Posts by zophar

23

Do you "believe" differently from what you "know"?

by compound complex in

jw
friends

greetings, all those still searching, still wondering .

.. in one of many faith-related books i have read, i recall the author declaring that there's a difference between what we know and what we believe.

while i cannot recall the author nor his commentary, i acknowledge that, while i do know ttatt and that the bible in not without error, yet there's a part of me deep inside that holds onto the so-called spiritual.. how is it for you personally as you make the transition from the invisible to the visible?

zophar

I used to think I had all the answers as a JW. I even sort of bragged about it in the field service. You know, JW's can answer all your questions! Now I realize I don't even have all the questions, much less the answers!

I personally still feel a need or desire to worship God. I have not found a RIGHT way to do that. I think that comes from thinking for so long that there IS a RIGHT and a WRONG way of worship. I find I have much in common with Agnostics, Athiests and "Religious" people these days.

I've mentioned before that I put a lot of stock in 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For at present we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror but then it will be face to face. At present I know partially, but then I shall know accurately even as I am accurately known.

By the way, I think that same Scripture applies to the GB. They "know partially" as well.

14

Dissed by a Sister!

by finally awake in

jw
friends

i was running the cash till at the annual boy scout fundraiser yard sale yesterday, wearing my finest boy scout t-shirt and enjoying the blistering heat, when i saw a local family of witnesses browsing the merchandise.

they studiously avoided looking at me, but eventually a bargain nightgown proved irresistable and the wife was forced to approach the cash table and ask about pricing.

we avoid putting prices on each item because there is just too much stuff and we remind everyone that the money sends the kids to summer camp so the guilt kicks in and people pay more.

zophar

How friendly were you to her? Were the bystanders able to see a clear difference in the way you treated the disser?

If so you get to count double time!

Turn the report in at the next witness cart you see.

101

org is dying

by lambsbottom in

i don't understand why so many ex jws and faders think that the jws will continue to grow and thrive as a religion.

i still attend a meeting once a week and you can smell the death of the religion creeping up when you hear the talks, read the study wts and hear the letters from the gb.

the way the organization has changed is a sign that it reached its peak (in "healthy" membership) long ago.

zophar

It reminds me of the teaching on the "fall" of "Babylon the Great." According to the 1/1/200 WT:

"1919, Babylon the Great could not prevent the Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known, from escaping from their inactive state and embarking on a worldwide witnessing campaign that still continues. (Matthew 24:14) That signaled a fall for Babylon the Great, just as the release of Israel in the sixth century B.C.E. signaled a fall for ancient Babylon."

They say it "fell" in 1919, but it is still alive and kicking. Especially Islam on the "kicking" part! Yet, while many churches are mostly empty, religion lives on. As already stated, same could be true of JW's. There is a core of people who hang on to their religion no matter what.

Just had a discussion with a "Partaker" who has been partaking since 50's and whose parents partook. Discussed recent "adjustments." He is clueless on explaining adjustments in FDS and other things. The longer we spoke, the less he seemed to know or have thought about regarding implications of "adjustments". I wanted to ask how it felt when he got the demotion from FDS but didn't. Seemed to me that no matter what the men in NY say, he would eat it down without thinking for self.

I was the same way for a long time. Just would not allow myself to question the rather obvious. Dissonance finally became too much.

I remember calling on a man who had devoted himself to Armstrong's Worlwide Church of God. When "adjustments" came, he was so disillusioned that he bar came an Atheist.

I think JW will be around in some form for a long time.

14

One way could be showing how absurd their concept is when trying to answer the question, Blondie.

by jam in

jw
friends

zophar

All of the Angels named in Scripture, have male names. The explanation when I discussed the matter with a member of the Service Department is that, like Jehovah and Jesus, the Angels are male in personality.

30

So now those resurrected on Earth can marry?

by zophar in

jw
friends

8-15-14 wt question from readers.

zophar

8-15-14 WT Question From Readers

61

Embarrassed by Aggressive Apostates

by ShempLives in

jw
friends

xjw protests & videos.

.. i am disturbed by some of the more aggressive apostates posting videos on youtube,like "a jw memorial to remember" where a drunk man goes to a memorial and downs the whole glass of wine as a sort of protest.

this video and others like it received positive comments from aawa members.

zophar

Excellent observation!

I have been less than impressed with AAWA as a general rule, when it comes to things like this.

However, to each their own. Maybe they are not that concerned with helping others with concerns and doubts and are more interested in celebrating (some might say flaunting) their freedom.

Everyone has their own journey.

138

A farce elder here

by His Excellency in

just to share a little about me:.

i was recently appointed an elder, about 6 months ago now, and that is exactly two years after my awakenning, but funny that the appointment came also about 2 years after i had completely lost all faith in god and had been leading a full time anti-jw life .

makes you wonder the role of the holy spirit in the entire nomination or appointment process.. .

zophar

So much for personal integrity. Like OTWO said, "What' the up side?"

27

I think the "Mediator" is changing....

by cha ching in

i just looked at the january 2014 wt study magazine, page 16. pgph 16. i think the wt is finally relenting.... jeus was the "mediator" after all!.

16 by the end of christs thousand.

year reign, the messianic kingdom will.

zophar

According to Merriam Webster App: "Intermediate - Acting as a mediator <an intermediary agent>

Excellent observation.

75

I need help! Talk coming up and I need ideas fast!

by BU2B in

jw
friends

omg i am so distressed.

i have a talk coming up on tuesday, it is the number 3 "abiram.

why opposing god appointed authority is tantamount to opposing god himself"!.

zophar

....buythe miraculous gift????

I meant bythe miraculous gift!

Did a Simon there trying to buy those gifts!

75

I need help! Talk coming up and I need ideas fast!

by BU2B in

jw
friends

omg i am so distressed.

i have a talk coming up on tuesday, it is the number 3 "abiram.

why opposing god appointed authority is tantamount to opposing god himself"!.

zophar

God has always given credentials to those he is using as his spokespersons.

He gave credentials to Moses: Parting Red Sea; 10 Commandments etc.

In the first century he gave credentials to the Christian Congregation on Pentecost 33 CE buy the miraculous gift of tongues.

Our recent Bible Study in the Draw Close to Jehovah book chapter 4 paragraph 16 stated: "Although now is not his time for performing miracles, Jehovah has not changed since Elijah's day" So today, we have no miracles that make it so easy to identify Jehovah's representative as was the case in the days of Abiram. He had clear proof that Moses was representing Jehovah.

It makes the point that the GB really doesn't have the same credentials without explicity saying that. Might cause some to think.