Posts by Pete Zahut

52

The beginning of the end for shunning?

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

" there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

Pete Zahut

In today's Wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "If we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

I believe the term "stray" means those who have become distracted by other activities or who's faith has waned for a time so as to cause them to lose interest. It is not referring to disfellowshipped ones or those who purposely stopped attending due to disbelief of the JW doctrines. The scriptures that mention "not breaking bread with non believers or sinners" will still apply to those who are asked to leave or do so intentionally on their own.

18

Why don't some members of the congregations never slow down or get tired out?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

my uncle passed away two years ago at the age of 83. he served as an elder from 1965 to the last day of his life.

even till the end of his life he was still reading the bible.. he was an elder for 48 years.

never missed a meeting,pioneered during the summer months ( took vacation weeks),pioneered after retiring at 65 years old, never went on real vacation, went to all summer conventions and assemblies ( traveling to new york,wisconsin, canada and california ).. he also conducted book studies, watchtower meetings, gave sunday public talks, assembly parts, elder meetings, had a weekly book study with his family,cleaned the kingdom hall, and donated money when the congregation was short money for the month.. everyone is zealous in the beginning but tire out sooner or later.

Pete Zahut

No matter what organization, political activity, school, job or religion there are always those who are the "cream that rises to the top". Somehow their personality type coupled with their own personal circumstances makes it possible for them to go farther and longer than anyone else.

The Olympic hopeful who gets up at the crack of dawn to practice, works a menial part time job and sacrifices his personal relationships in order to achieve his goal. The little old lady who tirelessly volunteers to feed the homeless, cleans the church, visits the sick and is raising her 3 grandchildren. The highschool drop out who goes on to found a multimillion dollar enterprise.

When it happens among JW's they view it as proof of God's holy spirit in action and that theirs is the one true religion. If it was God's spirit causing this, why wouldn't everyone among his "chosen" people be able to do the same?

24

Morris Vindicated. Yoga Pants ARE Indecent

by konceptual99 in

jw
friends

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31447905.

even those in "the world" (tm) recognise the indecent nature of this type of apparel.

.

Pete Zahut

Anything can be considered indecent if you decide that it is.

Back in the Victorian days they used to drape long table cloths over their dining room tables and around the legs of their Grand Pianos because they thought the sculpted shapely legs of these pieces of furniture were indecent and could cause people (men) to have impure erotic thoughts.

46

What comforts you when you no longer believe in a ressurrection ?

by EdenOne in

our family just lost someone dear and very close, a faithful jw.

as we went through the entire funeral services and meeting long time brothers and sisters, who in general have been very kind and warm towards us, we realize that the hope of resurrection is a meaningless utopia for us, like a fairytale for little children.

we don't have faith in it anymore, and serves us of no comfort.

Pete Zahut

The WTBTS planted the notion in my mind back when I was a child, that I should want to live forever and that living forever was the only way life could have a purpose. My feeling now is that a limited lifespan makes life more valuable than one that goes on and on and on, the same way a rare coin is more valuable than those whose supply is unlimited.

I don't want to die in pain or prematurely but I also feel that living forever, even as a perfect person, might be a nightmare. Maybe wanting to live forever is just being greedy. Just because I was randomly conceived all those years ago, doesn't mean I should expect to go on forever and ever. If my parents would have had sex 10 minutes sooner or 10 minutes later, I might not be here. Another girl or boy sperm may have made it to the egg instead of the one that made me. To think that it should go on and on is not something that I would have expected without having had that idea put in my head. Not wanting to die would makes people accept any alternative concept, no matter how unprovable it is, as a way to console their apprehension about the unknown.

I now have so much more peace knowing that when I die one day it will be because that's the way it is on this planet rather than because I will be destroyed by God for not spreading Watchtower literature enough throughout my life or not reaching out for enough responsibilities in the congregation or because I disagreed with some religious groups explanation of the Bible. If it turns out there is some sort of afterlife/ reward, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be a part of it.

3

did you hear..

by zeb in

did you hear about the pedantic, agnostic, dyslexic?.

he lay awake and 3,349 times he wondered if there really was a dog..

Pete Zahut

The dyslexic agnostic insomniac who lay awake at night pondering the existence of Dog ? Nope never heard that one but it's pretty funny

128

YOU MIGHT BE A J.W.

by brandnew in

jw
friends

if getting ready means putting on a suit........ you might be a j.w.. if going out to the field has nothing to do with grass, baseball diamonds, or football ......... you might be a j.w.. please continue my friends.......i know ya got some.....; ).

Pete Zahut

You might be a JW...

If you can keep a straight face when you hear someone use the phrase " thought provoking" or "thus far" in a sentence, you might be a JW.

Your biggest goal in life is to become a Servant, you might be a JW.

If your infant son has his own suit and tie, you might be a JW.

If you own stadium cushions and have never been to a sporting event, you might be a JW.

If you have been to a sporting event but didn't take your seat until after the National Anthem was played, you may be a JW.

If a detailed report of how your monetary donations are being spent isn't available to you, you might be a JW.

If you're a full time Pioneer but have never headed west in a Conestoga Wagon, you might be a JW.

5

Spin off Public Witness cart songs already appearing on Internet

by Esse quam videri in

how thy racks are so shiny!

how thy racks are so shiny!.

Pete Zahut

Clang Clang Clang goes the Trolley,

Ding Dong Ding goes the Bell.

Unless you become a Witness,

You're going straight to ~~Hell~~ (Sheol)

17

Jehovah's Witness pi$$ing contest

by hoser in

jw
friends

ok more about the jw wedding i attended.

there were these two couples at our dinner table that were having an all out pissing competition as to who was the most spiritual.

they were comparing who was in "the truth" the longest, who pioneered where and for how long.

Pete Zahut

You should have told them that your Son gave his first talk when he was only 5 years old and he did it speaking Farsi.

21

circumcision as a mark of gods people

by user100 in

so the last two watchtower studies talked about circumcision as a mark of god's people.

i thought it was weird why they would pick that as a mark.

why dont they chop of their earlobe er something.

Pete Zahut

I remember a little girl answering one of the questions during a Sunday Watchtower study dealing with the difference between "literal circumcision" and "circumcision of the heart" ( a favorite JW topic) . Much to the discomfort of the audience, she gave a full description of each process. It was pretty creepy and one of those moments I was glad there wasn't a new person in the audience or one of my "unbelieving" relatives.

5

we are in the 3rd century of the end being sooo close!

by nowwhat? in

it started in the 1870's then throughout the 20th century.

and now here we are 15 years into the 21st century.

how many generations is that?

Pete Zahut

The end has been "close" since the days of the Apostles.