Posts by Mysterious

27

I AM THE PERSON OF THE YEAR!

by Yerusalyim in

according to times magazine...the american soldier was selected as the person of the year...i'm one of them.

Mysterious

The cover in Canada will still have the soldiers on the front, but there will be a spread inside featuring the couple. This according to the Globe and Mail's website.

26

Do any of you preach on yahoo or MSN chat rooms?

by Singing Man in

i have caught myself preaching while in a few of those rooms, till i had to tone it down a bit and say just tell them what you personaly think, not what the wt says.

Mysterious

The prodigy band's logo has a star in it but it's not a pentagram.

Prodigy Logo

26

Do any of you preach on yahoo or MSN chat rooms?

by Singing Man in

i have caught myself preaching while in a few of those rooms, till i had to tone it down a bit and say just tell them what you personaly think, not what the wt says.

Counter-Missionary web sites

by DevonMcBride in

while doing my research on the jw's, i found no shortage of web sites for jews on how to refute christian evangelist including jehovah's witnesses.

some of them were pretty interesting too as they are able to refute most of the claims christians have made about jesus' prophecies and the role of the messiah.

i was amazed at how much misinformation other religions including the jw's teach about jewish beliefs.

Mysterious

It has been my experience that few of the more fanatic Christians will listen to any refuting up their believes. I found the links interesting though, thanks.

33

Threat level raised to "Orange"

by DanTheMan in

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20031221/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terror_threat

i'm feeling very antsy, i've been waiting for a much bigger "other shoe to drop" since 9/11.. i don't know if it's all the years of the apocalyptic jw thinking but i still live with a haunting fear that the whole works is headed for a spectacular crash.

i wonder how helpless chinese villagers felt when they saw ghenghis khan's hordes on the horizon heading toward them.

Mysterious

And, how many times has "Homeland Defense" raised the silly alert system (only playing right into the terrorists hands by, well, promoting terror)?

I don't think releasing "hightened alert" information to the public really does much good except cause more panic. And all the alerts are really serving as "crying wolf" to the point where I wonder if they will even be effective soon.

53

Are The Holidays Bothering You At All?

by minimus in

jw
friends

this is the first time i say, "merry christmas" back to someone.

Mysterious

The only bothersome things are hiding my gift exchanges from mom and being the only one not knowing the words to any Christmas carols.

23

What is Christmas to an Ex-JW?

by Amazing in

jw
friends

what is christmas to you?

if you were raised a jw, as my children were, getting used to christmas takes time, and does not carry with it any memories.

for others who became jws later in life, it took time to get over christmas and learn to discredit the custom and lose feelings for it, and in some cases even learn to hate christmas as an evil pagan evoluton of apostate christianity.. .

Mysterious

My mother said anniversaries were okay to celebrate because God instituted marriage. Did not god institute birth as well?

Personally Christmas does not have a Christian religious significance to me at all but this year I certainly enjoyed exchanging gifts and cards with my friends for the first time in my whole life.

I see nothing wrong with taking time off to spend with family and I find the decorations are pretty. Pagan roots do not bother me in the least as I don't hold the same views of Paganism that the Watchtower promotes.

8

"A source of encouragement" I think not

by Mysterious in

jw
friends

elders are a source of encouragement, i really think not.

the last i checked not commenting at the watchtower study was not a crime.

but the conductor made sure to come up to me after and interrogate me about "where was my hand" and then ask mom about my study habits.

Mysterious

Elders are a source of encouragement, I really think not. The last I checked not commenting at the Watchtower study was not a crime. But the conductor made sure to come up to me after and interrogate me about "where was my hand" and then ask mom about my study habits.

A different elder gave the talk today. He was talking about all the blood and bodies that would be strewn about after Armageddon and how it "wouldn't be a pretty sight" but not to worry because if we trust in God we "may be concealed" in the day of his anger.

43

Are You Still SEARCHING For The "Truth"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

for many of us, we are "all searched out".

i'm presently, not looking for all that much.

are you yearning for "truth"?

Mysterious

Meditation is a good place to start......

I found this article I don't know if it helps anyone but it's a good starting point if you've never meditated before.

A Cheat Sheet for new Meditators
--------------------------------
Step 1: Be still.
Find a quiet space that's both private and inspiring. It can be outside, in a church or temple, even a corner of your bedroom. Sit or lie down, close your eyes (to help you relax), and set a timer for 3 minutes so there's no need to worry over when to end the meditation. As your comfort level rises, gradually increase the length of time you meditate to 20 minutes a day or ideally twice a day.
Step 2: Invite in the divine.
Make your meditation space a sanctuary for spiritual practice by adding an element or two from your spiritual life, perhaps a candle, crystals, a corss, a Buddha, a picture of God as you understand him, even a tiny bunch of flowers to remind you of why you're there. When you create the space action will follow.
Step 3: Have a spiritual intention
Start by repeating an affirming mantra, one that's spiritual and meaningful to you. Use it to help empty your mind and to relax as fully as you can. Then visualize what it is that you want out of life what you want your world to cinlude and how you want it to feel. Then actually invoke the presence of the divine, thanking God or the universe for what you have or simply for help in the meditation process.
Step 4: Pay attention to what comes up.
In the stillness you create you will notice thoughts or feelings some of them negative, some of them not, that you may not have been aware of because you have been masking them with activity. Don't try to make them go away. They are what's truly in your heart.
Step 5: Surrender
IN other words, accept that things don't always go according to your plan. Relax under the strain of your sel-imposed rules and actions. Dispense with your frustration or any negatie meotions you might feel. Turst that everything will be okay. And surrender to the idea that miracles are your highest potential.

26

Was Being A Jehovah's Witnesses A Bad Investment For You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

you could look at being a jw in a negative or somewhat positive way.

by that, i mean, for example---some say that had they not been witnesses, they are sure they'd be in jail today.

others might say, their whole lives were robbed of fun and money---simply because they filled their times as preachers and meeting attenders.

Mysterious

I'd say it was a bad investment. Though it really wasnt my choice to invest. More like inheriting stocks in Enron..

If I hadn't been a witness I would have made more friends. Honestly the people in the congregation are not the kind of people I get along with that well. I never went anywhere or did anything because it was "bad association".

I missed the chance to play in an honor band, something I worked hard at to be qualified enough to receive an offer, because it was on a meeting night.

I missed the chance to go on a band trip to a really neat place because it was four days with worldly kids.

Despite assurances that I was not deprived of presents there were far more gift giving occasions for worldly kids. And don't say at least I didn't have to buy presents. One thing my first christmas has taught me is how fun it is to give something nice to a friend.

I never got to sleep in. It was service this and meeting that and I never had a break to catch up on my rest. Little wonder I was always tired and adults told me I had no reason to be at my age.

I never got involved in sports. I was a great bball player. The coach wanted me on the team but of course I couldn't. He hated me after that and I wanted to play so badly. I would have loved to play organized hockey as well or maybe bowling or another sport.

I never got involved in leadership or student council or any of those things that look so good on scholarship applications. That cut me out of the running for SO much money.

The jobs I applied for ALL turned me down because there were nights I couldn't work. Why hire me when there are so many kids that can work unrestricted hours.

I was raised with such negative opinions about gays and the myth that it was a "choice" that I didn't sort out my sexuality until way after a lot of people.

I was never in style whether it be clothes, music, hair, jewelry, or expressions. That constantly made me the "nerdy" target for everyone.

Quite a number of movies, books, games, and bands were forbidden to me for various reasons. Some of them weren't even really good reasons, like the fact that it was fantasy or an rpg.

At any even that served hot dogs I always lied and said I was allergic because I couldn't explain that I wasn't eating them because there might be blood in them.

I was told not to sing songs in another language if you don't know the lyrics because it could be Pagan. This after a teacher taught us some african folk music. There was nothing wrong with those songs but the look on the teacher's face told me plainly there was something wrong with me.

I was never in most of the concerts and plays at school because they were holiday themed. I was the only one in the band pit not playing the national anthem. I was the only fool not singing the national anthem.

I was taught to be unfairly biased against other religions and to look down on people for their beliefs.

And the list goes on and on. I would say it was definitely not a positive experience.