"reasoning from the scriptures" book pg 170,. article: "does anyone ever get out of the bible hell".
which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of.
(14) "and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.. this is the second death.".
I did secular research on Gehenna long before I came into the "truth" and found out that it was a garbage dump in the Valley and they did have sulphur and brimstone out there.
So, no, I don't believe in a literal place of torment, although I would like to place a few people in there.
i've found myself in a very difficult position.
with the .com bust and the recession i am having a very difficult time finding work.
i have lived on savings and unemployment insurance for quite some time now, but im going to run out of savings at the end of this month.
I'd look to rent a room in your area.....just check out the paper.
Roommate services are good too.
there they were... three members of jehovah's one true holy earthly organization standing at a deserted corner of the shopping center at the corner of fourth and vineyard.
fifty feet away was a busy entrance to a ralph's supermarket, but they chose to stand in front of empty store fronts.
they were busy in conversation -- with each other.
Don't forget about leaving a tract in the phone booth to start your time if no one is at the bus stop.
Or leave a post it note on a magazine so you can count an RV.
there they were... three members of jehovah's one true holy earthly organization standing at a deserted corner of the shopping center at the corner of fourth and vineyard.
fifty feet away was a busy entrance to a ralph's supermarket, but they chose to stand in front of empty store fronts.
they were busy in conversation -- with each other.
We used to call that "Totem Pole" witnessing. Circuit Overseer said it shouldn't be done.... no standing around waiting for people to come up to you, that you should be on the move, handing them out to others, a quick "Here's your copy of the latest magazines"... and be done with it, people are busy trying to get to work or get coffee.
Then after we lost that CO, the elderette in the hall demanded that if you were late to street work, that you must wait on the corner of a certain street. The SO said to just hold your mags out so you could count your time. Totally against what the CO said!! Another pioneer and I used to say we were going to be out at 7:30am instead of 7am and we would take the front route or back route from 7:30 onward.... but the elderette said NO, we had to be out at 7am or do the totem pole thing. Instead of obeying her, we said "Fine, we just won't go out early morning anymore. You can be the driver for the nondrivers ALL the time!" Oh boy was she mad!
he asked if i was going to the circuit assembly this weekend.
he asked why.
i just said after a long pause, dad it's not the truth (you have to understand that i'm the one who preached to this man and got him in the truth) the conversation lasted about 5 minutes with him saying well who else teaches the right thing, you have to understand, jehovah has to have an organization.
If you dad has worked with the HLC or done his research on blood, you can ask him, "if its ok to take a few drops of blood, then why not a whole pint? or pints? or a gallon, for that matter!"
It is considered a conscious matter to take the treatment called a "blood patch" (just ask the HLC elder) which is when they remove your blood, work on it and give it back to you. This "treatment" is given to women who suffer migraines when they are getting an epidural. I had assumed we could not do this treatment when I found out about it during Lamaze. But during the seminar I attended with our elders which was conducted by an elder and employee of a medical center, it was told to us that this was a conscious matter and considered a "medical treatment" and not considered "taking blood."
Ask your dad if taking pencillin for a cold is considered "eating penicillan"!!!
in the congregation i grew up in, there was a sister about ten years older than me.
her first name was joanne.. more than once, when our family traveled, joanne came along as a 'nanny' of sorts--so that my parents could enjoy each others company without their children present once in a while.
(priceless to parents, lol).
I taught my children at a very early age, if we aren't buying it, we don't touch it.
Well, my child won't learn that from me! LOL. When I grocery shop, I put the ice cream, snicker bars and other snacks in the cart. Then before check out I go put them back. This way, I have had the joy of having them in grasp but then I give in to my better judgment and put them back.
When I take my niece shopping, I let her put anything she wants into the cart. If we are at the Hello Kitty store or Target, she puts whatever toy, bag, shirt or bobble in the cart. Then she only has to look at the items in the cart and decide. She knows I can't afford them all and she has to decide which ones fit the budget. This way you have the joy of shopping without abandon! Reckless shopping, without reckless purchasing!!!
it took everything i had to stay seated thru the bookstudy tonite, i felt like getting up and leaving.
the fact that i'm the designated reader did'nt make matters any better either.
i'm not sure how many people on the forum have the isaiah's prophecy book but if you do have a copy check out chapter 21.. chapter 21 in paragraphs 3 talks about how enemies of the israelites (pharoah, nebuchadnezzar)were compelled to acknowledge that jehovah was with his people.
it took everything i had to stay seated thru the bookstudy tonite, i felt like getting up and leaving.
the fact that i'm the designated reader did'nt make matters any better either.
i'm not sure how many people on the forum have the isaiah's prophecy book but if you do have a copy check out chapter 21.. chapter 21 in paragraphs 3 talks about how enemies of the israelites (pharoah, nebuchadnezzar)were compelled to acknowledge that jehovah was with his people.
If she's going to Texas then I am coming too. Not fair. Not fair! (do you 2 hear me screaming?????)
other than my mom, the only other jw i've ever had any real life experience with was a co-worker.
actually, i was her supervisor and there is one thing that never made sense to me.
she would aggressively attempted to "witness" to everyone (my supervisor had to eventually tell her to cool it) well, everyone pretty much respected her beliefs and knew better than to invite her to any birthday celebrations, etc.
I volunteered to work on Xmas eve and New Years day since the owner had always asked someone to work. Then one year he decided because I was JW, that he'd be open on Thanksgiving as well. Well, everyone was mad and we did not make any sales, so the next year I said no, it was better for everyone involved to not be open.
I know what you mean though. I just hated working those days though because our store never did business on those days, it was a waste of time. Time I'd rather spend at home. So, I don't volunteer. If they want to pay, thats fine. But I'd rather be earning commissions on busy days than sitting around wishing I was home reading.
i am just curious.
unfortunately i don't think i'm going to be able to do the slow fade as i had hoped.
there is no way they are going to df me, if i go it will be on my terms!
I think if you disassociate yourself you are still playing by their rules and their terms.
I think some here have avoided it by saying things like they've been "dealing with it on their own for a while and will just continue to do that," or "I'll talk when I feel more comfortable".... or you could say you would talk when you know what you want to talk about!
You could mention you are under lots of pressure now and will get back to them when you feel up to it.
You could move. Although I wouldn't. You could change your phone number and then only give it out to ones you want and get caller ID.
