i am getting writers cramp right now after addressing and writing messages in 40 cards so far.
most of my cards are going to family and friends, a few coworkers and neighbors.. how about you?
how many cards are you mailing this year?.
I love Lovelylil's guideline for who to send a card to! hehe. I'm even more hardcore. I don't send one to anyone who sends me one with only a printed Christmas letter about their amazing kids and outstanding personal achievements. I only send one back to anyone who wrote me a personal note or letter along with the card. It's always under 10.
Maybe it's Scrooge-ish, but i value close friendships and relish personal correspondence. Call me some relic from a past era.....
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lms2au476os.
If you mean by the "power of prayer", you asked for a certain request, and it happened.............I'm not sure i see that very often.
The way i look at it, though, i do believe it has power.
" 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. " -- I believe that i have experienced this, that praying about things about which I am anxious and worrying, does often result in an experience of the peace of God here spoken of.
I know also that when i pray for others, my love and concern for them is increased. It takes me out of my own little world of hurt and problems, and forces me to see behind the eyes of those around me, and care more about their sufferings. -- (and I'm not implying at all that those who don't believe in prayer don't care about others....... )
been kinda bummed for a few...and a newer nondub friend said i should go to church with him and his wife today...he called me last night about it....so it was not far and i knew nothing about it...but my friend and i are a lot alike....so showed up...it rocked!!
!...everybody had jeans on including the preacher with his shirt untucked...he was lively and funny and real....there were some skits that screamed district convention to me but they were way funnier and better acted....and even though i totally tuned out to most of the sermon part and all the jesus stuff.........the band freakin rocked!...the music was incredible!....just great talent....i told my buddy we should go tell the preacher that not only did he get a newbie in the door...but that it was someone who had never been to church in his entire life!!!.
i went just for social reasons........and there are prob great babe opportunities there....lol.....but it was a good morning and we went to lunch.....it was a great day!!
"and there are prob great babe opportunities there....lol....." That's pretty funny!! Just don't send them any messages using your M.F. avatar!
hi all, i'm still pretty new here, but i wanted to talk about something more substansive than low quality generic soda brands (my first post and my logon name).. of all the negative side effects of my dub past, the one that still haunts me the most is my complete inability to develop any sort of depth in my relationships with others.
i'm not one to blame all my personal problems on the wbts, but i can't help but feel that it was a significant contributing factor.
i still hate talking about my past, and i work very hard to hide all aspects of my jw past from anyone i meet.
" They DONT hate you for it , and they DONT have all those prejudisms towards the JW as we have learned in the KH." -- Being a worldly person, outsider, never been a JW, i have to agree completely with this. I don't know anyone who would dislike a former JW, or think less of them ,etc. I think most people just take you for who you are now, especially if you seem basically kind and caring.
If you develop even the most basic social skills, you'll be ahead of MANY people. LOL. Number one on my list is asking them questions about themselves, and showing interest in their life , and what they are interested in. I'm still amazed how few people can ask good questions of others, and show sincere interest.
i have an opportunity to spread some info on this issue.
what would happen to a teenager who made it clear in a hospital, that he wanted to accept blood, and did ?
would that kid be shunned by family and friends if it became known?
Thanks!!
i have an opportunity to spread some info on this issue.
what would happen to a teenager who made it clear in a hospital, that he wanted to accept blood, and did ?
would that kid be shunned by family and friends if it became known?
I have an opportunity to spread some info on this issue. What would happen to a teenager who made it clear in a hospital, that he wanted to accept blood, and did ? Would that kid be shunned by family and friends if it became known? Thanks.
a youtuber, 21crosscheck21, has an excellent point.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jlsfmbtt7e.
the kingdom ministry, december 1993, page 7 says:.
"we want to give *deserving ones* the opportunity to learn of jehovahs *undeserved kindness* and the kingdom hope.".
"the gift of the ransom" Talk about oxymorons. There is no GIFT in JW theology. Something with so many strings/conditions/threats attached can hardly be said to be a gratuitous gift. -- You have to keep "showing appreciation" for the gift, in order to ever even hope to benefit from the gift! It's like getting a 'gift' of a toaster for your wedding, but you can't use it or benefit from it, unless you continually show enough appreciation for it to the giver. THen you maybe be able to use it a little, as long as you keep showing appreciation. ??
THe meaning of the word "grace" in most of its NT usages, as i've been taught as a Protestant, is not "undeserved kindness." It's "unmerited favor." HUGE difference.
i just saw in the revelation book, that revelation is also not addressed directly to the great crowd.
holy cow!!
is there any scripture at all that the great crowd can claim as its very own??
"The WTS has stated that the NT (Christian Greek Scriptures) was written for the anointed...Revelation is part of the NT." -- Thanks, Blondie. I've read this before, but i think it's still kind of takes me aback when i see it in the publications.
bohm: From Revelation the Grand Climax at Hand: "Primarily, its (the book of Revelation) message is addressed to annointed Christians whom Jesus has bought with his blood to become corulers with him in the new heavens." p. 8
i just saw in the revelation book, that revelation is also not addressed directly to the great crowd.
holy cow!!
is there any scripture at all that the great crowd can claim as its very own??
I just saw in the REvelation book, that Revelation is also not addressed directly to the Great Crowd. HOLY COW!! Is there any Scripture at all that the Great Crowd can claim as its very own??
i am feeling sick after reading the question box - it's so cold and unfeeling toward those who use the telephone to listen to congregation meetings.. .
the wts desire to control their weakest members - the infirm and chronically ill - by guilting them into "putting forth the effort to be personally present " at the kingdom hall is disgusting.. .
they are heartless bastards.... ________________________________________.
Luke: Maybe they don't want opposers/apostates/researchers listening in. Many have observed that things are said verbally at meetings and assemblies that are not put into print.
When i first started researching WT, and reading the pubs, this was one thing that really struck me .The utter hopelessness, guilt and sadness this whole system must induce in people who are already suffering physically and emotionally, and would never be able to even keep up with this scene, let alone get privileges, and respect, etc. Maybe i'm sensitive to this because my husband is disabled, and sometimes cannot even go out or drive for weeks at a time. -- Even if a person has sub-standard energy level, etc, this religion could be devastating, because it's so performance based. If you were disabled, i think it would feel like a parapalegic attending some extreme church that teaches everyone is healed, unless they don't have enough faith!!
