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Trick or Treat? by tie_bros_illustrations
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By Bible Speaks
IS YOUR HUT ON FIRE ? The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Jehovah to rescue him, and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames ????? with smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened!
Everything was lost! He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. “Jehovah, how could you do this to me?” he cried.
Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
Moral of the story: It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because Jehovah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering.
Remember that, the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the undeserved kindness of Jehovah. - Contributed
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By The Librarian
It was announced that the Devil was going out of business and that he would offer all his tools for sale to whom ever would pay the price.
On the night of the sale, they were all attractively displayed and marked with a price, even so, they were a bad looking lot:
Malice, Hatred, Envy, Deceit, Jealousy and Sensuality and all the other implements of evil were spread out.
Apart from the rest, lay a harmless looking wedge shaped tool. Much worn and priced higher than any of the others. Someone asked the Devil, "What is that?"
That is "DISCOURAGEMENT", THE DEVIL REPLIED!
"But why do you have it priced so high?", the prospective purchaser inquired.
BECAUSE SAID THE DEVIL; " It is more useful to me than any of the others. I can pry open and get inside a man's soul with it. I can do this when I can not get near him with any of the other tools I possess.. Once I get inside his mind with discouragement, I can use him in whatever way suits me best. The reason this tool is so worn, is that I can use it with nearly everyone. So, very few know that it belongs to me!
It hardly needs to be added, that the Devil's price was so high for discouragement that it was never sold. He still owns it and uses it today!
- contributed by email - Many thanks Jenni
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By The Librarian
The public talk title today was, " where can you find security in this world?"
The brother giving the talk gave a very nice illustration, inspired by a true event. Psalm 91:1 states, "Anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, Will procure himself lodging under the very shadow of the Almighty One." So what is that Secret place? and how can you find security there? This illustration also makes it clear as to how we should deal with each other in the christian congregation if any misunderstanding or conflicts arise.And here it is:
Imagine that you are at the kingdom hall or any other place with some brothers and sisters, and suddenly war broke out, rebels are moving all over the place with guns and knives, randomly killing everyone they saw.Now all present started to search for a place to hide, and finally found a place and all hid themselves. It was a tight, dark , cold room, not enough space for anybody to move. Then one of the brothers/sisters decides to move a bit, and steps on your foot, and that hurt you alot. WILL YOU SHOUT? Will you start complaining that its a tight, dark room and you can't stay in there? You know that rebels are all over the place searching for people, and you know what will happen if you SHOUT. Of course, if you decide not to shout, then all of you will be safe. And if you decide to shout, well you know what will happen.
Likewise, the christian congregation today serves as a "secret place" for Jehovah's people. You can be safe from the pressures of the world around you. And you might have conflicts or misunderstanding with some brothers or sisters, you might get insulted, judged. Now will you SHOUT? in another sense, will you COMPLAIN? You know that satan, the REBEL, "walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone", ( 1 Peter 5:8). If the REBEL, sees any signs of discouragement or hears any complaining, he will creep in and cause division, or may drift you away from the "SECRET PLACE". But if you keep quiet, then all will be safe.
So next time a conflict arises between you and any of your brothers or sisters, WILL YOU SHOUT ??
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By Isabella
The idea above was submitted by a patron. (The 1995 7/1 Watchtower “What is Truth” covers this topic well.)
Bonus point: Suppose the room is 75 degrees, but the two men feel it’s too cold or too hot. The cold man decides to change the temperature by adjusting the thermostat so that it’s more comfortable for him, but now the man who feels it is too hot is suffering. This frustrates the hot man, so he adjusts the temperature to cool himself down. Now the cold person is suffering. This is similar to how religions treat the Bible.
Christendom’s Churches keep adjusting and changing what the Bible teaches to try to make people more comfortable in their church. For example, they lower the temperature on God’s commands against the practice of homosexuality. Doing this doesn’t actually work. Their efforts to appease some ultimately ends up offending others. Bothered by the lies and hypocrisy people leave the “room” altogether.
The Bible should not be adjusted to make people feel more comfortable with their behavior. The temperature has been set by Jehovah. If someone is too cold, they can adjust and put on more clothes. If someone is too hot, they can adjust and remove unnecessary items of clothing.
Instead of adjusting God’s standards to Make people more comfortable with immoral choices, people need to be encouraged to make personal adjustments to line up with God’s standards.
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By Isabella
Think about all the people who have riches and yet they don’t have the time to sit down with their family to enjoy a meal. This is nothing new, even in Solomon’s time this was an issue. That is why he wrote the scripture at proverbs 15:17. We shouldn’t imitate the world that prioritizes wealth, entertainment and material possessions over spending time with family in a loving atmosphere.
It is not about what we are eating at the dinner table, but who we are eating with. It is not about how fancy the setting is where we share a meal, but about filling that setting with love.
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By Isabella
I want to try something different. Normally I explain the picture on the artwork or in the comments , but this time I want to see how you all interpret the message behind these pictures. Let me know what this picture makes you think of or how you think it relates to us spiritually down below!
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By Isabella
Bonus Point: Some pearls form naturally in clams and oysters. However, cultured pearls are different. They are formed when someone intentionally puts an irritant into an oyster triggering the defense mechanism. Similarly, some of our brothers and sisters may have suffered physical, verbal or sexual abuse. They did nothing wrong, something wrong was done to them. In these instances it can take years for them to learn to cope with the pain. Still, with God’s love and spirit, even such deep scars from the actions of others can create pearls. If this has happened to you, others who have suffered may see your pearl of strength and be encouraged to keep pressing on as well. Most importantly, Jehovah sees your pain and all you have done to keep moving forward despite it. In his eyes, that has more value than any pearl that has ever been found.
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By Isabella
When it comes to choosing our entertainment and recreation we need to treat those choices like we would a traffic light. How so?
Red Traffic Light: It is life threatening to proceed with such activities. Entertainment that centers around the love of violence, sexual immorality, spiritism or that shows a lack of respect for life are clearly things God hates. Running these red lights can cost us our hope of gaining everlasting life or hurt others. Even if we run a red light without getting hit, God’s eyes are like cameras that see what we do. So we might be getting away with running spiritual red lights now, but later we may pay for it when the ticket arrives in the mail.
Yellow Traffic Light: Slow down or proceed with caution. Some decisions are really up to each individuals conscience. For example, wether or not to serve wine at a party. However, it is wise to consider not just our own “right of way” when making such decisions. Just as someone approaching a yellow light will check the surroundings before deciding to keep going or stop, we must take the time to learn and adjust to consciences of those around us. We wouldn’t want to inadvertently cause an accident.
Green Traffic Light: It is safe to proceed with such activities. These can include spiritual activities, a simple gathering with brothers and sisters, various outdoor activities and so on. Some of the entertainment the world offers may have a green light as well but we still must be alert. Like a stale green light will eventually turn red, worldly entertainment that starts off clean can quickly introduce unclean things that will require us to slam on the brakes and stop watching.
Making such decisions is like driving a car, each of us must apply 1 Corinthians 10:23,24 “keep on seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person.” By doing so we can all safely make it to our destination in good health and with an undamaged conscience.
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By Isabella
There are many similarities between the dangers of surfing in the ocean and the dangers of surfing on the web. Dangers such as jagged rocks, sharks, sea urchins, jellyfish, riptides, thunderstorms, other surfers and shallow reefs can seriously harm or even kill the unprepared surfer. Similarly, aimlessly surfing the web can cause lasting spiritual, mental and emotional damage. What are some of the dangers that we may face if we aimlessly surf the web? 1.) Satan is like a hungry shark swimming beneath the surface in the sea of information found on the internet. 2.)Posting too much personal/private information into the cloud has created stormy times for many, especially for young ones. 3.) Cyber bullies are like sea urchins that will stick you with painful toxic taunts and insults. 4.) Pornographic sites are abundant like a large swarm of jellyfish. Just a slight brush with one can be shocking. Getting stung by pornography can cause lasting pain and can even lead to spiritual death. 5.) Political discussions/opinions are all over the internet and are like shallow reefs. Political promises of wealth, change, peace and prosperity may appear appealing, but they are lies that can cause much harm to those trusting and reaching out for them. If we don’t maintain our neutrality we may lose our balance and fall into political debates. The scrapes from such debates can easily cause our thinking to become infected. 6.) Others surfing the web include apostates that won’t hesitate to drop in and make waves for you. Their goal is to try to trick or scare you so that you lose balance and fall spiritually. 7.) Worldly thinking and trends are like strong currents that can easily drag us away from the safety of God’s spiritual shore and into the depths of sin. 8.) False teachings and philosophies are all over the internet like jagged rocks that can wreck our faith if we surf toward them. 9.) Even if we manage to avoid all of these dangers, we still must avoid sinking too much time into surfing the web. Doing so can eventually cause us to drown spiritually. The internet, like the ocean, has a lot of beautiful things in it, but there are many dangers above and below the surface that can harm us. If we choose to go into those waters, we must be prepared. If children want to go into those waters, parents need to pay attention. So many kids are easily getting addicted to the thinking and imagery found on the internet. To turn a blind eye to this would be like sending a child into shark infested waters in a storm to go surf. Check their history, monitor their activity, protect them from the shark, the urchins and the jellyfish. The best option to enjoy the ocean and stay safe is to stay on God’s shore and enjoy the spiritual waters he provides as they roll in.
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By Guest Indiana
Who does adultery effect? First and foremost, it effects God. He sees all that we do. So when a husband or wife cheats on their mate, not only does he see the steps that lead to the adultery, but he sees the act itself. Next, the innocent mate is effected once they are told or find out about the actions of their unfaithful mate. If the couple has children, then they will be effected by this as well.
Both the families of the guilty mate and the innocent mate will no doubt be hurt. The congregation may become aware of what happened, and this can be damaging. Especially is this the case if the ones involved were viewed as exemplary in the congregation. Finally, in some instances (see WT 1991 11/15 p.22 par 15), even Non-Witnesses in the community may find out. This reflects poorly on the very first person who was effected by all of this...Jehovah.
So before committing any sin, it is vital to think about the ripple effect our actions will have on those around us. (Based on a recent C.O. talk) -Proverbs 22:3
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By Guest Indiana
Perhaps it was done by mistake. If so, what good would it do for the person who tripped over it to hold on to it? That person would only be weighing themself down, while the person who made the mistake lives on, blissfully unaware of the pain they accidentally caused. Perhaps it was done intentionally. Still, what good would it do for the person who tripped over it to hold on to it? If anything, holding on to it can lead that person to seek revenge and use the stone to beat the person who stumbled them. How much better it is to let go of resentment and move on. Easy? No. Worth it? Read Matthew 18:4-5 and Watchtower 1972 12/1 p.707-708.
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By Guest Indiana
Isaiah 64:8 “O Jehovah, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our Potter.” Romans 12:2 “stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Never would we want to give up being molded by Jehovah to be molded by Satan and his system. After watching Toy Story 4 and reading Romans 12:2 this idea came to mind. Sorry that it is a sadder ending than usual.
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By Guest Indiana
Before deciding to date it is important you pay close attention to the person you are interested in. How do they treat others? Are they spiritually mature? How do they handle money matters? How do they handle responsibility? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? There is never a reason to settle for less. We don’t need to look for perfection, but when it is clear that they require a ton of assembly or when they don’t have very important qualities or skills needed to make a marriage a success, we would be wise to hold off from pursing a courtship. Normally, when purchasing an item we do research to make sure we are getting the best quality. Why would we do any less when it comes to something as life changing and important as choosing a marriage mate. Also, if I am aware that I have a ton of assembly required and lack in many areas of life, why not work on those things first before trying to date. If we really like someone we should want them to have the best, right? “Patience is the key”. (See YPA Vol 2 Chapter 1)
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By The Librarian
The Scripture in Hebrews 5:14 is quite familiar to us; that mature people have their perceptive powers trained through "use". This implies constant attention to staying active with the spiritual tools and talents available to each of us. But what happens when we slow down in the application of spiritual principles and guidelines in our lives, or become lazy and unproductive?
A Spanish philosopher tells about the Roman aqueduct at Segovia, in his native Spain. It was built in 109 A.D. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow.
Then came the present generation. One man said, "This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labour."
They did. They laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest. And the aqueduct began to fall apart. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stone sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy, idleness disintegrated.
Here's another story:
The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvellous violin to Genoa, the city of his birth, but only on condition that the instrument never be played. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay.
The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The mouldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.
Good reasons then, to carefully consider the necessary actions listed in 2 Peter 1:5-8 that when applied, will "prevent (us) from being either inactive or unfruitful regarding he accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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By The Librarian
It is half past ten on Saturday night. I just came back from a walk in the clouds of snow! The first flakes landed yesterday and kept the scenery white for a few hours, and then started to melt. We thought this would be as usual our one-day scenario. Yet it started to snow again late last night.
Apart from a few hours break around noon, it did not stop snowing, laying a beautiful white carpet on the whole country. A great opportunity for a walk in the park nearby our house! The lake was almost completely frozen and a few ducks were gathered on the small sheltered area where cold would not bite. Just a handful of people had decided to walk around the lake. The trail was nearly immaculate as the footprints were quickly covered. Each step made the characteristically crispy sound of compacted snow. Night's darkness seemed to be kept at a distance as the white decor reflected every bit of light. The branches of the trees were as if dressed with delicate lace. As the intensity of the snow fall increased, my sight got blurred. The details of the landscape faded as millions of cottonlike crystals floated their way down to earth. I couldn't help but stop, sit down on a bench and admire the spectacle.
Had it been one degree warmer, it would have rained; one degree cooler, it would only have been cold and humid. The temperature was just right for this phenomenon called snow to occur.
Jehovah is creating the circumstances that are just right for his purpose to be accomplished. Millions of people are now covering the earth with their Bible-based message reflecting divine glory and shining in this spiritually bedarkened world. Every single of these proclaimers is unique and beautiful, just like a snowflake. If they were by themselves, snowflakes would immediately melt, yet because of their united action, they hold firm together. The effect of this united work of doing God's will accomplished by this cloud of witnesses beautifies formerly spiritually dead-looking people and clothes them with a white attire, an approved standing in Jehovah's eyes. How refreshing their sounding out the Good News is! How beautiful the view of these faithful servants of the only true God! Let us make sure never to be blind to the beauty of Jehovah's purpose and the way it unfolds.
Let us have a share in beautifying those in need of the Good News in our territory.
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By The Librarian
I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game - a serious game - two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distraction of being anxious about winning or losing - I only wished the parents and coaches could have done the same. The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two.
Nobody scored in the first period. The kids were hilarious. They were clumsy and terribly inefficient, as only children can be. 🙂 They fell over their own feet, they stumbled over the ball, they kicked at the ball and missed it, but they didn't seem to care they were having fun!
In the second period, the Team One coach, pulled out what must have been his first team players and put in the scrubs; with the exception of his best player, who he left at goalie. The game took a dramatic turn. I guess winning is important even when you are five years old, because the Team Two coach left his best players in; the Team One scrubs were just no match for them.
Team Two swarmed around the little guy at goalie. He was an outstanding athlete for five, but he was no match for three or four who were equally as good. Team Two began to score. The lone goalie gave it his all. Recklessly throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying valiantly to stop them.
Team Two scored two quick points in succession. It infuriated the young boy. He became a raging maniac - shouting, running, and diving. With all the stamina he could muster, he finally was able to cover one of the boys as he approached the goal. But, that boy kicked the ball to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time the young goalie repositioned himself, it was too late.
They scored a third goal. I soon learned who the goalie's parents were. They were nice, decentlooking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office, tie and all. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field, and his parents on the sideline. After the third goal, the little kid changed.
He could see it was no use; he couldn't stop them. He didn't quit, but he became quietly desperate - futility was written all over his face. His father changed too. He had been urging his son to try harder - yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed; he became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay to hang in there. He grieved for the pain his son was feeling.
After the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. I've seen it before. The little boy needed help so badly, and there was no help to be had. He retrieved the ball from the net and handed it to the referee - and then he cried. He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees, I saw his father start onto the field.
His wife clutched his wrist and said, "Jim, don't. You'll embarrass him." But, he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. He wasn't supposed to for the game was still in progress. Suit, tie, dress shoes, and all - he charged onto the field and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy. And he hugged him and kissed him and cried with him. I have never been so proud of any man in my life. He carried him off the field, and when they got close to the sidelines I heard him say, "Scotty, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son."
"Daddy," the boy sobbed, "I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried and they scored on me." "Scotty, it doesn't matter how many times they score on you. You're my son, and I'm proud of you. I want you to go back out there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can't. And son, you're going to get scored on again, but it doesn't matter. Go on, now."It made a difference - I could tell it did. When you're all alone, and you're getting scored on - and you can't stop them - it means a lot to know that it doesn't matter to those who love you. The little guy ran back on to the field, and they scored two more times; but it was okay.
I get scored on every day. I try so hard. I recklessly throw my body in every direction. I fume and rage. I struggle with temptation and sin with every ounce of my being - and Satan laughs. And he scores again, and the tears come, and I go to my knees; sinful, convicted, helpless.
Then my Father rushes right out on the field - right in front of the whole crowd - the whole jeering laughing world, and he picks me up. And he hugs me, and he says, "I am so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my child.
Isaiah 41:10, 13
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By The Librarian
If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there above them.
The Psalmist said, "I shall raise my eyes to the mountains. From where will my help come? My help is from Jehovah (Ps 121:1, 2) Our best source of help is just above us, but we need to look up and ask.
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By The Librarian
This is a true story about a little girl. There was a fire in her building in Harlem. She was up on the fourth floor at a window and the firemen couldn't get to her, so they spread out nets, and they were yelling for her to jump, but she would not listen to them. It turns out she was blind and couldn't see the net and was afraid to jump. When her father got there he called out to her to jump. Hearing her Dad's voice, she jumped and was totally relaxed. So relaxed that she not only didn't break a bone but also didn't even strain a muscle. We can compare this illustration to our relationship with our heavenly Father. We should have complete and total trust in Jehovah's instructions and just do them.
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By The Librarian
A little shepherd boy was watching his sheep one Sunday morning. As he heard the bells ringing the faithful to church, he watched the people walking along the lane next to the pasture. He began to think that he, too, would like to communicate with God. "But what can I say?" he thought. He had never learned a prayer.
So on bended knee, he began to recite the alphabet - A, B, C, D, and so on to Z, repeating his "prayer" several times.
A man passing by heard the boy's voice, and stopping to look through the bushes, saw the child kneeling with folded hands and closed eyes, saying, "J, K, L, M, ..."
He interrupted the boy, asking, "What are you doing, my little friend?" The boy replied, "I was praying, sir."
Surprised, the man said, "But why are you reciting the alphabet?"
The child explained, "I don't know any prayers, sir. But I want God to take care of me and help me to care for the sheep. So, I thought if I said all I knew, He could put the letters together and spell all that I want to say and should say."
The man smiled and said, "Bless your heart. You're right - God will!"
Remember that Jesus told us to have faith like a child. When you go to God in prayer, don't worry if you don't know what to say. He can put your thoughts and feelings together and send you the answer you need, even when you don't know what you need.
contributed
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By The Librarian
Ephesians 4:22, 23: "That you should put away the old personality which conforms to your former course of conduct and which is being corrupted according to his deceptive desires; but that you should be made new in the force actuating your mind."
The verb, "put away"-- in the original Greek language is called the aorist tense. It indicates an action that is taken just once or once and for all. So it must be decisively (conclusively settled) stripped off.
To help you get the sense of this lets illustrate:
When one gives you advise on how to renovate your house, an antique, or a piece of old furniture, the worst words you can hear to solve the problem is: "The only thing you can do to make it right is to strip off the paint."
Why are these hated words? Well, have you ever used paint stripper? Do you know anyone who has ever told you that they like to strip ANYTHING? No one likes it. You get it on you. It burns. Splashes on your face or gets under the glove that you are using.. gooey, slippery, sludge. So why do we do it? Why do we subject ourselves to such torture? Because it is a necessity; there is no other alternative. It is the best solution. Why?
If it is not stripped completely you risk the new coating delaminating or peeling.
We have to do the same with our old personality. If we don't get it off completely, it will eventually cause our spirituality to delaminate. It is because, the old personality "is being corrupted" as the 'b' section of Eph. 4:22 indicates. Yes, the old personality is in a continuous course of moral degradation going from bad to worse, leading to defilement and death. So you have to get it off, like clothing that has the smell of a skunk!!!!! Get it off!!! Would you keep your socks on? No, we take everything off the first chance we get.
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By The Librarian
Think of a vintage vehicle that sits gleaming in a showroom or museum. Imagine the attention to detail, the thousands of hours spent in restoring it to its present condition, perhaps because someone saw it rusting away under a tree and could see its potential.
Or perhaps it is a beautiful piece of antique furniture, or a building such as the Stanley Theatre. In the latter case, Jehovah's people saw its potential, and spent many hours on its restoration.
Now, if people can do that for material things, are we prepared to put that amount of time and effort into our own spirit, to create a refined, self-sacrificing attitude in ourselves?
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By The Librarian
Once there was a man who worked for a construction company. He always tried to do exactly what his employer wanted. He arrived for work on time, and never took 'extended' morning tea or lunch breaks. One day after his morning break he got up and started work, picking up a large piece of timber to take to the worksite.
Some of the workers completely ignored him.
Some of the others started to give him a hard time.
Some said, "Take it easy, come back here and sit with us. You don't need to do that now."
Others shouted, "That's no way to carry a piece of timber by yourself, you need to balance it better!"
Others thought he was just trying to impress the boss, and trying to make them look bad.
Our Pioneers, Ministerial Servants and Elders and others are trying to do what our employer, Jehovah God wants.We can ignore, discourage, criticise, or impute wrong motives. Or we can get up, reach out and help them carry the load.
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By The Librarian
Female Cowbird
Hello, We recently dedicated our remodeled Kingdom Hall here in Los Angeles , and our guest speaker was Bro. Javier Hernandez from Brooklyn Bethel. Bro. Hernandez did a program in English and Spanish, which was outstanding. Then on Sunday he gave our Public Talk and then a service talk entitled "Imitate Their Faith." It highlighted the hard work of the governing body, and why we should imitate their example. Bro. Hernandez is very knowledgeable of the Governing Body, because he serves as Bro. Herd's personal secretary.
I have to relate the wonderful illustration he gave of the lazy cowbird. It is so good. Bro. Hernandez grew up in West Texas , and often saw cowbirds. These birds spend most of their time on the backs of cows eating parasites. When they spot a bird building a nest they will wait for the bird to leave and then go and lay their eggs in someone else's nest. The cowbird is lazy, so it goes back to the cow. The unsuspecting bird doesn't notice the extra eggs, and when they hatch, she begins flying off to feed them. This tires her out so that when her own eggs hatch she is too weak to feed them, and her babies end up dying.
speckled cowbird egg
Today Satan is like the cowbird. He watches us and then tries to drop eggs into our nest. They may be work, school, entertainment, recreation, or whatever, and we begin to take more care of Satan's eggs than our own spiritual needs. If we are not careful, our spirituality will die because we are too busy feeding Satan's eggs. So watch out for those deadly eggs and get them out of your nest!
What a simple practical real life illustration! Maybe you have heard it before but it was so good I had to share. Bro.Hernandez also repeatedly said we are living in the last seconds of the last days. No doubt working closely with the Governing Body, that phrase is common. It's a good reminder of our need to get and be ready.
You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
Ps.I added the pictures for you.....
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By The Librarian
What is your opinion?. Is it rats?
If a mousetrap is introduced into a mouse's environment, it will go right over to it, take the bait, and its family will jump on it too in an effort to get it loose and perhaps all will get stuck.
A rat, however, will ignore everything new in its environment until it gets used to it, and only then it will go investigate it. So to catch a rat, a trapper leaves the trap, then when the rat is used to it he baits it. By introducing the bait (something new) into its environment causes the rat to ignore it all over again, until he gets used to it.
Then the trapper sets the trap and, after waiting for the rat to "acclimatize" he catches the rat.
The point is that Satan is catching people with this method today, by getting us used to an environment that is very bad, little by little--acclimatizing us to it so we get to thinking that what's in our environment (bad entertainment, immorality, etc.) is normal, and then! He has us.
Think ? Then reflect on what we considered bad entertainment 20 or more years ago...
Reminds me of the illustration in Sunday's Watchtower (4/15/12), Maintain a Complete Heart Towards Jehovah:
Imagine that you are reading a book by the light of a 100-watt bulb, but then the bulb fails. Since you are left in the dark, you immediately notice what happened and replace the burned-out bulb with a new one. Light fills the room again. The next evening, you are reading with the help of the same lamp. However, unbeknownst to you, someone replaced the new 100-watt bulb with a 95-watt bulb. Would you notice the difference? Probably not. Andwhat if the next day someone put a 90-watt bulb in your lamp? Likely, you would still not notice it. Why not? The lamp's light is diminishing so gradually that you are not aware of it. Similarly, the influences of Satan's world may cause our zeal to diminish little by little. If that happens, it is as if Satan succeeded in reducing 100-watt heartfelt zeal for Jehovah's service to something less. If not alert, a Christian may not even notice the gradual change. —Matt. 24:42; 1 Pet. 5:8.
Anakalia -
By The Librarian
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots ?
Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil " Jeremiah 13:23
You've no doubt read the old fable about the scorpion and the frog.
It illustrates how man's nature is much more devious and controlling than is his logic.
The fable says how,...
" One day a scorpion arrived at the bank of a river he wanted to cross, but there was no bridge.
He asked a frog that was sitting nearby if he would take him across the river on his back.
The frog refused and said,... " I will not, because you will sting me "
The scorpion replied,..." It would be foolish for me to sting you because then we would both drown "
The frog saw the logic in the scorpion's words, and agreed to carry the scorpion across.
But when they were halfway across the river the scorpion stung the frog.
The stunned frog asked,..." Why did you sting me, now we will both die ! "
The scorpion replied,... " Because I'm a scorpion … and that's what scorpions do "
Sad to say some people today are more concerned about being " politically correct " than they are about being " Biblically correct ",...
They change the name of sins to justify people's sinful behavior.
They do this because they are more concerned about the approval of man than they are about the approval of Jehovah God.
To Jehovah God, sin—all sin—is sin by whatever name we call it, and all sin is ultimately self-destructive regardless of how we seek to justify it.
Furthermore, God's Word reminds us that no matter how good, how noble, how educated, how refined, or how sophisticated we may be, we are all sinners.
Romans 3:23
Like the leopard that cannot change its spots neither can we change our nature.
We are not sinners because we sin, but rather, we sin because we are sinners.
That's our nature and that's why we need Jehovah God's salvation to save us from the eternal consequences of our sin—which is eternal separation from Jehovah God for all eternity.
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By The Librarian
Run, Idiot, Run
Br. Jackson of the governing body concluding a talk @ LA District Convention had this neat illustration at the very end of the convention.
He said "What if you were watching a football game on TV & it was the Trojans against the Fighting Irish...& it's been a good game...and it's coming down to the last seconds and the Trojans get the ball (then he stands like a football player) and then he starts running (and he picks up his foot like he's going to take off) and you're glued to the TV-just waiting to see what will happen...and he makes it to the 30 then the 20 then the 10 yard line and he's at the one inch line...and he ..stops!
THE GUY WITH THE BALL STOPS!!! ..and he starts looking around for the game clock..and he yells, "how much time do I have left?"
And you are staring at the TV in disbelief!!! What do you do?
You yell at the TV -Run, Idiot!!!, Run!!!
...(Bro Jackson is yelling this from the stage) it was so hysterical- then he stops and says ...
That's where you are...This system is dying.
We're the event that the universe is watching.
We are at the one inch line ..and some are stopping and looking around and wondering where we are in the stream of time.
RUN!!! IDIOT!!! RUN!!! Don't look at the time...just run...run...we're almost there.
It was a very dramatic ending.
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By TrueTomHarley · Posted
Yikes! There’s a photo of me with arms around Srecko, 4Jah, and Witness! -
Hopefully those who have been laughing at JWs will now start to wake up. Things are starting to look pretty clear about where we are in the stream of time. China has had devastating floods too and a big dam is about to break which has the potential to kill millions and create financial havoc downstream. -
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Whilst reading / researching something completely different I was hit by this 'information' or not. As it's nice to find the truth about things i was wondering if anyone knows about these people. Q,Anon / QAnon Qanon. (hashtag) WWG1WGA = Where We Go 1 We Go All This seemed to start off as one person on 4 chan (whatever that is) and has now developed into a group of people. Now on 8 chan ? Their belief is that there is a : Worldwide Satanic Secret Sex Trafficking Ring -
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Hi Srecko. I hope you can see this photo. This is my daily driving car. It is outside a Dance Studio where I have danced and hope to go dancing again, John· 2 replies
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Hello my sister, i have not head from you long sice. I hope you are wel. Hope to hear from you soon. Agape.· 0 replies
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*** it-2 p. 7 Jehovah ***· 1 reply
The Codex Leningrad B 19A, of the 11th century C.E., vowel points the Tetragrammaton to read Yehwahʹ, Yehwihʹ, and Yeho·wahʹ. Ginsburg’s edition of the Masoretic text vowel points the divine name to read Yeho·wahʹ. (Ge 3:14, ftn) Hebrew scholars generally favor “Yahweh” as the most likely pronunciation. They point out that the abbreviated form of the name is Yah (Jah in the Latinized form), as at Psalm 89:8 and in the expression Ha·lelu-Yahʹ (meaning “Praise Jah, you people!”). (Ps 104:35; 150:1, 6) Also, the forms Yehohʹ, Yoh, Yah, and Yaʹhu, found in the Hebrew spelling of the names Jehoshaphat, Joshaphat, Shephatiah, and others, can all be derived from Yahweh. Greek transliterations of the name by early Christian writers point in a somewhat similar direction with spellings such as I·a·beʹ and I·a·ou·eʹ, which, as pronounced in Greek, resemble Yahweh. Still, there is by no means unanimity among scholars on the subject, some favoring yet other pronunciations, such as “Yahuwa,” “Yahuah,” or “Yehuah.”
Since certainty of pronunciation is not now attainable, there seems to be no reason for abandoning in English the well-known form “Jehovah” in favor of some other suggested pronunciation. If such a change were made, then, to be consistent, changes should be made in the spelling and pronunciation of a host of other names found in the Scriptures: Jeremiah would be changed to Yir·meyahʹ, Isaiah would become Yeshaʽ·yaʹhu, and Jesus would be either Yehoh·shuʹaʽ (as in Hebrew) or I·e·sousʹ (as in Greek). The purpose of words is to transmit thoughts; in English the name Jehovah identifies the true God, transmitting this thought more satisfactorily today than any of the suggested substitutes.
*** it-2 p. 7 Jehovah ***
The Codex Leningrad B 19A, of the 11th century C.E., vowel points the Tetragrammaton to read Yehwahʹ, Yehwihʹ, and Yeho·wahʹ. Ginsburg’s edition of the Masoretic text vowel points the divine name to read Yeho·wahʹ. (Ge 3:14, ftn) Hebrew scholars generally favor “Yahweh” as the most likely pronunciation. They point out that the abbreviated form of the name is Yah (Jah in the Latinized form), as at Psalm 89:8 and in the expression Ha·lelu-Yahʹ (meaning “Praise Jah, you people!”). (Ps 104:35; 150:1, 6) Also, the forms Yehohʹ, Yoh, Yah, and Yaʹhu, found in the Hebrew spelling of the names Jehoshaphat, Joshaphat, Shephatiah, and others, can all be derived from Yahweh. Greek transliterations of the name by early Christian writers point in a somewhat similar direction with spellings such as I·a·beʹ and I·a·ou·eʹ, which, as pronounced in Greek, resemble Yahweh. Still, there is by no means unanimity among scholars on the subject, some favoring yet other pronunciations, such as “Yahuwa,” “Yahuah,” or “Yehuah.”
Since certainty of pronunciation is not now attainable, there seems to be no reason for abandoning in English the well-known form “Jehovah” in favor of some other suggested pronunciation. If such a change were made, then, to be consistent, changes should be made in the spelling and pronunciation of a host of other names found in the Scriptures: Jeremiah would be changed to Yir·meyahʹ, Isaiah would become Yeshaʽ·yaʹhu, and Jesus would be either Yehoh·shuʹaʽ (as in Hebrew) or I·e·sousʹ (as in Greek). The purpose of words is to transmit thoughts; in English the name Jehovah identifies the true God, transmitting this thought more satisfactorily today than any of the suggested substitutes.
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