate that the load of the many dedicated architects, engineers, and contractors who voluntarily offer their assistance will be considerably lightened.

31

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? (A perspective)

by StoneWall in

who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics,.

to give them their food at the proper time?

happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.. truly i say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings" -matt.

StoneWall

passwordprotected

while I agree with some of what you typed you must remember that christ was referred to as a slave in

Philip.2:7 "No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men."

There is many other scriptures that refer to Jesus being likened to a slave.

I can point them out if need be, but from reading your past post's over the last few months I'm sure you know them

from reading the bible.

Even the one in John 13:16 "Most truly I say to YOU, A slave is not greater than his master, nor is one that is sent

forth greater than the one that sent him."

Then compare that with John 13:20 "Most truly I say to YOU, He that receives anyone I send receives me [also].

In turn he that receives me, receives [also] him that sent me.” (So who sent Jesus? It was the Father so in this sense

Jesus was the slave since he was sent forth)

Matt.20:26-28 "This is not the way among YOU; but whoever wants to become great among YOU must be YOUR minister,

and whoever wants to be first among YOU must be YOUR slave. Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to,

but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many.”

12

If you had to choose one...

by PSacramento in

if you have to choose one book or letter of the nt that best describes what it is to be a christian, which one would you choose?.

if you perfer to choose a chapter and verse, that is cool too !.

of course if you feel that more than one is needed, who am i to argue ?.

StoneWall

John 13:35 "By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves.”

31

Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? (A perspective)

by StoneWall in

who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics,.

to give them their food at the proper time?

happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.. truly i say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings" -matt.

StoneWall

“Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics,
to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.
Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings" -Matt. 24:45-47 [NWT]

Much has been said and written about the foregoing scriptures as far as relating to the anointed (GB) of the JW's (WTBTS).
Even some have brought up how C.T.Russell was referred to by some as "that slave".
All of these claims to be the faithful slave deal with conjecture or presumption.
There have been numerous threads dealing with or dedicated to those aspects so I'll not be redundant on discussing them.

Instead I'd like to focus on the actual wording according to the New World Translation.
The word "appointed" is used. This wording in and of itself is meaning past tense. If you appointed something, it means you've
already done it.
If it is a future event it would have made more sense to have worded it "whom his master will appoint".
Next word I'd like to focus on is "slave". In the context it is apparent that it is in singular form not plural such as "slaves"
We have heard about a composite "slave class" from publications but not from the bible. So I'm much more interested in
what does the bible really teach.

When I was reading over the whole chapter of Matthew 24 it became very clear that in all other instances Jesus was referring
to himself. And yet for some reason we are told that he changes gears and pulls out of the blue a reference to a future event
that is dealing with a slave that he doesn't name. (and let the mental gymnastics begin with the slave not being one slave and
appointed meaning a future event.)

Then when I compared Matthew chapter 24 with Matthew chapter 28 it made more sense that Jesus was asking a rhetorical question.
Such as compare Matt.24:47 "Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings" with Matt. 28:18"And Jesus approached
and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth.
So is Jesus the faithful and discreet slave? It sure would appear to me to make more sense than other explanations.

And for you that say isn't Jesus the master in that illustration? Think of when Jesus said this at Matt.6:24 “No one can slave
for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other.
YOU cannot slave for God and for Riches" He was referring to the Father as master here not himself.

What are your thoughts,opinions,feelings on this?