Posts by dazed but not confused

14

Saw this - It made me laugh, I hope no one is offended!

by cantleave in

actually i don't care if they are.....enjoy.

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If you could leave the truth again what would you do differently?

by usualusername in

jw
friends

if you could leave the truth again what would you do differently?.

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uun .

dazed but not confused

I would have done it much sooner, probably around my freshmen year in HS. Then I would of had a normal HS experience. I wouldn't have gotten baptized ESP at 13!

64

more abuse in today's watchtower study

by solomon in

jw
friends

today's study picks on the most vulnerable among us.

the mentally ill. .

the watchtower apparently hasn't learned that depression and mental illness are that a medical condition.

more abuse in today's watchtower study

by solomon in

jw
friends

today's study picks on the most vulnerable among us.

the mentally ill. .

the watchtower apparently hasn't learned that depression and mental illness are that a medical condition.

dazed but not confused

Solomon---The cure for mental illness according to today's Watchtower. Pray more, don't miss meetings, and go in service more. This will cure your disease.

Where does it say "Cure your disease"? It mentions helping you cope. Dont make a mountain out of a mole hill

64

more abuse in today's watchtower study

by solomon in

jw
friends

today's study picks on the most vulnerable among us.

the mentally ill. .

the watchtower apparently hasn't learned that depression and mental illness are that a medical condition.

dazed but not confused

Heres the study article the OP refers to. I skimmed it and don't see what Solomon is specifically getting at. I hate the WTBTS as much as anyone else. Can you point out anything specific?

WE LIVE in a time of adversities. The earth
has been inundated with disasters.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, floods, volcanoes,
tornadoes, typhoons, and hurricanes have
wreaked havoc on humankind. In addition, family
problems and personal dilemmas have brought fear
and sorrow. It is so true that “time and unforeseen
occurrence” befall us all.—Eccl. 9:11.
2 God’s servants as a whole have coped well with
such distressing circumstances. Even so, we would
like to be ready to deal with any difficulties that may
confront us in the future as this systemnears its end.
How can we cope with these challenges and not be
overwhelmed? What will help us meet today’s adversities
with courage?
LEARN FROM THOSE WHO
FACED LIFE WITH COURAGE
3 Although difficult circumstances affect more
people than ever before, distressing problems are
not new to mankind. Let us see what we can learn
from some of God’s servants who in the past successfully
faced life with courage.—Rom. 15:4.
4 Consider David. Among other things, he had
to put up with the wrath of a king, enemy attacks,
the abduction of his wives, treachery in his own
ranks, and emotional distress. (1 Sam. 18:8, 9; 30:
1-5; 2 Sam. 17:1-3; 24:15, 17; Ps. 38:4-8) The Bible
accounts of David’s life clearly reveal the pain
these adversities caused him. However, they did not
1, 2. What adversities have many experienced, but what is
the desire of God’s servants?
3. As shown at Romans 15:4, how might we be comforted
when facing depressing circumstances?
4. What adversities did David endure, and what helped him?
MEETING TODAY’S
ADVERSITIES
WITH COURAGE
“God is for us a
refuge and strength,
a help that is readily
to be found during
distresses.”—PS. 46:1.
CAN YOU ANSWER?

How can we avoid being
overwhelmed by distressing
events?

What reasons do we have
for displaying courage?

What provisions has
Jehovah made to help us
face adversities?
7
destroy him spiritually. Full of faith, he
said: “Jehovah is the stronghold of my
life. Of whom shall I be in dread?”—Ps.
27:1; read Psalm 27:5, 10.
5 Abraham and Sarah spent most of
their life living in tents as aliens in
strange lands. Life was not always easy
for them. Yet, they resolutely copedwith
things like a famine and dangers from
surrounding nations. (Gen. 12:10; 14:14-
16)Howwere they able to do this?God’s
Word tells us that Abraham “was awaiting
the city having real foundations,
the builder and maker of which city is
God.” (Heb. 11:8-10) Abraham and Sarah
stayed focused on the things ahead,
not getting dragged down by the world
around them.
6 Job experienced extreme pressures.
Imagine how he felt when everything in
his life seemed to go wrong. (Job 3:3, 11)
Making matters worse, he did not fully
understand why all those things happened
to him. Still, he never gave up. He
maintained his integrity and his faith in
God. (Read Job 27:5.) What a fine example
for us to imitate!
7 Consider, too, the apostle Paul’s example.
He experienced ‘dangers in the
city, in the wilderness, and at sea.’ He
speaks of ‘hunger and thirst, cold and
nakedness.’ Paul also mentions spending
‘a night and a day in the deep,’ likely
because of one of the shipwrecks that
he went through. (2 Cor. 11:23-27) Despite
all of that, note the attitude he
expressed after he had faced death for
serving God: “This was that we might
have our trust, not in ourselves, but in
5. What helped Abraham and Sarah to cope
with a hard life?
6. How can we imitate Job?
7. What did Paul experience as he served God,
but what realization gave him the courage to
continue?
the God who raises up the dead. From
such a great thing as death he did rescue
us and will rescue us.” (2 Cor. 1:8-
10) Not many people have had as many
bad experiences as Paul did. Nevertheless,
many of us can relate to his feelings
and can take comfort from his courageous
example.
AVOID BEING OVERWHELMED
BY NEGATIVE EVENTS
8 In today’s world so full of disasters,
challenges, and pressures, many feel
overwhelmed. Even some Christians
have felt thatway. Lani, whowas enjoying
the full-time service with her husband
in Australia, says that when she
was diagnosed with breast cancer, it
was devastating and struck like a bolt
of lightning. She says, “The treatments
made me very ill, and I was left with no
self-esteem.” On top of everything else,
she had to care for her husband, who
had undergone spinal surgery. If we find
ourselves in such a situation, what can
we do?
9 We do well to remember that Satan
wants to use the tribulations we suffer
to undermine our faith. However, we
must not allow him to sap our joy in
this way. Proverbs 24:10 says: “Have you
shown yourself discouraged in the day
of distress? Your power will be scanty.”
Meditating on Biblical examples, such
as those discussed earlier, will help us to
muster up courage in the face of adversities.
10 It is also good to keep in mind that
Some names have been changed.
8. Howmight today’s problems affect us? Illustrate.
9, 10. (a) What must we not allow Satan to
do? (b) How can we cope with the reality mentioned
at Acts 14:22?
8
we cannot remove all problems. In fact,
we can expect to experience them.
(2 Tim. 3:12) Acts 14:22 tells us: “We
must enter into the kingdom of God
throughmany tribulations.” Rather than
becoming dejected, why not view them
as opportunities to manifest courage
based on your faith in God’s ability to
help you?
11 We need to focus on positive
things. God’s Word tells us: “A joyful
heart has a good effect on the countenance,
but because of the pain of the
heart there is a stricken spirit.” (Prov. 15:
13) Medical researchers have long
recognized the curative value of positive
thinking. Many patients given sugar
pills (placebos) have experienced relief
of symptoms simply because they
thought they were getting help. The opposite,
called the nocebo effect, has also
been demonstrated. Patients’ health deteriorated
simply because theywere told
that a drug would have negative effects.
Constantly dwelling on situations we
cannot change may only tear us down.
On the positive side, Jehovah does
not give us “sugar pills.” Rather, even
in times of disaster, he gives real help
through the encouragement found in his
Word, our supportive brotherhood, and
the strength provided by holy spirit. Focusing
on these things will lift us up. Instead
of dwelling on negative events, do
what is practical to cope with each problem
and focus on the positive aspects of
your life.—Prov. 17:22.
12 In recent times, some countries
11. How can we avoid being overwhelmed by
life’s adversities?
12, 13. (a) What has helped God’s servants
to endure the effects of disasters? Illustrate.
(b) During times of disaster, how does it become
evident what is most important in one’s
life?
have suffered severe disasters. Notably,
many brothers in these lands have
shown remarkable resilience. This does
notmean that it was easy. In early 2010,
a massive earthquake and tsunami in
Chile destroyed many of our brothers’
homes and possessions, and in some
cases, their livelihood. Despite this, the
brothers just kept on going spiritually.
Samuel, whose home was completely
destroyed, said: “Even during these
extreme circumstances, my wife and I
never stopped attending meetings and
preaching. I believe that these habits
helped us not to become desperate.”
Along with many others, they put the
disaster behind them and moved on in
Jehovah’s service.
13 In September 2009, over 80 percent
of Manila, Philippines, was flooded
by torrential rains. A wealthy man who
lost much said, “The flood was a great
equalizer, bringing difficulties and sufferings
to both the rich and the poor.”
This reminds us of Jesus’ prudent advice:
“Store up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
consumes, and where thieves do not
break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:20) Building
one’s life around material things, which
can so quickly disappear, often brings
disappointment. How much wiser it is
to center our life on our relationship
with Jehovah, which can remain intact
no matter what happens around us!
—Read Hebrews 13:5, 6.
REASONS FOR
DISPLAYING COURAGE
14 Jesus acknowledged that there
would be problems during the time
14. What reasons do we have for displaying
courage?
OCTOBER 15, 2012 9
of his presence, but he said: “Do not
be terrified.” (Luke 21:9) With him as
our King and with the Creator of the
universe backing us up, we have every
reason for confidence. Paul encouraged
Timothy by saying: “God gave us not a
spirit of cowardice, but that of power
and of love and of soundness of mind.”
—2 Tim. 1:7.
15 Note some expressions of the
strong conviction ofGod’s servants. David
said: “Jehovah is my strength and
my shield. In him my heart has trusted,
and I have been helped, so that my
heart exults.” (Ps. 28:7) Paul expressed
his unwavering confidence, saying: “In
all these things we are coming off completely
victorious through him that
loved us.” (Rom. 8:37) Likewise, as danger
loomed, Jesus left no doubt in his listeners’
minds that he had a strong relationship
with God, saying: “I am not
alone, because the Father is with me.”
(John 16:32) What is evident in these expressions?
Each reveals unwavering
trust in Jehovah. Our developing similar
confidence in God can give us the
courage to face any of today’s adversities.—
Read Psalm 46:1-3.
15. Give examples of the conviction of God’s
servants, and explain how we can have similar
courage.
BENEFIT FROM PROVISIONS
TO MAINTAIN COURAGE
16 Christian courage is not selfreliance.
Rather, it is a result of our getting
to know God and relying on him.
We can do this by studying his written
Word, the Bible. A sister suffering from
depression explains what helps her,
“I read especially comforting passages
over and over again.” Have we applied
the direction to have a regular time
for family worship? Doing these things
will help us to have the attitude of the
psalmist who said: “How I do love your
law! All day long it is my concern.”—Ps.
119:97.
17 Second, we have Bible-based publications
containing information that
strengthens our confidence in Jehovah.
Many brothers have found life stories in
our magazines particularly helpful. One
sister in Asia who suffers from bipolar
mood disorder was delighted when she
read the life story of a former missionary
brother who successfully dealt with
the same disorder. She wrote, “It helped
me to understand my own problem and
gave me hope.”
16. Why is the study of God’s Word important
for us?
17. (a) What provision may help us maintain
a courageous outlook? (b) Give an example of
how a published life story has helped you.
When you face adversity,
take advantage of the
help Jehovah has provided
10
18 A third provision is prayer. This
can help in all kinds of situations. The
apostle Paul drew attention to the value
of this provision, saying: “Do not
be anxious over anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication along
with thanksgiving let your petitions be
made known to God; and the peace of
God that excels all thought will guard
your hearts and your mental powers by
means of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6, 7) Do
we take full advantage of this avenue of
help to gain strength in the midst of adversities?
Alex, a brother in Britain who
has long suffered from depression, said:
“Talking to Jehovah in prayer and listening
to him by reading hisWord has been
a lifeline for me.”
19 Association at meetings is a fourth
vital provision to help us. A psalmist
wrote: “My soul has yearned and also
pined away for the courtyards of Jehovah.”
(Ps. 84:2) Do we feel the same?
Lani, mentioned earlier, explains her
view of Christian association: “Attending
meetings was not optional. I knew
that I had to be there if I expected Jehovah
to help me cope.”
18. Why should we utilize the provision of
prayer?
19. What should be our view of attending
Christian meetings?
20 A fifth help is to keep active in the
Kingdom-preaching work. (1 Tim. 4:
16) A sister in Australia who has experienced
a multitude of problems says:
“Preaching was the last thing I wanted
to do, but an elder invited me to go
with him. I went. Jehovah must have
been helping; each time I shared in the
ministry, I felt so happy.” (Prov. 16:20)
Many have found that by helping others
to build faith in Jehovah, they strengthen
their own faith. In so doing, they
keep their mind off their own problems
and keep focused on the more important
things.—Phil. 1:10, 11.
21 Jehovah has provided abundant
help to meet today’s adversities with
courage. By taking advantage of all
these provisions and by meditating on
and imitating fine examples of courageous
servants of God, we have the assurance
that we can face difficulties
successfully. Although many negative
things may yet happen as this system
nears its end, we can feel as did Paul,
who said: “We are thrown down, but
not destroyed. . . .We do not give up.”
(2 Cor. 4:9, 16) With Jehovah’s help, we
can meet today’s adversities with courage.—
Read 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18.
20. How will sharing in the preaching work
help us?
21. What assurance do we have regarding the
difficulties we face?
OC

17

The three definitions of apostasy

by cedars in

i've just uploaded a new article to my website answering the question: "is jwsurvey.org an apostate website?".

here is the link:.

http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/is-jwsurvey-org-an-apostate-website.

dazed but not confused

The Bible’s definition: abandoning the true faith in God.
The Watch Tower Society’s definition: abandoning the teachings of the Faithful Slave.
The secular definition: abandoning one’s former beliefs.

I suppose I am an apostate based on all 3 definitions and I'm good with that. I think the only one that holds any weight with me is secular opinion.

Good article. I stand in the same light you do. I am not DF'd nor DA'd. Just an inactive JW. I will disassociate myself if I am forced to. I do not have "respect" for the bible any longer. I do like reading all sides of a story however.

I always enjoy reading your articles. Well balanced.

88

Minimus' Post Gave Me Courage To Finally Post My Questions, New Here

by toweragent in

i have been "lurking" for about four years now.. it was an incredibly weird experience just to look at a site like jwn or freeminds.

he came off very loving.. so, i decided that i would talk to one of my elders about the things i read.

if any of you have time to read this, thank you.

dazed but not confused

Welcome! Take it slow. I took the advice here early on with regards to “bombarding” my wife with all that I was learning. It was quickly pushing her away so I stopped and now only once in a while ask her thought provoking questions. Shes more responsive with my questions now than before.

I for my part lost faith in the organization after extensive research and then lost faith in the bible being any thing more than a book. Then lastly I lost faith in any “loving” god that can look down at the earth and allow murder, rape, child molestation ect because some creation of his challenged his authority to rule.

I like what NewChapter said - Work on your critical thinking skills. Don't limit yourself to the bible only, but stretch out and read about science and history. Don't accept anything until you have seriously and thoroughly challenged it. Read opposing views. Seriously consider those views. Don't make up your mind before you delve into it, or else everything will be filtered through confirmation bias.

Take that advice and run with it. Best advice I’ve seen.

I too was "dazed and confused" but no more, hence the name

73

Circuit Assembly Highlights. Day 1

by DATA-DOG in

well things were actually pretty boring.

i mean really boring.

that's the price of fading i guess.

dazed but not confused

A "gentlemen's agreement"? LOL. Yes, hello, this is earth calling. Im a bit speechless...

73

Circuit Assembly Highlights. Day 1

by DATA-DOG in

well things were actually pretty boring.

i mean really boring.

that's the price of fading i guess.

dazed but not confused

If you truly feel Jehoba is ok with you comming here then I dare you to tell your BOEs and see what they think...good luck with that

73

Circuit Assembly Highlights. Day 1

by DATA-DOG in

well things were actually pretty boring.

i mean really boring.

that's the price of fading i guess.

dazed but not confused

I used to come to sites like this years before I even considered leaving just to prove the "truth" to myself. I guess I was a JW apologist without knowing it. I would build my faith by reading the "lies" on these sites and refute it to myself. Eventually the TTATT sank in and I woke up.

"Jehovah tolerates" you comming here?? Im sorry a watcher but WAKE UP!! I guess, whatever you have to tell yourself to sleep at night.