For my birthday this past September, Jill (aka NoviceBeliever) downloaded all of Ray's available audios and wrapped them up in a nice CD case and presented them to me while we drove her friends boat along a lake in the wee hours of the night and early morning. I have never enjoyed a gift so much nor been so addicted to listening to a cd(s). I honestly have been listening to Ray's audios non-stop since I got them. I think maybe I stopped and listened to some music and the radio for 1 day total out of all the days since the Sept 4th weekend. Each time I listen to Ray speaking, I pick something else up or understand something just a little better. Also, listening to these cd's each and everyday and every minute that I am in my car driving (anywhere from 1-3 hrs a day during my commute and any other time I'm driving to the store or friends & family, Dr. Appt's, grocery shopping, etc) really helps to keep my mind focused on God's Word. It keeps my mind from wandering into depths of ungoldy thoughts. I find it extremely helpful and never get tired of listening to them, even when I just listened to a particular tape less than a week ago, hearing it again is never tiring or boring. I am so happy that God has seen fit to give me the mind to seek out understanding by listening to Ray's speaking at conferences and from his home. I find myself upset when I've gone thru the entire series because I crave to hear more.
Over the weekend, Jill & I met for dinner/sushi and she had finally downloaded her own set of cd's containing Ray's commentaries. I know that she will enjoy listening to them as much as I do.
Does anyone else listen to Ray's audios over and over? If so does it help them also to keep their mind focused on God and to protect it from wandering where it should not go?
When my Mom was an active member of the JW's, she and the Elders used to always say to me... "Bad Association Spoils Useful Habits". That was about the only thing that I ever really agreed with them about as far as how to live a godly life on a daily basis. they had all these rules and regulations about how men could not have a beard or earrings, etc because facial hair was a size of laziness/sloppy based upon society's standards. Long hair on guys was a definite no no because then he was considered feminine. Of course being a former Marine, I like having a high and tight or a modified low regulation haircut. I've always liked having short hair so the long hair issues never bothered me but for a short time I did wear earrings and never thought it was feminine, it was just a fad but I noticed for people like the JW's who claimed to shun the world, they sure did hold onto to "worldly" views and enforce them within their kingdom halls.
One of the main reasons why so many of their young adults and youth rebel against their beleifs when they get old enough and start living a double life, is because they have been sheltered so much that they never can experience the world for themselves. They are force fed the JW doctrine so they do everything they can that's sinful and opposite of the JW's beliefs. then when it's out of their system, like the wayward son, they return and rededicate themselves usually by going to Bethel (JW's HQ in New York) to study and learn from the Elders there who believe they are members of the Elect Class. They have their Memorial during Easter and you can only participate in the communion if you are a member of the Elect. It's so sad that they force family's to disassociate themselves from one another. People are so willing to throw away their own children in order to adhere to their rules and regulations. There is very little compassion within the Kingdom Halls that I experienced but the gossip among the women is rampant and uncontrollable.
-JL
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Topic: Ray's Audio Tapes & Other Ramblings of Mine (Read 7386 times)