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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 12:27:41 GMT -5
You were prepped for a testimony on the True Vine, the person speaking before you spoke from that chapter and took away your thoughts, so what did you do? I probably had this happen 3 or 4 times during the course of my years in the group. One time I completely changed the testimony while at other times, I repeated what was spoken or spoke from verses not mentioned by the other person. Growing up, most in my meeting had a handful of testimonies that they spoke from one or two times per year.Sometimes avoiding familiar chapters would prevent this from happening.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 12:32:06 GMT -5
i don't mind its happened a couple of times it just tells me i am on the right track of the same mind as fellow christians...
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Post by SharonArnold on Dec 18, 2014 13:26:49 GMT -5
My testimonies were never very elaborate, so I usually had an alternate choice to fall back on.
It normally wasn't a problem when someone pre-empted your verses. In fact, sometimes it made it easier, because you would just get up after them with the "I was also thinking of those verses" preamble.
The only time it was awkward is when you had a bit different take on the verses - sometimes the fallback testimony was probably the best course.
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Post by sharingtheriches on Dec 18, 2014 15:33:18 GMT -5
As Sharon mentioned it was awkward feeling when your thoughts on the same verses/chapters/book were much different....some in our meeting were a lot sensitive about this kind of thing and I learned not to stay with those verses or different thoughts on same verses......I would think back and pull up a testimony I'd mentioned some time back and perhaps had a bit of a different look at it at the present.....someone mentioned that and after mtg. I told them that as we all grow that we likely will see some things differently and how it would be fitting in with someone of a different age then when we first spoke about it.
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Post by Gene on Dec 18, 2014 18:25:57 GMT -5
My testimonies were never very elaborate, so I usually had an alternate choice to fall back on. It normally wasn't a problem when someone pre-empted your verses. In fact, sometimes it made it easier, because you would just get up after them with the "I was also thinking of those verses" preamble. The only time it was awkward is when you had a bit different take on the verses - sometimes the fallback testimony was probably the best course. I always found it helpful to keep a nursery rhyme or a Shakespearean sonnet in my back pocket, just in case. It's really not difficult to spiritualize "Three Blind Mice" or "Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer's Day?". Shakespeare was easier, because it already had the Thee's and Thou's.
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Post by Mary on Dec 18, 2014 18:31:12 GMT -5
What we spoke on Sunday morning which was called giving our testimony, it was not giving our testimony, it was speaking on something we had read in the Bible during the week. If someone asked me to give my testimony I would think they are asking how I found the Lord or became a Christian, not what I read in the Bible that week.
As Wikipedia says: Christians in general use the term "testify" or "to give one's testimony" to mean "the story of how one became a Christian"; And commonly it may refer to a specific event in a Christian's life in which they believe God has done something deemed particularly worth sharing. Christians often give their testimony at their own baptism or at evangelistic events. In the current age of the Internet, many Christians have also placed their testimonies on the internet.
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Post by SharonArnold on Dec 18, 2014 18:50:56 GMT -5
My testimonies were never very elaborate, so I usually had an alternate choice to fall back on. It normally wasn't a problem when someone pre-empted your verses. In fact, sometimes it made it easier, because you would just get up after them with the "I was also thinking of those verses" preamble. The only time it was awkward is when you had a bit different take on the verses - sometimes the fallback testimony was probably the best course. I always found it helpful to keep a nursery rhyme or a Shakespearean sonnet in my back pocket, just in case. It's really not difficult to spiritualize "Three Blind Mice" or "Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer's Day?". Shakespeare was easier, because it already had the Thee's and Thou's. Ha! I can't say I ever used a nursery rhyme. Occasionally poetry: "Not ’til the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly Shall God unroll the canvas And explain the reason why." OR: "Little drops of water, Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean And the pleasant land. Thus the little minutes, Humble though they be, Make the mighty ages Of eternity." I would still consider Dr Suess one of my greatest spiritual teachers, though. If I was still a member, I would have difficulty not pulling out the Grinch whose heart was "two sizes too small" at this time of year.
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Post by Gene on Dec 18, 2014 19:02:55 GMT -5
I always found it helpful to keep a nursery rhyme or a Shakespearean sonnet in my back pocket, just in case. It's really not difficult to spiritualize "Three Blind Mice" or "Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer's Day?". Shakespeare was easier, because it already had the Thee's and Thou's. Ha! I can't say I ever used a nursery rhyme. Occasionally poetry: "Not ’til the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly Shall God unroll the canvas And explain the reason why." OR: "Little drops of water, Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean And the pleasant land. Thus the little minutes, Humble though they be, Make the mighty ages Of eternity." I would still consider Dr Suess one of my greatest spiritual teachers, though. If I was still a member, I would have difficulty not pulling out the Grinch whose heart was "two sizes too small" at this time of year. Totally agree! Sometimes on special meeting rounds, when I was asked to give thanks for the food for the 8th meal in a row with lots of other workers around the table more eloquent than I, I'd pull out the old grace, "Good God, Good Meat, Good Grief, Let's Eat!" That always got a stern look from the older sister workers!
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Post by emy on Dec 18, 2014 19:19:47 GMT -5
What we spoke on Sunday morning which was called giving our testimony, it was not giving our testimony, it was speaking on something we had read in the Bible during the week. If someone asked me to give my testimony I would think they are asking how I found the Lord or became a Christian, not what I read in the Bible that week. As Wikipedia says: Christians in general use the term "testify" or "to give one's testimony" to mean "the story of how one became a Christian"; And commonly it may refer to a specific event in a Christian's life in which they believe God has done something deemed particularly worth sharing. Christians often give their testimony at their own baptism or at evangelistic events. In the current age of the Internet, many Christians have also placed their testimonies on the internet. We live our testimony every day. Our "Sunday" testimony should reflect what we lived in the previous week and how we were guided in the living by the Holy Spirit. Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
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Post by Mary on Dec 18, 2014 19:51:55 GMT -5
That is not the meaning of testimony. The 'word of their testimony' is not speaking in meetings every Sunday on something you have read in the Bible.
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Post by emy on Dec 18, 2014 19:59:58 GMT -5
That is not the meaning of testimony. The 'word of their testimony' is not speaking in meetings every Sunday on something you have read in the Bible. I didn't say it was. The quote was in support of living our testimony every day.
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Post by Brick on Dec 18, 2014 21:21:23 GMT -5
I always found it helpful to keep a nursery rhyme or a Shakespearean sonnet in my back pocket, just in case. It's really not difficult to spiritualize "Three Blind Mice" or "Shall I Compare Thee To a Summer's Day?". Shakespeare was easier, because it already had the Thee's and Thou's. My preference is "The Blind Men and the Elephant" for describing how we see God. It gets really tricky on Wednesday night when we have one of those chapters that I think should be left out of the Bible entirely and there are only one or a few verses that really have any significance. Sometimes I resort to my Steve Martin analogy from The Jerk in the scene where he repeatedly says "That's all I need." If you aren't familiar with it==> youtu.be/rSWBuZws30g
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 0:00:16 GMT -5
You were prepped for a testimony on the True Vine, the person speaking before you spoke from that chapter and took away your thoughts, so what did you do? I probably had this happen 3 or 4 times during the course of my years in the group. One time I completely changed the testimony while at other times, I repeated what was spoken or spoke from verses not mentioned by the other person. Growing up, most in my meeting had a handful of testimonies that they spoke from one or two times per year.Sometimes avoiding familiar chapters would prevent this from happening. one just has to open ones mouth and let God fill it but then again one has to have faith as a grain of mustard seed for that to happen
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 0:08:45 GMT -5
What we spoke on Sunday morning which was called giving our testimony, it was not giving our testimony, it was speaking on something we had read in the Bible during the week. If someone asked me to give my testimony I would think they are asking how I found the Lord or became a Christian, not what I read in the Bible that week. As Wikipedia says: Christians in general use the term "testify" or "to give one's testimony" to mean "the story of how one became a Christian"; And commonly it may refer to a specific event in a Christian's life in which they believe God has done something deemed particularly worth sharing. Christians often give their testimony at their own baptism or at evangelistic events. In the current age of the Internet, many Christians have also placed their testimonies on the internet. we know what it means for us, so for us that is what matters Jesus lived and died for us and we testify to that fact in testimony
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 19, 2014 2:06:57 GMT -5
It happened to me once -- at age 15 -- first time I ever gave my testimony at convention. The woman before me said exactly what I was going to say, so I just said it again. From then on I always went first if I could -- occasionally someone would contradict me in their testimonies afterwards.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 3:56:50 GMT -5
That is not the meaning of testimony. The 'word of their testimony' is not speaking in meetings every Sunday on something you have read in the Bible. Splitting hairs, my dear. Not important at all, IMO, maybe Little contentious.??
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Post by slowtosee on Dec 19, 2014 11:34:40 GMT -5
It happened to me once -- at age 15 -- first time I ever gave my testimony at convention. The woman before me said exactly what I was going to say, so I just said it again. From then on I always went first if I could -- occasionally someone would contradict me in their testimonies afterwards. . Coffee shop guys tell me "first liar never stands a chance". Lol. Repeating a story now, so apologies to those enduring it again, but, our professing young teen son had his cousins over for weekend. Lots of fun and laughter but ohhhh, Saturday night comes and meeting looming in the morning and the boys started thinking....hmmm. sons' cousin asks what you gonna speak on. Verses and thoughts were shared and next morning, meeting in our home, the cousin got up quick in meeting and stole our sons verses and testimony. Lots of last minute frantic page turning moments later, and he fabricated another testimony, but his cousin sure "got him " that time. I imagine the score got evened later, but they smile about it anyhow. Alvin
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 13:32:23 GMT -5
What we spoke on Sunday morning which was called giving our testimony, it was not giving our testimony, it was speaking on something we had read in the Bible during the week. If someone asked me to give my testimony I would think they are asking how I found the Lord or became a Christian, not what I read in the Bible that week. As Wikipedia says: Christians in general use the term "testify" or "to give one's testimony" to mean "the story of how one became a Christian"; And commonly it may refer to a specific event in a Christian's life in which they believe God has done something deemed particularly worth sharing. Christians often give their testimony at their own baptism or at evangelistic events. In the current age of the Internet, many Christians have also placed their testimonies on the internet. I've often thought the same thing when I think back to what I used to share on a regular basis in meetings. It rarely had anything to do with anything I'd experienced that week. Often times giving my testimony was just an obligation I felt...sometimes I was happy to do it because I genuinely had something I'd experienced that week that I couldn't wait to share. But more often than not it was a real burden and I would desperately search for a verse I could say something about the night before or morning of. Looking back, I understand that was because I did not really have the relationship with God that I would have liked to say I did...or liked others to think I had. I know that is not the case for everyone, just sharing my personal experience.
We don't attend meetings anymore unless we are visiting with family, but when we do I usually still share if I feel led to. And I am much more mindful now of sharing a REAL testimony. I liked this definition of sorts I found: "A testimony is a compilation of words that tells others about your faith. It can explain why you are a Christian, experiences you have had, how you overcame sin, and more. Testimonies are often presented to other people to help them through situations or to demonstrate a point. It is used to reinforce the truth of the matter." I want to make sure that when I'm sharing I'm not doing so out of obligation or duty. It's not for me or about me...and it's not for anyone else in the room. It's to glorify God and to share HIS work in my life from that past week! I've seen church in a whole new way when I view it like that...it's not about me getting help and encouragement, it's about me worshipping God and giving Him glory and praise for what He has accomplished in my life the past week. It's a privilege to be able to share that in whatever setting you choose...Sunday meeting, small groups at your church, with your neighbors out in your driveway, with a friend over coffee, etc... I do enjoy hearing others share some thoughts they've enjoyed from scripture...we do that every week in a small group at church when we study a book of the Bible together. But I guess I don't really consider that a "testimony". I know the "testimonies" I enjoy hearing the most in meetings when we go (and other places too!) are REAL experiences from people, where they are able to show a real application of scripture in an experience from their past week...sharing a victory they got the past week with God's help, etc...those are real testimonies in the way that I think of the word anyway. Just some of my rambling thoughts.
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 19, 2014 21:39:21 GMT -5
It's happened maybe a couple times each way (as both the stealer and the stealee) where the exact verses were used on a Sunday. Obviously a frequent occurrence at a bible study with limited verses to choose from. Regarding the "testimony" conversation... the friends use it as Mary suggested it should be when someone asks for their testimony outside of meeting. In meeting, I guess it's just called testimony because it doesn't seem there was anything better to call it? I don't know, doesn't seem like anything to get bent out of shape about. "Testimony" is the ordinary word for layman participation in any churches I know of that have such participation. Mormons even do it with tears, snot, and self-deprecation.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 22:11:05 GMT -5
Quote - " Mormons even do it with tears, snot, and self-deprecation."
Interesting...
That song by Frank Sinatra, "My Way" is iconic. It is the most popular song sung at funerals in England. It was sung at a 60th birthday party I attended just last week.
"For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he is naught To say the things he truly feels And not the words of one who kneels."
Lots of people has expressed contempt at the notion of kneeling to God, of remorse, guilt and "tears, snot, and self-deprecation."
This of course has everything to do with the belief in God and of "the Fall" of man.
But some terrible things happen when we don't see ourselves as fallen. For one we lose our sense of personal morality. Locke's "tabula rasa" or the blank slate of a child's mind, ready to be formed any which way, became a key idea in Marxist Leninism, and led to the death of tens of millions as the state sort to create a "new man."
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 19, 2014 23:03:14 GMT -5
Quote - " Mormons even do it with tears, snot, and self-deprecation." Interesting... That song by Frank Sinatra, "My Way" is iconic. It is the most popular song sung at funerals in England. It was sung at a 60th birthday party I attended just last week. "For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he is naught To say the things he truly feels And not the words of one who kneels." Lots of people has expressed contempt at the notion of kneeling to God, of remorse, guilt and "tears, snot, and self-deprecation." This of course has everything to do with the belief in God and of "the Fall" of man. But some terrible things happen when we don't see ourselves as fallen. For one we lose our sense of personal morality. Locke's "tabula rasa" or the blank slate of a child's mind, ready to be formed any which way, became a key idea in Marxist Leninism, and led to the death of tens of millions as the state sort to create a "new man." Must be why I went bald.
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Post by curlywurlysammagee on Dec 20, 2014 13:37:37 GMT -5
That is not the meaning of testimony. The 'word of their testimony' is not speaking in meetings every Sunday on something you have read in the Bible. Splitting hairs, my dear. Not important at all, IMO, maybe Little contentious.?? Not at all contentious and certainly not splitting hairs. But your comment is certainly condescending. Just apply some grey matter to the topic rather than paraphrasing whatever you have been told by the workers. That goes for you too Virgo. God gave you brains, use them.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2014 15:50:57 GMT -5
Splitting hairs, my dear. Not important at all, IMO, maybe Little contentious.?? Not at all contentious and certainly not splitting hairs. But your comment is certainly condescending. Just apply some grey matter to the topic rather than paraphrasing whatever you have been told by the workers. That goes for you too Virgo. God gave you brains, use them. Thank for your observation, looks like you have a serious attitude problem, I have been observing your postings, not very civil and nice at all. If my comments appears to be condescending to you, yours appear to be insulting, rude and bitter, get over it, or it will destroy you. By the way, it looks like you are not using your brains wisely; get some counseling before it is too late, if it is not already too late. ps. I might have accepted such a response from Mary, but certainly not from you.
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Post by curlywurlysammagee on Dec 20, 2014 20:30:58 GMT -5
Good on you partaker. Read up the meaning of the word testimony. Apply the meaning of the word to what is spoken in a fellowship meeting. Mostly but not always the word testimony is used wrongly and it would be better to use the term "thoughts that have helped me" Mary is quite right in her observation about the wrong use of the word. As for attitude I'm pleased I have one. No longer will I stand for the rubbish that some of the preachers and the friends spout. I will call you on it every time I see it. As you spout lots of rubbish you will get your fair share of being called on it.
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 20, 2014 20:39:58 GMT -5
Good on you partaker. Read up the meaning of the word testimony. Apply the meaning of the word to what is spoken in a fellowship meeting. Mostly but not always the word testimony is used wrongly and it would be better to use the term "thoughts that have helped me" Mary is quite right in her observation about the wrong use of the word. As for attitude I'm pleased I have one. No longer will I stand for the rubbish that some of the preachers and the friends spout. I will call you on it every time I see it. As you spout lots of rubbish you will get your fair share of being called on it. Well, we've been looking to hire someone at our house to take out the rubbish. Anyway, concerning testimony. The concrete meaning of testimony is what is actually said -- in a courtroom they don't expect you to go out and reenact your testimony to convince people you were telling the truth. The metaphorical meaning of testimony is something like living up to the claims you made when you are speaking. Unless you make a claim to be/do something, what you are/do doesn't make a testimony about it. Uhhh. I can't stand it when people don't understand metaphors.
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 20, 2014 20:42:05 GMT -5
Not at all contentious and certainly not splitting hairs. But your comment is certainly condescending. Just apply some grey matter to the topic rather than paraphrasing whatever you have been told by the workers. That goes for you too Virgo. God gave you brains, use them. Thank for your observation, looks like you have a serious attitude problem, I have been observing your postings, not very civil and nice at all. If my comments appears to be condescending to you, yours appear to be insulting, rude and bitter, get over it, or it will destroy you. By the way, it looks like you are not using your brains wisely; get some counseling before it is too late, if it is not already too late. ps. I might have accepted such a response from Mary, but certainly not from you. We may need to look up the difference in meaning between "assertive" and just plain "insulting".
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Post by BobWilliston on Dec 20, 2014 20:47:45 GMT -5
Once in meeting, I related a story I had heard in the mosque about the prophet Mohammad, and was quite amused at how many people said they liked it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2014 21:18:12 GMT -5
Splitting hairs, my dear. Not important at all, IMO, maybe Little contentious.?? Not at all contentious and certainly not splitting hairs. But your comment is certainly condescending. Just apply some grey matter to the topic rather than paraphrasing whatever you have been told by the workers. That goes for you too Virgo. God gave you brains, use them.
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