Posts by witness2witness

8

podcast recommendations?

by Captain Blithering in

jw
friends

a splendid morning to all you good chaps and chapesses in internetland!

i already listen to 'the human bible' , 'healingxjw' , 'infinite monkey cage' , 'doctor karl' ,(aussie dude, great science show) , but im on the lookout for more podcasts to subscribe to, science, bible, apologetics, comedy, you know the stuff...

any suggestions?

witness2witness

In the area of apologetics/theology is going to be "The Dividing Line" (from Dr. James R. White). He has written many books in the area of theology, and is a strong defender of the doctrine of the Trinity. His podcast streams on Tuesdays/Thursdays.

aomin.org

Greg Koul is the president of "Stand to Reason" and has a weekly, 3-hour long podcast. He approaches apologetics more so from the view point of philosophy, and is a CLEAR communicator.

str.org

There's a ton more out there, but I think those are 3 of the best!

Enjoy!

W2W

RC Sproulis a Reformed Theologian who has a daily podcast (Renewing Your Mind) that is a combo of classroom lectures, and sermons. A fantastic teacher!

Apologetics.com is a group of guys from SoCal who engage in the area of theology/philosophy/ethcis, and do so from a relevant/contemporary standpoint.

33

Who here lives in California?

by TimothyT in

jw
friends

if you do tell me a bit about where you live in just a few words.

:).

timmy :).

witness2witness

East Bay (near Central Valley)

34

Kendrick in good standing in Oakley Congregation ... wow !

by RubaDub in

can anyone imagine the what the elders in his current congregation must be going through ?!.

in their ideal world, they would have df'd him once they knew there would be a trial so they could play the card "he's not one of jw's.

" but since it occurred in a different congregation and he was already punished, there is little they can currently do.. wow, imagine the buzz in the kh when the info started leaking out.

witness2witness

Balaamsass,

I'm pretty sure the Discovery Bay congregation used to be part of the Oakley congregation, but split off a few years ago (though still meeting at the same KH on Smith Rd). I've never been a JW myself. I'm actually an Evangelical Pastor in the area, but I've spent a TON of times with JWs and have a heart for them. I spent about 2 years studying with one of the former elders (who I believe was promoted to Overseer and moved out of the area).

34

Kendrick in good standing in Oakley Congregation ... wow !

by RubaDub in

can anyone imagine the what the elders in his current congregation must be going through ?!.

in their ideal world, they would have df'd him once they knew there would be a trial so they could play the card "he's not one of jw's.

" but since it occurred in a different congregation and he was already punished, there is little they can currently do.. wow, imagine the buzz in the kh when the info started leaking out.

witness2witness

"I believe Oakley meets at the Brentwood Hall with the Discovery Bay JWs."

You are correct. All three cities share this KH. I live in Oakley and have spent time with MANY of the members from this congregation, but have never seen Hendrick (although, I looked him up on Megan's Law, and realized that he lives less than a mile from me!).

361

Watchtower found guilty ruled to pay 7 million to 1 victim? wow

by yourmomma in

is this recent?

http://www.silentlambs.org/oaklandlawsuit.htm.

i havent seen anyone post about it, the link has a pdf on it of the court documents, and it looks like the stamp is from 5/12 but its blurry.. .

witness2witness

WOW! I just looked this guy up on the Megan's Law website, and he lives less than a mile away from me!

I've never seen him out in field service before, so I wonder if they actually let him go door to door?

11

How many people do you know of that are ministering to J'W's and Ex-JW's but they themselves were never a JW?

by disciple in

witness2witness

I've never been a JW, but have a heart for them. I'm currently in Seminary, and serve on the pastoral staff of a local church, teaching apologetics.

Funny enough, I recently moved, and my new neighbor is a JW. Although, I have been using a different approach, and do not try and get combative with her. Rather, I just show myself to be the good "neighbor."

Actually, a question for you former JWs. If you had a neighbor who was an Evangelical, what would have been the most effective way for him to engage you? I don't want to be too passive, and am extrememly cautious of being overly aggressie.

W2W

37

Do you stil have Jw stuff

by d in

i still have jw stuff like bibles and watchtower i have to get rid of.

do you any of you guys and girls here have stuff you to get rid of..

witness2witness

As a Christian apologist (who is dedicated to reaching out to JWs), I would gladly take your old Watchtower literature off your hands (and will pay for shipping). Please PM me if you would be interested working something out.

Thanks!

W2W

9

Has anyone learned how to read hebrew?

by EndofMysteries in

if so, did you take a class, use a program, and how long or how many hours of study/learning would it realistically take to be able to read the bible in hebrew from when you begin to learn?

.

i am trying to decide if it's something i want to pursue since bible translations and even interlinears seem to cloud out some key messages and phrases.

witness2witness

Greek is very useful, as one can (obviously) study through the New Testament, but also, the Septuagint (which most scholars argue was the bible that a 1st century Jew would have used anyway). Honestly, reading Right to Left was not that difficult (in Hebrew). It's just that in Hebrew there is little to no point of contact with English, whereas with Greek, there is a closer starting point...although, TRUST ME...This does not make it "easier." I actually got a better grade in my first Hebrew grammar class then I did in my first Greek grammar class, and I worked MUCH HARDER at Greek.

Since Hebrew is a Semitic language (and biblical Hebrew being a dead language for MANY years), you really need to have the aid of a tutor.

9

Has anyone learned how to read hebrew?

by EndofMysteries in

if so, did you take a class, use a program, and how long or how many hours of study/learning would it realistically take to be able to read the bible in hebrew from when you begin to learn?

.

i am trying to decide if it's something i want to pursue since bible translations and even interlinears seem to cloud out some key messages and phrases.

witness2witness

I went through Hebrew last year at the Master's level (I am currently in seminary). Honestly, after taking the two terms of grammar, and then taking a term of interpretation (exegesis), I still do not feel as though I "know" it. If I actually wanted to become anywhere near proficient, it would take a few years of intense study, with the aid of a good instructor. Right now I am taking Greek and am hoping to have more success.

Depending on where you live, you could possibly take Hebrew from a seminary (although, if you do not have a Bachelors Degree already, you would have to take it as an auditor).

One thing I will assert, though, is that after studying a year of Hebrew (and now, going on to my 2nd term in Greek), I think that we often minimize the English translations that we currently have. Yes, there is GREAT VALUE in learning the original language, and I would not trade this experience. However, aside from nuance (i.e., aspects of the text that will only appear because of reading in the original), the English translations are very sound, and can be held to a high level of security (this is assuming that one is working with a good translation).

I can (dogmatically) assert this, that the emphasis that I would formally place on "word studies" has completely gone out the window. Aside from their context, a word don't mean SQUAT! If you are sticking with a NASB or ESV, you will have no problem in your intepretation!

Hope that helps.

15

Is It Normal for a JW to give a Return Visit print-outs of information?

by Broken Promises in

yesterday i had another visit from a jw who has started calling on me after a few discussions.

i wrote about her in a previous thread: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/209531/1/jw-at-my-door-admits-that-shee28099s-had-doubts i'm pretending to be an interested one, and we've had some nice discussions.

i am trying to get her to research her religion via "innocent" questions i bring up.. i've noticed that each time she calls on me, she's given me printed information.

witness2witness

I've had the same experience. I later found out that my JW was merely printing articles from the CD-Rom.

At one point I was meeting with the C.O. on one day, and a member from his congregation on another. The pioneer had printed off something that was not "official WT literature." When I asked the C.O. about it, he became upset and informed me that no JW should give out information that was not official.