my visit to the Kingdom Hall

Today I attended a meeting at Bonnie's Kingdom Hall.  Yes, they are called meetings, not services (nor mass, obviously).  The meeting was as follows:

Song from songbook (accompanied by canned piano music)
Prayer, lead by an elder brother
Talk given by Brother Erickson called, "The Resurrection Hope"
Song from songbook
Watchtower discussion (from study edition)
Talk given by Brother Erickson called "Receive God's Spirit not the Worlds Spirit"
Song from songbook
Prayer

When I entered the Kingdom Hall, I was immediately greeted by Bonnie.  She proceeded to introduce me to a ton of people, and show me around the Kingdom Hall.  What does a Kingdom Hall look like?  Basically it looks like a place of study, a college.  The building was a Pentacostal church, and in 1997 the Witnesses purchased the building and completely gutted and decorated.

The main room has a bunch of folding chairs.  They face a stage.  On the left side is a indoor, decorative fern.  Next to the fern is a table with two chairs (similar to a table in an apartment).  Above the table is a Bible verse: Acts 20:24, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." 

Then in center stage is an arch with curtains and a podium.  The podium is where those speaking stand.  On the right side of the stage was a living room set.  A couch, chair, table and picture above the couch.  The furniture was VERY nice - gold adorned.  Another fern stands on the right side of the stage.  And there ya have the main lecture room. 

They have many classrooms, and I don't believe there were windows in the entire building.  There is a kitchen and an office.  I also found out that their meetings occur at 1pm because another group of Witnesses come from 9:30 am until 12:00.  They share the place and each year switch the time of the meetings.  In 2010 the Cherry Hill Witnesses (Bonnie's group) will switch to 9:30am. 

I was very intrigued and captivated by Brother Erickson's talk titled, "The Resurrection Hope."  It was a wonderful commentary on why Christians should believe in a resurrection.  Three main reasons he states are as follows:

1) Free us from morbid fear of death
2) Loyal endurance (Timothy 6:12) "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
3) Courage to do God's will, by keeping our integrity

Brother Erickson spoke of how death is only sleeping.  That only a loving God would make hope of an "after life" possible. Therefore, he would not let us down.   Since Jesus was always with God, the three days he was in sleeping death were very lonely for Jehovah God.  Brother Erickson put a very interesting twist on the resurrection story.  He also stated that Jehovah's purpose was NOT for humans to die.  In fact, "death was the penalty (of Satan screwing things up in Eden), not the purpose of God," Erickson stated. 

During the Watchtower discussion there were male members that carried microphones around.  As each question was posed by an Elder Brother using the podium, an audience member was selected and a microphone placed in front of their mouth.  It was a bit like a reality TV show.  Since all witnesses are in attendance in the Kingdom Hall, quite often little ones answered the questions.  There were people of all ages and races at the meeting.  The Watchtower discussion used a different Watchtower.  It is called the study edition, and it is separate from the publication that is passed out to non-witnesses.  It is much more in depth, and similar to my Wednesday Bible studies with Bonnie.

The Watchtower discussion article was titled, "Do You Value What Jehovah Has Done To Deliver You?"  The article illustrated many ideas regarding sin and that death is NOT natural.  We were not meant to die.  Jehovah God created man to live forever, as the care takers of the Earth.  So when people say an older person died of natural causes, they are missing the point.  Death isn't natural.

Merkilee, one of the Witnesses that has accompanied Bonnie at my Bible studies, made a great comparison of diseases.  She said that people line up and wait in line for a crazy amount of time for the H1N1 vaccine.  The rate at which one gets H1N1 is well under 80%.   More like 50%.  And most survive.  But people still feel compelled to be assured that they don't get the illness. However, the genetic defect: sin, is not taken as seriously.  And there is a 100% rate of getting this disease.  All have sinned (Romans 3:23), therefore, all will die.  Merkilee questioned why people aren't lining up outside of the Kingdom Hall to hear the truth.  For in the truth is the cure.

I was rather surprised at the participation the young people provided.  Little ones (3 and up) were answering questions.  They participated in the entire meeting (1 hour and 45 minutes).  I just can't imagine my girls doing the same.  Of course they spend only 15 minutes at church, and then attend Sunday school. 

Then Brother Erickson returned to the podium and spoke on, "The Spirit of the World versus the spirit of God".  Three ways we can see the spirit of the world in our lives today:

1) Satan influencing entertainment industry
2) Greed and materialism
3) Rebelion against Bible principals

The big question was, "are we slowly becoming poisoned by the spirit of the world?"  Brother Erickson was very good at illustrating the above points, and how they effect our lives today.  I am greatly moved by the ways of the world and how they influence our children.  I am disgusted at the entertainment that is available on TV and in movies these days.  In fact, our girls have never been to a movie because Jim and I like to make sure they only view certain shows.  I am also concerned with what other children are exposed to, and how it will effect my girls. 

He had us read 1 Corinthians 2:1-4, which states:

"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so what you faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

Then in verse 12, "We have not received the spirit of the world by the Spirit who is of God, that we may understand was God has freely given us."  And again in 14 and 15:

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually dis-concerned.  The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment.  'For who has known the mind of the lord that he may instruct him?'  But we have the mind of Christ."

How do we cultivate the holy spirit?  Brother Erickson said the following:

1) Pray to Jehovah
2) Read and Study Jesus Christ, asking, "What Would Jesus Do?"
3) Doing what Jehovah would want

The "spirit of the world" is so influential, it has become an instinctive behavior.  It is in the air.  Brother Erickson said it takes time to learn a new diet (i.e. filing our bodies with the holy spirit), so we need to take the time necessary to do what Jehovah would wish.  We also must be humble, as noted in James 1:22.  "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."  We need to fill our lives with the Holy Spirit so that we aren't influenced by the spirit of the world.  God's spirit can provide the morals and values needed to give us a foundation that is critical in warding off the spirit of the world.


Brother Erickson concluded the meeting with a song and a prayer. 

My brain hurt at the end of the meeting.  It felt like a college lecture course.  But I must admit I thouroughly enjoyed the meeting.  I was happy to feel comfortable and genuinely accepted.  I told Jim that the people there reminded me of our church.  They are a small congregation (100 members) that all know each other.  Members introduced themselves to me, and genuinely seemed to be interested in who I was.  They were very loving and caring...not to mention people with great senses of humor!

I will probably join on a week that the speaker isn't a "big wig" in the community.  Usually the Watchtower is discussed much longer than we discussed it today.  I felt very welcome, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to experience something different.

am I willing to risk it?

This past week at Bible study, we discussed the parable of the pearl, from Matthew 13:45-46.

"'Or, God's kingdom is like a jewel mrchant on the hunt for excellent pearls.  Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.'"

In this parable, Jesus speaks about a mechant that doesn't care about the price of the pearl.  In "More Parables from The Backside" Kalas states, "When he hears the price, great as it is, he doesn't even try to negotiate.  He knows the pearl is worth everything the dealer asks.  Indeed, for this man who has been seeking just such perfection, the pearl is worth more than the asking price.  He must have it!"

Is the Kingdom of God a risky business these days?  The Witnesses believe so.  Bonnie will tell me of the people that think she's in a cult.  Or those that degrate what the Witnesses believe.  She said she doesn't have friends that are not Witnesses because people don't understand her beliefs.  So to the Witnesses, believing in Jehovah's Kingdom is risky.  But it is a risk they WANT to take.

Whether you believe in the Kingdom of Heaven or Jehovah's Kingdom on Earth, I believe it is a leap of faith.

I was speaking to a friend of mine yesterday, via Facebook.  He is an Athiest.  I had posted an article about Darwin from NPR.  It was in regard to his "Origin of Species."  The book still is controversial today.  This friend of mine said he was surprised people didn't believe the evidence.  I wrote and said I am a Progressive Creationist.  I believe a higher power created the world, but there has also been evolution of some species due to environment and technology.  However, there isn't a fossil record that proves we all evolved from nothing, nor a single-celled animal.

My friend said that with our new fossil dating mechanisms, it is only time before all fossils are dated and evolution is completely proven beyond a doubt.  I said that it's interesting he is an Atheist, because he believes in something...maybe not a higher power, but he has faith in scientists.  I told him I would rather have faith in God than man.  Man has really screwed up things around here, why have faith in him?

But do I believe that the Kingdom of God is a great pearl?  Am I willing to be unpopular with people, and choose what feels right over what others might think is right?  God took a risk.  He risked the life of His only begotten Son for the chance that man might have the potential to receive everlasting life.  If He can take the risk, can't I?

Chaos is what Jim calls it.  Life is full of chaos.  Some people are lucky, others not so much.  I just found out this morning the son of my dear friend, Pat, is in a medical induced coma for liver failure.  Rick is only 40.  He has suffered liver problems after his time in the Gulf War, and the coma has been induced to understand why the liver is failing.  Last Thursday, baby Adrianna passed after her 10-day life with severe brain injuries suffered at birth (the baby I spoke of in my last blog).  My piano student, Samantha, lost her grandpa after routine back surgery last Friday.  He suffered a heart attack (90% blockage) after a successful back surgery.  However, he was too weak for open heart.  So during the angioplasty proceedure he passed on.  Samantha's mother now thinks the back problems were caused by his heart problems.  Chaos, or purpose?

The Witness believe God's purpose is to have His Kingdom on Earth.  Where man lives in an Earthly paradise: no sickness, living forever, no worries, etc.  Other Christians believe there is a Heaven.  A place we go upon death.

I believe in God.  I believe in a power greater than man.  I believe man was created as the care-takers of the Earth.  However, unfortunately man wants to be God.  He wants to make things better.  But if God created the Universe and said it was "good", why does man believe otherwise?  I also believe God Almighty has a purpose in this Universe of His.  What is the purpose?  Witness say it is the Kingdom.  What do I believe?  I don't know what that purpose is.  But I do believe more and more that God is a loving God.  He wants us to make the right decisions, but has given us free will to decide for ourselves.  There is not destiny for each one of us, because then free will wouldn't truly exist.  But I also believe in luck (chaos).  Of course that doesn't mean I'm not torn up over death.  I don't think I'll ever feel differently about it.

my thoughts

I have such a hard time with infant death.  It seems to be so unimaginable.  How could a loving God do this?

I bring this up because I know of a baby currently on life support.  The mom did EVERYTHING right during her pregnancy.  The baby was healthy in mom.  Then a traumatic birth sent the baby in direst.  She has been on life support for over a week now.  At this point a miracle needs to take place.  The mom just lost her mother only a couple months ago, and she has had a very hard life.  She has lupus and a blood clotting disorder, amongst other problems.  She wasn't supposed to be able to get pregnant, but she did.  And these problems had nothing to do with the baby's current condition.  How could a miracle conception lead to a baby that needs a miracle to live?  How does that work?  

Bonnie would say that God watches the world.  That he allows Satan to create chaos, and man to make his own decisions.  Basically, there isn't a reason (a greater purpose) to the infant dying.  In fact, the only overall purpose God has is to create his Kingdom on Earth; and everything else is just chaos and luck.  That until the "new system" we are going to live in chaos and evil possibilities. 

There is a verse in the Bible that she pointed out to me last week, Ecclesiates 9:11.

"The race is not always to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor satisfaction to the wise, 
Nor riches to the smart, 
Nor grace to the learned.
Sooner or later bad luck hits us all."

But even if it is luck, how come some seem to NEVER get any and others get so much?

have a little faith - quotes

Here are my favorite quotes from Mitch Albom's "Have a Little Faith."

"'faith is about doing.  You are how you act, not just how you believe."'


"'Family.  It is through my family that I hope to live on for a few generations.  When they remember me, I live on.  When they pray for me, I live on.  All the memories we have made, the laughs and the tears.'"


"'Look.  I know what I believe.  It's in my soul.  But I constantly tell our people: you sould be convinced of the authenticity of what you have, but you must also be humble enough to say that we don't know everything.  And since we don't know everything, we must accept that another person may believe something else."'


"But you can touch everything and be connected to nothing."


"But I realized something as I drove home that night: that I am neither better nor smarter, only luckier.  And I should be ashamed of thinking I knew everything, because you can know the whole world and still feel lost in it.  So many people are in pain - no matter how smart or accomplished - they cry, they yearn, they hurt.  But instead of looking down on things, they look up, which is where I should have been looking, too.  Because when the world quiets to the sound of your own breathing, we all want the same things: comfort, love, and a peaceful heart."


"God sings, we hum along, and there are many melodies, but it's all one song - one same, wonderful, human song."

My Room of 12

Yesterday I was sent an email forward that stated the following:

"I am supposed to pick 12 women who have touched my life and who I think might participate. I think that if this group of women were ever to be in a room together, there is nothing that would be impossible."


I had to really think about women that are strong, confident, and amazing.  I didn't include my children, even though I know they'll be amazing women.  So below are my 12:


Cheryl Brown 
Diane Martin

Dana Steward-Morris
Jill Baskin
Amanda Morris
Nancy Wolter
Diana Schilbe
Katherine Linton

Marie Goos Walter
Kelly Brown
Andrea DeAngelis
Jahna Berry

Book Suggestion: Have a Little Faith

I will post a review at a later date, however, I loved this book! 

It is an "every-man" spiritual journey that definitely puts life into perspective.  Great book to ask for as a holiday gift!

the Messiah

Messiah: Hebrew for The Anointed One.  A title Jesus received in his lifetime, but did it happen upon birth?

Up until this week, I never gave the name or when the title was given much thought.  After all, when Jesus was born there were Kings (wisemen) and shepherds that followed a star to Jesus's manger.  They followed the star to find the Messiah, the chosen one, the promised one that Isaiah and Daniel predicted.  Kings were brought to their knees, and the animals all laid down in awe.  At least this is what I learned in Sunday School.  How Biblically correct is this?

I believe this is more than one blog worth of commentary, so today I will focus on WHEN Jesus became the Messiah.

Bonnie and Lori visited this Wednesday and we began the chapter, "Who is Jesus Christ?" in the book, "What Does the Bible Really Teach?"  I must state that I believe Jesus's story (like many in the Bible), has been retold and revamped to fit whatever and whomever's story it needs to fit.  The Gospels aren't even in complete agreement, but nonetheless Jesus of Nazarath was a man that for many fit the Mesaiah title.  But WHEN did many start to believe?

I imagine Mary was 100% certain the baby inside her was not the result of premarital sex; and I'm sure her conversations with the angel Gabriel were hard to believe, that is until her belly grew and the movements of life began to warm her heart.  Joseph also knew, but I would have to believe Harrod's desire to find and kill the Messiah was enough to keep Jesus's position a secret.  I can only imagine Joseph's difficulty with pretending the baby was his, in order to save the life of the son of God.

I will leave the infant narrative for another time, because on Wednesday I realized that Jesus was anointed (i.e. became the Messiah) upon his baptism, not upon his birth.  No wonder baptism is vital for the Christian faiths!  Before this time, Jesus had disciples that believed.  However, God spoke to the crowds (in Luke) stating, "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."  It is assumed the crowds heard God's voice, not something in "normal" everyday life.  So I would imagine this was a HUGE ordeal.  God was anointing Jesus as his son and the Messiah.

Does this change how I feel about the birth of Christ?  No.  But it sheds some light on prophecies by Daniel.  In Daniel 9:25 it is written, "Here is what you must understand: From the time the world goes out to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Anointed Leader, there will be seven sevens.  The rebuilding will take sixty-two sevens, including building streets and digging a moat.  Those will be rough times.  After the sixty-two sevens, the Anointed Leader will the killed - the end of him.  The city and Sanctuary will be laid in ruins by the army of the newly arriving leader.  The end will come in a rush, like a flood.  War will rage right up to the end, desolation the order of the day.  Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers.  At the place of worship a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrater himself is decisively destroyed."

Historians believe that the "start" date for the "Seventy Weeks" is 455 BCE.  Why?  According to Nehemiah 2:1 the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem started "In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king."  Historians confirm 474 BCE was Artaxerxes' first full year as a ruler.  Therefore, 455 BCE would be his 20th year.  Biblical scholars believe each week represents 7 years, which is based on the Jewish concept of weeks of years represented in Exodus.  So the first 7 weeks (or 49 years) would end in 406 BCE.  The next set of weeks is 62, which would equal 434 years.  The year would be 29 CE.

According to the Bible Jesus was about 30 years old when he entered public life, which was following his baptism (his annointing from God).  Does this confirm that Jesus was the Mesiah predicted?  I must say the evidence is pretty clear.

I'm also reading another Witness book called, "Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy!"  I have learned that many regard the book of Daniel to be a forgery and written after the events had taken place.  Regardless of its validity, I am humbled by the idea Jesus was a normal man that only became the Messiah upon his baptism.  I just find that idea awesome, and it has made me look differently at baptism.  As a Lutheran, I was taught you must believe Jesus Christ is your savior and be baptized to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Even with its sacramental status (baptism and communion are the only 2 in the Lutheran faith; compared to 7 in the Catholic faith), I never considered it was because baptism was the moment Jesus became the Messiah.

I plan on writing more on this idea in the future.  But for now, I have a whole new appreciation for John the Baptist.

parables week 5

The Danger of Being Good and Empty
Matthew 12:43-45


Yesterday I posted a poem by T.S. Elliot called, The Hollow Men.  If you haven't already taken time to read it, I HIGHLY recommend stopping now and looking at it.  The poem was referenced in this week's Sunday Bible Study.  In the poem it is implied that we have stuffed our lives with straw, rather than God Almighty.  No matter how much we stuff our lives with straw (or stuff), it will never take the place of being truly filled.

As you know, we are working on the Parables of Jesus, and this weeks lesson (November 8th) really hit home for me.  I have received flack from others regarding my relationship with Bonnie; mostly because she is a Jehovah Witness and, therefore, weird from her religious beliefs.  But I have fallen in love with her; in a spiritual sense.  I have become addicted to her personality - one that's filled with the loving spirit of God.  I want to spend time with her to not only learn the Bible, but to surround myself with her fulfilled life.  She literally glows.  However, I don't believe it is ONLY because she is a Witness.  I believe she is filled with the spirit; unlike most of the world.  I want to glow like that; I want to be infectious with the spirit of God.

The week's parable is a rather odd one on the surface - unclean spirit, seven other evil spirits, evil generation, etc.  However, upon further investigation I found it extremely profound in meaning and application for my life.  Yes, most people want happiness and to be good.  Many people tolerate others, as long as their "ways" don't affect them.  Being superficially nice isn't exactly what Jesus meant when he said, "love your neighbor."  He meant to truly love your fellow man, just as you love yourself.  How many can honestly say they do that?

How often do we run into people that call themselves Christians, but treat others like second class citizens, or even worse: are cold and proper to others, pretending to like them?  Kalas, author of "More Parables from the Back Side," writes, "They seem to be persons who probably never do anything very wrong, but who have limited joy, and who probably bring little joy to the world around them.  They seem to be rather well cleaned, but painfully empty."

John 10:10 states, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  Jesus is telling us to live life with abundance, but do I live my life with way?  Kalas writes, "We too easily settle for being clean, good, and nice, because this is more or less in our control.  On the surface, this is something we can bring off.  We can reform, making ourselves a little bit better.  We can discipline ourselves to the point where we become rather admirable.  But we can't fill ourselves.  We can occupy ourselves, by keeping busy, even to the point of nervous exhaustion.  But we can't fill ourselves."

I always feel this overflow of love and passion for Christ when I meet with Bonnie.  Maybe this is why I continue to study with her.  I too want to be magnificently full; so full that I bubble over with the glow of love to others.  I know that this fullness comes when we walk consistently with God Almighty; and I am committed to continuing my walk.