Posts by Bobcat

9

Heb 10:34 & the Russian Situation

by doubtfull1799 in

as would be expected we've seen a lot of the "persecution" scriptures bandied about recently in connection with the likely imminent ban on the org in russia.

they like to claim that being targets of persecution they are seeing the fulfilment of those verses.

but they conveniently ignore what the bible teaches about how christians should respond to said prophesied persecution.... for example, no one is referencing the above verse which talks of the apostles "joyfully accepting the plundering of their belongings.

Bobcat

Thanks doubtful, I was trying to remember where that verse was.

Another one that comes to mind, that directly impacts this case, is 1Tim 2:1, 2 -

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made concerning all sorts of men, concerning kings and all those who are in high positions, so that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with complete godly devotion and seriousness (rNWT)

The counsel is to appeal to God. I think they also forgot that Hitler reacted badly when he was appealed to via letter writing.

20

I'm Dating . . .

by compound complex in

because i am still very much held a prisoner to past beliefs and practice, i dress in suit and tie and bring a briefcase on my frequent dates.. i talk business during the entire happy meal (macdonalds), displaying ad brochures and spreadsheets relative to whatever business plan i happen to be hawking that day.

i count the venture as a business expense and jws who frequent this fine diner know i am not on a date.

there are no smirks, no snickering, no knowing glances.

Bobcat

Sounds like a fanciful description of some wonderful time spent with 'the gran.'

24

My new answer to an annoying question we have all been asked.

by doubtfull1799 in

well new to me anyway, i'm sure someone smarter than me has thought of this before.

the next time i get asked the perennial (and tired old) question: “but you do believe that the gb are god’s channel of communication, the organisation he is using, don’t you?” or some variation thereof, i am going to reply with two verses and reason as follows:.

the matter to be established: have the gb of jehovah’s witnesses received divine appointment to act as god’s representatives and channel of communication on earth?.

Bobcat

Another tactic that can be used with them is to never agree to the obvious. You don't deny the obvious. But you never personally agree to it.

The JW mindset uses a stepping stone type of logic. They state some 'fact,' get you to agree to it, and then move on to their next step in their logic. Once you've agreed to the 'fact,' whatever it is, they proceed in their logic. What you have agreed to is, in their minds, now established.

You can disrupt their 'logic' by not personally agreeing at some obvious point. You don't deny the obvious. You simply never agree to it.

For example, Bobcat is not on the mid-week TMS/CLAM. So Brother Elder approaches him about it

"Brother Bobcat, when you gonna get back on the school?"

"What are you talking about?

" You're not on the school."

"I'm not?"

" Yea, your not!"

"Well, believe what you want."

"But you're not!"

"If you say so."

He might accuse you of "saying" the reverse:

"So you're saying you are on the school?"

"When did I say that?

And on and on. After a while Brother elder tires and moves on.

24

My new answer to an annoying question we have all been asked.

by doubtfull1799 in

well new to me anyway, i'm sure someone smarter than me has thought of this before.

the next time i get asked the perennial (and tired old) question: “but you do believe that the gb are god’s channel of communication, the organisation he is using, don’t you?” or some variation thereof, i am going to reply with two verses and reason as follows:.

the matter to be established: have the gb of jehovah’s witnesses received divine appointment to act as god’s representatives and channel of communication on earth?.

Bobcat

doubtful:

You have some good reasoning. And even all the reasoning the WT gives in your quote is simply their own perspective. Like they say, 'What about all the improved understanding we have gotten over the years?' Yet, the supposed 'improvement' is nothing but their own opinion. But we are the only ones who see that.

More and more I see Matthew 7:6 ('not to throw your pearls before swine') as being the best response to them. I come to prefer to simply to throw the question back at them, or use some non-engagement type of response like, "I'm not the judge of those things" or "You'll have to show/tell me" or "That's something to think about" repeated over and over.

Most of them prefer the mind prison the WT has imposed upon them (yes, this past week's WT study on free will was so ironic!). And they are not likely to budge from it until it becomes uncomfortable to them personally.

12

"You know that the Memorial is April 11 right?"

by stuckinarut2 in

ah, yes, so mid-way through a conversation about work, a family member just had to say "oh, you know the memorial is tuesday april 11, so i guess you will have to schedule your work so you can make it right?".

i simply said "oh is it?

" and then went back to what we were talking about.. has anyone else had the pressure to attend put on them?.

Bobcat

CoCo,

I'm curious also as to why you were asked to leave. Unless one was being disruptive, what reason could anyone have to ask such a thing?

21

Restless Days and Nights

by compound complex in

jw
friends

it is a bad time to be awake;.

i see things i do not wish to see.. i have feelings i do not wish to feel.. if i could return to sleep, the deception.

of sweet slumber would assure that even a. nightmare might offer an escape, escape from.

Bobcat

CC,

Was the formatting of your post intentional? On my tablet the trailing edge of each line has a very neat and even step down effect. Not bad for middle of the night prose.

4

Does this sound familiar??

by stuckinarut2 in

https://www.lds.org/topics/apostasy?lang=eng&old=true.

change a few words and expressions, and it could have come from the governing body themselves!.

Bobcat

Hey Stuck!

Your right, right out of the GB's playbook. The names and dates and a few other particulars are different, but the gist is identical. I wonder if other Adventist style groups have a similar explanation for their existence?

5

Ask a Brother, Tell a Sister

by Tapioca in

i have been faded for years and years.

no one cares about my standing in the christian congregation any more.

so one day, my husband came up with this won-der-ful idea for a jdub button.

Bobcat

I thought about a button that says something quite simple: Jesus Saves - 1 Tim 1:15.

I wonder how long it would be before the elders asked me not to wear it anymore due to being too controversial?

25

Watchtower No.3 2017 - The Four Horesmen

by pale.emperor in

this is the first time i've read through a watchtower magazine in about a year.

although i've been our only 8 months it really git me how crazy i must have sounded when i was a jw talking to non jws.. while other bible based religions talk about the 4 horsemen and back up their theories with other scriptures or historical evidence, the watchtower have taken so such steps.

1914 is thrown in there as if it's universally agreed that jesus started ruling since then.. even when i was a jw i never really understood why, if the pale horse represents jesus, why is he first?

Bobcat

Just watch the first 45 seconds of this video and it will blow the WT's 1914 ride of the 4 horseman out of the water. The 1st 45 seconds would be a good video clip to show a JW at the door with this magazine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSvfiQkC49s

They completely ignore centuries of history to have their own myopic fulfillment. They also completely ignore what the NT says about Jesus having ruling authority and a kingdom shortly after he was raised (Mt 28:18; Col 1:13; Heb 2:8-9)

14

Hebrews in the NWT

by jhine in

hi everyone , how ya'll doin' ?

please could someone with a copy of the nwt help me out ?

and by extension help someone else out .

Bobcat

Notice also the first phrase in verse 2:

Now at the end of these days . . .

And compare it with numerous other translations here. The NWT doesn't want the "last days" to start back then. They want it to start in 1914.