respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  46

  Believers and dinosaurs

  by Christ Alone in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was curious to hear what other believers understand about dinosaurs.

  i know we have a few young earth creationists here.

  i wondered what you understand about dinosaurs and when they existed, as well as hear from those that believe dinosaurs lived millions of years ago and how it fits into the bible..

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  respectful_observer

  Haha! I still remember standing with a group of college-age (notice how I didn't say college-educated) JWs and somehow the subject of dinosaurs came up. One person said: "Dinosaurs are a myth! Don't you know they're all just part of the 'theory of evolution'?

  The second person replied: "Are you being serious?! Dinosaurs are NOT a myth!! Haven't you ever seen fossils in a museum??"

  (At this point I was relieved that SOMEONE else in the group had a brain...until they concluded their educational session with this...)

  "Of course dinosaurs existed. It's CAVEMEN that are a myth!!! Do you believe that people lived in caves and painted on the walls?"

  (Gotta love home-schooled J-dubs.)
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  20

  Does the Watchtower still make a big thing about the cry of "Peace & Security"?

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  it was a big thing in 70's and 80's, but seemed to have died down during the 90's up until the time i left.

  i was wondering with the arab spring and increased unrest in the middle east, whether the brothers are speculating about this again?.

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  respectful_observer

  Whenever a news item even vaguely (or even explicitly) mentions "world peace" or "peace and security", inevitably some J-dub will suggest that "...maybe THIS IS IT!!" I've seen it in reference to ObamaCare passing Congress and being upheld in the Supreme Court, Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama winning (re)election, bin Laden being killed, the draw-down of troops in Iraq/Afghanistan, etc., etc., etc.

  Whenever they suggest that this could finally be "IT", I like to ask: "Wow, you think so? Doesn't the UN need to turn on 'false religion' first? It seems like A LOT of other prophecies need be fulfilled before 'peace and security' is declared. Besides, based on how strong the religious right is in this country right now, and how many religion-based governments there are in power in the world right now--especially in Muslim countries, it doesn't seem like false religion is going anywhere at the moment. Maybe I'm wrong, what do YOU think?"

  My question/statement is usally greeted with a look of contemplation followed by emotional deflation.

  I'm always willing to play the role of the pragmatic "wet blanket".
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  34

  Pronouncing it RIGHT

  by Christ Alone in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what rules do you follow when pronouncing foreign names/places/things?

  i was remembering that when we were studying the daniel book for the book study back in the day, someone released a pronunciation guide.

  i remember studying it closely so i could pronounce all the names right (especially on the section of daniel 11).

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  respectful_observer

  San-hee'drin (when it should be SAN' hi-drin)

  Oh, and let's not forget about Jesus' close friend "LazarUTH"!
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  10

  Just wondering about the slangs used to describe disfellowshiping

  by 20yearfader in

  1. social
  2. humour
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  respectful_observer

  "Diffed" and "D-Effed" are the most common ones in my area.
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  9

  Who's betting this photo was taken in the bethel kitchen?

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  from page 3 of the february 2013 awake!....

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  cedars.

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  respectful_observer

  I can't imagine too much food left behind with all the "gleaning" that takes place at Bethel!
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  26

  Well we can shoot down one rumor - the 2013 district conventions are officially 3 days long...

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...according to a letter to all boes dated 11/11/2012.. there is nothing new or different (or interesting!

  ) in the letter.

  same stuff as has been covered over the past 20+ years.. .

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  respectful_observer

  
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  17

  Do you ever make a toast (raise your glass, I mean, not put bread in a toaster)?

  by sd-7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i had quite the fun time at my wedding reception with the jw family so worried that my non-jw aunt was going to do a toast.

  unlike them, i do have regard for not offending the conscience of others, so of course i wasn't going to allow that under the circumstances.

  i mean, if they really thought i was going to let them do that, why did they even come in the first place?

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  respectful_observer

  After that "loosely written" QFR several years back, a lot of the 20 to 30-somthings in my area became pretty liberal with "cheers-ing" as we call it. I know the CO (and maybe a subsequent QFR) has tried to dial it back since, but that genie's not going back in the bottle around here.

  Most of us won't do it in front of most J-dubs over 45, but it's pretty common for pints of beer or drinks to be raised/clinked when we're all out celebrating something....a new job, turning 30 (that's different than celebrating birthdays, right? ), St. Paddy's Day (oh wait, I mean "hey look, the bars are all open at 10 a.m. today. Weird. Let's go!"), or when we just all happen to be out around midnight on Dec 31st.
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  17

  A JW mother and her children just came to my door......

  by haboob48 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  first of all let me say that i choked!

  i choked because i told myself if they came back that i would have a field day!

  didn't happen.

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  respectful_observer

  I let her know that YES, I had been researching her religion, all the way back to the beginning and it was very interesting in deed. She let me know there is only "ONE" official site I should be looking at JW.org and none other.

  "That's an interesting perspective. Can I ask you what kind of car you drive?"

  "Uh, I drive a <insert any 4-door model>."

  "Really! Well I'm shopping for a car right now. I went to the dealer yesterday and the salesperson told me 'You should only research this model on OUR website and by reading OUR brochures. Anything else you read online about it is most likely untrue and propaganda spread by unhappy former owners.'

  What do you think? Should I follow the salesman's advice and buy that car?"

  (Allow for response.)
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  27

  2013 January Our Kingdom Ministry!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  .

  2013 january our kingdom ministry.click the link in the blue box by the blue arrow..http://www.sendspace.com/file/oo2c6k..click the link below and when the next page appears click slow download..http://www.fileswap.com/dl/vkqa8zbgwd/...click the link below and when the next page appears look to your left and click the link thats says (2013 january okm pdf.http://www.fileflyer.com/view/7pzmmbg...atlantis

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  respectful_observer

  For several months the highlights section has been an absolute joke.

  What do you mean?! Shouldn't we all encouraged by the "new peaks" that seem to continually get set in the Turks and Caicos??

  As for this perhaps bolstering the rumor of no more 3-day DCs...I'm a little relieved. I was starting to feel like I'd started a baseless rumor here a few months ago. Time will tell I guess. I still could end up looking like a fool!

  R_O
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  52

  So Do You Think The Economy Will Change For The Better, Remain The Same Or Get Worse?

  by minimus in

  1. social
  2. current

  what's your prediction?.

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  respectful_observer

  McDonalds sales just dropped for the first time since 2003. Doesn't sound good.

  Actually, McDonald's stock price RISING has been considered an ominous omen for the economy in the past, believe it or not! (People can’t afford a normal healthy lunch, so they cave and get a cheeseburger off the Value Menu.) So having it drop might actually be a positive signal for the economy!