Posts by Sea Breeze

I am grateful for a new puppy I got for my 12 year old son the other day. I had a very special dog when I was about his age. She was purposefully poisoned by a mean neighbor and she literally convulsed and died in my arms. She was a very pretty mix-breed of Collie, Sheherd & either Chow or Terrier. Totally red with a spash of white on the chest. Smart as a whip.

This new puppy is about a 98% match in looks and personality. Really wonderfully weird how close they are. A college girl found her lost and took her in. The dad ended up with her because the daughter couldn't keep her where she lived. She is 5 months old. I am very grateful that after 40 years, it is almost like "Foxy" has come home.

My son named her "Roxy".

11

The Art of Gratefulness

by Sea Breeze in

jw
friends

.

what are you grateful for?.

Sea Breeze

What are you grateful for?

35

Poop 💩 Patrol Map in San Francisco To Help People Avoid Poop On The Streets

by minimus in

jw
friends

what a shame that the streets of san francisco has turned into a s hole.

i wonder why this is happening.

any ideas?

Sea Breeze

Kinda makes those wearing sandals in SF rare these days, endangered feces.

8

Slavery - ancient

by joey jojo in

i have been listening to podcasts by dan carlin and his excellent series on persia and the spartans, called king of kings.. its a refreshing way to hear unbiased accounts of history, untainted by religious beliefs.. a part of the podcast dealt with the jews but it put into perspective their place in world history and events.

pretty much just another tribe- sometimes rebellious, allowed to exist under the rule of a major power, allowed to worship their own gods exactly like the other tribes around them.. another part that caught my interest was the account of slavery and it made me think about the way wt and other christian religions have tried to reconcile the idea that it was ok in those days for jews to own slaves because they had laws to protect the slaves.. the podcast made me realise a lot of apologists of slavery obviously forget how a person becomes a slave in the first place.

apologists like wt say it was ok because it was part of the economy and the way life was, which totally skips over the important part.. after a war, when most of the men were killed or wounded on the battlefield by the winning side, whoever was left, men, women and preferably young virgins, were taken back to the homeland of the victors and sold at the slave markets.

Sea Breeze

In the Ancient Near East a lot of slaves sought the arrangement for relief out of poverty. In modern times we have a hard time conceiving this because in most countries, even the poorest among us can usually find a way to eat.

If you had debt and no friends, relatives or money, the most basic commodity you could barter with was your labor to avoid starvation and death.

There were also a wide variety of relationships in the ANE that we characterize under the term slavery.

This is a pretty even-handed discussion on the subject: Does God condone slavery in the Bible?

35

Poop 💩 Patrol Map in San Francisco To Help People Avoid Poop On The Streets

by minimus in

jw
friends

what a shame that the streets of san francisco has turned into a s hole.

i wonder why this is happening.

any ideas?

Sea Breeze

The Watchtower has now made cart placements easier than ever in San Francisco.

22

Jehovah provides guidance in the publications and in programs from the faithful slave!

by stumbledbyothers in

this past weeks watchtower study, reminds us that jehovah provides guidance in the publications and in programs from faithful slave!

now you hear from the platform that god has given us jw broadcasting and jw.org.

lets see: thought wt says they have no special connection to god, nor special knowledge, they get no extra holy spirit, gods thoughts higher than mans???

Sea Breeze

Jehovah provides that guidance in the Bible and in publications * and through programs produced by “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45-47) We must do our part by humbly acknowledging that we need help, by studying the material Jehovah supplies

So even though the bible commands just the opposite, the WT can nevertheless assure you that Jehovah speaks through:

A. Our Publications

B. Our Programs

C. Our Study Materials

In other words.... Trust Us

Those that actually take the bible's advice, keep themselves and their families from being suckers.

Psalms 118:8 - [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Micah 7:5 - Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide:

Jeremiah 17:5 - Thus saith the LORD; Cursed is the man that trusts in man,

Psalms 118:8-9 - [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (Read More...)

Galatians 6:3 - For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Read More...)

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me, ...I am the vine.... without me you can do nothing.

17

Observed at the Memorial

by john.prestor in

so i went to the memorial the other night, there's a kingdom hall on the bus route back from a local college where i was doing some research and admiring the architecture.

i'm in my street clothes, i look nice but i stood out like a sore thumb.

i went in as it started and got a seat in the back.

Sea Breeze

This lady next to me tried to show me scriptures, I kinda blew her off enough that she stopped and left me to myself. I got the vibe they do that knowingly or not to see if you'll obey them: Look at the scripture, listen to me read or explain it, do as I say. I'd welcome other posters thoughts on that.

I think it has to do with roles. Jehovah's Witnesses are not like the former Bible Students that my great-grand mother joined in the early '20s. They are no longer "students" in their mind. They can only be teachers. They only relate to non-JW's in a superior teacher role.

This was one of the things that really irked me as a kid. Even when members didn't have a clue, they still considered themselves as your teacher.

12

Wishing You All Happiness This Evening!

by InjusticeSystem in

i just wanted to share my excitement.

for the first time in almost 30 years, i am not attending the memorial tonight.

instead, i am spending the evening at home, celebrating with a glass of scotch.

Sea Breeze

Congratulations!

16

I informed my family that the reason I will not be attending the memorial is because I believe Jesus is my mediator..

by joe134cd in

anyway i got kind of cornered this morning about why i wouldn’t be attending the memorial.

i said i’m sorry i just can’t go because i believe that jesus is my mediator.

i guess you can imagine the conversation that ensued.

Sea Breeze

It is really weird how at one time, we were all in lock step in our rejection of JESUS without even giving it a second thought. It's almost like we were all under some sort of spell. Reminds me of the Galatians.

Ch. 3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you