minister159

WHAT IS ENDURANCE? "In the Bible, enduring means more than simply putting up with trials or adversity. Endurance involves our mind and heart, or the way we react to hardships. A person who endures manifests courage, steadfastness, and patience. Endurance is “the spirit which can bear things, not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope,” says one reference work. “It is the quality which keeps a man on his feet with his face to the wind. It is the virtue which can transmute the hardest trial into glory because beyond the pain it sees the goal.”" --- w16 April, p. 14

@Kejedo, You are undoubtedly the queen of randomness, or is it trivia? Either way, you are numero uno!

Religion is like the weather. Everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it! 😁

And at that speed, it would take about 100,000 light-years to go from one end of the Milky Way galaxy to the other end, which is approximately 588 trillion miles across. To give you a clearer perspective, a light-year is the distance that light travels in one year, roughly 5.88 trillion miles. And people talk about space travel and going to other planets in the future as if it could be done in a short amount of time! "Flesh and blood cannot inherit outer space." --- Ken 15:50

I just assumed these UAP videos were nothing more than Maverick going Mach 10 as a test pilot in the military's latest aircraft.

I wonder then, if that is a clarification that hasn't been published or referenced yet under "Beliefs Clarified." I don't think I grasped what Br. Losch was explaining completely, if it was a new explanation that would correct what was stated recently here: "The ancient pattern. The tabernacle had one courtyard—a fenced, open area where the priests performed their duties. The large copper altar of burnt offering was located in the courtyard, along with a copper basin of water that the priests used to cleanse themselves before performing their sacred service. (Ex. 30:17-20; 40:6-8) The temples that were built later, however, also had an outer courtyard where those who were not priests could stand and worship God. The Christian reality. Before moving on to serve as priests with Jesus in heaven, the remnant of his anointed brothers faithfully serve in the earthly inner courtyard of the spiritual temple. The presence of the large basin of water is an important reminder for them, as it is for all Christians, to remain morally and spiritually clean. Where, then, do the “great crowd,” who loyally support Christ’s anointed brothers, offer their worship? The apostle John saw them “standing before the throne,” in what corresponds on earth to the outer courtyard, where “they are rendering [God] sacred service day and night in his temple.” (Rev. 7:9, 13-15) How we cherish having a place in Jehovah’s arrangement for pure worship!" --- w23 p.29

I wonder if this is a clarification of our beliefs and how we view ourselves now, as "other sheep." Jehovah allows us to call him father and we're part of his family of worshippers, but only the anointed have righteousness credited or imputed to them and are adopted as sons of God. They even become, in a spiritual sense, a new creation before their resurrection. Our publications have taught that the other sheep, on the other hand, have a status similar to that of Abraham, so that while anointed Christians are declared righteous "for life," other sheep are declared righteous as friends of God." "See what sort of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. That is why the world does not know us, because it has not come to know him." --- 1John 3:1 "Now because you are sons, God has sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, and it cries out: “Abba, Father!" --- Ga. 4:6 Abba: The word literally means “the father” or “O Father” and was an endearing form of address used by a son to a beloved father. Paul used it here and at Ga 4:6, both times in connection with Christians called to be spirit-begotten sons of God. Since they had now been adopted as God’s sons, they could address Jehovah with an expression that a slave could never use of his master unless he had received such an adoption. "and the scripture was fulfilled that says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called Jehovah’s friend." --- James 2:23 "For the creation* is waiting with eager expectation for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but through the one who subjected it, on the basis of hope that the creation itself will also be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God." --- Romans 8:19-21 *creation: All earthly creation has suffered from the effects of mankind’s rebellion in Eden. However, in this context, “creation” apparently refers to the human family, since only humans can be waiting with eager expectation as they express hope of being set free from the effects of sin and death. (Ro 5:12; 8:19)

Since you have always existed back into infinity, why did you decide to start creating when you did and not sooner?

I couldn't help but think of this as an, after-the-Great-Tribulation picture! It reminds me of what an old brother used to say when I would ask him how he was. He would say, "I think I'll make it, but I don't know what I'll look like!"

Theocratic vocabulary, terminology and pure language of truth are all descriptive terms of how we communicate and express ourselves as true Christians. As we know, these terms change from time to time, and we generally change with them in order to keep up. However, there is one term that a few seem to have trouble leaving behind and keeping up with theocratic vocabulary. That term is "plan" as it relates to Jehovah, such as, "Jehovah's plan." The Slave doesn't use that expression because it's unscriptural. Devising a plan in the outworking of "Jehovah's purpose," is only a subplot to the overall theme, such as at 1Kings 22:19-22. So, the fact is, Jehovah doesn't need to plan things. He simply makes a determination, wills it and it becomes his unfailing purpose. As we're told at Rom. 11:33, 34, "O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and beyond tracing out his ways are! For “who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his adviser?"

We know that the world tends to be given to extremes, and in recent years, the styles and types of makeup and jewelry have changed dramatically. What used to be considered, in general, as gaudy, outlandish and extreme, is now commonplace and considered normal. So, while the Bible doesn’t condemn the wearing of makeup, jewelry, or other forms of adornment, as true Christians, we would want to avoid the world’s fads and extremes in dress and grooming. While we have much leeway in this matter, and we can exercise our conscience and own personal preference, we always want to adorn the good news that we preach without giving any cause for stumbling, and “do all things for God’s glory.”

Singleness is a gift that not many can make room for. The desire for a mate may not be synonymous with marriage either. A very necessary component for a happy and successful marriage is compatibility. Unfortunately, many act in haste and repent in leisure. You can't "fall in love" with just anybody but there needs to be more than just chemistry, as Hope mentioned. A wise man once said, "Measure twice, cut once." Another man, not so wise, once said the definition of marriage is, "A mutual misunderstanding." Think about it!

TLDR

101F today with a heatwave breaking many records for March. No cooling in sight for the next 10 days. Rain? Snow? What's that?

Yes, and also they acted in ignorance, which is probably the reason why, when they were educated and warned, they repented. "God’s saying that those people did not know right from left* suggested their childlike ignorance of divine standards." --- w4/1 2009 p.18 *Or right from wrong

Sitting every day for 8 hours or more will cause premature death just as surely as smoking cigarettes will.

I think you meant to say, IPS?

I found this to be interesting regarding the "Y" chromosome that is passed from father to son exclusively, generation after generation. "In human genetics, the Y-chromosomal Adam (more technically known as the Y-chromosomal most recent common ancestor, shortened to Y-MRCA), is the patrilineal most recent common ancestor (MRCA) from whom all currently living humans are descended. He is the most recent male from whom all living humans are descended through an unbroken line of their male ancestors. The term Y-MRCA reflects the fact that the Y chromosomes of all currently living human males are directly derived from the Y chromosome of this remote ancestor."

Kind of like deja vu: "One major factor in this growth is the use of the six-month study course in the Truth book, which was released at our nine district assemblies during the year. A special pioneer reported starting four new studies in the month following the release of the book, while another helped three persons to dedication in a little over six months by applying the six-month study suggestion immediately." --- yb 1970 p. 247

“Look! I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves." --- Mt. 10:16 cautious as serpents: To be cautious here means to be prudent, sensible, shrewd. Zoologists note that most snakes are wary, preferring to flee rather than attack. Likewise, Jesus warns his disciples to remain cautious toward opposers and avoid possible dangers as they carry out their preaching work.

I think you mean, Jefferson Airplane, not the Stones.

1953 "Shane" with Alan Ladd.

A fusion of Jazz, rock and blues with a classical-inspired technique. I believe he's playing without a pick; just his fingers on his right hand! Extremely tight trio!