Posts by Splash

609

What is spirit, exactly?

by Viviane in

i've always wondered that.

recently i asked that question on another thread and didn't really get ananswer.

cofty made an excellent point that we often hear what it isn't, but that really isn't useful.. so, what is it?

Splash

What is an emotion? What is it comprised of?
I'm not referring to the cause or the consequence of an emotion, but the emotion itself.

What about a thought, a memory. What is a memory comprised of?

Splash

41

Could you get disfellowshipped for simply asking questions?

by LogCon in

if so, what would be some examples?.

.

only questions that show a higher degree of thought and intelligence please..

Splash

Back on topic, you can get disfellowshipped for anything at all if the elders determine that you are either brazen or a corrupting influence (read 'divisive').

These terms give enough latitude for the BoE to settle any grievances or punish you for hurting their feelings, eg by being unreasonable and asking for scriptural backing for what they are telling you.

Splash.

41

Could you get disfellowshipped for simply asking questions?

by LogCon in

if so, what would be some examples?.

.

only questions that show a higher degree of thought and intelligence please..

Splash

The Searcher - interesting verse. Just did some research on it to find the Societies view:

DOES ISA 7:14 REFER TO A 'VIRGIN' OR A 'YOUNG WOMAN'?

(Isaiah 7:14) Look! The young woman will become pregnant and will give birth to a son... (NWT 2013)
(Isaiah 7:14) Look! The maiden herself will actually become pregnant, and she is giving birth... (NWT '84)

YOUNG WOMAN - w54 6/1 p. 351 Questions From Readers
It is true that ‘al·mah′ does not necessarily mean “virgin” the way the Hebrew word b e thu·lah′ does.
The divine Author of the Hebrew Scriptures doubtless had a purpose in using the Hebrew word ‘al·mah′ at Isaiah 7:14 instead of b e thu·lah′ (“virgin”).

VIRGIN - w97 8/15 p. 9 Part One—How the Bible Came to Us
For example, at Isaiah 7:14 the Septuagint used a Greek word meaning “virgin,” referring prophetically to the mother of the Messiah.

YOUNG WOMAN - w11 8/15 pp. 9-10 par. 8 They Waited for the Messiah
The Hebrew word bethu·lah′ means “virgin,” but another term (ʽal·mah′) appears at Isaiah 7:14. There it was prophesied that “the maiden [ha·ʽal·mah′]” would give birth to a son.

BOTH! - w13 11/15 p. 17 Seven Shepherds, Eight Dukes—What They Mean for Us Today
The Hebrew word translated “maiden” at Isaiah 7:14 can mean either a married woman or a virgin.

Splash

13

Voluntary Donations - Not Really Mentioned Anymore?

by baldeagle in

jw
friends

my active jw wife has gone to all meetings, assemblies, memorials, and service groups by herself after i faded off the radar about 5 years ago.

i asked her this past saturday as she prepared to join another sister from the kh for the service group regarding, voluntary donations.

i inquired if publishers still mention this to the householder when placing literature.

Splash

Splash There were Service Meeting items some time ago saying that we should no longer mention the donation arrangement at all.

I've double checked my statement and it's not correct.

What I recalled were instructions specific to telephone witnessing not mentioning the donation arrangement, since this would be seen as telephone soliciting.
There were some KM's on this.

So the donation arrangment still exists. Sorry to mislead you!!

Splash

18

Real reason for new arrangement

by TweetieBird in

jw
friends

i apologize if this has already been covered, maybe someone can post the link.. what is the real reason for the society forgiving all loans for kingdom halls and just giving the money for new ones?.

Splash

Vanderhoven, this is the instruction in the BoE letter which describes this new arrangement.

Essentially, the loans are all forgiven but the WT asks the elders to make a monthly donation instead. The recommended amount for this donation is at least the same as the loan repayment value was.

Splash

13

Voluntary Donations - Not Really Mentioned Anymore?

by baldeagle in

jw
friends

my active jw wife has gone to all meetings, assemblies, memorials, and service groups by herself after i faded off the radar about 5 years ago.

i asked her this past saturday as she prepared to join another sister from the kh for the service group regarding, voluntary donations.

i inquired if publishers still mention this to the householder when placing literature.

Splash

There were Service Meeting items some time ago saying that we should no longer mention the donation arrangement at all.

Splash

67

Anyone recall a time when your congregation came to the aid of a Brother or sister in need??

by jam in

i'm not talking about a individual, but a congregation as a whole.. i'm talking about a brother or sister that really hit hard times.. have there ever been an occasion where the brothers (elders).

decided to dip into the kh funds and help one in need????.

example, brother loose his job, get evicted, family of four or.

Splash

In 30 years I've not known it.

Certainly some individuals have organised help, and I've given a little help myself from time to time, but as a BoE organised and congregation funded effort? That'll be a 'No'.

Splash

26

My sister is getting df'd.....

by Blttex in

just found out that my little sister is getting df'd next week.

her husband left her about a year ago got df'd and recently got a girl pregnant.

my sister has had a hard time with the whole situation as you can imagine.

Splash

(Matthew 9:13)
. . .Go, then, and learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice.. . .

Splash

29

Has your trust in charity been shaken lately?

by suavojr in

jw
friends

excerpt from the wt article, http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2003401.

jehovahs witnesses today are also quick to help when disaster strikes.

during the summer of 2001, for instance, torrential storms caused major flooding in houston, texas, u.s.a. in all, 723 homes of witnesses were damaged to some extent, many of them quite badly.

Splash

And another thought.

At least we can find out how much a charity CEO is earning and decide for ourselves if they are worth it.

Who can tell me the cost of the GB?

Splash.

29

Has your trust in charity been shaken lately?

by suavojr in

jw
friends

excerpt from the wt article, http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2003401.

jehovahs witnesses today are also quick to help when disaster strikes.

during the summer of 2001, for instance, torrential storms caused major flooding in houston, texas, u.s.a. in all, 723 homes of witnesses were damaged to some extent, many of them quite badly.

Splash

Some charities have high administrative or fund-raising costs, leaving only a small portion of the collected money for the intended purpose.

It's also good to remember that advertising works.

If these charities didn't advertise then who would know to donate to them?
By spending money on advertising, even more money is raised for the charity.

So even if "only a small portion" is used for the charity, it's still more than if they had not fund-raised.
eg 30% of a million dollars is $300,000. 100% of nothing is nothing.

What do you think all of the WT meeting items discussing money are for?
Why mention 'the deficit' at every assembly?
These are nothing more than fund raising talks.

The WT needs to recognise that not every charity has the luxury of a captive audience to pressure for donations.

Splash.