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  51

  I'll Be Leaving Here

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in case you don't see me here, i thought you should know that i am done here!

  why??

  because i'm going on a cruise to bermuda tomorrow for a week and i will be fondly thinking of each and every one of you while i bask on the beaches and enjoy the weather.. bye..

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  somebody

  LOL ! ya scared me there for a minute, minimus!

  Have TONS of fun on your cruise!!!!! I'm SO jealous!
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  47

  No Christian Congregation in Australia according to the Witchtower. HAHAHA

  by hamsterbait in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  in the continuing court battle in australia, the legal counsel for the witchtower babble and trash religion shocked witless onlookers by saying the there is.

  "no christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses in the state of victoria," or indeed the whole of australia.. hahahhahahahaha!.

  at least they are not perjuring themselves as any fool can see that their congregations are not "christian".. check this on barb andersons thread!.

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  somebody

  *** w04 5/15 p. 19 Caring for the Elderly—A Christian Responsibility ***
  They Have Not Ignored Her Needs
  When Ada, an 85-year-old Christian in Australia, became confined to her home because of poor health, congregation elders arranged to provide assistance. They organized a group of fellow believers who could help her. These brothers and sisters were glad to care for such jobs as cleaning, washing, cooking, and running errands.
  That assistance was started nearly a decade ago. So far, more than 30 fellow Witnesses of Jehovah have helped to care for Ada. They continue to visit her, reading to her from Bible publications, keeping her informed as to the spiritual progress of those in the congregation, and regularly praying with her.

  I guess the CONGREGATION elders belong to a congregation that was NOT a Christian congregation.

  Then again, the WTS INC. teach that only the anointed make up the christain congregation, so maybe there is no anointed/faithful and discreet slave in Australia?

  Gotta love the word games the Watchtower Society Inc. loves to play. Slippery and slick, being the snake that it really is!
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  11

  Can A JW "Call The Whole Thing Off"?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jw's can't end an engagement to marry someone.. when my teenage engagement to a jw sister ended, i was asked to state who had brought the relationship to an end because that person would be summoned to appear before a jc.. i was astonished at this infringement on a person's freedom.. here's the wt's take on this:.

  questions from readers.

  is it proper for a christian who is engaged to be married to break off that engagement??a.

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  somebody

  Well here's one more recent Q from Rs. I was shocked by the comments I bolded at the end, although it was said about AFTER being married, not about engagements.

  ***

  w998/15pp.30-31QuestionsFromReaders

  ***

  Questions

  From

  Readers

  How seriously should Christians view an engagement to marry?

  An engagement to marry is a cause for happiness, but it is also a serious matter. No mature Christian should take an engagement lightly, feeling that he at any time can end it on a whim. The period of engagement is also a time for the couple to get better acquainted before marriage.

  In discussing this topic, we need to realize that social customs involving marriage, and the steps leading to it, vary greatly in different places and times. The Bible illustrates this.

  Lot’s two daughters, who had “never had intercourse with a man,” were in some way engaged to two local men. Lot’s ‘sons-in-law were to take his daughters,’ yet the Bible does not tell us why or how the engagements came about. Were the daughters adults? Did they have a key voice in choosing whom to marry? Did they become engaged by taking some public step? We do not know. (Genesis 19:8-14) We do know that Jacob made his own agreement with Rachel’s father to marry Rachel after he worked seven years for him. Though Jacob spoke of Rachel as “my wife,” they had no sexual relations during those years. (Genesis 29:18-21) As another example, before he could marry Saul’s daughter, David had to gain a victory over the Philistines. Upon meeting Saul’s demand, David could marry the daughter, Michal. (1 Samuel 18:20-28) Those “engagements” differed from one another and from what is common in many lands today.

  The Mosaic Law had regulations about marriage and engagement. For example, a man could have more than one wife; he could obtain a divorce on various grounds, though apparently a wife could not. (Exodus 22:16, 17; Deuteronomy 24:1-4) A man who seduced an unengaged virgin had to marry her if her father agreed, and he could never divorce her. (Deuteronomy 22:28, 29) Other laws applied in marriage, such as when sexual relations were to be avoided. (Leviticus 12:2, 5; 15:24; 18:19) What regulations dealt with engagement?

  An engaged Israelite woman had a different legal standing from that of an unengaged woman; in some respects she was considered to be married. (Deuteronomy 22:23-29; Matthew 1:18, 19) Israelites could not get engaged to or marry certain relatives. Usually these were blood relatives, but some engagements and marriages were prohibited because of inheritance rights. (Leviticus 18:6-20; see TheWatchtower of March 15, 1978, pages 25-8.) It is plain that servants of God were not to view engagement lightly.

  Israelites were under all such regulations of the Law, but Christians are not under that Law, including its regulations about engagement or marriage. (Romans 7:4, 6; Ephesians 2:15; Hebrews 8:6, 13) In fact, Jesus taught that the Christian norm relating to marriage differed from that of the Law. (Matthew 19:3-9) Still, he did not minimize the seriousness of marriage, nor that of engagement. So, what of the topic under consideration, engagement among Christians?

  In many lands individuals make their own choice as to whom they will marry. Once a man and woman promise to marry each other, they are considered engaged. Usually, no added formal step is required to establish the engagement. Granted, in some places it is common for the man to give his wife-to-be a ring to signify their engagement. Or it is customary to announce the engagement to relatives and friends, such as at a family meal or other small gathering. These are personal choices, not Scriptural requirements. What makes the engagement is the agreement by the two.

  A Christian should not rush into courtship, engagement, or marriage. We publish Bible-based material that can help single individuals to decide whether it is wise to commence a courtship or to take steps toward engagement or marriage. A key element of the counsel is that a Christian marriage is permanent.—Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:6-9.

  Two Christians ought to know each other quite well before they begin thinking of engagement. Each can ask, ‘Am I really sure of the other’s spirituality and devotion to God? Can I envision serving God with that one for a lifetime? Have we been adequately exposed to each other’s personality traits? Am I confident that we will be lastingly compatible? Do we know enough about the past actions and present circumstances of each other?’

  Once two Christians are betrothed, it is right for them andforothers to expect that marriage will follow. Jesus admonished: “Let your word Yes mean Yes, your No, No.” (Matthew 5:37) Christians who get engaged should mean it. In a rare case, however, an engaged Christian may learn that something serious was not mentioned or was concealed before the betrothal. It might be a significant fact about the other’s past, even criminal or immoral acts. The Christian coming to know of this must decide what to do. Perhaps the two will discuss the matter thoroughly and agree to continue their engagement. Or they may mutually decide to end the engagement. Though doing so may be a private matter—not something that others should intrude into, try to second-guess, or judge—it is a very weighty decision. On the other hand, the one learning of the serious issue may personally feel compelled to end the engagement, even if the other person wants it to continue.—See “Questions From Readers” in TheWatchtower of June 15, 1975.

  There is good reason for resolving such issues before entering a marriage. Jesus said that the only Scriptural basis for divorce that frees one to remarry is por·nei′a, gross sexual immorality on the part of the other marriage mate. (Matthew 5:32; 19:9) He did not say that a legal marriage can be ended by divorce if one learns of a grave problem or wrongdoing that preceded the wedding.

  For example, in Jesus’ day contracting leprosy was distinctly possible. If a Jewish husband learned that his mate was (knowingly or unknowingly) leprous when she married him, would he have a basis for divorce? A Jew under the Law might thus divorce, but Jesus did not say that this was fitting for his followers. Consider some modern-day situations. A man infected with syphilis, genital herpes, HIV, or another serious communicable disease might marry without revealing that fact. Maybe his infection was contracted through sexual immorality before or during the engagement. The wife’s later learning of his disease or past immorality (even of sterility or impotence) does not change the fact that they are now married. An unsavory past before the wedding is not a Scriptural basis for ending the marriage any more than if she had contracted some disease or even was concealing a pregnancy by another man when marrying. They are married now and have committed themselves to each other.

  Granted, such sad situations are rare, but these examples should add emphasis to the basic point: Engagement is not to be taken lightly. Before and during an engagement, Christians should strive to get to know each other well. They ought to be honest about what the other party wants to know or has a right to know. (In some lands couples are legally required to have a medical examination before marriage. Others may want such a checkup for their own information.) Thus the joyousness and seriousness of an engagement will serve an honorable purpose as the two move toward the even more joyous and serious state of marriage.—Proverbs 5:18, 19; Ephesians 5:33.

  [Footnotes]

  In some societies parents still arrange for the betrothal of their children. This may be done quite some time before the two would be in a position to marry. In the meantime they are recognized as engaged, or promised to each other, but they are not yet married.

  See QuestionsYoungPeopleAsk—AnswersThatWork, chapters 28-32, and TheSecretofFamilyHappiness, chapter 2, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

  peace,

  somebody/gwen
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  7

  HATE PROPAGANDA LAWS IN CANADA

  by somebody in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know that canada has hate propaganda laws and the wts' publishings should probably be exposed there too.

  so if anyone can, please help expose the wt society for what it really is!

  maybe there are some lawyers in canada that can shed some light on if watchtower publishings such as the the july 15th watchtower and perhaps that km a few years back fit the bill for religious "hate propaganda".

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  somebody

  Maybe the WTS' teachings go against bullying laws. If anything, their publications DO encourage religious bullying, pitting family members against other family members while doing so.

  And encouraging JW minors to do so against other JW minors who have been disfellowshipped.
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  7

  HATE PROPAGANDA LAWS IN CANADA

  by somebody in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know that canada has hate propaganda laws and the wts' publishings should probably be exposed there too.

  so if anyone can, please help expose the wt society for what it really is!

  maybe there are some lawyers in canada that can shed some light on if watchtower publishings such as the the july 15th watchtower and perhaps that km a few years back fit the bill for religious "hate propaganda".

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  somebody

  talesin....I would love nothing more than to take it as far as others have in the UK. My view is that we'd be saving JWs who are afraid to stand up to the WTS INC, and feel they have no choice but to avoid and shun their own family members. They have RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, but that freedom is taken away from them by the WBTS INC!

  Go here and read the 5 th and 6 th paragraghs. And remember that KH’s and Watchtower conventions are open to THE PUBLIC.

  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/06/15/f-hate-crimes.html

  Thanks you all!

  peace,

  somebody/gwen

  Thanks you all!

  peace,

  somebody/gwen
• 
  7

  HATE PROPAGANDA LAWS IN CANADA

  by somebody in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i know that canada has hate propaganda laws and the wts' publishings should probably be exposed there too.

  so if anyone can, please help expose the wt society for what it really is!

  maybe there are some lawyers in canada that can shed some light on if watchtower publishings such as the the july 15th watchtower and perhaps that km a few years back fit the bill for religious "hate propaganda".

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  somebody

  Greetings all!

  I know that Canada has Hate Propaganda Laws and the WTS' publishings should probably be exposed there too. So if anyone can, please help expose the WT Society for what it really is!

  Maybe there are some lawyers in Canada that can shed some light on if Watchtower publishings such as the the July 15th Watchtower and perhaps that KM a few years back fit the bill for religious "hate propaganda".

  Can anyone from Canada look into it?

  peace,

  somebody/gwen
• 
  5

  Safehouse?

  by DocBob in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just throwing this out for feedback.

  do you think there would be much call for a safehouse for people escaping abusive/cult situations?

  looking for ideas for locations, financing, other considerations.

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  somebody

  Hi DocBob! Nice to "see" you again! I hope you and yours are well.

  I don't know if you've ever met Bob and Judy Pardon, but they opened Meadow Haven about ....9 years ago maybe? Harold and I attended meetings there every other Saturday and the meetings helped in so many ways. I could not believe the cults some of the victims were getting out of either. It was very sad, but they finally had a safe place to go in exiting and got couseling too. This guy has almost one full wall of JW litirature including the volumes of Studies In Scriptures and the Harp of God! Those books were great to look through...lol.

  Anyhoo....maybe you can contact him for advice in what the best way to get funding is to start out or jsut get together to chat about what needs to be done and where to start. He and his wife are great loving people!

  Here's the link to Meadowhaven.... in Lakeville MASS.

  http://www.meadowhaven.org/people.html

  peace,

  somebody/gwen
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  49

  Help Please. Mother says she can prove I will die using the bible alone, no WT literature

  by scooterspank in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  she says she can prove i will die if i'm not in the "truth" strictly using the bible .

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  somebody

  AMEN, Scully! I love the phrase "Bible Bully" too. I may just borrow it from you because it perfectly discribes certain "true christians" that I know! :-)
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  49

  Help Please. Mother says she can prove I will die using the bible alone, no WT literature

  by scooterspank in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  she says she can prove i will die if i'm not in the "truth" strictly using the bible .

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  somebody

  I would ask her if she is living as in alive. Of course, she will answer yes. If not, then she has a big problem. Then I would tell her to read Ecclesiastes 9:5 out loud. Then ask her what the condition of the dead is according to scripture. And then ask her what the condition of the living is according to scripture. That should tell her that not only are you aware that you will die, but that she is too.

  Ecclesiastes

  peace,

  somebody/gwen

  9:5 NWT 5 For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten.
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  142

  Undercover Brother Campaign- have you received your invite?

  by stuckinamovement in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  without specifics being mentioned as to what it is......(to avoid tipping off certain lurkers).. how many people know about the upcoming summer long campaign?

  please use this thread to confirm receipt of your campaign invitation.

  take care.

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  somebody

  I MAY be attending the one in MA this weekend. But only if I can talk zev into coming with me ( not sure if he could stomach it ). So please send me the invite in case!

  peace,

  somebody/gwen