Norway is ridiculously expensive, and very wealthy. It is also very beutiful at the right time of year. For my money, I think Sweden is more my speed, and not as expensive. I am wondering how I can get a job there!
problemaddict
JoinedPosts by problemaddict
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24
I Admire Norway
by metatron inhttp://news.yahoo.com/norwegians-become-crown-millionaires-oil-saving-landmark-172511178--sector.html.
wow!
what a country!.
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Circuit Oversneer Says. . .
by piztjw in"do you realize how much of a privelge it is to enjoy the visit of the circuit overseer?
they are appointed by the governing body who in turn are apointed by jesus and holy spirit.
so you have a great privilege when we visit your congregation, because it is the same thing as having jesus visit you.
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problemaddict
Well your word is good enough for me. Actually it isn't that surprising. When I was on the way out, I had a former CO who is now an elder tell me that I was not honoring glorious ones. It went something like this.
So you believe Jesus is in charge right?
Me: yeah
So then he has a firm hold on the congregation right?
Me: yeah
So then if the congregation has allowed this to take place with you, you could say it was under Jesus direction right? I mean.....we are appointed by the governing body through holy spirit, and under the guise of Jesus. So if this has taken place, it has been with jesus approval. Why would you go to the branch, when we are an extention of them?
Me: So you believe that lack of miraculous intervention is tacit acceptance by jesus of whatever has taken place?
Uhhhh. (Silence and change of subject)
This dude is still on every assembly program and is just not a good person. Its a mess.
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Will this Memorial be our last?
by pixel inthey just put up the march km 2014 on the private website.
most of it is same-old-same-old, with info here and there about the memorial.. somebody here might post the march km for all to see, i wont.. i just wanted to share the paragraph from page 2 q&a anticle: will you seize the opportunity?
upcoming memorial enables us to show gratitude .
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problemaddict
"Will fire rain down upon the earth this weekend with a vitreol and speed never seen before by humankind? We don't know, but we do know there will be football and field service/meetings. Which will you choose?"
This type of stuff makes me sick.
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Hello again! What did I miss?
by serendipity init's been a couple of years since i checked in here and wanted to see what's up with y'all.
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what's the most interesting thing to happen in jw land in the last two years?.
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problemaddict
Carts are preaching now.
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Are you ready for some football?!!! Playoffs baby!
by wearewatchingyouman ingo chargers!!!!!
i'm delusional.
so, who are you pulling for?.
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problemaddict
Will do. I'm trying to arrange it! That victory beer will taste oh so sweet while being enjoyed in a bar in the mile high city.
Hey we choked because of our kicker being on the take. Nate Kaeding has since been sacrificed to the appropriate evil lords......Tampa Bay.
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How would you answer these questions that came to me in an email through my website? ...
by AndersonsInfo inmany emails are sent to me through my website, watchtowerdocuments.com.
all are answered.
remember 1corinthians 6: 1-2 (i'll answer this question.
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problemaddict
Hello Barbara. These are just some random thoughts. I don't know if they will be of any use.
4. I understand your emotional feeling as a woman regarding the molestation of teenage girls and women by members of the organization and the manner the in which the policies are applied in managing the issues, but shouldn't you have waited for Jehovah's own time? Deuteronomy 32:35
I am not sure I understand this question. When has a servant of God seen God's people being abused and been asked to stand silent? Is it ever Jehovah's "time" to allow abuse under the guise of his organization. Rather the opposite. Waiting on jehovah in scripture never meant sitting back and letting him act. it was not passive. Gods prophets and other zealous followers took action when it was needed. Imagine if Phineus had had the attitute to "wait on Jehovah" to do something when he took action. A plague was killing many.
Besides those issue, lets think about this practically. If you knew of something going on that was wrong, would you not bring it to anyones attention because you were waiting on jehovah, or would your conscience compel you to speak up! This is not an emotional response as a woman, it is a human respose, and it is christian to care for and act on behalf on many whom I will never meet because it is the right thing to do.
5. I understand the hypocrisy you are trying to highlight but is leaving the organization a better choice? Remember John 6: 66-70; 1Samuel 16: 7-9
Leaving an organization, is not the same as leaving God or his son. Your scripture shows some doubt in the minds of Jesus apostles. The modern day organization is not Jesus christ. I have not left Jesus Christ. Those whom you study with would have you believe such a thing. In fact is there not a scriptural precident with not wanting to associate yourself with anything "unclean"? Can you think of one or two?
As far as 1 Samuel is concerned, I agree that man does not see what god sees. All we can do with our limited perceptions, is to judge people by their actions and words. Out of the hearts abundance the mouth speaks does it not? You have to pay attention to what a person does (or does not do), in order to really see what they are about as much as it is possible for us to do so.
6. What is then the hope for salvation or have you believed there is no salvation for mankind?
Barbara I do not know your personal beliefs, but I usually tell people that salvation has and will continue to be from the bibles perspective about faith in Jesus ransom sacrifice and working in accord with that faith by following his example. Does he believe salvation is through another means?
7. Is your anger directed at the leaders or you have believed there should be no religion to worship God? Remembe
r Acts 28:21
Once again, this seems personal, but I would first say you are not angry. Let him know he is starting from a place where your motives and personality have already been told to him and he is making an improper assumption about your state of mind. How you feel about religion is not material. What matters in your particular case is that you are trying to shine light on a problem with in a religion you once held very dear, and were vilified for it. You were not the angry one.
8. Why go public and initiate a lawsuit? Remember 1Corinthians 6: 1-2 (I'll answer this question. Barbara)
9. As a man, I hate rape and child molestation, but shouldn't there be reasonable evidence to convict somebody of a crime?
Of course there should be, and this is at the very heart of the matter. The elders in any congregation are not qualified to investigate crimes. They deal only with the spiritual side of things. They also have no say over the law of the land. So why is it so difficult for the policy to simply state when an allegation is made, it is reported to the proper authorities? Who is thinking about the children in this scenario? Who is concerned with how they are viewed?
10. I understand your frustration with the two witnesses account policy but if someone denies the allegation, the organization have no means of establishing the truth without adequate evidence. In this case, shouldn't you have thought that vengeance belongs to God? Remember Romans 12: 17-19; Luke 12: 52 -59
The organization has no moral responsability to investigate and punish a crime. They have a moral responsability to turn over the information to the experts who are able to do so. Molestation never has 2 witnesses except for the person that is being abused and the abuser. Think of this scenario. If a man molests a child, there are no witnesses so the elders don't do anything but keep an eye on him. Later he moves to another hall, and the same allegation is made. If these things were reported to the police, he would be immediately investigated and most likely charged. If the second set of elders feels the same as the first, then who starts to bear the guilt for this mans repeat offenses? Do you think it could have been stopped?
11. On the issue of higher education, I do not think the organization banned members from seeking higher education. There a lot of witnesses in Nigeria that are in the higher school of learning. Except you can provide me with evidence to the contrary. What I understood was members should be careful not to be overtly pursuing higher education when they have a qualification that can provide them a basic means of sustenance e.g. if you are a degree holder, at least it could provide you a decent living so why go further when the time spent for further education can be used for God service. As an individual, I do not think anyone can talk me out of my personal dreams. The issue in religion I see amongst people generally is the application of the doctrines. Some are bigots while others are liberal.
I can only speak about what we receive her in the United States. You are not allowed to serve unless there are special circumstances, in the congregation if you are attending a University. There is no "ban" on it perse, since that would be aviolation of human rights. it is however highly discouraged. A CD ROM search of "higher education" will rpovide you with more than enough material to see that is the case. (I believe there is a letter to the body of elders that has been on here saying how elders would perhaps not qualify if their children attend university). It is interesting to note that in the united states, Jehovah's Witnesses have the second lowest rate of education among all religions per a pew research forum study performed here.
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Circuit Oversneer Says. . .
by piztjw in"do you realize how much of a privelge it is to enjoy the visit of the circuit overseer?
they are appointed by the governing body who in turn are apointed by jesus and holy spirit.
so you have a great privilege when we visit your congregation, because it is the same thing as having jesus visit you.
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problemaddict
Wait did he say these actual words and were you there to hear it? It seems off even for the most arrogant CO. That had to have a few peoples brows furroughed in the hall.
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"Jehovah ALWAYS had/used an organization". How would you reply?
by EdenOne inin a recent meeting with elders, an argument was used to the effect that jehovah has always [= throughout history] used, or operated through, an organization; therefore, the wts must be that organization today, since god must be using one.
naturally, i know what arguments i've used to counter that argument.
but i'm interested in hearing yours.
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problemaddict
Eden,
Besides the idea there was central leadership in the first century which is at best debateable, there is really nothing to run on. One could make an arguement there was at least some form of somebody "in charge", based on some of the language, but there isn't alot of sympathy for that viewpoint on this board of course.
The "always" thing takes them into odd territory. Mainly because most people will point to the Isrealite Kings as the other "organization" that seems obvious. There is a problem with that however. Jehovah only dealt with prophets and judges up to that point. He tried to talk them OUT of having kings. Do you remember that? So while a King was annointed by a prophet, it wasn't really Jehovah organizing that whole thing. Hence the mess.
I actually had someone go so far as to say that because the universes order is so precise and on such an amazing timetable, that order must exist in every facet of his actions, especially with his worshipers here on earth.
Talk about a stretch!
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problemaddict
The entire narrative around blood has switched. Rather than get into the serious biblical arguements for and against, in order to understand the real intent of the law in light of context, they now focus on how blood is "bad for you".
They have switched this ina sense to a medical arguement revolving around the fact that a person who does not take a transfusion but opts for some alternative methods, cell saver techniques, etc.... does better than a person jsut given blood. Its as if the opposition and medical community are looked at as a bunch of vampires who just want to use blood so that they continue to have a steady supply of it. What will we do without blood!
Its really quite disturbing at this point. I think anyone would agree that it would ALWAYS be optimal to NOT LOSE your own blood. Duh! But to move that into the following arguement is just nonsense. "Jehovahs creation works better when it doesn't misuse blood, so that supports our overall point and the 'good health to you' admonition in scripture." I actually had a CO tell me this. He also told me that since Jehovahs Witnesses have experienced large growth through the various changes in blood and refusal of transfusions, that it is evident Jehovah has not heald the slave blood guilty, and continues to shine his blessing on his people.
Once again, its dancing around the actual scriptural facts surrounding it.
Oh yeah......blood settles out naturally into 4 components? As long as being spun in a centrifuge is considered "natural" I suppose.
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Christmas trip to Jamaica: A story, Humanitarian Aid, Deja Vu and final release from Watchtower Chains(with pictures LOL)
by confusedandalone in****for those only interested in the jw part just skip own to part 2.***************.
so i just got back last night from a 16 day trip to jamaica.
our purpose in going was:.
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problemaddict
Hey i think its great. Thanks for the story. it is amazing how some people cope in third world countries. Think of what our former religion could actually do with its resources to help others and not just slang mags.
Is that person really running from you?! That is simply amazing. For some reason I was under the impression that even though you were no longer in the hall and disfellowshipped, that the elders sisn't feel good about it and most wouldn't shun you. I must have misunderstood.
These guys are a piece of work. You are still speaking to your father? i thought after the "I need your help" setup that was pretty much in the bag.