Only twice in my life have I heard a Pure Profession of Jesus' Faith: Abe Lincoln, and this morning... from JW Joe..
Abe Lincoln was eternally challenged by the media over his faith - he rarely if ever attended church and declared none his own.
'Mr. Lincoln, why don't you have a church?'
'When there is a church that has only two things written over the door -
Love God, Love your neighbor as yourself, -
then, then, I will have a Church.' Paraphrase.
... AND NOW, THIS MORNING.............
From my now 5 year friend, Brother, JW Joe (Jehovah's Witness), of North America, and now, serving the destitute, the suffering, abroad, with his wife:
As I've written before, next to Bev and Ger, he is my oldest, and one of my only, very few, Friends. He and I have had many, many, many deep, and for me, immensely stimulating, dialogs.
Our words, our stated 'beliefs,' have near zero, NEAR ZERO, in common, if one carefully examines the thousands of words we've exchanged. Within the last month, he, with pained, troubled Heart, compassionately warned me that I was "Blaspheming."
Yet, he Tenaciously has maintained our dialog, and I, Blessed each time by his Friendship, and Love of the Truth, and Loving for me, have each time, Humbly, Amazedly, Joyfully, Worriedly (I don't ever, EVER, mean to offend)... replied.
We NEVER try to convince each other. We share our views, passionately, clearly, courageously, Honestly, Truthfully.... And we try, hard, to Hear each other.
Several days ago, prompted in part by the recent tribulation in the Middle East, and around the world, my Brother Joe sent me these two links from JW, what they would focus on the the next 2 Sundays around the world. I read everything he sends, everything he shares, because I find our relationship Sacred (see below).
Here is our most recent dialog, in which, I find only the 2nd Pure, Christ-ian Profession of Faith that I recall ever reading or hearing from another person, besides Jesus. [That it has anything to do with me personally, in its reference, is of ZERO consequence.]...
Joe - Mon, Sept 9:
"Good morning
I thought that it was ironic that we had a discussion
regarding prophecies lately as this past Sunday and this
coming Sunday, every congregation around the world of JW has
had/will be having a discussion of this as part of our usual
weekly program.
Here are the links to the articles that we will be reviewing.
They are not written as a philosophical debate, but rather a
humble look at what the Bible actually says will be happening
in the near future. If you wish to read them, I trust that at
the very least you will find them interesting.
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20130715/jesus-prophecy-last-days/
http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20130715/jesus-parable-wheat-and-weeds/
I guess that people can debate this (or anything
else they wish to) but time will tell whether
it is true or not. But as I have said many many
times over, so far, no one has ever given me a better
theory/explanation to even consider."
... ALSO, he had sent me some links on how JW is moving from Brooklyn to Upstate NY in a hugely environmntally respectful way:
"Loving, as you know,
When you
respect the creator, you respect creation.
You might find these interesting.
http://www.jw.org/en/news/by-region/americas/mexico/jehovahs-witnesses-protect-environment/
http://www.jw.org/en/news/by-region/americas/united-states/world-headquarters-relocating/
http://www.jw.org/en/news/by-region/americas/united-states/jehovahs-witnesses-warwick-ny-construction/"
.... to which I replied:
"Brought
tears of Joy to my eyes."
... to which JOE replied:
"Just imagine if every
"corporation/religion/organization etc" that purchased 253
acres, developed only 45 acres of it and left
the rest natural. And
then took the extra precaution of protecting
the natural areas, used geothermal,
grass roofing etc..
Just imagine.
Humans have the abilities, but
unfortunately, we do not seem to have
the desire.
Some day soon, my friend.........
Hang in there!! XO"
..... TO WHICH I REPLIED (((REMEMBER THE FIRST JW LINKS ABOVE, ABOUT THE END COMING, WHEAT BEING BURNED, GNASHING OF TEETH, 'GOATS' IN TROUBLE)))... all of which I RESPECT, coming from Joe, because operating under these Beliefs, he is a RARE man of Truth, Loving... SERVING FROM THE SOUL IN SOLIDARITY... Christ-likeness....
MY REPLY to Joe....
!!!!! "What are ya talkin about, 'someday soon.'
I'M A
'GOAT!'
I'M WEEDS. MY TEETH GUNNA BE
GNASHING!'
I read the links! I'm toast!!!
(((((HUGS))))
xxoo Loving u both
....!!!!!! TO WHICH JOE SENT ONLY THE 2ND, TRUE, CHRIST-LIKE, CHRIST-IAN... PURE, CLEAR... PROFESSION OF FAITH I RECALL HEARING FROM ANY MAN CEPT JESUS (THO I SEE IT WEEKLY FROM MY 4:18 SIS AND BROTHERS, AND A FEW OTHERS)... !!!!!....
[[[ I'M FILLED WITH TEARS OF JOY, WONDER, AWE... AS I TYPE THIS, NOW... ]]]
from JW JOE, 09.12.13
"""" are you kidding me?? Despite what your "religious"
thoughts are, you are probably one of the most "christian" persons I have ever met.
Don't you think that you fall into the following category??
Math 5
When he (JC) saw the crowds he went
up into the mountain; and after he sat down his
disciples came to him; 2 and he opened his mouth and
began teaching them, saying:
3 “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual
need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs
to them.
4 “Happy are those who mourn, since
they will be comforted.
5 “Happy are the mild-tempered ones,
since they will inherit the earth.
6 “Happy are those hungering and thirsting
for righteousness, since they will be filled.
7 “Happy are the merciful, since
they will be shown mercy.
8 “Happy are the pure in heart, since
they will see God.
9 “Happy are the peaceable, since they
will be called ‘sons of God.’
10 “Happy are those who have been persecuted
for righteousness’ sake, since the kingdom of
the heavens belongs to them.
11 “Happy are YOU when people reproach YOU
and persecute YOU and lyingly say every sort
of wicked thing against YOU for my sake. 12 Rejoice
and leap for joy, since YOUR reward is great in
the heavens; for in that way they persecuted the
prophets prior to YOU.
13 “YOU are the salt of the earth; but if the
salt loses its strength, how will its saltness be
restored? It is no longer usable for anything but to
be thrown outside to be trampled on by men.
14 “YOU are the light of the world. A city
cannot be hid when situated upon a mountain.
15 People light a lamp and set it, not under
the measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, and it
shines upon all those in the house. 16 Likewise
let YOUR light shine before men, that they may
see YOUR fine works and give glory to YOUR
Father who is in the heavens.
No where does that say you HAVE to belong to a certain
religion. It would help but, Jehovah
certainly knows your thoughts, intentions
and motives. I do not
know about you but I will leave that
goat/sheep thing to him. I have
no doubts that you and I will "some
day soon" be
enjoying the very conditions
that you and I are working
so hard for. Hang in
there!!!
XO
"""""
