Governing Body on Higher Education

Gerrit Lösch, Governing Body member of the Jehovah's Witness and not a lord over their faith, giving a talk on higher education at a convention in Italy.

"If you are currently going to college, why don't you currently meditate in prayer on the possibility of dropping out and doing something better?"

"What decisions will you make? Will you refuse or not? Will you get a university education or not? You will be accountable to Jehovah for this.

We would like to praise those in the audience who dropped out of college when they accepted the Truth, as we praise all those, who after listening to this talk, will make the same decision."

Witness Paradise

This video portrays what Jehovah's Witnesses regard as the "real life".



An eternity devoid of Jesus Christ is misery.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Titus 2:13 While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

Watchtower Sep 1, 2007 Study

This week's Watchtower Study "TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO LOVE JEHOVAH" includes the following paragraphs:

Par 4 Why is parental example so important? Just as adults can learn to love God by looking at Jesus' example, children can learn to love Jehovah by following their parents' good example. A child's associates can either strengthen the child or "spoil useful habits." (1 Corinthians 15:33) For much of a child's life, and certainly during the important formative years, the closest, most influential associates a child has are his parents. Therefore, parents do well to ask themselves: `What sort of associate am I? Does my example encourage my child to develop useful habits? What example am I setting in the vital areas of prayer and Bible study?'

What sort of an associate is a parent to a child? Are they a family or Wal-Mart employees?

Par 8 How can a parent's attitude toward Bible study influence a child's relationship with God? For any relationship to grow and survive, the individuals involved must not only talk to each other but also listen. One of the ways we listen to Jehovah is by studying the Bible with the aid of publications supplied by `the faithful slave.' (Matthew 24:45-47; Proverbs 4:1, 2) Therefore, to help their children develop a lasting, loving relationship with Jehovah, parents do well to encourage them to develop the habit of studying God's Word.

They listen to Jehovah by studying their publications? Even when errors and inconsistencies proliferate their literature?

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Watchtower January 15, 2008

Behold! The January 15, 2008 Insider's Only Edition Cover...in portuguese!

Approximate translation of contents:

11-17 of February "Be Careful to complete the Ministry that you received from the Lord" Page 4 Songs 193, 151

18-24 of February "Pay attention to your 'Ability to Teach'" Page 8 Songs 6, 123

25 of February-2 of March "The "correctly disposed" are accepting the Good News" Page 13 Songs 156, 133

3-9 of March "Counted as worthy of receiving the Kingdom" Page 20 Songs 195, 60

10-16 of February "Counted as worthy of being guided to springs of life giving waters" Page 24 Songs 99, 187

Very reminiscent of their artwork from their distant past. Is it just me or are they ashamed of Jesus' name and cross?

1914 The Generation That Will Not Pass Away

One of the few remaining European veterans of the Great War, has died. He was 109.

It is no surprise that in 1995 the Watchtower Society had to change the "1914 Generation". Imagine people who were born before the events of 1914 took place and were assured by the Society that the Creator promised they would never pass away.

How many of the people pictured on the May 15, 1984 Watchtower cover believed this to be the Word of God? How many of them have passed away?

There is excellent documentation found on cftf.com.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Maintaining the "Grand Illusion"

I like how PropMin points out in his article how the Watchtower Society still has a hold on some former--or even borderline for that matter-- Witnesses who wish to see a reform take place.

They do this simply to maintain "the 'grand illusion' that the Watchtower Society was ever specially chosen or even used by God as his 'organization'.

PropMin: "Yet, the very heart of the problem, is this: “still love the organization”.I would submit that if you love an “organization”, YOU have fallen into idolatry.I would also submit, that if you are looking for an apology from the Watchtower, you have terribly misjudged who these “men” really are. They don’t care about you, your family, or your friends; only the maintenance of their authoritative, corporate oligarchy."Somewhere the governing body has made a wrong turn"? They never did make a right turn; take a hard look at how many hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people over the years who have been adversely affected by wrongful disfellowshippings, "apostate" labels, false hopes, or loosing their health or their outright lives because of the Watchtowers teachings of medical quackery (such as those regarding immunizations and organ transplants)."

I would also add in response to the person who claims that "if you’re one of the many who have become disillusioned with them and have come to the conclusion that Jehovah doesn’t have a people, think again! The Witnesses simply have too much good and too much potential to be lightly cast aside. However, changes need to be made… and very soon!"

Please understand that your starting point, of humans being good and with potential, is completely untrue.

Romans 3:10 “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

Air America Launches Nationwide Atheism Program

Air America now brings The Freethought Radio Program, hosted by the co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

The liberal talk radio network Air America announced this week it will launch a nationwide show focusing on atheism. The first national show will feature Christopher Hitchens, author of "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything."

I wonder how much freedom of thought is going to be allowed.

"The full truth for me, not for you"

If Jehovah's Witnesses are the only ones preaching the Good News why would they not share it with their neighbors? The long announced two versions of "The Watchtower" --one for the general public and the other for active members-- will be unveiled in the next few weeks. The Society's justification for the different editions is so it will not have to explain terms like "regular pioneers" (70 hours a month evangelizers) in the study articles to unfamiliarized readers. After all, what's a better way to save a few words of ink then to just print a new edition?

Prior to this the "Awake" magazine went from being published bi-weekly to just monthly. One sister, baptized since the early 1980's, put it to me as "something wonderful is happening that only the Society is aware of. They must be on to something and this just illustrates how close the End is."

The September "Our Kingdom Ministry" discourages members from investigating the accuracy of their New World Translation and from bible study without the aid of their publications, among other things. A copy for members only, with the study article only, which contains their most current doctrine --they call it light-- reeks of kool-aid, but perhaps I am being unkind.

It can be embarassing to have the general public have access to their teachings like Jesus being the created Michael the Archangel, the very possible upcoming Generation change, and words which may come back to haunt them.

If their literature is truth why hide it from the people they supposedly strive to reach?

Phony Senators and Media

It is pitiful that the mainstream media is giving attention to Media Matters and is now maligning Rush Limbaugh for his "phony soldiers" remark.

Anyone listening to Limbaugh when those comments were made understood he was not referring to those serving in the military and oppose the Iraq War, but those who truly fake their status and service. They are phony for their credentials and erroneous accomplishments.

Along with Media Matters, Sen. Harry "The War is Lost" Reid, is moving for a public condemnation of Limbaugh who never disrespected any real soldiers with real capacities. Where was Reid's swiftness to repudiate MoveOn.Org for their General Betray Us Ad? Why does he and other democrats continue hindering our soldiers from doing their jobs?

Let us not forget there are people who still care for truth and will stand up against these phonies.

"Christian" Dedication

The following video is of a JW playing "Christian Dedication" from the Sing Praises to Jehovah songbook on his guitar. His arrangement closely matches the piano version played at the meetings and the orchestral versions used at assemblies and conventions.

The melody is warm and pleasant. The last line would always choke us up.

Lyrics:

Because Jehovah created the universe so grand.
To him belong the earth and sky, the works of his own hand.
The breath of life he has given and to his creatures shown
that worthy is he to have the praise, the worship of all his own.

The ancient nation of Israel, at Sinai they did say:
The Law Jehovah's given us we gladly will obey.
He was their husbandly owner; he bought them from the sea.
A nation of dedicated ones they always should prove to be.

In water Jesus was baptized to righteousness fulfill
And humbly he did there present Himself to do God's will.
When he came up from the Jordan as God's anointed Son,
Obedient and loyal he would serve as God's consecrated One.

We come before you Jehovah to praise your name so great.
Disowning self, with humble hearts our life we dedicate.
You gave your only begotten, who paid the price so high.
No longer as living for ourselves for you we shall live or die.

Solemnly Testify

Acts 10:42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

I can barely hold back the tears.

Just what would I have done if I had been walking out of the Convention Center after a long day with friends and family? Would I have pretended not to listen, not to be bothered, not to be affected by their words?

These people are doing the Lord's work.

"The Bible says that it pleased Yahweh to crush His Son. And if he will crush His Son what makes you think He will not crush you because of your sins?" (see Isaiah 53:10)

Ps. That green book is their 1961 edition of the New World Translation. It is no longer used even though a few words were changed.