Posts by leaving

14

The Right Religion Demonstrates True Faith In Jesus Christ

by pronomono in

the week of december 9th, i have the talk "the right religion demonstrates true faith in jesus christ" base on the reasoning book rs p329.

the following is the suggested material.. istruefaithinjesuschristbeingdemonstrated?

this involves appreciation of the value of the sacrifice of jesus human life and of his position today as heavenly king.

leaving_quietly

Glad it went well. Did you record it? Would love to have heard it. My son had this same talk. At the dinner table, I asked him how he was going to approach it, and the usual stuff came out. I proceeded, tactfully and gently to ask him what the verses before and after that said, and he said he didn't know. I mentioned Rahab, and asked if her works included preaching. He said no. I said, right... she was hospitable toward the messengers. That was an act of faith. I then said he should read chapter 3 of James because the letter itself didn't have chapters and verses when it was penned, so it was simply a continuation of thought.

Too bad, though... he didn't get it... didn't want to. My wife, either. Really, when one has something drilled into their minds their entire life, it's so hard to get it out. And it's hard to talk about TTATT at home without being confrontational, so... just baby steps, I guess.

36

What are the best questions?

by MissyM in

jw
friends

what would you say are the best questions to ask a jw which they will not be able to answer and may make them question their beliefs?.

what (if you are a former jw) made you question the "truth"?.

leaving_quietly

In Mark 10:17-22, what is said about what the man needs to do to be saved? (Allow for a response.)

Then why are we told that preaching is what is needed instead of this?

7

Does the GB Call God a Liar?

by TTATTelder in

is the governing body defaming god's name?.

doesn't the claim to be "spirit-directed" and to be "jehovah's organization", to only turn around and spread falsehood (aka old light), actually indirectly call god a liar?.

.

leaving_quietly

No. It simply makes those who make the claim liars.

Prov 30:5,6: Every saying of God is refined. He is a shield to those taking refuge in him. Add nothing to his words, that he may not reprove you, and that you may not have to be proved a liar.

43

The medical specialist told me something alarming today. Pretty bummed.

by Julia Orwell in

so i've been going to doctors for years with chronic fatigue, a condition i managed ok but which took a drastic nose dive in late 2011 to 2012 to the point where i could barely function.

work was part of the problem, so at the end of that year i left that stressful environment.

but in the meantime, for the last few years i've been going to doctors, specialists, psychiatrists and psychologists and undergoing every sort of blood test you can imagine and seeing all sorts of medical people.

leaving_quietly

There's plenty of truth to the Proverb: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" Prov 13:12 (NIV)

Julia, sorry you're going through all that. I'm very familiar with CFS and Fibromyalgia. The sad truth is that it can change one's mood significantly, and drive even close friends away. 75% of marriages fail because of illnesses like these (source: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Other Invisible Illnesses The Comprehensive Guide). Here's hoping you'll start getting better, even if slowly but surely.

http://books.google.com/books?id=e0sIvyJz0v8C&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=cfs+divorce+rate&source=bl&ots=ptMijA9zYd&sig=t5_oqol3G2TWfoDpuLrQMe38_CU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xZWnUtmkMMLPrQHUvYGYDQ&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=cfs%20divorce%20rate&f=false

43

The medical specialist told me something alarming today. Pretty bummed.

by Julia Orwell in

so i've been going to doctors for years with chronic fatigue, a condition i managed ok but which took a drastic nose dive in late 2011 to 2012 to the point where i could barely function.

work was part of the problem, so at the end of that year i left that stressful environment.

but in the meantime, for the last few years i've been going to doctors, specialists, psychiatrists and psychologists and undergoing every sort of blood test you can imagine and seeing all sorts of medical people.

leaving_quietly

Mark 10:17-21: (WT version satire):

17 And as he was going out on his way, a certain man ran up and fell upon his knees before him and put the question to him: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” 18 Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, except one, God. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 The man said to him: “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth on.” 21 Jesus looked upon him and felt love for him and said to him: “One thing is missing about you: Go, preach to everyone you meet every Saturday, go to meetings at least twice a week, study the scriptures with your family, go to special assemblies, circuit assemblies and district conventions, and make sure you obey every commandment from the governing body.”

42

I'm curious, when you were asked to do a demo for a Service Meeting part, how did the request make you feel?

by Stand for Pure Worship in

jw
friends

did you decline out of fear?

decline because you hated doing demos?

accept the request graciously?

leaving_quietly

Billy, I never got nervous giving talks, impromptu or not. I was/am really good at it and know how to captivate an audience. That's one thing I'd say JWs do well is help people get over fear of public speaking. Demos were/are another story, though. I can do them... I just hate them. I think it's because it's too much like field service. I can give a talk in front of 1000 people without a problem, but talking one on one with someone I don't know about something they don't want to hear is terrifying.

42

I'm curious, when you were asked to do a demo for a Service Meeting part, how did the request make you feel?

by Stand for Pure Worship in

jw
friends

did you decline out of fear?

decline because you hated doing demos?

accept the request graciously?

leaving_quietly

I can handle doing a talk last minute, but I loathe demos. I don't know why. I've never liked them. I never liked asking someone to do them (though when I did, I made sure I asked well in advance), and I never liked doing them, for as long as I've been a JW.

35

Earthly Organization Reset - What Would You Do?

by committeechairman in

i've been reading and posting comments on this site for a while now (about a year) and the comments i see indicate that many who are here have good ideas about what would be required if either (1) jehovah's witnesses were completely reset and the whole framework of belief and organization were started over or (2) if a completely new organization were built.

this assumes, of course, that you believe god exists and that he is interested in human affairs (i know some of you don't).

it also assumes that you do not believe that the "heritage" of jehovah's witnesses has such great weight and importance that it precludes putting all beliefs and procedures on the table to examine them and change them if necessary.. given all this, what do you believe should be the beliefs and organization of true worship today?

leaving_quietly

Identifiable reporting should be done away with. (Matt 6:3,4; Rom 14:12)

Each congregation could track how many of each book / brochure / magazine / tract ordered, and how many placed. It should be, however, completely anonymous. The field service report should eliminate the Name, Hours, RVs and Bible Studies fields. These are not useful in supporting the printing activity. If someone didn't place anything, then no report should be required.

If exceptional experiences are had, then it would be appropriate to, if desired, write those in on a monthly report. After all, exception experiences were recorded in the scriptures. (e.g. Cornelius, the jailer, the Ethiopian Eunuch). But none should be required.

Personally, I think printing should be done away with. There are more books, magazines, brochures, tracts printed that cover nearly every possible subject. There really is no need for further articles to be written. Older ones could be reused. (Eccl 12:12)

35

Earthly Organization Reset - What Would You Do?

by committeechairman in

i've been reading and posting comments on this site for a while now (about a year) and the comments i see indicate that many who are here have good ideas about what would be required if either (1) jehovah's witnesses were completely reset and the whole framework of belief and organization were started over or (2) if a completely new organization were built.

this assumes, of course, that you believe god exists and that he is interested in human affairs (i know some of you don't).

it also assumes that you do not believe that the "heritage" of jehovah's witnesses has such great weight and importance that it precludes putting all beliefs and procedures on the table to examine them and change them if necessary.. given all this, what do you believe should be the beliefs and organization of true worship today?

leaving_quietly

There's plenty of unscriptural beliefs and practices.

What is unscriptural

Shunning in totality

What it should be

Shunning only applies to the antichrist, who teaches that Christ did not come in the flesh. (2 John 7-10)

What is unscriptural

Everyone must preach and teach.

What it should be

Teaching is a gift of the spirit. Those who have that gift should use it. (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:27-31; James 3:1)

What is unscriptural

Qualifying for baptism via a long series of study sessions and going over a bunch of questions

What is should be

When someone's belief and faith is strong enough and they have the proper desire to be baptized, who should say they are not qualified? The Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized immediately. (Acts 8:35,36) The jailer and his household were baptized that very hour of that very night. (Acts 16:30-33) Cornelius and his family were baptized once they received holy spirit (Acts 10:34-38).

What is unscriptural

Not baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These words aren't even uttered during the baptism talk or actual baptism.

What it should be

Get rid of the whole identifying with an organization bit. Do it right. (Matt 28:19,20; 1 Cor 1:12,13)

What is unscriptural

Unbaptized publishers

What it should be

Anyone wanting to preach the good news can and should do so. (Luke 9:49,50)

What is unscriptural

Saying that one must become part of the organization to be saved

What it should be

Jesus said, several times, "come to me". (John 5:40; John 6:37; John 6:44; John 7:37)

What is unscriptural

Saying that only a small group should partake

What it should be

Everyone who follows Christ should partake. (John 6:53-59)

What is unscriptural

2,520 years prophecy leading to 1914

What it should be

Can't answer this. The 2,520 years prophecy is made up, insisting that Daniel 4 must have a secondary fulfillment when Daniel himself says the vision is fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar.

There are so many more things... this is just off the top of my head.

12

Elders Meet with Regular Pioneers 2014

by WatchTower87 in

http://adf.ly/auy2w doc version.

http://adf.ly/auy6t pdf version.

program for december 2013 through january 2014. .

leaving_quietly

A thread a couple of weeks ago on this topic: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/267776/1/New-Outline-ELDERS-MEET-WITH-REGULAR-PIONEERS#.UqXnKFfNnG0

leaving_quietly

Posts by leaving_quietly