August 15th WT - Eliminate your unnecessary hobbies and projects (page 5)

DaCheech

I remember in the 70's there was an experience of a soccer player that left his sport for the troof

WT 1975 8/15

LIVES

ARE CHANGED

Rather than try to improve the world, some persons may become so discouraged that they consider giving up on life altogether. Señora Etelvina Nanni was on the verge of committing suicide when a Witness called with the good news concerning God?s kingdom. As she learned about the righteous conditions soon to bless mankind, her despondency gave way to joy. Now she contemplates, instead of death, the richness of the life ahead, and is busy telling others about her newfound hope.

Bible principles changed the life of a former professional football (soccer) player from Germany. After studying the Bible for just a short time, Cristian Rudsky decided to take a trip back to Germany. Why such a costly trip? Because sometime previously he had left without fulfilling his paid contract to a football club there. Imagine their amazement when Rudsky returned money to cover the year he had failed to play! Back in Argentina, Cristian is now teaching others the principles of truth and honesty that changed his life.

Many Jewish persons in Argentina have also made great changes in order to embrace the Christian good news. In fact, the Parque Centenario Congregation in Buenos Aires enjoys the fellowship of nineteen persons of Jewish descent. When her father died, Nora Cohen?s Jewish faith could not give her a satisfying answer as to why man dies, so she sought the answer from spiritism and astrology. Finally, Jehovah?s witnesses called with the Bible?s reasonable answer. Now, despite ostracism by her family, Nora is delighted publicly to declare her hope in God?s kingdom.

DaCheech

awake 1971 4/8

Among the fifty-seven baptized at the Curitiba assembly was a young man in his twenties, a professional soccer player. Besides playing soccer, he was also a promising engineering student. When he learned God?s truth, he turned down lucrative offers and said, in explaining his final decision: "Time is short, and I want to make the best possible use of it: to serve Jehovah, our Creator." He was baptized at the assembly held at the stadium of the same club for which he played.

So the message of God?s kingdom is reaching people of all walks of life. At the São Caetano do Sul assembly, for example, among the 279 baptized were a former presbyter of a Pentecostal church; a man who, for the previous forty-four years, was a spirit medium; a former Baptist preacher; former Adventists, voodooists, and so forth.

Most certainly these "Men of Goodwill" Assemblies reflected the Christian togetherness of Jehovah?s witnesses. And, as never before, outsiders could notice this, with many of them also desiring to have the unity and love that come from serving the true God, Jehovah, as his "men of goodwill."

Mary

Some may experience emotional fatigue as a result of challenging health problems, the loss of loved ones, or other distressing problems.

Like preparing for meetings, going to meetings, having parts in the meetings, going in Service, preparing for Service........

One married couple decided to eliminate some of their hobbies and nonessential projects. They actually went through their things and literally packed all the materials related to such projects and put them out of sight.

Yes, they decided that they were spending far too much time on nonessential projects like eating, showering, working, so they literally packed away all the food, soap, toothpaste, shampoos and hair conditioners and put them out of sight. Now they have lots more time to spend serving the Borg........don't worry; that'll be the next article they have in the WT:

PERSONAL HYGIENE: DO YOU REALLY NEED TO SHOWER MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK?

DaCheech

You don't need shampoo. conditioner, lotions, toothpaste. It can all be done with a .50cent bar of soap.

Food? Everybody can survice on rice & beans on a budget of $1.00 a day!

Food? You can buy Ramadan noodles for 6 for a buck!

You can work 1 day a week, make only $100 and survive on the Borg diet!

Jim_TX

In reading through this... several thoughts come to mind.

One deals with 'professionals'... or people who have college edukashuns.

I remember, many times hearing about how Bethel is "looking for professional..." this or that.

The thing that disturbed me about this was the conflicting message that this 'request' generated... although I don't think that many JWs got it.

They first tell the people, "Don't go to school - pioneer."

So the obedient dub does as told - disregarding any thoughts of further education - perhaps even hoping to go to Bethel.

Then they send out these 'letters' fron the HQ saying, "We need professionals only. Flunikes need not apply at this time."

Sheesh! You can't win for losing. Where do these 'professionals' come from?

Ohhhhh... that's right. From those who actually got a college degree prior to having received that fateful 'knock on the door'.

Sad. Very sad. How many careers - or potential careers have they messed up?

On a similar note - someone mentioned the 'faces' and how they are looking a bit strained.

I remember going to my mother's funeral this past spring. Of course... they are all JWs - my mom, and my other siblings.

I recall my older sister, now in her mid-50's - and a spinster (as she is waiting for the 'new system' to get married - so my 'resurrected' father can 'walk her down the aisle'), was there telling a fellow JW, "Well, we thought Armageddon would have been here by now."

Yes - the look. She may have just been tired from the ordeal that she had just been through prior to - and just after - my mothers' death... but the voice was a bit shaky too. I wonder if they will ever start thinking. Probably not.

Regards,

Jim TX

DaCheech

Well you have touched on another double standard:

Bethel worker applicants are limited to 35 years old, unless....... YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT!

Gues what this means.....?

La Capra

Most normal folks, when packing up the equipment and items for a hobby they are abandoning, contemplate giving those items to charity. What I noticed was that the article said those items were simply put out of sight, not donated. Since WBTS does not participate in social charity, it cannot recommend that these items be donated, to its own (nonexistent) charity forum, nor can it suggest a donation to another cause (since these are worldly, and often a part of Christendom). This glaring omission speaks volumes.

Nor did the article suggest that these items be sold, like at a garage or yard sale, or a flea market, or boot sale, or online auction Why? This would take a lot of time, planning and energy, which then could not be sucked by WBTS. It could subject an unwitting JW to bad associations, and possibly new, even more time/money consuming hobbies (some people spend their entire weekends going to sales and flea markets, and love it!), or in the case of an online auction, a JW may accidentally wander onto an apostate site, sell to an apostate, or buy more junk than they sell.

Must admit, though, WBTS missed an opportunity to get some cash. They could have urged the rank and file to sell all their hobby related items and to give WBTS the proceeds AND the extra time they would have, now that they have abandoned their hobbies.

No doubt it was discussed amongst the Bethel Boys and decided that the risk of contamination through selling the items to worldlies (since selling them to another JW would defeat the purpose) was greater than the small benefit there might have been from a brief influx of some garage sale bucks...

Shoshana

Mary

Food? Everybody can survice on rice & beans on a budget of $1.00 a day!

Shit........too bad Charles Russell wasn't still around...........we could survive on Miracle Wheat for years after just one helping!!!

wednesday

They will not be happy until all jws are drones, with no thoughts of their own.

wednesday

Honestly, I know how much that can affect a person. I know people who could have been professional sportsmen or professors of higher education, but the JWs discouraged it. It hurts! No doubt about it. I can't imagine how hard it must be to have your family tradition wrecked by the Jw rules

many years ago i remember how proud the jws were when they "snagged" someone like this. it was as it was a trophy, proving "see , intelligent people will join our religion". all it did was instill anger in some who had given their entire life to jws and felt they were not valued as much. They tell u to not go to school and all that, but if an educated person comes into the org, they are highly prized.

August 15th WT - Eliminate your unnecessary hobbies and projects

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