better than any drug.
smokey robinson singing "cruisin".
i had never heard of this song but i saw this commercial for time/life records...blues ballads...and they played a snippet of it and -wow-.
oh i was watching "boogie nights" and got some good songs from it...
driver's seat by sniff n' the tears
magnet and steel by walter egan
what's on your iPod or music library? here's a cool bit of trivia, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_band_name_etymologies
This is a list of band names with their name origins explained. Some origins are disputed.
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
have fun
... for the jw organisation.
gill made an interesting point in the topic the generation of 1914: .
"time alone can destroy the jw cult.
These things give me hope that maybe by another 3 generations or so from now the WTS organisation will cease to exist or become so marginalised it is an irrelevance to all but a handful of people.
their doctrines are so full of holes and inconsistent, i can't imagine the jw's being around, say, 100 years from now. the world grows more enlightened every day, and with information readily available online, there's not much they can shove under the rug anymore, no matter how may die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool jw's remain. they will topple like a house of cards...
.
can you still recall nice moments you spent as a jw?
do you remember ever being happy there?
What's your nicest souvenir of your time spent as a JW?
the overseer's baby. (oops) --jk
there's a growing trend for white folks to listen to r&b, hip hop & even "gansta' " rap music, and its generally accepted in the black community.
will there ever come a time when black folks can reasonably get away with listening to country & western music and not be affraid of being clowned upon and derided for listening to it?
come on, where my homies in 'da hood who secretly listen to c&w at?
metal. definitely. *throws the horns...
james hetfield is a lovegod!!!
the awesome power of god
if you are willing to put faith in jah, the only true god, then i am willing to share my experiences with you.
jehovah is able to humble any man, no matter how strong or powerful he thinks he is..........in a microsecond.
BB's cheese has fallen off his cracker
hehe...never heard it put that way before. that and
if you click on the link below what you'll see is an aerial view of the llano cemetery, located in amarillo, texas -- the place where i'll probably be buried.
the gravestones can actually be seen.
they are the white specks, all layed out in rows.
Wow! To get a diamond that size from the leftover ashes? Hmmm
I have never heard of this. Interesting idea...
uh-huh. i saw it last night on a show about diamonds. then they talked about how we humans are made of carbon, etc. pretty cool. there's just no end to man's ingenuity and imagination...
Now days, there are so many ways to be buried. Some people are cremated and mixed into mortar to form a coral reef, some are shot off into space, some are condensed into gems, some even just are tossed into the wind.
i want to be cremated, then have my ashes scattered where robert heinlein did...
here are a few facts that i have recently discovered by doing some research.. the watchtower society uses the date of 539 b.c.e as the date that cyrus took over babylon.
they use the term "absolute date" to define this as an unquestionable point in time.
to do this they had to ignore 586 b.c.e which is the real date for the destruction of jerusalem.. therefore, if jerusalem never lay desolate for 70 years, when does this desolation and fulfillment of this prophecy take place?
from the blog of one of Jehovah's Witnesses... (names, pics and links edited out for privacy, nothing else changed. see how those who question the governing body get treated...):
| xxxxx ( xxx) wrote, @ 2004-10-15 09:54:00 |
| Current mood: |  contemplative |
The Best and the Worst of New Light - personal observations
I?ll start with the best. The year was 1993; the place, our District Convention in Providence, RI.
First, some background. Matthew 24:29 had always puzzled me. What was the tribulation referred to in that verse? It was sense should we interpret the word ?immediately?? Also what about these signs in the heavens, what did they really mean? Being the obsessive person I tend to be, I used to wrestle with the Society?s interpretations. For a while they said the destruction of Jerusalem in 70CE was the tribulation referred to and that it Jehovah?s eyes it could be considered ?immediately? even though 2000 years would intervene. Ummm, no, that didn?t make sense. They also talked about space probes and even a form of space radiation as fulfilling the celestial phenomena described in those verses. Again, that seemed highly improbable. I was left quietly disagreeing with the official interpretation.
Back to 1993. I was intrigued as I pored over the convention program. It was clear Matthew 24 was going to discussed. The speaker asked the audience to open their Bibles to that chapter. You know that feeling when we?re asked to follow along as a speaker reads a scripture that almost everyone in the audience knows by heart? Well, I did NOT get that feeling this time. I could just sense that something was going to be different. I?ll never forget the feeling of elation as the speaker announced the official change of understanding of these verses! These were not past events at all!! These events lie in the FUTURE! I could get a sense of what Paul must have felt like when the scales fell from his eyes. It made so much sense. The tribulation talked about is THE Great Tribulation, nothing that happened 2000 years ago or in 1914. After the opening phase of this tribulation, Jesus himself will make it clear to the world that his Kingdom has at last come. The celestial signs will be nothing natural or manmade but instead will announce that the era of uninterrupted rule by mankind has ended.
As time went on, more events were shifted to be understood as happening in the future. It just felt so correct to place the judging of the sheep and goats as being in the future. Of course, Jesus is not judging people?s eternal fate right now, it is only when he sits down on his throne of power. And the scripture about raising ourselves erect expecting our deliverance ? that is also FUTURE. However fearsome events in the world may be presently, they will pale in comparison to how all humans will react during the Great Tribulation.
As much as I was jubilant over the corrections stated above, there was also a crushing blow that occurred shortly after. During my late teens and early 20s, I went through a period of intensive studying, both of the Bible and the publications. I would just pick up the bound volumes and read. In a way I relived the wave of excitement of the late 60s through the mid 70s. Twenty-five years after its printing, the article ?Why Are You Looking Forward to 1975?? written in 1968 still sent shivers through me as I read it. I could only imagine what I would have felt like if I had been alive at the time. As I continued my reading of the volumes, I could see how the Society was becoming increasingly wary of any chronologically based prophetic timetables. Still, one powerful time-based interpretation remained: the generation that saw the events of 1914 would not pass away. In my heart of hearts, I just felt a prescient awareness that this would not last. I vividly remember ripping the paper casing that each Awake came in when they used to be mailed. After removing the wrapper, I immediately opened to the inside cover to read the paragraph on why Awake is published. Each issue, there it was: ?the generation that saw the events of 1914 will not pass away.?
Till one fateful day in October 1995. What?s this? The words are gone!!!
Matthew 24:34 had to be one of my most used scriptures in my ministry. I used to do a lot of informal witnessing when I worked for Sears. Between phone calls I had time to talk to the person sitting next to me. Every few months our seating would be changed and I would get a new person to witness to. I had some incredible discussions. Invariably our discussions would turn to the signs around us, World War I and finally, Matthew 24:34.
Obviously, the teaching of the generation of 1914 not passing away was incorrect. Nine years after the change was made this fact becomes patently clear. Ninety years have now elapsed since October 1914. That generation for all intents and purposes is dead. Still, at the time of the change, this was not so clear. In fact, excitement was building amongst most Witnesses because of simple arithmetic. I think the wording of the article is what upset me more than anything. It was somehow placed upon the readership of the Watchtower that somehow THEY had misconstrued the interpretation. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth ? the inside cover of every Awake was crystal clear.
There is no escaping that there is a time element inherent to verses 32-34 of Matthew chapter 24. Jesus compares it to the seasons. When fig leaves appear, THEN something happens. That is not a nebulous concept but speaks to a definite timeframe. Could Jesus have been referring to the events of the earlier verses (29-33)? He said the generation will by NO MEANS pass away. Perhaps many if not most of those alive to see those signs will see the final end.
So, we wait patiently to see how future events unfold. I?m convinced that as we get closer more of the prophetic Scriptures will be opened to us. I eagerly await the thrill of learning the complete truth of the prophecies as Jehovah chooses to reveal them to his servants.
 |  zzzzz 2004-10-15 09:42 |
| I love these observations. To me it had seemed that the understanding of Matthew 24 had been just under the brim of many articles of the time, but that was when they made it explicit and clear. I remember sitting there so ready to hear it and nodding my head in recognition and appreciation. It's as if they put the pieces of a puzzle in my mind together that I knew the whole picture of, but just couldn't get the pieces together right on my own. The feeling of the holy spirit in that stadium, seeing people jotting stuff down feverishly and being close to tears of joy and appreciation -- I knew then and there that Jehovah was definitely and unequivocally using the Governing Body exclusively for our benefit. (After all, how many times have we experienced a deeply personal spiritual need, only to see it answered in a publication soon after, sometimes having been written BEFORE we even prayed about it?) That beings me to a puzzling question: I'd never gotten the impression that the governing body implied that readers had misinterpreted their interpretation. If such an idea were intended, I'm certain that more people would have reacted, and the memory of that kind of event would still linger in the back of many people's minds. What SPECIFICALLY were the words that made you feel this way? It's beyond me that something like this could go down without thinking discerning brothers noticing. |
| xxxxx 2004-10-15 10:31 |
| Believe me, zzzz, I wasn't the only one to react to these words. There was palpable resentment amongst a lot of brothers about the way the change was made. Assigning blame to the readership was entirely inappropriate. Here it is: "Eager to see the end of this evil system, JEHOVAH'S PEOPLE [the Witness readership] have at times speculated [simple arithmetic is not speculation] about the time when the "great tribulation" would break out, even tying this to calculations [people only live so long, it doesn't take much calculation] of what is the lifetime of a generation since 1914. However, we "bring a heart of wisdom in," not by speculating about how many years or days make up a generation, but by thinking about how we "count our days" in bringing joyful praise to Jehovah. (Psalm 90:12) Rather than provide a rule for measuring time, the term "generation" as used by Jesus refers principally to contemporary people of a certain historical period, with their identifying characteristics." Compare this to the 1980 retraction of the 1975 teaching where the PUBLISHERS of this magazine were specifically implicated in what was to be regretted. While Jesus did use the word 'generation' in a negative sense referring to the the people of the day, he NEVER used it in that sense when talking prophetically and when establishing a time element with a clear illustration. For example, the words 'lawless', 'law-defying' and 'lawlessness' are almost exclusively used in the Scriptures as referring to a SPIRITUALLY bankrupt condition. Yet in Matthew 24, when Jesus speaks about an increasing of lawlessness, this is interpretted as criminal activity by non-believers. Because of the context of the word, in this case the Watchtower interprets it differently. To me is seems hard to understand how the time element can be removed from the word 'generation' in verse 34. |
| |
| (duplicate post removed) |
| zzzz 2004-10-15 12:02 |
| From my recollection, the conditions to which Jesus referred as a 'generation,' a contiguous group with identifiable commonalities, existed for over 200 years. (I'll have to research that.) Lawlessness, in my understanding, is a condition that is irrespective of civil code. It is a lack of a sense of obligation to a moral code, which as we know as true Christians, does in fact cover every aspect of life, moral, criminal or otherwise (to use secular definitions in this instance). When Jehovah refers to someone as lawless, the individual(s) in question may or may not abide by the laws of the land, but in their hearts they wish to be free of "law". Haven't we already had lots of explanation for the Greek word used for generation? One has to detach their English-language understanding of foreign words, particularly the more powerfully expressive Greek. Now the first I saved for last. Your interjections and emphases are inflammatory, and your disdain for the Governing Body seeps through once again. Brothers did indeed persist in calculating generations and whatnot. People need to accpet responsibility for what they do, and admitting an error is not a bad thing. In fact, denying it is worse! The Governing Body is likewise comprised of people of Jehovah, and this method of arriving at when the end will be is tempting. Their "current" conclusion you quoted does not lend to an accusatory tone, but you take offense anyway. Brother, why do you persist in this? As Paul said, "Why not raher let yourself be wronged?" Or would you like to nitpick at Paul's words, too? |
| xxxx 2004-10-15 12:45 |
| I'm sorry you took it that way. I gave a balanced viewpoint. I gave credit where credit was due. The revisions I mentioned in the first part of my post obviously came from the Governing Body and I credit them for that. I'm surprised you can't gather that from my tone in describing my elation at that convention. People planned their lives around the former understanding of the generation not passing away. This wasn't something they dreamed up but instead were just basing their faith upon the current interpretation. I think it's understandable that there would be some confusion with such a major change and it was a *major* change. The Governing Body has a lot of responsibility on their shoulders and they carry out most of their commission admirably. I think we're all grateful for that. Are they beyond some criticism is some areas? No. |
| zzz 2004-10-15 13:36 |
| I don't think criticism is beneficial, especially in this unique situation. Since these brothers are used by Jehovah in a special way, we must be even more willing to overlook and forgive when we perceive an error, or misjudgment. Our interest is to upbuild and encourage each other, not to poke at the straw in our brothers' eyes. AS I've stated before, the Governing Body never holds to a serious error for long, if at all. |
| yyyyy 2004-10-15 12:21 |
| If such an idea were intended, I'm certain that more people would have reacted, and the memory of that kind of event would still linger in the back of many people's minds. What SPECIFICALLY were the words that made you feel this way? It's beyond me that something like this could go down without thinking discerning brothers noticing. More like, if you question anything this is what happens: Your interjections and emphases are inflammatory, and your disdain for the Governing Body seeps through once again. |
| zzzz 2004-10-15 12:22 |
| Why do you even bother? |
what was your favorite book when you were a child?.
mine was: the giving tree by shel silverstein.
said ickle me, pickel me,tickle me too.
charlotte's web. little house books numerous times. harriet the spy. curious george. many by dr. seuss, margaret wise brown, richard scarry. the once and future king by t.h. white
i attended the meeting today, hoping for some encouraging words.
i arrived while the prayer was in progress, i waited, then found my way to a familiy i enjoy and sat with them.
the speaker was visiting from another congregation.
He said that they didn't care what happened with the Tsunami. He said that they just go on with their lives as if nothing happened.
good grief. do these people own televisions? did he then go on to say how Jehovah's Witnesses demonstrate their compassion and understanding of this tragedy? i didn't think so. the most sickening thing about this and other cases is their penchant for using a horrible event as a springboard for their idiotic teachings. t'is they who are the callous, uncaring ones...
i use to think that going door to door had its hazardous moments, but the time i was bitten by a dog wow.
that was scary.
i still can't figure out why the mutt bit me as i love animals.
heyyy...i'm a member of F.O.F.O.F.
http://www.sweetmarmalade.com/fofof.html
er..."buttering my paws"? hehe i'm dyin here...
