Parousia

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Posts by Parousia

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  13

  Examples in the Bible?

  by happyout in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i am not in a position to do research on this, but maybe someone can help me out.

  dubs don't celebrate birthdays because the two examples in the bible were negative, right?

  well, each time jesus went into a "temple", didn't he have a negative experience?

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  Parousia

  Did he "assault people" or did he "assault" a table?
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  19

  They just came to my door!

  by 4christ in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  eek...... i just had a visit from 2 lady jws!

  i was totally caught off guard.

  my dogs barked at em so i had to put them out before i could answer.

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  Parousia

  Lauren,
  Good job! I'm proud of you!
  I always hope and pray that my parents will call on someone like you. When JW's come to my door I think, "Someone out there might be praying for these people." Even though I've been out for a long time, I still get nervous when I talk to them, but then I remember it's a spiritual battle. There is someone who doesn't want them to hear the truth.
  Myla
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  34

  My new toy

  by Princess in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i see lots of people posting threads about their new toys.

  mostly male, trucks, motorcycles stuff like that.

  this afternoon while making lattes for mulan and big red, my espresso machine became quite rude with me.

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  Parousia

  Princess,
  If you are ever away from your cool new machine, are desperate for a latte, and just happen to be on the Kitsap Peninsula ... stop by Caffe Parousia on Hwy 305 in Poulsbo, and have a drink on the house. I'll post a note up that says if anyone ever comes in and says they are a Princess, I owe them a drink. If I'm not there and a man gives you a hard time (he teases nearly everyone) say, "I was told you wear the pants, but someone else wears the pockets." Heehee. He will know. Those are his own words--not mine.
  Parousia
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  35

  Praise Jah - Designer of Killer Sperm

  by PopeOfEruke in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was reading about a recent scientific discovery in a new book about human sexuality.

  it has long been in evidence that married women who are having an affair often fail to get pregnant.

  as soon as one of the sexual partners leaves the relationship pregnancy often occurs quickly thereafter.. scientists may have discovered a mechanism for this.

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  Parousia

  Pope

  This discovery is amazing. What is the name of the book or study you are referring to?

  It makes me wonder if the killer sperm were a part of the original creation or another one of the many results of the fall? As for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.... After sin and the resulting curse many things changed, labor pains for women, the toiling by the sweat of man's brow to grow food, the earth producing thorns and thistles, and death to name just a few.

  I personally wouldn't recommend jumping to conclusions judging God. I had the experience of being harshly misjudged based on misinterpreted evidence and an inclination to throw the baby out with the bath water. When all the facts were known, the accusers were humiliated. Now I try to remember that nothing is so flat that it doesn't have two sides. I know what it is like to be wrongly judged, and God is one Being I wouldn't want to make that mistake with.

  Parousia
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  184

  Questions for Creationists

  by IronGland in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what does creationism explain?.

  what does it predict?.

  what about blind cave fish with residual eyes.

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  Parousia

  Rem said, "Yes, in the spirit of Proverbs 18:17, I would recommend anyone who is interested to do research on both sides of the issue. The problem is that many people only research the side that is comfortable to them (creation, intelligent design) and don't honestly look at the other side and the counter arguments."

  I agree. It is sometimes hard not to let our experiences influence our ability to be objective.

  In school I was one of those kids who liked to be invisible. I behaved and did what was expected of me. In junior high being embarrassed publicly was one of my worst fears. One day in ninth grade, after explaining the evolution unit we would be studying in class, the science teacher asked for a raise of hands of those who believed in God. I slipped a quiet hand up and quickly back down. At the tender age of fourteen, it was all I knew. My admission was simply my honest answer to his question. What came next? My worst fear. Public humiliation and ridicule. I didn't know it was coming, and it scared me. I was shaking.

  A JW elder came to my door once. Once he figured out I knew too much, his eyes narrowed. He eyed me suspiciously. He started ridiculing me and accusing me of being an "Eve." He left yelling loud enough for my neighbors could hear. I remained quiet, but my knees were the consistency of jello. After he left, I cried.

  I had the same feeling after both encounters I have described. Honest debate was not the objective of either man, using fear and intimidation,
  winning was.

  So, what did I learn? Be careful who you debate with.
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  184

  Questions for Creationists

  by IronGland in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what does creationism explain?.

  what does it predict?.

  what about blind cave fish with residual eyes.

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  Parousia

  Rem said, "Remember, most, if not all, of us were creationists before doing the research and seeing the problems with the bible creation story and the explanitory power of the evolutionary model."

  For anyone who wants to do a little "research" check this website out:
  www.origins.org

  Fell and Landed
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  26

  I was on the air today with Dr. Joy Browne

  by Bona Dea in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i don't know if anyone here listens to dr. joy but i love her show and most of the time agree with her advice.

  well, today i grew some balls and decided to call in and ask her what she thought i should do in my current situation (which is probably the closest i will come to seeking professional advice).

  i never mentioned the name of the "religious group" in which my husband was involved, but i informed her about some of the things that they believe and how it was affecting my marriage and family.

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  Parousia

  Just for some perspective as a child....

  I was raised a JW from birth. My parents got in as adults. They grew up with the holidays etc. They never had to face a teacher and a class of kids and explain why they couldn't salute the flag. They didn't have to sit alone in some place doing work while other kids had fun doing holiday activities. They have no idea how bad I felt about myself because I longed to participate or to have someone acknowledge they were happy I was born.

  I felt from a very early age, 5 or 6, that Jehovah knew how I felt and that he would never let me into the new system. I hid all that and put on a good front for years.

  I have two sisters and a brother. We all came through being raised JW's damaged. All of us have had problems like depression, substance abuse, etc. until we got out and got help. Except one of my sisters who is currently in and out of the state mental lock down from suicide attempts. She still feels hopeless. The other three of us have all found hope, peace, and healing. Our lives are and have been stable since we put our trust in God himself by way of Jesus NOT an organization.

  These verses explain what I mean by that, verses that opened my eyes and heart to the peace I now have:
  Romans 12:1-2 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of Christ has set you free from the law of sin and death."
  2 Corinthians 5:21, "He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
  Titus 3:5, "He saved us not on the basis of deeds done in righteousness, but according to His mercy...."
  1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation (satisfaction, or payment made in full) for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world."
  1 John 5:13, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know you have eternal life."

  I write all this in order to plead with you to put yourself on your childs level and try to understand the kind of life he or she will face ... one of condemnation, working and never being good enough, or even facing death from having lifesaving blood withheld. And it's a long journey towards healing later in life if they are lucky enough to get out. My sister let my parents take her two kids to the meetings and read the books to them when they were elementary school age. It turns out her daughter has some of the same problems with feeling condemned.

  I wish my parents would have looked into what they were getting their family into. They went about it like buying a car without checking under the hood to see if there was even an engine before handing over all their money! They never questioned any of it and still don't. We are all lost as far as they and the organization are concerned. Three of us are free though and hopefully all of us will be someday.

  Sorry I got kind of long on this ... I got a feeling of urgency like those of rushing into a burning building to save a child from danger.

  Fell and Landed
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  64

  Are Born Agains qualified to help JW's?

  by sleepy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  are born agains qualified to help jw's?.

  i don't think so.sorry if you are one i have nothing against you personnally, nor jw's come to think of it, but offering your version of truth to jw's is for them to jump out of the frying pan into the fire.. the bible is the root of jw problems , and following that book in which ever way you wish will always be in error..

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  Parousia

  JT,
  I'm sorry I didn't explain myself well. I always thought my problem was with some other group or denomination until I came to the realization my problem wasn't with other people but Jesus and what he said.

  I had never read his words and claims about himself without someone, namely the WTS, telling me what he was saying. I was challenged to read the book of John by itself. I did and that's when things began to unravel for me.

  I had three choices as I saw it; believe in what the WTS told me it said, believe what Jesus said at face value, or throw them both out. It wasn't a flippant decision; it was gut wrenching ... for I risked being rejected by my parents. In the end I chose to take Jesus' words at face value. I suffered loss for it, but I don't regret it.

  As I see it, I gained something I can't put a price on. I joined myself to Jesus because I figured if he thought I was worth dying for, he was worth believing in. No one had ever put that kind of value on me. It was free to me but cost him a lot. It was an offer I couldn't refuse.

  As to the hell question. What would I say? If I accept that God made the universe and all that's in it, and say I don't want anything to do with him, taking into account that he says he is light and love and all that, then hell must be the absence of God and all he made. Where does that leave me? I guess the absence of him must be hell. But it's my choice. No one has foisted it on me.

  Edited by - Parousia on 15 September 2002 19:43:26
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  17

  JEHOVAH'S WITNESS TYPES

  by Deli King in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many of the following types did you have in your home cong.?

  the leader(s).

  (this is the only one not likely to be found in the local congregation, at least not for long.

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  Parousia

  What would you call the guy who gave the talk on ... masterba ... err... you know what I mean, but went up on stage with his fly down ... while his wife tried desperately to get his attention as descretely as possible to do something about it ... while his teenage daughter (me)tried to slide under her seat unnoticed??!!

  We were new to the congregation and Dad was trying so hard to make a good impression.... Heehee
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  64

  Are Born Agains qualified to help JW's?

  by sleepy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  are born agains qualified to help jw's?.

  i don't think so.sorry if you are one i have nothing against you personnally, nor jw's come to think of it, but offering your version of truth to jw's is for them to jump out of the frying pan into the fire.. the bible is the root of jw problems , and following that book in which ever way you wish will always be in error..

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  Parousia

  I feel bad that some of us have left such a bad taste in the mouth.... As a former JW and now a BA, I apologize for my fellows BA's lack of love and grace.

  I personally had a problem with this whole born-again concept until I realized Who I was arguing with.... Wasn't it Jesus who coined the phrase "born-again?"

  Jesus said in John 3:3,7,8, "Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he can see the kingdom of God.... Do not marvel because I told you, you must be born-again. The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it come from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the spirit." NWT

  Notice Jesus explains why and how a few verses later, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotton Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." NWT

  And, yes, I've seen some loving BA's really touch the lives of some hurting JW's, and they weren't EXJW's either. BA's can help JW's if they do it like Jesus did ... and aren't afraid to wash some feet.

  Fell and Landed