Posts by Awen

27

Do JW Organization Mistakes Matter?

by InterestedOne in

after reading what concerned jw has to say, i gather that for him, if the jw organization is currently making any mistakes, those mistakes do not matter and are not worth naming, not even one.

i am completely baffled by this and would like to understand why a person would take this position.

concerned jw, can you please explain why you take this position?

Awen

I think the mistakes matter a great deal.

Matthew 23: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Matthew+23

Peace and Love,

Morgan

79

Why did the Ethiopian require "explanation" of scripture in Acts 8?

by sabastious in

acts 8 29-31: 29 the spirit told philip, go to that chariot and stay near it.. 30 then philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading isaiah the prophet.

do you understand what you are reading?

philip asked.. 31 how can i, he said, unless someone explains it to me?

Awen

Dearest Shelby:

Thank you for the kind words. On the subject of obeseiance, I wouldn't allow it anyway as Jesus is the only one to whom such works should be directed (but you already know this).

On the subject of scholars.

While I have no problem doing a bit of research, I do not really feel that just because someone is published does their opinion carry more weight than the scriptures or the direction of the Holy Spirit. If I did believe that, I would still be a JW.

Like yourself, I have found that the leading of the Spirit will cause me to find the answer I seek, if I just keep looking, be it in the scriptures, within myself or online.

Having read many of Elaine Pagels books I have nothing but respect for her. However, being a former JW has left me wary of trusting someone's opinion just because they carry some sort of academic weight in the secular world. I mean this is MY salvation we're talking about and WT-Land has instilled in me a desire to "make sure of all things".

I also understand BoTR's wariness of just accepting what you say without any academic sources. To her, it smacks of the GB (which is understandable).

Personally I don't reference my membership in the Body of Christ for that very reason. Having come out of JW-Land, many people are wary of such talk and it makes them uncomfortable. In another time and place it wouldn't be a problem, but here, in this forum it is.

But continue to be who you are, exactly the way you are.

You are much loved.

Your Brother in Christ,

Morgan (Awen)

79

Why did the Ethiopian require "explanation" of scripture in Acts 8?

by sabastious in

acts 8 29-31: 29 the spirit told philip, go to that chariot and stay near it.. 30 then philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading isaiah the prophet.

do you understand what you are reading?

philip asked.. 31 how can i, he said, unless someone explains it to me?

Awen

Commenting on whether the Ethiopian Eunuch was in fact a Jew or more likely a Proselyte.

First, Luke never indicated in Acts 8 that the treasurer from Ethiopia was a "Gentile." On the contrary, he implied that this eunuch was either a Jew or a proselyte when he stated that he had "come to Jerusalem to worship" (8:27). At this point in time, the eunuch was not yet a Christian; he had not yet heard and obeyed the Gospel. Thus, while he had in fact gone "to Jerusalem to worship," such worship was not with the church in Jerusalem. It seems obvious that the reason he was reading from the Old Testament book of Isaiah when Philip approached him, and the reason he already had traveled hundreds of miles from Ethiopia "to Jerusalem to worship," was because he was either a Jew or (more likely) a proselyte. On the possibility of the eunuch being a Jew, respected biblical scholar J.W. McGarvey stated

"It was not uncommon for Jews born and reared in foreign lands to attain to eminent positions, such as this man enjoyed, and especially in the department of finance.."

McGarvey, J.W. (1892), New Commentary on Acts of Apostles (Cincinnati, OH: Standard).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_William_McGarvey

http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1488

If the Eunuch wasn't a Jewish convert or even born into Judaism, then explain how he came to have in his hands a copy of the scroll of Isaiah, which non-Jews were forbidden from having according to Jewish Law? It's obvious, he was either a Jew by birth or by conversion.

How's that BoTR?

Peace,

Awen

65

Your LEAST favorite movies?

by Judge Dread in

jw
friends

i was trying to watch this movie with will smith titled "seven pounds".. i got an hour and 15 mins.

in and i just had to turn it off.. what a waste of time.. so what are some or your least favorite movies?

or some you just couldn't finish, they were just so bad?.

Awen

Bad movie: "Jehovah's Witnesses-The Organization Behind The Name. LOL

Seriously, "The Omen" that kid reminds me of a few publishers I knew.

Also ANY horror film. I don't watch them as I feel there is enough horror in the world without making stuff up.

Bad movies I like:

Just Go With It

Happy Gilmore

Little Nicky

Mr. Deeds

Big Daddy

You Don't Mess With The Zohan

(Basically any Adam Sandler flick)

Clerks

Clerks 2

Mall Rats

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

Chasing Amy (seriously a guy converts a lesbian? yeah right)

Peace and Love,

Morgan (Awen)

79

Why did the Ethiopian require "explanation" of scripture in Acts 8?

by sabastious in

acts 8 29-31: 29 the spirit told philip, go to that chariot and stay near it.. 30 then philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading isaiah the prophet.

do you understand what you are reading?

philip asked.. 31 how can i, he said, unless someone explains it to me?

Awen

^ Why did the Ethiopian feel completely inadequate to understand Isaiah without help?

How much of the Bible did you understand before the JW's came along?

Exactly. (Only you know the answer)

How much have you understood since you left the JW's and turned to Christ and received the Holy Spirit?

Only you know the answer to that one as well.

Without getting into a debate about who got what information from where I think it's safe to say the Eunuch was having a problem with what he was reading, he clearly stated he didn't understand it and needed help. Phillip offered the help, converted the man, baptized him, they parted ways.

Why all the fuss?

We'll probably really never know whay he couldn't understand what he was reading. It doesn't says so in the text, which leads me to believe the answer was unimportant, only the event that took place.

/shrug.

Peace and Love,

Awen

25

Survey - Are DF'ed ones allowed to be around for the prayers at the meetings where you live?

by StandFirm in

and please state the general area you live in, if you could.

thank you..

Awen

It's not that they aren't allowed, it more that they are encouraged to leave during the prayer...to sneak out so as to not disturb everyone else. I had this said to me when I attended the KH in Moline, IL I thought it was dumb because it snows there 9 months out of the year and I had to wait outside for my ride and you know how that goes, everyone standing around and comparing suits /dresses and giving insincere praise for comments made during the meeting.

Peace and Love,

Awen

5

Perfectly illustrating the JW mindset...

by MrFreeze in

as a pittsburgh pirate/baseball fan i couldn't help but see a parallel from last night's action in the pirates/braves game.

i'm sure most of you sports fans heard about the miscall that ended the game.

if you were unaware:.

Awen

I don't watch baseball so I have no cares about who wins or loses. Your video wasn't that great so I had to find another one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_o4LHIQs-0

From what I can see the catcher's glove went above the runner's leg when he was sliding. I think as a PP fan you are seeing what you want to see.

Of course this would also fit the JW mindset.

I'm not out to argue with you. It's just my opinion and I really don't care one way or the other about Baseball.

Also one has to realize that only the Umpire was looking directly at the runner/catcher. Even the camera viewpoint is blocked by the Umpire's body, so he is the last word. That is what he is trained to do and his words stands, like it or not.

/shrug

Peace

2

What Is Significance, If Any, of 1914?

by AGuest in

jw
friends

may you all have peace.... and may you know that there is absolutely no significance to the year 1914, other than with historical value to this system of things (i.e., certain world leader assassinated; world war i...

but, with reference to my lord 'arriving' and beginning his rulership, by the spirit of my father that is in me, holy spirit, by means of christ, i say to you that:.

1. my lord began ruling from the moment he was installed and inaugurated... as a king and priest... 'in the manner of melchizedek'... which installation and inauguration was evidenced... by the outpouring of holy spirit at pentecost... 30 ce (sorry, dear ones, but 33ce is an erroneous date contrived by the wtbts to make their 607bce, etc., 'fit'.

Awen

Peace to you Dearest Shelby:

So what you are saying is Jesus began ruling when he was transfigured? This would make a lot of sense as he did say that there were some who were present who would not taste death at all until they saw the Kingdom come into power.

Peace and Love,

Awen

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