Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-17-2013 WT Study (DRAWING CLOSE)

So how many unwritten rules have you encountered in the congregation? Note in this article the WTS is not specific, but very general, leaving the door wide open for the elders interpretation.

I was in a congregation where sisters were allowed to have double pierced ears. But in a congregation on the other side of town the BOE said only one piercing and that was for everyone in the organization. When those sisters found out about the rule in the other congregation, it became a battle involving 2 BOEs and 1 CO. One elder called NY to undercut the CO and was told that each BOE decides. Can I say that the one that allowed 2 piercings and 3 elders wives with double piercings?

*** wi pp. 9-11 par. 16 The Bible—Inspired by God? ***

Nowhere in the Bible is there any mention of the existence of an oral law. More important, its teachings contradict the Scriptures, adding to the misimpression that the Bible is self-contradictory . (See box, page 22.) But it is man, and not God, who is responsible for this confusion.—Isaiah 29:13.

START OF ARTICLE

1, 2. (a) What are Satan’s “designs”? (b) What will help us to

draw close to God?

JEHOVAH GOD created humans with the need for

drawing close to him. Yet, Satan wants us to think

as he does—that we do not need Jehovah. That is

a lie that Satan has promoted ever since Eve was

deceived by it in the garden of Eden. (Gen. 3:4-6)

Down through history, much of mankind has repeated

that mistake.

COMMENTS

But did Adam or Eve need a human organization to draw close to God?

Or Abel?

Or Enoch?

Or Noah?

Or Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons?

*** w06 5/15 p. 22 par. 8 Are You Prepared for Survival? ***

Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization.

*** w83 2/15 p. 12 You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth—But How? ***

A third requirement is that we be associated with God’s channel, his organization. God has always used an organization. For example, only those in the ark in Noah’s day survived the Flood, and only those associated with the Christian congregation in the first century had God’s favor. (Acts 4:12) Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.

Any mention of an organization in Noah’s day? No but the WTS will make the “connections” for you.

*** w94 10/1 pp. 11-12 par. 8 God’s Servants—An Organized and Happy People ***

Jehovah also organizes his servants on earth. When he brought the Deluge of Noah’s day in 2370 B.C.E., Noah and seven others survived the Flood as a family organization. In the Exodus of 1513 B.C.E., Jehovah brought several million of his people out of Egyptian bondage and gave them a detailed code of laws to organize their daily affairs and worship. And later, in the Promised Land, tens of thousands of them were organized for special service at the temple. (1 Chronicles 23:4, 5) In the first century, Christian congregations were organized under divine direction: “He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work.”—Ephesians 4:11, 12.

How many jws know that the word “organization” never occurs in the NWT or any bible, just like “governing body”?

Supposedly angels spoke directly to many of these men, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham….so why doesn’t he talk to humans like that today? Who was the last person an angel talked to in the bible…Apostle John?

2 Happily, we do not need to fall into Satan’s trap.

“We are not ignorant of his designs.” (2 Cor. 2:11)

Satan tries to distance us from Jehovah by moving

us to make wrong choices. But as the preceding

article showed, we can make right choices regarding

career, entertainment, and family concerns. This

article will show how keeping technology, health,

money, and pride in their proper place can help us

to “draw close to God.”—Jas. 4:8.

COMMENTS

So does Satan individually seek out jws to influence them?

Right choices – right according to the “organization.”

In their proper place = per the organization

TECHNOLOGY

3. Illustrate how technology can be used for good or for bad.

3 Around the world, advanced electronic devices

are now commonplace. Used properly, such inventions

can be useful tools. Used improperly, they

can come between us and our heavenly Father. Consider

computers. The magazine you are reading was

written and published with the aid of computers.

A computer can be an effective research and communication

tool and at times a source of refreshing

entertainment. We can, however, also become obsessed

with computer technology. Marketers cleverly

convince people that they must have the latest

products. One young man so passionately desired a

particular tablet computer that he secretly sold one

of his kidneys to buy it. What a shortsighted sacrifice!

COMMENTS

Who decides what is improper use? Obsessed?

So what products of any kind don’t “marketers cleverly convince people that they must have the latest products”?

So one person out of 7 billion makes a pattern of behavior? How many people sell their kidneys for other things? Food? Why no news reference?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9466585/Chinese-student-sells-kidney-for-iPad.html

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-09/kolkata/31139121_1_kidney-drunken-men-death-warrant

4. How did one Christian deal with his excessive

computer use?

4 It is even more tragic to sacrifice

your intimacy with Jehovah through

misuse or overuse of technology. “I

know that the Bible says that we should

‘buy out the opportune time’ for spiritual

matters,” says Jon, a Christian in his

late 20’s.* “But when it comes to computers,

I’m my own worst enemy.” Jon

often found himself still online late into

the night. “The more tired I was, the

harder it was to quit chatting or watching

short videos—and not always wholesome

ones,” he relates. To help himself

break this bad habit, Jon set his computer

to shut itself down when it was time

for him to go to bed.—Read Ephesians 5:

15, 16.

*Names have been changed.

COMMENTS

So why does Jon have more control? What about computers at work?

Does he have control in other areas…or is lack of control part of his personality not a result of access to a machine? So setting it to shut down meant he could not turn it back on?

Short videos—Youtube?

Why no mention of pornography?

5, 6. (a) What responsibilities do parents have

toward their children? (b) How can parents

make sure that their children have good association?

5 Parents, you need not control your

children’s every move, but you do need

to monitor their computer use. Do not

abandon them to online immorality, violent

games, spiritism, and bad association

just to keep them busy and out

of your way. If you do, they may conclude,

‘Since Dad and Mom don’t care,

it must be all right.’ As parents, it is

your job to shield your children—including

teenagers—from anything that could

distance them from Jehovah. Even animals

protect their young from danger.

Imagine what a mother bear would do

if someone threatened her cubs!—Compare

Hosea 13:8.

COMMENTS

Jon was almost 30, were his parents responsible for his problem?

So what can parents do to cut off their children from immorality, violent games, etc.

Is it that parents don’t supervise their children, or that children see their parents doing the same things?

A mother bear would destroy the threat…how are parents to do the same, toss the computer and all else into the trash?

6 Help your children to arrange

wholesome association with other exemplary

Christians, young and old. And

remember, your children need you to

spend time with them! So make time to

laugh, play, work, and “draw close to

God” together.*

*See “How to Raise Responsible Children” in the

October 2011 issue of Awake!

COMMENTS

Exemplary Christians = only jws and only the truly spiritual ones

*** w80 6/15 p. 19 par. 13 Harvesting Fruit Suitable for God’s Kingdom ***

Even in the Christian congregation there may be an environment or association that is spiritually not most helpful. Some who recently came out of the world and symbolized their dedication to God by water baptism may tend to bring into the congregation something that still clings to them—a measure of worldliness.

Mom and Dad won’t have time because they will be on the computer.

HEALTH

7. Why do we all want to stay healthy?

7 “How are you feeling?” This common

expression betrays a grim reality.

Because our first parents allowed Satan

to distance them from Jehovah, we are

all subject to illness. Sickness serves Satan’s

purpose, for when we are sick, it is

harder for us to serve Jehovah. And if we

die, we cannot serve him at all. (Ps. 115:

17) Naturally, then, we want to do what

we can to stay healthy.# And we should

be concerned about our brothers’ health

and welfare.

#See “Five Keys to Better Health” in the

March 2011 issue of Awake!

COMMENTS

So does an illness mean that Satan or individual jws are responsible? I thought that was a result of Adam and Eve sinning and passing on their defective genes to the human race. Death came to them through God not Satan.

So should other jws be able to dictate to others in the congregation what to eat, how much to sleep, to use alternative meds?

I remember a regular pioneer was told by a sister selling specialty vitamins, that the pioneer’s refusal to buy and use the vitamins meant she did not want to serve God.

At any given moment in a congregation about 5 jws are selling medical treatments to other jws, some more bizarre than you can imagine.

8, 9. (a) How can we avoid going to extremes

in regard to health? (b) What are the benefits of

cultivating joy?

8 It is important, however, to avoid

going to extremes. Some have zealously

promoted certain diets, treatments, or

products—even more zealously than the

good news of God’s Kingdom. They may

sincerely believe that they are helping

others. Even so, it is not appropriate to

promote health or beauty products and

practices before or after meetings at the

Kingdom Hall or at assemblies or conventions.

Why not?

COMMENTS

Promoted even more zealously that the good news of the Kingdom = but remember if you are extremely ill or dead you can’t preach, right, per the WTS.

So how does the WTS go from health to beauty products?

What about jws without medical credentials who give medical advice…and say that if you don’t listen to their “advice” that you really don’t want to get better and are choosing not to serve God?

Does constantly targeting people at the KH as clients or customers away from the KH be any better?

9 We meet together to discuss spiritual

matters and to increase our joy, a

product of God’s holy spirit. (Gal. 5:22)

On such occasions, offering health advice

or products—solicited or unsolicited—

can detract from our spiritual purpose

and rob others of their joy. (Rom.

14:17) How a person addresses health

concerns must be his or her own decision.

Further, no one has a solution to all

illness. Even the finest doctors get old

and sick, and eventually they die. And

worrying excessively about our health

cannot extend our life. (Luke 12:25) On

the other hand, “a heart that is joyful

does good as a curer.”—Prov. 17:22.

COMMENTS

I know of a sister who had extreme pain, disabled to the point that she could not work and had a non-existent social and recreational life. Often so-called caring jws would come up to her and say that she needed to eat this food, take these vitamins, and should come to more meetings and her pain would be less. Once a month (turning in time) an elder or two would say that attending more meetings and going in field service would eliminate her pain…that prayer would alleviate the pain (as if you can’t pray at home but it seems that the prayers of elders have more healing power).

This problem is discouraging for anyone dealing with illness and coming from those that should be supporting them. So after this article will be health business as usual at over 100,000 congregations?

10. (a) What qualities are beautiful to Jehovah?

(b) How can we enjoy the best possible

health?

10 Similarly, it is appropriate to be

concerned about our appearance. But

we need not try too hard to erase all

signs of aging. Those signs can be evidence

of maturity, dignity, and inner

beauty. For example, the Bible says:

“Gray-headedness is a crown of beauty

when it is found in the way of righteousness.”

(Prov. 16:31) That is how Jehovah

views us, and we should try to view ourselves

as he does. (Read 1 Peter 3:3, 4.)

Is it wise, therefore, to risk unnecessary

and potentially dangerous surgical procedures

or medical treatments merely

to make oneself more physically attractive?

“The joy of Jehovah” is a source

of true beauty that radiates from the inside,

regardless of age or health. (Neh.

8:10) Only in the new world will we be

completely healthy and regain youthful

beauty. (Job 33:25; Isa. 33:24) Until then,

showing practical wisdom and faith will

help us to stay close to Jehovah while

we make the best of our present circumstances.—

1 Tim. 4:8.

COMMENTS

So what would be ways to eliminate the signs of aging?

Hair dye

Makeup

Moisturizer

Colored contacts

Contacts rather than glasses

What kind of surgical or medical procedures is the WTS talking about. I can remember a sister whose breasts were so large (naturally) that her back and shoulders were constantly hurting her. She went to the elders and asked if it would be all right to have breast reduction…why did she need their permission?

Rhinoplasty to breathe better but not look better?

Surgery on burns to move but not look better?

MONEY

11. How can money become a snare?

11 Money is not evil, nor is it wrong

to engage in honest business. (Eccl. 7:

12; Luke 19:12, 13) However, nurturing

a “love of money” will unavoidably distance

us from Jehovah. (1 Tim. 6:9, 10)

“The anxiety of this system,” extreme

concern about obtaining life’s necessities,

can choke us spiritually. So can “the

deceptive power of riches,” the mistaken

belief that riches bring lasting happiness

and security. (Matt. 13:22) Jesus

made it clear that “no one” can successfully

serve both God and riches.—Matt.

6:24.

COMMENTS

So how would “extreme concern” be indicated?

When does it become “love of money” and who judges?

Lasting happiness and security = but it does bring happiness and security

12. What sort of financial snares are common

today, and how can we avoid them?

12 The wrong view of money can lead

to wrong actions. (Prov. 28:20) Promises

of quick, easy money have enticed some

to purchase lottery tickets or to pursue

multilevel marketing schemes, even

drawing in other members of the congregation.

Others have been fooled by

offers of unrealistically high returns

on investments. Do not allow greed to

cause you to be defrauded. Use good

sense. If an offer seems too good to be

true, it probably is.

COMMENTS

Wrong view, wrong actions = who judges, determines?

Lottery tickets

Multilevel….how many jws do you know that did and do participate?

Unrealistically high returns – fraud by jws, trust because it’s a “brother”?

13. How does Jehovah’s view of money differ

from the world’s?

13 When we put first “the kingdom

and his righteousness,” Jehovah blesses

our balanced efforts to obtain life’s

necessities. (Matt. 6:33; Eph. 4:28) He

does not want us to be falling asleep during

meetings because of overwork or to

be sitting in the Kingdom Hall worrying

about money. Yet, many in the world

around us believe that only by devoting

themselves to making money can they

have a secure future and take it easy

later in life. They often push their children

toward the same materialistic goal.

Jesus showed that such thinking is unreasonable.

(Read Luke 12:15-21.) This

may remind us of Gehazi, who thought

he could indulge his greed while still

maintaining his good standing with Jehovah.—

2 Ki. 5:20-27.

COMMENTS

So if a jw loses their job, has unemployment running out, their car breaks down, it means that they aren’t doing enough preaching and don’t have God’s blessing?

Falling asleep at meetings = always elders

Overwork = on the road and not going to the meetings in other areas

When are you devoting yourself to making money and are materialistic? How much time allowed?

Gehazi making money like the brother who sells material to the Regional Building Committee at higher rates than non-jws…making money with religious ties.

14, 15. Why must we not look to the financial

system for security? Give an example.

14 Certain eagles are reported to have

drowned when they did not release

from their talons a fish that was too

heavy to carry off. Could something similar

happen to a Christian? “I’m normally

very thrifty,” explains an elder named

Alex. “If I pour out a little too much

shampoo, I put some back in the bottle.”

Nevertheless, Alex got caught up

in trading in the stock market, thinking

he could soon quit his job and enter

the pioneer service. He became

ever more engrossed in studying various

offerings and market reports. Using

his savings and money borrowed from

brokers, he bought stocks that analysts

predicted would quickly rise in value.

Instead, they dropped sharply. “I was

determined to get my money back, “Alex

relates. “I felt that if I just held on, the

stocks would come back up.”

COMMENTS

http://shannynmoore.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/monkey-trap2.jpg?w=500

Frugal with shampoo (probably bald) but wild with money?

How many times have you heard someone go into a bad scheme to PIONEER?

15 For months, Alex could think of little

else. He found it difficult to focus on

spiritual matters, and he lost sleep. But

the stocks never rebounded. Alex lost

his savings and had to sell his house.

“I caused my family great pain,” he admits.

But he learned an important lesson.

“I now know that anyone who puts

his trust in Satan’s system will be profoundly

disappointed.” (Prov. 11:28) Indeed,

resting our hope on our savings,

investments, or ability to earn money

in this system amounts to resting our

hope on “the god of this system,” Satan.

(2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Tim. 6:17) Alex has

since simplified his life “for the sake of

the good news.” He will tell you that doing

so has made him and his family happier

and has drawn them closer to Jehovah.—

Read Mark 10:29, 30.

COMMENTS

Does the WTS invest in the stock market…yes.

What does it mean to “simplify” your life monetarily? Can you have millions or hundreds of thousands and still be judged spiritual? I can think of 5 local jws that have more money than I’ll ever see in my lifetime. Can you think of some?

PRIDE

16. How does pride that is good differ from

pride that is bad?

16 Taking pride in the right things can

be good. For example, we should always

feel proud to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.

(Jer. 9:24) A healthy measure of self-respect

helps us to make good decisions

and to avoid lowering our moral standards.

But placing too high a value on

our own views or position can distance

us from Jehovah.—Ps. 138:6; Rom. 12:3.

COMMENTS

Proud to be Christians------witnesses of Jesus (Acts 1:8, Acts 11:26)

Will elders and other “mature” jws allow you to have self-respect or will they be pointing out where you have not done enough?

How many elders have based their views on the position of authority and not what the bible says?

(Matthew 23:1-3) . . .Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. 3 Therefore all the things they tell YOU, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform.

17, 18. (a) Cite Bible examples of humble people

as well as of proud people. (b) How did one

brother avoid letting pride distance him from

Jehovah?

17 The Bible contains examples of

proud people as well as of humble people.

King David humbly looked to Jehovah

for guidance, and Jehovah blessed

him. (Ps. 131:1-3) But Jehovah humbled

proud Kings Nebuchadnezzar and

Belshazzar. (Dan. 4:30-37; 5:22-30) Today,

too, situations arise that test our

humility. Ryan, a 32-year-old ministerial

servant, relocated to a new congregation.

“I expected to be recommended

as an elder soon,” Ryan relates, “but a

year went by without that happening.”

Would Ryan become angry or bitter,

feeling that the elders had failed to show

him due respect? Would he stop attending

meetings, letting pride distance him

from Jehovah and His people? What

would you have done?

COMMENTS

David was a murderer and an adulterer, was he looking humbly to God’s guidance?

This is a repeating theme, brothers peeved that they aren’t appointed elders or MS. That’s because a man’s spiritual status is judged by their positions, not their competence and effectiveness in preaching.

“What would I have done?” – women have no importance in the congregation except to preach which is the mission Jesus gave his followers, not being administrators in the congregation.

18 “I read everything I could find in

our publications on postponed expectation,”

Ryan recalls. (Prov. 13:12) “I began

to realize that I needed to learn

patience and humility. I needed to let Jehovah

train me.” Ryan directed his attention

away from himself and toward

serving others—in the congregation and

in the field. Soon he was conducting several

progressive Bible studies. “When I

was appointed as an elder a year and

a half later, it came as a surprise,” he

says. “I had stopped worrying about it

because I was enjoying my ministry so

much.”—Read Psalm 37:3, 4.

COMMENTS

How many elders could learn that the preaching work is the mission from Jesus, not public talks, not parts on the service meeting, anything women are not allowed to do. How soon will Ryan after his appointment be spending progressive/effective time talking to people about the bible?

STAY CLOSE TO JEHOVAH!

19, 20. (a) How can we make sure that none

of our daily pursuits will distance us from Jehovah?

(b)What examples can we imitate of those

who stayed close to Jehovah?

19 All the matters discussed in this article

and the preceding one have a proper

place in our lives. We take pride in

being Jehovah’s servants. A happy family

and good health are among Jehovah’s

greatest gifts. We understand that secular

work and money can help us to

care for our needs. We know that recreation

can refresh us and that technology

can be useful. But pursuing any of these

things at the wrong time, to an extreme

degree, or in a way that interferes with

our worship could distance us from Jehovah.

COMMENTS

Who decides what is “proper”?

Why not take pride in being a Christian and imitating Jesus?

What is the “wrong time” to pursue recreation? What would be an “extreme degree”?

20 Satan, of course, would like that to

happen. Still, you can prevent such a

calamity from befalling you and your family!

(Prov. 22:3) Draw close to Jehovah,

and stay close to him. We have many

Bible examples to instruct us in this

regard. Enoch and Noah “walked with

the true God.” (Gen. 5:22; 6:9) Moses

“continued steadfast as seeing the One

who is invisible.” (Heb. 11:27) Jesus had

God’s constant support because he always

did what was pleasing to his heavenly

Father. (John 8:29) Imitate such

examples. “Always be rejoicing. Pray incessantly.

In connection with everything

give thanks.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18) And let

nothing distance you from Jehovah!

COMMENTS

Bible examples—OT examples, Enoch, Noah, Moses (David)

Jesus did what was pleasing to God not the religious leaders of his day.

PICTURE: Instead of longing for a position in the congregation,

enjoy your work in the ministry!

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Next week:

SERVING WITHOUT REGRETS

134 years of regrets (1879 to 2013)

Love, Blondie

nonjwspouse

And once again, excellent insights Blondie :) Thank you for your tireless efforts

whathappened

Thanks again, dear Blondie. I always read your Watchtower lesson so I can tell me still in daughter that I keep up with the latest and this makes it easy and enjoyable. Still the same old hash however they have been dishing out for years. This article could easily have run ten years ago, if not for the reference to the "tablet."

Gypsy Sam

Thanks, Blondie. I've been enjoying your comments for a couple months now.

prologos

Blondie, well and good. thank you.

my thoughts on Pr. 12. : Blame and caution is attached to promoters of schemes IN the CONGREGATIONs-- like:

Pyramid or Ponzi or both, or both combined.

Question to WT: why blame, caution the victims?

WHY DO YOU NOT IDENTIFY,

REMOVE these stains from the brotherhood? are they good contributors?

I talked to a bank-employed brother after the meeting about the double digit investment offered by "financial advisers" in the congregation: he said

can only be ponzi. you can get money at 3%, who can be honestly pay 9.9999% plus? " it is a shame, it should be stopped" quote.

May be WT BtS Lawyers, Financiers know a thing or two.

Apognophos

I thought the analogy " Imagine what a mother bear would do if someone threatened her cubs!" was particularly, exceptionally stupid. I need to start a collection of dumb WT illustrations.

Red Piller

Paragraph 4 about "Alex"'s stock market woes was really annoying. One brother commented on how "the financial system is under Satan's control". I hope he remembers that when he reads the charitable gift guide which makes sure to include stocks and bonds. Not to mention, the hedge fund the WT invests in.

twinkle toes

The longer I am out of this religious gong show, the more I realize how badly written this drivel is. It doesn't even make sense most of the time. Was it ever better than this or are we(apostates) just getting smarter.

tt

LoisLane looking for Superman

Para #12...Use good sense. If an offer appears too good to be true, it often is.

----->How many thousands of years have people lived and have died? All in The Watch Tower Society who were spewing out, "Millions Now Living, Will Never Die", are all...dead. Surprised? You shouldn't be. That is what happens to human beings.

Just Lois

PS Thank you Blondie for all your hard work. I really appreciate it.

FadeToBlack

I found the first sentence in paragraph 14 especially annoying.

Certain eagles are reported to have drowned when they did not release

from their talons a fish that was too heavy to carry off.

Who writes this stuff? Are they trying to protect the identity of those eagles or perhaps just

shield their families from the shame?

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-17-2013 WT Study (DRAWING CLOSE)

Share this