xjwsforChrist

CHARIKLO SAID




Not necessarily, Pup.

If the heart is turned towards Jesus, and within a backdrop, so to speak, of prayer, as well as a fair knowledge of Jesus' teachings, and what the early church taught, based on the earliest recollections of those who were with him, then when something new is read or heard, the chances are either that there will be a kind of ring of truth, of accord, or an instinctive rejection.

In my life I've learned to trust my instinct, trust my gut feeling. It doesn't let me down. It's when I disregard it or try to suppress it, that I land myself in trouble, even...heaven forbid! In amongst the Jehovah's Witnesses! Need I say more!!!

I do know what you mean, Pup, and your thinking is sound, but it only goes so far. For someone unfamiliar with or unpractised in prayer, just.some time in quiet, spent reading a little (I don't mean researching) and some time in thinking about what has been read and then praying, asking or just directing the mind and heart towards him in an attitude of listening, waiting to hear, open to love...such a mindset might prove very helpful on this regard.

YPPUPLLEH SAID

A lil more info on puppy

I've prepared and given sermons to youth groups and at HighSchool I was voted in HighSchool most likely to become an expository preacher ;P I'm sure Shelby is familiar with my Highschool(I attended CCHS) where we had weekly chapel sessions once a week during a class period and each student had to take a compulsory class that meets four days a week in Bible studies

I'be been to revivals, Christian camp, retreats, concerts, the whole shebang
I also have experience in other religions and philosophies and had a brief phase of comparative religious studies during University. My instinctual feelings and personal serendipitous findings differ in style to what is found and or delivered here . My journey/path is not so specialized and is a bit more general
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Love is a warm rubber puppy...

CHARIKLO SAID

Not quite the Puppy from Hell your name would have us believe then?

Still...


That kind of assumes there is a norm here, doesn't it? I'm not sure where you'd find a norm, really, with me as a Catholic...albeit a Catholic who somehow inexplicably became caught up with JW's, despite being arespected local catechist and teacher and much more...and everyone else from my own very scant knowledge from a really wide variety of Christian backgrounds.

On the other hand, having said that, I'd say there is after all a norm here...the diversity of twenty-first century Christianity and general religious and quasi-religious thought.

YPPUPLLEH SAID

Oh you should still fear me...

My actions be methodical
my powers diabolical ;P
At times I seem illogical
Tis me, the canine radical ;P

Time for some music up in here

CHARIKLO SAID

Was that a determined...and valiant!...effort to win a worst choir competion...with some of the worst music around?

If so, well done to them!

YPPUPLLEH SAID

As for assumption of a norm there are a few here who do touch upon the "Ask and Listen" method . While each person hears differently there is a common theme. I'm not saying that y'all aren't special and that normalcy is mundane ;P just saying that my methods are different and that for some the "Ask and Listen" method just doesn't work for them.

Those who don't "hear" the Lord or have visions and such are not necessarily spiritually immature or have a relationship with their God that isn't as deep or profound as the ones that do hear. They just simply don't hear and have to go by alternate means
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Love is a warm rubber puppy...

CHARIKLO SAID




Of course! Goes without saying!

YPPUPLLEH SAID




You get any group of individuals that are highly experienced in life, have them form a choir and sing Eminem among other artists with a straight face, and they will have my respect and admiration ;P
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Love is a warm rubber puppy...

ANNEB SAID

Again coming to a thread "late"...

Recall that in Jesus' day, there was a system for dividing up property in Israel. The oldest son got a double portion and the other sons divided up what was left.

Jesus was not the son of Joseph. He did not have a share in any property Joseph divided among his sons.

Men needed a place to dwell and to put their families. Jesus didn't have that ("Foxes have dens..."), so how could he marry? He would have been considered unacceptable since he would have been unable to support a wife and family under the Israelite system, to say nothing of the circumstances surrounding his mother's pregnancy and subsequent marriage.

To be sure, he was a carpenter, and probably well-trained, but he was itinerant, and not entirely by choice; not exactly the kind of setup any good Israelite father would want for his daughter when she married!
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Everything that I believe today is subject to change as I acquire knowledge, perspective, and direction. I'm on a journey and this is a journal...

QUENTIN SAID

Thank YOU for your responses. All were done with sinserity. Hopefully WE will maintain this level of honesty.

"...the Network, by the intimate connection
of its several parts, denotes Unity."