peacefulpete

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Posts by peacefulpete

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  7

  why crown of thorns

  by peacefulpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  most here know that story elements in the jesus story are drawn from the ot.

  countless elements of gospels are cut straight from the descriptions of ot characters like moses, joshua, samuel et.al.

  an interesting suggestion involves a passage that was the very last straw for me years ago.

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  peacefulpete

  The parable itself was pretty certainly dropped in this narrative by an editor because it kinda relates thematically. Remove it (vs8-15) and the narrative reads perfectly unbroken. But that is just another example of how the OT was stitched together from diverse material.

  Another interesting point is the word for 'bush' used in Exodus occurs nowhere else and might have been a scribal error very early. 'סנה‎ seneh' has long been assumed to mean a thorn bush but the similarity to 'סיני‎ sinai' the name of the holy mountain (aka Horeb) reasonably suggests a scribal error.. Moses was told to remove his sandals as he was standing on holy ground at the base of Yahweh's holy mount Horeb/Sinai. That detail was always odd if the story actually featured a burning bush, just why was the ground holy?? But if Moses stood next to the burning mount Sinai and spoke to Yahweh it makes more sense in context.

  If this is a correct reconstruction, the burning bush story was then meant to be a burning mountain story. But if the scribal error hadn't happened the writer of Judges couldn't have used it in the parable and the writer of Mark would not have had Jesus get a crown of thorns.

  .
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  70

  Is it possible for any Country to have “Reasonable” Gun Laws? What would they be?

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  so the new biden/harris gun policies are starting to appear.

  it’s not clear yet, what they will be.. some suggestions; confiscate all guns.------buyback programs in each state.. there is much talk on social media that if this happens, the pandemic, + all the riots, + all the damaged property, + all the annual murders in america, - put together-will be like a sunday afternoon picnic, compared to all the deaths and property damage that will result because of “civil uprising” by millions of 2nd amendments advocates and just plain gun lovers.

  americans love guns!.

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  peacefulpete

  Joeyjojo,,, thanks for the link. There are many things that a majority of Americans would support that would lessen gun violence. But I fear we have passed the point where such things can even be discussed. Many gun proponents no longer even frame their arguments around hunting or sport shooting. It is openly argued the need to be able to kill people, even kill our own military personnel if they are being lead by a Democrat President. The gun manufacturers have successfully woven their narrative into the political fabric.

  I will share a story that just happened to my wife and I this summer. We hired a man to remove about 30 trees and clear the land. It was a nightmare. To keep it short, he said insane things to my wife, cut a tree across the powerline, pulled his sign up and took off. I had learned since hiring him that he was a former cop and had mental health issues. Knowing this, when he took off after taking out everyone's power, I called his number after removing the tree and left a message saying I did not want him to return in no uncertain terms but because he had done about half the job I would send a check for 1/2 the agreed amount. I did this in hopes he would just forget about us. I didn't hear from him for 4 months then got a letter saying he was suing me for a fantastic imaginary amount. It went to court and I won of course but his mental instability was very evident in court. I was told by a local cop to get a gun and put it under our bed. 3 months later he shoots and kills a man in the street with a shortened shotgun and is now facing a murder charge. This is America. We knew he had mental health issues but no one dared to protect society by taking his guns. Instead the cops tell me to also get a gun and shoot him if he comes. It took only months and he kills someone in the street. He will probably get off with a good attorney. If you are in Wisconsin you may have read about this case this fall.
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  7

  why crown of thorns

  by peacefulpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  most here know that story elements in the jesus story are drawn from the ot.

  countless elements of gospels are cut straight from the descriptions of ot characters like moses, joshua, samuel et.al.

  an interesting suggestion involves a passage that was the very last straw for me years ago.

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  peacefulpete

  Most here know that story elements in the Jesus story are drawn from the OT. Countless elements of Gospels are cut straight from the descriptions of OT characters like Moses, Joshua, Samuel et.al. An interesting suggestion involves a passage that was the very last straw for me years ago. The last meeting I attended Judges 9 was in the weekly Bible reading. The bizarre story inserted in the text has 4 plants discussing who should become king. Fig tree, Olive tree, grape vine and thorn bush. The verse that I found just so over the top obviously wrong was when the vine says:

  ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

  But that's another story. The point of this thread is the conclusion. The thorn bush accepts his role as King but pledges fire upon anyone who resists him.

  8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
  9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
  10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
  11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
  12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
  13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
  14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
  15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

  Its not hard to see the writer here was drawing on the Moses and burning bush story. But had the writer of Mark drawn upon this quaint parable for the crown of thorns detail in his story? I know some have also seen a solar element in the crown with rays/thorns, and solar motifs do lay behind certain theophanic descriptions of Jesus but I think the writer in this setting was drawing specifically from OT passages to have significance to more initiated readers. The author's King fittingly wears a crown of thorns (as opposed to figs leaves or olive branches) to hint at his offer to provide shade or face his fiery anger.
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  70

  Is it possible for any Country to have “Reasonable” Gun Laws? What would they be?

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  so the new biden/harris gun policies are starting to appear.

  it’s not clear yet, what they will be.. some suggestions; confiscate all guns.------buyback programs in each state.. there is much talk on social media that if this happens, the pandemic, + all the riots, + all the damaged property, + all the annual murders in america, - put together-will be like a sunday afternoon picnic, compared to all the deaths and property damage that will result because of “civil uprising” by millions of 2nd amendments advocates and just plain gun lovers.

  americans love guns!.

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  peacefulpete

  For those interested in the stated policy ambitions: Joe Biden's Plan to End Gun Violence | Joe Biden for President
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  29

  Publisher's Record Cards

  by Faded4good in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  okay, i haven't been to a meeting in over 17 years and i don't live anywhere near the place i grew up.

  i have had minimal contact with my jw family, essentially just occasional phone conversations.

  i think they could easily guess that i'm inactive but they pretend not to know and they've never shunned me.

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  peacefulpete

  I thought so. The CO (also missionary) pretty much did his own thing, never even met with me beyond a 20 minute pep talk. This was an extraordinary case mind you. There was complete disfunction across the country. I just fudged the books for a fresh start. No one cared about stuff like that.
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  15

  Shepherding visit

  by donnye in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i cannot seem to find any information on which elder/s are assigned to do a shepherding visit on a congregation member.

  does one of them have to be the member's field group leader?

  can any elders do a shepherding visit at a member's request?

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  peacefulpete

  In my experience shepherding calls fell into 2 categories: coffee and cake or fact finding. We did the rare one that was based upon compelling need, someone was dying of cancer or had just lost a loved one etc. those were hard.
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  17

  Predictions of The Org in one year.

  by Overrated in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i predict that in a year kingdumb halls will be replaced by zoom.

  they will still have assembly halls but will charge a heavy entry fee.

  baptisms will continue to be so low that would not be worth counting.

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  peacefulpete

  I do think they are going to continue the wider use of electronic media. To some extent its natural, every one is doing it. I can't even use McDonalds coupons now without a smartphone, (which I resist). It even may make the church more inviting and expand the membership. Eventually the roles of local elders will be reduced to doing weddings and funerals. The change will seem as natural as when they changed to the elder arrangement in the 70's. KH's are a tangible and public status symbol. I don't think they will sell them all right away. Give it another 20 years and I think there may be one in each circuit.
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  29

  Publisher's Record Cards

  by Faded4good in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  okay, i haven't been to a meeting in over 17 years and i don't live anywhere near the place i grew up.

  i have had minimal contact with my jw family, essentially just occasional phone conversations.

  i think they could easily guess that i'm inactive but they pretend not to know and they've never shunned me.

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  peacefulpete

  I went through the files as a PO missionary and tossed a few dozen publishers cards in the can. The local branch had contests pitting congregations to see who could appoint the most new publishers. I couldn't see the point of announcements as these people had never made anything close to a conversion to the religion. Those days and those in Bethel eroded any façade of providence.
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  86

  Voter Fraud !

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. social
  2. current

  dick morris sounds the alert:.

  https://www.dickmorris.com/fight-massive-democratice-fraud/ .

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  peacefulpete

  Fact check: No fraud in Wisconsin overnight vote spike (usatoday.com)
  
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  28

  I miss old posters!

  by Biahi in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  blondie, flipper, shirley w, where are you?

  did this site get too republican for you?

  i just take those threads with a grain of salt..

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  peacefulpete

  Well, its nice to be appreciated. Honestly I've been sick quarantining waiting for second covid test results and have had too much time on my hands the last week.

  I agree with minimus that we must attract new participants and make sure they feel welcome. We can't forget the purpose of the site is to discuss WT related issues. And in a way that those who are brave enough to come here don't leave with a negative impression.

  As to old posters, I got an email from Narkissos last month, he's hanging in there. I've lost track of leolaia a couple years back . If anyone has contact with her let her know we miss her.