1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
I liked your sweet tone! WT does not understand the elder arrangement is actually the invention of Christendom which they managed to interpolate (just like they made Peter the rock) into the early writings in contrast to what Jesus authentically taught (Mathew 23:9, 10). Hence obviously, my elder appointment is not from holy spirit.
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
Being a part of WT system as a part of social set up and taking very seriously what Jesus taught in Mathew 9:13; 25:31-40 where as treating all other WT teaching as silly is not hypocritical, it is just being practical. Just contribute to the core cause WT stands for (spreading the news about incoming God’s Kingdom) and never go for confrontation.
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
When Jesus has said only one thing is important (compassion), nothing else (Mathew 9:13; 25:31-40), why do you bother about silly things such as no-blood transfusion?
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
If you watch only the last scene of a movie, there is a possibility that you may mistake the hero as the villain. Similarly, if you have read only last verse of my last reply, you may end up calling me self-righteous. [It was my reply to the question whether I really believe in the promised New World, to which I replied: I am already in the New World as I have brought change in my mind as a first step. Everything begins in the mind first. And what is going on in the mind is more important. For example, people may be enjoying a movie; but you may not be enjoying the movie if your mind is wandering somewhere else. That means physical presence matters not, but where the mind is matters]
Now even if I am trying to be self-righteous as you accuse me of, what do I gain by that? We are not going to have any contact with each other, and you will never know where I am, and so on.
The spirit of all my replies is actually to the contrary—I was saying one can still be among JWs choosing to believe whatever he likes to believe rather than going for a confrontation with JW leadership proving to be self-righteous. I myself is the example. I do not believe everything JWs teach, but I keep it to myself without publicizing what I believe and what I do not, thus do not disturb the peace of the community. I believe New World will come, and the ones who lead New World life now will qualify to inherit New World. New World life means what? Jesus himself has made it absolutely clear in Mathew 25:31-40. If one does this, all other JW teachings are unimportant.
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
Such exhaustive questions do not matter; because I became an elder when I did not want to become one. Two elders asked before one service meeting after a CO visit "is it ok with me being appointed as an elder, I said OK. If this is taken out from me, then also it is OK with me.
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
You ask me “Do you have faith in the good news Isw1961?”
Answer to this question has already and repeatedly appeared in my replies to various questions. Still I am answering it for you.
I am not just believing this faith of good news of the new world, but already living this faith. For me new world is not just a promise to be realized in the future; I have made it a reality in my mind. There is no need for external permission for this purpose: every individual can enter into this state by his own decision. I take every incident at which people usually get offended as normal and adjust to it, just as all situations, both pleasant and unpleasant, are accepted within a family. I just universalize this family culture wherever I go, thus making my life already in a new world. My principle for living I found in Mathew 25:31-40 where the eternal principle is given (if you want to receive joy, first give joy to others). Be creators (not just reactors) of good and positive thoughts! When we are careless, we hurt others. Hence I take care to think before speaking and acting so that whatever I do should not cause any sorrow to others. This works—I live in the new world even now as I receive cooperation from others. If you are not joyful, you are running against even the very nature of the physical world in which we live. We know that atoms consist of particles and these particles are not made of any material stuff. When we observe them, we never see any substance; what we observe are dynamic patterns continually changing into one another-a continuous dance of energy. Dance is the symbol of joy. Hence be joyful always by giving joy and receiving it back!
See how correctly Albert Einstein identified the problem: “We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.” Bible too says: "Widen out."
the words below are taken from a post i submitted elsewhere.
i decided to present it here as well.. it is a challenge for us all to stay objective in religious matters.
there is so much faulty information circling us everywhere that the truth often is not so plain.. many christian followers would love to believe that simple answers can be found from one single religious group as a source.
Dear friend,
Jesus himself explained what truth will set you free in Mathew 25:31-46
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
I am sorry for you. Jesus had said: “be cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves.” You had plenty of examples among brothers and even among Elders. Not all of them were following WT teaching on higher studies blindly. They ensured their children go for higher studies and consolidate a firm position in the world materially. My dad was an Elder (born and brought up by witness parents), yet gave me a secular education of 19 years.
This shows one should take JW teaching in its essence, not in its details (which means: accept Kingdom Message, at the same time choose between other teachings—for example, ensure your own material independence flouting their teaching on higher studies for which there is no punitive measures taken). In Economics we say: do not put all the eggs in just one basket.
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
1) You are asking who that ex-PM was? I cannot reveal it (which may lead to my identity that would put me into trouble with my BOE). Bethel has its protective mechanism for long-time servants as they are lovingly taken care of till their death in rooms built near to Bethel infirmary.
2) You say “You have not addressed the matter of the control of and denying access to information.” You have to make some allowances to such inevitable evils as they are also human beings and have to protect the larger interest of an organization. I see the organization in its essence [preaching of God's kingdom], not in its details. Cultic aspects fall into details. You too were enjoying being a JW till the time you had tasted its punitive measures for which you provided the basis wittingly or unwittingly. After that, looking back at the organization through your hurt eyes will not give you correct vision. Transcend your personal hurt, you will be amazed at the results—you will not see your hurt, but will see the grand, beautiful, core cause the JW system stands for. Its all have to do with our view. When I reach New York's airport, I used to be asked to remove my shoes during the security checking process. I willingly start to remove my shoes. Often when had removed one shoe, the security officer said okay with a smile and told me to not remove the other shoe. Yet I find many fellow travellers criticize it or doing it murmuring. Why this difference? The reason is that I took the removing of my shoes as part of a discipline, at the larger interest of a great nation which stands for freedom, while others took it as an instance of being insulted.
