GeorgeStGeorge

P.S.: The "Friend tracker" forum might be a better place to post! :)--> George

Mustang, I don't know of whom you speak, but I recommend two websites: www.switchboard.com, and http://find.intelius.com/index.php (intelius.com). You may need to shell out $8 for the latter site, but you won't necessarily need to know Kara's married name (in case all you know is a maiden name. Good hunting, George

.If using a dictionary or textbook means "using" its author, then I advocate "using" people, though that wouldn't be in a bad sense, then. I have no idea how doctrine was taught at Emporia, etc., but I've never heard the same authors being quoted by TWI teachers being also slammed by them, so I haven't experienced any hypocrisy in that context George

Hey, Oak.. You actually think that Marvel comics are better than DC. Does that invalidate everything ELSE you believe? :D--> Seriously, I don't apologize for VPW and the evil he wrought. On the other hand, I still believe the keys to biblical interpretation I learned in PFAL BECAUSE THEY MAKE SENSE. And if using those keys makes me conclude something in opposition to TWI teaching, I go by what the keys teach. I could have learned it all from Bullinger's works, but I didn't. I probably would never have HEARD of Bullinger if I hadn't been in TWI. So, to alter the analogy a bit, I've chosen to throw out the hairball that was clogging the drain, but not the bath OR the baby. George

Trinitarians aren't "bad," just mistaken. And many are right on in other areas of doctrine (salvation by grace, etc.). And, since the trinitarians outnumber the one-Godders (unitarian means something else, unfortunately) by a wide margin, it's not surprising that they would have the greatest share of written works. George

After the Flood, God told Noah that he could eat animals as well as vegetables: Genesis 9:3. George

It's also possibloe he recognized the relationship between the words oikonomeia and oikonomos (steward or administrator) nd felt that the word "administration" meant more to modern Christians than "dispensation." (Growing up Roman Catholic, to me "dispensation" meant being allowed to eat meat on Fridays!) George

Perhaps, but you do have a wonderful prose style! :D--> George

Being "just" a TC at that time, I didn't have any information about why TWI lost its tax-exempt status. I do remember, however, rejoicing when the decision was reversed, because I could file an amended tax form and claim a deduction for those years! :D--> I vaguely recall local leadership accusing LCM of "selling out," because he had released to the IRS some info that VPW had refused to release. I had to go with Craig on this one! :D--> :D--> George

Dot, Though I saw some of the fireworks in this site, I didn't read any posts that attacked you personally, until someone copied one of the posts at the XJW site. I have no particular interest in that site, so I don't know how much nonsense went on. What I DO know is, don't give up! Take a look at Stephen's example in Acts 7. He faced a crowd of God-rejecters and didn't budge. I hope to see more of your posts HERE soon. George

Actually, Radar, your description sounds like ERIC and GWEN Peterson, who WERE in the Houston area until earlier this year. I don't think Todd and Carol live here (and they're not on the Cortright website, either). George

Okay, instead of "reproof," how about "admonition"? George

Wow! Deja Vu, Oak! Sounds like my ousting: drumhead tribunal there to validate a preconceived verdict... On the other hand, Chas, if one has been reproved for good reason, then it was his faulty doctrine or practice that tore him down, not the reprover. That's why we are exhorted in Galatians to "restore" the wrongdoer. George

I remember a teaching years ago about Proverbs. The teacher pointed out that Chapter 31 is there for the young man to know how to choose a wife. When asked if there were similar instruction for women on choosing a husband, he replied, "That would be Chapters 1-30." Here's a hint, ladies: wise man GOOD, foolish man BAD. ;)--> George

Hooner, The purpose of reproof is to get you to believe rightly and act accordingly. If someone offers you reproof, it's up to you to decide if there's merit to it. If so, change! (I guess we'll have to wait for the Vulcans to show up to handle Rascal!) :D--> George

Well, I'm debt-free, own my house and cars, have a reasonable 401k and pension, and have a LOT of valuable comic books. My only concern about the future is how fast my wife can spend! :D--> :D--> :D--> George

Never mind. Your gender isn't in the profile. Nice to meet you, MS. Rockin!

Sorry. Should have checked the profile! :o--> George

Except for the Trinitarian aspects, I found the article very cogent. God clearly doesn't "need" us, but created us as a manifestation of His love. The reference to Kierkegaard, opining that it would be dismal to think that having created us, God would become dependent on us, was interesting. It would be as though we were some sort of designer drug He concocted to please Himself! I also thought that the point that grace is meaningless if God does it to please Himself was well-taken. George

Mr. Rockin, I remember LCM mentioning work he had done on a "black thread" of sons of Belial throughout the Bible. Give him a call. I'm sure he's be glad to share his insights. ;)--> George

Last verse: Never let your heart be discouraged. Rather, be ye strong and take courage. Standing together in power and might, And walking each day in His glorious light. I alway thought that this was the best TWI-original song, as well. George

MJ412 and WhiteDove, Before this thread gets TOO derailed, the figure of speech George A. used was idioma. It's a phrase used in common (vernacular) speech whose meaning is well known. George was not making a theological statement. ;)--> T'other George

Belle, I've only shared some of your experiences. Fortunately, my wife and I got booted just after getting engaged, so TWI didn't mess up our marriage. I'm sure that that breakup must have been devastating to you. (And probably to your ex, as well. I'm sure that for him it wasn't a choice between you and a cult, but between you and God. That sure would have torn me up. :(-->) It's amazing how long someone will put up with the invasive micromanagement and hypocritical secrecy that abounds in TWI. If you're ever near Houston, PM me. My wife and I can barbecue some Brats and throw back a Shiner or two with you. George

Indeed, Dude! We don't always see eye to eye anymore, but I've always appreciated your guts to say what you believe (or disbelieve :D-->). The other George

This has been a wonderful short course in metaphysics and gnosticism, but if I may interject briefly about what the Bible calls good and evil spirits: Angels are messengers and warriors. TWI had them under the juristictions of Gabriel and Michael, respectively. Whether that is accurate or not, I do'nt know; but it's clear that Gabriel and Michael fall into those categories. Since the spirits of the churches brought messages to the churches, they are, obviously, messengers. Their names aren't given. Though the RC Church had a whole hierarchy of types of good spirits (Thrones, Dominations, Cherubim, Seraphim, and others I don't remember now), other than angels, the only type of good spirit being (except God, of course) that I can find in the Bible is cherubim, who, unlike angels, DO have wings (though no halos!). Their description is given in Ezekiel and Revelation. Their purposes seem to be worship and protection. George