yes I was on the smartphone ... hence the typo! Anyway... link to the continuation of the topic!
http://jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/239929/1/Notes-from-Safeguard-Your-Mind-assembly-day-1
raxxxx
JoinedPosts by raxxxx
-
17
roday at a 2-day assembly
by raxxxx ini shall let you all know what happens, what kind of nee light is going to shine here today!
wish me good luck!.
-
-
-
29
Notes from Safeguard Your Mind assembly - day 1
by raxxxx init was an entertaining and incredibly sad experience... anyway!
here are some notes i have managed to take in between all of the crying and laughing as well as occasional mental breakdown.
enjoy!
-
-
raxxxx
I did go so you didn't have to. It was an entertaining and incredibly sad experience... anyway ! Here are some notes I have managed to take in between all of the crying and laughing as well as occasional mental breakdown. Enjoy! ( my comments are in bold)
Theme : Safeguard Your Mind – Matt.22:37 Saturday
10:00 Think God's Thoughts, Not Man's
Matt 22:37,38
God is a source of life , we are nothing without him. We need to love him. Human thinking is not always wrong, but only right when in line with God's thinking. It is our human nature to make excuses, that is why we should try to fall in line with God's thinking.
( off to an easy start... for me from the beginning the whole programme was screaming 'WE KNOW THE TRUTH, INGORE EVERYTHING ELSE, JUST READ OUR MAGAZINES, GIVE US MONEY SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO FEED YOU, OBEY AND DON'T QUESTION'... but hey... that could have been just me)
Matt 16:23
Our culture ( upbringing ) getting in way of God's thinking. In some cultures alcoholism is not condemned and seen as natural (Scotland), men not being heads of their houses (China), wedding and funeral rituals not in line with the scriptural instructions (Africa).
Ezk . 18:25
Example of Moses who adjusted his life to God's standards even though he had an Egyptian upbringing .
We are Jehovah's Witnesses first. That should be our culture.
Peter also made arrangements to correct his thinking.
We don't want our human thinking to control us.
(Again... the trap of giving you the false sense of security. You don't want to be dependent on HUMAN thinking... do you? Here come to us... we shall do all of the thinking for you...)
10:20 Theocratic ministry school
Took a break from taking notes... I knew I had to retain some energy and willpower to live if I were to be there a whole day.
11:00 Lifting the Veil That Blinds the Mind
Bad illustrations of conspiracy theories. How even if they turned out to be true, they would not have any impact on our lives. And how we all live in a world , where a few conspiracy theories actually do have an affect on us, and they are widely accepted as facts (alluding to Satan's lies).
2 Cor 4:3,4
Veil (conspiracy theories ) – atheism, trinity, hell doctrine, immortality of the soul , materialism.
2 Cor 3:14-16
We should be using sound reasoning. And while talking to people, have as a goal revealing those conspiracy theories, but perhaps maybe not in a too direct way.
How to deal with the veil ? Acts 17:2-4
Reason form the scriptures to explain the matters. Don't do the thinking for others, let them think for themselves. Motivate others do find answers. Reach hearts
( yes ... I found that particularly ironic )
2 Cor 3:18
Observe Jehovah's way so you can reflect him in your life
Everyone should do as much as they can (pioneer preferably) to help to lift the veil of people stuck in Satan's system.
(Throughout the talks you will notice this 'suggestion' popping up more often than it should)
2 Cor 5:20,21
11:25 Dedication and Baptism
'Come and inherit the Kingdom'
How to get that invitation? 4 conditions:
Actively assist Christ's brothers (the annointed )
Be conscious of spiritual needs
Fine Christian conduct
Endure persecution
Matt 25:40 – what we do to the anointed has a similar notion to how we would treat Christ.
We help them through preaching . If it wasn't for the other sheep, Good News of the Kingdom would not have been preaching so many countries (many of them with limited resources) and the message itself would not have been translated into almost 500 languages. 1,6 billion hours in the ministry . Success in the ministry depends on us being faithful. Also we should always be people conscious, ready to preach at any given opportunity . Remember that after being baptised there are plenty of ways to improve your life (auxiliary pioneering, regular pioneering, bethel service, international building committee).
Beggars for the spirit . Society tells us to read and meditate on God's work daily.
Ps 1:1,2 .
Regular study programme , regular prayer.
Phil 4:6,7. Meeting attendance not option, it's a must.
Change our ways in order to be baptised .
1 Cor 6:9-11 be selective when it comes to entertainment and friends
2 Tim 2:20,21.
Persecution may frighten us.
Matt 5:10
We endure – we are happy . Persecution may take various forms – does not have to involve physical abuse. Words hurt just as bad.
Heb 12:3 – Jesus' example
Me must remember that the example of our endurance may cause the persecutor to see 'the truth '.
1 Pet 3:15
(So essentially... Do a lot of work for us... so you don't have the time and the energy to think about what you are doing. Be happy when you are being persecuted, as that shall prove to you, that you are doing the right thing!)
13:45 – Symposium: Keep This Mental Attitude
Readiness of Mind
Rom 15:5,6
Example of soldiers in a tent. Where one puts his armour on the side and goes to sleep, the other one stands by the edge of the tent all dressed up, alert and ready to take a course of action.
Ps. 40 :7,8 – Jesus' attitude (but David's words)
Example of Jesus witnessing to the Samaritan woman by the well. As we study the gospels we can see that Jesus' ministry has intensified towards the end of his life.
1 Pet. 3:15
We use every opportunity to witness to people (Shine our spiritual light).
Demonstration: two women in a cue , waiting to pay for the groceries. One of them starts talking about the child abuse case she was reading about in the newspaper . On the first occasion 'sister' does nothing. In the replay of the scene she says she might have an answer to why that kind of things happen.
(I was finally aware of the ignorance I was surrounded by. No one knew about the Candace Conti case...)
Ps. 110:3
Lowliness of Mind
Php . 2:3 - meek, low self esteem, thinking of someone more worthy, no ego.
Php . 2:5,6
Jesus being content in the view, of being in a position below his father. Lowliness in a form of being an earthling man. Died as a human.
Jesus was not letting his ego to get in the way of completing his task. Wasn't to proud and encouraged others to go to the synagogues as it was required of them. Viewed others as superior to him sometimes (ex of washing feet of the apostles ).
Ministry – need to put ourselves in a similar state of mind. We are like slaves. Kingdom Hall duties – examine why we want to be used by Jehovah in the congregation . Reaching out for praise, or are we prepared to deal with mundane duties humbly.
While being counselled, we should not let our pride to get in a way of receiving instructions .
(More instructions on how to quieten your thinking abilities. Don't question us. Even if we are punishing you for something that you either haven't done, or there are no clear instruction about)
1 Peter 5:5
Oneness of Mind
Php 2:2
Same mind, same love, same soul and same thoughts. Differences of conscience is natural as we are different human beings, but what is needed? Unity of purpose and action. Jesus and Jehovah – a perfect example of unity. Jesus being the reflection of Jehovah.
John 12:49,50
Prayers are one of the signs of their unity.
John 12:27,28
Jesus was aware of his responsibilities . Even though his human feelings were making him feel anxious he was still willing to go through with his purpose.
1 Cor 1:10
To be united , we no need to just act, but also think in unity. Accept everything that is provided to us by the Faithful and Discreet Slave class. Shouldn't question. Accept everything at the face value. Ignore things not organisation -created. Apostates are like poison.
If the heart is sincere we will understand everything.
Interview with a brother , who had a problem with the cancellation of the bible/book studies during the working week. We should be obedient. F&D slave serves food at the right and proper time.
Remember : 'Listen, Obey and be Blessed'
(In a way... Almost military like exercise. We shall break you and make you new. So there is no individuality. Just faces and voices proclaiming the same message)
Soundness of Mind
Ability to declare something , doesn't make it true.
2 Tim 1:7
Ministry of Jesus. Concentration in moving in one direction to achieve his goal, was viewed badly by his family and friends. Wisdom is proved righteous by it's works . Clarity of his teachings showed the soundness of his mind .
Luke 4:6
Jesus rejected kingdoms of this world offered to him by Satan. That shows the soundness of his mind. He did an estimate of whatever he was offered and what he already knew he possessed.
People that we are surrounded by. Do they overvalue this world?
Illustration of a luxurious cruiser to a life boat. Would it still be wise to be in luxury if the cruiser was sinking? It would show soundness of mind if we headed to the tiny lifeboat.
Eph 5:15,16
Interview with a sister . University opportunity. Did well at school but decided to pursue spiritual goals. Rejected offers of further academical opportunities . Stated that studying Jehovah is not limiting nor is it limited . Found true friends in the faith.
(I found this particularly sad. Potential wasted. Blissful in ignorance, stuck in an illusion, gleefully awaiting death of oneself and others, surrounded by people conditionally loving you)
Titus 2:12
We should not be individual in sense of acting different just for the sake of it, or to show rebelious spirit. If Jehovah says something, we should not add to it.
Romans 15:5
14:55 – Meditation That Safeguards the Mind
Meditation – deep contemplating , thinking about something important.
Ps 77:12
Ps 94:19
By meditating on Jehovah's words, we focus our attention away from bad thoughts. Think deeply on God's words to root out things that may be bad for us.
Worldly philosophies do not include God. World promotes bad entertainment. Propagates the views of Satan. We need to be careful with what we may put into our minds . Talking about magic and the occult may start affecting our thinking . If we are not careful we may fall into the trap of the consumerism .
Jer 45:5
Material things will be destroyed in large during the great tribulation.
There are four benefits of simple meditation
Helps to build knowledge to help trials or when it comes to making a difficult decision .
John 14:26
If you put something in your mind, holy spirit will help you with getting it out of there
when you may need it.
Enables us to be positive when faced with negative surroundings.
Ps 63:6 – David during sleepless nights, prayed in anxiety.
Allows us to make wise decisions.
Proverbs 15:28 – meditate and apply the law.
We should encourage children to have a career in Jehovah's organisation . It is the highest
education you can get. We know the dangers of the worldly , so called, higher education.
6-8 hours daily in the influence of worldly views and philosophies, day in and day out.
Trust that Jehovah will care for you.
Meditating fosters spiritual advancement
1 Tim 4:15
Ps 19:14
15:25 - Who Moulds Your Thinking?
Brain – mind is an amazing faculty, far more superior to any machine or a computer. That is because it can think. It can reason. Whatever we store in our minds , has an affect on our relationship with Jehovah.
Bodywork of a car is moulded into shape by pressure. Jelly can be formed into whatever person may want to by applying heat. Sometimes both can be used in other instances.
We need to be careful as to not reach an information overload. In today's world, we can have all of the information and it's ideas at the reach of our fingertips (smart phones, laptops etc )
Proverbs 2:10-15
We should avoid being moulded by this world. Guard the gates of our minds (eyes and ears - in that order)
Ps 101:3
As a kid you always after watching a film or a tv programme , you act out scenes from those with your friends while you play. Everything we put into our minds has an affect on our thinking and personality.
Eph 5:3,4
Apostates – are they representing humanity’s thinking? Or God's? They use cunning and smooth speech. Don't allow your mind to become corrupted.
We should , as the scripture says , put every thought into captivity.
Heb 3:4 – whenever we show that verse to evolutionists, they never know what to say, but if they persist in their views, we should walk away.
(I found this statement quite profound and disturbing. Speaker was also saying about us using only logic while dealing with the subject of evolution.. the only logical conclusion from that verse would be as follows: house had a constructor - God created everything - who created God ? ... otherwise it is just a case of special pleading)
Phil 4:8, 9
Jehovah wants to mould us into perfect people.
End of day 1
-
17
roday at a 2-day assembly
by raxxxx ini shall let you all know what happens, what kind of nee light is going to shine here today!
wish me good luck!.
-
-
raxxxx
I shall let you all know what happens, what kind of nee light is going to shine here today! wish me good luck!
-
45
The WT Encourages JWs to learn about the early history of the organization! - 8/15/12 WT
by 00DAD inironically, in today's wt, jws are encouraged to study the early history of the "earthly organization".
like them [the sons of korah], do you have a desire to study and recount the history of the earthly part of jehovahs organization?
the more you learn about gods organization and how jehovah supports his people, the more real gods kingdom will be to you.
-
-
-
43
Q: How DID Noah get all those animals into the Ark?
by notjustyet ina: you take the "j" out of "jahs" and the "f" out of "way".
i can't beleive that i did not recognize this 40 years ago!!.
njy.
-
-
raxxxx
he did not. Case closed.
-
14
8/15/12 WT- Article of NONSENSE!
by stillstuckcruz inthe first article in the study edition is full of lots of little holes and contradictions.. pargraph 4:.
4 however, in the 1870sabout four decades before the last days begana small group of sincere christians in pennsylvania, u.s.a., met together to study the bible diligently and to search for the true knowledge.
(2 tim.
-
-
raxxxx
Well... the explenation will be something along the lines of
Now we have an organisation so therefore... we do not need to search anymore as everything is provided to us by the 'slave class'....
Wanna bet?
-
251
Evidence for God...
by tec inlife come from the living, and this is a universe of life.
his teachings are truth.
which is why i weight it against the truth of the teachings (and one other thing that i will get to).
-
-
raxxxx
I am really sorry for what you are about to read... I was going through the forum... and I just could not help but notice being drawn to this topic... and here is my reply to the evidence provided by tammy....
'Humanity has shown a need to seek out spiritual'
From the deistic point of view that is not really a great argument. The idea of Deism is to believe in a creator...who created and them most likely left us to our own devices or ceased to exist. Lets take the meaning of the word 'spiritual' in that sentence. It seems to me that this particular word has changed his meaning over the thousands of years. We used to associate spiritual with such evens as thunderstorm, earthquakes or hurricanes. And that was simply because of our lack of knowledge. Since then we gained understanding of such things and we know that they have got nothing to do with Zeus or Thor or Posaidon. We accept a logical and a more naturalistic explanation... so I think it is safe to conclude, that 'spiritual' in your... what could be only described as an assertion and a very rich generalisation, is simply 'something that we do because we are yet to understand why'. And as always... keeping to our habit we label it with a god. An argument from ignorance if you will.
'Humans have fantastic imagination'
Yes... you are correct... but surely... that is not an argument for your case is it? It suggests that we are more likely to be superstitious, gullible, afraid and most likely to make something up based on what someone said, or 'what we thought we saw'. Example of aliens is especially unfortunate. You, yourself said that you 'have never known a single person, who can conceive of something that has been built upon previous knowledge, or observation of the physical world'... that is why for example god is a man in the bible... man has power.... it's all about men... because it was written by humans! And I would say that you are quite unfortunate to not have known anyone with quite an abstract mind.
'Life does not come from nothing'
It's simply an expansion of 'How out of nothing you get something'... well if life does not come from nothing then how was God created? He lives … right?
Evidence for God, the Father of Christ (theism? Really?)
You stated that Christ is the basis of your entire faith and from what you wrote it seems that you do believe in him... but you state nothing about God? Unless they are the same person?
You also make a statement or more of a claim that you can see the truth in Christ's teachings. Which ones in particular? Golden Ru le? Lets have a look at just that one teaching of his “All things, therefore, that YOU want men to do to YOU, YOU also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean''(NWT) Seems like a good thing, right? But... I am sorry to say it's neither original nor unique... nor that great to be honest! Let's look at alternatives...
In 300 BC we have ' This is sum of duty. Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you' in Brahamanism.
'Hurt not others in ways that you yourself could find hurtful' in Buddishm.
And my favourite.
Around 500 BC 'Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do NOT unto others that you would NOT have them do to you'' in Confucionism.
And I personally find the negative 'DO NOT' far more superior that Christ's 'DO'. I mean... think about it. Do unto others as you would want them do to you.... what if you are a sadist? Or what if you simply have a bad taste? :)
And that is just one example of how... unoriginal Christ's teachings were? And let's take a look at Jesus... he was contradictory, had fits of anger, supported slavery by incorporating it in his teachings, was disrespectful to his mother.... and his teachings were neither original nor that great...
Personal evidence
Imagine if we were in a court right now. Would any of the personal evidences or even testimony contained in gospels stand on their own? Or would they be dismissed as simply speculations and creations of someone's imagination? Would they be taken into consideration? Or rather... should they?
Gospels of the new testament are the only evidence of the existence of Christ. Which is unusual, taken that there were a few historians active during the time, when he supposedly has lived (We have a mention of a Christ in form of a movement supposedly named after him). He never wrote anything himself (allegedly). So we are truly just left with the gospels... but how can we take them as evidence taking that they are contradictory(I mean they can not get the year of Jesus' birth right!!) and contain information not synchronised with the true historical events. How can anyone take that as evidence?!
The Spirit of Christ speaks
I will be honest I did not read the whole text of this part of the post. But allow me to quote late Christopher Hitchens.
'I would like to be next to you, when if you were walking down the street someone would run up to you shouting 'I CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD!!!!' Would you throw your arms around him and say 'YOU TOO?! WHAT LUCK!'
Thanks for reading and hope I did not offend anyone
RAM
-
39
my DF-ing letter - opinions
by raxxxx into the body of elders in xxxxx.. .
i no longer wish to recognised as one of the jehovah's witnesses due to the fact that i no longer believe that this 'organisation' is truly representing him because :.
i have experienced greater and unconditional love/friendship with the people i am supposed to hate 'worldly people' than i did in this congregation.
-
-
raxxxx
tornapart - yes I do know that... I am ready... finally. Got a whole plan. Letter to parents, letter to girlfriend and her mum and letter to BOE. All sealed. Packed and ready for a new adventure. Have got a few 'worldly' friends... and I have been privileged to have friendships with those people for many, many years. Now or never!
-
39
my DF-ing letter - opinions
by raxxxx into the body of elders in xxxxx.. .
i no longer wish to recognised as one of the jehovah's witnesses due to the fact that i no longer believe that this 'organisation' is truly representing him because :.
i have experienced greater and unconditional love/friendship with the people i am supposed to hate 'worldly people' than i did in this congregation.
-
-
raxxxx
To the body of elders in xxxxx.
I no longer wish to recognised as one of the Jehovah's Witnesses due to the fact that I no longer believe that this 'organisation' is truly representing him because :
I have experienced greater and unconditional love/friendship with the people I am supposed to hate 'worldly people' than I did in this congregation. People here are gossipers, presenting their own views as of the 'society'
I always took big interest into history and have recently been studying the history of Jerusalem as well as took interest in archaeology and I simply can not accept some of the teaching of 'The Watchtower' which I was not aware of before my baptism. The teaching of Jerusalem being destroyed in 607 B.C. and not 587 B.C. is not being presented in an honest way.
The theory about earthquakes being in an increase has no scientific backing whatsoever.
Idea that I was being led to believe about Jehovah's Witnesses being the only organisation doing the preaching work is biased and untrue.
Changing of the doctrine numerous times shows lack of consistency in teachings... adapting to get more believers does not show honesty. I know scriptures talk about 'light getting brighter' – that is true but it does not talking about 'light changing from dark to light and then to dark... and then to light again'. 'Light getting brighter' implies that there would be at least light at the beginning not a complete change of the doctrine back and forth every now and then (for example : organ transplants; blood – now we are able to take blood fractions – with no scriptural backing)
Probably there are a few more reasons but there is no point in mentioning them. I would like to say that I will always love you all and that I wish you the best but that would be an overstatement and only partially true. I wish you no ill will but I can not be happy for people who are not honest; biased and showing love only to certain member of the congregation and not everyone in it. It was a very depressing experience going to the kingdom hall and seeing all of the private clubs everywhere around. I really hope I will not hear from you soon and make not that if I will repent... I will make arrangements for a meeting so please do not try and give me a shepherding call...
Yours faithfully
What do you guys think?
-
1
interesting looking blog!
by raxxxx inlooks like there could be some interesting stuff in the future.
.
another jw who missed out on education.....
-
-
raxxxx
Looks like there could be some interesting stuff in the future
Another JW who missed out on education....