Thanks for the interesting links.
I learned that a comet passed by Jehovah's house yesterday.
http://earthsky.org/todays-image/comet-lovejoy-passing-near-the-pleiades
i've got into a bit of a rut visiting the same half dozen or so sites most of the time.
i'd love to hear your suggestions for good sites featuring popular science (esp' astronomy and evolutionary biology), natural history, poetry and english literature.
and anything fun and surprising you might like to spring on me would be welcome too!
Thanks for the interesting links.
I learned that a comet passed by Jehovah's house yesterday.
http://earthsky.org/todays-image/comet-lovejoy-passing-near-the-pleiades
wt applied for tax exemption to the town of ramapo, ny, on the ground that they use the land as a "spiritual "retreat", including hiking trails to facilitate spiritual meditation in the natural contemplative setting of the wooded property and reflection on the creative works of the almighty".
tax authority didn't buy it and wt sued: one, two.
i didn't know they did this kind of meditation or spiritual retreats....
Spiritual retreat indeed!
They tried to get Loterdan Properties to buy the property back but failed.
out of the blue my wife started to ask me about my feeling about the borg.
i told her i didn't want to talk about it...she persisted.
she already knows how i feel, i told her that my biggest beef is that they use mind control, and yep she went in to how i was an apostate and how she doesn't want to be married to an apostate.
Sorry for your pain. Hang in there. There may be hope. At some time it me be time to get out. Set the example for your kids so they see you as reasonable, if you can't save your marriage, your example through this will make an impact on them.
You quote John 17:26 says "and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known," ... think about it though ... where in the Bible is there evidence that this was literal? Where in the Sermon on the Mount did Jesus take any opportunity to make the name Jehovah YWHW known? Not a single mention! Of all opportunities wouldn't this have been the one?
... or, perhaps, just as God's name was made known through Moses (not literally, but by action ... check out your Insight book) it was defined by Jesus. Jesus name = Jehovah is Salvation or Jah Saves .... so the name of Jesus makes God's name know as salvation, not a literal making it known, but defined.
reported in many news outlets today including the wall street journal: president obama is pushing for the first two years of a community college to be included in the normal education of the country's children.
the education law currently has a free education from k-12 and obama now wants to include a 2 year community college degree for free (well the tax payers will pick up the tab).
so basically k-12 and a 2 year college associates degree.. if this becomes law, will the gb change their view on higher education and say:.
The Org has defined "higher education" as a four year, university degree.
They are much more lenient to education at a community college which often allows the student to remain at home and continue with their spiritual regimen. Universities, at least in the U.S., often have the student living in a dormitory environment as a requirement for at least the first year which can be detrimental to cult mind control.
if you do believe in the bible's message, do you believe society has gotten better, worse, or has remained the same?.
if you don't believe in the bible's message, do you believe society has gotten better, worse, or has remained the same?.
on a personal note, there are many things that i can't help but notice that coincide with what the apostle paul wrote to timothy in his second letter chapter 3 regarding tough times:.
I no longer believe the Bible is God's word.
Sure, it contains some advantageous advice and words to live by for humanity.
One hook that was planted in my mind as a JW that rears itself now and then is Rev 11:18, that God will bring to ruin those ruining the earth.
Has the meaning of this verse been adulterated? Does the original meaning differ from what it might seem to mean in our language today? When that was penned almost 2,000 years ago, was there any concept of ruining the earth?
I don't know. But like I said, this one sits in my mind and surfaces from time to time. Damn remnants of mind control.
i'm using firefox and the sign in button is dimmed and does not work when selected.. is anyone else seeing this problem?.
chrome and ie are both ok..
http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/dockets.cfm?dist=1&doc_id=2025979&doc_no=a136641.
12/19/2014order filed.
upon due consideration, the media request of applicant abc news to make a video recording of oral argument in the above-referenced appeal is granted.
"I so hope that the end result of all of this is that the WT are duty bound to drop the 2 witness rule."
They won't drop this rule, it is scriptural. They have adjusted how they apply it and are much more careful about what they say. Don't forget that these cases come out of the 1980's and how they were handled at that time. They are now trained on what to say, how to say it, what to ask or not. If it is a criminal case they will refer it to the legal system if required, it the law doesn't require it they won't. They are fighting cases against a time that they hadn't been so proactive in a legal sense. Now most of us recognize the Organization is run behind the scenes by lawyers.
so i am getting really frustrated...i see jdub's wearing jw.org items and .
isn't this idol worship.
respond if you like...i just want some .
No.
It is advertising. Shows club membership to other JW's, allows for "witnessing" opportunities to the inquiring non-JW.
Gaudy and distasteful relegation of a religious faith to a brand ... but then again, it is a cult.
fresh from the "press":to all bodies of elders in the united states branch territoryre: local design/construction department broadcastdear brothers:the work of constructing and maintaining theocratic facilities throughout the unitedstates branch territory is indeed great!
(1 chron.
29:1) with this in mind, we are pleased to informyou of a special meeting to be presented on saturday, january 31, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. easternstandard time (est) to all elders and circuit overseers in the united states branch territory.the meeting will be approximately two and a half hours in length and will includepresentations by members of the local design/construction department, the united statesbranch committee, the worldwide design/construction department, and a member of the governingbody.
Transparency – windows and a store front like entrance - that passersby will be able to see into
Welcoming Atmosphere –this new design will draw people in
fresh from the "press":to all bodies of elders in the united states branch territoryre: local design/construction department broadcastdear brothers:the work of constructing and maintaining theocratic facilities throughout the unitedstates branch territory is indeed great!
(1 chron.
29:1) with this in mind, we are pleased to informyou of a special meeting to be presented on saturday, january 31, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. easternstandard time (est) to all elders and circuit overseers in the united states branch territory.the meeting will be approximately two and a half hours in length and will includepresentations by members of the local design/construction department, the united statesbranch committee, the worldwide design/construction department, and a member of the governingbody.
I found this part interesting from the above link ... giving the Kingdom Halls a commercial, storefront appearance.
The new design will be a bit more commercial in nature – dryvit/stone/ flat roof with parapet / mechanicals on the roof
Recognizable Images like JW.org
Transparency – windows and a store front like entrance - that passersby will be able to see into
Welcoming Atmosphere –this new design will draw people in
Self Serve Literature display immediately in the lobby – this first thing you see – it will mimic what the public is used to seeing in our Metropolitan cart witnessing
The whole idea is like “branding” – or “franchising” – and very recognizable building / logo / message repeated over and over across the country.