Nearly everyone who has experienced verbal abuse in a religious setting feels disillusioned. It’s a typical human response. You’ve been hurt, and your natural inclination is to “throw the baby out with the bath.” Because you don’t want to be hurt again, you withdraw emotionally, or you lash out at those who have hurt you.
That’s [...]
Archive for September, 2008
Deception, Disillusionment, and Despair
Posted in Abuse, Anger, Behavior, Betrayal, Bitterness, Burn Out, Christian, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Healing, Hurt, Jesus Christ, Low Self-Esteem, Pain, Purpose, Recovery, Religion, Religious Abuse, tagged Deception, despair, Disillusionment, Low Self-Esteem on September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
If You’re Crushed, Try Gratitude
Posted in God on September 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This is a great comment on My Spirit Was Crushed.
Gratitude is an important concept. It should be the norm but it rarely is. You are exactly right, Jack. If gratitude is you bent, it is very difficult to form or hold a grudge. Actually, your growth at this time in your life is as much [...]
My Spirit Was Crushed: Part 4
Posted in Behavior, Care, Christian, Dysfunction, Emotions, Evangelical, God, Healing, Jesus Christ, Low Self-Esteem, Prayer, Purpose, Recovery, Religious Abuse, Scriptures on September 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
An excerpt from my story: Hi, My Name Is Jack
Thinking back, I remembered meeting with John Brown at my fraternity in 1964. He told me God loved me and had a wonderful plan for my life. In my nineteen-year-old mind, I thought God’s plan would make me more successful and spare me from some of [...]
My Spirit Was Crushed: Part 3
Posted in Abuse, Behavior, Betrayal, Christian, Depression, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Guilt, Healing, Hurt, Jesus Christ, Love, Low Self-Esteem, Prayer, Purpose, Recovery, Religious Abuse, Wounds, tagged Add new tag, Depression, Gratitude, suicide on September 25, 2008 | 2 Comments »
An excerpt from my story: Hi, My Name Is Jack
Often in life, it’s the little things that count, and that’s what happened with me. By expressing gratitude for what I had—rather than focusing on what I didn’t, the dynamics of my life changed completely. From that precise moment, I started developing a thankful attitude instead [...]
My Spirit Was Crushed: Part 2
Posted in Behavior, Betrayal, Burn Out, Christian, Depression, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Healing, Hurt, Jesus Christ, Love, Low Self-Esteem, Prayer, Purpose, Recovery, Religious Abuse, Wounds, tagged Add new tag, despair, suicide on September 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
From My story, Hi, My Name Is Jack.
At the same time, I knew how destructive suicidal ideations were and that a lot of my self-destructive feelings might be from low blood sugar; so I decided to eat the stale cereal. Getting up from my chair in the living room and going to the refrigerator, everything [...]
My Spirit Was Crushed: Part 1
Posted in Anger, Behavior, Betrayal, Bitterness, Burn Out, Care, Christian, Depression, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Guilt, Healing, Hurt, Jesus Christ, Low Self-Esteem, Pain, Purpose, Recovery, Value, Wounds, tagged despair, suicide on September 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
For the next few days, I’m going to share a chapter out of my personal life, which shows how far God can take you when you let Him. It’s out of my story, Hi, My Name Is Jack.
Be sure to read each part.
With Judy gone, along with her duplicity and manipulation, it was much [...]
PART 2: Why I Write “Pushing Jesus”
Posted in God on September 21, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Here is another comment, which is right on target.
Jack,
I realize you don’t do this for the rewards that come as result of this work. However, some rewards mean more than others.
Touching others with the Word of God, no matter in what language or format, is what real life is all about. When people get tired [...]
Why I Write “Pushing Jesus”
Posted in God on September 20, 2008 | 1 Comment »
When I started writing Pushing Jesus, I knew I had something to say and hoped it would help others to see the value of their relationship with Christ in another light. Today, I’m posting a comment as a validation of what I set out to achieve. It humbles me
Brother, this Value of Recovery: Part 5 [...]
God Is There — No Matter What
Posted in Emotions, God, Healing, Purpose on September 19, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Refer to STEP 3: I accepted that the responsibility for getting back on track was mine and no one else’s.
It doesn’t matter whether you think God is there or not; He is. His existence doesn’t depend upon your opinion, which is irrelevant. You might say, “I don’t feel God’s presence. It doesn’t feel like He’s [...]
Introduction to Step 2
Posted in Abuse, Addiction, Anger, Behavior, Betrayal, Bitterness, Burn Out, Care, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Hatred, Healing, Hurt, Jesus Christ, Low Self-Esteem, Pain, Recovery, Religious Abuse, Scriptures, Wounds on September 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
STEP 2: I refused to continue living my life pursuing self-defeating behavior.
When you’ve been abused, the damage goes deep inside you—to the tenderest, most vulnerable places. It seems to take the air right out of you, as well as the joy of being alive. It defeats and debilitates every fiber of your being, producing discouragement, [...]
Tired of Self-Defeating Behavior?
Posted in Abuse, Anger, Bitterness, Emotions, God, Healing, Hurt, Pain, Purpose, Recovery, Religion on September 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Refer to STEP 2: I refused to continue living my life pursuing self-defeating behavior.
After you’ve experienced religious abuse, life changes—not a little but a lot. It’s never the same again—no matter how fervently you desire it. Sorry, but it’s just not possible. No matter how much you want to, you just can’t return to a [...]
The Value of Recovery: Part 5
Posted in Abuse, Behavior, Bitterness, Burn Out, Christian, Depression, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Healing, Jesus Christ, Love, Low Self-Esteem, Purpose, Recovery, Religion, Religious Abuse, Scriptures, Spirituality, Stress, Worldview, Wounds, tagged Add new tag, Recovery, Religious Abuse on September 14, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Adversity makes you stronger—not a little stronger, substantially stronger. It’s like bodybuilding. Muscles need to be torn down before they can be rebuilt. The Scriptures call this pruning.
I needed pruning, and God is in that business—big time. Once I learned to accept—and even welcome—adversity rather than dread it or run away from it, I began [...]
The Value of Recovery: Part 4
Posted in Abuse, Anger, Betrayal, Bitterness, Christian, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Healing, Hurt, Jesus Christ, Love, Low Self-Esteem, Pain, Patience, Prayer, Pride, Purpose, Recovery, Religious Abuse, Wounds, tagged Proven Character, Wisdom on September 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I’ve consistently maintained that knowing the truth will set you free—truth about your abuse and truth about yourself. I believe this with all of my heart. I’ve experienced it. That’s also why I’ve let you into my life and allowed you to feel my failure, my pain, my embarrassment, and my naiveté. At the same [...]
The Value of Recovery: Part 3
Posted in Abuse, Anger, Behavior, Bitterness, Cult, Dysfunction, Emotions, God, Hatred, Healing, Hurt, Jesus Christ, Love, Low Self-Esteem, Pain, Patience, Pride, Purpose, Recovery, Revenge, Stress, Wounds, tagged Add new tag, Religious Abuse, The Lord, Vulnerability on September 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Helping others look at life honestly—without medicating their pain or revising reality—is what makes my experience worthwhile. I’m firmly convinced it’s why God has allowed my life to be so adventurous in the first place. In fact, I’m sure of it.
In my head, I keep hearing the Lord’s voice—as gentle as a zephyr, saying to [...]
The Value of Recovery: Part 2
Posted in Addiction, Behavior, Christian, Dysfunction, Emotions, Evangelical, Family, God, Healing, Jesus Christ, Patience, Prayer, Purpose, Recovery, Religious Abuse, Worldview, Wounds, tagged Alcoholics Anonmymous, Alcoholism on September 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I also needed to be sober—just to make it through. Without sobriety, I think the magnitude of my difficult experiences—one on top of the other—would have overwhelmed me. Because I stopped drinking, which was my primary addiction, and did the work to become sober—lots of work over many years, I achieved my goal. I learned [...]
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Welcome! My name is John Watts, but you can call me 'Jack.'
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