Thanks FreeGirl2006 and Doubting Bro
Glad you found my escapade with an elder entertaining
THE GLADIATOR
JoinedPosts by THE GLADIATOR
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48
Whats the most bizzare way a JW has ever tried to "encourage" you?
by highdose inin my case it was my best freind in the cong who decided to encourage me to answer up at the wt by... refusing to talk to me afterwards if i hadn't answered up!
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48
Whats the most bizzare way a JW has ever tried to "encourage" you?
by highdose inin my case it was my best freind in the cong who decided to encourage me to answer up at the wt by... refusing to talk to me afterwards if i hadn't answered up!
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THE GLADIATOR
Going from door-to-door with Elder Mature was always fun. He took himself seriously and appeared to be unaware of the comical figure that he cut in his crumpled suit. We had been out knocking on doors for some time on this bright Saturday morning, when we decided to stop off at a coffee shop. Today Elder Mature was in a thoughtful mood as he leaned towards me across the small table.
‘I’ve heard that you were a Pioneer for some years,’ he commented.
‘Yes. I left school early to Pioneer.’
‘What made you come off?’ he enquired, as though I had fallen of a horse - or worse.
‘After I left home it became difficult to do the required hundred hours a month and support myself.’
‘Why, what changed?’ he asked.
‘I found myself missing life’s little luxuries like food and clothes,’ I replied, with more than a hint of sarcasm.
‘Well you should have leaned on Jehovah. He will never let us down you know.’ Elder Mature shook his large head.
‘Yes I have heard that line many times before but reality is a very persistent intruder,’ I replied.
‘Yes, but now that you are on your feet again financially; it is something you should consider. I was thinking how encouraging it would be to the young people in our congregation, who are about to leave school, if they were to see you pioneering again.’
‘I see. You would like someone to set an example by pioneering. I think that is an excellent idea,’ I said nodding.
‘Good. So you will consider it? Perhaps starting off by vacation pioneering with a view to getting back into full-time service. It would make Jehovah’s heart very glad.’
‘Actually I think the young people would be more encouraged to see one of the Elders making sacrifices to set an example and Pioneer; perhaps someone who has no children, but does have a wife to help and assist with keeping the home running. How do you feel about taking up the challenge yourself?’ I suggested.
‘Me? No, no, no, Terry. I have a mortgage and my wife is not cheap to support. I have to work full-time just to pay for her shopping trips,’ he said laughing.
‘Well pioneering is never possible without making sacrifices. Working to buy a house with the end so close may give out the wrong signal to young people who are about to leave school. They may think that is what they are expected to do.’
‘I think you are running ahead a bit here, Terry. We were just talking generally about the possibility of you returning to the Pioneer service.’ Elder Mature seemed occupied trying to press the creases out of his crumpled trousers.
‘If you don’t feel able to make a sacrifice to Pioneer, perhaps your wife could Pioneer?’ I continued. ‘She doesn’t work at all.’
‘Now, now, Terry it’s not for you or me to decide who should Pioneer. Each of us has to decide for ourselves how much we are able to offer Jehovah out of the abundance of our heart.’
‘So true! The abundance of my heart enabled me to Pioneer for many years. It would be appropriate for someone older and mature, pardon the pun, to take a turn at experiencing the great joy that can come from pioneering,’ I gushed.
‘Um, well it was just an idea. I was thinking of the young brothers and sisters who have no commitments and are free to enter the Pioneer service,’ he mumbled.
‘It is good of you to be concerned about their well-being. In truth, I was far too young when I became a Pioneer. A lot of pressure was put on me to leave school early and Pioneer. It would have been better for me to stay on to take exams and get some qualifications; perhaps becoming a Pioneer when I was a older with some money in the bank. My conscience wouldn’t let me influence any teenager to do something that I now personally regret doing.’
‘I’m surprised to hear you say that, Terry. Pioneering is a wonderful privilege that Jehovah offers to young people. I wish I had been in ‘the truth’ when I was young so I could Pioneer.’
‘Pioneering is a lot more challenging than you may think. Along with joy there is hardship and pain,’ I added.
‘Now, now Terry, serving Jehovah is a joy and a privilege. How can serving Jehovah ever be painful?’
‘There is only one way to find out. Experience it for yourself. If you and your wife were to Pioneer it would be a blessing for you both and an encouragement to others in the congregation. I have been encouraged just listening to you and realizing that you have given so much thought to entering the Pioneer service,’ I said, smiling warmly.
Elder Mature was silent for a while and then he found his voice. ‘I am glad I have been able to encourage you. I have got to go now. I promised to take my wife down town for lunch and to do some shopping. You know what these women are like.’
I watched him shuffle off and felt a twinge of guilt. Knowing how seriously he viewed his position as Elder, maybe I should have resisted playing games. Perhaps I had been too hard on him? In the time it took to order another coffee, the guilt miraculously vanished.
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The "Tree of Life and its meaning"
by EdenOne inhi all.. just letting know that i've published a new article on my website, titled "the tree of life and its meaning".. you're welcome to visit, read and discuss it.. eden.
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THE GLADIATOR
As every school-boy knows - The Tree of Life has been use as a symbol in mythology for thousands of years before it was adopted in Genesis, meaning beginning. It is part of ledged and folklore as are many Bible stories written by people who were not born at the time they wrote their accounts of what happened, and had no witnesses, reference books, scrolls, or even google to consult. That’s one neat trick!
As far as I know the Earth originally had no atmosphere containing oxygen. All the air we breathe has come from trees converting Carbon dioxide for hundreds of millions of years. Naturaly the tree is seen as a symbol of life, as without trees we would not be here. If don’t Adam & Eve it, why not look it up.
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THE GLADIATOR
"So what does That say about Allah . Jehovah , Yahweh ,Elohim , etc. ,?"
I have not personally met any of these gods, nor have they spoken to me. The possibility exists - that they do not exist.
If I am wrong about this they may strike me down for my insolence.
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THE GLADIATOR
smiddy True it would not be tolerated. Allah is a very jealous god, even more jealous than Jehovah the Hebrew desert god of the Israelites.
In the west we sometimes take our freedom to believe or not believe for granted.
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Philosophy: The Theory of Everything:
by frankiespeakin inhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/theory_of_everything_(philosophy).
in philosophy, a theory of everything or toe is an ultimate, all-encompassing explanation of nature or reality.
[1][2][3]adopting the term from physics, where the search for a theory of everything is ongoing, philosophers have discussed the viability of the concept and analyzed its properties and implications.
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THE GLADIATOR
Threads like this often get overlooked, which is a shame.
Remember the poster Littletoe? Maybe he was onto something. Smart enough to move on.
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27
Does fear of death equate to need for God?
by Monsieur inread a very interesting opinion article on cnn last night.
"why i raise my kids without god".. .
the writer aluded to the fear of the possibility of one's life ending forever (along with our beloved children's).
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THE GLADIATOR
PSacramento You really are too good for this place - I would add that I enjoy life and when one enjoys life they don't want it to end - but it has to.
Death is not to be feared, it's just a disappointing end to a life well lived.
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Does fear of death equate to need for God?
by Monsieur inread a very interesting opinion article on cnn last night.
"why i raise my kids without god".. .
the writer aluded to the fear of the possibility of one's life ending forever (along with our beloved children's).
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THE GLADIATOR
“Fear of death has never been a reason for my faith.
Peace”
tammy
tec/Tammy - Having read hundreds of your posts, I would like to make a friendly observation. The reason for your faith seems to be a noble desire to justify seeing life as a positive and worthwhile endeavour that will work out perfectly and all come right in the end. I admire your optimism. I tend to see life as a fragile and unpredictable journey that rests on a wing and a prayer.
That’s one hell of a leap for an atheist.
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29
let's play Dear God
by Tater-T indear god, if you are a god as your followers claim you to be, why do you have to operate in the constraints of spacetime?
dear god, why did you have to sacrifice yourself to yourself to save your creation that you made with flaws?.
dear god, why do you not do anything about your old men in robes raping little boys?
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THE GLADIATOR
"Thanks Gladiator."
Thank you Tikt.aalik. I often get ignored, as I have, by choice, become irrelevent.
Take care.
