How do I hear/feel God?

by doinmypart 473 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  elderelite

  X2 what charlinko said.

  Well, everything except the part about previous comments not being serious. I meant everything i said, especially about Thor making himself heard easily.
• 

  EntirelyPossible

  Can you not see that the same 'group' that is against Shelby are the same people who are against anyone of faith in Christ, in spirit... perceived insults or no?

  So, I am against you, Tec, Outlaw? Mrs. Jones?

  I think it is a mistake to say that calling someone out for something they said or disagreeing with them is the same as being against them. Against them how? Their right to work? To have a family? To worship? To live?

  Freedom of speech does not in any way mean or imply freedom from consequences.
• 

  Chariklo

  We can disagree with what people say but still be friends.
• 

  InterestedOne

  tec wrote:

  Can you not see that the same 'group' that is against Shelby . . .

  I don't see a group against AG. Also, tec, why did you put the word "group" in quotation marks? Regarding myself, since others were asking her to skip the "dear" and "peace," I asked her to skip it with me too. That request hardly constitutes being against her.
• 

  AGuest

  He really wanted to know. He said it was a serious question. Some people, including myself, sorry about that, treated it a little lightly once or twice, but also seriously too. When the person who posts as AGuest but whom many of you call Shelby came to the thread, she could have joined in in kind, but instead she preaches, pontificates, judges others (as you, disappointingly, came close to doing above)

  I responded to dear doin's OP, dear Char (peace to you, both!), for which he/she and others thanked me. Did you not see that?

  and altogether hijacked and destroyed doinmypart's serious thread.

  I hijacked the thread??! WHERE, pray tell, do you see that occurring as to me? Please... SHOW me. But please also note all the REAL attempts to actually hijack and derail before I ever even posted at all. Oh, no, wait... those "don't count." But, please... please... you MUST... show us all were I attempted to hijack this thread.

  She's done it before, many times. I usually avoid threads where she does this, because it is frankly horrid, but in this case I was already involved with the thread before it turned nasty.

  Please... PLEASE... also show us where "it turned nasty." Please. I need to "see" what you see... because I see it turning, yes, but not by me, at all. The thread took on a "life" due to an exchange between dear 'Mom and Cofty... and the tide "turned" due to posts from Cofty and JM. Which I would be MORE than happy to point you to (please see Page 4 of this thread). But... please, help me out: show me where YOU believe it turned nasty.

  As for all the attacks on Cofty, I find them unspeakable.

  What attacks on Cofty? The ONLY one attacked in this thread... has been me. Which is why folks who normally DON'T speak up and get involved have. Please. You MUST... show us where Cofty was attacked.

  Cofty is a thoroughly straightforward good guy, and this is bang out of order. I'm astonished, dumbfounded, at some of the people who've been involved in this, people I've always thought really well of.

  It seems to me that perhaps you've come in on the latter part of the thread... and jumped to all kinds of [wrong] conclusions... as many here did and tend to do. If you want me to give you more regard, then at LEAST... start at the top and read through. Because just your comment that I hijacked this thread is SO ludicrous... even you are most probably going to be embarassed when you go back and take a look.

  I think there is more going on here in regard to the support of Shelby/AGuest, and I suspect that although I'm in my fourteenth month of membership here I'm still too new to know the full story, so I'll make allowances.

  The ONLY thing "going on"... is that folks saw the progression of the thread. Again, even those who don't normally speak up. This isn't about who "likes" who... or at least, it shouldn't be. It's about what actually transpired here which, if you would be so kind as to go back and read it ALL, you, too, would "see". My hopes is that you have it in you to do that... to at least reviews the FACTS... before you so readily jump to judgment.

  But I cannot sit by and see Cofty treated like this,

  Treated like WHAT??? Cofty isn't the one who was treated poorly! He jumped to a [very] wrong conclusion... injected himself in something I posted that had absolutely NOTHING to do with him... others jumped on that bandwagon ("Omigod, Cofty is offended, so there MUST be a reason, she MUST have said something, because he NEVER gets offended unless someone ELSE has said/done something!"... which even a friend of HIS pointed out was not accurate). Including, I fear... you. Please... read the posts and "see" what occurred for yourself... and stop blindly following the "crowd." Please.

  nor see all the justification of AGuest's posting style above, without comment.

  It is so funny to me... SO funny. A dear one comes here, STATES that he's posting in sincerity ("serious")... and is responded to with comments about penises, etc. But MY style is the issue, such that you, who don't even know me... who hasn't been here but a minute... "knows" all about it. Goodness, can you NOT see what's wrong with that?

  So there you are. I hope it will all stop.

  Oh my goodness... you and me, both. I have asked, repeatedly... for many YEARS... that it stop. And I have been told... repeatedly... that it will NOT. Do you SEE? There is a way that you can: check the threads where I've posted over the years and see FOR YOURSELF... who is following who and who is attacking who... and how long that's been. This started long, long before Cofty became ill. I just didn't change how he and I interact because I didn't want him to feel like I pitied him. I DON'T. I believe he will beat his challenge... that it's merely a blip in his life... and so I am conducting myself in line with that belief. If he didn't have his challenge neither he... or you/the others who are crying "Foul!" would have a leg to stand on. So, if YOU want to treat him like someone who can't handle it because he's facing a challenge, YOU do that. He is not giving ME room to do so, then... and I respect that.

  It's the sort of thing that makes people not want to come onto a forum.

  And yet... here you are. Do you not SEE the contrariness of your words? But of course, others can say that folks need to man-up if they're coming here. I of ALL people here know that - I've been "manning-up" for more than 11 years. And I have received much worse that even Cofty dishes out. Or any of the boyz (who from time to time include gurlz). Yet, when they are said and gone... here I am. Same 'ol boyz (and gurlz)... just different posters.

  So, now, dear Char... please, please don't mistake my profession of being a christian as a weakness to be exploited by those who teach/believe/want YOU to believe that we, all of us, are "nice" and "sweet." I have even posted a thread here to show how UN-NICE and UN-SWEET both Moses and Christ were when speaking to others, including Israel. Consider how the Apostles spoke (even to one another) and how Paul and others wrote to the congregations. Where, I ask YOU... do you see "nice" and "sweet"? You don't. You see forthrightness, honesty, and candor. Sometimes you even see scathing reproof.

  You and others simply want me to present and conduct myself according to YOUR paradigm of what a "christian" is. Yet, most of you abhor the HYPOCRISY of such. There is no hypocrisy with me, though. I have openly professed that I am not nice, that were it not for my Lord I could be even meaner, that I could state words that would make of the ridiculers and opposers here run crying for their mommies... and that is it the spirit of my Lord that keeps me FROM doing so... that I am a FOREMOST sinner... and that it is because of all of this that I need Christ... and follow him. Me. Not YOU.

  Now I WOULD be a hypocrite if I ran around telling you what you want to hear... and how you want to hear it... while inside thinking you damned and unworthy of salvation... that in fact you're going to "die at Armaggedon"... or "got to Hell"... because you're not "like" me. I don't. I have stated many, many... many times... that I am NOT a cowardly christian, that I will not only stand and take the charge, but push back if pushed hard enough. I would be a hypocrite, though, if I said, "Oh, sure, push me all you want; I won't push back"... all the while slamming you to the floor.

  I KNOW what I am... and what I am not... and I have absolutely NO qualms stating it. I am not here to "make nice." I never have been. I am not the "make nice" type. I am here because I choose to be... to share the truth. Initially, I was sent. I have since chosed to stay... because of those who are here, Israel. Now, neither you nor anyone else has to LIKE my "style." You truly don't. But please don't assume that you are a majority. You really are not. I know this because I can count your number. I cannot, however, count the number of Israel... and those who go with... who are quite okay with me being here.

  Please, at least review the record before choosing sides. Better yet, review the record... yet, take NO side. Do YOU... and worry less as to and when others do themselves.

  Again, peace to you!

  YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

  SA
• 

  tec

  He really wanted to know. He said it was a serious question. Some people, including myself, sorry about that, treated it a little lightly once or twice, but also seriously too. When the person who posts as AGuest but whom many of you call Shelby came to the thread, she could have joined in in kind, but instead she preaches, pontificates, judges others (as you, disappointingly, came close to doing above) and altogether hijacked and destroyed doinmypart's serious thread.

  Aguest answered the question, Chariklo. Doin and others thanked her for it. That some do not like the way she answered should not matter. She answered the OP in sincerity and truth, and he had non problem with her answer. So please consider that the hijacking and destroying are at least as much the fault of all those people who had to state that they do not like her style, and what they consider 'preachiness'. There are plenty of others who DO like how she speaks, her wish for peace, her clarity, and her boldness of speech.

  Consider also that there was plenty of judging in this thread about her motives and her nature, despite the fact that others who DO know her, spoke for her and her character and how she would never have thrown cancer in Cofty's face like that.

  IO: I used 'group' in response to Q above (top of page 10), and because it does tends to be the same few people every single time who take offense. I put it in quotations because I know that no 'group' is set in stone as to their reasons or reactions, and can change or not as they choose or the situation calls for it. EP, you are in class all your own, love, and I would not think to include you in ANY group. As for how one would be 'against them'... against their right to post here in peace and in their own style and way (that does not break any rules of the forum) Peace, tammy
• 

  AGuest

  On topic. When I thought I was feeling the spirit it was a very visceral and physical response which felt like a kind of high, it was exciting, fulfilling and I felt very empowered.

  This is not my experience, dear Q (peace to you, and I am responding to show the contrast, so that folks don't think what I experience is the same - it is not)

  When I felt the spirit it definitely was a mind altering state and it was like a very focused inner glow that I wanted to replicate as often as possible.

  For me, there is no mind altering, at all. Indeed, my MIND is always the same. There are times when I "feel" the spirit more than others, but that is rare - the exception, actually.

  When in that state it felt very natural to imagine another reality where this adrenaline and endorphin mixture was the norm and the hum drum dullness of regular life was banished.

  I cannot imagine any other reality, even the spirit realm. I must be taken - I cannot simply enter on my own. It doesn't work that way for me. Unless and until I am taken, I can only experience this "reality", the physical realm.

  I could get myself to this state if I prayed, read Mormon scripture ( sorry but as inspirational scripture it has the edge over the bible) or if I read about the early history of the church ( lots of claimed miracles, healings and so forth - an inspiring building of the actual kingdom of god so I supposed.)

  I can only do it... enter/see the spirit realm... when my Lord permits/takes me. I hear him all the time, though, regardless of what I'm doing. Except when (1) I put ear plugs in, and (2) I'm deeply sleeping (unless he wakes me).

  When I felt the 'spirit' I had a generous feeling towards people and strived not to be contentious.

  I have heard that it works like that for some; not for me. For me, the spirit pushes me to BE generous, even though I might not FEEL like it ("Your sister's house is hungry, child. Won't you give her household something to eat?" or "You could help that one find shelter, child. Won't you do so?" or "That one needs... food, clothing, money, shelter, a ride, comfort, peace... won't YOU give it?"). And almost every time he follows that with, "Don't worry about giving/doing it, child, or receiving it back - you know I will repay you."

  As for being contentious, as you can tell being so is in MY "nature." I am Israel, after all - LOL! And so HE says to me, "Take care, child - you do not need to contend here or about that." Or, "Do not take offense here, child, as none was intended," etc. And so, because I know what I would do/say/not do/not say... if left to myself... I listen to HIM.

  This I have subsequently realised was a marrying of bias with emotion (this is how I was taught a Mormon should be so when I felt the spirit I tried to act out the mental ideal, I tried to be Christlike.)

  And I do not disagree, not at ALL. I have not experienced what you relate you have, here. Nothing like it. But given what I HAVE experienced... and how different it is from what you describe occurred with you... I can see how it was bias combined with emotion. I can. What I experience is actually pretty emotionLESS. It is really just... well, practical, is the word that comes to mind. I am not imagining it or making it up... I am not invoking emotion to "create" a "reality." It just... is. I don't control it; my Lord does. I get/receive what HE wishes me to get/receive... and enter when HE deems it time. Not me. I've just learned to go with [his] flow.

  Now I still feel the 'spirit' but I no longer associate it to an external force and simply recognise it as a physiological response that does not require me to play act a xian role but can be used to express my authentic self.

  And that's you. And that's fine. Do you. But how is it that you decry the traditional "christian" attempt to mold everyone else into being "like" them... and then seem to be doing the same thing. This is YOUR experience with what you consider to be the "spirit"... which you acknowledge is NOT God and/or Christ but your own body and mind. And that's okay for YOU. But how do/can you dismiss... or, rather, try and lead others to dismiss... something that is entirely different from what you've experience... from an entirely different source... and for an entirely different purpose?

  A horse and an elephant are two totally different beasts. Yet, both can be ridden and carry loads. Both run, bear young, eat hay. Can be domesticated. Yet, they are not the same, at all, are they? And so one's experience riding an elephant will be entirely different... and even related differently... than another's experience of riding a horse. Indeed, it would be different from the same one... as to the two different experiences.

  There is a reason why what I share "resounds" with you, dear Q. It is up to you, though, as to whether it is a melodious "song"... or merely a cacaphony of irritating "noise". Some like country music. Some don't. Doesn't mean we should shoot Willie Nelson.

  As always, peace to you!

  YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

  SA
• 

  Qcmbr

  This is not my experience, dear Q (peace to you, and I am responding to show the contrast, so that folks don't think what I experience is the same - it is not)

  I think seeing dragons may have tipped people off that what you experience is not what most people do; it is absolutely no surprise that your defense rests upon discrediting mine. You are sadly see through.
• 

  OUTLAW

  Support the..

  Don`t Shoot Willie Nelson!. .

  Foundation..

  

  ........................ ...OUTLAW
• 

  poopsiecakes