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Tom Sheepandgoats Harley
Upstate New York
This is me in my best blue harness. My wife is looking at me with admiration. Who wouldn't? As for that grinning dope on my right, I have no idea who that is.Our marriage made waves, not so much in her family - they appreciate diversity, as in mine. "You want to marry a human?" my mom gasped. "Don't come crying to me when she buys a ton of furniture and you have to carry it on your back! Tell him, Fuzzy, " she said to my dad, "tell him not to do it." but all Dad could do was spit. But with the passage of time, they have come to love her as I do. she gives me three bags of feed each day and scratches behind my ears. Our family gatherings are quite pleasant, though some of her people get uptight when my relatives dump on the floor.
Interests: current events, religion, humor, creative writing, jehovah's witnesses
Recent Activity
No ancient date holds more significance for Jehovah Witnesses than 607 B.C.E. Even the date of Jesus’ birth—if you fudge it by a year or two, nobody really cares because nothing hinges upon it. But 607 is the base point... Continue reading
Posted 3 days ago at Sheep and Goats
We took supper at a Red Robin after the first day of the “Love Never Fails” Regional Convention in Wilkes-Barre. A child at the table just behind me, about 5 years of age (and not one of ours), began raising... Continue reading
Posted Jan 9, 2025 at Sheep and Goats
You can almost read Psalm 132 as a housewarming. First is how David went to tall that trouble to build one for God, even after God said he had never asked for one. (I like the passage about him at... Continue reading
Posted Jan 9, 2025 at Sheep and Goats
For my current work in progress, I tried to retrieve a certain quote, on my own blog, about 1914. But, my index is a mess. I couldn’t find it. Maybe AI can, in the “person” of ChatGPT. Tom: “What is... Continue reading
Posted Jan 4, 2025 at Sheep and Goats
Q: Why does the New World Translation say at Ephesians 4:8 “gifts in men,” whereas most translations say, “gifts to men?” Hmm. Do they? I checked some resources and they do—by a long shot. This becomes relevant because Ephesians 4:8... Continue reading
Posted Dec 30, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
“Tom-why are elders instructed not to report in states where it is not the law? One thing is written, but they were told something completely different when they call the Bethel office for advice.” The second sentence is slander and... Continue reading
Posted Dec 28, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
“Tom-why are elders instructed not to report in states where it is not the law? One thing is written, but they were told something completely different when they call the Bethel office for advice.” The second sentence is slander and... Continue reading
Posted Dec 28, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
The publications of Jehovah's Witness publications have not had a kind word for higher education. Just recently, the Watchtower study included a paragraph of Marcia, who “was offered a four-year scholarship at a university. But I wanted to pursue spiritual... Continue reading
Posted Dec 24, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Sometimes a guy prefers the older translation to the newer one. Like with this passage from Acts 18:14, when the Jewish bigwigs hauled Paul before the proconsul because he was teaching new things: “Contrary to the law this person leads... Continue reading
Posted Dec 20, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Within Psalm 115:16 lies a common-sense innocuous verse that has all the impact of the apple landing on Newton’s head. “As for the heavens, they belong to Jehovah, But the earth he has given to the sons of men.” It... Continue reading
Posted Dec 11, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Just after the most polarizing election in memory, sometimes I will ask the householder how he weathered it. It’s a good opportunity to add, if conversation lends itself, that we go by the ‘ambassador’ verse of 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Therefore,... Continue reading
Posted Dec 3, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
The first thing you notice about Psalm 107 is the refrain: “They kept crying out to Jehovah in their distress; He rescued them from their plight.” It is at verses 6, 13, 19, and 28. The second thing one notices... Continue reading
Posted Nov 22, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
The internal discipline now practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses was practiced in most Protestant denominations until less than 100 years ago, based upon numerous scriptures throughout the New Testament. When it became unpopular, they gave it up. As a result, points... Continue reading
Posted Nov 16, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Just two scriptures listed for the 5 minute student talk last night regarding husbands. Not like the old days, when there might be a few paragraphs for source material. Just two scriptures. Colossians 3:19 was the first: “You husbands, keep... Continue reading
Posted Nov 8, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
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Great. Just great. My car breaks down exactly at the door of the Assembly Hall as I am dropping someone off! The downside? It’s embarrassing! The upside? (which almost became a downside; it was so frequent) For the next 2... Continue reading
Posted Oct 28, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Once you know ‘the pattern of the healthful words,’ you don’t have to spit them out verbatim. You can generate your own, as you have done. A lot of verses are barely touched upon in prior research.
Toggle Commented Oct 24, 2024 on Psalm 93: Symbolic Rivers at Sheep and Goats
From one circuit overseer visit to the next, a period of about six months, new normals begin to develop in the congregation. Subtle ones, not bad, nothing for which anyone would have to say ‘Stop doing that!’ Things just reflecting... Continue reading
Posted Oct 24, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Rivers in the Bible are sometimes symbolic. Maybe, also the ones of Psalm 93. The rivers have surged, O Jehovah, The rivers have surged and roared; The rivers keep surging and pounding. (93:3) They have surged. Repeat and add: they... Continue reading
Posted Oct 17, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
The reason I believe better sanitation and not vaccines (as has been claimed) resulted in the greater expanded life expectancy during the 20th century is found at Psalm 90:10: “The span of our life is 70 years, Or 80 if... Continue reading
Posted Oct 7, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
At a home Bible study, the kind that Jehovah’s Witnesses offer, Darrel had a question. He brought up Exodus 22: 29-30. “You shall give me the firstborn of your sons. You must do the same with your oxen and your... Continue reading
Posted Oct 3, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
There are 18 verses in Psalm 88. Save for verse 13, not a single positive thought is expressed. Everything is disastrous. Nothing good anywhere. Plus, the psalmist all but blames God: ‘When are you going to pour out your loving-kindness—when... Continue reading
Posted Sep 26, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Lately, my wife and I have added ‘Mankind’s Search for God’ into our family study. Published in 1990. It was a good read for me when it came out, but I also wondered what was the point. Whereas the book... Continue reading
Posted Sep 18, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
When a full-time-service couple moves into town, they may have several congregations to choose from. I try to woo them into mine. ‘Frankly, in some of those other congregations,’ I tell them, ‘I’m not sure they even believe in God.’... Continue reading
Posted Sep 11, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
Here is someone who gets right to the point. After a quick little genuflect to show he still had the overall picture—“God is truly good to Israel, to those pure in heart,” (Psalm 73:1) he relates how he almost lost... Continue reading
Posted Sep 4, 2024 at Sheep and Goats
See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Upon the release of his movie, The Passion, Mel Gibson was asked whether it was true that the Jews killed Jesus. “Well, it wasn’t the Scandinavians,” he... Continue reading
Posted Aug 28, 2024 at Sheep and Goats