Arauna

15 hours ago, 4Jah2me said:

beautiful car that looks lovely and is so comfortable, but the engine is faulty and

That is where you are wrong.  I study much world history  and philosophy and I also know the JW history. I do not need to be a scholar of what every witness said 100 years ago  to understand that jehovah is using this organization, flaws and all.

If the Organization wants to highlight a point it is ok with me but I find the current fulfillment of teaching and preaching and fulfillment of current events in prophecy much more edifying and strengthening.

I compare our core teachings  to what the world has to offer and see nothing better.....anywhere....  on top of the fulfillment of bible prophecy of the world-wide preaching work and giving timely and strengthening spiritual food to the world.

That is why you guys are stuck on the past - to try to dig up dirt.  You are like an old nagging woman - emotional and continually accusing her  husband over and over again of something he did 60 years ago. 

52 minutes ago, 4Jah2me said:

So what intelligent person would hand themselves over to an Organisation that they knew nothing about ?

That is why you study for two or three years. You can investigate the organization's  links and. .... but why go and get familiar with Russels opinion and Rutherfords opinion when their opinions no longer count in the organization?  They are dead and we have moved on from their teachings.

It is only opposers that go and dig up old stuff to try and say we do not have the truth while they ignore all the core teachings that are absolutely correct.

Bring me another organization that teaches Jehovahs name, teaches the mortality of the soul, that jesus is not God, understand that the kingdom is a government, does not get involved with politics and does not vote or riot,  preaches the kingdom world-wide   etc.etc. ....... please go on and tell me if there is another organization out there ........ 

9 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

Bible or "worldly" history are given of what happened during the two birthday celebrations and other events. The magazine t

I studied worldly history myself to see where pagan traditions come from.  However, I need not go and read how Russel felt about it or even what Rutherford said about it.  It is a historical fact - it was then and it is now. And our current books explain it quite well.

You are trying to compare slippers with pumpkins.

6 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:

context we have GENERATION of 40 years

This generation jehovah could not work with due to lack of faith. They were spiritually  too weak to fight the wars to take the land...  only Joshua and Caleb showed faith.  So this generation had one quality in common...... lack of faith.

9 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:

Here we have all people, young and old, good and bad to be under same wording - "His Generation".

It was a "staggered generation....... some were 500 years old, some 200, some 30.....Noah's parents who were older than Noah, aunts uncles and cousins too. But all these people did come to an end in ONE event......... These were all part of the pre-flood generation.   But  persons lived THROUGH the flood.  So they were still part of the pre-flood generation....... 

16 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:

y (in 33 AD). Because Jesus said: So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’^[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand

A specific sign given..... agreed.  OUR SIGN IS THE WORLD-WIDE PREACHING WORK AND THE SLAVE! 

5 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:

Younger (0 year -20 years) people were not a part of, they not CONSTITUTED this particular Generation that

Interesting point - worthy to think about.

On 6/6/2020 at 7:56 AM, JW Insider said:

There are so many things historically wrong with your assessment that I won't even start

Since we are Bible students and have a PERSONAL relationship with Jehovah and keep improving our  BIBLE  knowledge, I fail to see why we need to know the entire history and every detail of the watchtower history.

I look at the bible and see some kind of central body in the first century. Then I look at the changed circumstances of our day, such as a world-wide responsibility,  together with new technology such as internet and video etc. I immediately understand we need a legal corporation etc to manage a unified approach to the nation of God.  I.e they delegate the videos to certain branch offices but have final oversight over content to ensure ONE message. 

What I am interested in, is NOW!  The core truths that we are teaching now! And the willingness of people to contemplate the new changes. I do not need any person to tell me...... "BUT in a watchtower in 1967."...... bla bla bla.  Russel said : bla bla.

7 hours ago, César Chávez said:

it will be because, he has lost his way into spiritual knowledge. Raymond Franz did the same thing with one exception, Ray's spiritual

Intelligence or education is not needed to understand the deep things of God......... jehovahs spirit is needed.  I do not admire scholars at all because it puffs up. And secular scholars are often bought and paid for.

I have lived in Africa where I saw true humility and poverty..... so I know what the real thing looks like .  Some people  have an "acquired humility".

I actually  feel sorry for the professor Feruli- to have served jehovah so long and faithfully and now in old age succumb to the plague of mankind........ the same quality which Satan displayed. We can all fall and become a victim.  I doubt he took any advice from a brother before publishing it. He wanted the world to notice him...... unfortunately. 

20 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

WT publication teaches how generation is 70-80 in length and is literally connected with the year 1914 as start point to be able to count wh

As I said - they took the first simplified explanation..... of 70 or 80 years.

However, Noah's generation was 120 years.

And a staggered generation  can - as illustrated - be many more years..... even up to 180..... if one looks at the reality on the ground.

To outright dismiss this indicates a bias and unacceptance that staggered generations even exist- which I would say is illogical and unscientific..... and unyielding to even contemplate it - which is NOT a mature Christian quality because we are to "ponder over things and make our advancement".

On 5/20/2020 at 2:01 PM, JW Insider said:

A lot of us (Witnesses) have been forced into a corner on this one,

You show defeat when it comes to thinking things through much  too quickly.  I do not search through old material for someone else  to tell me what to think. As you said: be reasonable and then I add this to the mix:  also look at the reality. 

When reasonableness is followed through with  reality then one sees that a linear timeline for a generation was made much too simple at first. A staggered timeline is the reality on the ground.

I put in a wrong date above. To illustrate Russel's   generation.  The elderly who lived in his time .....  they could have been born any time from  1800...... to be able to read his literature and be influenced by him  in 1870.  However,  all those who had contact with his literature during his lifetime and even those born before his death still live in the times that are influenced by the same events....... such as Darwinism, industrial revolution, love of Egypt and artifacts, Mormonism, the trek from the east to California, and even WW1 AND Watchtower publications and lectures.  So anyone born  up to 1904 would read about the same things in the press and be part of Russel's generation - be influenced by the events.  These people born in 1904 would live through both wars until.........1980 or later.  So a generation is in reality not just one lifetime but a group of lifetimes.  So look at the first date of 1800 to 1980 or little later - this is Russel's generation...... and he was born in 1852. A staggered generation.

So those who experienced and were born just before 1914 or WW2 and even after WW2 (as the generation who saw these signs and were influenced by it) are getting older.... but they are still around.   

I recognise the signs without being anointed and have heard many stories from my grandfather and father who were in WW2 in Africa, Italy, Korea and Japan.  These things are etched in my memory and I lived in the era influenced by these wars....... entire structure of societies changed - especially the 60s in aftermath of WW2. 

The millenials are still influenced by what happened but do not care to read about this any longer - they love the new trend of technology and cyborgs.....  So the generation who saw these signs are definitely getting older.

But many signs are still here: the lockdown, epidemics, fires, floods, tsunamis, volcanos and we are getting so used to murder and conflict (al Shabaab, Syria, Israel versus Iran, Turkey, China, Russia...... that no-one bats an eyelid any longer.  Before the flood the violence was mega but it seems people took no note.  Same now.

So the answer is: to think about things. Something the GB is always telling us to do.  They can spoon feed us up to a point but we have to grow mature ourselves. We ourselves are responsible for learning to ponder.

Staggered or overlapping generations is not absurd at all - it was built in from the start but the GB oversimplified at first. ..... that is all.

Some would like like to say the GB were wrong..... I say.... wait and see.  We are close to the new world order that has satan's influence behind it. Things are going to change so rapidly now.  40 million without work in USA alone and some know they will never get their jobs back...... with the smallest spark they will riot- especially when their bellies are empty. Government is working (right and left working together) to get more police on streets and maybe the military.   Things are getting serious and people are still complacent about the generation........ lol.

3 hours ago, 4Jah2me said:

blind sheep that you are, will you never learn.

My dear, there is none as blind as those who have their eyes wide shut. I usually try to work with those who have something redeemable about them because they can say something I can agree with or learn from when I do not agree.  

You have only one message and it is the same old, same old.... and if I call you out you get personal...... so do not even bother to call me something else because  you revert back to same MO.......

At least the hate-OCD is consistent...... gotta give you credit for that!.  

1 hour ago, 4Jah2me said:

Especially JWs because they are told to change, it does not happen naturally.

Same old judgmental attitude......No, those who ' willingly' change by personal choice and are sincere in their brotherly love learn to  put up with imperfect brothers BUT those who change because they are told t, those are the ones who  become rebellious and become hate-mongers.....and call others dictators.  They never followed jehovah from free will in the first place. 

4 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

if you still hang on to bitterness at our age

Wisdom speaking.  If one has not made peace with the world and learnt to be forgiving and kind after 60 years........ your life has been wasted...... you have not learnt anything.

4 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

You don’t have to know much about the actors to follow the play

The actors may be playing a role but the play is reality...... sad....... that people are wearing masks and hats and do not realize it.

1 hour ago, 4Jah2me said:

you sound so bitter for a supposed Christian that is supposedly serving God 

Sorry if I come across that way. I am the least bitter person you can ever meet. Sweet, friendly and open... no bitterness.   Almost childlike but with a keen eye for observation. Nothing misses my eye when it comes to observation....because I care about people. 

1 hour ago, 4Jah2me said:

GB constantly change their 'teachings'. And on

The fundamental teachings have been the same with minor adjustments...... so this is not a true statement.  You look only to the few changes and not the entire Body - which is the same.

1 hour ago, Srecko Sostar said:

attribute, but he / she is just able to control more certain behavior.

Agree. In the beginning they control these emotions but a  relapse can come. After many years it is easier.

1 hour ago, Srecko Sostar said:

fact how imperfection inherited from first people

Some peoples weaknesses are more pronounced where others can be hidden by good manners....... but all of us are very flawed....we all need Jehovahs mercy very much and should give more mercy to each other.

But sometimes we deal with our own baggage and do not know how to deal with other peoples baggage.... this is just reality. But we should widen out and try..... 

13 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

Perhaps JTR was surrounded with "false friends" for much longer time before he joined this forum

False assumption.  I knew a man who had a similar personality than JT. 

He was a difficult man to understand and had a problem to fit in with other JWs because of his personality.   It was due to growing up in an orphanage all his life.

His wife's faithfulness helped the children to remain faithful. (They came in the truth together). He had left the truth for several years because he was witty like JT but with a quirky element of black acidity in it.  Most people fled because  they could not handle it - not because they did not care.

Age did not soften his personality...... but he was in truth a good man.  He provided well for his family and would eagerly help strangers.  He would laugh easy but always had a look about him as though he was a suspicious predatory cat which  did not trust his surroundings.  Whatever happened to him as a child formed a lasting disability - which was unseen to the eye.   

He therefore needed much more love from us all ..... but most of us had our own baggage and issues- not enough love to give someone like him some peace and heal the damage. Only jehovah can do this.

This person came back into the congregation before he died. He had never broken any biblical laws except that he was a hard man to understand.

11 hours ago, 4Jah2me said:

The GB have diamonds ? No. The dirt is on the top for those that actually see it. CSA

There you go again... back to the old behaviour. Just can't help yourself heh?

We were talking about JT . I agree with Tom.  He found himself being loved by you hate- mongerers way too much and realized he has to do a personal re-evaluation.  

I sincerely hope he is doing well.  .......

On 6/4/2020 at 5:00 AM, TrueTomHarley said:

I’m not sure where all this Zondervan stuff started, but I wish that somewhere Rolf could have pointed out the conflict-of-interest in putting Big Business in charge of distributing the Word of God. 

Well put.

On 6/3/2020 at 10:33 PM, 4Jah2me said:

Do any of then meet the mark of serving God through Christ properly ?

Depends how critical and judgmental you are of the people. (A cultural fault, I found amongst many of the British).  If a group of people have all the core teachings absolutely correct, then you should be happy to serve with them because one serves jehovah - not people.  But if you only focus on the imperfect  people - then no community of believers will ever be good enough for your self-righteous soul. You will miss out on the many blessings you could have had.  

16 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Prov 27 17

Only if the iron wants to be sharpened - therein lies the rub! 

Only associations, which are based on a sincere search for a better understanding or even love, can sharpen wisdom.

12 hours ago, César Chávez said:

why you even bother to answer, I guess you have better patience to listen to dishonest hearts than me.😌

I sometimes wonder too!  But my hope is that I could change a 1% perspective of someone.  I do not have the same culture as most  people on this forum.... so I often see things differently..... and sometimes it has served me well. 

I have however, thought many things through, pondered over bible teachings, the GB, the slave,  and I like philosophy and history.... which influences my opinions.  It has helped me to realize that I appreciate Jehovahs organization - no matter how flawed.  It is easy to judge when not in the GB 's shoes.

Many here may be smarter than me, and  I pick up their arrogance in their replies. While I sometimes come across as "blind believer" in the GB and slave -  it is definitely not the case. I have made a choice because of  understanding and hopefully some wisdom.

I do however judge with mercy. Is this not what is required? Justice and mercy? An unbiased perspective at all times? 

I am not here to quote umpteen scriptures and preach to others. Most here love God I am sure.... but I find that some are too critical of others and have too little of Christ 101 spirit to quote a friend on here.  Some I outright call hate-mongers. But all people are worth our time - while there is still time. 

Their own attitudes may close the door for them.  In south Africa I preached to white supremacists. These people's own attitudes closed the door for them - not me. When I mentioned that God approves all people - they were not prepared to listen. Similarly on here...... peoples own attitudes could be detrimental to approval by  jehovah.

4 hours ago, Witness said:

But in his case, it is the way it was done.  I think you know that.

No matter how he did it - he would be criticized. I guess they try to live normal lives and try to side-step the severe scrutiny. Jesus was called a glutton and other names.

3 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

was one of my aliases?

Not the same sense of humor..... unless you have multiple personality..... lol

12 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

as for blood, they are not the only ones; blood is both risky, as is culturally damaging.

Yep. I have told my own story here many times. How my 9 month baby had a full day surgery to remove cancer from both sides of the chest cavity which also stuck to the spine. The fact that she did NOT have blood saved her life. Her miracle is amazing because she is almost 42 years old.

Yes, I researched blood....... very damaging and most people who die from anaphylactic shock due to blood  - it is not on the death certificate. They say "complications from surgery". 

43 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:

to refuse be part of wrong "demeanor" of

Interesting words srecko. Any "aquired" demeanor is hypocritical.  I believe in being who I am and showing it.   JWs come from all parts of the world and have different personalities. As long as we show love and kindness, impartiality we are acceptable to jehovah and each other.  When we expect others to be like ourselves it is a red flag. Live and let live. 

Display of ego - has nothing to do with scholarship but is all about displaying a quality of satan. Knowledge puffs up - love builds up.

Some people have to prove they are right at all cost.  They are not thinking of their neighbour but themselves. We all fall into this trap...... but surely there is a time to stop?

11 minutes ago, Anna said:

interpret as damage.

Moral damage effects all if them.  Even if they do not  do those things - they no longer hate what is bad but condone it.

36 minutes ago, Srecko Sostar said:

possible that he somehow chose wrong college?

I don't think so...... very few courses are worth their salt these days and children come out dumber than before they went into the propaganda machine.