Posted by Rick [Rick] on October 27, 1999 at 17:20:42 {dPkPwxsNJE7ajbiu2wnkFMFBt36Xyc}:
Dear Brother,
I received your email and read it before going to the daily office grind.
I only have access to responding to email in the evenings, because I download all email from the Cyberpass secured server to my personal laptop. I don't carry my laptop to the office lately, so can only respond when I get back home (where the laptop is).
The Scriptures tell us that love hopes in all things, believes in all things and endures all things, and that love never fails. Although I have been fooled major-league in my life at least twice that I can remember, I have faith you are the genuine artifact. I fully realize that in a world of darkness, there is a 50/50 chance that we can get fooled. I also recognize that if one has never even once been taken to the cleaners so to speak, they paid a higher price than those who get taken. The value of placing a high price on giving "the benefit of doubt" at the risk of being taken, is demonstrated in Jehovah's asking Lot if there was even one righteous man would mistakenly get left behind in ancient Sodom and Gomorrah? If Lot so much as said that this possibility existed, those cities would have been spared to protect that person. Though not the main lesson to be learned, God's willingness to tolerate Sodom and Gomorrah if it would spare one person shows me that taking someone's word under certain circumstances without proof can be a very good thing.
I've been suffering great exhaustion of late, and might go to bed early. I will try writing you in the next few days. I thank the person who was willing to relay your letter to me, and may Jehovah see you through this test. Each one is tested. I signed away my life many years ago by signing a legal form releasing the hospital from liability for refusing blood, should I need it (and I'm alive because I didn't need it). I did what I thought was right at the time, and believe Jehovah appreciates that we "meant well" towards him even if we later learn our sacrifice was not based on our misunderstanding of his teachings. I have the courage to admit that I almost gave my life based on a misinterpretation of the Bible, but at the time I honestly believed it was God's will and I truly love God. So I refused blood. We need to give others who have made equally grievious errors in judgment in other religious faiths the same acknowledgment that God accepts their error-filled sacrifices with the same understanding, appreciation and intense sorrow that we expect God to accept ours. If we sacrificed our lives in this organization for love, even if God says "guess what, you really didn't have to do that, but the fact you did it for me is what means a lot," then we and those who did similarly throughout history are truly blessed. One other thought in closing, I advise you to slowly tilt the steering wheel and start the tilt soon. You see the iceberg on "radar" but the ship has a tiny rudder and turns slowly if you catch my drift, so start the turn well ahead. Ideally the ship will be on the right course before anyone looks at the compass and sees we're heading in the right southwardly direction away from the arctic ice. Look for my email if not tonight within a few days, and by all means continue sharing your insights with all. They appreciate your encouragement, which is why I believe you are here! You could have done it alone, but it's nice to know others are praying for you, and they can't pray for you unless you tell them what it is you need prayers for.
Rick