Posts by zophar

42

Why doe New light tick me off???? Next 2 weeks WT Studies

by zophar in

jw
friends

if you have been a jw for 20+ years you may remember that the wt went into great detail on different illustrations that jesus used and the "type/anti-type" ridiculous explanations.

remember the revelation book and how those obscure jw conventions of the past pictured big things in heaven and the opening of seals?

anyway, the wt lessons for the next two weeks do two big things for me.

zophar

If you have been a JW for 20+ years you may remember that the WT went into great detail on different illustrations that Jesus used and the "type/anti-type" ridiculous explanations. Remember the Revelation book and how those obscure JW Conventions of the past pictured big things in heaven and the opening of seals? Anyway, the WT lessons for the next two weeks do two big things for me. They show we were wrong all along about those explanations of the Bible..and Secondly....we should be happy because we our faith was really built up by those false teachings!

In par 13 tomorrows lesson mentions the parables of "the leaven", "the mustard seed," and "the dragnet." In the past, all of these pictured bad things associated with Satan. Now they all picture good things in connection with God's kingdom. I conducted the WT back in those days and I had a lot of Cognitive dissonance, the explanations sounded crazy. But....that is what the FDS was directing, so Confirmation Bias set in. I ignored all of the alarm bells and so I teach what is in the literature. Guess what? The alarm bells were right all along, none of the past explanations are right....according to the 7/15/08 WT adjustments!

Now, here is what is truly amazing. After showing how the interpretation was wrong, Paragraph 9 in tomorrow's lesson says: "For many years, God's people found this approach to Bible accounts faith strengthening." In other words, "We were wrong in our interpretations but these false understandings were still faith strengthening!

They cannot just say: "We were wrong!" No, these false teachings were still faith strengthening! How messed up is that?

So what's next? What else has "The Truth" been "The False" about? I can't stand it!

How do you feel?

16

I need ideas for my hubby

by monis in

jw
friends

i have been out of the org for several years.

i faded.

my husband became inactive but still believes that the jws have the truth.

zophar

Well, the WT study for tomorrow and next Sunday are excellent examples. If you have been a JW for 20+ years you may remember that the WT went into great detail on different illustrations that Jesus used.

In par 13 tomorrows lesson mentions the parables of "the leaven", "the mustard seed," and "the dragnet." In the past, all of these pictured bad things associated with Satan. Now they all picture good things in connection with God's kingdom. I conducted the WT back in those days and I had a lot of Cognitive dissonance, the explanations sounded crazy. But....that is what the FDS was directing, so Confirmation Bias sets in. I ignore all of the alarm bells and teach what is in the literature. Guess what? The alarm bells were right all along, none of the past explanations are right....according to the 7/15/08 WT adjustments!

Now, here is what is truly amazing. After showing how the interpretation was wrong, Paragraph 9 in tomorrow's lesson says: "For many years, God's people found this approach to Bible accounts faith strengthening." In other words, "We were wrong in our interpretations but these false understandings were still faith strengthening!

They cannot say: "We were wrong!" No, these false teachings were still faith strengthening! How messed up is that?

172

May tv.jw.org program

by zophar in

jw
friends

the may broadcast on tv.jw.org.

we need money!.

http://tv.jw.org/#video/vodstudio/pub-jwb_201505_1_video.

zophar

The May broadcast on TV.JW.org

We need money!

http://tv.jw.org/#video/VODStudio/pub-jwb_201505_1_VIDEO

91

Setback

by EdenOne in

i saw this coming since my mother-in-law's funeral .... the congregation's "love-bombing" over my wife had its impact.

i watched her drawing closer and closer to her friends in the congregation.

then she decided she would attend the memorial.

zophar

So sorry for your dilemma.

It does sound like you have a good marriage in many ways and I'm happy to hear you are not seriously thinking of divorce. Hope the same is true of your thinking of suicide, you are not seriously considering it.

I notice you mention the Sister studying with your wife that she and her husband are a nice couple. That tells me you are a very balanced person. You have strong feelings against the Org, based on logic, research and study, but you can still recognize that their are nice people that are part of it. Focus on that because that is what your wife is seeing. She is going to church at the Kingdom Hall just like millions of people do in their respective religions. "The Truth" isn't as important as the social structure and her lifelong friends. I actually think that should be encouraging for you.

Don't panic or rush. Let her know how this is making you feel without accusing her of trying to be hurtful to you, just report how you "feel". I think you have a strong enough marriage that you will see good results from this.

Our goal in life should not be to change one another but to love one another.

I hope the best for you and your wife. Sorry to hear of the death of her mother.

10

Jim Trafacant

by Jeannette in

jw
friends

jim trafacant was involved in a very serious farm accident and is in a medically-induced coma.

has anyone heard how his is doing this morning?.

.

zophar

It is spelled Traficant

47

i was happy before i woke up

by losingit in

jw
friends

idk if waking up has been good for me.

i still have almost no friends.

im still waiting to graduate this december to qualify n b certified for my job.

zophar

Flipper

47

i was happy before i woke up

by losingit in

jw
friends

idk if waking up has been good for me.

i still have almost no friends.

im still waiting to graduate this december to qualify n b certified for my job.

zophar

Jgnat. It is partly what I do and partly hypothetical. At some point one has to stand firm by their convictions if they really are going to be true to themselves. But one can also be cautious as a serpent as to who they "preach" to.

I don't know if this is a good illustration or not. The Govt requires I pay taxes. I don't agree with a war they are waging that will use some of my tax money. That is their responsibility how they use my money, I fulfilled my obligation.

Since I don't think God requires me to "count time" but JW do I can fulfill that requirement on my terms. It is not ideal but I still feel true to myself. Revealing TTATT where and when I can.

47

i was happy before i woke up

by losingit in

jw
friends

idk if waking up has been good for me.

i still have almost no friends.

im still waiting to graduate this december to qualify n b certified for my job.

zophar

Jgnat

"Field Service" or counting time?

It all depends on one's definition of "sacred service." When Raymond Franz was still on the GB he was instrumental in changing the WT definition of that term. It basically means living day to day as a Christian or displaying Christ like qualities. It has NOTHING to do with "field service" or going door to door. So one can turn in a preaching report without going out in "field ministry". And when talking with others you can tell TTATT.

It comes back to who you allow to make rules for you.

47

i was happy before i woke up

by losingit in

jw
friends

idk if waking up has been good for me.

i still have almost no friends.

im still waiting to graduate this december to qualify n b certified for my job.

zophar

WallsofJericho said something interesting that I have struggled with as well

call me fake

Who is calling us fake?? We do it to ourselves. Don't let JW control who you are. If they say we are fake, that's their problem. We are being real for the first time. It really comes down to not letting them have control...especially mentally.. of how we feel about ourselves.

Shakespeare may have said it best: "This above all: to thine own self be true,"

The hard part is what LOSINIT is going through, the letting go of what OTHERS think. Some can do it the way Walls is and it works for them. It usually takes some time, but it comes. And the "fake" part we realize was what we were doing when we ignored our nagging doubts. Now we are real and who cares what the hardliners think.

LosingIt: I hope you have a good day today and find joy in your true self.

5

Depression and Faith

by Joe Grundy in

this is only jw (should that be jw.org now?

) related in that it is connected with religious faith which dominates a person's life.

but many similarities, i feel.. i never was a dub, was raised in a 'gospel hall' tradition, have been for many years an agnostic/atheist and am a fairly cynical/suspicious individual as befits an ex-30 year detective.

zophar

Joe, you are a good friend. And that is what your Bil needs now more than ever. I feel so bad for you because I can sense how bad you feel for him.

I overheard a man in a restaurant talking to his wife and he said to her, "What is the best thing to say, when you don't know what to say?" She said, "I don't know." and he said, "Nothing."

That has been a hard lesson for me to learn. At times, just say nothing! Be there, that is all that you can do. You probably don't have the answer, I know I haven't had it many times. Despite thinking most of my life as a JW that I had ALL the answers! What an arrogant %^@ I must have been.

You have one great thing that he needs. You love him as your Bil. That is all you can give. And Brother, that is special.

I hope the best for both of you. Your comment really touched a chord with me in my life and situation.