Makes me wonder, though.... is this a 'one hit wonder' for the Society? How many times will JWs go to the same door and play the same video? At some point, the householder is going to say, "I've already seen that, thank you. Please go away."
leaving_quietly
JoinedPosts by leaving_quietly
-
80
" Do not ask permission, just play the video--" service meeting instructions.
by prologos inthis statement startled me out of the pleasant mental absence during this week's "service" meeting.. pushing the org.
explanation: "the listener has time to interrupt, if they want--" .
together with an incredible boring "study" of an hand held device, or it's stored content, i will be a totally new crop of orgies at the halls,.
-
-
-
47
Watchtower/Telecom Ownership Agreement!
by Atlantis inwatchtower-qcstelecom ownership agreement.. .
re: petition to transfer ownership of qcstelecom, inc., to watchtower bible and tract society.
http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/common/viewdoc.aspx?docrefid=%7b57614a3f-7101-408a-8b25-b3499530db5a%7d.
-
-
leaving_quietly
My guess: buying out a telecom company that already has the proper certifications but has zero customers is significantly less expensive than getting certified themselves. WTBTS probably can't get certified since it's not a public company in the telecom space, thus probably can't get whatever legal stuff done in order to run fibre between their facilities themselves. I really can't think of any other reason for this. But, I do have to say, this smells like a big giant scam of some sort. I can't quite put my finger on it. Certainly there are plenty of companies out there that have the capability of providing dark fibre services. There must be. This little tiny company that has no customers can't possibly be the only one. A company the size of WTBTS would never, in its right mind, even remotely consider a small, single-proprietor company to provide such important services. This whole thing makes no sense.
-
60
Accuracy of the Revised NWT
by dabster ini was speaking with a jw yesterday.
i'd previously mentioned the removal of the brackets around 'other' in colossians 1 making the mistranslation complete.
during our chat he said that the previous edition of the nwt was the more correct one, that the revised version was simply more readable and that it shouldn't be considered the best translation.
-
-
leaving_quietly
I think there are a few reasons you don't see the NWT talked about on a level with other translations, and why it's not on sites like BibleHub . com:
The main reason: copyright protection. That's what it boils down to. There are a few Bible translations out there with tight copyright controls, but few, if any, are tighter than the NWT.
-
9
Dedication of Buildings (e.g. Kingdom Halls, Branch Offices etc)
by IMHO injust did i quick search it doesn't seem like this has been discussed.. why it's such a big deal, especially with branches where they are usually "dedicated" by a member of the governing body?.
is there a spiritual, biblical, theocratic significance.. does it "change" the building?.
should it be "un-dedicated" if it is sold.. i await your insight and responses.. .
-
-
leaving_quietly
A very, very interesting question. I just did a little bit of research and found that this practice is definitely Old Testament.
Sol′o·mon offered the communion sacrifices to Jehovah: He offered 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Thus the king and all the Israelites inaugurated the house of Jehovah. On that day the king had to sanctify the middle of the courtyard that is before the house of Jehovah, for there he had to offer up the burnt sacrifices, the grain offerings, and the fat pieces of the communion sacrifices, because the copper altar that is before Jehovah was too small to contain the burnt sacrifices, the grain offerings, and the fat pieces of the communion sacrifices. At that time Sol′o·mon held the festival together with all Israel, a great congregation from Le′bo-ha′math down to the Wadi of Egypt, before Jehovah our God for 7 days and then another 7 days, 14 days in all. On the following day, he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes rejoicing and feeling glad of heart over all the goodness that Jehovah had shown to David his servant and Israel his people. - 1 Kings 8:63-66
Dedication of a building is like inaugurating.
There's reference to the Festival of Dedication at John 10:22. What was this? It wasn't a festival based on the Law, it turns out. I didn't know this.
The observance of the Festival of Dedication (Heb., chanuk·kah′) commemorates the recovery of Jewish independence from Syro-Grecian domination and the rededication to Jehovah of the temple at Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who called himself The·os′ E·pi·pha·nes′ (“God Manifest”) - it-1 p. 824
This is actually quite interesting. Many scholars feel that this event marks the end of the 2300 days in Daniel 12. It makes for good research. I digress.
Another mention of dedication is here:
Whatever I have that could benefit you is corban (that is, a gift dedicated to God) - Mark 7:11
The first reference to any dedication of a building I could find is from w50 p. 220-224. The article starts out:
MONDAY, January 30, 1950, was set for dedication of the new Bethel to the consecrated service of the Most High God.
Of course, there is no record in the New Testament / Greek Scriptures of any buildings being consecrated to the service of the Most High God. Why? Stephen answers this in Acts 7:48-50:
However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands, just as the prophet says: ‘The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What sort of house will you build for me? Jehovah says. Or where is my resting-place? My hand made all these things, did it not?
In addition, in New Jerusalem, there is no temple as a building. Why? Revelation 21:22 answers:
I did not see a temple in it, for Jehovah God the Almighty is its temple, also the Lamb is.
In conclusion, from a very quick look into this, dedicating a building to God is an Old Testament practice. Is it wrong? Not that I can tell. But it's certainly not necessary.
-
60
Accuracy of the Revised NWT
by dabster ini was speaking with a jw yesterday.
i'd previously mentioned the removal of the brackets around 'other' in colossians 1 making the mistranslation complete.
during our chat he said that the previous edition of the nwt was the more correct one, that the revised version was simply more readable and that it shouldn't be considered the best translation.
-
-
leaving_quietly
There are two things Bible translators, in general, have to weigh, but it all depends on who your target audience is. You can go for more accuracy or more functionality / readability. The RNWT falls in an area where other translations are... somewhat accurate vs. somewhat functional.
This video is pretty interesting to see why this pastor chose the NIV 2011 for their church. He discusses translation challenges. It's fairly long, but I found it to be informative on the subject. He has an interesting comment on why NOT to choose translations created by specific denominations. He didn't mention any by name, that I can recall, but the viewer gets the gist.
-
71
BORG running low on $$$??
by fader77 indear brothers:.
re: personal literature supply.
reducing existing stock at the branch office before the revisions are released.
-
-
leaving_quietly
I was surprised when this was read at our meeting this week because it wasn't posted here first. I wonder if the org is wising up to releasing letters too early.
-
46
How would you answer?
by punkofnice ina friend of mine (who is waking up), recently had the elders do a sheep herding visit.. they were browbeating my friend about attending meetings.
my friend has been ill and unable to attend anyway.. what response would you give to this garbage?.
if we were in a house and it was on fire and we couldnt walk we would have to crawl.. an example of a sister with an iron lung was brought up to show that if shes in this condition, we need to examine ourselves.
-
-
leaving_quietly
If we were in a house and it was on fire and we couldn’t walk we would have to crawl.
Uhhh... what does this have to do with attending meetings?
A n example of a sister with an iron lung was brought up to show that if she’s in this condition, we need to examine ourselves.
This sister was confined to a machine 24 hours a day. Her account does not say at all that she went to meetings in this condition, but that people visited her and that she looked for every opportunity to witness.
My friend apparently needs to pray for Holeeeeee Spirit to give the 'power beyond what is normal'.
Paul wasn't discussing going to meetings. He was talking about enduring despite challenges.
Going to meetings is not optional but a command. (I have to say I've never heard of it being a 'command' to attend).
Please show me where it says it's a command. Oh, and please look up the definition of "forsake" in the dictionary.
We need to look at a divine hand in our life. Eldurr said that he shouldn’t be alive. In so many situations he can see God's hand in his life.
And the point is...?
-
18
July WT Study magazine - How can any intelligent person believe these things??
by Faithful Witness ini haven't been paying attention, i admit... but thought i would go and look at their latest magazine, and see what my parents are spending their precious energy on this month.
my mom retired in may, and we have seen her just once since then.
our invitations have been rejected, due to meetings, conventions, service work requirements, etc.
-
-
leaving_quietly
Witness of Jesus = Witness of Jehovah - (Yes, you can call yourself a Christian, and still be a Jehovahian)
([Jesus] came to be a witness of his Father [Jehovah]... in fact, he was the best Witness of Jehovah EVERRRRR...and since no one could ever be a witness of Jesus Christ, if Jehovah had not sent him here, then everyone who witnesses for Jesus, is actually witnessing for Jehovah. When you Witness for Jehovah, you are witnessing his [Jehovah's] power to appoint Jesus to rule over his earthly Kingdom!! Hallelu-Jehovah! Ohhhh... how did I ever miss that connection? It was so obvious and simple all along! ... Thank you, faithful and discreet slave, for that little twist on the truth. Spinning it around like that, it suddenly becomes SO clear! It all makes perfect sense now. How do I become one of Jehovah's Witnesses [of Jesus's Witness of Jehovah's power to give Jesus the power to save us from death]?)
JWs are quick to point out that Jesus was described as "the Faithful Witness" (capital F and capital W) in Revelation 1:8 and "the faithful and true witness" at Revelation 3:14. But very few are aware that God gave witness about his son. (1 John 5:9). Both are witnesses about EACH OTHER.
1 John 5:11,12 makes this powerful point: "And this is the witness, that God gave us everlasting life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has this life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this life."
-
3
A Different Kind of Apocalypse
by Ingenuous ini made a version of this cake for the step-kid's birthday:.
rainbow cake recipe inspires comment apocalypse.
yes, things were frozen.
-
-
leaving_quietly
That's pretty awesome! Do you have a pic of yours?
BTW, kudos for using the term "Apocalypse" correctly. It means, literally, "revealing" or "uncovering", which is exactly what this cake does. Nice!
-
6
Are they still teaching christ millinial 1000yrs then letting satan loose again????????? sheech
by dugout inwhat are ur thoughts on this subject just wondering.
.
.
-
-
leaving_quietly
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not mislead the nations anymore until the 1,000 years were ended. After this he must be released for a little while. - Rev 20:1-3
The only problem with this teaching is calling it "Christ's Millenial Reign". Revelation says Satan will be bound in the abyss for 1000 years. It also says in verse 6 that those who are part of the first resurrection will rule with Christ for the 1000 years. However, the Bible is clear elsewhere that Christ's rulership last much longer, and had actually started after his resurrection. So, it would be better to call this the something like the "Millenial Co-Reigning of the Chosen Ones", or the "Millenial Abyssing of Satan", or something like that. Other than that, the teaching matches what the Bible says in these verses.
Is there some problem with this teaching other that what I've identified already?