Shauna, can we have a beach bash when I get out there in July?
a big bonfire,......I have plenty of rolled up older papers!
S
stephenw20
JoinedPosts by stephenw20
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Only 144.000 christians faithful since Jesus?!
by cecil inthe wording in the subject-line is taken from a bible research-thread, started by mds on feb 3, 2000 (see link below).
it dealt with the wts as the faithful and discreet slave.
the reason why i take this part of the original thread to the main-forum is, that it brought back to my mind some questions, that i have never been able to answer.
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stephenw20
Cecil
Hi bud
my question is this ,what # did they start the 144,00 with in the jw org, if there were obviously ones before the jws.....and why isn't this public knowlege......
S
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Mystery vs. Mastery
by Introspection injust thought i share something interesting i read recently, this is by rachel naomi remen, a md that has worked in the field of mind-body medicine:.
"the mind has its limitations.
when we are mentally identified, we have a tendancy to deny that which cannot be understood.
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stephenw20
Intro,
your diving right into the mystery..........
the mystery for those who live it is where the state of bliss comes from....highs that are ridicualous........there are still lows at times......but going with the mystery just says to god.."ok, I am yours, I am not affraid.... "
This is a big statement...because as the "prayer" thread indicates...... this is real stuff not to be taken lightly.....there are no bounds here.When you adopt mystery , you may be married with children ,succesful in career, and then you find this part of you that emergers to direct your life....and the former parts dont fit real well. They react as if you have lost your mind or as most can relate...as if you have become a JW. This mystery is not a longer lunch or a book on a shelf... its lived daily.....and changes your life
"All of life is sacred"........ each breath that god breathed, into Adam , the earth and us.......all sacred........yet many have a real fear of God, of being mamed , hurt beyond repair.
its interesting...this is so ..to fear the one with the gift......
"Life itself may serve some unknown purpose in which we all participate, knowing or unknowing."
yes and this begs the question......... can you predetermine the movemnet of 6 billion people with free will? where does prophecy or the big picture stop..........
we point to old testament propechies fullfilled...how many were involved(with free will) to make them happen....what of the ones still not fulfilled......... how many are invloved to make a prophecy come to fulfillment......
ah the mystery....SPIRITUAL MADNESS!
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Psychology of prayer
by Introspection init seems there has been much talk on prayer lately, and i thought it would be helpful for us to discuss the psychological nuts and bolts, without getting into the realm of religious belief.
regardless of whether the source of change is human or divine mind, i think we can agree that the mind is a powerful thing, capable of affecting real change.. my guess is most of us don't pray for money or material things, but those of us who do basically ask for two things: direction and strength, or you might say knowledge and power.
i recall that as jws, we were taught to be specific in our prayers.
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stephenw20
great thread INTRO!
“It may seem overwhelming at first, but surely those who still believe in God don't think that we should be sheltered from all harm without ever having to understand any of it.”
Intro, I think this goes to outlook , perspective, philosophy of life. Many see a missed airplane as stressful situation, some as a chance to read more or grab a cappuccino. Is life good or bad or is it just life, to learn from?
quote:
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The issue is not that we pray, but how we pray. When something goes wrong in our life, we tend to invoke prayers involving highly specific, designated outcomes. We're certain we have the knowledge to set things right, and we waste no time telling the Absolute what to do. We do not realize we are interfering in a highly complex, tightly coupled system that, when tweaked, often responds in unpredictable ways. Giving orders with prayer invites disaster. It is rather like hitting a card table from below, hoping that the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle on top will fall into greater order than before. This may happen, but usually the result is more disorganization.
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On the point of outcomes, I have come to see, we are not responsible for that part. That s where our will , and responsibility ends. We are responsible to do the work and let the end result be what it is. If its not as we expected, step back and see what lesson is there. Many lose perspective, find depression and become ill when the expected does not happen.
This where trust of the higher power for the bigger picture comes in.quote:
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Our lives are exquisitely linked with the members of our family, community, nation, and world. Our tight coupling with others and our world sets the stage for a negative outcome when we employ specific interventions ... When the results are worse than before, prayer is often blamed for "not working." But the real problem may not be prayer, but an operator error--how prayer is used and what is asked for."
------------------------------------------------------------------------I like the line about being worse off than before. Operator error. If prayer becomes the “ROTE” recital of words, there is little personal about it. It would be better to say fewer words, understanding what we are asking for. When we ask for strength , consider how does one usually gain strength. If it is physical strength we seek, its through days, months and years of daily training. Yet from the emotional and spiritual side, some would rather have the Mcdonalds version. Is that a fair expectation , to have, to do no real inner work and have miracles just befall us 24/7.
“ To affect change, we have to first understand where we're coming from, so we have to see where things are at the present moment, rather than just wanting the suffering to be over. “
Its tough to pray for endurance and expect you wont have a situation that will let you gain it........or be upset you do........ its what you asked for.The lords prayer contains asking for forgiveness and freely forgiving others...
..who do you forgive?.......someone that never harms you.?.....its asked for and when received, many say: why me.......?
“This is fine, but I think we need to be wise in how we invest our energy, just as pointed out through Caroline Myss' work. This idea of coping and "hanging in there" seems to imply not doing anything, just allowing things to continue as they are, which inevitably leads to a feeling of stagnation. “
About Ms Myss’ message. on” the hanging in there.”.....its always nice to hear
“ I am making the best of it”.....best of it?this is your life........this is your gift............ this is your PHD in Earth Education....making the best of it?........if the outlook is just lasting till something good happens , because you did not get the love you wanted, you are not in the job you want, where is the appreciation for the gift?........
YOU ARE HERE!........ gratitude....... love the package......... it will surely change become more mystical........
and if it seems not to be.........your learning endurance.........
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Witness to teenagers or not?
by kimberly inhttp://www.msmagazine.com .
this is what is being said about the witnesses on a feminist web site forum.
i personally think the first poster was possibly a bit harsh, but then at the same time, maybe the witness she mentions should have asked for the home owner before going into her presentation.. .
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stephenw20
Skimmer,
It may be my warmth and uncanny love I show onth phone.
Perahps someone else should call. Then no excuse can be had.
I was made to feel, I am not allowed to ask questions......I asked if my neighbor wanted to do the same, I might give him the #...he said "no...thats his request not yours."
So while they have a phone and apparently, evidently, different #'s for each state...... you arent suppose to call.
I am mystified by this........
So what do you say skimmer...want to spend 20¢
let me know
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Does anyone know?
by claudia inhi does anyone know who the jws claim were gods people before them?
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stephenw20
Claudia,
Ask Chris ...on the "I am new"post...she can explain it....*S*
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Witness to teenagers or not?
by kimberly inhttp://www.msmagazine.com .
this is what is being said about the witnesses on a feminist web site forum.
i personally think the first poster was possibly a bit harsh, but then at the same time, maybe the witness she mentions should have asked for the home owner before going into her presentation.. .
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stephenw20
Joel,
If you can believe this, the # for the DNC office is not given out.
It appears there may be a different office for each state.I called the Charitable Planning office as it is in the same building.
Then asked for the DNC office. The girl in Charitable planning, did not know the office was even in the same building. I opted to ask for the operator.She directed the call, but would not give out the #.She said it matters which state your in.
The gentleman on the phone ,at the DNC office, remembered me from last week and was not very amicable about information. I asked if an acknowlegement letter was sent out and he said no. They send a letter to the congregation.It might pay to request a carbon copy oof the letter written to the congregation.
The address to the office is:
Christian Congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses
2821 Rt 22
Patterson NY 12563-2237the phone # for the
Charitable Planning office is
845-306-0707
FX 845-306-0709
They will connect you to the switch board. -
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Witness to teenagers or not?
by kimberly inhttp://www.msmagazine.com .
this is what is being said about the witnesses on a feminist web site forum.
i personally think the first poster was possibly a bit harsh, but then at the same time, maybe the witness she mentions should have asked for the home owner before going into her presentation.. .
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stephenw20
do not call list....there is an office for it in patterson.if you write them or call , they will not come to your house
or you can just ask the local congregation to not come by
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stephenw20
congrats.......
job welldone!
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Should I assimilate him...?
by biblexaminer insince i am still an active jw, or at least appearing to be, i still have my tubules in place and i am quite capable of assimilating a human.
the question is, should i?.
since i have to remain in this org.
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stephenw20
if it were your brother would you?
my only disclaimer is if , he does not attend meetings.................. you could let him know what the org is REALLY about...or be coy enough to plant all the excellent evidence in front of him!
his brother may find out though...........think it through
S