That's right USR! ...Was a man on earth, still a man in heaven ... always holding the power of LIFE within himself:
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Posts by Perry
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77Thoughts 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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54
Everyday, 16,000 Muslims Convert to Christianity.
by Perry inaccording to al jazeera.
why is this?.
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Perry
Here's the story of what happened to one Pastor in Egypt
Hassan startled awake to a rough hand clamped firmly over his mouth. Heart racing, he felt the cold muzzle of a gun in his right temple.
“Don’t say a word.” A masked voice whispered the command in the dark. “Get up, and come with me.”
For several minutes, Hassan rubbed sleep from his eyes as his kidnapper shoved him through the streets of Cairo’s old city. Hassan had no doubt he had been discovered as one who leads Muslims to faith in Christ. Despite his best efforts to tell people about Jesus without raising suspicions, the government had found him out. It was one of the riskiest places in the world to share Jesus with Muslims.
Hassan had moved to this section of Old Cairo two years earlier. Gifted at bringing Jesus into conversions with Muslim friends, he had yet to see anyone in this neighborhood become a Christ follower. But he had tried daily.
Stumbling through one quiet block after another with a gun in his back, Hassan cried out to God, Isn’t anyone awake to help me? But two hours before the morning call to prayer, Cairo still slept. Not that anyone would care, of course. An imam pushing a Christian through this place wouldn’t garner any sympathy for the victim.
The rough grip on Hassan’s right arm shoved him along quickly, jerking him intermittently for course corrections deemed necessary by his captor. As his death march progressed, Hassan’s thoughts drifted to his rapidly concluding mission here in Egypt. He had studied Islam for years—learning the Qur’an, the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad compiled several centuries after his death), and the teachings of most leading Islamic scholars—all for the purpose of knowing the adversaries he hoped God would transform into brothers and sisters in Christ. The Lord had birthed a passion in Hassan to reach Muslims, but all of his preparation didn’t matter, it seemed, on his way to becoming another Egyptian martyr.
“Up the stairs.” The harsh voice interrupted Hassan’s musings.
Hassan wondered how his secret had been revealed, and by whom.
Blood pounded in his veins from fear and the exertion of a five-story climb with his captor up the back steps of an aging building.
“We have to jump off this building onto the roof of that one over there. It’s the only way to get in.”
For the first time since leaving his apartment, Hassan looked squarely at his abductor’s face. Only then did he realize the man had blackened his face to obscure his features. Hassan glanced into the gaping space at which the man now pointed his gun and then stared back at the intense eyes spewing from the dark visage.
“There’s no way I can jump from this building to that one!” Hassan blurted.
“You can, and you will. Get a running start.” His captor pointed the muzzle at Hassan. “You go first.”
Whether death would come from a bullet or a fall to the pavement fifty feet below, Hassan didn’t know, but he believed his companion would use his weapon with the slightest provocation. At least the jump—even if it failed—would extend his life a few more seconds. And if he made it across the gap, who knows what might yet save him?
Adrenaline—and angels, perhaps—yielded the most magnificent leap of Hassan’s life. He landed with room to spare, and his obviously practiced kidnapper thumped beside him, pistol still in hand, two seconds later.
The assailant seized Hassan’s right arm again and forced him toward a hatchway in the abandoned warehouse. Hassan was sure he would never again see the night sky. He whispered, “Jesus, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
The man flinched almost imperceptibly at Hassan’s prayer. Hassan noticed the fleeting cut of the man’s eyes toward him. The grip on Hassan’s arm tightened.
“Open the hatch door, and climb in quickly.” The gun again pointed the way.
Hassan saw himself struggle through the opening as if he were a player in a movie thriller. He hoped the scene wouldn’t end too quickly, and once inside the gloomy structure, the plot took a startling twist. He recounts what happened over the next several incredible minutes.
“I stepped into a foreboding room, lit with a single candle, fully expecting my immediate execution. Ten obviously Muslim men stood in a circle and stared at me as I entered. They ordered me to sit down. When I complied, the menacing atmosphere changed instantly. The mysterious group smiled at me.”
The man who had kidnapped Hassan spoke first. “We are imams, and we all studied at Al-Azhar University. During our time there, each of us had a dream about Jesus, and each of us has privately become a follower of Christ. For a time, we didn’t dare tell anyone about this. It would, of course, have been our own death sentences. But finally, we could hide it no longer.
“We each prayed to Jesus for His help to learn what it means to be His follower. Over time, He brought us together, and you can imagine our amazement when the Holy Spirit revealed that there are other imams who have found Jesus as well. Now we meet here three times a week at night to pray for our families and for the people in our mosques to find Jesus too. We know you follow Christ. He led us to you.”
Hassan recalls, “I was speechless. Then I was so relieved, I laughed for several minutes while the group watched.”
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3
The Harlot
by cassuk11 inthe harlot was reffering ot jerusalem .in the 1st centruy that is why it was destroyed just as yeshuah prophesied in matthew 24. she committed spiritual formication sleeping with other gods..
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Perry
Yes, Israel has played the Harlot. But God isn't through with them yet:
Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
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My Walmart encounter with the dubs today
by poppers inyup, there were 3 of them camped out in front of the store with their display of materials - first time i've seen them there.
he said he converted 5 years ago from the presbyterians, and that he had learned more in 1 year with the jws than all his time with the presbyterians (the usual stuff, jesus died on a stake, paradise earth, etc).
he claimed he didn't know about the invisible return of jesus, he was dismissive of the impact of disfellowshipping and that people can leave with little consequence, he claimed that the romans didn't use a cross until 200 years after jesus died on the stake.
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Perry
Thank you Poppers for taking the time to question this lost soul. He is somebody's relative, maybe someone you've talked to on here. The point is we should be concerned with all JW's we run accross. They may not be our loved one, but they are most likely someone's loved one.
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Cognizant 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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Perry
Agreed that your board name is most appropriate.
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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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77
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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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.