Posts by Thirdson

22

2001 District Convention Program

by Osarsif in

jw
friends

teachers of god's word.

district convention of jehovah's witnesses 2001-2002

fridayinspired scriptures beneficial for teaching -- 2 timothy 3:16morning9:30 music.

Thirdson

Sunday:

BE TEACHERS IN VIEW OF THE TIME -- Hebrews 5:12

My question: what time? Hebrews is being mis-applied and taken totally out if context to fit the theme of the day that the world is soon to end. Not that out-of-context scriptures won't be found all over the program.

As for the progam, it looks like most of the other 30 DC's I attended in my years from the mid 60's as a small kid. I am sure this is just a cut 'n paste job. It must easy putting these programs togther. Yawn!!!!!!

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

4

Cast the first Stone or Show Mercy...which?

by ISP in

jw
friends

*** rbi8 john 8:1-8 ***.

8 but jesus went to the mount of olives.

2 at daybreak, however, he again presented himself at the temple, and all the people began coming to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.

Thirdson

ISP and Philo,

This account means a lot to me. The NWT prints the passage in small print with the comment that it is excluded from certain manuscripts and hence is unreliable. However, much of John's gospel is unique and equally unreliable as to whether the events in the life of Jesus actually happened or are part of a tradition of "nice stories" that were accumulated in the decades after Jesus lived.

As far as I can remember the WTS has never quoted this passage in recent years (since 1950 - CD-ROM source) choosing not to do so because it is unreliable but more importantly it raises difficult questions about forgiveness and mercy.

As for me, it is as real an image of the man Jesus as any other gospel account. I'd like to believe Jesus really said and meant that. It is certainly well within the character of the man who taught love and forgiveness.

THirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

7

Chicago conventions newspaper report

by expatbrit in

jw
friends

report from the chicago sun-times.. note the arrogant assumption that non jw's have no clue why they are of a particular religion.. also the optimism about baptisms ("scores" = at least 40).. plus, there's that word qualified again!.

expatbrit.

tina, get down there with your placards and megaphone!.

Thirdson

Hi Esther,

I appreciate your comments and you are absolutely right. None of the laity will be allowed to give talks. The only ones who will be allowed to address the assembled will be of the gender with a certain anatomical appendage.

More than 50% of all "ordained ministers" of JW's cannot even read the Bible to the congregation from a lectern.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

11

June 7...How will you vote?

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

general election...june 7....uk.

how will you vote?.....now that we are allowed to vote it would be interesting to see what political persuasions we have.. for me it is important to vote.

for years i have been told that i cannot voice my opinion....however to vote for me is one of our fundamental human rights.

Thirdson

I can't vote! I understand I am illegible to vote in the UK now as I haven't lived in the UK for over 5 years. Not that I would have. However, I hope to be able to vote in the next US Presidential election if not the 2002 elections depending on my status change happening by then.

THirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

7

Qualified bible teachers?

by expatbrit in

jw
friends

here's a snippet from www.watchtower.org:.

jehovah's witnesses provide personal and group instruction in the bible at no charge.

if you would like to have a qualified bible teacher visit you in your home or at some other convenient place, this will gladly be arranged by jehovah's witnesses.. .

Thirdson

Hi Expat,

Qualified means you have pledged allegiance to the Watchtower Society and got a bit wet. This official ordination ceremony means you have passed the test of being able to find the answers in the paragraphs of the course material. (Being able to read is a help but not essential.)

I hope this helps.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

53

WHY APOSTATES THEMSELVES ARE DOOMED!!!

by You Know in

jw
friends

all mankind stands condemned before god, and yet some are more reprehensible than others are.

as an example, christ called the original christian apostate, judas, the son of destruction.

so too, and not surprisingly, the activities of modern day apostates are said to awaken the judgment from of old, so that "the destruction of them is not slumbering.

Thirdson

Y1K,

One of the things that bring the apostate in line for the judgment of everlasting death is the blasphemy that they heap on Jehovah.

I only heap criticism on the evil, corrupt publishing house called the Watchtower Society. Are they God? Have you not also criticized your lords and masters in Brooklyn? Where does that put you?

As for being doomed, I know it, death comes to all us of in due time as it has to all humans before us and will to all after us.

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

4

Enterprise

by betweenworlds in

anyone else out there a startrek fan?

looking forward to the new series with scott bakula.

been a fan of his since quantum leap.

Thirdson

Hi Between,

I saw the last episode of Voyager last night. During the commercial breaks "Enterprise" was being advertized. I heard about the new series a few months back, supposed to be set pre-Kirk era. Scott Bakula is in it you say? Could be good, I always liked Quantum Leap. I just hope it stays within the standards of the later series of ST and not something really cheesy like "Andromeda".

Regards,

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

205

HELLO? HELLO? "ALL" SIGN IN???????

by waiting in

simon did away with the sex forum - so i must take the tradional route and post under "make new friends.

" how mundane!.

fyi ---- for all of us, please take the time to write a sentence or two about yourselves, and encourage new ones to do the same.

Thirdson

Test to edit later

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

14

New Here Also- Thoughts on the current state of JW

by secretjw in

i am a baptized witness... i've been around it most of my life.

i've been baptized for a while now.. just as a topic of thought, what do you think is the current state of the society/jehovah's witnesses today?

it seems like we're in the last days.... but then again, the last days have been going on for 60+ years!

Thirdson

SecretJW,

while this is probably "about as good as it gets" in terms of religion, is it the absolute and concrete "Truth"?

As a former JW, raised in it, baptized and active publisher for over 20 years, ex-elder too...I say NO. It is not as good as it gets. In fact it is a poor excuse for a religion and you should get out a bit more and investigate other religions. Sure they are full of the same imperfect people and have many of the same problems you'll see at the KH's. But you will find just as much if not a whole lot more love shown outside JW's and shown to all people regardless of race, sex, income and most importantly belief system. Go to the innner-city church that provides food and shelter to the homeless and ask do JW's do anything better? What about after school reading programs, adult education, health clinics and legal services for the poor. How many of these facilities does the WTS provide?

I don't have to say anything about the concrete truth, just stay around here for a while and read. Do take part in the discussions, we all welcome your thoughts and input. But don't be like me, I waited 20 years to get my head out of the sand, take a look around.

Regards,

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'

32

Hair-raising Tale!

by Free2Bme in

jw
friends

let's have some fun.did you find out some juicy gossip about a witness that you are just dying to blab?.

here's one from me.. i went to a hairdressing salon for the first time and the stylist was a camp male who never stopped chatting from the second he got his gesticulating paws on my scruffy mop.. my mum who is a devout jw was sitting reading a mag waiting for me.. next thing he's telling us about his gay male friend who is a bit down because he is having an affair with a jw.

to make things worse he is married with kids (the brother not the gay friend).. stifling my shock and trying not to look at my mum who is staring wildly and unseeingly at her mag i asked his name or address and although he didn't know the name he told us his street and district!.

Thirdson

Free,

Here's some juicy gossip about an elder on your side of the Atlantic as told to me by my brother-in-law. My BIL worked with a JW Elder who happens to be the same elder (the secretary) I mentioned in Amazing's topic on lording it over. This elder (let's call him John since that was his real name) was a carpenter and took a contract to renovate a rich, elderly lady's home. He bought the material for the jobs and a number of tools including one for over 300 GBPounds and presented a bill to the home owner for payment. She noticed the one expensive power tool and asked about it. The elder told her it was a required tool for the job at hand and that he would buy it back at the end of the job. The tool disappeared and my BIL asked John where it was. He said he took it home since it he didn't want it stolen. The tool was never used on that job and John quietly forgot about buying it. In the building trade, materials and tools are fair game and lots are "nicked". John the elder who was too opinionated about even little things such as not removing shoes in the KH had no problem with stealing from worldly people.

I guess in the spirit of the definition of lying according to the Insight book, stealing must only be "taking someone else's possessions who is entitled to not have things taken."

Thirdson

'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'