Posts by Lovingkindness

104

Do You Believe In God Or Not?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you've been associated with the witnesses, believing in god was a necessity.

do you still feel that god exists?

if you believe in god, do you feel that he cares about you?

I have believed in Jehovah (yahweh, our heavenly Father, (most high God) all of my life. I was born and raised a JW who got baptised in 1962, at the age of 14, but learned the truth about the so called "truth" years later in the summer of 1998 and left the WTS in the fall of the same year still believing in our heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I have now been "out" for over four years and my faith is even stronger in my belief of a loving and caring God who wants the best for His children.

The mistake we had made as JW was in doing what we had warned those at the doors from doing: Putting too much trust in man and not putting our full trust in God. (Psalms 118: 8-9 ... Psalms 146:3-8)

We should have trusted God to teach us His Word through prayerfully asking Him for His Holy Spirit for guidance while reading and studying His Word as He had invited us to at Proverbs 2:1-15 and our Lord Jesus also encouraged us to do at Luke 11:9-13. God will kindly give His Holy Spirit and knowledge to those asking Him. (Those who ask in faith, while at the same time, loving righteousness, that is) James 1:5

The wicked, God leaves in darkness: Proverbs 4:19 ... Prov. 15:28-29
Matthew 13:10-13

Yes, our big mistake was in trusting the WTS organization to teach us what is in the Bible. (Same mistake many Christians make when relying soley upon their ministers to teach them from the pulpit what is God's Word from the Bible. Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees "blind guides" and if the blind follow the blind, both will fall into the pit.

Putting too much trust in men to teach us allows Satan the power to mislead. 2 Timothy 3:13

The creation (what we can see with our eyes and other senses) shows to me clearly (even if we didn't have the Bible) that there is a loving God who does care for us very much. This period of time since Adam and Eve's fall is a time of training for humans. After all, didn't they eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and bad? God gave them (and us) a taste of what the bad is. Soon, we will enjoy and learn of what the "good" is; true righteousness, God's love and God's goodness. The Bible calls this period, the time of darkness, but when Christ arrives to sit on his throne (Matt. 25:31) this will be what the Bible describes as the "morning". (The Night will then be past) Psalms 30:5

This is what I have come to learn. Trust in God. Everyone has the right to make their choice, but I believe that God truly appreciates our love, trust and faithfulness. Proverbs 27:11 Jesus not only was sent from God for our salvation, but as a representative from God, to show us the Father's qualities, love and mercy. Just because organizations of men fail us, does not mean that God does.

LovingKindness

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34

Appeal Letter 7-29-02

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

draffenville congregation of jehovahs witnesses.

judicial committee elders of:.

murray congregation of jehovahs witnesses.

Lovingkindness

BRAVO .... Bill Bowen!!!!

and may our heavenly Father bless you for your stand for truth and righteousness, dear friend. I am behind you all the way! Please do not get discouraged but continue to persue your fight for truth and justice for the many victims of abuse in the Watchtowr Society Organisation. In time, all abusers and those who do not stand up for truth and righteousness will not only be exposed for what they are, but will stand before our God and Lord and have to answer for what they allowed to happen to His innocent sheep in the Watchtower Organization. ( Ezekiel 34:1-16 applies to not only Israel, but all those who have taken on the responsibility to shepherd God's "sheep.")

May the Watchtower Organisation repent for what they are doing.!!!

102

In there no good in the WTBTS??? or ourselves??

by jst2laws in

jw
friends

we hopefully all agree it is wrong to reject an entire race because we have found one of its member to be flawed, or to reject an entire concept an the basis of finding a flaw in its argument.

would not fair people look for a way to accept the good in the concept, modify the flawed portion and rejoice in what was gained from the refined concept?

it would also be wrong, as the wt does, to reject an entire institution because some of its precepts are flawed.

Lovingkindness

My, Jan, I am really surprised by your comments and conclusions.

I personally believe that we have a loving Spiritual Father who loves and truly cares for us. He has given His Word the Bible, (especially his own Son as a ransom for us to show and prove his love for us) and His righteousness is beyond our knowledge at this time, but we can get a close glimpse of it. Many of us will become ashamed of our words.

lovingkindness

80

Are there any ex-missionaries here??

by fulano in

i have been a missionary in the dominican republic for almost 10 years and i was wondering if there were any ex-missionaries on this forum.. i am back in my country now for 3 years and totally inactive.. what i noticed in those missionary-years was the lack of spiritual interest among the missionaries.. discussions were about rooms, cars and greater responsibilities, the bad territory.

and the local c.o.s and d.os.. was this only in the dr or are there other experiences??.

ere other experiences?

Lovingkindness

Hello, I was wondering if you have any information regarding John May in Ireland? Also Martin (Atwater? or someting like that)
John May left the WTS very shortly after Ray Franz was DF by the WTS for nothing. John May made a tape and Randy Watters offers it at Free Minds website.

I have been trying to contact John May for the past two years.

LovingKindness

23

Convention is over! (sigh of relief)

by biblexaminer in

jw
friends

what made me the most ill at the district convention.

the public talk had to be it.

although the drama was a close second.

Lovingkindness

It was the earlier WTS dates that really gave me a "wake up"call. I was shocked to learn that the WTS had believed and preached for many years earlier, that Jesus came in 1874 and the first resurrection began in 1878! As well as the fact that they had also closed the "heavenly hope, or "door" at an earlier date as well! (1881) ( They taught these things for years, while they claimed to be teaching the "truth" and that they were used by God as His mouthpiece" or "channel"! ) I reasoned that if they were so wrong before, while claiming to be God's channel and providing His food on His table, then what proof or guarantee can they furnish to us that they are correct on their latest dates and all of their teachings today? It then hit me that there was a reason why they no longer published anything Russell, or Rutherford wrote in the past, and why they didn't include any of the older publications and Zion Watchtowers, Golden Age and other earlier Watchtowers, books, Awakes, written before 1955 in the first Watchtower CD, (or any other) and it isn't soley because the "light get's brigter and brighter, either, I realized that there is allot they are trying to hide from us about their past teachings, and this is why the old literature is hard to obtain and why they don't want us to see old dates, WTS quotes, and literature. They claim that the various Bible student groups were dissolved or disappeared. (which is also not true, for I discovered that they haven't disappeared at all. ) The Bible Students have kept all of C.T. Russell's writings, (Watchtowers, books, etc) and some also have copies of the 7th volume of "studies of the Scriptures" titled; The Finished Mystery, (written in 1917) which was not written by Russell, but by the two men who Rutherford used to write it when he deliberately went totally against Russell's will and testament. The Revelation book praised that book, but anyone who reads any of it can see that it is full of non-sense, and God would never have provided it as "food" for His table. So allot of the literature is available through the Bible Students. I have an address where a person can order a CD which has all of Russell's work on it, if anyone is interested, please e-mail me and I will share the address. There is a Dawn Bible student lady who lives not very far from me, and I had her check in her own personal copy of "The Finished Mystery" the page where Woodworth (one of the men who wrote that book) spoke about how all Christians will have to battle against demons, and his description of how the demons take over the mind was just too vivid, unless he was a man who spoke from own experience. Yes, the quote I read that was taken from that book is all there, word for word, that I found at the Woodworth link I am sharing with you. So if you share this info with a JW or anyone else, I confirm that it is true that Woodworth who helped to write that book did indeed, speak as if he himself had demon problems. What is said at this link is definitely confirmed. (see http://www.premier1.net/~raines/woodworth.html )

Just before I came across the old dates, etc., I had just read something in one of the Watchtowers, or other publication that said something that gave the impression that they (WTS) had always believed, and looked forward to Jesus' return in 1914. I then began to take notice how the Society writes in a way to give the impression of certain things, by either omission, or twisting the truth by skillful manipulation of words in a paragraph or sentence that conveys something that actually is not true. For instance, when they say that they have "always looked forward to 1914", a JW mind is thinking that they mean that they had always looked forward to Christ's return. ( because the WTS has taught us that he came in 1914, and no longer continue to teach that Armageddon was coming in that year.) The real truth, is that they had always looked forward to that year, not because they preached that Jesus was coming then, (because at that time, they believed that he had already returned in 1874) but that Armageddon was to come at that year. So you see, by use of omission, (not specifying just why they looked forward to that year) they are telling the truth, but at the same time lying, because they were trying to give a different impression, opposite from the truth. Of course, many of you here at this forum already are aware of this.
Just sharing,

Lovingkindness

(yes, I can remember those long, torturous 8 day assemblies where we had to sit in the sun and rain, on hard bleachers, from morning until dark during my childhood years. My parents died of old age as well as other long time JW friends of ours who patiently waited for Armageddon or the end of the 1914 generation. Goes to show how we should have taken our own advice we gave to others when we shared the Scriptures that warned us NOT TO PUT OUR TRUST IN MEN but to put our trust in God. God's own Son warned us not to try to know the "times and seasons" but to "keep ready" for it will come at a time we will not expect. ( why weren't we listeining to this?) As we all know, the WTS has even told us to ignore what Jesus said about this. ( Acts 1:7)
(Luke 12:40 ... Psalms 146:3,5 ... Psalms 118:8 ... Proverbs 3:5-6 ... Proverbs 2:1-13)

22

Baptism in whose name?

by SharonUT in

if this has been answered before, just point me in the right direction.

matthew 28:19 says to be baptized in the "name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost.

" what is the justification used in jehovah's witnesses changing this.

Lovingkindness

Interesting conversation. When a person says "Do this in my name" they mean, "I give you the authority" So even if that passage did have "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit", Jesus meant that they were to baptise in the *authority* of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus did not mean that they were all "one" individual to support a trinity doctrine, etc. What he was referring to was not to one particular "literal surname" but was saying that the disciple making work would have the support of God, Son and the Holy Spirit because they are given the authority to do this kind of work. ( not only by Jesus, but by God and the Power of God's Holy Spirit)

Lovingkindness

9

EARTHLY ORGANIZATION???

by JUSTAMOM in

jw
friends

how many times to we hear .

earthly organization that jehovah is using.. visible this visible that!.

did not jesus say, "my kingdom was no part of this world?".

Lovingkindness

Hello "You know"

You are wrong when you say that the Kingdom will rule "over" the earth from heaven, you know. Recheck the Scripture at
Revelation 5:9-10 in your KIT. ( you do have one, don't you?) My advice to all JW is to do as 1 Thessalonians 5:21 warns us to do, and that is to "Make sure of all things". (which the WTS loves to advise other people to do, but not their own members to do concerning making sure of what they have been taught in the WTS. ) I find that the New World Translation has added words at various Scriptures, that do not have the equivalent Greek word there to support it. In this case, it is advisable to always check-up on any Scripture read out of the NWT especially the Greek Christian Scriptures and compare them with the KIT ( Kingdom Interlinear Translation which translates the Greek into English) Sometimes a word that the NWT inserts, which does not have the Greek word to support it, can slant the meaning of the Scripture to something else. ( be very cautious)

205

HELLO? HELLO? "ALL" SIGN IN???????

by waiting in

simon did away with the sex forum - so i must take the tradional route and post under "make new friends.

" how mundane!.

fyi ---- for all of us, please take the time to write a sentence or two about yourselves, and encourage new ones to do the same.

Lovingkindness

Hello Eric

Carmel failed to also mention that many who are posting here have kept our faith in God, Jesus, and the Bible. ( at least the same Jesus with the name we have come to know, but who Carmel now, no longer believes in. (Bahai's goal is to get Christians from following the same Christ of the Bible. I know this because, I have a friend who left the WTS and his son also left, but strangely, his son became a strong Bahai follower. They believe that Christ has already returned, in the flesh who's name is Bahaiula, (something like that) If you want to learn what the Bahai believe, I also have a dear friend who spent many years as a Bahai (never actually became a JW) until it dawned on him that we have to look for the very same Christ who came, who has the very same name he appeared with, because Peter said at Acts 4:12 .." Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name given among men by which we must get saved." Yes, our salvation is through only Jesus, and his name, yet the Bahai are preaching a Jesus who has a different name. ( Bahaiula ) Who they claim has already returned to earth in the spirit of Jesus. But why would they also try to undermine the faith of Christians to believe and put faith in a someone who claims to be our Savior but with a different name? My exBahai friend would be more than willing to share his experience with you. If anyone is interested, please e-mail me and I will share his e-mail address.

Keep the Christian faith,

lovingkindness

42

Notes from 2001 District Conv.---Friday

by LostMyReligion in

jw
friends

here are a few notes i took at the friday session of the 2001 "teachers of god's word" district convention.

i thought i would share these upbuilding theocratic point with my new friends, along with my thoughts as i was listening to the program.

1st instruction of the day: sing loudly and listen to the prayer!

Lovingkindness

Hi "Copernicus,

I just read your post. I know what you meant, and I know also how extremely difficult it is to try to warn other JW about the WTS, for yes, I also have seen the fear in their eyes. Many who are in the WTS have swallowed the WTS teaching that to go against anything the WTS teaches, is to "sin against the Holy Spirit". (many are so afraid to do this because as you know, to sin against the HS, is an unforgivable sin) In this case, it appears that the WTS have even placed themselves higher than Jesus then, because Jesus said that to sin against him, a person can be forgiven. (One of my JW brother's friends came here last winter and she told me that it is wrong to say anything negative about the WTS' and their teaching, because it is
sinning against the Holy Spirit. Sheesh) They are also very frightened that Satan and the demons will mislead them. As you
know, this is nothing but the "regular programing" they have received weekly, year, after year, coming to the fore. As we all know, we all were also "programed" into believing that the WTS was the "Ark of safety" and to leave it, would mean that we were leaving our chances for survival through Armageddon. (another fear, we received from the Society) Of course now, we know that Jesus said that he was the only door to the sheep and if someone provided a different "door" they were thieves and robbers. Well what the WTS has done is to teach most JW that Jesus is not their mediator but they, themselves are their mediator. ( they replaced themselves as the "door" to the sheep instead of Jesus. The old law covenant is now fulfilled, because Jesus' ransom fulfilled it. Now if a Christian (JW) is not under the new covenant, ( which basically is to love God, accept Jesus as the messiah, and love our neighbor as ourselves) then what do they think that they are under? Just living by their consciences only, such as the lawless, and non Christians? To make a claim of being Christian, a person has to be under the new covenant, or they cannot even say that they are a Christian, for all followers of Christ come under the new covenant. Even Jesus told the Jews at John 6:53.....
" Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, You have NO LIFE in yourselves."
It is Satan's trick to make JW think that the new covenant is not for them, and Jesus is not their own mediator, for he wants to mislead as many as he can. ( Matthew 24:24-25) Thankfully, most of us now have our eyes opened to the real truth, and have recognized that Jesus IS OUR MEDIATOR and WE ARE IN THE NEW COVENANT! (Praise and thanks go to our heavenly father Jehovah as well as our Leader and Lord, Jesus. Amen

It seems to me now, that for some JW, it doesn't take much for their eyes to get opened, but others, it almost takesan armored tank, and yet still they can't see the real truth of the WTS. ( my JW brother is the tank type. Grin ) I am now convinced that allot of it has to do with a number of conditions; The person's love for truth and righteousness is perhapsone. The amount of God's Holy Spirit with a person, perhaps another. It seems that God's Spirit might have allot to do with who's heart is open to the message, and who's is not. This is just like planting the Word of the gospel message of Christ. We plant the "seed" and other people, or circumstances, does the watering, ( or unless they keep in contact with us to learn more information) but it is God who makes it grow. For me, it really didn't take much. When I learned about the earlier date (1874) they taught for Christ's return, it shocked me. (for some reason I do not remember seeing that date in the WTS literature before. I guess it is because I never had read the older literature, or paid attention when it came out somewhere in it) I figured that if they were so wrong for so many years before, then what proof do they have now for 1914? Also it burned in my mind how the WTS literature talks as if they "always" believed and look forward to 1914 as the time for Christ's return. Which is a lie. ( this, as well as the recent changes, opened my eyes)

At least in the judgment, those around me cannot accuse me of withholding the real truth from them. They will not be able to say that I didn't at least try. What saddens me is that many JW will not actually learn the real truth about this until they face Christ in the resurrection. ( but then it will be too late for them to make a choice)

What a JW does with the information is between them and God. Some find themselves like the seed sown on rocky places. The shock of the discovery sometimes causes them to lose faith in God and Christ, and religion altogether. These had no root in themselves anyway, and if they stumble over the information, then something else might have also caused them to later on anyway. Besides, why should the truth be blamed for the stumbling?. After all, didn't even the Jews stumble over Jesus?
( the foundation corner stone.) Just because Jesus taught them the truth, should we blame the truth for
their stumbling? No, I don't think so. But as you know, all people deserve to know the truth, and this includes JW to learn the truth of the WTS. After I left, I asked another Jehovah's Witness who also left because of love for truth, (who, by the way, had served for many years as a missionary, and elder) whether or not, I should try to help and warn other JW concerningthe truth about the "truth". The answer he gave has stuck with me to this day. He replied: " Well, if you knew that a certain car
dealership sold ONLY LEMONS, wouldn't you warn others not to buy a car from that dealership? My answer was; OF COURSE I would! Only this issue is of much greater importance than just merely buying a vehicle.

Lovingkindness

42

Notes from 2001 District Conv.---Friday

by LostMyReligion in

jw
friends

here are a few notes i took at the friday session of the 2001 "teachers of god's word" district convention.

i thought i would share these upbuilding theocratic point with my new friends, along with my thoughts as i was listening to the program.

1st instruction of the day: sing loudly and listen to the prayer!

Lovingkindness

Hello Amnesian. The quote you refer to (Can Yu Be True To God Yet HIde The Facts?) can be found in the January 15, 1974
Watchtower.

Copernicus, it was not a JW assembly Bill Bowen was attending when I saw him, but a general conference with a general
audience. Yes, I believe that there are some within the Organization who are members not particularly because they are
interested in truth, but for social and other reasons. That does not dissuade me though. There are many like many of us
who left because of their love for truth and righteousness. (and many who had to leave because of their Conscience besides)
I believe that no matter what, all Jehovah's Witnesses have the right to learn the truth about the past dates and teachings
of the WTS, and the double standards that the GB have had for so many years. They all need to read Ray Franz's books to
learn the real truth about what has happened in the past, as well as what is going on now. They deserve to know "the facts". ( and to learn that Ray Franz has been lied about and mistreated for many years and the lies are still going on today.
And the lies that all those who leave the WTS leave God, Jesus, and the Bible. etc. )

Well, I feel that it is well worth the effort even if only a few listen. (after all, only 8 survived the flood) smile

Lovingkindness