I did not want to believe that they would make emphasis on anything other than what the magazine was about. But our elder decide to make an injunction at the end of the meeting to remind us all what we had learned in the past. He asked us to remember prior studies were we were told that the vital instruction required to survive the end would come thru the congregation and we need to be ready to obey even if we don't understand the instruction.
StarTrekAngel
JoinedPosts by StarTrekAngel
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35
WT “Study” for 11th Sept 2016 – “Why Must We ‘Keep on the Watch’”?
by Nicholaus Kopernicus ini was really puzzled when i opened this edition of the wt magazine at the above “study”.
what on earth has this picture at the top of page 13 got to do with christian watchfulness?
i wasn’t making a connection at all.
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If anyone claimed that god speaks to them personally.....
by jambon1 inthey'd be viewed as completely mentally ill and laughed at.. so, how do the governing body get away with it?.
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StarTrekAngel
I remember hearing in a meeting (can't remember if it was a public talk or WT study) that the clarification for elders is that the holy spirit is not selecting them directly as one would imagine. Rather, an elder appointed following scriptural direction of 1 Timothy chapter 3, is considered "spirit selected" because the text itself was inspired.
I swear I am not messing with you. I was fully awake when this talk or study happened and I was paying close attention :)
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Origin of Life
by cofty inin recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?
as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.
there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.
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StarTrekAngel
Modern religion (or modern theism in general) is not based in logic. Science is. Therefore the two will never find a way to prove each other right or wrong. It is just impossible. Unfortunately it doesn't end there. For many of us here would conclude that having logical thinking is they way to go (and I agree) but we can not expect to ever reach a point where this disagreement will ever be settled. Personally I feel this is where religion looses its ground. Not on the fact that religion may always have another reason to believe, despite the mounting scientific evidence to the contrary, but rather on how religion has been redefined since the last scriptures were written down. The characters of the bible where always basing their belief in evidence. Miracles, unlikely military victories, etc. Although I don't believe that the two will ever be 100% compatible or agreeable, the religion of that time may have had a lot more in common with the scientific method of today.
In case you have not seen this movie (Nacho Libre), this isn't just a meme, it is a real line from the movie.
With that said, we always run the risk of simply falling under the religious mentality. That is that you know better because you have your Almighty God in your side, whom knows everything and is capable of anything. Religion defined as worshipping of a deity is the default understanding of it. The reality is that we can make a religion out of anything. If the WT every said anything correctly is that patriotism for example, can be a form of religion. No, I do not advocate for not saluting your flag or any of that. But in the fervor of national pride we loose sight of the real purpose of why we classify ourselves under a book of laws, national name or flag or anthem. This is to care for one another and provide a level of equality and governance. We eventually turn patriotic fervor to the point where it becomes just as unreasonable as modern religion. We make the constitution our bible and we attach ourselves to it and listen to no reasoning and all our very own selfish purposes. One has to simply look at the battle over the second amendment in the US to see a clear example. Regardless on which side of this debate you seat, it is not difficult to see that some are too quick to resort to the constitution as an irrevocable basis for their stand. Any non believer would probably agree that even if the bible has some good advice, it was written thousands of years ago and therefore outdated to modern life. Yet, a book that was written a bit over 200 years ago, in an age where no one could have imagined what a modern weapon could do, seems to hold up to modern times and therefore worthy of outmost consideration.
The key in all of this, in my view, is wether we are making our life outlook or belief into a religion worth fighting for and worth proven ourselves right rather than imagining how our life outlook can help our fellow man without causing any further harm. Science has a leg up on this for sure and by far. At least in modern times.
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The Real Reason why the WT predicted Armageddon in 1975
by OrphanCrow ini am of the opinion that the wt doctrine is influenced more by external factors that it is by internal ones.
one of the doctrines that has puzzled me for some time is the armageddon prediction of 1975. why would the wts make this prediction?
what was their real purpose?.
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StarTrekAngel
It is a little bit of everything in my view. Sure JWs were already on the streets by then but lets not forget that publications were offered at a price then. Tickling the Armageddon scare sensors back then was more profitable that it is now. Every publication distributed amounted to some income where today you can distribute probably hundreds of publications before you ever find a stranger willing to contribute to your cause.
This could have helped them shore up their accounts with ease. Every witness took the message to heart as we know, selling properties and making ever increasing donations, plus whatever interest you could get from non believers meant another magazine or book sold for a price. Today, sounding the Armageddon bell only reaches the hardcore and those who can spare some change.
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Stocks and Shares of the WTB&TS
by Truthexplorer inwatch the following video from 6 minutes 50 seconds to find out.. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i0lrdx3vpug.
a woman wrote to the guy refuting his research.
here is his reply to back up his proof.. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=woqjxehuppq.
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StarTrekAngel
I did not finish watching the first video (too long at the moment too busy) but I liked the second one better. I've always sustained that regardless of what the implications are (Wether WT actually manages the fund or not), they know where the money comes from and that is enough for me. And it technically should be a big deal. This issue has been dismissed many times as a perfectly legal and standard practice of any corporation and also as a not so big issue since the WT does not own the stock directly. Even if they don't, it is still a big deal because most witnesses are lead to believe the watchtower does not have a single blood penny in their coffers. Not true
With that said, I got to say this peeked my interest. I am somewhat hesitant at the fact that if Rilley died in 1945, why does he say the trust was turned over to the WT in 1970? I know probates can be lengthy and they probably were more so in those years. However, 25 years seems like an awfully long time for something that was technically setup for this very purpose.
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Ever notice this contradiction?
by stuckinarut2 inso witnesses love using the scripture that says that "narrow and cramped is the road to life, and few are the ones finding it" as proof that they have the truth.
yes, a small number.. yet they also love boasting about the "increases in numbers coming into the truth" as proof of jehovah's blessing of the society!.
so, which is it?
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StarTrekAngel
Divergent..
For believers that is a very good question to ask. Its answer beats the crap out of the idea that you need someone to explain the bible to you. Sure the Ethiopian eunuch needed some help but that is a far cry from saying that unless you follow a self righteous leader who claims to have all the truths (at least for today) then you will not be saved.
If the bible is a letter written by God to lead his people, there is no way he included instructions on how to find someone to explain it in the same letter you technically can not understand by yourslef. Otherwise is an unsolvable paradox.
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StarTrekAngel
LOL. that looks like the character of a cartoon may kids watch. The series is called "Chowder". Chowder, the main character, has a pet fart called "Kimchi". When Chowder talks to Kimchi, he replies with farting noises.Not very far from reality in my view...
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Letter: Mexico special preaching campaign 2016/2017
by StarTrekAngel inhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0b6b33rjkq_hfmvdutgjsbnhzm3c/view?usp=sharing.
see translation bellow.. dear brothers:.
we are glad to inform you about our next preaching campaign for the 2017 service year, in order to help spread the message of the good news "to the ends.
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StarTrekAngel
I doubt they will allow that to happen, specially when they have documented evidence showing who made the definitive choice of territory. This is most likely aimed at isolated communities. My wife, for example, has family in a small town in Jalisco state. They are now way more communicated than before but the last time we visited there, there was one phone for the whole town and no running water. It took a 45 min bus ride in a dirt road to get to this town and the bus only runs twice a day (comes in morning and leaves in the evening). I assume many other towns are still more isolated than this.
I would be more concerned with the devotion they already have for their catholic faith in those little towns. I remember they used to have a baby Jesus statue which they would pass around in a weekly basis. Every week, someone different had to take the baby Jesus home and take care of him. The neighbors would come in the evening to put the baby to bed and kiss him or else, they said, you would have very bad luck.
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Letter: Mexico special preaching campaign 2016/2017
by StarTrekAngel inhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0b6b33rjkq_hfmvdutgjsbnhzm3c/view?usp=sharing.
see translation bellow.. dear brothers:.
we are glad to inform you about our next preaching campaign for the 2017 service year, in order to help spread the message of the good news "to the ends.
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StarTrekAngel
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6b33RjKq_HFMVduTGJsbnhZM3c/view?usp=sharing
See translation bellow.
Dear brothers:
We are glad to inform you about our next preaching campaign for the 2017 service year, in order to help spread the message of the good news "to the ends
of the earth "(Rom. 10:18). This is the only preaching campaign for the 2017 service year.
Duration: The campaign will last one year, from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2017.
The minimum time to participate is three weeks and up to three months.
Territory: congregations in need and unallocated territories.
Support a congregation: Choose this option if you wish to support a congregation
that needs help to preach their territory.
Unassigned territory: choose this option who wish to preach territories not
assigned to a congregation. Because this are territories where usually there is no witnesses
, it will be necessary for teams to be prepared to hold meetings and organize
preaching.
Must choose at least five options of the List of Territories, of which the branch will decide which one the group will support. Request the list from the secretary of the congregation. In the case of
Mexico alone may request congregations or territories within the country, can not support other
countries. Precursors of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and
Panama may request any country.
Participants: Participants who serve as regular or auxiliary pioneers and have
18 years or more during the period they support. As an exception, parents can take their children
small if the conduct of these is exemplary. Although they can participate single and married, the
married must be accompanied by their spouse, and both should serve as pioneers.
Groups. They must form groups of at least two people and ten at most, in the
including a captain. We will not accept requests from groups made entirely of single pioneers where there is both genders (Clarifcation note by STA.. no single ladies mixed up with single dudes unless there is someone to watch them). If there are more than ten requests from the same group, they must form a separate group with their own captain.
Because no individual applications will be accepted, they can form the group with brothers of their congregation or other congregations
Subject: Preaching Campaign 2017
August 29, 2016
Page 2
Request: If there is an elder or ministerial servant in the group, he will be the captain. He
will ask the Secretary the form "Request for preaching campaign", he will complete and deliver to your committee
Service for analysis and approval. If there is no male, an experienced sister can be used. The application must be submitted to the Secretary at least three months before the
date wishing to start their participation. Only one application with master data will be filled,
other members of the group should not fill.
Assignment. Later, the branch will inform the congregation of their assingment and the contact address for the congregation in the assinged territory. This way you can communicate with the elders of
that congregation to provide him with details on how to reach the territory, customs in
location, common problems and potential risks.
Accommodation: transportation and other expenses. It is the responsibility of the group look for accommodation
in their assignment. This will be particularly necessary for those who support unassigned territories,
because they are far from a congregation. They should have sufficient resources to cover its
transportation costs, rent and meals during their assignment. For more details, consult the
FAQ document on the campaign to be placed on the bulletin board next
with this letter.
We trust that the Lord will bless this campaign and the dedicated efforts made by
people take the good news to your location. The aim is that the name of Jehovah "is
declared throughout all the earth "before the end comes (Rom. 9:17).
Receive our Christian love and best wishes
P.D.: to the body of elders
This letter should be read en in the Christian Life and Ministry Meeting. It should be then put in the information board along with the list of territories and FAQ so that publishers can consult it (Except this postdata). All requests should be sent at least 3 months in advance. If the service committee aproves of a group, inform the captain that he should make a request for all required publications for the whole group thru the congregation. At the same time. the secretary should send the form "Request for preaching campaign" using the congregation's email from JW.ORG. If the pioneers want to know about preaching in other countries in Central America, please thank them for their good initiative but inform them that this year, due to certain migratory procedures, brothers from Mexico will only be able to support this country (Mexico). It would not be possible to assign them to another country.
PD: to circuit overseers
We ask you to please help boost enthusiasm and interest in this campaign when you visit congregations.
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WT "Study" for 4th September 2016 - “Seek the Kingdom, Not Things”
by Nicholaus Kopernicus ini’m sitting there in the kingdom hall just thinking how rich it is of the gbojw to preach about materialism when they have recently been evidenced to be using bro’s & sis’ contributions to the world wide work to travel business class!
just that thought alone was leading me to read scripture while they were all engaged in the wt “study”.. however, then it came to paragraph 17 and i blurted / choked a little.
the paragraph said that “we should not imitate the people of ‘the nations,’ who have no real faith in a loving heavenly father who cares for those who put the interests of his kingdom first in their life.”.
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StarTrekAngel
Don't work on building material things for yourself... work on building material things for us..
Yes.. unfortunately I was there too. What is worst, the lunch for the visiting speaker was held at my house..
I am paying closer attention now to the talk and body language of the brothers when they are in more informal enviromment. I can see who stands a chance of being an apostate in the making.