Posts by TheListener

24

How Jw's will begin to 'accept' blood doctrinally.

by AK - Jeff in

once upon a time, blood in any form was rejected by jw's.

then, over time, they morphed the policies to allow some 'fractions' or blood.

this allowed witnesses to get immunizations, treatments for hemophilia, etc.. in the past few years now, the policy is allowing greater 'definition' of 'fractions' - to the point where even bovine rbc's, altered to be called a 'fraction' now, due to processing the hemoglobin from the cells, for use.

TheListener

Nicely written Jeff. I'd love to see something like that come out in a wt or awake.

91

Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

by Neo in

jw
friends

the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

here's the % increase for this decade:.

TheListener

JWFacts,

Baptism to publisher ratio is what Brooklyn looks at. It has been steadily decreasing.

That's why we get new study books for new ones, that's why we have doorstep bible studies and that's why so much focus on foreign languages.

20

Help me understand God's will

by TheListener in

i am tired of being told that gods will is for there to be a paradise earth.

i have put the following scripture list together to .

help myself (and maybe others) in discussing what gods will is.. .

TheListener

Narkissos,

Yes, the search included modal auxilaries. Or as I learned them, helping verbs. My way doesn't sound as cool so now I'm adopting your way - modal auxilaries.

20

Help me understand God's will

by TheListener in

i am tired of being told that gods will is for there to be a paradise earth.

i have put the following scripture list together to .

help myself (and maybe others) in discussing what gods will is.. .

TheListener

Renee,

Thanks for the suggestion. I've been reading Ephesians and the first chapter really made me think about predestination. I'm not saying I agree with it but I would like to learn more about it. This book may be the right way.

I would also like to learn more about why some feel that Ephesians isn't talking about predestination; but that is for another thread and another day.

4

How did JWs react when told they could no longer worship Jesus in 1954?

by jwfacts in

jws used to worship jesus, but in 1954 the watchtower stated that this was idolatry.

does anyone know how jws reacted, or have figures to show if there was any decline in the number of publishers?.

from my point of view, the god of a religion is its most significant doctrine.

TheListener

I have been part of conversations that discussed this very subject. There was actually confusion.

An older well established brother felt that the WTS may not be positive on the point and shouldn't be so forceful in the condemnation.

Others felt that there was strong scriptural merit to the previous pre-1954 view.

Others of course couldn't believe it was even being discussed and the current view represented God's view - current light.

20

Help me understand God's will

by TheListener in

i am tired of being told that gods will is for there to be a paradise earth.

i have put the following scripture list together to .

help myself (and maybe others) in discussing what gods will is.. .

TheListener

I am tired of being told that God’s will is for there to be a paradise earth. I have put the following scripture list together to

help myself (and maybe others) in discussing what God’s will is.

The word “will” is used 1,332 times in the New International Version of the New Testament. I have read each quote and have

included some of the more pertinent verses here. If you know of further verses that shed light upon God’s Will please post

them.

What do the scriptures say about God’s Will?

Should God’s will matter to us? (review bolded quotations)

What is God’s will? (review yellow highlighted quotations)

Do we have help doing God’s will? (review underlined quotations)
_________________________________________________________________

Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 18:14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Matthew 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this

cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Matthew 26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I

drink it, may your will be done."

Mark 3:35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you

will."

John 4:34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at

the last day.

John 6:40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will

raise him up at the last day."

John 7:17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my

own.

Acts 20:27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Acts 21:14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."

Acts 22:14 "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear

words from his mouth.

2 Cor 8:5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's

will.

Gal 1:4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Eph 5:17 “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.” (this comes in the middle of a discussion of

things not to do and things to do).

Eph 6:6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from

your heart.

Col 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you

with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for

you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

1 Thess 4:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;

1 Thess 5:18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

Heb 10:9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.

Heb 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Heb 13:21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus

Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Pet 2:15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.

1 Pet 3:17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1 Pet 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue

to do good.

1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

6

Grandmother's Day

by 5thGeneration in

jw
friends

did anyone see the awake!

article that basically condemns 'grandmother's day'?

funny!

TheListener

I was surprised. I can't wait for my dub wife to read it.

I always hope that each boneheaded thing they write will wake her up a little more.

91

Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

by Neo in

jw
friends

the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

here's the % increase for this decade:.

TheListener

Can someone with the current KMs please give us the number of individuals baptized for July and August 2006, and the average number of publishers.

50

JW's and John 5:23

by UnDisfellowshipped in

has anyone on this board ever used john 5:23 when talking to jw's?.

unfortunately, one of my friends is currently in a "bible" study with the jw's (and has been since last year).

i asked my friend to ask the jw what john 5:23 means, so my friend did ask the jw who was conducting the "bible" study.

TheListener

Do the scriptures actually say to honor anything or anyone as we do God? - except for Christ?

If not, then honoring Jesus as we do God makes a bigger point that is hard to argue against.

We can't argue against by saying 'what if the bible said this or that'. The bible either says it or doesn't.

If, however, the bible does say to honor someone or something the same as we do god then the point of Jesus stating his equality is in doubt, as Gumby pointed out.

91

Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

by Neo in

jw
friends

the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

here's the % increase for this decade:.

TheListener

You're right R6 it is an increase. A pathetic one for all the activity they perform but it is an increase.

I know that many elders and COs long for the days of big increases so they can feel the energy of the organization return.

As it is the organization is shuffling along gaining and losing members every year.

The recent drive we've seen to show how close the end is has likely been planned to affect next year's numbers.