Separation of Powers

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Posts by Separation of Powers

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  17

  How do you get a word in edge-wise, when talking to a JW?

  by Faithful Witness in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just looking for some pointers, as i was never a jw.

  i have an elderette coming over on friday, for another performance.. last week, i was under the impression that she was coming to answer some questions i had.

  it quickly became clear that she came with a plan for the "conversation," and we went on an expedition from one passage of the bible to the next, while she made leaping claims, argued with herself and kept me confused and always with more than one question lingering in my mind, while she continued talking and talking.. when i have a conversation with someone, i tend to stop talking when they are speaking.

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  Separation of Powers

  I use a shoe horn. Oh wait, maybe it was a bull horn!
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  103

  Why do I bother to wake up in the morning?

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm not suicidal just fed up.. i did think of suicide (briefly), but as there is no painless way and it's not something i would willingly do just in case things would have been better the day after.

  i do have a slight grain of hope.. money problems.....problems at home (that's another matter with a son up court for something he is adamant he didn't do.

  first offence but the pigs police and the cps have got charges made.

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  Separation of Powers

  Because you are AWESOME!
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  20

  No refreshments.

  by quellycatface in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why is it that we never had coffee/tea after the meeting??

  yet, nearly every kh has a kitchen??.

  i do now i'm going to church.

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  Separation of Powers

  Cause people don't want to stay around and chat...they want to go home and see Dancing with the Stars or American Idol. The gossip is better left for service.
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  12

  Where to go from here(new to TTHATT)

  by Batman89 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as some of you know now im fairly new to ttatt so im still coming to grips with the fact that in my 24 years of life up to this point i have been in an organization that isnt the true religon that i believed.

  im a very positve and optimistic person and have never been depressed while a youth in the "truth", but its still somewhat of a tough pill to swallow considering i gave up my dream of playing college basketball to get baptized when i was 18. and also the fact that armegeddon really isnt coming and i wont get to spend forever with my wonderful parents(who also know tthatt) and others close to me.. i also consider myself to have good social skills(that i developed during my rebelious years) although im somewhat of an introvert and always had "worldly" friends even when i was an ms but i im finding it tough to shake off the "all worldly people are bad" mentality that ive had for so long.

  i guess my question is how long did it take you guys to get over everything and move on?

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  Separation of Powers

  Hey Batman89,

  It is a rough road... if you are a person of faith, then cling to the faith in your God and his promises through his Word. If you become agnostic, like me and many others on this forum, cling to the ideals that made you the good person you are...

  There is a really great quote that someone posted here before.

  "Live a life of virtue, for if there are gods and they are just, they will not care how devout you are or have been, They will welcome you based on the virtues that govern your life. If there are gods and they are unjust, then why should you worship them at all? If there are no gods, then when you are gone, you will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of those who have loved you." Marcus Aurelius (from the latin)

  Be happy. Be good. Be yourself.
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  26

  Have the bible highlights talk... All suggestions accepted!

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ok, so i have the bible highlights talk this week.. exodus 1-4 i think?.

  i would love to drop a thought provoking comment into my talk... any suggestions?.

  so far i have been thinking of showing how violent god was to the egyptians.

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  Separation of Powers

  Exodus 4:31- the whole Bible highlights on 1 verse (New International Version)

  "And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery...they bowed down and worshiped."

  There have got to be dozens if not scores of people who feel like you do....they need to know there is someone that they can turn to when it all just goes away....
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  324

  Is this new donation arrangement for real?

  by nugget in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  just read a post on jwsurvey about the new donation arrangement.

  congregations are to pledge a monthly amount to be sent to the society to fund the building of assembly halls and kingdom halls.

  congregations who already have a loan from the society will no longer have to pay back the loan but the amount pledged should not be less than the current monthly repayments to the society.

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  Separation of Powers

  Whatever>>>
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  28

  The best explanation of Matthew 24 and 'This Generation', that I've read so far

  by Island Man in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  http://meletivivlon.com/2014/04/02/this-generation-a-new-premise/.

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  Separation of Powers

  Good points all. Question: What if Jesus was only referring to his generation? Then this is all moot.
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  17

  Today i miss my friends and feel negative. How did you overcome?

  by Jon Preston in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  today nothing feels right.

  i feel like a bystander to all things.

  as if im nowhere and have no forward progression.

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  Separation of Powers

  Hello Jon

  I have my bouts as well, at times. I keep reminding myself that I have chosen to take a different path and although I miss the association, I really don't miss any of the people. When I remove my desire for camaraderie from the equation, I admit that most of those with whom I once associated frequently were very shallow sorts. We spent most of our time chatting about almost nothing at all, particularly nothing important.

  To address the vacancy, in terms of association, I began to take classes at the local college, online mainly. It gave me a goal and provided some interaction, meaningful interaction. Then, I found some charity that needed support, something I believed in and made it a point to make sure that I interacted with others who likewise found it meaningful.

  Additionally, I reached out to family who were not consumed by the ORG, and I came to the most meaningful of realizations, namely, there are a lot of good people out there that would like to be your friend. True, genuine people who will have your back in a crisis, who will visit you in the hospital, who will hold your hand when you cry, or laugh out loud at your jokes. People, who like you, have made drastic turns in their lives and are looking for someone to help them fill their void.

  One of the most crucial things you have to do is STOP THINKING LIKE A JW. No, I don't mean forget your morals or ethics; I mean don't look at others as if they are all destined for death or otherwise merit it. Believe it or not, it may well be part of your psyche. Open your eyes, grasp each day, say hello to a stranger and believe in a cause. Kindness is now my religion. It has made a difference.

  With kind regard,

  SOP
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  75

  I need help! Talk coming up and I need ideas fast!

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  omg i am so distressed.

  i have a talk coming up on tuesday, it is the number 3 "abiram.

  why opposing god appointed authority is tantamount to opposing god himself"!.

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  Separation of Powers

  I thought about the way that the talk might be given....

  SAMPLE TALK: Abiram

  Is it wise to simply follow a crowd just because it seems that they are right and someone else is wrong? Is it wise to give in to the peer pressure of a group?

  There is an old saying, "show me who you associate with and I will tell you who you are."

  This saying aptly can be made of Abiram. Now there are 3 different Abirams mentioned in the Bible, I guess it was once a common Hebrew name. But, the one we are referring to tonight is the one mentioned in the book of Number. He is mentioned in connection with his brother, Dathan and another, more notable fellow...Korah.

  You may remember Korah as the principal "noteworthy" who challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron in the desert. Abiram was part of his inner circle. Although he was complicit in relation to this rebellion against Moses, it was apparently the "fame" of Korah that moved him to join in this endeavor. Let's read about this in Numbers chapter 16 (choose a couple of the verses that highlight Korah as the ringleader.)

  We learn valuable lessons from this account. Notice how the men involved in this rebellion were men of "fame" or "noteworthy." They were respected men who used their notariety to promote their interests NOT God's. By rebelling, they were in direct conflict with God.

  We must remember that Moses was the mediator between God and Israel. These "noteworthy" ones did not wish to see Moses fulfill those duties, rather, they wished to take the place of Moses. Afterall, didn't they say in verse 3 "are we not all consecrated?" (Or something like that...I am trying to remember the story from memory)

  No, they wished the fame for themselves. Today, Jesus is God's chosen mediator. Never should we allow someone or something to try and overshadow his relevance in God's purpose or try to take the honor and prestige for themselves and thus, affect our relationship with the Most High, just a Korah Dathan and Abiram did.

  The example of Korah Dathan and Abiram serves in another capacity as well. Notice Number 26:10-11. There were others that joined in the rebellion against the Mediator, Moses, 250 others in fact. They did so willingly. They may have been pressured by others in the group to conform to a line of reasoning that was shallow or unfounded, Who knows? But, they blindly followed. Yes, they should have asked questions. They should have wondered if there was some "other" reason why Korah Dathan and Abiram were asking people to follow them or at least "respect" their authority, although self-appointed. Who knows why? But, they apparently did not. No, in the eyes of God, they were just as guilty as the three, no four with the inclusion of the man On. They accepted that these "men" wanted to be treated as special. That they "deserved" consideration because they "believed" that they were in fact special and others conferred that "specialness" to them. No, the destruction of those 250 was a warning for the Israelites and serves as a warning for us. Never, never should we allow anyone to take the place of God's chosen Mediator. It is he alone that Jehovah has appointed. Let the example of Abiram be a warning for us. A warning to not simply follow others, but, as Christians, follow God's appointed ruler.
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  43

  Is it all about the money?

  by Laika in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  often on this forum there are posts about how the gb are obsessed with money and some people here often suggest this impacts every decision the gb makes i.e.

  on my holiday thread it was suggested jws aren't allowed to celebrate holidays as it means spending money on presents that they want for themselves.. i however, do not think this is at all true.

  the society rarely talks about money and as a percentage of income i think the vast majority of jws contribute a very small amount simply because the society rarely talk about it.. obviously money is important to the society in the sense that they couldn't run a major organisation without it, so they have to ask for it at times and factor it in to some of their decision making, but actually the gb live quite frugally and seem to worry much more about clinging to their authority and power than getting rich.. my controversial suggestion of the day is that saying the gb are obsessed with money must make us look silly to lurkers.. what does the jwn intellegentsia think then?.

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  Separation of Powers

  Someone other than the GB are worried about the money....But it seems to be all about the money.