Posts by Lightgrowsbrighter

37

Love the don't use a gun for self defence by Gary Bro

by mickbobcat in

i just watched that stupid talk by gary while e bro on not using a gun for self defense but it went deeper.

i was that you don't defend yourself against violence.

well ain't that great from an asshat living in a gated and guarded compound.

Lightgrowsbrighter

JW’s repeatedly make ‘black and white’ issues that are scripturally personal decisions. The right to defend oneself is a basic human right. I just visited my 70 something hard core elder/JW father and this subject came up. I asked him what he would do if his neighbor or he and my mother were attacked. Meekly stand there and beg for mercy from a violent evil animalistic human? Or perhaps defend himself with only his aged hands? Why hands but no gun?? 65 years a JW and he had no answer.

JW’s often refer to the Old Testament (Heb. Scriptures) to support their dogmatic rules. Well, the nation of Israel- with Jehovah’s help- not only defended themselves, but also initially offensively used weaponry to take the Promised Land. Later, Jesus did command Peter to return his sword to his place (live by the sword, die by the sword, Matt. 26:52), but this was a specific contextual situation. One is not ‘living by the sword’ simply by preparing to defend oneself or loved ones. Early on, Jesus sent the disciples out without money, food, or even a change of clothes, just a ‘staff’, emphasizing trust in the Holy Spirit (Mark 6:7-13). But the initial preaching was a short term message publicizing Jesus as the living prophesied Messiah. Was he also encouraging his disciples to not store food, save money, or even have more than one garment? Obviously not. Later (Luke 22:36) he acknowledged long term preparation was a must as after his death the preaching work focused on the good news of salvation through Jesus death in whatever the hereafter is.

In Romans 12:18, Paul said ‘If it is possible, be peaceable with all men.’ He tacitly acknowledged here that there would be times where it may not be possible to have peace.

Regardless, self-defense is a PERSONAL CHOICE. Those who attempt to make religious laws of matters that are personal Christian decisions are themselves wolves in the Christian congregation (Acts 20:29,30)

12

Birthdays

by Mufasa in

i have an honest question, so i hope someone will explain this to me to the best of their ability.

i'm fascinated with learning about religion!

and i've been looking for a place to ask this, believe me it wasn't an easy find.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Job 1:4 is translated 'his own set day' in many translations, referencing banquets Jobs sons would have. But the same exact Hebrew word in Job 3:1 is translated 'the day of his birth', even in the NWT.

JW's do talk about undue attention given to individuals, but will celebrate anniversary's and even have parties for boys going off to 'Bethel'. What's the difference? The fact that there are two instances where wicked people asked for macabre birthday presents doesn't mean that all birthday celebrations are an evil event.

Like so many other things, personal decisions- like the celebrations of birthdays- are turned into organizational edicts by JW's.

71

400 Rockets Hit Israel

by minimus in

jw
friends

israel retaliated and some are accusing israel of an “act of terrorism”.

evidently these rockets are trying to get to tel aviv but the dome is getting overwhelmed.. i wonder if the usa and other nations will come to israel’s defense..

Lightgrowsbrighter

Pretty simple: If Palestinians lay down their arms, there will be peace. If Israelis lay down their arms, there will be no Israel.

17

"I still miss it Dad" My 41 Year Son Admitted

by 1234 in

jw
friends

on the 18th of september i turned in my disassociation letter in to the tigard congregation, 19 years ago.. my son turned in his letter in november 2001, 19 years ago shortly after me.

he was 21 years old.. two days ago we were working together on a wrap for his a/c unit on his bus.. out of blue, he says "i still miss it dad.

not the religion.

Lightgrowsbrighter

1234: Good post and all good comments!

I was born in and grew up totally immersed in the JW life, along with most of my extended family- I’m 3rd gen. Parents still hard core even in their 70’s and my wife’s in their 80’s. I started fading 20 years ago and left for good over 10 years ago, but I still miss some of the camaraderie, social things, and the feeling that we’re really a worldwide brother hood. Some of the good of living a basic Christian lifestyle and Christian community shine through even the JW’s (moral standards taught, community support within the group, etc). We’re human and like to be part of healthy groups.

It’s so sad that high control groups like JW’s abuse what should be a good thing to keep people in line. JW love and support is totally conditional and this becomes so obvious when one questions ANY JW policy. The Bible concept of Christian freedom under the umbrella of the ‘Golden Rule’ is crushed by many of the JW policies that should be personal choices.

It is hard to start over and make new friends, especially today with how divided and suspicious society in general has become. I have been able to have build a few pretty solid friendships though. I think being a long time conditioned JW permanently changes the way we look at people and that makes it tougher to build new relationships.

66

Now we have a Mary Trump book coming out ...

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

i have to admit, this president can stir up shit.

.

other than some people who failed 10th grade or have a confederate flag on the back of their pickup trucks, who actually likes him?.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Min- I hope you're correct. I'm sick of all the anger out there. And this in a country where even the poorest have a full stomach and a roof over their heads if they're willing to put forth even minimal effort. The protesters really never have any cogent demands other than more handouts and special rights.

BTW- no one has ever answered my question: If America is so evil/bad/racist blah blah, WHY are so may people banging down the doors to get in here? Legally or illegally! You'd think that the loudmouths who talk about leaving when Trump got elected would actually have left. Nope.

66

Now we have a Mary Trump book coming out ...

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

i have to admit, this president can stir up shit.

.

other than some people who failed 10th grade or have a confederate flag on the back of their pickup trucks, who actually likes him?.

Lightgrowsbrighter

@sir- Even under 8 years of Obama lurching America to a globalist/racist left, I NEVER marched/protested/or tore anything up. Despite my many disagreements with Obama, I still respected him as the President. My angry response now is simply one of self-defense and preservation for a free America. I don’t want to feel angry, but consider:

I thought it was great in 2008 that a man with black ancestry was elected president, and that this would prove that overall racism was dead and gone in America. Boy, was I wrong. I watched my taxes/health insurance go through the roof, and now I'm told that I'm a racist simply because I'm (mostly) white. And now America's amazing history has been turned upside down by leftists who love all the benefits this country provides, but hate the wisdom of the men who set it up. And also, the hypocritical drive to destroy the 2nd amendment, unless you are an elitist who ‘deserves’ special treatment. I agree with you in that the hypocrisy of the push left has me frustrated and angry.

Here's my answer: quit challenging and threatening conservative Americans with insults and violent 'protests' and you will never hear an angry word from law abiding, tax paying hard working people like myself. Leave my freedoms alone! Don’t ask for special treatment or a free ride, earn it yourself as folks like I have. Trump is a loud mouth, but he’s done great things for people of all races who chose to be Americans, NOT hyphenated-Americans.

AGAIN: binary choice- Trump for Americans of all backgrounds and support of our constitutional freedom, or Biden’s globalist chaos, racial divisiveness, big governmental control, and arrogant elitism. Pretty simple choice.

66

Now we have a Mary Trump book coming out ...

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

i have to admit, this president can stir up shit.

.

other than some people who failed 10th grade or have a confederate flag on the back of their pickup trucks, who actually likes him?.

Lightgrowsbrighter

*a full stomach. Sorry I typed too fast...

66

Now we have a Mary Trump book coming out ...

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

i have to admit, this president can stir up shit.

.

other than some people who failed 10th grade or have a confederate flag on the back of their pickup trucks, who actually likes him?.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Rub, point well taken. I'm sure you and I one and one would find common ground over a few drinks.

But I'm just tired of irresponsible people tearing down Trump and America. This is a great place to live. The only way to keep that way is to keep big government out of our way. Most of the loudest complainers have a place to live, and a stomach, entertainment etc. Just quit complaining, take some personal responsibility, and achieve something. Anyone can do it in America if they want to.

66

Now we have a Mary Trump book coming out ...

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

i have to admit, this president can stir up shit.

.

other than some people who failed 10th grade or have a confederate flag on the back of their pickup trucks, who actually likes him?.

Lightgrowsbrighter

Binary choice. Trump is not a politician and has his rough edges, but has fought the cancer of liberalism while fighting unprecedented attacks from a grossly biased media, extreme left Dems, and even the elitist RINO's who should be supporting him.

I live in Oregon. The Dem controlled govts. are in financial chaos, support Marxists ideals, raising taxes to prop up their uncontrolled spending, divisive racial issues in a world where people of color already have more rights than others, enforce 'mask' edicts and banning church groups while letting leftist idiot 'protesters' run wild, re-writing American history as evil, and attempting to destroy our 2nd amendment rights. And I can go on an on. This is the group Biden represents. NO THANKS.

Any of you who support Dems/Biden (including you Rub) no longer support American values and the Constitution they were built on. Chatter all you want, but if you get your way, America as we know it will no longer exist and will (as history proves- see Venezuela etc.) plunge into third world status where only the elites enjoy the good life so many average Americans now have.

Question: If, as you leftist anti-Americans suggest, America is and has been such a racist terrible place, WHY have people from all over the world banged the doors down to get in here? And they continue to!

Rub, your not so subtle violent verbiage 'If Michelle ran, she would put a baseball bat up Trumps butt and only the handle would be visable' is showing through. You leftist's act like you're non-violent, but constantly verbally and even physically attack those who disagree with your screwed up rhetoric. I've never asked the government for anything, never had trouble with the law, and worked my ass off to get what I have. This despite the JW end of the world stuff I lived with for 40 years. If your Antifa punks really want to fight, at some point they will get it, and I guarantee you they will badly lose.

My request, take your Marxist shit and put it up your own ass. I apologize in advance for sounding so angry- but I'm done with this leftist nonsense.

42

If You're Just Here to spread Your TDS, It's Time to Say Goodbye

by Simon in

if all you want to do it deliver a constant whine of "orange man bad" then find someplace else to do.

it.

frankly, i can't be bothered with the bullshit anymore.. honestly, your politics and the whole virtue signalling woke brigade has actually started causing real deaths and was ruining life for many before that.. if you can't control your disease, then i'll do it for you.. it's not open for debate..

Lightgrowsbrighter

JP 1692:

There isn't much of the liberal agenda I personally agree with. I believe upper echelons of the US govt. (both Dems/Repubs), led by Clinton and Obama and their unelected bureaucrats, are very corrupt, in China's back pocket, and despise Trump because he's upsetting their game plan. Flush out this corruption (if possible my cynical side says). But name calling from either side (including Obozo etc) only makes things worse and solves no problems. I appreciate Trumps boldness and agree with his response to the many personal attacks he experiences, but think he sometimes needs to reign it in a bit- again my average guy opinion.