Posts by joelbear

7

Arguing with JW's

by closer2fine in

jw
friends

can anyone recommend a book that point by point shuts down all of jw's beliefs?

my dad has all of the org's lessons memorized and i need something to help me stand up for myself.

i'm hoping the book will be recent & encompass the changes made (1914, voting, etc.).

joelbear

closer.

I recommend one of two things.

1. Avoid religious discussions completely and just enjoy the family association and discussion about family topics.

2. Use questions rather than statements. They are not as argumentative and sometimes make the person with the opposing viewpoint think. I have used this on my dad at times. Questions like, weren't there 144,000 faithful people way before 1935, etc.
They usually make him change the subject himself since he really doesn't have the answers.

peace

Joel

57

Famous Last Words

by You Know in

jw
friends

the great depression had more to do with shaping the character and defining the last century than any other event, except the great wars that caused and followed the depression.

the structure of the financial system though has radically changed since that time, in that it is many times larger, global in fact, and it is much more fragile and complex, in that it reacts nearly instantaneously to various factors.

the average person is now much more dependent upon and indebted to the system as well.

joelbear

So Jehovah provides, but we better save some stuff up ourselves just in case?

That seems to be a contradiction. You didn't address my point about the manna. That seems to be a lesson that not trusting fully on Jehovah is a mistake.

Are we supposed to rely on ourselves or on Jehovah to provide?

93

Position on College Changed?

by Maximus in

jw
friends

several have made outright statements and others have suggested that the society's negative position on higher education has changed.

'the society does not discourage higher education where i live.

' worse, 'apostates have made it all up--the society has never discouraged education.

joelbear

Lisa,

You and I had a similar experience. I had scholarship offers. My mom and dad never sat down with me and discussed nothing. My dad violently told me that if I went to college I would have to support myself. Now I sure wish I had taken him up on that threat, the shithead (profanity necessary for emphasis).

When I was pioneering he forced me to perform janitorial duties at his business for $15 a week. I cleaned it once a week. It took about 4 hours to clean.

When I went to Bethel I got an office job because I could type. I did spend one week on the plumbing crew and two more weeks picking blueberries at a brother's farm in Pennsylvania (my best 2 weeks of Bethel service). I was amazed at how many people there had gone to college and were working on computer programming and other higher skilled tasks.

Boggles my mind. Thankfully for me, things turned out pretty well although I am still frustrated that I am not more mentally challenged at work. A lot of it now is my own fault for not making better use of my time.

hugs

Joel

57

Famous Last Words

by You Know in

jw
friends

the great depression had more to do with shaping the character and defining the last century than any other event, except the great wars that caused and followed the depression.

the structure of the financial system though has radically changed since that time, in that it is many times larger, global in fact, and it is much more fragile and complex, in that it reacts nearly instantaneously to various factors.

the average person is now much more dependent upon and indebted to the system as well.

joelbear

Hi Larc,

I agree. What will be will be. We can affect our life with our decisions and we can affect other people's lives around us by being a positive influence. Beyond that, things are out of our control.

Regarding doctrines vs. prophecy interpretation, You know makes it sound like the important point is that the Watchtower teaches doctrine correct but is still in the dark to some point concerning prophecy but that this doesn't really matter since we don't need to know it yet.

However, in reality, during our lifetime as humans, the immortality of the soul, the trinity, whether Christ died on a cross or stake, etc. are basically irrelevant to our lives. But, prophetical teachings saying that the end is coming with x number of years, affects our lives immensely, health decisions, career decisions, family planning decisions, etc. This makes they prophetic teachings much more important since they are much more impactful. The rest is just filler.

To You Know:

Why buy gold and silver and store up food if you will be dependent on Jehovah to provide for you? I remember in ancient Israel, if faithless Israelites stores manna from day to day it became filled with worms to show them they needed to rely totally on Jehovah. When will the rely totally on Jehovah part start up again so that you don't have to store a lot of paper, as you say you have?

If God provides, won't he provide equally to all who depend on him, or will he have to provide more to those who weren't able to store up gold, silver or food?

Joel

44

Strange Phone Call

by Bendrr in

jw
friends

i had a message to call my mom this afternoon when i got home.

her voice concerned, she said "michael, please call us as soon as you can, we heard you may have been hurt".

i called back to find out what was going on.

joelbear

Angeleana,

I know the Greenwells. Wayne married Darlene who was my best friend Kenny Ferrell's sister. He drowned when I was 18. Darlene left Wayne and he remarried. I never knew what happened to Darlene's daughter Tanya. Neil was also in our congo in Valdosta for a while. I knew their parents also. Grandpa Herman Greenwell was my book study conductor for years.

I think Wayne is still in my parents' congregation.

Any of you guys know people from Valdosta or Moultrie. My parents were like the first witnesses ever in moultrie.

hugs

Joel

57

Famous Last Words

by You Know in

jw
friends

the great depression had more to do with shaping the character and defining the last century than any other event, except the great wars that caused and followed the depression.

the structure of the financial system though has radically changed since that time, in that it is many times larger, global in fact, and it is much more fragile and complex, in that it reacts nearly instantaneously to various factors.

the average person is now much more dependent upon and indebted to the system as well.

joelbear

True,

The only thing I know of you is your behavior on this board.

I don't see any fruitages of the spirit displayed. I just see derision and name calling and rudeness.

What shows that you are close to Jehovah? Or is online behavior suspended?

Joel

13

The END will come by May 13th 2002!

by TR in

jw
friends

copied from what i assume is youknow's main news source; the weekly world news.. yk, what points in this article do you support?.

bible prophecies the government doesn't want you to know!

washington -- fearing national and world panic, the federal government is working around the clock to suppress bible prophecies that prove the world is coming to an end on or before may 13, 2002!

joelbear

PARTY

MY PLACE

May 12, 2002

Be there or be square

snugs

Joel

57

Famous Last Words

by You Know in

jw
friends

the great depression had more to do with shaping the character and defining the last century than any other event, except the great wars that caused and followed the depression.

the structure of the financial system though has radically changed since that time, in that it is many times larger, global in fact, and it is much more fragile and complex, in that it reacts nearly instantaneously to various factors.

the average person is now much more dependent upon and indebted to the system as well.

joelbear

What are the signs that you have a close relationship with Jehovah?
You don't act any different than anyone else I know, other than that you are more rude when people disagree with you.

Is rudeness a sign of closeness to god?

Joel

44

Strange Phone Call

by Bendrr in

jw
friends

i had a message to call my mom this afternoon when i got home.

her voice concerned, she said "michael, please call us as soon as you can, we heard you may have been hurt".

i called back to find out what was going on.

joelbear

I spent a lot of time with the Skwarlos since I was the only white Witness kid in Jesup Georgia in the 60's. I mean, the ONLY one.

Norma taught me to play a few songs on the Piano.
Frank taught me how to scare bad dogs away out in field service by pretending to pick up a rock.
Norma fed me my first and last venison burger.
They took care of me when my mother was in the hospital in Brunswick. I stayed with them since dad was over there taking care of mom.
I spent many many hot July and August Wednesdays with them out in service, all day.

They were good people I agree, just dedicated their life to the wrong thing. But, I'm sure all the kids they met along the way remember them fondly.

57

Famous Last Words

by You Know in

jw
friends

the great depression had more to do with shaping the character and defining the last century than any other event, except the great wars that caused and followed the depression.

the structure of the financial system though has radically changed since that time, in that it is many times larger, global in fact, and it is much more fragile and complex, in that it reacts nearly instantaneously to various factors.

the average person is now much more dependent upon and indebted to the system as well.

joelbear

The only thing more fleeting than paper money is dreaming of a make believe new world that never arrives. That way, you have nothing now and nothing later.

Live life now. Help others live life now too.

hugs

Joel