i just got the news from our former congregation in hollister, ca regarding a tragic event following the 'memorial' wednesday night.
we shared the kh with 2 spanish congos.. a couple from the spanish congregation were leaving the kh so that the next spanish congo could have their 'memorial'.
they exited the parking lot in their car when hit by an oncoming car right in front of the kh.
Magnum very true.
The issue is - so many JW claim intervention (which by the way is a Miracle) for the most trivial matters.
I have heard the most silly claims, such as, parking spots opening up in service, or a call being home when they just needed to have some success that morning, or getting the car they prayed for.
So god steps in for that - but not for loyal friends going to memorial?
Wow he has some sense of humor.
i know this has been discussed before, but i think some of these wacky (but thought-provoking) comments deserve their own thread.. paragraph 6 says: modestly, anointed ones acknowledge that they do not necessarily have more holy spirit than those with an earthly hope.
they do not claim to have special knowledge or revelations; neither do they try to prove that they are in some way superior.
somebody needs to send this memo to the gb.
I thought about that for a long time.
Really Jesus walked the earth and raised the dead, and then he gave magical powers to his Apostles, and supposedly "the world was full of their teachings" - and yet they did not accumulate 144K followers in that first 100 years?
That's just 2 San Diego Charge games worth of Jesus Fans.
i will like people on this forum and lurkers to see the big different between jws and other religion.
following you will see the program from the upcoming distric/regional 2016 convention.
look at the topics that are going to be discussed.
wow this is interesting!
i think how much emphasis this puts on "loyalty" shows their is an issue.
they're trying to plug the wholes as much and quickly as possible.
sir83 - you nailed it - that is the COMPLETE strategy. Keep those in - by using Fear - Obligation - Guilt.
It is pretty obvious they have given up on recruiting. Every decision they have made in the last 10 years has diminished the effectiveness of the Preaching Work. Basically we have gone back to the tactics of the 20's.
in an endeavor to clearly define the truth about the truth of the jw religion, whats your personal perception of what you understand of how this religion came to be, in its inherit beginning and how it was able to sustain itself over the years ?
from my own perspective i think the strategic actions by its founding leaders to draw attention to their own published works such as the singular endeavors starting from c t russell and onward.
the self proposing recognition by people such as j rutherford, that god had specifically (1919) chosen " his " organization exclusively, is really where and when this assuming man made power began and continued to flourish.. but the real significant thing that created attention to the public's eyes and imagination was when both russell and rutherford proclaimed that christ had returned and he had started to divide and choose who was going to be saved from destruction and live on in a earthly paradise and who was to be killed at the soon to come day of judgement.
Let's not go beyond the things written brothers.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaa
the greatest soccer player ever of my country died today.
only 68 years old.
he meanta lot to many people because of his skills, as a player and trainer.
i heard that the memorial will stop after the last anointed have passed away ... is this information true/false?
just curious.
it's secondhand.
tell me i'm not overly thinking this.. i'm 39 years old...still youngish...but i worry about getting old.
i look in the mirror and it depresses me.
i suppose i still cling to watchtower utopia when no one would age over 25.. i used to look forward to paradise earth because it meant all the evil in the world, nuclear warfare, terrorist attacks and sickos would be no more, but we are deep in the 21st century with no end in sight.. appreciate your comments.
i heard that the memorial will stop after the last anointed have passed away ... is this information true/false?
just curious.
it's secondhand.
Here is the outline if anyone wants to see.
THIS IS A SPECIAL OCCASION (6 min.)
We are here to show our appreciation for a superlative act of love
On this date almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ gave his life in order to deliver us from the curse of sin and death
Jesus commanded his disciples to remember his loving act once a year in a simple ceremony [Read Luke 22:19, 20]
In obedience to Jesus’ command, millions in 236 lands will observe the Lord’s Evening Meal tonight
They will meet in Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls, in private homes, in rented facilities—even in prisons and open fields
In countries where our work is banned, appreciative ones will risk their freedom in order to obey Jesus’ command
[Mention adjustments some in audience may have made in order to attend, and warmly commend them for making the effort]
Last year _____________________________ observed the Lord’s Evening Meal worldwide
Tonight we will briefly answer the following questions:
(1) Why do humans need to be delivered from the curse of sin and death?
(2) Who benefit from Jesus’ loving sacrifice?
(3) Who partake of the bread and the wine?
(4) Besides attending this meeting, what else must we do to show our appreciation for what Christ has done for us?
WHY WE NEEDED DELIVERANCE (7 min.)
The first man, Adam, had the prospect of living forever
His enjoyment of everlasting life was dependent on his obedience
By disobeying God, Adam personally lost the prospect of everlasting life
Later, when children were born to him, they came under the death sentence along with Adam [Read Romans 5:12]
Could righthearted descendants of Adam ever be delivered from the sad condition they inherited?
They could, by becoming part of a different family!
Obedient descendants of Adam can join Jesus’ family
Jesus is “the last Adam” (1Co 15:45)
The first Adam set his descendants on the path to destruction
The last Adam, Jesus, provided our deliverance through his obedience as far as death [Read Romans 5:19]
But why did Jesus have to die?
Not for any wrong he committed; Jesus was without sin (1Pe 2:22)
Jesus took our place, suffering death for us so that we could live forever [Read Hebrews 2:9]
It warms our heart to think that Jesus was willing to change places with us—to suffer and die so that we could have life!
But life where? In heaven or on earth?
WHO BENEFIT FROM JESUS’ LOVING SACRIFICE? (10 min.)
The Bible describes two destinies, or hopes, for faithful humans
A limited number will receive everlasting life in heaven; the vast majority will enjoy life on a paradise earth, according to God’s original purpose for mankind
Those with either hope can become members of God’s family
Those with a heavenly hope are called Christ’s “brothers” (Heb 2:17)
Those with an earthly hope, his children (Isa 9:6)
We can all decide whether to join God’s family or not, but we cannot choose where we will serve him, in heaven or on earth
Cannot ‘decide’ to be “born again” (Joh 3:5-8; w09 4/1 5-6)
Jehovah determines where we will best serve
144,000 will join Christ in heavenly Kingdom [Read Revelation 14:1]
They are all Christians, having the name of Jesus figuratively written on their foreheads
They also proudly bear “the name of his Father”—Jehovah
God’s spirit gives them personal assurance that they have the heavenly hope (Ro 8:15-17)
These partake of the bread and the wine
The vast majority of those attending the Lord’s Evening Meal do not have the heavenly hope
It thrills them to contemplate the blessings that God has in store for them on a paradise earth:
Children are eager for the fulfillment of Isaiah 11:6-9 [Read]
Sick or infirm yearn to see Isaiah 35:5, 6 come true [Read]
Family men look forward to the day when Isaiah 65:21-23 will become a reality [Read]
While on earth, Jesus healed the sick and even raised the dead
He longs to reverse the effects of Adam’s sin on the human race
Can you see yourself in the new world? God wants you to be there!
WHO SHOULD PARTAKE OF THE BREAD AND THE WINE? (4 min.)
Both those with the heavenly hope and those with the earthly hope benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice
However, those with the earthly hope do not partake of the emblems
Why not?
Because the bread and the wine represent Christ’s body and blood in a special sense:
Bread represents Jesus’ body given in behalf of anointed (w06 2/15 23, box; w85 2/15 12-13)
Wine represents Jesus’ blood as it applies to those in new covenant, the 144,000
Cup of wine represents new covenant (Lu 22:20)
The Lord’s Evening Meal will be observed as long as Christians with the heavenly hope are on earth [Read 1 Corinthians 11:26]
Once the Lord “arrives,” he will take the last of the 144,000 home to be with him in heaven (Joh 14:1-3)
Those with the earthly hope will no longer observe the Memorial
Will not partake of the emblems then, so do not partake now
OBSERVING THE MEMORIAL OF CHRIST’S DEATH TODAY (10 min.)
Tonight we will follow the pattern Jesus set for observing the Lord’s Evening Meal
[Read and comment briefly on 1 Corinthians 11:23, 24]
Jesus offered prayer and passed bread to 11 faithful apostles
Unleavened bread represents Jesus’ sinless body, given in behalf of his anointed followers
[Qualified brother offers brief prayer, and then the bread is passed; optional whether speaker comments while emblems are being served]
[Read and comment briefly on 1 Corinthians 11:25]
Jesus prayed and then offered wine to followers
Red wine pictures his precious “blood of the covenant” (Mt 26:28)
[Another qualified brother prays briefly, and then the wine is passed]
WHAT MUST WE DO TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION? (8 min.)
Jehovah wants you to be a member of his family
Jesus’ sacrifice opened the way for you to have a precious relationship with your loving heavenly Father
You must obey the rules of the household (1Ti 3:14, 15)
God will help you to live by his standards—he wants you to succeed!
When you are discouraged, pour out your heart to him in earnest prayer
Build faith in God by taking in knowledge
The more you get to know about God and Christ, the more you will love them
Attend meetings regularly, not merely on special occasions, such as this one
It has been heartwarming for us to consider what Jesus did for us
In coming days and weeks, continue to reflect appreciatively on his sacrifice
[Conclude by reading 1 John 4:9]
