Roddy

Joined 22 years ago

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Posts by Roddy

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  18

  Pray silently?!? What the heck is this about?

  by A-Team in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  17 years ago

  i was just reading memphisbelle's account, and she mentions that the wt says that one is suppose to pray silently so satan wouldn't be able to mess up god's plans.

  um, correct me if i am wrong, since i have never been, or will never be a jw....but what the heck kind of logic is this?!?

  (especially if you read what the bible says about prayer.

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  Ok, this is the only related quote I could find. Nothing more specific...

  *** w62 7/1 p. 415 Questions From Readers ***

  ? Can Satan and his demons read our minds?—M. C., United States.

  There is nothing in the Scriptures to indicate that Satan and his demons can read our minds or thoughts. Rather, the implication of the Scriptures is that only God can read the mind of man: “Mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is.” Further we are told regarding God: “There is not a creation that is not manifest to his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting.”—1 Sam. 16:7; Heb. 4:13.

  However, most likely the demons can, because of higher intelligence and better powers of observation, note what is in the mind of man because of his actions and facial expressions. Thus when a man goes contrary to Matthew 5:28 it may be apparent on his face, and so one could tell what is in his mind even though being unable to read it. So they may take advantage of weaknesses that one makes evident and tempt him to sin.

  This underscores the importance of right thinking and dependence upon Jehovah. When wrong thoughts enter the mind they should be rejected at once; they should not be entertained, opening the way to sin. (Jas. 1:14, 15) Rather, draw close to God through prayer and meditation on his Word, because in this will be found protection against wrong desires and against the temptations of the Devil and his demons.—Jas. 4:7, 8; Phil. 4:8, 9.

  Great find, Inkling. This certainly explains a few JW superstitions.

  Do you think the writer of this article had too much time on his hands when he was putting this article together?

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  18

  Pray silently?!? What the heck is this about?

  by A-Team in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  17 years ago

  i was just reading memphisbelle's account, and she mentions that the wt says that one is suppose to pray silently so satan wouldn't be able to mess up god's plans.

  um, correct me if i am wrong, since i have never been, or will never be a jw....but what the heck kind of logic is this?!?

  (especially if you read what the bible says about prayer.

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  I was just reading MemphisBelle's account, and she mentions that the WT says that one is suppose to pray silently so Satan wouldn't be able to mess up God's plans. Um, correct me if I am wrong, since I have never been, or will never be a JW....but what the heck kind of logic is this?!? (especially if you read what the Bible says about prayer.)

  I've heard about this too. I heard it from a brother - not from any publication or public meeting. The brother said that if you pray out loud about what's bothering you or what's in your heart or stuff like that you are allowing Satan and his demons to evesdrop on your most secret thoughts and feelings. And they could use that against you.

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  11

  JWs still do Phone 'callin' - instead of door-knockin...

  by Jim_TX in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  17 years ago

  i just got a phone call from my wife.

  she said that the phone rang a few minutes ago (about 11am local time), and when she looked at the caller-id, it said 'jehovah's witnesses'... or somesuch.

  so - she answered the phone.

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  My take is that it's a messy day today, and they were at the local KH making phone calls - to get their 'time' in for the day.

  I'll bet that right next to the KH telephone there is a "donation" box where the publisher puts in the "suggested" 30 cents for making each phone call. Most will make three calls, donate a dollar, and give the 10 cents change away for free.

  (Used to be you did telephone witnessing from your own home. Shut-ins and handicapped that are in good standing still do it this way, I believe.)

  Still pains me how they extract so much free labor and money from really good people who really don't know what's going on.

  For example: How many of them don't know that all the money they contributed for the kingdom hall does not belong to their congregation? In every congregation all the elders of the kingdom hall have a secret meeting which transfers ownership of the land and building of the kingdom hall directly to the WTS without pre nor post congregation notice of what they have done!

  When I heard and confirmed this "truth", I stopped contributing. I didn't consent to it and I figured the WTS can pay for their own mortgage and maintenence for this under-the-table action for a kingdom hall we were fooled to believe is ours but that is secretly their's paid with our money.

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  26

  Reinstated 5 yrs ago

  by Treebe in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  17 years ago

  i am just trying to understand what my choices are.

  i have been reinstated for just over 5 yrs and still have not had my privileges back.

  i am a single mom and have been to all the meeting that we can, doing our best outside of kids colds and flu's, not to mention car trouble, but i have always turned in my time each month and study reports, but still i can not answer.

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  TMS said : One of my lowest points as an elder: I encouraged a young married sister to consider auxiliary pioneering. She looked at me quizzically. "You've never restored my privileges! I can't pioneer or even comment yet." I felt about an inch high. It was a terrible injustice. There is no real system in place to monitor the restoration of privileges for reinstated persons. It totally depends on the alertness of the elders and the aggressiveness of the one reinstated.

  This is 100% spot on. Even when we were trying to be alert, things fell through the cracks. There are no forms, no formal review, no process to ensure that people don't languish in a state of despair over their privileges being restored. I saw what TMS describes many times during my service as an elder... and honestly, it wasn't malicious, there was just more process, procedures, and forms built around ensuring the KH was maintained properly than there was around making sure the people were cared for, especially those that were struggling to return post-discipline.

  Yet they keep all sorts of paperwork both in the congregation's files and at the branch office or Bethel office of every detail of your judicial committee meetings and disfellowshipping. Permanent record too!

  Forget for a copy of anything they write about you that's on file - just to check for accuracy. Such files "doesn't exist".

  Rather sick when you think about it!

  I think the only way to counter all the negative files they have against you is to sell your house, give all the money to the WTS, and enter missionary work to wherever country they send you.

  Then maybe you can return to the congregation after five years, be invited to come up to the stage duing the Service Meeting, and share some of your personal field service experiences!

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  26

  Reinstated 5 yrs ago

  by Treebe in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  17 years ago

  i am just trying to understand what my choices are.

  i have been reinstated for just over 5 yrs and still have not had my privileges back.

  i am a single mom and have been to all the meeting that we can, doing our best outside of kids colds and flu's, not to mention car trouble, but i have always turned in my time each month and study reports, but still i can not answer.

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  I am just trying to understand what my choices are. I have been reinstated for just over 5 yrs and still have not had my privileges back. I am a single mom and have been to all the meeting that we can, doing our best outside of kids colds and flu's, not to mention car trouble, but I have always turned in my time each month and study reports, but still I can not answer.

  Maybe wherever you did was really "bad"? Do you know if you are being "punished" for bad reputation or something?

  I find it inconsistant that for five years they will allow you to go door-to-door representing the congregation yet not allow you personal expression in the kingdom hall. I wonder if you are allowed personal expression at the book study? I wonder if shepherding calls were ever made to you in these five years? I wonder if anyone has encouraged you for your efforts as a single mom - a kind word, something for the gas for your car, help with the kids, invite you over for tea and a little adult conversation, little things like that? Do they reject your financial support too?

  You have an unloving congregation.

  I know this seems hard but you need to find another congregation or find another religion.

  If the PO or CO has seen nothing "wrong" with the congregation's consideration of you for five years, it is not going to get fixed now just for you. Sadly, this is so unlike the illustration of Jesus' about the good shepherd who left behind 99 sheep to find the one lost sheep.

  You got some prayerful thinking to do! May Jehovah give you insight.

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  2

  SMOKING GUNS?

  by BEROEAN in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  17 years ago

  i've visited this board often looking for hard evidence of a major story, but most of what's reported here is misdeamenor type stuff.

  other reports are heresay or rumored.

  does anyone have some real smoking gun facts?

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  I've visited this board often looking for hard evidence of a major story, but most of what's reported here is misdeamenor type stuff. Other reports are heresay or rumored. Does anyone have some real smoking gun facts? For example, several people have alluded to the Gov. Body members being pedophiles. Can't someone hide a camera up their tookis during one of these orgies? Also, there's been reports of lavsih lifestyles and expensive suares. Can't someone take pictures of Gov. Body members having "all white" parties? Come on people! This section is called 'Scandals & Coverups'! I want mug shots, love children, and sex tapes!

  Unless you want to entrap the person or you are conducting a sting operation, usually such things happen in the moment, by consent, or the victim was too powerless to do anything about it at the time.

  The victim or witness has to come forward and the police has to do their crime scene invesitation and interrogation - and the police are quite good at it. They know how to get information from liars.

  I've always maintaind, even when I was in the JWs, that the elders are totally unqualified to act as police. I think these kinds of matters should be given to the authorities immediately and let the authorities get to the bottom of it. Then let the elders deal with the spiritual rebuilding of the guilty and innocent parties, after, of course, professional services were consulted. (Yes, I've known too many elders that are complete idiots and made matters worse for the people they were supposed to help. The sad thing is that they refuse to admit to their damage and blame the person for not having a "good attitude".)

  Oh well! We'll all get through this somehow!

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  32

  Is Jehovah the most perverted creature in the universe?

  by mkr32208 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  17 years ago

  ok here's my thoughts.

  i'm gonna ramble for a few minutes!

  if i die and jehovah is going to resurrect me with all my memories and everything intact... hummm how to put this delicately.

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  If I die and jehovah is going to resurrect me with all my memories and everything intact... Hummm how to put this delicately. Every time I've spanked my monkey he's had to record it in minute detail (he's not only watched he's had to count!) He's had to note every dirty pic I've ever looked at, every dukey I've ever taken! Everything I've every done with my wife, he's watched and recorded! Every thing I've ever done so that my memories will be "complete." Ok so far he's just a peeping tom right?

  If you believe that then do you also believe this?

  NWT Isaiah 1:18 "Come, now, YOU people, and let us set matters straight between us," says Jehovah. "Though the sins of YOU people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made white just like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool.

  (Pardon if I use the NWT. I still know many Scriptures rendered in the NWT so it's quicker for me to look them up.)

  I think that Jehovah is a God of integrety and will not resurrect you less than whole. Now, what happens next is the same as what has happened before -- your choice.

  If you decide to become right with God, I believe that Jehovah will forget the things you did even though he resurrected you with your memory intact.

  1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

  As regards the other things you mentioned. I'm reminded of another Scripture.

  1 John 4:20 If anyone makes the statement: "I love God," and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him, that the one who loves God should be loving his brother also.

  Also consider that the guilty person has his or her memory intact too. He or she are haunted by those memories and the guilt that it brings especially when he or she sees his or her victims again. And those haunts will continue until he or she asks forgiveness of you. Hopefully, you'd be in the superior position of power to "set matters straight" to forgive and heal so the both of you can forget those memories as well; just as Jehovah as done with you and Him.

  Don't underestimate the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is greater than resentment.

  Ok, maybe this is more information than what you really wanted. Maybe more "Bible" than you needed to know. I don't even know if you were really looking for an answer. Take it for what it's worth. If it helps you, cool!

  But I don't share the opinion that "Jehovah is the most perverted creature in the universe".

  Oh, one more thing. A technicality, really.

  Jehovah is not a creature. A "creature" is a created being. Jehovah is not a created being.

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  5

  Looking for a website monitor

  by Roddy in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  17 years ago

  can anyone recommend a good website monitor program that will alert me when changes are made?

  has to work on microsoft windows xp.

  i think i too would like to watch and play "gotcha!

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  Can anyone recommend a good website monitor program that will alert me when changes are made? Has to work on Microsoft Windows XP.

  I think I too would like to watch and play "gotcha!" when jw-media.org makes another one of their secret unannounced updates and changes.

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  51

  Watchtower Comments YOUTUBE PREMIERE!

  by V in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  17 years ago
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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  Nice job, V. I like the way you used their historical documents to contrast what they are doing now. Keep your new series going!

  What they are doing is indeed fishy. Suggests a great insecurity from the top down.

  On the other hand, Jesus said ...

  NWT Matthew 10:27 What I tell YOU in the darkness, say in the light; and what YOU hear whispered, preach from the housetops.

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  20

  Gail Bethea-Jackson video has been removed

  by dust in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  17 years ago

  http://www.jw-media.org/newsroom/index.htm?content=../vnr/index.htm.

  there used to be three videos under "child abuse" in the right column.

  the one that isn't linked from there anymore is the "progressive understanding" video.

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  17 years ago
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  Roddy 17 years ago

  The Website Widget ( click here ).

  Drats! What a good program to keep tabs of their secret antics but I need a Mac to run it. No Windows version? I'm sad! (sniff!)

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