APPLYING a very practical SNIFF TEST to all the things we chose to BELIEVE

by Terry 7 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

Terry
I love the word: PRACTICAL.
prac·ti·cal
/'praktik?l/
Adjective
Of or concerned with the actual doing or use of something.
(of an idea, plan, or method) Likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances.
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We all know big talkers. But, few of us know BIG DOERS.
And you know what the difference is? Talkers are impractical.
Doers just proceed to shut up and GET 'ER DONE!
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What gets in our way?
What prevents us from living a real life that is satifying?
Isn't it the fact we fill our thoughts with IMPRACTICAL thinking instead of shutting up and DOING instead?
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One thing we all seem to have in common on this Discussion Group. We were all wasting a large chunk of our lives BELIEVING things UNTRUE.
Those things were simply IMPRACTICAL.
We filled our beliefs with IMPRACTICAL ideas totally time-wasting and-as it turned out--totally untrue as well.
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So I have a SNIFF TEST. The purpose of the SNIFF TEST is to check your beliefs for what is and is not IMPRACTICAL.
Here is how it works.
Ask yourself if each of your strong beliefs will drive a nail in, paint a wall, putty a crack, add to your bank account or or cook a meal?
IF NOT----they are IMPRACTICAL.
Life is about living well and not merely existing depressed and without fun or energy. GET PRACTICAL and change all that. Clean out your useless and impractical beliefs and spend your thinking and believing on USEFUL things instead.
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Here is a list. Go through and ask yourself how many of these beliefs adds a penny to your budget or makes your car run better.
1.The TRINTY---whether or not god is or is not 3 persons in 1 is god's problem and not yours!
2.Heaven/Hell---belief or disbelief; regardless you know you're going to have to buy groceries and have a colonoscopy.
3.Armageddon--knowing when or if it is coming won't pay your taxes or put a shine on those scuffed shoes of yours.
4.Evolution---believing or disbelieving won't take your dog to the vet or make your teeth whiter by a shade.
5.Existence of God---total waste of time better spent volunteering for Meals on Wheels or visiting a cancer ward and cheering a patient.
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See what I'm saying?
Would you hire a plumber based on whether or not he believes in flying saucers?
Would you go to a medical specialist based on whether or not he thinks 14 is his lucky number?
Would you cross the street to avoid having to pass somebody who wore masonic ring or a crucifix or a star of David?
I DOUBT YOU WOULD and there is a good reason you wouldn't. IT MAKES no DIFFERENCE.
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What is my conclusion to all the above?
Life is short. Why waste it on silly thoughts about the IMPRACTICAL?
Didn't we waste enough of our energy and drive ourselves nuts worrying about fantasy while we were Jehovah's Witnesses?
SURE WE DID.
So use the SNIFF TEST.
Become PRACTICAL.
prac·ti·cal
/'praktik?l/
Adjective
Of or concerned with the actual doing or use of something.
(of an idea, plan, or method) Likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances
STOP wasting your time flapping your gums and DO something useful for a change!
fakesmile

proper food at proper time. i was just discussing with my jw about the futility of D2D. it doesnt pay the bills and it really accomlishes piss all. and the arguing of stupid piddly stuff like will people float away before gods tantrum or not(rapture), cross vs. stake, etc. really people there are more pressing issues we can control, like waste disposal, clean water, and at least 1 hot meal for each person per day, would be a nice start.
Sayswho

Good advise...but a person needs to be in control of their own mind in order to make application of these suggestions. As for me it's been over 3 years of awakening, and to get complete control of my mind took about 2 of those years... my cult controlled mind kept pulling me back to thinking they were still Gods chosen group.
However that is not the case now...so I can and are making use of these suggestions. Yes life is short, and if there is something else...we will have to wait and see.

True freedom is a conscious choice, not an impulse or action under threat.
It can at times be a decision to do something you may not necessarily want to—Why because it’s the right thing to do.

SO LETS BE PRATICAL AND DO SOMETHING USEFULL! (good advise Terry)
Sw
Terry

Sayswho: Good advice...but a person needs to be in control of their own mind in order to make application of these suggestions.
Replace one wrong thing each day.
Nika Bee

Doesn't it depend on how we define practical? Everyone might have a different definition.
I am a mathematician. I am doing pure math, probably the most abstract field of math that you can find. What I do has nothing to do with "the real world". People accuse me of doing nothing practical.
But I am sure it will be useful - and if it takes 400 years
Terry

I am a mathematician. I am doing pure math, probably the most abstract field of math that you can find. What I do has nothing to do with "the real world". People accuse me of doing nothing practical.
But I am sure it will be useful - and if it takes 400 years
A most excellent question!
Math is the most practical of all. Why do I say that? Because science and engineering are practical and the language of each is math.
Physics without math is a singer without vocal chords.
Math is only theoretical in an abstract sense. Every thing that exists consists of essences and math is really the discovery of the relationship between quantifiable and commensurable essences.
LisaRose

I was just thinking about God's name and the correct pronunciation of YHWH, Jehovah, Yeshewa, Yahweh or whatever, and it occurred to me that if God is so concerned about the correct pronunciation of his name, why did he allow the correct pronunciation to be lost? If God does exists, it seems to me he should be OK with whatever he is called, as long as I make an effort to call him at all. That seems to me to be the practical approach. I am not sure if that is what you mean by being practical, but that is my approach when it comes to religion. Instead of trying to fit myself around someone else's interpretation of what God wants, I am choosing a religion based on what works for me, not because I want an easy time, but because if the religion doesn't work for me it can't really help me be my best self. My practical approach is to find a group of people with common values, who can help me be more spiritual, and support me in doing my best.
Terry

For me, as a practical matter, the more I think about it it--how is it GOD has NEEDs and WANTs?
Seems that with all the power in the universe it is simply illogical and extremely selfish to have needs which must be met
by those who have little or no lifespan or power.
God is a cry-baby as presented by scripture and also rather tempestuous of temperament like a spoiled child.
God's "name", indeed!
It makes less and less practical sense for an EXISTING god to be jealous of NON-existing gods.
That is like a husband being jealous of imaginary affairs his wife is having.

APPLYING a very practical SNIFF TEST to all the things we chose to BELIEVE

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