Colin Browne

We often hear people respond with, "Well good luck to you" concerning any venture. Is it not better to say, "Jehovah willing", or similar?
We cannot blame our society for investing. Not all that many brothers donate to the World Wide Work. Why did our Society have have to sell it's magnificent building with, "Read the Bible today" and move to a cheaper area?
We ourselves are investing our money when we open a savings account.
 
 

Thank you for your wise thoughts. We all know about those determined to get rich. (1Tim. 6:9)
No sense in debating on such matters - rather help the poorer brothers and sisters, then you are lending to Jehovah. (He will repay you)

“You men are those leaving Jehovah, those forgetting my holy mountain, those setting in order a table for the god of Good Luck and those filling up mixed wine for the god of Destiny.” (Isaiah 65:11)
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Does the Bible Condemn Gambling?
???
The Lure of Luck
Since gambling involves betting on uncertainties, belief in luck—a mysterious force that supposedly controls random events—plays a large role, especially when money is wagered. For example, auspicious numbers are chosen for lottery tickets; the uttering of certain words is forbidden among superstitious mah-jongg players; and a puff of air is blown over dice before they are thrown. Why? Gamblers often believe that luck will, or at least might, influence the outcome.
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Is it merely a harmless game to put one’s trust in luck? Some people in ancient Israel felt that way. They believed that luck could bring them prosperity. How did Jehovah God feel about the matter? In God’s eyes, belief in luck is a form of idolatry and is not compatible with true worship. It reflects trust in an imaginary force rather than in the true God. There is no reason to believe that God has changed his view.
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There is a much more sinister side to gambling besides winning and losing. “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin,” says God’s Word. (1 Timothy 6:9) 
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A snare is designed to entangle a victim. Countless numbers of people, determined to wager only a small amount of money or to try their hand at gambling just a few times, have become entangled and unable to escape gambling addiction. It has destroyed careers, hurt loved ones, and ruined families.
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“Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) God’s will, not popular sentiment, should guide a Christian’s life. As “the happy God,” Jehovah wants us to enjoy life, free of the bitter fruitage that results from the snare that gambling is.—1 Timothy 1:11.
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Servants of God earn money by honest work
???⚖️???
The Excitement of Winning
Is gambling habit-forming, easily leading to addiction? Following a study of gamblers’ responses to winning and losing, Dr. Hans Breiter noted that “a monetary reward in a gambling-like experiment produces brain activation very similar to that observed in a cocaine addict receiving an infusion of cocaine.”
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011167#h=8

I've read on these pages a lot of mirth and clever play on words - fine. However, the action that promoted this thread in the first instance astounded me.   The meetings are meetings with Jehovah.   I consider the action to be disrespectful.  Surely our actions in the presence of our Creator should be serious and attentive to the counsel?   Jehovah is a happy God and endowed us with a sense of humour, but he has words recorded at Ecclesiastes 3: 1 "There is an appointed time for everything, a time for every activity under the heavens:    "verse 4:  a time to weep and a time to laugh;...."

According to what I've seen, these are often for piercing.

According to what I've seen, these are often for piercing.

Disregarding the plain ugliness of nipple piercing with hardware hanging from the punctured holes, having pins, rings, chains, baubles and beads hanging from one's nipples is a REAL PROBLEM when you go through metal detectors at Airport Security.
... that why Ah wears clip-ons!
*koff*

Many of us would have been shocked had we been there to witness this. It is hoped that the elders visited him personally at his home. The congregation is "A house of prayer". Matt 28:13

There is a very old proverb, "Nature hates a vacuum". Look at the Welwitchia plant below. Read more about the plant here: http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/welwitschia_facts/556/

Our God created plants to fill the entire earth, and each of these have a built in ability to survive under the weather conditions peculiar to that particular environment. 
 

My  dad  was  reinstated  last  Wednesday   ❤     What  a  big  joy
May  Jehovah  bless  him  and  your  family !
<3 ♫ <3 ♫ <3 .•*¨`*•..¸♥☼♥¸.•*¨`*•.♫ <3 ♫ <3 ♫ <3
( I  was 16 years  old,  when  he  got  disfellowshipped )

Thats  true...   NOT  too  often  watering,  I  had  to  learn  that !   Desert  plants,  like  cactuses,  also  aloe  vera  etc.  need  only  less  water....   When  I  was  very  young,  all  my  tiny  sweet  cactuses  died    The  best  growing  is  probably  in  the  nature !   My  plants  got  in  last  very  warm  Sept. a  new  pot  and  special  ground.  Seems,  they  are  very  happy  now,  the  Frangipani  has  so  many  and  long  leaves  she  never  had ! Thats  a  big  joy   In  the  NW  I  want  learn  more  and  more  about  all  that !!   I  try  bring  pictures  from  my  plants  to  here  or  to  private  message,  so  you  have  a  little view....
I  saw,  you  have  little  fun  by  posting  here...  very  good !   SEE  US  LATER  >>>>>>>>
Wish  you  a  wonderful  weekend,  Brother  Colin
 

Aloe Variegata. Afrikaans name Kannie dood (Can’t die) This may be true if thrown on a very sandy roof.   But it will die very quickly if watered too often. We saw this aloe on an inland trip growing in sand at an isolated shack and the owner readily accepted our cash offer. When we returned about a week later along the same route past the same shack, we were surprised to see that owner had planted about twenty of these plants right in front of their house. We never took any more, but warned them that they may have problems should someone report them, and suggested that they rather plant them far from their home.

By contrast to the above, Aloe Thrashkii grows in pure sea sand right above the high tide mark, in the Port Shepstone area, on sand dunes. It thrives despite the salty spray from onshore winds.







 

Do not be afraid . . . ; you will be king over Israel, and I will become second to you.—1 Sam. 23:17.
Jonathan must have been astonished by the way young David faced the giant Goliath. Now David stood before Jonathan’s father, King Saul of Israel, “with the head of the Philistine in his hand.” (1 Sam. 17:57) Jonathan probably admired David for his courage. It was clear that God was with David, and “Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship.” In fact, they “made a covenant because [Jonathan] loved [David] as himself.” (1 Sam. 18:1-3) For the rest of his life, he was loyal to David. Jonathan’s attachment to David endured, even though God had chosen David to be Israel’s next king. Jonathan became concerned about David when Saul was seeking to kill him. To encourage his friend, Jonathan traveled into the Judean wilderness at Horesh. There, Jonathan helped David “find strength in Jehovah,” saying the words of today’s text.—1 Sam. 23:16. w16.02 3:1, 2
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dt/r1/lp-e/2017/7/6

Tiny Viking crucifix could rewrite history

By Arden Dier Published March 18, 2016  Newser  Facebook1193 Twitter0 livefyre408 Email Print

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/03/18/tiny-viking-crucifix-could-rewrite-history.html

 

The above covers of Watchtowers with a cross and crown in the top left corner ended during the year of my birth. As a young lad of 16, I stayed at the Dunroamin Private hotel in Pretoria while at my first job. The landlady Mrs Kinsella may have been a Jehovah's Witness, or Witnesses called at the hotel. Bedsides various magazines, her library contained a few Watchtowers. Although schooled at the Catholic Marist Brothers, I only had basic Bible knowledge but was keen to learn more, so I took one of the above magazines to my room. At that stage it was believed that all religions lead to God, so the contents didn't impress me, but the picture at the top left of the corner did, so, like all adventurous young boys I sewed together three needles and tattooed the cross and crown on my left arm.
Mrs Kinsella came into my room just as I had finished and busy cleaning my arm. She was shocked and gave me a hard slap as well as a lecture. The tattoo has remained there ever since.
 
Cross and crown.docx

The above covers of Watchtowers with a cross and crown in the top left corner ended during the year of my birth. As a young lad of 16, I stayed at the Dunroamin Private hotel in Pretoria while at my first job. The landlady Mrs Kinsella may have been a Jehovah's Witness, or Witnesses called at the hotel. Bedsides various magazines, her library contained a few Watchtowers. Although schooled at the Catholic Marist Brothers, I only had basic Bible knowledge but was keen to learn more, so I took one of the above magazines to my room. At that stage it was believed that all religions lead to God, so the contents didn't impress me, but the picture at the top left of the corner did, so, like all adventurous young boys I sewed together three needles and tattooed the cross and crown on my left arm.
Mrs Kinsella came into my room just as I had finished and busy cleaning my arm. She was shocked and gave me a hard slap as well as a lecture. The tattoo has remained there ever since.
 
Cross and crown.docx

> The  other  plant  I  also  have  in  my  flat,  one  Aloe  Vera,  the  real  one
Hi Queen E, you seem to be aware that many short aloes are often sold as, Aloe Vera. There are so many varieties even Reynolds had both photos and illustrations in his book.  At one time I had both Reynolds books, Aloes of South Africa and Aloes of Tropical Africa. A collector near year gave me two Aloe Buhrii, one with red flowers the other yellow. An aloe common to our area is Aloe saponaria. (Soapy) Nearby ones have red flowers. Those further to the East have yellow flowers. Seemingly, colour changes according to the animal or insect that pollinates them. There are many honey sucking and sugar birds here, and the yellow variety depend on insects.
The Buhrii aloes were new discoveries from South West Africa. (Now Namibia) As for Aloe Vera, These are short plants with thick leaves, of which there are many varieties. Cosmetic manufacturers claim that the products are good for skin problems. I've only heard of one medical use of aloes. The aloe arborescent. It's said to cure radio active burns.The leaves are sliced in layers and bandaged over burns. 
 Aloe arborescent varieties  In the Transkei area these tall growing plants. (Two meters) surround the houses for protection.It's a most brilliant  sight for travellers. They are all bright red. Would you believe this. Third aloe in the original picture sent, (rotating leaves) comes from the high Drakensburg mountains in Botswana. (Basutoland) These are covered with ice during the winter. Brrrrrrrrrother.
 
 

Thank you for helping with the problem. I think most frangipani smell the same, maybe not the red one, I preferred only the flower. Out roses gave us fragrance.
The Afrikaans Bibles do not include God's name, they use the word, HERE. Please read the Divine Name” brochure 1984. You will hear how the Nederlandse Gehervormde Kerk removed God's name from the cornerstone of their church in Paarl, SA.
However, there was a time when the Afrikaner Bible used God's name. I was given a copy of a note by a loving sister Nienaber, Gonubie congregation, who passed away in 2015. It was very old, dirty and tattered, so I cleaned it up a little using Microsoft Paint.
You may pass it on so that the world can see this shameful act.

 

Yes I also had some in my gardens. Cultivated varieties are better, such as the giant yellow. The red variety is one I liked the most. We also had green houses with orchids and bromeliads, and a large collections of aloes - over the years and not all at the same time. As our children grew we had to sell up and move nearer to their schools.

Please help me with this problem. Whenever I upload something like the picture above, I get the message: "You have uploaded without formatting" If I leave the picture all is well. Others also upload so I don't understand. No one has yet complained.

We cannot have insight to Jehovah’s mind, (Rom. 11:34) but we do have imagination, so, we can think that he was  humorous during the creation. (Gen 1:20, 21) This came to mind while watching this interesting video - Thank you.
After making the fish and birds, he may have had his angels guessing when told that he will create flying fish and birds that swim like fish. (Penguins)

When it came to the animals they may have wondered how some could fly like birds and others would live under water permanently. (Bats, dolphins and whales)

 

In our country all varieties of Strelitzia's are so common people dig them out when other plants are fancied. Its useless trying to sell them. In fact, the white variety spreads and grows very tall I've seen them take over almost half the garden, leaving the rest in darkness. By then, it's very costly to call in someone to cut them down and carry them away. Even more costly if the roots have to be dug out to stop them sprouting. Not so with the orange/yellow varieties.
The similar Madagascar strelitzia is magnificent.

Thanks for the video. It is a beautiful plant. Even the leaves are pretty. Compare the plant to the Crowned crane in our country. It regularly feeds on open spaces in our suburb and they breed close to the marshes where we have a bird watching stand.
A similar bird, the Hoopoe feeds on insects on lawns in our suburb.


 

Oh...  I  believe  you,  THAT  makes  them  think,   YES !   Poor  people,  thinking  alot  wrong  around the  corner....  thereby  its  SO  simple  when  they  think  the  right  way !    I  found  a  nice  video  about  some  beautiful   BIRDS  OF  PARADISE   By  youtube  still  other  video's  with  SO  stunning,  beautiful  and  funny  BEAUTIES  there !
 
ENJOY  THIS  VIDEO.....   ( until  later ! )

Whenever opportune in the preaching work and people tell us they are going to heaven, we ask, "Where would you and others go for holidays? Surely few would say that they go to church every day, or do religious work day and night. Most would say they go to national parks, to the mountains, to the seaside or travel around the country, not so." When they agree, so we explain to them that it's because they love this earth. God has put the love of his 'footstool' in their hearts. (Eccl. 3:11) It makes them think.

I  also  informed  me  about  this  beautiful  Strelitzia  plant / Bird  of  paradise  plant ❤   Look  my  photos....

I  love  the  first  one,  bec.  red - orange  and  blue  color !   I  can  buy  it  here  sometimes  as  fresh  flower,  for  ca. 4 - 5  Euro,  but  its  nice  for  ca. 2 - 3  weeks    I  will  soon  ask  for  a  new  one   For  plant  it,  our  area  is  too  cold  for  many  months,  sorry
Strelitzia /strɛˈlɪtsiə/[1] is a genus of five species of perennial plants, native to South Africa. It belongs to the plant family Strelitziaceae.[2] The genus is named after the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, birthplace of Queen Charlotte of the United Kingdom. A common name of the genus is bird of paradise flower / plant, because of a resemblance of its flowers to birds-of-paradise. In South Africa it is commonly known as a crane flower and is featured on the reverse of the 50 cent coin. It is the floral emblem of the City of Los Angeles; two of the species, Strelitzia nicolai and Strelitzia reginae, are frequently grown as house plants.[3]



The  last  one  was  growing  in  Spain,  autumn  -
We  have  beautiful  Paradise  birdies  in  our  world  -  I  saw  many  photos  and  some  video's  too !   I  look  for  a  video....