Agree with Perry.
1 Corinthians: 15. 32. If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
That's pretty much how Paul fealt.
TheLiberator
JoinedPosts by TheLiberator
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"What is in it for me."
by stuckinarut2 inso if there was no promise of a "reward" for faithfulness...no paradise...no eternal life etc, how many witnesses would stick with the "faith"?.
sure, the reward might be "making god happy", but he supposedly holds out the paradise promise with eternal life as an incentive right?.
before anyone says, that's what satans challenge regarding job was about, just think.
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The "Fellowship of Sufferings"
by Perry ini came across this title phrase while reading a daily devotional one morning and it reminded me of this discussion board.
there really is a fellowship of sufferings here.
never since adolph hitler has an organization done so much to destroy families as the watchtower has done.
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TheLiberator
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ..."
Those words I have on the home screen of my phone. It is a reminder as to why my mom cut me off. And yes, I count all things that I have lost as dung. In fact, Christ has taken all pain away. Everything lost, seems nothing compared to the "excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord".
"Thanks to God through Jesus Christ my Lord."
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New letter, re: Fully Utilizing Kingdom Hall Auditoriums
by suavojr inlet the merging begin!!!.
to all bodies of elders in the united states branch territory.
re: fully utilizing kingdom hall auditoriums.
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TheLiberator
Here in my area, in the state of Washington, a merge with my old hall is happening. They dissolved one English and combined them with my old congregation. The Spanish are also in that same hall. So now they have three congregations meeting in a very small hall. And now, the two territories are humongous. It was already a tight squeeze in that hall. Sign of the times. -
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Convention Weirdness
by BlackWolf inwell i just got back from 3 days in hell, and geez was this convention strange or what?
im sure someone's probably made a topic about this already but i can't believe that there weren't any new releases besides the movies.
has that ever happened before?
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TheLiberator
BlackWolf said: "there was nothing about going out in service or experiences that people had like usual."
That to me is the weirdest part of your OP. Something is brewing.
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Is Knowing/Using The Name Of God Important?
by Vanderhoven7 ini say no.. although the tetragrammaton appears close to 7000 times in the hebrew scriptures, the personal name of god does not.
seems to me that god made sure that both that his personal name does not appear therein and that no one would ever actually know it or learn even how to pronounce it.
he also made sure that his name (baring 3 hallelujahs in revelation) did not appear in the new testament.
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TheLiberator
That is one subject that I just couldn't understand after discovering TTATT. But now it makes sense, and now I only use his name in a very specific or discerning way, especially in prayer.
For the believer, he is there Father. For everyone else, he is Yahweh. Now when I read the OT, it is clear, that those in God's favor were his "friends", and only his sons in the sense that he is there creator. But then Jesus introduced the Father, or we could say it more affectionately, daddy. Paul made that point when he used the expression"Abba Father".
Also, Paul used many scriptures that were originally applied to Yahweh, in connection with Jesus Christ. (This is what leads many to the trinity, but I have a different view). So now, God wants all attention to be on His Son. Now I appreciate scriptures like this even more today: Mark: 9. 7. "A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.""
What I never discerned before, is how each religion, has it's "main" doctrine they focus on. Seventh Day Adventists, Pentecostals, Christian Scientists, etc. For Jw's, it was the name, the name, the name, the name...... It feels so good to now understand such a simple concept. But until they wake up, this subject is beyond the grasp of Jw's.
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Musicians Who Died in the Last Year - or Through the Years- Who Do you Miss Most ?
by flipper ini think for me in the last year the death of david bowie got to me the most.
not only in the way he handled his demise so classy by even making a song about it and a you tube about dying and sharing it with fans, but just his whole persona i always thought was pretty cool.
plus i enjoyed a good many of his songs.
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TheLiberator
Jimi Jamison of Survivor. Great solo work.😢
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At a regional convention today....
by Nobodyspecial init really stands out to me just how phoney the bonds of forced brotherhood are.
the smiles are paper thin when they see each other in hotels.
the laughs forced.
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TheLiberator
The OP is so true. Those phony smiles and forced laughs are easily explained. Each individual for the most part, has one thing on there minds. THEMSELVES. They are thinking of there clothing and who will notice. "I am a pioneer, elder/ms and I am more spiritual." " I give talks at the RC, because I am one of the better speakers." "I need to get to convention first, so I can get those end row seats." "Who am I going to have dinner with tonight?"
They are thinking of there own self gratification when it comes to new releases. ( Remember the race to the books). They are thinking about all the little notes that they will "expand" on when they get back home to show how spiritual they are. They are thinking about there own "spiritual goals" that will make them look good. They want to give everyone the impression that there life is all together because they are so spiritual. In the end, it is simply "Look at me". And so they are blind to everyone, to the point of not thinking straight. I know this is true. I was one of those jerks.
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Here's a view on homosexuality for you...
by konceptual99 in...right from a pro-jw site in response to a post about the relative seriousness of homosexuality.
all you can do is reason from the scriptures, which you appear to have done.
homosexuality is as serious as bestiality, or adultery and fornication.
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TheLiberator
Yes, I too, view homosexual acts as abhorrent. However, as a new Christian, I have learned (and still learning) how to show love to everyone and what it means to not judge.
Here is the crux of the matter: Treating a person well and acknowledging a person's good qualities, does not mean I am endorsing a type of behavior. When it comes to homosexuals, the Watchtower sends a double message. I admit, it does create homophobia. But in the Watchtower, did you have a phobia of someone in the military? Did a uniform cause you to treat that person badly or avoid him? Not really. So why would I even have a desire to treat a homosexual in an unkind way, or perhaps simply putting on a "mask" of kindness? Why can't I be genuinely kind?
A homosexual worked in a store that helped my wife test and purchase some products. The honest truth, he was one of the nicest people I met. We talked and I was fine with that. Again, treating him well, does not endorse the behavior. I don't have to make it my focus. It is not my concern.
If a person asks me about my view, I would direct them to the Bible. In the past, everyone would say "you're not suppose to judge" . I couldn't understand this in the Watchtower. I now understand. God is the ultimate judge. All I can do is show the scriptures. I don't have to rub them into people's faces. It now becomes a matter between them and God. God doesn't need a third party.
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UPDATE: My existential crisis comes to a close
by Freeandclear inin case you read my other thread regarding my existential crisis and how it was making my life miserable and left me feeling hopeless, purposeless and joyless i though i'd share what's recently happened to me and my way of thinking and have i've for the time being resolved my existential crisis.
i write every day in a journal.
i've been doing this for years.
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TheLiberator
Beautiful post. You have made a leap into happiness. Just remember, regardless of what atheists say, this is not something that just makes you feel good because of fear of death. I had always planned on dying "old and satisfied". The bottom line is, that there is nothing that brings life to the soul like serving your Creator. To build faith, go beyond all the Watchtower's preschool articles about how we know the Bible is God's word. You will learn things that will leave you in awe. Reading God's word and prayer is like an instant connection to God when you are truly seeking him. Continue on this course. Christ said: John: 6. 44. " NO ONE CAN COME TO ME, unless the Father who sent me draws him."
Atheists fall into this category: "Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you." - 2 Chronicles 15:2
James: 4: 8. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
Isaiah: 41. 13. "For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Don't be afraid. I will help you.' "
PM anytime.