Duran said: "Other than saying, 'you believe', 'you think', 'you feel', what proof is there that Jesus is alive or ever even existed at all?"
I already told you, but you aren't listening because you'd rather ridicule the only true God.
EasyPrompt
JoinedPosts by EasyPrompt
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
@Duran - since you don't believe in prophecy, why are you asking me about it? If you have already closed your heart to the possibility that there is a person more intelligent than you who you cannot see, then nothing I say can change your mind. Some people are open to the idea of intelligent life forms elsewhere in the universe, but can't comprehend the idea that those intelligent life forms would have morals higher than most humans. Some people are open to the idea that intelligent life forms elsewhere in the universe can make a space ship but not write a book. 🤣🤣🤣
Whatever.
@nicolaou, if you are not in any pain because of your conscience, then why are you here on a thread about "Encouraging Scriptures"? Did you get bored of cowardly attacking Lloyd Evans from the shadows on the other thread? Maybe he's a bully and maybe he's not, but if he is, why would you want to imitate him? Bullies typically only want to pick on people who can't defend themselves or those they perceive to be weaker than them. Was it time for you to go pick on "the Bible Thumpers" because you needed some more "supply"? Kosonen's never done anything to hurt you. You have no desire to learn about the scriptures. Why don't you back off?
Genesis is historical. You weren't there. Jesus was there.
John 8:54-58
"Jesus answered: “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, the one who you say is your God. Yet you have not known him, but I know him. And if I said I do not know him, I would be like you, a liar. But I do know him and am observing his word. Abraham your father rejoiced greatly at the prospect of seeing my day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” Then the Jews said to him: “You are not yet 50 years old, and still you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”"
Duran said: "@EasyPrompt
Other than saying, 'you believe', 'you think', 'you feel', what proof is there that Jesus is alive or ever even existed at all?"
EasyPrompt said: "Jesus is alive."
KalebOutWest said: "Oh yeah? Prove it."
I am shy by nature. When I see you picking on people, it isn't of my own self that I get strength to speak up. It's from Jesus that I get strength. You can believe what you want. He is my friend and my companion. He's been there for me when I had to deal with oppressive hypocritical elder bullies, when I've had to deal with physical abuse, and he's there for me when I see intellectual bullies trying to crush Jehovah's friends for no reason except that they delight in attempting to take away something that they don't have.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10
"Most gladly, then, I will boast about my weaknesses, in order that the power of the Christ may remain over me like a tent. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in times of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful."
You would be wise to turn around and stop harassing Jesus' friends.
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
KalebOutWest said: EasyPrompt, you still misunderstand.
That last part of the quote is about the term "God," not about my personal convictions. (That is why it is in quotes.)
I don't think people can agree on anything when religion clouds the mind and tells people they can start redefining what others are or what they believe when they are not really educated in such matters as the belief system and culture of Judaism.
Religious faith is not equal to a good education.
And a so-called "good education" is not equal to religious faith.
Maimonides, Spinoza, and Mordecai Kaplan are dead. Jesus is alive. If you want to follow some dead guys, you have free will. Do what you want. I am 100% confident that Jesus is alive. So is Kosonen. So you can sit here all day and tell us what you want about what you think about the scriptures, but we can see that you don't know what you are talking about because we know Jesus is very much alive and you don't even have a clue.
1 Corinthians 3:19,20
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written: “He catches the wise in their own cunning.” And again: “Jehovah knows that the reasonings of the wise men are futile.”"
Carry on, KalebOutWest, but know that there is someone else in the room who hears what you are saying, and laughs when you deny his existence.
You read the scriptures every day, KalebOutWest. What do you think this psalm means?
Psalm 52
"Why do you boast about your evil acts, you mighty one?
The loyal love of God lasts all day long.
Your tongue, as sharp as a razor,
Schemes harm and works deceitfully.
You love evil more than what is good,
Lying more than speaking what is right. (Selah)
You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!
That is why God will pull you down once and for all;
He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent;
He will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)
The righteous ones will see it and be filled with awe,
And they will laugh at him.
“Here is a man who did not make God his refuge,
But he trusted in his great riches
And relied on his own evil plots.”
But I will be like a luxuriant olive tree in God’s house;
My trust is in God’s loyal love, forever and ever.
I will praise you forever because you have taken action;
In the presence of your loyal ones,
I will hope in your name, for it is good."
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
KalebOutWest said: "(if such a thing as "God" exists)"
EasyPrompt said: "KalebOutWest doesn't believe in God, but claims to read the Bible for the sake of tradition. To follow in that course would be to encourage slavery to empty ritual. What a waste of time!"
I meant what I said.
KalebOutWest, if you read the scriptures almost daily and you still aren't sure "if such a thing as God exists" and you just do it out of ritual and empty tradition, then I feel very bad for you. If you don't even know if God exists or not, how can you offer wisdom and truth to anyone else? What is it you have to offer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPPlSkQ1WEQ
Matthew 11:19
"All the same, wisdom is proved righteous by its works."
Luke 6:45
"A good man brings good out of the good treasure of his heart, but a wicked man brings what is wicked out of his wicked treasure; for out of the heart’s abundance his mouth speaks."
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
If you don't believe God exists, Nicolaou, then why are you wasting time here on a thread about "Encouraging Scriptures"?
KalebOutWest doesn't believe in God, but claims to read the Bible for the sake of tradition. To follow in that course would be to encourage slavery to empty ritual. What a waste of time!
Kosonen believes in God and reads the Bible out of faith. When he shares scriptures it is for the purpose of encouraging others, for the sake of love.
If you don't believe in the God of love, Nicolaou, then why are you trying to destroy the faith of someone who does? Do you have anything better to offer? If you are an atheist, then you believe in nothing. Why waste your time here? If you really think it is foolish to believe in God, why are you wasting your time with fools? But if your God-given conscience is bothering you, no wonder you are here trying to destroy the faith of others so as to ease your own pain. (It won't work. Consciences are there for a reason. You can be mad at everyone else who has faith, but it's really yourself you are angry with.)
Here's the thing: you cannot destroy real faith with fire, either literal or figurative. You end up just burning yourself.
Song of Solomon 8:6
"For love is as strong as death is,
And exclusive devotion is as unyielding as the Grave.
Its flames are a blazing fire, the flame of Jah."
Nicolaou, I am sorry you are in pain, but trying to hurt other people is not the answer. It's not God's fault that some dumb people in a religion hurt you or lied to you. Jehovah's the only one who can fix it, and He's not a bad parent. Wake up!
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
KalebOutWest said: "As a Humanistic Jew, while I do celebrate Sukkot, I do not wave the Lulav."
"...humanists interpret the world without any reference to God...As humanist Jews, we reject prayer, worship..." (from the Guardian article)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/dec/29/humanistic-judaism-religion
Moses taught the Jews to look for the Messiah, the Christ. The Law and the traditions were put in place for the purpose of getting them ready for the Christ, the one who would help them get closer to God. If any Jews celebrate the rituals and read the texts without heading toward the goal of their fulfillment, then I feel very bad for them, because they're missing the point.
1 Corinthians 15:19
"If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are to be pitied more than anyone."
John 1:17
"Because the Law was given through Moses, the undeserved kindness and the truth came to be through Jesus Christ."
Luke 10:25-28
"Now look! a man versed in the Law stood up to test him and said: “Teacher, what do I need to do to inherit everlasting life?” He said to him: “What is written in the Law? How do you read?” In answer he said: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
Romans 13:10
"Love is the law’s fulfillment."
1 John 4:8
"God is love."
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
Every institution has its traditions/methodologies. "Academia" is no exception.
Empty traditions, traditions without a solid foundation, will fall over when the storm comes.
"For no one can lay any other foundation than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will be shown for what it is, for the day will show it up, because it will be revealed by means of fire, and the fire itself will prove what sort of work each one has built."
Jesus is the solid foundation. He said: "Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man who in building a house dug and went down deep and laid a foundation on the rock. Consequently, when a flood came, the river dashed against that house but was not strong enough to shake it, for it was well-built. On the other hand, whoever hears and does nothing is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river dashed against it, and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”
The WTBT$ have a lot of empty traditions, like "counting time" and "disfellowshipping" and "beard fractions no beards" - empty traditions that will be burned up in the stormy days ahead.
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
"Why are you suprised at the term "disinterested academics"?
You, EasyPrompt, claimed to be an archeologist, remember? You claimed you went to various universities to gain your credentials to officially become this type of expert in one of our discussions.
As a scientist you should be familiar with the need for having a disinterested party to ensure any critical conclusion anyone makes.
It isn't an "oxymoron" to a person who practices your methodology. Without a fellow academic to act as a disinterested party one cannot produce a critical theory, you know that. That is "Science 101," not an oxymoron.
As a Humanistic Jew, while I do celebrate Sukkot, I do not wave the Lulav."
The "academic$" field has more hypocrisy than the WTBT$.
If you want to worship the academics, whatever, go ahead. It's one of the most ridiculous cults there is, but you can do what you want.
Even the most noble-minded of the "academics" are imperfect humans with frailties and foibles. They live and they die. They can't save anyone.
Albert Einstein had a son named Eduard. None of Albert's "academics" could help him.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/eduard-einstein
Only Jehovah can release Eduard and Albert (and the rest of us) from the prison of the grave and cure all their maladies. And He will.
Psalm 146:3-7
"Do not put your trust in princes
Nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation.
His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground;
On that very day his thoughts perish.
Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob as his helper,
Whose hope is in Jehovah his God,
The Maker of heaven and earth,
Of the sea, and of all that is in them,
The One who always remains faithful,
The One securing justice for those defrauded,
The One giving bread to the hungry.
Jehovah is releasing the prisoners."
("Humanistic Jew" is also an oxymoron.)
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543
Encouraging scriptures for the day
by Kosonen inhello my friends,.
here are some encouraging scriptures for the day:.
revelation 21:2 i also saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from god and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.. hebrews 11:10 for he (abraham) was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is god.. revelation 21:24 and the nations will walk by means of its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.. revelation 22:1 and he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of god and of the lamb 2 down the middle of its main street (of the holy city).
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EasyPrompt
"disinterested academics"
"ox·y·mo·ron
/ˌäksəˈmôrˌän/
noun: oxymoron; plural noun: oxymorons
a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true )."that fashionable rhetorical novelty, the humblebrag, is itself an oxymoron" (Definitions from Oxford Languages)
"reliable methodologies with the assistance of disinterested academics to prove your work, you can be assured of conclusions that are reliable and not based upon anyone's personal opinon or religious dogma"
I've never met an academic who wasn't interested in furthering their career.
I've never known a reliable academic methodology that wasn't biased by anyone's personal opinion or religious dogma.
You can believe what you want but the only conclusions I've ever found to be 100% reliable are God's, which can be found recorded in the Bible. Some people might misunderstand the Bible or misinterpret the Bible, but that doesn't undermine the credibility of its Source.
By the way, KalebOutWest, I hope you enjoyed your yoma arichta celebration this past month. It's always nice to think about ways we can help other people and be welcoming. Shanah tovah to you. Also, how was your Yom Kippur a few days ago? The closing service ends with the Shema, that's cool. Now it's time for Sukkot. Do you take of the Four Kinds? (My daughter's middle name is based on the myrtle.) Nice that the Four Kinds represent unity.
Here is something perhaps you will appreciate, since it is Sukkot, the time to read the Hallel Psalms...Psalms 113-118...
One of my favorites of the Hallel Psalms is Psalm 118...
"Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good;
His loyal love endures forever.
Let Israel now say:
“His loyal love endures forever.”
Let those of the house of Aaron now say:
“His loyal love endures forever.”
Let those fearing Jehovah now say:
“His loyal love endures forever.”
I called on Jah in my distress;
Jah answered and brought me into a place of safety.
Jehovah is on my side;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Jehovah is on my side as my helper;
I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in Jehovah
Than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in Jehovah
Than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me,
But in the name of Jehovah, I warded them off.
They surrounded me, yes, I was completely surrounded,
But in the name of Jehovah, I warded them off.
They surrounded me like bees,
But they were extinguished as quickly as a fire among thorns.
In the name of Jehovah, I warded them off.
I was pushed hard to make me fall,
But Jehovah helped me.
Jah is my shelter and my strength,
And he has become my salvation.
The sound of rejoicing and salvation
Is in the tents of the righteous.
The right hand of Jehovah is demonstrating its power.
The right hand of Jehovah is exalting itself;
The right hand of Jehovah is demonstrating its power.
I will not die, no, I will live,
In order to declare the works of Jah.
Jah disciplined me severely,
But he did not hand me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter them and praise Jah.
This is the gate of Jehovah.
The righteous will enter through it.
I will praise you, for you answered me
And you became my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This has come from Jehovah;
It is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day that Jehovah has made;
We will be joyful and rejoice in it.
Jehovah, save us, please, we beg!
Jehovah, grant us victory, please!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of Jehovah;
We bless you from the house of Jehovah.
Jehovah is God;
He gives us light.
Join in the festival procession with branches in hand,
Up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
My God, I will exalt you.
Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good;
His loyal love endures forever."
“Chag Sameach!” חַג שָׂמֵחַ
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Praise for watchtower
by wannaexit indid watchtower pay for this?
or is the anchor woman affiliated with the witnesses somehow?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep3vldmrfcg.
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EasyPrompt
I looked over "In Search of Christian Freedom" before but I wasn't as interested in it as I was in "Crisis of Conscience". What I appreciated about "Crisis of Conscience" was the exposing of the behind-the-scenes on the GB as well as the way his disfellowshipping went. Mine was similar, where the elders were sketchy, so that resounded with me. Also, his attitude of being sorry about the way his decisions as a GB member affected people, that helped me heal from the nasty way the GB treated me. (I wrote to the GB and 50 "high-profile" members of Bethel repeatedly before and after my disfellowshipping without response.)
Before I was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses I went to school for archaeology/anthropology, so I did not find Ray's information on the Flood to be accurate, since in my experience the geology and archaeology scholars are not trustworthy any more than the GB is trustworthy. "Publish or perish". Publish=$$$, whether it's religious magazines or evolutionary theories in "scientific" literature and grant requests. From the evidence I saw in both shovel-testing and in research, the Bible account of the Flood is trustworthy. I also found from my own personal studies that the evolution teaching is a bunch of trash.
As regards the 1914 thing, the reason I know the WTBT$ doctrine is a bunch of bunk isn't because of the scholars as regards dating, but because chapter four of Daniel has absolutely no indication of a future fulfillment.
Anyway, that's neither here nor there. This is the place I found "Crisis of Conscience" (it also has "In Search of Christian Freedom" there) online...https://friendsofraymondfranz.com/books-in-english/
I skimmed over some of the other essays and books on that site, but I didn't find them as interesting. The "Gentile Times" teaching is a holdover from apostasy in the Jewish faith. Jesus didn't come in the first century or in 1914. I think it's funny that people write books and books when you can just look around and know obviously Jesus isn't in Kingdom power yet, but, whatever, people can believe what they want.
The PID believes that the GB has power and authority because of that 1914 trash, but they'll soon see that Jesus doesn't approve of the WTBT$, or any of the clergy people who lord it over others in a naughty way. When Jesus is actually enthroned in heaven, the Bible makes clear that one of the first things he'll do is wipe the earth clean of all the fraudulent religious leaders and their bogus organizations that reproach God's name and take advantage of people. Then there will be 3 1/2 years without religious institutions around where the UN gets a chance to try their hand at world domination. Then God will say "enough!" and things will get better. Jehovah told the finale from the beginning. We're just hanging in there for the ride.