One thing about "phantom" pioneers... I had put in so much time witnessing over the internet over the last 3 years that I would have been a pioneer had I counted it. Now of course I am beyond embarrassed to have done so, as it was to friends and aquaintances that I am still in contact with, not strangers.
ShadesofGrey
JoinedPosts by ShadesofGrey
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141
"Theocratic Warfare" and the Annual Report
by Billy the Ex-Bethelite inone of the things i certainly noticed as a jw, and even during the time i was in bethel, was the complexities of reporting "truth.".
beginning with an observation on a personal level, i consider myself an honest person.
but something happened along the way, beginning when i pioneered.
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141
"Theocratic Warfare" and the Annual Report
by Billy the Ex-Bethelite inone of the things i certainly noticed as a jw, and even during the time i was in bethel, was the complexities of reporting "truth.".
beginning with an observation on a personal level, i consider myself an honest person.
but something happened along the way, beginning when i pioneered.
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ShadesofGrey
Factfinder,
Do apostates lie to push people away from the organization?
If they do, it doesn't matter. There are plenty of facts that one can use to come to the conclusion that the JWs are not God's people. I can list several smoking gun scriptures that contradict what they teach. I have hard copies of publications that show their lies and changing doctrines. They do not display real love. Have you not noticed this? Since coming out of the org everyone is more loving than they were.When I found Christ I told my husband about it and that the org was all wrong. I was upset for a long time because he showed no interest in spiritual things. Well, it turns out he had no interest in untruth. He very much has an interest in spiritual things now. So if some were dishonest while they were in that tainted organization, it does not mean that they are dishonest now.
Oh, and Christians preach too. They just don't count their time on it. "Faith without works is dead." Do you know what that means? It means that out of your faith come works... natural works, no one is telling you to do it, no one is encouraging you to do it, you want to. You WANT to.
Sincerely,
SOG
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Curious about the name "Jesus"
by tec inmy niv has notes at the bottom of pages, regarding other possible meanings and some definitions, etc.. anyway, it says that jesus is the greek form of joshua, which means the lord saves.
would that mean that joshua is the english form of his name?
thanks for your comments,.
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ShadesofGrey
I recently looked into the same thing, friend, and though I see you all have quite thoroughly handled the matter, I thought I would add what was helpful to me:
http://www.seekgod.ca/htwhatsinaname.htm
I also benefitted from the discussion of God's name, as the importance of, etc was discussed.
http://www.seekgod.ca/htname.htm
I believe that the actual name, in the way we understand the meaning of the word name, is not the important thing, so I decided to use Jesus because then everyone knows what I am talking about. I personally have benefitted by occasionally using Yehoshua, and in prayer also, as a reminder that the God of the OT and the God of the NT are the same person.
Love you!
I would like to see the old thread that you posted in, Shelby.
SOG, daughter of the King
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WT Flip-Flops on Jesus Inspection Was it in 1918 or 1919?... Did the WT PASS or FAIL?
by Alfred inthis is utterly ridiculous.... .
the more i research this particular subject, the more flip-flops i uncover.
it seems the fds cant even make up their minds regarding what happened in 1918 (or should i say 1919?).
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ShadesofGrey
Wow. Thanks for all of the work Alfred!
I have a question for all JWs: So where was Jesus in 1918? 1919? Where? Really?
Matthew 24: 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
i think this belief about jesus' inspection will eventually fade simply by mentioning it less and less. They are already doing this. When I first started researching without using "apostate" material, it took me a while to even find any significant mention of 1918 or 1919.
You may find this quote of interest also:
"On arriving to inspect the 'slave' in 1918, Christ found a spirit-anointed remnant of faithful disciples who since 1879 had been using this journal and other Bible-based publications to provide spiritual 'food at the proper time.' He acknowledged them as his collective instrument, or 'slave,' and in 1919 entrusted them with the management of all his earthly belongings." - w07 4/1 p. 22 par. 5
Interesting that they refer to the SLAVE as a "spirit-anointed remnant" and as a "collective instrument" when the truth is that in 1918-1919 CT Russell was believed to the "FDS" all by his little, ol' lonesome self. No others need apply. Nothing like a little revisionist history!
Great Point 00DAD!
Peace to you,
SOG
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Baptism in Holy Spirit and in Fire
by Inkie inthis morning my brother asked me a question about the following biblical text.
i indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than i, whose shoes i am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the holy spirit and in fire.matthew 3:11. .
apparently, it seems, the brothers statement came from the societys cd-rom.
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ShadesofGrey
I was actually wondering about that "and fire" part when I was reading it the other day.
Daughter of the King,
SOG
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150
Out Of All JW Beliefs Which Is The Weirdest?
by minimus ini know there's plenty.. one that comes to mind is the blood doctrine.
whole blood is bad, blood fractions may be ok but not all.....wtf?
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ShadesofGrey
Oh yes, don't dare use that word. If you had read the WT and Awake for 7 years you'd be college educated enough to know better!
HA!
SOG
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1495
An Old Argument.... does it hold water?
by AK - Jeff inestimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.
that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.
still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.
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ShadesofGrey
There is a God I know because He is with me and I can feel him even stronger when I ask, my husband says the same. We never had this as JWs even though we thought we knew God then, we didn't. He gives me feelings, answers and direct answers to my prayers. Before I was born-again I put faith in Him due to studying works of Christian scientists and historians.
I have already stated that I don't have an answer to everything, but I will never leave my God. He rescued me from a cult and gives me whatever I need. He has even made me a better, more loving, less judgmental person.
If I have a need it is met. This did not happen before I was born-again. I have prayed sincerely and in faith for needs and they have been very obviously answered over and over again. (1) One time I was staying at an ex-Jws house and I was exhausted, emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually. There were three families there and only myself and my husband were Christians. Several of them wanted to explain why they did not believe in God. I ran to my room there and I prayed and I slept. When I woke I couldn't come out of the room. I prayed to God that I needed my husband. I needed him or I couldn't leave the room. Seconds later he knocks on the door. (2) One day (after I had already received Jesus) the Holy Spirit led me to a church. I knocked on the door and I listened to the youth pastor's wife when she got her Bible. I listened and I cried. I found out later that was the one time out of the whole year that she was home on that day of the week. She has a normal routine of ministry that would have had that house empty any other day. (3) I was doing my Bible study and the topic was God's people. I knew what a scripture said but didn't know where to find it. I prayed for guidance because I knew I didn't have time to look it up and this was important to me. I turned right to the page. I didn't even believe it was the right page at first, but there is was, the third sentence I read. (4) I was on a walk with my little boy and he was being very unruly, trying to run away from me to cross the busy street. I prayed for help and when we got to the preschool, the teacher came out of her house to see if we needed help! (5) Another day I had been at my JW parent's house and was feeling very down. I needed someone. I prayed that God send someone to me because I didn't know who to go to. My long-distance Christian friend called me about an hour later. It was the second time in 2 years that we had ever spoken on the phone. (6) I was disappointed last weekend because we missed the neighborhood picnic. I was crying to my husband that nothing would ever change and we wouldn't have friends. I don't know where to find friends for my children. We have been alone for years. I prayed that God help me and my kids find a community so that we aren't alone. I didn't know if it needed to be school, a support group, a karate class, something, anything. God please lead me because I am so confused and this is too much to handle right now. We just need friends. Two days later our neighbor invited my daughter to AWANA club. She loves it. There is also a ladies bible study group the same night. It is wonderful. Friends for both of us! Then some exJW friends called me after that and invited us to there house to meet someone else who is just now coming out. The friends who called me are older than my parents, but the new ex-JWs are the same age as us with kids the same age! (7) My husband was struggling with something and I got on my knees and prayed for him. Later that day my pastor called me. He had not met my husband. Was my husband home? He asked. He could come by and talk to him for a few minutes. Yes he was home and I wasn't turning him down. God is good! There are others but these were the prayers that were answered very quickly and very obviously.
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1495
An Old Argument.... does it hold water?
by AK - Jeff inestimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.
that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.
still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.
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ShadesofGrey
A personal reply: The order of things in my conversion happened so that I received God's Spirit. At that point I felt the Love, Joy, and Peace that was promised and my life drastically improved, and I was a better more loving person to everyone around me, and this continues to increase. I feel his presence in my heart and it is the best thing I have ever experienced. I have examples of his perfect justice and I trust that he can control space, time and memories. So I will continue to worship and love him.
A Child of God,
SOG
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150
Out Of All JW Beliefs Which Is The Weirdest?
by minimus ini know there's plenty.. one that comes to mind is the blood doctrine.
whole blood is bad, blood fractions may be ok but not all.....wtf?
?.
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ShadesofGrey
The Finished Mystery, the whole book: Didn't you know that most of the book of Revelation was fulfilled during the French Revolution?
And... yes... I would have to say one of the first things that I laughed about the most was their strange focus on masturbation. They just use that to make everyone feel guilty I think. It worked on me.
SOG
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How to convince someone to question the authority of the WT
by LanaMich19 ini have someone in my family that is a jw and she has engaged me in conversation.
for the record, i consider myself an evangelical christian.
after some debate and research, i backed out of a verse by verse debate and switched the convo to get on some common ground, asking if she believe the bible was the inspired word of god.
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ShadesofGrey
I just received these books.
There are books that show how to lead someone to the Watchtower publications that tell them to get out of the organization. The first is Who is the Faithful and wise Servant by Duane Magnani. It has quotes like "Putting forth the effort to locate that older publication and then studying the pages referred to." WT 6/15/85, p. 12. "It is obvious that the God of truth will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehoood. Would you really want to be associated with a religious organization that had not been honest with you?" Is this life all there is? 1974, p. 46 "Is religious history of any benefit?" "This information has helped many people identify Christs true followers today." WT 9/15/87 p. 30 You can imagine the types of quotes found in that history. Combine this with How to Rescue your Loved One from the Watchtower which shows how they have changed doctrines back and forth and condemned those who didn't change with them, and really exposes them as men making guesses rather than having God's Spirit, even exposing them for the bloodguilt of condemning medical procedures that were later allowed, all with quotes from the publications made available through the organization itself. Then there is one called From Kingdom Hall to Kingdom Come that really emphasizes Jesus.
These books spell out a presentation and include photocopies from the publications themselves.
May you have the guidance of the Spirit along with patience and peace, as you let your love shine to your loved ones in the organization,
SOG