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		<title><![CDATA[e-Jehovah's Witnesses: A Place for Jehovah's Witnesses and Interested Ones]]></title>
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		<description><![CDATA[Jehovah's Witnesses and Interested Ones]]></description>
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		<lastBuildDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 15:32:22 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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			<title><![CDATA[e-Jehovah's Witnesses: A Place for Jehovah's Witnesses and Interested Ones]]></title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/</link>
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		<item>
			<title>Text for Friday, May 18, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6101-Text-for-Friday-May-18-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 09:47:21 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*When . . . Jesus raised his eyes 
and observed that a great crowd 
was coming to him, he said to 
Philip: “Where shall we buy 
loaves for these to...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>When . . . Jesus raised his eyes<br />
and observed that a great crowd<br />
was coming to him, he said to<br />
Philip: “Where shall we buy<br />
loaves for these to eat?”<br />
—John 6:5.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>Why did Jesus ask Philip this question? Was Jesus worried about what to do? No. What really was his thinking? The apostle<br />
John, who also was there, explains: “[Jesus] was saying this to test him, for he himself knew what he was about to do.” (John 6:6) Jesus here tested the spiritual progress of his disciples. By asking this question, he got their attention and gave them an opportunity to express their faith in what he could do. But they missed this opportunity and showed how limited their viewpoint really was. (John 6:7-9) Jesus then went on to show that he could do something they had not even imagined. He miraculously fed those thousands of hungry people.—John 6:10-13. w10 10/15 1:8, 9</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6101-Text-for-Friday-May-18-2012</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Text for Thursday, May 17, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6100-Text-for-Thursday-May-17-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 10:11:45 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*Children, be obedient to your 
parents in union with the Lord. 
—Eph. 6:1.* 
 
 
While at home, you children have an obligation to obey your...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>Children, be obedient to your<br />
parents in union with the Lord.<br />
—Eph. 6:1.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>While at home, you children have an obligation to obey your parents. (Eph. 6:2, 3) Gaining the right perspective of your parents’ rules and requirements can make it easier for you to abide by them. Your parents make rules primarily because they are concerned about you. In addition, Christian parents know that they are accountable to Jehovah for the way they care for you. (1 Tim. 5:8) Really, obeying your parents’ rules is like paying off a debt that you owe to a bank—the<br />
more reliable you are in making your payments, the more inclined the bank will be to extend credit to you. Similarly, you owe your parents respect and obedience. (Prov. 1:8) The more obedient you are, the more likely your parents will be to extend greater freedom to you. (Luke 16:10) Of course, if you continually break the rules, do not be surprised if your parents<br />
reduce or even close down your “line of credit.” w10 11/15 1:3-5</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6100-Text-for-Thursday-May-17-2012</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Text for Wednesday, May 16, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6099-Text-for-Wednesday-May-16-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 10:22:01 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*I pummel my body and lead 
it as a slave, that, after I have 
preached to others, I myself 
should not become disapproved 
somehow.—1 Cor. 9:27.* 
...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>I pummel my body and lead<br />
it as a slave, that, after I have<br />
preached to others, I myself<br />
should not become disapproved<br />
somehow.—1 Cor. 9:27.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>True Christians are not immune to the desire of the eyes and of the flesh. Therefore, God’s Word encourages us to exercise<br />
self-discipline in connection with what we look at and long for. (1 Cor. 9:25; 1 John 2:15-17) The upright man Job was one who recognized the strong link between seeing and desiring. He stated: “A covenant I have concluded with my eyes. So how could I show myself attentive to a virgin?” (Job 31:1) Not only did Job refuse to touch a woman in an immoral way but he would not even allow his mind to entertain such a thought. Jesus emphasized that the mind must be kept clean of immoral thoughts when he said: “Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”—Matt. 5: 28. w10 4/15 3:8</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6099-Text-for-Wednesday-May-16-2012</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Text for Tuesday, May 15, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6098-Text-for-Tuesday-May-15-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 09:47:34 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*Do not be grieving God’s holy 
spirit.—Eph. 4:30.* 
 
 
Even in private, we could be tempted to do something displeasing to God. For instance, a...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>Do not be grieving God’s holy<br />
spirit.—Eph. 4:30.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>Even in private, we could be tempted to do something displeasing to God. For instance, a brother may have been listening to questionable music. Eventually, his conscience becomes troubled because of ignoring Bible counsel presented in publications of “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) He may pray about this problem. Firmly determined to do nothing that would grieve God’s spirit, he resolves to avoid questionable music from now on. Jehovah will bless the spirit the brother shows. Therefore, let us constantly guard against grieving God’s spirit. Unless we are vigilant and prayerful, we could succumb to an unclean or wrong practice that would constitute a grieving of the spirit. Because the holy spirit produces qualities that are expressive of our heavenly Father’s personality, when we grieve it we grieve, or sadden, him—something we surely do not want to do.—Eph. 4:30, ftn. w10 5/15 4:16, 17</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6098-Text-for-Tuesday-May-15-2012</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>becomes king??? when???</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6097-becomes-king-when&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 17:50:42 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*Are the following two events speaking of the same moment that Jehovah/Jesus becomes king and begins ruling or are these events separate from one...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><b><span style="font-family: Arial"><font color="#000000">Are the following two events speaking of the same moment that Jehovah/Jesus becomes king and begins ruling or are these events separate from one another? </font></span><br />
<br />
</b><font color="#000000"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial">14</span></sup></b><span style="font-family: Arial"> The second woe is past. Look! The third woe is coming quickly.</span></font><br />
<b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial"><font color="#000000">15</font></span></sup></b><span style="font-family: Arial"><font color="#000000"> And the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And </font><font color="blue">loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: “The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king</font><font color="#000000"> forever and ever.”<b><sup> 16</sup></b> And the twenty-four elders who were seated before God upon their thrones fell upon their faces and worshiped God, <b><sup>17</sup></b> saying: “We thank you, Jehovah God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, </font><font color="blue">because you have taken your great power and begun ruling as king.</font><font color="#000000"> <b><sup>18</sup></b> But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” <br />
</font></span><br />
<br />
<b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial"><font color="#000000">7</font></span></sup></b><span style="font-family: Arial"><font color="#000000"> And war broke out in heaven: Mi´cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled <b><sup>8</sup></b> but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. <b><sup>9</sup></b> So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. </font><b><sup><font color="blue">10</font></sup></b><font color="blue"> And I heard a loud voice in heaven say: </font></span><font color="blue"><span style="font-family: Arial">“Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, </span></font><span style="font-family: Arial"><font color="#000000">because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! <b><sup>11</sup></b> And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witnessing, and they did not love their souls even in the face of death. <b><sup>12</sup></b> On this account be glad, YOU heavens and YOU who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to YOU, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”</font></span></div>

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			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?13-General-Discussions">General Discussions</category>
			<dc:creator>Anthony</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6097-becomes-king-when</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Spare Blood Topic</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6096-Spare-Blood-Topic&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 13:17:48 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Just in case there arent enough topics on blood going on..... 
 
This is just a spare.  Like a 'tyre' 
 
 :188:]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Just in case there arent enough topics on blood going on.....<br />
<br />
This is just a spare.  Like a 'tyre'<br />
<br />
 :188:</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?13-General-Discussions">General Discussions</category>
			<dc:creator>Jinnvisible</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6096-Spare-Blood-Topic</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Text for Monday, May 14, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6095-Text-for-Monday-May-14-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 09:50:27 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*Become imitators of me, even as 
I am of Christ.—1 Cor. 11:1.* 
 
 
The elders in the Christian congregation are under obligation to learn to be...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>Become imitators of me, even as<br />
I am of Christ.—1 Cor. 11:1.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>The elders in the Christian congregation are under obligation to learn to be like Christ. Peter gave the older men, or elders, this exhortation: “Shepherd the flock of God in your care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; neither as lording it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock.” (1 Pet. 5:1-3) Christian elders are not to be dictatorial, domineering, arbitrary, or harsh. Imitating Christ’s example, they endeavor to be loving, considerate, humble, and kind in their dealings with the sheep entrusted to their care. Those taking the lead in the congregation are imperfect men, and they should constantly be aware of that limitation. (Rom. 3:23) So they must be eager to learn about Jesus and imitate his love. They need to ponder over the way that God and Christ deal with people and then strive to imitate them. w10 5/15 1:11-13</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6095-Text-for-Monday-May-14-2012</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>How Evil Are You?</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6094-How-Evil-Are-You&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 02:14:47 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ovq5-OUEggk]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=ovq5-OUEggk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&amp;v=ovq5-OUEggk</a></div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?13-General-Discussions">General Discussions</category>
			<dc:creator>Gabriel</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6094-How-Evil-Are-You</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Text for Sunday, May 13, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6093-Text-for-Sunday-May-13-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 13 May 2012 12:26:50 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*God was by means of Christ reconciling 
a world to himself, not 
reckoning to them their trespasses, 
and he committed the 
word of the...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>God was by means of Christ reconciling<br />
a world to himself, not<br />
reckoning to them their trespasses,<br />
and he committed the<br />
word of the reconciliation to us.<br />
—2 Cor. 5:19.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>What makes the call to reconciliation all the more remarkable is that even though the breach was solely one-sided—caused by man’s rebellion in Eden—God himself took the initiative to mend the breach. (1 John 4:10, 19) By providing the ransom sacrifice, Jehovah made it possible for those who exercise faith to be forgiven of their trespasses and to be restored to friendship or harmony with him. Furthermore, he sent out his emissaries to urge people everywhere to make peace with him while they could. (1 Tim. 2:3-6) Sensing God’s will and recognizing the time in which he lived, Paul tirelessly expended himself in “the ministry of the reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18) Jehovah’s will has not changed. His hand is still extended in our day. What a merciful and compassionate God Jehovah is!—Ex. 34:6, 7. w10 12/15 2:8, 9</div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6093-Text-for-Sunday-May-13-2012</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Many blood transfusions are useless</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6092-Many-blood-transfusions-are-useless&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Sun, 13 May 2012 12:17:26 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[Please find here an article from a French online newspaper, I'll try to translate it in the following hours. I posted the original article for those...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Please find here an article from a French online newspaper, I'll try to translate it in the following hours. I posted the original article for those who can read French and because articles disappear after a while and are only available to subscribers. The thread title is the translation of the title below.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
</div>               <font size="3"><b><br />
De nombreuses transfusions sanguines sont inutiles</b></font><br />
<br />
                                              <font size="1">Par                                                                                       <img src="http://sante.lefigaro.fr/sites/all/themes/figarosante/images/icons/ico-f.gif" border="0" alt="" />                                         Marie-Noëlle Delaby                                   - le 11/05/2012              </font><br />
<br />
Une étude portant sur les pratiques  transfusionnelles des hôpitaux américains pointe un recours trop  fréquent à la transfusion, exposant le patient à un risque inutile.                   <br />
<br />
Chaque jour, la transfusion sanguine sauve des  milliers de vies. Pratiquée pour pallier un déficit en globules rouges  qui apportent l'oxygène aux tissus, son utilité est déterminée en  fonction du seuil transfusionnel. Ce point critique, basé sur le taux  d'hémoglobine du patient, est généralement compris entre 7 et 10 g/dL  (grammes par décilitre) de sang. Mais ces valeurs prêtent à discussion,  d'autant que la transfusion n'est pas un geste dénué de risque. <br />
<br />
«Les  recommandations américaines indiquent qu'une transfusion est nécessaire  lorsque le taux d'hémoglobine chute au dessous de 6 ou 7 g/dL et  inutile lorsque ce taux est à 10 g/dL. Entre ces deux valeurs, il n'y a  pas de consensus», constate le professeur Steven Franck, anesthésiste à  l'hôpital Johns Hopkins de Baltimore. En observant les seuils  transfusionnels des 2981 patients transfusés dans cet établissement de  février 2010 à août 2011, il a pu constater de grandes variations du  taux d'hémoglobine limite retenu par les praticiens pour transfuser,  celui-ci étant globalement trop élevé.<br />
<br />
<b>Un acte médical non dénué de risque</b><br />
<br />
«Depuis  5 ans, les travaux portant sur la transfusion incitent à abaisser le  seuil transfusionnel. Une étude récente confrontant des seuils de 7 g/dL  et de 10 g/dL chez des patients stables en réanimation a ainsi montré  l'absence de différence de survie des patients*. Mais les médecins n'ont  vraisemblablement pas encore adapté leur pratique». Selon le chercheur,  l'usage excessif de la transfusion est pourtant problématique. «Non  seulement le sang est une denrée rare et coûteuse, mais les patients ne  se portent pas mieux et même parfois plus mal, lorsque la transfusion  est faite prématurément ou inutilement».<br />
<br />
L'introduction de sang  étranger dans le corps initie une série de réactions immunitaires chez  le patient qui développe des anticorps contre les globules rouges  importés. Ce mécanisme de défense rend l'obtention d'une compatibilité  plus difficile lors d'éventuelles transfusions ultérieures. La  transfusion a également un effet suppressif sur le système immunitaire,  qui augmente le risque de contracter des maladies opportunistes. Sans  compter le risque, rarissime mais pas inexistant, de transmission d'une  infection virale ou bactérienne ou encore d'être victime d'une erreur de  groupe sanguin.<br />
<br />
<b>Des seuils plus hauts en France qu'aux États-Unis</b><br />
<br />
En  France, la transfusion sanguine se base sur les recommandations de  l'Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé  (ANSM, ex-Afssaps) de 2003. Les seuils transfusionnels y sont  globalement plus hauts que leurs homologues américains (7 ou 9 g/dL en  fonction de l'âge et de l'état clinique du patient). “Mais comme aux  États-Unis, les recommandations n'empêchent pas une variabilité dans les  pratiques”, constate le Docteur Lionel Velly, anesthésiste-réanimateur à  l'hôpital de la Timone à Marseille. <br />
<br />
«Toutefois, l'indication  d'une transfusion sanguine en cours d'opération en cas de saignement  brutal ne peut se résumer à la question du taux d'hémoglobine.  L'hémoglobine n'est pas un reflet très fidèle du saignement actif, car  son taux chute avec un certain retard par rapport à la perte sanguine.  Ce facteur ne doit pas être pris en compte isolément. La vitesse de  saignement, la réaction du patient, et le volume sanguin perdu ont  également leur importance», explique le docteur Velly.<br />
<br />
Enfin, si  le choix ou non d'effectuer une transfusion doit se décider à la lumière  des bénéfices et des risques encourus, il importe de rappeler que le  risque de survenue de complications liées à la transfusion est  inférieur, et de très loin, aux dangers liés à la sous-transfusion ;  l'anémie et l'hémorragie restant les principales causes d'arrêt  cardiaque au cours d'une opération.<br />
<br />
*Hebert PC et al. N Engl J Med. 1999;340(6):409-17.<br />
<br />
**Agence  nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé, ex-  AFSSAPS - Recommandations. Transfusion de globules rouges homologues:  produits, indications, alternatives. <i>Ann. Fr. Anesth. Réanim.</i>, 2003 ; 22: 67-81. <br />
<br />
From <a href="http://sante.lefigaro.fr/actualite/2012/05/11/18178-nombreuses-transfusions-sanguines-sont-inutiles" target="_blank"><u>here</u></a> !<br />
<br />
<font size="2"><span style="font-family: arial"><span style="font-family: garamond"><font size="1">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
&quot;Le sectarisme des jugements pauvres lui tenait quelque fois lieu de volonté&quot; - Hervé Bazin<br />
&quot;J'ai pétri de la boue et j'en ai fait de l'or&quot; - Charles Baudelaire<br />
&quot;S'il m'a été donné de voir un peu plus loin que les autres, c'est que je me tenais sur les épaules de géants&quot; - Isaac Newton</font></span></span></font></div>

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			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?13-General-Discussions">General Discussions</category>
			<dc:creator>Utuna</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6092-Many-blood-transfusions-are-useless</guid>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Text for Saturday, May 12, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6091-Text-for-Saturday-May-12-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Sat, 12 May 2012 12:34:41 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*You are standing firm in one 
spirit, with one soul striving 
side by side for the faith of the 
good news.—Phil. 1:27.* 
 
 
Christian overseers...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>You are standing firm in one<br />
spirit, with one soul striving<br />
side by side for the faith of the<br />
good news.—Phil. 1:27.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>Christian overseers promote unity by taking the lead in preaching. The spirit of companionship that unites those who work together in God’s service is far stronger than the spirit that unites others in the world who merely socialize together. The Christian congregation was founded, not to function as a social club, but to honor Jehovah and to get a job done—the work of preaching the good news, making disciples, and building up the congregation. (Rom. 1:11, 12; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24, 25) Accordingly, as Jehovah’s people, we are united because we accept Jehovah’s sovereignty, love our brothers, hope in God’s Kingdom, and respect the ones God uses to take the lead among us. Jehovah helps us to overcome certain attitudes that because of our imperfection could otherwise threaten our unity.—Rom. 12:2. w10 9/15 2: 9, 10</div>

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			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6091-Text-for-Saturday-May-12-2012</guid>
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			<title>Want to start a war? Ask the USA.</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6090-Want-to-start-a-war-Ask-the-USA&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 22:40:31 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>Anybody need weapons for your next war? The USA has anything you may need.  
    
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18039035 
    
    
 ...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><font size="3"><span style="font-family: book antiqua">Anybody need weapons for your next war? The USA has anything you may need. <br />
   <br />
  <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18039035" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18039035</a><br />
   <br />
   <br />
  
<iframe class="restrain" title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-cFoX2roRpE?wmode=opaque" frameborder="0"></iframe>
</span></font></div>

]]></content:encoded>
			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?13-General-Discussions">General Discussions</category>
			<dc:creator>Tsaphah</dc:creator>
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			<title>Text for Friday, May 11, 2012</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6089-Text-for-Friday-May-11-2012&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 12:50:11 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>*We received, not the spirit of 
the world, but the spirit which is 
from God.—1 Cor. 2:12.* 
 
 
Many of the people we come in contact with are...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div style="text-align: center;"><font size="3"><b>We received, not the spirit of<br />
the world, but the spirit which is<br />
from God.—1 Cor. 2:12.</b></font><br />
<br />
</div>Many of the people we come in contact with are “lovers of themselves,” “haughty,” and even “fierce.” It is very easy for bad<br />
characteristics like these to rub off on us and anger us. (2 Tim. 3: 2-5) In fact, movies and TV programs often portray vengeance as noble and violence as a natural and justifiable solution to problems. Typical story lines lead viewers to look forward to the moment when the villain “gets what he deserves”—usually a violent end at the hands of the story’s<br />
hero. Such propaganda promotes, not God’s ways, but “the spirit of the world” and of its angry ruler, Satan. (Eph. 2:2; Rev.<br />
12:12) That spirit caters to the imperfect flesh and is in total opposition to God’s holy spirit and its fruitage. Indeed, a fundamental teaching of Christianity is not to retaliate under provocation.— Matt. 5:39, 44, 45. w10 6/15 3:5, 6</div>

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			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-Considering-the-Scriptures-Daily">Considering the Scriptures Daily</category>
			<dc:creator>James</dc:creator>
			<guid isPermaLink="true">http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6089-Text-for-Friday-May-11-2012</guid>
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			<title>Inciting One Another to Love and Fine Works</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6088-Inciting-One-Another-to-Love-and-Fine-Works&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 12:43:30 GMT</pubDate>
			<description>Please share here thoughts or comments you have found particularly encouraging on your walk with Jehovah, from publications, friends, talks, the...</description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>Please share here thoughts or comments you have found particularly encouraging on your walk with Jehovah, from publications, friends, talks, the Bible, or other sources.  <br />
<br />
<i><b>Please, if anyone disagrees or wants to critique something, do not do so within this thread</b></i>.  This thread is for sharing what has touched us each individually without criticism.  If you wish to debate something, start a new thread about it.<br />
<br />
Share what has touched your heart, given you strength, and incited you to keep walking with our wonderful God Jehovah and His precious son Jesus Christ.</div>

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			<category domain="http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?13-General-Discussions">General Discussions</category>
			<dc:creator>imjustaskin</dc:creator>
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			<title>Idolatry, the root of all Evil</title>
			<link>http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/showthread.php?6087-Idolatry-the-root-of-all-Evil&amp;goto=newpost</link>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 09:22:30 GMT</pubDate>
			<description><![CDATA[:mellow: 
 
Romans 1:20-28 is one of Paul's most explict elaborations on idolatry.  The introductory section to Romans affirms that idol worship is...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>:mellow:<font size="3"><br />
<br />
Romans 1:20-28 is one of Paul's most explict elaborations on idolatry.  The introductory section to Romans affirms that idol worship is the <u>root sin of all other sins</u>.  When one turns from trust in God to trust in some part of God's creation, then the &quot;<i>heart</i>&quot; becomes &quot;<i>darkened</i>&quot; and all manner of sins follow from this, as Paul has begun to elaborate in verses 24-28, which is continued in verses 29-32.  <br />
<br />
Thus Paul sees idolatry to be the essence of sin.  Already Ezekiel 22:1-6 had asserted that Israel's idolarty led the nation to all manner of sins, which then led to its judgment.  <br />
<br />
Significantly, Paul's survery of the history of idolatry includes all humanity who have turned from God to worship something else, which likely includes Adam &amp; Eve (whom Rom 1:20-21 probably includes in its purview): &quot;<i>for since the creation of the world His invisible attributes have been clearly seen... so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God.</i>&quot;  Hence, all humanity, including Adam &amp; Eve, are indicted here, since they have been among all humans who have committed part of the &quot;<i>all unrighteousness</i>&quot; of sinners and how have been among those &quot;<i>who suppressed the truth in unrighteousness</i>&quot;.<br />
</font><br />
<font size="3">The essential nature of the idolatry is explained to be &quot;<i>exchang[ing] the glory of the incorruptible God for an image</i>&quot;, &quot;<i>exchang[ing] the truth of God for a lie</i>&quot; and &quot;<i>worship[ing] and serving the creature rather than the Creator</i>&quot;.  <u>The fitting punishment for malfunction in worshipping God is a malfunction in the other relationships, which includes homosexuality, lesbianism, disobedience to parents and all kinds of dysfunctional relationships with others</u>.  <br />
<br />
Likewise, the <i>lex talionis</i> judgment (&quot;the punishment must fit the crime&quot;) for not honoring God is &quot;<i>that their bodies would be dishonored among them</i>&quot;; similarly, the penalty for not approving to have God in their knowledge fittingly is that God &quot;<i>gave them over to an unapproved mind</i>&quot; (i.e., a mind not approved by God).</font><br />
<br />
<font size="3">In fact, the punishment itself is that <u>the idol worshipers' unnatural relationships with others resemble their unnatural relationship with God</u>. <br />
<br />
So far these judgments involve people being punished by means of their own sin, which does not include the idea of reflecting what one worships. But this also appears to be discernible.  <br />
<br />
Because they have &quot;<i>suppressed the truth</i>&quot; of God, they have also suppressed knowledge and reflection of the attributes of his divine nature, so that they fail to acknowledge and likely even to reflect God's nature and attributes, but instead they mirror the corruptible nature of the creation.  Thus they are not righteous like God but are &quot;<i>unrighteous</i>&quot;, not &quot;<i>wise</i>&quot; as reflectors of God's wisdom but &quot;<i>fools</i>&quot;, not truthful but filled with &quot;<i>deceit</i>&quot;, not good but &quot;<i>inventors of evil</i>&quot;, not loving but &quot;<i>unloving</i>&quot; and not merciful but &quot;<i>unmerciful</i>&quot;...<br />
<br />
Allusion to Adam in Genesis 1-3.  One last Old Testament background in Romans 1 needs exploration.  Genesis 1-3 may also be partly behind Paul's thought in Romans 1:23, &quot;<i>and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and <u>crawling creatures</u>.</i>&quot;  <br />
<br />
If this is an allusion to Genesis 1-3, then the idea of humanity's role of reflecting God's image and their sin in committing themselves to other images would enhance the implicit idea that part of the destructiveness of idol worship is becoming conformed to the likeness of the idol that is revered.  <br />
<br />
(1) The threefold portrayal of the animal world in verse 23 (&quot;<i>birds and four-footed animals and <u>crawling creatures</u></i>&quot;), (2) the pair of words image (eikon) and form (homoiosis) reflect Genesis 1:26: &quot;<i>let Us make man according to Our image, according to Our likeness</i>.&quot;  <br />
<br />
To this list may be added three more items: (3) <u>that Adam &amp; Eve were the first idolaters in that they shifted their loyalty from God to the serpent, a crawling creature, whose deceitful character they came to represent, since they started lying immediately after their &quot;fall&quot;</u> in Genesis 3:10-13; In listening to the voice of the serpent, Adam has not only failed to exercise his rightful dominion over creation, but, by placing himself in subservience to a creature, has opened up the way to idolatry.<br />
<br />
(4) the combined ideas that the idolaters had &quot;<i>knowledge</i>&quot; and falsely pursued &quot;<i>wisdom</i>&quot; may also<i> reflect Genesis 3:5-6 (&quot;knowing good and evil&quot; </i>and<i> &quot;the tree was desirable to make one wise</i>&quot;); (5) the fact that Paul make allusion to the golden calf event (via Ps 106:20) may fall well in line with Adamic echoes, since Jewish tradition frequently associated Israel's sin of idolatry at Sinai with that of Adam's fall.  This Jewish tradition may be another hint that <u>Israel was conceived of as a kind of corporate Adam figure</u>, who fell just as the individual Adam fell.  Paul appears to have brought together the primal sin of Adam and that of Israel, recapitulated later in Israel's history, which Paul sees continues to be recapitulated among all sinful humans.</font><br />
<br />
&quot;<i>We Become What WE Worshop - G.K. Beale.</i>&quot;</div>

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			<dc:creator>Marque100</dc:creator>
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