Posts by zophar

20

My Daughter Begins to Reason on Her Own About the Witnesses

by losingit in

jw
friends

success!.

today my oldest daughter attended her first birthday party ever for one of her best friends at school.

we actually crashed because we didn't get an official invite or even an email, but it ended up working out and the mom was happy to have us there.

zophar

OnTheWayOut: You are sure right on with Job's children. In fact some of the paraphrased translations are VERY specific as to what these Special Days are:

Job 1:4 His sons, who were all wealthy landowners, too, all used to gather together on each others’ birthdays and special occasions. The brothers would take turns hosting the others in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. The Voice Translation

Job 1:4 Every year when Job’s sons had birthdays, they invited their brothers and sisters to their homes for a celebration. On these occasions they would eat and drink with great merriment. The Living Bible

45

Hello

by GoUnion in

jw
friends

hello everyone it's nice to finally be able to post i had trouble getting emails last month and was never able to sign up.

this has been a very informative site which has really helped me grow and to think for myself.

please allow me to introduce myself.. i was born into a witness family and was baptized at a young age an was part of a small kingdom hall.

zophar

"If god accepts individuals spreading incorrect ideas, then truly it is their heart condition that matters to him, however could that not then apply to every human on earth regardless of their religion or beliefs?"

Excellent reasoning.

Hope you continue in your spiritual awakening. It has taken me a bit longer. Served over 35 yrs as elder before resigning after too many "adjustments" to "The Truth". Indeed the 7/15/13 WT was huge, and like you said very little Scriptural reasoning in that article, just opinion and speculation.

Two years ago a member of the GB was at .... What used to be called the SAD... In my area. My wife and I were young pioneers when his parents served us in his dad's first assignment as CO. They were a very loving and helpful couple. They truly lived their beliefs and were such genuine, sincere people. Of course, now the father is dead and the mother is in her 80's or 90's, never having their hopes of seeing the end come true. How I wanted to discuss this with him and ask WHY do you keep emphasizing "The end is near?" In fact it was about the time when his parent were in our Circuit when this statement appeared in the Kingdom Ministry: "We are living deep in the time of the end". - km 5/73

I spoke with him for a moment and there didn't seem to be the slightest interest in our friendship with his parents. And definitely nothing that would impel me to engage him in any thought provoking conversation.

Good luck on your continuing journey.

53

Did Jesus say his followers would be witnesses of Jehovah?

by blondie in

jw
friends

what did jesus say?.

(acts 1:8)8 but you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.

by "divine providence" what did jesus' followers become known as?.

zophar

Maybe someone has been reading this board?

Look at the May WT Public Edition

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20140501/jehovahs-witnesses-believe-in-jesus/

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe in Jesus?

If they do, why don’t they call themselves Jesus’ Witnesses?

58

What are you reading right now??

by DATA-DOG in

jw
friends

i am reading "stranger in a strange land" by robert a. heinlein.

i read it over 20 years ago.

now i am reading it from a completely different perspective.

zophar

Rip

I just finished "When Prophecies Fail." It gets bogged down about 1/3 way through but good example of a group with Cognitive Dissonance. No matter that things don't happen as predicted, it is made to fit. Hey, just like "new light". However, there comes a point where things fall apart.

I think the Org is facing that with many now. Everytime I have a cautious conversation with my lifelong JW friends they have the same concerns I do. And, they are relieved to be able to talk about it with me. Of course, that would not be true if I were DF or DA. Just short time ago, I was serving and being used by the Org. "Being used" what a fittingly true statement!

Isn't it amazing we didn't see it sooner? And yet, had anyone tried to show me, I'm afraid I would have resisted and probably labeled the person trying to help.

Makes me more determined not to get upset when others can't see it. Just hope someday .... When prophecies fail long enough, they will wake up.

53

Did Jesus say his followers would be witnesses of Jehovah?

by blondie in

jw
friends

what did jesus say?.

(acts 1:8)8 but you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.

by "divine providence" what did jesus' followers become known as?.

zophar

They use John 5:43 ,17:6

It is interesting that in both of those Scriptures, Jesus mentions "the name" of the Father and yet he doesn't use that name at that instant himself. For instance, he didn' feel compelled to say: "In the name of my Father Jehovah". That may not mean anything, I am merely making an observation.

Not only did Jesus not use the name Jehovah in the model prayer, there is NO recorded prayer of Jesus' where he actually says the name Jehovah.

53

Did Jesus say his followers would be witnesses of Jehovah?

by blondie in

jw
friends

what did jesus say?.

(acts 1:8)8 but you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.

by "divine providence" what did jesus' followers become known as?.

zophar

Isn't it true that at John 5:32 "There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the witness he bears about me is true." It is referring to Jehovah bearing witness to Jesus?

Also 1 John 5:9 " If we accept the witness of men, the witness of God is greater. Because this is the witness God gives, the witness that he has given about his Son."

Blondie, always appreciate your posts.

33

Moustaches vs. beards - one of the contributing factors to losing my cognitive dissonace

by Pacopoolio in

jw
friends

as a little background - i was born-in to being a witness, back in '79, in detroit, in mostly black and poor congregations.

baptized when 10-ish, stayed around, was on the fast track to ms, but faded when i moved out at 24ish.. there was a combination of a few things that got me on the road to "freedom" from the cognitive dissonance that kept me "in the truth" for so long.

the main thing was, being an artist and studying marketing, my thinking was patterned to constantly question if i was doing something "correctly," as constant improvement and questioning is what facilitates artistic and mental growth.

zophar

Years ago there was a standard set for how to dress when giving a Public Talk. The Qualified to be Ministers book, page 35 said we should dress, "according to the usual style and custom of your land."

When I gave my first Public Talk, at age 18 by the way, that I should dress similarly to what I saw professional businessmen wearing. My friend was told he could give a Public Talk as long as he didn't wear his suit with bell bottomed pants! He was 18 years old also. Looking back, I wonder what deep spiritual things two 18 year old boys were teaching! Of course, that was not nearly important as what we were wearing.

I too commend you for the thoughtful consideration toward your mother.

23

Newbee

by DullBookworm in

jw
friends

i have not been a sister for the past 19 years, i asked to be da'd as i had started smoking aged 12 and at 19 no longer wanted people to think badly of the jw's over my conduct.. for 19 years my father, an elder, has tried his damndest to bring me back.

he kept contact sometimes more, sometimes less, always under the threat to stop the contact alltogether.

at one point he managed to not speak to me for several months.

zophar

DullBookWorm: no longer wanted people to think badly of the JW's over my conduct

That comment speaks volumes about the quality of your Character. Obviously, you are not a haughty or vindictive person. I admire you for your honesty, but don’t put yourself down too much.

A popular bracelet came out a few years ago WWJD. What Would Jesus Do? Is one to believe that he treated his fleshly brothers, who did not accept the “Truth” while Jesus was still alive, the way JW’s are told to treat you?

I love this Scripture: 1Corinthians 13:10,11 – “but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a babe, I used to speak as a babe, to think as a babe, to reason as a babe; but now that I have become a man, I have done away with the [traits] of a babe.” Paul admitted that the Christian Congregation was still engaged in “baby talk” they were still learning until “that which is complete” was to arrive.

According to the WT, “that which is complete” is still yet to arrive. So, If Jesus has not done a final judging, and JW’s still only have “partial” knowledge, why be judged as if you are already dead to your relatives now? WWJD?

I agree with a previous poster that “Apostate?” websites will only strengthen your dads resolve. Remember, in his heart he knows he is not doing what Jesus would want him to do but the Org is telling him different. As much as you can, continue your loving patience and continue loving him. Let YOUR love be unconditional regardless of his love for you.

137

3 years of study, Just found out!

by impala63rag in

jw
friends

hello friends, .

i would like some advice from those that are inpartial, and are familiar with the teachings of jw.

i studied with a wonderful jw couple weekly for 3 years.

zophar

Apog: besides the fact that JWs do not believe in child baptism

While JWs don't practice INFANT baptism, they certainly encourage CHILD baptism. And that decision, made as a child has lifetime consequences if they change their views once they are an ADULT!

31

Former, Long Time Part 2

by James Jackson in

jw
friends

first of all thanks for all the kind words!!!

i am over whelmed by the responses.

i work very hard through the week and the only time i can reply is in the early morning hours, i read the respones on my iphone through out the day, if there was a way to log on with the phone, i would.

zophar

My experience much like James and Tech 49. An elder over thirty years, chosen to attend first ever Pioneer Service School, yes, back then you had to be recommended by CO and in position to serve where greater need. Appointed Special Pioneer, many DC parts etc. Not blowing my horn, just listing experiences.

I have found a new Ministry of sorts. As more and more are aging and dying, two I know just this week, there is a real need to try to help them.

I resigned as an elder. It shocked many as I was the Coordinator and had many privileges. After a while I found myself missing my teaching assignments. I have always researched Bible Commentaries and such and tried to share interesting things instead of reading Hebrew 10 or Matthew 24 or 2 Timothy 3 during EVERY part!

Thus my "ministry." I am fiinding that when visiting older ones now I carefully point out how we were not prepared for our current circumstances by what we were taught. When the "Friends" don't feel threatened they open up more. In fact when I pray with these older ones, I am very direct with Jehovah telling him of our disappointments. They are surprised because they have never said those things in prayer themselves. I asked one Sister who expresses herself that way. "Do you think Jehovah knows you are disappointed? Then why not discuss it with him?" I then remind them that it is NOT Jehovah who has set up this disappointment but the organization. My wife is shocked too when we find that many share our doubts and disappointments, they just don't have anyone to discuss it with without the fear of reprisal.

I know where this can lead but still feel I am helping some very sincere people at a time in life they really need it. I am constantly pressured to serve again. And it is nice to hear people tell me they miss my teaching etc. but that can be just an Ego trip for me if I'm not careful. What is my true motive? And what am I willing to pay for it? My wife has very serious health issues, the reason I gave for resigning, and while we BOTH see many flaws, she still wants to attend some. So I go. Like one of the Brothers mentioned, I give Bible Highlights comments from the Bible not the WT, they must be different because many comment on them as such, "never knew that" etc.

Sorry for the length of post and certainly don't mean to call attention to myself, but I see the need to help those who have never thought for themselves before. I realize it may cause me problems the more outspoken I become, but I feel a desire to do this.

Thanks for this forum.