DancesWithWife

Agreed. Implementing change take time for all to make the needed change. Some will continue dressing the way they always have. Others have changed immediately. We are a progressive organization to say the least. Will there be adjustments to the new guidelines we have been given? Possibly. These are such small changes of grooming and dress when we think about them. To me the biggest challenge was the use of electronics. I was determined not to use a tablet, to be a "real" Bible guy, "real" books & magazines. The change took time. But as I get older, my brain and body not working the same as they used to, I value the use of tablets, computers or phones. JW broadcasting is like having a CA, SA & RC each month. I think of the brothers and sisters who have left deeply entrenched beliefs behind to accept worship of Jehovah. That to me takes courage. If I have a beard or not, if I wear a suit does not require courage. Standing up for Jehovah, leaving behind traditions and becoming acceptable to Jehovah takes courage and faith. Those who make those changes build my faith, not what they look like on the outside, but who they are today and what it took to get there. That's real change, courage and show outwardly to all faith. My wife and I talk about faith all the time, faithful to each other and Jehovah. Being faithful, not how I am groomed or wear is how we want others to see us.

You can root for anyone you want. I think the point is what is the root for our pulling for one team over another because of nationality? I watch the Olympics a little bit to see sports I normally don't watch or that are not broadcast. To me it's an opportunity to see the very best for example badminton which I enjoyed playing in high school. In 2012 there was a scandal to "throw games", lose on purpose to get a better position in the tournament. I was a diehard sports guy, but have changed my view when you learn of the lifestyles of the players, the cheating, the doping and other issues.

A cranky Great Blue Heron out today during my afternoon walk. I can usually take a few photos before the bird flies away squawking, letting you know it's not happy. I usually try to sneak up and not alarm the birds. I am very respectful of animals.

We had a full moon, hundreds of swifts and a beautiful sunset here in Oregon tonight. The little swifts roost in an old school chimney and come out at night in the hundreds.

I thought you were going to say plaid shirt with suspenders, hiking boots and a bandana...

Part of the problem comes down to semantics with the word "should instead of must". This is where so-called gray area could come in. If we break down the word "should" there are two definitions: used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions. "he should have been careful" used to indicate what is probable. "$348 million should be enough to buy him out" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That being said, some are saying or forming the view (opinion) that a meeting for service is part of a program. I'm not saying it is or it is not. I have already mentioned when our CO showed up before this announcement he often wore a sweater with a tie. If a sister "should" wear a skirt or dress on stage for a part, how about out in service if there are no brothers present to conduct the meeting for service? Right now there are different views or opinions and everyone has a right to their view. I want peace in the Congregation where I live as the rest of you do. We didn't have these choices just a few months ago. It will take time for everyone to adjust. Some are growing beards, some not. Some sisters are wearing dress pants, some not. I am just thankful there is forum like this where we can talk about it respectfully. I thought of 2 Corinthians 13:11 when it comes to this discussion and other changes we have seen. Paul wrote "Finally, brothers, continue to rejoice, to be readjusted, to be comforted, to think in agreement, to live peaceably; and the God of love and of peace will be with you." I was thinking of Thomas, all the other faithful apostles saw Jesus, but Thomas. No matter what they told him, he would not believe. Did Jesus reappear quickly to Thomas? No, it was 8 days later, it must have felt like an eternity to Thomas. Jesus could have appeared to Thomas privately, but no he waited. During those 8 days did the other apostles keep speaking about seeing the glorified Jesus? My point? Not all are going to accept or understand a situation or directions the same. Just because Thomas did not see Jesus and had to wait to see him, did he lose faith? Will there be some future clarifications on dress? Possibly. To me it's a small thing. I just want to be obedient, peaceful and be faithful. Again I appreciate all the different views that are presented here.

I like the forecast for next Sunday, April 28th it says dreary. Sounds like the app is depressed! I can't recall an forecasting a dreary day, I'm sure it has I just saw it today.

Car carrier and a tug go by Rainier

Learning to use a new photo editor.

Oversized dandelion at sunrise. It was as a closed fist.

Of all the ships that go by, I enjoy watching the tugs work on the Columbia River.

Most translations use the word "listen" rather than "hear". Is there a difference between listening and hearing? Yes. I often think of the joke that a husband heard his wife, he just didn't listen to her. I think of Cain who heard God's warning but did not act on what he heard, he should have listened to the direction God was giving him. Cain's ego was bruised and that can cause some not to listen. Anger can cause a person not to listen. Good reminder not to just get our hearing checked physically but are we listening to what we take in spiritually too? "Hearing is an accidental and automatic brain response to sound that requires no effort. We are surrounded by sounds most of the time. For example, we are accustomed to the sounds of airplanes, lawn mowers, furnace blowers, the rattling of pots and pans, and so on. We hear those incidental sounds and, unless we have a reason to do otherwise, we train ourselves to ignore them. We learn to filter out sounds that mean little to us, just as we choose to hear our ringing cell phones and other sounds that are more important to us." "Listening, on the other hand, is purposeful and focused rather than accidental. As a result, it requires motivation and effort. Listening, at its best, is active, focused, concentrated attention for the purpose of understanding the meanings expressed by a speaker. We do not always listen at our best, however, and later in this chapter we will examine some of the reasons why and some strategies for becoming more active critical listeners."--source https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_stand-up-speak-out-the-practice-and-ethics-of-public-speaking/s07-01-listening-vs-hearing.html

I'm hoping the spelling gets better!

Now that you mention it... I just did watch an interesting PBS documentary called Nazi Town, USA American Experience. In some ways very similar to what we are experiencing. I could not imagine the test of neutrality that would later be clarified during the second world war in 1939. The book God's Kingdom Rules stated on pages 56-57: "23, 24. What was our understanding of Romans 13:1 during World War II, and to what more accurate view were Christ’s followers guided? 23 Just as World War II was erupting in 1939, The Watchtower featured an in-depth discussion of neutrality. The article showed clearly that Christians would have no part at all in the wars and conflicts of the nations of Satan’s world. What timely guidance! Christ’s followers were thus protected from the horrific bloodguilt that clung to the nations in that war. Beginning in 1929, however, our publications had also reasoned that the superior authorities of Romans 13:1 were not the secular rulers at all, but Jehovah and Jesus. A more accurate understanding was still needed. 24 The holy spirit guided Christ’s followers to just such a view in 1962, when landmark articles on Romans 13:1-7 were published in the November 15 and December 1 issues of The Watchtower. Finally, God’s people grasped the principle of relative subjection that Jesus had revealed in his famous words: “Pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar but God’s things to God.” (Luke 20:25) True Christians now understand that the superior authorities are the secular powers of this world and that Christians must be subject to them. However, such subjection is relative. When the secular authorities ask us to disobey Jehovah God, then we answer as did the apostles of old: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) In Chapters 13 and 14 of this book, we will learn more about how God’s people have put the principle of Christian neutrality into action." Here is the link to the PBS Video