I used to think the "in Jesus name" part of prayer was like licking the stamp and placing it on the envelope. Without postage paid, it came back return to sender.
free2beme
JoinedPosts by free2beme
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20
Prayer??? Real or just something we fool ourselves with!
by free2beme ini was thinking about this today and i found a interesting thought in my mind that i thought would be worth considering here.
i should start off by saying that i do not think prayers to god are answered, as it is like making a call to a wrong number.
however, i do think you can fool yourself into thinking they are, in the following way.. let's say you pray over and over asking for this and that and that.
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20
Prayer??? Real or just something we fool ourselves with!
by free2beme ini was thinking about this today and i found a interesting thought in my mind that i thought would be worth considering here.
i should start off by saying that i do not think prayers to god are answered, as it is like making a call to a wrong number.
however, i do think you can fool yourself into thinking they are, in the following way.. let's say you pray over and over asking for this and that and that.
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free2beme
I was thinking about this today and I found a interesting thought in my mind that I thought would be worth considering here. I should start off by saying that I do not think prayers to God are answered, as it is like making a call to a wrong number. However, I do think you can fool yourself into thinking they are, in the following way.
Let's say you pray over and over asking for this and that and that. You feel that is something you need or want and you pray with all your heart for it. Nothing happens and soon your praying for something else, again nothing happens. Then you pray again, and by chance something happens. Rather then seeing the items that never happened, you see the items that do and you build your faith and say God answered your prayer. Rather then understanding the odds, that if you ask for enough things time and time again, your bound to have one happen and that is not proof of prayer, but rather proof of the power of "chance." Basically, if you roll the dice and say it will show six, if you roll enough ... your will get a six. This does not mean you have ESP.
Wait, I hear the thought already, "sometimes God knows better then us and knows what we need." That is a wonderful excuse, as it allows you to excuse the fact that your prayers are not being answered, and yet still have faith. In reality though, your just making a conscience excuse for a subconscious doubt surfacing.
This is why, prayer, no matter what religion you belong to, will always have a percentage of success.
Prayer though does have another power that has nothing to do with god and actually evolved from early form of Pagan practices that actually had more meaning with how it affected you and your subconscious self and connection to all life. When it became about some higher God being, it became less powerful and for personal change and became more about putting everything upon a mythological God that evolved out of Mediterranean legends.
The lack of logic in prayer ...
"If God knows everything about you, why does he not hear prayer without the magic "AMEN" word"
"If everything is "in Jesus name" then why would God not know this every time and require that your keep reminding him"
"If God knows your needs, without prayer, why pray?"
"If you pray out loud, doesn't the Devil hear you too and if so, isn't that like aiding information to the enemy?"
... can you think of more, pray about it first.
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8
Are we prey for the taking, from people in other religions?
by free2beme inwhen i told people i was no longer a witness, i had some weird things happen with people in other religions.
one, i had a sister of one my friends call me and offer to bring a de-programmer to my house to help me learn the truth about jesus christ.
sounded like a programing, and not a de-programing.
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free2beme
I would like to make clear that I think we are seen a prey, not that we are ... unless we allow ourselves to be.
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6
So if Janet Jackson has a secret daughter, she's probably being raised a JW
by TresHappy inbecause i read today online that she is living with rebbie and is 18 years old and her name is renee!
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free2beme
If the girl is 18 she couldn't have been born during Good Times, that series was 25+ years ago
I suddenly feel a little older!
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Are we prey for the taking, from people in other religions?
by free2beme inwhen i told people i was no longer a witness, i had some weird things happen with people in other religions.
one, i had a sister of one my friends call me and offer to bring a de-programmer to my house to help me learn the truth about jesus christ.
sounded like a programing, and not a de-programing.
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free2beme
When I told people I was no longer a Witness, I had some weird things happen with people in other religions. One, I had a sister of one my friends call me and offer to bring a de-programmer to my house to help me learn the truth about Jesus Christ. Sounded like a programing, and not a de-programing. I had people bring books, video tapes, and all sort of other information to me from other Christian faiths. Honestly, I felt like one of those African nature videos. You know the ones were the gazelle gets away from the heard and all the lions prey on them as they are alone and weak. I was a fighter though, and told more then a few a piece of my mind. I did attend some other Christian churches, that did not appeal to me. I ended up taking martial arts heavy, got into Pagan faiths on my own with no pressure from others and went on with my life. Yet just a couple weeks back, someone I work with heard I used to be a Witness years ago and offered me a Bible study and tried to get me to their church. In my local newspaper is a ad that says, "Former Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons needing support and help, please call 555-5555" and if you call it, you get a extreme Christian church that is here locally. I am convinced that other Christian religions smell the blood of your exit and sniff their way to try and get you.
Anyone else feel this way, or experience this type of stuff? If not, and your newly out, use caution ... it is a real thing that happens.
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37
What religions did you seek since leaving? Or not?
by dezpbem ini'm curious how many people on the board have looked into other religions or spirituality groups since they've left the jw.. what have you looked into?
did you join anything else?
read up on any others?
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free2beme
Wicca, Huna, and other Pagan faiths. Tend to be more Wiccan then any other.
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So if Janet Jackson has a secret daughter, she's probably being raised a JW
by TresHappy inbecause i read today online that she is living with rebbie and is 18 years old and her name is renee!
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free2beme
Did she have the girl when she was doing the series Good Times?
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21
Condi Rice - What would you say?
by Uzzah ini am going tohave the opportunity to meet condi rice tomorrow while she is visiting ottawa.
she is arguably the most powerful/influencial woman in the world and i am excited about the meeting.. i am not a fan of her (bush's) policies but still meeting someone of this influence is not lost on me.. if you could say anything to her, what would it be?.
uzzah
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free2beme
Actually answer a question for once that is asked and stop being such a politician! I used to respect this woman a great deal, until recently when I really saw that she was nothing but a spin doctor tool. All the more, the reason I am getting less and less interested in the game of politics.
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A question for all you computer geeks here
by orbison11 inhave any of you heard of a teleclient by televideo?
it seems to be a pc in the monitor...it has a modem access in it, but just wondering about it?
(ps have done some surfing bout it already but have a question or two i cant find on web).
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free2beme
New tech, very little support or use. Ever heard of web-tv, if so, then you might see a pattern.
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Did the Witnesses try to steal the Jew's Sympathy in WW2?
by free2beme ini have studied history, the holocaust, ww2, etc.
as a witness i found it very interesting as i wanted to see what my fellow brothers and sisters went through.
the thing is, there was not that many of them.
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free2beme
I have studied history, the holocaust, WW2, etc. As a Witness I found it very interesting as I wanted to see what my fellow brothers and sisters went through. The thing is, there was not that many of them. In fact, they were a very small part of a huge horrific event. I remember going to Washington D.C. and touring the Holocaust museum with some Witnesses. In the beginning they hand you a card on someone who died in the Holocaust. Everyone wanted a card that was a Witness (aka Bible Student). Yet to me, I realized that the reason it was unlikely to get one, was because it was mainly an event that affected the Jews. I have met a couple of Holocaust survivors over the year, a privilege, and all were Jews. I have such a strong sympathy for them and what they went through. I admit though, when I was a Witness, I put more sympathy on the Witnesses and I realize now ... I kind of felt the Jews deserved it, as they were part of Babylon the great. After all, god was going to do far worse to the world's religions in the future. Armageddon after all, is the great genocide! Now, away from the religion, I see it as most "worldly" people would have. A terrible event that mainly and largely affected the Jews. Yes others died, but for the most part, don't fool yourself ... it was the Jews. The more I think about it, I do think the Witnesses were trying to steal the Jew's Sympathy in WW2 by making too big a deal out of their small involvement. Ever thought about it this way, or a I alone in this thinking?