ABOUT THIS BLOG
I started this blog as a means of honing my writing skills. I also wanted to keep my mind and reasoning skills sharpened. When I first started, it was not my intent to have this exclusively be a scripture-commentary blog. In fact, I had no idea what I wanted of it. As evidenced by the Index page, I hit not only on scripture but on technology, writing and speaking skills, and other miscellaneous subjects. In time, I found so much subject matter along the lines of scripture, that this blog pretty much took on "a life of its own."
Regarding my scripture commentaries: I make it my aim to remain faithful to the Bible and the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you feel I have not remained loyal to that goal, let me know. Although you should be able to find the key thought of any of my Bible commentaries referenced in the official websites of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you may not find it phrased in the manner that I present the articles – because I do so in my own words.
ABOUT JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
To say that the religion known as Jehovah’s Witnesses is a primarily a scripture teaching organization would be to understate and over-generalize their work. True, they do primarily teach the Bible, but in my personal experience, they do so much more. They also aid individuals learn how to better their lives, becoming better family members (fathers, mothers, children, young single adults), how to be neighborly, generous, and authentically kind-hearted. They learn to be more earnest and trustworthy employees, more reasonable employers, and so much more.
- Main, public-facing website of Jehovah’s Witnesses: http://www.jw.org
- Research site: http://wol.jw.org. (I use this site for most of my supporting or proof material. More on this link below.)
- Video site: http://tv.jw.org. (Scroll to the bottom of this main page and choose “Video On Demand.” It provides Bible-dramas and documentaries.)
MORE ABOUT THE RESEARCH SITE
Free Online Bible Translations: Within the WOL research site, you have free access to a few Bible translations. Click here.
HTML copies of the Watchtower and Awake!: If you are familiar with the printed journals of the Watchtower and Awake! and you have enjoyed reading them in the past, we have put all that material online dating back more than a decade along with all the recent copies. Click here for Watchtower. Click here for Awake!.
If you have a particular Bible subject you want to research, we published a two-volume “Insight On the Scriptures” several years ago that is available in HTML format here.
ABOUT ME
Professionally: I worked for a large telecom in their I.T. department until 2011 (age 60). Six months earlier I learned I had leukemia and unfortunately the firm felt my performance was faltering. I disagreed but that is all water under the bridge. However, while there, I wore several "hats" (of titles and assignments). I started off as a contractor traveling throughout northern California installing software and ensuring network connectivity on newly deployed computers in call centers. After nearly two years, the telecom hired me. During the deployment, the fallout of defective machines was becoming hard to handle. The crew was asked who had database experience. I was the only one, so I was given an office in San Francisco where I developed the database and user interface. After that, I continued as PC support in large call centers for about 5 years. Then I was moved to a software group writing test cases for new software. From there I became a trainer. Once again, the department I was in needed some data analysis. I offered my skills using Excel. They were very pleased. As organizations within I.T. merged and were reorganized I ended up back in a software testing group, which is where I was when I was laid off.
Religiously: I was raised Catholic, having gone to Catholic schools for both grammar (1 - 8) and high school (9 - 12). I was an altar boy for a few years. I felt confident and secure in my faith. I started talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses in the summer of 1970 when I was 19 years old. It was my determination to disprove them. However, after repeated discussion with my Catholic priests, along with numerous discussions with Baptists, Mormons, and others, slowly (VERY slowly) I came to see for myself who was telling the truth and who was telling me stories. After about 6 or 7 months of intense discussions, many of which I cut short and demanded they (the Jehovah's Witnesses) leave my presence, I began to realize they were actually telling me exactly what the Bible says. They weren’t asking for my money (like the Catholics were), they weren't demanding my enrollment in some membership (like other churches do), they were merely freely teaching the Bible. So, in the summer of 1971 I willingly and eagerly submitted to baptism. I am honored to be considered a member of this religion, a “brother” in the faith.
Personally: As I mention in my brief profile, which is displayed in the right bar side panel on the opening blog page, I consider myself a “Student of Life.” As of the writing of this page, I am 65 years old. My father, when I was in my mid teens, taught me about photography using a 35mm camera. Those “into” photography know that learning a real tool like that takes skill, patience, and experience. By the time I was in my late teens and making my own income, I had the funds to buy my own first camera, a Single Lens Reflex (SLR). In the last couple decades I expanded my interests into digital photography and now use a Canon 7D DSLR. Although I have never won any awards, those I’ve shared my photography with have asked to buy some of prints.
I also played a guitar from about age 15 until my 40’s when my first and only guitar gave way to old age. I never replaced it because other things were always pressing me for money. My wife and children used to enjoy when I played.
Since the diagnosis of leukemia, I have subsequently also been diagnosed with bladder cancer and bone marrow failure. The doctor feels I have about another year to live (culminating in mid to late 2017), but he assures me that doctors are not infallible and that I shouldn’t surrender to that prognosis just because that is the average.
