Posts by somebody

28

TWO REALLY STUPID QUESTIONS

by MYOHNSEPH in

jw
friends

i tried to figure out a way to do this anonymously, because i really hate looking stupid.

well, this stupid anyway!

but you see, i'm not really much of an internet person.

somebody

Now somebody, quick, how do I delete this thread??!!

I don't know how to delete threads.

I would leave it anyway. It's pretty informative.3

Thanks for the info, Tatiana!

peace,

somebody

90

Would You Kiss A Smoker?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

just wondering!.

i remember when i was about 16 having a snog with a girl who smoked.

it really was like sticking your tongue into an old ash tray.

I kiss a smoker all the time. As a smoker myself, I can't smell it or taste it. If I quit smoking would I still kiss a smoker? Depends if I love the smoker or not. If I love the smoker, I think I'd still kiss him no matter what. I might suggest that the smoker I love take a mint or brush his teeth first if the scent of cigarettes turned me off or bothered me..

Drinkers have a strong scent to non-drinkers just as smokers do to non smokers. Sometimes the scent is a turnoff.....sometimes the scent is a turn on.

The scent of alcohol.

Would you kiss a drinker?

peace,

gwen

589

MAJOR UN/WTS NEWS- UN LETTER & 1992 Press R...

by hawkaw in

as of 6:02 pm last night i received a facsimile from paul hoeffel at the un on the wts.. he gave me 3 of the 4 things i requested in two paragraphs.. i have sent a scanned version to steve bates and someone else.. i sent it to kent and randy.

and kent and randy have posted the official united nations letter on their web sites.. here is the letter - put your cursor on the image and then right click on your mouse and hit "save image" to your computer.. .

after you look at kent's web site and you people still think this it is a fake letter, phone paul hoeffel yourself at (212) 963-8070.. hawk

somebody

MAN,
did somebody go dig Korah up and clone him or something? I understand what Moses went through now.
Who made you judge and jury? Jealousy ( the feeling of envy), pride, ARROGANCE. (haughty)

Sounds like the Pay attention To The Flock Book published for elders to follow from the WBTS!!!

ELDERS,Follow the MOSIAC LAW and We, the Society, appoint you judges, jury, full of pride in arrogance. We have the right to be judges an jury of peoples hearts!

We, the WBTS, appoint you, elders , THE PRIVILEGE OF FOLLOWING THE MOSIAC LAW TO BE JUDGES OF PEOPLE (Gen. 18:25). We the society have ingnored the role of Christ and the role that the Father has given to Him alone. We, the Society ,have taken that role off of Jesus Christ and given the job of judging others by setting up judicail commitees to do the job that Jesus said not even the Father does. What a privilege given by the Society that is!!!!! You elders have our permission to be a CLONE OF MY SON, JESUS CHRIST!

We, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Socity Incorporated hereby give you elders the privilege to act as judge and jury to your fellow sinners who are members of our organization. If you don't view this as a privilege from Jehovah, then shame on you for not binding others to the Mosaic law! YOU ARE APOSTATES of the WBTS!

Nothing like changing the subject to avoid the facts about the WBTS REGISTERING AS NGO MEMBERS UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS BY AGREEING TO SUPPORT THE GOALS OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND PUBLISHING ARTICLES SO THAT THEY APPEAR TO AGREE WITH THE UN'S GOALS WHEN THE NGO ASKS FOR PROOF THAT THE WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY AGREE WITH THE WILD BEAST WHO RIDES THE WHORE OF BABYLON THE GREAT'S GOALS, eh, mind?

Edited by - somebody on 25 January 2003 12:46:48

43

She's Graduating!

by Farkel in

my oldest daughter jennifer will graduate from medical school on may 1st!

it was a long haul for her.

she spent almost nine years as a full-time student at san diego state university.

somebody

Farkel,

I didn't know you had children either! I can see why you are a proud papa!

My heart goes out to the JW children who are discouraged from being all that they can be and following their dreams in life. My son changed his major from being a History Teacher to being a Pharmacist in his junior year too. My daughter wasn't going to go on to college from High School when she graduated simply because she didn't know where she wanted to go in life or what she wanted to do in life, careerwise. I told her that is ok to not know where you are going. You can still go to college and decide along the way. Even if she changes her mind 3 times along the way!

Congratualations to you and your daughter!

peace,

gwen

edited to correct my spelling of the word pharmacist. I can never claim that my children inherited their brains from their mother! Fortunately for them.

Edited by - somebody on 25 January 2003 10:24:1

73

Elders will be here in 10 minutes...pray for me

by Jacqueline in

jw
friends

elders will be doing a shepharding call in 10 minutes...why we have not attended meetings in so long.

i want nothing to do with the organization anymore....pray for me that i can keep my strength against them!

!

somebody

Hello again, Jacqueline

You are in a tough spot but it doesn't have to be tough. If I were you, I'd think about questions you have for elders and ask your husband if he can call the elders and make it a question and answer session instead of studying a book. And after your questions are all answered, which may take more than one night, and I mean REALLY answered and not dodged or answered by wait on Jehovah, you can ask to study chapters of The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived book, seeing how its a major claim of Jehovahs Witnesses that they follow CLOSELY in Jesus footsteps ( Ill tell you later what chapters I would want to study with the elders ). I'd inform your husband that you want to tape the session so you can listen to it again to understand more or listen to the answers to your questions again after they leave to understand better and completely. I would tell my husband if I were you that when I make the SERIOUS decision to be baptized, I want to be a baptized disciple of Jesus as stated in the bible, and not a baptized publisher of any incorporated printing company or in association with any organization of men. Also I'd tell them that when I do get baptized, I want to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as the Bible says and not in the name of the Father, the Son, and in association with an organization. Ask the elders what they say to a person right before they dunk them under water. Or ask your husband, because he probably doesnt know that the baptisms were changed years ago. Demand that you want to know and have the right to know what they say seeing how you consider baptism a very important decision to make with God.

Studying with the elders is to your advantage right now. I know it will be very hard, but if you can choose what to study, you can perhaps help open your husbands eyes a little bit. Slowly, but surely. You and your husband love each other, I can see that by what youve shared with us thus far. Please dont allow the elders to destroy the love you both have for each other. If your husband ends up becoming very active again, that could very well happen. Ill end here for now with a parable Jesus used in Luke 18:10-14

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire. 13 But the tax collector standing at a distance was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward, but kept beating his breast, saying, O God, be gracious to me a sinner. 14 I tell YOU , This man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man; because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted.

By attending meetings as long as you have, who represents the Jehovahs Witness attitude?

The Pharisee. or the tax collector?

You dont have to answer here. Its just something for you to think about personally and answer the question to yourself, in your heart.

You have a whole week to talk to your husband about the way you feel, before the elders return to YOU AND YOUR HUSBANDS HOME. Please dont let men come between the love and honesty you and your husband share with each other as husband and wife and best friends. And try not to let your frustration and pain from the elders or JWs get between the two of you either.

Try to remain calm. Like I said, I know that is a hell of a lot easier said than done! Stay strong my friend. ((((((((((((((Jacqueline and husband)))))))))

peace to you,

gwen

P.S. I agree with johnny cip when he said:

they will TWIST and use the name of Jehovah to GLORIFY THE WT

52

TRANSCRIPT: The Fifth Estate PREVIEW

by Scully in

transcript for preview of the fifth estate's january 29, 2003 program (lovingly and painstakingly transcribed by scully .

bill mckeown: welcome back to the fifth estate.

next week on the program, a story about trust, betrayal and shattered faith.

somebody

OOOPPPS. I didn't know zev was gonna post a thank you in my behalf when he did. thanks zev. Very kind of you!

peace,

somebody

52

TRANSCRIPT: The Fifth Estate PREVIEW

by Scully in

transcript for preview of the fifth estate's january 29, 2003 program (lovingly and painstakingly transcribed by scully .

bill mckeown: welcome back to the fifth estate.

next week on the program, a story about trust, betrayal and shattered faith.

somebody

Great work Scully! And Thank You!

peace,

gwen

9

My Old Living Room(Pic)

by Undecided in

jw
friends

this is my old living room that i grew up in.

it wasn't painted until years later.

notice the little table, it was made by one of my uncles.

somebody

Thanks Ken.

The picture is beautiful. looking forward to some more!

peace,

somebody

73

Elders will be here in 10 minutes...pray for me

by Jacqueline in

jw
friends

elders will be doing a shepharding call in 10 minutes...why we have not attended meetings in so long.

i want nothing to do with the organization anymore....pray for me that i can keep my strength against them!

!

somebody

Jacqueline,

From the May 15, 1990 Wathtower. You can find it on the Watchtower CD also.

Hint for you. ....... A dedicated servant = A Baptized Publisher of the Watchtower Society.

The article is long...but here it is. Pay close attention to paragraphs 9-11. I've included the questions too.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Fear Jehovah, the Hearer of Prayer

O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come.PSALM 65:2.

JEHOVAH GOD is the King of eternity. He is also the Hearer of prayer, to whom people of all flesh will come. (Revelation 15:3; Psalm 65:2) But how should they come to him? Earthly kings regulate such things as the dress and the manner of those allowed into their presence. Surely, then, we should expect the King Eternal to have requirements that must be met by anyone wishing to come before him with supplication and thanksgiving.Philippians 4:6, 7.

2 What does the King Eternal require of those approaching him in prayer? Who can pray and be heard? And about what can they pray?

Approaching the King Eternal

3 Before he became a sinner, Adam, a son of God, evidently communed with the King of eternity. (Luke 3:38; Genesis 1:26-28) When Adams son Abel presented some firstlings of his flock to God, undoubtedly this offering was accompanied by expressions of supplication and praise. (Genesis 4:2-4) Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob built altars and approached Jehovah prayerfully with their offerings. (Genesis 8:18-22; 12:7, 8; 13:3, 4, 18; 22:9-14; 26:23-25; 33:18-20; 35:1, 3, 7) And the prayers of Solomon, Ezra, and divinely inspired psalmists indicate that the Israelites approached God without any intermediary.1 Kings 8:22-24; Ezra 9:5, 6; Psalm 6:1, 2; 43:1; 55:1; 61:1; 72:1; 80:1; 143:1.

4 A new approach to God in prayer was instituted in the first century of our Common Era. It was through his Son, Jesus Christ, who had special love for mankind. In his prehuman existence, Jesus served joyfully as a master worker, fond of things associated with humankind. (Proverbs 8:30, 31) As a man on earth, Jesus lovingly helped imperfect humans spiritually, cured the ailing, and even raised the dead. (Matthew 9:35-38; Luke 8:1-3, 49-56) Above all, Jesus gave his soul a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) How appropriate, then, that those availing themselves of the ransom should approach God through this one who loves mankind so much! This is now the only avenue of approach to the King Eternal, for Jesus himself said: No one comes to the Father except through me and, If you ask the Father for anything he will give it to you in my name. (John 14:6; 16:23) Asking for things in Jesus name means recognizing him as the way to approach the Hearer of prayer.

5 Especially should we appreciate the love Jehovah showed by providing the ransom. Jesus said: God loved the world [of mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) The depth of Gods love is well-expressed in the psalmists words: As the heavens are higher than the earth, his loving-kindness is superior toward those fearing him. As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, so far off from us he has put our transgressions. As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those fearing him. For he himself well knows the formation of us, remembering that we are dust. (Psalm 103:11-14) How heartening to know that the prayers of Jehovahs dedicated Witnesses ascend to such a loving Father through his Son!

A Restricted Privilege

6 Human kings do not allow just anyone to enter into the royal palace unannounced. An audience with a king is a restricted privilege. So is prayer to the King of eternity. Of course, those approaching him through Jesus Christ with proper appreciation of Gods glorious majesty can expect to be heard. The King Eternal must be approached with a reverent, worshipful attitude. And those desiring to be heard must display the fear of Jehovah.Proverbs 1:7.

7 What is the fear of Jehovah? It is profound reverence for God, coupled with a wholesome dread of displeasing him. This awe stems from deep gratitude for his loving-kindness and goodness. (Psalm 106:1) It involves acknowledging him as the King of eternity, who has the right and the power to bring punishment, including death, upon anyone disobeying him. Persons manifesting the fear of Jehovah may pray to him with the expectation of being heard.

8 Naturally, God does not answer the prayers of wicked, unfaithful, and self-righteous people. (Proverbs 15:29; Isaiah 1:15; Luke 18:9-14) But those who fear Jehovah are heard because they have conformed to his righteous standards. Yet, they have done more. Fearers of Jehovah have made a dedication to God in prayer and symbolized this by undergoing water baptism. They thus have an unrestricted privilege of prayer.

9 To be heard by God, a person must express prayerful sentiments that are in harmony with the divine will. Yes, he must be sincere, but more is required. Without faith it is impossible to please [God] well, wrote the apostle Paul, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him. (Hebrews 11:6) Well, then, can unbaptized persons be encouraged to pray with the hope of being heard?

10 Aware that prayer is a restricted privilege, King Solomon asked that Jehovah hear only foreigners who prayed toward Gods temple in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 8:41-43) Centuries later, the Gentile foreigner Cornelius made supplication to God continually as a devout man. Upon gaining accurate knowledge, Cornelius dedicated himself to God, who then gave him the holy spirit. Following this, Cornelius and other Gentiles were baptized. (Acts 10:1-44) Like Cornelius, anyone today progressing toward dedication may be encouraged to pray. But an individual who is insincere about studying the Scriptures, does not know the divine requirements for prayer, and has not yet displayed an attitude pleasing to God cannot be said to fear Jehovah, have faith, or be earnestly seeking him. Such a person is not in position to offer prayers acceptable to God.

11 Some who were at one time progressing toward dedication later may seem to be holding back. If they do not have enough love for God in their heart to make an unreserved dedication to him, they ought to ask themselves whether they still have the wonderful privilege of prayer. Apparently not, because those approaching God must be earnestly seeking him and also righteousness and meekness. (Zephaniah 2:3) Everyone who really fears Jehovah is a believer who makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by getting baptized. (Acts 8:13; 18:8) And only baptized believers have an unrestricted privilege of approaching the King Eternal in prayer.

Praying WithHoly Spirit

12 After a person makes a dedication to God and symbolizes it by being baptized, he is in position to pray with holy spirit. Concerning this, Jude wrote: But you, beloved ones, by building up yourselves on your most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit, keep yourselves in Gods love, while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. (Jude 20, 21) A person prays with holy spirit when praying under the influence of Gods spirit, or active force, and in harmony with the things said in His Word. The Scriptures, written under inspiration of Jehovahs spirit, show us how to pray and what to request in prayer. For example, we can confidently pray that God give us his holy spirit. (Luke 11:13) When we pray with holy spirit, our prayers reveal a heart condition that Jehovah loves.

13 When we pray with holy spirit, our prayers are not filled with high-sounding words. They do not consist of formulas repeated by rote. No, they do not contain virtually meaningless doxologies, insincere expressions of praise. Prayers of that sort abound in Christendom and the rest of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. But true Christians heed Jesus counsel: When you pray you are not to be as the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the main streets, so that they may be visible to men . . . And in praying do not parrot off words like the heathen; for they [erroneously] think they will get themselves listened to by the quantity of what they say. So do not be like them.Matthew 6:5-8, Byington.

14 In addition to Jesus and Bible writers, others have made perceptive statements regarding prayer. For instance, the English writer John Bunyan (1628-88) said: Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised. Puritan minister Thomas Brooks (1608-80) observed: God looks not at the oratory of your prayers, how elegant they may be; nor at the geometry of your prayers, how long they may be; nor at the arithmetic of your prayers, how many they may be; not at logic of your prayers, how methodical they may be; but the sincerity of them he looks at. To these comments may be added Bunyans remark: In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart. But if we are sincere and do meet divine requirements, how can we be sure that the King of eternity will hear our prayers?

Never Turned Away

15 Jehovah God never turns a deaf ear to the prayers of his dedicated servants. This was made clear in Jesus heartwarming words when his disciples requested instruction on prayer. In part he said: Who of you will have a friend and will go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, loan me three loaves, because a friend of mine has just come to me on a journey and I have nothing to set before him? And that one from inside says in reply, Quit making me trouble. The door is already locked, and my young children are with me in bed; I cannot rise up and give you anything. I tell you, Although he will not rise up and give him anything because of being his friend, certainly because of his bold persistence he will get up and give him what things he needs. (Luke 11:1, 5-8) What was the point of this illustration?

16 Jesus certainly did not mean that Jehovah is unwilling to help us. Rather, Christ wants us to trust God implicitly and to love him enough to pray without ceasing. Thus, Jesus continued: I say to you, Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking it will be opened. (Luke 11:9, 10) Surely, then, we should keep praying when we experience persecution, distress over some deeply rooted personal weakness, or any other trial. Jehovah is always ready to help his faithful servants. He never tells us: Quit making me trouble.

17 If we are to enjoy a close relationship with God, we need his holy spirit, or active force. Hence, Jesus continued: Indeed, which father is there among you who, if his son asks for a fish, will perhaps hand him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he also asks for an egg, will hand him a scorpion? Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him! (Luke 11:11-13) Matthew 7:9-11 speaks of giving a stone instead of bread. The force of Jesus words is increased if we realize that the bread of ancient Bible lands was of a size and shape like that of a flat, round stone. Some kinds of serpents resemble certain types of fish, and there is a small white scorpion that somewhat resembles an egg. But if asked for bread, a fish, or an egg, what kind of father would give his child a stone, a serpent, or a scorpion?

18 Jesus next compared the dealings of an earthly parent with the actions of God toward the members of His family of worshipers. If we, though being more or less wicked because of inherited sinfulness, give good gifts to our children, how much more we should expect our heavenly Father to give the splendid gift of his holy spirit to his loyal servants who humbly ask for it!

19 Jesus words intimate that we should ask God for more of His holy spirit. If we are led by it, we will not complain about our lot in life and view trials and disappointments as being really injurious to us. (Jude 16) True, man, born of woman, is short-lived and glutted with agitation, and many have not lived to see the end of their problems or heartaches. (Job 14:1) But let us never view our trials as stones, serpents, and scorpions that the Hearer of prayer has somehow handed us. He is the very epitome of love and does not try anyone with evil things. Rather, he gives us every good gift and perfect present. Ultimately, he will make everything right for all who love and fear him. (James 1:12-17; 1 John 4:8) Those who have walked in the truth for years know from experience that some of their hardest trials have, through prayer and faith, worked out to their benefit and have increased the fruitage of Gods spirit in their lives. (3 John 4) In fact, in what better way could we learn dependence on our heavenly Father and be helped to cultivate the spirits fruitage of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control?Galatians 5:22, 23.

20 Jesus words recorded at Luke 11:5-13 thus give us blessed assurance of Jehovahs love and tender care. This should fill our hearts with the deepest gratitude and love. It ought to strengthen our faith and increase our desire to go often to the footstool of the King Eternal and linger in his loving presence. Moreover, Jesus words assure us that we will never be turned away empty. Our heavenly Father is most pleased to have us throw our burdens upon him. (Psalm 55:22; 121:1-3) And when we, as his faithful dedicated servants, ask for his holy spirit, he gives it to us unstintingly. This is our loving God, and we can have full faith that he is the Hearer of our prayers.

Do You Recall?

Through whom must we approach God in prayer, and why?

In what way is prayer a restricted privilege?

What does it mean to pray with holy spirit?

How can you prove Scripturally that the prayers of Jehovahs faithful baptized Witnesses are heard?

[StudyQuestions]

1. Why should we expect Jehovah to have requirements for those desiring to approach him in prayer?

2. What questions arise on the subject of prayer?

3. What examples can you give of prayers offered by early servants of God, and did they approach him through an intermediary?

4. (a) What new approach to God in prayer was instituted in the first century? (b) Why is it especially appropriate that prayer be offered in Jesus name?

5. What is Gods attitude toward the world of mankind, and what bearing does this have on prayer?

6. With what attitude must Jehovah be approached in prayer?

7. What is the fear of Jehovah?

8. Why does God hear the prayers of those fearing him?

9, 10. Can unbaptized persons pray with the hope of being heard?

11. What has happened to some who were progressing toward dedication, and what should they ask themselves?

12. When can it be said that a person is praying with holy spirit?

13. If we pray with holy spirit, what will we avoid, and what counsel of Jesus will we apply?

14. What perceptive statements have some made regarding prayer?

15. In essence, what did Jesus say at Luke 11:5-8?

16. As regards prayer, what did Jesus want us to do?

17, 18. (a) How did Jesus encourage us to ask for holy spirit, and what increases the force of his words? (b) How did Jesus compare the dealings of an earthly parent with those of God?

19. (a) What is intimated by Jesus words recorded at Luke 11:11-13 and Matthew 7:9-11? (b) If we are led by holy spirit, how will we view our trials?

20. Jesus words recorded at Luke 11:5-13 should have what effect upon us?

peace,

gwen

16

Message from Sharon Roe and request from me

by seven006 in

jw
friends

for those who wrote sharon roe (sister of janet and robert bryant) a few months back and sent your love and support i have a message from sharon.

i just got off the phone with her and she wanted me to pass on her love and thanks to all of you for taking the time to send your messages.

the notes you wrote lifted her spirits and she is now beginning to understand that she is not alone.

somebody

Hi Dave,

I think she might be the same person who has posted recently on an AOL discussion board that I post on.. I'm not sure if it is her or not so can you give her my e-mail address or e-mail me hers?

My e-mail address is [email protected]

peace,

gwen