Raphael
JoinedTopics Started by Raphael
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17
SURPRISED AND SHOCKED
by Raphael inmy dad passed away in december and i had to fly to south africa for his funeral.
both my parents and just about all the extended family are devout witnesses.
the funeral talk was held at the local kh.
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4
THE RESURRECTION
by Raphael ini've recently started studying with a house church movement, and they have an interesting slant on the ressurection and eternity:.
firstly with regard to time and space as we experience it in our 4 dimensional world and time as experienced in the spiritual world :.
it seems that time between the two worlds does not run parrallel, and of course god and christ can move and exist outside of time and space in both worlds , hence it is possible for god to see all of history at once - should he choose too.
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6
BETHEL NYC ......ANYONE KNOW????
by Raphael inanyone know merton & olga campbell from bethel,.
met them years ago at bethel nyc and thought they were an amazing couple - very hospitable and warm... merton i think is quite senior at headquaters , but seemed more liberal than most .. also anyone know olaf stephenson from watchtower farms, was a really nice fella and often wonder what they are doing with their lives today?????.
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15
MUSIC IN WORSHIP
by Raphael in.
something that always bothered me as a jw was the lack of praise and worship with music at meetings , yeah there were the tapes of dull and uninspiring piano music along with the same songs that noone ever felt enthusiastic about - i actually remeber feeling embarrassed whenever i had invited a bible study or interested person along to a talk and the singing was just pathetic.. singing durring the meetings was never considered a serious act of worship, but an opportunity to visit the bathroom etc.
i also found it sad that those who did have a musical talent could not use that talent in worship - no alternative forms of musical instruments were permitted inside the kh other than the wts piano tapes - no freedom of expression to worship and praise god was ever allowed , it seems that the gb want to rob jw's of the experience of joy in worshipping god.. now that i have experienced worship and praise in a spirit filled church , i can testify just how liberating freedom of expression in worship can be...i recently came across "the psalm drummers" and highly recommend getting the cd.. http://www.psalmdrummers.org/.
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3
ANNIHILATIONISM VS ETERNAL TORMENT ??
by Raphael in.
a question aimed at those of you who have become christians , after your jw experiences.... how many still believe that the soul of those not saved will cease to exist at death.... personaly i believe we are multi dimensional beings - we are spirit/soul and body.... i would suggest that god can destroy body/soul and spirit and that the references to eternal torment are figurative and not literal.... a very well known christian writer " john stott", who is an evangelical christian shares these views.... .
i'm intersted in how others who still believe feel about this ?
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27
NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH
by Raphael inany one done some research on the above from a non jw view:.
some points of view suggest that at some point all the barriers that prohibit movement between the physical world and the spritual will be removed and that glorified bodies will allow us to materialize and dematerialize at will and to transfer as it were between the various dimensions that exist in our universe and beyond, and in this sense "god brings together all things in christ, both things on the earth and things in the heavens" and also in this sense new jerusalem comes down from heaven and god himself resides with them".. and so in this way also will those who dwell in the heavens enjoy access to the physical world in order to enjoy the whole of creation including the animal world.. .
any other points view ??.
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9
LATEST STATISTICS
by Raphael inany one know what the latest statistics are i.e worldwide report 2006 ?
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12
RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN END TIMES
by Raphael in.
could this be it.
i challenge everyone on this forum to go and check out a new frontiers church in their area.. .
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5
AL-LAH BLAMED SENT TSUNAMI AS PUNISHMENT
by Raphael in.
bbc news reported today that islamic clerics in indonesia proclaimed that allah had sent tsunami, just as he did the flood in noahs' day as punishment for peoples wicked deeds.... sad how religion always rears its ugly head and tries to use a natural disaster to strike even more fear and guilt into peoples minds and hearts, when what they really need right now is compassion and comfort.. .
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