LUKEWARM

Joined

• started 65 topics
• posted 442 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by LUKEWARM

• 
  16

  The Book Of Revelation - Book Study

  by ablebodiedman in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i understand that the revelation "climax" book is being studied again.. if you are a jehovah's witness out here in the internet wilderness there is a unique opportunity to.

  measure what you are learning in the "climax" book against truths that exist outside of the organization.. i invite you to take some time to do that.

  there are three short video's which examine the entire book using.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  I understand that the Revelation "Climax" book is being studied again.

  Says who?
• 
  12

  What's happened with http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/????

  by bamse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this excellent site is gone.

  does anyone know what's happened?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  Hi Black Sheep,

  How do you download a website? and what do you download it as? (PDF, microsoft word, notepad...)

  Lukewarm
• 
  56

  The WT contradict the bible they quote in the very next sentence regarding "JWs"!

  by Chalam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this point has been made before but i think the very words the wt write which contradict the bible the quote make the point powerfully.. have a read for yourself http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm.

  jesus told his disciples: "you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.

  "acts 1:8.. hence, some 6,000,000 persons today who are telling the good news of jehovah's kingdom by christ jesus in over 230 lands feel that they properly refer to themselves as jehovah's witnesses.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  They're neither Jehovah's Witnesses nor Jesus' Witnesses... they are Watchtower Corporation Witnesses.

  Love it!
• 
  44

  I just spoke to Ray!!!!

  by mouthy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  he sends his christian love to all.. he is 87 now.

  feeling his age.. cynthia is also having .

  heart problems.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  Received - Thank you Mouthy!!!!
• 
  188

  Hi I hope i am welcome

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi guys and gals,.

  i am a hypocryte.

  brought up in the "truth" but know its not.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  Welcome inbetween!
• 
  44

  I just spoke to Ray!!!!

  by mouthy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  he sends his christian love to all.. he is 87 now.

  feeling his age.. cynthia is also having .

  heart problems.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  I need to speak with him myself and tell him thank you, thank you, thank you for writing his books.

  Amen to that!!!!

  I owe such a debt of gratitude to Ray for what I can only describe as a labour of love.

  Mouthy, thank you for the post...can you please send me a PM as to how I can contact him - would love to call him and tell him how much I have appreciated reading his material - the second book especially gives one direction to continue to function as a Christian...

  Lukewarm
• 
  12

  Congregation "Bible Study" Comments - Week Commencing 29 June 2009

  by LUKEWARM in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "whateverthingsarechaste".

  (a) how may we show that we have jehovah's view on morals?

  (b) how can applying bible principles become your way of life?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  "WHATEVERTHINGSARECHASTE"

  Q 16. (a) How may we show that we have Jehovah's view on morals? (b) How can applying Bible principles become your way of life? 16 When choosing entertainment, true Christians first of all take into account Jehovah's view. The Bible reveals Jehovah's feelings and standards. For instance, King Solomon lists several things that Jehovah hates, such as "a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness." (Proverbs 6:16-19) How should Jehovah's view affect yours? "O you lovers of Jehovah," exhorts the psalmist, "hate what is bad." (Psalm 97:10) Your choices in entertainment need to show that you truly do hate what Jehovah hates. (Galatians 5:19-21) Keep in mind, too, that what you do in private, more so than in public, reveals what kind of person you really are. (Psalm 11:4; 16:8) Hence, if you have a heartfelt desire to reflect in all aspects of your life Jehovah's feelings on moral matters, you will always make choices in accord with Bible principles. Doing so will become your way of life.-2 Corinthians 3:18.
  
  "...true Christians" = JW's
  
  "...true Christians first of all take into account Jehovah's view" = how can they do that when the WBTS tells them they cannot understand the Bible? So is it really what the WBTS publishes about what they say Jahs view is?
  Q 17. Before choosing entertainment, what questions should we ask? 17 What more can you do to ensure that you will act in harmony with Jehovah's way of thinking when choosing entertainment? Reflect on the question, 'How will this affect me and my standing with God?' For instance, before deciding whether to watch a certain movie, ask yourself, 'How will the content of this movie affect my conscience?' Let us consider what principles have a bearing on that subject.
  
  Q 18, 19. (a) How can the principle found at Philippians 4:8 help us to determine whether our entertainment is wholesome? (b) What other principles can help you to select good entertainment? (See footnote.) 18 A key principle is found at Philippians 4:8, which states: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continueconsideringthesethings." Granted, Paul was discussing, not entertainment, but the meditations of the heart, which should center on things that please God. (Psalm 19:14) Yet, Paul's words can be applied in principle to the matter of entertainment. How?
  
  19 Ask yourself, 'Does my choice of movies, video games, music, or other forms of entertainment fill my mind with "whatever things are chaste"?' For instance, after you watch a movie, what mental images are left dominating your mind? If they are pleasant, pure, and refreshing, then you know that your entertainment was wholesome. However, if the movie you watched makes you think about things that are unchaste, then your entertainment was unsound, even harmful. (Matthew 12:33; Mark 7:20-23) Why? Because thinking about things that are morally unclean disturbs your inner peace, scars your Bible-trained conscience, and can ruin your relationship with God. (Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:5, 19) Since such entertainment has a harmful effect on you personally, be determined to avoid it. (Romans 12:2) Be like the psalmist who prayed to Jehovah: "Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless."-Psalm 119:37.
  
  [Footnote]Some more principles applicable to entertainment are found at Proverbs 3:31; 13:20; Ephesians 5:3, 4; and Colossians 3:5, 8, 20.
  
  SEEKTHEADVANTAGEOFOTHERSQ 20, 21. How does 1 Corinthians 10:23, 24 relate to choosing wholesome entertainment? 20 Paul mentioned a key Bible principle that needs to be taken into account when making decisions on personal matters. He stated: "All things are lawful; but not all things build up. Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person." (1 Corinthians 10:23, 24) How does that principle relate to choosing wholesome entertainment? You need to ask yourself, 'How will the entertainment that I choose affect others?'
  
  21 Your conscience may allow you to enjoy a certain form of entertainment that you view as "lawful," or acceptable. However, if you notice that other believers with a more restrictive conscience find it objectionable, you may decide not to pursue it. Why? Because you do not want to "sin against your brothers"-or even be "sinning against Christ," as Paul stated-by making it more difficult for your fellow believers to maintain faithfulness to God. You take to heart the admonition: "Keep from becoming causes for stumbling." (1 Corinthians 8:12; 10:32) True Christians today heed Paul's considerate and perceptive counsel by avoiding entertainment that may be "lawful" but does not "build up."-Romans 14:1; 15:1.
  
  "...maintain faithfulness to God" = preparation for weekly meetings, attendance at weekly meetings, comments at weekly meetings, minimum 8 hours in field service, family study, family worship night, etc etc
  
  Q 22. Why do Christians allow room for different views in personal matters? 22 There is, though, another side to the matter of seeking the advantage of others. A Christian with a more restrictive conscience should not insist that all in the Christian congregation conform to his narrower view on what is proper entertainment. If he were to do so, he would be like a driver on a highway who insists that all other drivers using the same road hold to the same speed that he prefers. Such a demand would not be reasonable. Out of Christian love, someone with a more confining conscience needs to respect fellow believers whose views on entertainment differ somewhat from his own but are still within the bounds of Christian principles. That way, he lets his "reasonableness become known to all men."-Philippians 4:5; Ecclesiastes 7:16.
  
  If only the WBTS followed their own counsel to allow their "reasonableness become known to all men."

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/174315/1/Why-does-the-Watchtower-Society-always-choose-harsh-legalism-over-love

  Q 23. How can you make sure that you choose wholesome entertainment? 23 In short, how can you make sure that you choose wholesome entertainment? Reject any kind of entertainment that graphically portrays degraded, immoral activities that are expressly condemned in God's Word. Follow Bible principles that can be applied to types of entertainment that are not specifically mentioned in the Bible. Avoid entertainment that injures your conscience, and be willing to forgo forms of entertainment that might wound the sensitivities of others, especially those of fellow believers. May your firm decision to do so bring glory to God and keep you and your family in his love.
• 
  188

  Hi I hope i am welcome

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi guys and gals,.

  i am a hypocryte.

  brought up in the "truth" but know its not.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  And were is ray franz lukewarm? enjoying the money from the sales of his books no doubt as well as not being in any religion or promoting a faith in God. he is an apostate by action his fruitage is just to take away people's faith. I would respect him more if he had been a russel type and saw the wrongdoing then setting up a faith that did not do the wrongs but kept what he felt was the purity. but he didn't he went commercial instead.
  Reniaa

  You seem to me to be very ignorant about his books Reinaa and yet you have the arrogance to pass judgement on the man, his research and BIBLE BASED thoughts. Its obvious to me you have no idea what you are talking about
• 
  12

  Experience regarding "Cell Saver"

  by BonaFide in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  this happened a few months ago.

  a sister in a neighboring congregation, who i have known for many years, had to have surgery.

  i met with her and the doctor, to be of support to her.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  Interesting indeed - I thought it needed to be continuous loop but looks like it does not need to be...Thanks for the post Bonafide!!

  ***lvpp.216-218BloodFractionsandSurgicalProcedures***Surgicalprocedures. These include hemodilution and cell salvage. In hemodilution, blood is diverted from the body, replaced with a volume expander, and later returned to the patient. Cell salvage captures and returns blood lost during surgery. Blood is recovered from a wound or a body cavity, washed or filtered, and then reinfused into the patient. Because the methods of applying these techniques can vary from physician to physician, a Christian should find out what his doctor has in mind.

  When making decisions about these procedures, ask yourself: 'If some of my blood will be diverted outside my body and the flow might even be interrupted for a time, will my conscience allow me to view this blood as still part of me, thus not requiring that it be "[poured] out upon the ground"? (Deuteronomy 12:23, 24) Would my Bible-trained conscience be troubled if during a medical procedure some of my own blood was withdrawn, modified, and directed back into my body? Am I aware that refusing all medical procedures involving the use of my own blood means that I would not accept a blood test, hemodialysis, or a heart-lung bypass machine?'

  A Christian must decide for himself how he will allow his own blood to be handled in the course of a surgical procedure. The same applies to medical tests and current therapies that involve extracting a small amount of one's own blood, perhaps modifying it in some way, and then reinjecting it.
  
  
  ***km11/06p.6HowDoIViewBloodFractionsandMedicalProceduresInvolvingMyOwnBlood?***CELL SALVAGEReducesblood loss.

  Blood is recovered during surgery from a wound or body cavity. It is washed or filtered and then, perhaps in a continuous process, returned to the patient.
  
  I accept
  I might accept
  I refuse
• 
  188

  Hi I hope i am welcome

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi guys and gals,.

  i am a hypocryte.

  brought up in the "truth" but know its not.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  LUKEWARM

  WELCOME Cantleave!!!!
  
  Please do not be too hard on yourself by feeling hypocritical - you are doing the best you can to preserve some normalcy to your situation.
  
  I feel for you - unsure if your wife is open minded, but raising children in something you are beginning to see the cracks in is heartbreaking!
  
  I was such a naive witness (born in) and am still "in" for family reasons. I also went to basics as you outline...
  
  In terms of going back to basics that is exactly what I am doing. I am re-evaluating what my faith means to me. I am studying things with an open mind, I refuse to be influenced by anyone's (or organisation's) preconcieved ideas. I really am doing what I have been advised by the society, taking my personal study very seriously. I am starting by reading the bible, checking to see with more sources than you can imagine, whether the interpretation I have been sold for my entire life really stacks up.
  And then one day on this site I found out about Ray Franz, an anointed governing body member who resigned because he had a "crisis of conscience"! I could not believe what I was reading and can wholeheartedly recommend vinny's post and comments in this regard
  
  One extreme recommendation from my point of view that I'd like to make is to read Ray Franz's two oustanding books. Crisis of Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom.
  
  Both can be found purchased in book form or downloadable as PDF's (for privacy) here:

  http://www.commentarypress.com/Publication/English.html

  He is a very sincere and humble man as well as a devout Christian today. He was a Governing Body member for over nine years. His insights are simply invaluable for anybody wanting to examine the JW religion in an honest and complete light.

  So far I have "placed" this book with 3 of my friends in the cong who never knew about the real issues...
  
  If you are up to proving to yourself that JW have the "truth" then these 2 books I suspect, will turn your world up-side down (as it did mine). Sit down and strap yourself in as I have a feeling your are in for a rough ride - well worth it in the end as you will be clear on the issues the WBTS never elaborates on when discussing apostates in their publications, but more importantly, you will have educated yourself about the counter-arguments which will empower you to make an informed decision for yourself, your family and perhaps your friends...
  
  Look forward to more of your posts
  
  Lukewarm