Introspection

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Posts by Introspection

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  19

  I'M FREE!!!

  by jaccilynn in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is my first post on this site, and i feel very liberated and comfortable, so i have a feeling that this d/b may be a good thing for me.

  my story (although to my "worldly" support group it sounds strange) is alot like many of yours.

  i was raised a witness, altough my parents have been inactive as long as i can remember.

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  Introspection

  Hello Jacci, nice to have you here. Just don't become enslaved to this board, people find it addictive for various reasons. Seriously, you can't take all of it seriously as you've no doubt noticed, but there are some interesting things here. Anyways, welcome.
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  24

  Have your prayers changed?

  by eyeslice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a sort of follow up to "jesus- ignored, forgotten & unemployed at wts" posted by metatron.. it strikes me, that since i have re-appraised many of my religious views that my prayers have changed significantly.

  and whilst i am still an active jw, i have wondered whether my family has noticed, though they have not said anything so far.. jws prayers are not only very stereotyped (despite what jesus admonition about not using the same words, or by extension the same thoughts, over and over again) but also extremely introverted towards the watchtower society.. for example, a typical congregation prayer will include the following thoughts;.

  1. bless our congregation.

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  Introspection

  Hi Eye,

  In reading your post I was reminded of being told that you should pray for specific things while I was a JW, but I don't think that's the point. To me, it makes no difference if you're praying about something general or specific, but the key element is intention. Not having intention is like saying things you don't mean, and at that point it's only words floating around in your head. Of course, when that happens you'll either have an extremely generic prayer or on rare occasions something bizarre like the one Adam Sandler said in Meet the Parents, because then you're just trying to sound interesting.

  I would say that it is more important to have intention than to even pray. Regardless of whether you believe in God, or what kind of God you believe in and so on, the intention speaks for itself. Nobody prays for nice things but direct it toward an evil god of some kind, it just doesn't make sense. I doubt that God is there holding a grudge because you didn't say his name. That's something only someone very insecure would do. Again even if you don't say "in Jesus name", would God really go "talk to the hand 'cuz Daddy ain't listen'in"?
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  25

  Is Sex Just Sex, or is Sex making love?

  by butalbee in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  okay, my ex says that sex is just sex, it isn't love.

  love is deeper than sex, and sex is just to feel good...he also says that love is an entirely different thing, and if i think having sex has anything to do w/ sex, then i am crazy.

  what is your views on this..

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  Introspection

  Well technically, I don't think that love can be "made", but that it is uncreated. However, there can be acts of love, and sex can be an act of love. Of course, that may be kind of rare due to the increased emphasis on sex. Basically, it all depends on the intent. I think if you ask yourself the question, you can find the answer there too.
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  16

  Why do the 'friends' believe Elders over Experts

  by FriendlyFellaAL in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is something i've been wondering about lately due to personal experiences.

  my mother and stepfather (she's a jw, he is not) have been having some marital problems of late and instead of seeking out the advice of a marriage counselor or some similar specialist in the field, they have chosen to seek help through one of the elders in her congregation.

  i'm completely surprised by this, yet i know i shouldn't be.

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  Introspection

  Brian, do you mind saying what the problem is? Do you think it has anything to do with the fact that he's a non-believer?
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  14

  Just Posting, what's on my mind

  by U.2.K. in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  words from christ> "surely i come quickly" .

  how that they told you there should be mockers in the .

  "last time" who should walk after their own ungodly passions- jude .

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  Introspection

  How that they told you there should be mockers in the
  "LAST TIME" who should Walk after their own ungodly passions- Jude

  This makes me think of people's motives for doing things. Does believing in Christ's second coming constitute a godly passion? Let me put it this way - suppose you have two people, one believes in it and one doesn't. They do the same good works. We don't have to attribute any motives to the one who does believe, but you CANNOT attribute any selfish motive to the one who does NOT believe because he doesn't think he's being saved, there is no reward for his works as far as he's concerned. In fact, the evidence would seem to suggest that he does it out of nothing more than a love for neighbor and a desire for service.

  So how is it that a person who believes that he's going to be saved more righteous than one who doesn't? Ask yourself this question: Would I do all the works that I believe to be good if there is no promise of everlasting life? If you can honestly say that you would, then fine. But if that's the case, you should also see that belief in this one thing makes no difference. Even if God's kingdom is coming, there are people who are suffering now, there is disease, hunger etc. If they are to survive they need help NOW. How does paying lip service by talking to them about your belief in the kingdom help them with these problems? This reminds me of Jesus saying how there will be those who say "Lord, Lord," didn't we do all these great works in your name? I'm sure you know the rest. Again, he also said that to the extent that you feed those who are hungry and clothe those who are naked, "you did it to me." Do you REALLY think "the least of my brothers" mean this exclusive club of people who happen to believe in a second coming, regardless of how they behave otherwise? The fact that he said there will be those who innocently ask "when did we see you hungry and feed you, and when did we see you naked and clothe you?" means there IS NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE. He's talking about people who do it out of the goodness of their hearts, NOT people with certain beliefs.

  Just what do you think LOVE is really all about, anyways??
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  15

  Constant Craving...

  by SPAZnik in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  friday i was dejected.. it had been a rough week.. it all came to a head and.

  heres what i craved.... trust.. i crave trust.. the word itself.

  the very concept.

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  Introspection

  In terms of things, you have no choice but to trust. It's kind of hard to interact in the world if you don't trust that people or things will respond in a certain way, so of course we have certain general agreements in how we deal with each other.

  But I understand what you're saying about trust, a trust from your heart. It seems to me this kind of distrust stem from a desire for security, a desire to know that you can know such and such, and that you won't be hurt or disappointed. There's also a desire for certainty in there, but of course we never really know what's going to happen in life.

  As far as people are concerned, though, I think what we need to look at is integrity. Frankly, we need to distinguish between our own reasons for not trusting and reasons others actually give us. In other words, is it really a reason? Ultimately, there is the question of trusting our own mind. Can you really believe in the distrust it generates? I think these are some questions we can ask, yet at the same time you can have an attitude of acceptance toward your own lack of trust and the behavior of others.

  Maybe you've known somebody who is not so mature, so you wouldn't trust them to any important responsibilities. But just because you can't trust them with any big responsibilities it doesn't mean they are a bad person right? It could be an innocent child. This may sound strange, but I think what you can do is to think of your distrusting mind in this way. You accept it for what it is, and you wouldn't trust it's distrusting nature. As long as there is no condemnation there, I think that will be okay. You don't have to force it to change, (which will most likely make it stay longer) but once you accept it you might just find it changes on its own. See, as I see it you can't trust distrust to stay either.

  So as far as motives go, if your motives are pure, ultimately you will find the same in others. It doesn't mean you won't be hurt by those who don't have a pure motive, and it may take a long time. But it is because you yourself have a pure motive that you can see it in others, and see when it is not in others. Hope this helps.
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  19

  The Messiah Will Return in our life time

  by U.2.K. in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i dont know about the rest of you guys, but i feel it, i can feel that that "peace & safety" sign is gonna get on a worldwide scale very soon(5-8 years).. i also remeber the first time that leader from afgan said peace & safety, i started to cry and for some reason, i felt very weird but happy and joyful at the same time.., plus right now, i feel funny, and i believe i am about to cry right now, maybe the holy spirit is around me or something, but i'm feeling the same way i felt when i had that dream about armageddon.... .

  draw close to jehovah and his son christ jesus, and y'all will understand what i'm saying> (red words/king james version/christ words> """"" surely i come quickly"""""""" .

  i believe christ will come in our life time, and im going ignore those who try to overthrow my faith and watch'em fall...

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  Introspection

  I believe Christ Will come in our life time, And im going Ignore those who try to overthrow my faith and watch'em fall...

  How can you Ignore someone and watch'em at the same time? If you mean ignoring what people have to say because they don't agree with you, then why should they listen to what you have to say? Do unto others...
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  Jesus is Coming -

  by Introspection in

  1. social
  2. humour

  look busy (from license plate frame)

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  Introspection

  LOOK BUSY (from license plate frame)
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  9

  I can start getting better...

  by airwlk149 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi guys.. this is a post where it's gonna be like a diary entry for me.

  this will help me get out some things.

  those who have been in the chat room recently with me know what's going on.. last night was so hard for me.

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  Introspection

  Hi Katie, I'm glad that there are people there who are looking out for you. I hope you are getting some counseling, the antidepressants may help but some therapy may help you sort things out.

  Also, remember that people don't need to know what it's like for you to help you. All anyone needs to help you is to want to help, and all you need is to be open to their help. The same thing goes for therapy, which is really just two people sitting down to talk. If you open up to them, you might just find that they are not so far away from your experience.
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  4

  San Francisco Oakland San Jose Bay Area

  by clash_city_rockers in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  would like to meet those in the bay area.

  maybe organize a picnic, or ball game or a reno/lake tahoe trip or something really fun to meet the x-dubs in my area.

  i meet rem and d-wilt.. d-wilt, long time no hear whats been going on?

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  Introspection

  Hi Clash, did you meet D-Wilt and Rem at a support group or the BBQ last year? It is coming up again this year, they'll get it out by email I'm sure.

  I would give my experience but there isn't much of one, and besides all experience is by its nature temporary. Actually, I would just bore myself.