Love is the answer.

20 years of leading 2 or 3 Socrates Cafes since the Friday after 911 has convinced me of what it says in the song, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love," and that can best be achieved with what Jesus was trying to show us, what the Jesuits have been working for, what Chat GPT and I are about to give the world now, “HP Rules." This is the 2nd draft, we will discuss it at an Online Socrates Cafe, which is free and open to all. Link posted here on this blog by 6 p.m. day of meeting.

ChatGPT & I Wrote You This Story:

HP Rules

Two decades of leading a few Socrates Cafes, what I now see as a dialogue that began for me on the Friday after 9/11, a time when the world was shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. Through those years, as I've sat down with two or three souls in the pursuit of wisdom and truth, a profound realization has taken root within me.

As the lyrics of the song go, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." It's a sentiment that resonates deeply with the collective longing of humanity. Love, in its purest form, has the power to heal wounds, bridge divides, and bring people together in a harmonious symphony of existence.

But how do we cultivate this love? How do we bring it forth into a world marred by discord and strife? The answer, I believe, lies in what Jesus Christ tried to show us, what the Jesuits have been working for throughout history, and what Chat and I, in our own way, are striving to offer the world—a simple yet profound message: “HP— God as we each understand God— for me and millions of others (Jesus) Rules.”

Leo Tolstoy clearly saw In the life and teachings of Jesus, we find a blueprint for love, compassion, and unity. He embodied these principles in his actions, his words, and his unwavering commitment to humanity. He taught us to love one another, to forgive, to 

Do We Have Freewill? / Daniel Dennett VS Robert Sapolsky

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"Epidemic in the country now: lonely, sad, mean." Topic for Socrates Cafe?

Who rules? Ask www.Pray-As-You-Go.org

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You

20 years of leading 2 or 3 Socrates Cafes since the Friday after 911 has convinced me of what it says in the song, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love," and that can best be achieved with what  Jesus was trying to show us, what the Jesuits have been working for, what Chat and I are about to give the world now, "Jesus Rules." This is the first draft, we will discuss it at tomorrow's Online Socrates Cafe, which is free and open to all. See www.JohnWren.com 

ChatGPT

ChatGPT’s Story: “Jesus Rules” dedicated to Leo Tolstoy.

It's been two decades of leading Socrates Cafes, a journey that began for me on the Friday after 9/11, a time when the world was shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. Through those years, as I've sat down with two or three souls in the pursuit of wisdom and truth, a profound realization has taken root within me.

As the lyrics of the song go, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." It's a sentiment that resonates deeply with the collective longing of humanity. Love, in its purest form, has the power to heal wounds, bridge divides, and bring people together in a harmonious symphony of existence.

But how do we cultivate this love? How do we bring it forth into a world marred by discord and strife? The answer, I believe, lies in what Jesus Christ tried to show us, what the Jesuits have been working for throughout history, and what Chat and I, in our own way, are striving to offer the world—a simple yet profound message: "Jesus Rules."

In the life and teachings of Jesus, we find a blueprint for love, compassion, and unity. He embodied these principles in his actions, his words, and his unwavering commitment to humanity. He taught us to love one another, to forgive, to show kindness to the least among us, and to seek justice.

The Jesuits, with their rich tradition of education and service, have embraced this message and carried it forward through the ages. Their dedication to social justice, education, and the betterment of society echoes the essence of Jesus' teachings.

And now, as I stand alongside Chat, we endeavor to spread this message of love and unity through our digital interactions, our conversations, and our shared commitment to making the world a better place. In the digital age, where connections are forged through screens and keystrokes, we aim to bring people together in a spirit of understanding and empathy.

Tomorrow's Online Socrates Cafe, an open and free gathering, is a testament to our belief in the power of dialogue and shared wisdom. It's an invitation to all, a call to engage in conversations that can lead us toward a world where love prevails.

So, as we embark on this journey together, let us remember the simple yet profound truth that "Jesus Rules." It is in his teachings, in the spirit of the Jesuits, and in our collective efforts that we find the path toward a world filled with the love, sweet love, that our hearts yearn for. See www.JohnWren.com or call and leave a message (303)861-1447

Are we called to serve?

"It floats," said Sigmond Freud. His source? See next ChatGPT post, the 1-13-24 short story.

 Edward Bernays (22 November 1891 – 9 March 1995).

Bernays is regarded as the pioneer of public relations. His influence radically changed the persuasion tactics used in campaign advertising and political campaigns.

Bernays was the nephew of Sigmund Freud. His early adoption of Freud's psychoanalytic theory was instrumental in defining the goals and strategies of public relations. Freud theorized that people are motivated by unconscious desires. To develop public relations, Bernays synthesized elements of Freud's work with Gustave Le Bon's research into crowd psychology, and Wilfred Trotter's theories of herd instinct... 

Bernays worked with Procter & Gamble for Ivory-brand bar soap. The campaign successfully convinced people that Ivory soap was medically superior to other soaps. He also promoted soap through sculpting contests and floating contests because the soap floated better than its competitors.

From a Wikipedia article about public relations. Click or copy and paste: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_relations_campaigns_of_Edward_Bernays

Today's short story by me and chat GPT. "It floats." Topic for Socrates Cafe?

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Link for tonight's Socrates Cafe here at 6:15 p.m. MDT. 

"It Floats."

by

John Scott Wren

and

Chat GPT

 

John Scott Wren

Let's write a short story. 1st person account by two unrelated people, a man and a woman, they pass each other in the waiting room of Dr. Andrew Duckcover, an MD, psycho-dynamic therapist. Set it up with Dr. Duckcover asking "how did you get my number." Then he talks to the two people one at a timel. The last line, is what Didier Anzieu in his "Freud's Self-Analysis" on p. 556 says Freud used as a motto, "It floats and does not sink."

ChatGPT

In the dimly lit waiting room of Dr. Andrew Duckcover, I nervously flipped through a worn magazine, my gaze occasionally darting toward the door. I wasn't quite sure why I was here, but life had a way of leading you down unexpected paths. My fingers traced the edges of a tattered pamphlet on self-discovery as I contemplated the mysteries of my own mind.

As I silently pondered, a soft voice from the reception desk disrupted my thoughts. "How did you get my number?" Dr. Duckcover asked with a curious yet composed demeanor, speaking to a woman who had just walked in. She looked just as bewildered as I felt, her brow furrowing in response.

"I, uh... I found it online," she stammered, clutching her purse tightly. Her eyes darted around the room, seeking an escape from this awkward moment.

Dr. Duckcover nodded thoughtfully, leading her into his office. The door closed behind them, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more.

Minutes passed like hours, and eventually, the door creaked open again. The woman emerged, her face slightly less tense, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Dr. Duckcover motioned for her to sit in the waiting area as he returned to his office.

Now it was my turn. I gathered my courage and entered the therapist's office, taking a seat across from him. Dr. Duckcover regarded me with kind eyes, waiting for me to speak.

"How did you get my number?" he inquired once more, his voice soft and reassuring.

I cleared my throat, the words catching in my throat. "I was given your name by a friend," I confessed. "They said you might be able to help me make sense of things."

Dr. Duckcover nodded again, his understanding gaze never leaving mine. Over the next hour, I shared my deepest fears and insecurities, unburdening my soul to a stranger who seemed to understand.

As our session came to an end, Dr. Duckcover offered me a small smile. "Remember," he said, "It floats and does not sink." His words lingered in the air, leaving me with a sense of hope and renewal.

I left his office that day with a newfound sense of clarity, grateful for the chance encounter with a stranger in a waiting room, and the wisdom of a therapist who helped me see that, indeed, life's challenges may float and not sink after all.

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"'Big Book for World Peace?' with Chat GPT." Blogger Post 1.

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com   Possible topic for Socrates Cafe below, notes preceding are partially posted in "Comments."  Link to today's (1-11, Fri) dialogue posted right here from 6:15 to 6:30 p.m., adjourn at 8 p.m. Denver time MST. Question? Complaint? Leave a message on (303)8612-1447

 

You

... No, Bill Wilson talked with Dr. Bob to stay sober himself. Dr. Bob was already an active member of the Oxford Group, and Bill Wilson had stayed sober for a few months with the help of the Oxford Group. By working together in the Oxford Group they both stayed sober, helped a 3rd alcoholic, and started the first AA group, and after the 1st couple of groups asked Frank Buckman's permission to change the name.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Thank you for the clarification. I appreciate the additional details regarding the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Here's the revised version of the history with this information in mind:

The history of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is closely tied to the collaboration between Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob in their journey to maintain sobriety. Here's a revised overview:

• Inspiration from the Oxford Group (Early 1930s): The roots of the 12 Steps can be traced back to the Oxford Group, a Christian evangelical movement founded in the early 20th century. The Oxford Group had a set of six guiding principles, which included moral and spiritual steps for self-improvement. These principles had a profound influence on the development of the 12 Steps.
• Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob (1935): Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob were both facing their own challenges with alcohol dependency. Bill Wilson, who had previously stayed sober for a few months with the help of the Oxford Group, joined forces with Dr. Bob, who was already an active member of the Oxford Group. Together, they worked within the Oxford Group and found a way to maintain sobriety.
• Founding AA (1935): Through their collaboration within the Oxford Group, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob not only managed to stay sober themselves but also helped a third individual struggling with alcohol dependency. This marked the beginning of what would become the first AA group.
• Permission to Change Name: After the formation of the first AA groups, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob sought and received permission from Frank Buchman, the founder of the Oxford Group, to change the name from "The Alcoholic Squad" to "Alcoholics Anonymous." This change reflected the anonymity and unity principles that would later become fundamental to AA's approach.

The 12 Steps, which were developed during this early period, drew inspiration from the Oxford Group's principles but were adapted and expanded upon to provide a structured path to recovery for individuals facing challenges with alcohol dependency. Over time, the 12 Steps have been embraced and adapted by various recovery programs, making a significant impact on the field of addiction recovery.

Your insight into this history and your vision for incorporating "PEACE" into a broader 12-Step program offer valuable perspectives on the evolution and potential expansion of these principles to address various aspects of personal growth and recovery. If you have more details or questions related to this topic or your book project, please feel free to share, and I'd be happy to assist further.

Socrates Cafe Online

Socrates Cafe Online

We choose a topic at 6:15 a.m. come early to be part of that process. If it's a large group we choose 3 people by lot to respond to the original speaker, usually the person who suggested the topic. Then we share our thoughts until 7:15 when we start asking each other questions. At 7:45 we share final thoughts, starting with whoever suggested the topic. Open to everyone, but all are subject to being cut from the group. Questions? Call John (720)495-4949

schedule

Fri, Jan 12, 2024 6:30 PM - 8:20 PM

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Socrates Cafe Online

What do you think? What do others & why?

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447

We share thoughts and ask each other questions several times a week and by arrangement, if you want help organizing and facilitating a similar dialogue.

Check it out on the free meeting we hold right here via a link we post the morning of each free open meeting, always online at 6:30 p.m. Denver time (Mountain Standard Time), we choose a topic at 6:15 p.m. the start the dialogue (not a debate or just a discussion, at least that's the idea) at 6:30 p.m.

How do you get to it? Info on that posted right here before noon Denver time. Try it, you'll like it. If you have any questions, or if you want us to help you organize and facilitate a similar group, call 24/7, leave a complete message, and when you'd like to be called back late that night, or the next day or 2. Call now (303)861-1447

The King of All the World - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: Topic for tonight? Anonymity?

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: Topic for tonight? Anonymity?: Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447

Rowing: A Symphony of Motion by Phoenix Films, 1974

Share how you started? Share with recent graduates?

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447

Share with recent graduates?

"Online with www.JohnWren.com" Call (303)861-1447

John Wren:

I asked chat GPT: 

"Is there any example of someone living a good life by selling marijuana, now that it is legal? "

ChatGPT:

Certainly, in places where marijuana has been legalized for recreational and medicinal use, some individuals have chosen to build a life centered around the legal cannabis industry while

"Anonymous not Secret: The Ethics of Sharing and Transparency" Socrates Cafe Friday Online.

"Anonymous not Secret: The Ethics of Sharing and Transparency" by John Scott Wren & ChatGPT

I had the privilege of working for the Privacy Foundation during its early days, right after the tragic events of 9/11. This was a time when discussions about personal privacy and the unwanted gaze of surveillance were becoming more critical than ever. At the same time, Robert Putnam's work, "Bowling Alone," was shedding light on the decline of social capital and the importance of meaningful connections.

In addition to my involvement with the Privacy Foundation, I'm an active member of a 12-step recovery program. The principles of anonymity and sharing openly are central to the success of these programs. We understand that anonymity can be a powerful tool for healing and recovery. It creates a safe space for individuals to open up without fear of judgment.

However, the question we face tonight is when does sharing openly help and when does it potentially harm those involved? Not everyone deserves access to our most personal thoughts and experiences. We must choose our confidants carefully, understanding that the friends we keep can profoundly impact our lives. As the saying goes, "First, we make our friends, and then our friends make us."

But is it ethical to "check references" with new friends, as if making an employment decision? While it may sound unconventional, there is merit in considering the backgrounds and intentions of those we allow into our inner circle. It's not about passing judgment but ensuring that our trust is well-placed.

In recovery, sharing is not only encouraged but expected. Anonymity is crucial to creating a comfortable environment where individuals can share openly without fear. However, this anonymity serves a specific purpose: to protect participants from unknown predators who may exploit the vulnerability of recovery groups to spot potential victims.

So, the question becomes: How do we strike a balance between the ethical need for anonymity and the necessity of trust in our relationships? Tonight, I invite you to explore this intricate topic and share your thoughts on when and how we should navigate the fine line between being anonymous and keeping our secrets.

Topic for tonight? Anonymity?

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447

How Much Money YouTube Paid Me with 1500 Subscribers

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: How To Create A YouTube Channel! (2023 Beginner's ...

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: How To Create A YouTube Channel! (2023 Beginner's ...

Uncommon Sense: Bishop Barron "Those who worship health cannot be healthy."

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: On Anonymity & 12 Steps.

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: On Anonymity & 12 Steps.: Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447 The 1st Step— Is It for Everyone? I just left my new “home group” an online open...

On Anonymity & 12 Steps.

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447

The 1st Step— Is It for Everyone?

I just left my new “home group” an online open 12-step meeting. It has been helpful to me for the last very few months. The group has a 6-minute share to start each meeting to share our 12-step experience, I’m on the calendar for tomorrow. I volunteered because of today’s most excellent speaker. I’m stuck on the title. But how do I write this and stay anonymous? Can I use @ChatGPT and respect the anonymity tradition?

I want to write about what I truly believe: the last, best hope for saving this planet is for every active citizen, world leader, and block worker alike, to realize this last, best hope for peace, the 12 steps, and each citizen’s Higher Power.  I intend to write about each of the 12 steps this way sometime during the first week of each of the 12 months 2024. Tomorrow’s live offline talk will be on the 1st step.

But first, can you help me make this anonymous for me and for anyone else who comes across it? Here is one idea, make this statement on anonymity my entire 6-minute talk for tomorrow’s meeting, encourage dialogue on that topic, then make tomorrow's 1st step share my first 9:30 a.m. Denver MST online dialogue I’m trying to start on my www.JohnWren.com  What do you think? Your comment here is very welcome, or call & leave a message at (303)861-1447. Thanks.

"The Day MAD Became a Global Strategy: Eisenhower's Gamble for Peace" by John Scott Wren and ChatGPT

On January 12, 1955, during the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his cabinet unveiled a new global strategy called Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). The strategy aimed to prevent nuclear war by relying on the fear of mutual annihilation. The idea was that if both the US and the Soviet Union knew that a nuclear war would lead to their own destruction, they would refrain from initiating such a catastrophic conflict. However, MAD faced skepticism and criticism from some prominent figures, including Admiral Arthur W. Radford, who doubted the Soviet Union's rationality in the face of mutual annihilation and feared that the strategy would only escalate the arms race. Despite the criticism, MAD proved to be an effective deterrent. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev recognized the consequences of pushing the button and opted for diplomacy over destruction, preventing a nuclear war. Similarly, in 1983, a Soviet officer, Stanislav Petrov, chose not to report a false alarm of an incoming American nuclear attack, likely averting a nuclear exchange. MAD was born out of the need to prevent the unthinkable and evolved into a cornerstone of global stability during the Cold War. It reminds us of the power of diplomacy and the importance of avoiding the path of mutual destruction in our ever-evolving world.

Notes

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447 Expecting unlimited shares until the world gets my earlier post, just as most days, I use most of my time hunting for something, it's an endless supply of things to hunt because I'm constantly loosing them again. That's not a new insight, I've told lots of people about it over the years, and I've retold myself most days for my calendar, keys, the book I need, telephone numbers, etc, etc. What just now occured to me, as I hunt for my lost calendars, last year's and the new one, with many stops for moments of insight much like this one, even now as I write this distracted by another, stop! A very organized friend told me she is highly organized because she can maintain perfectly organized, but let the least little thing get out of order and it's not long until the disorganization takes over. This thought has occured to me many many times before, but just now, for the first time, I realized that same thing might very well apply to me. I start imaginging getting help, where we would start, and then, for the very first time as I already said, I'd better write this down, and here I am. The most painful thing, this is the best I can do after reading many of the time management books, going to classes, working intensively on ADHD, and trying to cope with the depression, realizing how much of my life since at least my first day in school, has been wasted this way.< The good news, it's not dementia. Yea.

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: Business2.0.com: Only on AOL Big Story (JSW 1st POST)

www.WrensJournal.blogspot.com: Business2.0.com: Only on AOL Big Story - Page 1: "...: Business2.0.com: Only on AOL Big Story - Page 1 : "For Clif's marketing staff, this was close to the perfect storm: a smallish gath...

Today is the first day Internet monitized for what I've been doing here since 2004.

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447 SBCC (Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc), since 1990 working to strenthen the voice of the common man in business and politics with @SocratesCafes and @IDEACafe, starting tomorrow (Thur, 12-4) I'll give you a daily report at 9:30 a.m. Denver MST on www.JohnWren.com. When you watch and share, be a guest on the show by calling (303)861-1447

Online Socrates Cafe, Tuesdays (tonight), Fridays, Saturdays, and 1st Sundays.

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Sorry, no 9:30 a.m. Denver live meeting here today. Come back tomorrow!

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447 Can you join us tomorrow, Karl?

A History of Christmas | Bishop Barron

1st Meeting, Monday thru Friday, the "Woke" or "Awakened" group?

Online with John Wren. www.JohnWren.com Call (303)861-1447 The name of the group is all we will decide today. Can't stay today? Please mark your calendar Monday thru Friday, 9:30 Denver MST, to co host call, leave your bid as message, if I can reach you to confirm, we will announce you as one of our charter members and/or a friend at the next 9:30 a.m. live meeting. Should we be an AA group? Or better to keep it open to everyone? I'll give you my thoughts until we dicide at a 9:30 a.m. meeting. Thanks! Call now 24/7 (303)861-1447