First, this is the second invite I received and it came with an Awake magazine. I'm pretty sure it is the crazy anointed witness that I knew, that is dropping it off.
I decided to look at it to see what is the WT is up to. How different the content is from long ago.
On the back page, there is a header in a red box that says "THE WAY OF HAPPINESS LEARN MORE." The old mags would have shown a bible but I'm sure you can guess what the picture next to it is - a tablet. Below it says, YOU CAN FIND THE ANSWERS TO THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONS Visit the blahblah website which is available in more than 900 languages. etc.
The last paragraph says:
- You can enjoy videos about people from a variety of backgrounds who found the way of happiness and never looked back!
- Some had even been drug addicts or prison inmates.
- Others are highly educated professionals, including scientists.
The bullet format is mine - just so it's easier to read... It sounds like a commercial doesn't it?
The front page is quite stylized. All of the trees, buildings and background people are in shades of soft greens and browns. The man striding across the front is orange and golden brown making him stand out. THE WAY OF HAPPINESS yess that man is walking on the way... Guess what is on the top right? No.1 2018 It's the new numbering system going into effect. (hey it's a first edition! maybe I should keep it...naw)
On the back of the cover page is the content page as a large soft bluegreen box. Next to it as a vertical column, is the bright red AWAKE! header. The column information is also interesting. Perhaps it's for legal purposes but it says "...published by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; L. Weaver, Jr., President; G.F. Simonis, Secretary-Treasurer; Blah blah where they are located.
Have they published names before and I didn't see it? I mean, up till now I didn't scrutinize much..
There isn't any "We publish this to proclaim God's name" or anything like that on the bottom of the content page, just this;
- This publication is not for sale.
- It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations.
- To make a donation, please visit blahblah
- Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.
Bullet format is mine - however, the bold look is theirs. Notice the last line is not bold.
All headers in the main body have a little colored circle with an arrow in it, pointing to them. like this way. The WT is trying to be cute and modern. I won't try to go over everything, I don't want to be responsible for completely bored people in front of the computer screen.
But here are some highlowlights.
- Sabrina in South America had two jobs, her husband left her, has to raise two daughters. Despite her grueling schedule, she studied the bible - the result? No change in her economical struggle, but she has true friends among fellow believers. She gets to be happy because she is giving by sharing with others what she has learned. I guess no one could help her out in any physical way but hey, she can now spend what little free time she has, along with her daughters going out in service.
- Andre has now been replaced by Ulf.
- Steve was 15 when he got paralyzed from the neck down. At 18 he regained the use of his arms. Then he went to a university, took drugs, alcohol and was sexually immoral. Was saved by the bible cause it gave him hope. Obviously, going to university is bad.
- An article on forgiveness, ends with this thought. A man named Ron said "I could not control the thoughts and actions of others. But I could control my own. If I wanted peace, I had to let go of resentment. I began to view peace and resentment as north and south. I could not be in both places at the same time. I now have a good conscience. So I guess that holding onto resentment makes you have a bad conscience?
- In the article Purpose in Life - they use a neurosurgeon and a plasma scientist to show that educated atheists can end up believing the bible.
- In the last article titled Hope - it's about the kingdom and of course FEAR. Funny now when you read 2 tim 3:1-5, you think of the GB and the poor sheep that follow them. "in the last days" (they don't quote the rest of the scripture but use a generalization) people in general would be obsessed with self, money, and pleasures.They would be arrogant and fierce. Families would lack natural affection and children will be disobedient to parents. Religious hypocrisy would be commonplace. Sounds like the leaders and organization...
Sorry if you did get bored.