Markfromcali

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Posts by Markfromcali

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  21

  What IS the 'Amercian Dream'?

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can someone give me the honest, non-hollywood version?

  is it a fantasy or something that americans truly aspire to?.

  i think us brit's need a dream.......

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  Markfromcali

  You know, I remember a black brother giving a public talk where he was making fun of Martin Luther King Jr. being a dreamer. Ohhh the irony..
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  45

  A Call for Visions to be Given to All the GB & Influencial Ones Concerning

  by frankiespeakin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "a call for visions to be given to all the gb & influencial ones concerning the suffering they are causing innocent people by thier no blood allowed laws imposed apon thier followers".

  i think we can cause things to happen just by intentions, some may have more power in this than others, but i think if enough of us unite in this intention we can make it happen, call it channeling energy or what ever you want.

  so here is my intention please read it and if you agree then read it a second time like an incantation, with what ever changes you feel appropriate as you see fit.

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  Markfromcali

  Frankie,

  I have to say that is not where the real power of mind is at. The truth often hurts, for both predator and prey, and ultimately it would involve the death of that identity. Remember there is much more going on than what affects us personally, or the circles of influence connected to that. If you had some ability and use that to serve the personal identity it kind of goes backwards, that's just the way it works. But if you can open up from that then you will have a better perspective to operate from. Actually, you can't get that while still identified with the personal consciousness, because it is simply too limited.
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  23

  Do you really want to get over it?

  by Markfromcali in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  i'm asking if people might take a moment to seriously consider this.

  now by asking this question i don't mean to imply anything like "just get over it already" - i don't think it's so simple as that.

  but it's occurred to me that the mental freedom is actually not as valuable to some people as other things, and we do know the jw experience does effect other things in one's life like relationships and livelihood, or one's ability in these kinds of life arenas.

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  Markfromcali

  Obviously you can move on with your life before totally resolving the WT experience, it's evident that many here have done just that. What I am pointing to is whether that resolution is important to a person, or if it is more important to improve one's life in these different areas. There may be a recognition that they are interdependent, but when you get right down to it do you really want to resolve it as much as you want to have the things you miss(ed) out on in life and so on.

  Put it this way, you could also ask "do you want to understand yourself, or just improve your experience in life?" That is essentially the same question. And yes, that does relate to whether you have figured out what you want. Because depending on the answer to the question, you would go down different roads. So clarity on this would logically be the first step.
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  21

  Help - shunning stories needed

  by Mr Rocky in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  my letter to the editor to the davenport times just came out on june 30, 2005. the spokane spokesman review is interested in doing a story about shunning as a result of reading my letter.

  the religion reporter wants to start working on it wednesday.

  does anybody want to tell their story of odd things they have been shunned for by jw's.

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  Markfromcali

  I'm reminded of the episode of Family Guy where Stewie goes to Lois "... life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get!" and then he opens the box to reveal a bunch of active grenades, threatening her to return his mind-control device. Lois just goes "awww sweety you just want your toy back, here you go." Then Stewie goes "Yes, well... Victory is mine!" then trots off and the grenades blow up in his face.
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  23

  Do you really want to get over it?

  by Markfromcali in

  1. watchtower
  2. medical

  i'm asking if people might take a moment to seriously consider this.

  now by asking this question i don't mean to imply anything like "just get over it already" - i don't think it's so simple as that.

  but it's occurred to me that the mental freedom is actually not as valuable to some people as other things, and we do know the jw experience does effect other things in one's life like relationships and livelihood, or one's ability in these kinds of life arenas.

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  Markfromcali

  *listens to the crickets*
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  19

  OMG! When does it end? Cognitive Dissonance is pandemic!

  by upside/down in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just had a "sister" leave our house... she was getting her hair done, by my wife.... she is married to a demoted-elder and is very r&f... her poor hubby has been on the receiving end of so much abuse from the borg... and they "don't understand it".. i've been sowing seeds of "new light" with her from jwd and even though their sitch just keeps getting worse and worse and her hubby just keeps getting more and more depressed... she actuall laid on me today the old " but where else can we go?

  only the wts has the truth".. i thought i was going to puke.... she even laid out the old " don't forsake the gathering of yourselves"...proof we need to be at the meetings.

  even though she admits that that is where the source of all the abuse eminates.

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  Markfromcali

  That doesn't sound like cognitive dissonance to me. Someone has to actually be conflicted for there to be CD, otherwise they are just rationalizing things according to the WTS doctrine. Yes there may be some of it at a subtler level causing the depression, but it sounds like they are just "plugging along."
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  5

  Does the Watchtower really promote the fruitage of the spirit?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control.. .

  take them one by one, and give examples how the watchtower doesn't promote the fruitage of the spirit with everyone.. love....conditional love at best.

  joy.....oh, the joy of attending 5 meetings a week and field service while others have normal lives.

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  Markfromcali

  Well I don't have any off hand, but I will say it's more like fruit juice.. Actually, it's more like Tang. (uh oh now I've offended the Tang lovers)
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  34

  What have you gained?

  by bagpuss in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  its two years since i last attended a meeting or thought of myself as a jw.

  despite the prophesys of doom and gloom for those who leave the org i have gained lots and lost nothing.. i have much more time to spend with my husband which has led to our relationship improving fantastically.. i have a better relationship with my children who stopped going to meetings when they were teenagers.. i have become much closer to my family (i've just returned from yorkshire from my great nephews 1st birthday party.

  my confidence has grown dramatically as i no longer view myself as worthless.. the guilt of not doing enough has gone.. i now have real friends.. the list goes on, but i really would like to hear what you've gained or hope to gain by leaving the borg.

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  Markfromcali

  Oh I've lost - but it's all baggage. Evidently many have not been so lucky as to lose all the JW baggage.
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  38

  I think its sad

  by Alexander in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i wouldn't be here wasn't it for a link on google on the moscow ban that led me here.

  i am shocked by the hatred many of you display in your posts.

  some claim that we break up marriages, yet some of the happiest couples i know are faithfull brothers and sisters.

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  Markfromcali

  But if this kind of stuff is deleted that kind of mindset would not be represented on this forum. It's just a reflection of what is out there, which isn't always going to be smart.
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  25

  Venus and Serena Williams Get Their Own Reality Show

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  venus and serena williams get their own reality show .

  in a press release, serena said "the series will provide our fans with an up-close, inside look at our lives away from the tennis courts.

  " hmmm.

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  Markfromcali

  Good times...