if the watchtower society received an envelope containing a cheque for 1 million dollars, made out to the society, along with a letter explaining that the money was won from gambling, either casino or lottery, .
1] would they cash it?.
2] if they did not cash it but rather returned to sender, what explanation would they give?.
"In the same way the Israelites gleaned much gold from Egypt prior to their departure, to be used in pure worship to Jehovah, so too God's earthly organization today uses the wealth of Satan's doomed system to support it's work in spreading the good news to all the inhabited earth."
"This money has done the devil's work long enough! NOW it wil do the LORD's work!" - Baptist preacher who received lotto money donation.
today is my first post on jwd, i was one of jehovahs witness for almost 50 years of my life, i was born into the religion.
i was baptized at a young age and once i got married i was a very spiritual woman as they would call me.
my husband and i served as full time pioneers, we traveled abroad and went to international conventions, did some special pioneer service in other states in the us.
Nice intro. Welcome!
Crisis of Conscience is a game changer. I remember when I read it I was so upset, not only by what he was saying, but also by the fact that he the documentation to back it up. There's no getting around the truth of that book. I took a lot of comfort in the final chapter where he talks about how we just keep going. Don't let your awakening be the end of your story.
In Search of Christian Freedom, by Ray Franz, is another must read in your journey. Interesting summary in that book as well.
i met an aging, well, late sixties, pioneer sister a few days back, from a congregation four removes away, and a different circuit to my old congo.
i have known her since i was a kid.. i wasn't quite sure at first if she knew our "status" as we exchanged pleasantries, but it soon became clear she knew exactly our situation, that we walked away a few years ago.. she asked me about my views on life now, and listened respectfully, and said she appreciated my view, but a couple of questions that she threw at me, as in the thread title, showed that she was surprised that mrs phizzy and i had not gone off the rails after we left.. the mind control goes so very deep does it not ?
she was surprised that our marriage hadn't failed, and that we were now happy.. i wonder if she will ever make the connection that the jw org has lied to her about those of us who leave ?.
I've heard it recommended on this forum many times that, when asked, we should highlight how very happy we are since our departure. It knocks their eyeballs loose. And for me, it's not a lie. Sure, I went through my own private little Armageddon when I first left, but once I gained my emotional and psychological feet again... it was new goals, new focus, new friends, new CHOSEN family. I'm even enjoying the process of trying to figure out the parts I haven't figured out yet.
Honestly, they're not the only ones surprised by all this. Take away my own former indoctrination into believing happiness outside the organization was impossible. I'M STILL surprised by how genuinely satisfied I am with life in general.
No, it's not perfect. But it is great!
as a team beachbody coach i will commit to helping you lose weight, gain weight, or challenge yourself to reach your fitness goals!.
you can join this accountablity group for support and motivation to be healthy!.
it's been my passion with all the help i recieved on this site.
This is a great idea, BUTTERFLY.
I've been a bit of a gym rat for many years and I am in, what I would call, pretty good shape. But I've never done a serious cut. I'm not overweight, by any means but I can't see those six-pack abs I've been working on for the last 10 years either.
Two other guys I work with, also gym rats, also not particularly thin, have joined me in a 90-day Biggest Loser contest starting January 1. I've already got my plan of action put together which will include a few "before" pictures
This fitness business started out as a hobby for me some years ago. I really get a charge from my early morning workouts. Now I'm thinking of moving into it secularly as I am pursuing my ACE certification.
I'll see you on facebook.
i would like your thoughts, please..
I wouldn't get off the sofa to go anywhere for their funeral... not that I would be notified of ther death anyway.
a dear old man, 81 years of age died the other day.
my family studied with his family in 1969 and the entire family left their beloved catholic church and became jehovah's witnesses within 6 months.the man was illiterate and unschooled.
still, he believed "the truth" and even when some of his kids left or got disfellowshipped, he persevered.
thank GOD that Jesus examines hearts
There's the solution.
We fight to expose the lies and free the minds of JWs. Sometimes it works, often it doesn't. But our failure is not God's failure.
a dear old man, 81 years of age died the other day.
my family studied with his family in 1969 and the entire family left their beloved catholic church and became jehovah's witnesses within 6 months.the man was illiterate and unschooled.
still, he believed "the truth" and even when some of his kids left or got disfellowshipped, he persevered.
MOUTHY - Thank you for being such a mainstay contributor on this forum. I've read so many of your posts from years back.
Hope you're in good health.
this is a reminder for some, and fresh bible guidance for new arrivals to this site.. have you been "witnessing" today, or are you planning to?.
revelation 12:17 - ".......and have the work of bearing witness to jesus.".
acts 8:16 - ".......been baptized in the name of the lord jesus.".
Please do not feed or tease the Jehovah's Witness people.
"those with the earthly hope who supported christs brothers in the preaching work will have been judged as sheep and will be granted the privilege of living in the earthly realm of the kingdom.
" 3/2015 study wt learn from illustration of talents par 13.. so there you have it, to get salvation you need to only obey the gb and if you obey and worship the gb, then you will be judged as a sheep.
truly those who listen and obey, will be blessed!.
Of course it will be argued by apologists that in order to support Christ's brothers in the preaching work one must be acceptable to God in the first place, becoming an approved associate, at the very least, and all that THAT entails.
Simply getting off the sofa and going therefore to preach won't cut it in Watchtower land. You must be approved, baptized, spiritually clean, well-studied, humble/meek/mild, and let's not forget...organized to accomplish in order to be worthy of supporting Christ's brothers. THIS, they will argue, is the entire package being referred to in the 3-2015 Watchtower. THIS is what will gain you salvation.
we all know the calculations used by the wt to arrive at 1914. fall of babylon in 607 (false year), gentile times, no zero year, ta-da, 1914.. what did they use before that?
i know it wasn't russell who came up with it - he just adopted it.
i'm just curious what they had to explain away when they made the transition.. .
Thanks again. A lot of great information here.
