JaniceM

According to Jeremiah, the pagan nations were decorating trees with gold and silver. 
(Jeremiah 10:1-3) Hear the word that Jehovah has spoken against YOU people, O house of Israel. 2 This is what Jehovah has said: “Do not learn the way of the nations at all, . . . 3 For the customs of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere tree out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With silver and with gold one makes it pretty. With nails and with hammers they fasten them down, that none may reel . . .  
 
The Jews throughout their history adopted many of these customs which God disapproved of.  Many of these customs are still being practiced today and incorporated into Christendom and the world as celebrations to God.  We are told, or at least I have been told by relatives, it's just for fun and God doesn't mind people having fun.  However, God was not pleased with such festivities, and mixing of pagan ways with true worship of him.
 
Amos 5:21  I have hated, I have rejected YOUR festivals, and I shall not enjoy the smell of YOUR solemn assemblies. 22  But if YOU people offer up to me whole burnt offerings, even in YOUR gift offerings I shall find no pleasure, and on YOUR communion sacrifices of fatlings I shall not look. 23  Remove from me the turmoil of your songs; and the melodious sound of your stringed instruments may I not hear. 24  And let justice roll forth just like waters, and righteousness like a constantly flowing torrent. 25  Was it sacrifices and gift offerings that YOU people brought near to me in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? 26  And YOU will certainly carry Sakkuth YOUR king and Kaiwan, YOUR images, the star of YOUR god, whom YOU made for yourselves. 27  And I will cause YOU to go into exile beyond Damascus,’ he whose name is Jehovah the God of armies has said.”

(Ecclesiastes 7:4) The heart of the wise ones is in the house of mourning, but the heart of the stupid ones is in the house of rejoicing.
 
(2 Timothy 3:4) betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,
 
(Jeremiah 10:1-3) Hear the word that Jehovah has spoken against YOU people, O house of Israel. 2 This is what Jehovah has said: “Do not learn the way of the nations at all, . . . 3 For the customs of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere tree out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With silver and with gold one makes it pretty. With nails and with hammers they fasten them down, that none may reel . . . 
8 And at one and the same time they prove to be unreasoning and stupid. A tree is a mere exhortation of vanities. 9 Silver beaten into plates is what is brought in even from Tar′shish, and gold from U′phaz, the workmanship of a craftsman and of the hands of a metalworker; their clothing is blue thread and wool dyed reddish purple. They are all the workmanship of skilled people. 10 But Jehovah is in truth God . . .
23 I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step. 24 Correct me, O Jehovah, however with judgment; not in your anger, that you may not reduce me to nothing. 25 Pour out your rage upon the nations who have ignored you, and upon the families who have not called even upon your name.  (NWT)

Doing something enjoyable may not always be pleasing to God . . .  
(Jeremiah 10:1-3) Hear the word that Jehovah has spoken against YOU people, O house of Israel. 2 This is what Jehovah has said: “Do not learn the way of the nations at all, . . . 3 For the customs of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere tree out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With silver and with gold one makes it pretty. With nails and with hammers they fasten them down, that none may reel.  (NWT)
 
Romans 12:1And so, dear brothers and sisters,* I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.* 2Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)
 
(Acts 15:29) to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!”  (NWT)

Even a strawman is easily drawn with elementary things . . .
Jer 10:4 3 For the customs of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere tree out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With silver and with gold one makes it pretty.
"Makes it pretty" means decorating the tree for religious worship or spiritistic purposes.  These were customs God disapproved of and were not to be adopted by his people.
 

BETTER  A  THEOCRATIC  LITERATUR !
HIDDEN FACE OF HALLOWEEN......
Since this holiday is about it is good to remember why not celebrate true Christians and what is its origin.
Does Halloween is celebrated in your country? It is true that this party is known especially in the United States and Canada, where it is celebrated on October 31. However, the customs of Halloween can be found in similar festivals in other parts of the world. They may have another name, but basically deal with the same subject: the world of spirits, the dead, fairies, witches, even the devil and demons.
WHERE HE CAME FROM?
The origin of some customs and symbols of Halloween
Vampires, Werewolves WITCHES AND ZOMBIES: These creatures have always been associated with evil spirits.
SWEETS: The ancient Celts sought to appease evil spirits with sweets. Later, the Church encouraged people to go from house to house on the eve of All Saints and asking for food in return for a prayer for the dead. Hence the habit of asking for candy on Halloween.
COSTUMES: The ancient Celts used hideous masks so that evil spirits believed that they were also spirits and left alone. Gradually, the Church mixed pagan customs with the celebration of the Dead and Day of All Saints. Later, people started going from house to house dressed as saints, angels and demons.
PUMPKINS: Formerly turnips were hollowed and placed a candle to frighten evil spirits. There were those who believed that the candle represented a soul trapped in purgatory. Over time, turnips were replaced by pumpkins.
Halloween party is a celebration unbiblical. The Bible itself warns us: "No one among you who practices divination, witchcraft or sorcery; or casts spells, or spiritualist medium who consults the dead "(Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, Leviticus 19:31; Galatians 5: 19-21).
The  Truth  about  *HALLOWEEN*
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g201309/truth-about-halloween/

Brasilia, Brazil

Also an interesting thought from "Our Christian Life and Ministry" this week; the Bible study part is on Bible Students seeing the need to improve dress and grooming..............it would appear that not only Bible students need this encouragement.........maybe some of the Brothers and Sisters need this encouragement as well!!!

In light of Gehenna being the result of simply calling someone a "despicable fool" wouldn't it be dangerous to ones eternal life to call another person an "apostate"?
Should only men be allowed to do so in the congregation?
Or should any woman anywhere be allowed to call anybody an "apostate" without incurring the wrath of Jesus / Jehovah?
What sort of limitations are there on rebuking another person?
Jesus himself refrained from rebuking the Devil. Should Christians follow His example?

To locate true Christianity, look for the group whose members are individually praised but collectively reviled. 
Acts 28:22

Jehovah's Witnesses Public Talk Watchtower Meeting 16 October 2016
 

Ty Jay.  Do you think the suits above are extreme? Hip hugging tight is a term often used for slacks.  The suit coats look ok but a little shorter in length.  The pant length is a little odd or as we kids used to say high water pants because certainly there was a flood coming. (smile) 

Maybe I can email the link to the major newspaper outlets and popular news shows as well as all the permanent missions members of UN and congress/senate members.  That will be a task to get all those email addresses but I'll try in the next few days.

What was the point of the foul language in the title? A small warning about foul language in the video itself should have been sufficient, I'd think.
That said, I was surprised the brother walked back into the fray to pick up something. Methinks he might have grown up on these same streets himself.

Exactly. We should reflect the fruitage of the spirit even by the way we dress 
 

My point exactly, Q. Esther. Jehovah sees the heart and even if a poor servant of Jehovah doesn't have much, Jehovah still provides for them just like He did for the nation of Israel. He can make a poor person look rich just by the things they have. I can honestly say I have personally witnessed this, especially as a Pioneer. For brothers to dress with tight-fitting suits when they have the financial means to buy modest suits says a lot about what's in his heart.
These suits (straight legged tight pants and small blazers) are the latest style now. Even prominent athletes and celebrities are wearing them. Because they are designer suits, they costs between $500-$1,000 (USA). In view of the times we live in, could tht money pay for other things like rent and food, even a suit without a desiger''s label? 
Yes, only Jehovah read hearts but a person can give off clues that he is not being modest but haughty when he wears clothes that speaks volumes of a worldly attitude. Notice the sloppy hair on the young man on the left in the gray suit. Imagine going in field service looking like that. What would the householder's perception be? Not being critcal here but realistic. Our Lord and Savior King Jesus said, "by their fruits you will recognize them". He was talking about a person's actions that either identifies him as a disciple or not. The way we dress also bears fruit about our attitude toward theocratic order whether we're poor or rich.

The composition of music and lyrics has changed throughout history and time.  I sometimes write poems and it can be very difficult at times trying to find the right words to get the right flow along with the thoughts in my head.  I learned it can be the same way with music to find the right words to fit comfortably with a melody or rhythm from music class and a few musicians in the family.  The only language that seems to flow and move beautiful with any music is Hebrew.  No matter the arrangement, every word is perfect.  Every word is music in itself.  This is just my opinion of course from listening to many beautiful psalms and songs sung in Hebrew.
 
 
 

So from what I see for the Witnesses word changing and tune changing probably went on for some time. Apparently the original music was from Mozart and lyrics were from Havergal.  Right now now I remember two tunes to this song. Just heard a third tune on Youtube.
 
 

Just a few days ago, I had an interesting conversation on facebook with a young man from Gaza.  He used to like to read the Bible out loud to me but is somewhat agnostic/atheist at times.  He wanted may opinion of a video whereby an atheist said Mother Theresa accepted money from criminals for orphanages to bear her name and she basically kept women in oppression and poverty by renouncing forms of birth control. etc.
I told him I thought the atheist was overly critical and I could not judge being that families, businesses, corporations and tax payer money is used to support countries that oppress many including women and children, and start foundations, associations or agencies for namesake purposes.
 
I could only think of the verses below and I posted a commentary from the library:
 
Luke 16:8 And his master commended the steward, though unrighteous, because he acted with practical wisdom; for the sons of this system of things are wiser in a practical way toward their own generation than the sons of the light are. 9 “Also, I say to YOU, Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that, when such fail, they may receive YOU into the everlasting dwelling places. 10 The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much. 11 Therefore, if YOU have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with the unrighteous riches, who will entrust YOU with what is true?
 
*** it-2 p. 806 Riches ***
He urged his hearers: “Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that, when such fail, they may receive you into the everlasting dwelling places.” (Lu 16:9) Since the possession or desire for material riches can lead to lawless acts, they may for this reason have been designated as “unrighteous riches,” in contrast with spiritual riches. Also, material riches, particularly money, actually belong to and are under the control of “Caesar,” who issues money and assigns a particular value to it. Such riches are transitory, and loss may be experienced as a result of economic conditions or other circumstances. Hence, the person having such riches should not put his trust in them, nor should he use them as the world in general does for selfish purposes, such as the amassing of still greater wealth. (1Co 7:31) Rather, he should be alert and diligent to make friends of the possessors of the everlasting dwelling places.

The possessors of “the everlasting dwelling places” are Jehovah God and his Son Christ Jesus. (Compare Joh 6:37-40, 44.) Persons who do not use their “unrighteous riches” in a proper way (as in assisting those in need and in furthering “the good news”; Ga 2:10; Php 4:15) could never be friends of God and of his Son, Christ Jesus. Their unfaithfulness in the use of unrighteous riches would show that they are unfit to be entrusted with spiritual riches. (Lu 16:10-12) Such persons could never be fine stewards of God’s undeserved kindness, dispensing spiritual riches to others.—1Pe 4:10, 11.

Thanks a lot Millie!  Quite informational . . .

One World Religion - UN
One World Religious Unity Organization forming under the UN, Ted Turner.

I googled it, Australia Broadcasting wrote an article on this subject about 3 or 4 days ago. 

Ok, thanks Esther, I'll post it to JW brothers on facebook.  They couldn't verify it.

I can understand how someone completely ignorant of the content Gods's Word might draw this erroneous conclusion on the strength of comparing these lines from one of the 151 songs in the book, “Sing Out Joyfully” to Jehovah.
However, for the benefit of those genuinely making this error, Proverbs 3:9 shows the thought to be completely in harmony with the encouragement provided in God's word to contribute materially to the advancement of true worship. It reads there, (in context), 
"Honor Jehovah with your valuable things, with the firstfruits of all your produce; 
Then your storehouses will be completely filled, And your vats will overflow with new wine."

So sad these developments.  Lot of prayers to be answered.