Qapla

I hope that paper goes well, and it sounds like you are really off to a good start. I see you are in California. Keep in mind that, though you are looking "at more world music versus typical American or Western styles" that, from the view of those in some of the other places you mentioned, like Japan, Morocco, Peru, or Korea - American or Western music is "World Music". Are you going to post your final paper here?

It would be nice to have some "didgeridoo" in a song or two ... While that may be true - it does have a pseudo slide steel guitar sound ... if it had a true pedal steel it would be very distinctly country/blues or even Hawaiian. That particular country twang beat in this Original Sing is unique to American Country Music ... and you did ask about "something with a unique rhythm, harmony, or instrument that reflects the diversity of Jehovah’s people" American Country Music is part of that diversity in music just like New Orleans Jazz is a distinctive sound and would be interesting if it were ever included in a Kingdom Song. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Sitar, but I do enjoy the Pan flute

Song #76 "How Does it Make You Feel" has a Jamaican beat The Original Song "Living Peacefully in a Peaceless World" has a Country Music beat.

Well done, David. Good information and application Another aspect to bananas - when they turn brown to black, they are not useless as that is when they make the best banana bread. So, like us, just because we have gotten a little old it doesn't mean we should give up ... we can still be useful.

The same way you tell a 19-year-old MS that he should quit driving before he kills someone if his driving is that bad. Just outright telling them is the best way. I have known people of all ages that should not be driving - some have even had their license suspended because of their illegal, reckless driving. This includes people in and out of the truth. The odd thing is, while many would be quick to say something to the 19-year-old - they seem to hesitate with the 91-year-old.

While I do understand some conjecture on tattoos, earrings and the like ... I did not mention any quandary over these issues. I specified: "where are people getting birthdays, Thanksgiving and other declared holidays by various religious and governmental institutions" No, I do not see why people are trying to include obvious religious and national holidays as being something we may change.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your aim to live quietly and to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we instructed you Romans 12:13b Share with the holy ones according to their needs. Follow the course of hospitality.

That may be why the thread was impacted ... but where was that thought/idea/reference/implication in "the talk" given in Update #4 that would even prompt such speculation ??? Why interject something into a thread when it wasn't even part of the information dispensed during the talk ... it wasn't even hinted at.

To help shed some light on the subject, the Update only clarified "toasting/clinking glasses" ... where are people getting birthdays, Thanksgiving and other declared holidays by various religious and governmental institutions from around the world from this talk? I did not see anything that would change our view of these things in this Update. I was raised by a mother learning the truth and an opposed father. I was not raised to "celebrate" my birthday not any holidays. When I was in elementary school, some of the other kids would kid me about not getting presents for Christmas - however, they would be a little upset when I would get new clothes for school and they had to wait till December to get anything. When we had children, since we are both in the truth, we never celebrated any holidays, birthdays, etc. with our kids. They learned from day one why we did not. Keep in mind, that does not mean they don't know on what day they were born, how old they are or when they turn another year older. It does get mentioned when any of us increase our age by a year. My kids never missed or regretted not having a birthday party. It is one thing to acknowledge our age and the date it changes - it is quite another thing to throw a party to commemorate it. There is nothing wrong with knowing your age and the date of your birth and admitting you are a year older. That is not the issue. It's engaging in practices that dishonor Jehovah and His word like are done during birthday parties that is the issue. As for Thanksgiving, as celebrated in the US, that is a "legal" holiday set aside by the government, based on a religious celebration - not something I want to be involved with.

Yevonne Obercruther undermined the house J V R M S