> Introductions, Announcements, and More of Ray's Teachings
Hello
Linny:
Welcome both of you and so happy you will be posting with us.
I'll bet you have lots of interesting conversations at your house!! ;) ;D
Lin
cherokee:
Hey Mark,
Welcome back to the forum. Look forward to hearing more from you.
Blessings,
Suzie
markn902:
Thank you everyone for your kind responses and the Audio links. I am downloading a bunch of them to listen to while we are on vacation this next week (we'll be driving alot)
& Linny awesome quote there at the bottom of your box
Samson:
--- Quote from: markn902 on February 11, 2010, 05:37:09 PM ---Hi my name is Mark and I am introducing myself although I originally signed up several years ago. So I am not really new I just don't post alot. ( or log on apparently as I have had to re-register 3 times now) But I am active now! I was raised as a JW and thats what I believed the Truth to be for most of my life. Now I see,or am seeing, Gods real word. Anyway I will be posting often as I have started Bible Studying with my Wife. She was raised Catholic and alot of this stuff is all brand new to her and I am not used to, or qualified to be, a teacher. So I will be posting questions from time to time. As a JW I never believed in Hell so that was no big deal to me but I am finding it is with Her. Anyway enough with my life story and thanks to everyone in advance who responds to my posts! :)
--- End quote ---
Hello Mark,
Welcome to the Forum and glad that God remove the Watchtower Scales from your eyes. I was a JW for twenty years resigning in April 2004. After reading Crisis of Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom By Former Governing Body Member Raymond Franz, all the proof I needed that they weren't God's Channell or Faithfull Slave was factually presented. There extreme Legalistic Approach on personal choices by their members and their subsequent Dis fellowshipping procedures was the initial catalyst to my departure. I didn't think that I would ever join any type of Fellowship again, until God led me to Ray's Site. Prior to that, I was already aware of the Universal Reconciliation of All and that God's Judgements were remedial and not "Eternal," but that was only the beginning of my journey.
It was one single thought, prior to learning about Universal Reconciliation that was the initial cause that started my search and it was This: " How could a loving God annihilate, Eternally torture or separate most of Humanity, based on Finite Sins commited in such a short Lifetime(70-80 years at most), I figured that a God like that was neither Wise nor Loving or Fair, it would make Him lower than the worst of Humans. None of it made any sense to me. Shortly afterwards I began to learn about Universal Reconciliation For All from various Writers and inadvertently found this Site, wasn't even looking for it, saw the subject Lake of Fire Series by some Guy named L Ray Smith and said " What is This," more of this Eternal Punishment crap, probably, but I looked at it and actually started reading His massive Volume of Emails and answers, I couldn't stop reading them thinking, this Guy makes alot of sense with the Scriptures to thoroughly support His points, covering every angle for those that might say: " What about this or What about that."
My apologies for the long winded speech, but I got so excited when an Ex-JW, like myself gets led to this Site, it's very upbuilding for me. There are a few other Raised, Former JW's that are members of this Forum. Glad you joined us Brother and hope to hear your comments when you are moved to do so.
Kind Regards, Samson.
markn902:
Thank you very much Samson.
I am going to read those publications from Raymond Franz as I was unaware of them to this point. I actually had a different "coming out" as it were. After several years of not going to meetings me and the wife decided we should be going to church. We had some witnesses over for bible study( as I was sure that was the only "real" religion). However my wife didn't like it and we didn't make it too far. To appease her I said we should go out and try out some different churchs. (again feeling inside that the kingdom hall was really the only place) anyway we went about "church hopping" with me being the constant critic always pointing out what they were doing wrong ;D. Then something happened..we went back to the kingdom hall and I looked at the teachings and everything else with that same critical eye I had been using for the other churchs and guess what. I freaked out because this wasn't a "special" organization. It wasn't perfect it was man made with all the faults and flaws of any other man made religion. I was not ready for that having been raised with a far different viewpoint. Anyway to make a long story a little bit longer I prayed. I prayed that God would show me which religion to be in what church to go to and how He wants me to serve Him. And he gave me the truth. or I should say IS giving me the truth. It seems so silly now to ever believe that God would have made billions and billions of people just to destroy most of them. But that's whats out there. Anyway thanks again I feel very good right now ;D
Mark & Anne
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