Agreed that your board name is most appropriate.
Posts by Perry
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28Cognizant Dissident says Hi!
by cognizant dissident injust thought i'd pop in after a couple of years and say hi to all my old discussion mates if any are still posting on here.. how you all doing?
anything new in jwdland i should know about?.
cheers.
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54
Everyday, 16,000 Muslims Convert to Christianity.
by Perry inaccording to al jazeera.
why is this?.
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Perry
http://blog.godreports.com/tag/jesus-appears-to-muslims-in-dreams/
So what accounts for so many muslims having dreams and visions of Jesus? It seems most unlikely to me.
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Thoughts on Jesus' Resurrection
by Perry ini think that in our various discussions about life after the wt, we many times forget about the cornerstone of christian life - the resurrection.
the implications of the existence a man who holds the power of life and death is manifold.
it makes discussions about the existence of god obsolete.. for all of scientists' accomplishments they have never been able to make even one amobea come alive from non-life.
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Perry
I think that in our various discussions about life after the WT, we many times forget about the cornerstone of Christian life - The Resurrection. The implications of the existence a man who holds the power of life and death is manifold. It makes discussions about the existence of God obsolete.
For all of scientists' accomplishments they have never been able to make even one amobea come alive from non-life. Yet, this is the central belief and assertion of the New Testament writers. The power to make Life was in Jesus.
Consider the below copy from an internet source:
Archaeological discoveries continue to support the Bible's historical accuracy. We tend to forget that the Gospels and book of Acts are eyewitness accounts of the life and death of Jesus. Further nonbiblical evidence for Jesus' existence comes from the writings of Flavius Josephus,Cornelius Tacitus, Lucian of Samosata, and the Jewish Sanhedrin. The following seven proofs of the resurrection show that Christ did, indeed, rise from the dead.
The Resurrection Proof #1: The Empty Tomb of Jesus
The empty tomb may be the strongest proof Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Two major theories have been advanced by unbelievers: someone stole Jesus' body or the women and disciples went to the wrong tomb. The Jews and Romans had no motive to steal the body. Christ's apostles were too cowardly and would have had to overcome the Roman guards. The women who found the tomb empty had earlier watched Jesus being laid away; they knew where the correct tomb was. Even if they had gone to the wrong tomb, the Sanhedrin could have produced the body from the right tomb to stop the resurrection stories. Jesus' burial cloths were left neatly folded inside, hardly the act of hurrying grave robbers. Angels said Jesus had risen from the dead.
The Resurrection Proof #2: The Holy Women Eyewitnesses
The holy women eyewitnesses are further proof that the Gospels are accurate historical records. If the accounts had been made up, no ancient author would have used women for witnesses to Christ's resurrection. Women were second class citizens in Bible times; their testimony was not even allowed in court. Yet the Bible says the risen Christ first appeared toMary Magdalene and other holy women. Even the apostles did not believe Mary when she told them the tomb was empty. Jesus, who always had special respect for these women, honored them as the first eyewitnesses to his resurrection. The male Gospel writers had no choice but to report this embarrassing act of God's favor, because that was how it happened.
The Resurrection Proof #3: Jesus' Apostles' New-Found Courage
After the crucifixion, Jesus' apostles hid behind locked doors, terrified they would be executed next. But something changed them from cowards to bold preachers. Anyone who understands human character knows people do not change that much without some major influence. That influence was seeing their Master, bodily risen from the dead. Christ appeared to them in the locked room , on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and on the Mount of Olives . After seeing Jesus alive, Peter and the others left the locked room and preached the risen Christ, unafraid of what would happen to them. They quit hiding because they knew the truth. They finally understood that Jesus is God incarnate, who saves people from sin.
The Resurrection Proof #4: Changed Lives of James and Others
Changed lives are yet another proof of the resurrection. James, the brother of Jesus, was openly skeptical that Jesus was the Messiah. Later James became a courageous leader of the Jerusalem church, even being stoned to death for his faith. Why? The Bible says the risen Christ appeared to him. What a shock to see your own brother, alive again, after you knew he was dead. James and the apostles were effective missionaries because people could tell these men had touched and seen the risen Christ. With such zealous eyewitnesses, the early church exploded in growth, spreading west from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond. For 2,000 years, encounters with the resurrected Jesus have changed lives.
The Resurrection Proof #5: Large Crowd of Eyewitnesses
A large crowd of more than 500 eyewitnesses saw the risen Jesus Christ at the same time. The Apostle Paul records this event in 1 Corinthians 15:6 . He states that most of these men and women were still alive when he wrote this letter, about 55 A.D. Undoubtedly they told others about this miracle. Today, psychologists say it would be impossible for a large crowd of people to have had the same hallucination at once. Smaller groups also saw the risen Christ, such as the apostles, and Cleopas and his companion. They all saw the same thing, and in the case of the apostles, they touched Jesus and watched him eat food . The hallucination theory is further debunked because after the ascension of Jesus into heaven, sightings of him stopped.
The Resurrection Proof #6: Conversion of Paul
The conversion of Paul records the most drastically changed life in the Bible. As Saul of Tarsus, he was an aggressive persecutor of the early church. When the risen Christ appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road, Paul became Christianity's most determined missionary. He endured five floggings, three beatings, three shipwrecks, a stoning, poverty, and years of ridicule. Finally the Roman emperor Nero had Paul beheaded because the apostle refused to deny his faith in Jesus. What could make a person willingly accept—even welcome—such hardships? Christians believe the conversion of Paul came about because he encountered Jesus Christ who had risen from the dead.
The Resurrection Proof #7: They Died for Jesus
Countless people have died for Jesus, absolutely certain that the resurrection of Christ is anhistorical fact. Tradition says ten of the original apostles died as martyrs for Christ, as did the Apostle Paul. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of early Christians died in the Roman arena and in prisons for their faith. Down through the centuries, thousands more have died for Jesus because they believed the resurrection is true. Even today, people suffer persecution because they have faith that Christ rose from the dead. An isolated group may give up their lives for a cult leader, but Christian martyrs have died in many lands, for nearly 2,000 years, believing Jesus conquered death to give them eternal life.
(Information in this article was compiled and summarized from the following sources:gotquestions.org, xenos.org, faithfacts.org, newadvent.org, tektonics.org, biblicalstudies.info,garyhabermas.com, and ntwrightpage.com)
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One last sales pitch for the corporation
by hoser ini went to a jw funeral today.
it was the worst ever.
about two minutes talking about the life of the deceased and the rest about the borg.
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Perry
The speaker basically said that if they wanted to see the deceased in the resurection any who were qualified couldnt be inactive in the ministry.
He might as well have popped open a new case of indulgences that he just happened to be able to offer at a discount, courtesy of the mother church.
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Question regarding Faith...(adamah)
by tec inpeace!.
you have stated (and others have agreed and stated the same) that faith is not based on evidence, or it is not faith to begin with.
may i ask you, then, if you think the apostles and early disciples, who walked with christ, had faith?
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Perry
Before I got born-again, I thought I new what faith was. Looking back I had it all wrong. Christian faith has as its foundation at least three things:
1. Confirmation of the existence of a transcendant God, him having interacted personally with the believer
2. Confirmation of membership into his family, "the holy spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God"
3. A KNOWING that you are in a saved or pardoned condition.
Faith rests on the realities, and trusts the object of that faith Jesus, in that - a.) he'll return for his own b.) will rule the world c.) will do all of his other promises
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107
WHy Have You Turned YOur Back On The Messiah
by cassuk11 inok so you got out of the watchtower society after discerning it was false.
what is amazing is how many have turned their back on the king or was it they had no faith in the first place and the spiritual food they received did not help them stand upon a rock.
jesus the christ your saviour is a living breathing being with emotions.
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Perry
I'm not concern about every action on my part that may be displeasing to God, falling on my knees each night begging for forgiveness.
This was one of the most dramatic differences I noticed when I started associating with Christians. In my ten years of going to a christian church, I think that I have only heard the asking of forgiveness one time. JW prayers are unique in constantly asking for forgiveness. Christians believe God when he says that we ARE forgiven and washed in the blood.
I am a good person,
Compared to whom?
Every told a lie? What does that make you? If I told you a lie, what would that make me?
Ever stolen anything, no matter how small? What does that make you? If I stole something from you, what would that make me?
The unique work of Jesus Christ on the cross makes it possible for God to express judgment and mercy. God must judge. His failure to do so would label him an enabler of sin. God could either make sin impossible or he can judge it. He has clearly chosen to judge sin. Complete freedom from judgment is available to all who trust Jesus. No begging required, instead God would proudly call you his son.
You can have your ego, or you can have God's pardon. But, you cannot have both.
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Dinosaur Soft Tissue, Blood, & DNA Catalog of Peer Reviewed Papers
by Perry inthe world's most comprehensive catalog of peer-reviewed journal papers documenting the existence of dinosaur soft tissue, blood cells and dna is here.
can't we all just agree to finally give a 150 year old theory a nice funeral?
there is no way this stuff lasts hundreds of millions of years!.
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Perry
Her work produced facts. Those facts are indifferent to the conclusions drawn from them. I merely point out what the evolutionary paradigm is now requiring from thinking minds.
This is in part what is now required:
1. Fresh tissue is indicative of a young age, unless it is dinosaur tissue, then it isn't
2. The distinctive odor of rotting flesh is indicative of a young age unless it is dinosaur corpse stench, then it isn't
3. Carbon 14 dating is accurate unless it is performed on dinosaur soft tissue, then it isn't
4. DNA has a scientifically proven half life of 521 years unless it is dinosaur DNA, then it doesn't
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107
WHy Have You Turned YOur Back On The Messiah
by cassuk11 inok so you got out of the watchtower society after discerning it was false.
what is amazing is how many have turned their back on the king or was it they had no faith in the first place and the spiritual food they received did not help them stand upon a rock.
jesus the christ your saviour is a living breathing being with emotions.
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Perry
God is eternal. His blessings are eternal. His punishment is eternal. We must deal with the God that is, not the one we imagine him to be. To do any other is to erect a false god, which is idolatry; and I might add a violation of the first commandment - thou shalt have no other gods before me.
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Everyday, 16,000 Muslims Convert to Christianity.
by Perry inaccording to al jazeera.
why is this?.
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Perry
For several years, supernatural dreams have been pointed to as a very significate causitive factor. I heard of one survey of muslim converts at 80% converted because Jesus came to them in a dream.
I have a cousin that is dead serious when she says that Jesus appeared to her and filled her entire room with light. She says it wasn't a dream. Maybe a vision, she didn't know.
I think that ex JW's would be a group Jesus would be responsive to if they asked him to appear to them in a dream. Why not ask him to?
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107
WHy Have You Turned YOur Back On The Messiah
by cassuk11 inok so you got out of the watchtower society after discerning it was false.
what is amazing is how many have turned their back on the king or was it they had no faith in the first place and the spiritual food they received did not help them stand upon a rock.
jesus the christ your saviour is a living breathing being with emotions.
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Perry
The Messiah turn his back on me, I went to him and he failed.
Don't know what your situation is, but I think a lot of people experience this because of the way they are introduced to Christianity. They are told 'God has a special plan for you' or 'Your life will improve if you try Jesus'; or let's get on a spiritual high with some hip worship music.
The reality is that God's plan for you will likely take years to unfold through the sanctification process. And, Jesus is not something you try on to see if it feels good. It's kinda like being handed a parachute while on an airplane and being told; "put this on, it will improve your flight". So, you reason why not. You put it on but it feels uncomfortable, and eventually you take it off and reason that the parachute was a failure.
However, you could be told, "the plane is going down in 5 minutes, put this parachute on". Suddenly, the parachute feels great and makes you feel secure. You check and recheck the buckles. That makes you feel even better.
Because of marketing techniques, many people are told that Jesus will improve their flight when in reality Jesus saves you from God's judgment after you die. God must judge. Jesus absorbs your guilty verdict and takes your punishment for you.