John 12.24to28
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Posts posted by John 12.24to28
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(This is another book that gave me a lot of strength during trialsome times. It shows how love transcends labels...highly recommended reading...)
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44499889
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(Just one of the many cool things Jehovah did...before I was disfellowshipped but during the time I was "soft shunned", a sister who didn't know me invited me and the kids through another sister to an online homeschool event. During the pandemic, Simone Liebster did online interviews where children could ask her questions about her experiences during WWII. The children write in ahead of time, she selects which questions to answer, and then on the Zoom call talks to the individual children whose questions she is answering. Even though my kids and I were being "soft shunned" by all the "friends" in the local congregation, Simone selected both of my kids to answer their questions. I thought there'd only be like 20 people on the Zoom call, but there were a few hundred, from all over the country and a lot of Bethelites and elders. There was an elder and his wife there from my KH, we saw them on one of the Zoom screens. I think they were surprised that both of my kids came on the screen during the interview and got to talk to Simone. It was Jehovah who did that. Only Jehovah knew how much her experience had helped us. I had learned about her before, years ago, and also when we went to Bethel for visits, I saw the little Bible on display that she had hidden under the bed of the mean nun in the reform school, and whenever she'd clean that mean lady's room, she'd take a long time under the bed to read God's Word, and that kept her strong. Her example always gave me courage. Only Jehovah could bring us together like that. Anyway, Jehovah has done so many cool things like that, just little things, personal things, that He knew made a difference to me and the children. I just have to praise Jehovah for the things He's done.)
https://alst.org/en/education/oral-history-interviews/who-is-simone-arnold-liebster/
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38 minutes ago, Pudgy said:
I am glad you were not offended by my butting into “your business”. As stated, it was intended as “practical advice”., and of course, if it blew up it would be you to pay any consequences, not me.
I wasn't offended. I was touched that you would think enough of me to offer advice, and thankful.
I know I come across in an awkward kind of way - I don't quite "fit" in.
The only thing I can relate it to is not a perfect fit for an illustration, but I read the book with my kids "Facing the Lion" about Simone Liebster's experience. She was removed from her family for a few years during Nazi times and forbidden to talk to others, treated harshly, etc. When she came back home at the end of the war, her parents returned from the concentration camps as well. Some other local girls who had not been through the same types of experiences were together with her for a social event. She didn't fit in with them anymore. It was difficult for her to just "shoot the breeze" so-to-speak and to talk in a "normal" way. She noticed it, but couldn't really do much about it. (It's not a perfect illustration for my experience, but it might help.)
Sometimes there are trials we go through that change us. It doesn't mean we're better or worse necessarily - that depends upon how we meet those trials - but we are changed nonetheless. Even before I was "culled" from the congregation, I had been through two unique experiences that kind of changed my ability to "fit" in like before. I do my best to compensate to the degree I can and try not to totally blow off the social norms and what is "expected" as far as "appropriate accepted" rules of society. But I learned, when the dung hits the fan, so-to-speak, none of those "expected" rules of society matter anymore. Love matters. Trust in Jehovah matters. Faith and hope matter. It is what got me through that hell time.
I am completely convinced that everything Jehovah says will come true. I cannot tell you the details of why I know because it would take many many posts to share everything that Jehovah has gotten me through and much of the material would be not proper content for a public forum. There is no way I could have survived if it wasn't for Jehovah and His Word. I have "seen" His hand so many times, in so many ways, He is more real to me than any person on earth made of dust. It's like gravity. You can't "see" gravity, but if you think about it you are aware of it every moment of your life looking back. The earth is heavy. Jehovah is heavier.
38 minutes ago, Pudgy said:Hope it works out well for you.
Thank you. I said earlier "I love @boyle" (I think there's a saying somewhere probably that "@boyle has a way of growing on you")...how much more so I can say "I love @Pudgy". I am not afraid of showing love. Life is too short in this world not to express love at every opportunity, and we don't know all the details of what today or tomorrow will bring.
I hope everything works out well for you too, my brother.🌷
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7 hours ago, Pudgy said:
Suck it up, take the hit, go back to the congregation, smile, and keep your mouth shut.
JEHOVAH CAN TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF.
With the very BEST of intentions, you disrupted the congregation, which is very serious. You thought you could make a difference and reform.
You we’re wrong.
Take the ostracism and unwarranted abuse for three years more, without comment or complaint.That way it will be SOMEONE ELSE who stumbles the “Little Ones”.
NOT YOU.
@Pudgy, when the elders were "culling" me from the flock, I still believed every single thing the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" taught. I believed the 1914 thing. I believed the Governing Body was the "Faithful and Discreet Slave". I believed in the disfellowshipping doctrine. You are mistaken. I didn't get removed for disobeying their rules that are in the publications. I got removed because they were disobeying their own rules.
I did what the publications say to do when another member of the congregation is actively hurting other members of the flock in a way that is clearly against both Bible commands and what is written in the Watchtower. There is no way I could not report what was going on. There is no way I could not tell the other members of the congregation. I love them too much to watch them get hurt.
It wasn't until after they "culled" me that I realized all the ways I had been lied to and started researching and opened my eyes to both what was going on at Bethel and to what the Bible really teaches on many things.
I have not stumbled ANY little sheep. You have it backwards. I would gladly go back to any congregation to support my brothers and sisters, but I will not disobey Jesus by refusing to talk to my family members when I am there. That would be like supporting an abuser while they are abusing someone. I cannot do such a thing.
If I were to go to another congregation, the elders there would just have to refer their authority back to the original elders who did the judicial hearing. There's no way those guys will ever reinstate me of their own accord. And now that I know more accurately what the Bible teaches on things like 1914, FDS, etc, there is no way I will "pretend" not to know those things. How could I keep my integrity if I were to be a party to a lie?
I never thought I could reform anybody at the congregation. I didn't try to reform anybody. I don't have an "agenda" other than as a housewife and homeschooling mom, to sweep the floor and do the dishes and teach math class, etc. But I love Jehovah, and I love talking about Him. I hate when people tell lies about Him. It makes me angry. He's my Dad. I hate when people say they represent Him but then make Him out to be something horrid, like when they say He's going to kill babies at Armageddon or something. Where does it say that in the Bible? I love people, and I am not afraid anymore to tell the truth. I don't care if people don't believe it. I'm not trying to win followers or be something I'm not in order to have more friends. I'm not a faker. I am a real friend.
When I wrote to Bethel, it was out of love. I love those people. I'm not trying to "reform" anybody. I don't want to see them get hurt. I know what the Bible says is coming and I know it's true because Jehovah doesn't lie.
I know many people in the congregation now are afraid to be seen talking to me because the elders told them lies about me. It's ridiculous. And yet I also know very soon those same people are going to be woken up because of what's going to happen on the world scene. And they will know that I told them the truth, and then they'll talk to me again. I'm patient. I know 100% that they will talk to me again. Some of them still do talk to me secretly, but they have family members in the organization and they have to be careful or they'll get "culled" too. I understand.
I know Jehovah can take care of Himself. But I'm not leaving His side just to go stand beside some false doctrines so I can have more friends temporarily who aren't really behaving like friends. I am their friend because I am doing what I am doing out of love. They are doing what they are doing out of fear. Someday they won't be so afraid. I used to be afraid of telling the truth. I'm not anymore. I love Jehovah. He's the one who gives me the strength. Love is Strength.
(I do appreciate that you are willing to give me advice though, @Pudgy. I highly value what you have to say, even if I don't always agree with it. You have helped me many times by things you have said currently or written in the past - sometimes when I just needed a laugh, and sometimes when I felt really alone and like nobody on earth understood certain things - you had a way of encapsulating it in a few words, something that is obviously not my gift. And you were willing to talk to me when no one else was. I will always appreciate that. I know we don't agree on everything, and that's okay with me. I still view you as my older brother, and I always will. We have the same Father, the God of Truth, even if you can't see Him the same way yet.)
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27 minutes ago, Pudgy said:
The composite humorless, agenda driven Wally McNastys of the organization drive many (unknown number) away.
"If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is thrown out like a branch and dries up. And men gather those branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."
This verse takes place after Jesus takes the throne:
"The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Let the one who has ears listen."
The "Wally McNasty's" of the organization will be removed. They are not removed yet. They are still in power. But they will be removed. It'll be as clear as day who is a "righteous" one and who is not, because the fakers will be removed. No human could do it, but the Bible shows it's the angels who will do it. One angel took down 185,000 Assyrians in a night. It's no big deal for them to remove the fakers from the organization and bring back the faithful ones who left, and gather the innocent ones who don't know anything about Jehovah yet.
Things are going to change very quickly once Jesus takes the throne.
As far as that foolish FDS "overlapping generations" business...
"“Now learn this illustration from the fig tree: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near at the doors. Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away."
All that Jesus meant is that when you start to see religion attacked, don't worry. It's going to be really bad and scary, but don't worry. Not everybody will die. It's going to seem like a lot of people will die once the Devil is cast out of heaven, because the Devil is the ultimate "Wally McNasty" but Jesus said people will survive. That's what "this generation will by no means pass away" means. Don't give up once the tribulation starts. Three and a half years might seem like a long time under such tribulation. But just like Jehovah kept the Israelites alive in the wilderness for 40 years, He can take care of us during the 3 1/2 years without a Bethel/borg. He's Jehovah.
“Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father. Keep looking, keep awake, for you do not know when the appointed time is. It is like a man traveling abroad who left his house and gave the authority to his slaves, to each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to keep on the watch. Keep on the watch, therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether late in the day or at midnight or before dawn or early in the morning, in order that when he comes suddenly, he does not find you sleeping. But what I say to you, I say to all: Keep on the watch."
We don't know when Jesus will take the throne, but we know it's soon. The FDS are asleep. They're looking in the wrong place for that "peace and security" cry thing that they made up. They are the ones saying "peace and security" in the congregation, when there is no peace. The hour for such lawless ones to be removed is soon to come. They are asleep, it will hit them like a thief in the night.
(Speaking of sleep, I have to get some. Hope you have a good rest of your evening!)
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8 minutes ago, Pudgy said:
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Satan's been having a field day in the congregations, especially at Bethel. Jesus said he'd fix all those problems in the congregation after he takes the throne. (That's why it's so ridiculous when the FDS says Jesus took the throne in 1914. If he took the throne then, there wouldn't be all these problems in the congregations today. It's so obvious that 1914 thing is a hoax.) Revelation 2,3 as well as the gospels show Jesus will remove the false teachings and the fake "leaders" as soon as he takes the throne. Happy day!
Then so many "ex-jw's" will return, just like in King Saul's day...
"So Saul and all the people with him assembled and went into the battle, where they found that the Phi·lisʹtines had turned their swords against one another, and the confusion was very great. Also, the Hebrews who had previously sided with the Phi·lisʹtines and who had come up with them into the camp were going over to Israel under Saul and Jonʹa·than. All the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountainous region of Eʹphra·im heard that the Phi·lisʹtines had fled, and they too joined in pursuing them in the battle."
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45 minutes ago, Pudgy said:
WDS - ( the “inside to outside version”…)
The agenda driven humorless stain on the soul of humanity that makes most people dislike talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
JW core beliefs should be welcomed, with a line outside the Kingdom Halls of people wanting to get in!
"Therefore this is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘Here I am bringing such a disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that it will make both ears of anyone who hears about it tingle. And I will stretch out on Jerusalem the measuring line applied to Sa·marʹi·a and use the leveling tool applied to the house of Aʹhab, and I will wipe Jerusalem clean, just as one wipes a bowl clean, wiping it and turning it upside down. I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hand of their enemies, and they will become plunder and spoil to all their enemies, because they did what was bad in my eyes and were continually offending me from the day that their forefathers came out of Egypt to this day.’”
Jehovah has allowed the nations to "wipe" the "stain" away in the past. He will do it again shortly.
Then there won't be any more "Kingdom Halls". It'll just be good-hearted people doing the best they can to encourage one another for 3 1/2 years until the UN gets their time in the limelight complete. Jehovah will gather us together more like a real family instead of this bogus business corporation stuff. Then more people will want to hang out with us (us meaning Jehovah's friends, anybody who can help others learn about Jehovah's personality, from whatever background they are), instead of like how it is today, pushing people away all the time with the Pharisee-like coldness.
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21 minutes ago, boyle said:
More, psycho babble!
Since we're talking about Evolution/Make-Believe, here is a make-believe conversation with someone who believes in evolution...
Jehovah's witness says: "God had the Bible written down."
Atheist says: "That's dumb. God couldn't write a book."
Jehovah's witness says: "Can you write a book?"
Atheist says: "Yes."
Jehovah's witness says: "So, you don't think God could write a book?"
Atheist says: "No."
Jehovah's witness says: "Okay. So, you don't believe God exists. How do you think everything got here?"
Atheist says: "In a primordial soup of pre-protein molecules with various complex pressurized changes over millions of millennia multiple mutations morphed in both micro- and macro-evolutionary configurations of quasi-deoxyribonucleic acid and eventually sporadically combined via unknown cataclysmic catalysts into the first living organism."
Jehovah's witness says: "That sounds like a lot of word salad. Now, how did all that happen? Did somebody put those things in place or something?"
Atheist says: "Nope. It all happened like magic. Nobody did it. It just happened all by itself."
Jehovah's witness says: "I can see you read a lot of fantasy books. Do you believe somebody wrote the fantasy books?"
Atheist says: "Yes."
Jehovah's witness says: "So, you believe somebody wrote the fantasy books, but you can't believe that God told somebody write the books of the Bible. You believe some invisible unknown process happened to cause life in the universe, but you can't believe an invisible person could possibly exist and direct the writing of a book to explain that creation process. Is that right?"
Atheist says: "Yes. I don't believe in what I can't see."
Jehovah's witness says: "Have you ever seen any of the authors who wrote your fantasy books? Have you ever seen any of the authors who wrote your evolution books? Have you ever seen any of the authors who wrote any of your school books?"
Atheist says: "No."
Jehovah's witness says: "Then how do you know they exist?"
Atheist says: "Some people on a forum told me, and they seemed pretty convinced. They even used really big vocabulary words."
Really big vocabulary words are overrated.
People can see witnesses. Jehovah had Jesus send out witnesses. There were many witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. There are no witnesses of evolution. You can decide for yourself what makes more sense to believe.
"At that time Jesus said in response: “I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to young children. Yes, O Father, because this is the way you approved. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son except the Father; neither does anyone fully know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son is willing to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for yourselves. For my yoke is kindly, and my load is light.”
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How to talk like an Evolutionary Theorist and Impress All Your Friends...
Randomly select four words from this list:
virtually
lineages
microorganisms
originated
process
common ancestors
organisms
fundamental
progeny
molecular
genes
mimicry
comprehensive
DNA
diversity
distinguishable
differences
modifications
successive
generations
fundamental
keystones
species
million
any word ending in "-ity"
any word ending in "-istry"
any word ending in "-ology"
any word with at least five syllables
any word that sounds like Spock might use
Add an adjective to every other word you selected from the above list and make a grammatically correct sentence. (It doesn't have to make sense, as long as it sounds good.)
Form the sentences into paragraphs until you fill several pages. Then go back to each paragraph and insert the name of somebody who published information on evolutionary theory (you can use Google if you want.)
Congratulations! Now you are a convert to the Cult of Evolutionary Theology! And you didn't even need to get a degree! 😃
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50 minutes ago, boyle said:
I don't have a problem, but your mental state does, if you think you can use reverse psychology on me, lol! I told you a few times not to be twisting my comments. I don't know why you keep insisting.
Do you get off, twisting people's comments? Or can it be you think it gives you more ammunition to boast about other things that aren't related? Either way, you seem to be impressing yourself, so please, continue, lol!
You just expose your heart every time you speak.
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37 minutes ago, boyle said:
Really, did he tell you that directly? I thought it had to do with a lot of issues imperfect people were demonstrating to him, that he felt compelled to denounce all evil and pretenders in the most harsh way. I don't know what kind of understanding ExJWs have on the matter, but scripture is straight forward. If it wasn't, then why did Paul add his wisdom in 2 Timothy 4? Just to fill up space in the scrolls?
Jesus never denounced anybody in a harsh way. He was straightforward, yes, but not overly harsh.
"You see, I was in fear of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and you reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘By your own words I judge you, wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I am a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? So why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my coming, I would have collected it with interest."
The Master in the illustration was not the one who was harsh. It was the slave who was wicked and harsh. The slave was lazy and mean and bad. Even though the Master had given him everything he needed, that slave still refused to work, and then the slave had the nerve to call the Master bad names.
Jesus is not harsh. Jesus has never been harsh.
2 Timothy 4 is talking about how to deal with false teachers in the congregation. The context of Revelation is different.
In Revelation, Jesus said to John: "What you see, write in a scroll and send it to the seven congregations: in Ephʹe·sus, in Smyrʹna, in Perʹga·mum, in Thy·a·tiʹra, in Sarʹdis, in Philadelphia, and in La·o·di·ceʹa...So write down the things you saw, and the things that are, and the things that will take place after these." Some of the things written to the congregations were specific to those ancient congregations. "The things that are." Some of the things written to the congregations are for our day. "The things that will take place after these."
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, many times Jesus says that he will be coming soon to remove their lampstand or to reward the faithful in the congregation. He says some of the congregations are like a synagogue of Satan with lots of really bad things going on. He says for some Christians that being near those congregations is like being in prison. To other Christians he says they need more love. Right near the verses later about Armageddon, Jesus says to keep on outer garments that no one may see their nakedness. He is talking about being clothed with love. Jesus talked about love all the time. The illustration regarding being lukewarm or cold was also about showing love.
The congregation has evolved into a cold place. There are many faithful individual Christians in the congregations, but there is also a lot of coldness as far as love is concerned. Jesus is coming to remedy that situation very soon. In the meantime, any Christians who find themselves in figurative "prison" for the "ten days" must maintain their strong love and faith and hope. Jesus is coming to set us free from this particular situation shortly. (Disfellowshipping doctrine will be removed soon, at the beginning of the great tribulation.)
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32 minutes ago, boyle said:
Zoologists don't undermine the intelligence of animals
Zoologists are individuals, just like any other scientist. They are affected by their own personal beliefs and biases.
One famous evolutionary theorist is Richard Dawkins. He doesn't think there's a Creator.
"Richard Dawkins said so, so it must be true, it's like, magic of reality or something, yeah, evolution." Not! (Who is Richard Dawkins anyway and why does anybody trust him to teach about anything in creation when he can't even figure out that there is a Creator? Isn't that a little bit like going to an English teacher who doesn't know their ABC's?)
Here's some fantasy for sci-fi lovers: The subtle aspects of biological variation amidst the nuances of multiple complexities constantly shift to concepts that add up to equating unique traits. I mean, the significantly astronomical cognitive powers mutate and the evolutionary pressure culls off negativity to lead to optimal leaps. And because the selective pressures are changing, the unique traits of the old rusty Volkswagon can be directly linked to the environment, so if you wait like a billion years, all those small changes will add up and the old rusty Volkswagon will have AI or evolve into something like this...
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On 4/19/2023 at 8:09 PM, boyle said:
some forms of creation have evolved to adapt to whatever spot in time
Okay, back on the other definition of evolution again...
Some people think that if you let enough time go by, an octopus will improve their "cognitive awareness". They might say that dolphins are showing such "cognitive awareness". And that chimpanzees are really "cognitively aware".
("Cognitive awareness"??? Code-word for another-evolutionary-theorist-vocabulary-higher-than-you-so-I-must-be-smarter-because-I've-got-cooler-science-words.)
Here's a picture of a nice old Volkswagen. Did you know that if enough time goes by and there is another open spot for it because of life cycles changing and environmental cues, it will, completely on its own and by random mutations for natural selection, increase its "cognitive awareness" and evolve into the Millennial Falcon???
(😆 Yeah, only in sci-fi world dreams...)
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4 hours ago, boyle said:
The characteristics and traits are the same, but why do “women” hold women to a different standard within society, when it comes to accepting it, even though their gender can be just as evil?
You tend to talk about things that are bothering you, @boyle, so as to any female pedophile problem you have, here are some things to consider...
In ancient Israel, there were many forms of disgusting and sordid behavior. Child sacrifice. Baal worship, with male and female temple prostitutes. The people came out of Egypt and were given laws against bestiality and abuse, why? Because that's the kind of lifestyle they had known. That's what was going on in the cultures around them.
Rahab was from Jericho. Many false religions of old would make girls give their virginity at the "sacred temples" in a form of ritual prostitution. It was part of their culture. It was wrong and bad and disgusting, but many people took part in it and supported it. Woman allowed their children to go to the "temple" to be used in immoral ways.
Jehovah regulated polygamy because the people were already so prone to rebel against God's standards, He made the concession temporarily for polygamy, but can you imagine what a mess that would have been to live in such a household back then? We don't have to imagine - there is a Bible record. Before the Mosaic Law: Sarah and Hagar; Leah and Rachel and Bilhah and Zilpah. After the Mosaic Law: Hannah and Peninnah. And I'd hate to know how it went in Solomon's house.
When Jesus walked the earth, there was still immorality in Israel. Mary Magdalene had been abused by seven demons. The account in Noah tells us that wicked spirits used to materialize bodies and they would take anyone they chose. Can you imagine poor Mary Magdalene being abused by seven of them at once? What kinds of sick twisted immoral things did they put that woman through?
How about the woman in this account:
"Now one of the Pharisees kept asking him to dine with him. So he entered the house of the Pharisee and reclined at the table. And look! a woman who was known in the city to be a sinner learned that he was dining in the house of the Pharisee, and she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. Taking a position behind him at his feet, she wept and began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them off with the hair of her head. Also, she tenderly kissed his feet and poured the perfumed oil on them.
"Seeing this, the Pharisee who had invited him said to himself: “If this man were really a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman it is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”"
What kind of sinner was she? The Bible doesn't say. And yet Jesus said she was forgiven.
"But in reply Jesus said to him: “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
"He said: “Teacher, say it!”
"“Two men were debtors to a certain lender; the one was in debt for 500 de·narʹi·i, but the other for 50. When they did not have anything to pay him back with, he freely forgave them both. Therefore, which one of them will love him more?”
"In answer Simon said: “I suppose it is the one whom he forgave more.”
"He said to him: “You judged correctly.”
"With that he turned to the woman and said to Simon: “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. But this woman wet my feet with her tears and wiped them off with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but this woman, from the hour that I came in, did not stop tenderly kissing my feet. You did not pour oil on my head, but this woman poured perfumed oil on my feet. Because of this, I tell you, her sins, many though they are, are forgiven, because she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
"Then he said to her: “Your sins are forgiven.”
"Those reclining at the table with him started to say among themselves: “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
"But he said to the woman: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
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2 hours ago, boyle said:
Does Rev 3:16 mean anything to how god will deal with so, so people?
Revelation 3:16
"So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth."
Jesus was talking about their love. Their love was neither refreshing nor zealous.
The FDS likes to say that at Revelation 3:16 Jesus was talking about field service reports, but that's a bunch of junk. Jesus didn't put into place "reporting time".
Jesus commanded that we show love. We don't "count time" we spent "showing love". Love is not something that can be measured by a "service overseer" or "service department". Love is not measured in "placements" or "return visits" or "talks given" or "comments given". That's a bunch of junk.
I'm not saying it's wrong to comment at a meeting or give talks or place Bible-based literature. But if love is not the motivating factor when a person does those things, well, it doesn't matter if they put 1,000 hours down on their "report" and comment at every part on the program - it's still being "cold" if not motivated by love. It's still being "lukewarm" if their heart isn't in it. Jesus can read the heart.
What good is it if a person has a "perfect" service report for twenty years and does every avenue of "service" possible, and yet that person doesn't talk to their own family members because they consider them "too worldly"? Or to their so-called "disfellowshipped" brother? Jesus would say that love is lukewarm or that love is cold.
"Let your love be without hypocrisy."
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(I have to go do some stuff, but I will be back later...🙂)
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5 minutes ago, boyle said:
Do you believe God loves the unrepentant?
Yes. The Bible is clear that He does.
He sent Jesus before we had a chance to repent.
He lets the sun shine on the wicked and the good, because of His love for them.
He lets the rain benefit the wicked and the good, because of His love for them.
God's love is patient.
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Speaking of hearts, @boyle...
"The sacrifices pleasing to God are a broken spirit;
A heart broken and crushed, O God, you will not reject."
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"That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned—."
"...where sin abounded, undeserved kindness abounded still more. To what end? So that just as sin ruled as king with death, so also undeserved kindness might rule as king through righteousness leading to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
That's why it's called "undeserved" kindness.
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1 hour ago, boyle said:
Wise people flee from sin.
"Be as free people, using your freedom, not as a cover for doing wrong, but as slaves of God."
"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? But thanks to God that although you were once the slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over.
"Yes, since you were set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh; for just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free as to righteousness. What, then, was the fruit that you used to produce at that time? Things of which you are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death. However, now that you were set free from sin and became slaves to God, you are producing your fruit in the way of holiness, and the end is everlasting life. For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."
"Keep on speaking and behaving in such a way as those do who are going to be judged by the law of a free people."
We're still living in the darkness of this system of things, this long night. But we are free if we choose to be, by means of the gift.
"Those hoping in Jehovah will regain power.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary;
They will walk and not tire out."
We may be in a cage, but we can still sing until the night ends, and we can still figuratively "fly" when we let our love soar, when we take Jehovah's hand. His love is way up high.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So my ways are higher than your ways
And my thoughts than your thoughts."
"Moreover, may the Lord cause you to increase, yes, to abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that he may make your hearts firm, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the presence of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones."
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1 hour ago, boyle said:
prisoner
Jesus is still extending the offer to become free.
"And the spirit and the bride keep on saying, “Come!” and let anyone hearing say, “Come!” and let anyone thirsting come; let anyone who wishes take life’s water free."
Let's Talk About Evolution!
in Topics
Posted
I know you are unrepentant right now about some things. You've made that clear.
"Truly I say to you, whatever things you may bind on earth will be things already bound in heaven, and whatever things you may loosen on earth will be things already loosened in heaven."
Jehovah's holy spirit is a witness and I am a witness of His love for you, even though you are unrepentant.
I don't have the power that Jesus has, but I do have authority from Jesus to forgive those who have sinned against me. I have authority to love of my own free will.
"If anyone catches sight of his brother committing a sin that does not incur death, he will ask, and God will give life to him, yes, to those not committing sin that incurs death. There is a sin that does incur death. It is concerning that sin that I do not tell him to make request. All unrighteousness is sin, and yet there is a sin that does not incur death."
We all sin many times. I have been forgiven for some hideous things that I don't care to talk about at present. Jehovah was still kind to me even before I repented. He was patient with me until I came to that point to realize those things were displeasing to Him and until I got to the point to truly hate those bad things. How could I not show love for others when I have had so much love and mercy and undeserved kindness extended to me by God?
I will keep making request for you, because I love you. I don't have to know all the details of what you have been through to see how hurt you are, to see how much hate you have and anger. I can see you are in a lot of pain. I am sorry for that. I can't change it. But I can make supplication for you, that you can endure the pain until the solution comes. And I can do my best to show you love in the hopes that you will realize it is really Jehovah who loves you, He is the Source of love, and maybe you will come back to Him in time. There is still time. That's why during the 3 1/2 years of the tribulation we'll still be preaching the same thing: "Repent! The Kingdom of the Heavens is drawing near!"
Jehovah doesn't want to lose any of His children. He doesn't want to lose you, @boyle. He knows all the work you've done your whole life, and what motivated it. He loves you, even though you're mad at Him. It wasn't His fault. You'll see that in time. He's been by your side this whole time helping you endure it, despite all the wild talk.
"Jehovah's Loyal Love Endures Forever💖"