You're brave Mick!! Was it an "awkward" conversation
Did you get struck off Mick?!
I’m so glad you have managed to keep yourself free of the stuff. We all have our vices - you’re not alone….
Struck off......Ha! I like the clever spin on Isa10:20. Nice one brotherDid you get struck off Mick?!
No sister I was proud to give witness.. But I know what you mean. The position we are in as witnesses can be equated to being affiliated with W/T.You're brave Mick!! Was it an "awkward" conversation
That's right, since my eyes have been opened to Watchtower's apostasy, speaking to people about the Bible and Jehovah has become very embarrassing and awkward for me
Still, it's been good to learn all new things 
Pure chance Mick. I’m not familiar with the scripture. I’m just pleased for you. It took me a good 35 years to quit smoking!
I think the most remarkable thing about that video is that everyone agrees with it and does nothing.
That is true Patricia, but before I studied with the witnesses whenever I happened to pick up a Bible to see what it was all about, it was mainly gobbledy gook to me, I mean, I knew what most of the words mean and even some sentences, but the actual message? Not at all, I had no idea the Bible contains the origin of life, the meaning of life, the meaning of Armageddon or what the future holds, without Jehovah using his people to point me in the right direction I'd still be a complete mess, or quite possibly unalive
Many people know quite a lot about the Bible, they even believe we're living in the "end times" and that Jesus is "coming back" soon, but the vast majority still believe we're eventually going to be living in heaven or "hell" for all eternity. We need Jehovah to reveal the sacred secret of where and why humans are REALLY going to be living forever. Even if we learn that from a book, or a brochure or a magazine that we find in a bin, that piece of literature still came about from Jehovah through his organisation 
I believe Jehovah reveals His truth to all honest, open-hearted people, it's not limited to a specific group like JW's would have us believe. God doesnt have an "organization". The Bible doesnt mention an organization! Many of us hadn't read or studied the Bible before meeting Jehovah's Witnesses, who presented their message in a convincing way. We learned a lot of truths from them, I'll give them that. But their teachings are mixed with falsehoods. I don't think God approves of an organization that uses indoctrination to make people believe they're the only ones with access to Him. After 6 years of learning, I've concluded they're part of false religion just like the rest. Any lie preached from a religion makes it false, only God's word is the truth not man-made religions. I dont mean to sound harsh prov, but I'm so fed up with this religion.That is true Patricia, but before I studied with the witnesses whenever I happened to pick up a Bible to see what it was all about, it was mainly gobbledy gook to me, I mean, I knew what most of the words mean and even some sentences, but the actual message? Not at all, I had no idea the Bible contains the origin of life, the meaning of life, the meaning of Armageddon or what the future holds, without Jehovah using his people to point me in the right direction I'd still be a complete mess, or quite possibly unalive
I appreciate what you're saying about jws putting themselves on high, because in actual fact, they ought to be doing the opposite! If WE feel like this, imagine how Jehovah must feel.. but he has no choice, he has to use SOME one. There's no way the preaching work could have happened on the scale it has without it being organised to a degree. There's a scripture in 1 Corinthians that talks about God being a God of order. Once upon a time jws were the best of a bad brunch, not sure if that still stands or not, but God's name and his true purpose for the earth sure has been spread by that org, and by them alone. Fair enough, many brothers have left and started up "new" religions/churches/Bible study groups, and even continued teaching many of Jehovah's truths, even so, they wouldn't be privvy to those truths without their previous attachment to Jah's org, everything starts and ends with Jehovah despite the dodgy bits inbetween
I think both you and proverbs have a point. There is no mention of an organization it’s true, but there is the preaching work that must be done as a witness to the world, and in these days, that requires organizing. Yet it is also true that the organisation has grown a head and that has robbed the Word of its purpose and placed itself - watchtower - at the helm of the Truth - and is also a factor of prophesy. The basis of it - call it what we will, is that watchtower has usurped ownership of the Word and placed themselves in prime position.
And like Jerusalem before them W/T has published His Name. When scripture on many occasions condemns it condemns for what is done in His Name.
But here's the thing, prov– the good news Jehovah's Witnesses have been preaching for over 100 years, that Christ has begun ruling, is a lie. This isn't the gospel the apostles and disciples preached. It's their version, and while it's partly based in scripture, it's also laced with lies. That's probably why you're embarrassed to mention that you're one of Jehovah's Witnesses – all the false prophecies they've predicted that haven't come true. Jehovah is a God of truth; Satan's the deceiver. A little leaven ferments the whole lump, and the best lies are told with mostly truth. God is organized, yes, but they twisted that scripture to fit their preaching work – combining unrelated texts.I appreciate what you're saying about jws putting themselves on high, because in actual fact, they ought to be doing the opposite! If WE feel like this, imagine how Jehovah must feel.. but he has no choice, he has to use SOME one. There's no way the preaching work could have happened on the scale it has without it being organised to a degree. There's a scripture in 1 Corinthians that talks about God being a God of order. Once upon a time jws were the best of a bad brunch, not sure if that still stands or not, but God's name and his true purpose for the earth sure has been spread by that org, and by them alone. Fair enough, many brothers have left and started up "new" religions/churches/Bible study groups, and even continued teaching many of Jehovah's truths, even so, they wouldn't be privvy to those truths without their previous attachment to Jah's org, everything starts and ends with Jehovah despite the dodgy bits inbetween
Yes I know now that 1914 is wrong, but, my faith was never built or founded upon 1914, when I learned from Robert's book about 1914 it didn't affect me one iota, I never studied the Bible because of a date. I learned loadsa strange stuff when I was studying, things like the "miracle" wheat, the Beth Sarim house, the waiting on Brooklyn bridge (was it Brooklyn?) to be "raptured" up to heaven (something millions of people today think is going to happen to THEM soon) and I just found it all very interesting and funny. I always thought that if Armageddon didn't come in MY lifetime it wouldn't matter, once I knew about the resurrection and Jah's new world that was it, no more fear or need to overly worry about this life, or having to have the attitude so many have, that of "life's short, do everything you can, NOW" or "you only have ONE life, LIVE it" It's a great feeling not having to rush through life doing everything I can because I'll be gone soon. Only Jehovah, through his organisation, taught that to me. I would never, ever have found that thought from anywhere else, even if I lived to a hundred and I'm very, very grateful to Jehovah for keep sending his people to me and for putting up with me and all my hundreds of questions, the good ones and the ridiculous ones
Thanks for the thoughts. Recently I've been kind of mulling/ cogitating? over the expectation I had that the New World would be here before I reached 50. ( A false hope?) Now I’m 74 and a widower. And to be honest I can’t see that so called promise that was put before us by the WT of never growing old and dying coming true anymore. Prov 13:12 says Expectation postponed makes the heart sick. Maybe even more than just "sick." It goes beyond that. I almost get to the point of giving up sometimes. Feeling like "what is the point" anymore. And recently we have more or less been told by the WT to expect that we ( meaning those getting on in years) may not see the fulfillment of the promises in our lifetime. It's all been a kind of a downer. But I was helped to see a more positive side to it. "That if Armageddon didn't come in MY lifetime it wouldn't matter" I guess we all need reminders like that from time to time to keep our equilibrium. But I'd like to be proved wrong. Maybe what we are seeing happening around us is the sign of the "last days" Who knows. I guess it boils down to trusting in Jehovah. But difficult to do sometimes.Yes I know now that 1914 is wrong, but, my faith was never built or founded upon 1914, when I learned from Robert's book about 1914 it didn't affect me one iota, I never studied the Bible because of a date. I learned loadsa strange stuff when I was studying, things like the "miracle" wheat, the Beth Sarim house, the waiting on Brooklyn bridge (was it Brooklyn?) to be "raptured" up to heaven (something millions of people today think is going to happen to THEM soon) and I just found it all very interesting and funny. I always thought that if Armageddon didn't come in MY lifetime it wouldn't matter, once I knew about the resurrection and Jah's new world that was it, no more fear or need to overly worry about this life, or having to have the attitude so many have, that of "life's short, do everything you can, NOW" or "you only have ONE life, LIVE it" It's a great feeling not having to rush through life doing everything I can because I'll be gone soon. Only Jehovah, through his organisation, taught that to me. I would never, ever have found that thought from anywhere else, even if I lived to a hundred and I'm very, very grateful to Jehovah for keep sending his people to me and for putting up with me and all my hundreds of questions, the good ones and the ridiculous ones
Just like the valuable transitional metal element Niobium known for it's strength, ductility and resistance to corrosion and valuable for many applications. You are a valuable element for sharpening our little nucleus here @ watchman.com.
Yeh but we know that regardless of whether we grow old or die this side of Armageddon or not, it really doesn't make any difference to us or to Jehovah, in fact, every now and then I think about how bad things are going to get when Jesus kicks Satan and the demons out of heaven and restricts them to the realms of the earth and then I start hoping that I WILL die before Armageddon, but it's a silly thing to think really because if we don't face the test of all tests at Armageddon, we're only going to be forced to face it at the end of the thousand year reign of God's Kingdom, so we might as well get it out of the way first, then we'll enjoy the New world a bit more!! That proverb about expectation postponed is a killer isn't it? Never mind, imagine how much worse we'd feel if we didn't have this forum? Nothing in our lives has been a waste of time, it's all been training from Jehovah, training for the next chapter
I see that on a daily basis. My mother in law has advanced dementia and is well advanced in years and my wife cares for her. It’s the most cruel of all illnesses in so many ways.
