Mike Walsh, exJW, Shares His Story of Finally Finding the Love of Christ in Other Christians 

Our faith coupled with our similar experiences really makes me feel that I have found the promised "hundred fold"! "And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for the sake of My name, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life" Mt 19:29

Our pleasure!

My sentiments, exactly, Thanks for YOUR love, Mike

Thank you! Will do!

Yes it was a beautiful interview wasn't it Serena ? 😊

You are very right My Dear Friend in Christ. THIS IS GOOD NEWS. Wendy always asks me how I stay positive & happy all the time. My reply is I don't accept bad news. I sweep it out of my head right away like it never existed. It was a little hard to do at first, but now it just seems to happen by itself & I'm glad it does. My life is soooo much better for it. Try to do it yourself. Just 'will' it out of your head. When ya shush bad things outta your head there is so much more room for happy thoughts, and that's the truth. Stay safe in Christian Love . . Mike

Our past pain can make us so sympathetic and helpful to others who are going through similar difficult times. Eric has used his life's painful events to energize his helpfulness to all who will receive it.

Glad to hear it!

I want to say thank you for your kind words. I've actually seen you on Eric's website on Saturday night. That's the same one I attend. With Christian Love for YOU, Mike

"Every eye will se Him" who would have thought that the internet would be used for something this wonderfully spiritual, enlightening and healing!!! Agape my brother. @@mikyJW

Hey there Air-Cooled, Yes, I do agree with you, we ARE strangers no more. We are truly & simply 'The Children Of GOD' In Christ. Amen. Yes, I do love you my dear brother.

@@mikyJW Thankyou for that Mike. Hopefully in the not too distant future we will be able to be at the same place and time 🙏.

I do Love You, You are so Cool. Mike@@aiercooledengine

Very well said! Since finding the BP website, I have studied (and understood) the Scriptures more than I ever did during the nearly 40 years that I was "in"! We mostly studied the writings of men who twisted God's word for their own wealth and power. "But savage wolves have risen, distorting the truth to draw away disciples after them. "Be alert. I never stopped warning you night and day with tears." Acts 20 29

@@mamajan99 Wolves indeed. Now, being away from the 'din' of watchtower and the constant call of 'you must do more', we are able to actually 'hear' what the spirit is saying. What a difference that makes.

Hello to YOU bourbon_sketcher, Thank You for such Kind & Beautiful words from God's Word the Bible. Funny how trying to put into words what that feeling is really like. Very hard to describe but YOU are one who really understands it. Again, thank you, with Christian Love . . .Mike

​@@mikyJW Hey Mike, Good to hear from you. We are members of the 'one body', so it becomes possible that we can feel/relate to the things we each experience, even in a small way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience :)

Isn't it wonderful! "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He invites us to "enter into my rest." Heb 4:3 We rest from showy, fleshly works of self-righteousness!@@bourbon_sketcher

That's soooo cool. Now ya gotta practice what ya asked for since ya know exactly who sent it. Stay safe , with Christian Love . . Mike

. . .He also subjected all things under his feet and made him head over all things with regard to the congregation, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills up all things in all. (Ephesians 1:22, 23) . . .Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist, 18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation. . . . (Colossians 1:17, 18) This congregation was established by Christ in the first century.

Yah is saviour, Yahusha ?

Genesis 1:26, 27 says, "26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itselfd and every creature that crawls upon it.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." When God said "Let Us make...", to whom do you think he was speaking?

Jn 5:19 So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these. 21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes. 22Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

We all must be careful about using pre-programmed or eisegetic reasoning when looking for meaning in the scriptures: that is, coloring or tainting, "importing" or "drawing in" their own subjective interpretations into the text, unsupported by the text itself.@@mattmurdock2868

The Father, the Son and the devil all have names, the Apostles all had names as all persons do. What is the name of the Holy Spirit if it is a person?@@mattmurdock2868

Where is that "Pope and Cardinal and Priest" scripture? We were warned that, "After our going away, oppressive wolves will enter in: "But savage wolves have risen, distorting the truth to draw away disciples after them. "Be alert. I never stopped warning you night and day with tears." Acts 20 29

The stories you speak of are well documented historically and speak of an oppressive church that brought about the dark ages when it became a capital crime to publish, or even possess a Bible.

I personally have objectively researched the practices, traditions and doctrines of the Catholic Church, and also learned Catholic philosophy and theology from my Catholic best friend who long has tried to convert me. I also am familiar with the Church Fathers of the first four centuries Do they have some things correct, better than the Protestants? Some things indeed I believe, but in turn the Protestants get things right that the Catholics don't. It is my conclusion that the doctrines of the Catholic Church have betrayed the teachings of Christ, Peter, the Apostles, the Pastristic fathers and early saints in all manner of subjects. The Trinity (which the early church fathers did not believe as stated in their texts from the 2nd-4th centuries) Idolatry (bowing to statues) Transubstantiation (not in scripture, and contradicts many scriptures) The Papacy (there is no Pope in the scriptures or early church history, and Pope means "abba father", so it claims the title of God) Prayers to Saints (prayer is addressed to God alone, and Christ is our only mediator/intercessor - prayers to saints came after the Christianisation of Rome's Pantheon of gods for the ease of pagan converts) Adoption of many other pagan customs "christianised" (admitted by the CC) Glorification of Mary Claiming the dead are already alive and awaken in Heaven (which denies the truth of the sleeping awaiting resurrection, as in scripture, and in many early church father writings). If you want to see my writings on these subjects, you can check out my blog for the deeper details in several subjects, or playlists that I have on my channel concerning "Apostate Christendom" to check out subjects like these, and in-depth examination of the claims of the Catholics being the "true church". The fact of the matter is this, even if they indeed have a traceable Apostolic succession, the scriptures say we should reject the leaders of the Church if they contradict the teachings of Christ (Galatians 1:8-11). Hence, no church has any authority, only our Lord does. Wish you well, brother.

Tomas-cambs. if you are correct then Saint Paul was wrong! "After our going away, oppressive wolves will enter in: "But savage wolves have risen, distorting the truth to draw away disciples after them. "Be alert. I never stopped warning you night and day with tears." Acts 20 29 "What? Me Worry?"@@Tomas-cambs

That's GREAT NEWS. I attend on Saturday night at 8pm. This meeting has a smaller attendance & is very relaxed and more open. The 12:o'clock meeting on Sunday has a comparatively larger attendance. Stay safe, with Christian Love . . Mike

The Trinity is a false doctrine. And... what a way to begin your presentation... "Obviously you don't know God's word the Bible,.." Where did you learn argumentation and persuasion?

​​​​@@vintage6346 - The Tri-Unity of God is what derives from the biblical Text in its whole context. Not man decides / determines 'truth'. God's Word, the Bible, is Truth (John 17, 17). I learned through the Bible, God's Word, that it is the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, God HIMSELF, who is leading into all Truth: ‭John 16, 7-16 [7] Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. [12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. [15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. [16] A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

@@Morewecanthink Jesus is a separate entity from God Almighty.

​@@vintage6346- This opinion is NOT in accordance with the Holy Scripture! - Acts 17, 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto *Berea:* who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 *These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.* 12 Therefore many of them believed; JEWISHNESS AND THE TRINITY By Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Founder/Director of Ariel Ministries "Shema Yisroel Adonai Elochenu Adonai Echad" (Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.) Rabbi Stanley Greenberg of Temple Sinai in Philadelphia wrote: "Christians are, of course, entitled to believe in a Trinitarian conception of God. but their effort to base this conception on the Hebrew Bible must fly in the face of the overwhelming testimony of that Bible. Hebrew Scriptures are clear and unequivocal on the oneness of God The Hebrew Bible affirms the one God with unmistakable clarity Monotheism, an uncompromising belief in one God, is the hallmark of the Hebrew Bible, the unwavering affirmation of Judaism and the unshakable faith of the Jew." Whether Christians are accused of being polytheists or tritheists and whether or not it is admitted that the Christian concept of the Tri-unity is a form of monotheism, one element always appears: one cannot believe in the Trinity and be Jewish. Even if what Christians believe is monotheistic, it still does not seem to be monotheistic enough to qualify as true Jewishness. Rabbi Greenberg's article tends to reflect that thinking. He went on to say, "... under no circumstances can a concept of a plurality of the Godhead or a trinity of the Godhead ever be based upon the Hebrew Bible." It is perhaps best to begin with the very source of Jewish theology and the only means of testing it: Hebrew Scriptures. Since so much relies on Hebrew Scripture usage, then to the Hebrew we should turn. GOD IS A PLURALITY The Name Elohim It is generally agreed that Elohim is a plural noun having the masculine plural ending "im." The very word Elohim used of the true God in Genesis 1, 1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," is also used in Exodus 20, 3, "You shall have no other gods (Elohim) before Me," and in Deuteronomy 13, 2, "Let us go after other gods (Elohim)... ." While the use of the plural Elohim does not prove a Tri-unity, it certainly opens the door to a doctrine of plurality in the Godhead since it is the word that is used for the one true God as well as for the many false gods. Plural Verbs Used With Elohim Virtually all Hebrew scholars do recognize that the word Elohim, as it stands by itself, is a plural noun. Nevertheless, they wish to deny that it allows for any plurality in the Godhead whatsoever. Their line of reasoning usually goes like this: When "Elohim" is used of the true God, it is followed by a singular verb; when it is used of false gods, it is followed by the plural verb. Rabbi Greenberg states it as follows: "But, in fact, the verb used in the opening verse of Genesis is "bara," which means "he created" - singular. One need not be too profound a student of Hebrew to understand that the opening verse of Genesis clearly speaks of a singular God." The point made, of course, is generally true because the Bible does teach that God is only one God and, therefore, the general pattern is to have the plural noun followed by the singular verb when it speaks of the one true God. However, there are places where the word is used of the true God and yet it is followed by a plural verb: Genesis 20, 13: And it came to pass, when God (Elohim) caused me to wander (Literally: THEY caused me to wander) from my father's house ... Genesis 35, 7: ... because there God (Elohim) appeared to him ... (Literally: THEY appeared to him.) 2 Samuel 7,c23: ... God (Elohim) went ... (Literally: THEY went.) Psalm 58 Surely He is God who judges ... (Literally: THEY judge.) The Name Eloah If the plural form Elohim was the only form available for a reference to God, then conceivably the argument might be made that the writers of the Hebrew Scriptures had no other alternative but to use the word Elohim for both the one true God and the many false gods. However, the singular form for Elohim (Eloah) exists and is used in such passages as Deuteronomy 32, 15-17 and Habakkuk 3, 3. This singular form could easily have been used consistently. Yet it is only used 250 times, while the plural form is used 2,500 times. The far greater use of the plural form again turns the argument in favor of plurality in the Godhead rather than against it. Plural Pronouns Another case in point regarding Hebrew grammar is that often when God speaks of himself, he clearly uses the plural pronoun: Gen. 1, 26: Then God (Elohim) said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness" He could hardly have made reference to angels since man was created in the image of God and not of angels. The Midrash Rabbah on Genesis recognizes the strength of this passage and comments as follows: Rabbi Samuel Bar Hanman in the name of Rabbi Jonathan said, that at the time when Moses wrote the Torah, writing a portion of it daily, when he came to the verse which says, "And Elohim said, let us make man in our image after our likeness," Moses said, "Master of the universe, why do you give here with an excuse to the sectarians (who believe in the Tri-unity of God)" God answered Moses, "You write and whoever wants to err, let him err." (Midrash Rabbah on Genesis 1, 26 [New York NOP Press, N.D.]) It is obvious that the Midrash Rabbah is simply trying to get around the problem and fails to answer adequately why God refers to himself in the plural. The use of the plural pronoun can also be seen In the following: Gen. 3, 22: Then the LORD God (YHVH Elohim) said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us'' Genesis 11, 7: "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language.'' Isaiah 6, 8: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" This last passage would appear contradictory with the singular "I" and the plural "us'' except as viewed as a plurality (us) in a unity (I). Plural Descriptions of God Another point that also comes out of Hebrew is the fact that often nouns and adjectives used in speaking of God are plural. Some examples are as follows: Ecclesiastes 12, 1: Remember now your Creator ... (Literally: CREATORS.) Psalm 149, 2: Let Israel rejoice in their Maker. (Literally: MAKERS.) Joshua 24, 19: ... holy God ... (Literally: HOLY GODS.) Isaiah 54, 5: For your Maker is your husband. (Literally: MAKERS, HUSBANDS.) Everything we have said so far rests firmly on the Hebrew language of the Scriptures. If we are to base our theology on the Scriptures alone, we have to say that on the one hand they affirm God's unity, while at the same time they tend towards the concept of a compound unity allowing for a plurality in the Godhead.

The Shema Deuteronomy 6, 4: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! Deuteronomy 6, 4, known as the SHEMA, has always been Israel's great confession. It is this verse more than any other that is used to affirm the fact that God is one and is often used to contradict the concept of plurality in the Godhead. But is it a valid use of this verse? On the one hand it should be noted that the very words "our God" are in the plural in the Hebrew text and literally mean "our Gods." However, the main argument lies in the word "one," which is the Hebrew word, ECHAD. A glance through the Hebrew text where the word is used elsewhere can quickly show that the word echad does not mean an absolute "one" but a compound "one." For instance, in Genesis 1, 5 the combination of evening and morning comprise one (echad) day. In Genesis 2, 24 a man and a woman come together in marriage and the two "shall become one (echad) flesh." In Ezra 2, 64 we are told that the whole assembly was as one (echad), though, of course, it was composed of numerous people. Ezekiel 37, 17 provides a rather striking example where two sticks are combined to become one (echad). Thus, use of the word echad in Scripture shows it to be a compound and not an absolute unity. There is a Hebrew word that does mean an absolute unity and that is YACHID, which is found in many Scripture passages, (Genesis 22, 2,12; Judges 11, 34; Psalm 22, 21; 25, 16; Proverbs 4, 3; Jeremiah 6, 26; Amos 8, 10; Zechariah 12, 10) the emphasis being on the meaning of "only." If Moses intended to teach God's absolute oneness as over against a compound unity, this would have been a far more appropriate word. In fact, Maimonides noted the strength of "yachid' and chose to use that word in his "Thirteen Articles of Faith'' in place of echad. However, Deuteronomy 6, 4 (the Shema) does not use "yachid" in reference to God. GOD IS AT LEAST TWO Elohim and YHVH Applied to Two Personalities To make the case for plurality even stronger, there are situations in the Hebrew Scriptures where the term Elohim is applied to two personalities in the same verse. One example is Psalm 45, 6-7: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever: A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions." It should be noted that the first Elohim is being addressed and the second Elohim is the God of the first Elohim. And so God's God has anointed him with the oil of gladness. A second example is Hosea 1, 7: "Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen." The speaker is Elohim who says he will have mercy on the house of Judah and will save them by the instrumentality of YHVH, their Elohim. So Elohim number one will save Israel by means of Elohim number two. Not only is Elohim applied to two personalities in the same verse, but so is the very name of God. One example is Genesis 19, 24: "Then he LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah from the LORD out of the heavens." Clearly we have YHVH number one raining fire and brimstone from a second YHVH who is in heaven, the first one being on earth. A third example is Zechariah 2, 8-9: "For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me." Again, we have one YHVH sending another YHVH to perform a specific task. The author of the Zohar sensed plurality in the Tetragrammaton (1) and wrote: "Come and see the mystery of the word YHVH: there are three steps, each existing by itself: nevertheless they are One, and so united that one cannot be separated from the other. The Ancient Holy One is revealed with three heads, which are united into one, and that head is three exalted. The Ancient One is described as being three: because the other lights emanating from him are included in the three. But how can three names be one? Are they really one because we call them one? How three can be one can only be known through the revelation of the Holy Spirit ." (Zohar, Vol III, 288; Vol II, 43, Hebrew editions. (See also Sonclno Press edition, Vol III, 134.)

Hi, Mike here. The best way to ask a question is to log into 'Beroean Pickets'. This site will take you to the world wide schedule of meetings & the button to depress if you wish to join a particular meeting. Now scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will arrive at, 'About Our Meetings'. Click on that & many of your questions may be answered. If that doesn't work for you, join one of the listed meetings & ask Eric. He is wonderful & kind & will answer your question for you himself. Even if it may be a personal question, he will open a private side room & the two of you may talk privately. I hope this is good for you & I hope maybe to see you there. With Christion Love . . Mike

@sabrinad1273- You may also email me at my address: meleti.vivlon@gmail.com

Yes, that would be a scary sight. 😅😅

"Big Love" is always felt whenever 2 or three are truly gathered in Jesus name and not following some man-made religion's rules. Jesus will always be there along with the "Helper" the Holy Spirit "reminding" us as promised and guiding us to our Father's "Big Love" because God is love. John 14:26@cammeag1965

@@mamajan99feeling love can just be a matter of self awareness or well being… its a personal thing for me but too more emotional stuff takes away the dignity and proper peace of worship…its not a case of feeling good for me, its a case of getting home IMHO

In my younger years I thought that deep "Knowledge" was the key to following Christ. But only if it leads us to LOVING one another intensely from the heart, (not the head),"Knowledge puffs up. But LOVE builds up." 1 Cor 8:1 LOVE the Lord your God with all your HEART (the seat of EMOTION) and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’Mark 12:30 These three remain: faith, hope and LOVE. But the greatest of these is LOVE.1 Corinthians 13:13 ABOVE ALL, LOVE one another DEEPLY, because LOVE covers over a multitude of sins Strive to excel in gifts that build up the church in LOVE, (1 Cor 14) not theology which puffs us up like a Pharisee. God IS LOVE! :@@cammeag1965​

@@mamajan99thank you for whatever message you are sending me about love🤗💜…love is principled, strong and loyal…only adversity really tests it. The mention of love in English is overused and far removed from the'agape' of Christ.

Hi, Mike here. Have you ever read in the Bible at Isaiah 9:6-7. When you get there I'm sure you might recognize this is the words from that wonderful piece of music, 'Handel's Messiah' that they play on the radio at Christmas time. Near the end of verse 6 it reads that Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Remember, Jesus Father is the ALMIGHTY GOD, the creator of the heavens & the earth. Jesus was begotten or born of his Father making Him Devine, yes, but NOT Almighty. Stay safe & in Christian Love . . . Mike

Hi Beverly, what has helped you to come to your conclusion i.e 'Jesus is God in the flesh' ?

@beverlyharward9631 - And as "God in the flesh" he learned to obey somebody and since he wasn't perfect as God in the flesh he had to learn obedience from what he suffered so that he could become perfect since he wasn't already perfect. Hebrews 5:8,9 🤣😂 (logically the trinity is ridiculous!)