BillyTheKid46

This got my attention ....
There is a difference between hyperbole, and utter and total nonsense cluelessness.
I am sure Bro. Lett is loved by Jehovah, but down here on the ground suchlike thinking is contrary to reality (There is more evidence for something COMPLETELY unseen, and un-provable, and by rational people could be reasonably argued to be a COMPLETE fantasy ...), and is DANGEROUS!

Lett on Gravity, Electricity, wind .mp4 Next thing you know, we will be specifically asked to blindly obey things that from a logical standpoint make no sense at all.
I could not help but think that the "two inch brush" analogy was actually meant to defuse global problem of several BILLION hours of work has so few converts ... but hey, that could just be me, projecting.
A common problem with many people.
 
 

Luke is also the one who gives extra attention to women and women's concerns. The ability to empathize with women has made some think that the author of Luke actually was a woman.
That said, it's not quite true what you said. I include things like "It's easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, the 2-by-4 in your own eye, etc. (See  Mark/Matt and Matt) The exaggerated imagery gets attention. 

True. And in spite of the seriousness of the overall message, several of Jesus illustrations reach a level we might even call "comedy."

From the final chapter of Tom Irregardless and Me, the chapter in which I try to tie up many loose ends, I threw in this little snippet: "Brother Lett gave a talk in the Ministry School and was given a ‘WÂ’ (work) for gestures. Surely if he applies himself he can learn to be more expressive!”

It is almost like what they said about Jesus, though not with the same degree of admiration: “Never has another man spoken like this.” As one brother put it: "Let no one ever think that Jehovah's organization uses paid actors.”

Witnesses love this guy. He KNOWS he is nutty and he builds upon it as a strength rather get all bashful over it. If I had any doubt about that, it was erased at the behind-the-scenes broadcast that explained how such broadcasts are produced. As he is beaming in the chair and assistants are dabbing him with make-up, the voice-over (his) says that the final step is to apply make-up to the host so that he “looks his best!” He knows he is a nut. A guy that knows how not to take himself too seriously is a precious guy to have around. There are far too many people who do not suffer fools gladly – and a fool is anyone who disagrees with him.

That Lett is not one of them affords him huge respect in my eyes. It’s not so much where you are but how far you have come. When a Christian Life and Ministry program suggested that we think of brothers we appreciate, I picked two not commonly recognized. They are both from a pronounced socially awkward background, and they both have overcome it to serve capably in roles that anyone would have previously thought were permanently beyond them. They are not “heavy hitters,” in my view, and probably never will be, but they are solid and respected. In an age where elders seldom have to give talks but just use discernment in applying Q&A sessions and though personal interactions, it is enough.

What does Jesus three times tell Peter, recently returned from one of the greatest failures in history? “Feed my little sheep.” It is not your stellar brilliance that is going to make you most effective in doing that. It is the love that you show, and Lett shows it in spades.

In the August broadcast, he gives one of the most ridiculously over-the-top illustration that I have ever heard, in which volunteers are supplied 2-inch brushes to paint the Kingdom Hall and everyone knows that is a crazy way to do it. On and on he goes about some grumbling that 4-inch brushes would make more sense, even six inch brushes, even rollers. And why not go all the way and rent a spray painter? Or hire a contractor? And, come to think of it, someone else grouses, the Kingdom Hall doesn’t need painting in the first place. Furthermore, Lett almost makes this the central issue before all creation, with God potentially saddened because the friends are bickering over the tiny brushes and the Devil is jumping for joy at their disunity, as though neither one of them really has much to do up there in heaven. (a brother at an assembly applied the analogy, a bit more fittingly, to Satan being unhappy about the decision baptismal candidates had made to dedicate their lives to God. But don’t worry about it, he went on to say, “He’s not usually happy.”)

Tempering this verdict of the illustration being ‘ridiculous’ is that Brother Lett admits from the start that it is over-the-top. It is an hyperbole, and the man himself is an hyperbole. And come to think of it, anyone familiar with the gospels knows that Jesus uses hyperbole all the time. Through their exaggeration, they have the advantage that anyone of common sense and unhardened heart instantly gets the point.

They also have the advantage that anyone ‘wise in their own eyes’ and too enamored with ‘critical thinking’ does not, and thus these people are sifted out. I begin to think that hyperbole is a tool in the toolbox that serves to fulfill Jesus’ words at Matthew 11, on how God has “hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and revealed them to babes,” and is even a way in which he “catches the wise in their own cunning,” the “wisdom of this world” being “foolishness” in his eyes. I mean, if the stuff is so great, show me the peaceful world it has collectively produced. Real wisdom should enable diverse people to overcome divisions and work smoothly together, and that is a sub-theme of Lett’s illustration.

You should have heard how some of these latter ones savaged him! ‘Classic JW thinking. So typically black and white.’ But just because there is black and white thinking does not mean some things are not black and white, and not long ago, a car group of sisters was rear-ended by a cop in an actual black and white because he was not single-mindedly focused upon his driving. It is possible to overthink things.

Though these are NOT the people that those of critical thinking pay any attention to, most persons in the world are quite simple, and thus so are JehovahÂ’s Witnesses, who draw disproportionately from this pool. One out of six persons in the world today cannot read. Do the wise ones of this system of things even know these people exist? The Watchtower produces simplified versions of material already written simply so as to reach them.

There is an apocryphal story that one of the Governing Body told Lett to “stop acting like an idiot.” It is impossible to know with apocryphal stories what are true and what are concocted. That said, as I close my eyes, I can see it, for the two are vastly different in presentation. Even that ‘mystery’ serves to beneficially separate people, as some dismiss it with a ‘who cares?’ and some obsess over it. It is not unlike when Rex Tillerson supposedly called Trump a moron and news media suspended all other activity to find out whether he really did or not, even after the occasion where Tillerson himself called a news conference to say: “Back where I come from, we don’t have time for that nonsense.”

That is another way in which people are separated today. One personÂ’s nonsense is another personÂ’s manna.
 

This is a very legitimate way to read John 1:1, although it is not the way we read it as JWs. It would not make much difference if it were read this way. I see a possible small problem with the way we read it, but it doesn't mean we are reading it wrong. I think the main thing that some Witnesses do (which is not the intention of the verse) is making a big emphasis on the words "A god," and then saying, SEE?!?!?! -- It only says "A" god, therefore Jesus can't be THE [Almighty] God. This is a true statement, based on other scriptures. But this scripture is going as far as possible to RAISE the level of divinity and near "universal" authority by which Christians should understand Jesus -- and it's a misuse of the intention of the verse to use it to prove he is LESS. It is only by Jesus that we can begin to understand the full range of the power and authority of the Father. Jesus therefore allows us to "SEE" God. 
I know it's a little off topic for this discussion, so I'll wait until another John 1:1 discussion.

Yes, the beginning of reinterpretation of scripture was an interesting event. I guess there are some that need to use outside sources in order to accept their own publications. But a good researcher becomes agreeable. I have no problems with the Watchtower interpretation since they seem to make adjustments as new evidence is found, including linguistics. The majority of Christianity is satisfied with what has been written with their own old interpretation.
I also don’t place any faith in “Wikipedia” Web Encyclopedia, since anyone can edit any page. When they started the program, there were a lot of false entries that have taken decades to clean. That in itself doesn’t mean, everything has been corrected. However, they still encourage people to edit without fear. Yet any information is probative. It just depends on the value you place on it. The Watchtower has done a wonderful job with its publications, and Bible, knowledge. They, should open an accredited Bible School of Bible Knowledge?
Meanwhile, this might interest you, since Jesus is known by many names. Emmanuel, Master, logos (the word), Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Lamb of God, Last Adam, King of the Jews, Rabbani, Teacher, Good Shepard, etc.
Literary Origins of the Archangel’s Legendary Roles
Hear Michael speaking! I am he who stands in the sight of God every hour. As the Lord lives, in whose sight I stand, I do not stop
one day or one night praying incessantly for the human race, and I indeed pray for those who are on the earth; but they do not cease
committing iniquity and fornications, and they do not do any good while they are placed on earth; and you have consumed in vanity the time in which you ought to have repented.1 The Apocalypse of Paul (Visio Pauli)
St. Michael the archangel appears by name in scripture only five times: three times in the Old Testament (Daniel 10:13, 21 and 12:1) and twice in the New Testament (Revelation 12:7–9 and the Epistle of Jude 9). Despite this relative paucity of references to the archangel in canonical literature, there exists a vast store of legendary material from the
Middle Ages concerning the archangel’s roles in the unfolding of human history. In this chapter, I explore the literary origins of St. Michael’s medieval legendary roles by examining the representations of the archangel in biblical and extra-biblical literature.
The development of the archangel’s roles in this literature as healer and guardian, intercessor, psychopomp, and warrior-angel accounts for his popular appeal in early medieval England. Indeed, the representations of the archangel in the literature reviewed in this chapter can be seen as having served as the principal quarry for early medieval English writers in their representations of St. Michael the archangel. Many of the texts of the biblical era, though by no means all, which refer to St. Michael fall under the genre of “apocalypse” in their form, character, and/or content.2 Often conveying a message of the imminent end of the world, apocalyptic literature is collectively, in history and the future promise of the heavenly realm. The implicit conflict of the apocalyptic impulse is played out in what Bernard McGinn has called “the triple eschatological pattern of [present] crisis – [imminent] judgment – [future] vindication.”3 In this tripartite paradigm, it is the hope for the vindication of salvation, the transcendence of death, that provides the believer with the strength to endure the present crisis. In the context of this eschatological drama St. Michael commands a significant presence in the literature of the Old and New Testament eras.
Although St. Michael’s character and roles appear nearly fully developed in early Hebrew literature (especially 1 Enoch and Daniel), there is a significant shift of emphasis between the literatures of the Old Testament and those of the New Testament. In the biblical and extra-biblical literature of the Old Testament, St. Michael strides across the world stage in the past, present, and future. His intercessory powers
span the three periods of human time, and his efficacy extends into the eternity of God’s time. In the canonical books of the New Testament, however, St. Michael virtually withdraws from the stage of the present. Instead, Christ is proclaimed the sole mediator, “whose saving accomplishments . . . embrace past, present, and future,” on behalf of Christians in the New Testament.5 St. Michael’s appearance in Revelation 12:7–9 underscores his withdrawal from the present, while emphasizing his dual roles in the past and future: expelling the fallen angels at the beginning of time and defeating the forces of evil at the end of time.
 
The thing to note, not confusing the meaning of each definition within the names. A good example would be? Yahweh, being Baal. While there were certain Hebrews that ultimately worshipped Baal? That in no way diminishes who the real God of Israel was and is, and what his modern pronunciation should sound like.

...janitor or lawyer... window cleaner or bank director - all have chance to be very happy or very unhappy. 
...religious or atheist... member of JWorg or member of some other group - they all have same/similar problems.
But when WT chiefs princes teaching the flock to be poor in "worldly Truths" aka education but to be reach (i mean rich - you see what looks like when you have lack of education  ) in "WT Truth" aka uninspired, err doctrines and instructions that have to be obeyed,  that have to guide your personal life ... then your primary goal, inside need to be happy, as a human, is under attack of Organized, Corporation's manipulation.   

Once again, who can guarantee someone’s success? If a person is happy? Why does it matter? If a wealthy individual is happy contributing with their personal time to do charity work, instead of spreading the wealth? Then why should it matter? If a poor woman gave everything she had (2 cents) while rich people only gave because it was extra? Then who will God appreciate as he did with Cain and Abel?

How should success be measured?

Can we quantify success from those that cheat to pass college? How about those that are guaranteed high college scores because of the advantage they have with their parentÂ’s reputation. How about people like Bernard Madoff that stole anywhere from 50-65 billion of investorsÂ’ money, and his children attended good colleges, and yet, Mark Madoff ended up committing suicide. Why? While, all the money in the world couldnÂ’t save Andrew Madoff from cancer, ending his life.


WhereÂ’s the proof and guarantee? Of peoples success because they should have pursued higher education?

This would suggest, higher education was not needed to work with what was available back in the day. Since humanity has changed? Then, higher education is needed for all the technological advancements that weren’t around.

Its moves with the sign of the times. However, if someone desires spiritual growth, who can decide how someone should follow Christ as a poor man, that needed nothing but the generosity of others, and he gave the same advice to his apostles, that followed his teachings to the very end in the same fashion, even though some were successful.

Therefore, where is it said, that life is a guarantee for someone’s success. If there is? Where is it, so everyone can sign up.

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/07/335285098/rich-kid-poor-kid-for-30-years-baltimore-study-tracked-who-gets-ahead

I knew it was you who had that experience. That's what gives it such credibilaty! I mean, credability! Or do I mean, credibilalitie! (I wish I had stayed at college and not gone on that cart!!)

They cut the ending off a little prematurely.
"My decision to pioneer helped me sidestep frustration, straight into manic depression, and have existed there for the past 15 years, and will most likely remain there untiL I die. Not unless I commit suicide to get out the the absolute hell hole ive been in all this time - I can see no way out of.
I gave up my youth, my education, my family, my career goals to pioneer, to stand now beside a cart.
If i could talk to myself again, I would tell myself to run...run and never look back.
If i could tell the young ones reading this article, one thing to learn from my experience.....
Run, run and never look back. You have time, i dont."
THE END.

Surely a university didn’t randomly approach her and give her a scholarship? ?
This week's WT-study:
The Watchtower - April 2018 - "Young People, Are You Focused on Spiritual Goals?"

Watchtower is trying to influence those who might be thinking about a university level education to drop the idea, based on simplistic and anecdotal information
First, lawyers are usually not talking to bank staff - the lawyer's assistant is.
Second, what lawyer ever says: "I'm so unhappy," especially to some random person at a bank.
That doesn't invalidate the reality that just because one person noticed that some of the millions of people who followed the career path are unhappy, does not mean that it is wrong to follow that career path or that anyone who does will be unhappy. Flawed reasoning at its worst. Notice I did not say logic, because there is no logic to their reasoning.

A new radio program entitled, "Healing River" (Rev 22:1,2)  begins today at 1:00 EST with each broadcast stored at SoundCloud.  
"There is much healing needed after one is spiritually abused by the WT Beast and its' false prophet. Let us pray that as many as possible derive benefit from God's truths, as the program explores the scriptures, and how they can provide us the guidance and healing we now need, today.
To tie into the program, the number to call is; (712) 432-8710. The pin # is 9925.
Sunday, at 1pm. 
The program will run on the second Sunday of each month, at 1 pm."
Pearl Doxsey
 

“Color and Physiognomy.....a man whose nose upturns can no more be expected to administer justice than a pug dog can be expected to act as a shepherd.”
The Golden Age January 19, 1921 pg. 224
 

Here is a quote from the above magazine concerning 1925
 

“Disease (is caused by) fermentation and heat.........not germs."
The Golden Age August 25, 1926
oh by the way...
(This was a dozen years after medicine had proven bacteria and viruses caused most diseases)

?

“....current agitation over birth control (is evidence that) the ‘New AgeÂ’ is at hand.”
The Golden Age April 7, 1926
 

(Speaking about the resurrection after 1925)
the writer suggests the following in TWTP pg 228 on how to recruit decorators to redecorate the homes that would now be available.)

“You will have secured the services of the best decorators you can find. Some of them used to be undertakers; but since there are no more people dying, they have to seek some new occupation. Their experience as undertakers prepared them to become decorators with very little difficulty.”

After maintaining that there would be ‘no slip upsÂ’ about the importance of 1925 the Society backtracks telling those who were greatly disappointed that.......
“Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925..................The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imagination beyond reason......”
The Watch Tower August 1 1926 pg 232
 

You mean this?

Somebody needs to show this video to Bethel's legal dept that has spent millions of hours filing notices to take down videos off of YouTu I can just see Jesus now filling out a copyright claim against somebody reposting the Sermon on the Mount.
LOL....

YouTube take-downs a Waste of time exjw.mp4

We used to say the same thing about Jesus being a Televangelizer...... ooops... wait.... new light.
God has now told us it is ok to be a televangelist.
Fast forward 5 years....
New light.... "All JW's should actively be a soldier for Christ like Allen Smith and DEFEND the new Mother Ship Warwick!!"
Resistance is futile!!
@James Thomas Rook Jr. will no longer be allowed to speak in favor of JW's. Sorry. Waste of time!!!!
Now get out there and stand next to a cart at some obscure park somewhere!!!

A waste of time is preaching all your life that the Due time is at hand
(Luke 21:8) . . .He said: “Look out that YOU are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time has approached.
’ Do not go after them .

I believe you have asked space merchant to prevail as a good researcher. However, may I ask what your disagreement is with the quote “it did not start with JW’s” that would require a more in-depth discussion? Are you not a JW? I am simply referring to the concept of JW’s not being the first to research this ancient manifestation.

The mindset would require only one interpretation, of many. Can that be possible?