Enchante...
Podobear
JoinedPosts by Podobear
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33
They Came, They Said, They Left
by snowbird inthey came to the rural black belt county of wilcox in alabama, in the year 1970. hailing from exotic places such as new york, new jersey, connecticut, and massachusetts, they were bright, articulate, and persuasive.. they said the end was close, that the year 1975 would probably be the farthest limit for the current "system of things.
" some of us believed them and embraced their theology wholeheartedly.
we wrote letters of resignation to our respective churches and hit the highways and byways, hawking the wt message to stunned families and friends.. 1975 came and went - nothing.
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33
They Came, They Said, They Left
by snowbird inthey came to the rural black belt county of wilcox in alabama, in the year 1970. hailing from exotic places such as new york, new jersey, connecticut, and massachusetts, they were bright, articulate, and persuasive.. they said the end was close, that the year 1975 would probably be the farthest limit for the current "system of things.
" some of us believed them and embraced their theology wholeheartedly.
we wrote letters of resignation to our respective churches and hit the highways and byways, hawking the wt message to stunned families and friends.. 1975 came and went - nothing.
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Podobear
I was hooked.. I sat as a cocky 13 year old when "The Truth" book was released with enthusiasm. Dad had a copy already in the bookcase at home... presented to him by workmates who had stolen it from a container in the London docks.
As I listened to the animated presentation by Ron Drage, I calculated that if each of us brought just 1 person in over the 6 months of studying... most of the world would be saved before Armageddon hit... pioneering was the only way to go!
My education was brilliant, I was one year ahead in Hight School.. I turned down a brilliant education in the Universities of Pau and the Sorbonne, forfeited the Vienna School of Music as a Clarinet player.
Instead I focused on '75... but did not fix on it, other than the constant talks telling us it would only be a little while longer. I enlisted as a Regular in 1972, into Bethel in 1978... hit a brick wall there and left disillusioned in '82.
I survived two more years before I walked out in January 1984.
Penniless, no commercial value.. in the depths of despair.. I went to step in front of a London bus, and end it all.
I turned back onto the pavement, packed my bags and left home.
I didn't speak to my folks for over two years ( I am so sorry Mum for those years - that is why had to go to the top of Sinai, kiss my hand at dawn, kissed my hand, held it against the rock and said "She is all yours - look after her")
I was baptized at 1.35pm 25 April 1971 by my own Father, my mother opposed for over 45 years)... Exactly 40 years to the day... I sat there as the Sun came over the horizon and ended the bitter struggle, this religion brought on our family.
But, I have not abandoned faith and hope that one day I will see my mother again.
Yes, they came, They Said, They left, and my Dad has finally realized his selfishness and the struggle we have all had.
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64
Where do you think the US is headed?
by 2pink insince you all are a critical thinking bunch...i thought i'd put this question to you.. i'm a born and raised us citizen as is my husband.
ever since we left the borg almost 2 years ago (wow, time flies when you're finally having fun!
), we've paid more attention to politics.
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Podobear
An Iron Fist in a Velvet glove.... The U.S foreign policies are finally coming to roost. The dominant economies of the West are about to be "fisted" by emerging economies. The immorality of the past will pay a heavy price.
The U.S.A and the E.U will never recover, until the Greed that is intergral to their Economic policies is properly addressed. Pareto's Principle... 20% of the people own 80% of the wealth.. where will it get them when their economies finally fall apart?
A bit apocolyptic, but that is how it looks....
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24
How to identify a JW from a distance
by Bungi Bill inmuch has apparently been said in recent years about how a "good" jw should be dressed and groomed, so as to be easily identified - even from a distance.. yesterday, while driving through town, i did see two people the distance:.
- and certainly, by the way they were dressed, my suspicions were aroused.. - however, what confirmed their identity was not their dress and grooming.
rather, as i drove up closer, i noticed both of them doing the "pioneer shuffle" up somebody's driveway:.
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Podobear
I used to see a lot of enthusiasm and animation in the JW face... these days, most look vacant and frustrated. The new breed of JW does not seem as well trained as those a quarter of a century ago. Then, it took years of study before making a dedication and baptism...
Todays JW's seem pre packed like fast food.. kind of Ronal MacDonald without the cheezy smile.
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162
PROTESTS AT WATCHTOWER CONVENTIONS
by Lawrence Hughes indear friends,.
as you may know, the watchtower society takes great pride in its district conventions.
please contact me if you can attend any of these protests.. there is no reason why every district convention in the world could not have a protest and receive media coverage to expose the watchtower society.
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Podobear
Actually, boyzone... you will find that all groups THRIVE on persecution and Hate rhetoric. The more you verbalize your opposition, the more that people will be attracted to research. The truth will come out.. but I doubt the way you are approaching things will do anything but promote increase in the ranks of your targets.
Were you ever a JW?
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Podobear
Blue-grey with a few amber flecks
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132
Hello
by Chariklo ini am new to this site, just finding my way around.. i've been studying with jw's for about 15 months.
i'm an unbaptised publisher, and until recently never missed a meeting, have been out "on the service" quite a lot.
i've been having difficulties with one of the jw's studying with me and something happened which was just unacceptable.
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Podobear
@AnnOMaly: Thanks Ann... I was angling at the supposition of those who use the expression NT to invalidate the OT... the Covenant, as you quite rightly point out was fulfilled in Christ... but the benefits and blessings from the Old Covenant will likewise CONTINUE to be fulfilled through the New Covenant in Christ. This extends to the promises given about the Earth as well as what takes place in Heaven.
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160
Your best one sentence JW comeback contest
by moshe ini am looking for your best jw comeback- the kind that makes a jw's jaw drop.
ok, even two pithy sentences will do.. here's one i have used before on jws,.
moshe: " do you know what an oxymoron is?
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Podobear
In reply to an 89 year old patient who told me why he left Methodism to become a JW: "Jehovah freed me from the awful fear of hell fire, as taught by the church..."
My reply: "I had a similar feeling about a kiddie on his trike, falling down an earthquake trench, with his mother screaming as her house burned... in the book, Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained."
Same meat different gravy.
The treatment room went awfully silent.
p.s. You did ask for one sentence Moshe.
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132
Hello
by Chariklo ini am new to this site, just finding my way around.. i've been studying with jw's for about 15 months.
i'm an unbaptised publisher, and until recently never missed a meeting, have been out "on the service" quite a lot.
i've been having difficulties with one of the jw's studying with me and something happened which was just unacceptable.
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Podobear
@jgnat: Love the perception!
@godrulz: I have just finished watching Sunday morning Question Time, here in the UK; Is Religion Relevant today? The audience was youthful... devoid of old anoraks, like me.
The JW's were mentioned first by an Atheist youth... the usual disdain over the JW interpretation on the "Blood Issue". A fair few Born Agains trying to bolster their corner. Moderate Muslims commenting on their faith.
The presenter was at pains to point out the "Hate Rhetoric" of the insular viewpoints of the Born Again Christians.. and someone was able to speak positively of the fresh, outlooking attitudes of the moder Pentecostal movement. The discussion was varied, if a little rudderless at times.
What I get from your posts is this same Born Again attitude of picking at the splinter in the eyes of others, whilst you have an imposing timber in your own eye!
As jgnat so wisely says: God owns ALL the hills, NOT YOU. There are millions of healthy sheep graizing quite nicely on the spiritual food they are receiving.... making a choice daily... following the Good Shepherd where he leads them to pasture.
There are very many good points about JW's too. Why not hightlight them too... there are very many I assure you.
The Christian Greek Scriptures do not obliterate the Hebrew Scriptures... both sit hand in glove.. if you want use a word call it the Christian Testament. With the renting of the curtain in the temple, the special relationship ended with earthly Israel and is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. It is not a NEW TESTAMENT, as you wrongly describe. It is a fulfilment of prophecy given to the Hebrews. There is a New Heavens and a New Earth awaiting according to his promise. Not all Christians will serve along with Christ in heaven, many will benefit from that rule elsewhere.
That is the complete and golden thread of the gospel. I am sure you must agree.
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54
No Rapture But JW's Shown 2 B The True Idiots
by Pig inloved this article in australia.
five other end-of-world predictions: .
1. followers of william miller believed the world would end on october 22, 1844.. 2.the jehovah's witness religion has predicted the end of the world in 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975 and 1994.. 3. charles wesley, founder of the methodist church, predicted the world would end in 1794.. 4. famous forecaster nostradamus predicted doomsday would happen in july 1999.. 5. english mystic joanna southcott predicted the world would end on october 19, 1814, when she gave birth to the messiah.. .
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Podobear
Chanel 4 (UK) had a rather reticent Anglican bishop (from Buckingham) being interviewed just prior to 6pm BST. He was very cagey as he explained 1 Thessalonians 4.
I am not sure of the convictions of the (Asian looking) male interviewer. Perhaps I detected a little non-Christian dis belief in his wry smile... but anyway
The news broadcast ended with him being beamed out in shafts of light and leaving his suit behind. Bravo, to the guy who cashed in and earned an instant 20K on abandoned pet insurance!
Soberly, we are left with speculations over 1st Century speculation and teaching on the matter... and I guess all those who got our of Jerusalem in AD66 were very grateful....
Darn Elders, always interfering