Posts by PointBlank

39

Circuit Overseer's Talk: " We need 5 meetings a week and weekly mags"

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

at the circuit overseer's talk last week he made the comment that some "of the friends" are finding it difficult to move ahead with jehovah's organization (tm).

the co said that a few had asked, "is it necessary to have 5 meetings a week, and a magazine every other week?".

"couldn't we do without one meeting a week, and have monthly editions of the watchtower?

PointBlank

Quite a contrast with Jesus' words in Matt 11: 28-30...

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

--The Amplified Bible

I guess they would rather stay in Egypt. Bondage can be blinding sometimes.

PB

5

recently i've been looking for the article where the wts chastised the rank-n-file witnesses by declaring that they "read more into it than what was said" regarding the year 1975. running a search on the wt cd brings up nothing.

does anyone out there remember any such article?

thanks in advance, pb

PointBlank

Recently I've been looking for the article where the WTS chastised the rank-n-file witnesses by declaring that they "read more into it than what was said" regarding the year 1975. Running a search on the WT CD brings up nothing. Does anyone out there remember any such article?

Thanks in advance, PB

7

OMG, This is hilarious!

by PointBlank in

.

http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~alexann/ .

edited to make link clickable ~ scully.

PointBlank

http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~alexann/

edited to make link clickable ~ Scully

35

Who was Jesus actually?

by Narkissos in

jw
friends

.

well, there has been a lot of religious and historical debate going on this topic, as we are all aware.. but i'd like to know what is your personal take, at the moment being.. all contributions welcome.

thanks!

PointBlank

The only way people are going to get a glimpse into the life of Jesus is to read the Bible without religious colored glasses. Religion has evolved a Jesus not recognized by those closest to him. He is not religiously conceived. Yet, it is still just a collection of 'books' about him. You will not know him by reading them.

You will find even less in books by modern authors. They have a target audience and are all trying extremely hard to be politically correct. They haven't met him, talked to him, or received information from those that did/do. If they did, their books would be somewhat 'less' popular.

It's becoming all the rage to worship psuedo-intellectualism. People just ooh and aah and manufacture for themselves another god. It gives glory to man and attempts to discredit a historical reality.

A better question is "Who IS Jesus actually?" Because the only way anybody is going to know his yesterday is to know him today. And that is only accomplished spiritually. Man has a living savior. However, THAT does not a good book make!

Discerning spiritually the spirit realm is a boogey-man concept. In the case of JWs/exJWs the WT has so distorted the mystical that the psyche is pre-formed and solidified into one of repulsiveness. But to be truthful, it's not even a conscious concept. To phrase a cliche, it's a classic case of letting go and letting God.

It is recorded that Jesus said "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." But purity of heart comes with a price. People find it distasteful because it involves ridding of 'self' and submission to the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit. It's much easier and speaks so loudly to the 'natural' man to turn to those of the flesh, instead of turning in faith to the One that is calling them. And he's calling each of you. Meet him for yourselves.

PB

33

Mum passed away two weeks ago

by acsot in

jw
friends

well, i finally received that dreaded phone call from the hospital.

mum died peacefully in her sleep two weeks ago.

she'd been paralyzed on one side since her last stroke and could no longer swallow.

PointBlank

Dearest Acsot,

My condolences on the passing of the mother. Death is a harsh reality for the living. There's simply no way to prepare oneself. This is especially difficult for JWs or exJWs, since our indoctrination didn't even attempt to prepare us for such an event.

Like most things of this nature, it involves a whole process of different stages to get through it. And you'll experience every one of them. All we can do is just let them happen.

But, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. When I was a JW, my JW best friend's mother died. This friend experienced the grieving process like most people. Eventually she realized (she confessed this to me) that she was enjoying life again and being happy. THEN she started feeling guilty about being happy while her mother lay in the grave. (Something her mother would have NOT wanted for her).

You mentioned "wishing there's something beyond this life." There IS infinitely more than what we see. Existance as we know it is is just a minute piece of a much larger puzzle. In the end, we're all going to be amazed.

PB

3

Watchtower CD

by PointBlank in

the last time i invested in jw propaganda was to purchase the latest version of the watchtower cd.

that was the 1995 copy (paid $50 for it btw).

the jw that ordered it for me accepted the money as a donation.. my question now is this: what is the latest wt cd version and is there a way to get it?

PointBlank

The last time I invested in JW propaganda was to purchase the latest version of the Watchtower CD. That was the 1995 copy (paid $50 for it BTW). The JW that ordered it for me accepted the money as a donation.

My question now is this: What is the latest WT CD version and is there a way to get it? (I'm DA'ed now...doubt if the same JW would order it for me). Oops, my bad! That JW can't! That JW is now disfellowshipped!

PB

5

Please help me with a goal....

by Dawn in

jw
friends

i'm working with a charity right now (operation christmas child)- i'm not asking for any $$ so please read on .... operation christmas child is a charity that distributes gifts to children in poverty.

i have done this with my kids and they loved picking out the presents and filling the boxes.

get a shoe box and fill it with things a child would need: toys, candy, hygiene items (like toothbrushes, soap toothpaste), school supplies, candy, even t-shirts or hats/mittens.

PointBlank

Hi Dawn,

The non-denominational church that I attend (when I go) does this on a regular basis. We participated last year. That Sunday morning, it was phenomenal seeing the stack of 'shoe boxes' grow into a virtual mountain. Then they were prayed over and sent to Samaritan's Purse.

I think my favorite part (aside from giving to needy children) was watching my own daughter pick out the stuff to put in her box. She's grown now and is so very thankful that we left the JW's when she was still young.

PB

22

I just needed to talk to some friends......

by tyydyy in

jw
friends

i know i haven't posted here in a while but maybe some of you will remember me.

i've been having a sad night and i needed to tell someone that i thought would care.

it's too late to talk to anyone on the phone so i thought i would talk to you guys.

PointBlank

Hi TD,

I'm really sorry to hear about your mother's deteriorating health. We too are at that age when our parents are starting to pass away. My father in law and mother in law both died recently. It was rough watching them go through that.

But as a parent, let me just say this...your mother knows you love her. Mothers just know things like that about their kids. And she loves you too...don't ever doubt it. She can't help herself.

Kind regards, PB

5

I'll tell you what I believe

by ballistic in

jw
friends

and that's apart from "shit happens".

the jehovah's witness "organisation" is a religion you can be brought up in and live your whole life and still not know god.. is this true of other religions?

i can only tell you of my own experience.

PointBlank

Hi ballistic,

You are absolutely right about the WT org. It's the same way for religion in general. Religion will tell you about somebody's perception of what God it like. But know Him??? No. You'll only know Him when you approach Him personally and He reveals Himself to you.

32

Why I will never be a Christian.....

by outbutnotdown in

i have read a lot of books about spirituality, religion and self-awareness.

the one major problem i have with christianity (and despite the fact that people may suggest that i am just turned off by being raised as a jw.... i think that my point would be valid without having experienced that negative start to life).. the one common premise of christianity is that we are sinners at birth and that we need salvation, otherwise we are disrespecting god.

i have also read other books that use the premise at the exact opposite end of the spectrum...... namely that we are perfect at birth and that we, through choice, use prejudisms and negative thought patterns that end up making this "sinner" theory more believable.. i'm not suggesting that either of these theories is absolutley correct, but i choose to lean more towards the "perfect at birth" theory.

PointBlank

Why I am Christian

It seems to me that some are not comprehending the disparity of sin. Babies are certainly the epitome of innocence. It's not that they have committed personal sins. We are all born innocent as far as that's concerned. The issue isn't committed sin, but inherent sin. It has to do with our very nature. Human nature is inherently sinful (tainted if you will).

Later on, this inherent sinfulness generates the unavoidable behavior of committed sins that occur throughout ones lifetime. There's nothing we can do to not sin.

Unless a person sees themselves the way God sees them (and He allows this to those that ask in faith), they'll never understand their own depravity, nor the significance of Jesus' death, or be able to accept Him as their Savior. After all, the sinless don't need a Savior.

PB