Posts by sd-7

28

Reports from JW's regarding the summer convention

by Lynnie in

so, we're in the final countdown with the convention just over a month away.

i've talked to a few folks that have already attended it on the east coast and west coast and keep hearing that its the most up-building program they've ever been to.

seems the message is clear that we need to stop being so hard on ourselves and take time to appreciate the efforts we have put in and know that we are deeply loved.

sd-7

Seems the message is clear that we need to stop being so hard on ourselves and take time to appreciate the efforts we have put in and KNOW that we are deeply loved

I'm sorry, are you sure these people were actually at a convention? Of Jehovah's Witnesses? Okay. I guess they didn't hear all of it, because none of the assembly or convention programs ever, EVER tells people to stop being so hard on themselves. If they do, I must've been distracted by the 50 interviews with people who are pioneering in spite of debilitating illness, unemployment, and etc. Which always gave me the message that, if they can do it, you're not doing even half of what you're supposed to do.

Also, you are deeply loved so far as you obey. I'm sure that was understood by all in attendance.

Funny thing is, I didn't always feel it was the 'best convention yet'. For me it was more like 'this was the best convention since 2003' or something like that. I mean, without a really, really cool new book, or an epic drama with hilarious stuff in it, it just couldn't be that good. And realizing that our being ordered not to go across the street to buy food from local vendors may have helped ruin those businesses didn't make me feel particularly good, either.

Counting down, though. Just a month away now...

--sd-7

287

What about your vow to Jehovah?

by a watcher in

did you get baptized without being dedicated?.

why did you allow men to come between you and jehovah?.

why were you serving jehovah at all?

sd-7

Did you get baptized without being dedicated?

No. I was totally dedicated. As with any relationship, it became clear to me over time that the premises upon which I was led to make that dedication were false premises. So I reevaluated them, and made a decision that I could not in good conscience continue to dedicate myself to the God that the Watchtower promotes.

Why did you allow men to come between you and Jehovah?

It wasn't up to me. Those men were already there in the first place, insisting that I had no choice but to accept them as coming between me and Jehovah, or else I could have no relationship with him at all. Note what the July 15, 2012 Watchtower, page 20, paragraph 2 says: "It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual health and our relationship with God depend on this channel.--Matt. 4:4; John 17:3." The God of the Bible would regard this statement as blasphemy. It is faith in Jesus Christ that enables a person to have a relationship with God, according to the Bible, not the recognition of a faithful slave. This is clear, documented proof--easily substantiated by further, similar quotes--that these men provided the above false premises upon which I based my dedication. Jehovah saw everything they and their predecessors have done for more than a century, and not only did he not correct them, he allowed them to fall into even greater errors as time went on. It is obvious that if such a God exists, he would not allow his true teachers to print statements like the above. And on the other hand, true teachers of God would never allow themselves to print statements like the above.

Why were you serving Jehovah at all? Out of love, or for other reasons?

Out of love. Certainly not for a date, as none was given to me. Of course I wanted to please my mother, but I sincerely believed such service was the right thing to do. I believed we were bringing hope and morality to the world, and that if everyone shared our beliefs, we could end the suffering of mankind and finally build a better world. For me personally, I believed it would protect me from the dangers of sin and guide me into a close relationship with God.

"Whenever you vow a vow to God, do not hesitate to pay it...What you vow, pay. Better it is that you vow not than that you vow and do not pay." (Ecc 5:4,5)

How does one make a vow to someone who does not in turn communicate in acceptance of that vow? It was clearly a one-sided relationship. Me doing the talking, the reading, the working, the struggling, and the hoping, and him doing something unknown and unknowable. And being mighty quiet in the process. If he wants to have a relationship, like any good parent, he should communicate through something a little clearer than a 2,000+-year-old book consisting of history and letters written to people who are not me. Someone with that much power and allegedly with that much love, can surely do better than that.

--sd-7

18

New WT teaches Faithful slave appointed over belongings is a FUTURE event, do they know what this means regarding themselves now?

by EndofMysteries in

this doctrine change is very interesting.

the july 2013 study watchtower pages 8 para 17 and 18 makes these statements....... .

""""we understood that the arriving mentioned.

sd-7

"It doesn't matter who we are. What matters is our plan."

--sd-7

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-09-2013 WT Study (READ BIBLE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 06-09-2013 wt study (april 15, 2013, pages 7-11)(read bible).

4. what does it mean to read the bible in an undertone?.

1:6) how, then, are we to understand jesus words about this generation?

sd-7

20 Recall that God’s will is that “all

sorts of men should be saved [but only if

Jehovah's Witnesses recruit them].” Jehovah’s

servants [Jehovah's Witnesses] are among “all sorts of men [yes,

but a different sort of men--a better, morally superior sort].” So

are those whom we might help through

our preaching and teaching work [but they're a different sort--morally

inferior, ignorant, generally evil in even the most mundane areas

of their lives. They can't even brush their teeth without doing something

evil. I don't know what, but believe me...they're wicked]. But

all who wish to attain to salvation must

gain “an accurate knowledge of truth [become Jehovah's Witnesses

by learning and believing Watchtower teachings].”

(1 Tim. 2:4) Thus, surviving the last days

goes hand in glove ["Wow! Another metaphor! This is Patrick Stewart.

How are you enjoying the article so far?"] with reading the Bible [and the Watchtower]

and applying its inspired instructions [as explained by the Watchtower].

Yes, our daily Bible [and Watchtower] reading shows how

highly we esteem Jehovah’s precious

Word of truth [, the Watchtower. It's actually no stretch to say that when

Jesus said "Your word is truth", he was talking about the Watchtower. Without

the Watchtower, the Bible would have no meaning at all, it would be utterly mysterious

and incomprehensible. So, read the Bible, by all means. But believe the Watchtower.

Or else].—John 17:17.

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-09-2013 WT Study (READ BIBLE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 06-09-2013 wt study (april 15, 2013, pages 7-11)(read bible).

4. what does it mean to read the bible in an undertone?.

1:6) how, then, are we to understand jesus words about this generation?

sd-7

19 The deeper we get into the time of

the end, the greater our need to rely on [obey without question]

Jehovah’s Word [the Watchtower]. The counsel we draw

from it helps us to correct bad habits [as defined by the Watchtower] and

to control our sinful tendencies [suppress normal feelings and emotions]. With

its encouragement [browbeating] and comfort [or lack thereof], we will

pass the tests that Satan and his world [everyone but Jehovah's Witnesses; us-versus-them]

bring on us. With the guidance Jehovah

provides in his Word [and the Watchtower], we will [not die in Armageddon] stay on the

road to life.

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-09-2013 WT Study (READ BIBLE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 06-09-2013 wt study (april 15, 2013, pages 7-11)(read bible).

4. what does it mean to read the bible in an undertone?.

1:6) how, then, are we to understand jesus words about this generation?

sd-7

18 Paul also mentioned a helmet, “the

hope of salvation.” Without protecting

his head, a soldier in Bible times could

easily lose his life in battle [unlike today,

where people have guns. Today, it's totally

different]. But with a

good helmet, he could survive blows to

the head without suffering serious injury [Oh yeah?

You try getting hit in the head with a slab of metal

that weighs several pounds].

We build hope in Jehovah’s saving

acts by studying his Word [we gain this hope somehow,

despite the Watchtower's apparent confusion over whether God

will protect us as individuals or not. See Yearbook examples

of people being saved, and other

Yearbook examples of people being brutally murdered. Pick

whichever one makes you feel better today, and go with it.]. Strong hope

enables us to resist apostates [those who disagree with the Watchtower] and their

[documented evidence, pointing out what the Watchtower has said in print in their own words

(lies to the public, false prophecies, unscriptural rules about medical practices,

poor handling of child/spousal abuse, disturbing views on rape),

pointing out Bible verses that are taken out of context, and academic dishonesty in

their scholarly research]

gangrenous [facts tends to grow on you] “empty speeches [but wait,

I thought you weren't supposed to listen to apostates at all. How can you

hear their empty speeches if you're not listening? You don't need to resist

what you've never heard in the first place, right? ??? Oh, so Jehovah's

Witnesses ARE listening, then, or else you wouldn't have mentioned this?]." (2 Tim. 2:

16-19) Our hope will also strengthen us

to say no to those who would lead us into

conduct condemned by Jehovah [the Watchtower]. [Young People Ask drama video,

Worldly Boy: "You're different from the other girls."]

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-09-2013 WT Study (READ BIBLE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 06-09-2013 wt study (april 15, 2013, pages 7-11)(read bible).

4. what does it mean to read the bible in an undertone?.

1:6) how, then, are we to understand jesus words about this generation?

sd-7

17 For good reason, Paul wrote: “As for

us who belong to the day [especially Batman, who

finally stepped out into the light to stop Bane and save

the city], let us keep

our senses [lose all rational, objective thinking ability] and have on the breastplate

of faith [blind belief] and love [sacrifice of all that you are

for the sake of people who could care less about you] and as a helmet the

hope of salvation [and hope to be rewarded after you're dead,

but then if you're dead, you can't confirm that anything you did while

you were alive was at all worth it, since you're kinda hoping the guys

printing this magazine aren't just b.s.ing you].” (1 Thess. 5:8) A soldier’s

heart needs protection from the

enemy [Cheerios can help with that, I hear]. Similarly, a Christian’s figurative

heart requires shielding from the power

of sin ["Are our shields even up?" "We can't take another hit like that! Their weapons

are powerful!"].

What happens when a servant

of Jehovah [one of Jehovah's Witnesses] couples strong faith in God’s

promises [blind belief in what the Watchtower says] with love for Him

[the Watchtower] and for fellow

humans [fellow Witnesses and potential recruits until they reject our message]? Such a servant puts on a

spiritual breastplate of the highest quality.

It is unlikely that he will do anything [stupid or whatever the Watchtower says is wrong today]

to lose God’s [the Watchtower's/the elders'] favor.

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-09-2013 WT Study (READ BIBLE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 06-09-2013 wt study (april 15, 2013, pages 7-11)(read bible).

4. what does it mean to read the bible in an undertone?.

1:6) how, then, are we to understand jesus words about this generation?

sd-7

16 Jews in the Macedonian city of Beroea

had the custom of “carefully examining

the Scriptures daily.” ["...to make sure these things were so."

Not just for the hell of it, but to confirm that nobody

was shoveling a load of sh-- at 'em. That

may not have turned out so well.] When Paul

preached the good news to those Jews [especially the prophecy

about 1914, oh, right, God didn't revealed that to him,

but everything else was totally in line with current

Watchtower teachings],

they compared his words with their

knowledge of the Scriptures [which may have been lacking,

since quite a few Old Testament prophecies about Jesus

were taken out of context, but hey, it's cool. Holy spirit

obviously enlightened the apostles to give those words a

higher meaning]. The result?

Many were convinced that he was teaching

the truth [as is taught today in the pages of

the Watchtower], and they “became believers [Jehovah's Witnesses].”

(Acts 17:10-12) This shows that daily

reading of the Bible promotes strong

faith in Jehovah [and/or the Watchtower]. Such faith, “the assured

expectation of things hoped for [a belief in something promised

to you by people who have routinely failed to deliver on promises for the

past century, or indeed, the past two millennia],” is vital

if we are [not to be slaughtered at Armageddon by a guy who has a

sword sticking out of his f***ing mouth and a bloody white robe] to survive into God’s new

world.—Heb. 11:1.

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-09-2013 WT Study (READ BIBLE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 06-09-2013 wt study (april 15, 2013, pages 7-11)(read bible).

4. what does it mean to read the bible in an undertone?.

1:6) how, then, are we to understand jesus words about this generation?

sd-7

15 Like King Solomon, pray to Jehovah

for wisdom in carrying out theocratic

responsibilities [but don't expect to be rewarded

with his level of wisdom, or his incredible wealth,

or to be up to your eyeballs in hot, exotic women]. (2 Chron. 1:7-10) As

did the prophets of old, make “a diligent

inquiry and a careful search” of God’s

Word for accurate knowledge of Jehovah

and his will [using the Watchtower Library,

which is your only shot at accurate knowledge]. (1 Pet. 1:10-12) The apostle

Paul encouraged Timothy to nourish

himself “with the words of the faith [Watchtower scrolls, no doubt] and

of the fine teaching [of the governing body].” (1 Tim. 4:6) By your

doing so, you will be in an excellent position

to help others spiritually [to obey the Watchtower]. At the

same time, you will build up your own

faith [in the Watchtower, thus reducing or, we hope,

eliminating the massive amounts of cognitive dissonance

you may or may not be experiencing. No, don't look it up,

please. You can't even pronounce it, it's beyond you, just

forget I said it, in fact I'll cross it out now].

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-09-2013 WT Study (READ BIBLE)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 06-09-2013 wt study (april 15, 2013, pages 7-11)(read bible).

4. what does it mean to read the bible in an undertone?.

1:6) how, then, are we to understand jesus words about this generation?

sd-7

14 Clearly, the Bible [and the Watchtower] contains many

words that can encourage [beat], correct [maim], or

strengthen [break entirely] its readers. But you may ask,

‘How can I have scriptures at the ready

when I need them?’ [Wow, u must be dum to azk dat qweschun. Dum az nailz.

U culd reed de Biblez and haz it at yur handz awl de tyme.] Read the Bible and

meditate on God’s thoughts daily [especially in the form of Watchtower books,

which are as close to God's thoughts as you'll ever get]. In that

way, you will build a reserve of divine expressions

that Jehovah’s spirit can help

you recall when you need them [because apparently,

holy spirit results in an improved memory, it's not just that

you actually read the Bible a lot, which in itself, like any

actual reading/memorization routine, would

enable even an atheist to remember where Bible verses are located.

Hmm. Is it possible holy spirit has nothing to do with your

ability to remember scriptures? It could be that your mind

remembers things after being exposed to them over and over.

Wow. Son of a b----. Who knew?].—Mark

13:11; read John 14:26.*