Welcome, River Song! Hope you have a great time today! :)
Faithful Witness
JoinedPosts by Faithful Witness
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23
Halloween / Birthday celebration
by River Song innew to the board, first time posting a topic.
i just wanted to say how refreshing and sometimes funny it has been lurking here.
so much so that i decided to sign up to this message board.
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Term "Sect" in Galatians 5:19-21 from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
by Loi_241 ini read the watchtower magazine from january 1, 2008's god's kingdom what is it?
i believe that god's kingdom is in heaven.
although that god's kingdom can be both heaven and earth that jehovah's witnesses believe.
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Faithful Witness
Welcome, Loi_241!Good catch! I commend you on your personal bible study efforts.As a non-JW, it is encouraging to see you seeking answers in the Bible, instead of relying on publications that are written by some modern-day men in New York.I agree with you on your observation about Galations 5:20.Aren't Jehovah's Witnesses considered to be a sect?Should people avoid sects?Random House Dictionary (dictionary.com)sect: noun1. a body of persons adhering to a particular religious faith; a religious denomination.2. a group regarded as heretical or as deviating from a generally accepted religious tradition.3. (in the sociology of religion) a Christian denomination characterized by insistence on strict qualifications for membership, as distinguished from the more inclusive groups called churches.4. any group, party, or faction united by a specific doctrine or under a doctrinal leader.sect in the Bible:
The King James Version uses the word, "heresies," as you noticed.(Gr. hairesis, usually rendered "heresy", Acts 24:14; 1 Chr. 11:19; Gal. 5:20, etc.), meaning properly "a choice," then "a chosen manner of life," and then "a religious party," as the "sect" of the Sadducees (Acts 5:17), of the Pharisees (15:5), the Nazarenes, i.e., Christians (24:5).It afterwards came to be used in a bad sense, of those holding pernicious error, divergent forms of belief (2 Pet. 2:1; Gal. 5:20).
How will you help a confused householder (like me) rectify this discrepancy?How can you convince me to listen, when you represent a sect? -
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Leah Remini talks about her new book - October 30, 2015 at 10:00pm Eastern Time - on ABC News 20/20
by Faithful Witness infirst look at leah remini exclusive: 'being critical of tom cruise is being critical of scientology itself'.
abc news.
actress leah remini reveals in an exclusive interview with abc news 20/20 how tom cruise was one of the factors that led her to break from the church of scientology.. being critical of tom cruise is being critical of scientology itself... you are evil, remini told abcs dan harris in a new promotional clip from the interview.. remini, 45, describes how she and her family joined the church when she was a young girl, built a successful acting career in hollywood while being a diligent scientologist, and how she eventually decided to sever ties with the church.. as time goes on, you start to lose touch with the real world.
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Faithful Witness
First Look at Leah Remini Exclusive: 'Being Critical of Tom Cruise Is Being Critical of Scientology Itself'
ABC News
Actress Leah Remini reveals in an exclusive interview with ABC News ”20/20” how Tom Cruise was one of the factors that led her to break from the Church of Scientology.
“Being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself… you are evil,” Remini told ABC’s Dan Harris in a new promotional clip from the interview.
Remini, 45, describes how she and her family joined the Church when she was a young girl, built a successful acting career in Hollywood while being a diligent Scientologist, and how she eventually decided to sever ties with the Church.
“As time goes on, you start to lose touch with the real world. The mindset becomes ‘Us against them,’” Remini said. “The decision to leave is you are giving up everything you have ever known and everything you have worked for your whole life.”
The actress also details her 30-year association with the Church in her new memoir, “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology.”
“I feel that people need to understand this has been my whole life,” Remini said “I want them to understand how it happens.”
Watch the exclusive ABC News interview with Leah Remini on “20/20,” Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 p.m. ET.
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Your thoughts on Halloween , yes, no or maybe ?
by Finkelstein inwell its that time again when the ghouls come out to play.
i personally think halloween is a bit irresponsible and inappropriate from a sociological perspective.. there's something about the intent of frightening young impressionable children minds with frightening objests.
and feeding them candy which most likely cause tooth decay and stomachs is irresponsible activity conducted by adults.
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Faithful Witness
Simon: So what if it had pagan origins - so do many other things like getting married in white and wedding rings but they are OK with those.
Neckties are required for men at the Kingdom Hall, but they were originated as part of a military uniform.
I have always loved playing pretend, and it is even more fun, now that I am a mom!
We used to delight in terrifying the big kids who dared to come to our door on Halloween, but my perspective has changed to a more silly and fun attitude.
I particularly love wearing funny wigs. LOL! This year, we are going to participate in a "Trunk or Treat" for an hour. We will decorate the back of our van like a circus, pass out little candy bars, and make twisty balloon animals as favors for the kids. I'm the mommy clown, my son is the baby clown, and my daughter is the circus tiger.
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Money woes show it ain't the truth
by OnTheWayOut injehovahs people do not beg for money.
[...] we have never considered it proper to solicit money for the lords cause, after the common custom .
it is our judgment that money raised by the various begging devices in the name of our lord is offensive, unacceptable to him, and does not bring his blessing either upon the givers or the work accomplished.
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Faithful Witness
Sabin: In the u.k you have to pay a licence every year for the privilege of having a television in your home.
Really? Why do they tax you on television?
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Pledge for Global Assistance Arrangement - $15 per publisher!
by nmthinker inlast night our congregation read a letter for the global assistance arrangement combined with the traveling overseer assistance arrangement.
the "recommended" amount was $15 per publisher, which was well over $1000 for our hall.. it seemed steep.
our congregation does not have this type of money.
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Faithful Witness
How does a JW rectify these arrangements in their mind?
I have heard so many times, the boasting about how they "never ask for donations!"
Odd.
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Why JWs record and report time?
by ThinkerBelle inokay, so yes, i'm a born-in, but this point has always baffled me (and i guess i never bothered to research or ask).
what is the purpose of counting time in service?
when was it started and why?
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Faithful Witness
Tinkerbelle: Great question... one that I have asked to 3 separate pioneers, without a good answer from the Bible.
In fact, reporting your preaching time, seems to directly contradict Jesus' words at Matthew 6:1-6, where he warns them NOT to report their good works to men.
The best response I got, came from a pioneer on my doorstep: that they DON'T get recognition from men... but that they had to keep track of their ministry efforts, and make sure they were preaching to every corner of the world. (Can't GOD keep track of those details?) I can understand that they might need to keep track of how many magazines they need to print, but not why you have to write YOUR name on the report card. And even though they "don't" get recognized by men, they still have a requirement of 70 hours per month, for her to maintain her position as a pioneer.
What would happen, if a pioneer didn't turn in her field service report?
It's all about thought control, keeping them believing that their work is serving God... but they really just want to ensure that you are only having approved conversations with approved JW followers. It's no secret that most of their time is NOT spent preaching. They waste hours, driving from place to place, having coffee breaks, and knocking on doors that won't be opened. (Why did they visit me, but not my neighbor, who was obviously at home?... I always found that very odd.)
The LAST thing they want you doing, is having conversations with someone outside the organization. They need to keep you busy, too busy for your non-believing relatives and friends. Meeting attendance is essential for your spiritual growth, so they can remind you every week that YOU WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH. (Which is true... that is why Jesus died for you. You can't EARN a gift!)
Our Christian Life and Ministry Workbook for January 2016: "True Worship Requires Hard Work"http://www.jw.org/en/publications/jw-meeting-workbook/january-2016-mwb/meeting-schedule-jan4-10/
(Old Testament)
Vidiot: I've heard that point about tax exempt status raised before. I'd love to know if that is true. I heard they used to try to collect money for the magazines. I'm not an accountant, but I did a quick search of the IRS website, looking at the requirements for claiming that you are a charitable organization. There is a 12 page form to be filed, but I can't find any obvious places to report hours or specific activities...
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The best advice I can offer to those trying to meet people and get a new social circle after leaving JW's.
by EndofMysteries inif like me, when you left the kh, your entire social network was gone.
how do you meet people of the opposite sex or make new friends, etc?
clubs, bars?
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Faithful Witness
meetup.com is a great idea
go to your local library, and join a book discussion group
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'American Pickers' Star and her Jehovah's Witness upbringing
by jwleaks indanielle colby went from jehovah's witnesses to burlesque dancer to vintage decor goddess.
dallas news | by joy tipping.
january 30, 2014. .
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Faithful Witness
steve: That might have made for an interesting stage performance... wearing a break-away business suit, with your blue jw.org button on the lapel...
Just put a wooden contribution box on the floor in front of you.
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'American Pickers' Star and her Jehovah's Witness upbringing
by jwleaks indanielle colby went from jehovah's witnesses to burlesque dancer to vintage decor goddess.
dallas news | by joy tipping.
january 30, 2014. .
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Faithful Witness
I've known and loved many junk-picking JW's! Garage sale shopping is a passion, and there were some very resourceful people in the cong we associated with for a few years. So many of the brothers were skilled contractors, and borderline hoarders.
They also networked with the local Amish contractors... country life at its finest!
Oubliette: Thanks for sharing that song. Hilarious! I love folk music that tells a story. :)