Hi all
I used to correspond with a dutch Jw who I believe was called Arnauld? I believe he worked for a pharmaceutical firm in the netherlandswe lost contact when I changed ISP. You still around mate?
JOHN
uncle_onion
JoinedPosts by uncle_onion
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trying to find Arnauld?
by uncle_onion ini used to correspond with a dutch jw who i believe was called arnauld?
i believe he worked for a pharmaceutical firm in the netherlandswe lost contact when i changed isp.
you still around mate?.
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greg staffords e mail?
by uncle_onion inhi.
has anyone got gregs e mail address please or know where i can get hold of it?.
uo
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uncle_onion
Hi
has anyone got gregs e mail address please or know where I can get hold of it?
UO
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4
Did Greg Stafford write this????
by uncle_onion ingot this e mail last week.
it is supposed to be written by gs.
if you read its contents and it is true, how is this man still an elder!
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uncle_onion
Got this e mail last week. It is supposed to be written by GS. If you read its contents and it is true, how is this man still an Elder! Have a read and tell me what you think!!!!
Posted by GregStafford on Sat - Jan
18 - 3:02pm: (Written on the ChannelC.org forum)
Hello,
I frequently get emails from Jehovah's Witnesses who are concerned about
certain teachings or policies in the organization, but who are left
asking, "Even if I think there are significant problems in the
organization, where else would I go if I left or if I am disfellowshiped
for speaking out against false teachings and abusive policies?"
Since this point comes up more than any other in the emails I receive, I
thought it might be helpful to post some thoughts on this question by
copying an email I recently sent to a concerned brother. I will keep his
name confidential, of course.
Dear *******:
Sorry for the delay in responding to your last email.
I am glad to hear that you have some positive leads on how to proceed
with your situation.
Regarding the first century Christians, what we have is a situation
where Christ's followers constantly battled for the truth and for sake
of the good news. This battle often involved confronting
persons inside the Christian Congregation who were speaking falsely.
Indeed, Paul went so far as
to write that if he, an inspired apostle, or an angel of light, spoke
differently from what they had
already been taught, then they should be rejected Galatians 1:8-9).
So there was a freedom among first century Christians to reject those
who taught error, and to hold true to one's conscience without fear of
being shunned. That freedom does not exist in the congregations of
Jehovah's Witnesses today.
As for the PAROUSIA, we do not know when this event will begin, or if it
has begun already. Therefore, we cannot use it as a sure basis upon
which to act. We must act according to what the Bible teaches and let it
be our guide. Assuming that God has established an organization today
because we may be in the period of the PAROUSIA ignores the fact that
God's chosen organizations of the past have all fallen into periods of
apostasy.
Therefore, the question is not whether or not God has an organization
today, but whether the organization we think is his has fallen into
doctrinal error. If we truly believe the Watchtower Society represents
Jehovah's will on earth, then we should be the most concerned of all
people if we find that errors are being taught. Yet, the thinking of
some Witnesses is that if it is God's organization we should ignore the
errors because it is God's organization!
That, to me, is incredible, and does not conform to the biblical pattern
where we find God and Christ Jesus approving of individual members of
their organizations (Jewish and Christian) who reacted to false
teachings and unholy policies that harmed God's people and that did not
represent his will. (Compare Jesus' words to the members of the
congregation in Ephesus, in Revelation 2:1-2.)
Whether the "dragnet" is still pulling as it was during the Middle Ages,
who can say? As Christians, we are called to imitate Christ and Christ
held truth to be paramount: "For this reason I have been born and for
this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the
truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice"
(John 18:37).
Paul taught Christians to'obey truth' (Galatians 5:7), and to be
"pillars in support of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). In Titus1:14
"commandments of men" are directly contrasted with "truth." Those who
turn from the latter to the former are called "deceivers of the mind" in
verse 10, and we are told to be "reproving them" in verse 3. How can
this be done in the Watchtower Society today? It cannot be done, except
from the top down.
You either accept what the Society says or you are marked and eventually
disfellowshiped. You are not able to bring a cause for complaint against
the members of the Governing Body or those responsible for the material
in the publications.
They will either correct themselves or they will not. You have no
recourse but to go along with what is written if you wish to remain a
member in good standing with the organization. This was not the way of
the first century Christians. Paul confronted Peter with a serious
complaint and Peter accepted the counsel. He did not complain that Paul
was out of place because he did not listen to the one (Peter) whom
Christ appointed to 'feed his little sheep' (John 21:15-17). He did not
complain about Paul causing division. How can division be wrong when the
division is over truth and error? These two must be divided.
Christians today do not view Paul's action as inappropriate, and yet he
is an example for all Christians (2 Thessalonians 3:9). Paul was right
and Peter was wrong, even though Peter was directly charged with
'feeding' Christ's followers.
The Bible speaks of weeds and wheat being intermingled until the
harvest, which harvest appears to be the time of Armageddon, not the
period since 1914, though I cannot say for sure. No one can. But if that
is the case, then it should not surprise us to find Christians in all
walks of life hidden from one another in many instances by "weeds," to
be united when Christ comes in judgment. Then his people will be
gathered from the four corners of the earth and comprise the "new
heavens and the new earth." (Well, at least this is one way to view it.)
This does not mean we cannot evangelize or tell others what the Bible
teaches on matters such as Christ's Messiahship, the divine name, God's
name and identity, and even do so with passion and conviction. But
understanding the complexities of Christian devotion today and how
fragmented God's people might be as a result of a wide range of
religions and authorities can help you have a more balanced perspective
which will allow those who choose to leave the Watchtower organization
to carry on their work in smaller numbers.
You mention that if you left the organization that your zeal would
likely decline. If your zeal would
decline as a result of leaving the organization, could it be that your
zeal is to some extent misguided? I ask this only because it is often a
problem for Witnesses to remain active apart from the organization
because the organization has
conditioned us to think along these lines:
quote:
** w73 7/1 p. 404 Praise Jehovah with His People ***
16 If we truly appreciate Jehovah's earthly organization, we will remain
loyal to it, knowing that the organization is his. If we were to leave
it, where else could we go? There is no other organization that is
doing the divine will or that is educating people for life everlasting.
When many abandoned Jesus Christ, he asked his apostles: "You do not
want to go also, do you?" Peter replied:
"Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life;
and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God."
(John 6:66-69)
** w74 7/15 p. 438 Have You Really Come to Know God? ***
21 Perhaps something is said in one of the Watch Tower publications that
you do not grasp or that adjusts our previous understanding of matters.
How do you view this? Will you allow doubts to creep in? Will confidence
be replaced with skepticism? Ask yourself: 'Where did I gain the
knowledge of the Scriptures that I already have? Has not the spiritual
food provided through the Watch Tower publications helped me to change
my life and find contentment and satisfaction? Where else would I go?'
This is the feeling toward Jehovah's arrangements that the disciples had
toward Jesus: "Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of
everlasting life."-John 6:68.
**w96 2/1 p. 24 Trust in Jehovah and His Word ***
9 Stick closely to Jehovah and his organization. Loyally imitate Peter,
who resolutely stated: "Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings
ofeverlasting life." (John 6:52, 60, 66-68)
Do you see the problem with this type of thinking?
While Peter in John 6:68 said, "Whom shall we go
away to," the organization has displaced Jesus with itself, asking,
"Where else will you go?" So, really, if your zeal is the product of
your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and Jehovah God, then it will not
decline. But if it is at all the product of the organization, as the
organization itself maintains it is, then your zeal likely will decline
until you are able to derive it solely from the true source of Christian
inspiration, Christ himself.
Don't get me wrong, this is still a very tough issue for all of us.
Especially for those of us with families, and that is why no decision
should be made in haste. But if we are guided by truth and by a desire
to hold fast to what can be proven from the Bible, not by enforcing
beliefs that are questionable as if they are unquestionable, we will
surely not displease Jesus or Jehovah.
My recommendation is simply to follow this course, and if you find that
in so doing you can remain an active member of the Watchtower Society
then that is what you should do. If not, then you should know that you
do not need to go anywhere else. It is not a question of where you are,
but to whom you are loyal, and 'where two or three are gathered in his
name, there he will be, too' (Matthew 18:20).
Your brother,
Greg -
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hi to all who remember me!!!
by uncle_onion init has been a long long time since i dropped by here!
a lot has happened since i last visited here.
my wife and i left the dubs and we were left alone despite me having a very "apostate" web site !
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uncle_onion
Thanks for the welcome back! I had no idea that I was that popular!!!! LOL
My son has taken the divorce quite bad especially as my ex does not have anything to do with me. There is zero communication which is difficult as he is having problems at school. But that is her choice and she will have to live with that.
I shall try and pop back and see what is going on but I cant promise. Two years ago, I researched and researched and researched. It was doing my head in! There came a point when i thought that enough is enough. So from that point I was no longer John H*&^*%d, an ex JW, but I was going to look forward and think about the future and what I was going to do with the rest of my life.I hardly ever talk about it (except when the dubs come to the door and I give them a hard time!!!) and that is the way that I have had to deal with it.Other people may be different.
I wish everyone who is going through now what I went through two years ago, the very best. Check everything for your self and make your own decision. If you decide that being a JW is for you after that, good on you! At least you will be more aware of what is going on and you have made that choice your self. If you feel like myself and MANY others that it is not what it says it is,then make that decision and move on.
Take care
UO
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hi to all who remember me!!!
by uncle_onion init has been a long long time since i dropped by here!
a lot has happened since i last visited here.
my wife and i left the dubs and we were left alone despite me having a very "apostate" web site !
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uncle_onion
Yes Blondie I am still a fire fighter! Good memory! Yeru, My ex stopped attending because I stopped attending. She did not read or look at anything so what she did was a knee jerk reaction. She started to attend a church and claimed to be born again but that only lasted a few months. She is now living in sin with a man 20 years older than her!
UO
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hi to all who remember me!!!
by uncle_onion init has been a long long time since i dropped by here!
a lot has happened since i last visited here.
my wife and i left the dubs and we were left alone despite me having a very "apostate" web site !
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uncle_onion
Hi all
It has been a long long time since I dropped by here! Hello to every one who "knows" me.
A lot has happened since I last visited here. My wife and I left the dubs and we were left alone despite me having a very "apostate" web site ! www.607v587.com but after a few months of not being dubs, we decided that the only thing that was keeping us together was the dubs and we split up. We got divorced a few months ago.I have now met a wonderful person by the name of Lisa and I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed life so much. Being out of the dubs and having someone on the same wave length as you is great. I have decided that Life is for living and that is exactly what I am doing! Just got back from Australia and in a week I am off to go skiing which is some thing that I have wanted to do for a long time!
My advice to anyone that is feeling very guilty about leaving the dubs is this: dont! life is brilliant. The world is not full of nasty people that are only looking out for themselves.The hold that the JWs have on you is very powerful but it is only powerful if YOU let it.If you feel the need to replace it with another religion then that is your choice but this time take a look around before jumping in. But most of all, do not judge others because they "feel" differently to you. And one final point: do not get get to your death bed and wish that you did this and this and this!!!!!! Just do it!
Take care all
John (uncle onion)
Edited by - uncle_onion on 8 January 2003 13:38:45
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Farewell Spike Milligan
by dmouse inspike milligan, one of my favourite comedians and famous for being one of the goons, passed away today.. he devoted some of his anarchic sense of humour to his poetry.
as a small tribute i would like to share one of his poems:.
well bread.. if you cast your bread on the waters,.
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uncle_onion
shame. He will
be missed.uo
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Answer from a JW friend about blood
by uncle_onion inthis is what a jw friend sent to me.
i had got him to read the latest letters on blood that were posted last week.i can t believe he read them.
this is his reply (typos and all).
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uncle_onion
just bringing this up[ to the top
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Answer from a JW friend about blood
by uncle_onion inthis is what a jw friend sent to me.
i had got him to read the latest letters on blood that were posted last week.i can t believe he read them.
this is his reply (typos and all).
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uncle_onion
I sent him that info. Here is his reply:
thehn they are breaking God's Law. All J.W. in the US
carry that card. I Have never Known anyone who has
taken blood. That is all I can say.It is a legal
Document Signed by 2 witnesses, and states what we
accept. I am a typical J.W. That is my stand
that is all I can say It is written on a legal
document . That else do you want.
P,S Does your new religion accept Blood, Have you or
any of your family been vacinated? In The US there are
many diseases in which it is the Law to be vaccinated
for MUMPS<RUBELA<MEASLES<CHICKEN
POCKS<HEPITITIS<WHOOPING COUGH> THEY ARE MADE FROM
ANTIBODIES TAKEN FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM THEN
CULTURED IN EGGS< THESE ANTIBODIES ARE TAKEN FROM
PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEM AND GIVEN TO THOSE WHO DO NOT
HAVE THEM . they are part of an immune system. Do you
get vaccinated ? does your New true religion accept
them?I wrote back:
bob
first of all I do not have a new relgion!
second did you notice that the white cell transplant was authorised by Bethel?
JOHN -
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three good reasons about Jesus
by uncle_onion inthere are 3 good arguments that jesus was.... black:.
1. he called everyone "brother".
2. he liked gospel.
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uncle_onion
There are 3 good arguments that Jesus was.... Black:
1. He called everyone "brother"
2. He liked Gospel
3. He couldn't get a fair trial.But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus
was... Jewish :1. He went into His Fathers business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his mother was
sure he was God.But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was
...Italian:1. He talked with his hands.
2. He had wine with every meal.
3. He used olive oil.But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus
was... a
Californian:1. He never cut his hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.But then there are 3 equally good arguments that Jesus
was... Irish:1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that
Jesus was... a
woman!1. He had to feed a crowd at a moment's notice when there
was no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of
men who just
didn't
get
it.
3. Even when he was dead, He had to get up because there
was more work for
Him
to do.Amen!!!
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